Background

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) may directly affect cardiovascular function in early life. Longitudinal data on left ventricular longitudinal strain (LVLS), a key measure of cardiac function independent of body size, is not available. We hypothesize impaired cardiac function among IUGR newborns and persistence of the impairment until age 3 months.

Method

This is a prospective cohort study of consecutive pregnancies where IUGR was identified at 18–38 weeks gestational age (GA) with healthy controls randomly selected at 18–20 weeks GA. Echocardiograms were performed at birth and at age 3–4 months, and then compared.

Results

At birth, mean (SD) LVLS did not differ between the IUGR group [N = 19; − 15.76 (3.12) %] and controls [N = 35; − 15.53 (3.56) %]. The IUGR group demonstrated no significant change in LVLS at age 3–4 months [− 17.80 (3.82) %], while the control group [− 20.91 (3.31) %] showed a significant increase (P < 0.001). Thus, LVLS was lower in the IUGR group at age 3–4 months (P = 0.003).

Conclusion

The lack of increase in LVLS may suggest that IUGR has a direct impact on cardiac function as early as during the first months of life.

Trial registration Clinical trials.gov Identifier: NCT02583763, registration October 22, 2015. Retrospectively registered September 2014–October 2015, thereafter, registered prospectively.

Impact Statement

No change in left ventricular longitudinal strain (LVLS) was observed among IUGR infants between birth and age 3–4 months.

LVLS significantly increased in controls during the same period, resulting in the finding of lower LVLS among IUGR infants compared with controls at age 3–4 months.

Lack of increase in LVLS among IUGR infants may suggest an impact on cardiac function as early as the first few months of life.