Castagno M, Menegon V, Monzani A, et al. - In this single-center cross-sectional case-control study, researchers focused on clinical and echographic markers of cardiovascular dysfunction in infants born small for gestational age (SGA) vs individuals born adequate for gestational age (AGA)(control group). They selected 20 SGA and 20 gestational age–matched AGA individuals at 24 months of age. Lower stroke volume, lower left ventricle (LV) dimensions and volume, and greater LV thickness were detected in SGA children. These individuals exhibited impaired diastolic function with lower capacitance and higher elastance. In SGA infants, a positive link of birth weight standard deviation score with capacitance and its negative relation to E/E’ ratio and elastance was noted, a shift to left was shown by end-diastolic pressure-related volume curve compared with AGA. An early and subtle cardiovascular dysfunction was seen in infants born SGA vs AGA controls. These changes were strongly associated with weight at birth. A crucial protective and beneficial cardiovascular influence of breastfeeding was also evident.