Renal sympathetic denervation for resistant hypertension in a child after aortic coarctation surgery

Does treatment-resistant hypertension exist in children? A review of the evidence

Treatment-resistant hypertension (TRH) is a well-described condition in adult patients that is associated with poor clinical outcomes. While case reports of hypertension resistant to therapy in children have been published, it is unclear if TRH truly exists in childhood. This educational review will briefly summarize recent evidence and recommendations for TRH in adults, as well as will review the literature regarding medically resistant hypertension in children and adolescents. Finally, we propose a clinical approach for evaluation hypertensive children and adolescents with apparent treatment resistance.

Postnatal Cardiac Autonomic Nervous Control in Pediatric Congenital Heart Disease

Congenital heart disease is the most common congenital defect. During childhood, survival is generally good but, in adulthood, late complications are not uncommon. Abnormal autonomic control in children with congenital heart disease may contribute considerably to the pathophysiology of these long term sequelae. This narrative review of 34 studies aims to summarize current knowledge on function of the autonomic nervous system in children with a congenital heart defect. Large scale studies that measure both branches of the nervous system for prolonged periods of time in well-defined patient cohorts in various phases of childhood and adolescence are currently lacking. Pending such studies, there is not yet a good grasp on the extent and direction of sympathetic and parasympathetic autonomic function in pediatric congenital heart disease. Longitudinal studies in homogenous patient groups linking autonomic nervous system function and clinical outcome are warranted.

Renal denervation for severe hypertension in a small child with Turner syndrome: miniaturisation of the procedure and results

Sympathetic nervous system hyperactivity plays a role in development and progression of hypertension. While renal denervation employing radiofrequency devices has been used therapeutically in treating severe hypertension with alternate results in adults, few data are available regarding children. We treated a 6-year-old girl affected by Turner syndrome presenting severe hypertension and an episode of stroke, in spite of treatment with four antihypertensive drugs, with sympathetic ablation. The Simplicity device (Medtronic, Minneapolis, USA) was adapted to the smaller vessels, allowing a tailored approach. After 3 and 6 months of treatment, and β-blocker discontinuation, blood pressure values were set between the 90th and 95th centiles for sex and age, and normalised at 12 months. We confirm that renal denervation can be used to treat severe hypertension in children; miniaturisation of catheter and tailoring the procedure for small vessels allowed a safe approach. Progressive improvement of blood pressure had a satisfactory clinical impact.

[Resistant arterial hypertension and coarctation of the aorta]

Coarctation of the aorta accounts for around 5 percent of all congenital heart defects. Many of these patients develop arterial hypertension, and occasionally resistant arterial hypertension, despite adequate correction. This may lead to potentially fatal complications such as heart failure, aortic dissection, cerebrovascular events, or myocardial infarction. Therefore, a correct diagnosis must be made and an appropriate treatment started to reduce arterial hypertension, arteriosclerotic vascular disease, as well as the increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.