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Cardiac left heart morphology and function in newborns with intrauterine growth restriction: relevance for long-term

Gabriela Corina Zaharie1, Monica Hasmasanu2, Ligia Blaga3

  • 1Neonatology department, Cluj Napoca, Romania Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy. gabrielazaharie1966@gmail.com.

Medical Ultrasonography
|February 20, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Newborns from intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) pregnancies show reduced left heart dimensions and increased systolic dysfunction, identified by the myocardial performance index (MPI). These cardiac changes are a hallmark of IUGR adaptation.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Cardiology
  • Fetal Medicine
  • Pediatric Cardiology

Background:

  • Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) affects fetal development, potentially impacting neonatal cardiac function.
  • Cardiac morphology and function in IUGR newborns require detailed assessment for early identification of abnormalities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate cardiac morphology and functional changes in newborns from IUGR pregnancies.
  • To compare cardiac parameters between IUGR neonates and appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) controls.

Main Methods:

  • Serial echocardiographies were performed on IUGR infants at delivery, and at 1 and 6 months.
  • IUGR newborns were compared to AGA controls regarding gestational age and cardiac measurements.

Main Results:

  • IUGR newborns exhibited significantly smaller left heart dimensions compared to AGA babies.
  • Systolic dysfunction, indicated by a myocardial performance index (MPI) > 0.47, was prevalent in 40% of IUGR neonates versus 4.76% of controls.
  • Left ventricular size increased during follow-up in the IUGR group (p<0.05).

Conclusions:

  • IUGR is associated with reduced left ventricle dimensions in newborns compared to AGA infants.
  • The MPI is a key indicator of left heart function in neonates.
  • Systolic dysfunction is a characteristic cardiac adaptation in neonates affected by IUGR.
Abstract

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