Early onset marfan syndrome: Atypical clinical presentation of two cases

Early onset Marfan Syndrome (eoMFS) is a rare, severe form of Marfan Syndrome (MFS). The disease has a poor prognosis and most patients present with resistance to heart failure treatment during the newborn period. This report presents two cases of eoMFS with similar clinical features diagnosed in the newborn period and who died at an early age due to the complications related to the involvement of the cardiovascular system.

Pulmonary arterial wall thickness in Eisenmenger Syndrome: Prospective, cross-sectional, controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND

The aim of current study is to investigate echocardiographic pulmonary artery wall thickness (PAWT) association with angiocardiography, echocardiography, and biochemical findings and to demonstrate its predictive role in morbidity of disease.

METHOD

Nineteen patients with Eisenmenger Syndrome (ES) (13 females; a mean age of 12.0 ± 4.1 [min-max 4-17] years) and 24 (16 females; a mean age of 12.1 ± 4.3 [min-max 3-18 years]) healthy subjects as a control group were included in this prospective, cross-sectional, controlled clinical study between December, 2012 and December, 2013. PAWT were measured at the end of systole at the distal site of pulmonary valves at the parasternal short-axis. PAWT was compared with morbidity criteria of the disease such as functional class, pulmonary vascular resistance.

RESULTS

PAWT was higher in the patient group (P = 0.005) together with pulmonary arterial diameter (Z-score, P < 0.001), vena cava inferior diameter (P = 0.002), and right ventricular wall thickness (RVWT), while TAPSE was significantly lower (P = 0.002). PAWT was strongly positively correlated to RVWT (r = 0.893, P < 0.001) and moderate negatively correlated to TAPSE (r = 0.597; P < 0.011).

CONCLUSION

PAWT can be used as an additional parameter with other echocardiographic parameters in the follow-up of Eisenmenger Syndrome in children.

Anti-inflammatory role of obestatin in autoimmune myocarditis

Obestatin is a popular endogeneous peptide, known to have an autoimmune regulatory effect on energy metabolism and the gastrointestinal system. Studies regarding the anti-inflammatory effects of obestatin are scarce. The aim of this study was to show the anti-inflammatory effect of obestatin in an experimental model of autoimmune myocarditis in rats. Experimental autoimmune myocarditis was induced in Lewis rats by immunization with subcutaneous administration of porcine cardiac myosin, twice at 7-day intervals. Intraperitoneal pretreatment with obestatin (50 μg/kg) was started before the induction of myocarditis and continued for 3 weeks. The severity of myocarditis was evidenced by clinical, echocardiographic and histological findings. In addition, by-products of neutrophil activation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines were measured in serum. Obestatin significantly ameliorated the clinical and histopathological severity of autoimmune myocarditis. Therapeutic effects of obestatin in myocarditis were associated with reduced lipid peroxidation, suppression of polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration and enhancement of glutathione synthesis, inhibition of serum inflammatory and activation of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Histopathologically, the left ventricle was significantly dilated, and its wall thickened, along with widespread lymphocytic and histocytic infiltration. The myocardium was severely infiltrated with relatively large mononuclear cells. These histopathological changes were observed in lesser degrees in obestatin-treated rats. This study demonstrated a novel anti-inflammatory effect of obestatin in an experimental model of autoimmune myocarditis. Consequently, obestatin administration may represent a promising therapeutic approach for myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy in the future.

Efficacy of palivizumab prophylaxis among infants with congenital heart disease: A case control study

BACKGROUND

Palivizumab prophylaxis for RSV has been consistently reported to reduce the risk of hospital admissions related to RSV infection in children with symptomatic cardiac disease. This study was designed to investigate the efficacy of palivizumab prophylaxis among infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) in Turkey.

METHODS

A total of 91 infants with CHD who received palivizumab prophylaxis and 96 infants with CHD without prophylaxis (0-12 months:52; 12-24 months:44) were included in this single-center retrospective case control study. Data on patient characteristics, household environment, and LRTIs were evaluated.

