Purpose: Ejection fraction, measured as the fraction of blood ejected from the ventricle in each heartbeat using M-mode echocardiography, serves as a primary indicator of left ventricular systolic function. This study explores the correlation between blood pressure and left ventricular systolic function in neonates using M-mode echocardiography. Methods: Neonates who underwent echocardiography in the neonatal intensive care unit between January 2011 and December 2020 were retrospectively studied. Results: Our analyses showed a significant association between ejection fraction and systolic blood pressure, but not with diastolic or mean blood pressure—both of which are more sensitive to hypotension. Ejection fraction was also not significantly associated with heart rate, urine output, or inotropic support in this study, suggesting that factors influencing urine output may not directly relate to ejection fraction. Additionally, we found that higher systolic blood pressure was correlated with advanced gestational age, the absence of patent ductus arteriosus, and no need for fentanyl administration. Notably, lower gestational age and lack of mechanical ventilation were both associated with increased hourly urine output, suggesting that developmental maturity and respiratory stability may influence renal function. Conclusion Neonatal hypotension occurred secondary to decreased systolic cardiac function and peripheral vascular resistance. Neonatologists should carefully monitor the individual components of blood pressure and prescribe medications accordingly, considering that systolic blood pressure is correlated with ejection function.

Purpose: Ejection fraction, measured as the fraction of blood ejected from the ventricle in each heartbeat using M-mode echocardiography, serves as a primary indicator of left ventricular systolic function. This study explores the correlation between blood pressure and left ventricular systolic function in neonates using M-mode echocardiography. Methods: Neonates who underwent echocardiography in the neonatal intensive care unit between January 2011 and December 2020 were retrospectively studied. Results: Our analyses showed a significant association between ejection fraction and systolic blood pressure, but not with diastolic or mean blood pressure—both of which are more sensitive to hypotension. Ejection fraction was also not significantly associated with heart rate, urine output, or inotropic support in this study, suggesting that factors influencing urine output may not directly relate to ejection fraction. Additionally, we found that higher systolic blood pressure was correlated with advanced gestational age, the absence of patent ductus arteriosus, and no need for fentanyl administration. Notably, lower gestational age and lack of mechanical ventilation were both associated with increased hourly urine output, suggesting that developmental maturity and respiratory stability may influence renal function. Conclusion Neonatal hypotension occurred secondary to decreased systolic cardiac function and peripheral vascular resistance. Neonatologists should carefully monitor the individual components of blood pressure and prescribe medications accordingly, considering that systolic blood pressure is correlated with ejection function.

Background and Objectives: Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute vasculitis that primarily affects children under age 5 years. Approximately 20–25% of untreated children with KD and 3–5% of those treated with intravenous immunoglobulin therapy develop coronary artery aneurysms (CAAs). The prevalence of CAAs is much higher in male than in female patients with KD, but the underlying factors contributing to susceptibility to CAAs in patients with KD remain unclear. This study aimed to identify sex-specific susceptibility loci associated with CAAs in KD patients. Methods: A sex-stratified genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed using previously obtained GWAS data from 296 KD patients and a new replication study in an independent set of 976 KD patients by comparing KD patients without CAA (controls) and KD patients with aneurysms (internal diameter ≥5 mm) (cases). Results: Six male-specific susceptibility loci, PDE1C, NOS3, DLG2, CPNE8, FUNDC1, and GABRQ (odds ratios [ORs], 2.25–9.98; p=0.00204–1.96×10−6 ), and 2 female-specific susceptibility loci, SMAD3 (OR, 4.59; p=0.00016) and IL1RAPL1 (OR, 4.35; p=0.00026), were significantly associated with CAAs in patients with KD. In addition, the numbers of CAA risk alleles additively contributed to the development of CAAs in patients with KD. Conclusions A sex-stratified GWAS identified 6 male-specific (PDE1C, NOS3, DLG2, CPNE8, FUNDC1, and GABRQ) and 2 female-specific (SMAD3 and IL1RAPL1) CAA susceptibility loci in patients with KD.

Purpose: Ejection fraction, measured as the fraction of blood ejected from the ventricle in each heartbeat using M-mode echocardiography, serves as a primary indicator of left ventricular systolic function. This study explores the correlation between blood pressure and left ventricular systolic function in neonates using M-mode echocardiography. Methods: Neonates who underwent echocardiography in the neonatal intensive care unit between January 2011 and December 2020 were retrospectively studied. Results: Our analyses showed a significant association between ejection fraction and systolic blood pressure, but not with diastolic or mean blood pressure—both of which are more sensitive to hypotension. Ejection fraction was also not significantly associated with heart rate, urine output, or inotropic support in this study, suggesting that factors influencing urine output may not directly relate to ejection fraction. Additionally, we found that higher systolic blood pressure was correlated with advanced gestational age, the absence of patent ductus arteriosus, and no need for fentanyl administration. Notably, lower gestational age and lack of mechanical ventilation were both associated with increased hourly urine output, suggesting that developmental maturity and respiratory stability may influence renal function. Conclusion Neonatal hypotension occurred secondary to decreased systolic cardiac function and peripheral vascular resistance. Neonatologists should carefully monitor the individual components of blood pressure and prescribe medications accordingly, considering that systolic blood pressure is correlated with ejection function.

