Persistent truncus arteriosus
Persistent truncus arteriosus (PTA)[1] is a rare form of congenital heart disease that presents at birth. In this condition, the embryological structure known as the truncus arteriosus fails to properly divide into the pulmonary trunk and aorta. This results in one arterial trunk arising from the heart and providing mixed blood to the coronary arteries, pulmonary arteries, and systemic circulation.[2]
Persistent truncus arteriosus | |
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Other names | Patent truncus arteriosus or Common arterial trunk |
Illustration of truncus arteriosus | |
Specialty | Medical genetics |
Causes
Most of the time, this defect occurs spontaneously. Genetic disorders, and teratogens (viruses, metabolic imbalance, and industrial or pharmacological agents) have been associated as possible causes. Up to 50% (varies in studies) of cases are associated with chromosome 22q11 deletions (DiGeorge Syndrome). The neural crest, specifically a population known as the cardiac neural crest, directly contributes to the aorticopulmonary septum.[3][4]
Microablation of the cardiac neural crest in developing chick embryos and genetic anomalies affecting this population of cells in rodents results in persistent truncus arteriosus.[5][6][7]
Numerous perturbations affecting the cardiac neural crest have been associated with persistent truncus arteriosus, some of which include growth factors (fibroblast growth factor 8 and bone morphogenetic protein), transcription factors (T-box, Pax, Nkx2-5, GATA-6, and Forkhead), and gap junction proteins (Connexin). The cardiac neural crest also contributes the smooth muscle of the great arteries.
Pathophysiology
Anatomical changes associated with this disorder includes:
- single artery arising from the two ventricles which gives rise to both the aortic and pulmonary vessels
- abnormal truncal valve
- right sided aortic arch in about 30% of cases (not shown)
- large ventricular septal defect
- pulmonary hypertension
- complete mixing occurring at level of the great vessel
- right-to-left shunting of blood
Diagnosis
The diagnosis is based on:
- Cyanosis presents at birth
- Heart failure may occur within weeks
- Systolic ejection murmur is heard at the left sternal border
- Widened pulse pressure
- Bounding arterial pulses
- Loud second heart sound
- Biventricular hypertrophy
- Cardiomegaly
- Increased pulmonary vascularity
- Hypocalcemia (if associated with DiGeorge syndrome)
Classification
The most well-known classification was the fourfold system developed by Collett and Edwards in 1949.[8] Collett/Edwards Types I, II, and III are distinguished by the branching pattern of the pulmonary arteries:[9][10]
- Type I: truncus -> one pulmonary artery -> two lateral pulmonary arteries
- Type II: truncus -> two posterior/posterolateral pulmonary arteries
- Type III: truncus -> two lateral pulmonary arteries
The "Type IV" proposed in 1949 is no longer considered a form of PTA by most modern sources.[10]
Another well-known classification was defined by Van Praaghs in 1965.[10][11]
Treatment
Treatment is with neonatal surgical repair, with the objective of restoring a normal pattern of blood flow.[12] The surgery is open heart, and the patient will be placed on cardiopulmonary bypass to allow the surgeon to work on a still heart. The heart is opened and the ventricular septal defect is closed with a patch. The pulmonary arteries are then detached from the common artery (truncus arteriosus) and connected to the right ventricle using a tube (a conduit or tunnel). The common artery, now separated from the pulmonary circulation, functions as the aorta with the truncal valve operating as the aortic valve. Most babies survive this surgical repair, but may require further surgery as they grow up. For example, the conduit does not grow with the child and may need to be replaced as the child grows. Furthermore, the truncal valve is often abnormal and may require future surgery to improve its function. There have been cases where the condition has been diagnosed at birth and surgical intervention is an option. A number of these cases have survived well into adulthood.[13]
Epidemiology
Persistent truncus arteriosus is a rare cardiac abnormality that has a prevalence of less than 1%.[2][14]
Additional images
- Diagrams to illustrate the transformation of the bulbus cordis. Ao. Truncus arteriosus. Au. Atrium. B. Bulbus cordis. RV. Right ventricle. LV. Left ventricle. P. Pulmonary artery.
