Burden of Ischemic Stroke in Patients With Congenital Heart Disease: A Nationwide, Case-Control Study

Progestogen only contraception in women with congenital heart disease

BACKGROUND

There is little information of progestogen-only contraceptives in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) on the long-term.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the use of contraception in patients with CHD. We studied both short-acting reversible contraceptives (SARCs), oral progestin-only pills (POPs) and long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs): intrauterine devices (IUD-IPs) and subdermal implants both impregnated with progestogens (SI-IPs).

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective study of all women attending the preconception clinic. Contraceptive methods were classified in three TIERs of effectiveness before and after consultation. ESC classification regarding pregnancy risk, WHOMEC classification for combined oral contraceptive safety was collected.

RESULTS

Six hundred and fifty-three patients. A significant proportion of them switched from TIER 3 to TIER 2 or 1 (p < .001) after consultation. One hundred and ninety-nine patients used POPs, 53 underwent IUD-IPs implantation and 36 SI-IPs, mean duration was 58 ± 8, 59 ± 8 and 53 ± 38 months, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Because of their safety and efficacy, IUD-IPs and SI-IPs should be considered as first-line contraception in patients with CHD.

Cardioembolic Stroke

Cardioembolism accounts globally for around 25% of ischemic strokes and is more often associated with higher rates of morbidity and mortality. Potential sources of cardioembolism into the intracranial circulation include paradoxic embolism, dysrhythmias, structural heart disease, and valvular heart disease. To identify the etiology of a patient's ischemic stroke, thorough investigation of the intracardiac structures, assessment of dysrhythmias, and consideration of high-risk events such as cardiac surgery are crucial. Treatment after cardioembolic stroke can be personalized based on the underlying cardioembolic source to minimize the risk of recurrent cerebral ischemic events.

Neurological injury in pediatric heart disease: A review of developmental and acquired risk factors and management considerations

Medical and surgical advancements have improved survival in children with acquired and congenital heart disease (CHD), but the burden of neurological morbidity is high. Brain disorders associated with CHD include white matter injury, stroke, seizure, and neurodevelopmental delays. While genetics and disease-specific factors play a substantial role in early brain injury, therapeutic management of the heart disease intensifies the risk. There is a growing interest in understanding how to reduce brain injury and improve neurodevelopmental outcomes in cardiac diseases. Pediatric neurologists serve a vital role in care teams managing these complex patients, providing interpretation of neuromonitoring and imaging, managing neurologic emergencies, assisting with neuro prognostication, and identifying future research aims.

Impact of obstructive sleep apnoea on cardiovascular outcomes and mortality in young adults with congenital heart anomalies: insights from the national inpatient sample (2019)

BACKGROUND

Obstructive sleep apnoea is a common sleep disorder, and adult congenital heart disease (CHD) is also a significant burden on the population. Early diagnosis and treatment are important for improving quality of life and reducing the risk of health complications. The limited research on obstructive sleep apnoea and adult CHD highlights the need for further investigation into the relationship between these two conditions and the mechanisms underlying this relationship.

METHOD

We used NIS 2019 database to identify adult CHD admissions aged 18-44 years and assess the impact of obstructive sleep apnoea on all-cause mortality, dysrhythmia, and stroke. A propensity-matched cohort of individuals with and without obstructive sleep apnoea was obtained, and the outcomes were assessed using multivariable analysis and compared in terms of resource utilisation.

RESULTS

Of the 41,950 young adult CHD admissions, 6.3% (n = 2630) had obstructive sleep apnoea. The obstructive sleep apnoea+ (n = 2590) and obstructive sleep apnoea- (n = 2590) cohorts were comparable in terms of median age (35 years) and were predominantly male (63.1% versus 62.5%). The obstructive sleep apnoea+ cohort had a higher frequency of risk factors like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypothyroidism, and prior venous thromboembolism than the obstructive sleep apnoea cohort. We found significant association of obstructive sleep apnoea with dysrhythmia (adjusted odds ratio 2.99, 95% confidence interval 2.13-4.19, p < 0.001), but no significant impact on the risk of all-cause mortality or stroke. The obstructive sleep apnoea+ cohort also had higher transfers to short-term facilities, prolonged stays, and higher charges (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Our study provides important insights into relationship between obstructive sleep apnoea and adult CHD and highlights the need for further investigation into the impact of obstructive sleep apnoea on individuals with adult CHD.

