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Hu L, Wu K, Li H, Zhu M, Zhang Y, Fu M, Tang M, Lu F, Cai X, An J, Patel N, Lin Y, Zhang Z, Yang M, Mo X. Association between subcortical nuclei volume changes and cognition in preschool-aged children with tetralogy of Fallot after corrective surgery: a cross-sectional study. Ital J Pediatr 2024; 50:189. [PMID: 39300569 DOI: 10.1186/s13052-024-01764-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 09/08/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neurocognitive disorders frequently occur in patients with cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD) because of the hemodynamic abnormalities induced by preoperative cardiac structural changes. We aimed to evaluate subcortical nuclei volume changes and cognition in postoperative tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) children, and analyze their relationship with preoperative cardiac structural changes. METHODS This case-control study involved thirty-six children with repaired TOF and twenty-nine healthy controls (HCs). We utilized three-dimensional (3D) T1-weighted high-resolution structural images alongside the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Fourth Edition (WPPSI-IV) to evaluate the cognitive differences between the TOF and HC group. RESULTS We observed notable differences in subcortical nuclei volume between the TOF and HC group, specifically in the left amygdala nucleus (LAM, TOF: 1292.60 ± 155.57; HC: 1436.27 ± 140.62, p < 0.001), left thalamus proper nucleus (LTHA, TOF: 6771.54 ± 666.03; HC: 7435.36 ± 532.84, p < 0.001), and right thalamus proper nucleus (RTHA, TOF: 6514.61 ± 715.23; HC: 7162.94 ± 554.60, p < 0.001). Furthermore, a diminished integrity of LAM ( β:-19.828, 95% CI: -36.462, -3.193), which showed an inverse relationship with the size of the preoperative ventricular septal defect (VSD), correlated with lower working memory indices in children with TOF. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that subcortical nuclei structural injuries possibly potentially stemming from cardiac anatomical abnormalities, are associated with impaired working memory in preschool-aged children with TOF. The LAM in particular may serve as a potential biomarker for neurocognitive deficits in TOF, offering predictive value for future neurodevelopmental outcomes, and shedding light on the neurophysiological mechanisms of these cognitive impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Hu
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 72 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Kede Wu
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 72 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Huijun Li
- Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 72 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Meijiao Zhu
- Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 72 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Yaqi Zhang
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 72 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Mingcui Fu
- Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 72 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Minghui Tang
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 72 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Fan Lu
- Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 72 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Xinyu Cai
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 72 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Jia An
- Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
| | - Nishant Patel
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 72 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Ye Lin
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 72 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 72 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Ming Yang
- Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 72 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210008, China.
| | - Xuming Mo
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 72 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210008, China.
- Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China.
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Phillips K, Callaghan B, Rajagopalan V, Akram F, Newburger JW, Kasparian NA. Neuroimaging and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes Among Individuals With Complex Congenital Heart Disease: JACC State-of-the-Art Review. J Am Coll Cardiol 2023; 82:2225-2245. [PMID: 38030353 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2023.09.824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Although neuroimaging advances have deepened our understanding of brain health in individuals with congenital heart disease (CHD), it is less clear how neuroimaging findings relate to neurodevelopmental and mental health outcomes across the lifespan. We systematically synthesized and critically evaluated evidence on associations between neuroimaging and neurodevelopmental, neurocognitive, psychiatric, or behavioral outcomes among individuals with transposition of great arteries or single-ventricle CHD (Protocol CRD42021229617). Six databases were searched and 45 papers from 25 unique studies were identified. Structural brain injury was generally linked to poorer neurodevelopment in infancy. Brain volumes and microstructural and functional brain changes appear linked to neurocognitive outcomes, including deficits in attention, learning, memory, and executive function in children and adolescents. Fetal neuroimaging studies were limited. Four papers investigated psychiatric outcomes; none found associations with neuroimaging. Multicenter, longitudinal studies incorporating functional neuroimaging and mental health outcomes are much-needed to inform early neuroprotective and therapeutic strategies in CHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katelyn Phillips
- Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Bridget Callaghan
- Department of Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Vidya Rajagopalan
- Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles and Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Farah Akram
- Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jane W Newburger
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Nadine A Kasparian
- Heart and Mind Wellbeing Center, Heart Institute and the Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
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Wehrle FM, Furrer M, Feldmann M, Liamlahi R, Naef N, O'Gorman R, Latal B, Huber R. Functional networks of working memory abilities in children with complex congenital heart disease: a sleep EEG study. Child Neuropsychol 2023; 29:1109-1127. [PMID: 36324058 DOI: 10.1080/09297049.2022.2140796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Working memory is frequently impaired in children with complex congenital heart disease (CHD), but little is known about the functional neuronal correlates. Sleep slow wave activity (SWA; 1-4.5 Hz EEG power) has previously been shown to reliably map neurofunctional networks of cognitive abilities in children with and without neurodevelopmental impairments. This study investigated whether functional networks of working memory abilities are altered in children with complex CHD using EEG recordings during sleep. Twenty-one children with complex CHD (aged 10.9 [SD: 0.3] years) and 17 typically-developing peers (10.5 [0.7] years) completed different working memory tasks and an overnight high-density sleep EEG recording (128 electrodes). The combined working memory score tended to be lower in children with complex CHD (CHD group: -0.44 [1.12], typically-developing group: 0.55 [1.24], d = 0.59, p = .06). The working memory score and sleep SWA of the first hour of deep sleep were correlated over similar brain regions in both groups: Strong positive associations were found over prefrontal and fronto-parietal brain regions - known to be part of the working memory network - and strong negative associations were found over central brain regions. Within these working memory networks, the associations between working memory abilities and sleep SWA (r between -.36 and .58, all p < .03) were not different between the two groups (no interactions, all p > .05). The current findings suggest that sleep SWA reliably maps working memory networks in children with complex CHD and that these functional networks are generally preserved in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavia M Wehrle
- Child Development Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Neonatology and Intensive Care, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Melanie Furrer
- Child Development Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Maria Feldmann
- Child Development Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Rabia Liamlahi
- Child Development Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nadja Naef
- Child Development Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ruth O'Gorman
- Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Center for MR Research, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Beatrice Latal
- Child Development Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Reto Huber
- Child Development Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Fourdain S, Provost S, Tremblay J, Vannasing P, Doussau A, Caron-Desrochers L, Gaudet I, Roger K, Hüsser A, Dehaes M, Martinez-Montes E, Poirier N, Gallagher A. Functional brain connectivity after corrective cardiac surgery for critical congenital heart disease: a preliminary near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) report. Child Neuropsychol 2023; 29:1088-1108. [PMID: 36718095 DOI: 10.1080/09297049.2023.2170340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) requiring cardiac surgery in infancy are at high risk for neurodevelopmental impairments. Neonatal imaging studies have reported disruptions of brain functional organization before surgery. Yet, the extent to which functional network alterations are present after cardiac repair remains unexplored. This preliminary study aimed at investigating cortical functional connectivity in 4-month-old infants with repaired CHD, using resting-state functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). After fNIRS signal frequency decomposition, we compared values of magnitude-squared coherence as a measure of connectivity strength, between 21 infants with corrected CHD and 31 healthy controls. We identified a subset of connections with differences between groups at an uncorrected statistical level of p < .05 while controlling for sex and maternal socioeconomic status, with most of these connections showing reduced connectivity in infants with CHD. Although none of these differences reach statistical significance after FDR correction, likely due to the small sample size, moderate to large effect sizes were found for group-differences. If replicated, these results would therefore suggest preliminary evidence that alterations of brain functional connectivity are present in the months after cardiac surgery. Additional studies involving larger sample size are needed to replicate our data, and comparisons between pre- and postoperative findings would allow to further delineate alterations of functional brain connectivity in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Solène Fourdain
- Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Sarah Provost
- Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Julie Tremblay
- Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Amélie Doussau
- Clinique d'investigation neurocardiaque (CINC), Sainte-Justine, Montreal University Hospital Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Laura Caron-Desrochers
- Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Isabelle Gaudet
- Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Kassandra Roger
- Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Alejandra Hüsser
- Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Mathieu Dehaes
- Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Radiology, Radio-oncology and Nuclear Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Nancy Poirier
- Clinique d'investigation neurocardiaque (CINC), Sainte-Justine, Montreal University Hospital Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Anne Gallagher
- Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
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5
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Remmele J, Pringsheim M, Nagdyman N, Oberhoffer-Fritz R, Ewert P. Cognitive function in adults with Fontan palliation versus acyanotic CHD patients and association with health-related quality of life. Cardiol Young 2023; 33:1956-1961. [PMID: 36424718 DOI: 10.1017/s1047951122003390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Impairments and developmental delay are often reported in infants and young children with CHD. However, currently, there is no data regarding cognitive abilities assessed by standardised intelligence tests in adults with CHD. This study assesses the cognitive function in Fontan patients compared with acyanotic CHD patients whether restrictions in cognitive function are present in adulthood and its association with health-related quality of life. METHODS Forty-four adult CHD (female n = 21 (47.7%); mean age 34.7 ± 11.9 years), 22 with Fontan circulation and 22 with acyanotic CHD, underwent the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for adults as patients during routine follow-up in 2018. The Medical Outcomes Study Questionnaire Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) assessed health-related quality of life. RESULTS Fontan patients showed significantly better results in the FSIQ (p = 0.020) and perceptual reasoning (p = 0.017) in comparison with patients with acyanotic CHD. All adult CHD patients showed normal IQ in subscales and full-scale IQ (FSIQ). In health-related quality of life, no association with cognitive function was found and no significant difference between both CHD groups, but trends to reduced values in acyanotic adult CHD. CONCLUSIONS Interestingly, our study results in adult Fontan patients showed that it is possible to live an adult life with normal cognitive function and good health-related quality of life with a univentricular heart. Thus, this study could be a guidepost for more in-depth studies on cognitive function in Fontan survivors. In addition, the focus should be on health-related quality of life of adult CHD with simple CHD in particular, since a reduced health-related quality of life is not only medically based.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Remmele
- German Heart Center of Munich, Department of Congenital Heart Disease and Pediatric Cardiology, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Preventive Pediatrics Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Milka Pringsheim
- German Heart Center of Munich, Department of Congenital Heart Disease and Pediatric Cardiology, Munich, Germany
| | - Nicole Nagdyman
- German Heart Center of Munich, Department of Congenital Heart Disease and Pediatric Cardiology, Munich, Germany
| | - Renate Oberhoffer-Fritz
- German Heart Center of Munich, Department of Congenital Heart Disease and Pediatric Cardiology, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Preventive Pediatrics Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Peter Ewert
- German Heart Center of Munich, Department of Congenital Heart Disease and Pediatric Cardiology, Munich, Germany
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6
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Brossard-Racine M, Panigrahy A. Structural Brain Alterations and Their Associations With Function in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults With Congenital Heart Disease. Can J Cardiol 2023; 39:123-132. [PMID: 36336305 DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2022.10.