[Cardiac arrhythmias and amyloidosis]. / Las arritmias en la amiloidosis cardiaca.

Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is a form of cardiomyopathy characterized by the extracellular deposit of protein fibers in the myocardium, leading to the development of heart failure, arrhythmias, and electrical conduction system alterations. It is known that most cardiomyopathies have a close relationship with heart rhythm abnormalities, however, CA is specially related to different kinds of arrhythmias even in pre-diagnosis stages. Arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation are present in up to 70% of patients with CA associated with a high risk of cardioembolic complications independent of the risk stratification. Ventricular arrhythmias are frequent, but the use of implantable cardioverter defibrillator has not been demonstrated to improve survival. The Atrial-Ventricular node disease is also common, and is frequently associated with the implantation of a pacemaker, even in asymptomatic patients. In this review, we clarify the recommendations of the most current guidelines, summarize historical and contemporaneous data and describe evidence-based strategies for the management of arrhythmias and their complications in CA.

[Atypical presentation of the Wellens electrocardiographic pattern associated with coronary bifurcation lesión]. / Presentación atípica del patrón electrocardiográfico de Wellens asociado con lesión de bifurcación coronaria.

We present a patient who was admitted to the emergency room due to unstable angina, with an initial electrocardiogram without signs of acute ischemia and a favorable clinical evolution. During hospitalization, she developed the Wellens electrocardiographic pattern, noted in the literature as an infrequent, poorly identified finding and with an ominous prognosis. This electrocardiographic pattern is described in precordial derivatives, suggesting a significant lesion of a principal epicardial artery; our patient had similar electrocardiographic alterations in the high lateral leads, in whom the coronary bifurcation lesion not previously described in this scenario was confirmed.

[Arrhythmias and Sudden Death Risk in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy]. / Arritmias y Riesgo de Muerte Súbita en Cardiomiopatía Hipertrófica.

The risk of sudden death in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is related to the presence of ventricular arrhythmias in most cases. Finding the best schemes to assess the probability of arrhythmic complications will remain a challenge for modern Cardiology. Meanwhile, the multifactorial approach is the best strategy to avoid the unnecessary implantation of devices such as the implantable cardioverter defibrillator. Although the electrocardiogram remains an excellent diagnostic tool, even before echocardiographic expression, it does not have a clear role as a risk factor. However, the identification of associated arrhythmias such as preexcitation or long QT and variants of presentation as apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, allows identifying patients with high probability of sudden death. During the last few years, cardiac resonance and quantification of intramyocardial fibrosis (the basic mechanism of ventricular arrhythmias) have gained an important role in the evaluation of these patients.In particular, pediatric patients must have an individualized approach due to the poor prognosis at early ages and the uncertain role of different tools for risk assessment and treatment.

Manifestaciones musculo-esqueléticas en pacientes en hemodiálisis crónica / Muscle skeletal manifestations in patients on chronic hemodyalisis

Objetivos: Determinar la frecuencia y describir las manifestaciones musculoesqueléticas (MME) en pacientes en hemodiálisis crónica (HDC). Material y métodos: Es una serie de casos. Se incluyeron 68 pacientes con edad ≥ 18 años, en HDC ≥ 6 meses, del Centro de Hemodiálisis de la Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia. Los datos demográficos, clínicos, tiempo en hemodiálisis, dosis de diálisis e ingesta proteica, y calcio, fósforo y fosfatasa alcalina séricos fueron obtenidos de las historias clínicas, en 38 pacientes se determinó PTH sérico y a 37 pacientes se les realizó densitometría ósea como parte de su evaluación. Resultados: La edad promedio fue 52,1 ± 22,1 años, el 52,9% fueron mayores de 60 años, el tiempo en HDC 21,6 ± 17 meses, la nefropatía diabética fue la etiología más frecuente. El 73,5% de los pacientes presentaron MME. La artrosis y la lumbalgia fueron las más frecuentes. La artrosis se relacionó con edad >60 años (66,7% vs. 12,5%; p=0,000) y la presencia de diabetes mellitus (DM) (68,6% vs. 32,7%; p=0,010). En 64,9% de pacientes se encontró densidad mineral ósea (DMO) disminuida, 11 (29,7%) tuvieron osteoporosis y 12 (32,4%) osteopenia. Conclusión: Las MME tienen frecuencia elevada en pacientes en HDC, siendo la artrosis, la lumbalgia y la DMO disminuida las manifestaciones más frecuentes. (AU)

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of muscle skeletal (MS) manifestations in patients on chronic hemodyalisis (CH). Methods: Case series that included 68 patients with at least 18 years of age on CH for at least 6 months in the Hemodyalisis Centre of Cayetano Heredia University. Demographic data, clinical information, time on CH, dose of dyalisis and protein ingestion, calcium phosporus and alkaline phosphatase were investigated. Serum PTH was measured in 38 patients and bone mineral density was evaluated in 37 patients. Results: Mean age was 52.1 ± 22.1 years; 52.9% were above 60 years; time on CH was 21.6 ± 17 months; diabetic nephropathy was the common etiology. MS was observed in 73.5% of patients; arthrosis and lumbar pain were the most common manifestations. Arthrosis was related to age > 60 years (66.7% vs 12.5%; p=0.000) and with diabetes mellitus (68.6% vs 32.7%; p=0.010). Low bone mineral density was observed in 64.9% of patients, 11 (29.7%) had osteoporosis and 12 (32.4%) had osteopenia. Conclusions: MS manifestations are highly prevalent in patients on CH. Arthrosis, lumbar pain and low bone mineral density are the most common abnormalities in these patients. (AU)