Objective: To describe the prevalence of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) associated gene mutations, and other genetic characteristics in a national cohort of children with PAH from the Dutch National registry and to explore genotype-phenotype correlations and outcome. Study design: Seventy children diagnosed with idiopathic PAH (IPAH), heritable PAH (HPAH), PAH associated with congenital heart disease (CHD) with coincidental shunt (PAH-CHD group 3), PAH after closure of a cardiac shunt (PAH-CHD group 4), or PAH associated with other non-cardiac conditions were enrolled. Targeted next-generation sequencing was performed on PAH-associated genes (BMPR2, ACVRL1, EIF2AK4, CAV1, ENG, KCNK3, SMAD9 and TBX4). Also, children were tested for specific genetic disorders in case of clinical suspicion. Additionally, children were tested for copy number variations (CNVs). Results: Nineteen children (27%) had a PAH-associated gene mutation/variant: BMPR2 n=7, TBX4 n=8, ACVRL1 n=1, KCNK3 n=1, EIF2AK4 n=2. Twelve children (17%) had a genetic disorder with an established association with PAH (including trisomy 21 and Cobalamin C deficiency). In another 16 children (23%) genetic disorders without an established association with PAH were identified (including Noonan syndrome, Beals syndrome and various CNVs). Survival rates differed between groups and was most favorable in TBX4 variant carriers. Conclusions: Children with PAH show a high prevalence of genetic disorders, not restricted to established PAH-associated genes. Genetic architecture could play a role in risk stratified care management in pediatric PAH.
Introduction: Permanent transvenous pacemaker therapy is an essential management option in patients with symptomatic bradyarrhythmias, but harbors a concomitant risk of serious complications. As most complications are lead-or pocket-related, intracardiac leadless pacemaker therapy has the potential to positively impact patient outcome. Since the first leadless pacemaker implant in 2012, many studies have been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness, safety, and applicability of this novel pacing approach.Areas covered: This review will cover the current status of leadless pacemaker technology. Available safety and efficacy outcomes, current area of indication, and end-of-life management will be evaluated. Furthermore, future perspectives for clinical practice and new pacing modalities are discussed. Expert opinion: The first-generation leadless pacemakers are a promising innovation that provide safe and efficient single-chamber pacing therapy without the use of transvenous pacemaker leads. Yet, broad implementation of this technology is hampered by limitations of the current leadless devices, such as end-of-life management and its single-chamber pacing indication. Further innovations such as leadless dual-chamber pacing therapy, leadless cardiac synchronization therapy, energy-harvesting leadless pacemakers, communicating leadless pacemakers with subcutaneous implantable cardiac defibrillators, and minimally invasive completely extracardiac pacemakers are currently being developed that have the potential to become major game changers in pacing therapy.
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