Echocardiographic Findings in Children of Patients Diagnosed with PRKAG2 Syndrome

Abstract

Background: PRKAG2 syndrome typically manifests in adolescence and early adulthood, progressing with left ventricular hypertrophy, arrhythmias, and risk of sudden death. Findings of echocardiographic markers before clinical manifestation in children of patients affected by the disease can facilitate prevention strategies and therapeutic planning for this patient group. Objective: To identify the existence of echocardiographic findings that manifest early in children of parents affected by PRKAG2 syndrome, while they are still asymptomatic. Methods: In this cross-sectional observational study, 7 participants who were children of parents with established diagnosis of PRKAG2 syndrome, between the ages of 9 months and 12 years, with proven genetic diagnosis, underwent conventional and advanced echocardiography. Their findings were compared to those of a control group composed of 7 age- and sex-matched volunteers who were healthy from a cardiovascular point of view. P values < 0.05 were considered significant. Results: Conventional echocardiography showed statistically significantly higher values in the case group for left atrium, interventricular septum, left ventricular posterior wall, indexed ventricular mass, and relative wall thickness (p < 0.05). Global longitudinal systolic strain on 2-dimensional echocardiography did not show statistical significance between the case and control groups. None of the parameters on 3-dimensional echocardiography showed statistical significance between groups. Conclusion: Children diagnosed with PRKAG2 showed echocardiographic findings indicative of a tendency toward cardiac hypertrophy. Echocardiography can be a useful tool in the evaluation and follow-up of this patient group before the onset of clinical manifestations.