Chronological Echocardiographic Changes in Healthy Term Neonates within Postnatal 72 Hours Using Doppler Studies.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated echocardiographic changes in full-term healthy neonates during early transitional period from postnatal 0-72 hours at 12-hour intervals by echocardiography. METHODS: This was a prospective, observational, and longitudinal single-center cohort study. Morphometric, functional, systolic, diastolic, and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) parameters (patent ductus arteriosus [PDA], aorta, superior vena cava [SVC], stroke volume [SV], cardiac output [CO], cardiac index [CI], early diastolic flow velocity [E], late diastolic flow velocity [A], early filling in TDI [E'], peak systolic annular velocity in TDI [S'], late velocity peak in TDI [A'], and myocardial performance index [MPI]) were evaluated in left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV) with 56 newborns. RESULTS: Sizes and peak velocities of PDA before postnatal 24 hours were significantly changed than those after postnatal 24 hours. Aortic velocity time integral (VTI), systolic blood pressure (BP), LV SV/kg, LV CO/kg, LV CI, and SVC flow/LV CO before 24 hours showed significantly changes than those after 24 hours. Also, LV and RV MPI before 24 hours were significantly higher than those after 24 hours. LV E/E' was significantly higher than RV E/E'. CONCLUSION: Postnatal 24 hours is critical time for hemodynamic closure of PDA because aortic VTI, systolic BP, LV SV, LV CO, LV CI, and SVC flow/LV CO showed simultaneously significant changes after 24 hours at the same time as 24 hours of physiological closure of PDA. Chronological and dramatic changes of systolic, diastolic, and TDI parameters during early postnatal period can be used to compile normal baseline data of healthy full-term neonates.

Laboratory Markers in Incomplete Kawasaki Disease according to Coronary Artery Outcome.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We defined laboratory marker profiles typical of incomplete Kawasaki disease (iKD) during illness, especially with respect to the presence of a coronary artery abnormality such as coronary artery dilation or aneurysm. METHODS: This retrospective study examined the clinical and laboratory markers of patients with iKD over time, along with those of patients with complete KD (cKD) and febrile controls. RESULTS: Of 795 patients, 178 had iKD, 504 had cKD and 113 were febrile controls. During the transition from the acute to subacute phase, the age-adjusted hemoglobin levels and platelet counts were significantly lower and higher, respectively, in the subacute phase than in the acute phase in both iKD and cKD patients, which differed from those of febrile controls. Lower levels of acute and subacute age-adjusted hemoglobin levels in iKD patients (odds ratio [OR], 0.538 and 0.583; p=0.006 and 0.018, respectively) and higher subacute platelet counts in cKD patients (OR, 1.004; p=0.014) were correlated with the risk of coronary dilation. A higher acute neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was associated with aneurysm only in cKD patients (OR, 1.059; p=0.044). CONCLUSIONS: The iKD patients share KD-specific laboratory marker profiles in terms of complete blood cell counts and acute phase reactant levels with cKD patients. However, the factors predicting coronary dilation differ according to the phenotype; lower acute and subacute age-adjusted hemoglobin levels predict coronary dilation only in iKD patients.

Correlation of B-type natriuretic peptide levels and echocardiographic parameters in preterm infants with patent ductus arteriosus.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation, according to postnatal age, between plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels and echocardiographic parameters for the assessment of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in preterm infants with respiratory distress. METHODS: We enrolled 42 preterm infants with respiratory distress who underwent serial echocardiographic evaluation with simultaneous plasma BNP measurements until ductal closure. The correlations between BNP levels and the following 4 representative echocardiographic parameters were studied: diameter of the ductus arteriosus (DA), ratio of the left atrial diameter to the aortic diameter (LA/Ao), ratio of the PDA diameter to the infant's left pulmonary artery diameter (PDA/LPA), and the antegrade diastolic flow of LPA (DFLPA). RESULTS: BNP levels were significantly correlated to the magnitude of the ductal shunt, comprising the DA diameter, PDA/LPA ratio, LA/Ao ratio, and antegrade DFLPA for the overall study period. The earliest significant correlation, starting from postnatal day 2, was observed between the LA/Ao ratio and BNP levels. The PDA/LPA ratio and the antegrade DFLPA showed significant correlations with BNP levels postnatal day 3 onward, and with the DA diameter, postnatal day 5 onward. CONCLUSION: BNP levels and echocardiographic parameters showed a positive correlation, but the significance of the correlations differed according to the postnatal age, especially during the first few days of life.

