title: [Spontaneous closure of fistula between right coronary artery and right ventricle in an infant].
abstract: Here is presented a rare case of spontaneous closure of a fistula between the right coronary artery and the right ventricle in a female infant. At the age of 7 days continuous murmur intensity 3/6 was registered in the 3rd intercostal space along the right sternal border. Echocardiography indicated, with high probability, a coronary artery fistula. Definitive diagnosis was made at the age of 1 month with aortography. Radioscintiography and oximetric analysis revealed 47% of left-to-right shunting at level of fistula. Because of the size of the shunting a surgical correction had been planned, but in the mean-time the murmur had gone. At the age of 6 months control aortography showed spontaneous closure of the fistula, but with significant morphological changes in the right coronary artery (stenosis and aneurysms). The exact mechanism of spontaneous closure is unknown, as is the timing of therapeutic intervention. Control coronary angiography after 1 year showed the regression of pathological changes in the right coronary artery. Based on the literature and our own experiences we consider invasive therapy indicated in children with significant clinical symptoms. In cases were clinical symptoms are absent expectative state should be taken, because there is a chance of spontaneous closure of fistulas, even larger ones, as it is in our case.
authors.affiliation: Klinika za pedijatriju, Rebro, KBC Zagreb. ivanmalcic@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Malcić
authors.forename: Drazen
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Belina
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gitter
authors.forename: Mladen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Viljevac
authors.forename: Hrvoje
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kniewald
authors.forename: Nikola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Krmek
mesh_terms: D003330:Coronary Vessel Anomalies / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000151:congenital / Q000473:pathology*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000002:abnormalities*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous