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Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndromeis not the name you expected.
Synonyms
- Aortic and Mitral Atresia with Hypoplasic Left Heart Syndrome
- HLHS
Disorder Subdivisions
- None
General Discussion
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a term used to describe a group of closely related rare heart defects that are present at birth (congenital). The normal heart has four chambers. The two upper chambers, known as atria, are separated from each other by a fibrous partition known as the atrial septum. The two lower chambers are known as ventricles and are separated from each other by the ventricular septum. Valves connect the atria (left and right) to their respective ventricles. The valves allow for blood to be pumped through the chambers. Blood travels from the right ventricle through the pulmonary artery to the lungs where it receives oxygen. The blood returns to the heart through pulmonary veins and enters the left ventricle. The left ventricle sends the now oxygen-filled blood into the main artery of the body (aorta). The aorta sends the blood throughout the body.
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is characterized by the underdevelopment (hypoplasia) of the chambers on the left side of the heart (i.e., left atrium and ventricle). In addition, the mitral valve, which connects these chambers to each other, is usually abnormally narrow (stenosis) or closed (atresia) and the aortic valve, which connects the heart to the major vessels that lead from the lungs (ascending aorta), may also be narrow or closed. Infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome also have an abnormally narrow ascending aorta.
Resources
American Heart Association
National Center
7272 Greenville Avenue
Dallas
TX
75231-4596
Tel: (214)373-6300
Fax: (214)373-0268
800: (800)242-8721
inquire@heart.org
http://www.americanheart.org
Congenital Heart Anomalies, Support, Education, & Resources
2112 North Wilkins Road
Swanton
OH
43558
Tel: (419)825-5575
Fax: (419)825-2880
chaser@compuserve.com
http://www.csun.edu/~hcmth011/chaser/chaser-news.html
NIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
31 Center Drive MSC 2480
Building 31A Rm 4A16
Bethesda
MD
20892-2480
Tel: (301)592-8573
Fax: (240)629-3246
nhlbiinfo@rover.nhlbi.nih.gov
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/
Kids With Heart National Association for Children's Heart Disorders, Inc.
1578 Careful Dr
Green Bay
WI
54304-2941
Tel: (920)498-0058
Fax: (920)498-0058
800: (800)538-5390
kidswithheart@greenbaynet.com
http://www.kidswithheart.org
Little Hearts, Inc.
P.O. Box 171
Cromwell
CT
06416
USA
Tel: (860)635-0006
Fax: (860)635-0006
800: (866)435-4673
info@littlehearts.org
http://www.littlehearts.org
Birth Defect Research for Children
930 Woodcock Rd
Suite 225
Orlando
FL
32803
USA
Tel: (407)895-0802
Fax: (407)895-0824
staff@birthdefects.org
http://www.birthdefects.org
Congenital Heart Information Network
1561 Clark Dr
Yardley
PA
19067
Tel: (215)493-3068
Fax: (215)493-3068
mb@tchin.org
http://www.tchin.org
MUMS (Mothers United for Moral Support, Inc) National Parent-to-Parent Network
150 Custer Court
Green Bay
WI
54301-1243
USA
Tel: (920)336-5333
Fax: (920)339-0995
800: (877)336-5333
mums@netnet.net
http://www.netnet.net/mums/
For a Complete Report:
This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html
The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.
It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.
For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org
Last Updated: 9/17/2007
Copyright 1986, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2003, 2007 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
WebMD Medical Reference from the National Organization of Rare Disorders
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