Down syndrome (DS) is commonly associated with cardiovascular disorders
either congenital or acquired. Congenital cardiac diseases (CHDs) occur in about half
of children with DS. They also are more liable to have pulmonary hypertension, mitral
valve prolapse, aortic regurgitation and many other acquired cardiac conditions.
Meanwhile, they are also of a higher risk for developing obesity than the control
children which predisposes them to an increased risk of atherosclerosis. Antenatal
detection of DS as well as CHDs can be detected by presence of some soft signs during
routine antenatal 4-chamber view. Children with this syndrome should have
echocardiographic examination in the first month of life for all neonates, before any
cardiac surgery, as follow-up after cardiac surgery, for serial evaluation of pulmonary
hypertension, before involvement in major non-cardiac surgery and before involvement
in physical exercise as well as serial follow up for early detection of any cardiac
disorder. In this chapter, prevalence, pathomechanism and methods of detection of
cardiac disorders in children with DS as well as their management are discussed.
Keywords: Aberrant right subclavian artery, Atrioventricular septal defects,
Cardiac functions, Children, Congenital Cardiac Diseases, DSCR1 gene, Down
syndrome, Echogenic intracardiac foci, Fallout Tetralogy, Fetal
echocardiography, Hypothyroidism, Mitral Valve prolapse, Nuchal translucency,
Over-expression, Patent ductus arteriosus, Pathomechanism, Pericardial Effusion,
Single umbilical artery, Soft signs, Ventricular septal defects.
