A Case of Complete Functional Myocardial Regeneration in a Human Neonate

Jyoti Gur; Rajiv Devanagondi; Rebecca Pratt; Frank Smith; Jason Mandell; Susan Martin; George A Porter Jr

doi:10.1016/j.jaccas.2025.103622

A Case of Complete Functional Myocardial Regeneration in a Human Neonate

JACC Case Rep. 2025 Jun 11;30(14):103622. doi: 10.1016/j.jaccas.2025.103622.

Authors

Jyoti Gur¹, Rajiv Devanagondi¹, Rebecca Pratt², Frank Smith³, Jason Mandell¹, Susan Martin⁴, George A Porter Jr⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA.
² Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, University of Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA.
³ Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA; Division of Pediatric Cardiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA.
⁴ Department of Pediatrics, Division of Critical Care, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA.
⁵ Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA. Electronic address: george_porter@urmc.rochester.edu.

Abstract

Background: Multiple studies demonstrate the cardiac regenerative capacity in neonatal mice in the first week of life. Although a similar regenerative window in the human neonatal hearts has not been defined clearly, existing evidence supports the concept of human neonatal cardiac regeneration.

Case summary: A neonate with a complex form of cyanotic tetralogy of Fallot demonstrated complete recovery of left ventricular function after an acute cardiac injury suffered on day of life 8.

Discussion: This case report adds to limited but intriguing observations that human neonatal hearts may possess the regenerative capacity observed in animal models and that that capacity may be prolonged by hypoxemia.

Take-home messages: A human neonatal heart has shown complete functional recovery after an ischemic injury. Hypoxemia may have extended the regenerative window of the human neonatal myocardium.

Keywords: cardiac regeneration; congenital heart disease; hypoxemia; ischemia.

Publication types

Case Reports