Evaluation of left and right ventricular functions with three-dimensional speckle tracking in patients with mitral stenosis.

BACKGROUND: The function of both ventricles has been suggested to be affected in patients with mitral stenosis. In this study, it was aimed to investigate deformation properties of right (RV) and left ventricle (LV) in rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS) patients with three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (3D-STE). METHODS: A total of 60 patients were included in the study (20 patients with mild MS diagnosis, 20 patients with moderate MS diagnosis, and 20 healthy volunteers). Three-dimensional echocardiography datasets were obtained for both ventricles in all patients. LV global longitudinal strain (GLS), LV torsion, RV free wall (FW) LS, and interventricular septal (IVS) LS measurements were analyzed. RESULTS: The LV ejection fraction (EF), RV fractional area change, peak systolic velocity of the tricuspit annulus, isovolumic acceleration, and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion values were statistically similar and in the normal range. The LV GLS measurements were significantly different among the groups by being highest in the control group and least in the moderate stenosis group. Patients with MS showed higher torsional values, correlated with MS severity. IVS LS, RVFW LS values obtained by RV analysis also differed significantly among groups. The RVFW-GLS values only showed significant difference between the control group and moderate MS group. CONCLUSION: Patients with MS showed lower LV-GLS and higher LV torsion values. RV deformation indices showed significant decrease in correlation with the severity of the mitral stenosis. In conclusion, our data suggest that subclinical LV and RV systolic dysfunction is present in mild-moderate MS patients and this dysfunction can be detected by 3D-STE.

Effect of dobutamine stress echocardiography on serum heart fatty acid binding protein levels.

Objective Heart fatty acid binding protein (HFABP) is a low-molecular-weight free protein that is abundant in the intracytoplasmic space of myocytes. Due to its unique features, serum HFABP levels may increase in myocardial ischaemia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of myocardial ischaemia induced by dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) on serum HFABP levels. Methods and results A total of 30 consecutive patients with suspected myocardial ischaemia underwent DSE examination. HFABP levels were measured immediately before and 1 hour after DSE. HFABP rose significantly in individuals in the DSE positive group (1.66 ± 1.18 ng/ml vs 2.65 ± 1.34 ng/ml, P = 0.004), but remained unchanged in the DSE negative group (1.61 ± 0.77 ng/ml vs 1.85 ± 0.76 ng/ml, P = 0.066). Conclusion Serum HFABP levels increased significantly at 1 hour in the presence of ischaemia induced by DSE in patients with stable clinical coronary syndromes. No such increase was evident in the absence of ischaemia.

Dasatinib-induced pulmonary hypertension in acute lymphoblastic leukemia: case report.

Pulmonary hypertension (PHT) is a pathological condition determined as an increase in mean pulmonary arterial pressure ≥25 mmHg. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is precapillary PHT and a life-threatening disease group which consists of different etiologies with the same pathological and clinical findings, and which is characterized by elevated pulmonary vascular resistance. Dasatinib is a dual Src/Abl kinase inhibitor associated with higher affinity for BCR/ABL kinase than imatinib, and is used in the treatment of chronic myelocytic leukemia and Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We describe a case with ALL, in whom dasatinib treatment induced PAH, and who recovered with bosentan treatment.

[In the light of current knowledge right ventricle]. / Güncel bilgilerin isiginda sag ventrikül.

There are important differences between left and right ventricle. Due to anatomical location and structural features, in daily clinical practice the right ventricle cannot be assessed easily as the left ventricle. Therefore, the right ventricle has remained in the background of the left ventricle. Recent clinical studies and advanced imaging modalities have demonstrated that right ventricle is decisive for survival particularly in patients with congenital heart disease, pulmonary hypertension and heart failure. Therefore, the detailed evaluation of the right ventricle has become necessary in current clinical practice. For this reason, in our review we aimed to examine the embryological development, anatomical structure, physiological, metabolic characteristics, responses to different pathological conditions, effects on arrhythmias, causes of failure and imaging modalities of the right ventricle in light of the current knowledge's.

[The management of adult female patients with Eisenmenger syndrome and advanced pulmonary arterial hypertension treatment: single center experience and follow-up for 5 years]. / Eriskin kadin hastalarda Eisenmenger sendromuna yaklasim ve pulmoner arteriyel hipertansiyonda spesifik tedavi: tek merkeze ait klinik sonuçlar ve bes yillik izlem.

