Overgrowth of the Amygdala in Children with Single Ventricle Congenital Heart Disease

Abstract

Aim: Early life stress is associated with overgrowth of the amygdala, which plays a key role in the processing and memory of emotional responses. Herein, we aimed to explore the amygdala volume in children with single-ventricle congenital heart disease who experience repeated admissions during the neonatal period and infancy. Methods: We compared the amygdala volume measured using brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) between 40 patients after completion of the Fontan procedure and 40 age- and sex-matched control subjects Results: Age at the MRI study were 9.2 (8.5–11.1) and 10.2 (9.2–10.3) years in the Fontan and control groups, respectively. The maximum amygdala volume in the Fontan group was significantly larger than in the control group (1232 [983–1392] mm3/m2 vs. 980 [728–1166] mm3/m2, P < 0.001). The amygdala volume did not correlate to cardiac index (r  =  0.260) and central venous pressure (r = -0.107) in the Fontan group. Conclusions: Children with single-ventricle congenital heart disease exhibited amygdala overgrowth.