[Prognostic importance of pulmonary hypertension in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction]. / Importancia pronóstica de la hipertensión pulmonar en insuficiencia cardiaca con fracción de eyección preservada.

OBJECTIVES: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a frequent complication in heart failure (HF). However, its impact factor in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF) is not well-known. This study has aimed to identify the prognostic value of PH in hospitalized patients with HFPEF. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An observational and prospective trial of patients admitted due to HFPEF (LVEF >45%). Pulmonary hypertension was defined by Pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) >35mm Hg measured by the tricuspid regurgitation velocity plus atrial pressure. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality and/or readmissions during 1-year follow-up. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox regression were performed to identify adjusted hazard ratios (HR). RESULTS: A total of 218 patients completed the follow-up period, 56 patients (32.2%) had PASP >35mm Hg. Primary endpoint was observed in 126 patients (57.8%) and 70 patients (32.2%) died. Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed increased significantly all-cause mortality and/or readmission in patients with PH (Log Rank <0.001) and mortality (Log Rank 0.019). Patients with PH were an increased adjusted risk for primary endpoint, HR 2.03 (CI 95%: 1.39-2.96; p<0.001) and all-cause mortality, HR 1.84 (CI 95%: 1.11-3.03; p=0.017). CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary hypertension (PASP >35mm Hg) measured by non-invasive methods is a strong and independent predictor of an unfavorable outcome in patients hospitalized due to heart failure and normal or only mildly reduced ejection fraction.

[Atypically located posttraumatic pericardial cyst]. / Quiste pericárdico post-traumático de localización atípica.

Pericardial cyst are rare, most of them congenital in origin. They usually are located in the cardiophrenic angles, mainly on the right side. Although the most frequent clinical presentation is asymptomatic, and the prognosis is benign, important complications had been described. For this reason we used to take aggressive therapeutic interventions like percutaneous aspiration or surgical resection by thoracotomia or thoracoscopy. The case we report is interesting because it was an atypically located left upper paramediastinal cyst, and not congenital in origin but posttraumatic. The diagnosis was made by imaging techniques and we accomplished conservative alternative because of the favourable evolution. We think that it should be a good option in case of asymptomatic and no complicated cases.

[Heart transplantation in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis]. / Trasplante cardíaco en un paciente con artritis reumatoide.

A 56 year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis was diagnosed with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. She developed progressive heart failure that was refractory to conventional medical management. Heart transplantation was performed bearing in mind the controversy that surrounds its use in patients with a systemic disease. Transplant and rheumatoid arthritis were favorable at 33 month evolution. The immunosuppressive therapy required for the transplant helped the control of her articular disease.

Effects of bisoprolol on left ventricular hypertrophy in essential hypertension.

Previous studies have shown that beta-adrenergic blocking drugs can reverse ventricular hypertrophy in patients with systemic hypertension. Thirty patients with essential hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy were studied at baseline after withdrawing all previous treatments and after 6 months of treatment with 5-20 mg of bisoprolol, a new beta-selective agent, to assess its possible action on left ventricular mass. Three patients did not finish the study. Blood pressure was reduced to below 160/90 mmHg in 22 of the remaining 27 patients. At the end of follow-up, the left ventricular mass (echocardiography) was reduced from 308.1 +/- 89 g to 262.3 +/- 51 g (p < 0.001) and left ventricular mass index from 165 +/- 47.4 g/m2 to 141.03 +/- 26.7 g/m2 (p < 0.001). The ratio of E wave/A wave velocity of transmitral blood flow measured by Doppler increased from 0.86 +/- 0.44 to 1.07 +/- 0.45 (p = 0.005). Peak filling rate, derived from nuclear ventriculography, changed from 2.05 +/- 0.4 EDV/sec before the treatment to 2.23 +/- 0.47 EDV/sec after it (p = 0.0046). Serum lipids as well as other biochemical tests were unchanged. Left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction did not change, and treadmill exercise time increased from 343 +/- 125 seconds to 420 +/- 135 seconds (p = 0.002). Maximal systolic blood pressure during exercise decreased from 197.2 +/- 19.7 mmHg to 182.9 +/- 25.8 mmHg (p = 0.011). There were few side effects. We conclude that bisoprolol reduces left ventricular mass, preserves systolic function, and improves diastolic function of the left ventricle in hypertensive subjects with left ventricular hypertrophy.