The Impact of Cystic Fibrosis- and Noncystic Fibrosis-Bronchiectasis on Pulmonary Artery Wall Thickness and Right Heart Functions Assessed by Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography.

BACKGROUND: Right heart functions are affected in patients with bronchiectasis as a result of pulmonary hypertension induced by chronic hypoxemia. Pulmonary artery wall thickness has recently been introduced as a sign of intensive and prolonged inflammation. The aim of this study was to analyze right ventricular and right atrial functions and to mea-sure pulmonary artery wall thickness in patients with cystic fibrosis-bronch iecta sis in comparison to those with noncystic fibrosis-bronchiectasis and healthy individuals. METHODS: We studied 36 patients with cystic fibrosis-bronchiectasis, 34 patients with noncystic fibrosis-bronchiectasis, and 32 age- and sex-matched control subjects. Lung function tests were performed. All subjects underwent comprehensive echocardiographic evaluation including conventional, tissue Doppler, speckle-tracking, and pulmonary artery wall thickness measurements. RESULTS: Right ventricular global longitudinal strain and global longitudinal right atrial strain during ventricular systole decreased in cystic fibrosis-bronchiectasis group compared with noncystic fibrosis-bronchiectasis and control groups (P <.001, both). Conversely, pulmonary artery wall thickness was increased in cystic fibrosis-bronchiectasis group in comparison to other groups (P <.001). Moreover, right ventricular global longitudinal strain was lower and pulmonary artery wall thickness was higher in patients with airflow obstruction (P <.001 and P =.025, respectively) than in those without. Only right ventricular global longitudinal strain was significantly correlated with pulmonary function test parameters. The negative effect of cystic fibrosis on right ventricular and right atrial functions was independent of age, gender, and disease duration. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that right ventricular and right atrial functions were deteriorated and pulmonary artery wall was thickened in cystic fibrosis-bronchiectasis patients more than noncystic fibrosis-bronchiectasis patients. Right ventricular global longitudinal strain detected subclinical right ventricular dysfunction and was associated with the severity of pulmonary disease.

Bleeding risk with concomitant use of tirofiban and third-generation P2Y12 receptor antagonists in patients with acute myocardial infarction: A real-life data.

OBJECTIVE: Combination of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa inhibitors can increase bleeding risk. In this study, we aimed to investigate bleeding complications of different DAPTs with concomitant tirofiban use in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS: This retrospective study included 224 consecutive ACS patients (mean age 56.6±11.1 years, 193 men) who were given conventional dose of tirofiban (25 µg/kg per 3 minutes followed by an infusion of 0.15 µg/kg/min for 24 hours) in addition to DAPT (300 mg aspirin followed by 100 mg/day + 600 mg clopidogrel followed by 75 mg/day or 180 mg ticagrelor followed by 90 mg twice daily or 60 mg prasugrel followed by 10 mg/day). Any intra-hospital bleeding complications were noted. RESULTS: Of the 224 patients, 115 were given ticagrelor and 32 were given prasugrel. Mean hemoglobin fall was similar between the patients taking ticagrelor/prasugrel and those taking clopidogrel. Ten patients taking ticagrelor and one patient taking prasugrel had hemoglobin fall ≥3 g/dL versus two patients in clopidogrel group (p=0.228). Gastrointestinal bleeding (two patients taking ticagrelor), hematoma at access site (three patients taking ticagrelor), and cardiac tamponade (two patients taking ticagrelor) rates were also similar. Creatinine levels were associated with hemoglobin fall ≥3 g/dL (p=0.032, Odds ratio 2.189, 95% confidence interval 1.070-4.479). There was no relation between hemoglobin fall ≥3 g/dL and antiplatelet agent, age, sex, hypertension, or diabetes. CONCLUSION: Tirofiban may be given to patients receiving ticagrelor or prasugrel with a bleeding rate similar to clopidogrel. Close monitoring for bleeding risk is recommended, especially in patients with higher creatinine levels.

