Myocardial glucose and fatty acid metabolism is altered and associated with lower cardiac function in young adults with Barth syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Barth syndrome (BTHS) is a rare X-linked condition resulting in cardiomyopathy, however; the effects of BTHS on myocardial substrate metabolism and its relationships with cardiac high-energy phosphate metabolism and left ventricular (LV) function are unknown. We sought to characterize myocardial glucose, fatty acid (FA), and leucine metabolism in BTHS and unaffected controls and examine their relationships with cardiac high-energy phosphate metabolism and LV function. METHODS/RESULTS: Young adults with BTHS (n = 14) and unaffected controls (n = 11, Control, total n = 25) underwent bolus injections of 15O-water and 1-11C-glucose, palmitate, and leucine and concurrent positron emission tomography imaging. LV function and cardiac high-energy phosphate metabolism were examined via echocardiography and 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy, respectively. Myocardial glucose extraction fraction (21 ± 14% vs 10 ± 8%, P = .03) and glucose utilization (828.0 ± 470.0 vs 393.2 ± 361.0 µmol·g-1·min-1, P = .02) were significantly higher in BTHS vs Control. Myocardial FA extraction fraction (31 ± 7% vs 41 ± 6%, P < .002) and uptake (0.25 ± 0.04 vs 0.29 ± 0.03 mL·g-1·min-1, P < .002) were significantly lower in BTHS vs Control. Altered myocardial metabolism was associated with lower cardiac function in BTHS. CONCLUSIONS: Myocardial substrate metabolism is altered and may contribute to LV dysfunction in BTHS. Clinical Trials #: NCT01625663.

Left ventricular noncompaction cardiomyopathy in Barth syndrome: an example of an undulating cardiac phenotype necessitating mechanical circulatory support as a bridge to transplantation.

Barth syndrome (BTHS) is associated with myocardial disease, frequently left ventricular noncompaction cardiomyopathy, which may necessitate cardiac transplantation or lead to death in some patients. We report a child with BTHS who had an "undulating cardiac phenotype" and ultimately developed decompensated heart failure requiring mechanical circulatory support with a ventricular assist device as a bridge to transplantation. His course was complicated by acute lung injury requiring placement of an in-line oxygenator to maintain end-organ function. Not only was his course complicated by cardiac and respiratory failure but his BTHS associated comorbidities complicated the management of his therapy using mechanical assist device support. He was successfully supported and subsequently was transplanted. Here we discuss the management of a child with BTHS using mechanical circulatory support and describe the use of an in-line oxygenator, Quadrox, with the Berlin Excor device.

[A familial form of ventricular non compaction in a mother and two of his sons in St. Louis, Senegal]. / Une forme familiale de la non-compaction ventriculaire chez une mère et deux de ses fils à Saint-Louis du Sénégal.

We report a familial form of ventricular non compaction in a mother and two of her sons. It was a young man of 25 years who presented with NYHA stage III dyspnea and a cough with bloody sputum. The clinical examination found left ventricular failure. The echocardiogram done showed left ventricular dilatation with large trabeculae separated by deep intertrabecular recesses in both ventricles suggestive of a non-biventricular compaction. It was possible to note from the family screening by echocardiography of the mother and half-brother a left ventricular non compaction while they were asymptomatic. Thus we concluded a familial form of ventricular non-compaction. This is the first familial case described in Senegal.