Myocardial Structural and Functional Assessment in Fetal Growth Restriction Infants-A Cohort Study

Area of Science:

• Neonatology
• Pediatric Cardiology
• Fetal Medicine

Background:

• Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is associated with adverse neonatal outcomes.
• Cardiac function in FGR neonates requires further investigation.
• Understanding long-term cardiac implications is essential for FGR management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess cardiac changes and catch-up growth in neonates with FGR.
• To evaluate myocardial function and deformation in FGR neonates.
• To compare cardiac parameters between FGR and adequate-for-gestational age (AGA) neonates.

Main Methods:

• Biophysical profiling and echocardiography, including myocardial deformation analysis, were performed on 77 FGR and 73 AGA neonates within the first week of life.
• Follow-up assessments were conducted at six months.
• Left ventricular global longitudinal strain and early diastolic strain rate were key metrics.

Main Results:

• FGR neonates exhibited smaller cardiac dimensions and reduced myocardial function compared to AGA neonates.
• Significantly lower left ventricular global longitudinal strain and early diastolic strain rate were observed in FGR infants.
• Cardiac abnormalities persisted at six months, with ongoing subclinical myocardial dysfunction despite catch-up growth.

Conclusions:

• Fetal growth restriction leads to persistent subclinical myocardial dysfunction in neonates.
• Catch-up growth does not fully restore cardiac function in FGR infants.
• Long-term cardiac monitoring is vital for FGR neonates to identify subtle functional impairments.