Vitamin D Status in Children with Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Abstract

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the third leading cause of heart failure in pediatrics. The exact etiology of DCM is unknown in more than half of the cases. Vitamin D receptors are represented in cardiac muscles, endothelium, and smooth muscles of blood vessels suggesting that vitamin D could have a vital cardioprotective function. This study aimed to assess serum level of vitamin D in children with idiopathic DCM and to correlate the serum level of vitamin D with the left ventricular dimensions and function. This study is a descriptive cross-sectional single-center study, includes 44 children of both sexes, diagnosed as idiopathic DCM. Serum level of vitamin D was assessed and correlated with the left ventricular dimensions and function. Mean age of studied children was 6.08 ± 4.4 years. Vitamin D deficiency was found in 90.9% of children with idiopathic DCM with a mean level 13.48 ng/mL. There was a negative correlation between vitamin D level and fraction shortening and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter in children with DCM. Vitamin D level is not only significantly low in children with idiopathic DCM but it is also significantly correlated with the degree of left ventricular dysfunction.

Keywords

vitamin D - children - dilated cardiomyopathy

Introduction

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the third leading cause of heart failure in pediatrics.[1] World Health Organization defined it as “dilatation and impaired contraction of the left or both ventricles with normal wall thickness.”[2] The likely prevalence of DCM in children is ranging from 1 in 140,000 to 170,000.[3]

The exact etiology of DCM is unknown in more than half of the cases and the term idiopathic DCM is used after exclusion of all the well-known etiologies of DCM as viral infections, autoimmune, genetic, endocrinal, and metabolic diseases.[1] [4]

Vitamin D is a hormone that has a well-known function in the maintenance of a healthy skeletal system. Recently, new other emerging roles of vitamin D were supposed, taking in consideration the widespread existence of vitamin D receptors (VDRs) in different body tissues.[5]

VDRs exist in cardiac muscles, endothelium, and smooth muscles of blood vessels.[6] Signals from the interaction between vitamin D and its receptors modulate gene expression[7] and have antihypertrophic action on cardiac muscles,[8] suggesting that vitamin D could have a vital cardioprotective function.[5] [6]

One of the suggested treatable causes of DCM is hypocalcemia that could be due to low level of vitamin D.[9] [10] Calcium has essential cardiotonic effect through being vital for the excitation of cardiac muscle, and its deficiency adversely affects myocardial contractility.[11] This type of DCM responds well to medical treatment with calcium and vitamin D.[10] [12]

Despite advances in the management of heart failure, DCM patients still suffer from high morbidity and mortality.[7]

Low level of vitamin D was observed in patients with heart failure,[13] and it contributes in the pathogenesis of heart failure through its action on the L-type voltage-dependent calcium channels in the cardiomyocyte.[14] [15] [16] Also, vitamin D deficiency is considered a bad prognostic factor that increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases.[17] [18] That is why it is very exciting to find a simple intervention that could be added to the traditional treatment of heart failure and help in the improvement of cardiac function.[7]

Yeşilbaş and Epçaçan in 2019 reported that DCM due to hypocalcemic ricket is curable and has better prognosis than other forms of idiopathic DCM.[19]

The aim of this study is to assess the serum level of vitamin D in children with idiopathic DCM and to correlate their serum level of vitamin D with their left ventricular dimensions and function.

Methods

Study Design

A descriptive cross-sectional single-center study was performed. It was conducted on children with idiopathic DCM that were followed up in the Pediatric Cardiology Clinic, Assiut Children's Hospital, Egypt from August 2018 to July 2019.

Study Population and Data collection

The study included 44 children of both sexes, they were diagnosed as idiopathic DCM after exclusion of recent infections, metabolic, genetic, endocrine, and autoimmune diseases. Patients with chronic diseases such as renal or liver diseases, malabsorptive states, or on any immunosuppressive or anticonvulsant medications were also excluded from the study.

• For all patients, any preceding viral illness or symptoms suggestive of any other systemic affection were assessed; full clinical examinations with complete cardiac examination and echocardiographic evaluation to measure fraction shortening (FS), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), and left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD) were performed.

• Blood investigations including routine work-up for newly diagnosed case of DCM such as complete blood count, metabolic profile (arterial blood gases, liver and kidney function test, electrolytes, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus), parathyroid hormone, random blood glucose, thyroid function test, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein level, in addition to creatine phosphokinase level, lactate dehydrogenase level, and 25(OH) vitamin D were assessed.

