Abstract: Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the evaluation of fetal cardiac functions by velocity vector imaging (VVI) in pregnant women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP). Methods 100 ICP pregnant women (mild in 50 and severe in 50) and 98 healthy pregnant women and their fetuses were enrolled in our hospital between May 2016 and May 2018. All the fetuses were examined by echocardiography and the parameters were analyzed by velocity vector imaging (VVI), which included diastolic peak velocity (Vd), systolic peak velocity(Vs), peak systolic strain (S), diastolic peak strain rate (SRd) and peak systolic strain rate (SRs). Results The overall S of the left ventricle in fetuses from severe ICP group was (-11.2±1.1) %, significantly lower than in from mild ICP group or in from healthy control, the SRd was (1.5±0.2)/S, significantly lower than in fetuses from mild ICP group or in healthy group, and the SRs was (-1.7±0.1)/S, significantly lower than in from ICP mild group or in from healthy control; there was no significant difference in left ventricular Vd and Vs among the three groups (P>0.05); the overall Vd of right ventricle in fetuses from severe ICP group was (1.3±0.3) cm/s, significantly lower than or , the S was (17.6±2.5) %, significantly lower than or , the SRd was (1.6±0.6) /s, significantly lower than or , and the SRs was (-2.1±0.2) /s, significantly lower than or in from mild ICP group or healthy control group; there was no significant difference in the overall Vs of right ventricle among the three groups (P>0.05). Conclusion The early evaluation of fetal cardiac functions by VVI parameters might be beneficial in clinical practice.

Key words: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, Fetus, Echocardiography, Velocity vector imaging, Cardiac functions