Cardiac Corpuscles: A "New" Morphofunctional Entity? / Corpúsculos Cardíacos: ¿Una "Nueva" Entidad Morfofuncional?

SUMMARY: The existence of "transitional muscular structures" between subendocardial branches (Purkinje fibers) and ventricular working muscle fibers (WF) was first described by the German anatomist, Kurt Goerttler, in 1964. He designated them as "subendocardial nucleus organs." He supposed such fibers functioned as mechanoreceptors, controlling of the intensity of contraction of the ventricular musculature. Brazilian anatomist Ferraz de Carvalho described similar structures in 1993. A thorough literature search failed to identify any other research articles confirming or denying their existence. The objective of this work was to find such structures in subendocardial ventricular walls in human hearts. We collected fifteen formalin-preserved hearts from the Anatomy Department of São Paulo University and sectioned the apical portions on the right and left ventricles according to method used by Goerttler. We utilized conventional histology (light microscopy- LM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and a new preservation method called micro- plastination (MP). At the anterior wall of the right ventricle in the subendocardial region between the interventricular septum and moderator band, we found several bundles of fusiform and helicoidal fibers of similar histology to the WF. The bundles measured between 400 and 1150 µm in length and were separated from adjacent muscular fibers by thin collagen fiber, thus acting as a "pseudo capsule." Some structures seemed to be linked to PF and were appeared to be lymphatic and blood vessels and nerves. We called those structures "cardiac corpuscles" (CC). The observation of the previously "unknown" CC in this initial study confirmed the previous descriptions and its discovery may contribute to new perspectives in the study of cardiac muscle structure and function.

La existencia de "estructuras musculares de transición" entre los ramos subendocárdicos (fibras de Purkinje) y las fibras musculares ventriculares activas(FMV) fue descrita por primera vez por el anatomista alemán Kurt Goerttler en 1964, quien las denominó "órganos del núcleo subendocárdico". Supuso que tales fibras funcionaban como mecanoreceptores, controlando la intensidad de la contracción de la musculatura ventricular. El anatomista brasileño Ferraz de Carvalho describió estructuras similares en 1993. Una búsqueda bibliográfica exhaustiva no logró identificar ningún otro artículo de investigación que confirmara o negara su existencia. El objetivo de este trabajo fue encontrar dichas estructuras en las paredes ventriculares subendocárdicas de corazones humanos. Recolectamos 15 corazones conservados en formalina del Departamento de Anatomía de la Universidad de São Paulo y seccionamos las porciones apicales de los ventrículos derecho e izquierdo según el método utilizado por Goerttler. Utilizamos histología convencional (microscopía de luz-LM), microscopía electrónica de barrido (SEM) y un nuevo método de conservación llamado microplastinación (MP). En la pared anterior del ventrículo derecho en la región subendocárdica entre el tabique interventricular y la banda moderadora, encontramos varios haces de fibras fusiformes y helicoidales de histología similar a la FMV. Los haces medían entre 400 y 1150 µm de longitud y estaban separados de las fibras musculares adyacentes por una fina fibra de colágeno, actuando así como una "pseudocápsula". Algunas estructuras parecían estar vinculadas a la fibras de purkinje y parecían ser vasos linfáticos, sanguíneos y nerviosos. Llamamos a esas estructuras "corpúsculos cardíacos" (CC). La observación del CC previamente "desconocido" en este estudio inicial confirmó las descripciones anteriores y su descubrimiento puede contribuir a nuevas perspectivas en el estudio de la estructura y función del músculo cardíaco.

Research progress on genetic pathogenesis of non-compaction of the ventricular myocardium in children / 中国小儿急救医学

Non-compaction of the ventricular myocardium(NVM), also known as cavernous cardiomyopathy, is dominated by left ventricular non-compaction(LVNC)in most patients.The incidence of NVM in childhood cardiomyopathy is second only to dilated cardiomyopathy and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and the pathological changes are prominent trabeculae and deep intertrabecular clefts.Most pediatric patients have serious complications, such as heart failure, serious arrhythmias, and thrombus.Therefore, it is particularly important to study the pathogenesis of LVNC in children.NVM may be caused by the cessation of myocardial compaction in early embryonic development, so the genetic pathogenesis of NVM is particularly important.This review aimed to elucidate the genetic pathogenesis of LVNC in children, and provide more ideas for the pathogenesis and genetic therapy of LVNC in the future.

