Are maternal and sonographic factors associated with the detection of a fetal echogenic cardiac focus?
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of maternal weight and the orientation of the fetal 4-chamber heart view on the detection of a fetal echogenic cardiac focus. METHODS: In this nested case-control study, 103 women undergoing anatomic surveys at 15 to 22 weeks between January 1, 1997, and June 15, 1999, were identified as having an echogenic cardiac focus via our computerized database. A control group was selected from among the same group of patients. Data were collected from the sonography reports, prenatal records, and sonographic images of 4-chamber heart views; maternal characteristics and sonographic details were recorded, including the orientation of the 4-chamber view (apical, basilar, and right and left lateral). RESULTS: Gravidas in the echogenic cardiac focus group were more likely to be of lower weight (68.0 +/- 14.4 versus 72.9 +/- 18.3 kg; P = .04), of lower body mass index (25.5 +/- 5.3 versus 27.3 +/- 6.2 kg/m2; P = .03), of younger age (24.4 +/- 6.5 versus 26.9 +/- 6
