High Prevalence of Diastolic Dysfunction in Incident Patients on Peritoneal Dialysis: Association with Low Thyroid Hormones.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Diastolic dysfunction (DD) and low levels of thyroid hormones (TH) are frequent found in chronic kidney disease; both are associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. However, a link between them has not yet been established. The aim of this study was to analyze DD as a surrogate marker of fibrosis and its association with TH in incident patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD). METHODS: A cross-sectional study with 183 incident patients on PD with preserved ejection fraction was performed. Clinical and demographic data were registered. Serum total and free (t/f) triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxin (T4), and thyroid stimulating hormone levels were determined by RIA kits, albumin and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein by conventional assays. Transthoracic 2D echocardiogram was performed for evaluation of left ventricular (LV) mass and ejection fraction. DD was evaluated using pulsed-wave tissue Doppler imaging. RESULTS: Patients were 43 ± 12, 42% with diabetes mellitus (DM). Some degree of DD was found in 62% of patients; 18% had grade I DD, 8% grade II DD and 36% grade III DD. Patients with grade III DD were more likely to have diabetes, older, high LV mass and low serum albumin, t/fT3 and tT4 levels. In logistic multivariate regression analysis, it was found that diabetes (B = -0.86, 95% CI 0.182-0.992, p < 0.05), hypertension (B = -0.95, 95% CI 0.184-0.817, p = 0.01) and tT3 (B = -1.94, 95% CI 0.023-0.876, p < 0.05) were associated with grade III DD. CONCLUSIONS: High prevalence of grade III DD was found in incident patients on PD. In addition to DM and hypertension, tT3 was found to be an independent risk factor for grade III DD and more studies are needed to understand the reasons as to why this association is present.

[The echocardiography in cardiac remodeling after acute myocardial infarction]. / La ecocardiografía en la remodelación cardíaca después del infarto agudo de miocardio.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to assess the impact of left ventricular diastolic filling on remodeling and survival after acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: We studied 36 patients with first acute myocardial treated with thrombolytic agents. A Doppler echocardiography was performed at 24 hours, 30 and 90 days after infarction. It measured the relation between E and A waves peak velocities (E/A ratio) and of the E deceleration time (EDT, ms), as well as the flow propagation velocity using color mode M and the E'-wave by tissular Doppler at the lateral mitral ring. RESULTS: Patients were divided into three groups. Group I, restrctive filling (deceleration time < 140 ms, E/FPV > or = 2, E/A> 2 and E/E' > 15). Group II, elevated filling pressure (deceleration time > or = 140 ms, E/FVP > or = 2, E/A 1,2 and E/E' < or = 15). Group III, normal filling pressure (deceleration time > or = 140 ms, E/FVP < 2, E/A < 1 and E/E' < 15). The E/FPV showed a better correlation in the group with restrictive filling and left ventricular filling pressure was significantly greater than in the group with normal filling pressure at 90 days (2.18 +/- 0.90 vs. 1.5 +/- 0.35; r = 0.99; P = .0001). The end diastolic volume (EDV) was similar in the three groups 24 hours after infarction. EDV varied at 90 days after infarction in those patients that underwent successful coronary angioplasty. Group I, 142.48 +/- 32 vs. 112.48 +/- 32, r = 573; P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: E/FVP, using color M-mode Doppler echocardiography, estimates left ventricular filling pressure and predicts left ventricular dilation after acute myocardial infarction.

