Echocardiographic estimation of left ventricular filling pressures in heart transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Echocardiographic estimation of left ventricular filling pressure in heart transplant (HTx) recipients is challenging. The ability of echocardiography to detect elevated left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) in HTx patients was assessed in this study. RESULTS: This descriptive cross-sectional study included 39 HTx recipients who were candidates for endomyocardial biopsy as a part of their routine post-transplantation surveillance. Doppler transthoracic echocardiography was done before the procedure, and left heart catheterization was done during the endomyocardial biopsy. Thirty-nine patients (15 female, 24 male), with a mean age of 39.6 years (range 13-70), were enrolled. A strong relation was observed between lateral E/e' and LVEDP (R = 0.64, P value < 0.001) and average E/e' and LVEDP (R = 0.6, P value < 0.001). The best cutoff value for LVEDP prediction was the average E/e' ≥ 6.8 with a sensitivity of 96.15% and specificity of 68.5% for the prediction of LVEDP more than or equal to 20 mmHg. Two predictive models comprising age, gender, and lateral E/e' or average E/e' were also proposed. A significant relationship was also found between LVEDP and left ventricular global longitudinal strain (R = - 0.31, P value < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Lateral E/e' was the best predictor of LVEDP. The cutoff of average E/e' had the best validity for the estimation of LVEDP. Despite the strong observed association, echocardiographic parameters cannot be considered a surrogate for invasive LVEDP measurements when seeking information about left ventricle filling pressure on heart transplant recipients.

Left ventricular strain echocardiography in advanced uremic cardiomyopathy compared to dilated cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac involvement is common in end-stage renal disease patients. The presenting study aimed to evaluate the global and segmental longitudinal strain in patients with advanced uremic cardiomyopathy (AUCM) and compare it to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). RESULTS: The mean global longitudinal strain (GLS) was significantly lower in AUCM (P value = 0.045). Comparing segmental strain showed a lower strain in mid inferoseptal (P value = 0.048), base and mid anterolateral (P value = 0.026, 0.001 respectively), base and mid anteroseptal (P value = 0.005, 0.009 respectively), base and mid inferior (P value = 0.015, 0.034 respectively) and mid anterior (P value = 0.015) in patients with AUCM compared with DCM. In both groups, the segmental strain increased from base to apex. CONCLUSIONS: Segmental and GLSs in advanced uremic cardiomyopathy were significantly lower than those of dilated cardiomyopathy. In both groups, the segmental strain increased from base to apex.

Hyepereosiniphilic syndrome and COVID-19: 2 case reports.

BACKGROUND: Nearly half of the patients with hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) have cardiovascular involvement, a major cause of mortality. COVID-19 infection can lead to cardiac involvement, negatively impacting the clinical course and prognosis. We reported two patients with HES complicated by COVID-19, with cardiac involvement and valve replacement. CASE PRESENTATION: Our first patient was a 27-year-old woman admitted due to dyspnea and signs of heart failure. She had severe mitral stenosis and mitral regurgitation on the echocardiogram. Corticosteroid therapy improved her symptoms initially, but she deteriorated following a positive COVID-19 test. A repeated echocardiogram showed right ventricular failure, severe mitral regurgitation, and torrential tricuspid regurgitation and, she underwent mitral and tricuspid valve replacement. Our second patient was a 43-year-old man with HES resulted in severe tricuspid stenosis, which was improved with corticosteroid treatment. He underwent tricuspid valve replacement due to severe valvular regurgitation. He was admitted again following tricuspid prosthetic mechanical valve thrombosis. Initial workups revealed lung involvement in favor of COVID-19 infection, and his PCR test was positive. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 infection can change the clinical course of HES. It may result in a heart failure exacerbation due to myocardial injury and an increased risk of thrombosis in prosthetic valves or native vessels due to hypercoagulability.

Caspofungin-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Patients Treating for Candidemia.

Echinocandins selectively inhibit fungal cell wall synthesis and, therefore, have few side effects. However, there are reports of hemodynamic and cardiac complications. We conducted this study to investigate the effects of caspofungin both on the noninvasive echocardiographic indices of myocardial function and myocardial injury based on serum high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) levels. This study was conducted on patients treated for candidemia. The hs-cTnI level and echocardiographic parameters were measured before and 1 h after the infusion of the induction dose of caspofungin. Data were compared between central and peripheral venous drug administration routes. Fifteen patients were enrolled in the study. There were no significant differences in the echocardiographic parameters between the baseline and post-treatment period. The mean hs-cTnI level exhibited a significant rise following drug administration (0.24 ± 0.2 ng/mL vs 0.32 ± 0.3 ng/mL; p = 0.006). There was also a significant difference concerning the hs-cTnI level between central and peripheral venous drug administration routes (p = 0.034). Due to differences in the hs-cTnI level, it appears that the administration of caspofungin may be associated with myocardial injury. Our findings also showed a higher possibility of cardiotoxicity via the central venous administration route.

