Prevalence and Risk Factors of Silent Cerebral Microbleeds in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease.

OBJECTIVES: Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), which can be detected by gradient-echo T2*-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), represent small chronic brain hemorrhages caused by structural abnormalities in cerebral small vessels. CMBs are known to be a potential predictor of future stroke, and are associated with age, various cardiovascular risk factors, cognitive impairment, and the use of antithrombotic drugs. Patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) are at potentially high risk of CMBs due to the presence of coexistent conditions. However, little is known about CMBs in patients with CAD. We aimed to identify the factors associated with the presence of CMBs among patients with CAD. METHODS: We evaluated 356 consecutive patients [mean age, 72 ± 10 years; men = 276 (78%)] with angiographically proven CAD who underwent T2*-weighted brain MRI. The brain MRI was assessed by researchers blinded to the patients' clinical details. RESULTS: CMBs were found in 128 (36%) patients. Among 356 patients, 119 (33%) had previously undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and 26 (7%) coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). There was no significant relationship between CMBs and sex, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, anticoagulation therapy, antiplatelet therapy, or prior PCI. CMBs were significantly associated with advanced age, previous CABG, eGFR, non-HDL cholesterol, carotid artery disease, long-term antiplatelet therapy, and long-term dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) using univariate logistic regression analysis. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that long-term antiplatelet therapy (odds ratio, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.06 - 2.84; P = 0.03) or long-term DAPT (odds ratio, 2.92; 95% CI, 1.39 - 6.17; P = 0.004) was significantly associated with CMBs after adjustment for confounding variables. CONCLUSIONS: CMBs were frequently observed in patients with CAD and were significantly associated with long-term antiplatelet therapy, especially long-term DAPT.

Splenic Volume Index Determined Using Computed Tomography upon Admission Is Associated with Readmission for Heart Failure Among Patients with Acute Decompensated Heart Failure.

The spleen is associated with inflammation, and the size of the spleen is affected by hemodynamic congestion and sympathetic stimulation. However, the association between splenic size and prognosis in patients with heart failure remains unknown. Between January 2015 and March 2017, we analyzed 125 patients with acute decompensated heart failure who were assessed by computed tomography (CT) on the day of admission. The spleen was measured by 3-dimensional CT and then the patients were assigned to groups according to their median splenic volume indexes (SpVi; splenic volume/body surface area). We then compared their baseline characteristics and rates of readmission for heart failure after one year. The median SpVi was 63.7 (interquartile range: 44.7-95.3) cm3/m2. Age did not significantly differ between the groups. Patients with a high SpVi had more significantly enlarged left atria and left ventricles. Multiple regression analysis identified significant positive correlations between SpVi and posterior wall thickness as well as left ventricular mass index. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed lower event-free rates in the patients with a high, than a low SpVi (P = 0.041, log-rank test). After adjustment for potential cofounding factors, SpVi was independently associated with readmission for heart failure (Hazard ratio, 2.25; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-5.02; P = 0.047). In conclusion, increased splenic volume is independently associated with readmission for heart failure among patients with acute decompensated heart failure.

Prognostic impact of a novel index of nutrition and inflammation for patients with acute decompensated heart failure.

Malnutrition and systemic inflammation are associated with poor outcomes in patients with heart failure. Recent studies have reported that the advanced lung cancer inflammation index (ALI), derived from the body mass index (BMI), serum albumin level, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), is associated with poor prognosis in several types of cancers. Each marker is also known to prognostic factor of heart failure. Therefore, we hypothesized that ALI may be useful for determining the prognosis of patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). We reviewed survival in 381 consecutive patients (age, 73.1 ± 11.4 years, 59% men) who were hospitalized for ADHF and discharged. ALI at discharge, calculated as BMI × albumin level/NLR, was used to divide the patients into tertiles (ALI < 23.88, 23.88 ≤ ALI < 42.43, and ALI ≥ 42.43). The patients were also stratified into six groups according to the ALI tertiles and median concentration (177 pg/mL) of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). The primary endpoint comprised all-cause mortality and readmission because of heart failure. The median follow-up duration was 363 days (interquartile range: 147-721 days), and 166 patients (44%) experienced the primary endpoint. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the event rate decreased progressively from the first to the third ALI tertile (52%, 48%, and 31%, respectively; p = 0.0013). In a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model, the first tertile was an independent prognostic factor for the primary endpoint (third vs. first tertile: hazard ratio, 0.57; 95% confidence interval, 0.34-0.95; p = 0.031). The hazard ratio for the primary endpoint for the patients with high BNP and first tertile ALI relative to the patients with low BNP and third tertile ALI was 5.3 (95% confidence interval, 2.9-9.5; p < 0.001). ALI at discharge, a novel and simple index of nutrition and inflammation, may be useful for risk stratification and predicting the prognosis of patients with ADHF.

