Early hybrid cardiac rehabilitation in congenital heart disease: the QUALIREHAB trial.

Background And Aims: Cardiopulmonary fitness in congenital heart disease (CHD) decreases faster than in the general population resulting in impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL). As the standard of care seems insufficient to encourage and maintain fitness, an early hybrid cardiac rehabilitation programme could improve HRQoL in CHD.

Methods: The QUALIREHAB multicentre, randomized, controlled trial evaluated and implemented a 12-week centre- and home-based hybrid cardiac rehabilitation programme, including multidisciplinary care and physical activity sessions.

Familial Recurrence Patterns in Congenitally Corrected Transposition of the Great Arteries: An International Study.

Background: Congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (ccTGA) is a rare disease of unknown cause. We aimed to better understand familial recurrence patterns.

Methods: An international, multicentre, retrospective cohort study was conducted in 29 tertiary hospitals in 6 countries between 1990 and 2018, entailing investigation of 1043 unrelated ccTGA probands.

SCN5A mutations in 442 neonates and children: genotype-phenotype correlation and identification of higher-risk subgroups.

Aims: To clarify the clinical characteristics and outcomes of children with SCN5A-mediated disease and to improve their risk stratification.

Methods And Results: A multicentre, international, retrospective cohort study was conducted in 25 tertiary hospitals in 13 countries between 1990 and 2015. All patients ≤16 years of age diagnosed with a genetically confirmed SCN5A mutation were included in the analysis.

Long-Term Outcomes After Percutaneous Closure of Ostium Secundum Atrial Septal Defect in the Young: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Objectives: This study sought to assess procedural characteristics, early clinical outcome, and long-term complications after transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) in children.

Background: Transcatheter closure has become the preferred strategy in most cases of isolated secundum ASD. However, reported experience in the pediatric population is limited.

Immediate and midterm results of balloon angioplasty for recurrent aortic coarctation in children aged<1 year.

Background: Several publications have considered results of percutaneous angioplasty for aortic recoarctation, but none focused on procedures performed in children aged<1 year.

Aims: To describe the immediate and midterm results of balloon angioplasty for recoarctation before the age of 1 year, and to define the factors that might influence outcome.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data from 20 consecutive children undergoing percutaneous dilatation for aortic recoarctation before the age of 1 year in the University Hospitals of Tours and Nantes.

Tropical Endomyocardial Fibrosis: Natural History, Challenges, and Perspectives.

Tropical endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) is a neglected disease of poverty that afflicts rural populations in tropical low-income countries, with some certain high-prevalence areas. Tropical EMF is characterized by the deposition of fibrous tissue in the endomyocardium, leading to restrictive physiology. Since the first descriptions in Uganda in 1948, high-frequency areas for EMF have included Africa, Asia, and South America.

[Rheumatic heart disease: future prospects].

Acute rheumatic fever develops after an inadequate immune response to throat streptococcal infection that induces the production of antibodies reacting against cardiac endothelial cells. Valve damage may lead to irreversible cardiac valve sequela (rheumatic heart disease) with further evolution towards severe valve dysfunction and heart failure. The disease has been almost eradicated in Western countries with the development of living conditions and prevention policies, including primary prevention (treatment of sore throats) and secondary prevention (long term administration of antibiotics).