Congenital rubella syndrome and left pulmonary artery sling

Abstract

To the Editors: The classic rubella syndrome is characterised by the combination of cardiac, ocular and hearing defects, although infection and damage can occur in every organ system. Since the advent of effective vaccination, the number of new cases of congenital rubella has plummeted. The cardiac abnormality most frequently found in rubella syndrome is a combination of branch pulmonary artery stenosis and patent ductus arteriosus, though isolated branch pulmonary artery stenosis is twice as common as isolated patent ductus arteriosus [1]. However, a wide variety of cardiac malformations may be produced, such as ventricular and atrial septal defects, stenosis of the pulmonary and aortic valves, Fallot's tetralogy, coarctation of the aorta, tricuspid atresia and transposition of the great vessels. Localised pulmonary arterial stenosis may appear in one of three main forms. First, there may be …