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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Infant diagnosed - Please help
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Infant diagnosed - Please help
by jend123, Nov 08, 2004 12:00AM
I am very upset.
My 6 month old boy was just diagnosed with WPW syndrome and asymmetric septal hypertrophy. We discovered this after I noticed a prolonged period of lethargy and a fast heart rate. His EKG shows an abnormal P wave. After receiving an echo we were told there is no obstruction, but a definite thickening of the septum wall.
I have received many articles relating to WPW and understand the condition perfectly. I have no concerns related to it, however I have no information concerning the asymmetric septal hypertrophy and I do have questions and concerns.
1. Is asymmetric septal hypertrophy the same thing as LVH? On the diagram my son's pedi. cardio. drew the thickening in the area of the left ventricle. My son's EKG also states LVH.
2. I understand that there are always outlyers-those who do better, those who do worse. What is the general prognosis for infants/children diagnosed with both conditions-particularly the hypertrophy? How serious is is to have hypertrophy?
3. My pedi. cardio. seems to think this is genetic or a random mutation. My 2 1/2 year old son will be tested for the condition next week. Is your clinic or another doing research in this area?
4. We have an interesting family history in that I (the mom) was born with an ASD (closed on it's own) and my husband has had an ablation to correct AFIB. We are both in our 30's. We completed genetic counseling but were told our children were at no greater risk for heart defects. True? Chances of my other son or future child having the condition?
Thank you very much.
My 6 month old boy was just diagnosed with WPW syndrome and asymmetric septal hypertrophy. We discovered this after I noticed a prolonged period of lethargy and a fast heart rate. His EKG shows an abnormal P wave. After receiving an echo we were told there is no obstruction, but a definite thickening of the septum wall.
I have received many articles relating to WPW and understand the condition perfectly. I have no concerns related to it, however I have no information concerning the asymmetric septal hypertrophy and I do have questions and concerns.
1. Is asymmetric septal hypertrophy the same thing as LVH? On the diagram my son's pedi. cardio. drew the thickening in the area of the left ventricle. My son's EKG also states LVH.
2. I understand that there are always outlyers-those who do better, those who do worse. What is the general prognosis for infants/children diagnosed with both conditions-particularly the hypertrophy? How serious is is to have hypertrophy?
3. My pedi. cardio. seems to think this is genetic or a random mutation. My 2 1/2 year old son will be tested for the condition next week. Is your clinic or another doing research in this area?
4. We have an interesting family history in that I (the mom) was born with an ASD (closed on it's own) and my husband has had an ablation to correct AFIB. We are both in our 30's. We completed genetic counseling but were told our children were at no greater risk for heart defects. True? Chances of my other son or future child having the condition?
Thank you very much.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-M.D.-MJM, Nov 08, 2004 12:00AM
Hello,
I am sorry to hear about your son. Unfortunately I am not a pediatric cardiologist and haven't taken care of someone his age for almost 10 years.
You are right that WPW is relatively straight forward--if you have symptomatic arrhythmias, you ablate it. The ablation is relatively simple in adults.
Thickened venticles are more complicated. I don't feel comfortable commenting on this. The genetic testing is not fool-proof. Last I heard we can only detect about 75% of the causes of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy--this is a developing field.
We have a cardiologist that specializes in adult hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, but I am sure he does not see children your son's age.
Sorry I am not more helpful, but this is not my field.
Good luck and best wishes.
I am sorry to hear about your son. Unfortunately I am not a pediatric cardiologist and haven't taken care of someone his age for almost 10 years.
You are right that WPW is relatively straight forward--if you have symptomatic arrhythmias, you ablate it. The ablation is relatively simple in adults.
Thickened venticles are more complicated. I don't feel comfortable commenting on this. The genetic testing is not fool-proof. Last I heard we can only detect about 75% of the causes of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy--this is a developing field.
We have a cardiologist that specializes in adult hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, but I am sure he does not see children your son's age.
Sorry I am not more helpful, but this is not my field.
Good luck and best wishes.
connie