Aortic mineralisation in children with congenital cardiac disease

Abstract

Background: Congenital cardiac diseases are the most frequent congenital malformations. In adult patients, the mineralisation of the aorta due to cardiovascular disease is very common, but vascular mineralisation in paediatric cardiopathies is a topic less studied. This study shows that children with a complex congenital cardiopathy show a high degree of vascular mineralisation in the ascending aorta. This can be part of the cardiac failure pathophysiology due to congenital cardiopathies. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the presence and degree of vascular mineralisation in samples of the ascending and descending aorta of children with complex congenital cardiopathies. Design: We conducted a cross-sectional study. Subjects: We obtained 34 vascular tissues from the autopsies of 17 children with congenital cardiac disease. Methods: We used a scanning electron microscope with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy in order to analyse the vascular tissues. Results: The amount of minerals was two times higher in the ascending aorta than in the descending aorta of children with congenital cardiac disease. Conclusions: The study provides evidence that vascular mineralisation can start at an early age, and that it is higher in the ascending aorta than in the descending aorta. © Copyright Cambridge University Press 2011.