Left ventricle dimensions in preterm infants during the first month of life

Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate left ventricle dimensions in preterm infants during the first month of life, in order to define reference values and their correlation with gestational age, birth weight, gender and baseline. Thirty-five infants, gestational age 25-29 (mean 27.9 +/- 1.4) weeks, birth weight 750-1249 (mean 965 +/- 206) g, were measured using echocardiography on days 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 of life. The following dimensions were measured: end-systolic and end-diastolic interventricular septum thickness, end-systolic and end-diastolic left ventricle posterior wall thickness, end-diastolic and end-systolic left ventricle diameter. A progressive and significant increase of all the left ventricle measurements was observed during the first month of life. Left ventricle dimensions at the first scan (Day 3) correlated with birth weight but not with gestational age and gender. The degree of the increase observed during the first month of life was inversely related to the baseline, suggesting that the smaller the left ventricle is at birth, the higher is its postnatal increase toward dimensions similar to those of term infants. Our study gives reference data about left ventricle dimensions of preterm infants during the first month of life and is helpful when making a diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy in these subjects.

Ultrasonographic Spleen Dimensions in Preterm Infants During the First 3 Months of Life

“…A statistically significant difference in normal values between term and preterm neonates was constantly reported. 1,2,4 The spleen is a secondary lymphoid organ and both a lake and a filter of the blood. 10,11 Moreover, some perinatal events can affect its function and size.…”

“…This practically dictates a particular investigation on preterm subjects to establish nomograms when we refer to the size of various organs or the values of laboratory tests concerning this pediatric population. [1][2][3][4] The only information we found in the literature about normal spleen dimensions in preterm neonates was a study in which neonates were ultrasonographically examined within their first week of life. 5 To our knowledge, the spleen size of prematurely born neonates and infants during the early period of life has not yet been investigated; thus, it is not clear whether it is reliable to refer to nomograms based on terms and, if so, how to use them.…”

The Transitional Heart: From Early Embryonic and Fetal Development to Neonatal Life

“…In animal studies, the early exposure to a high resistance and hyperoxic ex utero environment causes the immature hyperplastic fetal cardiomyocytes to undergo significant hypertrophy, increased interstitial collagen deposition, and abnormal functional properties during postnatal development [67,68]. Similarly, recent studies in humans using echocardiography and MRI have highlighted that preterm infants display disproportionate postnatal hypertrophy, accompanied with a reduction in LV diastolic function and a persistent reduction in RV systolic function [10,134,135].…”

Preterm Birth and Hypertension Risk

“…Preterm birth has been described to result in cardiac dysfunction that can be detected in infants at a very early age. 39,40 In preterm infants, a progressive increase of left ventricular dimensions was reported in the first month of life, 41 as well as discreet left ventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunction at the same age. 40 Later in life, preterm-born children at 5 years of age exhibited increased interventricular septum thickness and smaller left ventricular cavity diameters compared with those born at term, which is indicative of premature cardiac hypertrophy.…”