Development of Adipose Tissue with Special Reference to Recovery from Adipose Hypocellularity in Congential Heart Disease.

Thirty two children with normal growth and development for age, and 57 children with serious congenital heart disease were investigated for height, weight, total body fat, fat cell size, total fat cell number, and lean body mass as a function of age. Examination of fat samples was carried out by a modification of the method of Hirsch and Gallian. In children with normal growth (ages 1–14 years) fat cell number continues to increase, but fat cell size does not change with increasing age. Reduced fat in congenital heart disease is primarily due to decreased fat cell number. If cardiac defects are repaired between 1 and 5 years of age recovery of flat cell number can be achieved.