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 value of RV isovolumic acceleration and tissue strain in moderate HFrEF.

BACKGROUND: Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction in heart failure (HF) with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is associated with a poorer prognosis. No studies to date have investigated the prognostic utility of RV isovolumic acceleration (IVA) measured at tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) in HF. RV strain instead has been already correlated to a poorer prognosis in these patients. We aimed to assess the predictive value of both parameters in this context. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients enrolled, NYHA II-III. Everyone underwent echocardiographic examination including TDI and strain analysis. Adverse event was defined as cardiovascular death or rehospitalization. RESULTS: Follow-up was 32 ± 13 months. Sixteen patients (26·7%) had an adverse event. IVA and RV strain were significantly lower in these patients. At logistic regression, they were both related to adverse event and their receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve predictive (area under ROC 0·916 and 0·952, respectively). Kaplan-Meier survival curves were significantly worse for both parameters inferior to their respective means (P < 0·001 for both). Univariate and multivariate analyses confirmed their better utility than tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), fractional area change (FAC) or S' at TDI. CONCLUSIONS: our study demonstrated a useful prognostic role of RV strain and IVA, which are parameters of subclinical RV impairment. Patients with low values may benefit from a more aggressive therapy and a closer follow-up.

Echocardiographic evaluation of aortic atheromas in patients with aortic stenosis.

OBJECTIVES: The association of aortic atheromas in patients with isolated aortic stenosis has recently been acknowledged, probably because the pathogenic mechanisms are similar. Therefore, this study evaluated the extent and severity of thoracic aortic atheromas in patients with different grades of aortic stenosis using transesophageal echocardiography. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated transesophageal echocardiographic examinations of 686 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of aortic stenosis. The prevalence and morphologic characteristics of atheromas in 3 segments of the thoracic aorta were assessed. Plaque thickness was measured at each segment, and the thickest plaque was used to establish severity. Atheromas were graded as mild, moderate, or severe according to plaque thickness (<2, 2-4, or >4 mm, respectively). Aortic stenosis was graded as mild, moderate, or severe on the basis of the gradient and anatomic aortic valve area (>1.5, 1.0-1.5, or <1.0 cm(2)). RESULTS: A total of 382 patients were men, and 304 were women (mean age ± SD, 74 ± 15 years); 86% of the patients had aortic atheromas. The severe stenosis group had a significantly higher rate of atheromas (95% versus 40%; P < .001) than the mild stenosis group, with more complex atheromas (52% versus 22%; P< .001). There was no significant difference in the atheroma grades between the severe and moderate stenosis groups, but moderate cases had more moderate and severe atheromas than mild cases (45% and 15% versus 19% and 3%; P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed a correlation in the extent of aortic atheromas across several degrees of aortic stenosis. Patients with moderate and severe stenosis had more extensive atherosclerotic atheromas than those with mild stenosis.

Quantitative analysis of right ventricular (RV) function with echocardiography in chronic heart failure with no or mild RV dysfunction: comparison with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

OBJECTIVES: Right ventricular (RV) performance parameters (tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, systolic longitudinal velocity on tissue Doppler imaging, fractional area change, and tissue and 2-dimensional [2D] strain on the right free wall) have been validated. In comparative studies, they have been correlated with the prognosis of patients with heart failure on radionuclide ventriculography and thermodilution in right heart catheterization. This study aimed to evaluate RV systolic function in patients with heart failure with no or mild RV dysfunction and correlate the above-mentioned echocardiographic parameters with the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-calculated RV ejection fraction (RVEF), stroke volume, end-diastolic volume, and end-systolic volume. METHODS: Standard and pulsed Doppler tissue echocardiography and MRI were performed in 31 patients with New York Heart Association functional class II and III chronic heart failure. RESULTS: A high correlation between tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, systolic longitudinal velocity, tissue strain, and 2D strain was noted, whereas the fractional area change did not correlate with any other parameter. The RVEF correlated with tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, systolic longitudinal velocity, and tissue and 2D strain (all P< .01); under linear regression analysis, the 4 parameters independently correlated with RVEF. CONCLUSIONS: Echocardiographic RV performance parameters (tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, systolic longitudinal velocity, tissue strain, and 2D strain) correlated with the MRI-calculated RVEF and overall predicted it. In particular, RV 2D strain and tissue strain were good markers for RV longitudinal motions. These echocardiographic parameters are easily obtained and may give important information about RV function for evaluation and prognostic stratification of patients with heart failure.

Biventricular Tako-Tsubo cardiomyopathy: usefulness of 2D speckle tracking strain echocardiography.

