How does the convergence of prematurity and congenital heart disease impact the developing brain?

• Published in: Seminars in perinatology Vol. 45; no. 7; p. 151472
• Main Authors: Gano, Dawn, McQuillen, Patrick
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.11.2021
• Subjects: Brain; Brain Injuries; Brain injury; Congenital heart defects; Heart Defects, Congenital - complications; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine; Preterm; Prospective Studies; MRI; PVL; Congenital heart defects; HLHS; Preterm; MRS; TGA; WMI; Magnetic resonance imaging; DTI; IVH; Brain injury; CHD; magnetic resonance imaging; Hypoplastic left heart syndrome; Transposition of the great arteries; Congenital heart disease; Intraventricular hemorrhage; White matter injury; Diffusion tensor imaging; Magnetic resonance spectroscopy; brain injury; Periventricular leukomalacia; congenital heart defects
• ISSN: 0146-0005; 1558-075X; 1558-075X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.semperi.2021.151472

Prematurity and congenital heart disease (CHD) are individually associated with increased risk of brain injury and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. Delayed brain development in newborns with CHD has been documented to begin in utero and predisposes newborns with CHD to brain injury. Little is known about the combined risks when prematurity and CHD co-occur. The purpose of this review is to highlight the unique vulnerability of preterm newborns with CHD to brain dysmaturation and brain injury, and the urgent need for prospective research.