Ongoing assertion of two-dimensional measurements on differentiation type of left ventricular hypertrophy: Focus on inferior vena cava.

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), including hypertensive LVH, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and cardiac amyloidosis (CA), is a commonly encountered condition in cardiology practice, presenting challenges in differential diagnosis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the importance of echocardiographic evaluation of the inferior vena cava (IVC) in distinguishing LVH subtypes including hypertensive LVH, HCM, and CA. METHODS: In this retrospective study, patients with common causes of LVH including hypertensive LVH, HCM, and CA were included. The role of echocardiographic evaluation of IVC diameter and collapsibility in distinguishing these causes of LVH was assessed in conjunction with other echocardiographic, clinical, and imaging methods. RESULTS: A total of 211 patients (45% HCM, 43% hypertensive heart disease, and 12% CA) were included in our study. Their mean age was 56.6 years and 62% of them were male. While mean IVC diameter was significantly dilated in CA patients (13.4 mm in hypertensive LVH, 16.0 mm in HCM, and 21.1 mm in CA, p < .001), its collapsibility was reduced (IVC collapsible in 95% of hypertensive patients, 72% of HCM patients, and 12% of CA patients, p < .001). In the analysis of diagnostic probabilities, the presence of both hypovoltage and IVC dilation is significant for CA patients. Although it is not statistically significant, the presence of IVC dilation along with atrial fibrillation supports the diagnosis of HCM. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, although advances in imaging techniques facilitate the diagnosis of LVH, simple echocardiographic methods should never be overlooked. Our study supports the notion that IVC assessment could play an important role in the differential diagnosis of LVH.

Impact of Bileaflet Mechanical Mitral Valve Orientation on Pannus Overgrowth.

OBJECTIVE: Pannus overgrowth is a chronic inflammatory process that can cause valve dysfunction and threaten the durability of prosthetic valves. Bileaflet mechanical mitral valve can be implanted in either an anatomical (parallel to the anatomical axis) or nonanatomical (perpendicular or oblique to the anatomical axis) orientation. The effect of the rotational orientation of the bileaflet mechanical mitral valve on excessive pannus enlargement is unknown. The present study compared the effect of bileaflet mechanical mitral valve orientation on pannus overgrowth. METHODS: The study included patients who underwent bileaflet mechanical mitral valve replacement for rheumatic mitral valve stenosis. The pannus formation was confirmed by reexamining all transesophageal echocardiography images in the picture archiving and communication systems between May 2017 and April 2021. The primary aim of this study was the development of pannus overgrowth. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on their implantation orientation of the bileaflet mechanical mitral valve. RESULTS: Pannus overgrowth was found in 26 patients (56.5%) in the anatomical orientation group and 71 patients (74.7%) in the nonanatomical orientation group (P = 0.03). Anatomical orientation reduced the development of pannus overgrowth (odds ratio [OR] = 0.39, P = 0.04), and double left heart valve replacement increased the development of pannus overgrowth (OR = 2.73, P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Pannus overgrowth was less common in bileaflet mechanical mitral valves implanted in the anatomical orientation.

The role of three dimensional transesophageal echocardiography novel-score in the success of redo percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty.

Mitral valve commissure evaluation is known to be important in the success of percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty (PBMV) and Wilkins score (WS) is used in clinical practice. In our study, we aimed to determine whether WS in redo PBMV is sufficient in the success of procedure and additionally we have evaluated a novel scoring system including three dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) of the mitral valve structure before redo PBMV in terms of success of the procedure. Fifty patients who underwent redo PBMV were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups according to the success of the Redo PBMV procedure which was defined as post-procedural MVA ≥ 1.5 cm2 and post-procedural mitral regurgitation less than moderate by echocardiographic evaluation after PBMV. A novel score based on 3D TEE findings was created by analyzing the images recorded before Redo PBMV and by evaluating the mitral commissure and calcification. The role of traditional WS and novel score in the success of the procedure were investigated. In the study group, 36 patients (72%) had successful redo PBMV procedure. WS was 8 (IQR 7-9) and novel 3D TEE score was found 4 (IQR 3-4) in the whole study group. While no statistically significant relationship was found between WS and procedural success (p = 0.187), a statistically significant relationship was found between novel 3D TEE score and procedural success (p = 0.042). Specifically, the procedural successes rate was > 90% when novel 3D TEE score was < 4. The novel 3D TEE score might be an informative scoring system in the selection of suitable patients for successful redo PBMV, especially in patients who are considered for surgery due to the high WS.

The prognostic value of elevated matrix metalloproteinase-9 in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-elevation myocardial infarction: A two-year prospective study.

