Multiple myeloma complicated with pseudomonas endocartiditis / Mieloma múltiplo complicado com endocardite infecciosa por pseudomonas

Patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma are more susceptible to infections which are the major causes of morbidity and mortality associated to this disease. The main infectious agents involved are Gram-positive bacteria. However, after chemotherapy an increase in the incidence of Gram-negative strains is observed. These bacteria are also responsible for most cases of urinary tract infections. Here is reported a rare case in a 73-year-old man with multiple myeloma who developed endocarditis due to pseudomonas.

Pacientes diagnosticados com mieloma múltiplo são mais suscetíveis a infecções, que é a principal causa de morbidade e mortalidade associadas a essa doença. Os principais agentes infecciosos envolvidos são as bactérias Gram-positivas, mas, após a quimioterapia, pode haver aumento na incidência de Gram-negativos, que são responsáveis, na maioria dos casos, por infecções do trato urinário. Assim, descrevese um raro caso de um paciente de 73 anos de idade, com mieloma múltiplo diagnosticado com endocardite por pseudomonas.

ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction in the elderly.

Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) are the leading causes of death in the elderly. The suspicion and diagnosis of ACS in this age group is more difficult, since typical angina is less frequent. The morbidity and mortality is greater in older age patients presenting ACS. Despite the higher prevalence and greater risk, elderly patients are underrepresented in major clinical trials from which evidence based recommendations are formulated. The authors describe, in this article, the challenges in the diagnosis and management of ST elevation myocardial infarction in the elderly, and discuss the available evidence.

Predictors of the risk of falls among elderly with chronic atrial fibrillation.

OBJECTIVES: Though elderly persons with chronic atrial fibrillation have more comorbidities that could limit indications for the chronic use of anticoagulants, few studies have focused on the risk of falls within this particular group. To evaluate the predictors of the risk of falls among elderly with chronic atrial fibrillation, a cross-sectional, observational study was performed. METHODS: From 295 consecutive patients aged 60 years or older with a history of atrial fibrillation who were enrolled within the last 2 years in the cardiogeriatrics outpatient clinic of the Instituto do Coração do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, 107 took part in this study. Their age was 77.9±6.4 years, and 62 were female. They were divided into two groups: a) no history of falls in the previous year and b) a history of one or more falls in the previous year. Data regarding the history of falls and social, demographic, anthropometric, and clinical information were collected. Multidimensional assessment instruments and questionnaires were applied. RESULTS: At least one fall was reported in 55 patients (51.4%). Among them, 27 (49.1%) presented recurrent falls, with body lesions in 90.4% and fractures in 9.1% of the cases. Multivariate logistic regression showed that self-reported difficulty maintaining balance, use of amiodarone, and diabetes were independent variables associated with the risk of falls, with a sensitivity of 92.9% and a specificity of 44.9%. CONCLUSION: In a group of elderly patients with chronic atrial fibrillation who were relatively independent and able to attend an outpatient clinic, the occurrence of falls with recurrence and clinical consequences was high. Difficulty maintaining balance, the use of amiodarone and a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus were independent predictors of the risk for falls. Thus, simple clinical data predicted falls better than objective functional tests.

Multiple myeloma complicated with pseudomonas endocarditis.

Patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma are more susceptible to infections which are the major causes of morbidity and mortality associated to this disease. The main infectious agents involved are Gram-positive bacteria. However, after chemotherapy an increase in the incidence of Gram-negative strains is observed. These bacteria are also responsible for most cases of urinary tract infections. Here is reported a rare case in a 73-year-old man with multiple myeloma who developed endocarditis due to pseudomonas.

