Cardiac Hypertrophy: A Comprehensive Review from Prenatal Life to Young Adulthood.

Myocardial hypertrophy (MH) represents a complex and heterogeneous condition in the pediatric and young adult population. While rare in children, MH encompasses a wide spectrum of physiological and pathological entities, ranging from transient hypertrophy in the infants of diabetic mothers to progressive genetic hypertrophic cardiomyopathies (HCM) with significant morbidity and mortality. Differential diagnosis is critical, as many phenocopies-including metabolic, mitochondrial, and syndromic diseases-can mimic HCM.

Double-Chambered Left Ventricle: How Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Overturned the Diagnosis.

Background: Double-chambered left ventricle (DCLV) is a rare congenital heart anomaly and can be easily misdiagnosed with transthoracic echocardiography. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) can help in the diagnostic process and risk stratification.

Case Summary: A 15-year-old girl diagnosed with left ventricular noncompaction and unsustained ventricular tachycardia was referred to our institution for further characterization.

The Use of Vasodilator Therapy in Fontan Patients: A Single-Centre Experience.

Background: The aim of this study was to describe our centre experience in the use of pulmonary vasodilator therapy in Fontan patients.

Methods: We retrospectively enrolled patients that underwent Fontan operation between 2000 and 2024, reporting demographic and operative data and noting complications and the use of pulmonary vasodilators.

Results: A total of 117 patients were followed for a median time of 150 months (90-207).

The Effects of Physical Activity and the Consequences of Physical Inactivity in Adult Patients with Congenital Heart Disease During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has infected more than 500 million people worldwide. Several measures have been taken to reduce the spread of the virus and the saturation of intensive care units: among them, a lockdown (LD) was declared in Italy on 9 March 2020. As a result, gyms, public parks, sports fields, outdoor play areas, schools, and multiple commercial activities have been closed.

Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing after Surgical Repair of Tetralogy of Fallot-Does Modality Matter?

Background: Despite a successful repair of tetralogy of Fallot (rToF) in childhood, residual lesions are common and can contribute to impaired exercise capacity. Although both cycle ergometer and treadmill protocols are often used interchangeably these approaches have not been directly compared. In this study we examined cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) measurements in rToF.

Changes in the Cath Lab in the Treatment of Adult Patients with Congenital Heart Disease: A 12-Year Experience in a Single Referral Center with the Establishment of a Dedicated Working Group.

Background: Adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) are a growing population needing ongoing care. The aim of this study was to investigate if a dedicated ACHD team impacted the timing and indication of invasive cardiology procedures in these patients at our hospital.

Methods: Our retrospective single-center study enrolled adult patients with moderate or complex congenital heart disease and with at least one cardiac catheterization between January 2010 and December 2021.

The Effects of Exercise Training on Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing and Cardiac Biomarkers in Adult Patients with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome and Fontan Circulation.

Background: Several studies have shown that adult patients with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) and Fontan circulation have a reduced exercise tolerance that affects daily life. Recent studies have investigated the effects of aerobic exercise training in patients with univentricular heart; however, this research topic is still poorly studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of an aerobic exercise training program on cardiopulmonary exercise testing parameters and cardiac biomarkers in patients with HLHS.

Pediatric Myocarditis: What Have We Learnt So Far?

Myocarditis is an inflammatory disease of the myocardium that is troublesome to diagnose and manage, especially in children. Since the introduction of endomyocardial biopsy (EMB), new diagnostic tools have provided useful data. Especially when enhanced with immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) studies, EMB remains the gold standard for the diagnosis.