Effect of beta-blockers and angiotensin receptor blockers in reducing the aortic growth rate in children with bicuspid aortic valve-related aortopathy.

AIMS: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of beta-blockers and angiotensin receptor blockers in reducing the aortic growth rate in children with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV)-related aortopathy and ascending phenotype. METHODS: Consecutive paediatric patients (≤16 years) with BAV and ascending aorta (AsAo) dilation (z-score > 3) were enrolled in this observational retrospective cohort study. Patients receiving prophylactic treatment with either atenolol (0.5 to 1.0 mg/kg/daily) or losartan (0.7 to 1.4 mg/kg/daily) were compared with those who did not receive medical prophylaxis (control group). The primary outcome of interest was the annual rate of change in maximal AsAo diameter z-score in the treatment and control groups. RESULTS: From a cohort of 1005 patients, 120 (mean age 11.3 ± 4.5 years, 82% males) fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included in the study. Patients in the treatment and control group had similar age, sex, family history of BAV, BAV morphology, and baseline AsAo diameter. During a median follow-up of 7.1 years (interquartile range 3.8-10.2), no differences were observed in the annual growth rate of aortic diameter z-score between patients on treatment and controls. The prevalence of aortic diameter progression was similar in the treatment and control groups, and treatment with atenolol or losartan was not associated with a lower rate of aortic disease progression. CONCLUSIONS: The findings revealed no significant difference in the annual aortic growth rate between treated and untreated patients. Larger cohort studies or, ideally, randomized clinical controlled trials are needed to validate these findings.

Prevalence and Clinical Significance of Intraventricular Conduction Disturbances in Hospitalized Children.

Introduction: Data on the prevalence and clinical significance of interventricular conduction disturbances (IVCDs) in children are scarce. While incomplete right bundle branch blocks (IRBBBs) seem to be the most frequent and benign findings, complete bundle blocks and fascicular blocks are often seen in children with congenital/acquired cardiac conditions. This study aims to delineate the prevalence and the diagnostic accuracy of IVCD in children admitted to a paediatric cardiology unit. Methods: Children admitted to the paediatric cardiology unit between January 2010 and December 2020 who had an ECG were included in the study. IVCDs were diagnosed according to standard criteria adjusted for age. Results: Three thousand nine hundred and ninety-three patients were enrolled. The median age was 3.1 years (IQR: 0.0-9.2 years), and 52.7% were males. IVCDs were present in 22.5% of the population: 17.4% of the population presented with IRBBBs, 4.8% with a complete right bundle branch block (CRBBB), 0.1% with a complete left bundle branch block (CLBBB), 0.2% with a left anterior fascicular block (LAFB) and 0.2% with a combination of CRBBB and LAFB. Also, 26% of children with congenital heart disease had an IVCD, and 18% of children with an IVCD had previous cardiac surgery. The overall sensitivity of IVCD in detecting a cardiac abnormality was 22.2%, with a specificity of 75.5%, a PPV of 83.1% and an NPV of 15.1%, but the values were higher for CLBBB and LAFB. Conclusions: IVCDs were present in one-fifth of children admitted to the cardiology unit. IRBBB was the most frequent disturbance, while CRBBB, CLBBB and fascicular blocks were much rarer, though they had a higher predictive value for cardiac abnormalities.

Left Ventricular Non-Compaction in Children: Aetiology and Diagnostic Criteria.

Left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC) is a heterogeneous myocardial disorder characterized by prominent trabeculae protruding into the left ventricular lumen and deep intertrabecular recesses. LVNC can manifest in isolation or alongside other heart muscle diseases. Its occurrence among children is rising due to advancements in imaging techniques. The origins of LVNC are diverse, involving both genetic and acquired forms. The clinical manifestation varies greatly, with some cases presenting no symptoms, while others typically manifesting with heart failure, systemic embolism, and arrhythmias. Diagnosis mainly relies on assessing heart structure using imaging tools like echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance. However, the absence of a universally agreed-upon standard and limitations in diagnostic criteria have led to ongoing debates in the scientific community regarding the most reliable methods. Further research is crucial to enhance the diagnosis of LVNC, particularly in early life stages.

