Malaria and encephalopathy in a heart transplant recipient: A case report in the context of multiorgan donation.

INTRODUCTION: Malaria is an endemic infection in tropical circles. It can be transmitted from mosquitoes bite, but exceptional cases have been attributed to multiorgan transplantation. CASE REPORT: This is a 34-year-old woman who received a heart transplant for final-stage dilated cardiomyopathy. Over the hospitalization, she developed fever, cephalalgia, and tonic-clonic seizures with MRI findings compatible with posterior reversible encephalopathy. A thick blood smear revealed hemoparasitic forms of Plasmodium vivax. Afterward, malaria was also diagnosed in recipients of one kidney and liver of the same organ donor. First-line treatment with artesunate was prescribed for 3 days and chloroquine with primaquine thereafter for 14 days. The patient was discharged and returned to the emergency department 5 days later, complaining of gastrointestinal symptoms and developed multiorgan failure that led to death. CONCLUSION: We report a case of malaria transmission through heart transplantation. Despite adequate and supervised treatment, it can be related to a fatal outcome. Malaria screening in organ donors should be considered in regions where endemicity can lead to rare cases of transmission by transplantation.

Latin-American Registry of Cardiovascular Disease and COVID-19: Final Results.

Background: Socioeconomic factors contribute to a more severe impact of COVID-19 in Latin American and Caribbean (LA&C) countries than in developed countries. Patients with a severe or critical illness can develop respiratory and cardiovascular complications. Objective: To describe a LA&C population with COVID-19 to provide information related to this disease, in-hospital cardiovascular complications, and in-hospital mortality. Methods: The CARDIO COVID-19-20 Registry is an observational, multicenter, prospective, and hospital-based registry of patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection that required in-hospital treatment in LA&C. Enrollment of patients started on May 01, 2020, and ended on June 30, 2021. Results: The CARDIO COVID-19-20 Registry included 3260 patients from 44 institutions of 14 LA&C countries. 63.2% patients were male and median age was 61.0 years old. Most common comorbidities were overweight/obesity (49.7%), hypertension (49.0%), and diabetes mellitus (26.7%). Most frequent cardiovascular complications during hospitalization or reported at discharge were cardiac arrhythmia (9.1%), decompensated heart failure (8.5%), and pulmonary embolism (3.9%). The number of patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) was 1745 (53.5%), and median length of their stay at the ICU was 10.0 days. Support required in ICU included invasive mechanical ventilation (34.2%), vasopressors (27.6%), inotropics (10.3%), and vasodilators (3.7%). Rehospitalization after 30-day post discharge was 7.3%. In-hospital mortality and 30-day post discharge were 25.5% and 2.6%, respectively. Conclusions: According to our findings, more than half of the LA&C population with COVID-19 assessed required management in ICU, with higher requirement of invasive mechanical ventilation and vasoactive support, resulting in a high in-hospital mortality and a considerable high 30-day post discharge rehospitalization and mortality.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in a Latin American Center: A Single Center Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a complex disorder that includes various phenotypes, leading to different manifestations. It also shares different disadvantages typical of rare diseases, including limited recognition, lack of prospective studies assessing treatment, and little or delayed access to advanced treatment options. Reliable data about the prevalence and natural history of cardiomyopathies in South America are lacking. This study summarizes the features and management of patients with HCM in a university hospital in Colombia. METHODS: This was an observational retrospective cohort study of patients with HCM between January 2010 and December 2021. Patient data were analyzed from an institutional cardiomyopathy registry. Demographic, paraclinical, and outcome data were collected. RESULTS: A total of 82 patients during the study period were enrolled. Of these, 67.1% were male, and the mean age at diagnosis was 49 years. Approximately 83% were in NYHA functional class I and II, and the most reported symptoms were dyspnea (38%), angina (20%), syncope (15%), and palpitations (11%). In addition, 89% had preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) with an asymmetric septal pattern in 65%. Five patients (6%) had alcohol septal ablation and four (5%) had septal myectomy. One patient required heart transplantation during follow-up. Sudden cardiovascular death was observed in 2.6%. The overall mortality during follow-up was 7.3%. CONCLUSIONS: HCM is a complex and heterogeneous disorder that presents with significant morbidity and mortality. Our registry provides comprehensive data on disease courses and management in a developing country.

Mortalidad precoz en trasplante cardíaco / Early mortality in heart transplant

Resumen Objetivo: describir las principales causas de mortalidad en los 30 primeros días postrasplante cardíaco. Métodos: cohorte retrospectiva de pacientes con trasplante cardiaco realizado de 2008 a 2015, que murieron en los primeros 30 días luego del procedimiento. La información se recolectó del registro institucional de trasplante cardíaco. Se describieron variables sociodemográficas, clínicas, características del receptor, causas de muerte, complicaciones y características del pre- intra- y postoperatorio. Resultados: desde enero de 2008 hasta agosto de 2015 se realizaron 74 trasplantes cardíacos. De estos, 10 pacientes murieron en los primeros 30 días postrasplante (mortalidad de 13,51%).La mediana de edad fue 55 años (rango intercuartil [RIQ] 26-62 años) y 50% de ellos fueron de sexo masculino. La mediana de fracción de eyección pretrasplante fue 24% (RIQ 18-47) y el tiempo en lista de espera 81 días (RIQ 12-157 días). Cuatro pacientes se encontraban en estadio 0 A y los seis restantes en estadio 1. La mediana de tiempo entre el trasplante y la muerte fue un día (RIQ 0-3 día) y la mortalidad más tardía se presentó a los 18 días. Las principales causas de muerte fueron: falla multiorgánica (5 casos), falla aguda del injerto (3 casos) y coagulopatía perioperatoria (2 casos). Conclusiones: en una institución de referencia para trasplante cardíaco del suroccidente colombiano, la mortalidad precoz postrasplante cardíaco fue del 13,51%, similar a la reportada por registros internacionales. La principal causa de muerte fue la falla multiorgánica, que ocurrió principalmente en las primeras 24 horas después del trasplante cardíaco.

