Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Turner Syndrome: A Prospective Echocardiographic Study

Clinical practice guidelines for the care of girls and women with Turner syndrome

Turner syndrome (TS) affects 50 per 100 000 females. TS affects multiple organs through all stages of life, necessitating multidisciplinary care. This guideline extends previous ones and includes important new advances, within diagnostics and genetics, estrogen treatment, fertility, co-morbidities, and neurocognition and neuropsychology. Exploratory meetings were held in 2021 in Europe and United States culminating with a consensus meeting in Aarhus, Denmark in June 2023. Prior to this, eight groups addressed important areas in TS care: (1) diagnosis and genetics, (2) growth, (3) puberty and estrogen treatment, (4) cardiovascular health, (5) transition, (6) fertility assessment, monitoring, and counselling, (7) health surveillance for comorbidities throughout the lifespan, and (8) neurocognition and its implications for mental health and well-being. Each group produced proposals for the present guidelines, which were meticulously discussed by the entire group. Four pertinent questions were submitted for formal GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) evaluation with systematic review of the literature. The guidelines project was initiated by the European Society for Endocrinology and the Pediatric Endocrine Society, in collaboration with members from the European Society for Pediatric Endocrinology, the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, the European Reference Network on Rare Endocrine Conditions, the Society for Endocrinology, and the European Society of Cardiology, Japanese Society for Pediatric Endocrinology, Australia and New Zealand Society for Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Latin American Society for Pediatric Endocrinology, Arab Society for Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, and the Asia Pacific Pediatric Endocrine Society. Advocacy groups appointed representatives for pre-meeting discussions and the consensus meeting.

Cardiac abnormalities in girls with Turner syndrome: ECG abnormalities, myocardial strain imaging, and karyotype-phenotype associations

Turner syndrome (TS) is a chromosomal condition which is associated with an increased prevalence of cardiac morbidity and mortality. In this cross‐sectional study, Minnesota‐based electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities, aortic dimensions, routine‐ and myocardial strain echocardiographic parameters, and karyotype‐cardiac phenotype associations were assessed in girls with TS. In total, 101 girls with TS (0–18 years) were included. The prevalence of major ECG abnormalities was 2% (T‐wave abnormalities) and 39% had minor ECG abnormalities. Dilatation of the ascending aorta (z‐score > 2) was present in 16%, but the prevalence was much lower when using TS‐specific z‐scores. No left ventricular hypertrophy was detected and the age‐matched global longitudinal strain was reduced in only 6% of the patients. Cardiac abnormalities seemed more common in patients with a non‐mosaic 45,X karyotype compared with other karyotypes, although no statistically significant association was found. Lowering the frequency of echocardiography and ECG screening might be considered in girls with TS without cardiovascular malformations and/or risk factors for aortic dissection. Nevertheless, a large prospective study is needed to confirm our results. The appropriate z‐score for the assessment of aortic dilatation remains an important knowledge gap. The karyotype was not significantly associated with the presence of cardiac abnormalities, therefore cardiac screening should not depend on karyotype alone.

Left ventricular remodelling among Turner syndrome patients: insights from non-invasive 3D echocardiography-derived pressure-volume loop analysis

BACKGROUND

Turner syndrome (TS) is a X-chromosomal disease affecting one in 2500-3000 female newborns. TS individuals are at high cardiovascular risk and more likely to be overweight or obese. The aim of this study was to assess left ventricular performance in TS patients through three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (3DSTE) and non-invasive left ventricular pressure-volume loop (PVL) analysis. Moreover, this study focused on the impact of excess weight on the left ventricular efficiency in TS patients.

METHODS

Thirty-six TS patients and 19 healthy age-matched controls were included in this study. 3DSTE and non-invasive left ventricular PVL analysis were performed and left ventricular efficiency parameters were calculated.

RESULTS

TS patients had significantly lower values than controls in longitudinal strain (- 16.67 ± 3.23% vs. - 18.47 ± 1.87%; p = 0.029), but significantly higher values for arterial elastance (BSA) (3.31, 1.87-5.88 mmHg/mL vs. 2.99, 2.31-4.61 mmHg/mL; p = 0.011) and cardiac work (BSA) (292,070 ± 71,348 mmHg*mL*HR vs. 248,595 ± 70,510 mmHg*mL*HR; p = 0.036). Compared with normal weight patients, overweight and obese TS subjects demonstrated worse left ventricular efficiency (175.08 ± 17.73 mmHg vs. 157.24 ± 26.75 mmHg; p = 0.037). Even after excluding TS patients with cardiovascular morbidity, arterial elastance (BSA) was compared to healthy peers, significantly increased in TS patients.

