About
Dr. Nancy Halnon is a physician specializing in pediatric heart failure and cardiomyopathy that will closely monitor heart function, and make early intervention to preserve and optimize heart function. Dr. Halnon sees patients in NM comprehensive clinic, as well as at scheduled outpatient appointments in pediatric cardiology. Echocardiograms or CMR are ordered routinely depending on the child's age and ability. Medications (ACE inhibitors, aldosterone inhibitors and beta blockers) are routinely offered with evidence of dysfunction. Early initiation of ACEi (pre-emptively) is offered and encouraged. Dr. Halnon is UCLA PI for a multicenter clinical trial of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonism (eplerenone vs. spironolactone) and collaborates with CMR investigators for additional clinical research studies focusing on DMD cardiomyopathy. Transition to adult care is actively managed (initially co-managed, then Dr. Halnon provides consultation as needed) with Dr. Daniel Cruz in the Cardiomyopathy clinic at UCLA. ICD are not routinely provided during childhood, but are recommended once typical ICD criteria for adult cardiomyopathy patients are met. Dr. Cruz also sees dystrophin mutation carriers (mothers or relatives of clinic patients).