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Peripheral Microvascular Dysfunction in Children and Adults with Congenital Heart Disease: A Literature Review
Inne Vanreusel1,2, Wendy Hens1,3,4, Emeline Van Craenenbroeck1,2
1Department of Cardiology, Antwerp University Hospital, 2650 Edegem, Belgium.
Insights
Microvascular dysfunction (MVD) may impact congenital heart disease (CHD) prognosis. Current research on peripheral MVD in CHD patients is limited and heterogeneous, requiring further investigation into its role and extent.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Vascular Biology
- Pediatric Cardiology
Background:
- Congenital heart disease (CHD) patients face poorer prognoses despite advances.
- Microvascular dysfunction (MVD) is a key factor in heart failure progression.
- Pathophysiological similarities suggest MVD's potential role in CHD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on peripheral microvascular dysfunction (MVD) in congenital heart disease (CHD).
- To assess the vasodilatory capacity of peripheral microcirculation in CHD patients.
Main Methods:
- Literature search of the PubMed database.
- Focus on studies directly assessing peripheral microcirculation vasodilatory capacity in CHD patients.
Main Results:
- Limited data available on peripheral MVD in CHD.
- Existing studies are highly heterogeneous.
- Peripheral MVD in CHD is not well understood.
Conclusions:
- Peripheral MVD's extent and pathophysiological relevance in CHD remain unclear.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the role of MVD in CHD.
- Understanding MVD is crucial for improving CHD patient outcomes.
Abstract:
Although there is a continually growing number of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) due to medical and surgical advances, these patients still have a poorer prognosis compared to healthy individuals of similar age. In patients with heart failure, microvascular dysfunction (MVD) has recently emerged as a crucial modulator of disease initiation and progression. Because of the substantial pathophysiological overlap between CHD and heart failure induced by other etiologies, MVD could be important in the pathophysiology of CHD as well. MVD is believed to be a systemic disease and may be manifested in several vascular beds. This review will focus on what is currently known about MVD in the peripheral vasculature in CHD. Therefore, a search on the direct assessment of the vasodilatory capacity of the peripheral microcirculation in patients with CHD was conducted in the PubMed database. Since there is little data available and the reported studies are also very heterogeneous, peripheral MVD in CHD is not sufficiently understood to date. Its exact extent and pathophysiological relevance remain to be elucidated in further research.
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