Association of level of IL-6, IL-10, IL-18, tumour necrosis factor-?with rheumatic mitral stenosis and subsequent pulmonary hypertension

Background:Objective of the study was to provide insight on the immune response in patients of rheumatic heart disease, mitral stenosis and evaluation of various cytokines in pulmonary hypertension secondary to rheumatic heart disease.Methods:Total 163 subjects, more than 18 year of age, were enrolled in this study. 84 subjects with rheumatic mitral stenosis (group A) diagnosed on two-dimensional echocardiography (2D echo)and 79 normal healthy volunteers(group B). Patients with mitral stenosis were further divided into subgroups based on severity of mitral stenosis [mitral valve area (MVA >1 cm2 and MVA <1 cm2)(subgroup Aa and Ab)]and presence or absence of pulmonary hypertension [pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PASP >36 mm Hg)(subgroup Ac and Ad)]. Interleukins IL-6, IL-10, IL-18, tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-?)andhigh-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)levels were assessed in both groups.Results:Mean IL-6, IL-10, IL-18, TNF-? and hs-CRP in group A and group B was 6.57�53 and 2.73�p?0.001), 8.185�8 and 3.51�86(p?0.001), 136.31�.0 and 47.96�76(p?0.001), 21.26�.59 and 5.36�57(p?0.001), 4.69�3 and 2.63�22(p?0.008) respectively. On subgroup analysis mean TNF-? in subgroup Aa was 20.71�.84, while in subgroup Ab was 7.56�93 (p?0.001). Mean IL-10 in subgroup Ac and Ad was 8.74�29 and 7.47�82, respectively. Differences in levels of other cytokines in these subgroups were not found statistically significant.Conclusions:This study finds increased IL-6, IL-10, IL-18, TNF-? and hs-CRP levels in subjects with rheumatic mitral stenosis. Subjects with severe mitral stenosis had increased TNF-? levels. Subjects of mitral stenosis having pulmonary hypertension had increased IL-10 levels.

Transradial access for coronary diagnostic and interventional procedures: Consensus statement and recommendations for India: Advancing Complex CoronariES Sciences through TransRADIAL intervention in India – ACCESS RADIAL™: Clinical consensus recommendations in collaboration with Cardiological Society of India (CSI)

Radial access for cardiac catheterization and intervention in India has been growing steadily over the last decade with favorable clinical outcomes. However, its usage by interventional cardiologists varies greatly among Indian operators and hospitals due to large geographic disparities in health care delivery systems and practice patterns. It also remains unclear whether the advantages, as well as limitations of transradial (TR) intervention (as reported in the western literature), are applicable to developing countries like India or not. An evidence-based review involving various facets of radial procedure for cardiac catheterization, including practical, patient-related and technical issues was conducted by an expert committee that formed a part of Advancing Complex CoronariES Sciences through TransRADIAL intervention (ACCESS RADIAL™) Advisory Board. Emerging challenges in redefining TR management based on evidence supporting practices were discussed to formulate these final recommendations through consensus.

Percutaneous device closure of nonrestrictive aortopulmonary window in a 4 months' infant.

Aortopulmonary window is a rare congenital heart disease occurring in 0.2-0.6% of all patients with congenital heart disease. It is usually nonrestrictive and is conventionally treated surgically at an early age to prevent the development of pulmonary vascular obstructive disease. In 10% of the patients, it is restrictive and case reports of its percutaneous closure are mostly limited to these patients. We report percutaneous device closure of nonrestrictive AP window in a 4 months old, 4 kg child. To the best of our knowledge this is the youngest child to have undergone percutaneous device closure of an AP window.

Successful closure of coronary artery perforation using non-conventional embolic material.

Coronary perforation during percutaneous coronary interventions is a rare but dreadful complication. While coronary perforation involving large vessels are managed successfully by covered stents, small distal vessel perforation is usually managed by prolonged balloon inflation or embolization of gel foam/thrombogenic metallic coils. We describe a case, where perforation of a small ventricular branch of the right coronary artery was successfully occluded by packing it with pieces of thrombogenic floppy tips of used coronary angioplasty guidewires instead of conventional metallic coils.

