Speckle Tracking Echocardiography as a Tool for Early Diagnosis of Impaired Fetal Growth Twin Pregnancies

Launched by UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, GHENT · Jun 14, 2022

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a new way to detect problems with growth in twin pregnancies, specifically looking for conditions called fetal growth restriction (FGR). The researchers will assess the growth of the babies at two important times during pregnancy: at 21 weeks and again at 30 weeks. They will also collect a blood sample from the mother to check for exposure to air pollution and other markers that indicate how well the placenta is functioning. By using special ultrasounds, they hope to spot any issues with the placenta early on. After the babies are born, the team will look at the placenta and umbilical cord blood to see how they relate to the babies' heart health.

To be eligible for this study, women must be at least 18 years old and have a twin pregnancy that is 21 weeks along (give or take two weeks). The study is not for women who are pregnant with three or more babies, have certain heart or genetic issues with the fetus, or have specific health problems themselves, like diabetes or autoimmune diseases. Participants can expect to undergo several tests during their pregnancy and after delivery, helping researchers learn more about how to better identify and address growth issues in twins.

Gender

FEMALE

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Singleton or dichorionic twin pregnancy
• • Pregnant women 21 weeks ( ± 2 weeks) of gestation at the first visit
• • Women ≥ 18 years
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Women pregnant of multiples of higher order (≥3 siblings) Monochorionic twin pregnancy
• • Fetal arrhythmia
• • Known fetal congenital or genetic abnormalities
• • Any suspicion of congenital fetal anomalies that might influence fetal cardiac function
• • Pre-existing maternal hypertensive disease
• • Autoimmune disease including systemic lupus erythematosus
• • History of stillbirth
• • Diabetes mellitus (mother)