LAUSR

The focus of the section on “Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease” of this issue of Current Treatment Options in Cardiovascular Medicine is on cardiopulmonary complications of prematurity and chemotherapy of childhood cancer. Preterm birth affects more than 500,000 babies born in the USA each year. The improved survival of the extremely preterm neonate has led to increased numbers of patients with chronic lung disease and increased incidence of pulmonary hypertension. Prematurity is now recognized as a risk factor for premature onset of heart failure. Pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure occur in 12–25% of infants with chronic lung disease. The articles in the current issue are devoted to molecular and pathobiologic mechanistic understanding of the cardio-pulmonary diseases of prematurity. They delve into the assessment of pulmonary hypertension and ventricular function in general and pediatric patients with conditions in particular. They highlight the evolving cardiac phenotype in adult born preterm. The articles also highlight the need for early detection of cardiac complications of childhood cancer and management. The evolving field of cardiopulmonary disease spectrum of prematurity and cardiac-oncology needs its due attention.