IntroductionThere are limited data on viral suppression (VS) in children with HIV receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) in routine care in low‐resource settings. We examined VS in a cohort of children initiating ART in routine HIV care in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.MethodsThe Pediatric Enhanced Surveillance Study enrolled HIV‐infected ART eligibility children zero to twelve years at five health facilities from 2012 to 2014. All children received routine HIV care and treatment services and attended quarterly study visits for up to 24 months. Time to VS among those starting treatment was measured from ART start date to first viral load (VL) result <1000 and VL <50 copies/mL using competing risk estimators (death as competing risk). Multivariable sub‐distributional hazards models examined characteristics associated with VS and VL rebound following suppression among those with a VL >30 days after the VS date.ResultsOf 397 children enrolled, 349 (87.9%) started ART: 118 (33.8%) children age <12 months, 122 (35.0%) one to five years and 109 (31.2%) six to twelve years. At study enrolment, median weight‐for‐age z‐score (WAZ) was −1.7 (interquartile range (IQR):−3.1 to −0.4) and median log VL was 5.6 (IQR: 5.0 to 6.2). Cumulative incidence of VS <1000 copies/mL at six, twelve and twenty‐four months was 57.6% (95% CI 52.1 to 62.7), 78.7% (95% CI 73.7 to 82.9) and 84.0% (95% CI 78.9 to 87.9); for VS <50 copies/mL: 40.3% (95% CI 35.0 to 45.5), 63.9% (95% CI 58.2 to 69.0) and 72.9% (95% CI 66.9 to 78.0). At 12 months only 46.6% (95% CI 36.6 to 56.0) of children <12 months had achieved VS <50 copies/mL compared to 76.9% (95% CI 67.9 to 83.7) of children six to twelve years (p < 0.001). In multivariable models, children with VL >1 million copies/mL at ART initiation were half as likely to achieve VS <50 copies/mL (adjusted sub‐distributional hazards 0.50; 95% CI 0.36 to 0.71). Among children achieving VS <50 copies/mL, 37 (19.7%) had VL 50 to 1000 copies/mL and 31 (16.5%) had a VL >1000 copies/mL. Children <12 months had twofold increased risk of VL rebound to VL >1000 copies/mL (adjusted relative risk 2.03, 95% CI: 1.10 to 3.74) compared with six to twelve year olds.ConclusionsWe found suboptimal VS among South African children initiating treatment and high proportions experiencing VL rebound, particularly among younger children. Greater efforts are needed to ensure that all children achieve optimal outcomes.

Introduction: Decentralization of HIV care for children has been recommended to improve paediatric outcomes by making antiretroviral treatment (ART) more accessible. We documented outcomes of children transferred after initiating ART at a large tertiary hospital in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.Methods: Electronic medical records for all children 0–15 years initiating ART at Dora Nginza Hospital (DNH) in Port Elizabeth, South Africa January 2004 to September 2015 were examined. Records for children transferred to primary and community clinics were searched at 16 health facilities to identify children with successful (at least one recorded visit) and unsuccessful transfer (no visits). We identified all children lost to follow-up (LTF) after ART initiation: those LTF at DNH (no visit >6 months), children with unsuccessful transfer, and children LTF after successful transfer (no visit >6 months). Community tracing was conducted to locate caregivers of children LTF and electronic laboratory data were searched to measure reengagement in care, including silent transfers.Results: 1,582 children initiated ART at median age of 4 years [interquartile range (IQR): 1–8] and median CD4+ of 278 cells/mm3 [IQR: 119–526]. A total of 901 (57.0%) children were transferred, 644 (71.5%) to study facilities; 433 (67.2%) children had successful transfer and 211 (32.8%) had unsuccessful transfer. In total, 399 children were LTF: 105 (26.3%) from DNH, 211 (52.9%) through unsuccessful transfer and 83 (20.8%) following successful transfer. Community tracing was conducted for 120 (30.1%) of 399 children LTF and 66 (55.0%) caregivers were located and interviewed. Four children had died. Among 62 children still alive, 8 (12.9%) were reported to not be in care or taking ART and 18 (29.0%) were also not taking ART. Overall, 65 (16.3%) of 399 children LTF had a laboratory result within 18 months of their last visit indicating silent transfer and 112 (28.1%) had lab results from 2015 to 2016 indicating current care.Conclusion: We found that only two-thirds of children on ART transferred to primary and community health clinics had successful transfer. These findings suggest that transfer is a particularly vulnerable step in the paediatric HIV care cascade.

