Valores de referência de parâmetros ecocardiográficos estruturais e funcionais para a população brasileira: avaliação de câmaras direitas - estudo de normais - DIC / Reference values ​​of structural and functional echocardiographic parameters for the Brazilian population: evaluation of right chambers - study of normals - DIC

INTRODUÇÃO: A avaliação e quantificação das dimensões e função das câmaras cardíacas direitas pelo ecocardiograma auxilia no diagnóstico e prognóstico de várias situações clinicas; seus valores de referência, no entanto, refletem as características antropométricas da população estudada. OBJETIVO: analisar prospectivamente exames ecocardiográficos bidimensionais de indivíduos normais das diversas regiões brasileiras para a determinação de valores de referência de câmaras direitas. MÉTODO: Ecocardiogramas de indivíduos de ambos sexos, > 18 anos, sem doença cardíaca, sistêmica ou fatores de risco cardiovascular foram obtidos em centros das 5 regiões do Brasil e analisados offline (Ultrasound Workspace- Tomtec- Phillips) para avaliação de medidas das câmaras cardíacas direitas e função ventricular direita (VD): variação fracional da área (FAC) do VD, TAPSE, s­ do VD e strain longitudinal (SL) do VD (global e parede livre) por speckle tracking. Foram analisadas as diferenças entre os sexos pelo teste t não pareado de Student. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídos 445 indivíduos, com idade de 42+ 15 anos, 56% do sexo feminino, sendo excluídos 40 por imagem/dados inadequados; As medidas ecocardiográficas foram realizadas em 147 indivíduos e mostraram maiores dimensões de câmaras direitas para o sexo masculino (p<0.001); para parâmetros funcionais, apenas o FAC mostrou diferença significativa entre os grupos, sendo maior para o sexo feminino (p = 0.04); os demais parâmetros funcionais ( TAPSE, S­ VD, e SGL e de parede livre do VD) foram similares para ambos os sexos . CONCLUSÃO: Resultados preliminares da população brasileira sugerem parâmetros estruturais com maiores dimensões de câmaras direitas para o sexo masculino, o que infere que esses dados devam ser indexados para a superfície corpórea. Parâmetros funcionais, por outro lado, parecem sofrer pouca influência do sexo.

Effect of adding hydrochlorothiazide to usual treatment of patients with acute decompensated heart failure: a randomized clinical trial.

Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is the leading cause of hospitalization in patients aged 65 years or older, and most of them present with congestion. The use of hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) may increase the response to loop diuretics. To evaluate the effect of adding HCTZ to furosemide on congestion and symptoms in patients with ADHF. This randomized clinical trial compared HCTZ 50 mg versus placebo for 3 days in patients with ADHF and signs of congestion. The primary outcome of the study was daily weight reduction. Secondary outcomes were change in creatinine, need for vasoactive drugs, change in natriuretic peptides, congestion score, dyspnea, thirst, and length of stay. Fifty-one patients were randomized-26 to the HCTZ group and 25 to the placebo group. There was an increment of 0.73 kg/day towards additional weight reduction in the HCTZ group (HCTZ: - 1.78 ± 1.08 kg/day vs placebo: - 1.05 ± 1.51 kg/day; p = 0.062). In post hoc analysis, the HCTZ group demonstrated significant weight reduction for every 40 mg of intravenous furosemide (HCTZ: - 0.74 ± 0.47 kg/40 mg vs placebo: - 0.33 ± 0.80 kg/40 mg; p = 0.032). There was a trend to increase in creatinine in the HCTZ group (HCTZ: 0.50 ± 0.37 vs placebo: 0.27 ± 0.40; p = 0.05) but no significant difference in onset of acute renal failure (HCTZ: 58% vs placebo: 41%; p = 0.38). No differences were found in the remaining outcomes. Adding hydrochlorothiazide to usual treatment of patients with acute decompensated heart failure did not cause significant difference in daily body weight reduction compared to placebo. In analysis adjusted to the dose of intravenous furosemide, adding HCTZ 50 mg to furosemide resulted in a significant synergistic effect on weight loss.Trial registration: The Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry (ReBEC), a publically accessible primary register that participates in the World Health Organization International Clinical Trial Registry Platform; number RBR-5qkn8h. Registered in 23/07/2019 (retrospectively), http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-5qkn8h/ .

A Comprehensive and Contemporary Review on Immunosuppression Therapy for Heart Transplantation.

