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Neonatal Cardiology
Third Edition
Michael Artman, MD
Joyce C. Hall Eminent Scholar in Pediatrics
Senior Vice President, Pediatrician-in-Chief
Children’s Mercy Hospital
Chair, Department of Pediatrics
University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine
University of Kansas School of Medicine
Kansas City, Missouri
Lynn Mahony, MD
Professor, Department of Pediatrics
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, Texas
David F. Teitel, MD
Professor, Department of Pediatrics and the Cardiovascular Research Institute
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, California
New York Chicago San Francisco Athens London Madrid Mexico City
Milan New Delhi Singapore Sydney Toronto
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This book is dedicated to our families for their unwavering support, understanding, and sacrifices.
It is from them that we gain our balance.
We are grateful to the many teachers from whom we were fortunate to learn more than mere facts.
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Chapter 1 Chapter 9
Cardiac Morphogenesis: Implications for Cardiomyopathy and Other Causes of
Congenital Cardiovascular Diseases................... 1 Ventricular Dysfunction.................................. 155
Adriana C. Gittenberger-de Groot, PhD, Chapter 10
Robert E. Poelmann, PhD, Arrhythmias.................................................. 185
Margot M. Bartelings MD, PhD,
Marco C. DeRuiter, MD, PhD, Chapter 11
and Monique R. M. Jongbloed, MD, PhD Principles of Medical Management................. 217
Chapter 2 Chapter 12
Myocyte Contraction and Relaxation................. 19 Cardiovascular Drug Therapy.......................... 235
Chapter 3 Chapter 13
Perinatal Cardiovascular Physiology.................. 39 Care of the Postoperative Patient................... 255
Chapter 4 Chapter 14
Prenatal Evaluation and Management............... 55 Neurology of Congenital Cardiovascular Disease:
Brain Development, Acquired Injury,
Chapter 5 and Neurodevelopmental Outcome................. 267
Initial Evaluation of the Newborn With
Shabnam Peyvandi, MD
Suspected Cardiovascular Disease................... 67
and Patrick McQuillen, MD
Chapter 6
Approach to the Cyanotic Infant........................ 81
Chapter 15
Epidemiology, Etiology, and Genetics
Chapter 7 of Congenital Cardiovascular Disease............. 279
Approach to the Infant With Excessive
Pulmonary Blood Flow................................... 111 Index ..............................................................................291
vii
ix
xi
medially by the second heart field (SHF) mesoderm toward various parts of the embryo, including the heart.
(Figure 1A). Upon fusion in the midline, the FHF forms Cardiac neural crest cells differentiate into cells of the
the two-layered primary heart tube with myocardium autonomic nervous system and into vascular smooth
on the outside lined by endocardium on the inside. muscle cells of the pharyngeal arch arteries and contrib-
The myocardium secretes a glycoprotein-rich layer, the ute to the arterial pole of the heart entering the endo-
cardiac jelly, toward the endocardium. The primary heart cardial outflow tract cushions (Figure 1-1E). Neural
tube connects to the arterial pole cranially and to the crest cells within the heart are involved in modulation
venous pole caudally (Figure 1-1B) but does not contain and induction of semilunar valve formation and genera-
all segments of the four-chambered heart. Venous tribu- tion of the myocardial component of the outflow tract
taries abut on the small atrial component, followed down- septum. At the venous pole, where their contribution is
stream by the future atrioventricular canal and a primitive less important, a similar effect is observed in the atrio-
left ventricle. Finally, the outflow tract connects to the ventricular cushions. More recently, cardiac neural crest
aortic sac at the arterial pole (Figure 1-1C). The various cells contributing smooth muscle cells to the coronary
components can be distinguished soon after, as both the arteries have been identified.
AV canal and the outflow tract contain an increasing
amount of cardiac jelly that forms the endocardial cush- ■■ THE EPICARDIUM
ions. The cushions become even more prominent as they
acquire mesenchymal cells, derived from the endocardial The epicardium (splanchnic mesodermal lining of the
lining as a result of endocardial-mesenchymal transition. pericardial cavity) is a secondary layer covering the
Subsequently, the primary heart tube starts the develop- myocardial tube and the intrapericardial part of the arte-
mentally determined rightward looping. rial pole. During embryonic development, the epicar-
At the same time, the SHF adds progenitor cells to dium originates from both the venous and the arterial
both the venous and the arterial poles, which ultimately poles (Figure 1-1E–G). The larger epicardial population
form the essential components of the right ventricle (RV) derives from a protrusion of the coelomic wall, covering
and at least a part of the right side of the interventricu- the sinus venosus and liver primordium (Figure 1-1F).
lar septum (Figure 1-1D). At the venous pole, the SHF The cells of the proepicardium spread along the outer
forms cardiomyocytes encapsulating the sinus venosus wall of the ventricles and atria to the border of the myo-
and its tributaries. The sinus venosus is incorporated cardium at the arterial pole. Here, they join the arte-
subsequently into the wall of the right and left atrium. rial epicardium, which is derived from a much smaller
Likewise, the walls of the great arteries, the embryonic arterial proepicardium exhibiting a slightly different
pharyngeal arch arteries that connect to the aortic sac, are phenotype (Figure 1-1G). On activation, the epithelial
partly built from SHF-originating cells. Neural crest cells epicardium undergoes endocardial-mesenchymal tran-
also contribute to formation of the great arteries, as will sition, and the resulting mesenchymal cells fill the sub-
be explained below in this chapter. epicardial space as epicardium-derived cells. These cells
Multiple specific transcription factors and signaling migrate between the myocardial cells of the heart tube,
molecules are essential to the early stages of cardiogenesis. the atrioventricular cushions, and the future fibrous
These include the earliest markers of the precardiac meso- annulus. These epicardium-derived cells, in contrast
derm, including the homeobox-containing gene Nkx2.5 to neural crest cells, differentiate into several cell lines
and the zinc-finger-containing GATA4/5/6 subfamily. including the majority of the cardiac fibroblasts and the
Members of the T-box family, TBx1/5/18/20, also have vascular smooth muscle cells of the coronary vascular
essential roles in SHF differentiation. Myocardial differ- system (Figure 1-2).The endothelial lining of the coro-
entiation is regulated by several myocyte-specific genes, nary vascular system is derived from the endothelium
including myosin light and heavy chain, alpha-cardiac of the sinus venosus/liver primordium adjacent to the
actin, and cardiac troponin I. proepicardium (Figures 1-1F, 1-2).
