Yield of Echocardiography in the Evaluation of Cerebral Ischemic Events: A Single Center Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Echocardiography (ECO) is frequently used as a screening test in patients with acute ischemic brain disease. We aimed to evaluate the additional information and therapeutic impact resulting from ECO in these patients. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study performing ECO on consecutive patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attacks, admitted to our centre between February 2013 and May 2017. RESULTS: A total of 696 patients were included (female, 57.3%; mean age, 70 ± 15.3 years). Seven hundred thirty two echocardiographic examinations were performed (696 transthoracic and 36 transesophageal). Echocardiography yielded findings judged of clinical importance in 142 patients (20.4%, 95% CI 17.5-23.5). The most frequent of these were left atrial volume enlargement or a normal evaluation. Echocardiography findings resulted in changes in the management of 76 patients (10.7% 95% CI 8.8-13.4); initiation of anticoagulation therapy, administration of IV antibiotic therapy, cardiac surgeries, or other pharmacological therapies occurring in 42 cases (6%). The presence of coronary heart disease (OR: 2.64 95% CI 1.34-5.25), atrial fibrillation (OR: 0.24; 95% CI, 0.2-0.69), and admission NIHSS (OR: 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01-1.09), were the variables associated with changes in management. CONCLUSIONS: In unselected patients with acute ischemic stroke ECO had a low yield of additional information, and it changed management in a small percentage of patients.

[Features, management and prognosis of Chilean patients with non valvular atrial fibrillation: GARFIELD AF registry]. / Características basales, manejo de terapias antitrombóticas y pronóstico de pacientes chilenos con FA no valvular. Lecciones del Registro GARFIELD AF en Chile.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and is associated with high rates of death, ischemic stroke and systemic embolism (SE). There is scarce information about clinical characteristics and use of anti-thrombotic therapies in Chilean patients with non-valvular AF. AIM: To describe the characteristics and 1-year outcomes of patients with recently diagnosed AF recruited in Chile into the prospective global GARFIELD-AF registry. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 2011-2016, we prospectively registered information of 971 patients recruited at 15 centers, 85% of them from the public system and 15% from the private sector. Demographics, clinical characteristics and use of antithrombotic therapies were recorded for all patients. Adverse clinical outcomes were analyzed in 711 patients with 1-year follow-up. RESULTS: The mean age was 71.5 years (66-79), 50% were men. Mean CHAD2S2 Vasc and HAS BLED scores for stroke risk were 3.3 (2.0-4.0) and 1.5 (1.0-2.0) respectively. Oral anticoagulants were prescribed in 82% of patients. Seventy percent received Vitamin K antagonists, 10% novel direct anticoagulants or antiplatelet therapy and only 8% did not receive any antithrombotic therapy. Mean time in optimal therapeutic range (an international normalized ratio of 2 to 3), was achieved in only 40.7% (23.0-54.8) of patients receiving Vitamin K antagonists. One year rates of death, stroke/systemic embolism and bleeding were 4.75 (3.36-6.71), 2.40 (1.47-3.92) and 1.64% (0.91-2.97) per 100 person-years. Ischemic stroke occurred in 1.8% and hemorrhagic stroke in 0.8% of patients at 1-year of follow up. CONCLUSIONS: Although the use of vitamin K antagonists at baseline was high, the mean time in optimal therapeutic range was low. Mortality and stroke rates are higher than those reported in other contemporary registries.

Subclinical Detection of Diabetic Cardiomyopathy with MicroRNAs: Challenges and Perspectives.

The prevalence of cardiac diabetic diseases has been increased around the world, being the most common cause of death and disability among diabetic patients. In particular, diabetic cardiomyopathy is characterized with a diastolic dysfunction and cardiac remodelling without signs of hypertension and coronary artery diseases. In an early stage, it is an asymptomatic disease; however, clinical studies demonstrate that diabetic myocardia are more vulnerable to injury derived by acute myocardial infarct and are the worst prognosis for rehabilitation. Currently, biochemical and imaging diagnostic methods are unable to detect subclinical manifestation of the disease (prior to diastolic dysfunction). In this review, we elaborately discuss the current scientific evidences to propose circulating microRNAs as promising biomarkers for early detection of diabetic cardiomyopathy and, then, to identify patients at high risk of diabetic cardiomyopathy development. Moreover, here we summarise the research strategies to identify miRNAs as potential biomarkers, present limitations, challenges, and future perspectives.

