title: [The Role of Two-Dimensional Echocardiography in Diagnostics of Coarctation of the Aorta in Newborns].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diagnosis of neonatal coarctation of the aorta (CoA) still presents a challenge in routine practice because of absence of reliable morphologic and functional parameters for early detection of this congenital heart defect in newborns.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to identify easy obtainable two-dimensional echocardiographic parameters for detection of the CoA in newborns.
  
  
  METHODS
  Echocardiographic evaluation was performed in 30 newborns with CoA and 20 healthy neonates (control group). Measurements of the proximal transverse arch (PTA), distal transverse arch (DTA), isthmus, distance between the left common carotid artery (LCCA) at the origin of the left subclavian artery (LSA), were obtained by two-dimensional echocardiography. Aortic arch hypoplasia was defined using Mouleart, Karl and Mee criteria, and Z-value. Index 1 was calculated as a ratio of DTA and distance between origins LCCA-LSA, Index 2 was calculated as a ratio of the ascending aorta and the distance between LCCA-LSA origins, and Index 3 was calculated as a ratio of PTA and distance between LCCA-LSA origins.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Index 1 was significantly lower in patients with CoA in comparison with control group (0.50 vs. 1.39; p≤0.01). A cut-off point at 0.39, for Index 1, showed a sensitivity of 92% and specificity of 99% for the diagnosis of neonatal CoA, while cut off points at 0.69 and 0.44, for Index 2 and Index 3, showed the highest sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of CoA in newborns.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By using these echo indexes, two-dimensional echocardiographic aortic arch measurement becomes a simple, reliable noninvasive method for the evaluation of aortic coarctation in newborns and may lead to earlier diagnosis and subsequent surgical correction.
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ilisić
authors.forename: Vojislav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Parezanović
authors.forename: Slobodan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ilić
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Djukić
authors.forename: Goran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vukomanović
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vulićević
authors.forename: Jasna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kalanj
authors.forename: Branko
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mimić
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Milovanović
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Stefanović
authors.forename: Ida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jovanović
mesh_terms: D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001017:Aortic Coarctation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013348:Subclavian Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*