Journal of Reproduction & Infertility

Journal of Reproduction & Infertility

The Effect of Fetal Intrauterine Blood Transfusion on Ductal Arterial Blood Flow Velocity and Cardiac Output Changes in Fetuses with Rhesus Alloimmunization-Related Anemia

Authors
Behrokh Sahebdel 1
Mohammad Nasir Hematian 2
Zohreh Heidary 3
Fatemeh Rahimi-Sharbaf 1
Fatemeh Golshahi 1
Mahboobeh Shirazi 1
Nafiseh Saedi 1
Faezeh Mahdavi Omran 4
Zahra Moradi 1
Sodabeh Rezaei 1
1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yas Hospital complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2 Department of Perinatology and Fetal Cardiology, Yas Hospital complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3 Vali-E-Asr Reproductive Health Research Center, Family Health Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4 Department of Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, Babol University of medical sciences, Babol, Iran
Abstract
Background: Echocardiographic indicators may be useful as an alternative method to determine the appropriate time for intervention, especially when Doppler assessment of the middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity (MCA-PSV) is inconclusive. In this study, arterial duct blood flow and cardiac output of fetuses with Rh alloimmunization-related anemia were compared before and after intrauterine transfusion (IUT). Methods: Fifty intrauterine blood transfusions were performed on anemic fetuses in this study. All cases were attributed to Rh alloimmunization, detected with MCA-PSV Doppler ultrasound imaging assessments. They all underwent intrauterine blood transfusion and echocardiographic assessments a day before and 24 hr after the procedure. The measured cardiac indices included the velocity time integral (VTI) of the aortic and pulmonary valves, the ductus arteriosus acceleration-to-ejection time (AT/ET) ratio, and the MCA-PSV. Analyses were performed in SPSS v24 (p<0.05) using paired t-tests for mean differences and Pearson’s correlation for associations between continuous variables. Results: Aortic and pulmonary valve VTI, MCA-PSV, and ductus arteriosus AT/ET ratio significantly decreased after intrauterine blood transfusion (p<0.001). The aortic valve VTI and ductus arteriosus accurately detected anemia, with areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of 99.9% and 98.9%, respectively. Conclusion: All the measured parameters showed significant changes after intrauterine blood transfusion. Aortic valve VTI and ductus arteriosus AT/ET ratio seem to have the highest accuracy in detecting anemia. Echocardiographic assessment can be beneficial in defining the appropriate time for intrauterine blood transfusion in cases where MCA-PSV is inefficient.
Keywords
Ductus arteriosus
echocardiography
Intrauterine blood transfusion
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Journal of Reproduction & Infertility
Volume 26, Issue 4
Summer 2025
Pages 248-254