Effects of Mitral Valve Surgery on Ventricular Arrhythmia in Mitral Valve Prolapse Patients: Five-Year Eollow-up.

Aim      To evaluate the effect of mitral valve (MV) repair and replacement on the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias (VA) and to identify risk factors for the persistence of VA in patients with MV prolapse and severe mitral regurgitation (MR) during a mid-term follow-up.Material and methods  A single-site observational, prospective study successively enrolled 30 patients (mean age, 55.2±9.9 years, 60% men) who underwent MV repair or replacement for severe MR due to MV prolapse or chordal avulsion. Transthoracic echocardiography and Holter monitoring were performed in all patients before and annually after surgery. A pathomorphological study of MV fragments excised during surgery was performed.Results During the five-year follow-up period (144 person-years), one case of sudden cardiac death outside a health care facility was recorded. MR severity progressed in three patients after MV repair. The total number of all VAs decreased during the follow-up period, with a significant decrease in the number of paroxysms of unstable ventricular tachycardia during the first two years after surgery. The presence of VA in the postoperative period was correlated with the severity of postoperative left ventricular (LV) remodeling: end-diastolic volume (EDV) (rs=0.69; p=0.005), LV ejection fraction (EF) (rs = -0.55; p=0.004) and severity of MV myxomatous alterations according to histological study data (rτ=0.58; p=0.045). The beta-blocker treatment did not influence the VA frequency and severity (rs= -0.18; p=0.69). According to a univariate regression analysis only EDV (p = 0.001), LVEF <50% (p = 0.003), and myxomatous MV degeneration (p = 0.02) were risk factors for persistent ventricular tachycardia in the postoperative period.Conclusion      Surgical intervention on MV in patients with MV prolapse and severe MR decreased the number of cases of malignant VAs and was correlated with the postoperative changes in LV volume and function, as well as the severity of MV myxomatous alterations.

Shortness of Breath on Exertion: Diagnostic Possibilities of Stress Echocardiography.

Aim      To determine diagnostic capabilities of the expanded protocol for stress echocardiography (stress-EchoCG) with comprehensive evaluation of clinical and echocardiographic indexes in differential diagnosis of dyspnea.Material and methods This study included 243 patients (123 women and 120 men) who were referred to outpatient stress-EchoCG during one calendar month. For 80 patients complaining about shortness of breath, the expanded stress-EchoCG protocol with treadmill exercise was performed. During the exercise, E / e' and tricuspid regurgitation velocity were determined, and clinical features and possible nature of dyspnea were evaluated.Results Shortness of breath had an ischemic origin in 17.5 % of 80 patients; 13.8 % had criteria of elevated left ventricular end-diastolic pressure; 17.5 % of patients had clinical signs of bronco-pulmonary pathology; 5.0 % had moderate and severe mitral regurgitation; 20 % displayed signs of chronotropic insufficiency during exercise including on the background of beta-blocker therapy; 15.0 % of patients displayed a hypertensive response to exercise, which was associated with signs of chronotropic insufficiency in 50 % of them; and 1.3 % had signs of hyperventilation syndrome. In addition to diagnosis of transient ischemia, additional information about the nature of shortness of breath was obtained for 72.5 % of patients. Based on results of the test, objective causes for dyspnea were not identified for 10.0 % of patients.Conclusion      The expanded stress-EchoCG protocol with exercise allows obtaining information about the nature of dyspnea for most patients with shortness of breath of a non-ischemic origin. For this patient category, expanding the stress-EchoCG protocol does not increase duration of the study and is economically beneficial for diagnosis of chronic heart failure and other causes for shortness of breath.

[Left ventricular systolic dysfunction in young subjects with marfanoid habitus].

BACKGROUND: In Marfan syndrome early impairment of left ventricular systolic function has been reported. Our aim was to evaluate the left ventricular systolic function in young adults with Marfanoid habitus (MH) (includes arachnodactylia, dolichostenomelia, high palate, deformations of the thorax). METHODS: We studied 137 young subjects (mean age 21.3±1.5) - 58 male, 79 female. Transthoracic echocardiography (Vivid 7 Dimension, GE) was performed in 24 asymptomatic MH with excluded Marfan syndrome and 42 healthy control subjects. Radial and circumferential systolic strain and strain rate were determined using spackle tracking (EchoPAC¼08, GE). RESULTS: Ascending aorta diameters were larger in subjects with MH. LV mass index did not differ significantly between groups, but interventricular septum and posterior wall thickness were greater in MH group. Local LV radial and circumferential systolic deformation indices were significant decreased in MH group. CONCLUSIONS: Young adults with MH in the absence of major findings of Marfan syndrome (ascending aortic aneurysm and ectopia lentis) have decreased LV systolic function.

[The role of transforming growth factor-ß in the pathogenesis of mitral valve prolapse].

Changes in activity of the components of TGF-ß signaling pathway is associated with inherited disorders of connective tissue such as Marfan syndrome, Loeys-Dietz syndrome, etc. However, its impact on mitral valve prolapse (MVP) has not been completely studied. We examined 35 patients undergoing reconstructive surgery due MVP complicated by severe mitral insufficiency (mean age 62.5+/-7.9 years, 46% - men). High level of TGF-ßl/2 was detected in majority (65%) of cases and correlated with the thickness of posterior leaflet (r=0.67; p=0.016), residual valve prolapse (r=0.68; p=0.007) and residual mitral regurgitation (MR) (r=0.56; p=0.01). In patients with high TGF-ßl/2 level we detected a significant decrease in left ventricular longitudinal systolic (-13.5+/-2.2% vs. -16.6+/-2.3%, p=0.008) and diastolic (1.14+/-0.20 s-1 vs. 1.34+/-0.18 s-1, p=0.04) strain and SR (-0.89+/-0.15 s-1 vs. -1.14+/-0.15 s-1, p=0.002). Thus, TGF-ß has a significant impact on the progression of valve myxomatous degeneration. The high activity of TGF-ß signaling pathway results also in reduction in LV function, probably due to the profibrotic activity.

[Improvement of aortic root replacement technique with aortic valve sparing: immediate and long-term results].

One of the approaches to treatment of the aortic root aneurysms combined with aortic insufficiency is valve-sparing aortic root replacement. An analysis of immediate and long-term results dealt with 19 operations of replacement of the ascending parts of the aorta with sparing the aortic valve by the David I modified technique. The results demonstrated effectiveness and relative safety of this method of correction. At the long-term period 3 patients (16%) showed the II degree aortic regurgitation, in the other patients it was not higher than I degree. The improved David I technique is thought to be optimal in patients with the aortic root aneurysms, aortic insufficiency and unaltered aorta valve cusps.