Author/Editor     Koželj, M; Prokselj, K; Berden, P; Jan, M; Osredkar, J; Bunc, M; Tretjak, M; Podnar, T
Title     The syndrome of cardiac failure in adults with congenitally corrected transposition
Type     članek
Source     Cardiol Young
Vol. and No.     Letnik 18, št. 6
Publication year     2008
Volume     str. 599-607
Language     eng
Abstract     Objectives: To assess neurohormonal activation of cardiac failure in adults with congenitally corrected transposition, and to determine the most sensitive marker for recognition of the cardiac failure. BACKGROUND: The onset of morphologically right ventricular dysfunction is unpredictable in patients with congenitally corrected transposition, the combination of discordant atrioventricular and ventriculo-arterial connections, and its markers are unknown. Methods: We measured amino terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide in 19 patients, aged 35 plus or minus 13.1 years, and in 19 control subjects. Morhologically right ventricular function was assessed by echocardiography, including tissue Doppler echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging or multislice computed tomography. Results: The patients showed a highly significant increase in the levels of amino terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide, the levels being significantly elevated even in asymptomatic patients. Left atrial dimensions were larger in patients, and significantly lower tissue Doppler echocardiographic velocities were measured at the lateral site of the tricuspid annulus and at the basal segment of the interventricular septum. The ejection fraction of the morphologically right ventricle correlated significantly with the levels of brain natriuretic peptide, and with left atrial dimensions. Conclusion: Neurohormonal activation is present in patients with congenitally corrected transposition even when they are asymptomatic. It is correlated with left atrial dimensions and tissue Doppler echocardiographic parameters. Levels of brain natriuretic peptide, and peak tricuspid early diastolic annular velocity, are the earliest and most sensitive markers of morphologically right ventricular dysfunction.
Descriptors     HEART FAILURE, CONGESTIVE
VENTRICULAR DYSFUNCTION, RIGHT
TRANSPOSITION OF GREAT VESSELS
ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, DOPPLER
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING
ADULT
TOMOGRAPHY, X-RAY COMPUTED
NATRIURETIC HORMONE
ADULT