[Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in preterm newborn with kidney transplanted mother]

Area of Science:

• Neonatal Medicine
• Pharmacology
• Cardiology

Background:

• Transient hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in newborns is rare, with known associations with maternal gestational diabetes and corticosteroid exposure.
• Infants born prematurely are susceptible to various health issues, including cardiac complications.

Observation:

• A preterm infant born to a mother with a renal transplant presented with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
• The infant had prenatal exposure to corticosteroids and tacrolimus, part of the mother's immunosuppressive therapy.

Findings:

• This case represents the first documented instance of transient hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in an infant exposed prenatally to both corticosteroids and tacrolimus.
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a recognized, though uncommon, side effect of tacrolimus in all age groups and is reversible upon discontinuation.

Implications:

• Prenatal exposure to corticosteroids and tacrolimus may contribute to the development of transient hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in neonates.
• Clinicians should consider drug-induced cardiac effects in neonates born to mothers undergoing immunosuppressive therapy.
• Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms and prevalence of drug-induced transient hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in neonates.