Yupada Pongprot

Cardiac Function in Malnourished Children

The cardiovascular status of severely malnourished children was characterized before, during, and after nutritional rehabilitation. In most children with third-degree malnutrition, cardiac mass was decreased on admission to the hospital and recovered subsequent to nutritional therapy. All children had echocardiographic and Doppler measurements indicative of impaired ventricular function which significantly improved during the course of hospitalization, as evidenced in part by the change in fractional shortening (P= 0.015), mean velocity of circumferential fiber shortening (P= 0.038), and systolic time interval (P = 0.030). We conclude that children with primary third-degree malnutrition not only have cardiac muscle wasting, but also have inherent ventricular dysfunction as the result of severe malnutrition that responds to nutritional therapy. Particular care with fluid administration is imperative in the first week of therapy, when heart function is the most compromised.

Acute fulminant myocarditis in scrub typhus

Abstract Scrub typhus is a zoonotic disease caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi in which humans are accidental hosts. It is a febrile illness which is confined to rural Asia and the Western Pacific islands. Severe complications are very rare. We report four cases of acute fulminant myocarditis in children with scrub typhus. This complication led to severe cardiogenic shock and death in two of them. We believe this is the first report of fulminant myocarditis complicating scrub typhus in children.

Use of cardiac markers for monitoring of doxorubixin-induced cardiotoxicity in children with cancer.

The aim of this study was to evaluate N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptides (NT-pro-BNP), cardiac troponin T, and creatinine kinase, MB isoenzyme (CK-MB) in the determination of subclinical left ventricular (LV) dysfunction by echocardiography in patients treated with doxorubicin. We performed a cross-sectional case study of systolic, diastolic function and tissue Doppler imaging by echocardiography in children with cancer who received a certain cumulative dose of doxorubicin. Blood levels for NT-pro-BNP, cardiac troponin T, and CK-MB were analyzed within 6 hours of the cardiac study. Of 30 patients, 5 (16.7%) had LV dysfunction with an abnormally high NT-pro-BNP level of 363±78 pg/mL, whereas patients with normal LV function had an NT-pro-BNP level of 148±173 pg/mL (P=0.012). The NT-pro-BNP level not only inversely correlated with fractional shortening (r=−0.43, P=0.017) and ejection fraction (r=−0.45, P=0.013) but also correlated with mitral deceleration time (r=0.41, P=0.021) and a cumulative dose of doxorubicin (r=0.44, P=0.014). For tissue Doppler imaging, NT-pro-BNP correlated with a peak systolic velocity at the myocardial segment (Sm) (r=−0.40, P=0.027). NT-pro-BNP is a sensitive test and has a moderate relationship with the LV systolic and diastolic function, thus making it a useful cardiac marker for the monitoring of early anthracycline cardiotoxicity.

Delayed diagnosis of Kawasaki disease: risk factors and outcome of treatment

Abstract Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) is associated with a high incidence of coronary artery aneurysms in untreated children. Treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) within the 1st 10 days of illness reduces by approximately fivefold the prevalence of coronary artery abnormalities (CAA). Data regarding delayed diagnosis of KD in Thailand have not been reported in the literature. Aims: To determine the prevalence, risk factors and outcome of delayed diagnosis of KD in Thai patients. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients at Chiang Mai University Hospital diagnosed as KD during 2000–2008. Patients were classified into two groups: Group I were diagnosed ⩽10 days of fever and Group II were diagnosed >10 days of fever. Results: Of 170 patients, 150 were in Group I [mean (SD) fever 7 (1·45) d] and 20 (11·7%) in Group II [mean (SD) fever 15 (4) d]. There were no statistical differences between the two groups in age, gender, number of KD clinical manifestations or laboratory results, except that Group II were of lower weight (p = 0·01). Group II were younger (p = 0·09) and had more incomplete criteria (p = 0·09) but the differences were not statistically significant. Group II had a higher incidence of CAA (75% vs 19%) (p<0·001), more severe CAA and more resistant cases (31·2% vs 9·5%) (p = 0·04). Conclusion: Patients with delayed diagnosis of KD have a higher risk of developing CAA and of a more severe outcome for coronary artery disease. Education is needed to make healthcare providers and physicians more aware of KD, especially in small children or those with incomplete KD.

Factors Influencing Survival in Patients after Bidirectional Glenn Shunt

Clinical characteristics, echocardiographic values, and catheterization data of 45 patients with a functional univentricular heart who had a bidirectional Glenn shunt instituted between November 1994 and October 2006 were retrospectively reviewed. Median age at operation was 20 months (range, 9 months to 19 years). Median follow-up time after the bidirectional Glenn operation was 4 years (range, 1 day to 11 years). The early mortality rate was 4/45 (8.9%); overall mortality was 24.4%. Actuarial survival after a bidirectional Glenn shunt was 73% ± 8% at 5 years and 55% ± 17% at 10 years. In multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis, heterotaxy syndrome and systemic right ventricle were independent predictors of mortality after the bidirectional Glenn shunt. Age at operation, oxygen saturation, previous surgery, a pulsatile Glenn shunt, cardiopulmonary bypass, postoperative pulmonary artery pressure, bilateral superior venae cavae, and Nakata index were not predictive of mortality. The presence of heterotaxy syndrome and systemic right ventricle in patients with a functional univentricular heart should lead to aggressive investigation and management strategies.

