Prenatal Diagnosis of Aortic Coarctation: Prediction Algorithm according to Gestational Age.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was first to quantify the diagnostic accuracy of predictive anatomical factors of aortic coarctation (CoA) and second to design a postnatal CoA probability algorithm according to gestational age (GA) in prenatal period. METHODS: Global and according to GA diagnostic performance of cardiac anatomical variables using the ROC curve were evaluated in a retrospective cohort of fetuses with suspicion of CoA (2004-2020). A serial testing strategy to predict postnatal CoA by fetal echocardiography was designed. RESULTS: 114 fetuses were included. Isthmus-to-ductal (I/D) ratio provided the best discrimination between healthy fetuses and those with CoA (AUC 0.91, 95% CI: 0.86-0.96, I/D < 0.74 sensitivity 96.3%, I/D < 0.6, specificity 92.5%) with good classification capacity in both the second and third trimesters of gestation. Isthmus z-score and pulmonary/aortic valve ratio increased accuracy in fetuses >28 and tricuspid/mitral valve ratio (TV/MV) in fetuses ≤28 weeks. Study of I/D plus TV/MV ratio in fetuses ≤28 and I/D ratio plus isthmus z-scores in fetuses >28 weeks allowed to correctly classify 91.8% of fetuses as high or low probability of postnatal CoA. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic discrimination of anatomic predictive factors for CoA varies according to GA. Specific algorithms according to GA increase accuracy in CoA's prenatal prediction.

Chemotherapy-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Adolescent After Heart Transplant: Do Not Forget the Right Ventricle.

The evaluation of oncologic patients at risk of chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity usually focuses on left ventricular function. However, recent studies have demonstrated that right ventricle impairment often coexists (and in some cases precedes) left-side affectation. We present the case of a 19-year-old heart transplant recipient who developed severe right ventricular dysfunction secondary to treatment of an abdominal lymphoma.