Objective:To evaluate the value of D-dimer(D-D) levels in the diagnosis of thromboembolism in children with severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (SMPP).Methods:A case control study was conducted on 51 SMPP patients admitted to Qingdao Women and Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University and Jining First People′s Hospital from January 1, 2021 to August 1, 2024.They were divided into a thrombus group (19 cases) and a non-thrombus group (32 cases) according to whether they had thromboembolism.The characteristics of the cases were analyzed.Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between increased D-D levels and the risk of thrombosis.The value of D-D levels in predicting thromboembolism in SMPP patients was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic curve.Results:Of the 19 patients with thrombosis, 11 had with pulmonary thrombosis, 6 had cerebrovascular thrombosis, 3 had heart thrombosis, 1 had spleen artery thrombosis, and 3 had multiple site thrombosis.Compared with the non-thrombus group, the thrombus group had higher D-D levels[(18.5±4.9) mg/L vs.(3.1±0.8) mg/L, t=3.118, P=0.006], higher C-reactive protein levels[25.5(15.5, 92.7) mg/L vs.7.9(3.9, 21.4) mg/L, Z=3.292, P=0.001], higher lactate dehydrogenase levels[484(351, 743) U/L vs.347(285, 396) U/L, Z=2.770, P=0.006] and a higher proportion of pleural effusion[63.1%(12/19) vs.25.0%(8/32), χ2=7.282, P=0.009].Increased D-D levels were an independent risk factor for thromboembolism in SMPP patients ( P=0.005, OR=1.254, 95% CI: 1.069-1.472).When the D-D level was used for predicting thromboembolism in SMPP patients, its cut-off value was 4.46 mg/L, its Youden index was 0.707, its area under the curve was 0.893(95% CI: 0.807-0.979), its sensitivity was 89.5%, its specificity was 81.2%, and its negative predictive value was 92.9%. Conclusions:D-D levels have high value in predicting thromboembolism in SMPP patients, and it can help timely identify patients at high risk.

The International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation released 2025 guidelines for the management of heart failure in children, which is an update of the 2014 edition.The new guidelines deeply integrate major advancements in the field of adult heart failure (such as the application of angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors and sodium-dependent glucose transporters 2 inhibitor) with the uniqueness and complexity of pediatric heart failure.They propose more refined heart failure staging, classification, diagnostic evaluation processes, and treatment strategies while systematically emphasizing, for the first time, the importance of complication management and palliative care.This article aims to provide an in-depth interpretation of the core updates and highlights of 2025 guidelines and offer insights and recommendations for clinical practice, research directions, and the revision of guidelines/consensus in the field of pediatric heart failure in China based on China′s national conditions.

Objective:To evaluate the value of D-dimer(D-D) levels in the diagnosis of thromboembolism in children with severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (SMPP).Methods:A case control study was conducted on 51 SMPP patients admitted to Qingdao Women and Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University and Jining First People′s Hospital from January 1, 2021 to August 1, 2024.They were divided into a thrombus group (19 cases) and a non-thrombus group (32 cases) according to whether they had thromboembolism.The characteristics of the cases were analyzed.Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between increased D-D levels and the risk of thrombosis.The value of D-D levels in predicting thromboembolism in SMPP patients was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic curve.Results:Of the 19 patients with thrombosis, 11 had with pulmonary thrombosis, 6 had cerebrovascular thrombosis, 3 had heart thrombosis, 1 had spleen artery thrombosis, and 3 had multiple site thrombosis.Compared with the non-thrombus group, the thrombus group had higher D-D levels[(18.5±4.9) mg/L vs.(3.1±0.8) mg/L, t=3.118, P=0.006], higher C-reactive protein levels[25.5(15.5, 92.7) mg/L vs.7.9(3.9, 21.4) mg/L, Z=3.292, P=0.001], higher lactate dehydrogenase levels[484(351, 743) U/L vs.347(285, 396) U/L, Z=2.770, P=0.006] and a higher proportion of pleural effusion[63.1%(12/19) vs.25.0%(8/32), χ2=7.282, P=0.009].Increased D-D levels were an independent risk factor for thromboembolism in SMPP patients ( P=0.005, OR=1.254, 95% CI: 1.069-1.472).When the D-D level was used for predicting thromboembolism in SMPP patients, its cut-off value was 4.46 mg/L, its Youden index was 0.707, its area under the curve was 0.893(95% CI: 0.807-0.979), its sensitivity was 89.5%, its specificity was 81.2%, and its negative predictive value was 92.9%. Conclusions:D-D levels have high value in predicting thromboembolism in SMPP patients, and it can help timely identify patients at high risk.

