Ten-year clinical laboratory follow-up after application of a symptom-based therapeutic strategy to patients with severe chronic aortic regurgitation of predominant rheumatic etiology.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to assess the feasibility and the long-term results of a symptom-based strategy of aortic valve replacement in a Brazilian population with predominant rheumatic etiology. BACKGROUND: Optimal criteria for valve replacement in aortic regurgitation (AR) are still not entirely clear. The appearance of symptoms is an indication for surgery, but may be associated with myocardial damage. Although cardiac imaging data have provided a safer guide for such decisions, the use of symptom-based surgical indication has not been validated and might conceivably be better in populations with predominant rheumatic etiology and younger age. METHODS: Echocardiography and rest-exercise radionuclide ventriculography were performed in 75 patients with severe AR, age 28 +/- 9 years, over a period of 10 +/- 0.69 years. Thirty-seven patients developed symptoms and underwent aortic valve replacement surgery within six months. Thirty-eight patients remained asymptomatic and were managed medically. RESULTS: Survival was 100% in asymptomatic patients and 82% in symptomatic. Surgical treatment caused marked ventricular remodeling, with ventricular diameter involution and an improvement of rest-exercise ejection fraction percent variation. Multivariate analysis showed that the probability of developing symptoms within 10 years was 58% for a patient with a left ventricular end-diastolic diameter > or =70 mm and 76% for a patient with left ventricular end-systolic (LVESD) > or =50 mm. Logistic regression identified LVESD and age as the most predictive and specific, but not sensitive, indicators of symptom development. CONCLUSIONS: Application of a standardized therapeutic strategy to patients with severe AR and predominant rheumatic etiology resulted in 90.6% survival after 10 years of follow-up.

Influence of pregnancy after bioprosthetic valve replacement in young women: a prospective five-year study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS OF THE STUDY: Prosthetic heart valve placement in young women does not normally prevent successful pregnancy, though either thrombosis in mechanical prostheses or degeneration in biological prostheses may cause risks for both mother and fetus. Although pericardial prostheses avoid the risks of anticoagulation therapy, it has been suggested that pregnancy accelerates structural degeneration in bioprostheses. The study aim was to assess the influence of pregnancy on five-year outcome after pericardial bioprosthesis replacement. METHODS: A total of 85 women was studied prospectively over five years from prosthesis implantation, using annual clinical and echocardiographic investigations. Women were allocated to two groups based on pregnancy occurring during follow up: 48 patients (56%; group A) became pregnant, and 37 (44%; group B) did not. RESULTS: At five-year follow up, the clinical events occurred in 29 patients (34.1%): 11 (22.9%) women in group A (mean (+/-SE) linearized rate 3.6+/-0.24%/patient-year (pt-yr)), and 18 (45.6%) in group B (linearized rate 8.6+/-0.30%/pt-yr). Probability of freedom from clinical events was higher (p = 0.0096) in group A (77.9+/-6.1 versus 51.3+/-8.2%). Structural bioprosthesis degeneration, thrombosis or infective endocarditis occurred in 13 patients (27.1%) in group A (linearized rate 2.75+/-0.20%/pt-yr) and 11 (29.7%) in group B (linearized rate 2.5+/-0.18%/pt-yr). Probability of structural bioprosthesis degeneration (e.g. stenosis, calcification or rupture) did not differ (p = 0.6440) between groups (85.4+/-5.1 versus 89.5+/-5.1%), even after age-adjusted analysis (p = 0.3112). CONCLUSION: Structural changes found at five years after bioprosthesis placement may be attributed to the natural course of the bioprosthesis, and independent of any occurrence of pregnancy.

Prolapso valvar mitral e transtorno do pânico / Mitral valve prolapse and panic disorder

Verificar a incidência de prolapso valvar mitral (PVM) em portadores de transtorno do pânico (TP) com e sem agorafobia. Sessenta e cinco pacientes (37 mulheres) com idades entre 19 e 67 (média 39,8) anos. O diagnóstico de PVM baseou-se na presença de estalido mesotelessistólico (EMS) e/ou de sopro mesotelessistólico, com em dados ecocardiográficos: deslocamento mesotelessistólico de uma ou de ambas as cúspides da mitral, 2 mm ou mais, posteriormente à linha de uniäo dos pontos C-D (modo "M") ou movimentaçäo sistólica de pelo menos uma das cúspides da mitral, além do plano do anel valvar, nas incidências apical e para-esternal, eixo transversal (modo bi-dimensional). Sinais clínicos e/ou ecocardiográficos de PVM foram encontrados em 29 (44,6%) pacientes, sendo 12 (42,6%) dos homens e 17 (45,9%) das mulheres. EMS foi auscultado em 19 (29,2%) e sinais ecocardiográficos de PVM foram identificados (39,6%), ambos em 14 (23,6%) pacientes. A incidência de PVM em portadores de TP é maior do que a da populaçäo em geral, de modo mais acentuado no sexo masculino