Predictors of the risk of falls among elderly with chronic atrial fibrillation

OBJECTIVES: Though elderly persons with chronic atrial fibrillation have more comorbidities that could limit indications for the chronic use of anticoagulants, few studies have focused on the risk of falls within this particular group. To evaluate the predictors of the risk of falls among elderly with chronic atrial fibrillation, a cross-sectional, observational study was performed. METHODS: From 295 consecutive patients aged 60 years or older with a history of atrial fibrillation who were enrolled within the last 2 years in the cardiogeriatrics outpatient clinic of the Instituto do Coração do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, 107 took part in this study. Their age was 77.9±6.4 years, and 62 were female. They were divided into two groups: a) no history of falls in the previous year and b) a history of one or more falls in the previous year. Data regarding the history of falls and social, demographic, anthropometric, and clinical information were collected. Multidimensional assessment instruments and questionnaires were applied. RESULTS: At least one fall was reported in 55 patients (51.4%). Among them, 27 (49.1%) presented recurrent falls, with body lesions in 90.4% and fractures in 9.1% of the cases. Multivariate logistic regression showed that selfreported difficulty maintaining balance, use of amiodarone, and diabetes were independent variables associated with the risk of falls, with a sensitivity of 92.9% and a specificity of 44.9%. CONCLUSION: In a group of elderly patients with chronic atrial fibrillation who were relatively independent and able to attend an outpatient clinic, the occurrence of falls with recurrence and clinical consequences was high. Difficulty maintaining balance, the use of amiodarone and a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus were independent predictors of the risk for falls. Thus, simple clinical data predicted falls better than objective functional tests.

Abnormalities in arterial-ventricular coupling in older healthy persons are attenuated by sodium nitroprusside.

The coupling between arterial elastance (E(A); net afterload) and left ventricular elastance (E(LV); pump performance), known as E(A)/E(LV), is a key determinant of cardiovascular performance and shifts during exercise due to a greater increase in E(LV) versus E(A). This normal exercise-induced reduction in E(A)/E(LV) decreases with advancing age. We hypothesized that sodium nitroprusside (SNP) can acutely ameliorate the age-associated deficits in E(A)/E(LV). At rest and during graded exercise to exhaustion, E(A) was characterized as end-systolic pressure/stroke volume and E(LV) as end-systolic pressure/end-systolic volume. Resting E(A)/E(LV) did not differ between old (70 ± 8 yr, n = 15) and young (30 ± 5 yr, n = 17) subjects because of a tandem increase in E(A) and E(LV) in older subjects. During peak exercise, a blunted increase in E(LV) in old (7.8 ± 3.1 mmHg/ml) versus young (11.4 ± 6.5 mmHg/ml) subjects blunted the normal exercise-induced decline in E(A)/E(LV) in old (0.25 ± 0.11) versus young (0.16 ± 0.05) subjects. SNP administration to older subjects lowered resting E(A)/E(LV) by 31% via a reduction in E(A) (10%) and an increase in E(LV) (47%) and lowered peak exercise E(A)/E(LV) (36%) via an increase in E(LV) (68%) without a change in E(A). Importantly, SNP attenuated the age-associated deficits in E(A)/E(LV) and E(LV) during exercise, and at peak exercise E(A)/E(LV) in older subjects on drug administration did not differ from young subjects without drug administration. In conclusion, some age-associated deficiencies in E(A)/E(LV), E(A), and E(LV), in older subjects can be acutely abolished by SNP infusion. This is relevant to common conditions in older subjects associated with a significant impairment of exercise performance such as frailty or heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Major depressive disorder and inflammatory markers in elderly patients with heart failure.

The authors evaluated levels of inflammatory markers in 34 chronic heart failure (CHF) out-patients age 65 years and over, with (N=18) and without (N=16) major depressive disorder (MDD), and healthy-control subjects (N=13). Patients with CHF had left-ventricular ejection fractions <0.40 and were in the New York Heart Association functional class II or III. The authors used the SCID DSM-IV to diagnosis MDD. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were significantly higher in patients with CHF and MDD as compared with healthy-control subjects. No differences regarding tumor necrosis factor(alpha) or interleukin(6) were found among the three groups.

Predicting coronary artery bypass graft surgery in acute coronary syndromes.

AIMS: To identify features predictive of hospital coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACSs). METHODS AND RESULTS: Data from 17,434 patients enrolled in an observational study were analysed. Patients in private hospitals were more likely to undergo CABG than those in public hospitals (10.3% vs. 6.9%, P<0.01); CABG was more frequent in the USA than in Europe (11.9 % vs 3.5%, P<0.01). Clinical features independently predictive of CABG on multivariable analysis included no previous CABG, male sex, history of angina, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, or diabetes, no history of atrial fibrillation or congestive heart failure, ST depression in multiple territories, and absence of ST elevation. These factors were assigned a score to quantify the likelihood of CABG (c-statistic 0.69). This score was predictive regardless of ACS subgroup (c-statistic 0.65-0.71) and remained predictive across institutions regardless of the frequency with which CABG was performed. The score was of greatest clinical utility among hospitals performing CABG in >10% of their ACS patients. CONCLUSIONS: Identifying ACS patients likely to undergo CABG using clinical features alone remains difficult. In hospitals with higher rates of surgical revascularisation, a subgroup of patients with an approximate 30% likelihood of CABG can be identified. Therapy in these patients can be tailored to minimise bleeding risk without compromising outcomes.

