[Transient myocardial ischemia in newborn babies with perinatal asphyxia (hypoxic cardiomyopathy)]

A prospective study in 76 newborn with perinatal asphyxia searching for myocardial ischemia was carried out. The disease was found in 51% of the patients. With electrocardiogram, myocardial enzymes, X ray and clinical manifestations the diagnosis was elaborated. No difference in the sex was present, the mean of gestational age was 35 weeks, and with mean birth weight 2,216 g, respiratory distress was present in all the people; only 20.5% developed heart failure and two had heart murmurs; 61.5% showed cardiomegaly. The creatine kinase MB isoenzyme at twelve hours after birth was raised in most of the patients. Respiratory distress syndrome was the principal diagnosis in 38%; hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and peri-intraventricular hemorrhage was present in 50 and 33% of the patients, respectively. Mortality rate was 33%. Also a comparative study in the infants with and without myocardial ischemia was carried out appearing significative difference in: 1. Cardiomegaly, 2. Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and 3. Creatine kinase MB isoenzyme.