Peripheral Arterial Disease in the Context of Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Comprehensive Analysis of Its Influence on Ejection Fraction Deterioration and the Onset of Acute Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral artery disease is a condition that causes narrowing of the arteries, impairing circulation to the extremities. Globally, it affects millions of people and is more prevalent in older adults and those with diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol. There is an overlap specific to polyvascular patients, and almost 50% of patients with PAD have coronary artery disease. Compelling evidence reveals a noteworthy association between PAD and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in individuals experiencing acute coronary syndrome (ACS) but limited knowledge exists regarding the influence of PAD on left ventricular systolic function during ACS. METHODS: In a retrospective case-control study, we examined 100 participants who presented with ACS (mean age = 61.03 years, 80 [80%] males). The patients were divided into two groups: the ACS-PAD group (32 subjects, 74% of them with STEMI, 10% with NSTEMI, and 16% with NSTEACS) and the ACS-nonPAD group (68 participants). RESULTS: This study highlighted that PAD negatively impacts patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). These patients were likely to experience a decline of approximately 19.3% in their left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) compared to the ACS-nonPAD group (p = 0.003) and presented a worse clinical status (the PAD group correlated with Killip class IV, p = 0.049). CONCLUSION: Our analysis indicates that patients diagnosed with NSTEACS and PAD tend to have a higher LVEF of over 55% and a lower HEART score. Patients with PAD tend to have a functionally higher EF but clinically present with more unstable scenarios (pulmonary edema and cardiogenic shock). This is mainly driven by a higher prevalence of HFpEF in the PAD group. Looking closer at the PAD group, they have a higher incidence of comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, CAD, and stroke, as well as being more active smokers.

Acute Coronary Syndrome: Disparities of Pathophysiology and Mortality with and without Peripheral Artery Disease.

There are a number of devastating complications associated with peripheral artery disease, including limb amputations and acute limb ischemia. Despite the overlap, atherosclerotic diseases have distinct causes that need to be differentiated and managed appropriately. In coronary atherosclerosis, thrombosis is often precipitated by rupture or erosion of fibrous caps around atheromatous plaques, which leads to acute coronary syndrome. Regardless of the extent of atherosclerosis, peripheral artery disease manifests itself as thrombosis. Two-thirds of patients with acute limb ischemia have thrombi associated with insignificant atherosclerosis. A local thrombogenic or remotely embolic basis of critical limb ischemia may be explained by obliterative thrombi in peripheral arteries of patients without coronary artery-like lesions. Studies showed that thrombosis of the above-knee arteries was more commonly due to calcified nodules, which are the least common cause of luminal thrombosis associated with acute coronary events in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Cardiovascular mortality was higher in peripheral artery disease without myocardial infarction/stroke than in myocardial infarction/stroke without peripheral artery disease. The aim of this paper is to gather published data regarding the disparities of acute coronary syndrome with and without peripheral artery disease in terms of pathophysiology and mortality.

Outcomes after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients with Extremely Calcified Left Main Lesions.

Background and Objectives: Available data with regard to the outcomes of patients with severely calcified left main (LM) lesions after revascularization by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) when compared to non-calcified LM lesions is unclear. Materials and Methods: The present study sought to retrospectively investigate in hospital and 1 year post-intervention outcomes of patients with extremely calcified LM lesions after PCI facilitated by calcium-dedicated devices (CdD). Seventy consecutive patients with LM PCI were included. CdD requirement was based on suboptimal results after balloon angioplasty. Results: Twenty-two patients (31.4%) required at least one CdD, while nine patients (12.8%) required at least two. Intravascular lithotripsy and rotational atherectomy were the predominantly used methods(59.1% and 40.9% respectively, for in-group ratios), while ultra-high pressure and scoring balloons contributed the least to lesion preparation (9%). In 20 patients (28.5%), severe or moderate calcifications were angiographically identified, but non-compliant balloon predilation was adequate and CdD were not necessary. Total procedural time was significantly higher in CdD group (p-value 0.02). Procedural and clinical success were obtained in 100% of cases. There were no major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) recorded during hospitalization. MACCE at 1 year post-procedure were recorded in three patients (4.2% overall). All three events were documented in the control group (6.2%), and no events were recorded in CdD group (p-value 0.23). There was one cardiac death at 10 months and two target lesion revascularizations for side-branch restenosis. Conclusions: Patients with extremely calcified LM lesions treated by PCI present a favorable prognosis if angioplasty is facilitated by more aggressive lesion debulking using calcium-dedicated devices.