Metabolic syndrome, abdominal obesity, and cardiovascular risk in elderly women.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome and abdominal obesity are risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in middle age women but, not completely understood in older people. In this study we analyzed the association between metabolic syndrome and abdominal obesity and the occurrence of cardiovascular events in these elderly women. METHODS: A prospective follow-up study included 516 consecutive women aged 60-84 years who sought medical care at a geriatric outpatient facility. The presence of metabolic syndrome and higher quartiles of waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio were analyzed as predictive variables, and were adjusted for age, smoking, and previous cardiovascular diseases. The outcomes were the occurrence of stroke, myocardial infarction, evidence of coronary artery disease, or cardiovascular death. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up of 6.6 years, 94 (18.2%) cardiovascular events were observed (48 fatal and 46 non-fatal). Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed in 206 women (39.9%). After adjustments for confounding variables, metabolic syndrome and waist-to-hip ratio above the 75th percentile (>0.98) were predictors of the outcomes, but greater waist circumference (>96 cm) was not. Adjusted hazard ratios for these variables were: metabolic syndrome, 1.66, 95% CI -1.11 to 2.47, p=0.01; waist-to-hip ratio, 1.72, 95% CI -1.05 to 2.82; p=0.03 and waist circumference, 1.37, 95% CI -0.91 to 2.07, p=0.12. CONCLUSION: Metabolic syndrome and high waist-to-hip ratio were associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events in the studied sample.

[Exercise stress test: prognostic value for elderly patients with stable coronary atherosclerosis]. / Teste ergométrico: valor prognóstico em pacientes idosos com doença aterosclerótica coronariana estável.

OBJECTIVE: To study the prognostic value of exercise stress test variables in elderly patients with coronary atherosclerosis and exercise-induced ischemia. METHODS: Sixty-four elderly patients (61 men, 73 +/- 5 years old) with coronary atherosclerosis, verified by cardiac catheterization, that were clinically stable, had a left ventricle ejection fraction greater than or equal to 0.40 and developed myocardial ischemia during the exercise stress test were studied. The patients were evaluated every six months for cardiac events (death, myocardial infarction, unstable angina, angioplasty and myocardial revascularization). RESULTS: After a mean follow-up period of 48 months, 23 (36%) patients suffered cardiac events. There was no clinical or angiographical differences among the patients that suffered cardiac events and those that did not. Using multivariate analysis, the presence of chest pain during the exercise stress test (relative risk 2.668, p = 0.031) and the heart rate at the onset of ischemia (relative risk 0.966, p = 0.009) were associated with cardiac events. CONCLUSION: In this elderly population, the presence of chest pain during the exercise stress test and the heart rate at the onset of ischemia were associated with cardiac events. These variables could be useful for risk evaluation in patients with stable coronary atherosclerosis.

Estrogen treatment improves arterial distensibility, fibrinolysis, and metabolic profile in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The effects of isolated estrogen therapy on the hemostatic system and arterial distensibility were determined in postmenopausal females with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This was a prospective nonrandomized study of 19 subjects (age, 56.2 +/- 4.7 years; body mass index, 27.8 +/- 2.4 kg/m(2) [mean +/- SD]). Inclusion was done after 2 months of glycemic and blood pressure control. The study consisted of 4 months of placebo treatment immediately followed by an equal period of oral conjugated equine estrogens (CEE) 0.625 mg/d. Measures included anthropometrics, a metabolic profile (oral glucose tolerance test and fasting glycated hemoglobin, total cholesterol and fractions, and triglyceride levels), and coagulation and fibrinolytic factors at the end of the placebo period and after 4 months of oral CEE. Conjugated equine estrogen therapy decreased plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (placebo x CEE: 16.33 +/- 9.11 x 13.08 +/- 8.87 UI/mL, P < .03) and increased factor VIII activity (134.11% +/- 46.18% x 145.33% +/- 42.04%, P < .04). An increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (placebo x CEE: 42.47 +/- 6.80 x 53.32 +/- 11.89 mg/dL, P < .01), and a decrease in glycated hemoglobin (8.45% +/- 1.30% vs 7.58% +/- 1.06%, P < .02) and in fasting glucose levels (121.51 +/- 21.05 x 111.21 +/- 20.74 mg/dL, P = .02) followed CEE therapy. Pulse wave velocity and augmentation index were performed by applanation tonometry and were obtained at the end of the placebo period (placebo), again after an intravenous load of 1.25 mg of CEE (short-term), and after 4 months of oral CEE (long-term). A significant decrease in central (carotid-femoral) pulse wave velocity was seen both after short- and long-term CEE (placebo vs short-term vs long-term: 9.36 +/- 2.58 vs 8.26 +/- 2.20 vs 7.98 +/- 1.90 m/s, respectively [analysis of variance, P < .03]; placebo vs short-term, P < .05; placebo vs long-term, P < .01), whereas augmentation index decreased only after long-term CEE (placebo vs short-term vs long-term: 39.14% +/- 6.94% vs 37.48% +/- 8.67% vs 34.3.3% +/- 8.11% [analysis of variance, P < .05], respectively; placebo vs long-term, P < .05). Long-term administration of CEE leads to an improvement in fibrinolysis and arterial distensibility, associated with an increase of the intrinsic coagulation pathway in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Teste ergométrico: valor prognóstico em pacientes idosos com doença aterosclerótica coronariana estável / Exercise stress test: prognostic value for elderly patients with stable coronary atherosclerosis

