Prognostic Value of N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide, Troponin-T, and Growth-Differentiation Factor 15 in Adult Congenital Heart Disease.

Background: The number of patients with adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) is rapidly increasing. To optimize patient management, there is a great need to accurately identify high-risk patients. Still, no biomarker has been firmly established as a clinically useful prognostic tool in this group.

The unnatural history of pulmonary stenosis up to 40 years after surgical repair.

Objective: To provide prospective information on long-term outcome after surgical correction of valvular pulmonary stenosis (PS).

Methods: Fifty-three consecutive patients operated for PS during childhood between 1968 and 1980 in one centre are followed longitudinally for 37±3.4 years, including extensive in-hospital examination every 10 years.

Health in adults with congenital heart disease.

Since the introduction of cardiac surgery, the prospects for children born with a cardiac defect have improved spectacularly. Many reach adulthood and the population of adults with congenital heart disease is increasing and ageing. However, repair of congenital heart disease does not mean cure.

Matrix metalloproteinases as candidate biomarkers in adults with congenital heart disease.

Context Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are associated with diastolic dysfunction and heart failure in acquired heart disease. Objective To investigate the role of MMPs as novel biomarkers in clinically stable adults with congenital heart disease. Methods We measured serum MMP-2, -3, -9 and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 in 425 patients and analysed the association with cardiac function and exercise capacity.

Quantitative assessment of systolic left ventricular function with speckle-tracking echocardiography in adult patients with repaired aortic coarctation.

Despite successful aortic coarctation (CoA) repair, systemic hypertension often recurs which may influence left ventricular (LV) function. We aimed to detect early LV dysfunction using LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) in adults with repaired CoA, and to identify associations with patient and echocardiographic characteristics. In this cross-sectional study, patients with repaired CoA and healthy controls were recruited prospectively.

Assessment of ventricular function in adults with repaired Tetralogy of Fallot using myocardial deformation imaging.

Aims: Many patients with repaired Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) have right ventricular (RV) volume overload due to pulmonary regurgitation (PR). We studied the effect of volume overload on global and regional RV and left ventricular (LV) deformation, and their relationships with conventional diagnostic parameters.

Methods And Results: In this cross-sectional study, 94 prospectively recruited ToF patients (61% male, age 32.

Longitudinal development of psychopathology and subjective health status in CHD adults: a 30- to 43-year follow-up in a unique cohort.

Objective: To determine longitudinal changes in psychopathology in a cohort of patients 30-43 years after their first cardiac surgery for Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) in childhood, to compare outcomes of the 30- to 43-year follow-up with normative data, and to identify medical predictors for psychopathology.

Methods: This study is the third follow-up of this cohort. The first and second follow-ups of this same cohort were conducted in 1990 and 2001, respectively.

The unnatural history of the ventricular septal defect: outcome up to 40 years after surgical closure.

Background: Few prospective data are available regarding long-term outcomes after surgical closure of a ventricular septal defect (VSD).

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate clinical outcomes>30 years after surgical VSD closure.

Methods: Patients who underwent surgical VSD closure during childhood between 1968 and 1980 were reexamined every 10 years.

Sports participation in adults with congenital heart disease.

Background: It is unclear whether sports participation in adults with repaired congenital heart disease is safe and has benefits.

Methods: Congenital heart disease (ConHD) patients who underwent corrective surgery for Atrial Septal Defect, Ventricular Septal Defect, Pulmonary Stenosis, Tetralogy of Fallot or Transposition of the Great Arteries in our center between 1968 and 1980 were included, and participated in our longitudinal follow-up study with serial evaluations in 2001 and 2011. At both time points patients filled in questionnaires on sports participation, subjective physical functioning and quality of life.

Psychosocial functioning of adults with congenital heart disease: outcomes of a 30-43 year longitudinal follow-up.

Objective: Investigating long-term psychosocial and emotional outcomes, 30-43 years after cardiothoracic surgery during childhood.

Methods: Adult patients (N = 252, aged 33-55 years) all operated between 1968 and 1980 for atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, pulmonary stenosis, tetralogy of Fallot or transposition of the great arteries (TGA, all Mustard) were evaluated in the Erasmus MC. Psychosocial and emotional functioning were measured using standardized, validated questionnaires.

Ventricular myocardial deformation in adults after early surgical repair of atrial septal defect.

Aims: It is unknown whether right-ventricular (RV) volume overload caused by an atrial septal defect (ASD) still has its effect on RV deformation long after repair. We evaluated RV and left-ventricular (LV) deformation beyond 30 years after surgical ASD repair in childhood, and studied relationships with conventional diagnostic parameters.

Methods And Results: In this prospective study, we included 102 subjects: 51 patients with repaired ASD (39% male, age 43.

Unnatural history of tetralogy of Fallot: prospective follow-up of 40 years after surgical correction.

