Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 9, 2026

Murine Echocardiography of Left Atrium, Aorta, and Pulmonary Artery
08:17

Murine Echocardiography of Left Atrium, Aorta, and Pulmonary Artery

Published on: February 20, 2017

Echocardiographic evaluation of cardiac functions and left ventricular mass in children with malnutrition

B Ocal1, S Unal, P Zorlu

  • 1Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Dr Sami Ulus Children's Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. burhan.ocal@isbank.net.tr

Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health
|February 13, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Children with protein energy malnutrition (PEM) show reduced left ventricular mass (LV Mass) and cardiac output, proportional to their smaller body size. However, their heart

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Nutritional Science
  • Echocardiography

Background:

  • Protein energy malnutrition (PEM) affects multiple organ systems, including the cardiovascular system.
  • Assessing cardiac structure and function in pediatric malnutrition is crucial for understanding its impact.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate left ventricular mass (LV Mass) and systolic/diastolic functions in children with PEM.
  • To compare cardiac parameters between children with PEM and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

  • Doppler echocardiography was used to study 30 children with PEM (aged 2 months-2 years) and 17 healthy controls.
  • Participants were categorized based on malnutrition type: kwashiorkor, marasmic-kwashiorkor, and marasmus.

Main Results:

  • Children with PEM had significantly lower mean LV Mass compared to controls (P < 0.05).
  • LV Mass, septal, and posterior wall thickness were reduced proportionally to body size in PEM, with the most significant reductions in the kwashiorkor group.
  • Cardiac output was reduced in proportion to body size in PEM patients; however, cardiac index remained comparable to controls.
  • Left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions were not significantly different between groups.

Conclusions:

  • In children with PEM, LV Mass and cardiac output decrease proportionally with body size.
  • Despite reduced cardiac dimensions, left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions are preserved in malnourished children.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Evaluation of Left Ventricular Structure and Function using 3D Echocardiography06:34

Evaluation of Left Ventricular Structure and Function using 3D Echocardiography

Published on: October 28, 2020

Echocardiographic Assessment of Cardiac Anatomy and Function in Adult Rats08:09

Echocardiographic Assessment of Cardiac Anatomy and Function in Adult Rats

Published on: December 13, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System I:Echocardiography01:17

Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System I:Echocardiography

Cardiac imaging studies encompass a wide range of noninvasive and minimally invasive techniques designed to visualize the heart's structure and function in detail. One such technique is echocardiography, which uses high-frequency ultrasound waves to produce detailed images of the heart, known as echocardiograms.
Indications: Echocardiography is utilized to diagnose heart failure, valve disorders, and myocardial infarction. It also assesses cardiac structures' size, shape, and motion, evaluates...
Mitral Stenosis II: Clinical features and Diagnostic Tests01:23

Mitral Stenosis II: Clinical features and Diagnostic Tests

Mitral stenosis is a heart condition in which the mitral valve, which allows blood to flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle, becomes narrowed or stenotic. This narrowing hinders blood flow and leads to clinical symptoms requiring specific medical evaluations and management strategies. The following overview outlines the clinical symptoms, assessments, diagnostic findings, prevention methods, and treatments for mitral stenosis.Clinical ManifestationsDyspnea (shortness of breath): This...
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System II:Types of Echocardiography01:20

Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System II:Types of Echocardiography

Echocardiography plays a role in assessing cardiac health and detecting heart conditions, with various types providing critical insights for diagnosis and treatment.
Types of Echocardiography
Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE)
TTE is the most common type of echocardiogram which involves placing a transducer on the patient's chest, emitting sound waves to create heart images. TTE is invaluable for evaluating the heart's size, structure, and motion, making it particularly useful for diagnosing...
Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy01:29

Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM, is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder characterized by asymmetric left ventricular hypertrophy without ventricular dilation. It is more common in men and is typically diagnosed in young, athletic adults.EtiologyHCM is primarily genetic and is caused by mutations in genes encoding sarcomeric proteins. Researchers have identified over 1400 mutations across at least 11 different genes. Among these, the most frequently occurring mutations are found in the...
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System III: X-Ray01:20

Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System III: X-Ray

The most common cardiovascular diagnostic test is an X-ray. It produces images of the heart, blood vessels, and adjacent structures.
Definition and Purpose
An X-ray, or radiograph, is a non-invasive method that uses ionizing radiation to take images of internal structures. It is mainly used in cardiac imaging to examine the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels, aiming to identify abnormalities in the heart's size, shape, and position, such as heart failure, congenital defects, and vascular...