title: Vascular Function and Myocardial Performance Indices in Children Born Small for Gestational Age.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Small-for-gestational-age (SGA) children have increased cardiovascular risk, but the mediating factors are poorly understood. We hypothesized that birth size could affect the cardiovascular system since childhood in the absence of other risk factors. We investigated endothelial and myocardial function in SGA children with regular catch-up growth.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Biochemical markers, blood pressure, flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), common carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), anteroposterior diameter of the infrarenal abdominal aorta (APAO) and echocardiographic parameters of left and right ventricular (LV and RV) function were studied in 27 SGA and 25 appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) subjects. SGA subjects had a higher homeostasis model assessment index than controls (2.61±1.27 vs. 1.56±0.40, P=0.01), higher cIMT (0.51±0.04 mm vs. 0.45±0.07 mm, P=0.007) and APAO (1.31±1.35 cm vs. 1.30±0.16 cm, P=0.005), and lower FMD (10.11±4.17% vs. 12.34±4.28, P=0.04) than controls. On echocardiography SGA had higher Tei index both at LV and RV than controls (P=0.001). Reduced RV systolic function was also observed in SGA subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SGA subjects had vascular morphological and function abnormalities compared with AGA, which increase their cardiovascular risk profile. Furthermore, a subtle cardiac alteration in both RV and LV functions was seen in SGA patients compared with AGA.
authors: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Section of Pediatrics, University "A. Moro"
authors: Maria Felicia
authors: MF
authors: Faienza
authors: Giacomina
authors: G
authors: Brunetti
authors: Maurizio
authors: M
authors: Delvecchio
authors: Annapaola
authors: A
authors: Zito
authors: Fabrizia
authors: F
authors: De Palma
authors: Francesca
authors: F
authors: Cortese
authors: Adriana
authors: A
authors: Nitti
authors: Elena
authors: E
authors: Massari
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Gesualdo
authors: Gabriella
authors: G
authors: Ricci
authors: Santa
authors: S
authors: Carbonara
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Giordano
authors: Luciano
authors: L
authors: Cavallo
authors: Pietro
authors: P
authors: Scicchitano
authors: Marco Matteo
authors: MM
authors: Ciccone
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001794:Blood Pressure; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D002648:Child; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right