Anomalous origin of the left pulmonary artery from the ascending aorta in two children with pulmonary atresia, sub-aortic ventricular septal defect and right-sided major aorto-pulmonary collateral arteries L PEPETA, FF TAKAWIRA, PE ADAMS, NH NTSINJANA, BJ MITCHELL, AM CILLIERS AbstractWe report two rare cases of an anomalous origin of the left pulmonary artery (AOLPA) from the ascending aorta, associated with pulmonary atresia, a ventricular septal defect and a left aortic arch. The cases are unusual because AOLPA is more commonly associated with a right aortic arch and it is more usual for the right pulmonary artery to originate anomalously from the ascending aorta. The pulmonary blood supply to the right lung in both patients was absent and provided instead by major aorto-pulmonary collateral arteries which were stenosed at multiple levels. The AOLPA in both patients originated from the postero-lateral aspect of the ascending aorta just distal to the sino-tubular junction. Only one patient showed the more common association of an unusual aortic arch branching pattern in the form of an anomalous right subclavian artery.Neither patient was in heart failure and the chest X-ray in both revealed differential pulmonary perfusion with prominent vascularity of the left lung. Cardiac catheterisation showed systemic pressures within the anomalous left pulmonary artery. Karyotyping revealed normal chromosomes, and fluorescent in-situ hybridisation done in one patient was negative for chromosome 22q11.2 microdeletion. Both patients have been managed conservatively.Keywords: pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect, anomalous origin of pulmonary artery, collateral arteries, pulmonary hypertension, branchial arches, CATCH22 syndrome An anomalous origin of the pulmonary artery from the aorta (AOPA) is very rare, with the first case of this nature reported by Fraentzel in 1868. 1 The incidence of anomalous left pulmonary artery from the aorta (AOLPA) was reported in one study to be around 17%, 1 with anomalous origin of the right pulmonary artery (AORPA) from the ascending aorta as the more common variant of AOPA, seen in about 83% of cases. Without surgery, the mortality in patients with AOPA is extremely high, reaching as high as 80%. [2][3][4][5] This is due to severe, rapidly progressive pulmonary vascular disease and congestive cardiac failure. Both isolated AOLPA and that associated with other defects have been well described. 1,6,7 The commonest associated congenital cardiac lesion is tetralogy of Fallot, which is seen in about 75% of cases. 1 AOLPA is also associated with a right arch of the aorta in 63% of cases, and in about 38% of cases, an anomalous origin of the right subclavian artery from the descending aorta has been reported as well. 1 Of note, both our cases had a left aortic arch and had no main and right pulmonary arteries, with the only source of blood supply to the right lung being partially stenosed major aorto-pulmonary collateral arteries (MAPCAs).To the best of our knowledge, this series repr...

We report on two cases presenting with a rare combination of Ebstein's anomaly and Down's syndrome. The first patient presented with respiratory distress, mild cyanosis and right heart failure immediately after delivery. The symptoms improved with heart failure medication. The patient remained asymptomatic on follow up. The second patient was diagnosed antenatally with marked apical displacement of the tricuspid valve and a very small functional right ventricle compared to the left ventricle. At birth, the patient presented with an extreme form of Ebstein's anomaly with severe cyanosis, marked right heart failure and ductal-dependent pulmonary blood flow. The patient died within days of birth.

ObjectiveTo report outcomes in percutaneous ductal closure using the Amplatzer duct occluder type two (ADO II).MethodsRecords of patients admitted for percutaneous closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) were reviewed.ResultsFrom May 2009 to July 2012, 36 patients were assigned to closure using the ADO II. There were 21 females and 15 males. The median age was 16.5 (2–233) months; median weight, 8 (3.94–39.2) kg; and median height, 75 (55–166) cm. The mean pulmonary artery pressure was 24.4 (± 10.4) mmHg, the pulmonary blood flow:systemic blood flow (Qp:Qs) ratio was 2.25 (± 1.97), and mean pulmonary resistance (Rp) was 1.87 (± 1.28) Wood units. The mean ductal size was 2.74 (± 1.3) mm. In 30 patients the device was delivered through the pulmonary artery. Thirty-three patients achieved complete closure by discharge (day one).ConclusionThe ADO II is capable of closing a wide range of ducts in carefully selected patients. Our findings are comparable with other studies regarding ductal closure rates.

SummaryBackground:The incidence of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) has waned in Western countries, however that is not the situation in developing nations.Methods:Records were reviewed of patients from the Eastern Cape municipal districts who presented to the Paediatric Cardiology Unit with ARF and RHD from January 2008 to August 2015.Results:Total of 56 patients with ARF/RHD was reviewed. The majority of patients (n = 52) presented for the first time with RHD. Four patients presented with ARF and two had recurrent ARF. Six patients presented with a combination of RHD and congenital heart disease. Twenty-three patients were operated on for chronic rheumatic valve disease, with good outcomes.Conclusion:The true burden of ARF/RHD is unknown in the Eastern Cape. Prospective studies are needed to accurately determine the prevalence of RHD in this province.

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Background: Heart failure (HF), the dominant form of cardiovascular disease in Africans, is mainly due to hypertension, rheumatic heart disease and cardiomyopathy. Cardiomyopathies pose a great challenge because of poor prognosis and high prevalence in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). Little is known about the etiology and outcome of cardiomyopathy in Africa. Specifically, the role of myocarditis and the genetic causes of cardiomyopathy are largely unidentified in Africans. Method: The African Cardiomyopathy and Myocarditis Registry Program (the IMHOTEP study) is a pan-African multi-centre, hospital-based cohort study, designed with the primary aim of describing the clinical characteristics, genetic causes, prevalence, management and outcome of cardiomyopathy and myocarditis in children and adults. The secondary aim is to identify barriers to the implementation of evidence-based care and provide a platform for trials and other intervention studies to reduce morbidity and mortality in cardiomyopathy. The registry consists of a prospective cohort of newly diagnosed (i.e., incident) cases and a retrospective (i.e., prevalent) cohort of existing cases from participating centres. Patients with cardiomyopathy and myocarditis will be subjected to a standardized 3-stage diagnostic process. To date, 750 patients have been recruited into the multi-centre pilot phase of the study. Conclusion:The IMHOTEP study will provide comprehensive and novel data on clinical features, genetic causes, prevalence and outcome of African children and adults with all forms of cardiomyopathy and myocarditis in Africa. Based on these findings, appropriate strategies for management and prevention of the cardiomyopathies in LMICs are likely to emerge.