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Left ventricle dimensions in preterm infants during the first month of life
E Zecca1, C Romagnoli, G Vento
1Division of Neonatology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168 Roma, Italy. enrizecca@rm.unicatt.it
Insights
This study tracked left ventricle dimensions in preterm infants, finding they grow significantly in the first month. Smaller initial sizes correlate with greater postnatal growth, aiding in diagnosing left ventricular hypertrophy.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Cardiology
- Pediatric Echocardiography
- Fetal and Neonatal Physiology
Background:
- Assessing cardiac development in preterm infants is crucial for early diagnosis and management.
- Establishing normative data for left ventricle dimensions is essential for identifying abnormalities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define reference values for left ventricle dimensions in preterm infants during the first month of life.
- To investigate the correlation of these dimensions with gestational age, birth weight, and gender.
- To understand the postnatal growth patterns of the preterm left ventricle.
Main Methods:
- Echocardiographic measurements of left ventricle dimensions were taken on days 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 in 35 preterm infants (gestational age 25-29 weeks).
- Key measurements included interventricular septum thickness, left ventricle posterior wall thickness, and left ventricle diameter in systole and diastole.
- Statistical analysis was performed to correlate dimensions with gestational age, birth weight, and gender.
Main Results:
- All left ventricle measurements showed a progressive and significant increase during the first month of life.
- Initial left ventricle dimensions (Day 3) correlated with birth weight but not gestational age or gender.
- The rate of postnatal increase was inversely related to baseline dimensions, indicating catch-up growth.
Conclusions:
- This study provides essential reference data for left ventricle dimensions in preterm infants.
- The findings aid in the diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy in this vulnerable population.
- Understanding postnatal growth dynamics is key for monitoring preterm infant cardiac health.
Abstract:
This study was designed to evaluate left ventricle dimensions in preterm infants during the first month of life, in order to define reference values and their correlation with gestational age, birth weight, gender and baseline. Thirty-five infants, gestational age 25-29 (mean 27.9 +/- 1.4) weeks, birth weight 750-1249 (mean 965 +/- 206) g, were measured using echocardiography on days 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 of life. The following dimensions were measured: end-systolic and end-diastolic interventricular septum thickness, end-systolic and end-diastolic left ventricle posterior wall thickness, end-diastolic and end-systolic left ventricle diameter. A progressive and significant increase of all the left ventricle measurements was observed during the first month of life. Left ventricle dimensions at the first scan (Day 3) correlated with birth weight but not with gestational age and gender. The degree of the increase observed during the first month of life was inversely related to the baseline, suggesting that the smaller the left ventricle is at birth, the higher is its postnatal increase toward dimensions similar to those of term infants. Our study gives reference data about left ventricle dimensions of preterm infants during the first month of life and is helpful when making a diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy in these subjects.