Takotsubo syndrome in COVID-19: a case series study.

BACKGROUND: Takotsubo syndrome is a clinical syndrome characterized by an acute and transient left ventricular systolic dysfunction related to an emotional or physical stressful event. CASE PRESENTATION: During the Covid-19 pandemic, five cases of Takotsubo syndrome in hospitalized, mechanically ventilated patients due critical SARS-CoV-2 infection have been identified at our institution. Here we present the electrocardiographic, echocardiographic and angiographic characteristics of this case series. All cases were initially suspected by echocardiography performed due an abnormal electrocardiogram, troponin elevation or clinical deterioration. CONCLUSION: A high index of suspicion should be sought to identify Takotsubo syndrome and other cardiac complications associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Excessive Weight and Obesity Are Associated to Intra-Ventricular Asynchrony: Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Excessive weight and obesity (EwO) are independent factors in the development of heart failure; they lead to a state of myocardiopathy via inflammatory and hormonal mechanisms. If excessively accumulated, epicardial fat favors a proinflammatory state. Ventricular asynchrony is a marker of heart failure progression and has been poorly studied in EwO. The objective was evaluate the relation between epicardial fat, body mass index (BMI) and mechanical synchrony measured by echocardiography, in healthy individuals with EwO. METHODS: We included 55 healthy individuals between the ages of 18 and 35, 17 had a BMI < 25 kg/m(2) (30.9%) and 38 had a BMI > 25 kg/m(2) (EwO group) (69.09%), anthropometric measurements, transthoracic echocardiogram and synchrony evaluation were obtained. RESULTS: Left atrial volume, telediastolic and telesystolic left ventricular volumes and the baseline volume of the right ventricle were greater in the EwO group (20 mL/m(2) vs. 15 mL/m(2), p = 0.001; 106 mL vs. 82 mL, p = 0.0149 vs. 32 mL, p = 0.001 and 34 mm vs. 31 mm, p = 0.02, respectively). The Yu index also correlated with epicardial fat, r = 0.53, p < 0.01, whereby the greater the amount of epicardial fat, the greater the dispersion timing of ventricular activation. The systolic synchrony index also correlated with the BMI, p = 0.01. CONCLUSION: Mechanical intraventricular asynchrony is associated to EwO and the amount of epicardial fat; hence, asynchrony may be one more factor leading to heart failure in EwO individuals.

Niveles de péptido natriurético tipo B y su asociación con la morbimortalidad en endocarditis infecciosa / Association Levels of brain natriuretic peptide with morbidity and mortality in infective endocarditis

La endocarditis infecciosa (EI) es una infección con alta morbimortalidad. Identificar a los pacientes con mayor riesgo de presentar complicaciones proporciona la oportunidad de establecer una terapéutica agresiva. El péptido natriurético tipo B es un estudio rápido y disponible, y se ha relacionado a los niveles elevados con una mala evolución en la EI. Objetivos: Determinar la asociación entre los niveles de péptido natriurético tipo B y la morbimortalidad en pacientes con EI. Material y métodos: Se incluyeron pacientes ≥15 años, durante el periodo de julio de 2010 a julio de 2012. Se dividieron en distintos grupos con base en los niveles de péptido natriurético tipo B: grupo 1, péptido natriurético tipo B < 400 pg/mL; grupo 2, ≥ 400 < 1,000 pg/mL, y grupo 3, ≥ 1,000 pg/mL. Se evaluó como punto primario el conjunto de muerte y los eventos embólicos, y dichos componentes de forma individual fueron tomados como puntos secundarios. Se empleó estadística descriptiva con medidas de tendencia central y de dispersión. La significancia estadística fue evaluada mediante p de Pearson y prueba de χ² . Resultados: Se incluyeron 57 pacientes: 23 (40.4%) correspondientes al grupo 1; 21 (36.8%) al grupo 2, y 13 (22.8%) al grupo 3. El punto primario (conjunto de muerte y eventos embólicos) fue mayor en el grupo 3 (57.1%) comparado con el grupo 1 (0%) y 2 (42.9%), p = 0.024. En cuanto a los puntos secundarios evaluados en forma individual, la mortalidad intrahospitalaria fue mayor en el grupo 3 (75%), p < 0.0001. La mortalidad tardía se presentó en un paciente del grupo 2, p = 0.41. Los eventos embólicos se presentaron con más frecuencia en el grupo 2 (57.9%), p = 0.020. Conclusiones: Este estudio demuestra la asociación entre los niveles elevados de péptido natriurético tipo B y la mayor morbimortalidad en pacientes con endocarditis infecciosa.

Infective endocarditis (IE) is an infection with high morbidity and mortality. Identify patients with increased risk for complications, provides the opportunity to establish an aggressive therapeutic. B-type natriuretic peptide is a quick, available and high levels has been linked with poor outcome in IE. Objectives: To determine the association between B-type natriuretic peptide levels and morbidity and mortality in patients with infective endocarditis. Material and methods: We included patients ≥ 15 years, during the period July 2010 to July 2012. They were divided into groups based on the levels of B-type natriuretic peptide, group 1 B-type natriuretic peptide < 400 pg/mL, group 2 B-type natriuretic peptide ≥ 400 < 1,000 pg/mL and group 3 ≥ 1,000 pg/mL. The association between elevated B-type natriuretic peptide and a composite outcome of death and embolic was evaluated as a primary endpoint and these components individually as a secondary points. Descriptive statistics were employed measures of central tendency and dispersion. Statistical significance was evaluated using p Pearson and χ² test. Results: We included 57 patients, 23 (40.4%) in the group 1; 21 (36.8%) to group 2, and 13 (22.8%) in the group 3. The primary point (composite of death and embolic events) was higher in group 3 (57.1%) compared with group 1 (0%) and 2 (42.9%), p = 0.024. The secondary endpoints evaluated individually, in-hospital mortality was higher in group 3 (75%), p < 0.0001. Late mortality was present in one patient in group 2, p = 0.41. Embolic events were more frequent in group 2 (57.9%) p = 0.020. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the association between elevated B-type natriuretic peptide and increased morbidity and mortality in patients with infective endocarditis.