NCT05698277

Brief Summary

The goal of this international multicentre prospective observational cohort study with a nested case-control study is to test some automated fetal heart functional parameters in healthy babies compared to those affected by a congenital heart condition. The main questions it aims to answer are:

  • If there is a significant difference between the two populations of infants
  • Whether these parameters could significantly improve the predictive value of actual cardiovascular profile score to predict hydrops Participants will be offered two automated cardiac function assessments between 27+6 and 29+6 gestational weeks and between 34+6 and 36+6 weeks of gestation. Functional parameters will be compared between the two study groups and evaluated over time.

Trial Health

83
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
495

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for all trials

Timeline
21mo left

Started May 2023

Longer than P75 for all trials

Geographic Reach
5 countries

7 active sites

Status
recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress63%
May 2023Feb 2028

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

December 18, 2022

Completed
1 month until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

January 26, 2023

Completed
3 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

May 1, 2023

Completed
4.7 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

January 1, 2028

Expected
1 month until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

February 1, 2028

Last Updated

December 10, 2024

Status Verified

November 1, 2024

Enrollment Period

4.7 years

First QC Date

December 18, 2022

Last Update Submit

December 9, 2024

Conditions

Keywords

Congenital Heart DiseasesFetal Cardiac Function

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (6)

  • Automated PWD-MPI comparing fetuses affected by congenital heart disease (CHD) to reference values across the fetal healthy population.

    Measure the difference in the mean absolute numerical value for PWD-MPI (expressed to 2 decimal places) between fetuses with CHD overall compared to healthy fetuses and then by subgroups of different CHDs.

    Measurements undertaken within the range 27+6 - 29+6 gestational weeks

  • Automated STIC Tricuspid, Mitral and Septal Annular Plane Systolic Excursion comparing fetuses affected by congenital heart disease to reference values across the fetal healthy population.

    Difference in absolute values for each of STIC Tricuspid, Mitral and Septal Annular Plane Systolic Excursion between fetuses with CHD overall compared to healthy fetuses and then by subgroups of different CHDs.

    Measurements undertaken within the range 27+6 - 29+6 gestational weeks

  • Automated PWD-MPI comparing fetuses affected by congenital heart disease (CHD) to reference values across the fetal healthy population.

    Measure the difference in the mean absolute numerical value for PWD-MPI (expressed to 2 decimal places) between fetuses with CHD overall compared to healthy fetuses and then by subgroups of different CHDs.

    Measurements undertaken within the range 34+6 - 36+6 gestational weeks

  • Automated STIC Tricuspid, Mitral and Septal Annular Plane Systolic Excursion comparing fetuses affected by congenital heart disease to reference values across the fetal healthy population.

    Difference in absolute values for each of STIC Tricuspid, Mitral and Septal Annular Plane Systolic Excursion between fetuses with CHD overall compared to healthy fetuses and then by subgroups of different CHDs.

    Measurements undertaken within the range 34+6 - 36+6 gestational weeks

  • Automated PWD-MPI comparing fetuses affected by congenital heart disease (CHD) to reference values across the fetal healthy population.

    Difference in variation of the mean absolute value for PWD-MPI over time between fetuses with CHD overall compared to healthy fetuses and then by subgroups of different CHDs.

    Measurements undertaken within the range 27+6 - 29+6 gestational weeks and within the range 34+6 - 36+6 gestational weeks

  • Automated STIC Tricuspid, Mitral and Septal Annular Plane Systolic Excursion comparing fetuses affected by congenital heart disease (CHD) to reference values across the fetal healthy population.

    Difference in variation of absolute values for each of STIC Tricuspid, Mitral and Septal Annular Plane Systolic Excursion between fetuses with CHD overall compared to healthy fetuses and then by subgroups of different CHDs.

    Measurements undertaken within the range 27+6 - 29+6 gestational weeks and within the range 34+6 - 36+6 gestational weeks

Secondary Outcomes (6)

  • Predictive value of Modified Cardiovascular Profile Score in hydrops (Adding Automated PWD-MPI to the classical cardiovascular profile score).

    Measurements undertaken within the range 27+6 - 29+6 gestational weeks.

  • Predictive value of Modified Cardiovascular Profile Score in hydrops (Adding Automated PWD-MPI to the classical cardiovascular profile score).

    Measurements undertaken within the range 34+6 - 36+6 gestational weeks.

  • Predictive value of Modified Cardiovascular Profile Score in hydrops (Adding Automated STIC Tricuspid, Mitral and Septal Annular Plane Systolic Excursion to the classical cardiovascular profile score).

    Measurements undertaken within the range 27+6 - 29+6 gestational weeks.

  • Predictive value of Modified Cardiovascular Profile Score in hydrops (Adding Automated STIC Tricuspid, Mitral and Septal Annular Plane Systolic Excursion to the classical cardiovascular profile score).

    Measurements undertaken within the range 34+6 - 36+6 gestational weeks.

  • Predictive value of Modified Cardiovascular Profile Score in hydrops (Adding Automated PW-MPI and STIC Tricuspid, Mitral and Septal Annular Plane Systolic Excursion to the classical cardiovascular profile score).

    Measurements undertaken within the range 27+6 - 29+6 gestational weeks.

  • +1 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (2)

Cases

Singleton pregnancies affected by congenital heart disease

Diagnostic Test: Automated fetal cardiac function evaluation

Controls

Singleton healthy pregnancies

Diagnostic Test: Automated fetal cardiac function evaluation

Interventions

Evaluation of ultrasound parameters by automated algorithms. Ultrasound assessed parameters are: 1. Pulsed wave Doppler Modified Left and Right Myocardial performance indices 2. Spatio-temporal image correlation Tricuspid, Mitral and Septal Annular Plane Systolic Excursion

CasesControls

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexfemale
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
Sampling MethodNon-Probability Sample
Study Population

Pregnant women will be recruited from each participating centre during their second or third trimester morphology scan. The Control Group will be mostly recruited at the time of the second trimester morphology scan; the CHD Group during a second/third trimester anomaly scan with collaboration and referral from the hospital fetal cardiologist. Healthy patients will be approached in the waiting room after their second trimester ultrasound scan, offered to participate and given a copy of a patient information sheet and consent form. CHD patients will be approached and offered to participate after consultation with perinatal cardiologists. A week after the first contact, we will phone patients to verify their intention to take part and to organize the fetal cardiac function follow up.

You may not qualify if:

  • Fetuses whose mothers have comorbidities that have been proven to potentially affect cardiac function including:
  • intrahepatic cholestasis
  • pre-gestational and gestational diabetes
  • preeclampsia
  • growth restricted fetuses defined as estimated fetal weight or abdominal circumference \<3rd percentile for GA
  • Fetuses with other structural extracardiac anomalies at ultrasound examination
  • Fetuses affected by any diagnosed genetic abnormalities

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (7)

Royal Hospital for Women

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

RECRUITING

Sheba Medical Center

Tel Aviv, Israel

NOT YET RECRUITING

San Salvatore Hospital L'Aquila

L’Aquila, Italy

NOT YET RECRUITING

Vittore Buzzi Children's Hospital

Milan, Italy

NOT YET RECRUITING

Institute for Maternal and Child Health IRCCS Burlo Garofolo

Trieste, Italy

NOT YET RECRUITING

Centre Hospitalier de Mayotte

Mamoudzou, Mayotte

NOT YET RECRUITING

Medical Center Ujastek

Krakow, Poland

NOT YET RECRUITING

Related Publications (32)

  • Wu W, He J, Shao X. Incidence and mortality trend of congenital heart disease at the global, regional, and national level, 1990-2017. Medicine (Baltimore). 2020 Jun 5;99(23):e20593. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000020593.

    PMID: 32502030BACKGROUND
  • Crispi F, Sepulveda-Martinez A, Crovetto F, Gomez O, Bijnens B, Gratacos E. Main Patterns of Fetal Cardiac Remodeling. Fetal Diagn Ther. 2020;47(5):337-344. doi: 10.1159/000506047. Epub 2020 Mar 26.

