Moving Forward in Pediatric Heart Failure: The Need for Cross-Fertilization Between Congenital Heart Disease and Cardiomyopathies

Pediatric heart failure is largely uncharted territory in cardiovascular medicine. Advances in management of congenital heart disease and improved recognition of early-onset myocardial disorders are giving new epidemiological relevance to the field, calling for agespecific, evidence-based management. Heart failure in children and adolescents largely remains a data-free zone, often managed by mere adaptation of adult guidelines, even though children are not “little adults”. Gaps in knowledge among these age groups range from limited understanding of cardiovascular pharmacology to what is the appropriate use of imaging and devices; and reflect reflecting a paucity of research initiatives in pediatric cohorts. The way forward requires multidisciplinary, concerted efforts, bringing together the best of the two worlds involved: congenital heart disease and genetic cardiomyopathies.