OBJETIVO: Estudar o valor prognóstico das variáveis do teste ergométrico em pacientes idosos com doença aterosclerótica coronariana e isquemia induzida pelo esforço. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados 64 pacientes idosos (61 homens, idade de 73 ± 5 anos) com doença aterosclerótica coronariana, comprovada por coronariografia, clinicamente estável, fração de ejeção de ventrículo esquerdo maior ou igual a 0,40 e isquemia miocárdica durante o teste ergométrico. A cada seis meses, os pacientes foram avaliados para eventos cardíacos (morte, infarto do miocárdio, angina instável, angioplastia e revascularização do miocárdio). RESULTADOS: Após seguimento médio de 48 meses, 23 (36 por cento) pacientes sofreram eventos cardíacos. Não houve diferença clínica e angiográfica entre os pacientes que sofreram o evento e os que não o sofreram. Pela análise multivariada, a presença de dor precordial durante o teste ergométrico (risco relativo de 2,668 e p = 0,031) e a freqüência cardíaca no início da isquemia (risco relativo de 0,966 e p = 0,009) foram associadas a eventos cardíacos. CONCLUSÃO: Nessa população idosa, a presença de dor precordial durante o teste ergométrico e a freqüência cardíaca no início da isquemia foram associadas a eventos cardíacos. Essas variáveis podem ser úteis para avaliação do risco de pacientes com doença aterosclerótica coronariana estável.

Density of Chlamydia pneumoniae is increased in fibrotic and calcified areas of degenerative aortic stenosis.

BACKGROUND: The process of aortic degeneration associated with calcified aortic stenosis shares many similarities with coronary artery atherosclerosis. Inflammation and infection are involved in both diseases. Chlamydia pneumoniae has been identified in atherosclerotic plaques. However, the studies about the presence of C. pneumoniae in degenerative aortic stenotic valves are not conclusive. OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether an association exists between the density of C. pneumoniae and fibrosis or calcification in aortic stenosis. DESIGN: Autopsy and surgical specimens were divided into 3 groups: Normal, 11 normal autopsy valves Atherosclerosis, 10 autopsy valves from patients with systemic atherosclerosis and no aortic stenosis and Aortic stenosis, 14 surgical specimens of aortic valves replaced due to aortic stenosis. SETTING: Heart Institute (InCor), University of São Paulo Medical School. PATIENTS: Aortic valves from patients aged 52+/-16 years, 69+/-9 years, and 71+/-8 years. INTERVENTION: Specimens were evaluated by immunohistochemical technique (to detect C. pneumoniae antigens), in situ hybridization, and electron microscopy (to quantify the density of C. pneumoniae in the valves). MEASUREMENTS: The aortic stenosis group was analyzed according to 3 subregions: aortic stenosis-preserved, peripheral preserved regions; aortic stenosis-fibrosis, peri-calcified fibrotic tissue; and aortic stenosis-calcification, calcified nodules. RESULTS: The median values of C. pneumoniae antigens were 0.09, 0.30, 0.18, 1.33, and 3.3 in groups Normal, Atherosclerosis, Aortic stenosis-preserved, Aortic stenosis-fibrosis, and Aortic stenosis-calcification, respectively. The amount of C. pneumoniae was greater in the Atherosclerosis and Aortic stenosis-calcification groups than in the Normal group (P<0.05). C. pneumoniae was greater in the Aortic stenosis group in the calcified and fibrotic regions than in preserved region (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: An association was found between the higher density of C. pneumoniae and fibrosis/calcification in stenotic aortic valves.

