J Korean Pediatr Cardiol Soc.  2001 Aug;5(1):34-41.

Dexamethasone Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy in Preterm Infants hypertrophy, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

• Han YN
• Park SH
• Jang GY
• Son CS
• Lee JW
• Tockgo YC

Abstract

PURPOSE: Dexamethasone is a well-known treatment for preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. However, serious side effects have been identified, including hypertension, and cardiac hypertrophy. This study was undertaken to examine whether dexamethasone induced cardiac hypertrophy in preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed 12 infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia treated with dexamethasone at Korea University Hospital from August 1995 to February 1999. Serial two-dimensional and M-mode echocardiographic measurements were taken before treatment and at 1,2,3,4,5 weeks after the start of dexamethasone therapy.
RESULTS
Patients receiving dexamethasone had a significantly increase in interventricular septal thickness and left ventricular posterior wall thickness. These effects were transient, reached their maximal degree by the third week of treatment, and approached pretreatment conditions by the fifth week of treatment. Heart rate was increased but statistically not significant. The fractional shortening, systolic and diastolic arterial pressure were transiently increased during dexamethasone therapy.
CONCLUSION
We conclude that a transient myocardial hypertrophy is associated with dexamethasone therapy in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Follow up of careful echocardiac monitoring should be considered in infants with dexamethasone therapy.

Keyword

Dexamethasone; Bronchopulmonary dysplasia; Cardiac hypertrophy; Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

MeSH Terms

Arterial Pressure
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
Cardiomegaly*
Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic*
Dexamethasone*
Echocardiography
Follow-Up Studies
Heart Rate
Humans
Hypertension
Hypertrophy*
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature*
Korea
Retrospective Studies
Dexamethasone