Year: 2012
Type: dissertation
Abstract: The incidence of congenital heart disease (CHD) is estimated to vary between 4 to 50\nper 1000 live births [1, 2] . This wide range of incidence is due to different phenotypes\nof CHD, as well as the inclusion criteria used. All together, CHD can be seen as the most\ncommon birth defect worldwide with approximately 1 million children born with a\nCHD each year [3]. Epidemiological studies in the Netherlands report an incidence of 6\nper 1000 children born with a CHD each year [4].\nWhen looking at causes of infant death, congenital anomalies are the leading cause. One\nthird of these deaths are due to CHD [5]. However, the introduction of modern surgery\nas well as improved treatment strategies for CHD resulted in a decline in mortality from\nCHD [6]. In addition, death resulting form CHD shifted from newborns to young adults\n[7]. Thus, this prolonged survival results in an increase in patients with CHD that need\ntreatment not only at birth, but also during adolescence and even during their adult\nlive. In a selected group of these patients, the structural abnormalities that define a\nparticular CHD phenotype results in prolonged RV pressure overload, such as Tetralogy\nof Fallot, left hypoplastic heart syndrome or congenitally corrected transposition of\nthe great vessels. In addition, other diseases such as pulmonary hypertension or even\nischemic heart disease can result in increased RV loading conditions. The effects of\nprolonged RV pressure overload on the heart’s function, as well as the effects on\nmolecular and cellular level is not yet fully understood. However, patient data suggest\nthat the RV is unable to cope with prolonged periods of (systemic) overload resulting\nin RV failure [8-12]. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to understand the effects of\nprolonged pressure overload on the RV in terms of ventricular function, as well as at\nthe molecular level.
Author: Matthijs J. Faber
Language: English
Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1668101503