The Management of Hypertensive Emergencies-Is There a "Magical" Prescription for All?

Hypertensive emergencies (HE) represent high cardiovascular risk situations defined by a severe increase in blood pressure (BP) associated with acute, hypertension mediated organ damage (A-HMOD) to the heart, brain, retina, kidneys, and large arteries. Blood pressure values alone do not accurately predict the presence of HE; therefore, the search for A-HMOD should be the first step in the management of acute severe hypertension. A rapid therapeutic intervention is mandatory in order to limit and promote regression of end-organ damage, minimize the risk of complications, and improve patient outcomes. Drug therapy for HE, target BP, and the speed of BP decrease are all dictated by the type of A-HMOD, specific drug pharmacokinetics, adverse drug effects, and comorbidities. Therefore, a tailored approach is warranted. However, there is currently a lack of solid evidence for the appropriate treatment strategies for most HE. This article reviews current pharmacological strategies while providing a stepwise, evidence based approach for the management of HE.

The Pathophysiological Link between Right Atrial Remodeling and Functional Tricuspid Regurgitation in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: A Three-Dimensional Echocardiography Study.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) itself may lead to functional tricuspid regurgitation (FTR) through tricuspid annulus (TA) dilation. However, the pathophysiological determinants of TA enlargement in AF patients remain to be clarified. The objectives of this study were (1) to compare the TA size and function in AF patients versus healthy subjects; (2) to identify the determinants of TA remodeling in patients with AF and FTR; and (3) to assess the relationships among right heart structures and severity of FTR in AF patients. METHODS: Eighty-three consecutive patients with long-term persistent AF and FTR (61 ± 9.9 years, 67% women) were prospectively enrolled and compared with 83 sex and body surface area-matched healthy subjects. Heart chamber size and function and TA geometry were analyzed using three-dimensional echocardiography. RESULTS: Among AF patients, 33%, 34%, and 33% had mild, moderate, and severe FTR, respectively. Right atrial (RA) dilation was detected in 93% of AF patients, while only 27% and 12% of them showed dilated or dysfunctional right ventricle (RV), respectively. End-diastolic TA area had the strongest correlation with the minimum volume of the RA (RAVmin r = 0.6981, P < .0001) but only mild correlation with RV end-diastolic volume and sex (r = 0.3405, P = .0019; r = 0.2914, P = .0075). At multivariable analysis, only RAVmin was independently associated with TA area in AF patients (r = 0.665, P < .0001). The RAVmin and TA area were the only predictors of FTR severity. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with AF, RA dilation seems to be more important than RV dilation to determine TA enlargement and subsequent FTR development. The RAVmin and TA area were directly correlated to FTR severity.

The riddle of the right ventricle.