[Clinical and genetic manifestations of left ventricular non-compaction in children]. / Caratteristiche cliniche e genetiche del ventricolo sinistro non compatto in età pediatrica.

Left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC) is a myocardial disease characterized by a two-layered structure typically seen at the apical and lateral left portions of the ventricular myocardium, distal to the papillary muscles. While considered a rare disease, its prevalence in children is increasing due to the increased awareness of this condition and improved resolution of imaging techniques. The etiology is heterogeneous, ranging from inherited conditions to acquired diseases. Although many patients are asymptomatic, some patients may experience adverse events, including heart failure, arrhythmias, or thromboembolic events. Several echocardiographic or cardiac magnetic resonance imaging diagnostic criteria have been proposed for diagnosing LVNC. However, their application in children is significantly limited. This review aims to describe the clinical and genetic characteristics of children with LVNC and discuss the role of the proposed diagnostic criteria.

Impact of GLA Variant Classification on the Estimated Prevalence of Fabry Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Screening Studies.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of Fabry disease (FD) has relevant implications related to the management. Thus, a clear assignment of GLA variant pathogenicity is crucial. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the prevalence of FD in high-risk populations and newborns and evaluate the impact of different GLA variant classifications on the estimated prevalence of FD. METHODS: We searched the EMBASE and PubMed databases on February 21, 2023. Observational studies evaluating the prevalence of FD and reporting the identified GLA variants were included. GLA variants were re-evaluated for their pathogenicity significance using the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics criteria and the ClinVar database. The pooled prevalence of FD among different settings was calculated. The study was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023401663) and followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. RESULTS: Of the 3941 studies identified, 110 met the inclusion criteria. The pooled prevalence of FD was significantly different according to the clinical setting and criteria used for the pathogenicity assessment. Using the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics criteria, the pooled prevalence was 1.2% in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy/hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (26 studies; 10 080 patients screened), 0.3% in end-stage renal disease/chronic kidney disease (38 studies; 62 050 patients screened), 0.7% in stroke (25 studies; 15 295 patients screened), 0.7% in cardiac conduction disturbance requiring pacemaker (3 studies; 1033 patients screened), 1.0% in small-fiber neuropathy (3 studies; 904 patients screened), and 0.01% in newborns (15 studies; 11 108 793 newborns screened). The pooled prevalence was different if the GLA variants were assessed using the ClinVar database, and most patients with a discrepancy in the pathogenicity assignment carried 1 of the following variants: p.A143T, p.D313Y, and p.E66Q. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review and meta-analysis describe the prevalence of FD among newborns and high-risk populations, highlighting the need for a periodic reassessment of the GLA variants in the context of recent clinical, biochemical, and histological data. REGISTRATION: URL: https://crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/; Unique identifier: CRD42023401663.

Cardiovascular Involvement in Fabry's Disease: New Advances in Diagnostic Strategies, Outcome Prediction and Management.

Cardiovascular involvement is common in Fabry's disease and is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. The research is focused on identifying diagnostic clues suggestive of cardiovascular involvement in the preclinical stage of the disease through clinical and imaging markers. Different pathophysiologically driven therapies are currently or will soon be available for the treatment of Fabry's disease, with the most significant benefit observed in the early stages of the disease. Thus, early diagnosis and risk stratification for adverse outcomes are crucial to determine when to start an aetiological treatment. This review describes the cardiovascular involvement in Fabry's disease, focusing on the advances in diagnostic strategies, outcome prediction and disease management.