Estudo comparativo entre balão único de inoue e duplo balão na valvoplastia mitral percutânea. Resultados imediatos e após seguimento de um ano / Comparative study between inoue single balloon and double balloon in percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty. Immediate results and after 1 year follow-up

PURPOSE: To compare early and 12 months results of mitral stenosis (MS) correction by percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty (PMBV) using Inoue's single-balloon or double balloon techniques. METHODS: We submitted 139 consecutive patients to PMBV using Inoue single-balloon (n = 56, GI) or the double balloon technique (n = 83, GII). The two groups were similar, in: age, sex, functional class (FC), echocardiographic (ECHO) score, mitral valve area (MVA), and gradient (G) or presence of regurgitation. Clinical and ECHO data were compared before (PRE), immediately after (POI) and one year following the procedure (PO12M). RESULTS: PMBV was successfully performed in 53 (95) patients of GI and in 79 (96) of GII. Statistical analyses showed that the groups were similar at POI but different at PO12M (p < 0.002). ECHO immediately after PMBV showed that: MVA increased from 0.99 +/- 0.23 to 2.01 +/- 0.44cm2 (p < 0.001) in GI and from 0.94 +/- 0.23 to 2.09 +/- 0.35cm2 (p < 0.001) in GII and G decreased from 11.58 +/- 5.02 to 5.16 +/- 2.23mmHg (p < 0.001) in GI and from 12.48 +/- 4.89 to 5.96 +/- 3.21mmHg (p < 0.001) in GII. After one year 36 (64) patients in GI and 62 (74) in GII underwent an ECHO study. A comparison between immediate and one year follow-up results showed that MVA decreased from 2.01 +/- 0.4 to 2.00 +/- 0.3cm2 (NS) in GI and from 2.09 +/- 0.3 to 1.74 +/- 0.4cm2 (p < 0.001) in GII and G decreased from 5.16 +/- 2.2 to 5.50 +/- 2.9mmHg (NS) in GI and from 5.96 +/- 3.2 to 8.61 +/- 4.8mmHg (p < 0.001) in GII. There was therefore a sustained improvement of MVA and G after one year in GI and a significant decrease in MVA and G in GII. The FC after one year was similar and satisfactory in both groups. CONCLUSION: Both techniques are equally effective in relieving MS immediately after PMBV, but after one year, despite similar FC, Inoue-balloon technique seems to be superior to maintain MVA and G.

Objetivo - Comparar os resultados imediatos e de 12 meses das técnicas de duplo balão e do balão único de Inoue na correção da estenose mitral (EM) pela valvoplastia por cateter-balão (VMCB). Métodos - Submetemos 139 pacientes consecutivos, portadores de EM sintomática à VMCB. A técnica de Inoue foi utilizada em 56 pacientes (GI) e a do duplo balão em 83 (GII). Ambos os grupos eram semelhantes quanto a: idade, sexo, classe funcional (CF), escore ecocardiográfico, gradiente (G) e área valvar mitral (AVM), mitral (G) e pre sença de insuficiência mitral pela ecodopplercardiografia no pré-VMCB (PRE). Analisaram-se dados clínicoecocardiográficos, no PRE, logo após-VMCB (POI) e em 12 meses (PO12M). Resultados - A VMCB foi considerada com sucesso em 53 (95%) pacientes do GI e em 79 (96%) do GII. Análise estatística revelou que os grupos eram semelhantes no POI e diferentes no PO12M (p< 0,002). Os resultados no POI mostraram que a média da AVM (cm2) aumentou de 0,99 ± 0,23 para 2,01 ± 0,44 (p< 0,001) no GI e de 0,94 ± 0,23 para 2,09 ± 0,35 (p<0,001) no GII, o G (mmHg) diminuiu de 11,58 ± 5,02 para 5,16 ± 2,23 (p<0,001) no GI e de 12,48 ± 4,89 para 5,96 ± 3,21 (p<0,001) no GII. No PO12M, 36/53 (64%) pacientes no GI e 62/79 (74%) no GII realizaram acompanhamento clínico-ecocardiográfico. A comparação entre POI e PO12M mostrou: a) AVM de 2,01 ± 0,4 x 2,00 ± 0,3 (NS) no GI e de 2,09 ± 0,3 x 1,74 ± 0,4 no GII (p<0,001); b) G de 5,16 ± 2,2 x 5,50 ± 2,9 (NS) no GI e de 5,96 ± 3,2 x 8,61 ± 4,8 (p<0,001) no GII; c) no GI, dos 4 (11%) pacientes que estavam em CF II e 32 (89%) em CF III/IV no PRE, todos evoluíram para CF I/II no POI e permaneceram nesta CF no PO12M, de forma similar no GII, dos 12 (19%) pacientes que estavam em CF II e 50 (81%) em CF III/IV no PRE, todos menos um evoluíram para CF I/II no POI e permaneceram nesta CF no PO12M. Conclusão - As duas técnicas são igualmente efetivas no POI, todavia no PO12M, a técnica de Inoue mostrou-se superior na manutenção de AVM e G

