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Standard of care (SOC) anticoagulation for thromboembolism (TE) prevention in children with cardiac disease includes low molecular weight heparins or vitamin K antagonists. Limited data exists for alternate use of direct oral anticoagulants in children.The investigators aimed to obtain safety and efficacy data for edoxaban in children.We performed a phase 3, multinational, prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded-endpoint trial in patients 18 years of age with cardiac disease (ENNOBLE-ATE [Edoxaban for Prevention of Blood Vessels Being Blocked by Clots (Thrombotic Events) in Children at Risk Because of Cardiac Disease] trial). Patients were randomized 2:1 to age- and weight-based oral edoxaban once daily vs SOC for 3 months (main study period), stratified by cardiac diagnosis. Both groups could continue in an open-label edoxaban extension arm through 1 year. The primary endpoint was adjudicated clinically relevant bleeding (CRB). The main secondary endpoint was symptomatic TE or asymptomatic intracardiac thrombosis.The modified intention-to-treat cohort included 167 children. One patient per group experienced a nonmajor CRB in the main period. Treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 46.8% (51 of 109) with edoxaban and 41.4% (24 of 58) with SOC. One SOC patient experienced 2 TE events (DVT with PE). Among 147 children in the extension, 1 CRB event (0.7%) and 4 TEs occurred (2.8%; 2 strokes and 2 of 33 Kawasaki disease patients with coronary artery thromboses and/or myocardial infarctions).Edoxaban is a potential alternative mode of thromboprophylaxis in children with cardiac disease showing low rates of CRB and TEs with advantages of once daily dosing and infrequent monitoring requirement. (ENNOBLE-ATE [Edoxaban for Prevention of Blood Vessels Being Blocked by Clots] (Thrombotic Events) in Children at Risk Because of Cardiac Disease trial; NCT03395639).

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disease characterized by elevation of pulmonary vascular resistance and right ventricular failure. By using advanced therapies to reduce mortality, clinicians focus on improving functional status and quality of life (QOL). The aim of our study was to assess health-related QOL of pediatric patients with PAH. Parents of all children (aged 2-18 years) and patients aged 5-18 years with an appropriate level of intellectual development completed general and cardiac-specific validated surveys (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 3.0, respectively). Demographic and clinical information was collected to grade disease severity. Twenty-five children were enrolled, yielding 25 parent reports and 15 patient self-reports. The PAH group had significantly lower scores than healthy children in all domains. Patients with World Health Organization Functional Class I had significantly higher parent proxy scores in School Functioning (P = .029) and in Heart Problems and Symptoms domain (P = .014) Patients with tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion below -2 z score showed impairment in each parent proxy general domain and in the Cognitive Problems score of the Cardiac module (P = .006). In conclusion the QOL of patients with PAH was impaired in every domain compared with healthy children. Patients with reduced right ventricle systolic function showed significantly lower QOL in all core domains. These results point to the need for psychosocial rehabilitation in addition to somatic care to improve the QOL in this severely ill population.

Background Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a life-threatening disease with risk stratification-based treatment strategy in adults. Although the risk factors have been studied individually in children, effective risk stratification is still lacking. We have tested the prognostic accuracy of pediatric PAH risk factors in our patient group. Patients and methods Records of 58 PAH patients treated between 1995 and 2019 were reviewed retrospectively. Median age at diagnosis was 4.2 years (range, 0.1-16.1 years), and follow-up was 5.4 years (range, 0.01-24.1 years). Data collected at diagnosis were demographics, World Health Organization functional class, evidence of right ventricular failure, and parameters of echocardiography and cardiac catheterization. Results Mortality was 29% and 33% reached the composite endpoint. Patients with idiopathic PAH (n = 12) had increased risk of mortality compared with the congenital heart disease-associated PAH group (n = 32) (P = .0024). Neither the initial World Health Organization functional class staging nor the echocardiographic parameters significantly predicted the prognosis. The number of risk factors had no significant prognostic value either. In contrast, patients with higher pulmonary vascular resistance index (PVRI) had significantly increased risk (each 10 Wood units ⋅ m2 increase in PVRI being associated with 49.1% higher hazard, P = .0048). Conclusions Survival analysis showed that PAH etiology might be an important determinant in pediatric PAH risk stratification. We confirmed that PVRI has predictive value in prognostic assessment. We could not establish the prognostic value of nonweighted single risk factors or their combination to predict pediatric PAH outcome due to the low sample size, but these results indicate that such studies are warranted.

Összefoglaló. A SARS-CoV-2-fertőzés ritka gyermekkori szövődménye a sokszervi gyulladás, angol terminológiával paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome (PIMS). Két vagy több szerv érintettségével járó, súlyos tünetekkel induló betegségről van szó, amelynek tünetei átfedést mutatnak a Kawasaki-betegséggel, a toxikus sokk szindrómával és a makrofágaktivációs szindrómával. A PIMS-betegek intenzív terápiás osztályon vagy intenzív terápiás háttérrel rendelkező intézményben kezelendők, ahol biztosítottak a kardiológiai ellátás feltételei is. A szükséges immunterápia a klinikai prezentációtól függ. A jelen közleményben a szerzők a releváns nemzetközi irodalom áttekintését követően ajánlást tesznek a PIMS diagnosztikai és terápiás algoritmusára. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(17): 652–667. Summary. Pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome (PIMS) is a rare complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children. PIMS is a severe condition, involving two or more organ systems. The symptoms overlap with Kawasaki disease, toxic shock syndrome and macrophage activation syndrome. PIMS patients should be treated in an intensive care unit or in an institution with an intensive care background, where cardiological care is also provided. The required specific immunotherapy depends on the clinical presentation. In this paper, after reviewing the relevant international literature, the authors make a recommendation for the diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm for PIMS. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(17): 652–667.

Absztrakt: Bevezetés: A korai életkorban szívsebészeti beavatkozáson átesett gyermekek fejlődése során fellépő viselkedési diszfunkciók jelentősen függenek a perioperatív szakban átélt eseményektől. Célkitűzés: A jelen vizsgálat célja, hogy feltárja a hosszú távú viselkedési változásokat a szívsebészeti beavatkozáson átesett gyermekek körében, és leírja azokat a perioperatív állapotokat, melyek befolyásolhatják a későbbi megküzdési mechanizmusokat. Módszer: 80, szívműtéten átesett és 62 egészséges kontroll adatait elemeztük. A pszichológiai status felmérése a vizsgálati időszakban a Megküzdési Módok Kérdőív, illetve a Gyermekviselkedési Kérdőív önértékelő kérdéssorának segítségével, míg a perioperatív adatok felvétele az intézeti adatbázisból retrospektíven történt. Eredmények: Az operált gyermekek körében mind a problémamegoldó, mind az érzelemközpontú megküzdési főskála szignifikánsan alacsonyabb értékeket mutatott az egészséges kontrollcsoporthoz képest. A Gyermekviselkedési Kérdőív önértékelő változata sem internalizáció, sem externalizáció tekintetében nem mutatott szignifikáns eltérést. A hosszú időn át inkomplett keringéssel rendelkező betegek és a kontrollcsoport között szignifikáns eltérést figyeltünk meg az érzelemközpontú megküzdés, illetve a szomatizáció terén, míg az acyanoticus és a kontrollcsoport között a problémaközpontú megküzdés alskáláin (problémaelemzés, alkalmazkodási képesség). A többszöri műtét mind az érzelem-, mind a problémaközpontú megküzdés alacsonyabb fokú aktivációjával összefüggést mutatott, és a hosszú kórházi tartózkodással együtt egy menekülő-elkerülő magatartásforma kialakulásához vezetett. Következtetés: Úgy tűnik, hogy a kialakult maladaptív viselkedési mechanizmusok jellege jelentősen függ az inkomplett keringés fennállásának időtartamától, a műtétek számától és a kórházi tartózkodás hosszától. A megküzdési stratégiák mozgósítása legfőképp csökkent érzelem- vagy problémaközpontú válaszkészségben, illetve a szomatizációs tendenciák és a menekülő-elkerülő magatartásforma felerősödésében nyilvánul meg. Orv Hetil. 2020; 161(42): 1787–1796.

The number of potential pediatric heart transplant recipients continues to exceed the number of donors, and consequently the waitlist mortality remains significant. Despite this, around 40% of all donated organs are not used and are discarded. This document (62 authors from 53 institutions in 17 countries) evaluates factors responsible for discarding donor hearts and makes recommendations regarding donor heart acceptance. The aim of this statement is to ensure that no usable donor heart is discarded, waitlist mortality is reduced, and post-transplant survival is not adversely impacted.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI), such as enalapril, are a cornerstone of treatment for pediatric heart failure which is still used off-label. Using a novel age-appropriate formulation of enalapril orodispersible minitablets (ODMTs), phase II/III open-label, multicenter pharmacokinetic (PK) bridging studies were performed in pediatric patients with heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and congenital heart disease (CHD) in five participating European countries. Children were treated for 8 weeks with ODMTs according to an age-appropriate dosing schedule. The primary objective was to describe PK parameters (area under the curve (AUC), maximal concentration (Cmax), time to reach maximal concentration (t-max)) of enalapril and its active metabolite enalaprilat. Of 102 patients, 89 patients (n = 26, DCM; n = 63 CHD) were included in the primary PK endpoint analysis. Rate and extent of enalapril and its active metabolite enalaprilat were described and etiology and age could be identified as potential PK modifying factors. The dosing schedule appeared to be tolerated well and did not result in any significant drug-related serious adverse events. The PK analysis and the lack of severe safety events supports the applied age-appropriate dosing schedule for the enalapril ODMTs.

Introduction Hungary joined Eurotransplant International (ET) to improve the chance of transplantation for Hungarian patients and patient outcomes, including access and graft and patient survival. After 5 years of full membership, the evaluation of numbers and quality indicators is possible. Method A comparison was made between 5 years prior to a preliminary cooperation agreement (2007-2011) and 5 years after full ET membership (2014-2018). During the 2 study periods, we analyzed numbers and circumstances of deceased organ donors, multiorgan donors, donated organs, and transplantations in Hungary and development of waiting lists along with international organ exchanges. Result The number of actual organ donors increased by 22.09% (729 vs 890), an additional 823 organ removals represents an increase of 42.71% (1927 vs 2750). There were 46.51% more transplants managed in the selected periods (1561 vs 2287). The number of new patients on the waiting list increased (2305 vs 3247; 40.87%). The mean kidney mismatch number decreased from 3.21 to 2.96. Conclusion Joining ET has been an effective and efficient in terms of increasing access to organs and the lives of patients on the Hungarian waiting list posttransplant. It is also a benefit for patients with special needs because the number of organ transplants is greater than the increased number of donors.

Összefoglaló. A SARS-CoV-2-fertőzés ritka gyermekkori szövődménye a sokszervi gyulladás, angol terminológiával paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome (PIMS). Két vagy több szerv érintettségével járó, súlyos tünetekkel induló betegségről van szó, amelynek tünetei átfedést mutatnak a Kawasaki-betegséggel, a toxikus sokk szindrómával és a makrofágaktivációs szindrómával. A PIMS-betegek intenzív terápiás osztályon vagy intenzív terápiás háttérrel rendelkező intézményben kezelendők, ahol biztosítottak a kardiológiai ellátás feltételei is. A szükséges immunterápia a klinikai prezentációtól függ. A jelen közleményben a szerzők a releváns nemzetközi irodalom áttekintését követően ajánlást tesznek a PIMS diagnosztikai és terápiás algoritmusára. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(17): 652-667. Summary. Pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome (PIMS) is a rare complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children. PIMS is a severe condition, involving two or more organ systems. The symptoms overlap with Kawasaki disease, toxic shock syndrome and macrophage activation syndrome. PIMS patients should be treated in an intensive care unit or in an institution with an intensive care background, where cardiological care is also provided. The required specific immunotherapy depends on the clinical presentation. In this paper, after reviewing the relevant international literature, the authors make a recommendation for the diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm for PIMS. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(17): 652-667.

Background: Pediatric trials to add missing data for evidence-based pharmacotherapy are still scarce. A tailored training concept appears to be a promising tool to cope with critical and complex situations before enrolling the very first patient and subsequently to ensure high-quality study conduct. The aim was to facilitate study success by optimizing the preparedness of the study staff shift.Method: An interdisciplinary faculty developed a simulation training focusing on the communication within the informed consent procedure and the conduct of the complex pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) sampling within a simulation facility. Scenarios were video-debriefed by an audio-video system and manikins with artificial blood simulating patients were used. The training was evaluated by participants' self-assessment before and during trial recruitment.Results: The simulation training identified different optimization potentials for improved informed consent process and study conduct. It facilitated the reduction of avoidable errors, especially in the early phase of a clinical study. The knowledge gained through the intervention was used to train the study teams, improve the team composition and optimize the on-ward setting for the FP-7 funded “LENA” project (grant agreement no. 602295). Self-perceived ability to communicate core elements of the trial as well as its correct performance of sample preparation increased significantly (mean, 95% CI, p ≤ 0.0001) from 3 (2.5–3.5) to four points (4.0–4.5), and from 2 (1.5–2.5) to five points (4.0–5.0).Conclusion: An innovative training concept to optimize the informed consent process and study conduct was successfully developed and enabled high-quality conduct of the pediatric trials as of the very first patient visit.

