Magnus Cinthio
Senior lecturer
Cardiovascular function in adulthood following intrauterine growth restriction with abnormal fetal blood flow
Author
Summary, in English
Objectives To examine whether intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk later in life. Methods We examined 19 young adults (aged 2225 years) who were born at term after IUGR, along with 18 controls. All had been examined previously with fetal Doppler, and in the present follow-up with echocardiography, carotid echo-tracking ultrasound, applanation tonometry, blood pressure and laser Doppler, in order to characterize their cardiac and vascular geometry and/or function. Results The diameter of the ascending aorta and the left ventricular diameter were smaller in the IUGR group, but only ascending aortic diameter remained significantly smaller after adjustment for body surface area (P<0.05). The aortic pressure augmentation index was higher in the IUGR group (P<0.05). The common carotid artery diameter, intimamedia thickness and distensibility as well as left ventricular mass and function were similar in the two groups. IUGR status was found to be an independent predictor of ascending aortic diameter. Conclusions IUGR due to placental dysfunction seems to contribute to the higher systolic blood pressure augmentation and the smaller aortic dimensions that are observed in adults more than 20 years later, with possible negative consequences for future left ventricular performance due to increased aortic impedance.
Department/s
- Paediatrics (Lund)
- Department of Biomedical Engineering
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology (Lund)
- EpiHealth: Epidemiology for Health
Publishing year
2013
Language
English
Pages
177-184
Publication/Series
Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume
41
Issue
2
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
Topic
- Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging
Keywords
- aorta
- echocardiography
- intrauterine growth restriction
- pulse wave
- analysis
- young adulthood
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1469-0705