LV
RV LV
RV
Venous pole
IVC
A B C D
NH18 HH17
PAA
Anterior SHF
SV OFT
aPEO
NCC
PC
Posterior SHF
PC
vPEO
vPEO
CV L
F G
E
FIGURE 1-1. Cardiac development. A. Schematic depiction of the precardiac mesoderm in the primi-
tive plate. The brown area reflects the mesoderm of the FHF, whereas the yellow area corresponds
to the putative SHF mesoderm. B. Primary heart tube derived of FHF mesoderm. The tube consists of
myocardium, lined by cardiac jelly. C. Heart tube after looping. The yellow areas reflect SHF-derived
contributions. The SHF contributions to the outflow tract have not been depicted. Note that in this
stage the atria are still positioned entirely above the primitive left ventricle, whereas the outflow tract
is positioned above the primitive right ventricle. D. Advanced stage of heart development. Septation
has now occurred at the level of the atria, ventricles, and outflow tract. E. Sagittal view of an embryo.
The (anterior and posterior) SHF mesoderm and its derivatives are depicted in yellow. Contributions
from neural crest cells are depicted in blue. A proepicardial organ can be distinguished at the venous
pole as well as a smaller proepicardial organ at the arterial pole. F. Scanning electronic microscopic
section at the level of the venous pole in a chick embryo, showing the venous pole of the proepicardial
organ. G. Scanning electronic microscopic section at the level of the outflow tract in a chick embryo,
showing the arterial pole of the proepicardial organ (arrowheads, asterisk). Abbreviations: A, atrium;
Ao, aorta; AoS, aortic sac; aPEO, atrial pole of proepicardial organ; AVC, atrioventricular canal; EC,
endocardial cushions; FHF, first heart field; HH, Hamburger and Hamilton; IVC, inferior vena cava;
LA, left atrium; L, liver; LCV, left cardinal vein; LV, left ventricle; LVV, left venous valve; PAA, pharyn-
geal arch artery; PC, pericardial cavity; PT, pulmonary trunk; PV, pulmonary vein; RA, right atrium;
RCV, right cardinal vein; RV, right ventricle; RVV, right venous valve; SHF, second heart field; SV, sinus
venosus; SVC, superior vena cava; VPEO, venous pole of proepicardial organ. B–E: Adapted from:
Gittenberger-de Groot AC et al. Ann Med. 2014;46(8):640-652. F and G: Adapted from: Gittenberger-de
Groot AC et al. Differentiation. 2012;84(1):41-53.
Compact myocardium
Spongious
myocardium
Infarction
Myocardium
CMPCs
Cardiomyocyte
precursor
Conduction
anomalies
Cardiac jelly
Trabeculae
∗ Purkinje fibres
∗ EPDCs
Fibroelastosis
PEO epithelium Epicardium EPDCs
Fistulae
Sinus VSMCs fibroblasts
ECs
venosus/
liver Pattern anomalies
Endothelial Coronary capillaries Coronary
precursor vessels
FIGURE 1-2. Cell lines contributing to the developing heart. Schematic representation of cardiac
cell lines (cardiomyocytes, endocardium, epicardium, and endothelium) that are derived from the first
and second heart field mesoderm and are the main contributors to the definitive heart and vessels.
Epicardium-derived cells (in yellow) as well as inadequate interaction with other cardiac cell types may
play a role in some cardiac malformations (green boxes). The second heart field and neural crest cell
contribution to the great vessels is not represented. Abbreviations: CMPCs, cardiomyocyte progenitor
cells; EPDCs, epicardium-derived cells; ECs, endothelial cells; VSMCs, vascular smooth muscle cells.
Adapted from: Gittenberger-de Groot AC et al. Differentiation. 2012;84(1):41-53.
lungs are not symmetric. Situs inversus and heterotaxy abnormal cardiac development and even early embryo-
occur in humans; several mouse models have increased lethality. This results in early spontaneous abortion in
our knowledge on essential signaling factors related to humans. In homozygous mouse strains, 50% of spontane-
determination of situs. It is remarkable that only the ous early embryo-lethality related to mutations is caused
atrial situs and its contributing posterior SHF seem to be by cardiovascular abnormalities. In the usually non-
influenced by these factors, while right ventricle and left homozygous human, the percent of spontaneous abor-
ventricle with their specific morphologies do not copy the tions caused by congenital cardiovascular disease cannot
atrial situs anomalies (eg, inversus or ambiguous). be determined unequivocally. The FHF lesions are consid-
ered to be the most critical for embryonic demise. Most
of the cardiac malformations that clinicians encounter
■■ CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL
in the perinatal period occur during looping and events
TIME WINDOWS
mediated by the SHF. Spontaneous abortion in the second
In the preceding paragraphs, the cellular building blocks trimester caused by congenital cardiovascular disease is
of the cardiovascular system have been presented. Serious less common, as most forms of cardiac malformations are
disturbances of one or more cell populations can lead to compatible with intrauterine survival.
■■ CARDIAC MORPHOGENESIS AND incorporated into the posterior wall of both the right and
DYSMORPHOGENESIS the left atria. The atrial appendages are probably related
to the FHF.
In the human embryo, the formation of the four-
The left and right cardinal veins (the embryonic supe-
chambered heart occurs by about 8 weeks’ gestation.
rior and inferior caval veins) are incorporated into the
Thereafter, maturation and remodeling of, eg, the pha-
right atrium and are flanked by the folds of the embry-
ryngeal arch arteries and valves are essential for ensuing
onic right and left venous valves (Figure 1-1C, D). The
proper functioning and postnatal survival. The most
left inferior cardinal vein (future coronary sinus) and the
important elements of cardiac morphogenesis (summa-
left superior cardinal vein (regressing in the human heart
rized in Figure 1-3), including septation, valve formation,
as the ligament of Marshall) all drain into the cavity of
conduction system maturation, and coronary vascular
the right atrium. A splanchnic vascular plexus surrounds
development, will be presented.
the developing lung buds. During early developmental
stages, the primary route of pulmonary drainage from this
Incorporation of the Sinus Venosus, Atrial plexus is toward the systemic veins; a direct connection of
Septation, and Pulmonary Vein Development the primitive pulmonary veins to the heart is achieved
The precardiac mesoderm of the SHF at the venous pole from different tissue later during development. The
develops uniquely from an Nkx2.5-negative but myo- anlage of the primitive pulmonary vein, the so-called
sin light chain positive cell population, surrounding the mid-pharyngeal endothelial strand, initially does not
lumen of the sinus venosus. This myocardial cell lineage is have a lumen and is connected to the sinus venosus.
