The role of type 2 diabetes mellitus on hypertensive-related aortic stiffness.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is strongly related to arterial stiffness in a cause-effect fashion. Diabetes mellitus is also thought to determine vascular damage, mostly by means of advanced glycosylation end-products (AGEs). Aim of our study was to study the role of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) as regard ascending aortic elastic properties in hypertensive patients. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled outpatients with hypertension (n = 99) and type 2 diabetes mellitus plus hypertension (n = 42) without cardiovascular events. They underwent a transthoracic echocardiography to measure aortic diameters, aortic elastic properties (ie, compliance, distensibility, stiffness index, Peterson's elastic modulus, pulse wave velocity, M-mode strain), tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) to calculate diastolic (E' and A') and systolic (S') velocities, and tissue strain. Multivariable analysis was run to assess the association between T2DM and these variables after correcting for possible confounders (age, sex, body mass index [BMI], dyslipidemia). RESULTS: The two groups did not differ as regards age, sex, BMI, and blood pressure. However, T2DM patients were more likely to be dyslipidemic (43% vs 71%, P = .003). Aortic diameters were similar in the two groups, but the aortic elastic properties significantly more impaired in T2DM group. At multivariable analysis, stiffness index, Peterson's elastic modulus, the TDI waves, and the tissue strain remained associated with the co-presence of T2DM and hypertension. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that people suffering from both T2DM and hypertension have more impaired aortic elastic properties than those hypertensive alone. Considering the prognostic role of aortic stiffness, these patients may benefit from a closer follow-up.

Kounis syndrome, a disease to know: Case report and review of the literature.

The case deals with an anaphylactoid reaction to intravenous ampicillin/sulbactam resulting in cardiogenic syncope and myocardial damage. Symptoms and ECG modifications promptly disappeared after corticosteroids administration. The Kounis syndrome is an acute coronary syndrome, including coronary spasm, acute myocardial infarction and stent thrombosis, resulting from an anaphylactic or anaphylactoid or allergic or hypersensitivity insult. First described in 1991, it can be caused by a lot of substances, particularly antibiotics. The management should be directed to both the allergic reaction and the myocardial damage. The Kounis syndrome is a not rare disease that every physician should know because of the wideness of triggers and the possible fatal evolution if not promptly recognized.

Prognostic role of tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion/pulmonary artery systolic pressure ratio in patients hospitalized for acute heart failure.

BACKGROUND: The role of TAPSE/PASP, a measurement of right ventricular to pulmonary artery coupling, in patients hospitalized for acute heart failure (AHF) is poorly described. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prognostic impact of TAPSE/PASP in AHF. METHODS: This retrospective single-center study included patients hospitalized for AHF between January 2004 and May 2017. TAPSE/PASP was evaluated as a continuous variable and as tertiles according to its value on admission. The main outcome was the composite of 1-year all-cause death or heart failure hospitalization. RESULTS: A total of 340 patients were included [mean age 68.8 ±â€Š11.8 years; 76.2% men, mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 30.4 ±â€Š13.3%]. Patients with lower TAPSE/PASP had more comorbidities and a more advanced clinical profile, and received higher doses of intravenous furosemide in the first 24 h. There was a significant, linear, inverse relationship between TAPSE/PASP values and the incidence of the main outcome (P = 0.003). In two multivariable analyses including clinical (model 1), biochemical and imaging parameters (model 2) TAPSE/PASP ratio was independently associated with the primary end point [model 1: hazard ratio 0.813, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.708-0.932, P = 0.003; model 2: hazard ratio 0.879, 95% CI 0.775-0.996, P = 0.043]. Patients with TAPSE/PASP greater than 0.47 mm/mmHg had a significantly lower risk of the primary end point (model 1: hazard ratio 0.473, 95% CI 0.277-0.808, P = 0.006; model 2: hazard ratio 0.582, 95% CI 0.355-0.955, P = 0.032; both compared with TAPSE/PASP <0.34 mm/mmHg). Similar findings were observed for 1-year all-cause mortality. CONCLUSION: TAPSE/PASP on admission demonstrated a prognostic value among patients with AHF.

Prognostic Impact of Heart Failure History in Patients with Secondary Mitral Regurgitation Treated by MitraClip.

The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic role of heart failure (HF) history in patients with secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR) underwent MitraClip. We retrospectively analyzed 186 patients with SMR undergoing MitraClip at 4 centres. HF history was defined as number or days of HF hospitalizations in the 12-month before MitraClip, or as time from last HF hospitalization to MitraClip, or time between first SMR diagnosis and MitraClip. More severe symptoms were observed in patients with >1 HF hospitalization compared with those with ≤1 HF hospitalizations, in those with ≥10 days versus <10 days of HF hospitalization and in those with shortest time from the last HF hospitalization. No significant differences were observed for procedural data in the population stratified according to the different definitions. In variables related with HF history, only the number of HF hospitalizations before MitraClip was associated with an increased risk of clinical events (hazard ratio 1.59; 95% confidence interval [1.09 to 2.12]; p = 0.015), whereas days of previous HF hospitalization, time from last HF hospitalization and from first diagnosis of SMR do not impact on prognosis. A significant decrease in the number and days of HF hospitalizations was observed in the 12-month after MitraClip compared with the 12-month before. In conclusion, in variables related with HF history, recurrence (>1) of HF hospitalizations before MitraClip was the most powerful predictor of prognosis. Latency of intervention did not affect outcomes.

EkoSonic Endovascular System for patients with acute pulmonary embolism and contraindication to systemic fibrinolysis.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the EkoSonic Endovascular System (EKOS) in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (APE) at high or intermediate-high risk and contraindication to systemic fibrinolysis. METHODS: This is a retrospective study including consecutive patients admitted due to high-risk or intermediate-high-risk APE and treated by EKOS because of an absolute or relative contraindication to systemic fibrinolysis. The primary efficacy end-point was the change from baseline to 72 h in right to left ventricular dimension ratio [right ventricular/left ventricular (RV/LV) ratio]; pulmonary embolic burden using the Qanadli Index; and systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (SPAP). The primary safety end-point was the occurrence of bleeding (GUSTO classification) within 72 h. RESULTS: Eighteen patients (5 men, 13 women; mean age 74 ±â€Š12.7 years) affected by high-risk APE (n = 5; 27.8%) or intermediate-high-risk APE (n = 13; 72.2%) were included. A significant reduction of mean RV/LV ratio (1.38 ±â€Š0.3 vs. 0.97 ±â€Š0.16; P < 0.0005); Qanadli Index [27.06 ±â€Š2.6 vs. 18.8 ±â€Š7.8 (P < 0.001) and SPAP (71.1 ±â€Š12 vs. 45.2 ±â€Š16 mmHg; P < 0.001)] was observed within 72 h after EKOS. Five bleeding events occurred: one fatal and four moderates; three out of them led to the access site hematoma, two due to pre-existing active bleeding. CONCLUSION: EKOS is an effective tool to treat patients with APE at high or intermediate-high risk and contraindication to fibrinolysis. It is a relatively safe therapy considering the critical conditions and high bleeding risk of the receiving population.