Valvoplastia mitral por cateter baläo: resultados imediatos e seguimento de 1 ano / Percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty.early results and one year follow-up

Objetivo - Avaliar os resultados da valvoplastia mitral por cateter baläo (VMCB) a curto e a médio prazos. Métodos - Cento e quatro procedimentos em 103 pacientes, 89 (87%) mulheres e média etária de 33 anos. O diagnóstico foi estenose mitral (EM) em 95 (91%), reestenose mitral em 7 (7%) e bioprótese estenótica em 2(2%). Doze pacientes (10%) estavam em classe funcional (CF) II (NYHA), 73 (70%) em CF III e 19 (18%) em CF IV. Noventa e três (89%) estavam em ritmo sinusal, 10 (10%) em fibrilaçäo atrial e 1 (1%) em ritmo funcional. Em 99% dos casos a técnica empregada foi transeptal. Resultados hemodinâmicos comparativos entre pré X pós VMCB imediato foram: área valvar mitral (cm2) 0,75 ñ 0,27 x 1,68 ñ 0m48 (p < 0,0001), gradiente AE-VE médio (mmHg) 19,52 ñ 8,03 x 5,44 ñ 4,38 p < 0,0001); pressäo média de AE (mmHg) 24,72 ñ 8,76 x 9,63 ñ 6,11 (p < 0,0001); índice cardíaco (L/min/m*) 2,55 ñ 0,69 x 2,92 ñ 0,77 (p < 0,0001); pressäo média de AP (mmHg) 40,17 ñ 16,52 x 25,65 ñ 13,77 (p < 0,0001). Ao ecocardiograma os resultados comparativos entre pré-VMCB, pós-VMCB, controle de 6 meses e 12 meses pós-VMCB foram respectivamente: área valvar mitral (cm*) 0,89 ñ 0,23 x 1,87 ñ 0,41 x 1,72 ñ 0,43 x 1,64 ñ 0,44 e gradiente transvalvar mitral (mmHg) 13,12 ñ 4,66 x 6,44 ñ 2,93 x 7,72 ñ 3,24 x 8,30 ñ 4,17. Houve um óbito imediato pós-VMCB em paciente portadora de tromboembolismo pulmonar, 4 (4%) pacientes com insuficiência mitral importante (1 óbito no pós-operatório imediato) e 2 pacientes com reestenose mitral. Conclusäo - A VMCB mostra-se método eficaz e seguro ocorrendo persistência de bons resultados no período de 1 ano de acompanhamento

Purpose - To evaluate percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty (PMBV) results immediately and one yearfollow-up. Methods - One hundred andfour procedures in 103 patients, 89 (87%) were women and mean age was 33. Ninety five (91%) had mitral stenosis, 7 (7%) mitral restenosis and 2 (2%) stenotic bioprosthesis. Twelve (10%) patients were in functional class (FC) II (NYHA), 73 (70%) in FC III and 19 (18%) in FC IV. Ninety three (89%) were in sinusal rhythm, 10 (10%) had atrialfibrilation and 1 (1%) junctional rhythm. In 99% cases the transeptal access was used. Results - The comparative haemodinamic results late x immediately after-PMBV were mitral valve area (cm2) 0.75 ± 0.27 x 1.68 ±0.48 (p < 0.0001), gradiente AE-VE average (mmHg) 19.52 ± 8.03 x 5.44 ± 4.38 (p < 0.0001); average pressure AE (mmHg) 24.72 ± 8.76 x 9.63 ± 6.11 (p < 0.0001), cardiac inde x (L/ min/m2) 2.55 ± 0.69 x 2.92 ± 0.77 (p < 0.0001); average pressure PA (mmHg) 40.17 ± 16.52 x 25.65 ± 13.77 (p < 0.0001). The echocardiography results pré-PMBV, post-PMBV, 6 and 12 months after PMBV were respectively: mitral valve area (cm2) 0.89 ± 0.23 x 1.87 ± 0.41 x 1.72 ± 0.43 x 1.64 ± 0.44 and mitral transvalvar gradient (mmHg) 13.12 ± 4.66 x 6.44 ± 2.93 x 7.72 ± 3.24 x 8.30 ± 4.17. There was one death immediately after-PMBV in a patient with pulmonar thromboembolism. Four (4%) had severe mitral regurgitation and went to surgery (1 death). There were 2 mitral reestenosis. Conclusion - For selected patients PMBVis a safe method and the good results are maintained in 1 year follow-up