The outcome of peripartum cardiomyopathy patients-single center experience.

OBJECTIVE: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) diagnosis made by excluding identifiable causes of heart failure (HF) and occurs end of the pregnancy or during the postpartum period of five months. It presents a clinical HF spectrum with left ventricular systolic dysfunction. BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to retrospectively evaluate the clinical characteristics, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging features, and end-points consisting of left ventricle recovery, left ventricular assist device implantation, heart transplantation, and all-cause mortality. METHOD: Outpatient HF records between 2008 to 2021 were screened. Thirty-seven patients were defined as PPCM. Twenty-five patients had CMR evaluation at the time of diagnosis, and six patients were re-evaluated with CMR. RESULTS: The mean age was 30.5 ± 5.6 years, and the mean LVEF was 28.2% ± 6.7%. In 13(35.7%) patients, LVEF recovered during the follow-up course. The median recovery time was 281(IQR [78-358]) days. LVEF on CMR was 35.3 ± 10.5, and three patients exhibited late gadolinium enhancement(LGE) patterns. Sub-endocardial and mid-wall uptake pattern types were detected. 18(75%) patients met the Petersen left ventricle non-compaction cardiomyopathy(LVNC) criteria. Patients with NC/C ratio lower than 2.3 had lower LVEDVi and LVESVi (124.9 ± 35.4, 86.4 ± 7.5, p = .003; 86.8 ± 34.6, 52.6 ± 7.6, p = .006), respectively. The median follow-up time was 2129 (IQR [911-2634]) days. The primary endpoint-free 1-year survival was 88.9% (event rate 11.1%), and 5-year survival was 75.7% (event rate 24.3%). CONCLUSION: In a retrospective cohort of PPCM patients, 35.7% of patients' LVEF recovered, and the primary end-point of free-5-year survival was 75%. Twenty-five patients were assessed with CMR; three of four met the Petersen CMR-derived LVNC at initial evaluation.

Effect of Semirecumbent Sleep Position on Severity of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Patients With Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Overnight rostral leg fluid displacement in heart failure (HF) patients is related to the high prevalence and severity of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). We hypothesized that rostral fluid shift would decrease in a semirecumbent (45-degree elevated) position, and evaluated the effect of semirecumbent sleeping on severity of sleep apnea in HF patients with OSAS. METHODS AND RESULTS: Demographic, anthropometric characteristics, and medical history of 30 consecutive patients with HF and OSAS were recorded. The patients underwent 2 polysomnographic procedures within 1 week: 1 while lying flat and the other in a semirecumbent position. Out of 30 patients (mean age 54.7 ± 10.2, 26 men), 16 (53.3%) were obese and 29 (96.7%) had comorbidities other than HF. Mean apnea-hypopnea index was 30.8 ± 20.7 events/h while lying flat which decreased to 17.8 ± 12.1 events/h in semirecumbent position (P < .0001). Similarly, oxygen desaturation index decreased from 22.3 ± 19.8 to 12.7 ± 11.5 events/h (P < .0001), and the percentage of sleep time with oxygen saturation (SpO2) <90% (P = .036) and lowest SpO2 (P = .004) were improved in the semirecumbent position. Furthermore, the percentage of stage N2 sleep decreased from 47.0% while lying flat to 39.6% (P = .014). CONCLUSIONS: The present findings support that the severity of OSAS decreased significantly in a semirecumbent sleep position in patients with HF. Therefore, semirecumbent sleeping may be a promising therapeutic option in the management of HF-related sleep apnea.

