2 results
The natural course and the impact of therapies of cardiac involvement in the mucopolysaccharidoses
- Vlasta Fesslová, Paola Corti, Giovanna Sersale, Attilio Rovelli, Pierluigi Russo, Savina Mannarino, Gianfranco Butera, Rossella Parini
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- Journal:
- Cardiology in the Young / Volume 19 / Issue 2 / April 2009
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 01 April 2009, pp. 170-178
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Objective
To analyze cardiac involvement and its progression in mucopolysaccharidoses, and to assess the short term impact of new therapeutic strategies.
Patients and methodsWe studied echocardiographically 57 patients with various types of mucopolysaccharidoses, specifically types I, II, III, IV and VI, with a median age at the diagnosis of cardiac involvement of 5 years, following them for a median of 4.6 years, with a range from 0.9 to 21.2 years. We used a scoring system, along with the so-called delta score, to quantify the severity of involvement at baseline and at last examination, and to chart their progression over time.
ResultsCases with cardiac involvement increased from 59.6% to 87.3% at the last examination. The scores increased with age, and were significantly different according to the specific type of mucopolysaccharidosis. Involvement of the mitral valve was most common, often associated with an aortic valvar anomaly and/or left ventricular hypertrophy. Patients with the first and second types had more severe involvement than those with the third or fourth types. Patients undergoing transplantation of haematopoietic stem cells seem to stabilize after an initial worsening while, in contrast, we were unable to demonstrate an effect of enzyme replacement therapy on the progression of the cardiac disease, possibly because those receiving such treatment had a higher median age, more severe cardiac disease and shorter follow-up.
ConclusionsCardiac involvement was present early in more than a half of the patients identified as having mucopolysaccharidosis, and generally progressed, being more frequent and severe in the first and second types of the disease. Longer follow-up is needed to demonstrate any significant improvement induced by new therapies.
Spectrum and outcome of atrioventricular septal defect in fetal life
- Vlasta Fesslova, Laura Villa, Simona Nava, Chiara Boschetto, Carla Redaelli, Savina Mannarino
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- Journal:
- Cardiology in the Young / Volume 12 / Issue 1 / January 2002
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 15 August 2006, pp. 18-26
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Objectives of the study: to analyse the features and outcomes of different types of atrioventricular septal defects, detected during fetal life, as compared to postnatal data. Material and methods: We analysed retrospectively the data concerning 82 fetuses with atrioventricular septal defect, diagnosed from 19 through 37 weeks gestation with a median of 26 weeks. In 46 cases (56.1%), the diagnosis has been made before the age of 24 weeks. Results: Characteristics of the series – in 44 fetuses the atrioventricular septal defect was not associated with other cardiac anomalies, while 38 fetuses had a more complex form. Chromosomal anomalies were present in 33 of the fetuses (40.2%), more frequently in cases without associated intracardiac defects (56.8%). Trisomy 21 occurred in just over one quarter the series, and in 43.2% of cases without associated defects. In addition, 11% of fetuses had trisomy 18, and one had trisomy 13. Extracardiac anomalies were present in 12 of the fetuses (14.6%), more frequently in cases without associated abnormalities. Of fetuses with more complex defects, 46.4% had hypoplasia of the left ventricle and aorta. Complete atrioventricular block was present in 10 of the fetuses (12.2%), mainly in fetuses with other malformations, and particularly with left isomerism. Recurrence of congenital heart disease was observed in 5 of the fetuses (6.1%). Outcome: In 25 instances (30.5%) the parents opted for termination of pregnancy. Of 57 cases that continued through pregnancy, 9 fetuses died prior to term (15.8%), 32 died postnatally (56.13%) and only 16 fetuses (28.1%) survived. Overall, the mortality was higher in cases with associated malformations, in those with heart failure or those with atrioventricular block. Cardiac surgery was performed in 19 infants, with 5 dying postoperatively, and one late. Conclusions: Our data show a high prevalence of atrioventricular septal defect associated with other malformations when diagnosed during fetal life. This combination is less frequently associated with chromosomal and extracardiac anomalies, but more often with obstructive lesions of the left heart and with atrioventricular block. The association results in a less favourable outcome.