Heart tube
Heart loop
Atrial septation
Ventricular septation
Conduction system
Valve formation
Pulmonary veins
Aortic arch/
pulmonary artery
Ductus arteriosus
Coronary vasculature
Ovulation in days 18 24 26 28 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43
Crown-rump length in mm 1-5 2-3 3-5 4-5 6-7 7-8 9-10 11-1414-1617-20 22-2425-26
Horizons IX XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII XIX XXI XXII
chicken/mouse: sequence overlap identical
FIGURE 1-3. Cardiac morphogenesis. Schematic representation focusing on the time line and the
major events during cardiac morphogenesis. Many processes essential to heart formation overlap dur-
ing the 7 to 8 weeks of development, making it difficult to determine the separate molecular pathways
or the primary insult that leads to congenital cardiovascular malformations, either isolated or complex.
Valvulogenesis occurs relatively late in heart formation, while completion of atrial septation (closure
of the foramen ovale) and ductus arteriosus differentiation (closure of the ductus arteriosus) naturally
occur after birth because of the unique requirements of the fetal circulation. Source: Jongbloed MRM,
et al. Development of the Cardiac Conduction System and the Possible Relation to Predilection Sites
of Arrhythmogenesis, TheScientificWorldJOURNAL, vol. 8, pp. 239-269, 2008.
During atrial septation it connects to the dorsal wall of left atria. It partially disintegrates forming the ostium
the left atrium. The splanchnic pulmonary venous con- secundum, which is required for the formation of the
nections with the systemic cardinal (putative caval) veins embryonic foramen ovale (Figure 1-4A, B), the essential
gradually disappear during normal development. communication between the right and left atria during
During atrial septation, four components deserve fetal life. Fusion of a mesenchymal cap on the free rim of
attention: the primary septum, the dorsal mesenchymal the primary atrial septum with the atrioventricular endo-
protrusion, the septum secundum, and the endocar- cardial cushion mass and with the dorsal mesenchymal
dial cushions. The initially two-layered myocardial pri- protrusion closes the ostium primum. This structure is
mary atrial septum is positioned between the right and found at the right side of the primary atrial septum
SVC
SVC
DM OS DM PV
SAS PAS MC
DM
PV
RA RA
OP
LA LA
IVC
TO MO
AVC IVC
A B
FIGURE 1-4. Atrial septation. A. Early development of the dorsal and cranial wall of the right and
left atria. The gold indicates the contribution of the SHF to the incorporated sinus venosus myocar-
dium. The appendages are not depicted. Both the inferior and the superior vena caval veins enter in
the right atrium as well as the coronary sinus, which is derived from the left superior cardinal vein.
A mesenchymal cap (green) under the rim of the primary atrial septum borders the ostium primum,
which connects the right and left atria. The entrance of the primitive pulmonary vein is seen in the left
atrium. The infolding of the superior wall of the right atrium that will form the secundum atrial septum
is already seen merging with the dorsal mesenchymal protrusion. B. After completion of septation,
the ostium primum is closed by fusion of the mesenchymal cap with the atrioventricular cushions,
which have now divided the atrioventricular canal into a tricuspid and a mitral orifice. The perforations
in the primary atrial septum have enlarged to form an ostium secundum that in combination with the
free rim of the secundum atrial septum is part of the foramen ovale (arrow) that closes after birth.
Abbreviations: AVC, atrioventricular canal; DM, dorsal mesocardium; IVC, inferior vena cava; LA, left
atrium; MC, mesenchymal cap; MO, mitral orifice; OP, ostium primum; OS, ostium secundum; PAS,
primary atrial septum; PV, pulmonary vein; RA, right atrium; SAS, secundum atrial septum; SVC, supe-
rior vena cava; TO, tricuspid orifice. Used with permission from Gittenberger-de Groot AC, et al., (2011).
Normal and Abnormal Cardiac Development. In: Pediatric Cardiovascular Medicine, Second Edition
(eds JH Moller and JIE Hoffman), Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford, UK.
as a thick mesenchymal mass (Figure 1-4A, B) and caval vein. Mutations in genes involved in posterior SHF
will develop into the muscular base of the atrial sep- differentiation, such as TBx5 and NKx2.5, are linked to
tum. At the right side of the primary septum and usu- this relatively common group of malformations.
ally incorporating the left venous valve, a folding process
of the atrial myocardial wall forms the crescent ridge Atrioventricular septal defects. Data from animal mod-
of the atrial septum secundum (the limbus). Dur- els and humans suggest that most cases of atrioventricu-
ing development, the free edge of the primary atrial lar septal defect (atrioventricular canal) are caused by a
septum (the valve of the foramen ovale) and the rim of deficiency in the base of the atrial septum resulting from
the septum secundum (the limbus) will overlap, allowing underdevelopment of the dorsal mesenchymal protru-
blood to pass via the foramen ovale (Figure 1-4B). At a sion. Additionally, the posterior inlet ventricular septum
variable time after birth, these two rims often fuse, result- is shorter than normal; in combination, this results in
ing in the closure of the foramen ovale, although this partial fusion to absence of the atrioventricular cushions,
structure remains patent in up to 20% of normal adults. resulting in a common valve with either one- or two-valve
ostia (depending on the amount of fusion). Portions of
Implications for Congenital Cardiovascular Disease the atrioventricular cushions develop into the character-
istic atrioventricular valve leaflets observed in atrioven-
Abnormal pulmonary venous return. As described
tricular septal defects (ie, superior and inferior bridging
above, pulmonary drainage is initially via an extensive
leaflets and left and right-sided mural leaflets).