Prevalence and clinical significance of right ventricular pulmonary arterial uncoupling in cardiac amyloidosis.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to evaluate the prevalence and the clinical significance of the right ventricular pulmonary arterial (RV-PA) uncoupling in patients with cardiac amyloidosis (CA). METHODS: The study population consisted in 92 consecutive patients with CA (age 71.1 ± 12.2 years, 71% males; 47% with immunoglobulin light chain (AL), 53% with transthyretin [ATTR]). A pre-specified tricuspid anulus plane systolic excursion on pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (TAPSE/PASP) value <0.31 mm/mmHg was used to define RV-PA uncoupling and to dichotomize the study population. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients (35%) showed RV-PA uncoupling at baseline evaluation (15/44 [34%] AL and 17/48 [35%] ATTR). Patients with RV-PA uncoupling, in both AL and ATTR, showed worse NYHA functional class, lower systemic blood pressure, and more pronounced left ventricular and RV systolic dysfunction than those with RV-PA coupling. During a median follow-up of 8 months (IQR 4-13), 26 patients (28%) experienced cardiovascular death. Patients with RV-PA uncoupling showed lower survival at 12 months follow-up than those with RV-PA coupling (42.7% [95%CI 21.7-63.7%] vs. 87.3% [95%CI 78.3-96.3%], p-value<0.001). Multivariate analysis identified high-sensitivity troponin I values (HR 1.01 [95%CI 1.00-1.02] per 1 pg/mL increase; p-value 0.013) and TAPSE/PASP (HR 1.07 [95%CI 1.03-1.11] per 0.01 mm/mmHg decrease; p-value 0.002) as independent predictors of cardiovascular death. CONCLUSIONS: RV-PA uncoupling is common among patient with CA, and it is a marker of advanced disease and worse outcome. This study suggest that TAPSE/PASP ratio has the potential to improve risk stratification and guide management strategies in patients with CA of different etiology and advanced disease.

Targeted Therapies in Pediatric and Adult Patients With Hypertrophic Heart Disease: From Molecular Pathophysiology to Personalized Medicine.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a myocardial disease defined by an increased left ventricular wall thickness not solely explained by abnormal loading conditions. It is often genetically determined, with sarcomeric gene mutations accounting for around 50% of cases. Several conditions, including syndromic, metabolic, infiltrative, and neuromuscular diseases, may present with left ventricular hypertrophy, mimicking the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy phenotype but showing a different pathophysiology, clinical course, and outcome. Despite being rare, they are collectively responsible for a large proportion of patients presenting with hypertrophic heart disease, and their timely diagnosis can significantly impact patients' management. The understanding of disease pathophysiology has advanced over the last few years, and several therapeutic targets have been identified, leading to a new era of tailored treatments applying to different etiologies associated with left ventricular hypertrophy. This review aims to provide an overview of the existing and emerging therapies for the principal causes of hypertrophic heart disease, discussing the potential impact on patients' management and clinical outcome.

The Role of Genetic Testing in Patients with Heritable Thoracic Aortic Diseases.

Heritable thoracic aortic disease (HTAD) is a term used to define a large group of disorders characterized by the occurrence of aortic events, mainly represented by aneurysm or dissection. These events generally involve the ascending aorta, although the involvement of other districts of the aorta or peripheral vessels may occur. HTAD can be classified as non-syndromic if the disorder is limited to the aorta, and syndromic when associated with extra-aortic features. About 20-25% of patients with non-syndromic HTAD exhibit a family history of aortic disease. Thus, a careful clinical evaluation of the proband and the first-degree family members is required to differentiate familial and sporadic cases. Genetic testing is essential since it allows confirmation of the etiological diagnosis of HTAD (particularly in patients with a significant family history) and may guide family screening. In addition, genetic diagnosis significantly impacts patients' management since the different conditions significantly differ with respect to natural history and treatment strategies. The prognosis in all HTADs is determined by the progressive dilation of the aorta, potentially leading to acute aortic events, such as dissection or rupture. Moreover, the prognosis varies according to the underlying genetic mutations. This review aims to describe the clinical characteristics and natural history of the most common HTADs, with particular emphasis on the role of genetic testing in risk stratification and management.

Multimodality Imaging in Arrhythmogenic Left Ventricular Cardiomyopathy.

