Successful closure of the ventricular septal defect;A rare complication after transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

In this report, we present a patient with ventricular septal defect (VSD) that was detected at follow-up one month after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and successfully closed percutaneously. Before the procedure, a 29 mm Portico self-expanding aortic valve prosthesis was placed in the heavy calcific aortic valve position, and then the balloon was dilated due to aortic insufficiency and excellent results were obtained. One month after TAVI, the patient complained of shortness of breath at rest, and on physical examination a pansystolic murmur was detected. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) revealed a well-functioning prosthetic aortic valve; however, a VSD was detected causing left-to-right shunt in the interventricular septum. Later, we performed the interventional treatment of the defect using the Amplatzer muscular VSD occluder device with the transfemoral approach. Currently, five months after the combined procedure, the patient showed a significant improvement in symptoms and no significant shunt was observed.

Coronary flow velocity reserve is reduced in patients with an exaggerated blood pressure response to exercise.

Coronary artery disease and cardiovascular mortality are increased in patients with an exaggerated blood pressure response to exercise. The exact cause of this increase remains unknown, but previous studies have indicated the presence of endothelial dysfunction in peripheral arteries and subclinical atherosclerosis in these patients. The present study aimed to clarify whether coronary microvascular dysfunction is also present in patients with exaggerated blood pressure response to exercise. A total of 95 patients undergoing exercise testing were consecutively enrolled. Flow-mediated vasodilatation and carotid intima-media thickness were measured using standardized methods. A transthoracic echocardiography examination was performed to measure coronary flow velocity reserve. Patients with an exaggerated blood pressure response to exercise had significantly lower coronary flow velocity reserve than the controls (2.06 (1.91-2.36) vs. 2.27 (2.08-2.72), p = 0.004), and this difference was caused by a reduction in hyperemic flow velocity (57.5 (51.3-61.5) vs. 62.0 (56.0-73.0), p = 0.004) rather than a difference in basal flow (26.5 (22.3-29.8) vs. 26.0 (24.0-28.8), p = 0.95). Patients with an exaggerated blood pressure response to exercise also had a significantly greater carotid intima-media thickness and significantly lower flow-mediated vasodilatation than controls. However, an exaggerated blood pressure response to exercise remained a significant predictor of coronary microvascular dysfunction after adjusting for confounders (OR: 3.60, 95% CI: 1.23-10.54, p = 0.02). Patients with an exaggerated blood pressure response to exercise show signs of coronary microvascular dysfunction, in addition to endothelial dysfunction and subclinical atherosclerosis. This finding might explain the increased risk of coronary artery disease and cardiovascular mortality in these patients.

A Combination of Heart Rate-Corrected QT Interval and GRACE Risk Score Better Predict Early Mortality in Patients with Non-ST Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate whether the addition of heart rate-corrected QT inter- val prolongation to the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events risk score improves the pre- dictive value for early mortality in patients with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome. METHODS: We retrospectively screened our database for consecutive non-ST-segment eleva- tion acute coronary syndrome patients between January 2017 and July 2019. The demographic and clinical parameters were acquired via chart review. All electrocardiograms were reviewed by 2 physicians. QT interval was measured using the tangent method. Early mortality was defined as all-cause death observed during the hospital stay or within 30 days after discharge. RESULTS: The final study population consisted of 283 patients, there were 17 early deaths. Ten of 59 patients with prolonged corrected QT intervals died (16.9%, P < .001). Both the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events risk score (odds ratio: 1.032; 95% CI: 1.012-1.053; P = .002) and corrected QT interval (odds ratio: 1.026; 95% CI: 1.007-1.045; P = 0.007) independently predicted early mortality. The area under value was 0.769 (95% CI: 0.674-0.863, P < .001) for the corrected QT interval and 0.780 (95% CI:0.681-0.878; P < .001) for the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events risk score alone. However, when the corrected QT interval and the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events risk score were combined, it was found to be 0.808 (95% CI: 0.713-0.904, P < .001). CONCLUSION: This study is the first to report that prolonged corrected QT and the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events risk score independently predict early mortality and a combina- tion of these 2 factors may improve the predictive value for early mortality in patients with ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome.