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Most neonates who receive surgery for complex congenital heart disease (CHD) will survive well into adulthood, however, many of them will face functional challenges at one point during their life as a consequence of their atypical neurodevelopment. Recent advances in neuroscience and the increasing accessibility of magnetic resonance imaging have allowed numerous studies to identify the nature and extent of the brain alterations that are particular to survivors with CHD. Nevertheless, and considering that the range of outcomes is broad in this population, the functional consequences of these brain differences is not always evident. In this review, we summarize the present state of knowledge regarding the structure-function relationships evaluated in children, adolescents, and young adults with CHD using structural magnetic resonance imaging. Overall smaller total and regional brain volume, as well as lower fractional anisotropy in numerous brain regions, were frequently associated with lower cognitive outcomes including executive functioning and memory in adolescents and young adults with CHD. However, we identify several gaps in knowledge including the limited number of prospective investigations involving neonatal imaging and follow-up during childhood or adolescence, as well as the need for studies that evaluate a broader range of functional outcomes and not only the cognitive abilities. Future interdisciplinary investigations using multimodal imaging techniques could help address these gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Brossard-Racine
- Advances in Brain and Child Development Research Laboratory, Research Institute of McGill University Health Center - Child Heald and Human Development, and School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, Department of Pediatrics - Division of Neonatology and Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
| | - Ashok Panigrahy
- Pediatric Radiology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, and Clinical and Translational Imaging Research, Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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Patt E, Singhania A, Roberts AE, Morton SU. The Genetics of Neurodevelopment in Congenital Heart Disease. Can J Cardiol 2023; 39:97-114. [PMID: 36183910 DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2022.09.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common birth anomaly, affecting almost 1% of infants. Neurodevelopmental delay is the most common extracardiac feature in people with CHD. Many factors may contribute to neurodevelopmental risk, including genetic factors, CHD physiology, and the prenatal/postnatal environment. Damaging variants are most highly enriched among individuals with extracardiac anomalies or neurodevelopmental delay in addition to CHD, indicating that genetic factors have an impact beyond cardiac tissues in people with CHD. Potential sources of genetic risk include large deletions or duplications that affect multiple genes, such as 22q11 deletion syndrome, single genes that alter both heart and brain development, such as CHD7, and common variants that affect neurodevelopmental resiliency, such as APOE. Increased use of genome-sequencing technologies in studies of neurodevelopmental outcomes in people with CHD will improve our ability to detect relevant genes and variants. Ultimately, such knowledge can lead to improved and more timely intervention of learning support for affected children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eli Patt
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Asmita Singhania
- School of Medical Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Amy E Roberts
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sarah U Morton
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
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Aberrant White Matter Organization Correlated With Neurodevelopment Outcomes in Tetralogy of Fallot: An Atlas-Based Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study. Pediatr Neurol 2022; 133:15-20. [PMID: 35749819 DOI: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2022.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND White matter injury (WMI) and impaired neurodevelopment are common in children with congenital heart disease. However, the effect of WMI on neurodevelopmental outcomes is still rarely reported. In this study, we aimed to investigate microstructural changes in white matter (WM) and its relationship with neurodevelopmental outcomes and further explore the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms of neurocognitive impairments in the tetralogy of Fallot (ToF). METHOD Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data were acquired in preschool-aged children with ToF (n = 29) and normal controls (NC, n = 19), and neurodevelopmental assessments were performed with the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence in ToF. The differences in DTI metrics including fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity, and radial diffusivity were evaluated between ToF and NC. Correlations between WM microstructural changes and neurodevelopmental outcomes were further analyzed. RESULTS Significant WM differences were found in the uncinate fasciculus, cingulum hippocampus, superior longitudinal fasciculus, and corticospinal tract between children with ToF and NC. Impaired WM integrity was correlated with the verbal comprehension index and working memory index in ToF. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated WM microstructure injury, and this injury is related to worse language and working memory performance in preschool-aged children with ToF. These findings suggested that DTI metrics may be a potential biomarker of neurocognitive impairments in ToF and can be used to predict future neurodevelopmental outcomes, which also provide new insights into the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms of neurocognitive impairments in ToF.