Somatic GATA4 mutation contributes to tetralogy of Fallot

Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is the most prevalent cyanotic congenital heart pathology and causes infant morbidity and mortality worldwide. GATA-binding protein 4 (GATA4) serves as a pivotal transcriptional factor for embryonic cardiogenesis and germline GATA4 mutations are causally linked to TOF. However, the effects of somatic GATA4 mutations on the pathogenesis of TOF remain to be ascertained. In the present study, sequencing assay of GATA4 was performed utilizing genomic DNA derived from resected heart tissue specimens as well as matched peripheral blood specimens of 62 patients with non-familial TOF who underwent surgical treatment for TOF. Sequencing of GATA4 was also performed using the heart tissue specimens as well as matched peripheral venous blood samples of 68 sporadic cases who underwent heart valve displacement because of rheumatic heart disorder and the peripheral venous whole blood samples of 216 healthy subjects. The function of the mutant was explored by dual-luciferase activity analysis. Consequently, a new GATA4 mutation, NM_002052.5:c.708T>G;p.(Tyr236*), was found in the heart tissue of one patient with TOF. No mutation was detected in the heart tissue of the 68 cases suffering from rheumatic heart disorder or in the venous blood samples of all 346 individuals. GATA4 mutant failed to transactivate its target gene, myosin heavy chain 6. Additionally, this mutation nullified the synergistic transactivation between GATA4 and T-box transcription factor 5 or NK2 homeobox 5, two genes causative for TOF. Somatic GATA4 mutation predisposes TOF, highlighting the significant contribution of somatic variations to the molecular pathogenesis underpinning TOF.

Discovery of BMP10 as a new gene underpinning congenital heart defects

OBJECTIVE

Aggregating evidence convincingly establishes the predominant genetic basis underlying congenital heart defects (CHD), though the heritable determinants contributing to CHD in the majority of cases remain elusive. In the current investigation, BMP10 was selected as a prime candidate gene for human CHD mainly due to cardiovascular developmental abnormalities in Bmp10-knockout animals. The objective of this retrospective study was to identify a new BMP10 mutation responsible for CHD and characterize the functional effect of the identified CHD-causing BMP10 mutation.

METHODS

Sequencing assay of BMP10 was fulfilled in a cohort of 276 probands with various CHD and a total of 288 non-CHD volunteers. The available family members from the proband harboring an identified BMP10 mutation were also BMP10-genotyped. The effect of the identified CHD-causative BMP10 mutation on the transactivation of TBX20 and NKX2.5 by BMP10 was quantitatively analyzed in maintained HeLa cells utilizing a dual-luciferase reporter assay system.

RESULTS

A novel heterozygous BMP10 mutation, NM_014482.3:c.247G>T;p.(Glu83*), was identified in one proband with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), which was confirmed to co-segregate with the PDA phenotype in the mutation carrier's family. The nonsense mutation was not observed in 288 non-CHD volunteers. Functional analysis unveiled that Glu83*-mutant BMP10 had no transactivation on its two representative target genes TBX20 and NKX2.5, which were both reported to cause CHD.

CONCLUSION

These findings provide strong evidence indicating that genetically compromised BMP10 predisposes human beings to CHD, which sheds light on the new molecular mechanism that underlies CHD and allows for antenatal genetic counseling and individualized precise management of CHD.

