Henrique de Assis Fonseca Tonelli et al. Zilda Maria Alves Meira Sandra Regina Tolentino Castilho Adriana Furletti Machado Guimarães … Tháis Costa Nascentes Queiroz Alexandre Rodrigues Ferreira
Abstract
Background:
Left isomerism (LI) is a common finding in patients with biliary atresia (BA), and it can be identified by echocardiography. Several comorbidities may be present in patients with LI, including heart disease.
Objective:
To investigate the prevalence of LI and heart disease in children (< 18 years of age) with BA followed-up at Hospital das Clínicas, UFMG.
Methods:
This is a cross-sectional study involving patients diagnosed with BA between February 2016 and April 2020 who underwent transthoracic echocardiography and, in case of situs abnormalities, also electrocardiography.
Results:
Our study recruited 58 patients (mean age: 3.08 years; female/male ratio: 1.5:1). The general prevalence of situs abnormalities was 8.6% (5/58) and the most common one was LI (4/5 or 80%). One patient had situs inversus. Among patients with situs abnormalities, the general prevalence of heart disease was 80% (4/5), apart from anomalies of the inferior vena cava), with pulmonary valve stenosis (PVS) as the only change seen (75% of mild forms and 25% of moderate forms). Among patients with situs abnormalities, the prevalence of rhythm changes was 80% (4/5), and low atrial rhythm was the most common finding (3/4 or 75%).
Conclusion:
The prevalence of situs abnormalities in our sample was similar to that described in the literature. We observed an exclusive prevalence of PVS and a high prevalence of rhythm changes among patients with LI. Although the diagnosis of isomerism does not initially add much cardiovascular risk to the sample, possible late deterioration should be considered.