Cardiac manifestations in HIV-infected Thai children.

Abstract Cardiac complications contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected children. There have been few reports of cardiac manifestations in HIV-infected children in developing countries. The aims of this study were to evaluate the clinical manifestations and echocardiographic findings in Thai children with HIV infection and determine the clinical predictors of left ventricular dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 27 infants infected with HIV perinatally who presented with cardiovascular problems at a tertiary care hospital between 1995 and 2000. The mean age at initial cardiac evaluation was 36 months (range 8-65). Signs and symptoms included dyspnoea in all cases, oedema in 12 (44%), finger clubbing in 11 (41%), cyanosis in 6 (22%) and S3 gallop in 8 (30%). Echocardiographic abnormalities included pericardial effusion in 12 (44 %), right ventricular dilatation in 12 (44%), pulmonary hypertension in 11 (41%), diminished left ventricular fractional shortening in 10 (37%), left ventricular dilatation in 9 (33%) and combined ventricular dilatation in 2 (7%). Left ventricular dysfunction did not correlate with HIV CDC classification, age, nutritional status or clinical signs and symptoms.

Large Pleural Effusion: an Unusual Manifestation of Kawasaki Disease:

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute childhood vasculitis of unknown origin mostly characterized by fever, rash, conjunctivitis, mucosal membrane lesions, swelling of the hands and feet, and cervical lymphadenopathy.1 In addition to the diagnostic criteria and cardiac findings, a broad range of nonspecific clinical features may be observed including irritability, aseptic meningitis, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, sterile pyuria, arthralgia, and arthritis.1 Although some respiratory findings such as cough, rhinorrhea, and pulmonary infiltration have often been observed, pleural effusion has rarely been reported,2-4 particularly the large effusion. We describe an infant with KD who developed large pleural effusion, prolonged fever, and moderate pericardial effusion with giant aneurysms. Patient Report

Kawasaki disease in Thai infants compared with older children

Abstract Infants with Kawasaki disease (KD) are at increased risk of having coronary artery abnormalities (CAA). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical features of KD in infants and compare these with findings in older children to determine the risk factors for CAA in infants. All children with KD admitted to a tertiary care hospital between January 1993 and April 2003 were studied retrospectively. Of a total of 51 patients included in the study, 22 (43%) were <1 year of age (mean 8 months, range 2-12 months). All had classical clinical manifestations such as fever, skin rash and mucositis; extremity change occurred in 95%, conjunctivitis in 81% and cervical lymphadenopathy in 27%. Infants had significantly more non-classical symptoms, e.g. diarrhoea (68%), than older children (38%) (p=0.04). The mean number of days before intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment was given to infants was 2 days later than in older children. The predictors of CAA in infants were resistance to IVIG treatment (p=0.02) and long duration of fever (p=0.009). Compared with older children, the less typical presentations and delay in diagnosis and treatment in infants might be important factors in CAA in KD.

Clinical spectrum of incomplete Kawasaki disease in Thailand

Abstract Background: Inadequate diagnostic criteria in incomplete Kawasaki disease (KD) patients may lead to misdiagnosis and delayed treatment. However, the risk of coronary artery aneurysm in these patients remains uncertain. Aim: To investigate differences in clinical, laboratory and echocardiographic variables between patients with incomplete KD and classic KD. Method: The medical records of 208 KD patients treated between January 2001 and December 2009 in the Department of Pediatrics, Chiang Mai University Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. Patients with three or fewer major criteria were defined as having incomplete KD. Results: Of the 208 KD patients, 61 (29%) had incomplete KD. In those with incomplete KD, a significantly higher proportion were male (73·8% vs 59·2%, P = 0·03), the diagnosis was made later [mean (SD) day 9·0 (4·2) vs 7·2 (2·5), P = 0·003], there was a higher rate of delayed diagnosis (>10 days, 21% vs 10%, P = 0·02) and the presence of five major criteria was less common. The proportion of associated symptoms (irritability, upper respiratory tract symptoms, diarrhoea, vomiting and reactivation of BCG) and laboratory findings (pyuria, haemoglobin level, white blood count, polymorphonuclear cells, platelet count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and serum albumin) were comparable in patients with incomplete KD and classic KD. The incomplete KD group tended to have a higher proportion of coronary artery abnormalities but the difference was not statistically significant (38% vs 25%, P = 0·09). However, a significantly greater proportion of the group with incomplete KD had large aneurysms (10% vs 1%, P = 0·009). Conclusions: Incomplete KD and classic KD have the same disease spectrum. Owing to the absence of some major criteria, incomplete KD can be more difficult to diagnose, which can result in delayed diagnosis and a greater risk of large coronary aneurysms.

Dilated cardiomyopathy in three HIV-infected children after initiation of antiretroviral therapy.

Moreover, some patients who achieve HIV viral suppression and improved immune function may develop clinical symptoms of immune restoration disease (IRD), which constitutes an increased capacity of infl ammatory reactions against both infectious and non- infectious antigens. Most infectious antigens arise from an unmasking of previously unrecognized infections or a worsening of ongoing opportunis-tic infections.