COVID-19: A New Horizon in Congenital Heart Diseases.

Objective: Previous studies have demonstrated that both children and adult patients with a history of congenital heart disease (CHD) are at high risk for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. This study investigates the status of COVID-19 infection among children undergoing surgical repair within the past 2 years. Methods: All alive patients operated on in a tertiary referral center between March 2018 and March 2020 were recruited in the present study. Detailed demographics, past medical and surgical history, and physical examination were reviewed for each patient. During the COVID-19 pandemic, data regarding the patient's status were collected by telephone survey from April 15 to April 30, 2020. Results: A total number of 210 patients are analyzed in this study. Participants' median age was 21.59 months [interquartile range (IQR) = 12-54.67], and 125 (59.5%) were female. The median interval between surgery and COVID-19 assessment was 305 days (IQR = 215-400). In addition, 67 (32%) patients used angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB)/angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor (spironolactone and/or captopril). Sixteen patients (7.6%) were symptomatic and had positive chest CT results and/or RT-PCR compared to the previously reported prevalence of COVID-19 among the pediatric population (2.4% of children with <18 years of age); the prevalence of COVID-19 among the patients operated on due to CHD in the present study was significantly higher (p = 0.00012). Two patients were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU); one patient was discharged 2 weeks later with acceptable status, and one patient died 2 days after ICU admission due to cardiac and respiratory arrest and myocarditis. The complexity of the underlying cardiac disorders was not different between patients with low risk (p = 0.522), suspicious patients (p = 0.920), and patients positive for COVID-19 (p = 0.234). The ARB/ACE inhibitor consumption was not associated with the COVID-19 infection [p = 0.527, crude odds ratio (OR) = 1.407, 95% CI = 0.489-4.052]. Conclusion: Children with a history of previous CHD surgery are more susceptible to infections, especially those infections with pulmonary involvements, as the lung involvement could cause worsening of the patient's condition by aggravating pulmonary hypertension. The results of the current study indicate that these patients are more prone to COVID-19 infection compared to the healthy children population.

COVID-19 and Cardiovascular Diseases.

We herein seek to expound on up-to-the-minute information regarding cardiovascular disease in the era of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by highlighting acute myocardial injury caused by COVID-19 and probing into its pathophysiology, clinical signs, diagnostic tests, and treatment modalities. We aim to share the latest research findings vis-à-vis cardiovascular disease patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 on the association between hypertension and this infectious disease along with the relevant recommendations; describe the mechanism of coronary artery disease in such patients together with the necessary measures in the setting of non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome, ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, and chronic coronary syndrome; discuss tachy- and bradyarrhythmias in the COVID-19 setting alongside their treatments; elucidate coagulopathies, venous thromboembolism, and its prophylactic measures in the context of this infection; set out the cardiopulmonary resuscitation protocol as well as the pertinent safety concerns during the current pandemic; and, finally, explicate drug-drug interactions between COVID-19 and cardiovascular medication in hypertension, acute coronary syndrome, heart failure, venous thromboembolism, and arrhythmias.

Imaging data in COVID-19 patients: focused on echocardiographic findings.

To assess imaging data in COVID-19 patients and its association with clinical course and survival and 86 consecutive patients (52 males, 34 females, mean age = 58.8 year) with documented COVID-19 infection were included. Seventy-eight patients (91%) were in severe stage of the disease. All patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography. Mean LVEF was 48.1% and mean estimated systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) was 27.9 mmHg. LV diastolic dysfunction was mildly abnormal in 49 patients (57.6%) and moderately abnormal in 7 cases (8.2%). Pericardial effusion was present in 5/86 (minimal in size in 3 cases and mild- moderate in 2). In 32/86 cases (37.2%), the severity of infection progressed from "severe" to "critical". Eleven patients (12.8%) died. sPAP and computed tomography score were associated with disease progression (P value = 0.002, 0.002 respectively). Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) was significantly higher in patients with no disease progression compared with those who deteriorated (P value = 0.005). Pericardial effusion (minimal, mild or moderate) was detected more often in progressive disease (P = 0.03). sPAP was significantly lower among survivors (P value = 0.007). Echocardiographic findings (including systolic PAP, TAPSE and pericardial effusion), total CT score may have prognostic and therapeutic implication in COVID-19 patients.

