title: Left ventricular non-compaction in children and adolescents: clinical features, treatment and follow-up.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC) is a specific cardiomyopathy that occurs following a disruption of endomyocardial morphogenesis. This study presents clinical findings, diagnostic features, treatment and follow-up of pediatric patients diagnosed with LVNC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with LVNC who were followed from January 2006 to March 2010 were included in this study. Diagnosis was made with the use of characteristic findings of magnetic resonance imaging and echocardiography. Holter electrocardiography and metabolic screening tests were also performed in all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 24 patients were studied (18 male, six female). Patient age at diagnosis was 50 ± 60 months (eight days to 15 years). Average follow-up period was 22 ± 12 months (four months to four years). Findings at diagnosis were as follows: eight (33%) patients had heart failure, five (20%) had rhythm abnormalities, five (20%) had cardiomegaly, two had murmurs, two had cyanosis, and two presented with fatigue. Ten (41%) patients had been followed previously with other diagnoses. In 21 (87.5%) patients, electrocardiographic abnormalities were noted, especially left ventricular hypertrophy and ST-T changes. Patients had an average ejection fraction of 46% (18-73%) and three of them had additional congenital heart disease (patent ductus arteriosus, aortopulmonary window and complex cyanotic heart disease). Scanning for metabolic diseases revealed fatty acid oxidation disorder in one patient, and mitochondrial disease in another. During follow-up, a permanent pacemaker was implanted in a patient with severe bradycardia and ventricular dysfunction, and three patients died.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LVNC can be diagnosed at any age from newborn to adolescent and has a variable clinical course. Closer study of patients with cardiomegaly and heart failure can reduce delays in diagnosis of LVNC.
authors: Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Turkey. yakupergul77@hotmail.com
authors: Yakup
authors: Y
authors: Ergul
authors: Kemal
authors: K
authors: Nisli
authors: Atalay
authors: A
authors: Demirel
authors: Muhammed Ali
authors: MA
authors: Varkal
authors: Naci
authors: N
authors: Oner
authors: Memduh
authors: M
authors: Dursun
authors: Aygun
authors: A
authors: Dindar
authors: Umrah
authors: U
authors: Aydogan
authors: Rukiye Eker
authors: RE
authors: Omeroglu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D057791:Cardiac Imaging Techniques; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004452:Echocardiography; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome