ANALYSIS OF FACTORS INFLUENCING VENTRICULAR FILLING PATTERNS IN FETUSES OF TYPE-I DIABETIC MOTHERS

In an effort to determine the factors influencing the abnormal ventric ular filling patterns of fetuses of type I diabetic mothers, Doppler f low velocity waveforms were recorded from fetal atrioventricular valve s in 37 pregnancies complicated by type I diabetes immediately before an elective cesarean section. The ratio between the peak velocities du ring early passive ventricular filling and active atrial filling was c alculated at the level of both atrioventricular valves and related to different factors including ventricular chamber wall thickness, heart rate, umbilical vein hematocrit and time to peak velocities values obt ained at the outflow tract. Multiple stepwise regression demonstrated that the interventricular wall thickness, heart rate and hematocrit va lues significantly and independently affected the ratios between early and active ventricular filling from mitral and tricuspid valves. As a consequence all these factors should be taken into account in the int erpretation of atrioventricular Doppler indices.