Abnormal Blood Pressure Response to Excercise in Borderline Hypertension: A Two Year Follow-up Study

Introduction : Annual mortality in children with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) has been reported to be 1– 6%. Risk factors for death in adult HCM patients have been characterized; their application to pediatric HCM is unknown. The purpose of this study was to correlate adult risk factors with outcomes in our pediatric population using a standard management strategy. Methods : A retrospective cohort study of children with HCM was performed. Death and cardiac transplant were the primary outcomes. Diagnosis was based on asymmetric septal or concentric hypertrophy as determined by echocardiography. Exclusion criteria included: genetic syndrome, mitochondrial or metabolic disorder, infants of diabetic mothers, congenital heart disease, systemic hypertension, diagnosis >18 years of age, or follow-up <1 year. Results : From 1/1/85 to 10/1/06, 96 patients met inclusion criteria. Mean age at diagnosis was 10.6 ± 5.4 years. Mean follow-up was 6.5 ± 5.2 years. 11 patients had an adverse outcome (7 deaths, 4 transplants). Kaplan-Meier analysis predicts an 82% survival over 20 years. Evidence of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) occurred in =6% of patients, syncope in 23% and a family history for malignant HCM in 17%. Aborted sudden death occurred in 6%. 10% had non-sustained ventricular tachycardia. 58% of patients underwent at least one exercise treadmill test. All patients were restricted from strenuous activity. 95% of patients were on a β-blocker or calcium channel blocker, with 10% on both. Additional intervention depended on symptoms, family history, and degree of LVOTO. 17% had an implantable defibrillator (ICD). 10% were given a pacemaker due to LVOTO, and 5% underwent left ventricular myectomy. Only extreme LVH (>6 z-scores for BSA) and a blunted blood pressure response to exercise were statistically significant for worse outcomes (both p<0.02). Conclusions : A low mortality/transplantation rate occurred in children with isolated HCM whose management consisted of exercise restriction and medication, with or without an ICD. Management that included myectomy was uncommon. Patients with extreme LVH and a blunted blood pressure response to exercise are high-risk individuals.

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Factors Associated With an Abnormal Blood Pressure Response During Exercise After Coarctation Repair

World Journal for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery ◽

10.1177/21501351211060351 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 53-59

Author(s):

Mia Pivirotto ◽

Michael F. Swartz ◽

Megan B. McGreevy ◽

Nader Atallah-Yunes ◽

Jill M. Cholette ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Aortic Arch ◽

Blood Pressure Response ◽

Pressure Response ◽

Exercise Stress ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Coarctation Repair ◽

Brachiocephalic Trunk ◽

Aortic Arch Repair

Background Although resting blood pressures following aortic arch repair or the extended end-to-end anastomosis (EEA) repair for coarctation can be physiologic, factors associated with an abnormal blood pressure response after exercise are unknown. We measured blood pressure gradients following exercise in children who had undergone previous repair in accordance with a surgical selection algorithm and sought to identify factors associated with an abnormal blood pressure response. Methods In accordance with our practice's surgical algorithm for repair of coarctation, infants were stratified to aortic arch repair when the distal transverse arch-to-left carotid artery ratio (DTA:LCA) ≤ 1.0, or when a brachiocephalic trunk or intra-cardiac lesion requiring repair was present. A thoracotomy and EEA were otherwise used. A follow-up exercise stress test (EST) measured the arm:leg blood pressure gradient after exercise, and a gradient ≥ 20 mm Hg was defined as an abnormal blood pressure response. Results Thirty-seven infants who had previously undergone coarctation repair (aortic arch repair-19, EEA-18) completed an EST at 12.3 ± 2.2 years of age. Thirteen (35%) children (aortic arch repair-5, EEA-8; p = .3) exhibited an abnormal blood pressure response. Factors associated with an abnormal blood pressure response included: smaller DTA:LCA ratios prior to repair (1.0 ± .2 vs. 1.2 ± .3; p = .04) and greater body weight at the time of EST (57.5 ± 19.1 vs. 40.9 ± 15.6 kg; p = .03). Conclusion An abnormal blood pressure response following exercise is associated with smaller DTA:LCA ratios at the time of repair and increased weight during follow-up suggesting that patients with these factors warrant close observation.

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