Research progress on genetic pathogenesis of non-compaction of the ventricular myocardium in children / 中国小儿急救医学

Non-compaction of the ventricular myocardium(NVM), also known as cavernous cardiomyopathy, is dominated by left ventricular non-compaction(LVNC)in most patients.The incidence of NVM in childhood cardiomyopathy is second only to dilated cardiomyopathy and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and the pathological changes are prominent trabeculae and deep intertrabecular clefts.Most pediatric patients have serious complications, such as heart failure, serious arrhythmias, and thrombus.Therefore, it is particularly important to study the pathogenesis of LVNC in children.NVM may be caused by the cessation of myocardial compaction in early embryonic development, so the genetic pathogenesis of NVM is particularly important.This review aimed to elucidate the genetic pathogenesis of LVNC in children, and provide more ideas for the pathogenesis and genetic therapy of LVNC in the future.

Clinical characteristics and pregnancy outcomes of pregnant women with left ventricular non-compaction / 中华妇产科杂志

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women with left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC).Methods:The clinical data of seven pregnant women with LVNC from January 2011 to December 2021 in Beijing Anzhen Hospital,Capital Medical University were retrospectively analyzed, including age, gestational age of symptom first occured, LVNC history, clinical symptoms, New York Heart Association (NYHA) cardiac function class, echocardiography, blood brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), treatment and the maternal and fetal outcomes.Results:Five cases were diagnosed before pregnancy, of which there were three women with medication; one case diagnosed in the month of pregnancy; one case diagnosed at 36 weeks of gestation. NYHA cardiac function was grade Ⅰ in four cases and grade Ⅱ in three cases before or during the first trimester of pregnancy. Of the five pregnant women who underwent echocardiography, there were one case of left ventricular insufficiency, three cases of mild left ventricular dysfunction and one case of normal left ventricular function before or during the first trimester of pregnancy. Of the five pregnant women to the second and third trimester of pregnancy, there were one case of grade Ⅳ, one case of grade Ⅲ, two cases of grade Ⅱ-Ⅲ and one case of grade Ⅱ in NYHA class ; three cases of left ventricular insufficiency, two cases of normal left ventricular function by echocardiography four cases had cardiac symptoms at 15-24 weeks of gestation and were treated with medication. In four cases, blood BNP increased to 214-1 197 ng/L during pregnancy, and were 89-106 ng/L after termination of pregnancy. There were 4 cases with arrhythmia. Indications for termination of pregnancy: LVNC complicated with heart failure in two cases, LVNC complicated with decreased cardiac function and threatened preterm birth in one case, complicated with pregnancy at full term in two cases, LVNC complicated with severe pulmonary hypertension in one case, and left ventricular dysfunction in one case. Cesarean section in four cases in the third-trimester, in one case in the second-trimester, and forceps curettage in two cases were taken. Two full-term infants,two preterm infants were born without LVNC.Conclusions:Women diagnosed with LVNC and low left ventricular ejection fraction before pregnancy are more prone to decreased cardiac function during pregnancy. Carrying out pregnancy risk assessment and strengthening the multi-disciplinary team management of high risk factors in pregnancy are conducive to achieve good pregnancy outcomes.

Síndrome en espejo con miocardiopatía no compactada en la madre y el feto. Reporte de caso / Mirror syndrome with noncompaction cardiomyopathy in the mother and fetus. Case report