CONCLUSIONS

3DSTE and non-invasive left ventricular PVL analysis might be useful tools to detect early cardiac changes in TS. Arterial elastance seems to be significantly increased in TS patients, independent of cardiovascular morbidity. Compared with normal weight TS patients, overweight/obese TS patients displayed lower left ventricular efficiency.

Cardiovascular imaging in Turner syndrome: state-of-the-art practice across the lifespan

Cardiovascular imaging is essential to providing excellent clinical care for girls and women with Turner syndrome (TS). Congenital and acquired cardiovascular diseases are leading causes of the lifelong increased risk of premature death in TS. Non-invasive cardiovascular imaging is crucial for timely diagnosis and treatment planning, and a systematic and targeted imaging approach should combine echocardiography, cardiovascular magnetic resonance and, in select cases, cardiac CT. In recent decades, evidence has mounted for the need to perform cardiovascular imaging in all females with TS irrespective of karyotype and phenotype. This is due to the high incidence of outcome-determining lesions that often remain subclinical and occur in patterns specific to TS. This review provides an overview of state-of-the-art cardiovascular imaging practice in TS, by means of a review of the most recent literature, in the context of a recent consensus statement that has highlighted the role of cardiovascular diseases in these females.

Clinical practice guidelines for the care of girls and women with Turner syndrome: proceedings from the 2016 Cincinnati International Turner Syndrome Meeting

Turner syndrome affects 25-50 per 100,000 females and can involve multiple organs through all stages of life, necessitating multidisciplinary approach to care. Previous guidelines have highlighted this, but numerous important advances have been noted recently. These advances cover all specialty fields involved in the care of girls and women with TS. This paper is based on an international effort that started with exploratory meetings in 2014 in both Europe and the USA, and culminated with a Consensus Meeting held in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA in July 2016. Prior to this meeting, five groups each addressed important areas in TS care: 1) diagnostic and genetic issues, 2) growth and development during childhood and adolescence, 3) congenital and acquired cardiovascular disease, 4) transition and adult care, and 5) other comorbidities and neurocognitive issues. These groups produced proposals for the present guidelines. Additionally, four pertinent questions were submitted for formal GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) evaluation with a separate systematic review of the literature. These four questions related to the efficacy and most optimal treatment of short stature, infertility, hypertension, and hormonal replacement therapy. The guidelines project was initiated by the European Society for Endocrinology and the Pediatric Endocrine Society, in collaboration with The European Society for Pediatric Endocrinology, The Endocrine Society, European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, The American Heart Association, The Society for Endocrinology, and the European Society of Cardiology. The guideline has been formally endorsed by the European Society for Endocrinology, the Pediatric Endocrine Society, the European Society for Pediatric Endocrinology, the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology and the Endocrine Society. Advocacy groups appointed representatives who participated in pre-meeting discussions and in the consensus meeting.

Multimodality cardiac imaging in Turner syndrome

Congenital and acquired cardiovascular diseases contribute significantly to the threefold elevated risk of premature death in Turner syndrome. A multitude of cardiovascular anomalies and disorders, many of which deleteriously impact morbidity and mortality, is frequently left undetected and untreated because of poor adherence to screening programmes and complex clinical presentations. Imaging is essential for timely and effective primary and secondary disease prophylaxis that may alleviate the severe impact of cardiovascular disease in Turner syndrome. This review illustrates how cardiovascular disease in Turner syndrome manifests in a complex manner that ranges in severity from incidental findings to potentially fatal anomalies. Recommendations regarding the use of imaging for screening and surveillance of cardiovascular disease in Turner syndrome are made, emphasising the key role of non-invasive and invasive cardiovascular imaging to the management of all patients with Turner syndrome.

Low myocardial glucose uptake in Turner syndrome is unaffected by growth hormone: a randomized, placebo-controlled FDG-PET study

BACKGROUND

An unfavourable cardiovascular and metabolic phenotype causes threefold excess mortality in Turner syndrome (TS), and perturbed cardiac substrate metabolism is increasingly recognized as a common component of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. We therefore hypothesized that myocardial glucose uptake (MGU) is reduced in TS and that growth hormone (GH) treatment improves MGU. To this end, this controlled trial elucidates MGU in TS and the impact of 6 months of growth hormone treatment on MGU.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Women with TS (n = 9) were examined at baseline, sequentially treated with either Norditropin(®) SimpleXx or placebo and re-examined after 6 months. MGU and myocardial blood flow (MBF) were measured using 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) during a hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamp (at baseline and 6 months). Blood pressure measurement, blood sampling, echocardiography and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scan were also performed. Age-matched female controls (n = 9) were examined once. Baseline MGU was reduced in TS (0.24 ± 0.08 vs. 0.36 ± 0.13 μmol/g/min in controls; P = 0.036) despite similar insulin sensitivity (whole body glucose uptake (M-value): 9.69 ± 1.86 vs. 9.86 ± 2.58 mg/(min*kg) in controls; P = 0.9). Six months of GH carried no impact on MGU (0.25 ± 0.08 vs. 0.26 ± 0.12 μmol/g/min in the placebo group; P = 0.8). Plasma glucose, low-density cholesterol and triglycerides increased, while M-value and exercise capacity decreased during 6 months of GH treatment.

CONCLUSION

MGU is reduced in TS despite normal insulin sensitivity. GH treatment does not alter MGU despite decreased whole body insulin sensitivity. A perturbed cardiac glucose uptake appears to be a feature of TS.

Imaging of cardiovascular risk in patients with Turner's syndrome

Turner's syndrome is a disorder defined by an absent or structurally abnormal second X chromosome and affects around 1 in 2000 newborn females. The standardised mortality ratio in Turner's syndrome is around three-times higher than in the general female population, mainly as a result of cardiovascular disorders. Most striking is the early age at which Turner's syndrome patients develop the life-threatening complications of cardiovascular disorders compared to the general population. The cardiovascular risk stratification in Turner's syndrome is challenging and imaging is not systematically used. The aim of this article is to review cardiovascular risks in this group of patients and discuss a systematic imaging approach for early identification of cardiovascular disorders in these patients.

Left ventricular mass and hypertrophy by echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance: the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis

BACKGROUND

Left ventricular mass (LVM) and hypertrophy (LVH) are important parameters, but their use is surrounded by controversies. We compare LVM by echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), investigating reproducibility aspects and the effect of echocardiography image quality. We also compare indexing methods within and between imaging modalities for classification of LVH and cardiovascular risk.

METHODS

Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis enrolled 880 participants in Baltimore city, 146 had echocardiograms and CMR on the same day. LVM was then assessed using standard techniques. Echocardiography image quality was rated (good/limited) according to the parasternal view. LVH was defined after indexing LVM to body surface area, height(1.7) , height(2.7) , or by the predicted LVM from a reference group. Participants were classified for cardiovascular risk according to Framingham score. Pearson's correlation, Bland-Altman plots, percent agreement, and kappa coefficient assessed agreement within and between modalities.

RESULTS

Left ventricular mass by echocardiography (140 ± 40 g) and by CMR were correlated (r = 0.8, P < 0.001) regardless of the echocardiography image quality. The reproducibility profile had strong correlations and agreement for both modalities. Image quality groups had similar characteristics; those with good images compared to CMR slightly superiorly. The prevalence of LVH tended to be higher with higher cardiovascular risk. The agreement for LVH between imaging modalities ranged from 77% to 98% and the kappa coefficient from 0.10 to 0.76.

CONCLUSIONS

Echocardiography has a reliable performance for LVM assessment and classification of LVH, with limited influence of image quality. Echocardiography and CMR differ in the assessment of LVH, and additional differences rise from the indexing methods.

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in Turner syndrome

Girls and women with Turner syndrome (TS) have a highly increased morbidity as the result of cardiovascular disease, both congenital and acquired. Increased clinical use of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) in patients with TS over recent years has allowed for characterization of disease not always possible with standard imaging modalities, such as echocardiography (echo). In this review, we discuss the current literature regarding CMR in patients with TS and guidelines for its use.