Tako-Tsubo cardiomyopathy is a transient left ventricular apical ballooning syndrome also known as stress-induced cardiomyopathy. This reversible cardiomyopathy without epicardial coronary artery disease mimics acute myocardial infarction. Right ventricular involvement, which has been infrequently reported, is present in about a quarter of cases of Tako-Tsubo cardiomyopathy and is associated with a more severe clinical outcome. We report the case of a 55-year-old postmenopausal woman with transient biventricular apical ballooning. She recently had acute exacerbation of multiple sclerosis. Regional and global function of both ventricles was estimated using two-dimensional speckle tracking strain echocardiography.

An unusual case of myocardial infarction.

Myocardial infarction may be the result of embolism of calcified material from the aortic valve or thrombotic formations adhering to the same. We report a case of late myocardial infarction secondary to embolization from a thrombus adherent to the aortic valve jutting out in the ostium of the left main coronary artery.

A case of iatrogenic severe mitral regurgitation.

Bromocriptine and cabergoline, ergot derived dopamine receptor agonists used to treat Parkinson's disease and prolactinomas, have been associated with increased risk of cardiac valve disease. Here we present a case of iatrogenic symptomatic severe mitral regurgitation due to these drugs.

Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis in pancreatic cancer.

Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE), known as marantic endocarditis, is a phenomenon due to hypercoagulability with a complex pathogenesis. Originally described by Ziegler, the lesions of NBTE were considered to be fibrin thrombi deposited on normal or superficially degenerated cardiac valves. Numerous reports have identified the relationship between NBTE and a variety of different inflammatory states, including chronic diseases like malignancy and autoimmune disease. NBTE is a serious manifestation of prothtombotic state that is characterized by the deposition of thrombi on previously undamaged heart valves in the absence of a bloodstream bacterial infection and by the increased frequency of arterial embolic events in patients with chronic debilitating diseases. Although hypercoagulability is often seen in patients with pancreatic cancer, NBTE has rarely been reported antemortem. We report a case of marantic endocarditis in patient with pancreatic cancer, in which neurological symptoms preceded the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

A drastic complex atheromatous aorta. A case report.

Aortic atherosclerosis is the most common disease of the aorta. More than 50% of the plaques thicker than 4 mm are located along the descending aorta. The complex morphology of the plaque, such as ulceration or the presence of thrombi, is associated with increased embolic risk. The increasing use of transesophageal echocardiogram has enhanced the recognition of aortic atheromas. We describe a case of a male patient with complex atherosclerotic disease involving the coronary vessels and descending aortic tract with some embolic complications.

[Role of echocardiography on the diagnosis is ventricular dyssynchrony in patients selected for cardiac resynchronization]. / Ruolo dell'ecocardiogramma nella valutazione della dissincronia ventricolare nei pazienti candidabili alla resincronizzazione cardiaca.

Currently, cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a treatment for heart failure refractory to optimized medical therapy. However, approximately 30% -45% of patients selected according to the guidelines, are "non responders" to CRT. Since the CRT is an invasive treatment, the candidates for such therapy should be carefully selected to ensure an optimal clinical benefit and instrumental. Despite its demonstrated effectiveness in reducing mortality and hospitalizations in patients with chronic heart failure on optimal medical therapy, the diagnosis of dyssynchrony is not easy. On the one hand, some echocardiographic indices have proved unreliable, other, more complex parameters still need to be validated before being implemented in clinical routine. The purpose of our paper is to evaluate echocardiographic techniques and not consolidated in patient response to CRT.

Long-term prognostic value of CA 125 serum levels in mild to moderate heart failure patients.

BACKGROUND: Plasma levels of tumor marker carbohydrate 125 antigen (CA 125) have been found elevated among patients with advanced heart failure (HF). We evaluated the prognostic value of CA125 in a population of patients with mild to moderate HF. METHODS AND RESULTS: Serum levels of CA 125 were obtained in 102 patients with mild to moderate HF from idiopathic (48%) or ischemic (52%) dilated cardiomyopathy (age 64 ± 10.4 years, left ventricular ejection fraction: 34.4 ± 8.5%), under optimized medical therapy. During follow-up (43 ± 15 months), 16 (15.7%) cardiovascular deaths and 23 (22.5%) cardiovascular deaths + HF hospitalizations were recorded. Considering cardiac death, comparison of Kaplan-Meier survival curves by the log-rank test showed that patients with CA 125 levels higher than the cut-off value (30 U/mL) had a worse survival (P < .0001). This was observed also when considering cardiovascular death+ HF hospitalizations as the secondary end point (P = .0003). Event-free survival was assessed by Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Multivariable Cox proportional stepwise hazards regression analysis was performed and showed that CA 125 and systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) were significantly associated with the risk of cardiovascular deaths + HF hospitalizations (HR 1.01, 95% CI 1.02-1.06, and HR 1.07, 95% CI 1.02-1.1, P < .001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In mild-to-moderate HF patients under optimized therapy, higher plasma CA 125 levels are an effective long-term prognostic marker in forecasting cardiovascular events and HF hospitalization and may contribute to a better risk stratification.

Long-term prognostic value of the right ventricular myocardial performance index compared to other indexes of right ventricular function in patients with moderate chronic heart failure.