BACKGROUND: The therapeutic success in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) leads to a growing number of adults with CHD (adult CHD [ACHD]) who develop end-stage heart failure. We aimed to determine patient characteristics and outcomes of ACHD listed for heart transplantation. METHODS: Using data from all the patients with ACHD in 20 transplant centers in the Eurotransplant region from 1999 to 2015, we analyzed patient characteristics, waiting list, and post-transplantation outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 204 patients with ACHD were listed during the study period. The median age was 38 years, and 62.3% of the patients were listed in high urgency (HU), and 37.7% of the patients were in transplantable (T)-listing status. A total of 23.5% of the patients died or were delisted owing to clinical worsening, and 75% of the patients underwent transplantation. Median waiting time for patients with HU-listing status was 4.18 months and with T-listing status 9.07 months. There was no difference in crude mortality or delisting between patients who were HU status listed and T status listed (p = 0.65). In multivariable regression analysis, markers for respiratory failure (mechanical ventilation, hazard ratio [HR]: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.11-1.81, p = 0.006) and arrhythmias (anti-arrhythmic medication, HR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.01-2.01, p = 0.044) were associated with a higher risk of death or delisting. In the overall cohort, post-transplantation mortality was 26.8% after 1 year and 33.4% after 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: Listed patients are at high risk of death without differences in the urgency of listing. Respiratory failure requiring invasive ventilation and possibly arrhythmias requiring anti-arrhythmic medication indicate worse outcomes on waiting list. (C) 2020 International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. All rights reserved.

We aimed to review current literature on the discard rate of donor hearts offered to pediatric recipients and assess geographical differences. Consequences and ways to reduce the discard rate are discussed. A systemic review on published literature on pediatric transplantation published in English since 2010 was undertaken. Additionally, a survey was sent to international OPOs with the goal of incorporating responses from around the world providing a more global picture. Based on the literature review and survey, there is a remarkably wide range of discard and/or refusal for pediatric hearts offered for transplant, ranging between 18% and 57% with great geographic variation. The data suggest that that the overall refusal rate may have decreased over the last decade. Reasons for organ discard were difficult to identify from the available data. Although the refusal rate of pediatric donor hearts seems to be lower compared to that reported in adults, it is still as high as 57% with geographic variation.

The first kidney transplantation was performed in Hungary by Andras Nemeth in 1962. It was a living donor procedure. After many years of silence, organized cadaveric programs were established in Budapest (1973), Szeged (1979), Debrecen (1991), and Pecs (1993). The heart program was initiated by Professor Zoltan Szabo in 1992 and the liver transplant program by Professor Ferenc Perner in 1993. The pancreas transplantation program was started in Pecs in 1998 by Karoly Kalmar-Nagy, followed another in Budapest by Robert Langer in 2004. The lung transplant program was started in cooperation with Vienna in 1996. This fruitful collaboration continues today, even though that the national Hungarian program was established by Ferenc Renyi-Vamos and Professor Gyorgy Lang in 2015, as it is detailed in this special issue. As a framework, the Hungarian Society of Organ Transplantation was founded in 1997 to give a scientific background for the transplant professionals. The coordination and organ allocation from deceased donors is carried out in collaboration with Eurotransplant. Usually more than 200 potential cadaveric donors are reported yearly, and 168 actual donation after brain death (DBD) donors (17.17 pmp) were utilized in 2018. The multiorgan donor rate was 65.5% among all DBDs in 2018; 505 organs were donated for transplant purposes. To date, more than 10,000 organ transplantations have been performed. The living related kidney transplant program was established in all transplant centers, led by Budapest. In this paper the authors summarize the activity of the Hungarian transplant community and of the Society over the last few decades.

