Cardiac Adenylyl Cyclase and Phosphodiesterase Expression Profiles Vary by Age, Disease, and Chronic Phosphodiesterase Inhibitor Treatment.

Background: Pediatric heart failure (HF) patients have a suboptimal response to traditional HF medications, although phosphodiesterase-3 inhibition (PDE3i) has been used with greater success than in the adult HF population. We hypothesized that molecular alterations specific to children with HF and HF etiology may affect response to treatment.

Methods And Results: Adenylyl cyclase (AC) and phosphodiesterase (PDE) isoforms were quantified by means of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in explanted myocardium from adults with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), children with DCM, and children with single-ventricle congenital heart disease of right ventricular morphology (SRV).