Association Between Congenital Heart Disease and Stroke: Insights from a National Database

To delineate prevalence of stroke in the pediatric intensive care unit and to determine risk factors for stroke and association of stroke with mortality in patients with congenital heart disease. Retrospective cohort study. Patients admitted to pediatric intensive care units in the USA participating in the Pediatric Health Information System database from 2016 to 2021. Patients were categorized as those who experienced ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke and those with congenital heart disease. We performed univariate and multivariate logistic regressions to determine risk factors associated with stroke and then developed a predictive model for stroke development in patients with congenital heart disease. Of 426,029 admissions analyzed, 4237 (0.9%) patients experienced stroke and 1197 (1.4%) of 80,927 patients with congenital heart disease developed stroke (odds ratio 1.15, 95% confidence interval 1.06-1.24). Patients with congenital heart disease, younger age, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, mechanical ventilation, and cardiac arrest were most strongly associated with increased risk of stroke. Stroke increased odds of mortality for patients with congenital heart disease (odds ratio 2.49, 95% confidence interval 2.08-2.98). A risk score greater than 0 was associated with a 33.3% risk of stroke for patients with congenital heart disease (negative predictive value of 99%, sensitivity 69%, specificity 63%). Children with congenital heart disease are at increased risk for developing stroke, which is associated with increased mortality. Early identification of the most vulnerable patients may enable providers to implement preventative measures or rapid treatment strategies to prevent neurologic morbidity.

Incidence and risk of stroke in Korean patients with congenital heart disease

OBJECTIVES

The incidence and risk of ischemic stroke (IS) and hemorrhagic stroke (HS) in Korean patients with CHD have not been reported, therefore, we aimed to investigate this.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Participants were selected from the Korean National Health Insurance Service benefit records from 2006-2017. Cases were extracted using diagnosis codes related to CHD. Controls without CHD were selected through age- and sex-matched random sampling at a 1:10 ratio.

RESULTS

The case and control groups included 232,203 and 3,024,633 participants, respectively. The median (interquartile range) follow-up period was 7.28 (3.59-8.73) years. The incidence rates of IS and HS per 100,000 person-years were much higher in cases than in controls (IS: 135 vs. 47; HS: 41.7 vs. 24.9). After adjusting for confounders, CHD was a risk factor for IS and HS (subdistribution HR; 1.96 and 1.71, respectively). In patients with CHD, the following risk factors were identified: diabetes, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation for any stroke; hypertension, atrial septal defects, and use of antiplatelet agents for IS only; and coronary artery bypass graft surgery for HS only.

CONCLUSIONS

Korean patients with CHD have a high risk of stroke. A personalized preventive approach is needed to reduce the incidence of stroke in this population.

Perioperative Brain Injury in Children with Aortic Arch Anomalies: A Retrospective Study of Risk Factors and Outcomes

Complex pediatric cardiac disease is associated with brain impairment and neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly in patients requiring cardiac surgery for aortic arch anomalies. This study examines the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of perioperative brain injury in children undergoing aortic arch repair who had aortic arch anomalies. A total of 145 children with aortic arch anomalies in our center undergoing aortic arch repair between January 2014 and December 2022 were enrolled. There were 129 (89.0%) with coarctation of the aorta (COA) and 16 (9.7%) with interrupted aortic arch (IAA). Risk factor analysis of brain injuries was done using perioperative imaging and included symptoms of hemorrhagic stroke, arterial ischemic stroke, white matter injury, cerebral sinus venous thrombosis, and other pathologies. Preoperatively, 50/145 (34.5%) patients had brain injuries. Multivariate analysis showed that an increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke was associated with newborns (odds ratio [OR], 2.09 [95% CI 0.08-3.50]), isolated COA (OR, 3.69 [95% CI 1.23-7.07]), mechanical ventilation (MV) ([OR, 2.56 [95% CI 1.25-4.03]), and sepsis (OR, 1.73 [95% CI 0.46-3.22]). Newborns ([OR, 1.91 [95% Cl 0.58-3.29]) and weight-for-age z score ([OR, -0.45 [95% CI -0.88 to -0.1]) were associated with an increased risk of white matter injury. New postoperative brain injuries were present in 12.9% of the patients (16/124). Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) was associated with new postoperative brain injuries compared with deep hypothermic low-flow (DHLF) plus antegrade cerebral perfusion (ACP) (([OR, 2.67 [95% CI, 0.58-5.75])). Isolated COA was almost associated with new postoperative brain injuries (OR, 1.13 [95% CI, -0.04 to 2.32]). Children diagnosed with isolated COA appeared to have a higher risk of perioperative brain injury, but the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. We focused on the intrinsic mechanism by which changes in hemodynamics caused by COA result in perioperative brain injury. Further research will be needed to optimize the personalized treatment and cerebral perfusion techniques for complex pediatric cardiac surgery.