[Chlamydia pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae in calcified nodes of stenosed aortic valves]. / Chlamydia pneumoniae e Mycoplasma pneumoniae nos nódulos de calcificação da estenose da valva aórtica.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether Chlamydia pneumoniae (CP) and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) are present in aortic valve stenosis (AS). METHODS: Immunohistochemistry was utilized to identify CP antigens, in situ hybridization to identify MP DNA, and electron microscopy was used to evaluate the following three groups: Normal - 11 normal autopsy valves; Atherosclerosis - 10 autopsy valves from patients with systemic atherosclerosis and no AS; and AS - 14 surgical specimens of AS analyzed in 3 sub-regions: AS-Preserved - peripheral, preserved regions; AS-Fibrosis - peri-calcified fibrotic tissue; and AS-Calcification - calcified nodules. RESULTS: The positive area fraction of CP antigen median values were 0.09, 0.30, 0.18, 1.33, and 3.3 in groups Normal, Atherosclerosis, AS-Preserved, AS-Fibrosis, and AS-Calcification, respectively. CP density was significantly greater in Atherosclerosis and AS-Calcification than in Normal (P<0.05). Within the AS group, the amount of CP was greater in the Calcification and Fibrosis regions (P<0.05). MP-DNA positive area fraction (median values) were 0.12, 0.44, 0.07, 0.36, and 1.52 in groups Normal, Atherosclerosis, AS-Preserved, AS-Fibrosis, and AS-Calcification, respectively. The amount of MP-DNA was greater in AS-Calcification than in Normal (P<0.05). Within the AS group, MP-DNA was in larger quantity in the Calcification and Fibrosis regions (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: AS Calcified nodes present higher concentration of CP and MP suggesting that these bacteria may be associated with the development of calcification and inflammation. This adds novel similarities between AS and the atherosclerosis process, which may have infection mechanisms involved.

Chlamydia pneumoniae e Mycoplasma pneumoniae nos nódulos de calcificacão da estenose da valva aórtica / Chlamydia pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae in calcified nodes of stenosed aortic valves

OBJETIVO: Investigar se chlamydia pneumoniae (CP) ou mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) estão presentes na estenose da valva aórtica (EA). MÉTODOS: Imuno-histoquímica foi utilizada para identificar os antígenos de CP (Ag-CP), a hibridizacão in situ para identificar o DNA de MP, e microscopia eletrônica para avaliacão dos dois agentes, nos grupos: normal - 11 valvas normais de autópsia; aterosclerose - 10 valvas de pacientes com aterosclerose sistêmica de autópsia e sem EA; e EA - 14 espécimes cirúrgicos provenientes de pacientes com EA analisados em 3 sub-regiões: EA-preservada - regiões mais preservadas na periferia da valva; EA-fibrose - tecido fibrótico peri-calcificacão; e EA-calcificacão - nódulos calcificados. RESULTADOS: As medianas da fracão de área positiva para Ag-CP foram 0,09; 0,30; 0,18; 1,33; e 3,3 nos grupos acima descritos, respectivamente. A densidade de CP foi significativamente maior nos grupos aterosclerose e EA-calcificacão em relacão ao normal (p<0,05). Dentro do grupo EA, a quantidade de CP foi maior nas regiões de fibrose e calcificacão (p<0,05). As fracões de área positivas para MP-DNA (medianas) foram 0,12; 0,44; 0,07; 0,36; e 1,52 nos grupos acima descritos, respectivamente. A quantidade de MP-DNA foi maior na EA-calcificacão em relacão ao normal (p<0,05). Dentro do grupo EA, maior quantidade de MP-DNA foi encontrada nas regiões de calcificacão e fibrose (p<0,05). CONCLUSAO: Os nódulos de calcificacão da EA tinham maior concentracão de CP e MP sugerindo que essas bactérias possam estar associadas ao desenvolvimento de calcificacão e inflamacão, apontando novas semelhancas entre os processos de EA e aterosclerose, que podem ter mecanismos infecciosos envolvidos.