RESULTS

In patients without prophylaxis, the rate of overall lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) (P < 0.001), complicated LRTIs (P = 0.006), LRTI-related hospitalization (P < 0.001) and ICU admission (P = 0.008) were significantly higher than control patients. Weight <10th percentile (odds ratio (OR) 5.78, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.37; 24.4, P < 0.001) and concomitant chromosome abnormality (OR 4.01, 95% CI:1.01;16.45, P < 0.001) in patients with prophylaxis, while presence of a sibling <11 years of age (OR 3.38, 95% CI: 1.21; 9.46, P < 0.001) and congestive heart failure (OR 8.63, 95% CI: 2.81; 26.6, P < 0.001) in the control group were the significant correlates of LRTI-related hospitalization.

CONCLUSION

Our findings revealed significantly lower rate of overall and complicated LRTIs, LRTI-related hospitalization and ICU admissions in infants with CHD via palivizumab prophylaxis.

Silent cerebral emboli following percutaneous closure of atrial septal defect in pediatric patients: a diffusion-weighted MRI study

PURPOSE

The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the incidence of silent cerebrovascular embolic events associated with percutaneous closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) in pediatric patients.

METHODS

A total of 23 consecutive pediatric patients (mean age, 10.4±3.8 years; range, 4-17 years) admitted for transcatheter closure of ASD were recruited in the study. The patients were scanned with a 1.5 Tesla clinical scanner. Two cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations were acquired before the procedure and within 24 hours following the catheterization. MRI included turbo spin-echo fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequence and diffusion-weighted imaging technique with single-shot echo-planar spin-echo sequence. The transcatheter closure of ASD was performed by three expert interventional cardiologists. Amplatzer septal occluder device was implemented for the closure of the defect. No contrast medium was administered in the course of the procedure.

RESULTS

None of the patients had diffusion restricted cerebral lesions resembling microembolic infarctions on postprocedural MRI. Preprocedural MRI of two patients revealed nonspecific hyperintense white matter lesions on FLAIR images with increased diffusion, which were considered to be older ischemic lesions associated with previously occurred paradoxical embolism.

CONCLUSION

The current study suggests that percutaneous closure of the ASD, when performed by experienced hands, may be free of cerebral microembolization in pediatric patients. However, due to the relatively small sample size, further studies with larger patient groups are needed for the validation of our preliminary results.

ADO II in Percutaneous VSD Closure in Pediatric Patients

OBJECTIVES

Main aim of our study to show that ADO II device can be used for the small ventricular septal defects successfully and safely with low complication rates in pediatric population.

BACKGROUND

It is hard to find an ideal device to use for every VSD successfully. If inappropriate device was chosen; complication rate increases, procedure time gets longer that prolongs exposure to ionizing radiation. Therefore interventionalists are in the search for new ideal devices.

MATERIAL

Between the dates April 2011-October 2014, 21 VSD closures with ADO-II device. were performed. Twenty patients were included, age ranged between 4 months 18 years. Weight of the patients was between 5-76 kg.

RESULTS

VSD diameter ranges between 2-6 mm (3.75 ± 1.25). VSD types were muscular in 2 patients, rest of them were perimembranous type. Most of the perimembranous defects (19/21) were aneursymatic and tunnel shaped. All the cases were successfully closed, no major complications were reported. There was no incidence of left bundle branch block, P-R prolongation, or complete heart block.

CONCLUSION

Considering perimembraneous ventricular septal defects as difficult and risky for percutaneous closure because of its proximity to aortic, atrioventricular valves and conduction tissue, we suggest that ADO II device can be safely and effectively used for such defects in particular if an aneurysm formation is present which is also compatible with the literature.

Cardioprotective effect of metformin against doxorubicin cardiotoxicity in rats

Objective:

The clinical use of doxorubicin, which is a strong antineoplastic agent, is limited due to its cardiotoxic side effects. Metformin is a drug with antihyperglycemic effects, and it has been shown to have a cardioprotective effect on left ventricular function in experimental animal models of myocardial ischemia. The present study investigated the cardioprotective effect of metformin in rats with doxorubicin cardiotoxicity.

