Isolated Right Ventricular Non-compaction in a Neonate Born to a Mother with Gestational Diabetes: A Case Report

Ventricular non-compaction, which is a rare congenital cardiomyopathy, results from an arrest in normal endomyocardial embryogenesis. It is characterized by a pattern of prominent trabecular meshwork and deep inter-trabecular recesses. The clinical manifestations include systolic and diastolic dysfunctions, heart failure, ventricular arrhythmias, and cardioembolic events.

Case report: 

Here we present the case of a neonate (38 weeks, weighing 2580 gr) born to a mother with gestational diabetes (GDM) with isolated right ventricular non-compaction (IRVNC) and systolic and diastolic right heart dysfunction due to meconium aspiration syndrome and tension pneumothorax. A 4-month follow-up demonstrated a complete improvement in the newborn.

It is of paramount importance to consider RVNC cardiomyopathy a differential diagnosis of cyanosis and respiratory distress due to meconium aspiration syndrome in neonate s born to mothers with GDM. Apart from RV cardiac dysfunction, RVNC could cause such complications as pulmonary hypertension and tension pneumothorax. It can be also spontaneously improved in GMD.