The majority of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD), particularly those with relevant systemic-to-pulmonary shunts, if left untreated, will experience the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Previous studies have shown that platelet activation occurs in patients with PAH. In response, this study aimed to investigate the platelet indices, including platelet distribution width (PDW) and mean platelet volume (MPV), in patients with PAH. The study was conducted in the pediatrics cardiology unit of Selcuk University Medical Faculty between July 2010 and January 2012. The patients' clinical and laboratory data were obtained retrospectively from hospital recordings. The study enrolled 57 children with CHD (all with left-to-right shunting). The patients who had undergone diagnostic cardiac catheterization were analyzed according to the presence or absence of PAH. Group 1 had CHD with PAH, and group 2 had CHD without PAH. Compared with the group 2 patients, a significant decrease in PDW (p < 0.0001) was noted in the group 1 patients (with PAH). Likewise, a significant difference was found in the MPV of group 1 (p < 0.0001). Statistically, groups 1 and 2 did not differ in terms of platelet count (p = 0.3). Patients who had pulmonary hypertension secondary to CHD with left-to-right shunting exhibited a lower PDW and MPV.

Newborn cardiac wall thickness was increased in pregnancies complicated by Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and the increase was independent of glycemic control. Diastolic newborn cardiac function was impaired in GDM, and this effect was independent of septal thickness. We found no association between ADMA levels and cardiac systolic, diastolic functions or septum thickness in the GDM newborn.

Myocardial hypertrophy and cardiac dysfunction frequently occur in newborns of diabetic mothers. The authors hypothesized that wall hypertrophy or disproportionate left ventricular wall thickness in newborns of diabetic mothers may affect both QT and QTc dispersion. This study aimed to assess whether left ventricular hypertrophy affects the QT variables of infants born to diabetic mothers. This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted with 47 consecutively selected neonates of gestational diabetic mothers and 30 healthy neonates born to healthy mothers. All the subjects were evaluated during the neonatal period. Electrocardiography with echocardiography was performed for the patients and the control subjects. The newborns of the diabetic mothers were classified according to septal thickness as group 1 (16 newborns with septal hypertrophy) or group 2 (31 newborns without septal hypertrophy). The study group consisted of three cohorts: groups 1, 2, and 3 (control group). Both QT and QTc dispersion were computed from a randomly selected beat as well as from an average beat derived from 12 beats included in a 10-s electrocardiography. A total of 16 infants (34%) had a septal thickness of 6 mm or greater. The left ventricular end-systolic diameter in group 1 was smaller (p = 0.0029) than in groups 2 and 3 (p = 0.003). The interventricular septal thickness at end diastole (IVSTd) and the left ventricular posterior wall thickness at end diastole in group 1 were higher than in of groups 2 and 3. The QT and QTc dispersion intervals were longer in group 1 than in groups 2 and 3 (p < 0.001), and a highly significant positive correlation was detected between IVSTd and QT dispersion (r = 0.514, p = 0.042). Elevated QT and QTc dispersions may be risk factors for the development of arrhythmias in newborns of diabetic mothers. These patients may critically need systematic cardiac screening.

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Evaluation of cardiac structures requires a large study group for accurate data on normal values. The aim of the study was to obtain normal M mode echocardiographic values in a substantial sample of healthy term neonates and children to develop centile charts.Materials and methods: Data were obtained over 2 years from a single center in Turkey, from 1200 healthy infants and children aged 1 day to 17 years. Using echocardiographic investigation, measurements were obtained of the following: left ventricular dimension at end diastole and end systole; thickness of interventricular septum and posterior wall of the left ventricle; aortic and pulmonary root diameter; and left atrial dimension. The influence of systematic errors as statistical noise in this large sample was decreased using thirddegree polynomial curves.Results: Measurements are presented graphically as curved lines of centiles with respect to body weight for healthy term neonates and children. The values showed a good correlation with body weight and allowed the construction of percentile curves (5%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 95%). Higher values were observed in boys during adolescence. Conclusion:The presented charts and tables make it possible to judge the echocardiographic measurements of a particular patient as normal or abnormal.