13/12/2023
Clinical Pediatric Sports Cardiology:
Congenital Heart Defects in Loeys-Dietz Syndrome
Loeys-Dietz Syndrome is a genectic connective tissue disorder with a wide spectrum of multisystem involvement. Loeys-Dietz Syndrome and other aortopathies (e.g., Marfan Syndrome) have overlapping clinical features. Loeys-Dietz Syndrome is characterized by rapidly progressive aortic enlargement and weakened blood vessels. Hence, children with Loeys-Dietz Syndrome are susceptible to aortic dissection and aneurysms throughout the arterial tree. Children with Loeys-Dietz Syndrome also have cranosynostosis, cleft palate, clubfoot, pes planus (flat foot), scoliosis, cervical spine instability, pectus anomalies, joint hypermobility, and gastrointestinal distress.
Physical exercise activities are important for children with Loeys-Dietz Syndrome. Most parents of children born with Congenital Heart Defects (CHDs) and co-morbidities (e.g., Loeys-Dietz Syndrome, Down Syndrome) are against sports and exercise because of over-protectiveness. Abundance of clinical scientific evidence-based researches demonstrated the importance of physical exercise for improved overall health improvement, heart-lung functions, and fitness. It is vital for children with Loeys-Dietz Syndrome to engage in medically supervised medical fitness program with individualized exercise prescription. Another benefit of organized medically supervised medical fitness program is its favorable benefit to minimize physical inactivity that increases the risks of acquiring coronary heart disease and diabetes.
