Z-score model of foetal ascending aorta diameter distensibility

Fuli Chen; Shi Zeng; Aijiao Yi; Lihua Chen; Dan Zhou; Yushan Liu; Longmei Yao

doi:10.3389/fcvm.2022.858235

Z-score model of foetal ascending aorta diameter distensibility

Front Cardiovasc Med. 2022 Aug 11:9:858235. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.858235. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Fuli Chen^{1

2}, Shi Zeng¹, Aijiao Yi², Lihua Chen², Dan Zhou¹, Yushan Liu¹, Longmei Yao¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Ultrasound Diagnosis, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
² Department of Ultrasound Diagnosis, The Central Hospital of Yueyang City, Yueyang, China.

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study is to establish Z-scores models of normal fetal ascending aorta diameter and diameter distensibility.

Methods: The maximum systolic diameter (Dmax), minimum diastolic diameter (Dmin), and diameter distensibility of the sinotubular junction were measured and taken as dependent variables in 490 normal fetuses at 18-40 gestational weeks, and gestational age (GA), biparietal diameter (BPD), and femoral length (FL) were taken as independent variables. The data were subjected to regression analysis, and the best-fitting equations for the dependent variables based on the independent variables were determined. The fitting equations were then applied to construct the Z-scores models.

Results: The Dmax, Dmin and Diameter Distensibility in normal fetuses between 18 and 40 weeks of GA could be evaluated by utilizing the Z-scores models. Dmax and Dmin increased significantly with increasing GA, BPD, and FL. Diameter distensibility, assessed as (Dmax-Dmin)/Dmin, decreased significantly with increasing GA, BPD, and FL.

Conclusion: The Z-scores are valuable, and can be utilized as a potent supplement to the conventional approach as they can indirectly reflect the development of fetal ascending aortic elastic property.

Keywords: Z-score; aortic diameter distensibility; aortic elastic properties; fetal; prenatal.