Saline Contrast Echocardiography in the Era of Multimodality Imaging--Importance of "Bubbling It Right".

Saline contrast echocardiography is an established imaging modality. Logical interpretation of a carefully performed study is vital to realize its diagnostic potential. In this review, we discuss utility of saline contrast echocardiography in evaluation of various pathologies within and outside the heart other than a patent foramen ovale.

Paced QRS duration predicts left ventricular function in patients with permanent pacemakers - One-year follow-up study using equilibrium radionuclide angiography (ERNA).

Permanent pacing, being non physiological, often results in ventricular dysfunction over time. Narrower paced QRS duration from pacing the right ventricular outflow tract septum, might result in relatively preserved ventricular function over long term follow up.

Role of inflammation in initiation and maintenance of atrial fibrillation in rheumatic mitral stenosis - An analytical cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Inflammation has been implicated in the initiation and perpetuation of non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF). However, there is a lack of similar data on AF in rheumatic heart disease (RHD). The objective of this study was to analyze the association of inflammation as measured by serum inflammatory biomarkers with AF in rheumatic mitral stenosis (Rh-MS). METHODS: A comparative cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on 181 Rh-MS patients in normal sinus rhythm (NSR; n = 69), subclinical transient AF (SCAF; detected by 24-hours Holter monitoring; n = 30) and chronic AF (n = 82). Serum hs-CRP, IL-6, and sCD-40L were assessed using ELISA immunoassay and compared in all groups of Rh-MS with or without AF. RESULTS: We found significantly higher serum hs-CRP and sCD-40L levels in the overall AF (Chronic AF + SCAF) group (hs-CRP: 4.5 ± 3.4 vs 2.3 ± 2.9 mg/L, P < .01; sCD-40L: 6.4 ± 4.8 vs 3.1 ± 3.4 ng/mL, P < .01) and chronic AF subgroup (hs-CRP: 4.9 ± 3.4 vs 2.3 ± 2.9 mg/L, P < .01; sCD-40L: 6.9 ± 5.1 vs 3.1 ± 3.4 ng/mL, P < .01) compared to patients with sinus rhythm. There was a statistically significant graded increase of serum IL-6 level from the NSR to the SCAF (vs NSR: 6.8 ± 3.9 vs 4.0 ± 2.2 pg/mL, P = .03), and chronic AF subgroups (vs NSR: 9.3 ± 6.5 vs 4.0 ± 2.2 pg/mL, P < .01; vs SCAF: 9.3 ± 6.5 vs 6.8 ± 3.9, P = .05) of atrial fibrillation. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated levels of serum hs-CRP, IL-6, and sCD-40L were strongly associated with overall AF and also with SCAF and chronic AF in Rh-MS patients indicating a potential role of inflammation in the pathophysiology of rheumatic AF.

High sensitive C-reactive protein and interleukin 6 in atrial fibrillation with rheumatic mitral stenosis from Indian cohort.

INTRODUCTION: Presence of chronic low grade inflammation has often been implicated in the etiology of atrial fibrillation (AF). Whether pre-existing inflammatory state promotes AF or initiation of AF activates inflammation is a dilemma among clinicians. This study investigates the role of high sensitive C reactive protein (hs-CRP) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in AF with rheumatic mitral stenosis (Rh-MS) as markers of chronic inflammation. METHODS: This case control cohort included sixty five (n=65) Rh-MS patients having other valve lesions as trivial to mild. Out of them twenty nine (n=29; group C) had baseline AF and rest were normal sinus rhythm (NSR). A 24h holter recording was done in NSR patients to diagnose paroxysmal AF/tachyarrhythmia forming group B (n=12) and not having any tachyarrhythmia were designated as NSR; group A (n=24). RESULTS: hs-CRP and IL6 showed statistically significant increase in group C (permanent AF) compared to group A (95% CI: 4.2-0.9, p=0.007; 95% CI: 1.2-0.89; p=0.05 respectively), while it was non significant between group A and group B (p>0.05). A weak positive correlation was observed with hs-CRP and left atrial volume index (LAVi) (r=0.45, p=0.06) in AF group as compared to NSR group. 68.2% of patients in AF group (27/41) had moderate to severe spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) as compared to 37.5% (10/24) in NSR group. CONCLUSION: Increased hs-CRP and IL-6 levels in the paroxysmal and permanent AF group may favour the hypothesis that low grade chronic inflammation could be the cause of atrial fibrillation than a consequence.

Intermittent' restrictive ventricular septal defect in Tetralogy of Fallot.

Ventricular septal defect (VSD) in Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is usually large and non-restrictive with equalization of right and left ventricular pressures. Restrictive VSD in TOF is rare. We present an unusual case of TOF with restriction to VSD caused by accessory tricuspid valve tissue that varied with respiration.

CYP 450 2C19 polymorphisms in Indian patients with coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Dual antiplatelet therapy is the cornerstone in the management of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and prevention of stent thrombosis (ST). Genetic polymorphisms in CYP2C19 gene involved in hepatic activation of clopidogrel leads to clopidogrel non-responsiveness and may influence clinical outcomes. These polymorphisms in CYP2C19 gene and their impact on clinical outcome in coronary artery disease (CAD) have not been studied in Indian population. METHODS: We studied 110 consecutive patients (mean age 55.7 ± 10.7 years; 90% male) taking clopidogrel with angiographically proven CAD for various genetic polymorphisms in CYP2C19 gene. Relationship between loss of function mutation and clinical presentation with recurrent ACS including ST was analyzed. RESULTS: Out of 110 patients, 26 (23.64%) had normal genotype, 52 (47.23%) had loss of function mutation *2 and 39 (35.45%) had a gain of function mutation *17, 7 (6.36%) patients were undefined metabolizers (*2/*17) which were excluded from analyses. Final analyses included 103 patients, with 45 (40.90%) having loss of function. Overall 51 patients had ACS, with 27 developing recurrence while on clopidogrel. The prevalence of loss of function mutation was no different between the group with recurrences and those without recurrences (55.6% vs. 50%, p = 0.7). Two patients developed ST while on clopidogrel; both had loss of function mutation. CONCLUSION: CYP2C19 gene polymorphisms are common in Indian population. Loss of function mutation status did not affect the clinical outcomes. A larger study also considering P2Y12 receptor polymorphisms together with platelet activity testing, may be required to establish the role of CYP2C19 gene polymorphisms in clinical practice.

Cardio-embolic stroke due to valve tissue embolization during percutaneous transseptal mitral commissurotomy (PTMC).

Percutaneous transseptal mitral commissurotomy (PTMC) has replaced surgical commissurotomy as a treatment of choice in selected patients of rheumatic mitral stenosis. Various randomized trials have shown PTMC to be equal or superior to surgical commissurotomy in terms of hemodynamic improvement as well as long term survival. Systemic embolism is one of the dreaded complications of PTMC, which is reported in 0.5-5% of cases and involves cerebral circulation in 1% of cases. Most of the time, periprocedural embolism during PTMC is caused by the mobilization of preexisting thrombus in the left atrial appendage. We report an unusual case of acute stroke due embolization of mitral valve tissue during PTMC.

Double-outlet left atrium: Ventriculo-atrial malalignment defect.

A four-month-old female infant presented with heart failure and cyanosis. On echocardiography, there was no outlet to the right atrium except an atrial septal defect and the left atrium drained into the respective ventricles by two atrioventricular valves. The case is reported for its rarity, with a brief literature review.