The Influence of On-pump Versus Off-pump Surgery on Short- and Medium-term Postoperative Coronary Flow Reserve After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

BACKGROUND: Although several clinical trials have compared surgical outcomes between off-pump and on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), whether there is a difference in the early- and medium-term postoperative coronary microvascular functions is not fully understood. We compared short- and medium-term coronary microvascular function after off-pump and on-pump CABG. METHODS: A prospective study of patients undergoing off-pump and on-pump CABG. Eighty-two patients scheduled for CABG were recruited: 38 underwent off-pump surgery and 44 on-pump surgery. Each participant's coronary flow reserve (CFR) and diastolic function were measured with transthoracic Doppler echocardiography six and 12 months after surgery. RESULTS: Baseline and hyperaemic diastolic peak flow velocity in the left anterior descending artery were similar in both groups, as was CFR (2.22±0.66) in the off-pump group compared with (2.13±0.61) in the on-pump group, (P=0.54). Coronary flow reserve was significantly and inversely correlated with high sensitivity C-reactive protein concentration (r=-0.416; P<0.001) and positively correlated with mitral E/A-wave velocity ratio (r=0.247; P=0.02). Stepwise linear regression analysis revealed that only high sensitivity C-reactive protein concentration was independently correlated with CFR (ß=-0.272, P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Heart-lung bypass technique had no medium-term influence on the coronary microcirculation, despite a possible initial unfavourable effect. Serum hs-CRP concentration was an independent predictor of medium-term coronary microvascular dysfunction.

Previous gestational diabetes history is associated with impaired coronary flow reserve.

BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a prediabetic state that is known to increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases. We have investigated coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) and epicardial fat thickness (EFT), and left ventricular diastolic function in patients with a history of previous GDM (p-GDM). METHODS: Ninety-three women with GDM history and 95 healthy women without GDM history were recruited. We used transthoracic Doppler echocardiography to assess CFVR, EFT, and left ventricular diastolic function. Insulin resistance of each subject was assessed with homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Hemoglobin A1c and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were also measured in all patients. RESULTS: CFVR values were significantly lower (2.34 ± 0.39 versus 2.80 ± 0.24, p < 0.001) and EFT values were significantly higher in patients with p-GDM than the control group (5.5 ± 1.3 versus 4.3 ± 1.1, p < 0.001). E/E' ratio (7.21 ± 1.77 versus 6.53 ± 1.38, p = 0.003), hemoglobin A1c (5.2 ± 0.4 and 5.0 ± 0.3, p = 0.001), HOMA-IR (2.8 ± 1.4 versus 1.7 ± 0.9, p = 0.04), and hsCRP levels were significantly higher in the p-GDM group than the control group. Multivariate analysis revealed that gestational diabetes history is independently associated with CFVR. CONCLUSION: Women with a GDM history may be at more risk regarding coronary microvascular dysfunction compared to the healthy ones.

Could there be an association between chronic brucellosis and endothelial damage?