Heart transplantation is the standard of therapy for patients with end-stage heart disease. Since the first human-to-human heart transplantation, performed in 1967, advances in organ donation, surgical techniques, organ preservation, perioperative care, immunologic risk assessment, immunosuppression agents, monitoring of graft function and surveillance of long-term complications have drastically increased recipient survival. However, there are yet many challenges in the modern era of heart transplantation in which immunosuppression may play a key role in further advances in the field. A fine-tuning of immune modulation to prevent graft rejection while avoiding side effects from over immunosuppression has been the vital goal of basic and clinical research. Individualization of drug choices and strategies, taking into account the recipient's clinical characteristics, underlying heart failure diagnosis, immunologic risk and comorbidities seem to be the ideal approaches to improve post-transplant morbidity and survival while preventing both rejection and complications of immunosuppression. The aim of the present review is to provide a practical, comprehensive overview of contemporary immunosuppression in heart transplantation. Clinical evidence for immunosuppressive drugs is reviewed and practical approaches are provided. Cardiac allograft rejection classification and up-to-date management are summarized. Expanding therapies, such as photophoresis, are outlined. Drug-to-drug interactions of immunosuppressive agents focused on cardiovascular medications are summarized. Special situations involving heart transplantation such as sarcoidosis, Chagas diseases and pediatric immunosuppression are also reviewed. The evolution of phamacogenomics to individualize immunosuppressive therapy is described. Finally, future perspectives in the field of immunosuppression in heart transplantation are highlighted.

High-intensity interval training is effective and superior to moderate continuous training in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a prevalent syndrome, with exercise intolerance being one of its hallmarks, contributing to worse quality of life and mortality. High-intensity interval training is an emerging training option, but its efficacy in HFpEF patients is still unknown. DESIGN: Single-blinded randomized clinical trial. METHODS: Single-blinded randomized clinical trial with exercise training 3 days per week for 12 weeks. HFpEF patients were randomly assigned to high-intensity interval training or moderate continuous training. At baseline and after 12 week follow-up, patients underwent clinical assessment, echocardiography and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). RESULTS: Mean age was 60 ± 9 years and 63% were women. Both groups (N = 19) showed improved peak oxygen consumption (VO2), but high-intensity interval training patients (n = 10) had a significantly higher increase, of 22%, compared with 11% in the moderate continuous training (n = 9) individuals (3.5 (3.1 to 4.0) vs. 1.9 (1.2 to 2.5) mL·kg-1·min-1, p < 0.001). Ventilatory efficiency and other CPET measures, as well as quality of life score, increased equally in the two groups. Left ventricular diastolic function also improved with training, reflected by a significant reduction in E/e' ratio by echocardiography (-2.6 (-4.3 to -1.0) vs. -2.2 (-3.6 to -0.9) for high-intensity interval training and moderate continuous training, respectively; p < 0.01). There were no exercise-related adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: This randomized clinical trial provided evidence that high-intensity interval training is a potential exercise modality for HFpEF patients, being more effective than moderate continuous training in improving peak VO2. However, the two strategies were equally effective in improving ventilatory efficiency and other CPET parameters, quality of life score and diastolic function after 3 months of training.

Vasodilation and Reduction of Systolic Blood Pressure after One Session of High-Intensity Interval Training in Patients With Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction / Vasodilatação e Redução da Pressão Arterial Sistólica após uma Sessão de Treinamento Intervalado de Alta Intensidade em Pacientes com Insuficiência Cardíaca com Fração de Ejeção Preservada

Abstract Background: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a multifactorial syndrome characterized by a limited exercising capacity. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is an emerging strategy for exercise rehabilitation in different settings. In patients with HFpEF, HIIT subacute effects on endothelial function and blood pressure are still unknown. Objective: To evaluate the subacute effect of one HIIT session on endothelial function and blood pressure in patients with HFpEF. Methods: Sixteen patients with HFpEF underwent a 36-minute session of HIIT on a treadmill, alternating four minutes of high-intensity intervals with three minutes of active recovery. Brachial artery diameter, flow-mediated dilation, and blood pressure were assessed immediately before and 30 minutes after the HIIT session. In all analyses, p <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: There was an increase in brachial artery diameter (pre-exercise: 3.96 ± 0.57 mm; post-exercise: 4.33 ± 0.69 mm; p < 0.01) and a decrease in systolic blood pressure (pre-exercise: 138 ± 21 mmHg; post-exercise: 125 ± 20 mmHg; p < 0.01). Flow-mediated dilation (pre-exercise: 5.91 ± 5.20%; post-exercise: 3.55 ± 6.59%; p = 0.162) and diastolic blood pressure (pre-exercise: 81 ± 11 mmHg; post-exercise: 77 ± 8 mmHg; p = 1.000) did not change significantly. There were no adverse events throughout the experiment. Conclusions: One single HIIT session promoted an increase in brachial artery diameter and reduction in systolic blood pressure, but it did not change flow-mediated dilation and diastolic blood pressure.

