Relation of regional myocardial structure and function in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and amyloidois: a combined two-dimensional speckle tracking and cardiovascular magnetic resonance analysis.

AIMS: We aimed at investigating the relationship between segmental morphology [wall thickness (WT) and WT location (LT: base-mid-apex)], loading conditions and underlying pathological substrate [histology (H), hypertrophy vs. infiltration] with segmental longitudinal (SLS) and circumferential (SCS) strain in a group of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and cardiac amyloidosis (CA). METHODS AND RESULTS: We included 30 patients with biopsy-proven CA (65.4 ± 10.7 years, 66% male, 76.7% AL type) and 50 patients with HCM matched for maximum WT (60 ± 16 years, 80% male). SLS and SCS were assessed with speckle-tracking echocardiography in an 18-segment model of left ventricle, while morphological parameters were measured in short-axis cardiovascular magnetic resonance cine loops which corresponded with echo segments. In total, 1440 segments were evaluated of which 198 (36.7%) in CA and 252 (28%) in HCM had WT >12 mm (maximum WT 18.1 ± 3.7 mm in CA vs. 18.6 ± 4.1 in HCM, P = 0.59). SLS showed association with WT [beta 0.49, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.37-0.6; P < 0.0005], LT and H (P < 0.0005 for both), with CA segments demonstrating 5.94% more impaired SLS compared with HCM segments with the same WT and LT. On the other hand, there was no linear association between SCS and WT, with SCS being dependent on LT, H (P < 0.0005) and preload (P < 0.002). CONCLUSION: Our study indicates that regional myocardial mechanics are differentially influenced by local morphological parameters. While SLS is dominated by WT, SCS is more determined by LT and H. These findings may have an important role in diagnosis and prognosis of patients with thickened hearts.

Diastolic dysfunction is associated with low urinary sodium excretion in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The pathogenesis and the clinical impact of diastolic dysfunction (DD) in cirrhosis remain unclear. Our aim was to investigate the factors significantly associated with the presence of DD in patients with decompensated cirrhosis on the waiting list for liver transplantation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: consecutive patients with decompensated cirrhosis, who admitted for transplant assessment, were prospectively evaluated. We assessed the independent factors associated with the presence of DD, while their discriminative ability was evaluated by AUC curve. The diagnosis of DD was based on Doppler echocardiography and classified into three categories according to the current guidelines. RESULTS: we evaluated 115 consecutive patients. Sixty six patients (57.3%-group 1) had DD and 49 (42.7%-group 2) had not DD. The 2 groups had similar Child-Pugh/MELD scores and survival. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, pulse rate (OR: 1.082, 95% CI: 1.03-1.15, p = 0.004), and UNa24h (OR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.97- 0.99, p = 0.004) were the only variables independently associated with the presence of DD. In the subgroup of consecutive patients (n = 31) with evaluation of cytokines, those (n = 22) with DD, compared to those (n = 9) without DD, had significantly higher levels of inteleukin-6 [145 (45-2000) vs. 56 (10-149)pg/mL, p = 0.043]. CONCLUSIONS: We found that DD was independently associated with lower 24-hour urine sodium. Although no correlation was found between DD and severity of liver disease or survival, further studies are needed for final conclusions.