Introduction: Treatment of paediatric heart failure is based on paradigms extensively tested in the adult population assuming similar underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) like enalapril are one of the cornerstones of treatment and commonly used off-label in children. Dose recommendations have been extrapolated from adult experience, but the relationship between dose and pharmacokinetics (PK) in (young) children is insufficiently studied. Furthermore, appropriate paediatric formulations are lacking. Within the European collaborative project LENA, a novel formulation of enalapril orodispersible minitablets (ODMT), suitable for paediatric administration, will be tested in (young) children with heart failure due to either dilated cardiomyopathy or congenital heart disease in two pharmacokinetic bridging studies. Paediatric PK data of enalapril and its active metabolite enalaprilat will be obtained. In a follow-up study, the safety of enalapril ODMTs will be demonstrated in patients on long-term treatment of up to 10 months. Furthermore, additional information about pharmacodynamics (PD) and ODMT acceptability will be collected in all three studies. Methods and Analysis: Phase II/III, open-label, multicentre study. Children with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) (n = 25; 1 month to less than 12 years) or congenital heart disease (CHD) (n = 60; 0 to less than 6 years) requiring or already on ACEI will be included. Exclusion criteria include severe heart failure precluding ACEI use, hypotension, renal impairment, hypersensitivity to ACEI. For those naïve to ACEI up-titration to an optimal dose will be performed, those already on ACEI will be switched to an expected equivalent dose of enalapril ODMT and optimised. In the first 8 weeks of treatment, a PK profile will be obtained at the first dose (ACEI naïve patients) or when an optimal dose is reached. Furthermore, population PK will be done with concentrations detected over the whole treatment period. PD and safety data will be obtained at least at 2-weeks intervals. Subsequently, an intended number of 85 patients will be followed-up up to 10 months to demonstrate long-term safety, based on the occurrence of (severe) adverse events and monitoring of vital signs and renal function. Ethics and dissemination: Clinical Trial Authorisation and a favourable ethics committee opinion were obtained in all five participating countries. Results of the studies will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Trial registration numbers: EudraCT 2015-002335-17, EudraCT 2015-002396-18, EudraCT 2015-002397-21. Keywords: Clinical pharmacology, Paediatric cardiology, Heart failure, Dilated cardiomyopathy, Congenital heart disease

Background The TOPP Registry has been designed to provide epidemiologic, diagnostic, clinical, and outcome data on children with pulmonary hypertension (PH) confirmed by heart catheterisation (HC). This study aims to identify important characteristics of the haemodynamic profile at diagnosis and HC complications of paediatric patients presenting with PH. Methods and results HC data sets underwent a blinded review for confirmation of PH (defined as mean pulmonary arterial pressure≥25mmHg, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure≤12mmHg and pulmonary vascular resistance index [PVRI] of >3WU×m 2 ). Of 568 patients enrolled, 472 who fulfilled the inclusion criteria and had sufficient data from HC were analysed. A total of 908 diagnostic and follow-up HCs were performed and complications occurred in 5.9% of all HCs including five (0.6%) deaths. General anaesthesia (GA) was used in 53%, and conscious sedation in 47%. Complications at diagnosis were more likely to occur if GA was used (p=0.04) and with higher functional class (p=0.02). Mean cardiac index (CI) was within normal limits at diagnosis when analysed for the entire group (3.7L/min/m 2 ; 95% confidence interval 3.4–4.1), as was right atrial pressure despite a severely increased PVRI (16.6WU×m 2, 95% confidence interval 15.6–17.76). However, 24% of the patients had a CI of 2 at diagnosis. A progressive increase in PVRI and decrease in CI was observed with age (p Conclusion In TOPP, haemodynamic assessment was remarkable for preserved CI in the majority of patients despite severely elevated PVRI. HC-related complication incidence was 5.9%, and was associated with GA and higher functional class.

Early stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) are often underdiagnosed, while their deleterious effects on the cardiovascular (CV) system are already at work. Thus, the assessment of early CV damage is of crucial importance in preventing major CV events. Myocardial fibrosis is one of the major consequences of progressive CKD, as it may lead to reentry arrhythmias and long-term myocardial dysfunction predisposing to sudden death and/or congestive heart failure. Subclinical myocardial fibrosis, with a potential key role in the development of uraemic cardiac disease, can be measured and characterised by appropriate cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) techniques. Fibrosis detection was initially based on the contrast agent gadolinium, due to the superiority in sensitivity and accuracy of contrast-based methods in fibrosis assessment relative to native techniques. However, the severe consequences of gadolinium administration in uraemia (nephrogenic systemic fibrosis) have forced practitioners to re-evaluate the methodology. In the present overview, we review the possible contrast-based and contrast agent-free CMR techniques, including native T1 relaxation time, extracellular volume and global longitudinal strain measurement. The review also summarises their potential clinical relevance in CKD patients based on recently published studies.

