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Heart murmurs in low birth weight infants
S Rankova1, S Apostolova, N Arnaudov
1Special Care Unit for Preterm Infants, First City Hospital, Sofia, Bulgaria.
Insights
This study found a high percentage of heart murmurs in preterm infants, particularly those with low birth weight. These murmurs were often linked to anemia or issues with the ductus arteriosus.
Area of Science:
- Neonatology
- Pediatric Cardiology
Background:
- Preterm infants often present with various physiological challenges.
- Heart murmurs are a common clinical finding in neonates, requiring careful evaluation.
- The post-adaptation period in preterm infants is critical for cardiovascular adjustments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence and types of heart murmurs in preterm infants.
- To identify potential causes of heart murmurs in this vulnerable population.
- To highlight the significance of murmurs in low-birth weight infants.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of clinical data from 315 preterm infants.
- Categorization of heart murmurs based on clinical observations and investigations.
- Focus on infants admitted to a Special Care Unit for Preterm Infants.
Main Results:
- Heart murmurs were detected in 98 out of 315 preterm infants.
- Common causes included late-closing or reopening of the ductus arteriosus and anemia.
- Accidental murmurs were also observed.
- A high percentage of murmurs were noted in low-birth weight infants.
Conclusions:
- Heart murmurs are prevalent in preterm infants, especially those with low birth weight.
- Anemia and ductus arteriosus abnormalities are significant contributors to murmurs in this cohort.
- Further investigation into cardiac findings in preterm infants is warranted.
Abstract:
This study is based on 315 infants in different prematurity stages who were patients in the Special Care Unit for Preterm Infants at the First City Hospital, Sofia. Heart murmurs were observed in 98 infants. The clinical observations and investigations can be grouped as follows: 1) murmurs due to late closing or reopening of ductus arteriosus; 2) murmurs in patients with anemia; 3) murmurs in patient with anemia; and 4) accidental murmurs. The study is focused on the high percentage of heart murmurs in low-birth weight infants during the post-adaptation period.