Right ventricular (RV) myxoma is a very rare finding. Its differential diagnosis includes cardiac thrombus, and its risk of life-threatening complications mandates early diagnosis followed by surgical resection. We report the case of a patient with an incidental RV mass and a difficult differential diagnosis. A 66-year-old woman, first assessed in neurosurgery due to a lumbar herniated disc, was referred to cardiology for examination before proceeding to surgery. She complained of dyspnea on exertion present for the last few months and reported no fainting or syncope. Clinical examination showed intermittent pulmonary systolic murmur. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed an oval-shaped sessile mobile mass (42∕18 mm) attached to the anterior RV wall. Computed tomography confirmed the presence of a RV mass with lower attenuation than the myocardium and extension towards the pulmonary trunk, without other abdominal or pulmonary masses that would suggest a thrombus. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging described an ovoid mass (47∕16 mm) in the right ventricle, "clinging" to the apical trabeculae, swinging during the cardiac cycle, causing partial obstruction of the pulmonary valve during systole. The patient underwent surgical resection of the tumor. Macroscopic specimen showed a translucent polypoid mass with hemorrhagic areas. Microscopy confirmed the diagnosis of RV myxoma. The case illustrates the difficulty of establishing the correct etiological diagnosis of a cardiac mass, especially when located in the right ventricle. Multimodality imaging remains the cornerstone of noninvasive tissue characterization of cardiac masses, still requiring histopathological confirmation, particularly in the setting of conflicting imaging results.

Functional Regurgitation of Atrioventricular Valves and Atrial Fibrillation: An Elusive Pathophysiological Link Deserving Further Attention.

In patients with structurally normal atrioventricular valvular apparatus, functional regurgitation of the mitral or tricuspid valves has been attributed mainly to ventricular dilation and/or dysfunction, through a combination of annulus dilation and tethering of the valve leaflets. The occurrence of functional regurgitation of atrioventricular valves in patients with long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation and atrial dilation but normal ventricular size and function has received much less attention, and its peculiar mechanisms still remain to be understood. This distinct form of functional regurgitation (i.e., "atrial functional regurgitation") may require different treatment and interventional repair approaches than the classical functional regurgitation due to ventricular dilatation and dysfunction ("ventricular functional regurgitation"), and current guideline recommendations do not yet address this distinction. Clarifying the differences in the pathophysiology of atrial functional regurgitation and its management implications is of paramount importance. This review describes briefly the comparative anatomy of mitral and tricuspid apparatus and the pathophysiology and typical echocardiographic features of atrial functional regurgitation compared with ventricular functional regurgitation, as well as the added value of three-dimensional echocardiography as an essential imaging tool to clarify the mechanisms involved in its development.

Target Organ Damage and Cardiovascular Risk in a Hypertensive Roma Sample Population in Romania.

BACKGROUND: The largest European Roma community resides in Romania, but there is still little published data on cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and disease in this group. This study addresses the prevalence of arterial hypertension, associated CV disease risk, and target organ damage (TOD) in a Roma community from Bucharest, Romania. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional community-based participatory research to assess for CV risk factors, TOD and CV disease, including 806 Roma ethnics (18-83 years) integrated in the local community, 36.16% males. Evaluation included physical examination with blood pressure, pulse wave velocity and anklebrachial measurements, laboratory tests, ECG, echocardiography and fundoscopy. RESULTS: Prevalence of hypertension was 33.62%, awareness 76.38%, higher in females (p>0.01), and control rate 44.39%. Compared to age-matched normotensives, hypertensives had more left ventricle hypertrophy and more frequently increased pulse pressure. Differences in TOD were attenuated between newly and previously diagnosed, controlled and uncontrolled, hypertensives. Cardiovascular disease was almost absent in normotensives. Ten-year risk for fatal CV disease followed an increasing trend from normotension to long standing hypertension. CONCLUSION: This is the first dedicated study to thoroughly assess TOD and risk for fatal CV disease in a Romanian Roma population. Hypertension was less prevalent than in the general population, with similar awareness, possibly as a consequence of integration in the surrounding community. Fatal CV disease risk followed the trend of increasing prevalence of risk factors, and hypertension played an important role in its modulation.

Cardiovascular risk factors in a Roma sample population from Romania.

