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Review
. 2023 Feb;51(2):249-264.
doi: 10.1002/jcu.23336.

Cardiac remodeling from the fetus to adulthood

Lina Youssef  1 , Roberta Castellani  1   2 , Brenda Valenzuela-Alcaraz  1 , Álvaro Sepulveda-Martinez  1   3   4 , Francesca Crovetto  1   5 , Fàtima Crispi  1   5
Affiliations
Free article
Review

Cardiac remodeling from the fetus to adulthood

Lina Youssef et al. J Clin Ultrasound. 2023 Feb.
Free article

Abstract

Prenatal cardiac remodeling refers to in utero changes in the fetal heart that occur as a response to an adverse intrauterine environment. In this article, we will review the main mechanisms leading to cardiac remodeling and dysfunction, summarizing and describing the major pathological conditions that have been reported to be related to this in utero plastic adaptive process. We will also recap the current evidence regarding the persistence of fetal cardiac remodeling and dysfunction, both in infancy and later in adult life. Moreover, we will discuss primary, secondary, and tertiary preventive measures and future clinical and research aspects.

Keywords: dysfunction; fetal programming; heart; prenatal; remodeling.

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References

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