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Adaptive Functioning in Adolescents with Congenital Heart Disease Referred for Neurodevelopmental Follow-Up. JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC NEUROPSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s40817-022-00120-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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10
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Altered brain structure in preschool-aged children with tetralogy of Fallot. Pediatr Res 2022; 93:1321-1327. [PMID: 35194163 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-022-01987-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neurodevelopmental abnormalities are prevalent in children with tetralogy of Fallot. Our aim was to investigate the structural brain alterations of preschool-aged children with tetralogy of Fallot and its correlation with neurodevelopmental outcome. METHODS T1-weighted structural images were obtained from 25 children with tetralogy of Fallot who had undergone cardiopulmonary bypass surgery and from 24 normal controls. Cortical morphological indices including gray matter volume, cortical thickness, sulcal depth, gyrification, and cortical surface complexity were compared between the two groups. Neurodevelopmental assessments of the children with tetralogy of Fallot were performed with the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence. RESULTS Cortical morphological differences between groups were distributed throughout the right caudal middle frontal gyrus, right fusiform gyrus, right lateral occipital gyrus, right precuneus, and left inferior parietal lobule. Among children with tetralogy of Fallot, altered cortical structures were correlated with the visual spatial index, working memory index, and perioperative variables. CONCLUSION Our results suggested that abnormal cortical structure in preschool-aged children with tetralogy of Fallot may be the persistent consequence of delayed cortical development in fetuses and cortical morphology can be used as an early potential biomarker to capture regional brain abnormalities that are relevant to neurodevelopmental outcomes. IMPACT Altered cortical structures in preschool-aged children with ToF were correlated with both neurodevelopmental outcomes and clinical risk factors. Cortical morphology can be used as an effective tool to evaluate neuroanatomical changes and detect underlying neural mechanisms in ToF patients. Abnormal cortical structure may be the continuous consequence of delayed fetal brain development in children with ToF.
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Abstract
CONTEXT People with CHD are at increased risk for executive functioning deficits. Meta-analyses of these measures in CHD patients compared to healthy controls have not been reported. OBJECTIVE To examine differences in executive functions in individuals with CHD compared to healthy controls. DATA SOURCES We performed a systematic review of publications from 1 January, 1986 to 15 June, 2020 indexed in PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycInfo, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library. STUDY SELECTION Inclusion criteria were (1) studies containing at least one executive function measure; (2) participants were over the age of three. DATA EXTRACTION Data extraction and quality assessment were performed independently by two authors. We used a shifting unit-of-analysis approach and pooled data using a random effects model. RESULTS The search yielded 61,217 results. Twenty-eight studies met criteria. A total of 7789 people with CHD were compared with 8187 healthy controls. We found the following standardised mean differences: -0.628 (-0.726, -0.531) for cognitive flexibility and set shifting, -0.469 (-0.606, -0.333) for inhibition, -0.369 (-0.466, -0.273) for working memory, -0.334 (-0.546, -0.121) for planning/problem solving, -0.361 (-0.576, -0.147) for summary measures, and -0.444 (-0.614, -0.274) for reporter-based measures (p < 0.001). LIMITATIONS Our analysis consisted of cross-sectional and observational studies. We could not quantify the effect of collinearity. CONCLUSIONS Individuals with CHD appear to have at least moderate deficits in executive functions. Given the growing population of people with CHD, more attention should be devoted to identifying executive dysfunction in this vulnerable group.
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Abstract
The most common comorbidities in children with congenital heart disease (CHD) are neurodevelopmental impairments, particularly in areas of executive function, memory and attention. Limited studies have demonstrated similar impairments in CHD adults although no studies have screened specifically for mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Methods We performed a prospective cross-sectional study of CHD patients, ages 30-65 years, who were coming for clinic visits. We administered the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE), and scores were compared with population norms adjusted by age and education level. Results A total of 125 patients were recruited (55% male). The median age was 40 years (range 30-65). More than a half (80%) had some college education or advanced degrees. Adjusting for age and education, CHD participants scored significantly lower than the general population (median 1 point lower, p<0.001) on the MMSE. The greatest impairments occurred in recall and orientation. Five percent of the total cohort met the general threshold for mild cognitive impairment (MMSE < 24). Clinical factors associated with this degree of cognitive impairment were duration of cyanosis (p=0.005) and decreased systemic ventricular function (p=0.003). Conclusions Our pilot study showed that, when adjusted for age and education level, CHD adults had significantly lower MMSE scores than the general population, with 5% meeting criteria for mild cognitive impairment. These findings suggest that subtle and early cognitive changes are present in the adult CHD population. Further studies are needed to investigate those changes that might influence long-term outcomes in the adult CHD population.