    PMID: 32213773BACKGROUND
  • Walter C, Soveral I, Bartrons J, Escobar MC, Carretero JM, Quirado L, Gomez O, Sanchez-de-Toledo J. Comprehensive Functional Echocardiographic Assessment of Transposition of the Great Arteries: From Fetus to Newborn. Pediatr Cardiol. 2020 Apr;41(4):687-694. doi: 10.1007/s00246-019-02279-w. Epub 2020 Jan 10.

    PMID: 31919591BACKGROUND
  • Guirado L, Crispi F, Masoller N, Bennasar M, Marimon E, Carretero J, Gratacos E, Martinez JM, Friedberg MK, Gomez O. Biventricular impact of mild to moderate fetal pulmonary valve stenosis. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2018 Mar;51(3):349-356. doi: 10.1002/uog.17456.

    PMID: 28295792BACKGROUND
  • Inamura N, Taketazu M, Smallhorn JF, Hornberger LK. Left ventricular myocardial performance in the fetus with severe tricuspid valve disease and tricuspid insufficiency. Am J Perinatol. 2005 Feb;22(2):91-7. doi: 10.1055/s-2005-837739.

    PMID: 15731988BACKGROUND
  • Lasa JJ, Tian ZY, Guo R, Rychik J. Perinatal course of Ebstein's anomaly and tricuspid valve dysplasia in the fetus. Prenat Diagn. 2012 Mar;32(3):245-51. doi: 10.1002/pd.2939.

    PMID: 22430722BACKGROUND
  • Wohlmuth C, Wertaschnigg D, Wieser I, Arzt W, Tulzer G. Tissue Doppler imaging in fetuses with aortic stenosis and evolving hypoplastic left heart syndrome before and after fetal aortic valvuloplasty. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2016 May;47(5):608-15. doi: 10.1002/uog.14885. Epub 2016 Apr 17.

    PMID: 25914144BACKGROUND
  • Chen J, Xie L, Dai L, Yu L, Liu L, Zhou Y, Wu G, Qin F, Liu H. Right Heart Function of Fetuses and Infants with Large Ventricular Septal Defect: A Longitudinal Case-Control Study. Pediatr Cardiol. 2016 Dec;37(8):1488-1497. doi: 10.1007/s00246-016-1462-z. Epub 2016 Aug 25.

    PMID: 27562129BACKGROUND
  • Natarajan S, Szwast A, Tian Z, McCann M, Soffer D, Rychik J. Right ventricular mechanics in the fetus with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2013 May;26(5):515-20. doi: 10.1016/j.echo.2013.02.001. Epub 2013 Mar 6.

    PMID: 23473605BACKGROUND
  • Nawaytou HM, Peyvandi S, Brook MM, Silverman N, Moon-Grady AJ. Right Ventricular Systolic-to-Diastolic Time Index: Hypoplastic Left Heart Fetuses Differ Significantly from Normal Fetuses. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2016 Feb;29(2):143-9. doi: 10.1016/j.echo.2015.08.014. Epub 2015 Sep 26.

    PMID: 26394829BACKGROUND
  • Chen Y, Lv G, Li B, Wang Z. Cerebral vascular resistance and left ventricular myocardial performance in fetuses with Ebstein's anomaly. Am J Perinatol. 2009 Apr;26(4):253-8. doi: 10.1055/s-0028-1103152. Epub 2008 Nov 20.

    PMID: 19023852BACKGROUND
  • Khandoker AH, Al-Angari HM, Marzbanrad F, Kimura Y. Investigating fetal myocardial function in heart anomalies by Doppler myocardial performance indices. Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2017 Jul;2017:2197-2200. doi: 10.1109/EMBC.2017.8037290.

    PMID: 29060332BACKGROUND
  • Axt-Fliedner R, Graupner O, Kawecki A, Degenhardt J, Herrmann J, Tenzer A, Doelle A, Willruth A, Steinhard J, Gembruch U, Bahlmann F, Enzensberger C; Fetal Cardiac Imaging Research Group, Germany. Evaluation of right ventricular function in fetuses with hypoplastic left heart syndrome using tissue Doppler techniques. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2015 Jun;45(6):670-7. doi: 10.1002/uog.14736. Epub 2015 May 11.

