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Published on: September 6, 2017
[Electroencephalographic and neurodevelopmental disorders in severe congenital heart disease: A follow-up study]
Francisco José Esquivel-Hernández1, Gustavo Gabriel Mendieta-Alcántara2, Francisco Bernardo Pliego-Rivero1
1Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca, Edo. de México, México.
Insights
Congenital heart defects significantly impact infant brain function, as shown by abnormal electroencephalography and neurodevelopmental tests. These central nervous system alterations persist over time in affected children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Cardiology
Context:
- Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are the most common birth malformations.
- Early developmental windows are critical for neurological development.
- Understanding the neurological impact of CHDs is crucial for timely intervention.
Purpose:
- To assess the short- and medium-term effects of severe congenital heart defects on central nervous system (CNS) function.
- To compare neurological outcomes between infants with CHDs and healthy controls.
- To evaluate the persistence of CNS alterations in infants with CHDs.
Summary:
- This study utilized traditional and quantitative electroencephalography (EEG) and neurodevelopmental testing in 21 infants with severe CHDs and 19 controls.
- Infants with CHDs showed persistent abnormalities in both traditional and quantitative EEG, particularly in theta band activity.
- Neurodevelopmental assessments revealed that 86% of CHD cases maintained abnormal diagnoses, with hypotonia being common.
Impact:
- Congenital heart defects have a profound and lasting impact on central nervous system function.
- Quantitative and traditional EEG are valuable tools for detecting neurological dysfunction in infants with CHDs.
- Early identification of CNS alterations in CHD patients can inform targeted developmental support and interventions.
Abstract:
Congenital heart defects are the most common malformations at birth. Due to the fact that the developmental windows at early stages close rapidly, the aim of this study was to determine the impact of congenital heart defects on the central nervous system at short and medium terms after applying traditional and quantitative electroencephalography techniques and a test of neurodevelopment. Twenty-one patients (8-27 months, x = 14.8) with severe congenital heart defects who had been studied previously, and a control group of 19 healthy children (8-29 months, x = 14.6) were included. In all of them traditional electroencephalography, quantitative electroencephalography, and a test of neurodevelopment were performed. The results between groups (control vs. congenital heart defects) and between congenital heart defects (previous vs. present) were compared. In the second evaluation, congenital heart defect children maintained abnormal quantitative and traditional electroencephalography recordings. Comparing quantitative electroencephalography among congenital heart defects (previous vs. present) and between controls and congenital heart defects, significant differences of theta band activity in frontal, central, and temporal leads were found (p < 0.05). Upon assessing neurodevelopment, 86% of the previously studied congenital heart defect cases kept the same diagnosis of abnormality, of which mild-to-moderate hypotone was the most frequently observed. As hypothesized, congenital heart defect diseases have a very important impact on central nervous system function as determined by neurodevelopmental testing and traditional and quantitative electroencephalography recordings. The alterations observed persisted throughout the period studied.
