Ventricular remodeling in preterm infants: computational cardiac magnetic resonance atlasing shows significant early remodeling of the left ventricle

Background Premature birth is associated with ventricular remodeling, early heart failure, and altered left ventricular (LV) response to physiological stress. Using computational cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging, we aimed to quantify preterm ventricular remodeling in the neonatal period, and explore contributory clinical factors. Methods Seventy-three CMR scans (34 preterm infants, 10 term controls) were performed to assess in-utero development and preterm ex-utero growth. End-diastolic computational atlases were created for both cardiac ventricles; t statistics, linear regression modeling, and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to describe the impact of prematurity and perinatal factors on ventricular volumetrics, ventricular geometry, myocardial mass, and wall thickness. Results All preterm neonates demonstrated greater weight-indexed LV mass and higher weight-indexed end-diastolic volume at term-corrected age ( P < 0.05 for all preterm gestations). Independent associations of increased term-corrected age LV myocardial wall thickness were (false discovery rate <0.05): degree of prematurity, antenatal glucocorticoid administration, and requirement for >48 h postnatal respiratory support. PCA of LV geometry showed statistical differences between all preterm infants at term-corrected age and term controls. Conclusions Computational CMR demonstrates that significant LV remodeling occurs soon after preterm delivery and is associated with definable clinical situations. This suggests that neonatal interventions could reduce long-term cardiac dysfunction.