Quantification of aortic valve area: comparison of different methods of echocardiography with 3-D scan of the excised valve.

Accurate determination of severity of aortic valve stenosis (AS) by aortic valve area (AVA) is essential for choosing the best treatment strategy. We compared AVA quantified by 4 different in vivo echocardiographic methods with AVA measured by 3D ex vivo scanning of the excised AV. The data on 38 patients who underwent aortic valve replacement were assessed. The AVA was determined by 4 echocardiographic methods of planimetry in 2D transesophageal echocardiography [planimetry (2D-TEE)], plainemetry by multiplanar reconstruction approach in 3D transesophageal echocardiography [MPR (3D-TEE)], and two continuity equation (CE) approaches; conventional CE (2D-TTE) in which left ventricular outflow tract [LVOT] area derived by LVOT diameter obtained in 2D transthoracic echocardiography and CE (3D-TEE) in which LVOT area obtained by 3D MPR. After the surgical removal of the AV, AVA was determined by 3D ex vivo scanning. Lowest AVA mean difference with 3D ex vivo scanning was found between CE (2D-TTE), followed by CE (3D-TEE). Planimetry (2D-TEE) in male patients as well as severely and non-severely calcified valves revealed a significant higher AVA mean difference with 3D ex vivo scanning than CE (2D-TTE) and CE (3D-TEE) methods. However, with a nonsignificant effect, CE (2D-TTE) and planimetry (2D-TEE) had the least mean difference with 3D ex vivo scanning possibly due to less frequent bicuspid AV in females. CE (2D-TTE) was more accurate than other methods of AVA calculation. Moreover, CE (3D-TEE) and MPR (3D-TEE) methods had acceptable accuracy in comparison with planimetry (2D-TEE) for definition of AS severity.

Association between Illness Perception and Emotional Status in Iranian Patients after Heart Transplantation.

Background: Heart transplantation is a major procedure which imposes high emotional stress on patients. Illness perception (IP) is a psychological issue which affects psychological adjustment after transplantation. This study aimed to investigate the association between IP and emotional status in Iranian post-heart transplantation patients. Methods: The present cross-sectional study, conducted between 2018 and 2019 in Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran, Iran, recruited 121 post-heart transplantation patients. IP was measured using the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ), and emotional status was measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The association between IP and depression/anxiety was assessed. Results: Men comprised 80.2% of the study population. The mean age of the participants was 43.9±12.95 years. Definite caseness for depression and anxiety was reported in 11.6% and 18.2% of the participants, respectively. The median score of IP was 55. The association between anxiety and IP in total IP and the 3 dimensions of IP was statically significant (P=0.015, P=0.018, P=0.002, and P=0.023 for the cognition, emotion, and understanding dimensions and the total IPQ, respectively). Additionally, the association between depression and IP was significant (P=0.001, P=0.029, and P=0.002 for the cognition and emotion dimensions and the total IPQ, correspondingly, except for the understanding dimension). Furthermore, lower levels of anxiety in the patients showed a greater impact on IP than did depression. Conclusion: There was a significant association between IP and depression and anxiety in our study population. Therefore, the diagnosis and management of anxiety and depression in heart transplantation patients may improve IP. The cross-sectional design of the present study precluded an investigation of the causality between IP and emotional status.

The Iranian Society of Echocardiography (ISE) Statement on Performing Echocardiography During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19) pandemic has caused a significant burden on the global health system. Considerable cardiovascular involvement has been reported among COVID-19 patients with higher ICU admission and mortality rates among patients with cardiovascular comorbidities. Consequently, diagnostic cardiovascular evaluations such as echocardiography are a crucial part of the disease management. On the other hand, providing safety for the patients and the healthcare personnel is a matter of great concern in the pandemic state. In this document, we have provided recommendations on performing echocardiography in hospital echocardiography labs and outpatient echocardiography clinics during the current COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease of 2019) outbreak.