Echocardiographic Evaluation

• Transthoracic two-dimensional-M-mode echocardiography was done for each subject. Echocardiography was performed with equipment (2003 Philips EnVisor series, North America) using a 3- to 6-MHz probe. Images were acquired in subcostal, apical, long axis parasternal, short axis (base and chambers), and suprasternal area. All values, dimensions, and color and Doppler flow velocities were assessed. The same cardiologist who was blinded to patient data established complete echocardiographic evaluation of the patients.

• Data were in accordance with the recommendation of the chamber quantification. Left ventricular FS was computed in all study subjects. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was calculated by the Simpson's method in all study subjects. Endocardial borders of the left ventricle were traced from apical four-chamber view during end diastolic and end systolic, then the software automatically estimated the LVEF.[20]

Laboratory Investigations

• Two mL of blood was withdrawn by venipuncture and stored in aliquots at −20°C to measure vitamin D levels.

• Serum 25(OH) vitamin D level was measured by the competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique using a Calbiotech kit (a life science company, catalogue no: VD220B, San Diego-based company established in 1998, United States).

Reference Range of Serum 25(OH) Vitamin D Level

The reference range of serum 25(OH) vitamin D level is as follows:[21] [22] [23]

• Severe deficiency: ≤ 10 ng/mL

• Deficiency: ≤ 20 ng/mL

• Insufficiency: >20–< 30 ng/mL

• Sufficiency: ≥ 30 ng/mL.

Statistical Analysis

Statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 16.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, United States). Data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation for continuous variables or as numbers and percentages for categorical variables. Correlation between variables was done by Spearman–Pearson's correlation test. Probability (p)-value <0.05 is considered statistically significant.

Results

[Table 1] shows sociodemographic characteristics of children with idiopathic DCM. [Table 2] shows echocardiographic findings of children with idiopathic DCM. [Fig. 1] shows distribution of vitamin D levels among children with idiopathic DCM. [Fig. 2] shows correlation between vitamin D level and FS. [Fig. 3] shows correlation between vitamin D level and LVEDD.

Table 1 Sociodemographic characteristics of children with idiopathic DCM

Characteristic	No. (44) or mean ± SD	%
Age (y)
Mean ± SD	6.08 ± 4.4
Median (range)	5 (0.7-14)
Gender
Male	16	36.4
Female	28	63.6
Residence
Rural	28	63.6
Urban	16	36.4

Abbreviations: DCM, dilated cardiomyopathy; No., number; SD, standard deviation.

Table 2 Echocardiographic findings of children with idiopathic DCM

	No.	Mean ± SD
FS (mm)	42	16.9 ± 3.8
LA (mm)	32	25.4 ± 9
LVEDD (mm)	36	53.7 ± 11.0
LVESD (mm)	36	44.5 ± 9.6
TR (PG mmHg)	38	25.5 ± 18.3
MR grade	No.	%
1	4	10.5
2	14	36.8
3	8	21.1
4	12	31.6

Abbreviations: DCM, dilated cardiomyopathy; FS, fraction shortening; LA, left atrium; LVEDD, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter; LVESD, left ventricular end-systolic diameter; MR, mitral regurgitation; No., number; SD, standard deviation; TR, tricuspid regurgitation.

Fig. 1 Distribution of vitamin D levels among children with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Vitamin D level is severely deficient in 50%, deficient in 40.9%, and sufficient in 9.1% of studied children with idiopathic DCM. DCM, dilated cardiomyopathy.

Fig. 2 Correlation between vitamin D level and fraction shortening (FS).

Fig. 3 Correlation between vitamin D level and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD). [Fig. 2] and this figure showed significant negative correlations between vitamin D level, and FS and LVEDD, respectively, in children with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Discussion

Despite abundance of sunlight in Middle East and Egypt, studies that assessed vitamin D status revealed high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency that could be attributed to being with darker skin, nutritional factors, and cultural and traditional issues.[24] [25] While in children with heart failure, it can be explained by decreased sunlight exposure with reduced outdoor activities and recumbent position together with defective absorption of vitamin D due to edema affecting intestinal wall.[26]

Deficiency and insufficiency of vitamin D are observed in toddlers and young-aged Egyptian children. Abu Shady et al in 2016 observed that vitamin D less than 20 ng/mL was seen in 11.5% of healthy Egyptian school-aged children, while vitamin D insufficiency (>20 and <29.9 ng/mL) was observed in 15%.[25] Our study showed that vitamin D deficiency was highly prevalent (up to 90.1%) among children with idiopathic DCM and 9.1% was with sufficient 25(OH) vitamin D level, and this observation could raise the attention toward the possible contributing role of vitamin deficiency in the pathogenesis of idiopathic DCM.