BACKGROUND: The Roma population has a high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, higher mortality, and shorter life expectancy. It is found in the largest number in Romania, but published data are still scarce here. We studied cardiovascular risk factors and disease along with target organ damage on a population of Roma inhabitants from Bucharest, Romania. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled 806 Roma subjects (18-83 years), in a community-based participatory research manner. Demographics included anthropometric data, a questionnaire on social status, education, medical history, and health deleterious behaviors. Medical evaluation included clinical examination, blood pressure, ankle-brachial index, pulse wave velocity measurements, blood tests (complete blood count, lipid profile, glucose, creatinine, uric acid), dip-stick microalbuminuria, dilated fundoscopy, ECG, and echocardiography. RESULTS: Prevalence of all cardiovascular risk factors was high, peaking in abnormal lipid metabolism (82.13%), heavy smoking (63.02% including ex-smokers) and obesity (50.99%). The first and the latter were actually similar to the general population in Romania. Almost half of subjects were at high or very high risk for fatal cardiovascular disease. CONCLUSIONS: The study shows that the Roma population in a more affluent region in Romania shares a similarly high cardiovascular burden to their surrounding community.

Mass effect: a plethora of symptoms caused by an otherwise benign transitional pituitary meningioma. Case report.

Meningiomas are among the most commonly encountered tumors of the central nervous system, being more frequent in females. We present the case of a dyslipidemic male patient, previously diagnosed with coronary artery disease for which he previously underwent percutaneous coronary intervention with the placement of two bare metal stents on the left anterior descending artery. He was presented to the emergency department for atypical angina and a seven-day history of dizziness when switching from clino- to orthostatism, reduced visual acuity, diplopia and vomiting. Electrocardiogram (ECG), both at rest and exercise test were suggestive for myocardial ischemia. Echocardiography revealed myocardial hypokinesia in the territory of the right coronary artery and of the left descending artery, while coronarography showed insignificant intra-stent stenosis. Imaging techniques revealed a frontobasal extraneuraxial mass, creating a compressive effect on both middle cerebral arteries and on the optic chiasm as well as thickening of the dura mater adjacent to the mass. Endocrinology blood tests showed hypocortisolemia, hyperprolactinemia and low levels of free thyroxine (fT4), suggesting secondary combined pituitary hormone deficiency. The patient underwent surgery and total resection of the tumor was performed. Definite diagnosis - transitional meningioma - was obtained through histological examination and immunohistochemistry. The key feature of this case was the extra-cardiac cause of angina accompanied by ECG abnormalities in a patient with stable coronary heart disease, in whom the clinical presentation was secondary to blood pressure variations in the context of pituitary and adrenal deficiency.

Pulmonary thromboembolism in an emergency hospital: Are our patients different?

INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) represents a medical emergency and is the third most common cause of mortality after myocardial infarction and stroke. The purpose of this study was to describe the characteristics and management of patients with PTE admitted in a referral emergency hospital in Romania. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all cases of PTE diagnosed in one of the largest emergency hospitals in Bucharest during a 2-year period (January 2014 - December 2016). Patients with acute PTE were identified by a database search of the diagnostic codes of all discharge diagnoses. Demographic, clinical and paraclinical tests data was retrieved from medical records. RESULTS: 221 patients (48.87% male, mean age 61.76 years (range 21-94 years)) were diagnosed with PTE in our hospital (0.31% of all hospitalizations). Dyspnea was the most frequent symptom reported (78.9%), followed by pleuritic chest pain (23.9%) and unilateral leg pain (15.8%). Upon presentation, 12.6% of patients had high-risk PTE. Up to 72.8% of patients had at least one thrombotic risk factor, while cancer (14%) was the most frequent amongst them. The mean length of hospitalization was 10.3 ± 4.6 days. Unfractioned heparin (UFH) was the preferred anticoagulant during hospital stay (73.7%, p < 0.001). Vitamin K antagonists (AVK) were the preferred anticoagulant (71.7%, p < 0.001) after discharge, whereas non-antivitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOAC) were recommended in 26.3% of patients. Thrombolysis was used in 18 (8.4%) cases. Mortality was 0.9%. Younger patients more frequently associated thrombophilia or a previous thromboembolic event and clinical signs of DVT at presentation. Older patients associated more frequently a history of hospitalization for heart failure or atrial fibrillation during the previous 3 months and a history of cancer. The clinical presentation in older patients was more severe, with higher PESI scores (103.6 ± 33.4 vs. 55.5 ± 17.9, p<0.001) and a longer hospital stay (10.7 ± 4.7 vs. 9.2 ± 3.9, p = 0.03). The type of anticoagulant treatment did not differ depending on age. CONCLUSION: In our emergency hospital, PTE is a relatively rare cause of hospitalization; the rate is, however, comparable with other major hospitals. Dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain was the clinical presentation dyad. UFH was the preferred anticoagulant for in-hospital treatment while AVK was the preferred option for long term treatment and recurrence prophylaxis; however an increasing number of patients are prescribed NOAC. In older patients clinical severity was higher upon presentation, hospitalization duration was increased and cancer was more frequently associated. Younger patients associated more frequently a primary hypercoagulable state and recurrent thromboembolism. Mortality rate was low during hospitalization, comparable with that seen in other studied populations.