INTRODUCTION: In this study, we examined the effects of Brucella infection on endothelial dysfunction. Flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) measurement is indicator of the endothelial function, and abnormal values indicating endothelial dysfunction are accepted as the first stage of atherosclerosis. METHODOLOGY: Twenty-four patients who had been treated for acute brucellosis two years before, and who had had no relapses in the follow-up, were prospectively included in the study, along with 30 healthy individuals in the control group. RESULTS: While the highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) value was 2.42 ± 1.45 in the patient group, it was 1.72 ± 0.61 in the control group (p = 0.025). While the FMD value was 3.50 ± 1.58 in the patient group, it was 5.88 ± 1.88 in the control group (p < 0.001). While the percentage increase in FMD was 9.88 ± 4.92 in the patient group, it was 17.49 ± 6.3 in the control group (p < 0.001). It was observed that FMD value, the percentage increase in FMD, and basal radius were correlated with hs-CRP (r = -0.644, p < 0.001; r = - 0.558, p = 0.002; r = 0.444, p = 0.018, respectively). The carotid artery intima media thickness (IMT) value was found to be 0.61 ± 0.17 in the patient group and 0.49 ± 0.12 in the control group (p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: The abnormal FMD and IMT values observed in brucellosis patients might be an indicator of more frequent arterial dysfunction, increased cardiovascular risk, and atherosclerosis.

Impaired coronary microvascular and left ventricular diastolic function in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Increased incidence of coronary vascular events in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is known. However, the association between coronary microvascular function and IBD has not been fully defined. We aimed to investigate whether coronary flow reserve (CFR) and left ventricular diastolic function were impaired in IBD patients. METHODS: Seventy-two patients with IBD (36 patients with ulcerative colitis [UC] and 36 Crohn's disease [CD]) were registered. Each subject was evaluated after a minimum 15-day attack-free period. For the control group, 36 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers were included into the study. IBD clinical disease activity in UC was assessed by the Truelove-Witts Index (TWAS) and in CD by the Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI). In each subject, CFR was measured through transthoracic Doppler echocardiography. RESULTS: Compared to the controls, the CD group and UC group had significantly higher high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Baseline diastolic peak flow velocity (DPFV) of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) was significantly higher in the IBD group (24.1±3.9 vs. 22. 4±2.9, p<0.05), and hyperemic DPFV (56.1±12.5 vs. 70.6±15.3, p<0.05) and CFR (2.34±0.44 vs. 3.14±0.54, p<0.05) were significantly lower in the IBD group than in the control group. In stepwise linear regression analysis, hs-CRP and lateral Em/Am ratio were independently correlated with CFR. CONCLUSION: CFR, reflecting coronary microvascular function, is impaired in patients with IBD. CFR and left ventricular diastolic function parameters are well correlated with hs-CRP.

Impaired coronary microvascular function and increased intima-media thickness in preeclampsia.

There is an association between preeclampsia (PE) and excessive morbidity and mortality. Some recent studies have revealed the presence of endothelial dysfunction in PE patients with inflammatory activity. Moreover, it has been argued that the chronic inflammatory state involved in PE leads to an acceleration in atherosclerosis. Accordingly, our goal in this study is to determine whether there is any coronary microvascular dysfunction and increase in the intima-media thickness in patients who had mild PE 5 years before, without the presence of any traditional cardiovascular risk factors. The study included 33 mild PE patients (mild preeclampsia is classified as a blood pressure (BP) of 140/90 mm Hg or higher with proteinuria of 0.3 to 3 g/d) whose mean age was 33.7 years old, and 29 healthy women volunteers whose mean age was 36.1 years old. Each subject was examined using transthoracic echocardiography 5 years after their deliveries. During the echocardiographic examination, coronary flow reserve (CFR) and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) were measured. There was a statistically lower CFR value in PE patients as compared with controls (2.39 ± 0.48 vs. 2.90 ± 0.49; P < .001). On the other hand, there was a significant increase in their IMT and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) values (respectively, 0.59 ± 0.15 vs. 0.46 ± 0.10; P < .001 and 3.80 ± 2.10 vs. 2.33 ± 1.79; P = .004). There was a negative correlation between the CFR values of the PE patients and hs-CRP (r = -0.568; P = .001) and IMT (r = -0.683, P < .001) results.We determined in the study that there was impaired CFR and increased carotid IMT in patients with PE, and, moreover, that these adverse effects were significantly correlated with hs-CRP.

Increased morning blood pressure surge and coronary microvascular dysfunction in patient with early stage hypertension.

