Greer Charlotte, Harris Sarah L, Troughton Richard, Adamson Philip D, Horwood John, Frampton Chris, Darlow Brian A
Department of Cardiology, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand.
Department of Paediatrics, University of Otago, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand.
J Clin Med. 2021 Oct 22;10(21):4864. doi: 10.3390/jcm10214864.
Being born preterm (PT, <37 weeks gestation) or at very low birth weight (VLBW, <1500 g) is associated with increased rates of cardiopulmonary disorders in childhood. As survivors age, late cardiac effects, including right ventricular (RV) remodelling and occult pulmonary hypertension are emerging. In this population-based study, we aimed to investigate right heart structure and function in young adults born PT at VLBW compared to normal-weight term-born controls. The New Zealand VLBW Study has followed all infants born in 1986 with birth weight <1500 g. All were born preterm from 24 to 37 weeks. A total of 229 (71% of survivors) had echocardiograms aged 26-30 years which were compared to age-matched, term-born, normal-weight controls ( = 100). Young adults born preterm at very low birth weight exhibited smaller RV dimensions compared to term-born peers. Standard echocardiographic measures of RV function did not differ, but mildly reduced function was detected by RV longitudinal strain. This difference was related to birth weight and gestational age but not lung function or left ventricular function. Echocardiographic strain imaging may be an important tool to detect differences in RV function preterm and VLBW.
早产（PT，妊娠<37周）或极低出生体重（VLBW，<1500克）与儿童期心肺疾病发生率增加有关。随着幸存者年龄增长，晚期心脏影响逐渐显现，包括右心室（RV）重塑和隐匿性肺动脉高压。在这项基于人群的研究中，我们旨在调查与正常体重足月儿对照相比，极低出生体重早产的年轻成年人的右心结构和功能。新西兰极低出生体重研究跟踪了1986年出生体重<1500克的所有婴儿。所有婴儿均在24至37周早产。共有229名（幸存者的71%）在26至30岁时进行了超声心动图检查，并与年龄匹配的足月儿、正常体重对照（n = 100）进行比较。与足月儿同龄人相比，极低出生体重早产的年轻成年人的右心室尺寸较小。右心室功能的标准超声心动图测量结果没有差异，但通过右心室纵向应变检测到功能略有下降。这种差异与出生体重和胎龄有关，但与肺功能或左心室功能无关。超声心动图应变成像可能是检测早产和极低出生体重者右心室功能差异的重要工具。