Objetivo: reportar el caso de una gestante con síndrome en espejo asociada a miocardiopatía no compactada (MNC), tanto en la madre como el feto, en los que el tratamiento médico antenatal en la madre llevó a un resultado materno perinatal favorable. Presentación del caso: se describe el caso de una primigestante de 16 años, con 33 semanas de embarazo, remitida desde una institución de primer nivel de atención a una institución privada de cuarto nivel en la ciudad de Medellín, Colombia, por presentar feto con hidropesía en ultrasonido obstétrico de control. Durante la hospitalización, la paciente presentó signos clínicos y ecocardiográficos de falla cardiaca (disnea, edema e hipoxemia), a la vez que se confirmó el diagnóstico de Hydrops fetalis (síndrome en espejo). Se instauró tratamiento diurético con furosemida en la madre, logrando mejoría del cuadro materno y del edema fetal. En el puerperio mediato hospitalario se confirmaron la presencia de miocardiopatía no compactada en la resonancia magnética nuclear cardiaca, tanto de la madre como del recién nacido. Ambos egresaron en adecuadas condiciones y fueron vinculados al programa de seguimiento cardiovascular: falla cardiaca y de cardiopatía congénitas, respectivamente. Conclusión: se presenta un caso de síndrome en espejo asociado a miocardiopatía no compactada materna y fetal. Es limitado el número de reportes de síndrome en espejo por anomalías cardiacas (maternas y fetales) y pobre la descripción de los tratamientos realizados que surgen como temas a investigar. Sería importante considerar el diagnóstico de MNC en fetos con hidropesía no asociados a isoinmunización y con disfunción cardiaca, así como su atención por equipos multidisciplinarios.

ABSTRACT Objective: To report the case of a pregnant woman with mirror syndrome associated with noncompaction cardiomyopathy in the mother and the fetus, in which antenatal medical treatment provided to the mother resulted in a favorable perinatal maternal outcome. Case presentation: A 16-year old primigravida with 33 weeks of gestation referred from a Level I institution to a private Level IV center in Medellín, Colombia, because of a finding of fetal hydrops on obstetric ultrasound. During hospitalization, the patient showed clinical and ultrasonographic signs of heart failure (dyspnea, edema and hypoxemia), with the diagnosis of hydrops fetalis (mirror syndrome) also confirmed. Diuretic treatment with furosemide was initiated in the mother, with subsequent improvement of the maternal condition as well as of the fetal edema. During the subacute postpartum period in the hospital, the presence of non-compaction cardiomyopathy was confirmed on cardiac nuclear magnetic resonance imaging in both the mother and the newborn. After discharge in adequated condition, they were included in the cardiovascular follow-up program for heart failure and congenital heart disease, respectively. Conclusion: A case of mirror syndrome associated with maternal and fetal non-compaction cardiomyopathy is presented. There is a limited number of reports on mirror syndrome due to cardiac anomalies (maternal and fetal), with weak treatment descriptions, pointing to the need for research in this area. It would be important to consider the diagnosis of non-compaction cardiomyopathy in fetuses with hydrops unrelated to isoimmunization or cardiac dysfunction and approach these cases from a multidisciplinary perspective.

Diagnóstico prenatal de no compactación del miocardio ventricular: presentación de un caso / Prenatal diagnosis of noncompaction of the ventricular myocardium: A case report / Prenatal diagnosis of noncompaction of the ventricular myocardium: A case report

RESUMEN El 'miocardio esponjoso' o cardiopatía no compactada es una rara miocardiopatía congénita de etiología desconocida, que resulta de un fallo en la embriogénesis en el proceso evolutivo de la trabeculación miocárdica normal. Los hallazgos ecocardiográficos característicos de esta enfermedad consisten en múltiples trabeculaciones miocárdicas y profundos recesos intertrabeculares que se comunican con la cavidad ventricular izquierda, derecha o ambas. Se presenta un caso de esta miocardiopatía que afecta el ventrículo derecho, en feto de 31 semanas de gestación, cuya madre era portadora asintomática de dicha patología. Se presenta las imágenes ecográficas prenatales, incluyendo la evaluación mediante la técnica de deformación miocárdica (strain), haciendo énfasis en la importancia de la historia clínica del paciente, las posibles etiologías y el diagnóstico diferencial con otras entidades.

ABSTRACT "Spongy cardiomyopathy" or noncompaction heart disease is a rare congenital cardiomyopathy of unknown etiology which results from a failure in embryogenesis in the evolutionary process of normal myocardial trabeculation. The characteristic echocardiographic findings of this disease consist of multiple myocardial trabeculations and deep intertrabecular recesses that communicate with the left or right ventricular cavity or both. We present a case of this cardiomyopathy that affects the right ventricle, in a fetus of 31 weeks gestation, whose mother was an asymptomatic carrier of said pathology. Prenatal ultrasound images are presented, including evaluation using the strain (myocardial deformation) technique, emphasizing the importance of the patient's medical history, possible etiologies and differential diagnosis with other entities.

