Normal reference ranges for the left ventricular mass and left ventricular mass index in preterm infants.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to establish normal reference ranges for the left ventricular mass (LVM) and LVM index (LVMI) in preterm infants according to the body surface area (BSA) and assess their correlation with body weight and gestational age. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In a prospective study, 268 preterm babies who fulfilled the criteria for inclusion were examined. Echocardiograms were performed to measure the LVM and LVMI on 0-6 day (s) of life and at weekly intervals until the babies reached 36 weeks. The preterm infants were divided into six groups according to their BSA: 0.07-0.08 m2, 0.09-0.10 m2, 0.11-0.12 m2, 0.13-0.14 m2, 0.15-0.16 m2, and 0.17-0.19 m2. RESULTS: The mean gestational age was 29.8 (±2.38 standard deviation [SD]) weeks, ranging from 24 to 35 weeks. The mean body weight was 1479 (±413 SD) g, ranging from 588 to 3380 g, and the mean BSA was 0.13 m2, ranging from 0.07 to 0.19 m2. The LVM correlated well with the gestational age, body weight, and BSA. The LVMI correlated well with body weight and BSA. Reference ranges with the mean ± SD, range, and interquartile range were calculated for the LVM and LVMI according to the BSA. A significant gradual increase was observed in a LVM with increasing BSA. Overall, a progressive and significant increase in the LVM was observed during the first 9 weeks of life. CONCLUSION: The LVM and LVMI exhibited a significant correlation with the BSA and body weight. This study provides reference data that can be used as a normal reference tool for the LVM and LVMI for preterm infants based on the BSA.

Normal reference ranges for cardiac valve cross-sectional areas in preterm infants.

OBJECTIVE: To establish normal reference ranges for cardiac valve crosssectional areas (CSAs) in preterm infants and their correlation with gestational age, body weight, and chronological age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a prospective study, 268 preterm babies fulfilling the criteria for inclusion were examined. Echocardiograms were performed to measure aortic, pulmonary, mitral, and tricuspid valve CSAs on 0-6 day (s) of life and at weekly intervals until they reached 36 weeks. Gestational age was divided into three groups, 24-27, 28-31, and 32-35 weeks, and body weight was divided into five groups, ≤999, 1000-1499, 1500-1999, 2000-2499, and ≥2500 g. Overall group differences were compared for each period of life: 0-6 days and 1-2, 3-4, and ≥5 weeks. RESULTS: The mean gestational age was 29.8 (±2.38 standard deviation [SD]) weeks, ranging between 24 and 35 weeks, and the mean body weight was 1479 (±413 SD) g, ranging between 588 and 3380 g. All cardiac valve CSAs correlated well with body weight. A significant gradual increase was observed in all valve CSAs with body weight during each period of life. Overall, a progressive and significant increase in all valve CSAs was observed during the first 9 weeks of life. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac valve CSAs were found to be significantly correlated with body weight. The study also provides reference data, which can be used as a normal reference tool for valve CSAs in preterm infants against gestational age, body weight, and chronological age.

Q fever endocarditis after right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit insertion: Case series and review of the literature.

Q fever (QF) is rarely reported in children. Awareness of the disease and newer diagnostic modalities have resulted in increasing recognition of unusual manifestations. We present three cases of QF endocarditis after right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit insertion in children.

Normal Reference Ranges for Pulmonary Artery Diameters in Preterm Infants.

To establish normal reference ranges and Z-scores for pulmonary artery diameters in preterm infants and their correlation with body surface area, body weight, and chronological age. In a prospective study, 268 preterm infants, who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were examined. Echocardiograms were performed to measure the main pulmonary artery, right pulmonary artery, and left pulmonary artery diameters on day(s) 0 to -6 of life and at weekly intervals until they reached 36 weeks of age. Body surface area was divided into thirteen groups from 0.07 to 0.19 m2. The mean gestational age was 29.8 (±2.38 SD) weeks, ranging between 24 and 35, the mean body weight was 1479 (±413 SD) grams, ranging between 588 and 3380, and the mean body surface area was 0.13 m2, ranging between 0.07 and 0.19 m2. All the pulmonary artery diameters correlated well with both body weight and body surface area. Reference ranges, with mean ± SD, range, and Z-scores for aortic diameters according to body surface area were calculated. A significant gradual increase was observed in main and branch pulmonary artery diameters with increasing body surface area. Overall, a progressive and significant increase for main and branch pulmonary artery diameters was observed during the first nine weeks of life. The main and branch pulmonary artery diameters were found to have significant correlation with body surface area. The study also provides reference data with Z-scores, which can be used as a normal reference tool for measuring the main pulmonary artery, right, and left pulmonary artery diameters of preterm infants against body surface area.