Value of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in predicting outcomes in Kawasaki disease.

Total and differential leukocyte counts are useful inflammatory biomarkers. The ability of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) to predict outcomes in patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) was assessed in this study. All patients with KD who underwent consecutive complete blood count analyses during the acute febrile phase before intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), 2 days after IVIG regardless of defervescence, and 3 to 4 weeks after defervescence were enrolled. NLR was calculated by dividing the neutrophil count by the lymphocyte count. NLR values that best predicted IVIG resistance and the development of coronary artery abnormalities were determined by receiver-operating characteristic curve and multivariate analyses. Of the 587 patients with KD, 222 were IVIG resistant. IVIG-resistant patients had higher NLRs than IVIG-responsive patients. The best NLR cut-off values during the acute febrile phase and 2 days after IVIG for predicting IVIG resistance were 5.49 (p <0.001) and 1.26 (p <0.001), respectively. Sixty-two patients developed coronary artery abnormalities; 47 had coronary dilatation, and 15 had aneurysms. Patients with aneurysms, but not patients with dilatation, had higher NLRs than patients without coronary artery abnormalities. The best NLR cut-off value 2 days after IVIG for predicting aneurysm development was 1.01 (p <0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that the NLR 2 days after IVIG independently predicted coronary aneurysm development (p = 0.03) and IVIG resistance (p <0.001). In conclusion, the NLR can be used for risk stratification in patients with KD. An NLR 2 days after IVIG that exceeded 1 was predictive of coronary aneurysm development and IVIG resistance.

A case of congenital hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Congenital hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCMP) is a very rare congenital heart disease. Here, we report a case of neonatal HCMP, which was confirmed by two-dimensional echocardiography and autopsy. The HCMP rapidly progressed and the patient's condition deteriorated, despite the treatment for congestive heart failure.

Factors to predict positive results of gonadotropin releasing hormone stimulation test in girls with suspected precocious puberty.

Sometimes, the clinical findings and the results of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation test are inconsistent in girls with early breast development and bone age advancement. We aimed to investigate the factors predicting positive results of the GnRH stimulation test in girls with suspected central precocious puberty (CPP). We reviewed the records of 574 girls who developed breast budding before the age of 8 yr and underwent the GnRH stimulation test under the age of 9 yr. Positive results of the GnRH stimulated peak luteinizing hormone (LH) level were defined as 5 IU/L and over. Girls with the initial positive results (n = 375) showed accelerated growth, advanced bone age and higher serum basal LH, follicle-stimulating hormone, and estradiol levels, compared to those with the initial negative results (n = 199). Girls with the follow-up positive results (n = 64) showed accelerated growth and advanced bone age, compared to those with the follow-up negative results. In the binary logistic regression, the growth velocity ratio was the most significant predictive factor of positive results. We suggest that the rapid growth velocity is the most useful predictive factor for positive results in the GnRH stimulation test in girls with suspected precocious puberty.

Association of serum retinol binding protein 4 with adiposity and pubertal development in Korean children and adolescents.

Retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) has been postulated to provide a new link between obesity and insulin resistance. We aimed to assess the relationship between serum RBP4 and insulin resistance by investigating serum RBP4 levels in children and adolescents according to degree of obesity and pubertal stage. A total of 103 (30 lean, 39 overweight, 34 obese) were evaluated for serum RBP4, adiponectin, insulin, glucose and lipid profiles. RBP4 levels of obese and overweight groups were higher than those of lean group. RBP4 level was higher in pubertal group than in prepubertal group. RBP4 was positively correlated with age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), abdominal circumference, systolic blood pressure, fasting insulin, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), total cholesterol and triglyceride, and inversely with adiponectin. In the multiple linear regression analysis, RBP4 was found to be independently associated with pubertal stage, BMI and triglyceride but not with HOMA-IR. In conclusion, serum RBP4 level is related with degree of adiposity and pubertal development. The association of RBP4 with insulin resistance is supposed to be secondary to the relation between RBP4 and adipose tissue in children and adolescents.

Aldosterone modulates cell proliferation and apoptosis in the neonatal rat heart.

