Ultrasound evaluation of the cardiovascular system in offspring conceived through assisted reproductive technology

J Assist Reprod Genet. 2024 Mar;41(3):623-634. doi: 10.1007/s10815-024-03029-5. Epub 2024 Jan 20.

Abstract

With the widespread application of assisted reproductive technology, the health issues of offspring conceived through assisted reproductive technology have also received increasing attention. Animal experiments and clinical studies have found subclinical adverse changes in the cardiovascular system of assisted reproductive offspring. Assisted reproductive technology itself may be just one of the many factors contributing to this phenomenon, with epigenetics playing an important role. Ultrasound technology can be used to assess the morphological structure and function of the cardiovascular system in assisted reproductive offspring from the fetal stage, providing the possibility to study the potential cardiovascular damage in this large population. This review aims to explore the effects and mechanisms of assisted reproductive technology on the cardiovascular system of offspring and provide a review of the research progress in ultrasound technology in this area.

Keywords: Assisted reproductive technology; Echocardiography; Vascular ultrasound.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cardiovascular System* / diagnostic imaging
  • Reproductive Techniques, Assisted* / adverse effects
  • Ultrasonography