Non-compaction of ventricular myocardium in children / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Non-compaction of ventricular myocardium (NVM), a rare congenital and inherited cardiomyopathy, is characterized by prominent trabeculations and deep intertrabecular recesses in communication with the ventricular cavity.NVM has diverse clinical presentations without specificity, of which the major characteristics are cardiac insufficiency, arrhythmias and thrombosis.Echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging are necessary technologies to diagnose NVM.Symptomatic therapy is the only choice for most patients.Furthermore, if medical treatment fails, the heart transplantation could be performed.As a whole, NVM has a high mortality and entirely different prognosis, however, the prognosis of asymptomatic patients is relatively good.

Non-compaction of ventricular myocardium in children / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Non-compaction of ventricular myocardium (NVM),a rare congenital and inherited cardiomyopathy,is characterized by prominent trabeculations and deep intertrabecular recesses in communication with the ventricular cavity.NVM has diverse clinical presentations without specificity,of which the major characteristics are cardiac insufficiency,arrhythmias and thrombosis.Echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging are necessary technologies to diagnose NVM.Symptomatic therapy is the only choice for most patients.Furthermore,if medical treatment fails,the heart transplantation could be performed.As a whole,NVM has a high mortality and entirely different prognosis,however,the prognosis of asymptomatic patients is relatively good.

Isolated Non-Compacted Myocardium: Should We Consider the Presence of Extrasystoles as the Initial Manifestation?

Ventricular non-compaction occurs due to failure in myocardial morphogenesis during the fetal period. Patients can have heart failure, as well as systemic complications due to thromboembolism and cardiac arrhythmias. Early diagnosis is essential. We present the case of an asymptomatic 49-year-old woman who initially manifested ventricular extrasystoles and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and a myocardial noncompaction diagnosis

Prenatal chocardiography in diagnosis of fetal noncompaction of ventricular myocardium / 中国介入影像与治疗学

Objective: To investigate the value of prenatal echocardiography in diagnosis of fetal noncompaction of ventricular myocardium (FNVM). Methods: Echocardiographic data of 12 fetuses with FNVM were analyzed and compared with the pathological results. Results: All 12 fetuses were diagnosed with FVNM. Biventricular involvement was detected in 5 fetuses, left ventricle involvement was observed in 5 fetuses, while right ventricle involvement was found in 2 fetuses. FNVM mostly involved the left ventricular apical (n=10). Associated abnormalities of heart structures were noticed in 7 fetuses, while 5 fetuses were found with serous membrane fluid and 3 fetuses with arrhythmia. Eight fetuses were tested for single gene mutation and copy number variations, among them 6 were detected with pathogenic gene mutations, 1 with the likely pathogenic gene mutation KCNH2 and 1 with chromosomal microdeletion. Conclusion: FNVM can involve both the left and the right ventricles, which tends to combine with right sided lesions, arrhythmia and serous membrane fluid. Prenatal echocardiography may play an important role in the diagnosis, prognosis and parental counseling of FNVM.

Left ventricular noncompaction in a Para athlete / Miocárdio não compactado em paratleta

ABSTRACT The left ventricular noncompaction is a congenital cardiomyopathy characterized by the presence of abnormal trabeculations in the left ventricle. The present study describes the case of a 14-year-old female Para athlete, who plays goalball. She was asymptomatic, with history of congenital nystagmus and mild visual impairment, who presented nonspecific electrocardiographic abnormalities during pre-competition screening. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging showed left ventricular non-compaction (non-compacted to compacted layer ratio equal to 2.5) and mild biventricular systolic dysfunction. Initially, the patient was excluded from sports participation and clinical follow-up was performed every three months. Patient remained asymptomatic during the one-year follow-up, with no history of unexplained syncope, marked impairment of systolic function or significant ventricular arrhythmias at the exercise stress test. Finally, she was released for competitive goalball participation and clinical follow-up was continued every 6 months. There is no consensus regarding the eligibility criteria for sports participation in cases of left ventricular non-compaction. Thus, it is prudent to individualize the decision regarding practice of sports, as well as to consider participation in competitive sports for asymptomatic individuals and with no disease repercussions.