midsagittal splanchnic vascular network. Disturbance
of the SHF can lead to misalignment and faulty incorpo-
ration of the primitive pulmonary veins into the dorsal Ventricular Inflow and Outflow Tract Septation
left atrial wall. In case of absence or atresia of the mid- Viewed from the right, the ventricular septum is divided
pharyngeal endothelial strand, either the early pulmo- into several components, including the ventricular inlet
nary to systemic connections will persist or abnormal septum, an apical trabeculated component, and an ante-
connections will develop, leading to abnormal drainage rior (“infolding”) component (Figure 1-6A, B). The out-
of the pulmonary venous blood to three levels: subdia- flow tract septum (Figure 1-6C) develops as a separate
phragmatic (eg, scimitar syndrome; Figure 1-5A), car- structure. The different components with their specific
diac, and supracardiac (Figure 1-5B). The drainage of all developmental history, boundaries, and origin are asso-
the pulmonary veins can be abnormal (total anomalous ciated with varying congenital malformations of the ven-
pulmonary venous connection) or partial, with some pul- tricular septum.
monary veins entering in into left atrium and some into To understand the process of ventricular septation
either systemic veins (Figure 1-5B) or the right atrium. and the aberrations in development that lead to the most
The few known genetic causes are linked to abnormalities common septal defects, it is helpful to first review several
of left/right asymmetry (heterotaxy) caused by mutations novel findings concerning the contribution of both the
of the transcription factor PITx2 or by more downstream anterior SHF and the neural crest cells to the outflow tract
signaling abnormalities (eg, PDGFRα). septum and the trabecular portion of the right ventricle.
Several tracing studies in mouse embryos employing
Atrial septal defects. Several types of atrial septal surrogate markers for SHF-derived cells have shown an
defects occur. A primum atrial septal defect is caused by asymmetric contribution to both the myocardium and the
a deficient connection of the primary interatrial septum vascular wall of the right ventricular outflow tract and the
with the atrioventricular cushion complex. This anomaly pulmonary trunk. In this process, which we have termed
is often seen in conjunction with an atrioventricular sep- the “pulmonary push,” the embryonic left (pulmonary)
tal defect (see below) in which the dorsal mesenchymal side of the outflow tract is expanded by a relatively
protrusion is also underdeveloped. The most common large contribution of the SHF as compared to the right
anomaly of the atrial septum is a secundum atrial septal (aortic) side, eventually bringing the pulmonary orifice
defect, in which there is deficiency of an atrial septal com- to its normal anterior and cranial position with respect
ponent. More rarely, a sinus venosus type of atrial septal to the aorta. This pulmonary push is responsible for the
defect is seen, which is related to the superior or inferior so-called rotation of the outflow tract and great arteries
BV
VV
RPA
SVC RPV LPV
LPA
RSPV SVC Ao
PT LSPV
LIPV
RA LA
RA LA
RAA
LV LAA
RV
RIPV
IVC IVC
A B
and also explains the relatively deep position of the aortic left ventricular outflow tracts. This outflow tract separa-
orifice in the crux of the heart. tion complex (distinguishable only as an outflow tract
During this process, neural crest cells are incor- septum in specific cardiac anomalies) fuses by bringing
porated by ingression into the aortic sac, creating the together the septal and parietal cushion with the merged
aorto-pulmonary septum, which separates the aorta and atrioventricular cushions, thereby closing the embryonic
pulmonary artery. The aorto-pulmonary septum forms interventricular foramen and completing ventricular
the central condensed mesenchyme, as well as two prongs septation. During this process, an anterior folding sep-
extending into the septal and parietal endocardial cushions tum is formed resulting from the expansion of the right
present in the outflow tract (Figure 1-6C). The neural crest and left ventricles, pushing the two outer faces of both
cells have an induction effect on the outflow tract, recruit- ventricles together and trapping epicardium in between.
ing myocardial cells into the cushions that form the pos- Of note, the epicardium serves a similar function as the
terior wall of the subpulmonary infundibulum, which also endocardial cushions inside the heart, bringing two myo-
forms the septum between the right ventricular and the cardial faces together. The trapped epicardial cells will
PT Ao
APS
D
Ao PT
OTS SB MB P
RV
∗ IS TS
SB AFS
IS
MB TS
A B C
FIGURE 1-6. Ventricular septal components. A. Schematic representation showing the components
of the interventricular septum including the inlet septum, the anterior folding septum, and the tra-
becular (apical) septum. The septal band that continues into the moderator band is related devel-
opmentally to the inlet septum. The posterior wall of the subpulmonary infundibulum contains the
small outflow tract septum (asterisk). B. Postmortem specimen with the above-mentioned septal
components. C. Scanning electron microscopic picture of the outflow tract of a chicken embryo. The
aorto-pulmonary septum at the level between the aortic and pulmonary trunk orifices, which consists
at this stage of condensed mesenchyme of neural crest cell origin, will merge with the distal endo-
cardial outflow tract cushion and extend into the proximal outflow tract cushion. The distal level will
remodel into the semilunar valves of the great arteries, while the proximal endocardial cushion will,
by induction through the neural crest cell population, transform into myocardium and eventually form
the small outflow tract septum. Abbreviations: AFS, anterior folding septum; Ao, aorta; APS, aorto-
pulmonary septum; D, distal (endocardial outflow tract cushion); IS, inlet septum; MB, moderator
band; OTS, outflow tract septum; P, proximal (outflow tract cushion); PT, pulmonary trunk; SB, septal
band; TS, trabecular septum. A: Adapted from Gittenberger-de Groot, AC, et al., (2012). Normal and
Abnormal Cardiac Development, in Pediatric Cardiovascular Medicine, Second Edition (eds JH Moller and
JIE Hoffman), Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford, UK. B and C: Used with persimmon from Gittenberger-de Groot, AC,
et al., (2012). Normal and Abnormal Cardiac Development, in Pediatric Cardiovascular Medicine, Second
Edition (eds JH Moller and JIE Hoffman), Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford, UK.
differentiate into epicardium-derived cells, bringing these cushion mass. Since the fibrous connection between the
cells deep into the core of the septum. tricuspid and mitral orifice and valves derives mainly
from atrioventricular and outflow tract endocardial
Implications for Congenital Cardiovascular Disease cushions, the ventricular septal defect will in part be
Ventricular septal defects. Muscular ventricular septal flanked by fibrous tissue; hence, the term “perimembra-
defects can be found within the anterior folding septum, nous” is often used to describe these defects. The defect
within the inlet septum, and on the border of the septal can extend more posteriorly toward the inlet septum or,
band with the anterior folding septum, ie, central muscu- in case of a malaligned or shortened outflow tract sep-
lar ventricular septal defect. tum, toward the orifices of the great arteries. These are
generally referred to as subarterial, but more specifically
Perimembranous ventricular septal defects and they are subaortic in tetralogy of Fallot and subpul-
malalignment defects, tetralogy of Fallot, and double- monary in Taussig-Bing malformation. From a devel-
outlet right ventricle. These malformations are caused opmental point of view, a double muscular subarterial
primarily by an abnormal extension and malalignment of infundibulum or conus has been proposed to be essen-
the outflow tract septal complex with the atrioventricular tial for the anomaly called double-outlet right ventricle.
Given that the “pulmonary push” is an essential element aortic sac with the bilateral dorsal aortae (Figure 1-7A–D).
of rotation and extension of the right ventricular outflow Stability of the vasculature is provided by a smooth muscle
tract, anomalies of this region are better understood as cell layer that is derived from several sources, including the
resulting from unbalanced contributions from SHF and SHF splanchnic mesoderm and cardiac neural crest cells.
neural crest cells. Remodeling of this system requires a balanced interaction
of the SHF and neural crest–derived cells (Figure 1-7E)
Pharyngeal Arch Development and differs among species. In fish, five or more branchial
The pharyngeal arches develop as a bilaterally symmetric arches persist and feed the pairs of gills. In reptiles, pairs of
system harboring skeletal, muscular, glandular, and vas- the third (carotid), fourth (aorta), and sixth (pulmonary)
cular elements of the face and neck region. The six pairs pharyngeal arch arteries persist, but in birds and mam-
of pharyngeal arch arteries begin their development as a mals, the arterial system becomes asymmetric. In birds, the
cranio-caudal series of endothelial tubes that connect the right fourth becomes the aortic arch, whereas the left one
RDA
III
Chicken Mouse Human
F G H I
FIGURE 1-7. Remodeling of the pharyngeal arterial arch system. A–D. Schematic representation
of the remodeling of the pharyngeal arterial arch system during development. The left arch with
principal fourth arch segment becomes dominant, and right-sided structures disappear. The color
coding refers to the arterial segments derived from the pharyngeal arches (blue, third arch; pur-
ple, fourth arch; green, sixth arch). E. Relative contribution of neural crest cells (blue) in the wall
of the great arteries showing that there are mixed wall structures as well as sharp boundaries.
F and H. Species variation in pharyngeal arch remodeling in the chicken (right arch), and the mouse
and human (left arches). I. Development of a right-sided anomalous subclavian artery occurs when
the right fourth arch segment disappears (asterisk) and the right dorsal aortic segment persists.
Abbreviations: AoSac, aortic sac; Ao, ascending aorta; CoA, aortic coarctation; DesAo, descending
aorta; DA, ductus arteriosus; PA, pulmonary artery; PT, pulmonary trunk; RCA/LCA, right/left carotid
artery; RDA, right dorsal aorta; RDAo/LDAo, right/left descending aorta, RSA/LSA, right/left subclavian
artery. Adpated from: A–D: From Molin DG, et al. Cardiovasc Res. 2002; 56(2):312-22, by permission of
Oxford University Press. Reprinted with permission from Molin DG, et al. Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol
Teratol. 2004; 70(12):927-38.
the right dorsal aortic segment disappears. Rather than (anterior, posterior, and septal), while the mitral valve
arising from the right innominate artery, it arises from has two leaflets (aortic and lateral leaflet). The atrioven-
the descending aorta, distal to the left subclavian artery. In tricular cushions initially adhere to the myocardium of
the presence of an abnormal right-sided aortic arch, the the atrioventricular canal (Figure 1-9A) but separate by a
left subclavian artery can arise anomalously (Figure 1-7I). process that is not well understood (Figure 1-9B). The free
rims of the developing leaflets remain connected by endo-
Valvulogenesis cardial cushion–derived chordae tendinae to the papillary
Both semilunar and atrioventricular valves derive from muscles of the respective ventricles. The mesenchymal
their respective endocardial cushions. This implies that content of the valves is derived by endocardial-mesenchy-
defective endocardial-mesenchymal transition, essential mal transformation from the underlying endocardium.
for proper valve differentiation, can be linked to abnormal Epicardium-derived cells also migrate from the surface
valve structure. However, both in humans and in animal of the heart to the area of the annulus fibrosis, separat-
models, only a few genes have been linked to deficient ing the atrial and ventricular myocardium, and into the
valve tissue (eg, NOTCH1, NFATC1). Since the origin endocardial valve tissue (Figure 1-9B). In the cushions,
of the semilunar and atrioventricular valves differs with epicardium-derived cells are found mainly in the develop-
respect to SHF and FHF and they receive different con- ing parietal (and not septal) leaflets, a pattern potentially
leading to the preferential distribution pattern of affected
tributions from neural crest cells and epicardium-derived
valve leaflets in anomalies like Ebstein malformation and
cells, the normal development of the respective valves is
mitral valve prolapse.
described below.
ES AVCu AL
AVCu
RV
A B C
FIGURE 1-9. Atrioventricular valve formation. A. The atrioventricular valves develop form the atrio-
ventricular endocardial cushions (depicted in light blue). B. With dissociation of the embryonic atrial
and ventricular myocardium, the epicardium-derived cells from the atrioventricular epicardial sulcus
(depicted in dark blue) migrate into the endocardial cushions providing the fibroblasts for the annu-
lus fibrosis and a population within the cushions. The cushions form the definitive valve leaflets by
delamination from the wall as well as the chordae tendinae that are attached to the papillary muscles.