Características basales, manejo de terapias antitrombóticas y pronóstico de pacientes chilenos con FA no valvular. Lecciones del Registro GARFIELD AF en Chile / Features, management and prognosis of Chilean patients with non valvular atrial fibrillation: GARFIELD AF registry

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and is associated with high rates of death, ischemic stroke and systemic embolism (SE). There is scarce information about clinical characteristics and use of anti-thrombotic therapies in Chilean patients with non-valvular AF. Aim: To describe the characteristics and 1-year outcomes of patients with recently diagnosed AF recruited in Chile into the prospective global GARFIELD-AF registry. Material and Methods: Between 2011-2016, we prospectively registered information of 971 patients recruited at 15 centers, 85% of them from the public system and 15% from the private sector. Demographics, clinical characteristics and use of antithrombotic therapies were recorded for all patients. Adverse clinical outcomes were analyzed in 711 patients with 1-year follow-up. Results: The mean age was 71.5 years (66-79), 50% were men. Mean CHAD2S2 Vasc and HAS BLED scores for stroke risk were 3.3 (2.0-4.0) and 1.5 (1.0-2.0) respectively. Oral anticoagulants were prescribed in 82% of patients. Seventy percent received Vitamin K antagonists, 10% novel direct anticoagulants or antiplatelet therapy and only 8% did not receive any antithrombotic therapy. Mean time in optimal therapeutic range (an international normalized ratio of 2 to 3), was achieved in only 40.7% (23.0-54.8) of patients receiving Vitamin K antagonists. One year rates of death, stroke/systemic embolism and bleeding were 4.75 (3.36-6.71), 2.40 (1.47-3.92) and 1.64% (0.91-2.97) per 100 person-years. Ischemic stroke occurred in 1.8% and hemorrhagic stroke in 0.8% of patients at 1-year of follow up. Conclusions: Although the use of vitamin K antagonists at baseline was high, the mean time in optimal therapeutic range was low. Mortality and stroke rates are higher than those reported in other contemporary registries.

Correlación entre la ecocardiografìa transesofágica tridimensional y tomografìa cardíaca en la determinación del anillo aórtico previo al reemplazo de válvula aórtica con catéteres (TAVR) / Correlation between 3-D trans-esophageal echocardiography and cardiac computed tomography in the evaluation of the aortic annulus prior to transcatheter aortic valveimplantation (TAVR)

Introducción: Para el reemplazo de válvula aórtica con catéteres (TAVR) es fundamental la adecuada medición del anillo aórtico para elegir el tamaño adecuado de la prótesis y evitar complicaciones graves como la ruptura del anillo aórtico y la insuficiencia paravalvular (IAP). La tomografía computada cardíaca (TC) es el estándar de oro en la medición del anillo aórtico, pero la ecocardiografía transesofágica 3D (ETE3D) parece ser una alternativa atractiva. Objetivo: Evaluar la correlación entre las mediciones del anillo aórtico obtenidas por ETE3D y las encontradas en la TC. Los resultados obtenidos se evaluaron en términos de la prótesis elegida y la presencia de insuficiencia aórtica post TAVR. Métodos: Se realizaron de manera retrospectiva y ciega, las mediciones del anillo aórtico por TC y ETE3D en 18 pacientes consecutivos, edad promedio 82 ± 7,06 años, sometidos a TAVR usando prótesis Sapien XT (Edwards Lifescience). Se comparó el diámetro máximo, diámetro mínimo, diámetro medio, área y perímetro del anillo. Resultados: La ETE3D subvaloró el tamaño del anillo aórtico, pero demostró tener una buena correlación con los diferentes parámetros de la TC, con mejor comportamiento para el perímetro del anillo. ETE3D y TC coincidieron en la elección de la prótesis en 17 pacientes y no hubo IAP de relevancia. Conclusión: La ETE3D tiene buena correlación comparada contra la TC en la valoración del anillo aórtico. La ETE3D parece una atractiva alternativa a la TC para medición del anillo especialmente en casos complejos o cuando la disponibilidad y acceso a la TC puede estar limitada.

