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In a group of 7,721 foetuses with a high or low risk of cardiovascular pathology of the foetus, examined by complete foetal echocardiography, the authors found hyperechogenic ventricular structures in 211 foetuses (2.73% of the group) with a dominating localization in the left ventricle (97%). These structures are in the great majority a benign development variant which involves no risk for the development of the foetus. Rare localization beyond the left ventricle were not risk for the development of the foetus. Rare localization beyond the left ventricle were not associated with cardiac or other foetal pathologies. Echogenic ventricular focuses were not visualized by transvaginal echocardiography in the 13th week of pregnancy, although they were revealed in the same patient during the 21st week. Their presence does not affect left ventricular function and the function of the mitral valve pre-or postnatally. In the differential diagnosis these structures must be always differentiated from thrombi or cardiac tumours.

The present study was designed to evaluate the side-effects of preventive tocolysis by Bricanyl on the foetal myocardium using the new serological marker of myocardial damage-troponin T (TnT). The cardiac troponin T concentration was measured by means of commercial kits (Enzymun-Test System, Boehringer Mannheim, Germany) in the cord blood of 15 neonates. TnT serum concentration of neonates exposed in utero to Bricanyl was not significantly higher (mean 0.12 +/- 0.20 microgram/l) in comparison with the normal cardiac troponin T level but 4 of 15 neonates had an elevated TnT concentration (above 0.1 microgram/l). No correlation was found between TnT and CK or CK-MB.

The investigation revealed intraindividual differences in characteristics of the short-term variability of cardiac action of normal foetus during the tenth month of pregnancy in the phase of behavioural state 1F and 2F. These conditions, in particular state 1F, are otherwise frequently the cause of false positivity of the non-stress test during antepartum monitoring because the values of the parameter of short-term variability of FHR when reading the hard print of the cardiotocogram can permit also an interpretation suggesting the diagnosis of chronic foetal hypoxia. Simultaneously the authors proposed and tested a simple supplementing device which makes it possible to evaluate continuously selected parameters of the short-term variability of cardiac action for the needs of antepartum monitoring.

Prenatal ultrasonic examination during the 28th week of gestation revealed a transient disorder of the cardiac rhythm in the foetus. Subsequently repeated echocardiographic examinations confirmed foetal hydrops which together with signs of EP gestosis of the mother was an indication to terminate pregnancy during the 29th week by Caesarean section. In the severely hydropic male foetus in the enlarged anterior wall of the right atrium an atypical vascular canal was found which was in the close vicinity of the sinoatrial node. The latter most probably caused intermittent intrauterine supraventricular tachycardia in a heart with a normal configuration in other respects.