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Risk factors and prognostic significance of altered left ventricular geometry in preterm infants

Journal of Perinatology volume 38, pages 543–549 (2018)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy (LVH) predicts adverse cardiac events in adults. We sought to determine the risk factors and prognostic significance of altered LV geometry in preterm infants.

Study design:

In an echocardiographic, single-center, retrospective case–control study we investigated the risk factors and outcomes in patients with altered LV geometry (either increased left ventricular mass index (LVMI) or increased relative wall thickness (RWT)) from a cohort of 503 preterm infants ≤2 kg.

Result:

Altered LV geometry was seen in 180 patients and was predicted by postnatal steroids and small for gestational age. Hospital stay was longer in the elevated RWT cases. Altered LV geometry resolved in 129 of the 131 cases with follow-up echocardiogram. Fifteen of 94 patients with elevated RWT died compared to 3/90 controls (P = 0.004).

Conclusion:

Altered LV geometry in preterm infants is associated with postnatal steroid use and small for gestational age. Elevated RWT is associated with longer hospital stay and increased mortality.

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Funding

Funding

This work was supported in part by a grant from the Premature and Respiratory Outcomes Program (PROP) National Institutes of Health (NIH) (grant U01 HL101794 and HL1014650).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA

    Swati Choudhry, Tyler W. Cunningham, Philip T. Levy, Brian P. Hackett, Gautam K. Singh & Mark C. Johnson

  2. Department of Biostatistics, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA

    Amber Salter

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Goryeb Children’s Hospital, Morristown, NJ, USA

    Philip T. Levy

Authors
  1. Swati Choudhry
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  2. Amber Salter
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  3. Tyler W. Cunningham
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  4. Philip T. Levy
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  5. Brian P. Hackett
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  6. Gautam K. Singh
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  7. Mark C. Johnson
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Contributions

MCJ and SC conceptualized and designed the study, drafted the initial manuscript, critically reviewed, revised, and approved the final manuscript as submitted. AS carried out the statistical analyses and critically reviewed and revised the manuscript. TWC collected data and critically reviewed the manuscript. PTL, BPH, and GKS designed the data collection and critically reviewed and revised the manuscript. All authors approved the final manuscript as submitted and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mark C. Johnson.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Choudhry, S., Salter, A., Cunningham, T.W. et al. Risk factors and prognostic significance of altered left ventricular geometry in preterm infants. J Perinatol 38, 543–549 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-018-0047-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-018-0047-5

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