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Systemic Right Ventricle Long-term Outcome

Completed
Conditions
Transposition of the Great Arteries
Systemic Right Ventricle
Registration Number
NCT06258083
Lead Sponsor
University Medical Center Groningen
Brief Summary

Patients with the transposition of great arteries (TGA) who undergo atrial switch operation and congenitally corrected TGA (ccTGA) patients have the right ventricle as their systemic ventricle. Function of the systemic right ventricle (SRV) could deteriorate which is associated with impaired prognosis. It is of paramount importance to understand the course and fate of these patients during a long-term follow-up to identify the determinants of adverse outcomes.

Detailed Description

In the year 2000, the prevalence of congenital heart diseases (CHD) patients with transposition of great arteries (TGA) was 0.027% in living children and 0.004% in living adults (1). Considering a complete transition to arterial switch operation in the 1990s, it is expected that the number of patients with systemic right ventricle (SRV) decrease over time (2). However, considering the existing number of patients with the TGA who have not undergone arterial switch surgery, SRV remains a challenging issue in the practice of adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) specialists.

TGA is characterized by AV concordance and ventriculo-arterial discordance and is called simple without the presence of associated congenital anomalies. However, complex TGA is when other anomalies are present including VSD (∼45%), LVOTO (∼25%), and CoA (∼5%). TGA's pathogenesis is controversial and there is rare familial occurrence. Male are two times more affected than females. The prognosis of TGA patients without surgery is poor and only exceptional cases survive to adulthood (3).

Heart failure and sudden cardiac death (SCD) are the predominant causes of mortality in TGA patients (4). Patients who undergo atrial switch operation and congenitally corrected TGA (ccTGA) patients are at risk of developing SRV failure in the future (3). The RV is a thin-walled triangular structure acting as a low pressure pump in the normal heart. Because of having only 2 layers, the RV cannot cause the torsion caused by the LV. Due to this geometry and anatomy, the right ventricular function is highly dependent on the loading conditions. The increased afterload that the RV faces in the systemic position causes compensatory RV dilation to maintain the stroke volume. Subsequently, there is increased myocardial wall stress and oxygen demand. The development of heart failure in the SRV is multifactorial. Other potential factors contributing to the SRV failure are impaired coronary reserve or ischemia, myocardial fibrosis, chronotropic incompetence, volume overload from tricuspid regurgitation and arrhythmias (4). Another contributing factor is the reduced baffle compliance in patients with atrial switch. This impairs the preload and stroke volume, especially when there is increased demand. The non-contractile atrial baffles cause impaired atrioventricular transport during tachycardia, therefore causing an inadequate RV filling (4).

Unfortunately, at the moment, the hypothesis that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors), angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), aldosterone antagonists, and beta-blockers can improve the outcome of such patients alone or in combination is not supported by data and evidence. There is no solid recommendation in the 2020 guidelines for the management of ACHD (3).

Previous studies evaluating the fate and outcome of patients with an SRV are either mostly single-centered with a small number of patients or have a short follow-up period (5,6). In a study done by Richard Dobson and colleagues on a national cohort in Scotland, the investigators concluded that patients with an SRV who survive to adulthood have low mortality and good functional status up to the age of 40 (7).

It is of paramount importance to understand the course and fate of these patients during a long-term follow-up to identify the determinants of adverse outcomes. This will enable the investigators to investigate mechanistic pathways of such outcomes. By understanding the risk factors and pathophysiological basis, the investigators can also investigate new diagnostic methods and therapeutic options to improve the quality of life and reduce the mortality of patients with an SRV.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
542
Inclusion Criteria
  • Patients aged 12 years old and older
  • Surgically corrected transposition of the great arteries (TGA) patients with a systemic right ventricle (SRV) (Mustard, Senning)
  • Congenitally corrected TGA patients with a systemic right ventricle
Exclusion Criteria

* None.

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
All-cause mortalityThrough study completion, an average of 18 years

Death

Infective endocarditisThrough study completion, an average of 18 years

Definitie Infective Endocarditis

Incident heart failureThrough study completion, an average of 18 years

Initiation or increase in dosage (if previously prescribed for another cause, i.e. hypertension) of loop diuretic, ACE-inhibitor/ARB therapy, or evidence-based beta blocker therapy because of new heart failure signs and symptoms (shortness of breath, fatigue, reduced exercise tolerance) AND AT LEAST 1 OF THE FOLLOWING: • BNP ≥400 pg/mL OR the following NT-proBNP levels according to age: \< 50 years, ≥450 ng/L; 50-75 years, ≥900 ng/L; \>75 years, ≥1800 ng/L OR systolic dysfunction (Systemic ventricle EF \<50%) OR • BNP 100-400 pg/mL (or NT-proBNP levels below the thresholds according to age given above) AND structural or functional heart disease

Number of patients with heart failure hospitalizationThrough study completion, an average of 18 years

Rehospitalization, emergency ward visit, 24h observation stay AND Treatment with or increase in dosage if previously prescribed for another cause (i.e.hypertension) of loop diuretics or treatment with IV vasoactive agents.

Number of patients with arrhythmiasThrough study completion, an average of 18 years

Events that cause emergency ward visit or hospitalization.

Number of patients with thromboembolic eventsThrough study completion, an average of 18 years

Cerebrovascular events including any of (Hemorrhagic or ischemic): 1, TIA (symptoms less than 24 hours) 2, CVA (symptoms more than 24 hours) and also pulmonary embolism.

Number of patients with tricuspid valve surgeryThrough study completion, an average of 18 years

Tricuspid valve surgery

Number of patients with ventricular Assist Device implantationThrough study completion, an average of 18 years

Implantation of ventricular assist device

Number of patients with heart transplantationThrough study completion, an average of 18 years

Heart transplantation

Number of patients with aortic aneurysm or dissectionThrough study completion, an average of 18 years

Aortic root more than 40 mm or aneurysm in other parts of aorta. Aortic dissection.

Number of patients with pulmonary artery hypertensionThrough study completion, an average of 18 years

Mean PAP of more than 25mmHg or systolic PAP of more than 40 mmHg.

Number of patients with baffle interventionsThrough study completion, an average of 18 years

Surgical or angiographic reintervention of baffles in patients with surgically corrected transposition of the great arteries (due to stenosis or leakage).

Number of patients with coronary artery interventionsThrough study completion, an average of 18 years

Due to ischemia. Angiographic or surgical intervention.

Number of patients with device implantationThrough study completion, an average of 18 years

Including pacmakers, ICDs and CRTs.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Number of patients with right ventricular systolic dysfunctionAt two time points. 1: Baseline 2. Through study completion, an average of 18 years

Measured by echocardiography qualitatively

Number of patients with decreased exercise capacityAt two time points. 1: Baseline 2. Through study completion, an average of 18 years

Evaluated by cardiopulmonary exercise test results.

Number of patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunctionAt two time points. 1: Baseline 2. Through study completion, an average of 18 years

Measured by echocardiography qualitatively

Trial Locations

Locations (9)

Universitair Ziekenhuis Leuven

🇧🇪

Leuven, Belgium

Radboud University Medical Centre

🇳🇱

Nijmegen, Netherlands

Amsterdam University Medical Centre

🇳🇱

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Leiden University Medical Centre

🇳🇱

Leiden, Netherlands

Erasmus University Medical Centre

🇳🇱

Rotterdam, Netherlands

University Medical Centre Utrecht

🇳🇱

Utrecht, Netherlands

Medisch Spectrum Twente Enschede

🇳🇱

Enschede, Netherlands

University Medical Center Groningen

🇳🇱

Groningen, Netherlands

Maastricht University Medical Centre

🇳🇱

Maastricht, Netherlands

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