title: Myocardial function in patients with Shwachman-Diamond syndrome: aspects to consider before stem cell transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Early studies have suggested increased risk of fatal cardiac complications in infants with Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (SDS), an inherited bone marrow failure syndrome. Patients undergoing stem cell transplantation (STC) have appeared susceptible to organ toxicity, including cardiac involvement.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study assessed anatomical and functional features of the heart in SDS. Eight patients (mean age 24.1 years, range 7-37 years, seven males) with SDS and confirmed SBDS mutations were prospectively assessed for cardiac anatomy, myocardial wall properties, and systolic and diastolic function. The study protocol included conventional echocardiography (n = 8) complemented by exercise Tissue-Doppler echocardiography (n = 7), and by MRI (n = 6).
  
  
  RESULTS
  No abnormalities in cardiac anatomy or function were observed in baseline clinical assessment, EKG, or conventional echocardiographic and MRI measurements. Myocardial structure and left ventricular (LV) mass were normal. The maximum isovolumic acceleration (IVA) value during exercise in Tissue-Doppler was significantly lower (P < 0.001), and the right ventricular (RV) ejection fraction (P = 0.02) and peak filling rate (PFR, P = 0.008) at rest in MRI were higher in patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children and young adults with SDS and mutations in SBDS had normal cardiac anatomy and myocardial structure. Subtle RV diastolic function alterations at rest and depressed LV contractility during exercise were observed. Further studies are warranted to evaluate the clinical importance of these findings.
authors.affiliation: Helsinki Medical Imaging Center, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. sanna.toiviainen-salo@fimnet.fi
authors.forename: Sanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Toiviainen-Salo
authors.forename: Olli
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pitkänen
authors.forename: Miia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holmström
authors.forename: Juha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koikkalainen
authors.forename: Jyrki
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lötjönen
authors.forename: Kirsi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lauerma
authors.forename: Mervi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taskinen
authors.forename: Erkki
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Savilahti
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smallhorn
authors.forename: Outi
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mäkitie
authors.forename: Sari
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kivistö
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001855:Bone Marrow Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013577:Syndrome