Relation between NT-proBNP levels, iron overload, and early stage of myocardial dysfunction in ß-thalassemia major patients.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) secondary to myocardial iron loading remains the leading cause of death in ß-thalassemia major (ß-TM) patients. The early diagnosis and treatment of HF in these patients is related to survival. We aimed to evaluate myocardial performance using conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography and its relation to plasma NT-proBNP levels and iron overload indices in ß-TM patients with preserved systolic function. METHODS: The study population included 49 ß-TM patients (24.0 ± 4.2 years) and 48 age-matched healthy controls. Doppler-echocardiographic study was performed and blood samples for NT-proBNP measurements were drawn on the third day following blood transfusion. Patients were divided as group-1, without diastolic dysfunction: E/E' ratio < 9 and group-2, with suspected diastolic dysfunction: E/E' ratio ≥ 9. RESULTS: NT-proBNP levels and E/E' ratio were increased in patients compared with controls (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001) but did not correlate with each other. A strong positive correlation was detected between NT-proBNP levels and mean ferritin levels in ß-TM patients (r(s) = 0.939; P < 0.001). Median NT-proBNP levels were significantly higher in group-1 in comparison to controls [51.2 (41.51-113.5) vs 30.1 (17.97-68.16) ng/mL, P < 0.01]. NT-proBNP levels were also increased in group-2 in comparison to group-1 but this increase was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: NT-proBNP secretion begins in the early phase of the disease before the increase in diastolic pressure becomes overt. While there was a strong correlation between the plasma NT-proBNP levels and iron overload, there was no correlation between NT-proBNP levels and diastolic dysfunction parameters in patients in the third decade of life.

Serum estradiol level predicts acute kidney injury in medical intensive care unit patients.

Previous studies have shown that serum estradiol (E2) levels can predict mortality in intensive care unit patients. Our study investigated the predictive role of admission estradiol level on patient mortality and development of acute kidney injury in medical intensive care unit patients with a wide range of diagnoses. We conducted a prospective cohort study using serum samples from hospitalized patients in medical, cardiac, and pulmonary intensive care units at the Ege University Hospital within 6 months. Serum estradiol levels from 118 adult patients were collected within 48 h of hospitalization. Receiver operating curves and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate its relationship with acute kidney injury development and mortality. Serum estradiol levels were significantly higher in non-survivor patients than in survivor patients [85 (19-560) pg/mL vs. 32 (3-262) pg/mL, p < 0.001]. Admission estradiol levels were significantly higher in patients with AKI on admission than in patients with chronic kidney disease (p = 0.002) and normal renal function (p = 0.017). Serum E2 levels were higher in patients with renal deterioration during follow-up than patients with stable renal functions [62 (11-560) pg/mL vs. 38 (3-456) pg/mL, p = 0.004]. An admission estradiol level of 52.5 pg/mL predicted follow-up renal deterioration with 63% sensitivity and 74% specificity. A combined (APACHE II-E) score using APACHE II and serum estradiol level predicted overall mortality with 66% sensitivity and 82% specificity. Admission estradiol level is a good marker to predict the development of acute kidney injury and mortality in medical intensive care unit patients.

Characteristics and long-term survival of patients with left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy.

AIMS: Left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy (LVNC) is a poorly understood entity resulting in heart failure. Whether it is a distinct form of cardiomyopathy or an anatomical phenotype is a subject of discussion. The current diagnosis is based on morphologic findings by comparing the compacted to non-compacted myocardium. The study aimed to compare demographic and prognostic variables of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and LVNC. Emphasis was given to cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging analysis. Data on survival were also assessed. METHODS AND RESULTS: We retrospectively evaluated the characteristics and outcomes of 262 non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy patients with LVNC and DCM phenotypes. Petersen's CMR criteria of non-compacted to the compacted myocardial ratio 2.3 were used to diagnose LVNC. The primary endpoint was a composite endpoint of major adverse cardiovascular events comprising cardiovascular-related death, left ventricular assisted device implantation, or heart transplantation. A total of 262 patients with CMR data were included in the study. One hundred fifty-five patients who fulfilled CMR criteria were diagnosed as LVNC. CMR findings revealed that LVNC patients had higher left ventricular end-diastolic (137.2 ± 51.6, 116.8 ± 44.6, P = 0.002) and systolic volume index (98.4 ± 49.5, 85.9 ± 42.7, P = 0.049). Cardiac haemodynamics, cardiac output (5.61 ± 2.03, 4.96 ± 1.83; P = 0.010), stroke volume (73.9 ± 28.8, 65.1 ± 25.1; P = 0.013), and cardiac index (2.85 ± 1.0, 2.37 ± 0.72; P < 0.0001), were higher in LVNC patients. Of all the 249 patients, 102 (40.9%) patients demonstrated late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). According to Petersen's criteria, the Kaplan-Meier survival outcome did not reveal significant differences (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.53, 95% confidence interval [CI]: [0.89-2.63], P = 0.11). The presence or pattern of LGE did not show significant importance for endpoint-free survival. Most of the sub-epicardial LGE pattern was found in LVNC patients (94.4%). When receiver operator characteristics analysis was applied to NC/C ratio to discriminate the primary endpoint, a higher NC/C ratio of 2.57 was associated with adverse events (HR: 1.90, 95% CI: [1.12-3.24], P = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Our study questions the criteria being used for the diagnosis of LVNC. Further evaluation of CMR variables and association of these findings with demographic variables and survival is mandatory.