Resumo Fundamento: Insuficiência cardíaca com fração de ejeção preservada (ICFEP) é uma síndrome multifatorial caracterizada por limitação ao exercício. O treinamento intervalado de alta intensidade (HIIT) é uma estratégia emergente para a reabilitação do exercício em diferentes contextos. Em pacientes com ICFEP, os efeitos subagudos do HIIT sobre a função endotelial e a pressão arterial ainda são desconhecidos. Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito subagudo de uma única sessão do HIIT sobre a função endotelial e a pressão arterial em pacientes com ICFEP. Métodos: Dezesseis pacientes com ICFEP foram submetidos a uma sessão de 36 minutos de HIIT em esteira rolante, alternando quatro minutos de intervalos de alta intensidade com três minutos de recuperação ativa. O diâmetro da artéria braquial, a dilatação mediada pelo fluxo e a pressão arterial foram avaliados imediatamente antes e 30 minutos após a sessão de HIIT. Em todas as análises, p <0,05 foi considerado estatisticamente significativo. Resultados: Houve aumento do diâmetro da artéria braquial (pré-exercício: 3,96 ± 0,57 mm; pós-exercício: 4,33 ± 0,69 mm; p < 0,01), e diminuição da pressão arterial sistólica (pré-exercício: 138 ± 21 mmHg; pós-exercício: 125 ± 20 mmHg; p < 0,01). A dilatação mediada por fluxo (pré-exercício: 5,91 ± 5,20%; pós-exercício: 3,55 ± 6,59%; p = 0,162) e pressão arterial diastólica (pré-exercício: 81 ± 11 mmHg; pós-exercício: 77 ± 8 mmHg; p = 1,000) não se alteraram significativamente. Não houve eventos adversos durante o experimento. Conclusões: Uma única sessão do HIIT promoveu aumento do diâmetro da artéria braquial e redução da pressão arterial sistólica, mas não alterou a dilatação mediada pelo fluxo e a pressão arterial diastólica.

Vasodilation and Reduction of Systolic Blood Pressure after One Session of High-Intensity Interval Training in Patients With Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a multifactorial syndrome characterized by a limited exercising capacity. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is an emerging strategy for exercise rehabilitation in different settings. In patients with HFpEF, HIIT subacute effects on endothelial function and blood pressure are still unknown. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the subacute effect of one HIIT session on endothelial function and blood pressure in patients with HFpEF. METHODS: Sixteen patients with HFpEF underwent a 36-minute session of HIIT on a treadmill, alternating four minutes of high-intensity intervals with three minutes of active recovery. Brachial artery diameter, flow-mediated dilation, and blood pressure were assessed immediately before and 30 minutes after the HIIT session. In all analyses, p <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: There was an increase in brachial artery diameter (pre-exercise: 3.96 ± 0.57 mm; post-exercise: 4.33 ± 0.69 mm; p < 0.01) and a decrease in systolic blood pressure (pre-exercise: 138 ± 21 mmHg; post-exercise: 125 ± 20 mmHg; p < 0.01). Flow-mediated dilation (pre-exercise: 5.91 ± 5.20%; post-exercise: 3.55 ± 6.59%; p = 0.162) and diastolic blood pressure (pre-exercise: 81 ± 11 mmHg; post-exercise: 77 ± 8 mmHg; p = 1.000) did not change significantly. There were no adverse events throughout the experiment. CONCLUSIONS: One single HIIT session promoted an increase in brachial artery diameter and reduction in systolic blood pressure, but it did not change flow-mediated dilation and diastolic blood pressure.

Infarto com supradesnivelamento do segmento ST e trombo coronariano extenso em paciente com anemia falciforme / ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction with extensive coronary thrombus in a patient with sickle cell anemia

O infarto agudo do miocárdio em pacientes com anemia falciforme é, muitas vezes, subdiagnosticado em virtude de fatores de confusão (por exemplo, doença vaso-oclusiva, levando a crises dolorosas). Na maioria dos casos relatados na literatura, as artérias coronárias estavam pérvias e sem lesões. Neste relato de caso, descrevemos a presença de trombo coronariano extenso em paciente com anemia falciforme, apresentando-se sob a forma de infarto agudo do miocárdio com supradesnivelamento do segmento ST, manejado satisfatoriamente com a associação de anticoagulantes e antiplaquetários.

Myocardial infarction in patients with sickle cell anemia is often underdiagnosed due to confounding factors (e.g., vasoocclusive disease leading to painful crisis). In the majority of reported cases, the coronary arteries were pervious and without stenotic lesions. In this case report, we describe the presence of an extensive coronary thrombus in a patient with sickle cell anemia presenting with ST elevation myocardial infarction, managed satisfactorily with the association of anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs.