In the present study, we investigated whether and how the mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist spironolactone affects cardiac growth and development through apoptosis and cell proliferation in the neonatal rat heart. Newborn rat pups were treated with spironolactone (200 mg/kg/d) for 7 days. The cell proliferation was studied by PCNA immunostaining. The treatment with spironolactone decreased proliferating myocytes by 32% (P<0.05), and reduced myocytes apoptosis by 29% (P<0.05). Immunoblot and immunohistochemistry for the expression of p38, p53, clusterin, TGF-beta2, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase were performed. In the spironolactone group, p38, p53, clusterin, and TGF-beta2 protein expression was significantly decreased (P<0.05). These results indicate that aldosterone inhibition in the developing rat heart induces cardiac growth impairment by decreasing proliferation and apoptosis of myocytes.

Right ventricular dysplasia with massive thromboemboli in tuberous sclerosis complex.

A 12-year-old boy visited the emergency room for severe dyspnea. He was diagnosed with tuberous sclerosis at 5 years of age, and right ventricular dysplasia was detected at 11 years of age. Thromboemboli in right ventricle and bilateral pulmonary arteries were confirmed with two-dimensional echocardiography and computed tomography. We report the case of a patient with tuberous sclerosis who presented with huge thrombi in a dysplastic right ventricle and massive bilateral pulmonary thromboemboli without evidence of a cardiac tumor.

Questionnaire survey on pediatric hypertension in Japan and Korea.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension (HTN) is no longer viewed as an adult disease. The purpose of the present study was to understand how hypertensive children are evaluated and managed, by surveying pediatricians in Japan and South Korea. METHODS: A questionnaire was mailed to 109 Japanese (JA) and 159 Korean (KO) pediatric cardiologists, pediatric nephrologists, and other pediatricians. RESULTS: A total of 127 replies were received (response rate 47%). Most of respondents did not check blood pressure (BP) routinely in outpatient clinics (JA 77%, KO 88%). A mercury sphygmomanometer was the most commonly used method for BP measurements (JA 72%, KO 62%). BP treatment goals were usually set at the 95th percentile for age, gender, and height (JA 47%, KO 54%). More KO used a lower goal in children with primary HTN than JA. KO respondents preferred angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) as initial agents regardless of underlying diseases whereas JA respondents chose various medications, that is, calcium channel blockers, diuretics, and ACEI. For BP monitoring, self-monitoring was found to be most frequent in both countries (JA 80%, KO 57%). Ambulatory BP monitoring was not frequently utilized in both countries (JA 33% KO 34%). CONCLUSION: The current assessment, management and differing trends in pediatric HTN in Japan and Korea have been identified in the present study. Pediatricians should be aware of the growing implications of HTN in children.

Utility of the rapid B-type natriuretic peptide assay for detection of cardiovascular problems in newborn infants with respiratory difficulties.

BACKGROUND: Because the major problems of respiratory difficulties in newborn infants are due to cardiopulmonary problems, improving the early detection and referral of newborn infants with cardiovascular problems has been considered one of the primary goals of care in the neonatal intensive care unit. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether rapid plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) assay could be used as a screening test to detect the cardiovascular problems in newborn infants with respiratory difficulties. METHODS: We studied 73 newborn infants >or=34 weeks gestational age presenting with respiratory difficulties during the first few days after birth; they were divided into a cardiovascular problem group (CP group, n = 32) and a noncardiac problem group (NP group, n = 41) according to the presence of cardiovascular problems by clinical and/or echocardiographic studies in newborn infants with respiratory difficulties. RESULTS: On admission, the median (25-75%) BNP concentration of the CP group was significantly higher than that of the NP group [1,038 (578-1,435) vs. 240 (118-388) pg/ml, p < 0.001]. The best cutoff BNP values for differentiating the CP group were 346.0, 421.0, 570.5 and 191.5 pg/ml within 18 h, at 18-36 h, at 36-60 h and after 60 h of life, respectively. Although the plasma BNP measurement was not a single confirmative test, it was found to have a high sensitivity and a high negative predictive value for rapidly ruling out serious cardiovascular problems in neonatal respiratory difficulties. CONCLUSION: A rapid plasma BNP assay may be useful for detection of cardiovascular problems in newborn infants with respiratory difficulties during the first few days after birth.

