CHANGES IN THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM OF BABIES WITH FETAL GROWTH RESTRICTION IN THE FIRST HALF OF LIFE

The study assessed trends in posthypoxic changes in the cardiovascular system over the first six months of life in babies with and without fetal growth restriction. The infants born with fetal growth restriction and those born without this condition were found to have similar posthypoxic changes in terms of the type of dilated, hypertrophic cardiopathy or cardiopathy with normal heart chambers. The formation of normal heart function that remained during the first six months of life was impaired in all cases. Fetal growth restriction in babies with the lower heart chambers was related to the changes at birth and during 6 months of life, which were similar to those of cardiopathy with normal heart chambers, but more pronounced. Fetal growth restriction in infants with the enlarged heart chambers was associated with autonomic dysregulation as excessive sympathetic activity at birth, impaired automatism and conductivity, and decreased contractility and relaxation of the left ventricle. The sympathetic component and compensatory resources were observed to be depleted in these babies at the age of 6 months. More pronounced changes were associated with the duration and severity of fetal distress