Morning blood pressure surge (MBPS) is defined as an excessive increase in blood pressure (BP) in the morning from the lowest systolic BP during sleep, and it has been reported as a risk factor for cardiovascular events in current clinical studies. In this study, we evaluated the association between the rate of BP variation derived from ambulatory BP monitoring data analysis and coronary microvascular function in patients with early stage hypertension. One hundred seventy patients with prehypertension and Stage 1 hypertension who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in the study. We divided our study population into two subgroups according to the median value of coronary flow reserve (CFR). Patients with CFR values <2.5 were defined as the impaired CFR group, and patients with CFR values ≥2.5 were defined as the preserved CFR group, and we compared the MBPS measurements of these two subgroups. CFR was measured using transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTDE). Ambulatory 24-hour systolic and diastolic BP, uric acid, systolic MBPS amplitude, diastolic MBPS amplitude, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and mitral flow E/A ratio were statistically significant. These predictors were included in age- and gender-adjusted multivariate analysis; ambulatory 24-hour systolic BP (ß = 0.077, P < .001; odds ratio [OR] = 1.080; 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.037-1.124]) and systolic MBPS amplitude (ß = 0.043, P = .022; OR = 1.044; 95% CI [1.006-1.084]) were determined to be independent predictors of impaired CFR (Hosmer-Lemeshow test, P = .165, Nagelkerke's R(2) = 0.320). We found that increased changes in MBPS values in patients with prehypertension and Stage 1 hypertension seemed to cause microvascular dysfunction in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease.

Interrelation of RDW and coronary flow reserve in patient with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVE: Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) impairs and reduces coronary flow reserve (CFR). High level of red cell distribution width (RDW) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, in this observational case-control study we have aimed to determine whether RDW level is associated with CFR impairment in patients with IDC. METHODS: We examined 36 patients with IDC and 35 healthy subjects formed as a control group. In addition to this, patients with IDC were divided into two subgroups according to their CFR levels [normal CFR group (CFR value ≥2) and lower CFR group (CFR value<2)]. Control and patients groups were compared using the student t-test for multiple comparisons. The subgroups were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables and chi-square for categorical variables. The Pearson's and Spearman correlation analysis was used to test the possible associations between CFR and the study variables as appropriate. The receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve was determined to evaluate the predictive performance of RDW to detect low CFR. RESULTS: There were no significantly differences between the lower and higher CFR groups' clinical data, baseline hemodynamic, medication and biochemical data except RDW and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels. We found that RDW level was a good predictor of low CFR at the receiver-operating characteristic curve. The area under the curve (AUC) was 73% (95% confidence interval between 0.56-0.90 is 95%, p: 0.018) After adjusting potential confounders include age, body-mass index, blood pressure, lipid and glucose, RDW independently associated with CFR level (Beta:-0.374; p=0.015) and hsCRP value (Beta:-0.520; p=0.001) were the independent predictors of lower CFR. CONCLUSION: Results showed that there was an independent correlation between RDW level and CFR level in patients with IDC.

Does gestational diabetes history increase epicardial fat and carotid intima media thickness?

BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as glucose intolerance that has begun during pregnancy. Recent studies have proven that development of atherosclerosis may be established in this population even without presence of type 2 diabetes. For assessment of atherosclerosis, epicardial fat thickness (EFT) is recently being used as a surrogate marker. In this study, we aimed to prove that women with GDM history are more inclined to have higher EFT levels than women without GDM history. METHODS: Sixty-two patients with previous GDM and 33 age- and sex-matched controls were allocated. Epicardial fat thicknesses of the subjects were measured with transthorasic echocardiography and carotid intima media thickness (c-IMT) was measured with ultrasound. Insulin resistance (IR) of each subject was assessed with Homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). RESULTS: Carotid IMT and EFT were significantly higher in previous GDM group than controls. Serum gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), uric acid, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were also found significantly higher in the patients with previous GDM as compared to the controls. We observed that carotid IMT (ß = 310, P = 0.003), total cholesterol (ß = 315, P = 0.002), BMI (ß = 308, P = 0.002), HbA1c (ß = 227, P = 0.018), and HOMA-IR (ß = 184, P = 0.049) were independently correlated with EFT. CONCLUSIONS: Although the number of patients included in this study is limited, high EFT results may indicate presence of atherosclerosis in women with previous GDM.

