Stefan Johansson
9th October 2008, 08:21
Leading article – October 2008
The Leading article for October 2008 is a research paper from the field of a Developmental Origin of Disease and Health (DOHaD). Anna-Karin Edstedt Bonamy and co-workers in Sweden report that teenagers born preterm have reduced diameter of the aorta. An association between preterm birth and reduced aortic growth may be important for the long-term cardiovascular health in individuals born preterm.
The article is published in collaboration with the journal Acta Paediatrica (http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=0803-5253).
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Preterm birth and maternal smoking in pregnancy are strong risk factors for aortic narrowing in adolescence
Aim: Preterm transition from foetal to neonatal circulation might permanently alter aortic growth and development. To test this hypothesis, we measured aortic dimensions in adolescents born very preterm.
Method: Eighty-six healthy 15-year-old subjects were studied; 45 born very preterm at an average gestational age of 28 weeks (birth weight < 1500 g) and 41 controls born at term. Using a pulse-gated Fiesta sequence on a 1.5T MR-scanner, 25 images were collected within the heart cycle at several levels of the descending aorta. End-diastolic cross-sectional areas were semi-automatically calculated using an active contour model.
Results: Subjects born preterm had narrower aortic lumen. The difference was 16% in the thoracic and 19% in the abdominal aorta after adjustment for body surface area and gender (p < 0.001). Maternal smoking in pregnancy was also found to be an independent risk factor for aortic narrowing in the offspring (difference 10%–13% throughout the aorta vs. offspring to nonsmoking mothers). Adolescents born preterm had higher systolic and diastolic blood pressures; however, blood pressures did not correlate with aortic size or maternal smoking during pregnancy.
Conclusions: Very preterm birth and exposure to maternal smoking in foetal life are independent and strong risk factors for general aortic narrowing 15 years after birth. Click here to read the article in full text. (http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/120736363/HTMLSTART)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
You may comment the article directly below or discuss any particular aspect in any of the other forums.
The Leading article for October 2008 is a research paper from the field of a Developmental Origin of Disease and Health (DOHaD). Anna-Karin Edstedt Bonamy and co-workers in Sweden report that teenagers born preterm have reduced diameter of the aorta. An association between preterm birth and reduced aortic growth may be important for the long-term cardiovascular health in individuals born preterm.
The article is published in collaboration with the journal Acta Paediatrica (http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=0803-5253).
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Preterm birth and maternal smoking in pregnancy are strong risk factors for aortic narrowing in adolescence
Aim: Preterm transition from foetal to neonatal circulation might permanently alter aortic growth and development. To test this hypothesis, we measured aortic dimensions in adolescents born very preterm.
Method: Eighty-six healthy 15-year-old subjects were studied; 45 born very preterm at an average gestational age of 28 weeks (birth weight < 1500 g) and 41 controls born at term. Using a pulse-gated Fiesta sequence on a 1.5T MR-scanner, 25 images were collected within the heart cycle at several levels of the descending aorta. End-diastolic cross-sectional areas were semi-automatically calculated using an active contour model.
Results: Subjects born preterm had narrower aortic lumen. The difference was 16% in the thoracic and 19% in the abdominal aorta after adjustment for body surface area and gender (p < 0.001). Maternal smoking in pregnancy was also found to be an independent risk factor for aortic narrowing in the offspring (difference 10%–13% throughout the aorta vs. offspring to nonsmoking mothers). Adolescents born preterm had higher systolic and diastolic blood pressures; however, blood pressures did not correlate with aortic size or maternal smoking during pregnancy.
Conclusions: Very preterm birth and exposure to maternal smoking in foetal life are independent and strong risk factors for general aortic narrowing 15 years after birth. Click here to read the article in full text. (http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/120736363/HTMLSTART)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
You may comment the article directly below or discuss any particular aspect in any of the other forums.