EIF is the observation of a bright white spot in the heart
during ultrasonographic evaluation of the Echogenic Intracardiac Foci fetus. It
is very rare to see it in the first 3 months of pregnancy. It can be seen in
4-7% in the second 3 months. Those seen in the middle months of pregnancy often
disappear in the last 2 months. It is more common in people of Asian race.
It is thought to be due to microcalcification and fibrosis
within the heart. Since it is not related to a structural anomaly and
myocardial dysfunction in the heart, it often disappears by itself after birth,
it cannot be seen.
When echogenic intracardiac focus (monitoring of brightness
in the heart) is detected, it should be investigated with advanced ultrasonography
to see if there is any other anomaly. Fetal echocardiography should be
performed. If there is no other accompanying anomaly, intracardiac echogenic
focus alone is not a bad indication, a problem is not frequently encountered in
these babies.
Screening tests (double, triple, and quadruple tests) of
prenatal down syndrome should also be performed in pregnancies with echogenic
focus. This is not an additional application, since it is already recommended
in every pregnancy that is normal today.
-ANAL ATRESIA
-ANENCEPHALY
-CONGENITAL ANOMALIES
-DOWN SYNDROME (TRISOMY 21)
-ECHOGENIC INTRACARDIAC FOCUS
