Evaluation of left ventricular function in overweight children and teenagers with arterial hypertension and white coat hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Obesity in childhood is strongly associated with elevated arterial blood pressure and risk of hypertension. The aim of the study was the evaluation of left ventricular (LV) function in hypertensive and white coat hypertensive overweight children and teenagers. METHODS: The study group consisted of 74 overweight patients aged 10.3 ± 3.1 years (range: 6-16 years) diagnosed as hypertensive in standard blood pressure measurement. The control group consisted of 31 normotensive and normoweight children. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and echocardiographic assessment of the LV mass and function were performed in all participants. RESULTS: Using ABPM hypertension was confirmed in 20 (27%) children. In the 54 (73%) remaining children white coat hypertension was diagnosed. The analysis of echocardiographic parameters revealed higher LV mass index (LVMI) in hypertensive overweight than in normotensive normoweight children (47.5 ± 9.2 g/m2.7 vs. 39.8 ± 12.1 g/m2.7; p < 0.05) and no difference between overweight hypertensive and white coat hypertension-hypertensive groups. The deceleration time of mitral early filling (DCT) was longer in hypertensive normoweight children than in normotensive overweight patients (219.5 ± 110.3 ms vs. 197.8 ± 65.8 ms; p < 0.05). A significant correlation between systolic blood pressure load (SBPL) and DCT (r = 0.57) and moderate correlation between SBPL and LVMI (r: 0.48) as well as between LVMI and isovolumetric relaxation time (r = 0.37) were found. CONCLUSIONS: In overweight children the diagnosis of hypertension should be confirmed in ABPM because of the high prevalence of white coat hypertension. Periodic echocardiographic examinations should be recommended in overweight children with increased SBPL and decreased systolic nocturnal deep because of the possibility of LV function impairment.

Bland-White-Garland syndrome - a rare and serious cause of failure to thrive.

PATIENT: Male, 0 FINAL DIAGNOSIS: Bland-White-Garland syndrome Symptoms: Cardiomegaly, feeding problems Medication: - Clinical Procedure: Reimplantation of the left coronary artery to the aorta Specialty: Pediatrics and Neonatology. OBJECTIVE: Rare disease. BACKGROUND: Bland-White-Garland syndrome (BWGS) is a very rare disease characterized by anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary trunk (ALCAPA). WBGS affects 1 in every 300 000 live births. Children typically present with dyspnea, pallor, and failure to thrive. Without surgical repair, most of these children die during the first months of life. CASE REPORT: This case report describes 3-month-old boy admitted to the hospital because of feeding problems. The boy was born at term, with birth weight 3200 g, and was 10 points in Apgar score. He was breast-fed from birth. From the seventh week of age, his mother observed his increasing difficulties with feeding. Physical examination revealed pale skin, diminished heart sounds, tachycardia, cardiomegaly, and hepatomegaly. Results of urine and blood tests and ultrasonography of the central nervous system and abdomen were normal. The chest radiography showed cardiomegaly and electrocardiogram revealed anterolateral myocardial infarction. On echocardiography, an anomalous left coronary artery arising from the pulmonary artery was found. The life-saving treatment of choice was immediate surgical reimplantation of the left coronary artery to the aorta. CONCLUSIONS: Children with congenital heart disease are often prone to malnutrition, but in rare cases failure to thrive and breast-feeding problems can be the first symptoms of life-threatening diseases like myocardial infarction secondary to Bland-White-Garland syndrome (BWGS).

[Therapeutic difficulties in a 3 year-old boy with Kawasaki disease]. / Problemy terapeutyczne u 3-letniego chlopca z choroba Kawasaki.

A case of a three year-old by with delayed diagnosis of disease is presented. Treatment with immunoglobulins and methylpreduisolone was affective, however, no regression in coronary artery lesions was observed. The diagnosis and treatment of Kawasaki disease are discussed.