Zahed Safikhani, Naser Afzali, Hossian Bordbar.
Comparing the brain growth in normal children and those with congenital heart diseases.
Pak J Med Sci Jan ;23(3):398-400.

Background and Objective: Congenital heart diseases is one of the important factors which will decrease the growth rate of different parts of human body. In children who are suffering from heart diseases, due to heart failure as a result of poor blood supply, the growth of brain and skull will be effected leading to complex phenomenon in cephalometry. The aim of this study was to measure the length, breadth, height, circumference of the head, calculation of brain volume, weight, and cephalic index among healthy children compared with children with congenital heart diseases. Methods: This study was carried out in 474 cases 276 normal cases as control group and 198 cases were selected as patient group between the age of one month to six years. Results: The cephalometric indices of brain in both control and patients groups at the age of one to thirty six months were increased, followed by decrease in growth of brain. These indices among the congenital heart disease patients showed less growth in brain volume. Conclusion: Reduction of head dimensions in children with congenital heart disease in early life, might be due to the lack of O2 and poor blood supply to brain cells. Careful attention by parents and physicians can ensure early diagnosis thus restoring normal growth.

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