La ecocardiografía en la remodelación cardíaca después del infarto agudo de miocardio / The echocardiography in cardiac remodeling after acute myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to assess the impact of left ventricular diastolic filling on remodeling and survival after acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: We studied 36 patients with first acute myocardial treated with thrombolytic agents. A Doppler echocardiography was performed at 24 hours, 30 and 90 days after infarction. It measured the relation between E and A waves peak velocities (E/A ratio) and of the E deceleration time (EDT, ms), as well as the flow propagation velocity using color mode M and the E'-wave by tissular Doppler at the lateral mitral ring. RESULTS: Patients were divided into three groups. Group I, restrctive filling (deceleration time < 140 ms, E/FPV > or = 2, E/A> 2 and E/E' > 15). Group II, elevated filling pressure (deceleration time > or = 140 ms, E/FVP > or = 2, E/A 1,2 and E/E' < or = 15). Group III, normal filling pressure (deceleration time > or = 140 ms, E/FVP < 2, E/A < 1 and E/E' < 15). The E/FPV showed a better correlation in the group with restrictive filling and left ventricular filling pressure was significantly greater than in the group with normal filling pressure at 90 days (2.18 +/- 0.90 vs. 1.5 +/- 0.35; r = 0.99; P = .0001). The end diastolic volume (EDV) was similar in the three groups 24 hours after infarction. EDV varied at 90 days after infarction in those patients that underwent successful coronary angioplasty. Group I, 142.48 +/- 32 vs. 112.48 +/- 32, r = 573; P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: E/FVP, using color M-mode Doppler echocardiography, estimates left ventricular filling pressure and predicts left ventricular dilation after acute myocardial infarction.

Experiencia inicial con el empleo de Levovist en pacientes adultos con ecocardiogramas subóptimos / Initial experience with Levovist in adult patients with suboptimal echocardiograms

Objetivo: Reportar nuestra experiencia con el empleo de Levovist en 16 pacientes sometidos a estudio ecocardiográfico. Método: Se estudiaron consecutivamente pacientes con estudios ecocardiográficos subóptimos. Se les administraron 4 g @ 400 mg/ml de Levovist en bolo a través de una vena antecubital y se realizó un segundo ecocardiograma en los siguientes minutos. Resultados: Entre junio y julio de 1998, se reclutaron 16 pacientes. Siete hombres y nueve mujeres, con edades entre 29-77 años. Seis pacientes tenían cardiopatía isquémica (CI), tres insuficiencia mitral (IM), uno estenosis subaórtica dinámica, cinco dilatación de cavidades derechas y tumor en aurícula izquierda en uno. Ningún paciente refirió síntomas ni se detectaron complicaciones durante el estudio. El tiempo promedio de ecorrealce fue de 9 minutos. El empleo de Levovist mejoró la visualización del endocardio, facilitando la evaluación de movilidad segmentaria y función ventricular izquierda en los pacientes con CI. Facilitó la evaluación de la severidad de la IM y mejoró la delineación del espectro Doppler en el paciente con estenosis subaórtica. En dos de cinco pacientes con dilatación de cavidades derechas se documentó defecto del septum interauricular no detectado previamente. Mejoró la delineación de un tumor de aurícula izquierda. Conclusiones: Levovist mostró realce significativo de las diversas modalidades de Doppler y facilitó la evaluación de insuficiencia mitral, función ventricular izquierda, estenosis subaórtica y una tumoración de aurícula izquierda con seguridad y buena tolerancia.

Taponamiento cardíaco recidivante secundario a síndrome postpericardiotomía / Recidivant cardiac tamponade secondary to postpericadrdiotomy syndrome

Mujer de 22 años de edad, con diagnóstico de comunicación interauricular ostium secundum sometida a corrección quirúrgica. Treinta y cinco días después reingresa con síntomas de congestión venosa sistémica y pulmonar, fiebre y dolor precordial. Por ecocardiografía se demostraron derrame pericárdico de aproximadamente 3500 cc y datos de taponamiento cardíaco, por lo que requirió pericardiocentesis. Se diagnosticó como síndrome postpericardiotomía y se manejó con prednisona 10 mg cada 24 horas con evolución satisfactoria. Dos semanas después reingresó por presentar disnea y nuevo derrame pericárdico con taponamiento incipiente demostrado por ecocardiografía. Se incremento la dosis de prednisona hasta 40 mg al día. El control ecocardiográfico 10 días después reportó derrame de 600 cc, con notable mejoría clínica. A los tres meses estuvo asintomática y ecocardiográficamente sin datos de derrame pericárdico