RESUMO O miocárdio não compactado é uma cardiomiopatia congênita caracterizada pela presença de trabeculações anormais no ventrículo esquerdo. O presente estudo descreve o caso de uma paratleta de goalball, 14 anos, sexo feminino, assintomática, com história pessoal de nistagmo congênito e leve deficiência visual, que apresentou alterações eletrocardiográficas inespecíficas durante avaliação pré-participação. A ressonância magnética cardíaca evidenciou presença de não compactação miocárdica (relação entre camada não compactada/camada compactada igual a 2,5) e disfunção sistólica biventricular leve. Inicialmente, a paciente foi afastada da prática de esportes, e o seguimento clínico foi realizado a cada 3 meses. A paciente permaneceu assintomática durante o período de 1 ano de seguimento, sem história de síncope inexplicada, comprometimento significativo da função sistólica ou taquiarritmias ventriculares importantes ao teste de esforço. Por fim, ela foi liberada para prática competitiva de goalball, e o seguimento clínico foi mantido a cada 6 meses. Não há consenso quanto aos critérios de elegibilidade para a prática esportiva nos casos de miocárdio não-compactado. Assim, é prudente individualizar a decisão quanto a prática esportiva, bem como considerar a participação em esportes competitivos para indivíduos assintomáticos e sem repercussões da doença.

Miocardiopatia não compactada em gestante com linfoma não Hodgkin. Relato de caso / Non-compaction cardiomyopathy in pregnant women with non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a case report

A miocardiopatia não compactada é uma doença congênita rara, que pode ocorrer isoladamente ou associada a outros defeitos, por falha no processo de compactação das fibras miocárdicas, resultando na persistência de trabeculações e recessos profundos. A associação entre a miocardiopatia não compactada e gestação é incomum na literatura, assim como a relação com macroglobulinemia de Waldenstrom, um tipo de linfoma não Hodgkin. Descrevemos aqui a rara associação destas três patologias. Trata-se de paciente do sexo feminino, sem antecedentes hematológicos, neoplasias ou cardiopatias, que procurou o serviço com queixa de astenia progressiva, dores no corpo, perda ponderal importante e anemia. Na investigação diagnóstica, a imunoeletroforese de proteína constatou pico monoclonal em IgM Kappa, com inventário medular por imunofenotipagem e biópsia de medula óssea com Kappa+, CD19+, CD20+, CD38 e CD79b, confirmando diagnóstico de neoplasia de linfócitos B maduros. Na terapêutica, optou-se pelo esquema de primeira linha com dexametasona, rituximabe e ciclofosfamida (DRC) − este último considerado agente alquilante cardiotóxico. Em triagem pré-quimioterápica, o eletrocardiograma mostrou alteração da repolarização ventricular anterosseptal. O ecocardiograma transtorácico evidenciou trabeculações excessivas no ápice do ventrículo esquerdo, sugerindo não compactação do miocárdio. A ressonância magnética confirmou o diagnóstico. Foi iniciada terapia com metoprolol e ácido acetilsalisílico. Todavia, após o último ciclo de terapia quimioterápica, paciente descobriu gravidez (G1P1A0). O período gestacional e o puerpério evoluíram sem manifestações clínicas de insuficiência cardíaca, em classe funcional I (New York Heart Association), mesmo com redução da fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo ao ecocardiograma transtorácico. (AU)

Non-compaction cardiomyopathy is a rare congenital disease that can occur in isolation or associated with other defects, due to failure in compaction of myocardial fiber, resulting in persistence of myocardial trabeculations and deep recesses. The association between non-compaction cardiomyopathy and gestation, as well as the relationship with Waldenstrom's macrobulinemia, a type of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL), are not common in the literature. This study describes the rare association of these three pathologies. This is the case of a female patient with no history of hematological, neoplastic, or heart diseases, who sought the service with complaints of progressive weakness, body aches, important weight loss, and anemia. During the diagnostic investigation, protein immunoelectrophoresis showed a monoclonal peak in IgM Kappa monoclonal gammopathy, with a medullary inventory by immunophenotyping and bone marrow biopsy with Kappa+, CD19+, CD20+, CD38 and CD79b, confirming the diagnosis of mature B-cell lymphocyte neoplasm. The first line therapy chosen was dexamethasone, rituximab, and cyclophosphamide (CKD), with the latter being considered a cardiotoxic alkylating agent. At pre-chemotherapy screening, the electrocardiogram showed an alteration of the anteroseptal ventricular repolarization. Transthoracic echocardiography (ETT) showed excessive trabeculations at the apex of the left ventricle (LV), suggesting no compaction of the myocardium. The magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the diagnosis.Therapy with metoprolol and acetylsalicylic acid was started. However, after the last cycle of chemotherapy, the patient found she was pregnant (G1P1A0). The gestational and puerperium period progressed with no clinical manifestations of heart failure, in functional class I (New York Heart Association), albeit the reduction of the ejection fraction of the left ventricular shown in the transthoracic echocardiography. (AU)

