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Chronic heart failure in children: etiology, pathogenesis, clinical picture and diagnosis

https://doi.org/10.46563/1560-9561-2025-28-3-223-230

Abstract

Introduction. Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a threatening complication of cardiovascular diseases or damage in other pathological processes. CHF is characterized by a significant risk of disability and mortality in childhood. The progression of CHF of any etiology is based on the process of cardiovascular remodeling associated with the activation of neurohormonal systems, sympathicoadrenal and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone. Aim of the review: to highlight the issues of the modern view of the etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and clinical features in CHF children to increase the knowledge in practitioners for better management of patients. A modern pharmacological treatment method that affects the prognosis and prevents the progression of myocardial damage is based on modulation of the activity of sympathicoadrenal and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone systems at the circulating, tissue, and cellular levels. When determining the treatment of children, the etiology of CHF should be established, concomitant diseases should be identified, the variant and severity of myocardial dysfunction should be determined, and the severity of clinical manifestations should be assessed.

About the Authors

Elena N. Basargina
National Medical Research Center for Children’s Health
Russian Federation


Elena S. Vasichkina
V.A. Almazov Center Department of Children’s Diseases
Russian Federation


Olga P. Zharova
National Medical Research Center for Children’s Health
Russian Federation


Igor A. Kovalev
N.I. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University
Russian Federation


Nataliya N. Koloskova
Shumakov National Medical Research Center of Transplantology and Artificial Organs
Russian Federation


Nataliya P. Kotlukova
N.I. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University
Russian Federation


Irina V. Leontyeva
N.I. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University
Russian Federation


Tatyana M. Pervunina
V.A. Almazov Center Department of Children’s Diseases
Russian Federation


Dmitrij V. Ryabtsev
Shumakov National Medical Research Center of Transplantology and Artificial Organs
Russian Federation


Irina V. Silnova
National Medical Research Center for Children’s Health
Russian Federation


Inna I. Trunina
N.I. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University; Z.A. Bashlyaeva Children City Clinical Hospital, Department of health of Moscow
Russian Federation


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Basargina E.N., Vasichkina E.S., Zharova O.P., Kovalev I.A., Koloskova N.N., Kotlukova N.P., Leontyeva I.V., Pervunina T.M., Ryabtsev D.V., Silnova I.V., Trunina I.I. Chronic heart failure in children: etiology, pathogenesis, clinical picture and diagnosis. Russian Pediatric Journal. 2025;28(3):223-230. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.46563/1560-9561-2025-28-3-223-230

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