A sinus of valsalva aneurysm: more complicated than imagined.

Sinus of Valsalva aneurysms mostly remain silent. Here, we report a case with sinus of Valsalva aneurysm which caused right ventricular outflow obstruction and ruptured into the main pulmonary artery in the setting of DeBakey type I aortic dissection.

Hypereosinophilic syndrome presenting with large left ventricular apical thrombus and pulmonary embolism.

A 45-year-old man presented with dyspnea on exertion, fatigue, and cough. Transthoracic echocardiography showed a large apical thrombus in the left ventricle. The laboratory results showed prominent eosinophilia on blood smear, elevated acute phase reactants and D-dimer serum levels. Bone marrow examination showed a Fip1-like platelet-derived growth factor receptor alfa fusion gene mutation. The case was diagnosed as myeloproliferative variant hypereosinophilic syndrome. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography demonstrated thrombi not only in left ventricle but also in multiple segmental pulmonary arteries. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging showed left ventricular apical thrombus without subendocardial fibrosis. Cardiopulmonary manifestations of hypereosinophilic syndrome completely resolved after treatment.

Evaluation of left atrial and ventricular myocardial functions by three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography in patients with euthyroid Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (HsT) is one of the most frequently occurring autoimmune diseases, characterized by lymphocytic infiltration, destruction and fibrosis of thyroid tissue and the presence of antibodies to thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin. The effects of euthyroid Hashimoto's thyroiditis (eHsT) on cardiovascular system are unclear. We aimed to identify if any deteriorations in LA and LV myocardial functions in patients with eHsT by 3D-STE in the current study. Fifty eight patients with eHsT and 60 age- and gender-matched controls were enrolled into the study. All participants underwent laboratory analyses which included thyroid hormones and thyroid autoantibody levels; and conventional 2D echocardiographic and 3D-STE analyses were performed. The mean age of the study patients was 34.5 ± 9 years, and 68.6% were female. Left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS) was significantly depressed in the eHsT (+) group than in the control group (- 15.3 ± 3.6 vs. - 22.8 ± 3.8, p < 0.001). The LV-GLS was found to be disrupted linearly as thyroid autoantibodies increased (r = 0.684 for anti-TPO-ab and LV-GLS; r = 0.649 for anti-Tg-ab and LV-GLS). The present study demonstrated that 3D-STE is useful in the early detection of LV myocardial dysfunction in patients with eHsT. We found that eHsT had a negative effect on LV myocardial dynamics. According to these findings, these myocardial alterations that are present early in the disease process may be considered as a reason to start medical treatment earlier, even at the euthyroid stage to prevent LV myocardial impairment.

Assessment of cardiac remodeling in asymptomatic mitral regurgitation for surgery timing: a comparative study of echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging.

