Preprocedural Transthoracic Echocardiography Can Predict Amplatzer Septal Occluder Device Size for Transcatheter Atrial Septal Defect Closure.

Objective: To evaluate whether preprocedural transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) can be used to predict Amplatzer septal occluder (ASO) size for device closure of atrial septal defect (ASD).

Design: Retrospective review of patients who underwent ASD device closure at our institution between August 2006 and August 2013 was performed. Patients with complex congenital heart disease, devices other than the ASO, multiple devices, or inadequate TTE images were excluded.

Coronary artery dilation in acute Kawasaki disease and acute illnesses associated with Fever.

Background: In the absence of a specific test, the diagnosis of clinically incomplete Kawasaki disease (KD) can be challenging. The 2004 American Heart Association guidelines state that the diagnosis of KD is supported by the presence of coronary artery dilation documented by echocardiography. However, the specificity of coronary artery dilation and its prevalence in children with other acute illnesses associated with fever has not been studied.

Cardiovascular biomarkers in acute Kawasaki disease.

Background: Endomycocardial biopsies have demonstrated that subclinical myocarditis is a universal feature of acute Kawasaki disease (KD).

Methods: We investigated biochemical evidence of myocardial strain, oxidative stress, and cardiomyocyte injury in 55 acute KD subjects (30 with paired convalescent samples), 54 febrile control (FC), and 50 healthy control (HC) children by measuring concentrations of cardiovascular biomarkers.

Results: Levels of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and soluble ST2 (sST2) were elevated in acute vs.