Non-compacted cardiomyopathy: clinical-echocardiographic study.

UNLABELLED: The aim of the present study was to describe the clinical and echocardiographic findings of ventricular noncompaction in adult patients. Fifty-three patients underwent complete clinical history, electrocardiogram, Holter and transthoracic echocardiogram. Forty patients (75%) were in class I/II of the New York Heart Association, and 13 (25%) in class III/IV. Ventricular and supraventricular escape beats were found in 40% and 26.4%, respectively. Holter showed premature ventricular contractions in 32% and sustained ventricular tachycardia in 7.5%. Ventricular noncompaction was an isolated finding in 74% of cases and was associated with other congenital heart disease in 26%. Noncompacted ventricular myocardium involved only left ventricle in 62% of the patients and both ventricles in 38%. The mean ratio of noncompacted to compacted myocardial layers at the site of maximal wall thickness was 3.4 +/- 0.87 mm (range 2.2-7.5). The presence of ventricular noncompaction in more than three segments was associated with a functional class greater than II and ventricular arrhythmia with demonstrable statistical significance by chi2(p < 0.003). CONCLUSION: a) Noncompacted cardiomyopathy is a congenital pathological entity that can occur in isolated form or associated with other heart disease and often involves both ventricles. b) A ratio of noncompacted to compacted myocardium greater than 3 and involvement of three or more segments are indicators of poor prognosis. c) Since the clinical manifestations are not sufficient to establish diagnosis, echocardiography is the diagnostic tool that makes it possible to document ventricular noncompaction and establish prognostic factors.

[Clinical and echocardiographic characteristics of scimitar syndrome]. / Aspectos clínicos y ecocardiográficos del síndrome de la cimitarra.

Seven patients with scimitar syndrome underwent retrospective clinical and echocardiographic examination. The findings were: respiratory infection with dyspnea on moderate exercise in 90%, scimitar sign in four (57%), dextrocardia in five (71%), and interatrial septal defect in five (71%), one of whom had patent ductus arteriosus. Overall, two patients had patent ductus arteriosus: one also had aortic coarctation and the other, a bicuspid aortic valve. Dilation of the right cavities was found in five (71%) and blunt edge in five (71%). In two patients, anomalous drainage was into the right atrium; in another two, into the inferior vena cava; and in three, towards the junction of the right atrium and the inferior vena cava. In three patients, drainage was obstructed. Six patients with cardiac abnormalities proceeded to surgery. Scimitar syndrome is a rare entity. In the large majority of patients (86%), diagnosis and follow-up can be performed echocardiographically.

Aspectos clínicos y ecocardiográficos del síndrome de la cimitarra / Clinical and echocardiographic characteristics of scimitar syndrome

Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo de 7 pacientes adultos con síndrome de la cimitarra mediante examen clínico y ecocardiográfico. Los resultados fueron: infección respiratoria y disnea de medianos esfuerzos en el 90%, signo de la cimitarra en 4 (57%), dextrocardia en 5 (71%), comunicación interauricular en 5 (71%), uno de ellos con persistencia de conducto arterioso; 2 con persistencia de conducto arterioso, 1 de ellos con coartación de aorta y otro con aorta bivalva; dilatación de cavidades derechas en 5 (71%) y borde romo en 5 (71%). En 2 pacientes, el colector drenó la aurícula derecha, en 2 la vena cava inferior y en 3 la unión de la aurícula con la vena cava inferior; 3 tuvieron obstrucción del colector. Seis pacientes fueron intervenidos quirúrgicamente. El síndrome de la cimitarra es raro; su diagnóstico y su seguimiento se puede realizar mediante ecocardiografía en un alto porcentaje de casos (86%)