Coarctation of the Aorta: Diagnosis and Management

Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) accounts for approximately 5-8% of all congenital heart defects. Depending on the severity of the CoA and the presence of associated cardiac lesions, the clinical presentation and age vary. Developments in diagnosis and management have improved outcomes in this patient population. Even after timely repair, it is important to regularly screen for hypertension. Patients with CoA require lifelong follow-up with a congenital heart disease specialist as these patients may develop recoarctation and complications at the repair site and remain at enhanced cardiovascular risk throughout their lifetime.

Assessment of aortic and cerebral haemodynamics and vascular brain injury with 3 and 7 T magnetic resonance imaging in patients with aortic coarctation

Aims

Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is characterized by a central arteriopathy resulting in increased arterial stiffness. The condition is associated with an increased risk of stroke. We aimed to assess the aortic and cerebral haemodynamics and the presence of vascular brain injury in patients with previous surgical CoA repair.

Methods and results

Twenty-seven patients with CoA (median age 22 years, range 12-72) and 25 age- and sex-matched controls (median age 24 years, range 12-64) underwent 3 T (heart, aorta, and brain) and 7 T (brain) magnetic resonance imaging scans. Haemodynamic parameters were measured using two-dimensional phase-contrast images of the ascending and descending aorta, internal carotid artery (ICA), basilar artery (BA), middle cerebral artery (MCA), and perforating arteries. Vascular brain injury was assessed by rating white matter hyperintensities, cortical microinfarcts, lacunes, and microbleeds. Pulse wave velocities in the aortic arch and descending aorta were increased and ascending aortic distensibility was decreased in patients with CoA vs. controls. Patients with CoA showed a higher mean flow velocity in the right ICA, left ICA, and BA and a reduced distensibility in the right ICA, BA, and left MCA. Haemodynamic parameters in the perforating arteries, total cerebral blood flow, intracranial volumes, and vascular brain injury were similar between the groups.

Conclusion

Patients with CoA show an increased flow velocity and reduced distensibility in the aorta and proximal cerebral arteries, which suggests the presence of a generalized arteriopathy that extends into the cerebral arterial tree. No substantial vascular brain injury was observed in this relatively young CoA population, although the study was inadequately powered regarding this endpoint.

SMAD4 loss-of-function mutation predisposes to congenital heart disease

Congenital heart disease (CHD) represents the most frequent developmental deformity in human beings and accounts for substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide. Accumulating investigations underscore the strong inherited basis of CHD, and pathogenic variations in >100 genes have been related to CHD. Nevertheless, the heritable defects underpinning CHD remain elusive in most cases, mainly because of the pronounced genetic heterogeneity. In this investigation, a four-generation family with CHD was recruited and clinically investigated. Via whole-exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing assays in selected family members, a heterozygous variation in the SMAD4 gene (coding for a transcription factor essential for cardiovascular morphogenesis), NM_005359.6: c.285T > A; p.(Tyr95*), was identified to be in co-segregation with autosomal-dominant CHD in the entire family. The truncating variation was not observed in 460 unrelated non-CHD volunteers employed as control subjects. Functional exploration by dual-reporter gene analysis demonstrated that Tyr95*-mutant SMAD4 lost transactivation of its two key downstream target genes NKX2.5 and ID2, which were both implicated with CHD. Additionally, the variation nullified the synergistic transcriptional activation between SMAD4 and GATA4, another transcription factor involved in CHD. These data strongly indicate SMAD4 may be associated with CHD and shed more light on the molecular pathogenesis underlying CHD, implying potential implications for antenatal precise prevention and prognostic risk stratification of the patients affected with CHD.

Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Korean Congenital Heart Disease Patients: A Nationwide Age- and Sex-Matched Case-Control Study

PURPOSE

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a known risk factor for acquired cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. However, available evidence on CHD is limited mostly to Western populations. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of vascular events and all-cause mortality in Korean patients with CHD and to further corroborate CHD as a predictor of vascular events and all-cause mortality.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The claims data of the Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) were retrospectively reviewed. Information regarding diagnostic codes, comorbidities, medical services, income level, and residential area was also collected. Outcomes of interest included stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), all-cause mortality, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).

RESULTS

We included 232203 patients with CHD and 3024633 individuals without CHD as a control group through age- and sex-matched 1:10 random sampling. The prevalences of hypertension, congestive heart failure, ischemic heart disease, hyperlipidemia, and atrial fibrillation were significantly higher in the CHD group, which had a more than two-fold higher incidence of vascular events and all-cause mortality, than in the group without CHD. Multivariable models demonstrated that CHD was a significant risk factor for stroke, MI, all-cause mortality, and MACE.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, this nationwide study demonstrates that Korean patients with CHD have a high incidence of comorbidities, vascular events, and mortality. CHD has been established as an important predictor of cardiovascular events. Further studies are warranted to identify high-risk patients with CHD and related factors to prevent vascular events.

Identification of SOX18 as a New Gene Predisposing to Congenital Heart Disease

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most frequent kind of birth deformity in human beings and the leading cause of neonatal mortality worldwide. Although genetic etiologies encompassing aneuploidy, copy number variations, and mutations in over 100 genes have been uncovered to be involved in the pathogenesis of CHD, the genetic components predisposing to CHD in most cases remain unclear. We recruited a family with CHD from the Chinese Han population in the present investigation. Through whole-exome sequencing analysis of selected family members, a new SOX18 variation, namely NM_018419.3:c.349A>T; p.(Lys117*), was identified and confirmed to co-segregate with the CHD phenotype in the entire family by Sanger sequencing analysis. The heterozygous variant was absent from the 384 healthy volunteers enlisted as control individuals. Functional exploration via luciferase reporter analysis in cultivated HeLa cells revealed that Lys117*-mutant SOX18 lost transactivation on its target genes NR2F2 and GATA4, two genes responsible for CHD. Moreover, the genetic variation terminated the synergistic activation between SOX18 and NKX2.5, another gene accountable for CHD. The findings strongly indicate SOX18 as a novel gene contributing to CHD, which helps address challenges in the clinical genetic diagnosis and prenatal prophylaxis of CHD.

Burden of Ischemic Stroke in Patients With Congenital Heart Disease: A Nationwide, Case-Control Study

Background

Patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at increased risk of developing ischemic stroke (IS) compared with controls without CHD. However, the long‐term outcomes after IS, including IS recurrence and mortality risk, remain unclear.

Methods and Results

We identified all patients with CHD in Sweden who were born between 1930 and 2017 using the Swedish National Patient Register and the Cause of Death Register. Ten controls without CHD were randomly selected from the general population and matched for birth year and sex for each patient with CHD. The follow‐up of the study population was performed between January 1970 and December 2017. In total, 88 700 patients with CHD (50.6% men) and 890 450 matched controls (51.0%) were included in this study. During a mean follow‐up of 25.1±22.0 years, patients with CHD had a 5‐fold higher risk of developing an index IS (hazard ratio [HR], 5.01; 95% CI, 4.81–5.22) compared with controls. However, the risk of developing a recurrent IS was lower in patients with CHD compared with controls (HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.56–0.78), an observation that persisted after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors and comorbidities. Patients with CHD were also at a significantly lower risk of all‐cause mortality after index IS than controls (HR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.49–0.58).

Conclusions

Patients with CHD had a 5‐fold higher risk of developing index IS compared with matched controls. However, the risk of recurrent IS stroke and all‐cause mortality were 34% and 47% lower, respectively, in patients with CHD compared with controls.