Does mild preeclampsia cause arterial stiffness and ventricular remodeling through inflammation?

BACKGROUND: A link between preeclampsia (PE) and excessive maternal morbidity and mortality is a commonly recognized fact. Moreover it has been suggested that chronic inflammatory state connected with PE contributes to accelerated atherosclerosis. There is also an association between PE and maternal cardiac remodeling and biventricular diastolic dysfunction. The aim of the study was to investigate the presence of impaired myocardial performance and increased arterial stiffness in patients who experienced a mild case of PE five years previously. METHODS: The study included forty PE patients (40 women; mean age 33.75 +/- 7.95) and 27 healthy volunteers (27 women; mean age 36.44 +/- 10.45)Transthoracic echocardiography including Doppler echocardiography combined with tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), and aortic stiffness index (AoSI), aortic distensibility (AoD), and aortic elastic modulus (AoEM) values were measured in each study participant. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant increase in hsCRR aortic stiffness index, and aortic elastic modulus in PE patients as compared to controls (2.43 +/- 1.91 vs. 3.80 +/- 2.06, p=0.007; 3.09 +/- 2.41 vs. 7.32 +/- 6.89, p=0.001; 2.89 +/- 2.11 vs. 7.00 +/- 6.83, p=0.001), while a significant decrease was observed in the aortic strain and distensibility (respectively 22.35 +/- 15.99 vs. 12.24 +/- 9.22, p=0.005; 11.17 +/- 9.68 vs. 6.13 +/- 4.99, p=0.018). No differences between the two groups were observed with regard to the left ventricular myocardial performance index (MPI) (0.55 +/- 0.16 vs. 0.53 +/-0.19, p=0.630). CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this has been the first study to demonstrate impaired aortic elasticity and unaffected myocardial performance index in patients with mild PE. Moreover, these effects turned out to be significantly correlated with inflammation.

Mild carbon monoxide poisoning impairs left ventricular diastolic function.

RATIONALE: Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is associated with direct cardiovascular toxicity. In mild CO poisoning in which cardiovascular life support is not required, the effects of CO on left and right ventricular functions are unknown in patients without cardiac failure. OBJECTIVES: Echocardiography was used to determine whether or not mild CO poisoning impairs ventricular function. Twenty otherwise healthy patients with CO poisoning and 20 age- and gender-matched controls were studied. Echocardiographic examinations were performed at the time of admission and 1 week after poisoning. RESULTS: The impairment observed in the left and right ventricular diastolic function at the time of admission was greater than the impairment 1 week after poisoning. Mild CO poisoning did not have a significant effect on systolic function. Carboxyhemoglobin levels were positively correlated with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, whereas the levels were not correlated with right ventricular diastolic function. CONCLUSIONS: In CO intoxication, the development of left and right ventricular diastolic dysfunction precedes systolic abnormality. Patients with mild CO poisoning do not manifest cardiovascular symptoms; however, it should be borne in mind that most of these patients have myocardial involvement.

