Clinical and genetic investigation of pediatric cases of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome in Tunisian families.

Background: Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome is an autosomal-dominant heart disease characterized by an accessory pathway that arises from an aberrant conduction from the atria to the ventricles. Several mutations within the PRKAG2 gene were shown to be responsible for WPW. This gene encodes the γ2 regulatory subunit of adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase, which functions as a metabolic sensor in cells, responding to cellular energy demands.

[Tetralogy of fallot with absent pulmonary valve].

Background: Absent pulmonary valve with ventricular septal defect is a rare cardiac malformation. The aim of our study is to specify the anatomic characteristics and the clinical and echocardiographic features of this cardiac malformation and to discuss its management.

Methods: We report 8 cases of absent pulmonary valve with ventricular septal defected collected over a period of 24 years.

Epidemiology of infective endocarditis in Tunisia: a 10-year multicenter retrospective study.

Background: Since the first description of infective endocarditis, the profile of the disease has evolved continuously with stable incidence. However, epidemiological features are different in developing countries compared with western countries.

Objective: To describe epidemiological, microbiological and outcome characteristics of infective endocarditis in Tunisia.

[Anatomic repair of transposition of the great arteries or arterial switch operation. Report of 62 cases].

Between January 1990 and September 2003, 62 patients underwent anatomic repair of a transposition of the great arteries. Mean operative age is 40 days. Transposition of the great arteries was simple in 38 cases and associated to a large ventricular septal defect in 24 cases.

[Atrial flutter in neonates and infants: diagnosis and treatment].

Between 1995 and 2002, 5 patients with a mean age of 32 years have been treated for atrial flutter in the Department of Paediatric Cardiology at Hospital La Rabta. In all cases, diagnosis was established on surface electrocardiogram (12 leads. All patients had a normal heart.