Normal Reference Ranges for Cardiac Valve Annulus in Preterm Infants.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to establish normal reference ranges for the cardiac valve annulus size in preterm infants and their correlation with gestational age, body weight and chronological age. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In a prospective study, 268 pre-term babies, who fulfilled the criteria for inclusion, were examined in Kuwait during the years 2008-2010. Echocardiograms were performed to measure the aortic, pulmonary, mitral and tricuspid valve annulus size on 0-6 day(s) of life and at weekly intervals until they reached 36 weeks. The gestational age was grouped into three: 24-27, 28-31 and 32-35 weeks, and body weight into five: ≤999, 1000-1499, 1500-1999, 2000-2499 and ≥2500 g. The overall group differences were compared for each period of life: 0-6 days, 1-2, 3-4 and ≥5 weeks. RESULTS: The mean gestational age was 29.8 (±2.38 SD) weeks, ranging between 24 and 35, and the mean body weight 1479 (±413 SD) grams, ranging between 588 and 3380. At the first scan (0-6 days of life), all cardiac valve measurements correlated well with both body weight and gestational age (P < 0.001). In the subsequent weeks valve diameters correlated well with body weight, while gestational age was found to have significant correlation (P < 0.01) with aortic and mitral valves only. A significant gradual increase was noticed in all valve annulus measurements with body weight during each period of life. Overall, a progressive and significant increase for all four cardiac valve annulus measurements was observed during the first nine weeks of life. CONCLUSION: The cardiac valve annulus measurements were found to have significant correlation with body weight. All the cardiac valve measurements correlated well with gestational age (P < 0.01) only up to 2 weeks. The study also provides reference data, which can be used as a normal reference tool for cardiac valve diameters for preterm infants against the gestational age, body weight and chronological age.

Normal reference ranges for left ventricular dimensions in preterm infants.

OBJECTIVE: To establish normal reference ranges for the left ventricular dimensions in preterm infants and their correlation with gestational age, body weight and chronological age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a prospective study, 268 preterm babies, who fulfilled the criteria for inclusion, were examined in Kuwait during the years (2008-2010). Echocardiograms were performed to measure the left ventricular dimensions on 0-6 day(s) of life and at weekly intervals until they reached 36 weeks. The gestational age was grouped into three: 24-27, 28-31 and 32-35 weeks, and body weight into five: ⩽999, 1,000-1,499, 1,500-1,999, 2,000-2,499 and ≥2,500 grams. The overall group differences were compared for each period of life: 0-6 days, 1-2, 3-4 and ≥5 weeks. RESULTS: The mean gestational age was 29.8 (± 2.38 SD) weeks, ranging between 24 and 35, and the mean body weight 1,479 (± 413 SD) grams, ranging between 588 and 3380. At the first scan (0-6 days of life), all the left ventricular measurements correlated well (P < 0.001) with body weight, and the same was observed with gestational age, except for left ventricular posterior wall thickness at end-systole and end-diastole. A significant gradual increase was noticed in all the dimensions with body weight during each period of life. However, with respect to gestational age, an increase was observed in all the dimensions during first four weeks, but the rate of increase became less after 5 weeks of life. Overall, a progressive and significant increase in all left ventricle measurements was observed during the first nine weeks of life. CONCLUSION: The left ventricular dimension measurements were found to have significant correlation with both gestational age and body weight. The study also provides reference data, which can be used as normal reference tool for left ventricular dimensions for preterm infants against the gestational age, body weight and chronological age.