BACKGROUND: Early surgery is recommended for asymptomatic severe mitral regurgitation (MR), because of increased postoperative left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in patients with late surgery. On the other hand, recent reports emphasized a "watchful waiting" process for the determination of the proper time of mitral valve surgery. In our study, we compared magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and transthoracic echocardiography to evaluate the LV and left atrial (LA) remodeling; for better definitions of patients that may benefit from early valve surgery. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with moderate to severe asymptomatic MR were evaluated by echocardiography and MRI. LA and LV ejection fractions (EFs) were calculated by echocardiography and MRI. Pulmonary veins (PVs) were measured from vein orifices in diastole and systole from the tangential of an imaginary circle that completed LA wall. Right upper PV indices were calculated with the formula; (Right upper PV diastolic diameter- Right upper PV systolic diameter)/Right upper PV diastolic diameter. RESULTS: In 9 patients there were mismatches between echocardiography and MRI measurements of LV EF. LV EFs were calculated > or = 60% by echocardiography, meanwhile < 60% by MRI in these 9 patients. Severity of MR evaluated by effective regurgitant orifice area (EROA) didn't differ with preserved and depressed EFs by MRI (p > 0.05). However, both right upper PV indices (0.16 +/- 0.06 vs. 0.24 +/- 0.08, p: 0.024) and LA EFs (0.19 +/- 0.09 vs. 0.33 +/- 0.14, p: 0.025) were significantly decreased in patients with depressed EFs when compared to patients with normal EFs. CONCLUSIONS: MRI might be preferred when small changes in functional parameters like LV EF, LA EF, and PV index are of clinical importance to disease management like asymptomatic MR patients that we follow up for appropriate surgery timing.

The detection of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in hypertensive patients: Performance of N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide.

AIM: Diastolic dysfunction (DD) results in increased cardiovascular risk in hypertensives. We studied the performance of N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in detecting DD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 241 hypertensive patients admitted to cardiology polyclinics were included in this study. They were grouped according to the presence of DD. Group 1: Essential hypertensive patients without DD (n= 119); group 2: essential hypertensive patients with DD (n= 122). All underwent trans-thoracic echocardiography for the evaluation of transvalvular flow, morphology, left ventricular wall motion abnormalities and ejection fraction. NT-proBNP levels were measured by an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. RESULTS: The systolic blood pressure (BP) (mean+/-SD) was 140+/-12 mmHg in group 1 and 144+/-16 mmHg in group 2 (p=0.049), the diastolic BP (mean+/-SD) was 88+/-10 mmHg in group 1 and 90+/-14 mmHg in group 2 (p=0.043). The median (1st-3rd quartile) NT-proBNP level in group 2 was significantly higher than group 1 [121.05 (61.03-207.66) and 31.17 (17.07-54.09) pg/ml, respectively (p<0.001)]. In the receiver operating characteristics analysis, the area under the curve was 0.862 (95% CI 0.816-0.908). At the cut-off of 45 pg/ml, sensitivity was 86.9%, specificity was 62.4%, and at the cut-off 65 pg/ml, sensitivity was 74.6%, specificity was 83.8%. CONCLUSION: Plasma NT-proBNP levels may be useful for identifying patients with DD and it is conceivable to use a cut-off level 65 pg/ml as a "rule in" test.

Coronary tortuosity affects left ventricular myocardial functions: a 3D-speckle tracking echocardiography study.

Coronary artery tortuosity (CAT) is a common finding in coronary angiography, and is defined as three fixed bends during both systole and diastole in at least one epicardial coronary artery, with each bend showing a 45° change in vessel direction. The impact of CAT on the myocardial deformation has not been completely evaluated using 3D-STE. As a result of this, we aimed to assess the effects of CAT on LV functions using 3D-STE in the present study. Eighty-two patients with CAT and 80 age- and gender-matched controls who proved to have normal coronary angiograms were enrolled into the study. 3D-STE was performed and LV-GLS, LV-GCS, LV-GAS, and LV-GRS were obtained for every patient after coronary angiography. The LV-GLS was significantly depressed in the CAT ( +) group than in the control group (p = 0.001). ROC analysis was performed to find out ideal LV-GLS cut off value to predict the presence of CAT. A LV-GLS value of > - 17 has 81.3% sensitivity, 56.7% specificity to detect the presence of CAT. The present study is the first to focus on the assessing LV myocardial functions in patients with CAT by 3D-STE. CAT has a considerable negative effect on LV myocardial longitudinal deformation as evaluated by 3D strain parameters. Our results support that patients with CAT may have subclinical LV longitudinal deformation abnormalities even though they are apparently healthy.

