Volume 33, Issue 11 (3-2026)
JSSU 2026, 33(11): 9592-9599 |
Back to browse issues page
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Hooshmandi S, Janghorbani A, Soofiabadi M, Rahaei F. Investigating the Association Between Demographic Characteristics of Pregnant Mothers and Fetal Intracardiac Echogenic Foci: A Retrospective Study. JSSU 2026; 33 (11) :9592-9599
URL: http://jssu.ssu.ac.ir/article-1-6519-en.html
URL: http://jssu.ssu.ac.ir/article-1-6519-en.html
Abstract: (50 Views)
Introduction: Echogenic intracardiac focus (EIF) is defined as a small, bright structure within the fetal heart exhibiting echogenicity equal to or greater than that of the surrounding bone. It is considered a second-trimester soft marker associated with aneuploidy in high-risk populations. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between nuchal translucency (NT) thickness and maternal demographic characteristics in fetuses presenting with echogenic intracardiac focus.
Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, 100 clinical records of pregnant women whose fetuses had echogenic intracardiac focus confirmed by fetal echocardiography were reviewed. Maternal demographic characteristics, underlying maternal diseases, and NT measurements were recorded. Pearson correlation analysis was used to evaluate the associations between variables, and statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software version 16.
Results: Based on the findings, the mean ± standard deviation of maternal and paternal ages were 29.90 ± 6.449 years and 34.19 ± 7.056 years, respectively. The mean maternal weight was 75.81 ± 10.037 kg. Additionally, 18% of the pregnant women had diabetes and 6% had lupus. The mean NT measurement among the evaluated fetuses was 2.349 ± 0.584 mm. No statistically significant association was observed between parental age or maternal weight and NT values (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that maternal demographic characteristics were not significantly associated with the risk of aneuploidy in fetuses with echogenic intracardiac focus. Therefore, echogenic intracardiac focus, as an isolated marker, may serve as a tool for identifying rather than excluding pregnancies at high risk for aneuploidy.
Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, 100 clinical records of pregnant women whose fetuses had echogenic intracardiac focus confirmed by fetal echocardiography were reviewed. Maternal demographic characteristics, underlying maternal diseases, and NT measurements were recorded. Pearson correlation analysis was used to evaluate the associations between variables, and statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software version 16.
Results: Based on the findings, the mean ± standard deviation of maternal and paternal ages were 29.90 ± 6.449 years and 34.19 ± 7.056 years, respectively. The mean maternal weight was 75.81 ± 10.037 kg. Additionally, 18% of the pregnant women had diabetes and 6% had lupus. The mean NT measurement among the evaluated fetuses was 2.349 ± 0.584 mm. No statistically significant association was observed between parental age or maternal weight and NT values (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that maternal demographic characteristics were not significantly associated with the risk of aneuploidy in fetuses with echogenic intracardiac focus. Therefore, echogenic intracardiac focus, as an isolated marker, may serve as a tool for identifying rather than excluding pregnancies at high risk for aneuploidy.
Keywords: Echogenic intracardiac focus, Nuchal translucency measurement, Maternal demographic information.
Type of Study: Original article |
Subject:
Pediatrics
Received: 2025/09/14 | Accepted: 2026/03/6 | Published: 2026/03/6
Received: 2025/09/14 | Accepted: 2026/03/6 | Published: 2026/03/6
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