Abstract Objective: To describe the main causes of mortality in the first 30 days post-heart transplant. Methods: A study was conducted on a representative patient cohort with a heart transplant performed between 2008 and 2015, and who died in the first 30 days after the procedure. The information was collected from an institutional heart transplant register. A description is presented of the sociodemographic and clinical variables, the receiver characteristics, causes of death, as well as pre-, intra-, and post-operative characteristics and complications. Results: A total of 74 heart transplants were performed between January 2008 and August 2015. Of these, 10 patients died in the first 30 days post-transplant (a mortality rate of 13.51%). The median age was 55 years (Inter-quartile range (IQR) 26-62 years) and 50% of them were male. The median ejection fraction pre-transplant was 24% (IQR 18-47) and time on the waiting list of 81 days (IQR 12-157 days). Four of the patients were in Stage 0 A, and the remaining 6 were in Stage 1. The median time between the transplant and death was 1 day (IQR 0-3 days, and the later mortality rate was at 18 days. The main causes of death were: multi-organ failure (5 cases), acute graft failure (3 cases), and peri-operative coagulopathy (2 cases). Conclusions: In an institution of reference for heart transplantation in South-West Colombia, the early post-transplant mortality rate was 13.51%, similar to that reported in international registers. The main cause of death was multi-organ failure, which occurred mainly in the first 24 hours after the heart transplant.

Perfiles clínicos y hemodinámicos en pacientes con falla cardiaca aguda / Clinical and haemodynamic profiles of patients with acute heart failure

Resumen Objetivo: describir los perfiles clínicos y hemodinámicos de pacientes hospitalizados por falla cardíaca aguda. Métodos: estudio transversal de pacientes de 18 años o más, con diagnóstico de falla cardíaca aguda admitidos a un centro hospitalario de alta complejidad en Cali, Colombia, en un período de 7 meses. Se recolectó información sociodemográfica, clínica, perfiles clínicos y hemodinámicos de la falla cardiaca al ingreso, estancia hospitalaria y mortalidad. Se describieron las variables cuantitativas como promedios o medianas, y las categóricas como valor absoluto y porcentajes. Se realizaron tablas de frecuencia, y se graficaron los porcentajes de pacientes que ingresaron según el perfil clínico y hemodinámico de falla cardiaca aguda. Resultados: se incluyeron 99 pacientes con 143 episodios de falla cardíaca aguda. La mitad eran hombres y la mediana de edad 66 años (rango 21 a 97 años). 60% fueron afrodescendientes y 14,14% mestizos. Los perfiles clínicos más frecuentes fueron falla cardíaca aguda descompensada (72,46%), edema pulmonar agudo (10,14%) y falla cardiaca asociada a síndrome coronario agudo en 6,52%. Los perfiles hemodinámicos fueron ''caliente y seco'' 10,87%, ''caliente y húmedo'' 55,07%, ''frío y húmedo'' 28,26% y ''frío y seco'' en 5,8%. Conclusiones: la falla cardíaca aguda descompensada es el perfil de presentación clínica más común en nuestra población con dos tercios del total de casos. El perfil hemodinámico más frecuente fue el ''caliente y húmedo'' (Stevenson B), resultados que concuerdan con lo observado en estudios locales y registros internacionales.

Abstract Objective: To describe the clinical and haemodynamic profiles of patients admitted to hospital due to acute heart failure. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on patients aged 18 years or older with a diagnosis of acute heart failure admitted to a high complexity hospital in Cali, Colombia, during a 7-month period. Sociodemographic, clinical and haemodynamic information of the cardiac failure was recorded on admission, as well as hospital stay and mortality. The quantitative variables are described as means or medians, and the categorical variables as absolute value and percentages. Frequency tables were made, and a graph made of the percentages of patients admitted, according to the clinical and haemodynamic profile of the acute heart failure. Results: The study included as total of 99 patients with 143 episodes of acute heart failure. Half of the patients were male, and the median age was 66 years (range 21 to 97 years). The majority (60%) were of African descent and 14.14% were Mestizos. The most common clinical profiles were decompensated heart failure (72.46%), acute pulmonary edema (10.14%), and heart failure associated with acute coronary syndrome in 6.52%. The haemodynamic profiles were ''warm and dry'' in 10.87%, ''warm and wet'' in 55.07%, ''cold and wet'' in 28.26%, and ''cold and dry'' in 5.8%. Conclusions: Decompensated acute heart failure is the most common clinical presentation profile in the population studied, with two-thirds of all cases. The most frequent haemodynamic profile was ''warm and wet'', results that agree with those observed in local studies and in international registers.