Methods:

Wistar albino rats were used in the study. Forty male, 10-week-old Wistar albino rats were randomly divided four groups. The control group rats were intraperitoneally administered saline solution twice a week, four doses in total. The doxorubicin group rats received doxorubicin (4 mg/kg, twice a week, cumulative dose: 16 mg/kg) intraperitoneally. The metformin group rats received metformin (250 mg/kg/day, every day for 14 days) via gavage. The doxorubicin + metformin group rats received doxorubicin and metformin at the same dose. Left ventricular functions were evaluated by using M-mode echocardiography one day after the last dose of doxorubicin. Heart tissue samples were histopathologically examined. Cardiomyocyte apoptosis was detected using in situ terminal deoxynucleotide transferase assay (TUNEL). Serum brain natriuretic peptide and C-type natriuretic peptide levels were measured. Catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels were analyzed in the heart tissue. The assumptions of equality of variances and normal distribution were checked for all variables (Shapiro-Wilk test and Q-Q graphics). To identify intergroup differences, one-way variant analysis or the Kruskal-Wallis test was used. A p<0.05 value was accepted as statistically significant.

Results:

Our results showed that doxorubicin treatment caused significant deterioration in left ventricular functions by echocardiography, histological heart tissue damage, and increase in cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Doxorubicin + metformin group showed protection in left ventricular function, elimination of histopathologic change, and reduced of cardiomyocyte apoptosis.

Conclusion:

The present study provided evidence that metformin has cardioprotective effects against doxorubicin cardiotoxicity.

New modified balloon-assisted technique to provide appropriate deployment in the closure of large secundum atrial septal defect using amplatzer septal occluder in children

BACKGROUND

Transcatheter closure of secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) is accepted as a safe alternative method to surgery. However, the deployment of the device across the septum using the conventional method presents difficulties in large ASDs.

METHODS

In the modified balloon-assisted technique (modified BAT), a Tyshak balloon (Numed, Inc) is placed in one of the left pulmonary veins and a long sheath is placed in the right upper pulmonary vein. Through this sheath, the Amplatzer septal occluder is deployed to its proper position with the help of the Tyshak balloon, which prevents the left atrial disc from prolapsing into the right atrium. This method was implemented in the treatment of patients with a large secundum ASD. In this study, defects that measured ≥15 mm by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) were considered to be large secundum ASDs. Between June 2011 and September 2013, the modified BAT was used in the closure procedure of 30 patients (18 females/12 males) with large ASDs (group I). Between September 2003 and September 2013, 78 patients (47 females/31 males) with large ASDs were treated with conventional methods (group II). The results of both groups were compared.

RESULTS

In the comparison of the results between group I and group II, there were no significant differences between mean maximal ASD sizes by transthoracic echocardiography, mean maximal ASD size by TEE, Qp/Qs ratio, mean device diameter, failure rate, embolization incidences, residual shunt, and fluoroscopy time. However, there were significant differences in the mean ages, mean body weights, and mean PAPs between group I and group II. After adjusting for age and body weight, in terms of process failure, the conventional method was found 5.6 times more risky compared to modified BAT.

CONCLUSION

Large secundum ASDs in children, transcatheter closure with Amplatzer septal occluder using the modified BAT is a simple, quite useful method. In addition, this method seems to reduce the procedure failure rate.

The role of N-terminal proBNP in the clinic scoring of heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy in children

BACKGROUND

We aimed to show sensitivity and specificity of NT-ProBNP in demonstrating the degree of cardiac failure caused by dilated cardiomyopathy (DCMP).

METHODS

From January 2006 to July 2012, thirty patients (2 - 168 months) who had DCMP with acute heart failure and 37 healthy children aged (1 - 168 months) were enrolled in this study. Clinical evaluation was done using a modified Ross scoring system. Ross scoring was done before and after treatment. Patients with a score of > 2 points were included in the study. Ross scoring, echocardiographic parameters, serum NT-ProBNP levels and cardiothoracic index (CTI) were measured before and on the 7th day of treatment. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to degree of heart failure.

