Effect of Maternal Preeclampsia on Cardiac Structure and Function in Very Low Birth Weight Infants

Abstract

Objective We aimed to determine whether exposure to severe maternal preeclampsia (PE) in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants is associated with hypertrophic cardiac changes and altered hemodynamics. Study Design Case–control study of VLBW infants born at Los Angeles General Medical Center from May 2015 to August 2023, who had an echocardiogram within the first 7 days of life. Cases were infants exposed to maternal PE and controls were infants not exposed to maternal PE matched by birth weight (BW) 1:1. Laboratory, placental pathology results, hemodynamic data and clinical outcomes were collected and compared between cases and control infants. Results A total of 43 cases matched by BW with control infants were studied. There were no significant anatomical cardiac changes by echocardiography between cases and control infants. Cases had significantly higher blood pressure within the first 72 hours of life and lower ejection fraction (EF), fractional shortening, and peak systolic flow velocity through their patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) within the first week of life. Cases were more likely to be smaller despite being born at a later gestational age (GA), as well as small for GA with placental weight less than 10th percentile compared to control infants. Conclusion Our findings indicate that infants born to mothers with PE have higher systemic vascular resistance as evidenced by elevated blood pressure, and lower EF and shortening fraction and higher pulmonary vascular resistance as evidenced by lower peak flow velocity through the PDA. We did not observe hypertrophic cardiac changes in exposed infants. These findings should be considered in clinical decision-making during management of these infants. Key Points