Isolated cleft of both the anterior and posterior mitral valve leaflets.

A 37 year-old female patient in whom the transthoracic echocardiography examination revealed dilatation of left heart chambers with left ventricular ejection fraction of 30% and moderate-to-severe mitral valve regurgitation was admitted to our hospital. On 2DTEE examination, mitral valve was normal; however, on 3D images, clefts of both anterior and posterior leaflets were revealed. Isolated cleft mitral valve without any other feature of atrioventricular septal defect is uncommon. 2D echocardiography has limited capability in defining the complex 3D anatomic characteristics of the cleft. 3DTEE allows to visualize the cleft position, morphology, and size, and it is important for surgical planning.

Safety of Early Discharge After Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

In contrast to ST-elevation myocardial infarction treatment, there is no clear definition for when and which patient to discharge. Our study's main goal was to test the hypothesis that an early discharge strategy (within 48 to 56 hours) in patients with successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) is as safe as in patients who stay longer. The Early Discharge after Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention trial was designed in a prospective, randomized, multicenter fashion and registered with http://clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01860079). Of 900 patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction, the study randomized 769 eligible patients to the early or the standard discharge group. The study's primary outcomes were all-cause mortality and readmission at 30 days. We considered assessment of functional status and health-related quality of life to be secondary outcomes. The early discharge group had significantly shorter length of hospital stay compared with the standard discharge group (45.99 ± 9.12 vs 114.87 ± 63.53 hours; p <0.0001). Neither all-cause mortality nor readmissions were different between the 2 study groups (p = 0.684 and p = 0.061, respectively). Quality-of-life measures were not statistically different between the 2 study groups. Our study reveals that discharge within 48 to 56 hours after successful PPCI is feasible, safe, and does not increase the 30-day readmission rate. Moreover, the patients perceived health status at 30 days did not differ with early discharge.

The assessment of relationship between fragmented QRS complex and left ventricular wall motion score index in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

OBJECTIVES: Fragmented QRS (fQRS) has been found to be associated with high mortality and arrhythmic events in acute coronary syndromes. Regional systolic function using wall motion score index (WMSI) is an alternative to left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) for the assessment of left ventricular systolic function. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between the presence of fQRS on admission electrocardiogram (ECG) and WMSI in ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) underwent primary coronary intervention (PCI). The in-hospital and long-term prognostic significance of persistent fQRS was also evaluated. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 542 patients with a diagnose of STEMI underwent primary PCI were included. Study patients were divided into two groups according to the presence (n = 153) or absence (n = 389) of a fQRS on admission ECG. RESULTS: WMSI was found to be significantly higher in fQRS(+) group compared to the fQRS(-) group (P < 0.001). In multivariete analysis, WMSI was found to be an independent predictor of fQRS, and fQRS was inversely associated with LVEF. The in-hospital reinfarction (P = 0.003), MACE (P = 0.024), intraaortic balloon pump use (P = 0.014), and advanced heart failure (P < 0.001) were found to be significantly more frequent in the fQRS(+) group. The presence of fQRS on admission was found to be associated with an increase in long-term cardiovascular mortality (P = 0.028), and long-term all-cause mortality (P = 0.022). CONCLUSION: WMSI was significantly related with the presence of the fQRS, which reflects the linking between impairment of regional left ventricular systolic function and the presence of severe myocardial injury in STEMI.

Aspirin resistance in patients undergoing hemodialysis and effect of hemodialysis on aspirin resistance.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of aspirin resistance (AR) in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) and to assess the effect of HD on the results of the Multiplate test. A total of 54 patients undergoing HD were included in this study. Blood samples were taken just before and after the HD session. To determine AR, we used Multiplate test. Platelet aggregation values of the study population were 363.01 ± 225.69 aggregation unit (AU) × minutes before and 375.33 ± 254.05 AU × minutes after the HD (P = .597). There was strong correlation between the values before and after HD (R = .755, P < .0001). The AR status was changed in 9 (16.6%) patients after HD. Agreement of AR status before and after HD was substantial (κ coefficient = .667, P < .0001). The prevalence of AR in patients undergoing HD seems higher than in most of the studied populations, and this study has shown that the AR statuses of a significant number of patients undergoing HD change after an HD session.