References
- Ruan, Wen; Loh, Yee Jim; Guo, Kenneth Wei Qiang; Tan, Ju Le (2016). "Surgical correction of persistent truncus arteriosus on a 33-year-old male with unilateral pulmonary hypertension from migration of pulmonary artery band". Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery. 11: 39. doi:10.1186/s13019-016-0435-x. PMC 4812612. PMID 27025216. S2CID 13742890.
- Barata IA (August 2013). "Cardiac emergencies". Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America. 31 (3): 677–704. doi:10.1016/j.emc.2013.04.007. PMID 23915599.
- Kirby ML, Gale TF, Stewart DE (June 1983). "Neural crest cells contribute to normal aorticopulmonary septation". Science. 220 (4601): 1059–61. Bibcode:1983Sci...220.1059K. doi:10.1126/science.6844926. PMID 6844926.
- Jiang X, Rowitch DH, Soriano P, McMahon AP, Sucov HM (April 2000). "Fate of the mammalian cardiac neural crest". Development. 127 (8): 1607–16. PMID 10725237.
- Hutson MR, Kirby ML (February 2003). "Neural crest and cardiovascular development: a 20-year perspective". Birth Defects Research. Part C, Embryo Today. 69 (1): 2–13. doi:10.1002/bdrc.10002. PMID 12768653.
- Waller BR, McQuinn T, Phelps AL, Markwald RR, Lo CW, Thompson RP, Wessels A (November 2000). "Conotruncal anomalies in the trisomy 16 mouse: an immunohistochemical analysis with emphasis on the involvement of the neural crest". The Anatomical Record. 260 (3): 279–93. doi:10.1002/1097-0185(20001101)260:3<279::AID-AR65>3.0.CO;2-2. PMID 11066038.
- Franz T (1989). "Persistent truncus arteriosus in the Splotch mutant mouse". Anatomy and Embryology. 180 (5): 457–64. doi:10.1007/BF00305120. PMID 2619088. S2CID 24116967.
- Collett RW, Edwards JE: Persistent truncus arteriosus: a classification according to anatomic types. Surg Clin North Am 1949; 29: 1245-70.
- "Persistent Truncus Arteriosus: Congenital Cardiovascular Anomalies: Merck Manual Professional". Retrieved 2007-11-04.
- "eMedicine - Truncus Arteriosus : Article by Doff McElhinney, MD". Retrieved 2007-11-04.
- Van Praagh R, Van Praagh S (September 1965). "The anatomy of common aorticopulmonary trunk (truncus arteriosus communis) and its embryologic implications. A study of 57 necropsy cases". The American Journal of Cardiology. 16 (3): 406–25. doi:10.1016/0002-9149(65)90732-0. PMID 5828135.
- Rodefeld MD, Hanley FL (2002). "Neonatal truncus arteriosus repair: surgical techniques and clinical management". Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Annual. 5 (1): 212–7. doi:10.1053/pcsu.2002.31497. PMID 11994881.
- Haskal ZJ (2005). "SIR 2005 Annual Meeting Film Panel Case: hemoptysis and bronchial artery embolization in an adult with uncorrected truncus arteriosus and Eisenmenger syndrome". Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology. 16 (5): 635–8. doi:10.1097/01.RVI.0000161372.87971.84. PMID 15872317.
- Parker SE, Mai CT, Canfield MA, Rickard R, Wang Y, Meyer RE, Anderson P, Mason CA, Collins JS, Kirby RS, Correa A (December 2010). "Updated National Birth Prevalence estimates for selected birth defects in the United States, 2004-2006". Birth Defects Research. Part A, Clinical and Molecular Teratology. 88 (12): 1008–16. doi:10.1002/bdra.20735. PMID 20878909.
External links
- A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia from NCBI site.
- Truncus arteriosus
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