Background: The occurrence of postoperative chylothorax in children with congenital heart disease is a rare and serious complication in cardiac intensive care units (ICUs). The aim of our study was to identify the perioperative characteristics, treatment options, resource utilization and long term complications of patients having chylothorax after a pediatric cardiac surgery. Methods: Patients were retrospectively assessed for the presence of chylothorax between January 2002 and December 2012 in a tertiary national cardiac center. Occurrence, treatment options and long term outcomes were analyzed. Chylothorax patients less than 2 years of age were analyzed using propensity-matched statistical analysis in regard to postoperative complications after discharge. Results: During the 10-year period, 48 patients had chylothorax after pediatric cardiac surgery. The highest incidence was observed on the second postoperative day (7 patients, 14.6%). Seven patients (14.6% of the chylothorax population) died. During the follow up period, 5 patients had additional thromboembolic complications (2 had confirmed thrombophilia). Eleven patients had a genetic abnormality (3 had Down’s syndrome, 3 had Di-Giorge’s syndrome, 1 had an IgA deficiency and 4 had other disorders). During the reoperations (49 cases), no chylothorax occurred. After propensity matching, the occurrence of pulmonary failure (P=0.001) was significantly higher in the chylothorax group, and they required prolonged mechanical ventilation (P=0.002) and longer hospitalization times (P=0.01). After discharge, mortality and neurologic and thromboembolic events did not differ in the matched groups. Conclusions: Chylothorax is an uncommon complication after pediatric cardiac surgery and is associated with higher resource utilization. Chylothorax did not reoccur during reoperations and was not associated with higher mortality or long-term complications in a propensity matched analysis.

BackgroundACE-inhibitors are first choice treatment for adult and paediatric patients with heart failure. Since there are no systematic data on pharmacokinetics and safety in the young heart failure population, the EU funded a drug development program1 to fill those gaps for the ACE-inhibitor enalapril. An age appropriate paediatric formulation was also required.MethodsA paediatric patient cohort with heart failure was recruited to fulfil the paediatric investigation plan (PIP) requirements. The PIP required a total of 85 evaluable patients from birth to less than 12 years of age with a subset cohort of 25 patients with heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy and a subset of 60 heart failure patients of congenital heart disease. Out of these, 54% of patients must be aged below 12 months to provide a substantial amount of young patients.ResultsThe LENA consortium recruited 102 children from birth to 12 years. Out of those, 89 patients fulfilled relevant protocol criteria and could be regarded as evaluable. Of these, 26 demonstrated heart failure due to cardiomyopathy and 63 due to congenital heart disease. Sixty five patients (73%) were below 12 months of age. Moreover, 22 patients were below 3 months of age, 26 patients from 3 months to less than 6 months and 17 patients from 6 months up to 12 months of age.ConclusionsThe LENA consortium had recruited the PDCO required number of paediatric patients for the drug development program LENA. As more than 2/3 of patients belong to the most vulnerable patient population below the age of 12 months, relevant data can be generated to fill gaps for the safe and reliable treatment with ACE-inhibitors of children with heart failure.ReferencesThe research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007–2013) under grant agreement n°602295 (LENA)Disclosure(s)Nothing to disclose