Seven patients with scimitar syndrome underwent retrospective clinical and echocardiographic examination. The findings were: respiratory infection with dyspnea on moderate exercise in 90%, scimitar sign in four (57%), dextrocardia in five (71%), and interatrial septal defect in five (71%), one of whom had patent ductus arteriosus. Overall, two patients had patent ductus arteriosus: one also had aortic coarctation and the other, a bicuspid aortic valve. Dilation of the right cavities was found in five (71%) and blunt edge in five (71%). In two patients, anomalous drainage was into the right atrium; in another two, into the inferior vena cava; and in three, towards the junction of the right atrium and the inferior vena cava. In three patients, drainage was obstructed. Six patients with cardiac abnormalities proceeded to surgery. Scimitar syndrome is a rare entity. In the large majority of patients (86%), diagnosis and follow-up can be performed echocardiographically

[Anatomo-echocardiographic correlation of scimitar syndrome in adults]. / Correlación anatomo-ecocardiográfica del síndrome de cimitarra en el adulto y comentario embriológico.

It is a retrospective study of 7 patients with clinical and echocardiographic assessment, the last was correlated with morphologic features of one equivalent anatomic specimen. The results are: respiratory infections and dyspnea in 90% of cases, scimitar sign in four (57%), interatrial septal defect in five (71%), one of them with patent ductus arteriosus, two (28.6%) only with patent ductus arteriosus. Dextrocardia was found in 5 (71%), dilation of the right cavities in 5 (71%) and blunt edge in 6 (85.7%). In two the colector drained into the right atrium, in one to the junction of the right atrium and inferior vena cava and in the other three into the inferior vena cava through the colector. Six patients with cardiac abnormalities went to surgery. The correlation shows agreement between the echocardiographic image and the anatomic specimen. Scimitar syndrome is a rare entity, which diagnosis and follow up can be performed by echocardiography in a great percentage (86%). The embryologic basis of this syndrome is enhanced.

Correlación anatomo-ecocardiográfica del síndrome de cimitarra en el adulto y comentario embriológico / Anatomo-echocardiographic correlation of Scimitar Syndrome in adults

Estudio retrospectivo de 7 pacientes adultos con síndrome de cimitarra mediante examen clínico y ecocardiográfico, este último se correlacionó con un espécimen anatómico equivalente. Los resultados fueron: Infección respiratoria y disnea de medianos esfuerzos en el 90%, signo de Cimitarra en 4 (57%), comunicación interatrial en 5 (71 %), uno de ellos con persistencia de conducto arterioso; dos (28.6%) sólo con persistencia de conducto arterioso, dextrocardia en 5 (71%), dilatación de cavidades derechas en 5 (71%) y borde romo en 6 (85.7%). En 2 el colector drenó a la porción baja de la aurícula derecha, en tres a la unión del atrio derecho con la vena cava inferior y en 2 a la vena cava inferior a través de un colector. Seis fueron a cirugía. La correlación mostró concordancia entre la imagen ecocardiográfica y el espécimen anatómico. El síndrome de la Cimitarra es raro, su diagnóstico y seguimiento se puede realizar mediante ecocardiografía en un alto porcentaje (86%). Se resalta la base embriológica de este síndrome.

It is a retrospective study of 7 patients with clinical and echocardiographic assessment, the last was correlated with morphologic features of one equivalent anatomic specimen. The results are: respiratory infections and dyspnea in 90% of cases, scimitar sign in four (57%), interatrial septal defect in five (71%), one of them with patent ductus arteriosus, two (28.6%) only with patent ductus arteriosus. Dextrocardia was found in 5 (71 %), dilation of the right cavities in 5 (71%) and blunt edge in 6 (85.7%). In two the colector drained into the right atrium, in one to the junction of the right atrium and inferiorvena cava and in the other three into the inferior vena cava through the colector. Six patients with cardiac abnormalities went to surgery. The correlation shows agreement between the echocardiographic image and the anatomic specimen. Scimitar syndrome is a rare entity, which diagnosis and follow up can be performed by echocardiography in a great percentage (86%). The embryologic basis of this syndrome is enhanced. (Arch Cardiol Mex 2005; 75: 165-169).