In TAVR, the precise measuring of the aortic annulus is essential to determine the size of the prosthesis and to avoid complications like rupture of the annulus of aortic insufficiency. Computed tomography (CT) is the gold standard to achieve these goals. 3-D trans-esophageal echocardiography (3-D TEE) to be a useful alternative method. Aim: to evaluate the correlation of aortic annulus measurements obtained with 3-dTE and CT in the determination of annulus measurements before TAVR. Prosthesis size and presence of aortic insufficiency were related to these measurements. Methods: In a retrospective blinded protocol the measurements of the aortic annulus obtained with CT or 3D-TEE were correlated in 18 consecutive patients (mean age 82 ± 7.1) submitted to TAVR with a Sapien XT (Edwards Lifescience) prosthesis. Maximal, minimal and mean diameters as well as area and annular circumference were evaluated. Results: Compared to CT, 3D-TEE under estimated de size of the aortic annulus but correlated well with other measurements of CT, especially with the annular circumference. Measurements from both methods agreed in the determination of the prosthesis size in 17 of 18 patients. No significant per prosthetic aortic insufficiency was observed in any case. Conclusion: 3DTEE correlates well with CT in evaluating the different parameters of the aortic annulus and is a good alternative to CT in complex cases and when CT is not readily available.

Mejoría en la capacidad física después de un programa fase II de rehabilitación cardíaca, según la fracción de eyección del ventrículo izquierdo / Left ventricular ejection fraction and improvement of physical capacity with a cardiac rehabilitation program

Resumen: Antecedentes: La Fase II de un Programa de Rehabilitación Cardiaca (PRC) o post hospitalización inmediata es por definición, monitorizada, utilizando sistemas de telemetría inalámbrica, pues en esta etapa existe el mayor riesgo relacionado al ejercicio. Se sabe que los PRC mejoran la capacidad física (CF) de los pacientes y que la prueba de caminata de 6 minutos (P6) permite detectar cambios en la CF de los mismos. En Chile existen pocos estudios que evalúen los cambios en la CF de los pacientes según la fracción de eyección del ventrículo izquierdo (FE) estimada por ecocardiograma. Objetivos: Evaluar los cambios en la CF después de un PRC Fase II según la FE al inicio del programa Método: De Marzo del 2006 a Agosto del 2009 se incluyó a los pacientes que completaron PRC de nuestro centro, con 12 o 24 sesiones de ejercicios 3 veces/semana, según la clasificación de riesgo de la Asociación Americana de Rehabilitación Cardiovascular y Pulmonar (AACVPR). A todos se les realizó 2 P6 al ingreso, registrándose la mejor, y 1 P6 al final del PRC. A todos se les realizó un ecocardiograma previo al ingreso al PRC que permitió estimar la FE. Resultados. 489 pacientes completaron el PRC Fase II. 365 Hombres (75 por ciento), edad promedio 59,5 +/- 14,1 años. 114 pacientes de riesgo moderado-alto (24 sesiones). Se observó mejoría muy significativa (p < 0,01) en la CF de la gran mayoría de los pacientes (98,87 por ciento). El grupo con FE <30 por ciento a pesar de tener un número reducido de pacientes (1,13 por ciento), alcanza una mejoría importante en su CF (p < 0,05). Conclusiones: Con ejercicio planificado en el PRC Fase II de nuestro centro se logra una mejoría de la CF, medido por mejoría en el test de caminata de 6 minutos, incluso en los pacientes con FE muy deprimida.

Background: During phase II cardiac rehabilitation programs (RP) or immediately after discharge requires monitorization with wireless telemetry, due to higher risk during this phase. RP are known to increase physical capacity which can be documented by the 6 min walk test (6minWT). Few studies relating improvement in physical capacity to LVEF have been reported in Chile. Aim: to evaluate changes in physical capacity induced by a phase II RPin relation to previous LVEF Methods: We included patients who completed a Phase II RP from March 2006 to August 2009. 12 or 24 sessions 3 times a week were performed following recommendations from the America Association of Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation. Two 6mWT were performed before and one after rehabilitation. For comparison, the highest measurement in pre RP was used. LVEF was determined by echocardiography before initiation of the RP Results: 489 patients completed the RP, 76 percent of them males. The mean age was 59.5 +/- 14.1 years. 115 patients had a moderate or high risk A highly significant (p<0.01) improvement in physical capacity was observed (98.9 percent). The subgroup with LVEF<30 percent, which included 1.3 percent of patients also had an improvement in physical capacity (p<0.05). Conclusion: phase II RP achieve significant improvements in physical capacity, including patients with severely depressed LVEF.