An unusual presentation of low QRS voltage in a patient with aortic aneurysm.

There are many causes of low QRS voltage on the electrocardiogram (ECG). Although uncommon, there is evidence that an enlarged aorta can cause diminished QRS amplitude on ECG. In this case report, we describe an unusual presentation of low QRS voltage confined to the first three precordial leads (V1-V3) in a 77-year-old female with ascending aortic aneurysm. Analysis of the patient's medical history, echocardiogram and contrast-enhanced computed tomography indicates that the ECG pattern was caused by interposition of the aortic aneurysm between the heart and the skin electrodes (V1-V3), revealing a possible indirect sign for large aortic aneurysm on ECG.

Evaluation of a new treadmill exercise protocol to unmask type 1 Brugada electrocardiographic pattern: can we improve diagnostic yield?

AIMS: High precordial leads (HPL) on the resting electrocardiogram (ECG) are widely used to improve diagnostic detection of type 1 Brugada ECG pattern (Br1ECGp). A parasympathetic activation marks the initial recovery phase of treadmill stress testing (TET), and this can be useful for detecting the typical ECG pattern. Our study aimed to evaluate the role of a new HPL-treadmill exercise testing (TET) protocol in detecting Br1ECGp fluctuation compared to resting HPL-ECG. METHODS AND RESULTS: 74 out of 163 patients of a Brugada syndrome (BrS) Brazilian cohort (GenBra Registry) underwent exercise testing with HPL-TET protocol. Precordial leads were displayed in strategic positions in the right and left parasternal spaces. The step-by-step analysis included ECG classification (as presence or absence of Br1ECGp) in standard vs. HPL leads placement in the following sequences: resting phase, maximal exercise, and the passive recovery phase (including 'quick lay down'). For heart rate recovery (HRR) measurements and comparisons, a Student's t-test was applied. McNemar tests compared the detection of Br1ECGp. The significance level was defined as P < 0.05. Fifty-seven patients (57/74; 77%) were male, the mean age was 49.0 ± 14, 78.4% had spontaneous BrS, and the mean Shanghai score was 4.5. The HPL-TET protocol increased Br1ECGp detection by 32.4% against resting HPL-ECG (52.7% vs. 20.3%, P = 0.001) alone. CONCLUSION: Stress testing using HPL with the passive recovery phase in the supine position offers an opportunity to unmask the type 1 Br1ECGp, which could increase the diagnostic yield in this population.

Cardiac Remodeling Patterns in Severe Obesity According to Arterial Hypertension Grade.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to correlate the left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) patterns according to severe obesity and arterial hypertension (AHT) grades. METHODS: A cross-sectional prospective study was conducted in 379 patients with severe obesity. Obesity was classified according to the BMI in the following: morbidly obese (MO; 40 < BMI < 50 kg/m2) and super obese (SO; BMI > 50 kg/m2). The AHT was classified into classes 1 and 2 according to American Heart Association. The presence of LVH and the pattern of cardiac remodeling were determined by transthoracic echocardiography. RESULTS: LVH was present in 58.6% of patients. Obesity and AHT had additive effects in LVH prevalence. LVH was found in 32.9 and 46.7% of MO with AHT grades 1 and 2, respectively. LVH was diagnosed in 39.1% in SO with AHT grade 1 and in 50% of AHT grade 2. Patients with AHT presented a significantly higher risk of developing LVH (OR 1.97; p = 0.003). Hypertension grade was also a determinant variable in the development of LVH. Patients with AHT 2 had 4.31-fold greater risk (p < 0.001) when compared to normotensive patients. BMI was only considered an independent risk factor for LVH in patients with BMI greater than 47.17 kg/m2 (OR 1.62; p = 0.023). CONCLUSION: AHT is a stronger predictive factor of LVH than obesity grade.

Policondrite recidivante: uma rara manifestação de bloqueioatrioventricular / Relapsing polychondritis: a rare manifestation of atrioventricular block

A policondrite recidivante é uma doença rara, multissistêmica, de etiologia desconhecida, provavelmenteautoimune, que acomete estruturas cartilaginosas e tecidos ricos em proteoglicanos. Orelha, nariz, articulações e árvore traqueobrônquica são os locais mais afetados durante os surtos inflamatórios, ocasionando destruição tecidual, deformidades permanentes e complicações respiratórias. Menos comumente, afeta olhos, coração e vasos sanguíneos.O diagnóstico é essencialmente clínico e o tratamento envolve o uso de corticoides e imunossupressores. Relatamos um caso de policondrite recidivante, em que a manifestação do segundo surto da doença ocorreu por meio de bloqueio atrioventricular com recuperação da condução cardíaca após tratamento com corticoide...

The relapsing polychondritis is a rare, multisystem disease, whose etiology is unknown. It is probably autoimmune and affects cartilaginous structures and proteoglycan-rich tissues. The ear, nose, joints and tracheobronchial tree are the most affected sites during inflammatory outbreaks causing tissue destruction,permanent deformities and respiratory complications. Less commonly, it affects the eyes, heart and blood vessels. The diagnosis is essentially clinical and treatment involves the use of steroids and immunosuppressive agents.We report a case of relapsing polychondritis where the second outbreak of the disease was manifested by na atrioventricular block with recovery of cardiac conduction after treatment with steroids...