Introduction: The surgical strategy to manage multilevel left ventricular outflow tract diseases is changing constantly, however, the Ross-procedure has remained a standard method for 45 years. Aim: The aim of the study was to analyze early and mid-term results of Ross-procedure in congenital heart defects (single surgeon’s results). Methods: From 2001 until 2011 a total of 63 patients (age, 28 days–21 years; mean: 10 years, weight 3.4–96 kg; mean, 8.8 kg) underwent Ross (n = 40), Ross–Konno (n = 17) or Ross–Konno-mitral (n = 6) procedures. Indication for Ross procedure was aortic regurgitation in 15 patients (associated with ventricular septum defect in 8 patients) and a predominant aortic stenosis in 25 patients. 17 patients with severe left ventricular outflow tract obstruction underwent Ross–Konno procedure. 6 patients with concomitant mitral valve disease (Shone syndrome, 3 patients; complete atrioventricular septal defect, 3 patients) were reconstructed by Ross–Konno-mitral valve procedure. Results: Among Ross patients there were one early (cerebral complication) and one late death (homograft endocarditis) with a mean follow-up time of 7.4±1.8 years. Because of an early autograft endocarditis a 3-year-old boy underwent homograft implantation and was treated successfully with Bentall-procedure 9 years later. One patient with autograft regurgitation is waiting for reoperation. Among Ross–Konno patients there was no early or late death, and none of the patients underwent reoperation. In Ross–Konno-mitral patients there was one early death (28-day-old boy) and during a mean follow-up time of 2.5±1 years, and no reintervention or reoperation was needed in 5 patients. Conclusions: The results indicate a good outcome of Ross-, Ross–Konno-, Ross–Konno-mitral procedures in patients with congenital heart defects when surgery is performed by a highly experienced heart surgeon. In newborns, infants and small children Ross- and Ross–Konno procedures are the only methods for managing left ventricular outflow tract diseases. Concomitant severe mitral disease adds a high level of technical complexity to the Ross–Konno/mitral procedure, but it should be balanced against alternative strategies (eg. single ventricle palliation or transplantation). Orv. Hetil., 2013, 154, 219–224.

ObjectiveTo characterise heart failure (HF) maintenance pharmacotherapy for children across Europe and investigate how angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) are used in this setting.MethodsA Europe-wide web-based survey was conducted between January and May 2015 among European paediatricians dedicated to cardiology.ResultsOut of 200-eligible, 100 physicians representing 100 hospitals in 27 European countries participated. All participants reported prescribing ACE-I to treat dilated cardiomyopathy-related HF and 97% in the context of congenital heart defects; 87% for single ventricle physiology. Twenty-six per cent avoid ACE-I in newborns. Captopril was most frequently selected as first-choice for newborns (73%) and infants and toddlers (66%) and enalapril for children (56%) and adolescents (58%). Reported starting and maintenance doses varied widely. Up to 72% of participants follow formal creatinine increase limits for decision-making when up-titrating; however, heterogeneity in the cut-off points selected existed. ACE-I formulations prescribed by 47% of participants are obtained from more than a single source. Regarding symptomatic HF maintenance therapy, 25 different initial drug combinations were reported, although 79% select a regimen that includes ACE-I and diuretic (thiazide and/or loop), 61% ACE-I and aldosterone antagonist; 44% start with beta-blocker, 52% use beta-blockers as an add-on drug. Of the 89 participants that prescribe pharmacotherapy to asymptomatic patients, 40% do not use ACE-I monotherapy or ACE-I-beta-blocker two-drug only combination.ConclusionsDespite some reluctance to use them in newborns, ACE-I seem key in paediatric HF treatment strategies. Use in single ventricle patients seems frequent, in apparent contradiction with current paediatric evidence. Disparate dosage criteria and potential formulation-induced variability suggest significant differences may exist in the risk-benefit profile children are exposed to. No uniformity seems to exist in the drug regimens in use. The information collected provides relevant insight into real-life clinical practice and may facilitate research to identify the best therapeutic options for HF children.

PAH is a progressive life-threatening disease in children. While parenteral prostacyclin therapy improves survival in patients with severe PAH, central line-related complications are common. Our aim was to assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of subcutaneous treprostinil treatment in pediatric PAH patients. Eight patients were treated with subcutaneous treprostinil at the Pediatric Heart Center Budapest. Indications for subcutaneous treprostinil therapy were clinical worsening and/or echocardiographic progression or switch from intravenous to subcutaneous therapy. Following treprostinil initiation, clinical status improved or did not change in four of eight patients. Two patients were lost early during treprostinil therapy, parenteral treprostinil as a rescue therapy being insufficient in these cases. The final dose in long-term treated patients was between 60 and 100 ng/kg/min. Aside from thrombocytopenia, other severe side effects were not observed. Potts shunt was performed as palliative treatment in two cases. Three patients had successful lung transplantation, and one died while on the waiting list. Long-term subcutaneous treprostinil could be a safe and well-tolerated therapy in children with severe PAH even at higher doses. It may serve as an alternative to intravenous prostacyclin treatment allowing to avoid the potential complications of permanent central line placement.