Effect of Showing Angiograms to Patients After Elective Percutaneous Coronary Intervention on Anxiety and Illness Perception: A Randomized, Blinded, Controlled Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: As an invasive modality, a coronary angioplasty may cause a great deal of anxiety in patients and affect their mental health and general well-being. Accordingly, we sought to assess whether showing patients the video of their elective percutaneous coronary intervention (angiogram) could affect their illness perception and anxiety level. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this randomized clinical trial, the patients undergoing angioplasty, were randomly divided into two groups of 30 patients. Angiograms were shown only to the intervention group postprocedurally. A checklist comprising demographic data and clinical presentations as well as the Beck anxiety questionnaire and the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ) was completed for each patient immediately after the intervention and one month later. The differences in the patients' anxiety level and illness perception were analyzed. RESULTS: In the intervention group, the mean anxiety score before and after watching the angiograms was 34.26 ± 8.1 and 24.4 ± 8.56, respectively. While in the control group, the score before and after angioplasty was 34.46 ± 9.34 and 26.6 ± 9.44, respectively. Thus, watching angiograms led to a significant decrease in the anxiety score in the intervention group, whereas there was no such difference in the control group. There was also a considerable difference in the anxiety score between the two groups. Further, there was a significant decrease in the BIPQ score of the intervention group after watching the angioplasty videos. CONCLUSION: Educating cardiovascular patients about diagnostic and therapeutic procedures may confer such good outcomes as alleviated anxiety, enhanced satisfaction, and ultimately, fewer anxiety-related complications.

Are Prior Aspirin Users With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction at Increased Risk of Adverse Events and Worse Angiographic Features?

Despite its clinical benefits, aspirin has been considered one of the predictors of worse outcomes in patients with unstable angina/non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction. Nevertheless, such association has not been demonstrated in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Five hundred eighty-six STEMI patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention were evaluated including 116 prior aspirin users. Angiographic characteristics and 1-year major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were then compared between the 2 groups. Adjusted analysis showed that the prior aspirin users had a significantly higher rate of totally occluded infarct-related artery before primary percutaneous coronary intervention (odds ratio: 1.859; P = 0.019). Postprocedural Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction flow grade 3 was less often demonstrated in the prior aspirin users (odds ratio: 1.512; P = 0.059). Aspirin consumption was associated with increased long-term mortality and MACE. Prior aspirin users had higher rate of MACE and worse pre- and postprocedural angiographic features. We suppose that patients who develop STEMI despite long-term aspirin intake probably reflect more vulnerable pre-existing coronary plaques with more thrombogenicity, which could negatively affect long-term cardiovascular outcomes.

Gerbode type defect after trans-septal puncture for ablation of left-sided accessory pathway.

BACKGROUND: Trans-septal puncture (TSP) is a safe and effective method to approach left atrium and ventricle. Nowadays, cardiac electrophysiologists perform this procedure routinely to treat left-sided arrhythmias. CASE REPORT: A 45-year-old man was referred to our center due to Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome. After trans-septal puncture, contrast injection into the sheath showed that it was in the left ventricle (LV) rather than left atrium. Trans-esophageal echocardiography confirmed left ventricle outflow tract to right atrial (RA) jet. Follow-up echocardiography showed that the tract was present up to 18 months, but considering that the patient was asymptomatic, endovascular or surgical closure was not done. CONCLUSION: Our case with an 18-month follow-up period, highlights the conservative approach in asymptomatic patients with this complication.

Evaluation of Cardiac Systolic Function in Cirrhotic Patients Undergoing Liver Transplantation.

We assessed different systolic cardiac indices to detect left and right ventricular systolic dysfunction in cirrhotic patients before liver transplantation. Between 2010-2011, 81 consecutive individuals with confirmed hepatic cirrhosis who were a candidate for liver transplantation were enrolled in this study. A total of 32 age and sex matched healthy volunteers were also selected as the control group. A detailed two-dimensional, Color Flow Doppler, and Tissue Doppler echocardiography were performed in all patients and control participants. Left atrial diameter and area, right atrial area, left ventricular end diastolic volume, and basal right ventricular diameter were significantly higher in the cirrhotic group (P<0.05). Left ventricular ejection fraction, stroke volume, left ventricular outflow tract velocity time integral and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion were also higher in the cirrhotic group (P<0.05). Peak systolic velocities of tricuspid annulus, basal segment of RV free wall and basal segment of septal wall, peak strains of basal and mid portions of septal wall, mid portion of lateral wall and peak strain rates of basal and mid portions of septal and lateral walls were higher significantly in cirrhotic group, as well (P<0.05). Isovolumic contraction time, LV systolic time interval and Tei indexes of left and right ventricles which all are representatives of systolic dysfunction were higher in cirrhosis. Peak systolic velocity of a mid-segment of the lateral wall was lower in the cirrhotic group (P<0.05) as well. Most of the cirrhotic patients display signs of cardiovascular disturbances that become more manifest following exposure to stresses such as transplantation. Cardiac failure is an important cause of death following liver transplantation. Because of the load dependency we cannot use most of the cardiac systolic indices for evaluation of systolic function in cirrhotic patients. Thus, we suggest that LV systolic time interval and Tei indices of left and right ventricles might be useful indices in the evaluation of systolic function in cirrhotic patients.