Digoxin for the treatment of fetal congestive heart failure with sinus rhythm assessed by cardiovascular profile score

Abstract

Objective. To evaluate the effects of digoxin on the progression of congestive heart failure (CHF), and to determine the best predictors of perinatal death in fetuses with sinus rhythm and CHF.

Methods. This was a retrospective case series of fetuses with CHF treated with transplacental digoxin, evaluated at baseline (before treatment), weekly during treatment, and prior to death or delivery, using a 10-point cardiovascular profile score (CVPS) consisting of echocardiographic markers of cardiac dysfunction: cardiomegaly, valve insufficiency, hydrops, and abnormal venous and arterial Doppler flow profiles. Composite CVPS and component markers were compared before and after digoxin treatment by nonparametric testing and best predictors of perinatal survival assessed by regression analysis and receiver operating characteristics.

Results. The overall mortality of the 28 subjects was 32%. First, last, and CVPS after 1 week of treatment predicted survival (odds ratio 2.34, 95% confidence interval 1.10–4.96) with a CVPS of ≥6 being the best predictor of survival (sensitivity 0.83, specificity 0.75). All fetuses that died had notching of the umbilical venous flow. CVPS increased from baseline during treatment (p = 0.003) in all subjects.

Conclusions. The CVPS score is useful in assessing therapeutic effects of digoxin in the fetus with multiple etiologies for CHF. Further studies are needed to test the efficacy of digoxin in specific defects causing CHF.

Keywords:

• Fetus
• congestive heart failure
• congenital heart disease
• digoxin