A szerzők egy 7 éves dilatativ cardiomyopathiás gyermek esetét ismertetik, akinél megelőzően súlyos aortainsufficientia miatt műbillentyű-beültetés történt. Az NYHA–IV. stádiumba került betegnél 2007. október 18-án szívtranszplantációt végeztek. Magyarországon ez volt az első sikeres gyermekszív-átültetés. Zavartalan korai posztoperatív szak után 6 hónappal a gyermek panaszmentes, szívizom-biopszia, echokardiográfiás vizsgálat rejectiót nem mutat, keringéstámogató gyógyszert nem igényel, immunszuppresszív terápiájaként az interleukin-2-receptor-blokkoló basiliximabbal történő indukciója után hármas kombinációt (tacrolimus + mycophenolate mofetil + corticosteroid) alkalmaznak.

The surgical strategy to manage multilevel left ventricular outflow tract diseases is changing constantly, however, the Ross-procedure has remained a standard method for 45 years.The aim of the study was to analyze early and mid-term results of Ross-procedure in congenital heart defects (single surgeon's results).From 2001 until 2011 a total of 63 patients (age, 28 days-21 years; mean: 10 years, weight 3.4-96 kg; mean, 8.8 kg) underwent Ross (n = 40), Ross-Konno (n = 17) or Ross-Konno-mitral (n = 6) procedures. Indication for Ross procedure was aortic regurgitation in 15 patients (associated with ventricular septum defect in 8 patients) and a predominant aortic stenosis in 25 patients. 17 patients with severe left ventricular outflow tract obstruction underwent Ross-Konno procedure. 6 patients with concomitant mitral valve disease (Shone syndrome, 3 patients; complete atrioventricular septal defect, 3 patients) were reconstructed by Ross-Konno-mitral valve procedure.Among Ross patients there were one early (cerebral complication) and one late death (homograft endocarditis) with a mean follow-up time of 7.4±1.8 years. Because of an early autograft endocarditis a 3-year-old boy underwent homograft implantation and was treated successfully with Bentall-procedure 9 years later. One patient with autograft regurgitation is waiting for reoperation. Among Ross-Konno patients there was no early or late death, and none of the patients underwent reoperation. In Ross-Konno-mitral patients there was one early death (28-day-old boy) and during a mean follow-up time of 2.5±1 years, and no reintervention or reoperation was needed in 5 patients.The results indicate a good outcome of Ross-, Ross-Konno-, Ross-Konno-mitral procedures in patients with congenital heart defects when surgery is performed by a highly experienced heart surgeon. In newborns, infants and small children Ross- and Ross-Konno procedures are the only methods for managing left ventricular outflow tract diseases. Concomitant severe mitral disease adds a high level of technical complexity to the Ross-Konno/mitral procedure, but it should be balanced against alternative strategies (eg. single ventricle palliation or transplantation).

Súlyos valvularis aortastenosis miatt csecsemőkorban percutan ballondilatációt követően kialakult billentyűelégtelenség korrigálására Ross-műtét történt. A posztoperatív időben fellépett aortagyök infektív endocarditis miatt az aortagyök pótlására homograft-beültetés vált szükségessé. Tizenkét éves korára a kinőtt aortabillentyű elégtelenné vált, az elmeszesedett aortagyök cseréje Bentall szerint műbillentyűs conduittal, a bal kamra kifolyási pályájának Konno szerinti megnagyobbításával vált lehetővé. Az aortabillentyű- és aortagyök-betegségek komplex sebészi kezelést igényelhetnek, és sokszor már csecsemő- és gyermekkorban is sikeresen elvégezhetők. Ilyen típusú műtéti megoldást először végeztek Magyarországon. Orv. Hetil., 2010,41,1712–1715.

7-year-old boy, who underwent aortic valve replacement two years previously, suffered from idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Because of poor condition (NYHA-IV), heart transplantation was performed on 18th October 2007. It was the first pediatric heart transplantation in Hungary. It was an uneventful early postoperative period, 6 months after the operation he is doing well, no biopsy-proven and tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDI-derived velocities measurement) rejection was detected. The immunosuppression was based on triple-drug therapy (tacrolimus+mycophenolate mofetil+corticosteroid) with use of induction therapy with interleukin-2 receptor blocker (basiliximab).