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Echocardiographic profile of infants of diabetic mothers
Insights
Infants of diabetic mothers (IDM) may experience transient septal hypertrophy. Echocardiograms showed this condition normalized within six months, suggesting prematurity as a potential cause.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Neonatology
- Pediatric Cardiology
Background:
- Infants of diabetic mothers (IDM) are at increased risk for various neonatal complications.
- Cardiac abnormalities, including septal hypertrophy, have been observed in IDM.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and natural course of septal hypertrophy in infants of diabetic mothers (IDM).
Main Methods:
- Echocardiographic M-mode examinations were performed on 30 infants of diabetic mothers.
- Measurements of intraventricular septal thickness (IVS) and left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPW) were analyzed.
- Follow-up echocardiograms were conducted on 15 patients at different ages.
Main Results:
- No infant showed an increased IVS/LVPW ratio within the first six months of life.
- One patient exhibited systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve (SAM) without left ventricular outflow tract obstruction.
- All cardiac dimensions normalized within six months in the studied infants.
Conclusions:
- Transient, asymmetrical septal hypertrophy may occur in infants of diabetic mothers.
- This cardiac finding appears to be temporary and resolves within six months.
- Prematurity might be a contributing factor to the observed septal hypertrophy in IDM.
Abstract:
Echocardiographic M-mode examinations were performed in 30 infants of diabetic mothers (IDM). Twelve of them had severe symptoms with hyperbilirubinemia, respiratory distress syndrome, septicemia and hypoglycemia in the neonatal period. The gestational age ranged from the 34th week to the 40th week, the birth weight ranging between 2280 g and 5820 g (mean 3455 g). Fifteen patients were restudied at different ages. In group A (age 1-14 days) out of 23, in group B (age 14 days-6 months) 5 from 13 IDM and in group C (older than 6 months, (n=10) no IDM had an increased ratio of intraventricular septal thickness (IVS) to left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPW). One patient showed a systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve (SAM) without having other symptoms for a left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. All measured dimensions normalized within 6 months. It is concluded that a form of prematurity may be responsible for the transient, asymmetrical, septal hypertrophy.