C. Ebstein anomaly of the tricuspid valve. The anterior tricuspid valve leaflet is rather well developed,
whereas the septal and posterior leaflets have not delaminated from the ventricular wall. Abbreviations:
AL, anterior (tricuspid valve leaflet); AVCu, atrioventricular endocardial cushion; ES, epicardial sulcus;
RV, right ventricle.
is more prominent in the cusp side facing the aorta. Arte- these emerge from the main cushions or whether there
rial epicardial cells have recently been identified in the are differential contributions of SHF, neural crest cells,
developing valve leaflets. Additionally, two intercalated and endocardium to the respective cushions and leaflets.
cushions develop each in the aortic and pulmonary part of The latter is important for understanding malformations
the outflow tract (Figure 1-10A). It is not known whether like bicuspid aortic valve (Figure 1-10B).
Bicuspid and unicuspid semilunar valves. A bicuspid contributions or deficient epicardial-myocardial signal-
aortic valve (Figure 1-10) is the most common congenital ing during development.
cardiovascular malformation, encountered in about 1%
to 3% of the human population. The valve often functions evelopment of the Epicardium, Myocardium,
D
normally at younger ages. In some cases, this malforma- and Coronary Arteries
tion, as well as a unicuspid valve, may also present in the Initially, the ventricular myocardium is oxygenated by
neonatal period because of significant aortic valve dys- diffusion from the ventricular lumen. A separate structure
function (usually stenosis). for gas exchange becomes necessary as the myocardium
grows. In early development, an epicardial covering over
Conduction System Development the myocardium is essential for normal coronary vascu-
The atrioventricular conduction system differenti- lar development. However, the epicardium-derived cells
ates from a cardiomyocyte origin. The atrial part of the also fulfill an important role in driving compaction of the
conduction system is derived from the posterior SHF– outer myocardial layers of the ventricle, specifically the
derived myocardium, which is devoid of Nkx2.5 expres- anterior part of the folding septum. The coronary endo-
sion. This includes a transient left sino-atrial node and thelial cells arising from the sinus venosus spread in the
the definitive right sinus node. Expression of markers subepicardial space and invade the compacting myocar-
reflecting a pacemaker phenotype (eg, Tbx3, Podoplanin, dium. In the peritruncal area, they form an endothelial
and Shox2), as well as histological features, indicates that ring surrounding the aorta and pulmonary orifice. The
the developing cardiac conduction system covers the endothelial cells also invade the aortic wall and form
entire sinus venosus area during early embryonic stages, the main stems and orifices of the coronary arteries in
including the internodal myocardium as well as the the pulmonary artery-facing (left and right) sinuses of
myocardium surrounding the pulmonary veins. During Valsalva. The factors guiding this process as well as those
later development stages, expression is restricted to the that repel them from entry into the pulmonary wall and
definitive elements of the conduction system. The FHF from the noncoronary aortic cusp remain to be defined.
(atrioventricular canal myocardium) and the primitive
(left) ventricle appear to contribute to the compact part Implications for Congenital Cardiovascular Disease
of the atrioventricular node and the main parts of the Myocardial thinning and noncompaction. The myo-
ventricular conduction system, including the common cardial thinning based on deficient epicardial-myocardial
bundle of His and the left and right bundle branches. interaction resembles noncompaction cardiomyopathies.
Animal models have shown that proper development of Experiments in both avian and mouse models in which the
the fibrous annulus requires the presence of epicardium- epicardial cell population has been limited in its outgrowth
derived cells. If the epicardial outgrowth is inhibited, a and endocardial-mesenchymal transition lead to severe
phenotype with accessory pathways and pre-excitation thinning of the compact myocardium and a spongy inter-
occurs. ventricular septum. Whether the basis of these malforma-
tions is epicardial or myocardial in humans is unknown.
Implications for Arrhythmias
Embryonic conduction pathways that normally disap- Coronary vascular anomalies. In anomalies such as
pear may persist both in structure and in function. This transposition of the great arteries, the main coronary stems
leads to abnormal atrial automaticity at specific sites, take the shortest course to the facing sinus of Valsalva,
including the terminal crest (formerly the right venous explaining the observed variation in patterning. When
valve), the pulmonary venous myocardium, and the cor- epicardial outgrowth and spreading is inhibited, single
onary sinus. The occurrence of congenital cardiovascular or pinpoint arterial orifices are observed, suggesting that
disease with a combination of nondelamination of the epicardium-derived cells are necessary for proper con-
tricuspid valve, noncompaction cardiomyopathy, and nection of the coronary arteries to the aorta. Ventricular-
accessory pathways with pre-excitation, as is observed coronary artery connections (Figure 1-11A) or fistulae
in Ebstein anomaly and transposition-transposed develop if there is no connection of the coronary arteries
great arteries, could be related to abnormal epicardial to the aorta. In human congenital cardiovascular disease
M RV
RV
VCAC
VCAC CA
CA
SEP
SEP
B C
VCAC
that includes coronary abnormalities, an epigenetic cause Wamstad JA, Alexander JM, Truty RM, et al. Dynamic and
of the supposed link between disturbed epicardium and coordinated epigenetic regulation of developmental transi-
ventricular-coronary arterial connection is still missing. It tions in the cardiac lineage. Cell. 2012;151(1):206-220.
has been suggested that the occurrence of connections and Neural Crest
coronary orifice pathology in a subgroup of the patients
Arima Y, Miyagawa-Tomita S, Maeda K, et al. Preotic neu-
with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum is of
ral crest cells contribute to coronary artery smooth muscle
epicardial origin (Figure 1-11B, C). involving endothelin signalling. Nat Commun. 2012;3:1267.
Kirby ML, Hutson MR. Factors controlling cardiac neural
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—Wim.… jonge.… je voader suip nie.… hep gain [131]geld.… hai hep
niks.… hai wil werreke, d’r is gain proat ván.… moar sullie wille
nie.… sullie wille nie.… hai mo f’rrekke.…
—Paa’s op f’r je foar.… hai hep main en-wille f’rmoorde.. hai hep
main en wille f’rmoorde.… t’met snait ie jullie allegoar an rieme.…
die skafuit.… die godskimper.… die ketter.… Op ’t erf hollend, schold
ze door nog, naar binnen, tegen de kinders, die van de bank
gesprongen waren.
De ouë Rams had zich niet verroerd. Sneller alleen sisten door de
stilte, pruimstraaltjes tegen gloeienden konkelpot op, en grom-zwaar,
strompelde van z’n lippen:
—Swaineboel.… swaineboel.
