Relationship between left atrial functions, P-terminal force and interatrial block in chronic haemodialysis patients.

OBJECTIVE: Interatrial block (IAB) connotes a P wave duration ≥ 110 msec on electrocardiography (ECG). P-terminal force corresponds to a biphasic P wave with its terminal negative phase ≥ 40 msec x mm in V1 derivation on ECG. IAB and P-terminal force are closely related parameters and they are accepted as predictors for left atrial dysfunction, left atrial dilatation, atrial fibrillation and strokes. Left atrial functions in chronic haemodialysis patients becomes worse in the course of time because of long standing pressure and volume overload. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between IAB, P-terminal force and left atrial functions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 68 chronic haemodialysis patients and 60 control subjects were included in the study. Conventional echocardiography and left atrial dynamic functions were measured in all cases. The subjects with IAB and P-terminal force on ECG were identified. RESULTS: Left ventricular size, wall thickness and left atrial diameters were significantly greater in haemodialysis patients than the control group (p < 0.001). 42 (62%) patients had IAB (≥ 110 msec) and 45 (66%) patients had P-terminal force ( ≥ 40 msec x mm) in the haemodialysis group. Left atrial reservoir, conduit and pump functions were significantly lower in the haemodialysis group than the control group (p < 0.001). There was a statistically significant correlation between left atrial functions, IAB (≥ 110 msec) and P-terminal force (≥ 40msec x mm) in all parameters (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that decreased left atrial functions in chronic haemodialysis patients are closely correlated with IAB and P-terminal force.

Comparison of effects of nebivolol, carvedilol and irbesartan on left ventricular hypertrophy associated with hypertension.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate if the new generation beta-blockers are as effective as irbesartan, which is an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), on left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 85 patients (average age: 56.6±9.6 year) with stage 1 and 2 hypertension, who previously didn't receive an antihypertensive treatment, but diagnosed with LVH echocardiographically. The patients were divided into three different treatment groups: irbesartan (n=28), nebivolol (n=25) and carvedilol (n=32). The patients were reassessed clinically and echocardiographically at 3, 6 and 12 months after the treatments. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in baseline left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and other parameters among the three treatment groups (p > 0.05). Although there was no significant decrease in LVMI in irbesartan and carvedilol groups at 3 months after the treatment (p > 0.05), the values measured at 6 and 12 months (p < 0.0001) were significant. The decrease in LVMI in the nebivolol group was significant at 3, 6 and 12 months (p < 0.0001). There was a significant difference in measurements at 12 months (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both of the new generation beta-blockers were more effective than irbesartan in the regression of LVH. A significant regression in LVH was observed 3 months after nebivolol treatment and 6 months after irbesartan and carvedilol treatments.

Predictors of reintervention after coronary artery bypass grafting.

AIM: Percutaneous and surgical reintervention after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is frequent. The purpose of this study was to determine the predictors of reintervention in patients with symptoms of recurrent ischemia after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The data of 20000 patients who had coronary angiography (CAG) from 2003 to 2010 in our centre were retrospectively analysed. 485 of these patients with CABG who had CAG were included in this study. Demographic characteristics, the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD), risk factors for CAD, electrocardiographic (ECG) changes, troponin and CKMB levels, and left ventricular function were evaluated in terms of time elapsed after CABG. RESULTS: Reintervention was performed significantly more frequent in patients with acute coronary syndrome, diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HT), family history of CAD, ECG changes, positive troponin level, elevated CKMB, ejection fraction (EF) > 50% and in smoker patients (p < 0.05). Multivariate backward logistic regression analysis revealed that DM, smoking, family history of CAD, HT, ECG changes and patients with EF > 50% were found the independent predictors of reintervention. CONCLUSIONS: Reintervention after CABG is especially higher in patients with risk factors for atherosclerosis and those who have ECG changes and normal EF. Knowledge of these risk factors is useful in the determination of CAG requirement and modification of risk factors for  atherosclerosis may play an important role in reducing reintervention.

Acute myocardial infarction during the early postpartum period successfully treated with tirofiban.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) during the early postpartum period is rare but may be associated with poor maternal outcome. We report an inferior AMI in 30-year-old woman with mitral valve replacement during early postpartum period successfully treated with tirofiban. For a patient that has got AMI due to massive thrombus and that is not suitable for percutaneous coronary intervention and has got contraindication to thrombolytic therapy, glikoprotein IIb-IIIa inhibitor (tirofiban) infusion must be kept in mind.

Clinical experience with subxiphoid pericardiostomy in the management of pericardial effusions: a study of 240 cases.

We aimed to assess the effectiveness of subxiphoid pericardiostomy for treating patients with pericardial effusions (PE), and its contribution to defining the aetiology of these effusions. We undertook retrospective analysis of 240 PE patients who underwent subxiphoid pericardiostomy and tube drainage between 1990 and 2000. Echocardiography classified PE as severe in 132 patients, moderate in 99, and mild in nine. The main causes of PE were uraemic, idiopathic and undefined, tuberculous and non-tuberculous pericarditis, malignancy and trauma. Peri-operative myocardial injury requiring sternotomy, and recurrent effusion requiring further surgical intervention, occurred in three and 24 patients, respectively. Histopathological examination assisted the diagnosis in 94% of patients with malignancy, and 96% with tuberculous pericarditis. Overall 30-day mortality was 1.3% and pericardial constriction, requiring pericardiectomy, developed in seven cases. In conclusion, we believe that adults and children with PE can be safely, effectively and quickly managed with subxiphoid pericardiostomy, irrespective of its aetiology.

Diagnostic value of dobutamine stress echocardiography in coronary artery disease.

In order to assess the value of dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) for detecting coronary artery disease (CAD), 67 consecutive patients (mean age +/- SD was 58 +/- 8 years, range 35 to 75; 46 men and 21 women) with known or suspected CAD undergoing selective coronary angiography within the week following the DSE were studied. Two patients were excluded from the study because of insufficient echocardiographic imaging. Dobutamine (5 to 30 micrograms/kg/min by 5 micrograms/kg/min increments) was infused in 5-minute intervals. All the patients had 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) recorded at rest and at each stage of dobutamine infusion. There was significant CAD (> or = 50% diameter stenosis) in 42 patients (64.6%) with 16 patients having 1-vessel, 7 patients having 2-vessel and 19 patients having 3-vessel CAD. In 22 patients coronary angiogram was normal. DSE was positive in 33 of 42 patients with CAD. The test was negative in 20 of 23 patients without CAD. Compared with coronary angiography, the overall sensitivity of DSE for detecting CAD was 78.6% specificity 87%, positive predictive value 91.7%, negative predictive value 69%, and accuracy 81.5%. The sensitivity in those with one-vessel, two-vessel, three-vessel and multivessel disease was 62.5%, 85.7%, 94.7%, and 92.3% respectively. DSE was well tolerated in all patients. The study was not prematurely terminated due to a side effect in any patient. This study indicated that DSE is a practical method for the non-invasive assessment of significant CAD, for determining the patients who require invasive tests, and for predicting the extent of disease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)