Do all Down syndrome babies have EIF?
All kids with down syndrome were diagnosed with EIF during the prenatal period. In other words, out of 38 neonatals with EIF after birth, 4 (10.5%) had trisomy 21 syndrome chromosomal disorders while the rest (89.5%) were healthy.
Should I worry about echogenic focus?
But echogenic intracardiac focus (EIF) is almost never something to worry about. It shows up as a bright spot on the heart in imaging, and it’s thought to be a microcalcification on the heart muscle. EIF occurs in as many as 5 percent of all pregnancies.
Does echogenic focus mean Down syndrome?
Conclusion: Fetuses with an echogenic intracardiac focus have a significantly increased risk of Down syndrome. Although most fetuses with this finding are normal, patients carrying fetuses with an echogenic intracardiac focus should be counseled about the increased risk of trisomy 21.
When does echogenic focus disappear?
Related Stories. The echogenic intracardiac focus is usually caught on an ultrasound examination in the first trimester ( about 14 weeks of pregnancy). In some cases, the condition disappears by the time the pregnant woman comes in for her next ultrasound in the second trimester.
What causes echogenic intracardiac focus in fetus?
An echogenic intracardiac focus (or EIF) is a small bright spot seen on a developing baby’s heart during an ultrasound. The cause of EIF is unknown, but the condition is generally harmless. EIF is considered a normal pregnancy variation, but prenatal screening tests may be desirable to test for any abnormalities.
Is EIF a soft marker for Down syndrome?
An echogenic intracardial focus (EIF) is an ultrasound „soft marker“ for aneuploidy, most commonly for Down syndrome and trisomy 18. An EIFs are found in about 5% of all fetuses during second trimester sonography. An EIF seems like a small bright spot in the baby’s heart ventricle.
Can echogenic focus go away?
Will the EIF go away? Most EIF seen in the middle of the pregnancy will not go away before delivery. Since they do not cause problems for the baby, there is no special concern if they are still visible at a later time. For this reason, no ultrasound follow-up is needed to watch for changes in the EIF.
How serious is echogenic intracardiac focus?
If there is more than one bright spot, they are called echogenic foci. This common ultrasound finding is seen in about 1 out of every 20 or 30 pregnancies (~3-5%). An echogenic intracardiac focus (EIF) does not affect health of the baby or how the baby’s heart works.
Does echogenic focus go away?
Most EIF seen in the middle of the pregnancy will not go away before delivery. Since they do not cause problems for the baby, additional ultrasounds to follow-up on the EIF are not needed.
Is echogenic intracardiac focus Normal?
An echogenic intracardiac focus (EIF) is a relatively common finding, even in otherwise normal fetuses. It is not a structural abnormality, but rather represents calcified deposits in the fetal heart that appear as bright spots on prenatal ultrasound.
Does EIF always mean Down syndrome?
Although the EIF doesn’t cause problems for the baby, some studies have suggested there could be a slightly increased risk for Down syndrome when this ultrasound finding is present. However, not all studies agree that there is any connection to Down syndrome.
What is soft marker for Down syndrome?
Literature Review and suggested protocol for managing ultrasound soft markers for Down syndrome: Thickened nuchal fold, echogenic bowel, shortened femur, shortened humerus, pyelectasis and absent or hypoplastic nasal bone.
When to check for Echogenic intracardiac focus in pregnancy?
It has not been found to have any long term health problems or heart problems for the baby. Most of the time, EIF is seen during the routine prenatal ultrasound done around 18 to 20 weeks in pregnancy. If there are no other ultrasound findings, the EIF is considered an “isolated” finding.
What does it mean to have an echogenic foci?
Echogenic foci are common and usually harmless. An echogenic focus, or echogenic intracardiac focus (EIF), is a bright spot on a fetus’s heart observed by ultrasound. Menu
How often does a baby have an echogenic focus?
Approximately one out of every 20 to 30 pregnancies has an echogenic focus or foci on ultrasound. It is considered a normal variation and generally doesn’t affect the baby’s heart or its functioning. It is not a heart defect and for the majority of instances in which this occurs, it poses no risk to the fetus. 1
What do you need to know about EIF during pregnancy?
Home Health Info Pregnancy EIF. An echogenic intracardiac focus (or EIF) is a small bright spot seen on a developing baby’s heart during an ultrasound. The cause of EIF is unknown, but the condition is generally harmless. EIF is considered a normal pregnancy variation, but prenatal screening tests may be desirable to test for any abnormalities.