INTRODUCTION: Increased matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) levels in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are well established; however, existing data on MMP-9 values as a prognostic marker after STEMI are limited and have been conflicting. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the clinical significance of MMP-9 in predicting two-year adverse cardiovascular events in patients who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) after STEMI. METHODS: In this prospective study, 204 patients with STEMI undergoing PCI were included. Participants were classified as high MMP-9 (n=102) or low MMP-9 (n=102) based on a cutoff of 12.92 ng/ml. Both groups were assessed at one and two years after STEMI. RESULTS: Higher cardiovascular mortality at one year was observed in the high MMP-9 group (13.7% vs. 4.9% in the low MMP-9 group, p=0.03). When the follow-up period was extended to two years, the difference in cardiovascular mortality between the groups was more significant (17.6% vs. 4.9%, p=0.004). There was no significant difference at one-year follow-up in rates of advanced heart failure, however at the end of the second year, advanced heart failure was more prevalent in the high MMP-9 group (16.7% vs. 5.9%, p=0.015). After adjustment for potential confounders, a high MMP-9 value had 3.5-fold higher odds for cardiovascular mortality at two-year follow-up than low MMP-9. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that high MMP-9 levels are a strong predictor of cardiovascular mortality and advanced heart failure at two-year follow-up in STEMI patients.

Asymptomatic Huge Cardiac Hydatid Cyst Located in the Interventricular Septum.

The cardiac involvement of hydatid cyst, which is rarely seen, with the location of asymptomatic huge cyst in the interventricular septum (IVS) is an extraordinary condition. We report an isolated cardiac hydatid cyst located in the IVS in an 18-year-old man diagnosed incidentally by transthoracic echocardiography. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging confirmed a mass lesion of 47×74 mm in diameter located at the base of IVS. The cystic content and its germinative membrane were resected and the cavity was applicated under cardiopulmonary bypass. Postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged on the 6th postoperative day, with oral albendazole therapy.

Asymptomatic huge cardiac hydatid cyst located in the interventricular septum

Abstract The cardiac involvement of hydatid cyst, which is rarely seen, with the location of asymptomatic huge cyst in the interventricular septum (IVS) is an extraordinary condition. We report an isolated cardiac hydatid cyst located in the IVS in an 18-year-old man diagnosed incidentally by transthoracic echocardiography. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging confirmed a mass lesion of 47×74 mm in diameter located at the base of IVS. The cystic content and its germinative membrane were resected and the cavity was applicated under cardiopulmonary bypass. Postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged on the 6th postoperative day, with oral albendazole therapy.

Long Term Cardiovascular Outcome Based on Aspirin and Clopidogrel Responsiveness Status in Young ST-Elevated Myocardial Infarction Patients / Desfecho Cardiovascular em Longo Prazo com Base na Capacidade de Resposta à Aspirina e ao Clopidogrel em Pacientes Jovens com Infarto do Miocárdio com Elevação do Segmento ST

Abstract Background: A subset of patients who take antiplatelet therapy continues to have recurrent cardiovascular events which may be due to antiplatelet resistance. The effect of low response to aspirin or clopidogrel on prognosis was examined in different patient populations. Objective: We aimed to investigate the prevalence of poor response to dual antiplatelet therapy and its relationship with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in young patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods: In our study, we included 123 patients under the age of 45 with STEMI who underwent primary percutaneous intervention. A screening procedure to determine both aspirin and clopidogrel responsiveness was performed on the fifth day of admission. We followed a 2x2 factorial design and patients were allocated to one of four groups, according to the presence of aspirin and/or clopidogrel resistance. Patients were followed for a three-year period. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: We identified 48% of resistance against one or more antiplatelet in young patients with STEMI. More MACE was observed in patients with poor response to dual platelet therapy or to clopidogrel compared those with adequate response to the dual therapy (OR: 1.875, 1.144-3.073, p < 0.001; OR: 1.198, 0.957-1.499, p = 0.036, respectively). After adjustment for potential confounders, we found that poor responders to dual therapy had 3.3 times increased odds for three-year MACE than those with adequate response to the dual therapy. Conclusion: Attention should be paid to dual antiplatelet therapy in terms of increased risk for cardiovascular adverse events especially in young patients with STEMI.

Resumo Fundamento: Um subgrupo de pacientes que recebem terapia antiplaquetária continua a apresentar eventos cardiovasculares recorrentes, possivelmente por resistência aos medicamentos. O efeito da baixa resposta à aspirina ou ao clopidogrel sobre o prognóstico foi avaliado em diferentes populações. Objetivo: Investigar a prevalência de baixa resposta à terapia antiplaquetária e sua relação com eventos adversos cardiovasculares em pacientes jovens com infarto do miocárdio com supradesnivelamento do segmento ST (IAMCST). Métodos: Em nosso estudo, incluímos 123 pacientes com IAMCST e idade inferior a 45 anos, submetidos à intervenção percutânea primária. No quinto dia após admissão hospitalar, os pacientes foram rastreados quanto à capacidade de resposta à aspirina e ao clopidogrel. Seguimos um delineamento fatorial 2x2 e os pacientes foram alocados a um dos quatro grupos formados segundo presença de resistência à aspirina e/ou ao clopidogrel. Os pacientes foram acompanhados por um período de três anos. Um valor de P inferior a 0,05 foi considerado estatisticamente significativo. Resultados: Nós identificamos 48% de resistência a um ou mais agentes antiplaquetários em pacientes jovens com IAMCST. Houve maior ocorrência de MACE em pacientes com baixa resposta à terapia antiplaquetária dupla ou ao clopidogrel em comparação àqueles com resposta adequada à terapia dupla (OR: 1,875; 1,144-3,073; p < 0,001; OR: 1,198; 0,957-1,499; p = 0.036, respectivamente). Após ajuste quanto a possíveis fatores de confusão, pacientes com baixa resposta à terapia dupla apresentaram risco 3,3 vezes maior para MACE em três anos em comparação àqueles com resposta adequada a essa terapia. Conclusão: Atenção deve ser dada à resistência à terapia antiplaquetária dupla quanto ao risco aumentado de eventos adversos cardiovasculares, especialmente em pacientes jovens com IAMCST.

