Pediatric Restrictive Cardiomyopathy Treatment & Management

  • Author: Kimberly Y Lin, MD; Chief Editor: Stuart Berger, MD   more...
 
Updated: Aug 26, 2011
 

Approach Considerations

Therapy for idiopathic restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) is limited to symptomatic treatment and is often ineffective in improving outcome. Secondary arrhythmias, when they occur, may require pharmacologic and/or device-related therapies that generally require evaluation by an electrophysiologist. Surgical options in children with RCM are limited to heart transplantation. The results of heart transplantation are generally quite good but depend on the degree of pulmonary hypertension and resultant postoperative complications.

A normal diet is recommended. The degree of hemodynamic abnormality and the risk of sudden death are significant, and patients should be restricted from competitive athletics, despite a paucity of data on the subject.[34]

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Pharmacologic Therapy

Diuretics reduce pulmonary or systemic venous congestion; however, some patients may require high ventricular filling pressures to maintain cardiac output and may actually feel worse after diuresis.

Digoxin has not been shown to be beneficial with normal systolic function and should be used with caution.

Anticoagulation should be considered because of the significant risk of thromboembolic complications.[24, 35, 3] If chosen, anticoagulation agents should be carefully administered with close supervision of coagulation parameters.

Previous pediatric studies have suggested that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) may acutely reduce systemic blood pressure without increasing cardiac output; therefore, they should probably be avoided.[36]

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Cardiac Transplantation

Children with RCM should be considered early for heart transplantation, particularly if they are symptomatic or have evidence of pulmonary hypertension. Children with RCM are at higher risk for the development of pulmonary hypertension than children with dilated or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and therefore need to be closely monitored for progression of pulmonary hypertension.[37]

Among the greatest challenges in the management of pediatric RCM are risk stratification and the decision regarding when to list a patient for heart transplantation. Some advocate immediate transplant evaluation and listing upon diagnosis of RCM.[38] However, patients with normal or only mildly elevated pulmonary vascular resistance may remain stable for years and may not require urgent listing for heart transplantation.

In one series, longer survival from diagnosis was correlated with lower left atrial–to–aortic root ratios by echocardiography and lower cardiac filling pressures by cardiac catheterization.[18]

Standard techniques for heart transplantation are used in children with RCM. Results are generally good. In those with pretransplant evidence of pulmonary hypertension, special attention must be paid to monitoring and treating this complication.[39, 40, 41] Sildenafil may be beneficial in helping to manage postoperative pulmonary hypertension, even in those patients who require heterotopic heart transplantation.[42]

Some patients may require such treatments as high levels of inspired oxygen or hyperventilation. Pulmonary vasodilators, such as prostacyclin, sodium nitroprusside, and nitric oxide, have all been used with some success in this situation. In extreme cases, mechanical circulatory assistance (eg, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation [ECMO]) may be necessary.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Kimberly Y Lin, MD  Assistant Professor, Division of Cardiology, Section of Cardiomyopathy and Heart Transplantation, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Kimberly Y Lin, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Cardiology, American College of Physicians, and Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Robert E Shaddy, MD  Professor of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Division Chief of Pediatric Cardiology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Robert E Shaddy, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, American Medical Association, International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation, Phi Beta Kappa, Society for Pediatric Research, and Western Society for Pediatric Research

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Mary L Windle, PharmD  Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Ameeta Martin, MD  Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Cardiology, University of Nebraska College of Medicine

Ameeta Martin, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Cardiology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Stuart Berger, MD  Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Cardiology, Medical College of Wisconsin; Chief of Pediatric Cardiology, Medical Director of Pediatric Heart Transplant Program, Medical Director of The Heart Center, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin

Stuart Berger, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Cardiology, American College of Chest Physicians, American Heart Association, and Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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Echocardiographic 4-chamber view of a child with restrictive cardiomyopathy demonstrating characteristic marked enlargement of right atrium (RA) and left atrium (LA), which are larger than left ventricle (LV).
 
 
 
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