Subclinical diastolic dysfunction in children with Wilson's disease assessed by tissue Doppler echocardiography: a possible early predictor of cardiac involvement.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions and cardiac rhythm problems for the early detection of myocardial dysfunction in children with Wilson's disease. METHODS: We compared patients who had Wilson's disease (n = 22) witl Wilson's disease was based on clinical symptoms and laboratory tests (serum ce cardiographic examination, as well as pulsed-wave Doppler, tissue Doppler ech Holter monitoring was also performed in all subjects. RESULTS: All patients were asymptomatic on cardiological examination an tion, fractional shortening, wall thickness and left ventricular mass were similar disease had significantly lower mitral E velocity, mitral E/A ratio (P= 0.046, P= 0.0 as estimated by pulsed wave Doppler echocardiography. Wilson patients had lo pler echocardiography (P=0.006) compared to the controls. On 24-hour ECG cardiac arrhythmia. CONCLUSION: Our study showed results that might be consistent with disease children which probably represents an early stage of cardiac involvem the patients.