The International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation released 2025 guidelines for the management of heart failure in children, which is an update of the 2014 edition.The new guidelines deeply integrate major advancements in the field of adult heart failure (such as the application of angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors and sodium-dependent glucose transporters 2 inhibitor) with the uniqueness and complexity of pediatric heart failure.They propose more refined heart failure staging, classification, diagnostic evaluation processes, and treatment strategies while systematically emphasizing, for the first time, the importance of complication management and palliative care.This article aims to provide an in-depth interpretation of the core updates and highlights of 2025 guidelines and offer insights and recommendations for clinical practice, research directions, and the revision of guidelines/consensus in the field of pediatric heart failure in China based on China′s national conditions.

Cardiomyopathy is a group of highly heterogeneous myocardial diseases.Recurrent worsening heart failure(WHF) is the main reason for the high hospitalization rate and high mortality rate in children with cardiomyopathy, and makes children rapidly enter the end-stage of heart failure.The concept of WHF was first described in the literature on pediatric heart failure.Unfortunately, clinical studies of WHF in children during the past five decades are rare.Based on the current definition of adult WHF and the characteristics of pediatric heart failure, this review briefly introduced the concept, inducement and risk factors, identification and management of WHF in children with cardiomyopathy.

Objective:To evaluate the predictive values of the Status Epilepticus in Pediatric Patients Severity Score (STEPSS) and END-IT score in the short-term prognosis of children with status epilepticus (SE).Methods:It was a retrospective study involving 103 children with SE who were admitted to the Qingdao Women and Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University from January 1, 2012 to January 1, 2022.Glasgow Outcome Scale was used to evaluate the prognosis at discharge, and the children were divided into good prognosis group ( n=78) and poor prognosis group ( n=25). Risk factors for poor prognosis of SE in children were analyzed by Logistic regression.Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the prognostic values of STEPSS and END-IT score in children with SE. Results:Compared with those of the good prognosis group, significantly younger age [16 (9, 58) months vs.56 (21, 84) months, Z=-3.068, P=0.002], higher blood lactic acid levels [3.16 (2.43, 4.01) mmol/L vs.1.67 (1.32, 2.10) mmol/L, Z=-6.085, P<0.001], STEPSS scores [3.0(3.0, 4.0) points vs.1.0(1.0, 2.0) points, Z=-6.956, P<0.001], END-IT scores [3.0(1.5, 4.0) points vs.1.0(0, 1.0) points, Z=-5.502, P<0.001], proportion of developmental delay ( χ2=16.756, P<0.001), abnormal brain magnetic resonance imagine examination ( χ2=5.860, P=0.015), use of ventilator and multiple drugs (all P<0.001), and longer duration of anti-SE therapy time( Z=1.488, P=0.024) were detected in the poor prognosis group. Logistic regression analysis indicated that increased blood lactic acid ( OR=7.975, 95% CI: 2.705-23.518), increased drug types ( OR=14.562, 95% CI: 2.035-104.173), STEPSS scores( OR=8.914, 95% CI: 2.824-28.140) and END-IT scores ( OR=2.209, 95% CI: 1.046-4.667) were risk factors for the poor prognosis of SE in children.The area under the curve (AUC) of STEPSS in predicting the poor prognosis of SE in children was 0.939, with the cut-off value, sensitivity, specificity and Youden index of 2.5 points, 96.0%, 85.9% and 0.82, respectively.AUC of END-IT scores in predicting the poor prognosis of SE in children was 0.853, with the cut-off value, sensitivity, specificity and Youden index of 1.5 points, 76.0%, 75.6% and 0.52, respectively.AUC of STEPSS in predicting the poor prognosis of SE in children was significantly higher than that of END-IT scores ( U=36.91, P<0.05). The predictive value of STEPSS combined with END-IT was higher, and the sensitivity and negative predictive value of parallel test were 100.0%, while the specificity and positive predictive value of series test were 94.9% and 81.8%, respectively. Conclusions:STEPSS and END-IT scores may be used as predictors for the poor prognosis of SE in children.Their combination provides a better prediction.

