A cut-off value of epicardial fat thickness for the prediction of large for gestational age foetuses

Abstract

Estimation of foetal weight in the prenatal period is important in many respects. For this purpose, during different periods of pregnancy; mostly in the last trimester; many methods or formulas have been described, almost of them using ultrasound. Foetal epicardial adipose tissue has previously been described as a metabolic organ in studies. Foetal epicardial fat tissue thickness (EFT) measurement has been previously described in the literature and has been associated with metabolic conditions such as preeclampsia or gestational diabetes. The purpose of this study was to determine the strength and cut-off value of EFT measured by ultrasound in the second trimester in the prediction of large for gestational age (LGA) foetuses. Epicardial fat tissue thicknesses which were recorded during second trimester anomaly screening were evaluated retrospectively. Birth weights of the same cases were also obtained from the database and analysed with IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows Version 22.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). LGA babies had thicker EFT measurements and we established a cut-off EFT value of 1.38 mm. Our results suggest that EFT thickness measured by ultrasound in the second trimester may be useful in predicting LGA foetuses.

Impact statement

• What is already known on this subject? It is known that foetal epicardial fat tissue is an adipose tissue with metabolic functions. Previously the relationship between this tissue and prenatal complications; such as, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes and infant growth and development were investigated. We planned this study considering that a tissue with metabolic functions affecting foetal growth may also affect birth weight.

• What do the results of this study add? Foetal epicardial fat thickness measurement only once in the second trimester may predict the 90th percentile limit at birth which is considered as the LGA limit.

• What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? In our study, we determined that the thickness of epicardial fat tissue measured in the second tirmester could predict the 90 th percentile limit at birth and that the cut-off value for this group was 1.38 mm. We believe that this measurement may help to determine LGA babies at birth as early as the second trimester. In future studies, the 97 percentile limit can be determined from the early weeks with reaching larger groups. Thus, babies who are likely to experience birth trauma in clinical practice can be reached from early weeks.

Keywords:

• Epicardial fat thickness
• foetal weight
• large for gestational age

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).