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13
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Feldmann M, Bataillard C, Ehrler M, Ullrich C, Knirsch W, Gosteli-Peter MA, Held U, Latal B. Cognitive and Executive Function in Congenital Heart Disease: A Meta-analysis. Pediatrics 2021; 148:peds.2021-050875. [PMID: 34561266 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2021-050875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
CONTEXT Cognitive function and executive function (EF) impairments contribute to the long-term burden of congenital heart disease (CHD). However, the degree and profile of impairments are insufficiently described. OBJECTIVE To systematically review and meta-analyze the evidence on cognitive function and EF outcomes in school-aged children operated for CHD and identify the risk factors for an unfavorable outcome. DATA SOURCES Cochrane, Embase, Medline, and PsycINFO. STUDY SELECTION Original peer-reviewed studies reporting cognitive or EF outcome in 5- to 17-year old children with CHD after cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. DATA EXTRACTION Results of IQ and EF assessments were extracted, and estimates were transformed to means and SE. Standardized mean differences were calculated for comparison with healthy controls. RESULTS Among 74 studies (3645 children with CHD) reporting total IQ, the summary estimate was 96.03 (95% confidence interval: 94.91 to 97.14). Hypoplastic left heart syndrome and univentricular CHD cohorts performed significantly worse than atrial and ventricular septum defect cohorts (P = .0003; P = .027). An older age at assessment was associated with lower IQ scores in cohorts with transposition of the great arteries (P = .014). Among 13 studies (774 children with CHD) reporting EF compared with controls, the standardized mean difference was -0.56 (95% confidence interval: -0.65 to -0.46) with no predilection for a specific EF domain or age effect. LIMITATIONS Heterogeneity between studies was large. CONCLUSIONS Intellectual impairments in CHD are frequent, with severity and trajectory depending on the CHD subtype. EF performance is poorer in children with CHD without a specific EF profile. The heterogeneity in studied populations and applied assessments is large. A uniform testing guideline is urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Feldmann
- Child Development Centre and Children's Research Centre.,Children's Research Centre, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Célina Bataillard
- Child Development Centre and Children's Research Centre.,Children's Research Centre, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Melanie Ehrler
- Child Development Centre and Children's Research Centre.,Children's Research Centre, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Cinzia Ullrich
- Child Development Centre and Children's Research Centre.,Children's Research Centre, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Walter Knirsch
- Children's Research Centre, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Pediatric Cardiology, Pediatric Heart Center, and
| | | | - Ulrike Held
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Beatrice Latal
- Child Development Centre and Children's Research Centre .,Children's Research Centre, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Sanz JH, Anixt J, Bear L, Basken A, Beca J, Marino BS, Mussatto KA, Nembhard WN, Sadhwani A, Sananes R, Shekerdemian LS, Sood E, Uzark K, Willen E, Ilardi D. Characterisation of neurodevelopmental and psychological outcomes in CHD: a research agenda and recommendations from the cardiac neurodevelopmental outcome collaborative. Cardiol Young 2021; 31:876-887. [PMID: 34082845 PMCID: PMC8429101 DOI: 10.1017/s1047951121002146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The Neurodevelopmental and Psychological Outcomes Working Group of the Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Outcome Collaborative was formed in 2018 through support from an R13 grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute with the goals of identifying knowledge gaps regarding the neurodevelopmental and psychological outcomes of individuals with CHD and investigations needed to advance science, policy, clinical care, and patient/family outcomes. Accurate characterisation of neurodevelopmental and psychological outcomes in children with CHD will drive improvements in patient and family outcomes through targeted intervention. Decades of research have produced a generalised perspective about neurodevelopmental and psychological outcomes in this heterogeneous population. Future investigations need to shift towards improving methods, measurement, and analyses of outcomes to better inform early identification, prevention, and intervention. Improved definition of underlying developmental, neuropsychological, and social-emotional constructs is needed, with an emphasis on symptom networks and dimensions. Identification of clinically meaningful outcomes that are most important to key stakeholders, including patients, families, schools and providers, is essential, specifically how and which neurodevelopmental differences across the developmental trajectory impact stakeholders. A better understanding of the discontinuity and patterns of neurodevelopment across the lifespan is critical as well, with some areas being more impactful at some ages than others. Finally, the field needs to account for the impact of race/ethnicity, socio-economic status, cultural and linguistic diversity on our measurement, interpretation of data, and approach to intervention and how to improve generalisability to the larger worldwide population of patients and families living with CHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline H. Sanz
- Division of Neuropsychology, Children’s National Hospital, Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences & Pediatrics, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Julia Anixt
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Laurel Bear
