Intracardiac echogenic focus: No apparent association with structural cardiac abnormality

Objective: The aim of our study was to evaluate whether intracardiac echoge nic foci (ICEFs) may be associated with increased risk for structural cardi ac anomalies in the low-risk population. Methods: During a 24-month period, 3,744 low-risk patients were prospectively screened for ICEFs by prenatal sonography. The study group was composed of 138 fetuses (3.7%) with ICEF. T he control group was composed of 167 fetuses without ICEF. In all fetuses a complete echocardiographic evaluation was performed. Results: Among the 13 8 fetuses in the study group, 108 (78%) ICEFs were found in the left ventri cle, 25 (18%) were found in the right ventricle, and 5 (4%) were found to b e bilateral. No statistically significant difference was found between the study and the control group regarding the presence of cardiac anomalies. On ly 1 case (0.7%) of pulmonic stenosis was found in the study group, compare d to 1 case (0.6%) of bicuspid aortic valve in the control group. Conclusio ns: We conclude that ICEFs found in low-risk patients are not associated wi th a significant increase in the risk of cardiac anomalies. Copyright (C) 2 000 S. Karger AG, Basel.