Fibrosis-4 index reflects right-sided filling pressure in patients with heart failure.

The fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4 index) is a marker of liver fibrosis. It has been reported that the FIB-4 index in compensated phase is associated with estimated right-sided filling pressure and poor prognosis in patients with heart failure. However, the relationship with invasively obtained right-sided cardiac pressures has been unclear. Hemodynamic status was evaluated by right heart catheterization in 189 heart failure patients who were in a clinically compensated phase between January 2015 and September 2017. Patients were assigned to two groups based on a median FIB-4 index of 2.15, then hemodynamic parameters and event rates were compared. Endpoint was defined as a composite of all-cause death, readmission for heart failure, or left ventricular-assist device implantation. Then, we also investigated correlations between the FIB-4 index and clinical factors, including hemodynamic parameters. Patients with a high FIB-4 index were significantly older (76 [IQR, 63-80] vs. 65 [IQR, 56-74] years, P < 0.001) and had higher right atrial pressure (RAP; 7 [IQR, 5-11] vs. 4 [IQR, 1-6] mmHg, P < 0.001) and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (16 [IQR, 12-22] vs. 12 [IQR, 8-19] mmHg, P = 0.011) than those with a low FIB-4 index. The FIB-4 index correlated more strongly with parameters of right-sided than left-sided HF (RAP, R = 0.41, P < 0.001; inferior vena cava diameter, R = 0.44, P < 0.001; pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, R = 0.15, P = 0.038; brain natriuretic peptide, R = 0.14, P = 0.29). Multiple regression analysis showed that the FIB-4 index independently correlated with RAP. In conclusion, the FIB-4 index can non-invasively reflect right-sided filling pressure, which might explain why it is associated with a poor prognosis, among patients with heart failure.

Correction to: Increased prevalence of cerebral microbleeds in patients with low left ventricular systolic function.

In the original publication of the article, under the results section, the following sentence.

Increased prevalence of cerebral microbleeds in patients with low left ventricular systolic function.

Gradient-echo T2-star (T2*)-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a sensitive method to detect cerebral microbleeds (CMBs). The presence of CMBs was reported to be a marker of future cardiovascular mortality and is associated with various cardiovascular risk factors, use of antithrombotic drugs, and cognitive dysfunction. However, the relationship between cardiac function and CMBs remains unclear. We investigated the association between cardiac function and presence of CMBs in patients with cardiovascular diseases. This single-center retrospective study included a total of 424 participants (mean age 70 ± 12 years; men 286 (67%); mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 61% ± 12%] who underwent echocardiography and brain T2*-weighted MRI within 1 month without neurologic abnormality. CMBs were found in 118 (28%) patients. There was no significant relationship between CMBs and anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy. LVEF was significantly lower in patients with CMBs than in those without CMBs (59% ± 13% vs. 62% ± 11%, P < 0.05). On multivariate logistic analysis, lower LVEF [odds ratio (OR) 0.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.96-1.00; P < 0.05] and age (OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00-1.05; P < 0.05) were significantly associated with CMBs. The presence of CMBs was frequently observed in the patients with cardiovascular disease and was significantly associated with age and LVEF.

Left atrial spontaneous echo contrast occurring in patients with low CHADS2 or CHA2DS2-VASc scores.

