Cardiac function in severely malnourished Jamaican children

ABSTRACT

The dye dilution method was used to measure cardiac output and record other haemodynamic data in malnourished Jamaican children. The measurements were repeated at various stages of recovery. In the malnourished child the following changes were found (a) reduction of cardiac output; (b) prolongation of systemic recirculation and dye appearance times; and (c) bradycardia. The increase in cardiac output with recovery was accompanied by increases in both pulse rate and stroke volume. After recovery from malnutrition the children had cardiac outputs that were higher than normal. The possible aetiology of these changes is discussed, with special reference to the changes in metabolic rate known to occur in malnutrition.(Summary)