The Predictive Value of Admission Fragmented QRS Complex for In-Hospital Cardiovascular Mortality of Patients with Type 1 Acute Aortic Dissection.

BACKGROUND: Fragmented QRS (fQRS) arises from impaired ventricular depolarization due to heterogeneous electrical activation of ischemic and/or infarcted ventricular myocardium. The short- and long-term prognostic values of fQRS have been reported for myocardial infarction, heart failure, fatal cardiac arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death. The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of admission fQRS complex for in-hospital cardiovascular mortality of patients with type 1 acute aortic dissection (AAD). METHODS: In this retrospective study, 203 consecutive patients with type 1 AAD who had been admitted to either of two large-volume tertiary hospitals between December 2008 and October 2013 were included. The patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of the fQRS complex on admission. RESULTS: In-hospital cardiovascular mortality (P < 0.001), major adverse cardiovascular events (P < 0.001), acute renal failure (P = 0.022), multiorgan dysfunction (P < 0.001), and acute decompensated heart failure (P < 0.001) were observed to be significantly more frequent in the fQRS-positive group than in the fQRS-negative group. fQRS (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 4.184 [1.927-9.082], P < 0.001), operation duration (4.184 [1.927-9.082], P = 0.001), and Killip class IV (3.900 [1.699-8.955], P = 0.001) were found to be significant independent predictors of in-hospital cardiovascular mortality after adjustment of other risk factors in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: fQRS is a simple, inexpensive, and readily available electrocardiographic entity that provides an additional risk stratification level beyond that provided by conventional risk parameters in predicting in-hospital cardiovascular mortality in type 1 AAD.

Predictive value of elevated neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio for long-term cardiovascular mortality in peripheral arterial occlusive disease.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD), which is common in male gender and elderly population, is related with increased cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been found to be an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality in atherosclerosis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between NLR and cardiovascular mortality both in patients with intermittent claudication and critical limb ischemia. METHODS: In a retrospective study, 593 consecutive patients who had been admitted to the inpatient ward of the vascular department of a large tertiary training and research hospital with diagnosis of symptomatic PAOD between May 2009 and September 2012 were included. Patients were divided into two groups according to their NLR as follows: high NLR (NLR>3.0) and low NLR (NLR ≤ 3.0) groups. RESULTS: During the course of the present study [median follow-up period of 20 months (interquartile range, 12-27)], 75 deaths occurred out of 508 patients (14.8%). Cardiovascular mortality was found to be significantly higher in elevated NLR group (n = 43) as compared to low NLR group (n = 32) (23.6% vs 9.8%, respectively; p < 0.001). Even after adjustment of various risk factors, NLR > 3 and age were found as independent predictors of long-term cardiovascular mortality in Cox regression analysis [hazard ratios (95% confidence interval), 2.04 (1.26-3.30) and 1.04 (1.01-1.07), p = 0.004 and p = 0.004, respectively]. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that an increased NLR was related with higher cardiovascular mortality in patients with PAOD, who were admitted with critical limb ischemia or intermittent claudication. NLR, which reflects the patient's inflammatory status, is an inexpensive and readily available biomarker that provides an additional level of risk stratification beyond that provided by conventional risk scores in predicting long-term cardiovascular mortality in PAOD.

Comparison of subclinical left and right ventricular systolic dysfunction in non-dipper and dipper hypertensives: impact of isovolumic acceleration.