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Herma Heart Institute, Children’s Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | | | - John Beca
- Department of Intensive Care, Starship Children’s Health, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Bradley S. Marino
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Wendy N. Nembhard
- Department of Epidemiology and the Arkansas Birth Defects Center for Research and Prevention, Fay W Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| | - Anjali Sadhwani
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children’s Hospital & Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Renee Sananes
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Psychology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Pediatrics, The University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Lara S. Shekerdemian
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Critical Care, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Erica Sood
- Nemours Cardiac Center, Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE & Department of Pediatrics, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Karen Uzark
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Cardiology, University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Elizabeth Willen
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Sciences and the Ward Family Heart Center, Children’s Mercy, Kansas City, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
| | - Dawn Ilardi
- Department of Neuropsychology, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION While the overall prevalence of autism is 1.7% in the United States of America, research has demonstrated a two- to five-fold increase in CHD. The Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Outcome Collaborative recommends screening for autism from infancy through adolescence. This study investigated the frequency of autism concerns at a single Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Program and examined current clinical practice as a way to improve quality of care. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients (n = 134; mean age = 9.0 years) included children with high-risk CHD who completed a neurodevelopmental evaluation following a formalised referral to the Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Program between 2018 and 2019. Retrospective chart review included parent report on the Behaviour Assessment System for Children-3 and Adaptive Behaviour Assessment System-3. Descriptive and correlation analyses were completed. RESULTS In this sample, 11.2% presented with autism-related concerns at referral, 2 were diagnosed with autism, 9 were referred to an autism specialist (6 confirmed diagnosis; 3 not completed). Thus, at least 5.9% of the sample were diagnosed with autism following thorough clinical evaluation. Analyses showed atypicality, along with deficient adaptability, leisure, social, and communication skills. Frequency of early intervention, school supports, and relation with comorbidities are reported. DISCUSSION Prior to assessment recommendations by the Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Outcome Collaborative, autism screening may not be completed systematically in clinical care for CHD. The current sample demonstrates a high frequency of autism in the typically referred clinical sample. Commonly used parent-report measures may reveal concerns but will not help diagnosis. Systematic use of an autism screener is essential.
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Altered frontal white matter microstructure is associated with working memory impairments in adolescents with congenital heart disease: A diffusion tensor imaging study. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2019; 25:102123. [PMID: 31869770 PMCID: PMC6933217 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2019.102123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Revised: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Children and adolescents with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at risk for mild to moderate cognitive impairments. In particular, impaired working memory performance has been found in CHD patients of all ages. Working memory is an important domain of higher order cognitive function and is crucial for everyday activities, with emerging importance in adolescence. However, the underlying neural correlate of working memory impairments in CHD is not yet fully understood. Diffusion tensor imaging and tract based spatial statistics analyses were conducted in 47 adolescent survivors of childhood cardiopulmonary bypass surgery (24 females) and in 44 healthy controls (24 females) between 11 and 16 years of age (mean age = 13.9, SD = 1.6). Fractional anisotropy (FA) of white matter diffusion was compared between groups and was correlated with working memory performance, derived from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-IV. CHD patients had significantly poorer working memory compared to controls (p = 0.001). Widespread bilateral reduction in FA was observed in CHD patients compared to healthy controls (threshold-free cluster enhancement (TFCE) corrected p < 0.05). This reduction in FA was present both in cyanotic and acyanotic CHD patients compared to healthy controls (both p < 0.001). The FA reduction in the frontal lobe, mainly in the forceps minor, was associated with poorer working memory performance in both patients with CHD and healthy controls (TFCE corrected p < 0.05). The current findings underline that in CHD patients, irrespective of disease severity, disrupted or delayed maturation of white matter may persist into adolescence and is associated with working memory impairments, particularly if present in the frontal lobe. Adolescence, which is a crucial period for prefrontal brain maturation, may offer a window of opportunity for intervention in order to support the maturation of frontal brain regions and therefore improve higher order cognitive function in patients with CHD.