The term arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) describes a large spectrum of myocardial diseases characterized by progressive fibrotic or fibrofatty replacement, which gives the substrate for the occurrence of ventricular tachyarrhythmias and the development of ventricular dysfunction. This condition may exclusively affect the left ventricle, leading to the introduction of the term arrhythmogenic left ventricular cardiomyopathy (ALVC). The clinical features of ALVC are progressive fibrotic replacement with the absence or mild dilation of the LV and the occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias within the left ventricle. In 2019, the diagnostic criteria for the diagnosis of ALVC, based on family history and clinical, electrocardiographic, and imaging features, have been proposed. However, since the significant clinical and imaging overlap with other cardiac diseases, genetic testing with the demonstration of a pathogenic variant in an ACM-related gene is required for diagnostic confirmation. In ALVC, the multimodality imaging approach comprises different imaging techniques, such as echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance, and cardiac nuclear imaging. It provides essential information for the diagnosis, differential diagnosis, sudden cardiac death risk stratification, and management purposes. This review aims to elucidate the current role of the different multimodality imaging techniques in patients with ALVC.

Pathophysiology, Functional Assessment and Prognostic Implications of Nutritional Disorders in Systemic Amyloidosis.

Gastrointestinal involvement is a common clinical feature of patients with systemic amyloidosis. This condition is responsible for invalidating gastrointestinal symptoms, a significant macro and micronutrient deficit, and is a marker of disease severity. Gastrointestinal involvement should be actively sought in patients with systemic amyloidosis, while its diagnosis is challenging in patients with isolated gastrointestinal symptoms. The nutritional status in systemic amyloidosis plays an essential role in the clinical course and is considered a significant prognostic factor. However, the definition of nutritional status is still challenging due to the lack of internationally accepted thresholds for anthropometric and biochemical variables, especially in specific populations such as those with systemic amyloidosis. This review aims to elucidate the fundamental steps for nutritional assessment by using clinical and instrumental tools for better prognostic stratification and patient management regarding quality of life and outcomes.

Thoracic Aortic Dilation: Implications for Physical Activity and Sport Participation.

Thoracic aortic dilatation is a progressive condition that results from aging and many pathological conditions (i.e., connective tissue, inflammatory, shear stress disorders, severe valvular heart disease) that induce degenerative changes in the elastic properties, leading to the loss of elasticity and compliance of the aortic wall. Mild aortic root enlargement may be also observed in athletes and is considered as a normal adaptation to regular exercise training. On the other hand, high-intensity physical activity in individuals with a particular genetic substrate, such as those carrying gene variants associated with Marfan syndrome or other inherited aortopathies, can favor an excessive aortic enlargement and trigger an acute aortic dissection. The evaluation of the aortic valve and aortic root diameters, as well as the detection of a disease-causing mutation for inherited aortic disease, should be followed by a tailored decision about sport eligibility. In addition, the risk of aortic complications associated with sport in patients with genetic aortic disease is poorly characterized and is often difficult to stratify for each individual athlete. This review aims to describe the relationship between regular physical activity and aortic dilation, focusing on patients with bicuspid aortic valve and inherited aortic disease, and discuss the implications in terms of aortic disease progression and sport participation.

Multimodality Imaging in Cardiomyopathies with Hypertrophic Phenotypes.

Multimodality imaging is a comprehensive strategy to investigate left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), providing morphologic, functional, and often clinical information to clinicians. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is defined by an increased LV wall thickness not only explainable by abnormal loading conditions. In the context of HCM, multimodality imaging, by different imaging techniques, such as echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance, cardiac computer tomography, and cardiac nuclear imaging, provides essential information for diagnosis, sudden cardiac death stratification, and management. Furthermore, it is essential to uncover the specific cause of HCM, such as Fabry disease and cardiac amyloidosis, which can benefit of specific treatments. This review aims to elucidate the current role of multimodality imaging in adult patients with HCM.

Prognostic Value of Hormonal Abnormalities in Heart Failure Patients.

The model used to explain the pathophysiologic substrate and progressive worsening in chronic heart failure (CHF) is based on the hyperactivity of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and adrenergic pathway. Although the neurohormonal medical approach has many advantages, it has several pitfalls, as demonstrated by high rates of CHF mortality and hospitalization. A growing body of evidence has led to the hypothesis that CHF is a multiple hormone deficiency syndrome, characterized by a reduced anabolic drive that has relevant functional and prognostic implications. The aim of this review is to summarize the evidence of reduced drive of main anabolic axes in CHF.