Objective:To investigate the short-term and medium-term changes of the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and the predictive value of relevant electrocardiogram (ECG) indexes in children with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) complicated with complete left bundle branch block (CLBBB).Methods:Children clinically diagnosed with DCM in the Department of Heart Center, Women and Children′s Hospital, Qingdao University and Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University between November 2011 and August 2020 were retrospectively recruited.According to the combination of CLBBB, they were divided into CLBBB group and non-CLBBB group.Echocardiogram and ECG were regularly performed.Short-term and medium-term changes of LVEF based on the 1-5-year follow-up data were compared between groups.COX proportional hazards model and Kaplan-Meier multiplicative limit method were used to analyze the predictive value of ECG indexes of LVEF changes in children with DCM combined with CLBBB.Results:Ninety-four children with DCM were enrolled, including 35 cases in CLBBB group and 59 cases in non-CLBBB group.There was no difference in baseline LVEF between groups.However, significant differences were found in QRS duration, corre-cted QT interval(QTc), R peak time in lead V 5 (T V5R) and QRS notching or slurring between groups ( P<0.05). LVEF of all children showed an upward trend within one year after onset, while the Z value of eft ventricular end diastolic diameter(LVEDd) showed a downward trend, and the two indexes tended to be stable within 1 - 5 years.The Z value of LVEDd in CLBBB group was significantly higher than that of non-CLBBB group, while LVEF was significantly lower (all P<0.05). The mean LVEF of CLBBB group slightly fluctuated around 50%, that of LVEF in non-CLBBB group was 60%.The multivariate COX regression analysis showed that QRS duration ( HR=0.979; 95% CI: 0.960-0.999, P<0.05) and QTc ( HR=0.988; 95% CI: 0.979-0.998, P<0.05) were independent predictors of LVEF recovery in children with DCM.Kaplan-Meier method showed a significant difference of LVEF normalization between DCM children with different QRS durations ( P<0.05), which was also detected in those with QTc interval ( P<0.05). Conclusions:LVEF of children with DCM combined with CLBBB increases in the short term after standard treatment, and then being stable.CLBBB can affect the recovery of left ventricular systolic function in children with DCM.Moreover, QRS duration and QTc interval are independent predictors of LVEF recovery in DCM children.

Objective:To summarize the clinical features, gene mutations and experience of standardized enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) of Pompe disease (PD) in children.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 13 children with PD, who were hospitalized in Qingdao Women and Children′s Hospital from December 2016 to August 2021.According to the age at onset, the children were divided into the infantile-onset Pompe disease (IOPD) group and late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) group.At the same time, they were divided into the ERT group and non-ERT group according to whether recombinant human acid alpha-glucosidase (rhGAA) was infused.Furthermore, the ERT group was divided into the standard ERT group and non-standard ERT group.The standard ERT group received a dose of 20 mg/kg every 2 weeks for 52 weeks.The survival rate was compared between groups by using the Kaplan-Meier method.Results:Among the 13 children with PD, there were 7 males and 6 females.Ten cases belonged to the IOPD group and 3 cases belonged to the LOPD group.The most common cause of initial consultation in the IOPD group was cardiac involvement, which accounted for 60.0% (6/10 cases), while the LOPD group mainly presented with myasthenia, cardiac involvement and respiratory tract infection at the first diagnosis.The serum level of creatine kinase (CK) in all cases increased to varying degrees.Acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA) was completely deficient in 1 case and decreased in 12 cases.All the children in the IOPD group showed myocardial hypertrophy, electrocardiograph (ECG) suggested a short PR interval, increased QRS voltage and extensive T-wave inversion.Three new mutations were found by GAA gene analysis, and they were c. 1861T>G (p.Trp621Gly), c.2278A>T (p.K760X), and c. 949G>A (p.A317T). Five cases in the IOPD group were given ERT.Two of them were given standard ERT for 52 weeks, and the other 3 cases were treated with non-standard ERT.At the end of follow-up, 2 cases treated with standardized ERT survived and the remaining 8 cases died of heart failure or respiratory failure.In the LOPD group, only 1 case was given ERT one time.Finally, 2 cases survived and one died of respiratory failure.The total fatality rate was 69.2%(9/13 cases). The survival rate of the ERT group (50.0%) and standard ERT group (100.0%) was significantly higher than that of the non-ERT group (14.3%) ( Log Rank P=0.037, 0.044). Conclusions:The clinical manifestations of PD are diverse.GAA activity examination and GAA gene analysis are important for clinical diagnosis of PD.Standardized ERT can significantly delay the progression of PD and even reverse myocardial hypertrophy in children with IOPD.

