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. 2015 Dec;167(6):1259-63.e1.
doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2015.07.006. Epub 2015 Jul 29.

Severe Congenital Heart Defects Are Associated with Global Reduction of Neonatal Brain Volumes

Michael von Rhein  1 , Andreas Buchmann  2 , Cornelia Hagmann  3 , Hitendu Dave  4 , Vera Bernet  5 , Ianina Scheer  6 , Walter Knirsch  7 , Beatrice Latal  8 ; Heart and Brain Research Group
Collaborators, Affiliations

Severe Congenital Heart Defects Are Associated with Global Reduction of Neonatal Brain Volumes

Michael von Rhein et al. J Pediatr. 2015 Dec.

Abstract

Objectives: To determine neonatal global and regional brain volumes in infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) in comparison with healthy controls and to determine brain growth.

Study design: Prospective cohort study in infants undergoing open-heart surgery for complex CHD. Global and regional volumetric measurements on preoperative cerebral magnetic resonance imaging were manually segmented in children without overt brain lesions.

Results: Preoperative brain volumetry of 19 patients demonstrates reduction in total and regional brain volumes, without any specific regional predilection compared with 19 healthy control infants (total brain volume reduction: 21%, regional brain volume reduction 8%-28%, all P < .001).

Conclusions: Infants with CHD undergoing bypass surgery have smaller brain volumes prior to surgery without a specific regional predilection. This suggests a fetal origin of reduced brain growth.

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