Ventricular and atrial functions assessed by speckle-tracking echocardiography in patients with human immunodeficiency virus.

PURPOSE: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has dramatically changed the clinical manifestation of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) associated cardiomyopathy from severe left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction to a pattern of subclinical cardiac dysfunction. The aim of this study was to evaluate by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) LV, right ventricular (RV), and biatrial functions in HIV-infected patients under different ART combinations. METHODS: We consecutively included 128 HIV-infected patients (mean age 44.2 ± 10.1 years, 110 males) and 100 controls (mean age 42.1 ± 9.4 years, 83 males). Ventricular and atrial functions were assessed by both conventional and STE. RESULTS: Although there was not any significant difference in conventional echocardiographic variables, HIV-infected patients had significantly lower LV global longitudinal strain (GLS), RV GLS, left atrial (LA) reservoir and conduit strain, and right atrial conduit strain. HIV patients receiving integrase strand transfer inhibitors and protease inhibitors (PI) had significantly lower LV GLS and LA conduit strain, while patients receiving non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors and PI had significantly lower RV GLS than controls. CD4 count at the time of echocardiography was strongly correlated with LV GLS (r = .619, P < .001) and RV GLS (r = .606, P < .001). CONCLUSION: Biventricular and atrial functions are subclinically impaired in HIV-infected patients. ART regimen may also affect myocardial functions.

Right ventricular function in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: A speckle tracking echocardiography study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore right ventricular (RV) mechanical function in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) by 2-D speckle tracking echocardiography (2-D-STE). METHODS: Forty-three patients with HCM (mean age 48, 17 females) and 40 healthy subjects were consecutively included in this cross-sectional study. The diagnosis of HCM was based on the presence of typical clinical, electrocardiographic (ECG), and echocardiographic features. Patients with LV systolic impairment, significant valvular disease, history of coronary artery disease, hypertension, malignancy, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were excluded. Right and left ventricular (LV) function was assessed by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and 2-D-STE. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients were divided into two groups according to ACC/ESC guidelines (LVOT gradient below and above 30 mm Hg). Student t-test was used to compare differences between groups. Non-parametric tests (Mann-Whitney U) were used in cases of abnormal distribution. RESULTS: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients had a significantly larger right atrium and RV diameters compared to controls. Mean pulmonary artery pressures (mPAB) were significantly higher in HCM patients (19.01±13.09 mm Hg vs. 8.40±4.50 mm Hg; p<0.001). Although RV Sm measurements were similar, RV strain measurements (-28.51±5.36% vs. -32.06±7.65%; p=0.016) were significantly lower in HCM patients. Left ventricular global longitudinal, radial, and circumferential strain values were also significantly different between the two groups (-20.50±3.58% vs. -24.12±3.40%; p<0.001, 38.18±12.67% vs. 44.80±10.15%; p=0.012, -21.94±4.28% vs. -23.91±3.95%; p=0.036 consecutively). Rotational movement of LV in each apical, mid-, and basal left ventricular segment was determined, and only mid-ventricular rotation of the HCM patients was more clockwise (-1.71±2.16 ° vs. 0.04±1.72 °; p<0.001). Although mPAP measurements were higher in HCM patients with significant LVOT obstruction (21.52±13.26 mm Hg vs. 12.31±10.53 mm Hg; p=0.049), none of the other TDI or 2-D-STE parameters was significantly different between groups. CONCLUSION: Speckle tracking echocardiography-derived right ventricular systolic function is impaired in HCM patients when compared with healthy subjects. However, RV systolic function is not affected form LVOT obstruction and left ventricular rotation dynamics in HCM patients.

