Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of Brain Metabolism in Fetuses With Congenital Heart Disease

BACKGROUND Congenital heart disease (CHD) remains a significant risk factor for neurologic injury because altered fetal hemodynamics may be unable to support typical brain development during critical periods of growth and maturation. OBJECTIVES The primary objective was to assess differences in the cerebral biochemical profile between healthy fetuses and fetuses with complex CHD and to relate these with infant outcomes. METHODS Pregnant participants underwent fetal magnetic resonance imaging with cerebral proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy acquisitions as part of a prospective observational study. Cerebral metabolites of N-acetyl aspartate, creatine, choline, myo-inositol, scyllo-inositol, lactate, and relevant ratios were quantified using LCModel. RESULTS We acquired 503 proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy images (controls = 333; CHD = 170) from 333 participants (controls = 221; CHD = 112). Mean choline levels were higher in CHD compared with controls (CHD 2.47 IU [Institutional Units] +/- 0.44 and Controls 2.35 IU +/- 0.45; P = 0.02), whereas N-acetyl aspartate:choline ratios were lower among CHD fetuses compared with controls (CHD 1.34 +/- 0.40 IU vs controls 1.44 +/- 0.48 IU; P = 0.001). Cerebral lactate was detected in all cohorts but increased in fetuses with transposition of the great arteries and single-ventricle CHD (median: 1.63 [IQR: 0.56-3.27] in transposition of the great arteries and median: 1.28 [IQR: 0-2.42] in single-ventricle CHD) compared with 2-ventricle CHD (median: 0.79 [IQR: 0-1.45]). Cerebral lactate also was associated with increased odds of death before discharge (OR: 1.75; P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS CHD is associated with altered cerebral metabolites in utero, particularly in the third trimester period of pregnancy, which is characterized by exponential brain growth and maturation, and is associated with survival to hospital discharge. The long-term neurodevelopmental consequences of these findings warrant further study.

Automated summary

The study found that fetuses with complex congenital heart disease (CHD) have altered cerebral metabolites, particularly in the third trimester of pregnancy. These alterations are associated with survival to hospital discharge and warrant further study on the long-term neurodevelopmental consequences.