Aims-To compare the respiratory health and function at 8 to 9 years of age of a total population based cohort of 300 very low birthweight (VLBW) children with that of two classroom controls (n=590) matched for age and sex. Study design-Cohort study with controls. Setting-Schools throughout Scotland. Results-The VLBW children were more likely than their peers to use an inhaler, to be absent from school, and to be admitted to hospital because of respiratory illness. They were significantly shorter than their classroom controls, but even after adjusting for differences in height, the VLBW children had reduced forced vital capacity (FVC); this was associated with a history of prolonged ventilation (>28 days) and pneumothorax in the neonatal period. There were no significant differences between the groups in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV,)/FVC but twice as many (7.9% v 3.7%) of the VLBW children had ratios <700/0, denoting obstructive airways disease. Poor expiratory function was associated with neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, prolonged ventilation, and the need for >40Gb oxygen. Exercise induced airway narrowing was increased in VLBW children (odds ratio=2-0; 95% confidence interval 1*2 to 3.4) and was very little changed by adjustment for inhaler use and exposure to cigarette smoke.Conclusions-As in other low birthweight cohorts, respiratory morbidity was increased. Unlike previous studies, FVC was more affected than expiratory function in this VLBW population. Our findings support the hypothesis that poorer lung function is associated with very low birth weight, but not with intrauterine growth retardation.

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Congenital heart defects can be diagnosed during fetal life using echocardiography. Prenatal diagnosis allows full investigation of affected fetuses for coexisting abnormalities, and gives time for parents to be informed about the prognosis of the fetus and treatments that might be required. In a minority of cases, where the natural history suggests an unfavourable outcome, prenatal diagnosis provides an opportunity for fetal cardiac intervention. For some cardiac lesions, notably hypoplastic left heart syndrome, transposition of the great arteries, and coarctation of the aorta, prenatal diagnosis has been shown to reduce postnatal morbidity and mortality. Some costs of care, notably the transport of critically ill infants, are reduced by prenatal diagnosis. Prenatal screening programmes typically recommend detailed assessment of fetuses judged to be at high risk of congenital heart disease. However, most cases of congenital heart disease arise in the low-risk population, and detection of affected fetuses in this setting depends on recognizing abnormalities of the heart during the midtrimester scan. Evidence supports the use of structured training interventions and feedback to those undertaking sonographic examinations, to improve the prenatal detection of congenital heart disease.

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Objective: Diazoxide is first-line treatment for hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia (HH) but diazoxide-induced pulmonary hypertension (PH) can occur. We aim to characterize the incidence and risk factors of diazoxide-induced PH in a large HH cohort to provide recommendations for anticipating and preventing PH in diazoxide-treated patients with HH. Design and Patients:Retrospective cohort study involving four UK regional HH centres; review of case notes of HH patients on diazoxide. Measurements:The diagnosis of PH was based on clinical and echocardiography evidence. Patient and treatment-related risk factors were analysed for association.Results: Thirteen (6 men) of 177 HH diazoxide-treated patients developed PH, an incidence of 7%. In the PH group, HH was diagnosed at median (range) of 9 (1,180) days, with diazoxide commenced 4 (0,76) days from diagnosis and reaching a maximum dose of 7 (2.5,20) mg/kg/d. The majority (8 of 13 patients) developed PH within 2 weeks of diazoxide. Complete diazoxide withdrawal, but not dose reduction, led to PH resolution at 41 (3,959) days. In three patients, PH continued beyond 12 months.Risk factors for the development of PH included the presence of congenital heart disease (CHD) (P = .008), and total fluid volume exceeding 130 mL/kg/d in the immediate 24 hours preceding diazoxide (P = .019). Conclusion:Pulmonary hypertension can occur in 7% of diazoxide-treated HH patients. Risk factors include the presence of congenital heart disease and fluid overload.Recommendations include echocardiography and fluid restriction to 130 mL/kg/d prior to diazoxide treatment and immediate discontinuation of diazoxide if PH develops. K E Y W O R D Sdiazoxide, echocardiography, hyperinsulinism, hypoglycaemia, pulmonary hypertension | 771 CHEN Et al.

Fetuses with CoA have lower left ventricular longitudinal systolic strain, systolic strain rate and diastolic strain rate when compared with gestational age-matched control fetuses. These differences in deformation might explain, at least in part, the cardiac asymmetry observed in fetuses with CoA. Copyright © 2016 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

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