UNLABELLED: Abstract Objectives: To evaluate subclinical left ventricular and right ventricular systolic impairment in dipper and non-dipper hypertensives by using isovolumic acceleration. METHODS: About 45 normotensive healthy volunteers (20 men, mean age 43 ± 9 years), 45 dipper (27 men, mean age 45 ± 9 years) and 45 non-dipper (25 men, 47 ± 7 years) hypertensives were enrolled. Isovolumic acceleration was measured by dividing the peak myocardial isovolumic contraction velocity by isovolumic acceleration time. RESULTS: Non-dippers indicated lower left ventricular (2.2 ± 0.4 m/s(2) versus 2.8 ± 1.0 m/s(2), p < 0.01) and right ventricular isovolumic acceleration values (2.8 ± 0.8 m/s(2) versus 3.5 ± 1.0 m/s(2), p = 0.012) compared with dippers. Left ventricular mass index (p = 0.001), interventricular septal thickness (p = 0.002) and myocardial performance index (p < 0.001) were negatively correlated with left ventricular isovolumic acceleration. Left ventricular septal thickness (p = 0.002), mass index (p = 0.001) and right ventricular myocardial performance index (p < 0.001) were negatively correlated with right ventricular isovolumic acceleration. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates that non-dipper hypertensives have increased left and right ventricular subclinical systolic dysfunction compared with dippers. Isovolumic acceleration is the only echocardiographic parameter in predicting this subtle impairment.

Evaluation of the effect of mitral stenosis severity on the left ventricular systolic function using isovolumic myocardial acceleration.

BACKGROUND: Isovolumic acceleration (IVA) is a new tissue Doppler parameter in the assessment of systolic function of both left and right ventricles. It remains unaffected with the changes in pre- and after-load within the physiological range. The aim of our study was to assess the effect of mitral stenosis degree, which is determined by echocardiography, on the left ventricular (LV) function using IVA. METHODS: A total number of 62 patients with mitral stenosis (MS) and 32 healthy controls were examined. The severity of MS (mild, moderate, and severe) was determined on the basis of mitral valve area (MVA) and the mean diastolic mitral gradient findings. The peak myocardial velocities during isovolumic contraction, systole, early diastole and late diastole were measured by using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). RESULTS: All TDI-derived global LV basal wall systolic (peak myocardial isovolumic contraction velocity, peak myocardial systolic velocity and IVA), and diastolic velocities (peak early and late diastolic velocities) were significantly decreased in the patients with MS, compared to the healthy patients (p < 0.001, for all). However, IVA was not different when the degree of MS was evaluated (p = 0.114). In addition, IVA was not correlated with the MVA (r = 0.185, p = 0.150). CONCLUSIONS: Left ventricular function is impaired in patients with MS regardless of the severity of the disease.

Predictive value of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in clinical outcomes of non-ST elevation myocardial infarction and unstable angina pectoris: a 3-year follow-up.

We sought to determine the prognostic value of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and unstable angina pectoris (UAP). A total of 308 (mean age 59.22 ± 11.93) patients with NSTEMI and UAP were prospectively evaluated. The study population was divided into tertiles based on admission NLR values. The patients were followed for clinical outcomes for up to 3 years after discharge. In the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, 3-year mortality was 21.6% in patients with high NLR versus 3% in the low-NLR group (P < .001). In a receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis, an NLR value of 3.04 was identified as an effective cut point in NSTEMI and UAP of a 3-year cardiovascular mortality (area under curve [AUC] = 0.86, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.8-0.92). An NLR value >3.04 yielded a sensitivity of 79% and specificity of 71%. Admission NLR is the strong and independent predictor of a 3-year cardiovascular mortality in patients with NSTEMI and UAP.

Hematologic and clinical parameters after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in patients with severe aortic stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated that platelet activation occurs in patients with aortic stenosis (AS). This study sought to evaluate the changes in hematologic and clinical parameters noted with the improvement in AS following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in patients with severe AS at high risk of surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 33 patients who underwent TAVI. In addition to biochemical, clinical, and echocardiographic examinations, hematologic blood parameters were recorded before TAVI, at discharge, and at 1 and 4 months. RESULTS: Mean platelet volume (MPV) showed a progressive decrease after TAVI. On echocardiography at 1 month, aortic valve area significantly increased, with significant decreases in peak and mean gradients. Progressive decreases were also noted in N-terminal proB-type natriuretic peptide levels. CONCLUSION: Our findings show that TAVI improves hemodynamic parameters of the valve with marked clinical and echocardiographic improvement, resulting in decreased platelet activation and MPV in patients with severe AS.