Right ventricular adaptations along with left ventricular remodeling in older athletes.

BACKGROUND: Afterload changes and anatomic interaction between the ventricles cause right ventricle (RV) adaptation along with left ventricle (LV) remodeling. This study was designed to evaluate RV adaptations along with LV remodeling and to determine the effect of aging on both ventricles in a population of older athletes. METHODS: Echocardiographic characteristics of 48 endurance trained older athletes were examined by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and integrated backscatter (IBS). RESULTS: Mean LV mass index was calculated as 107.8+/-17.0 g/m(2). Twenty-two athletes were > 55 years old. Age was found to be a risk factor for diastolic dysfunction regarding lateral TDI velocities (E(m) < A(m)) (r = 0.385, P < 0.001). RV long-axis (LAX) diameters were associated with LA volumes and LV masses (r = 0.380, P < 0.01 and r = 0.307, P < 0.05). RV LAX diameters were correlated with RV TDI E-wave (r =-0.285, P < 0.05), RV LAX average, and peak IBS values (r = 0.36, P < 0.05 and r = 0.348, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: TDI and IBS are applicable methods to evaluate the relationship between the two ventricles in athletes' heart. Increased RV LAX IBS values indicate increased LV mass and LA volume as a result of RV changes along with LV remodeling. Our data suggest that RV TDI E-wave and average RV IBS values reflect cardiac adaptations of both RV and LV in older athletes.

Evaluation of the severity of mitral regurgitation by the use of signal void in magnetic resonance imaging.

BACKGROUND: The study was designed to evaluate the severity of mitral regurgitation by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We proposed a new measurement of signal void by MRI and tried to define threshold values for the severity of regurgitation with different sequences. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with mitral regurgitation were evaluated by echocardiography and MRI. We measured the length, width, and the area of jet flow void from long-axis and four-chamber views. The regurgitant area was measured with TrueFISP, FLASH sequences, and phase images by tracing the signal-void area in left atrium parallel to mitral annulus. This new parameter for grading of the severity of mitral regurgitation by cine MRI was called regurgitant area from short axis (RAFSA). RESULTS: All methods (EROA, vena contracta) were correlated for determining the regurgitation severity (P < 0.01). There was a correlation between EROA by echocardiography and RAFSA by MRI with the TrueFISP, FLASH sequences, and phase images (P < 0.01). Stepwise regression analysis revealed that EROA was significantly correlated with RAFSA by phase images (P < 0.001). After regression analysis, threshold values of RAFSA by phase imaging were calculated and found to be 0.27 cm(2) and 0.92 cm(2) between mild, moderate, and severe mitral regurgitations (100% sensitivity, 67% specificity, and 100% sensitivity, 78% specificity, respectively) (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: MRI is an alternative method for evaluating mitral regurgitation. Our study suggests a new parameter, RAFSA by cine MRI, to grade the severity of mitral regurgitation and provides threshold values in order to define mild, moderate, and severe regurgitations.

[Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cardiovascular system]. / Kronik obstrüktif akciger hastaligi ve kardiyovasküler sistem.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide killing nearly 3 million people annually. Even the most optimistic estimates suggest that COPD mortality rates will increase by 50% over the next 15 years. Individuals with COPD are at increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), lung cancer, osteoporosis and muscle wasting. Smoking is a well-described risk factor for both COPD and CVD, but CVD in patients with COPD is likely to be due to other factors in addition to smoking. Systemic inflammation may be an important common etiological cause between COPD and CVD, being well described in both diseases. This paper reviews the close relationship between COPD and cardiovascular diseases, principally atherosclerosis. The common pathogenetic mechanisms, relation between cardiovascular comorbidities and pulmonary function parameters, the treatment of pulmonary and systemic inflammation, the role medications in the treatment of both disorders, the effect of cardiovascular comorbidities on the prognosis of COPD and prediction of mortality is discussed. The anti-inflammatory effects of inhaled corticosteroids and statins, their effects on cardiovascular endpoints, all-cause mortality, and survival of COPD patients are reviewed as a new perspective to the treatment.

Comparison of Warfarin use in terms of efficacy and safety in two different polyclinics.