BACKGROUND: Left atrial spontaneous echo contrast (LASEC) is common in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), although scarce information exists on LASEC occurring in nonvalvular AF patients who have low thromboembolic risk scores. We therefore examined prevalence and determinants of LASEC under low CHADS2 or CHA2DS2-VASc scores in these patients. METHODS: Among 713 patients who underwent transesophageal echocardiography, 349 with a CHADS2 score < 2 (CHADS2 group) (93 women, mean age 65 years) and 221 with a CHA2DS2-VASc score < 2 (CHA2DS2-VASc group) (39 women, mean age 62 years) were separately examined for clinical and echocardiographic findings. RESULTS: LASEC was found in 77 patients of CHADS2 group (22%) and in 41 of CHA2DS2-VASc group (19%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis, adjusted for several parameters including non-paroxysmal AF, LA enlargement (LA diameter ≥ 50 mm), left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy, and an elevated B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) (BNP ≥200 pg/mL) revealed that for CHADS2 group, non-paroxysmal AF (Odds ratio 5.65, 95%CI 3.08-10.5, P < 0.001), BNP elevation (Odds ratio 3.42, 95%CI 1.29-9.06, P = 0.013), and LV hypertrophy (Odds ratio 2.26, 95%CI 1.19-4.28, P = 0.013) were significant independent determinants of LASEC, and that for CHA2DS2-VASc group, non-paroxysmal AF (Odds ratio 3.38, 95%CI 1.51-7.54, P = 0.003) and LV hypertrophy (Odds ratio 2.53, 95%CI 1.13-5.70, P = 0.025) were significant independent determinants of LASEC. CONCLUSIONS: LASEC was present in a considerable proportion of patients with nonvalvular AF under low thromboembolic risk scores. Information on AF chronicity, BNP, and LV hypertrophy might help identify patients at risk for thromboembolism, although large-scale studies are necessary to confirm our observations.

Usefulness of tissue Doppler-derived atrial electromechanical delay for identifying patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI)-derived atrial electromechanical delay (AEMD) has been reported to be useful for detecting paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). However, its usefulness remains unknown when analyzed along with patients seemingly at high-risk for AF as controls. From this standpoint, we investigated whether AEMD would be of use for identifying patients with PAF. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed TDI recordings to obtain AEMD in 63 PAF patients. Thirty-three patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors (MRFs) but without history of AF and 50 healthy individuals served as disease and healthy controls, respectively. AEMD was defined as the time-interval between the electrocardiogram P-wave and the beginning of the spectral TDI-derived A' for the septal (septal EMD) and lateral (lateral EMD) sides of the mitral annulus. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the left atrial volume index between PAF patients and disease controls (28 ± 9 mL/m2 vs. 27 ± 5 mL/m2). PAF patients had longer AEMD, particularly for the lateral EMD (75 ± 23 ms), compared with disease (62 ± 22 ms, P = 0.009) and healthy (54 ± 24 ms, P < 0.001) controls. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the lateral EMD (OR 1.25, 95%CI 1.03-1.52, P = 0.023), along with the left atrial volume index (OR 2.25, 95%CI 1.44-3.51, P < 0.001), was one of the significant independent associates of identifying PAF patients. CONCLUSIONS: This cross-sectional study indicates that even analyzed together with MRFs patients, AEMD remains useful for identifying patients at risk for AF. Our results need to be confirmed by a large-scale prospective study.

IgG4-Positive Plasmacytic Infiltration in Aortic Wall and Aortic Valve Surgical Samples and Its Relation to Preoperative Serum IgG4 Levels.

The prevalence and extent of immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-positive cell infiltration were investigated in 282 surgical samples of aortic wall and aortic valve. Tissue infiltration of IgG4-positive cells was observed in 24 (17.3%) of 139 aortic valve samples and 46 (32%) of 143 aortic wall samples, and the condition of IgG4-positive cell infiltration > 30/hpf together with IgG4/CD138 ratio > 40% was observed in 2 (1.4%) of aortic valve samples and 14 (9.8%) of aortic wall samples. Among 275 patients, preoperative serum IgG4 level was available in 48 patients (50 samples), and it was > 135 mg/dL in only one patient. Of these 48 patients with serum IgG4 measurement, 29 patients had aortic valve stenosis and 12 had aortic aneurysm. Compared with 23 aortic stenosis patients without tissue infiltration of IgG4-positive cells in the aortic valve, six patients with IgG4-positive cell infiltration had a more prevalent smoking history (26% versus 83%) and borderline significantly higher serum IgG4 (median, 24.5 mg/dL versus 55.5 mg/dL), although either preoperative peak pressure gradient between left ventriculum and aorta or aortic valve area did not differ significantly between groups. Compared with six aortic aneurysm patients without tissue infiltration of IgG4-positive cells in the aortic wall, six patients with IgG4-positive cell infiltration had borderline significantly higher serum IgG4 (median, 28.9 mg/dL versus 68.2 mg/dL). The current study showed that tissue IgG4-positive infiltration is not a rare occurrence in the aortic stenosis and aortic aneurysm. Clinical significance of tissue IgG4-postive cell infiltration in these patients requires further investigation.

