T. Jurko, A. Jurko Jr., E. Kudela, J. Matušek, M. Zibolen
Aim of study. The study aimed to compare the dynamics of changes in selected echocardiographic
parameters of the left ventricle in newborns of diabetic mothers with
the newborns of healthy mothers with normal glucose metabolism up to the sixth
month of life.
Methods. The investigated cohort included 15 infants born to diabetic mothers (group
1). The control group consisted of 50 healthy term newborns of non-diabetic mothers
(group 2). The echocardiography examination was done to children in both groups
on the fifth day after birth, and in the first and the sixth month of life. Multiple left
ventricle parameters were evaluated and compared.
Results. The echocardiography examination revealed significant differences in multiple
investigated left ventricle parameters on the fifth day, and in the first month
of life between two groups. In the sixth month of life, all monitored parameters were
without any significant differences between monitored groups.
Conclusion. Hyperglycaemia in a pregnant woman might negatively influence the
development of the foetal myocardium. The most common complication during
the postnatal period is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which, in the most severe cases,
can lead to heart failure in children. The results of our study confirm that the
cardiomyopathy in question is asymmetric, predominantly affects the ventricular
septum, and is reversible. Echocardiography examination in newborns of diabetic
mothers should be a routine examination to exclude hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.