Background: Prospective data on long-term survival and clinical outcome beyond 30 years after surgical correction of tetralogy of Fallot are nonexistent.

Methods And Results: This longitudinal cohort study consists of the 144 patients with tetralogy of Fallot who underwent surgical repair at <15 years of age between 1968 and 1980 in our center. They are investigated every 10 years.

Quantitative assessment of systolic right ventricular function using myocardial deformation in patients with a systemic right ventricle.

Aims: Late systolic dysfunction of the systemic right ventricle (RV) in patients with transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is of major concern. Right ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS) might be able to identify early dysfunction.

Methods And Results: Adults with TGA after Mustard operation (TGA-Mustard) or congenitally corrected-TGA (ccTGA) underwent echocardiography, electrocardiography, and NT-proBNP measurement.

Associations between N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and cardiac function in adults with corrected tetralogy of Fallot.

Background: Amino-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) may detect early cardiac dysfunction in adults with tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) late after corrective surgery. We aimed to determine the value of NT-proBNP in adults with ToF and establish its relationship with echocardiography and exercise capacity.

Methods And Results: NT-proBNP measurement, electrocardiography and detailed 2D-echocardiography were performed on the same day in 177 consecutive adults with ToF (mean age 34.

The natural and unnatural history of the Mustard procedure: long-term outcome up to 40 years.

Aims: To describe long-term survival, clinical outcome and ventricular systolic function in a longitudinally followed cohort of patients after Mustard repair for transposition of the great arteries (TGA). There is serious concern about the long-term outcome after Mustard repair.

Methods And Results: This longitudinal single-centre study consisted of 91 consecutive patients, who underwent Mustard repair before 1980, at age <15 years, and were evaluated in-hospital every 10 years.

Association between N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide and quality of life in adult patients with congenital heart disease.

Aims: Advances in medical treatment have resulted in increased life expectancy in congenital heart disease. Consequently, the focus of management has shifted from reducing mortality to reducing long-term morbidity with the goal of improving quality of life. A predictor of quality of life might be N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, a well-established marker for heart failure.

Abnormal left ventricular rotation and twist in adult patients with corrected tetralogy of Fallot.

Aims: Left ventricular (LV) dysfunction is a major determinant of late adverse clinical outcome in adult patients with tetralogy of Fallot (ToF). Therefore, early detection is important. Speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) has emerged as a quantitative technique to assess LV function.

N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and its relationship with cardiac function in adults with congenital heart disease.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the value of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) and investigate its relationship with ventricular function and exercise capacity.

Background: NT-proBNP may detect early deterioration in cardiac function.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, extensive echocardiography, exercise testing, and NT-proBNP measurements were performed on the same day in consecutive adult patients with CHD.

The unnatural history of an atrial septal defect: longitudinal 35 year follow up after surgical closure at young age.

Objective: To describe the very long-term outcome after surgical closure of an atrial septal defect (ASD).

Design: Longitudinal cohort study of 135 consecutive patients who underwent surgical ASD repair at age <15 years between 1968 and 1980. The study protocol included ECG, echocardiography, exercise testing, N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic hormone, Holter monitoring and cardiac MRI.

Sexual functioning is impaired in adults with congenital heart disease.

Background: To investigate the overall sexual functioning and disease specific sexual problems in congenital heart disease (ConHD) patients, for both genders and different cardiac diagnostic groups, and compare these with Dutch normative data. Also disease specific sexual problems were investigated.

Methods: From a longitudinal cohort of patients, operated for ConHD between 1968 and 1980, 254 patients (median age: 40, 53.

Long-term outcome and quality of life after arterial switch operation: a prospective study with a historical comparison.

AIM.: The study aims to describe the long-term cardiological and psychological results of our first surgical cohort of arterial switch operation (ASO) patients and compare the results with our earlier series of Mustard patients. METHODS.

Acute and long-term outcomes of catheter ablation using remote magnetic navigation in patients with congenital heart disease.

The aim of the present study was to assess the feasibility, safety, and long-term results of remote magnetic navigation in arrhythmias associated with complex congenital heart disease (CHD). The improved outcomes for CHD resulted in an increased number of complex arrhythmias requiring distinctive ablation techniques. Thirty-six patients with CHD (age 35 ± 19 years, 21 male) were divided into 3 complexity groups and underwent 43 radiofrequency catheter ablation procedures using the magnetic navigation system (including 7 redo ablations) in combination with the CARTO RMT system.

Effects of rosuvastatin on progression of stenosis in adult patients with congenital aortic stenosis (PROCAS Trial).

Recent trials have failed to show that statin therapy halts the progression of calcific aortic stenosis (AS). We hypothesized that statin therapy in younger patients with congenital AS would be more beneficial, because the valve is less calcified. In the present double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 63 patients with congenital AS (age 18 to 45 years) were randomly assigned to receive either 10 mg of rosuvastatin daily (n = 30) or matched placebo (n = 33).