Changes in Serum Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) induces cardiac remodeling. We investigated the changes in serum FGF23 levels in patients diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).Methods and Results:A total of 44 patients diagnosed with AMI were included in the current study. All patients underwent emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The median of peak creatine kinase (CK) and CKMB values was 1,816 U/L and 159 U/L, respectively. Serum levels of FGF23, calcium, and inorganic phosphate (iP) were measured before PCI, and on days 1, 3, 5, 7 after PCI. Serum FGF23 levels showed a slight, but significant decrease on days 1 and 3 after PCI, and a 1.5- and 2.0-fold increase on days 5 and 7, respectively, after PCI. As compared with propensity score-matched patients without AMI, serum FGF23 was significantly lower among the current cohort of AMI patients. In 22 subjects who underwent a follow-up echocardiographic examination at 6 months after the onset of AMI, the log-transformed relative increase in FGF23 on day 7 significantly and negatively correlated with changes between LVEF on admission and that at 6 months afterward. CONCLUSIONS: After a slight decrease on days 1 and 3 after admission, serum FGF23 increased significantly on days 5 and 7. The underlying mechanism and potential clinical importance of these observations require further investigation.

A Case of Aortic Stenosis with Serum IgG4 Elevation, and IgG4-Positive Plasmacytic Infiltration in the Aortic Valve, Epicardium, and Aortic Adventitia.

A 74-year-old man was admitted for preoperative screening of aortic stenosis. Five months before this admission, he was found to have elevated serum immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4; 2,010 mg/dL). Computed tomography (CT) showed a soft tissue mass surrounding the abdominal aorta, suggestive of IgG4-related periaortitis. CT coronary angiography showed perivascular thickening of the right coronary artery, and subsequent coronary angiography showed a multi-vessel disease. The patient underwent aortic valve replacement and coronary bypass surgery. Immunohistochemical analysis showed IgG4-positive plasmacytic infiltration in specimens from the aortic valve, epicardium, and aortic adventitia, suggestive of the possible role of IgG4-related immune inflammation for the pathogenesis.

IgG4-positive cell infiltration in various cardiovascular disorders - results from histopathological analysis of surgical samples.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related disease (IgG4-RD), in general, depends on serum IgG4 concentrations and histopathological findings; therefore, diagnosis of IgG4-RD in cardiovascular organs/tissues is often difficult owing to the risk of tissue sampling. METHODS: Prevalence of IgG4-positive lymphoplasmacytic infiltration in 103 consecutive cardiovascular surgical samples from 98 patients with various cardiovascular diseases was analyzed immunohistochemically. RESULTS: The diagnoses of the enrolled patients included aortic aneurysm (abdominal, n = 8; thoracic, n = 9); aortic dissection (n = 20); aortic stenosis (n = 24), aortic regurgitation (n = 10), and mitral stenosis/regurgitation (n = 17). In total, 10 (9.7%) of the 103 specimens showed IgG4-positive cell infiltration with various intensities; five of these were aortic valve specimens from aortic stenosis, and IgG4-positive cell infiltration was present at >10 /HPF in three of them. In one aortic wall sample from an abdominal aortic aneurysm, various histopathological features of IgG4-RD, such as IgG4-positive cell infiltration, obliterating phlebitis, and storiform fibrosis, were observed. CONCLUSIONS: IgG4-positive cell infiltration was observed in 9.7% of the surgical cardiovascular specimens, mainly in the aortic valve from aortic stenosis and in the aortic wall from aortic aneurysm. Whether IgG4-positive cell infiltration has pathophysiological importance in the development or progression of cardiovascular diseases should be investigated in future studies.

Association between suPAR and cardiac diastolic dysfunction among patients with preserved ejection fraction.