RESULTS

While the change in logNT-ProBNP in the patient group following one-week of treatment was significant (p < 0.05), there was no marked significance in the changes in EF, FS, LVEDD, LVMIz, and CTI. There was a statistically significant difference between logNT-ProBNP levels each Ross clinical group not only before treatment but also on assessment on the 7th day of treatment in the patient group (p < 0.001, Tukey's and Tamhane's T2 post-hoc tests). No significant difference was detected between EF, FS, LVEDDs, LVMIz, and CTI and the stages of acute cardiac failure. The NT-ProBNP levels of patients who became clinically asymptomatic after treatment but still had left ventricular systolic dysfunction were statistically significant when compared to the control group. The cut off value to distinguish healthy children from the patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction caused by cardiomyopathy was found as 174.3 pg/mL.

CONCLUSIONS

NT-ProBNP levels are more effective than conventional echocardiographic parameters for clinical determination of the stage of cardiac failures in children with left ventricular systolic dysfunction due to DCMP. Therefore, it can be used for determining the treatment and management of such patients. Furthermore, the test is simple and beneficial, because of its availability in most clinical chemistry laboratories and its advantage of allowing frequent measurements and assessments.

Transcatheter closure of ruptured sinus Valsalva aneurysm with retrograde approach

A three-year-old girl with multiple heart malformations admitted to the pediatric cardiology unit because of excessive sweating and fatigue. Abnormal color Doppler flow was detected into the right atrium from the dilated coronary sinus on the echocardiographic examination, and ruptured sinus Valsalva aneurysm (SVA) was diagnosed. Although in most such cases, an antegrade transcatheter approach has been used, a retrograde approach can be used as a cost-effective treatment modality in those cases with selective high-risk surgery. In this report, we present a patient with ruptured SVA, which was closed via Amplatzer vascular plug-4 by retrograde approach.

Are endothelial microparticles early markers of pulmonary hypertension?

OBJECTIVE

To find out the relation between endothelial microparticles (EMPs), pulmonary arterial stiffness and thickness of pulmonary artery intima media to determine the prognosis of Eisenmenger syndrome and their correlation with echocardiographic and hemodynamic parameters.

METHODS

Sixteen patients with Eisenmenger syndrome and 37 control patients were included. Electron microparticles levels, angiographic and echocardiographic findings were compared.

RESULTS

Thickness of pulmonary arterial intima media and systolic and diastolic diameters of pulmonary artery were found significant in the patient group. CD144 and CD146 EMP values of patient group were statistically high. However, there was not any significant difference in pulmonary arterial strain, elasticity and stiffness. Positive significant relationship was found between pulmonary artery intima media thickness and CD144 in patient group. But there was not any significance between CD 146 and pulmonary artery intimamedia thickness.

CONCLUSIONS

Invasive methods remain as the gold standard for pulmonary hypertension diagnosis, follow-up and treatment, but it is risky and can even be fatal. Our study showed that EMPs, thickness of pulmonary artery intima media and pulmonary stiffness could be novel noninvasive modalities for the follow-up pulmonary hypertensive patients.

Do we need a femoral artery route for transvenous PDA closure in children with ADO-I?

OBJECTIVE

The standard procedure in percutaneous closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with Amplatzer duct occluder-I (ADO-I) is transvenous closure guided by aortic access through femoral artery. The current study aims to compare the procedures for PDA closure with ADO-I: only transvenous access with the standard procedure.

METHODS

This study was designed retrospectively and 101 pediatric patients were included. PDA closure was done by only femoral venous access in 19 of them (group 1), arterial and venous access used in 92 patients (group 2) between 2004 to 2012 years. The position of the device and residual shunt in group1 was evaluated by the guidance of the aortogram obtained during the return phase of the pulmonary artery injection and guidance of transthoracic echocardiography. Shapiro-Wilk's test, Mann-Whitney U, chi-squared tests were used for statistical comparison.

RESULTS

The procedure was successful in 18 (95%) patients in group 1 and 90 (98%) patients in group 2. Complications including the pulmonary artery embolization (n=1), protrusion to pulmonary artery (n=1), inguinal hematoma (n=3), bleeding (n=2) were only detected in group 2. In other words, while complications were observed in 7 (7.2%) patients in group 2, no minor/major complication was observed in group 1. Complete closure in group 1 was: in catheterization room 14 (77.8%), at 24th hour in 2 (11.1%), at first month in 2 (11.1%). Complete closure in group 2 was: 66 (73.4%) patients in the catheterization room, 21 (23.3%) at 24th hour, 3 (3.3%) at first month, complete closure occurred at the end of first month.