Advances in noncompation of the ventricular myocardium in children / 国际儿科学杂志

Noncompation of the ventricular myocardium is one of three major types of cardiomyopathy in children.More patients are diagnosed,with the understanding of this cardiomyopathy.Their clinical manifestation may vary a lot from without symptoms to severe cardiac dysfunction.This article describes the clinical characteristics of left ventricular noncompaction(LVNC) children and long-term prognosis of children at different ages.With the development of next-generation sequencing technology,more and more gene mutations have been found to cause LVNC.The article introduces the relationship between genotypes and clinical phenotypes in children.LVNC has poor long-term prognosis.At present,studies have showed the importance of family screening.For children carrying pathogenic genes mutations,they should be followed-up regularly even without clinical symptoms.

Analysis of the evaluation errors of dose-volume parameters for left ventricular myocardium in esophageal cancer radiotherapy / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

Objective To evaluate the dynamic variation of the dose-volume parameters of the left ventricular myocardium following heart beat in radiotherapy for esophageal cancer. Methods The left ventricular myocardium of 22 patients was contoured on 20 phases (0％-95％) of electrocardiography (ECG) gated heart 4DCT images. The radiotherapy plan was designed on the simulation CT images,and then the dose distribution of radiotherapy plan was imported into MIM Maestro system and 4D dose-volume histogram (DVH) was reconstructed. The variations of position,volume and dice similarity coefficient (DSC) of the left ventricular myocardium were analyzed. The changing ranges of Dmean ,V10,V20 ,V30 and V40 of the left ventricular myocardium during different phases were statistically compared. Results ( 1 ) The biggest displacement of the left ventricular myocardium was in Y axes. The maximum variation rate of volume and DSC of the left ventricular myocardium were (24.23±11. 35)％ and (184.33±128. 61)％ in different phases with statistical significance (both P<0. 05).(2) The maximum variation rate of Dmean of the left ventricular myocardium was (87.05± 38. 34)％ in different phases with the highest rate of 163. 52％ with statistical significance (P<0. 05).(3) The maximum variation values of V10,V20,V30 and V40 of the left ventricular myocardium were (13.64±4. 33)％,(12.84±4. 55)％,(11.62±4. 85)％ and (3.63±2. 56)％ with statistical significance (all P<0. 05). Conclusions The impact of heart beat on the dose-volume parameters of the left ventricular myocardium should be considered during esophageal cancer radiotherapy. Traditional static 3DCT-based assessment of the dose-volume parameters of the left ventricular myocardium can yield relatively large errors, which is probably reduces the prediction efficiency of the dose-volume parameters for radiation-induced heart injury.

Analysis of clinical characteristics of different degrees of myocardial noncompaction in children / 临床儿科杂志

Objectives To explore the clinical characteristics and prognosis of different degrees of noncompaction of ventricular myocardium (NVM) in children and to investigate the clinical significance of the ratio of the thickness of the non-compact myocardium to the dense myocardium (N/C). Methods The clinical data of the children with NVM were analyzed retrospectively. The differences between children with N/C > 2.0 and children with N/C 1.4~2.0 were compared. Results There were 26 children in each of the two groups. There was no significant difference in age, sex, the ratios of low birth weight and malnutrition, heart disease, and complication (P all > 0.05). When discharged, 8 cases were improved, 15 cases has no obvious improvement, and 3 cases died in N/C>2.0 group; while 18 cases were improved, 8 cases has no obvious improvement, and none died in N/C 1.4~2.0 group, and the effective rate of treatment between two groups was statistically difference (χ2=7.69,P=0.006). In 8 years of follow-up, the mortality rate in N/C > 2.0 group was higher than that in N/C 1.4~2.0 group, and the difference was statistically different (χ2=6.993, P=0.008). Conclusions The treatment efficiency was lower and the prognosis was worse when the N/C value was higher in children with NVM.