OBJECTIVE: This study compared the efficacy and safety of warfarin in specialized international normalized ratio (INR) outpatient clinic (INR-C) and in general cardiology outpatient clinic (General-C). METHODS: Herein, 381 consecutive patients with a regular follow-up at INR-C (n=233) or General-C (n=148) for at least 1 year were retrospectively included. While INR-C patients were followed by a single experienced trained nurse, General-C patients were followed by a different cardiologist who worked in a rotational principle every month. During controls, demographic characteristics, INR levels, bleeding events, ischemic stroke, and transient ischemic attacks in the last 1 year were recorded. Primary endpoint was defined as the evaluation of the combined major bleeding and ischemic event, and secondary endpoint was defined as the evaluation of them separately. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 62±12.86 and 43.8% were male. Mean time in therapeutic range (TTR) level was statistically higher in INR-C than that in General-C (68.8%±15.88 and 51.6%±23.04, respectively; p<0.001). Primary outcomes were significantly higher in General-C than that in INR-C [13.5% (20) and 6.4% (15); respectively, p=0.020]. Overall, major bleeding was observed in 25 patients (6.5%) and (2.6%) ischemic event was observed in 10 patients. In General-C patients, both major bleeding (8.8% vs. 5.2%; p=0.163) and the ischemic event (4.7% vs. 1.3%; p=0.051) were more, and no statistically significant differences were detected between the two clinics. CONCLUSION: The findings of our study demonstrate that patients followed in INR-C had higher TTR levels and lower bleeding and ischemic events rates that those followed in General-C.

Detachment of the mitral valve anterior leaflet as a complication of aortic valve replacement.

Mitral regurgitation after aortic valve replacement is generally reported as a complication of a Manouguian's procedure for annulus enlargement. However, even if no annular enlargement procedure is performed, this complication may be encountered after isolated aortic valve replacement because of either extensive decalcification of the aortic annulus or progressive tension on the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve, caused by aortic valve sutures placed adjacent to firm or heavily calcified valve tissue. Routine transthoracic echocardiography may be inadequate for diagnosis of this condition; transesophageal echocardiography should be used both for preoperative diagnosis and for intraoperative management. We report the case of a patient who had severe mitral regurgitation that occurred after aortic valve replacement with a mechanical valve.

Acute pulmonary oedema due to single dose acetazolamide taken after cataract surgery.

An increase in intraocular pressure following cataract surgery is very common. The main reason for this condition is viscoelastic agent remaining in the eye, which leads to mechanical obstruction of the trabecular meshwork. Prophylaxis with oral acetazolamide is frequently practised to prevent this early rise in intraocular pressure in the preoperative and postoperative periods. We report a case of an 81-year-old man with acute pulmonary oedema due to prophylactic acetazolamide intake after cataract surgery. The case is presented in order to draw attention to this serious complication.

Endothelial function in patients with vasculogenic erectile dysfunction.

OBJECTIVES: Erectile dysfunction (ED) commonly coexists with coronary artery disease (CAD) and/or risk factors for atherosclerosis. Because the silent or documented atherosclerosis or vascular risk factors are very frequent, the possibility of endothelial dysfunction in ED patients is expected to be increased. Our aim was to evaluate the endothelial functions in patients with vasculogenic ED with vascular risk factors and compare them with age-matched non-ED patients or healthy controls. DESIGN: We studied 36 patients with presumed vasculogenic ED, 39 age-matched patients with similar risk factors without ED and 25 age-matched healthy controls without ED, known cardiovascular disease or risk factors. Erectile function was evaluated by the International Index of Erectile Dysfunction (IIEF) scores. Brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and nitroglycerine-mediated dilatation (NMD) were measured. RESULTS: Baseline demographics were similar except the IIEF score and duration of diabetes in patients with ED. Brachial artery FMD and NMD were significantly reduced in patients with ED (3.2+/-3. vs. 6+/-4, p<0.0001 for FMD, 12.2+/-6 vs. 15.4+/-6 p=0.032 for NMD). In patients with similar risk factors but without ED, FMD was significantly lower but NMD were not different compared with healthy controls (6+/-4 vs. 10.2+/-3, p<0.0001 for FMD and 15.4+/-8 vs. 16.4+/-6, p=0.81). IIEF scores were weakly correlated with FMD (r=0.25, p=0.028) in patients with ED. There were significant correlations between FMD and NMD in patients with ED (r=0.46, p=0.05) and with risk factors (r=0.72, p<0.0001) but not in healthy controls (r=0.54, p=0.792). Vasculogenic ED patients have more markedly impaired endothelial and smooth muscle functions compared with patients with similar risk factors but no ED.