CONCLUSION

In percutaneouse PDA closure via ADO-I, this technique can be a choice for patients whose femoral artery could not be accessed, or access is impossible/contraindicated. But for the reliability and validity of this method, randomized multicenter clinical studies are necessary.

Different clinical presentations of Naxos disease and Carvajal syndrome: Case series from a single tertiary center and review of the literature

Objective

Naxos disease is an autosomal recessive, inherited, cardiocutaneous disorder, characterized by arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, woolly hair, and palmoplantar keratoderma. Carvajal syndrome is characterized by palmoplantar keratoderma, curly hair, dilated cardiomyopathy, especially on the left ventricle side, and early morbidity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cutaneous and cardiac findings and genotype-phenotype relationship of six patients diagnosed with Naxos/Carvajal syndrome.

Methods

A retrospective review of six cases diagnosed with Naxos/Carvajal syndrome at our institution from 2002 to 2012 was performed. Demographic data; presenting complaints; cutaneous and cardiac findings; electrocardiography, echocardiography, and genetic analysis results; and treatment data were obtained from patient files.

Results

The patient group was composed of 4 males and 2 females, ranging from 1.5 to 13 years, with a mean age 6.4 years. Typical cutaneous and hair findings were present in all patients. Two cases presented with ventricular tachycardia attack, and 2 cases presented with severe heart failure. Two cases had only cutaneous findings without cardiac involvement at diagnosis. An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator was implanted in one case due to ongoing recurrent ventricular tachycardia attacks despite various antiarrhythmic treatments. Three of the 6 patients died during the follow-up.

Conclusion

For cases with woolly hair and palmoplantar keratoderma, the physician should provide a cardiac assessment, considering Naxos/ Carvajal disease associated with cardiomyopathy. When an early diagnosis is made, the life expectancy may be increased by treatment of heart failure and arrhythmias; also, genetic counseling should be performed.

Unusual right ventricle aneurysm and dysplastic pulmonary valve with mitral valve hypoplasia

We report a newborn with an unusual combination of aneurysmally dilated thin-walled right ventricle with hypertrophy of the apical muscles of the right ventricle. There was narrow pulmonary annulus, pulmonary regurgitation, and hypoplasia of the mitral valve and left ventricle. We propose that this heart represents a partial form of Uhl's anomaly.

The effects of dexmedetomidine on early stage renal functions in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac angiography using non-ionic contrast media: a double-blind, randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

In this study we aimed to investigate the effects of dexmedetomidine on early stage renal function in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac angiography.

METHODS

60 pediatric patients between 6 and 72 months of age undergoing cardiac angiography were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups. The patients in both groups were administered 1 mg · kg(-1) ketamine, 1 mg · kg(-1) propofol as bolus and followed by 1 mg · kg(-1) · h(-1) ketamine and 50 μg · kg(-1) · min(-1) propofol infusion. Additionally, a loading dose of 1 μg · kg(-1) dexmedetomidine given over 10 min followed by 0.5 μg · kg(-1) · h(-1) dexmedetomidine infusion to patients in group D. The patients were evaluated for NGAL, creatinine, renin, endothelin-1, TAS and TOS blood levels before the procedure and 6th and 24th h after the procedure. pRIFLE criteria were used to define CIN and its incidence in the study.

RESULTS

According to pRIFLE criteria contrast-induced acute kidney injury developed in 3 (10%) of the patients in group D and 11 (36.7%) of the patients in group C (P = 0.029, risk ratio = 0.27; 95% CI: 0.084-0.88). In patients who developed CIN, Endothelin-1 levels in groups C and D were significantly higher than baseline levels at 6th, 24th and 6th h, respectively. Renin levels were significantly increased at 6th and 24 th( ) h in patients with CIN in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Dexmedetomidine may be beneficial in protecting against contrast-induced nephropathy during pediatric angiography by preventing the elevation of vasoconstrictor agents such as plasma endothelin-1 and renin.