Serum levels of the soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) reflect immune and inflammatory activation, and are shown to be associated with cardiovascular outcomes. We herein investigated the potential association between suPAR and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction among patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and sinus rhythm. Among 291 patients who had sinus rhythm and an LVEF of ≥50% enrolled in the study, 26 (8.9%) were considered to have diastolic dysfunction. Patients with diastolic dysfunction had lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and higher systolic blood pressure (BPs), BNP, C-reactive protein, and suPAR than those without diastolic dysfunction. As compared with the first suPAR quartile, the fourth suPAR quartile was significantly associated with both diastolic dysfunction with an odds ratio of 8.95 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.04-77.0, P < 0.05] after adjusting for sex, age, BPs log(eGFR), CRP, and diuretic use. On the other hand, receiver-operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis showed that addition of log(suPAR) to the combination of age, sex, and log(eGFR), CRP, and diuretic use did not significantly improve the prediction of diastolic dysfunction. Among cardiac patients with preserved LVEF, serum suPAR was associated with diastolic dysfunction independent of confounding factors by logistic regression analysis. However, according to the ROC analysis, the utility of suPAR as a biomarker for diastolic dysfunction may be limited from a clinical point of view.

Is Serum Uric Acid Independently Associated With Left Ventricular Mass Index, Ejection Fraction, and B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Among Female and Male Cardiac Patients?

Mean serum uric acid (SUA) levels are higher in men than women. In addition, recent studies have suggested that the SUA threshold at which the cardiovascular risk might increase may vary between women and men. In the current retrospective study, by analyzing the data from 219 female and 519 male patients who were free from uric acid-lowering medication, we investigated whether SUA is associated with left ventricular mass index (LVMI), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and plasma levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) independent of confounding factors, such as serum calcium, inorganic phosphate, and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), in a gender-specific manner.In multivariate stepwise linear regression analysis in which age, blood pressure, eGFR, corrected calcium, inorganic phosphate, and FGF23 were entered as potential covariates, SUA was selected as a factor significantly associated with LVEF, LVMI, and plasma levels of BNP in both genders. On the other hand, however, after adding diuretic use as a potential covariate, the association between SUA and LVEF lost statistical significance in both genders, and that between SUA and BNP lost significance among female patients. These findings suggest that diuretic use is a non-negligible confounder in understanding the observed association between SUA and cardiac dysfunction and heart failure.In summary, SUA is associated with left ventricular hypertrophy independent of confounding factors including FGF23 and diuretic use in female and male patients. Whether lowering SUA can influence the progression of cardiac remodeling awaits further investigation.

Association between absolute blood eosinophil count and CKD stages among cardiac patients.

Elevated eosinophil count was shown to be associated with the development of cholesterol embolization syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition, after catheter-based procedures. We investigated the association between stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the absolute eosinophil count (AEC) among cardiac patients. CKD stages were determined solely on the estimated glomerular filtration rate or requirement for hemodialysis. Eosinophilia is defined as an eosinophil count exceeding 500/µL. A total of 1022 patients were enrolled in the current study, and eosinophil counts (/µL) in the first through fourth eosinophil count quartiles were <88, 88 to 154, 155 to <238, and 238 ≤, respectively, and 29 patients (2.8 %) had eosinophilia. Correlation coefficient between the AEC and age was -0.188 (P = 0.001) in women and -0.042 (n.s.) in men (by Spearman's correlation test). Patients with higher CKD stages had a higher prevalence of the highest AEC quartile or eosinophilia. Logistic regression analysis using severe renal dysfunction (i.e., CKD stage 4 or 5) as the dependent variable, the highest AEC quartile had a significant positive association with an odds ratio of 1.99 (95 % confidence interval, 1.20-3.31, P < 0.01) after adjustment for sex, age, systolic blood pressure, and total white blood cell count. Similarly, after adjustment for the same variables, eosinophilia was associated with severe renal dysfunction with an odds ratio of 2.60 (95 % confidence interval, 1.08-6.26, P < 0.05). Eosinophil count was positively associated with higher CKD stages among cardiology patients, some fraction of which might be related to subclinical cholesterol embolization.

Association between circulating FGF23, α-Klotho, and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction among patients with preserved ejection fraction.