Following up adult patients with tetralogy of fallot: The role of echocardiography.

Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is one of the most common cyanotic congenital heart diseases. With surgical repair and the advances in postoperative care, contemporary mortality has dramatically improved and an increasing number of patients survive into adulthood, leading to a growing number of adult TOF. However, residual anatomic and hemodynamic abnormalities are encountered in nearly all patients, making follow-up mandatory. Furthermore, mortality starts to increase 25 years after surgery, emphasizing that, in adult TOF, closer monitoring is necessary. We review here the role of echocardiography in the follow-up of the TOF patients, emphasizing the role of multiple echocardiographic techniques. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 45:79-95, 2017.

The Etiology of Syncope in an Emergency Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Syncope is a commonly encountered problem in an emergency hospital. Global cerebral hypoperfusion is the final pathway common to all presentations of syncope, but this symptom presentation has a broad differential diagnosis. It is important to identify patients for whom syncope is a symptom of a potentially life-threatening condition. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We identified adult patients presenting with syncope to the Emergency Department of our hospital from January 2012 to June 2014. Of 590 patients found in the hospital database we further selected 217 patients who met our criteria, namely having a positive diagnosis of syncope (being clearly distinguished from other TLOCs) and an etiology of the disease. Thus, definite diagnosis was established retrospectively by reviewing medical records. RESULTS: The demographics of our group shows a slightly different distribution between men and women (49% men and 51% women) and a majority of the urban population (67%). As for the age range, most of our patients were in the age group of 70-80 years (30%), 29% were > 80 years old, and the percentage decreases significantly in the 60-70 years range (17%). The most frequent causes of syncope were cardiac (32%), vasovagal (23%) and due to orthostatic hypotension (12%), but we have also found various cases of mixt or iatrogenic causes. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of syncope increases sharply after 70 years of age and poses special consideration in light of multiple comorbid conditions, age-related changes, atypical presentation, and concomitant medication use. The most common causes of syncope in this population are cardiac causes, orthostatic hypotension and carotid sinus hypersensitivity. Often, root cause of syncope remains undiagnosed, despite exhaustive diagnostic testing.

From Clinical Considerations to Theory - Blood Pressure Variability Profiles and Patterns.