Teleconsultation of coronary angiograms using smartphones and an audio/video conferencing application.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the feasibility and accuracy of teleconsultation of coronary angiograms using iPhone 4 and FaceTime. METHODS: The study was conducted in two stages. Coronary angiograms of 100 patients with single-vessel disease were retrospectively selected by a core laboratory unit and then re-evaluated by a consultant cardiologist on both an iPhone 4 screen via the FaceTime application and on the workstation monitor of the angiography laboratory. The interpretations of the consultant cardiologist on localization and severity of angiographic lesions were recorded and compared with those of the core laboratory. Using the same teleconsultation system, the consultant cardiologist outside the hospital was presented live angiographic images of 10 patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute myocardial infarction. RESULTS: Interpretations of the consultant cardiologist on the localization and severity of 100 lesions on both the smartphone screen and workstation monitor showed high levels of agreement with the results of the core laboratory (for all, κ > 0.80). Of 10 patients whose PCI was performed under live video teleconsultation, eight patients underwent successful PCI while two patients had normal coronary arteries. There was an excellent agreement between the consultant cardiologist and the operator regarding lesion localization. CONCLUSIONS: Smartphones allow highly accurate interpretations on angiographic lesions and thus may serve as a supplementary teleconsultation tool in both elective and emergency situations.

Light cigarette smoking and vascular function.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that smoking induces peripheral endothelial dysfunction and altered function in central conduit arteries. METHODS: A total of 22 healthy volunteers (10 women and 12 men; mean age 25.3 +/- 5.8 years) were included. At baseline, brachial artery flowmediated dilatation (FMD), aortic stiffness index (ASI), aortic distensibility (AoD), and aortic elastic modulus (AoEM) of all subjects were measured. On the 2nd day, the subjects were assigned to smoke either 1 light (0.6 mg of nicotine, 8 mg of tar, and 9 mg of carbon monoxide) or 1 regular cigarette (0.9 mg of nicotine, 12 mg of tar, and 12 mg of carbon monoxide) and the measurements were repeated for all subjects 20 minutes following smoking. After 15 days, the subjects were assigned to smoke 1 cigarette of the type that was not smoked on the 2nd day, and the same measurements were performed 20 minutes after smoking. RESULTS: In response to smoking 1 light cigarette, FMD values declined from 15.0 +/- 6.8% to 9.1 +/- 2.9% (P = 0.002). After smoking 1 regular cigarette, FMD values declined from 15.0 +/- 6.8% to 9.4 +/- 4.8% (P= 0.002). Aortic elasticity and left ventricular diastolic functions (LVDF) were significantly impaired by both types of cigarettes. CONCLUSION: Smoking light cigarettes has similar acute detrimental effects on FMD, LVDF, ASI, AoD, and AoEM as regular cigarettes.

Coronary Microvascular function, Peripheral Endothelial Function and Carotid IMT in beta-thalassemia minor.

UNLABELLED: Higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease in Thalassemia patients have been known. Potential mechanisms are enhanced platelet activation, LDL oxidation, macrophage activation, and increased nitric oxide destruction. We have investigated coronary flow reserve (CFR), brachial artery flow mediated dilation (FMD) and Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in patients with Beta thalessemia minor (BTM). METHODS: Forty patients with BTM and 35 healthy control subjects were included. In all subjects CFR, brachial artery FMD, carotid artery IMT were measured. RESULTS: CFR measurements: Coronary baseline diastolic peak flow velocity (DPFV) of left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) was significantly higher in the BTM group (23.8 ± 3.9 vs. 22.1 ± 3.0, P = 0.04). However, hyperemic DPFV was significantly lower (61.1 ± 13.0 vs. 68.2 ± 14.2, P = 0.02), and CFR was significantly lower (2.57 ± 0.46 vs. 3.07 ± 0.48, P < 0.0001) in the BTM group than that in the control group. Brachial artery FMD and carotid IMT measurements: Percent FMD measurements were significantly lower in the BTM group than that in the controls (6.22 ± 4.29 vs. 8.10 ± 4.00, P = 0.01). Carotid IMT measurements were significantly but slightly higher in the BTM group than that in the controls (0.57 ± 0.07 vs. 0.54 ± 0.04, P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: CFR reflecting coronary microvascular function and brachial artery FMD are decreased, and carotid IMT is increased in patients with BTM.