OBJECTIVES: Eisenmenger syndrome (ES) occurs as the most advanced form of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in patients with congenital heart disease. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the management of ES patients, follow-up and specific PAH treatment applying and clinical outcomes during 5 years. STUDY DESIGN: During the period of the month between May 2008 and 2013 ES female patients were included in the study and followed an average for 5 years. Clinical findings, brain natriuretic peptide levels, transthoracic and right heart catheterization findings, 6-min walking test distance were recorded. PAH specific treatment as bosentan, iloprost and sildenafil was given to patients according to guidelines. The patients were evaluated with 3 months intervals as requirement for hospitalization, combination treatment, and mortality. RESULTS: A total of 12 patients were included in the study. All of the patients were women, the mean age was 36.5. As prognostic echocardiographic data, the patients had high pulmonary artery pressure (109.81 ± 24.94 mmHg) related with increased right ventricular wall thickness, elevated right atrial pressure, severe pulmonary regurgitation in 40%, shortened pulmonary acceleration time, diminished myocardial tissue Doppler velocities of the left and right ventricles, increased right atrium area/left atrial area ratio (1.35 ± 0.40), lower right ventricular fractional area change. During the follow-up period of 5 years, a total of 16 events occurred. Combination treatment was required in 8 patients. CONCLUSION: Eisenmenger syndrome is a multi-system affecting disease and due to high morbidity and mortality risk patients with ES should be followed by specialized centers. PAH specific treatment improves the disease course and survival of patients.

[A rare cause of pulmonary hypertension: bilateral pulmonary artery involvement and stent restenosis due to Takayasu arteritis]. / Pulmoner hipertansiyonun nadir bir sebebi: Takayasu arteritine bagli iki tarafli pulmoner arter tutulumu ve pulmoner arter stent restenozu.

A 53-year-old female patient was admitted with dyspnea and fatigue. On transthoracic echocardiography, systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) was measured as 90 mmHg, and right heart catheterization revealed pulmonary arterial hypertension. Pulmonary angiography demonstrated bilateral pulmonary artery stenosis, and the diagnosis was determined as Takayasu arteritis. Balloon angioplasty was performed under corticosteroid and immunosuppressive treatment. In this case report, we describe a patient in whom bilateral pulmonary artery stenosis developed due to Takayasu arteritis, and we discuss the patient in light of the current literature.

The effect of body weight on left atrial function determined by longitudinal strain analysis in young adults.

PURPOSE: Obesity is a risk factor for various cardiovascular disorders. Left atrial (LA) function is vital for predicting adverse outcomes in many diseases. LA strain was recently proposed as a noninvasive and valuable parameter for LA functional evaluation. We investigated the effect of body mass index (BMI) values on left atrial functions determined by longitudinal strain analysis in young adults without concomitant disease. METHODS: We prospectively included 134 subjects in our study. Participants were categorized into three subgroups, obese, overweight, and control, according to their BMI. Conventional echocardiographic measurements and strain analysis were performed on all patients. RESULTS: There were 41 patients (30.5%) in the obesity group, 46 patients (34.3%) in the overweight group, and 47 patients (35.0%) in the control group. Obese patients had significantly larger LA volume (46.9 ± 12.1 ml; p < 0.001) compared to overweight and control subjects; however, LA volume index (21.4 ± 6.1 ml/m2 vs. 22.4 ± 6.1 ml/m2 vs. 22.4 ± 5.0 ml/m2; p = 0.652) were similar between groups. In the LA strain analysis, obese patients were found to have lower left atrial reservoir longitudinal strain (LASr) compared to both the overweight and control group (44.2 ± 5.8% vs. 39.1 ± 3.7% vs. 36.5 ± 4.9%; p < 0.001); moreover obese patients had significantly worse left atrial contraction phase longitudinal strain (LASct) (-15.1 ± 3.1% vs. -13.1 ± 2.5%; p = 0.007) and left atrial conduit phase longitudinal strain (LAScd) (-29.0 ± 7.1% vs. -23.3 ± 5.4%; p < 0.001) values compared to the control group. However, LASct and LAScd values did not differ between overweight and obese patients. CONCLUSION: LA function determined by LA strain analysis was impaired in obese and overweight individuals compared to the control group, even in the early stages of life. The prognostic significance of this finding should be investigated in prospective studies.

