Congenital Heart Defects and Measures of Prenatal Brain Growth: A Systematic Review

Publication date: Available online 1 April 2017
Source:Pediatric Neurology
Author(s): Thommy Hansen, Tine Brink Henriksen, Cathrine Carlsen Bach, Niels Matthiesen
ObjectiveTo summarize the evidence of the association between CHD and prenatal brain growth through a systematic literature review. Congenital heart defects (CHD) are among the most common malformations, affecting approximately 6 per 1000 live births. The association between CHD and long term neurodevelopmental disorders is well established. Increasing evidence suggests an association between impaired prenatal brain growth and neurodevelopmental disorders in children with CHD.Study designSystematic literature searches were performed in Pubmed and Embase. We included original studies comparing fetuses or newborns with CHD to reference fetuses or newborns with respect to brain biometrics, including biparietal diameter, brain volume, and head circumference at birth. The study characteristics and the results were extracted and presented in tables. No meta-analysis was undertaken.ResultsTwenty eight studies were included. All except from two studies found an association between CHD and measures of reduced prenatal brain growth. The evidence was strongest concerning hypoplastic left heart syndrome, tetralogy of Fallot, and transposition of the great arteries.ConclusionsThe literature suggests an association between CHD and measures of impaired prenatal brain growth. However, most studies were small and failed to include important potential confounding factors and to address other sources of potential bias as well. Future large scale studies that address potential confounders are warranted.



http://ift.tt/2nHpy6F