BACKGROUND: Blood pressure variability (BPV) has recently been associated with adverse cardiovascular (CV) events, endothelial dysfunction as well as both CV and non-CV morbidity and mortality. Different BPV indicators have been associated with increased CV risk. METHODS: We included 744 hypertensive patients referred to our clinic for uncontrolled arterial hypertension (HTN) between 2012 and 2014, with a minimum of 40 successful daytime and 8 successful nighttime readings on automatic blood pressure monitoring (ABPM Meditech-05 device, recordings at 15-20 minutes intervals during daytime and 20-30 minutes intervals during nighttime). Exclusion criteria were presence of secondary HTN, significant CV disease and estimated glomerular filtration rate <30 ml/min/1.73 m2. BPV was expressed as dipping pattern, BP load, SD of 24-hour mean BP, average weighted SD and average real variability (ARV). RESULTS: All patients were known hypertensives, however their average blood pressure (BP) values on 24-hour ABPM were below 135/85 mmHg. The average dipping was higher in dippers (p<0.01) and nighttime systolic BP (SBP) load was increased among the non-dippers group (p<0.01). Mean diastolic BP (DBP) was slightly increased in dippers vs. non-dippers (75.82 ± 10.28 mmHg vs. 71.42 ± 10.17 mmHg, p<0.01). Of the total of 407 dippers, 31.2% displayed an extreme dipping pattern, whereas 29.67% of the 337 non-dippers were risers. In our study, average SBP, daytime and nighttime SBP SD and ARV did not differ significantly between the two extreme groups, as opposed to classical indicators such as SBP load (p<0.01) and weighted SD (p 0.02). CONCLUSION: In the emergency hospital setting, hypertensive patients can have normal mean BP values, but still can display a very high variability and in most cases abnormal dipping profiles, requiring a strictly controlled drug therapy that is able to match each individual's chronobiology.

Illicit Drugs and their Impact on Cardiovascular Pathology.

The use of illicit drugs has dramatically increased during the past years. Consequently, the number of presentations at the emergency departments due to the adverse effects of the illicit drugs has also increased. This review discusses the cardiovascular effects of cocaine, opiates and opioids, cannabinoids, amphetamines, methamphetamines and hallucinogens as we consider that it is essential for a clinician to be aware of them and understand their mechanisms in order to optimize the therapeutic management.

Midkine proteins in cardio-vascular disease. Where do we come from and where are we heading to?

Midkine is a recently identified new growth factor/cytokine with pleiotropic functions in the human organism. First discovered in the late eighties, midkines have now become the subject of numerous studies in cardiovascular, neurologic, renal diseases and also various types of cancers. We summarize here the most important functions of midkine in cardiovascular diseases, emphasizing its role in inflammation and its antiapoptotic and proangiogenetic effects. Midkine has multiple roles in the organism, with the specific feature of being either beneficial or harmful depending on which tissue it acts on. Even though midkine has been shown to have cardiac protective effects against acute ischemia/reperfusion injury and to inhibit cardiac remodeling, it also promotes intimal hyperplasia and vascular stenosis. As such, different therapeutic strategies are currently being evaluated, consisting of administering either midkine proteins or midkine inhibitors depending on the desired outcome. More data is gathering to suggest that these novel therapies could become an adjunctive to standard cardiovascular therapy. Nonetheless, much is still to be learned about midkine. The encouraging results up till now require further studying in order to fully understand the complete profile of its mechanism of action and the clinical safety and efficacy of novel therapeutic opportunities offered by midkine molecular targeting.

Positive pressure therapy in patients with cardiac arrhythmias and obstructive sleep apnea.

BACKGROUND: Positive pressure therapy (CPAP) in patients with cardiac arrhythmias and obstructive sleep apnea (OSAS) may have favorable effects by correcting intermittent hypoxemia and sympathetic activation. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of CPAP added to pharmacological treatment in the rate control and prevention of arrhythmias recurrence in patients with OSA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective, interventional study study which included patients diagnosed with OSAS (cardiorespiratorypolygraphy, AHI>5/hour), and arrhythmias (ECG, Holter ECG), divided in two groups: group A (pharmacological therapy only) and group B (pharmacological therapy and CPAP). The patients were evaluated at enrollment (T0), at 3 and 6 months (T3 and T6) regarding the type, severity and recurrence of cardiac arrhythmias. RESULTS: 36 patients (31 men), mean age: 63.2 ± 12 years were enroled. In group A: 7 patients with ventricular extrasystoles, 8 with permanent atrial fibrillation, 1 patient with atrial flutter and 2 patients with paroxystic supraventricular tachycardia. In group B: 8 patients with ventricular extrasystoles, 5 with permanent atrial fibrillation, 2 patients with recurrent episodes of atrial fibrillation and 3 with paroxystic supraventricular tachycardia. A positive correlation (r: 0.74, p < 0.001) between Oxygen Desaturation Index and AHI was found. At T6, 12 patients from group B, and 18 from group A were evaluated. In group B, the mean heart rate in patients with atrial fibrillation was 69/min., lower than in group A (82/min.), no cases with recurrent atrial fibrillation were found, and more patients with class II Lown ventricular extrasystoles passed in class I Lown, compared to group A. In group B, heart rate statistically correlated with AHI (r: 0.53, p < 0.005). CONCLUSION: In patients with OSAS, adding CPAP to pharmacological therapy has favorable effects on preventing recurrences, heart rate control in patients with atrial fibrillation and in reducing frequency and/or severity of ventricular extrasystoles.

