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Growth dynamics of the heart from perinatal period to childhood
A Ishii1, S Tatsunami, I Satoh
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan.
Insights
This study models perinatal cardiac growth, revealing differing growth rates for mitral valve, tricuspid valve, and total heart dimensions. These parameters show continuous growth until approximately 3.5 years post-birth, then reach saturation.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Developmental Biology
- Pediatric Cardiology
Background:
- Accurate diagnosis of fetal and newborn heart disease requires understanding normal cardiac development.
- Existing models may not fully capture the nuances of perinatal cardiac morphology changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a theoretical model of perinatal cardiac growth.
- To provide data for improved diagnosis of fetal and newborn heart conditions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized ultrasonic cross-section imaging to measure cardiac dimensions in 45 fetuses and children.
- Collected data on mitral valve ring, tricuspid valve ring, and total cardiac dimensions.
- Employed computer simulation based on biological development theories.
Main Results:
- Identified distinct growth rates for mitral valve ring, tricuspid valve ring, and total cardiac dimensions during perinatal development.
- Observed continuous growth in these parameters from fetal stage up to approximately 3.5 years after birth.
- Determined a growth saturation level for these cardiac morphological parameters around 3.5 years of age.
Conclusions:
- The developed theoretical model accurately reflects perinatal cardiac growth patterns.
- Understanding these specific growth trajectories is crucial for diagnosing congenital and acquired pediatric heart diseases.
- Cardiac morphological parameters reach a stable growth phase in early childhood.
Abstract:
In order to obtain information useful for the diagnosis of fetus and newborn heart disease, we established a theoretical model of perinatal cardiac growth. We measured with the use of ultrasonic cross-section imaging system the mitral valve ring dimension, tricuspid valve ring dimension, and total cardiac dimension as morphological parameters of the heart in 45 cases composed of fetuses and children. The obtained data were entered into a computer. With the use of these data, simulation was made on the basis of the general theory of biological development. The present simulation showed that from the fetal stage to childhood the growth rates of the foregoing three morphological parameters mutually differ, but during the period of growth to the age of 12 years of the present study, they all demonstrated continuous growth up to 3 1/2 years after birth when they reached a growth saturation level.