Relationships between P wave dispersion, atrial electromechanical delay, left atrial remodeling, and NT-proBNP levels, in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the associations among the well-known atrial fibrillation (AF) predictors including P-wave dispersion (PWD), intra- and inter-atrial electromechanical dyssynchrony (EMD), left atrial (LA) phasic functions, and plasma N-terminal prohormone of B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels, in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). METHODS: Seventy patients with HCM and age and sex matched 70 subjects were enrolled. PWD, LA total emptying fraction (LATEFr), active emptying fraction (LAAEFr), passive emptying fraction (LAPEFr), expansion index (LAEI) intra- and inter-atrial EMD were calculated. Levels of NT-proBNP of all subjects were determined. RESULTS: Higher PWD (p = 0.006), significantly decreased LAEI (p < 0.001), LATEFr, and LAPEFr (both p values < 0.001) values and significantly increased inter-atrial (p < 0.001), LA (p = 0.001), and right atrial dyssynchrony (p < 0.001) were observed in the HCM group compared to controls. PWD was negatively correlated with LAEI (r = -0.236, p = 0.005) and LATEFr (r = -0.242, p = 0.04), however not with LAPEFr (p = 0.7), or LAAEFr (p = 0.3). Except for the LA lateral wall PA' (r = 0.283, p = 0.02), PWD was not correlated with any atrial EMD parameter. Inter-atrial dyssynchrony was related to LAEI (r = -0.272, p = 0.001), LATEFr (r = -0.256, p = 0.03), and LAPEFr (r = -0.332, p = 0.006), but not, however, to LAAEFr (p = 0.4). The plasma NT-proBNP levels of patients were not correlated with either PWD (p = 0.927) or inter-atrial dyssynchrony (p = 0.102). CONCLUSIONS: PWD and inter-atrial dysynchrony seem to independently promote AF, although both are associated with LA reservoir function in HCM populations. The NT-proBNP level is not associated with these two AF predictors in patients with HCM. NT-proBNP seems to be a poor marker of atrial electrical remodeling in HCM patients.

QT dispersion in patients with different etiologies of left ventricular hypertrophy: the significance of QT dispersion in endurance athletes.

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) increases the risk of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death and has a significant effect on total cardiovascular mortality. QT dispersion (QTd) is a measure of inhomogeneous repolarization and is used as an indicator of arrhythmogenicity. In this study we detected QTd in patients with different etiologies of left ventricular hypertrophy and the effect of LVH in QTd on endurance athletes. The study group consisted of 147 white male subjects with 3 different etiologies of LVH and 30 healthy male individuals. The underlying etiologies of LVH were essential hypertension, valvular aortic stenosis and long-term training (athletic heart). QTd was measured by surface electrocardiogram and Bazett's formula was used to correct QTd for heart rate (QTcd). Left ventricular mass was determined by transthoracic echocardiography and left ventricular mass index was calculated in relation to body surface area. The QTcd was significantly higher in patients with pathological LVH (due to hypertension and aortic stenosis) than in the athletes' group (physiological LVH) and healthy subjects (P<0.05). The magnitude of QTcd was similar between athletes and the control group (P=0.6). The difference of QTcd between the groups with pathological LVH was not statistically significant (P=0.1). In conclusion; the increasing of QT dispersion is associated with only pathological conditions of LVH. The left ventricular hypertrophy has not a negative effect in QT dispersion on endurance athletes. The measurement of QT dispersion may be a non-invasive useful method for screening additional pathological conditions in endurance athletes.