The impact of methylphenidate treatment on the functional and structural properties of the left ventricle: A medium-term prospective study

Although methylphenidate (MPH) used for treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are considered safe in healthy children and adolescents in the short and medium term, there is a widespread concern about long-term cardiovascular safety. Interventional, prospective, longitudinal and comparative study with a crossover design to evaluate the cardiovascular impact of the treatment with MPH in healthy children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD. A protocol for the cardiovascular evaluation was established at a basal point, after the first and the second year of the beginning with treatment based on the monitoring of blood pressure (BP) and echocardiographic follow-up of the systolic and diastolic functions, and structural cardiac properties. 73 patients completed the study, with an average age of 9 ± 2.6 years, 75.3% were male and the majority were thin (64.4%). We found an increase in Systolic and Diastolic BP of 3.7 ± 9 mmHg (P = 0.004) and 2 ± 11,5 mmHg respectively. There were no severe cardiovascular events. We didn’t find any echocardiographic alterations namely on the structural properties or parameters of systolic function. Regarding diastolic function, a significant increase in the isovo-lumic relaxation time (IVRT) (P = 0.046) and deceleration time (P = 0.016) was observed. However, no significant alterations in the parameters related to distensibility of the LV neither in the early diastolic pressure were found. Further studies are needed to evaluate the impact of psychostimulants as a modifiable long-term Cardiovascular Risk Factor. El metilfenidato (MTF) es un psicoestimulante que aumenta frecuencia cardiaca (FC) y presión arterial (PA), lo cual a largo plazo podría modificar la geometría del ventrículo izquierdo (VI) y alterar sus propiedades funcionales, principalmente la diastólica. Estudio prospectivo, longitudinal y comparativo tipo caso-caso en niños y adolescentes sanos diagnosticados de trastorno por déficit de atención e hiperactividad (TDAH) tratados con MTF durante 3 años. Se valoró pre y postratamiento PAS/PAD, geometría ventricular, función sistólica y diastólica. Incluimos a 112 pacientes, completando 73. El 75,3% varones, entre 4–15 años (9 ± 2,6), con índice de masa corporal de 18,27 ± 3,75 y una dosis media de MTF de 0,9 ± 0,17 mg/kg/día. Objetivamos aumento de PAS/PAD de 3,7 ± 9 mmHg (p = 0,004) y 2 ± 11,5 mmHg, respectivamente. No tuvimos ningún evento cardiovascular grave, cambios estructurales ni variación e