[Inhoud]
II.
Om twaalf uur luidde in vromen galm, Engel des Heeren. Wim sloeg
’n kruisje. Met beverig schrikstemmetje nog, zette hij plots in, toch
plechtig z’n toon:
Ant was strak naar z’n bed geloopen en met ’n wenk aan de kinders
zette ze mee in, zangerig-plechtig, ’n wees-gegroet, in extatische
bidhouding.
—Bid f’r ons hailige moeder Gods, op da wai de belofte van Kristus
woardig worde.
Met rooie huiloogen nog, mond, stijf-nijdig dicht weer, begon Ant op
klein vuil vierkante tafel, naar ’t raam geschoven, ’n paar borden,
dof-bonsend van barsten, neer te rammelen. Geen woord had ze
meer gezegd nà kijfpartij. Onrustig stommelde ’t steenen geluid door
de gezonken ruziestilte. Door Dien en Jans was nog wat
eigengemaakt brood, groenige schimmelkorstjes en vuile bonkjes
deeg, bijeengesnord en tusschen smerige plasjes, op tafel
uitgegooid.
—Nie te veul d’r afbreke Dién.… d’r mó’ f’r f’noàf’nd blaive.…
Kinders schokten van schrik. Als d’r nou maar gebeden kon worden,
gulzigden hun hongeroogen. Plots gaf moeder, na plechtig ’n kruisje
geslagen te hebben, dat de kinders extatischstrak, in licht
lipgemurmel, op hun lijfjes natrokken,—àchteruit naar bedje van
Wimpie, met stroef gezicht, ’n vroom-stillen wenk, en heilig-rustig,
klankte òp uit schemer-hoekje, zangerig z’n kinderstemmetje:
Griet luisterde niet. Wild stoof Ant op, kletste ’n draai om ’r ooren,
rukte Annie die met d’r vuil bovenlijfje, en bebreide knuistjes over de
tafel kroop, terug naar d’r zitplaats, dat de anderen waggelden op
hun waschstelling en gilden van schrik. Aan ’r vingertjes had Grietje
’n paar fijngeknepen krieltjes kledderen, en gulzig, ongevoelig voor
snauwen, likte en zoog ze ’r handjes af, onder oogengetril toch voor
ransel-angst. Weer kletsten er draaien en bonkten er boffen tegen
ruggetjes en hoofdjes, grienden ’n paar in stikkend-stillen stuiphuil,
die langzaam uitbarstte in schreiend gebler. Rustiger na de
rammeling was ’t geworden. Nou moest Wim nog wat slikkerbikken.
Weekzacht sprak Ant ’r lieveling, ’r jongen aan, ’n beetje als klein
kindje.
—Wil Wimpie nou s’n aitje? Kom, laa’k sàin nou effe op main skoot
neme.… hee?
—Hee joà!.… moe.… effe moar, lachte Wim vroolijk nù hij den kring
inkwam.—Zeer voorzichtig, overal door Wimpie gewaarschuwd,
waar ze ’m niet mocht aanraken, schoof ze banden van z’n beentjes.
Touw door ledekantgat heen geboord, waaraan zware zandzakken
als vracht schommelden tegen vergroeing, knoopte ze los. Zacht
beurde ze ’m op, bij voeten en ingeslonken ziekte-nekje, dat mager
boven z’n hempje uitspalkte. Ingebukt liep ze, voetje voor voetje met
’m naar tafel, ’m schokloos op d’r schoot zettend. Kees, die
onverschillig gekeken en nog geen stom woord tot Ant, na de ruzie
gezegd had, kwam nu bij z’n vrouw staan, gluiperig bijdraaiend.
[138]En terwijl de kinders om kruimels morden, muschjesachtig
pikkerig en nijdig elkaar bevochten, schillen van geitje elkaar uit de
handen trekkend en kijvend om bord van grootvader, die gemorst
had, staaroogden Kees en Ant naar zieke Wimpie, als leefde alleen
hij. Jammerlijk vaalgroen bleekte z’n kopje in ’t schuwe val-licht.
Uitgemergeld, als ademend geraamtetje, wrakte broos z’n beenig,
puntig zwaar hoofdje op ’t slappe nekje, als zou ’t breken bij lichtste
wending; bleekten de steen-witte ooren, angstig-groot, ooren van
een doodzieke, mager, uitgedroogd, stil-alleen sprekend voor heel
het geteisterde kopje. Om z’n puntigen neus holden diepe
oogwallen, paarsig, lijkig bleek-groen, ’t gezichtje akelig versmallend
nog. Z’n vuile hansop liet z’n beentjes uitspaken, latjesplat, recht uit.
Kees had, vóór dat Ant ’t Dientje kon zeggen, ’t eitje verzorgd en
klaargemaakt voor Wimpie.—Op ’n boterham had ie ’t voor ’m in
kleine stukjes gehapt en weer brokje aan brokje voorzichtig uit z’n
mond op ’t brood geduwd. Hij was blij, dat er nog meer voor Wimpie
stond, in ’t achterend. Menschen uit Wiereland, die meelij met
Wimpie hadden, brachten wel ereis wat voor ’m mee. En als Kees
zelf iets voor ’m klaarmaakte, had ie hoop, dat Wim nog beteren kon,
al trok de dokter met den dag zuurder gezicht. Met kleine hapjes
duwde Ant telkens stukjes ei in Wim’s mond, die hij traag
verkauwde. Heel hoog op ’n teststoof steunden haar beenen in
schoot, wijd-uit, en met inspanning nog, zocht ze ’m goed tegen ’r
aan [139]te houden dat ie nergens pijn zou hebben. Soms klonk éven
’n pijnkreetje op. Schrikangstig zei ze dan iets, niet wetend waar ze
’m geraakt had. Vandaag vond Kees ’m al vreeselijk zwak uitzien. Er
kwam lamte in z’n hart en benauwing, want twijfel spande weer in
’m, of ie wel ooit beter kon worden, z’n jonge, z’n eenige jonge!
Wimpie was klaar met eten. De kinders klonterden weer bijeen. Heel
zacht droeg Ant Wim in z’n bed, rommelde ze weer bangelijk-tastend
langs z’n lijfje, de bandjes van zandzak over z’n voetjes schuivend.