Background and Objectives: Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute vasculitis that primarily affects children under age 5 years. Approximately 20–25% of untreated children with KD and 3–5% of those treated with intravenous immunoglobulin therapy develop coronary artery aneurysms (CAAs). The prevalence of CAAs is much higher in male than in female patients with KD, but the underlying factors contributing to susceptibility to CAAs in patients with KD remain unclear. This study aimed to identify sex-specific susceptibility loci associated with CAAs in KD patients. Methods: A sex-stratified genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed using previously obtained GWAS data from 296 KD patients and a new replication study in an independent set of 976 KD patients by comparing KD patients without CAA (controls) and KD patients with aneurysms (internal diameter ≥5 mm) (cases). Results: Six male-specific susceptibility loci, PDE1C, NOS3, DLG2, CPNE8, FUNDC1, and GABRQ (odds ratios [ORs], 2.25–9.98; p=0.00204–1.96×10−6 ), and 2 female-specific susceptibility loci, SMAD3 (OR, 4.59; p=0.00016) and IL1RAPL1 (OR, 4.35; p=0.00026), were significantly associated with CAAs in patients with KD. In addition, the numbers of CAA risk alleles additively contributed to the development of CAAs in patients with KD. Conclusions A sex-stratified GWAS identified 6 male-specific (PDE1C, NOS3, DLG2, CPNE8, FUNDC1, and GABRQ) and 2 female-specific (SMAD3 and IL1RAPL1) CAA susceptibility loci in patients with KD.

Background and Objectives: Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute vasculitis that primarily affects children under age 5 years. Approximately 20–25% of untreated children with KD and 3–5% of those treated with intravenous immunoglobulin therapy develop coronary artery aneurysms (CAAs). The prevalence of CAAs is much higher in male than in female patients with KD, but the underlying factors contributing to susceptibility to CAAs in patients with KD remain unclear. This study aimed to identify sex-specific susceptibility loci associated with CAAs in KD patients. Methods: A sex-stratified genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed using previously obtained GWAS data from 296 KD patients and a new replication study in an independent set of 976 KD patients by comparing KD patients without CAA (controls) and KD patients with aneurysms (internal diameter ≥5 mm) (cases). Results: Six male-specific susceptibility loci, PDE1C, NOS3, DLG2, CPNE8, FUNDC1, and GABRQ (odds ratios [ORs], 2.25–9.98; p=0.00204–1.96×10−6 ), and 2 female-specific susceptibility loci, SMAD3 (OR, 4.59; p=0.00016) and IL1RAPL1 (OR, 4.35; p=0.00026), were significantly associated with CAAs in patients with KD. In addition, the numbers of CAA risk alleles additively contributed to the development of CAAs in patients with KD. Conclusions A sex-stratified GWAS identified 6 male-specific (PDE1C, NOS3, DLG2, CPNE8, FUNDC1, and GABRQ) and 2 female-specific (SMAD3 and IL1RAPL1) CAA susceptibility loci in patients with KD.

Purpose: Ejection fraction, measured as the fraction of blood ejected from the ventricle in each heartbeat using M-mode echocardiography, serves as a primary indicator of left ventricular systolic function. This study explores the correlation between blood pressure and left ventricular systolic function in neonates using M-mode echocardiography. Methods: Neonates who underwent echocardiography in the neonatal intensive care unit between January 2011 and December 2020 were retrospectively studied. Results: Our analyses showed a significant association between ejection fraction and systolic blood pressure, but not with diastolic or mean blood pressure—both of which are more sensitive to hypotension. Ejection fraction was also not significantly associated with heart rate, urine output, or inotropic support in this study, suggesting that factors influencing urine output may not directly relate to ejection fraction. Additionally, we found that higher systolic blood pressure was correlated with advanced gestational age, the absence of patent ductus arteriosus, and no need for fentanyl administration. Notably, lower gestational age and lack of mechanical ventilation were both associated with increased hourly urine output, suggesting that developmental maturity and respiratory stability may influence renal function. Conclusion Neonatal hypotension occurred secondary to decreased systolic cardiac function and peripheral vascular resistance. Neonatologists should carefully monitor the individual components of blood pressure and prescribe medications accordingly, considering that systolic blood pressure is correlated with ejection function.