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17
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES As the number of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) surviving congenital heart disease (CHD) grows, studies of long-term outcomes are needed. CHD research documents poor executive function (EF) and cerebellum (CB) abnormalities in children. We examined whether AYAs with CHD exhibit reduced EF and CB volumes. We hypothesized a double dissociation such that the posterior CB is related to EF while the anterior CB is related to motor function. We also investigated whether the CB contributes to EF above and beyond processing speed. METHODS Twenty-two AYAs with CHD and 22 matched healthy controls underwent magnetic resonance imaging and assessment of EF, processing speed, and motor function. Volumetric data were calculated using a cerebellar atlas (SUIT) developed for SPM. Group differences were compared with t tests, relationships were tested with Pearson's correlations and Fisher's r to z transformation, and hierarchical regression was used to test the CB's unique contributions to EF. RESULTS CHD patients had reduced CB total, lobular, and white matter volume (d=.52-.99) and poorer EF (d=.79-1.01) compared to controls. Significant correlations between the posterior CB and EF (r=.29-.48) were identified but there were no relationships between the anterior CB and motor function nor EF. The posterior CB predicted EF above and beyond processing speed (ps<.001). CONCLUSIONS This study identified a relationship between the posterior CB and EF, which appears to be particularly important for inhibitory processes and abstract reasoning. The unique CB contribution to EF above and beyond processing speed alone warrants further study. (JINS, 2018, 24, 939-948).
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18
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Cassidy AR, Ilardi D, Bowen SR, Hampton LE, Heinrich KP, Loman MM, Sanz JH, Wolfe KR. Congenital heart disease: A primer for the pediatric neuropsychologist. Child Neuropsychol 2017; 24:859-902. [DOI: 10.1080/09297049.2017.1373758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Adam R. Cassidy
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dawn Ilardi
- Department of Neuropsychology, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Susan R. Bowen
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Lyla E. Hampton
- Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Michelle M. Loman
- Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Jacqueline H. Sanz
- Division of Neuropsychology, Children’s National Health System, Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences & Pediatrics, George Washington University School of Medicine, , Washington, DC, USA
| | - Kelly R. Wolfe
- Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
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19
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Claessens NHP, Kelly CJ, Counsell SJ, Benders MJNL. Neuroimaging, cardiovascular physiology, and functional outcomes in infants with congenital heart disease. Dev Med Child Neurol 2017; 59:894-902. [PMID: 28542743 DOI: 10.1111/dmcn.13461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
This review integrates data on brain dysmaturation and acquired brain injury using fetal and neonatal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including the contribution of cardiovascular physiology to differences in brain development, and the relationship between brain abnormalities and subsequent neurological impairments in infants with congenital heart disease (CHD). The antenatal and neonatal period are critical for optimal brain development; the developing brain is particularly vulnerable to haemodynamic disturbances during this time. Altered cerebral perfusion and decreased cerebral oxygen delivery in the antenatal period can affect functional and structural brain development, while postnatal haemodynamic fluctuations may cause additional injury. In critical CHD, brain dysmaturation and acquired brain injury result from a combination of underlying cardiovascular pathology and surgery performed in the neonatal period. MRI findings in infants with CHD can be used to evaluate potential clinical risk factors for brain abnormalities, and aid prediction of functional outcomes at an early stage. In addition, information on timing of brain dysmaturation and acquired brain injury in CHD has the potential to be used when developing strategies to optimize neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie H P Claessens
- Department of Neonatology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Christopher J Kelly
- Centre for the Developing Brain, Division of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Serena J Counsell
- Centre for the Developing Brain, Division of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Manon J N L Benders
- Department of Neonatology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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