Apical Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: The Ace-of-Spades as the Disease Card.

UNLABELLED: Apical cardiac hypertrophy (Yamaguchi syndrome) is a relatively rare form of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. A 67-year-old woman presented with exertional angina and moderate dyspnea. Her electrocardiogram showed sinus rhythm, flattened T waves in the limb leads and a strain pattern in the V2-V6 leads. Echocardiographic examination showed that apical wall thickness of the left ventricle (LV) was 19 mm. Coronary angiography was normal, but left ventriculography revealed a spade-like shaped LV cavity, typical for apical cardiac hypertrophy. The diagnostic criteria for apical cardiac hypertrophy are: 1) asymmetric LV hypertrophy - predominantly at the apex of the ventricle; 2) LV wall thickness of 15 mm or more during diastole; and 3) apical to posterior wall thickness ratio of 1.5 or more determined by 2-dimensional echocardiography or cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Although relatively rare, Yamaguchi syndrome must enter into the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with exertional angina pectoris. KEY WORDS: Angina pectoris; Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Diuretics, first-line antihypertensive agents: are they always safe in the elderly?

INTRODUCTION: Diuretics are frequently recommended as antihypertensive agents. Some of the main side effects of diuretic therapy are hypokalaemia and hyponatremia. The objective of the study was to describe the frequency of hyponatremia in a group of elderly hypertensive patients treated with diuretics. METHOD: The study included 202 elderly hypertensive patients (over 65 years old), treated with diuretics at least 4 weeks before hospitalization, consecutivly admitted in the Internal Medicine Clinic of the Clinical Emergency Hospital of Bucharest during a period of 4 months. RESULTS: The distribution by sex: 103 (52.28%) men and 94 (47.71%) women. The mean age of the patients was 72 ± 8 years. Incidence of hyponatremia was 24.87% (49 patients) in the whole group. From the 49 hyponatremic patients, 31 (63.26%) were women and 18 (36.73%) men. The distribution by age of hypertensive hyponatremic female patients was: between 65-70 years old--4 patients (12.90%), between 70-75 years old--7 patients (22.58%), over 75 years old--20 patients (64.51%). The distribution by age of hypertensive hyponatremic male patients was: between 65-70 years old--3 patients (16.66%), between 70-75 years old--2 patients(11.11%), over 75 years old--13 patients (72.22%). Most of the patients affected (73.46%) used a thiazide-type diuretic, the other 26.54% being on loop diuretics. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly hypertensive patients were more likely to develop hyponatremia after age 75. Female patients had a higher frequency of hyponatremia than male patients. The main cause of hyponatremia in patients treated with diuretics was thiazide.

A rare tumor revealed by abdominal trauma: case presentation.

Pseudomyxoma peritonei is a rare and poorly understood form of disease characterized by mucin deposits in the peritoneum. The term includes a broad range of neoplasms with different patterns of evolution, from benign to borderline or even to malignant lesions. The disease may be asymptomatic until advanced stages. We present the case of a 65-year-old patient who presented for pain in the right hemiabdomen, after a trauma by falling from small height. Abdominal imaging studies oriented the diagnosis to a traumatic disease. At laparotomy, a mucinous tumor attached to the right colon was discovered. The main particularity of the case is that the origin of the pseudomyxoma could not be identified.