Results During the five year period 1244 echocardiographs were recorded, 242 (19. 5%) of which had a structural cardiac defect. The most common defects were AVSD (n=36), VSD (n=26), transpositions (n=15), Hypoplastic Left Heart (n=27)and valvular defects (n=30). Abnormal anatomy scan was the best indicator for detecting the presence of cardiac defects, compared to all other indications (p<0. 00...

One may postulate a genetic defect in membrane permeability, in the transport of sodium, or in the sodium pump in vascular muscle which could account for increased intracellular sodium and enhanced vascular contractility. If the electrogenic sodium pump is overactive, as in SHR, its inhibition may lead to significant depolarization and greater contraction. Sympathetic innervation may be essenti...

were utilized to study the timing and the direction of flow across the defect. Patients with low to moderately elevated right ventricular pressures demonstrated left-to-right shunting across the defect throughout the cardiac cycle. When pressure in the right ventricle approximated that of the left, right-to-left shunting occurred across the defect into the left ventricle during isovolumic relax...

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of congenital heart defects in patients with Down syndrome in the municipality of Pelotas, Brazil, describing the most frequent types and assessing the associated factors. METHODS Cross-sectional study including children with Down syndrome who were born and lived in Pelotas from January 2000 to December 2005. Data were collected by means of home interview...