Intraventricular and papillary muscle dyssynchrony is related to the diastolic phase of functional mitral regurgitation in patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) is commonly encountered in patients with heart failure, and is associated with an adverse prognosis. It is hypothesized that left ventricular (LV) and papillary muscle systolic dyssynchrony causes diastolic mitral regurgitation (DMR) in non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DC) patients. METHODS: A total of 77 patients with non-ischemic DC was enrolled, of whom 25 were without DMR (group I) and 52 with DMR (group II). Mitral valve apparatus measurements were calculated using two-dimensional echocardiography, while LV/papillary muscle (Pap-index) systolic dyssynchrony parameters were calculated using tissue Doppler echocardiography. RESULTS: The FMR volumes were similar between the two groups (19.4 +/- 10.6 and 22.4 +/- 11.1 ml/beat in groups I and II, respectively). Both groups had similar mitral valves, as assessed by the geometry of the mitral valve apparatus parameters, including tent area, mitral annulus diameter, and tethering distance. However, the maximal intraventricular mechanical delay (MIMD; p < 0.001), peak (+/- SD) myocardial sustained systolic velocity (Ts-SD; p < 0.001) and Pap-index (p < 0.001) were each significantly increased in group II. Strong correlations were apparent between DMR and dyssynchrony parameters [(Ts-SD; r = 0.74, p < 0.001), MIMD (r = 0.78, p < 0.001) and Pap-index (r = 0.78, p < 0.001)]. Linear regression analysis revealed the MIMD (OR 2.94, 95% CI 2.7-6.6, p < 0.001), Ts-SD (OR 3.6, 95% CI 1.2-3.5, p < 0.001) and Pap-index (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.27-1.35, p = 0.001) to be independent predictors of DMR. CONCLUSION: In patients with non-ischemic DC, DMR may serve as a useful indicator of mechanical LV/papillary muscle dyssynchrony, especially when used in combination with the other echocardiographic parameters.

Coronary artery disease in patients with peripheral artery disease.

OBJECTIVES: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is an atherosclerotic disease associated with cardiovascular risk factors, and with high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This study sought to assess the prevalence of angiographic coronary artery disease (CAD), and to determine the predictive value of traditional cardiovascular risk factors on the presence of CAD in patients with PAD of the lower extremities. METHODS: In total, 231 patients who presented at hospital complaining of intermittent claudication were included. All patients underwent simultaneous peripheral and cardiac angiography. Age, gender, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and lipid values were recorded. RESULTS: The coronary angiograms of 64 (28%) patients were within normal limits, and 167 (72%) patients manifested CAD. Logistic regression analysis revealed that hypertension and diabetes were independent predictors for the presence of CAD or PAD. CONCLUSION: Aggressive treatment of cardiovascular risk factors, especially hypertension and diabetes, in PAD is critically important in reducing mortality and morbidity.

[Usefulness of isovolumic acceleration and tissue Doppler echocardiographic parameters for predicting postoperative functional recovery after heart valve surgery]. / Utilidad de la aceleración isovolumétrica y los parámetros de ecocardiografía Doppler tisular en la predicción de la recuperación funcional postoperatoria tras cirugía valvular cardiaca.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Postoperative right ventricular (RV) systolic dysfunction is associated with perioperative myocardial ischemia, hypothermic cardiac arrest, cardiopulmonary bypass and pericardial injury. As myocardial acceleration during isovolumic contraction (IVA) and myocardial velocity during isovolumic contraction (IVV) are little affected by loading conditions, they can predict myocardial function better than conventional parameters. We investigated the usefulness of these parameters for predicting postoperative RV systolic function after isolated heart valve surgery. METHODS: Overall, 63 patients who underwent isolated heart valve surgery were evaluated by tissue Doppler echocardiography preoperatively, and immediately and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: By the 6-month follow-up, patients' New York Heart Association functional class had improved significantly (P< .026). At that time, functional recovery was observed in 38 of the 63 patients. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that RV IVA (odds ratio [OR]=3.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-9.64; P=.047) and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (OR=1.07; 95% CI, 0.99-1.15; P=.07) were independent predictors of functional recovery 6 months postoperatively. The RV IVA value had recovered by the 6-month follow-up in 39 patients. A positive correlation was observed between functional recovery and IVA recovery (Spearman's correlation, r=0.499; P< .001). The RV IVA was observed to recover in all patient groups regardless of surgical method or atrial rhythm. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative RV IVA and pulmonary artery systolic pressure were independent predictors of functional recovery 6 months after isolated heart valve surgery. Given its association with functional recovery, postoperative improvement in these parameters may be a useful clinical indicator after heart valve surgery.