Novel non-surgical method of managing cardiac perforation during percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy.

We describe a new technique of sealing cardiac perforation resulting in cardiac tamponade during transvenous mitral commissurotomy by percutaneous instillation of cyanoacrylate glue at the perforation site, thus avoiding surgery.

Focal extra strength of a stent causing instent hourglass stenosis: an unusual complication.

We report an unusual complication of a 25 mm long stent, which did not expand at all for 1 mm in its proximal segment, while rest of the 24 mm length of the stent got fully expanded. Repeated attempts to expand the extremely focal unexpanded part of the stent at high pressure led to rupture of the stent balloon and its entrapment. We failed to retrieve the balloon using various techniques and the patient had to be sent for coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Transcatheter closure of coronary artery fistulas.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter closure of coronary artery fistulas has emerged as a successful alternative to surgery. We describe various techniques and short-term findings in 15 patients who were taken up for transcatheter closure of these fistulas. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifteen patients (aged 2-55 years; 12 males) with coronary artery fistulas underwent percutaneous transcatheter closure between June 1997 and December 2002. Site of origin of these fistulas were: right coronary artery in 7, left anterior descending coronary artery in 4, left main coronary artery in 2 and left circumflex coronary artery in 2 patients. Drainage site of these fistulas were: right ventricle in 9, right atrium in 4 and pulmonary artery in 2 patients. Out of these 15 fistulas, 14 were congenital and one was iatrogenically produced following inadvertent cutting balloon angioplasty of a septal perforator in a patient with chronic total occlusion of left anterior descending coronary artery. Various occlusion devices used to close these fistulas were: conventional metallic coils in 10, floppy tips of coronary angioplasty guidewires in 2, Amplatzer duct occluder in 1 and Amplatzer septal occluder in 2 patients. One of our patients had a coronary artery fistula draining by two openings into the right atrium, both of which were successfully closed using 2 Amplatzer duct occluders. Check angiogram after the procedure revealed complete occlusion in 13 (86.6%) and small residual flow in 2 patients. Follow-up studies at 3-55 months (mean 18 months) showed complete abolition of shunt in all patients with no evidence of recanalization leading to recurrence of shunt. CONCLUSION: Transcatheter closure of coronary artery fistulas is feasible and safe in the anatomically suitable vessels. Use of floppy tips of coronary angioplasty guidewires reduces the cost of the procedure significantly. which is an important consideration in developing countries like India.

Difficult percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy: a new technique for left atrium to left ventricular entry.

Percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy using Inoue balloon is an effective procedure for the management of patients with juvenile mitral stenosis. Inability to cross the mitral valve by the Inoue balloon catheter is one of the important reasons for failure of the procedure. We describe a new technique, facilitating left atrium to left ventricular entry using double loop of Inoue balloon catheter in a child with small left atrium.

Isolated thrombus producing tricuspid stenosis: an unusual presentation in primary antiphospholipid syndrome.

We report the case of a female patient who presented with signs and symptoms of tricuspid stenosis. Echocardiography revealed a sessile mass on the tricuspid valve. A diagnosis of primary cardiac tumor was made but histopathologic examination revealed the mass to be an organized thrombus. Subsequent serological tests showed elevated titers of anticardiolipin antibodies in the absence of any associated disease. This case highlights an unusual presentation of the primary antiphospholipid syndrome.

Post-stenotic dilatation: challenge in renal ostial stenting--a simple solution.

Stenting is the treatment of choice for treating stenotic renal ostial lesions. During the stenting of an ostial lesion in a renal artery with post-stenotic dilatation, we were faced with the problems of unavailability of a balloon of appropriate length and diameter, and determining the real reference vessel diameter. The problem was solved by a simple technique.

Stenting of a septal perforator for post-myocardial infarction angina.

Occlusion of a septal perforator branch alone, without the involvement of the left anterior descending coronary artery, leading to acute myocardial infarction is unusual. We report a case in which an isolated severely stenotic thrombus-containing first septal artery causing intractable post-myocardial infarction angina was successfully dilated and stented.