BACKGROUND: The ventricular myocardial performance index (MPI) is a feasible echocardiographic parameter for the evaluation of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). The long-term prognostic role of right ventricular MPI (RV MPI) has been already assessed in patients with more advanced CHF but data are lacking in moderate CHF. The aim of the study is to evaluate the possible prognostic role of RV MPI in moderate CHF patients compared to others traditional RV parameters. METHODS: From 2003 to 2004 we enrolled 95 consecutive NYHA class II CHF patients (65 males and 30 females), with the mean age of 66 ± 11 years with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <40%, on optimal medical treatment. All patients were evaluated clinically and by echocardiography with a follow-up of 5 years (combined end point: cardiovascular mortality and hospitalization for HF). RESULTS: RV MPI was 0.45 ± 0.36, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion was 21 ± 8 mm, RV fractional area change was 42 ± 12%, systolic pulmonary artery pressure was 33 ± 9 mmHg, and acceleration time of pulmonic flow was 115.5 + 22.62 msec. After the 5 year follow-up the total mortality was 24.2% and HF hospitalization rate was 33%. At Cox multivariate analysis only an RV MPI superior to median value (>0.38) and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion inferior to median value (<18 mm) had shown a significant prognostic role. CONCLUSION: The RV MPI in a population of moderate CHF showed to have a more long-term powerful prognostic value than other conventional and traditional echocardiographic right ventricular functional parameters.

Brugada syndrome phenotype cardiac arrest in a young patient unmasked during the acute phase of amiodarone infusion: disclosure and aggravation of Brugada electrocardiographic pattern.

We report a case of an outpatient cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation and resuscitated with external automated defibrillator shocks in which acute amiodarone infusion unmasked a Brugada phenotype electrocardiographic pattern. Possible interferences by this drug and suitable therapeutic actions are discussed.

How should we measure left atrium size and function?

Echocardiographic assessment of left atrial size from M-mode or 2D echocardiography measurements has been used in clinical and research studies for years, but its accuracy is now questioned. New techniques, such as 3D and tissue Doppler imaging, assessing velocities, strain and strain rate, provide improved prognostic value in a wide range of diseases. 2D strain imaging using speckle tracking on B-mode images may yield even better, angle-independent, results than tissue Doppler imaging-derived strain echocardiography. Finally, velocity vector imaging is a novel image analysis technique that may be used to quantify left atrial volume.

When oral anticoagulation therapy is needed in patients with cardiomyopathies: a review of literature.

The question whether to anticoagulate patients with cardiomyopathy or not is over 50 years old. Multiple clinical trials have demonstrated the superior therapeutic effect of warfarin compared with placebo in the prevention of thromboembolic events amongst patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. The purpose of our work is to review literature about the role of anticoagulation in the main cardiomyopathies.

Cardiac mass many years after heart transplantation-a case report.

The bi-atrial surgical technique of heart transplantation is associated with postoperative atrial dysfunction, sinus node dysfunction, valvular dysfunction, and bi-atrial enlargement predisposing to atrial arrhythmia with thrombus formation. This report deals with a very late thrombus formation in the neo-atrium of a heart transplanted using the bi-atrial technique. The absence of arrhythmia and absence of any history of intake of prothrombotic medications make it noteworthy. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12055-022-01362-x.

Measurement of the myocardial performance index in ambulatory patients with heart failure: correlation with other clinical and echocardiographic parameters and independent prognostic value.

BACKGROUND: Many echocardiographic parameters have been proposed for the assessment of the patients with heart failure (HF). Recently, the myocardial performance index (MPI) has been shown to be an accurate index of myocardial function. We assessed the correlation with other clinical and echocardiographic measurements and the prognostic value of MPI in patients with HF. METHODS AND RESULTS: The MPI was assessed in 112 consecutive patients with persistent symptoms of HF (II-III NYHA class), sinus rhythm, LV systolic dysfunction (defined by an ejection fraction 0.55 (median value) and medium to severe mitral regurgitation were associated with a relative risk of cardiovascular events of 18.7 (95% confidence interval [CI], 16.6-20.7; P < 0.005) and of 3.03 (95% CI, 2-4.1; P = 0.035), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In our patients with HF, MPI was the best predictor of cardiovascular events. Mitral regurgitation was the only other variable which had an additive prognostic value at multivariate analysis.

Imaging of caseous calcification of the mitral annulus.

Caseous calcification of the mitral annulus is a rare form of periannular calcification that generally appears as a calcified mass with a central echolucent area that may lead to diagnostic errors. The case is reported of a 65-year-old woman in whom a suspicious mass was detected with transthoracic echocardiography performed for dyspnea.

A giant interatrial mass: an unusual presentation of primary amyloidosis.

We report a patient with primary systemic amyloidosis who had a very unusual form of clinical and instrumental presentation.