Assessment of right ventricular functions during cancer chemotherapy.

AIMS: Although systolic and diastolic left ventricular functions after cancer chemotherapy are well studied, there are a few investigations about the right ventricular functions. We aimed to investigate the early effects of chemotherapy on right heart, if any, in addition to the association between N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and right heart echocardiographic indices. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-seven consecutive patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer who were planned to receive either AC protocol [cyclophosphamide (600 mg/m(2)) + adriamycin (60 mg/m(2))] or CAF protocol [cyclophosphamide (600 mg/m(2)) + adriamycin (60 mg/m(2)) + 5-fluorouracil (600 mg/m(2))] for six cures were enrolled between February 2009 and June 2010. Echocardiography was performed before the onset of the chemotheurapeutic regimen (T1), on the day after the completion of the first cure (T2), and after the completion of two cures of the regimen (T3). Serum NT-proBNP levels were also measured at T1, T2, and T3. The mean right ventricular fractional area change (RVFAC) was 63.7 ± 3.63, 63.3 ± 3.67, and 61.2 ± 4.41% at T1, T2, and T3, respectively (pT1-T3 and pT2-T3 <0.05). Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) has decreased in time (1.82 ± 0.2, 1.78 ± 0.19, and 1.62 ± 0.24 cm; pT1-T2, pT1-T3, and pT2-T3 were 0.002, <0.001, and <0.001, respectively). Tricuspid annular mean E'/A' ratios were 1.42 ± 0.16, 1.36 ± 0.18, and 1.11 ± 0.32 (pT1-T2 = 0.013, pT1-T3 < 0.001, and pT2-T3 < 0.001). Mean tricuspid annular systolic velocities were 11.35 ± 1.85, 11.0 ± 1.82, and 10.45 ± 1.75 cm/s for T1, T2, and T3; and the differences between T1 and T2, T1 and T3, and T2 and T3 were all significant (P = 0.005, <0.001, and 0.001). Median serum NT-proBNP levels were 82 (60-247), 116 (60-426), and 170 (60-600) pg/mL at T1, T2, and T3. The amount of change in RVFAC and TAPSE between T1 and T3 were found to be correlated with the amount of change in NT-proBNP measurements between T1 and T3 (R: -0.7, P < 0.001; R: -0.62, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: There is a subclinical decrease in right ventricular systolic and diastolic echocardiographic indices, although mostly, in the normal range, in a relatively short time interval after onset of chemotherapy.

Plasma osteopontin levels in prediction of prognosis in acute myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to explain the clinical importance of the osteopontin (OPN) in the setting of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS: Eighty consecutive patients (55 = 11 years, 12 women and 68 men) and sixty healthy control subjects were included in the study. In all patients, plasma OPN levels were assessed on admission and on the third day (peak value). Creatinine kinase (CK)/CK-myocardial band (MB), troponin I and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic factor levels and echocardiographic findings were also recorded. Patients were classified into high and low OPN groups according to the median OPN value, and monitored for the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). RESULTS: Patients with STEMI had higher OPN levels (23.8 [16.7-41.3] ng/ml) on admission than the control subjects (18.0 [11.3-31.5] ng/ml, P = 0.004).The third day value of OPN was significantly higher (39.2 [27.2-56.0] ng/ml) than the OPN level on admission (23.8 [16.7-41.3] ng/ml, P < 0.001). Admission and peak OPN levels were not correlated with CK/CK-MB, white blood cell counts, troponin I and the N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic factor. The plasma OPN levels were not correlated with left ventricular wall motion score index either. In the subgroups of infarct localization and reperfusion strategy, plasma OPN levels were similar. When the patients were compared according to the median OPN values, there were no differences in the occurrence of MACE between the high and low OPN groups. CONCLUSION: This study suggests, for the first time, that the plasma OPN level increases in the first hours of the acute STEMI; however, it could not be used as a prognostic biomarker of STEMI.

Congenital heart disease and air travel.

The number of individuals traveling by airplanes is increasing every year. Patients with congenital heart disease and shunts, exposure to high altitude during a flight is important since it causes pulmonary vaso- constriction leading to an increase in right-to-left shunting and a decrease in arterial oxygen saturation. Patients with cyanotic congenital heart disease and Eisenmenger syndrome should be evaluated before the flight, and necessary precautions should be taken.