Besides regulating calcium-phosphate metabolism, fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23) and Klotho have been proposed to have other roles in heart and vasculature. For example, FGF23 has been associated with cardiac hypertrophy and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction among patients with chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disorders. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether serum FGF23 and α-Klotho concentrations are associated with cardiac diastolic dysfunction and related parameters among cardiac patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. The current study enrolled 269 patients (69 women, 200 men) who were admitted to our cardiology department between October 2012 and January 2014 and had a left ventricular ejection fraction of >50%. Cardiac diastolic function was assessed by blood flow and tissue Doppler velocities, plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentration, and cardiac hypertrophy. After adjusting for sex, and age, logistic regression analysis showed that log(α-Klotho), but not log(FGF23), was significantly associated with diastolic dysfunction. After further adjustment for renal function, blood hemoglobin, and serum albumin levels, the negative association between log(α-Klotho) and diastolic dysfunction retained statistical significance with an odds ratio of 0.50 (95% confidence interval 0.31-0.81, P = 0.005, per 1 standard deviation). Among patients with preserved LVEF, serum α-Klotho concentrations were negatively associated with diastolic dysfunction. Whether modulation of serum levels α-Klotho will ameliorate cardiac diastolic function among patients with this disorder awaits further investigation.

Association between Left Ventricular Postsystolic Shortening and Diastolic Relaxation in Asymptomatic Patients with Systemic Hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Few data have existed on myocardial postsystolic shortening (PSS) accounting for left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction in systemic hypertension. We examined this relationship, along with clinical and other cardiac parameters, in asymptomatic patients with hypertension. METHODS: We analyzed 104 patients on pharmacological treatment for hypertension who had no signs or symptoms of heart failure for conventional and speckle tracking echocardiography. The sum of the postsystolic index for multiple LV segments (total PSI) and global longitudinal strain (GLS) was computed and used as measures for global PSS and myocardial systolic function, respectively. The tissue Doppler e' and the speckle tracking-derived global strain rate during early diastole (e'sr) were obtained as indicators of LV relaxation. The circumferential end-systolic stress was also determined noninvasively and substituted for a measure of myocardial afterload. RESULTS: Main variables that correlated with the e' and e'sr were shown to be age, LV mass index, left atrial volume index, GLS, and the total PSI. Multivariate analysis including gender, circumferential end-systolic stress, and the use of calcium channel blockers as possible covariates revealed that age (ß = -0.29, P = 0.002), total PSI (ß = -0.26, P = 0.008), and LV mass index (ß = -0.25, P = 0.017) were significant independent determinants of e' and that age (ß = -0.34, P < 0.001) and GLS (ß = -0.28, P = 0.006) were of e'sr. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that while depending on the degree of GLS, PSS may affect diastolic relaxation in patients with asymptomatic, but treated, hypertensive patients.

Serum uric acid is associated with cardiac diastolic dysfunction among women with preserved ejection fraction.

Serum uric acid (SUA) is associated with the severity and prognosis of systolic heart failure. We investigated the potential association between SUA and cardiac diastolic dysfunction among total of 744 cardiac patients (202 women and 542 men) who had preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. Presence of diastolic dysfunction was assessed by echocardiographic data, plasma B-type natriuretic peptide concentration, and left ventricular hypertrophy. Univariate analysis showed that the prevalence of diastolic dysfunction increased with increasing SUA value in women, but not in men. When sex-nonspecific SUA quartiles were used, multivariate logistic regression analysis, among female patients who were not taking uric acid lowering medication, showed that the third (SUA, 5.7-6.4 mg) and the fourth (SUA, ≥6.5 mg/dl) SUA quartiles were associated with diastolic dysfunction with an odds ratio of 3.25 (P < 0.05) and 8.06 (P < 0.001), respectively, when compared with the first SUA quartile (≤4.7 mg/dl). When sex-specific SUA quartiles were used among these population, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the fourth SUA quartile (≥5.7 mg/dl) was associated with diastolic dysfunction with an odds ratio of 5.34 (P < 0.05) when compared with the first SUA quartile (≤4.1 mg/dl). By contrast, the relationship between SUA and diastolic dysfunction was not significant in men, irrespective of which of the sex-nonspecific or sex-specific SUA quartiles were used. These data indicated that among cardiac patients with preserved ejection fraction, SUA was significantly associated with diastolic dysfunction in women but not in men.