Effect of Maternal Familial Mediterranean Fever on Fetal Pulmonary Artery Acceleration/Ejection Time

Year 2023, , 124 - 131, 03.07.2023

Derya Uyan Hendem

https://doi.org/10.5505/achmedj.2023.92486

Abstract

Introduction: Autoinflammation and increase in free oxygen radicals due to
maternal familial mediterranean fever (FMF) may affect fetal lung maturation
and cause changes in fetal pulmonary artery Doppler parameters. We aimed to
investigate the fetal pulmonary artery acceleration time/ejection time (PATET)
ratio in the pregnancies complicated with familial mediterranean fever (FMF).
Methods: This cross-sectional study included 32 pregnant women with
FMF, and 64 gestational ages matched healthy pregnant women, between the 29-30 gestational weeks. Maternal characteristics and fetal ultrasonographic information were recorded. Fetal pulmonary artery acceleration
time (AT) and ejection time (ET) were measured manually and PATET ratio
were calculated in the study groups. The duration of the disease and the AT
and PATET measurements were analyzed with the Pearson correlation test.
Results: The study groups were similar in terms of maternal characteristics, gravidity, parity and gestational week at the time of examination.
AT and ET values were found to be significantly shorter and PATET (AT/
ET) was found to be significantly lower in pregnant women complicated with FMF. A moderately significant negative correlation was found
between the time elapsed since FMF diagnosis and fetal pulmonary artery acceleration time. (r=-.566, p=.001) and PATET (r=-.533, p=.002)
Conclusion: This is the first study to investigate the fetal pulmonary artery Doppler indices in the pregnancies with FMF. In the presented study, it was shown that FMF significantly shortened the fetal pulmonary acceleration and ejection time and significantly reduced
the PATET ratio. In addition, as the time elapsed from the diagnosis of
the disease increased, it was shown that the shortening in AT and the
decrease in PATET were higher, with a significant moderate negative correlation between the duration of the disease and these values.

Keywords

Familial mediterranean fever, inflammation, fetal pulmonary artery Doppler, acceleration time, ejection time