Extended recovery of cardiac function after severe infantile cardiomyopathy presentation of Barth syndrome.

Cardiomyopathy is the most common presenting feature of Barth syndrome, often presenting in infancy with severe heart failure and cardiac dysfunction. Historically, affected infants commonly died early after presentation, sometimes before a diagnosis of Barth syndrome was made. With increases in awareness of Barth syndrome and in the care of infants with severe heart failure, survival of children with Barth syndrome and severe heart failure has improved. We describe our experience caring for five unrelated boys with Barth syndrome who presented with severe cardiomyopathy and heart failure prior to age 2 who have had marked improvement with long-term response to medical heart failure therapy.