Aspirin resistance in patients with impaired renal functions.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death in patients with chronic kidney diseases (CKD). Aspirin resistance (AR) worsens prognosis in CVD. AIM: The aim of this study was to detect AR prevalence in this patient group. METHODS: The 203 patients (mean age 61.84 ± 11.51 years, 128 [63.1%] male) with stable coronary artery disease included in the study were grouped into four study groups according to their estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) values. Multiplate test was used to determine AR. Platelet aggregation results were presented as aggregation unit (AU) × min and values over 300 AU × min were accepted as AR. RESULTS: 61 (30.04%) patients in the whole study population were found to have AR. Differences were detected between AR ratios and multiplate values of the patient groups (p = 0.006 and p = 0.002). AR ratio was highest in patient group 4 (eGFR < 30 mL/min/1.73 m²) and/or on chronic haemodialysis therapy, whereas there was little difference among the other three groups. In multivariate analysis, while AR status was independently related to female sex (OR = 2.31,CI 1.14-4.65, p = 0.019) and mean platelet volume (MPV) (OR = 1.68, CI 1.21-2.33, p = 0.002), multiplate test results were independently related to MPV (b = 0.265, p < 0.0001) and eGFR (b = -0.165, p = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: The AR ratio was found to be high in severe CKD patients, especially haemodialysis patients, but not in mild and moderate CKD patients. This increased AR ratio in severe CKD patients may affect the prognosis in patients who already have an increased risk for cardiovascular complications.

Evaluation of atrial electromechanic delay and left atrial mechanical functions in the patients with secundum type atrial septal defect.

AIM: The aim of our study was to evaluate atrial electromechanical delay (AEMD) and left atrial mechanical functions (LAMF) in the patients with secundum-type atrial septal defect (ASD). METHOD: We included 72 patients with secundum type ASD in the study group and 35 gender and age-matched healthy volunteers for the control group. Maximal, minimal, and presystolic LA volumes were measured by modified Simpson method and indexed to the body surface area (BSA). Inter-AEMD, right and left intra-AEMD were measured from the lateral and septal mitral annulus and tricuspid annulus using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). RESULTS: The age, gender, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate (HR), BSA, and body mass index (BMI) parameters were not significantly different between the groups. Left atrial active and total emptying fractions and conduit volumes were significantly lower in the patients with ASD compared with the control group (P = 0.006, P = 0.001, and P = 0.032, respectively). Total emptying volume was increased in patients with ASD (P = 0.021). Passive emptying volume and fraction and active emptying volumes were not different significantly between the groups (P > 0.05). The left intraatrial, right intraatrial, and inter-AEMDs were significantly longer in the ASD group (P = 0.032, P = 0.013, and P = 0.003, respectively). CONCLUSION: The left atrial reservoir and contractile pump functions are reduced; the left intraatrial, right intraatrial, and inter-AEMDs are increased in the patients with ASD.

Rupture of the NovaFlex balloon during transcatheter aortic valve implantation and subsequent dissection of the right iliac arteries.

We report a case with a very rare complication of transcatheter aortic valve implantation. Rupture of the NovaFlex balloon (Edwards transfemoral balloon catheter) occurred during the inflation of the Edwards SAPIEN valve, resulting in dissection of the right common and external iliac arteries during withdrawal of the balloon catheter. The NovaFlex balloon is a part of the Edwards NovaFlex XT transfemoral delivery system.

Mitral insufficiency caused by left atrial chordae.

We report an unusual case of moderate mitral regurgitation caused by abnormal insertion of chordae tendinea to the interatrial septum and tethering the middle scallop of the anterior mitral leaflet. This is an extremely rare congenital abnormality causing mitral regurgitation.