Maturational patterns of left ventricular rotational mechanics in pre-Term infants through 1 year of age

Gloria C. Lehmann*, Philip T. Levy, Meghna D. Patel, Timothy Sekarski, Hong Jie Gu, Swati Choudhry, Aaron Hamvas, Gautam K. Singh

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background:Pre-mature birth impacts left ventricular development, predisposing this population to long-Term cardiovascular risk. The aims of this study were to investigate maturational changes in rotational properties from the neonatal period through 1 year of age and to discern the impact of cardiopulmonary complications of pre-maturity on these measures.Methods:Pre-Term infants (<29 weeks at birth, n = 117) were prospectively enrolled and followed to 1-year corrected age. Left ventricular basal and apical rotation, twist, and torsion were measured by two-dimensional speckle-Tracking echocardiography and analysed at 32 and 36 weeks post-menstrual age and 1-year corrected age. A mixed random effects model with repeated measures analysis was used to compare rotational mechanics over time. Torsion was compared in infants with and without complications of cardiopulmonary diseases of pre-maturity, specifically bronchopulmonary dysplasia, pulmonary hypertension, and patent ductus arteriosus.Results:Torsion decreased from 32 weeks post-menstrual age to 1-year corrected age in all pre-Term infants (p < 0.001). The decline from 32 to 36 weeks post-menstrual age was more pronounced in infants with cardiopulmonary complications, but was similar to healthy pre-Term infants from 36 weeks post-menstrual age to 1-year corrected age. The decline was due to directional and magnitude changes in apical rotation over time (p < 0.05).Conclusion:This study tracks maturational patterns of rotational mechanics in pre-Term infants and reveals torsion declines from the neonatal period through 1 year. Cardiopulmonary diseases of pre-maturity may negatively impact rotational mechanics during the neonatal period, but the myocardium recovers by 1-year corrected age.

Original languageEnglish (US)
JournalCardiology in the young
DOIs
StateAccepted/In press - 2020

Keywords

  • Cardiac function
  • Keywords:
  • pre-maturity
  • rotational strain
  • torsion

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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