Volume Plaquetário Médio Como Preditor de Desfechos Cardiovasculares Maiores e Fluxo Coronariano Final em Pacientes Submetidos à Intervenção Coronária Percutânea Primária / Mean Platelet Volume as a Predictor of Major Cardiovascular Outcomes and Final Coronary Flow in Patients Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Introdução: As plaquetas desempenham papel fundamental na fisiopatologia do infarto agudo do miocárdio. Existem evidências de que plaquetas de maior volume apresentem potencial pró- -trombótico aumentado. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar se o volume plaquetário médio pode predizer o fluxo coronariano do vaso tratado e os desfechos cardiovasculares adversos em pacientes com infarto do miocárdio com supradesnivelamento do segmento ST submetidos à intervenção coronária percutânea primária. Métodos: Desfecho primário foi considerado como a ocorrência de eventos cardiovasculares adversos (morte, acidente vascular cerebral, infarto agudo do miocárdio, trombose de stent, angina e insuficiência cardíaca classes 3 ou 4) em 30 dias. Desfecho secundário foi avaliado por meio da análise angiográfica do fluxo TIMI pós-procedimento. Resultados: Dos 215 pacientes incluídos no registro de intervenção coronária percutânea primária, 168 (78,6%) tiveram volume plaquetário médio calculado antes do procedimento e foram analisados no presente estudo. Valores do volume plaquetário médio foram estratificados em tercis, sendo considerado um valor elevado > 11 fentolitros (fl). Volume plaquetário médio > 11 fl foi preditor independente de eventos cardiovasculares em 30 dias (p = 0,02). Observou-se que pacientes com fluxo final TIMI zero ou 1 demonstraram ...

Background: Platelets play a key role in the pathophysiology of acute myocardial infarction. There is evidence that higher platelet volumes may have increased prothrombotic potential. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether mean platelet volume can predict culprit coronary vessel flow and adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Methods: Primary endpoint was the composite of adverse cardiovascular events (death, stroke, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, class-III or IV angina and heart failure) at 30 days. The secondary endpoint was evaluated by the angiographic TIMI flow grade after the procedure. Results: Of the 215 patients included in the primary percutaneous coronary intervention registry, 168 (78.6%) had their mean platelet volume calculated before the procedure and were analyzed in the present study. Mean platelet volume values were stratified in tertiles, and a high value was considered as > 11 femtoliters (fL). Mean platelet volume > 11 fL was an independent predictor of cardiovascular events at 30 days (p = 0.02). It was observed that patients with final TIMI flow grade zero or 1 showed a trend towards higher mean platelet volume compared with those with final TIMI flow 2 or 3 (11.3 ± 0.9 fL vs. 10.5 ± 1.3 fL; p = 0.06). Conclusions: Baseline mean platelet volume is a simple, useful, and easy to measure marker to predict ...

Cardiac involvement in Erdheim-Chester disease: a case report

Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis of unknown etiology characterized by proliferation of lipid-containing foamy histiocytes affecting bones and potentially every organ. There is a wide clinical spectrum of the disease, ranging from asymptomatic bone or soft-tissue lesions to life-threatening systemic involvement. Although the initial descriptions published by Jakob Erdheim and William Chester in 1930 included a patient with right atrial infiltration on autopsy, cardiovascular involvement in ECD has only gained more recognition recently. In the present report, we describe a case with cardiac involvement, presenting with symptomatic heart failure and a cardiac mass assessed with echocardiogram and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

IRON-HF study: a randomized trial to assess the effects of iron in heart failure patients with anemia.

BACKGROUND: Anemia in heart failure patients and has been associated with increased morbi-mortality. Previous studies have treated anemia in heart failure patients with either erythropoietin alone or combination of erythropoietin and intravenous (i.v.) iron. However, the effect of i.v. or oral (p.o.) iron supplementation alone in heart failure patients with anemia was virtually unknown. AIM: To compare, in a double-blind design, the effects of i.v. iron versus p.o. iron in anemic heart failure patients. METHODS: IRON-HF study was a multicenter, investigator initiated, randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial that enrolled anemic heart failure patients with preserved renal function, low transferrin saturation (TSat) and low-to-moderately elevated ferritin levels. Interventions were Iron Sucrose i.v. 200 mg, once a week, for 5 weeks, ferrous sulfate 200 mg p.o. TID, for 8 weeks, or placebo. Primary endpoint was variation of peak oxygen consumption (peak VO2) assessed by ergospirometry over 3 month follow-up. RESULTS: Eighteen patients had full follow-up data. There was an increment of 3.5 ml/kg/min in peak VO2 in the i.v. iron group. There was no increment in peak VO2 in the p.o. iron group. Patients' ferritin and TSat increased significantly in both treated groups. Hemoglobin increased similarly in all groups. CONCLUSION: I.v. iron seems to be superior in improving functional capacity of heart failure patients. However, correction of anemia seems to be at least similar between p.o. iron and i.v. iron supplementation.