Cardiac Structure and Function in 8- to 12-Year-Old Children Following In-Utero Exposure to Preeclampsia (FINNCARE...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Cardiology
• Cardiovascular Health
• Pregnancy Complications

Background:

• Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy complication with potential long-term effects on offspring cardiovascular health.
• Understanding the impact of prenatal PE exposure on children's cardiac development is crucial for early intervention.
• This study investigates cardiac structure and function in preadolescent children exposed to PE.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate cardiac structure and function in children exposed to preeclampsia (PE).
• To examine the relationship between PE exposure, maternal/gestational factors, and child body composition.
• To identify predictors of cardiac remodeling in children with a history of PE.

Main Methods:

• Echocardiography was used to assess cardiac structure and function in 182 PE-exposed and 85 non-exposed children (aged 8-12 years).
• Office, central, and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressures were measured.
• Body anthropometrics and composition were analyzed.

Main Results:

• PE-exposed children exhibited a more globular right ventricle and altered diastolic function compared to controls.
• These cardiac differences were more pronounced in children exposed to early-onset PE.
• Lean body mass, adiposity, and blood pressure were independent predictors of left ventricular mass and left atrial volume.

Conclusions:

• Preadolescent children exposed to PE display subtle but significant alterations in cardiac structure and function, especially the right ventricle.
• Lean body mass, adiposity, and systolic blood pressure are key factors associated with cardiac remodeling in these children.
• These findings suggest that PE exposure can lead to early-onset cardiac remodeling in children, highlighting the need for long-term cardiovascular monitoring.