Predictors of Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence in Hyperthyroid and Euthyroid Patients / Preditores de Recorrência de Fibrilação Atrial em Pacientes com Eutireoidismo e Hipertireoidismo

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in adults, and is encountered in 10-15% of the patients with hyperthyroidism. Unless euthyroidism is restored, pharmacological or electrical cardioversion is controversial in patients with AF who remain hyperthyroid. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of electrical cardioversion and predictors of AF recurrence in hyperthyroid and euthyroid patients. Methods: The study included 33 hyperthyroid (21 males) and 48 euthyroid (17 males) patients with persistent AF. The patients were sedated with intravenous midazolam before undergoing electrical cardioversion delivered by synchronized biphasic shocks. Rates of AF recurrence were recorded. Results: Mean follow-up was 23.63 ± 3.74 months in the hyperthyroid group and 22.78 ± 3.15 months in the euthyroid group (p = 0.51). AF recurred in 14 (43.8%) and 21 (44.7%) patients in each group, respectively (p = 0.93). Multivariate regression analysis in each group showed that AF duration was the only predictor of AF recurrence, with odds ratios of 1.38 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.05 - 1.82, p = 0.02) in the hyperthyroid group and 1.42 (95% CI = 1.05 - 1.91, p= 0.02) in the euthyroid group. Conclusion: Rates of long-term AF recurrence were similar in successfully cardioverted hyperthyroid and euthyroid patients. The only predictor of AF recurrence in both groups was AF duration.

Fundamento: A fibrilação atrial (FA) é a arritmia mais comum em adultos e é encontrada em 10-15% dos pacientes com hipertireoidismo. A menos que haja retorno ao eutireoidismo, a cardioversão farmacológica ou elétrica é controversa em pacientes com FA que permanecem com hipertireoidismo. Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a eficácia da cardioversão elétrica e os preditores de recorrência de FA em pacientes com hipertireoidismo e eutireoidismo. Métodos: O estudo incluiu pacientes com FA persistente, dos quais 33 (21 homens) apresentavam hipertireoidismo e 48 (17 homens) eutireoidismo. Os pacientes foram sedados com midazolam endovenoso antes de serem submetidos à cardioversão elétrica com choques sincronizados bifásicos. As taxas de recorrência da FA foram registradas. Resultados: O tempo médio de seguimento foi de 23,63 ± 3,74 meses no grupo com hipertireoidismo e 22,78 ± 3,15 meses no grupo com eutireoidismo (p = 0,51). A FA recorreu em 14 (43,8%) e 21 (44,7%) pacientes em cada grupo, respectivamente (p = 0,93). Uma análise de regressão multivariada em cada grupo mostrou que a duração da FA foi o único preditor de recorrência de FA com odds ratios de 1,38 (intervalo de confiança [IC] 95% = 1,05 - 1,82, p = 0,02) no grupo com hipertireoidismo e 1,42 (IC 95% = 1,05 - 1,91, p = 0,02) no grupo com eutireoidismo. Conclusão: As taxas de recorrência da FA a longo prazo foram semelhantes em pacientes com hipertireoidismo e eutireoidismo submetidos com sucesso à cardioversão. A duração da FA foi o único preditor de recorrência da FA em ambos os grupos.

Biventricular lipoma (first case in literature).

Primary cardiac tumors of the ventricles are very uncommon. Cardiac lipomas are extremely rare primary benign cardiac tumors. Most reported cardiac lipomas have been diagnosed incidentally at autopsy. Lipomas in both ventricular cavities were not reported before. We report the case of a 51-year-old male referred to our hospital complaining of exercise angina during the last month. Transthoracic echocardiogram showed two masses; one of them was in the left ventricular cavity and the other one was in the right ventricular cavity. After that we performed coronary angiography and the angiography showed a tree vessel disease. For treatment, surgery was performed and the tumors were resected with performing tree vessels coronary by-pass.

A rare clinical entity: ventricular septal rupture with right ventricular wall dissection after inferior myocardial infarction.

Right ventricular wall dissection following ventricular septal rupture related to inferior myocardial infarction has been reported in a few cases. In most of the cases, right ventricular wall dissection was diagnosed in postmortem studies. Herein, we present a 68-year-old man who had a ventricular septal rupture with right ventricular wall dissection after inferior myocardial infarction. Early recognition of this complication with bedside transthoracic echocardiography and prompt surgical repair are key to achieving survival in these patients.

Angioplasty as early revascularization in acute myocardial infarction.

The clinical manifestations characterized by myocardial ischemia due to a sudden decrease in coronary artery flow are defined as "acute coronary syndromes". These syndromes are classified according to the presence of ST segment elevation on the electrocardiogram (ECG) and the presence of a Q wave. In ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the lesion is usually located at the proximal part and the coronary occlusion is complete, myocardial loss is to a great extent, prognosis is poor, and the risk of developing cardiac failure and arrhythmias in the post infarction period is high. Considering these complications, it is obvious that the immediate provision of reperfusion by opening the completely occluded artery is of vital importance in patients with STEMI. However, a third of these patients are unable to receive reperfusion therapy on time A considerable number of patients can receive the treatment within 12 hours after the onset of symptoms at best. In cases arriving late, the effectiveness of reperfusion therapy decreases and the risk of mortality and morbidity increases.