Cited by 629Congenital Heart Disease StudiesNeonatal and fetal brain pathologyFetal and Pediatric Neurological Disorders

Brain maturation is delayed in infants with complex congenital heart defects

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Licht, Daniel J., Shera, David M., Clancy, Robert R., Wernovsky, Gil, Montenegro, Lisa M., Nicolson, Susan C., Zimmerman, Robert A., Spray, Thomas L. +2 more·2009·The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery

Abstract

Objective Small head circumferences and white matter injury in the form of periventricular leukomalacia have been observed in populations of infants with severe forms of congenital heart defects. This study tests the hypothesis that congenital heart defects delay in utero structural brain development.Methods Full-term infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome or transposition of the great arteries were prospectively evaluated with preoperative brain magnetic resonance imaging. Patients with independent risk factors for abnormal brain development (shock, end-organ injury, or intrauterine growth retardation) were excluded. Outcome measures included head circumferences and the total maturation score on magnetic resonance imaging. Total maturation score is a previously validated semiquantitative anatomic scoring system used to assess whole brain maturity. The total maturation score evaluates 4 parameters of maturity: (1) myelination, (2) cortical infolding, (3) involution of glial cell migration bands, and (4) presence of germinal matrix tissue.Results The study cohort included 29 neonates with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and 13 neonates with transposition of the great arteries at a mean gestational age of 38.9 +/- 1.1 weeks. Mean head circumference was 1 standard deviation below normal. The mean total maturation score for the cohort was 10.15 +/- 0.94, significantly lower than reported normative data in infants without congenital heart defects, corresponding to a delay of 1 month in structural brain development.Conclusion Before surgery, term infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and transposition of the great arteries have brains that are smaller and structurally less mature than expected. This delay in brain development may foster susceptibility to periventricular leukomalacia in the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative periods.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2008.10.025

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Authors
Licht, D. J., Shera, D. M., Clancy, R. R., Wernovsky, G., Montenegro, L. M., Nicolson, S. C., Zimmerman, R. A., Spray, T. L., Gaynor, J. W., & Vossough, A.
Affiliations
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (US)
Corresponding author
Licht, Daniel J.
Venue
The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2009-03
Volume
137
Issue
3
Pages
529-537
ISSN
0022-5223 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2105478587
Cited by
629
References
31
Citations by year
2026: 34 · 2025: 30 · 2024: 30 · 2023: 47 · 2022: 40 · 2021: 41 · 2020: 42 · 2019: 49 · 2018: 39 · 2017: 42 · 2016: 49 · 2015: 33 · 2014: 32 · 2013: 30 · 2012: 36
FWCI
20.01
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (K23NS052380)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Congenital Heart Disease Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Neonatal and fetal brain pathology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Fetal and Pediatric Neurological Disorders
Keywords
congenital heart disease, brain maturation, hypoplastic left heart syndrome, transposition of the great arteries, head circumference, periventricular leukomalacia, white matter injury, germinal matrix, myelination, neonates
MeSH terms
Brain, Female, Fetal Growth Retardation, Heart Defects, Congenital, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Male, Prospective Studies, Time Factors, Transposition of Great Vessels, Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome

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