The additive effects of OSA and nondipping status on early markers of subclinical atherosclerosis in normotensive patients: a cross-sectional study.

The additive effect of hypertension on carotid atherosclerosis in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is well-established; however, the effect of the nondipping pattern has not yet been evaluated. In this study, we aim to assess the effect of the nondipping pattern on carotid atherosclerosis, which is quantified as carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), and on the high-risk carotid profile in normotensive patients with OSA. We included 189 patients with OSA in this cross-sectional study. We followed a 2 × 2 factorial design to create groups according to the presence of OSA and nondipping pattern. All patients underwent carotid ultrasonography to quantify their CIMT and presence of plaques. Patients who had CIMT ≥ 0.9 mm and/or carotid plaques were classified as having a high-risk carotid profile. Patients in the OSA/nondipper group had a 26% higher CIMT and five times the prevalence of a high-risk carotid profile compared to patients in the non-OSA/dipper group. CIMT was correlated with age, the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), minimum oxygen saturation, and nighttime systolic blood pressure (SBP). Independent of age, diabetes, and AHI, a one mmHg increase in nighttime SBP was associated with a 0.22 mm increase in CIMT and a 4% increase in odds for the high-risk carotid profile. Similarly, independent of age and diabetes, being in the OSA/nondipper group was associated with 6.7 times increased odds for a high-risk carotid profile than being in the non-OSA/dipper group. Modeling with both the nondipping status and presence of OSA produced an 8% higher discriminative value than modeling with neither of these parameters. We found an additive effect of the nondipping pattern on carotid atherosclerosis in normotensive patients with OSA. Our findings suggested that in addition to having established hypertension, a nondipping pattern in normotensive patients with OSA may aggravate atherosclerosis.

Long Term Cardiovascular Outcome Based on Aspirin and Clopidogrel Responsiveness Status in Young ST-Elevated Myocardial Infarction Patients.

BACKGROUND: A subset of patients who take antiplatelet therapy continues to have recurrent cardiovascular events which may be due to antiplatelet resistance. The effect of low response to aspirin or clopidogrel on prognosis was examined in different patient populations. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the prevalence of poor response to dual antiplatelet therapy and its relationship with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in young patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS: In our study, we included 123 patients under the age of 45 with STEMI who underwent primary percutaneous intervention. A screening procedure to determine both aspirin and clopidogrel responsiveness was performed on the fifth day of admission. We followed a 2x2 factorial design and patients were allocated to one of four groups, according to the presence of aspirin and/or clopidogrel resistance. Patients were followed for a three-year period. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: We identified 48% of resistance against one or more antiplatelet in young patients with STEMI. More MACE was observed in patients with poor response to dual platelet therapy or to clopidogrel compared those with adequate response to the dual therapy (OR: 1.875, 1.144-3.073, p < 0.001; OR: 1.198, 0.957-1.499, p = 0.036, respectively). After adjustment for potential confounders, we found that poor responders to dual therapy had 3.3 times increased odds for three-year MACE than those with adequate response to the dual therapy. CONCLUSION: Attention should be paid to dual antiplatelet therapy in terms of increased risk for cardiovascular adverse events especially in young patients with STEMI.

The Relationship Between Aspirin Resistance and Carotid Imaging in Young Patients With ST-Segment Elevated Myocardial Infarction: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The presence of carotid atherosclerosis accompanied by coronary artery disease is associated with poor prognosis. A subset of patients who take aspirin continue to have recurrent cardiovascular events, which may be due to aspirin resistance (AR). Also, carotid plaques may cause turbulent flow which in turn may lead to platelet activation and poor antiplatelet response. In our study, we aimed to show the prevalence of AR and its relationship between high-risk carotid images in young patients with ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI). In our study, we included 112 patients younger than 45 years with STEMI. Aspirin response test was evaluated 1 hour after aspirin intake using multiplate platelet function analyzer, and carotid ultrasonography has been performed to determine carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the presence of carotid plaque. We identified 30.3% AR in young patients with STEMI. Carotid intima-media thickness ( P = .002), carotid plaque ( P = .012), and high-risk carotid image ( P = .015) values are significantly high in patients who have AR. Independent of other risk factors, the presence of carotid plaque and being in the high-risk carotid group were associated with 3.7 times and 3.2 times increased odds for AR, respectively. In young patients with STEMI, physicians should be careful about AR, especially in patients who have carotid plaque and thicker CIMT.