Plots knielden, op sein van Ant, allen weer voor de tafel, die in ’t
midden geschoven was neer, en oogendicht, met handjes
ineengeprangd, gezichten naar duisterend kruisbeeld op de schouw,
begon zwaar van allen kant tegelijk gebed te ratelen, met rauwe
kuch-stem van ouë Rams, hoestscheurend soms, en ’t schelle wilde
extaze-gebed van Ant er doorheen. In het scheemrig donker knielde
het bidgroepje, midden in duisterende kamer, aan alle zij omwalmd
van rook, die zwart-dampig uit schouw trok. Wimpie alleen bad in z’n
bedje, met rozekransje schuifelend door z’n magere handjes, ’n
extra tientje, de twaalf artikelen des geloofs,—en zacht dreunde door
de stilte, onze-vaders en wees-gegroets, z’n plechtig stemmetje:
Eens toen Wim nog gezond leek, had ie hem woest, in drift, gezegd,
dat ’t uit most sijn, maar toen had ’t kind zoo gesnikt dat ’t in drie
uren niet tot bedaren te brengen was; had hij liggen zoenen ’t
kruisje, dat om z’n halsje, op z’n bloote lijfje hing. Nou zei ie niets
meer, ook niet tegen d’anderen. Daar stond ie nou, op ’t erfje, in de
kou, zich suf te staren naar den modderig besneeuwden rommel,
naar de ingesneeuwde assen en wielen van ’n brok geradbraakte
handkar.—In verlegenheid [140]schopte ie ’n bezem tegen de put,
sloeg ie de deur van ’t pleehok nijdig dicht.
—Dan he’k de wasch op de ploas.… aa’s jai nou moàr hier en-blaif
bai sain.…
—En je moeder dan, ken die nie blaife, meskien is d’r feur main
wa.…
Toch vertelde Wimpie nooit wat van d’r geniepigheid als zij alleen
thuis de baas was. In z’n ziekelijk lijfje zat vroom, innig-simpel zieltje
en diep onwetend was ie van al die vroomheid en innigheid. Soms
vertelden de kinders Ant wel eens, dat Wimpie zoo gegild en gehuild
had. Dan in onrust, niet begrijpend, vroeg Ant hem, maar Wim
schudde z’n bleek kopje voelde zich héél sterk, wou vergeven, nu ie
toch gehoord had van den kapelaan, dat ie gauw bij den Heere zou
zijn. Vreemd lachte in droeve, zalige trekjes, z’n mond breeër,
rimpelde z’n doodskopje, leek ie ouer in z’n kijk dan ’t groote mensch
dat ’m ondervroeg, liefhad. Maar toch had ie angst voor zoo’n dag
met grootmoe alleen, om de pijn en ’t gesar. Ant had doorgekeven
op Kees’ vraag:
—Joa, jai ken d’r aa’sem nie ruike.… moar soo meroakel.…
—Hou je nou moar koest.… ik blaif bij kinders.… je moer sel ’k nie
roepe.…
Ant was blij, maar wou niks laten merken.… Driftig riep ze Dien en
Jans van ’t erf, die juist met touwtjes, aan ’t kalefateren waren, hun
doorbeten modderzware mansschoenen, uit vullesbakken opgediept,
voor en achter verbaggerd in gaten, [142]rooig van kleur, wijdmannig
slobberend om teer-kleine meisjesvoetjes.
—Hei skorum.… kom jullie.… goan jai stookie soeke.… furt.… d’r is
vast niks meer.… murge.… furt!.… kwak de vullesbakke òm-end.…
moar paa’s op in de Waik da’ de pelisie je nie sien.… En jai Jans.…
àn de bel.… la je nie wègsture.… pakt an wat t’r te kraige kompt.
De oogenglans van Wim, dat hij thuisblijven zou morgen had ie niet
gezien, in woede nog om z’n kijfwijf en schoonmoeder.
—Drink je nog Kees, ’n bakkie leut? D’r is d’r nog van ’t grondje.…
—Dankkie.
Kees antwoordde niet, haalde schimpig z’n schouders op. Hij wist
wel, dat Grint ’t zelf vertelde, die skorem, en aa’s ie ’t meende, vond
ie ’t nog lammer, want hij had ’t land door zoo’n beroerling
beschermd te worden. Gesprek wou niet vlotten. Piet Hassel stond
stil en Jan Hassel de neef, was bij Kees’ inkomen nog bescheidener
in z’n achterafje teruggetrokken. De meisjes keken maar òp naar
Kees, den langen [146]Kees, den gevaarlijken Strooper, met z’n
guitige oogen en z’n stillen loer op hun handen. Dat was nou Kees,
over wien ze altijd den mond vol hadden, Kees met z’n streken!—
Achter dun hokjesbeschot bonsde dreunwrijf op waschplank van de
meid, in schuimtobben. En klagelijk huilde ’r stem ’n smertelijk liedje,
zoeterig-sentimenteel, plechtig zangsleepend door werkgroepje:
—Jessis poà, wa ken die maid seure, lachte kwaad mooie Geert,
daa’s nou puur ieder Dinsdag krek soo.… an de tobbe.
—Nou, jullie benne ook soo got-vergete stommetje.… segge jullie d’r
is wat.… gong tug gain paop f’rbij.… seg erais wá’, jai Trien, jai
Geert, lach d’rais.… effetjes!.…
—Stil d’r ’s;.… hoor nou d’r ’s.… zei met gespannen luistergezicht
Trijntje in armgebaar Piet tegenhoudend.
—Deesie.… Deeeesie!.…
’k Wait daa’t êe blom in main hart ontbloei.. i.. it!
Deeeessie!!.… Deeee.… esie!!.…
—F’rjenne, jullie werke nie.… och Piet sing sooveul aa’s je lust
hep.… moar la’ hoarlie d’r gangetje.… hee?.…, schreeuwde Klaas
rood-driftig boven gezang uit. Niet zien kon ie, dat met ’t mirakelsche
lachen, d’rlui handen stilstonden.
—Wel neenet, da mist nie.… lach sooveul jullie wille.… moar d’r mó’
werkt-en worde.