This study revealed a negative correlation between vitamin D level and FS, as well as with LEVDD of children with DCM. These results were in concordance with a previous case–control study conducted by Priya et al in 2016, who found a significant low vitamin D level in patients with DCM when compared with controls, who were actually patients with other medical disorders. Also, they observed a significant negative correlation between vitamin D level, LVEDD, and LVESD.[14] Similar findings were reported by Ameri et al, who reported that vitamin D level had inverse relation with LVESD and LV volume in patients with heart failure.[27]

Previously, several case reports and case series of pediatric patients with what is known as rachitic DCM have been reported, and they revealed dramatic improvement after vitamin D supplementation. Fuster et al in 1983 described the first case with rachitic cardiomyopathy.[28] Also two Turkish cases were reported, one was a female patient aged 9 months,[29] and the other was a male patient aged 15 months,[30] both had idiopathic DCM and symptoms of heart failure together with signs of vitamin D deficient rickets, and within 3 months of treatment by vitamin D, their cardiac functions were markedly improved.

Retrospectively over 6 years, Maiya et al in 2008 found vitamin D deficiency in 16 patient with DCM, nearly one-third of them died with heart failure.[31] In 2009, a study of 47 DCM cases found 4 of them with rachitic symptoms, who were cured with vitamin D supplementation in addition to the anticongestive and inotropic medications.[32] Eren et al in 2015 have reported a case of 3 months old child with idiopathic DCM and his echo showed dilated left ventricle and hypokinetic myocardium with FS 20%. His cardiac function dramatically improved after receiving calcium lactate and vitamin D.[10] Interestingly, Yilmaz et al described eight infants with DCM and heart failure who were also due to hypocalcemia and nutritional rickets.[11]

Jammal Addin et al in 2019 conducted a study to assess the etiology and the outcome of children with DCM, showing that 13.2% of the studied patients were with severe vitamin D deficiency, most of them recovered completely with oral vitamin D supplementation, confirming the reversible nature of this type of cardiomyopathy with prompt early treatment.[33]

The same observation was recorded in adults as well as in pediatrics. Some patients with hypoparathyroidism after surgical thyroidectomy complained of heart failure that was reversible with vitamin D supplementation.[34] The VINDICATE (VitamIN D treatIng patients with Chronic heArT failurE) trial revealed that high dose of vitamin D (4,000 IU) in addition to the conventional medical treatment in adult patients with chronic heart failure and vitamin D deficiency markedly improved their EF by 8%.[35]

Study Limitations

DCM mainly related to genetic causes, postviral myocarditis, arrhythmias, hypertension, ischemia, etc. Vitamin D deficiency may be a contributing factor, but if it is possible cardiac functions of patients should be re-evaluated after vitamin D treatment. In this study, metabolic studies (e.g., tandem mass spectrometry, urine organic acid analysis, quantitative amino acid analysis in plasma, lactate, pyruvate, vitamin B12, homocysteine) to rule out inborn errors of metabolism and genetic studies (e.g., cardiomyopathy gene panel) to rule out genetic causes could not be done. Metabolic and genetic predispositions may cause the development of DCM in some patients. In the near future, the etiology will be further enlightened by new generation DNA sequencing tests.

Conclusion

Despite abundance of sunlight in Middle East and Egypt, this study revealed negative significant correlation between vitamin D level and FS and LVEDD in children with DCM, thus assessment of vitamin D level in children with idiopathic DCM is recommended, and prompt vitamin D supplementation in case of low level of vitamin D could have positive effect on cardiac function.

Conflict of Interest

None declared

Ethical Approval

The study was approved by the ethics committee of the Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University (IRB no: 17300487). Written informed consents were taken from parents with explanation of benefits of the study; risks expected and suggested treatment for each case.

Authors' Contributions

All authors read and approved the final manuscript. O.E.-A, N.O., and D.R. designed the study, literature search, interpreted the data, and wrote the manuscript. D.R. did echocardiography for all studied cases. M.D. did statistical analysis, share in literature search and writing. A.M. did all laboratory work in addition to interpretation of data.

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Publication History

Received: 01 January 2021

Accepted: 07 April 2021

Article published online:
19 June 2021