Related Experiment Videos
Analysis of growth in the VATER association
Insights
VATER association often leads to postnatal growth deficiency in children, affecting nearly half of patients studied. Severe cardiac defects were significantly linked to this growth impairment.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric endocrinology
- Clinical genetics
- Developmental biology
Background:
- VATER association is a complex congenital condition affecting multiple organ systems.
- Understanding growth patterns in VATER association is crucial for long-term patient management.
- Postnatal growth is a key indicator of overall health and development in children.
Observation:
- This study analyzed growth patterns in 31 patients diagnosed with VATER association.
- Growth deficiency (below -2 SDs) was observed in 45% of patients during the first three years of life.
- The remaining 55% exhibited growth below the 50th percentile, though within the normal range.
Findings:
- Postnatal growth deficiency occurred in 14 out of 31 patients with VATER association.
- Severe cardiac defects were significantly correlated with growth deficiency in these patients (64% of growth-deficient cases).
- In some cases, no specific cause for growth deficiency was identified.
Implications:
- Early identification of growth deficiency in VATER association is important for timely intervention.
- The strong link between cardiac defects and growth issues highlights the need for integrated care.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms behind unexplained growth deficiency in VATER patients.
Abstract:
Analysis of growth in 31 patients with the VATER association showed that 14 (45%) of these patients experienced postnatal growth deficiency (greater than -2 SDs) for at least the first three years of life or beyond. The other 17 patients (55%) had growth that fell within the normal range but which was usually less than the 50th percentile during at least the first three years of life. Severe cardiac defect was present in nine (64%) of the growth-deficient patients and was the only defect that was significantly correlated with growth deficiency. No explanation for the deficiency in growth in the other five children was found. When growth deficiency was present, it was of postnatal onset.