Dystrophic calcification of the aneurysmatic left ventricular apex.

Pathologic calcium deposition may be observed in the valve leaflets, valvular annulus, pericardial scar areas in chronic constructive pericarditis, and myocardial tissue. A direct x-ray may reveal the area of calcification in any of these tissues. The most common cause of myocardial calcification is myocardial infarction (MI) in which calcium accumulates in the infarcted tissue during myocardial healing process. The authors present a case of diffuse myocardial calcification located in the left ventricular apical aneurysm in a patient who had an MI 24 years ago, together with a diagnostic and therapeutic approach.

Papillary muscle dyssynchrony as a cause of functional mitral regurgitation in non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy patients with narrow QRS complexes.

OBJECTIVE: Mitral regurgitation (MR) increases mortality in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). We investigated the prevalence of functional MR in non-ischemic DCM patients with narrow QRS intervals and its association with papillary muscle dyssynchrony. METHODS: Ninety-three patients were enrolled consecutively in this cross-sectional study. Patients were evaluated for the presence of intraventricular (DYS Sep-Lat Sys) and papillary muscle (DYS Inter PAP Sys) systolic dyssynchrony using tissue Doppler echocardiographic imaging (TDI). Two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography were used for quantification of MR. Statistical analyses were performed using unpaired t test, Mann-Whitney U test, correlation and logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients (39%) had significant DYS Sep-Lat Sys and 25 patients (26%) had DYS Inter PAP Sys. Patients with DYS Inter PAP Sys had lower basal septum systolic (p=0.007) and late diastolic velocities (p=0.049), greater MR volume (p=0.01), effective regurgitant orifice (ERO) (p=0.01), and E/A ratios (p=0.03) than the patients without DYS Inter PAP Sys. Fifty-five patients with narrow QRS intervals were also evaluated for DYS Inter PAP Sys. Patients with DYS Inter PAP Sys and narrow QRS had lower basal septum TDI peak systolic velocities (p=0.038), higher MR volume (p=0.03) and ERO (p=0.03). Logistic regression analysis revealed that NYHA Class III-IV (OR=6.4, 95% CI: 1.1-37.1, p=0.038) and DYS Inter PAP Sys (OR=9.5, 95% CI: 1.17-75.78, p=0.034) were the independent predictors of functional MR >20 ml. CONCLUSION: Papillary muscle systolic dyssynchrony is common and correlated with functional MR in non-ischemic DCM patients with sinus rhythm and narrow QRS. Papillary muscle systolic dyssynchrony may help predict patients who will benefit from cardiac resynchronization therapy.

A complex case of congenital cardiac anomaly: pulmonary atresia and ventricular septal defect associated with major aortopulmonary collaterals.

Pulmonary atresia and ventricular septal defect associated with major aortopulmonary collaterals (MAPCAs) is a rare, complex, and heterogeneous congenital cardiac anomaly. The majority of untreated patients present with severe congestive heart failure and respiratory distress in the first decade of life. We describe a 15-year-old cyanotic boy, both of whose pulmonary arteries arise from the arcus aorta via patent ductus arteriosus. In addition to this anomaly, the patient has MAPCAs originating from the descending aorta that perfuse the right upper lobe of the lung, a persistent superior vena cava, an aberrant right subclavian artery, pulmonary atresia, and ventricular septal defect.

Discrete membranous subaortic stenosis complicated by infective endocarditis: a case report.

Discrete membraneous subaortic stenosis is an uncommon cause of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Although its relationship to infective endocarditis is well defined, the expected site of vegetation is over the aortic valve. We report on a 46-year-old man who had a discrete membranous subaortic stenosis, complicated with infective endocarditis, in which the vegetation was over the subaortic membrane and the aortic valve was spared. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of that entity.