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Evaluation of cardiac functions with Doppler echocardiography in children with Down syndrome and anatomically normal heart

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 April 2012

Mohammed Al-Biltagi ,
Amany R. Serag ,
Mohammed M. Hefidah  and
Maaly M. Mabrouk
Mohammed Al-Biltagi*
Affiliation:
Cardiology Unit, Department of Paediatric, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
Amany R. Serag
Affiliation:
Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufyia University, Egypt
Mohammed M. Hefidah
Affiliation:
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
Maaly M. Mabrouk
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
*
Correspondence to: Dr M. Al-Biltagi, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt. Tel: +20102209797; Fax: +20402213543; E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Objective

To study the cardiac functions in Down syndrome children who did not have structural cardiac lesion by conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography.

Materials and methods

A total of 85 children with Down syndrome without anatomic heart disease and 50 normal control children were subjected to the assessment of right and left ventricular functions by both two-dimensional and tissue Doppler echocardiography.

Results

Children with Down syndrome had significantly higher left ventricular ejection fraction detected by two-dimensional echocardiography and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction detected by tissue Doppler than observed in the controls. In addition, children with Down syndrome also had right ventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunctions. Children with Down syndrome had significantly higher pulmonary artery systolic pressure than the control children. There was no significant difference in the cardiac functions between children with non-disjunction Down syndrome and those with the translocation type.

Conclusion

Despite an apparently normal heart, children with Down syndrome may have silent disturbed cardiac functions, which may be detected by two-dimensional or tissue Doppler echocardiography. This may have an important clinical implication, especially before involving Down syndrome children in surgery or strenuous exercise.

Keywords

Tissue Dopplerechocardiographycardiac functionDown syndrome
Type
Original Article
Information
Cardiology in the Young , Volume 23 , Issue 2 , April 2013 , pp. 174 - 180
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012 

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