Nicolas Kluger^1,2, Philippe Charlier^3,4, Antonio Perciaccante^3,5,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.15, No.3, pp. 163-165, 2020, DOI:10.32604/CHD.2020.012394

Abstract Introduction: Visual narratives such as manga, comics and cartoons can play an important role in educating readers on various aspects of life including medicine and disabilities. Methods: We reviewed the animated series entitled “Captain Tsubasa”, focusing our analysis on the episodes which introduced the character Jun Misugi, a football player suffering from an unspecified congenital heart disease (CHD). Discussion: For a child with a CHD, the practice of sports could be risky but also an opportunity to improve heart function and reach personal fulfillment. CHD have an important impact on children’s quality of life, and sports participation has beneficial effects… More >

Jane W. Newburger

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.5, pp. 641-643, 2017, DOI:10.1111/chd.12502

Abstract Medical therapies in patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) are administered to reduce the prevalence of coronary aneurysms, reduce systemic inflammation, and prevent coronary thrombosis. All patients with acute KD should be treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) 2 g/kg, generally administered over 10–12 hours. Aspirin has never been shown to prevent aneurysms, but is given for its anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects until the patient has been afebrile for 2 days, then lowered to an antiplatelet dose. Adjunctive therapy with a longer course of corticosteroids, together with IVIG and aspirin, may be considered for primary treatment in patients at high risk for… More >

Athar M. Qureshi^1,2,3, Hitesh Agrawal^2,3

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.5, pp. 615-618, 2017, DOI:10.1111/chd.12500

Abstract Most diagnostic testing in patients with anomalous aortic origins of coronary arteries, myocardial bridges, and coronary artery changes after Kawasaki disease are performed with the use of noninvasive techniques. In some cases, however, further diagnostic information is needed to guide the clinician in treating these patients. In such instances, cardiac catheterization with invasive anatomic and functional testing is an invaluable tool. Moreover, interventional treatment in the cardiac catheterization laboratory may be performed in a small subset of these patients. As the diagnosis of these conditions is now becoming more common, it is important for pediatric interventional cardiologists to be familiar… More >

Jane W. Newburger

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.5, pp. 633-635, 2017, DOI:10.1111/chd.12498

Abstract Kawasaki disease is an acute febrile arteritis of childhood that can result in coronary artery aneurysms if untreated in the first 10 and ideally 7 days of illness. Kawasaki disease begins as a necrotizing arteritis with neutrophilic infiltrate, followed by subacute/chronic changes and luminal myofibroblastic proliferation that can cause coronary artery stenosis. Manifestations include the presence of ≥5 days of fever, together with clinical criteria of extremity changes, rash, conjunctivitis, oral changes, and unilateral cervical lymphadenopathy. Echocardiography should be performed at the time of diagnosis, then 1–2 weeks and 4–6 weeks later, with more frequent studies in individuals with coronary… More >

Carolyn A. Altman^1,2

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.5, pp. 636-640, 2017, DOI:10.1111/chd.12496

Abstract Echocardiography is an excellent noninvasive imaging modality for evaluation and follow-up of cardiac lesions, especially coronary artery changes occurring as a result of Kawasaki disease. The information obtained has prognostic implications and can be complemented with other modes of imaging for risk stratification and optimization of both medical and interventional therapy. The aim of this article is to describe the time line of echocardiographic follow-up of patients affected with Kawasaki disease. The classification of coronary artery changes and transthoracic echocardiographic views recommended for detailed evaluation of the coronary arteries are delineated in detail in this report. More >

Constantine Mavroudis

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.5, pp. 644-646, 2017, DOI:10.1111/chd.12491

Abstract Coronary artery disease ranges from congenital in origin such as anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery (AAOCA) to acquired diseases such as Kawasaki disease, and previously repaired conditions such as transposition of the great arteries. It is not uncommon, in the long run, for proximal coronary stenosis to develop following arterial switch, AAOCA repair, Ross procedure and Kawasaki disease leading to coronary artery bypass grafing (CABG). The objective of this report is to discuss the indications, challenges, and outcomes of CABG in infants, children, and young adults with acquired and congenital lesions. More >

Raymond P. Lorenzoni III¹, Jaeun Choi², Nadine F. Choueiter³, Iona M. Munjal¹, Chhavi Katyal⁴, Kenan W. D. Stern³

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.3, pp. 470-475, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12598

Abstract Objective: Kawasaki disease is the primary cause of acquired pediatric heart disease in developed nations. Timely diagnosis of Kawasaki disease incorporates transthoracic echocardiography for visualization of the coronary arteries. Sedation improves this visualization, but not without risks and resource utilization. To identify potential sedation criteria for suspected Kawasaki disease, we analyzed factors associated with diagnostically inadequate initial transthoracic echocardiography performed without sedation.
Design: This retrospective review of patients < 18 years old undergoing initial transthoracic echocardiography for the inpatient evaluation of suspected Kawasaki disease from 2009 to 2015 occurred at a medium-sized urban children’s hospital. The primary outcome was diagnostically… More >

Varun Aggarwal^1,2, Kristen Sexson-Tejtal¹, Wilson Lam¹, Santiago O. Valdes¹, Caridad M. de la Uz¹, Jeffrey J. Kim¹, Christina Y. Miyake¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.6, pp. 1032-1036, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12864

Abstract Objective: Based on 2017 guidelines, participation in competitive sports with prior history of Kawasaki Disease (KD) requires those with coronary artery aneurysms (CAA) z score ≥ 5 to undergo evaluation for evidence of inducible ischemia or arrhythmias. The use of exercise stress testing (EST) to evaluate arrhythmias among KD patients has never been reported. This retrospective single-center case series study sought to describe the presence of inducible arrhythmias during EST in KD patients with or without CAA.
Methods: Single-center retrospective review of medical records of patients diagnosed with KD between 1989-2015 at Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas who underwent EST… More >

Munes Fares¹, Paul J. Critser², Maria J. Arruda¹, Carolyn M. Wilhelm¹, Mantosh S. Rattan³, Sean M. Lang^2,4, Tarek Alsaied^2,4

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.6, pp. 1166-1175, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12840

Abstract Pharmacologic stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance (PSCMR) is a wellestablished and reliable diagnostic tool for evaluation of coronary artery disease in the adult population. Stress imaging overall and PSCMR in particular is less utilized in the pediatric population with limited reported data. In this review, we highlight the potential use of PSCMR in specific pediatric cohorts with congenital and acquired heart disease, and we review the reported experience. A suggested protocol is presented in addition to two case examples of patients with Kawasaki disease where PSCMR aided decision making. More >

Aura A. Sanchez^1,2, Sara K. Sexson Tejtel¹, Myriam E. Almeida‐Jones^1,3, Douglas K. Feagin¹, Carolyn A. Altman¹, Ricardo H. Pignatelli¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.6, pp. 1024-1031, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12787

Abstract Objective: Children with Kawasaki disease (KD) with persistent coronary artery aneurysms (CAAs) can develop chronic vasculopathy and subsequent myocardial ischemia. Early detection of this process is challenging. Myocardial deformation anal‐ ysis can detect early alterations in myocardial performance. We aim to determine whether there are differences in myocardial deformation between KD patients with and without CAAs.
Design: This is a cross‐sectional study of 123 echocardiograms performed on 103 children with KD. Myocardial deformation was measured with two‐dimensional speckle tracking (2DSTE). The echocardiograms were divided into groups according to the KD phase in which they were performed: acute, subacute, and convalescent/… More >