Objective:To explore the clinical characteristics and mutation spectrum of ALPK3-related pediatric cardiomyopathy and craniofacial-skeletal abnormalities in children.Methods:The clinical data during a follow-up of 11 years including clinical features, echocardiogram, electrocardiogram, cardiac magnetic resonance, genetic testing, and other data of a child firstly diagnosed with ALPK3 gene-related cardiomyopathy and craniofacial-skeletal abnormalities in China were collected retrospectively. The literatures containing the keyword of "ALPK3 gene" published in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang database and PubMed were collected up to November 2020. Then, the clinical features and gene mutations of ALPK3 gene-related pediatric cardiomyopathy with craniofacial-skeletal features were summarized.Results:A female patient aged 10 months who presented with an enlarged heart for 2 months, was admitted to the hospital and initially diagnosed with endocardial elastic fibrosis. The echocardiography showed features of dilated left ventricle (LV) and LV systolic dysfunction. Low-set ears, webbed neck, a grade 2/6 systolic murmur at lower left sternal area and bilateral absent flexion creases of dig were observed. After treatment, the size and function of the heart recovered to normal at age 13 months. However, the ventricular septum and LV wall were thicker than normal values. Then, the diagnosis was revised to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HCM) and suspected congenital malformation syndrome. LV hypertrophy (LVH) progressed slowly before the age of 8 years and then progressed rapidly. At age 9 years, compound heterozygous ALPK3 mutations (c.721dup, p.Y241Lfs*42(exon 1) and c.4840C>T, p.R1614*(exon 10)) were detected in the proband and the mutations had not been reported previously. Then, the final diagnosis of ALPK3 gene-related pediatric cardiomyopathy with craniofacial-skeletal features was made. During the follow up of 11 years, regular follow-up echocardiographic images showed progressive LVH. At age 11 years, electrocardiogram showed LVH, ST-T changes in multiple-lead, T wave inversion, and prolonged QT intervals. Cardiac magnetic resonance showed biventricular hypertrophy and late gadolinium enhancement showed non-uniform enhancement of left and right ventricular myocardium. A total of 7 articles published in English were retrieved, and no Chinese literature was found. Twenty-eight cases were reported in the articles plus the patient in this study. Twenty-four mutations were reported worldwide, 18 patients carried homozygous mutations and 10 patients compound heterozygous mutations. Eleven patients showed dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) at early stage of disease, and 10 of them transitioned to HCM at the disease progression stage. Eight patients presented with HCM at early stage of disease. Nine patients initially exhibited a mixed phenotype of DCM and HCM, and 6 of them eventually progressed to HCM. Electrocardiogram showed prolonged QT interval. Extracardiac features included short stature, special face, cleft palate, webbed neck, joint contracture, and scoliosis, etc.Conclusions:Progressive myocardial hypertrophy is a major feature of ALPK3 gene-related cardiomyopathy with craniofacial-skeletal malformations. Precise diagnosis depends on molecular genetic techniques. More cases should be accumulated for further analysis on the genotype-phenotype correlation and prognosis assessment.

Heart failure (HF) is a common critical illness in pediatrics.At present, the evidence-based medicine for the treatment of chronic HF in children is significantly less than that in adults.There is a lack of relevant evidence on the effectiveness and safety of anti-HF drugs and technologies in children.Due to the fact that the treatment theory and experience are largely based on the research data about adults, and the domestic and foreign consensus or guidelines for the treatment of pediatric chronic HF are out of date, pediatric cardiologists are facing huge challenges.In recent years, the novel drugs and technologies in children have been adopted gradually, for instance, angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors and Ivabradine have attracted rising attention in the treatment of pediatric HF; Such technologies as cardiac resynchronization and radiofrequency ablation can significantly improve the prognosis of some kinds of chronic HF; the advancement of ventricular assist device provides the possibility for its wide application.Based on the current situation, the safety and efficacy of both traditional anti-HF drugs and new drugs and technologies shall be verified in future by multi-center, large-sample and high-quality clinical research, so as to provide a basis for the treatment strategy of chronic HF in children.