Analysis of clinical characteristics of different degrees of myocardial noncompaction in children / 临床儿科杂志

Objectives To explore the clinical characteristics and prognosis of different degrees of noncompaction of ventricular myocardium (NVM) in children and to investigate the clinical significance of the ratio of the thickness of the non-compact myocardium to the dense myocardium (N/C). Methods The clinical data of the children with NVM were analyzed retrospectively. The differences between children with N/C > 2.0 and children with N/C 1.4~2.0 were compared. Results There were 26 children in each of the two groups. There was no significant difference in age, sex, the ratios of low birth weight and malnutrition, heart disease, and complication (P all > 0.05). When discharged, 8 cases were improved, 15 cases has no obvious improvement, and 3 cases died in N/C>2.0 group; while 18 cases were improved, 8 cases has no obvious improvement, and none died in N/C 1.4~2.0 group, and the effective rate of treatment between two groups was statistically difference (χ2=7.69,P=0.006). In 8 years of follow-up, the mortality rate in N/C > 2.0 group was higher than that in N/C 1.4~2.0 group, and the difference was statistically different (χ2=6.993, P=0.008). Conclusions The treatment efficiency was lower and the prognosis was worse when the N/C value was higher in children with NVM.

Left ventricular noncompaction and pre-excitation: an unusual finding in adults

Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a rare form of cardiomyopathy characterized by prominent left ventricular (LV) trabeculae, deep intertrabecular recesses, and the thin compacted layer. The disease is potentially associated with sudden cardiac death due to LV dysfunction and ventricular arrhythmias. The presence of accessory pathway and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is particularly rare in adults. Here we describe the rare association of LVNC and ventricular pre-excitation in an 18-year-old female with neonatal hypoxic brain injury (AU)

Left Ventricular Noncompaction Complicated with Myocardial Infarction with Barth Syndrome in a Newborn

Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a rare cardiomyopathy characterized by a hypertrabeculation of the left ventricle. Patients may present with heart failure, arrhythmia, and thromboembolism. LVNC may be isolated or associated with congenital heart defects. The first discovered genetic cause of isolated LVNC was Barth syndrome (BTHS), an X-linked disorder caused by taffazin (TAZ) gene mutation. BTHS is characterized by cardiomyopathy, neutropenia, skeletal myopathy, and growth delay. A newborn male baby was referred to Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital due to cyanosis and dyspnea. Based on findings of cardiomegaly, ST depression, and elevated cardiac enzyme, echocardiography was done, which revealed a hypocontractile, enlarged left ventricle with distinctive trabeculation in the apex. Heparinization for the treatment of myocardial infarction and continuous infusion of milrinone was started. During hospitalization, the TAZ gene mutation was detected in the patient, his mother, and elder sister. After 3 months, the patient was discharged with heart failure medication and aspirin.

Comparative Study Between the Patients With Noncompaction of Ventricular Myocardium and Dilated Cardiomyopathy Combining Hypertrabeculation / 中国循环杂志

Objective: To explore the clinical and echocardiography characteristics between noncompaction of ventricular myocardium (NVM) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) combining hypertrabeculation in order to distinguish NVM from DCM. Methods: Our research included 2 groups of patients: NVM group,n=31 and DCM combining hypertrabeculation group, n=50. The basic information as gender, age, family history, symptoms, ECG, plasma levels of BNP and echocardiography were recorded and examined in all patients; the size of cardiac chambers, myocardium, endocardium and hemodynamics were particularly focused. The trabeculation was analyzed by 17 segments method. Results:①Compared with NVM group, the patients in DCM combining hypertrabeculation group had the worse cardiac classiifcation, higher plasma levels of BNP (P 2.③The patients in DCM combining hypertrabeculation group had the less trabeculation segments (5.56 ± 1.56) and the apical was seldom involved, patients had the lower ration of NC/C as (1.91± 0.42), there was at most 1 segment with NC/C > 2. All P Conclusion: Echocardiography is a simple, practical and noninvasive method to distinguish NVM from DCM. NVM could be diagnosed by obvious left ventricular apex involvement with NC/C >2 in at least 2 segments of free ventricular walls.