    PMID: 25418127BACKGROUND
  • Graupner O, Enzensberger C, Wieg L, Willruth A, Steinhard J, Gembruch U, Doelle A, Bahlmann F, Kawecki A, Degenhardt J, Wolter A, Herrmann J, Axt-Fliedner R; Fetal Cardiac Imaging Research Group Germany. Evaluation of right ventricular function in fetal hypoplastic left heart syndrome by color tissue Doppler imaging. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2016 Jun;47(6):732-8. doi: 10.1002/uog.14940.

    PMID: 26138790BACKGROUND
  • Pedra SR, Hornberger LK, Leal SM, Taylor GP, Smallhorn JF. Cardiac function assessment in patients with family history of nonhypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a prenatal and postnatal study. Pediatr Cardiol. 2005 Sep-Oct;26(5):543-52. doi: 10.1007/s00246-004-0688-3.

    PMID: 16132314BACKGROUND
  • Clur SB, Vink AS, Etheridge SP, Robles de Medina PG, Rydberg A, Ackerman MJ, Wilde AA, Blom NA, Benson DW, Herberg U, Donofrio MT, Cuneo BF. Left Ventricular Isovolumetric Relaxation Time Is Prolonged in Fetal Long-QT Syndrome. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. 2018 Apr;11(4):e005797. doi: 10.1161/CIRCEP.117.005797.

    PMID: 29654130BACKGROUND
  • Yozgat Y, Kilic A, Ozdemir R, Karadeniz C, Kucuk M, Karaarslan U, Mese T, Unal N. Modified myocardial performance index is not affected in fetuses with an isolated echogenic focus in the left ventricle. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2015 Feb;28(3):333-7. doi: 10.3109/14767058.2014.916679. Epub 2014 May 22.

    PMID: 24749803BACKGROUND
  • Acharya G, Pavlovic M, Ewing L, Nollmann D, Leshko J, Huhta JC. Comparison between pulsed-wave Doppler- and tissue Doppler-derived Tei indices in fetuses with and without congenital heart disease. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2008 Apr;31(4):406-11. doi: 10.1002/uog.5292.

    PMID: 18340627BACKGROUND
  • Patey O, Carvalho JS, Thilaganathan B. Urgent neonatal balloon atrial septostomy in simple transposition of the great arteries: predictive value of fetal cardiac parameters. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2021 May;57(5):756-768. doi: 10.1002/uog.22164.

    PMID: 32730671BACKGROUND
  • Crispi F, Valenzuela-Alcaraz B, Cruz-Lemini M, Gratacos E. Ultrasound assessment of fetal cardiac function. Australas J Ultrasound Med. 2013 Nov;16(4):158-167. doi: 10.1002/j.2205-0140.2013.tb00242.x. Epub 2015 Dec 31.

    PMID: 28191192BACKGROUND
  • Acharya G, Archer N, Huhta JC. Functional assessment of the evolution of congenital heart disease in utero. Curr Opin Pediatr. 2007 Oct;19(5):533-7. doi: 10.1097/MOP.0b013e3282efd2a2.

    PMID: 17885470BACKGROUND
  • Maheshwari P, Henry A, Welsh AW. The Fetal Modified Myocardial Performance Index: Is Automation the Future? Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:215910. doi: 10.1155/2015/215910. Epub 2015 Jun 22.

    PMID: 26185751BACKGROUND
  • Herling L, Johnson J, Ferm-Widlund K, Zamprakou A, Westgren M, Acharya G. Automated quantitative evaluation of fetal atrioventricular annular plane systolic excursion. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2021 Dec;58(6):853-863. doi: 10.1002/uog.23703.

    PMID: 34096674BACKGROUND
  • Garcia-Canadilla P, Sanchez-Martinez S, Crispi F, Bijnens B. Machine Learning in Fetal Cardiology: What to Expect. Fetal Diagn Ther. 2020;47(5):363-372. doi: 10.1159/000505021. Epub 2020 Jan 7.

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  • Liu Y, Chen S, Zuhlke L, Black GC, Choy MK, Li N, Keavney BD. Global birth prevalence of congenital heart defects 1970-2017: updated systematic review and meta-analysis of 260 studies. Int J Epidemiol. 2019 Apr 1;48(2):455-463. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyz009.

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  • Cohn JN, Ferrari R, Sharpe N. Cardiac remodeling--concepts and clinical implications: a consensus paper from an international forum on cardiac remodeling. Behalf of an International Forum on Cardiac Remodeling. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2000 Mar 1;35(3):569-82. doi: 10.1016/s0735-1097(99)00630-0.

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  • Tan CMJ, Lewandowski AJ. The Transitional Heart: From Early Embryonic and Fetal Development to Neonatal Life. Fetal Diagn Ther. 2020;47(5):373-386. doi: 10.1159/000501906. Epub 2019 Sep 18.

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  • Peixoto AB, Bravo-Valenzuela NJ, Rocha LA, Araujo Junior E. Spectral Doppler, tissue Doppler, and speckle-tracking echocardiography for the evaluation of fetal cardiac function: an update. Radiol Bras. 2021 Mar-Apr;54(2):99-106. doi: 10.1590/0100-3984.2020.0052.

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  • Donofrio MT, Moon-Grady AJ, Hornberger LK, Copel JA, Sklansky MS, Abuhamad A, Cuneo BF, Huhta JC, Jonas RA, Krishnan A, Lacey S, Lee W, Michelfelder EC Sr, Rempel GR, Silverman NH, Spray TL, Strasburger JF, Tworetzky W, Rychik J; American Heart Association Adults With Congenital Heart Disease Joint Committee of the Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young and Council on Clinical Cardiology, Council on Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia, and Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing. Diagnosis and treatment of fetal cardiac disease: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2014 May 27;129(21):2183-242. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.0000437597.44550.5d. Epub 2014 Apr 24.

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  • Wieczorek A, Hernandez-Robles J, Ewing L, Leshko J, Luther S, Huhta J. Prediction of outcome of fetal congenital heart disease using a cardiovascular profile score. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2008 Mar;31(3):284-8. doi: 10.1002/uog.5177.

    PMID: 18253925BACKGROUND
  • Huhta JC. Diagnosis and treatment of foetal heart failure: foetal echocardiography and foetal hydrops. Cardiol Young. 2015 Aug;25 Suppl 2:100-6. doi: 10.1017/S104795111500089X.

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  • Erenbourg A, Barber T, Cecotti V, Faiola S, Fantasia I, Stampaljia T, Avnet H, Radzyminska-Chrusciel B, Meriki N, Welsh A. Fetal cardiac function in pregnancy affected by congenital heart disease: protocol for a multicentre prospective cohort study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2025 Jan 30;25(1):99. doi: 10.1186/s12884-025-07145-7.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Heart Defects, Congenital

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Cardiovascular AbnormalitiesCardiovascular DiseasesHeart DiseasesCongenital AbnormalitiesCongenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities

Study Officials

  • Anna Erenbourg, MD

    The University of New South Wales

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
  • Alec W Welsh, MD PhD

    The University of New South Wales

    STUDY DIRECTOR

Central Study Contacts

Anna Erenbourg, MD

CONTACT

Alec W Welsh, MD PhD

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
observational
Observational Model
COHORT
Time Perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

December 18, 2022

First Posted

January 26, 2023

Study Start

May 1, 2023

Primary Completion (Estimated)

January 1, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

February 1, 2028

Last Updated

December 10, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-11

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will share

All Individual Participant Data (IPD) that underlie results will be shared with other researchers in a publication.

Shared Documents
STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF
Time Frame
Data will become available from 6 months after publication.
Access Criteria
Data will be accessible online on request by researchers. Requests will be reviewed and evaluated by the Principal Investigator. Data will be available for meta-analyses involving the collection, checking, and re-analysis of the original data for each participant in each study.

Locations