Cardiac left heart morphology and function in newborns with intrauterine growth restriction: relevance for long-term assessment.

Aim: To asses the cardiac morphology and functional changes specific for newborns from intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) pregnancies.

Material And Method: A cohort of IUGR infants were evaluated by serial echocardiographies at delivery and at the first and six months follow-ups. IUGR newborn delivery status was compared to that of newborns in the control group according to gestational age (AGA).

Results: Left heart measurements were significantly lower in IUGR newborns compared to AGA babies. Left ventricular size increased at follow-up inthe IUGR group (p<0.05). Systolic dysfunction (the myocardial performance index (MPI)> 0.47) was identified in 40% of the neonates in the IUGR group (16/40), respectively 4.76% in the control group. IUGR neonates had a significantly increased proportion of systolic malfunction (p=0.004).

Conclusion:  IUGR patients had reduced left ventricle dimensions compared to AGA babies. The MPI stands out as a marker of leftheart function in newborns. Systolic dysfunction was a hallmark of the cardiac adaptation in IUGR neonates.