Erythropoietin attenuates hyperoxia-induced lung injury by down-modulating inflammation in neonatal rats.

This study was done to determine whether recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) treatment could attenuate hyperoxia-induced lung injury, and if so, whether this protective effect is mediated by the down-modulation of inflammation in neonatal rats. Newborn Sprague Dawley rat pups were subjected to 14 days of hyperoxia (>95% oxygen) within 10 hr after birth. Treatment with rhEPO significantly attenuated the mortality and reduced body weight gain caused by hyperoxia. With rhEPO treatment, given 3 unit/gm intraperitoneally at 4th, 5th, and 6th postnatal day, hyperoxia- induced alterations in lung pathology such as decreased radial alveolar count, increased mean linear intercept, and fibrosis were significantly improved, and the inflammatory changes such as myeloperoxidase activity and tumor necrosis factor-alpha expression were also significantly attenuated. In summary, rhEPO treatment significantly attenuated hyperoxia-induced lung injury by down-modulating the inflammatory responses in neonatal rats.

Complications after transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus.

To evaluate the short- and mid-term results and complications ensuing the transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Between October 1999 and December 2005, 117 patients (34 males and 83 females) underwent attempted percutaneous closure of PDA with a minimum diameter of more than 3 mm. Follow-up evaluations were conducted at 1 day and 1, 3, 6, 12 months after the performance of the transcatheter closure. The median age of patients at catheterization was 11 yr (range, 0.6 to 68 yr), median weight was 30 kg (range, 6 to 74 kg), and the median diameter of PDA was 4 mm (range, 3 to 8 mm). This procedure was conducted successfully in 114 patients (97.4%), using different devices. Major complications were detected in 4 patients (3.4%); significant hemolysis (2), infective endocarditis (1), failed procedure due to embolization (1). Minor complications occurred in 6 patients (5.1%); mild narrowing of the descending aorta (2) and mild encroachment on the origin of the left pulmonary artery (4). Although the transcatheter closure of PDA may be considered to be effective, several complications, including hemolysis, embolization, infective endocarditis, and the narrowing of adjacent vessels may occur in certain cases.

Utility of rapid B-type natriuretic peptide assay for diagnosis of symptomatic patent ductus arteriosus in preterm infants.

OBJECTIVE: In preterm infants, the rapid and accurate determination of the presence of a hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is extremely important, but this is often difficult. Plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) measurement has been reported to be a helpful aid in the diagnosis of hemodynamically significant PDA in preterm infants. The aim of our study was to investigate the usefulness of a rapid BNP assay as a diagnostic marker of symptomatic PDA (sPDA) in preterm infants. METHODS: Sixty-six preterm infants, ranging from 25 to 34 gestational weeks of age, underwent clinical and echocardiographic examinations for PDA every other day from the third day of life until the disappearance of ductal flow. Blood samples were collected and plasma BNP concentrations were measured simultaneously using a commercial kit, (Triage BNP test kit; Biosite Diagnositics, San Diego, CA). When > or =2 clinically significant features of PDA were noted, and a large ductal flow was confirmed by color Doppler echocardiography, sPDA was diagnosed and treated with indomethacin. RESULTS: On the third day after birth, the mean BNP concentration in the sPDA group (n = 23) was significantly higher than in the control group (n = 43) (2896 +/- 1627 vs 208 +/- 313 pg/mL). Seventeen infants (74%) in the sPDA group became asymptomatic after an initial course of indomethacin and their BNP levels concomitantly decreased. Moreover, BNP concentrations were significantly correlated with the magnitudes of the ductal shunt, such as the ratio of left atrial to aortic root diameter and the diastolic flow velocity of the left pulmonary artery (r = 0.726 and 0.877). The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve for the detection of sPDA was high: 0.997 (95% confidence interval: 0.991-1.004). The best cutoff of BNP concentration for the diagnosis of sPDA was determined to be 1110 pg/mL (sensitivity: 100%; specificity: 95.3%). CONCLUSION: In preterm infants, the circulating BNP levels correlated well with the clinical and echocardiographic assessments of PDA. Although not a stand-alone test, the rapid BNP assay provides valuable information for the detection of infants with sPDA that require treatment. Moreover, serial BNP measurements may be of value in determining the clinical course of PDA in preterm infants.