Left ventricular hypertrophy persists after successful treatment for coarctation of the aorta.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate cardiac size and function in patients with coarctation of the aorta (CoA) before and after treatment.


METHODS
Ventricular size and function were examined by 2- and 3-dimensional echocardiography, and concentrations of natriuretic peptides measured in 15 paediatric patients before repair, and one, 6, and 12 months thereafter. Controls comprised 15 children.


RESULTS
Before repair, mitral inflow velocities and left ventricular (LV) size and wall thickness were higher in patients. Thicknesses of interventricular septum and LV posterior wall decreased after repair but increased to initial level one year thereafter. The LV end-diastolic diameter remained larger than in controls despite successful repair. The size of right ventricle increased and levels of natriuretic peptides decreased during follow-up. Levels of natriuretic peptides correlated with the smallest diameter of CoA segment and diastolic indices of LV function.


CONCLUSIONS
LV hypertrophy persists and LV size remains larger than in controls after successful repair even in normotensive patients with normal growth of CoA segment. This may be due to remodelling of ventricles and the aorta caused by CoA.
Eerola
Anneli
A
Department of Paediatric, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland. anneli.eerola@fimnet.fi
Jokinen
Eero
E
Boldt
Talvikki
T
Mattila
Ilkka P
IP
Pihkala
Jaana I
JI
D000293:Adolescent; D001017:Aortic Coarctation / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D045265:Natriuretic Peptides / Q000097:blood; D011184:Postoperative Period
D045265:Natriuretic Peptides