Additive prognostic and diagnostic value of diastolic exercise parameters in patients referred for exercise echocardiography.

AIMS: Exercise echocardiography (ExE) may evaluate left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function. We aimed to assess the value of diastolic parameters at exercise [early LV inflow velocity to early tissue Doppler annulus velocity (E/e')] in patients with normal or abnormal resting diastolic function (DF) referred for a clinically indicated ExE. METHODS AND RESULTS: LV systolic and DF according to ASE/EACVI guidelines and mitral regurgitation (MR) were evaluated at rest in 772 patients (age 67 ± 12 years) with preserved LV ejection fraction (LVEF ≥ 50%). We assessed regional/global LV systolic function at peak exercise, while MR and E/e' where evaluated in the immediate post-exercise period. Abnormal ExE was defined as ischaemia or fixed wall motion abnormalities, and raised E/e' values as >15 at rest and at exercise (e' at the septal level). Patients were grouped as complaining or not of dyspnoea. Events were overall mortality, myocardial infarction, admission for unstable angina or cardiac failure, and coronary revascularization. DF was abnormal at rest in 221 patients (29%) and indeterminate in 77 (10%), with similar percentages in patients with and without dyspnoea. Exercise E/e' >15 was found in 37% of patients with abnormal DF, 21% with indeterminate DF, and 6% with normal DF (P < 0.001). Patients with abnormal ExE had more often abnormal resting DF (39% vs. 25%, P = 0.001) and exercise E/e' >15 (25% vs. 13%, P < 0.001) than those with normal ExE. During a median follow-up of 1.68 years, there were 132 events. Independent predictors included peak exercise LVEF [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.91-0.94, P < 0.001], and exercise E/e' (HR= 1.04, 95% CI = 1.01-1.07, P = 0.01). Neither resting E/e' values nor resting abnormal DF by ASE/EACVI guidelines, were independent predictors. Annualized event-rates were 43.2% in patients with (+) ExE plus (+) exercise E/e', 23.8% in those with (+) ExE and (-) exercise E/e', 7.9% in (-) ExE and (+) exercise E/e', and 3.6% with both variables normal. CONCLUSIONS: The results of diastolic dysfunction at rest and at exercise were similar between patients with or without dyspnoea referred for ExE, but they were associated with abnormal ExE. Exercise E/e' reclassified 21% of patients with indeterminate DF and further predicted outcome on top of ExE results.

An unusual presentation of prosthetic valve endocarditis: Utility of 3D transillumination rendering.

Prosthetic valve endocarditis is a rare but serious complication of cardiac valve replacement, and echocardiography plays a fundamental role in its diagnosis and management. However, there is not much information about the use of the 3D transillumination rendering in this context. In this report, we present an unusual case of prosthetic valve endocarditis that exemplifies the utility of this new tool.

Revisión clínica y diagnóstica de la enfermedad de Kawasaki: estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo y analítico / Review of the diagnosis and clinical features of Kawasaki disease: retrospective descriptive and analytical study

Introducción: la enfermedad de Kawasaki es una vasculitis aguda, febril y autolimitada, que puede complicarse con alteraciones cardiovasculares. Su diagnóstico se basa en criterios clínicos. A pesar de un tratamiento eficaz, es la principal causa de cardiopatía adquirida en niños de países desarrollados. Objetivos: analizar la prevalencia de alteraciones coronarias en pacientes pediátricos diagnosticados en nuestro medio; evaluar las características demográficas, clínicas y analíticas de la población de estudio y describir los factores de riesgo de alteración coronaria en niños con enfermedad de Kawasaki. Métodos: se revisaron de forma retrospectiva las historias clínicas de los niños diagnosticados de enfermedad de Kawasaki desde enero de 1997 hasta diciembre de 2016 en el Hospital Clínico San Carlos (Madrid, España). Se consideró diagnóstico de enfermedad de Kawasaki la presencia de los criterios clínicos propuestos por la Academia Americana de Pediatría en 2017. Resultados: la enfermedad de Kawasaki se presentó fundamentalmente durante el invierno (n = 13; 56,5%) en mujeres (n = 12; 52,2%) de cinco años o menos (n = 18; 78,3%), que desarrollaron fiebre (n = 23; 100%) junto con cambios en la mucosa orofaríngea (n = 21; 91,3%) y presentaron proteína C reactiva y velocidad de sedimentación globular elevadas (n = 20; 86,95% y n = 13; 86,6%). Fueron tratados con inmunoglobulina intravenosa (n = 22; 95,7%) y ácido acetilsalicílico a dosis antiinflamatoria (n = 22; 95,7%) o antiagregante (n = 20; 87%). Tres pacientes (13%) desarrollaron alteraciones coronarias, que terminaron remitiendo. Conclusiones: en nuestra cohorte, la prevalencia de alteraciones coronarias fue similar a la reportada en nuestro medio y superior a la descrita en estudios internacionales. Los factores de riesgo de alteración coronaria son predominantemente niños con retraso en el diagnóstico y tratamiento, leucocitosis >12 000/ul, proteína C reactiva >3 mg/dl y trombocitosis

Introduction: Kawasaki disease is an acute, febrile and self-limiting vasculitis that may be complicated by cardiovascular changes. Its diagnosis is based on clinical criteria. Although effective treatment is available, it is the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children in developed countries. Objectives: to assess the prevalence of coronary artery abnormalities in paediatric patients diagnosed in our area, and the demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics of the population under study, describing the risk factors for coronary involvement in children with Kawasaki disease. Methods: we performed a retrospective review of the medical records of children given a diagnosis of Kawasaki disease between January 1997 and December 2016 at the Hospital Clínico San Carlos (Madrid, Spain). We defined Kawasaki disease as the presence of the clinical criteria proposed for its diagnosis by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2017. Results: cases of Kawasaki disease were most frequent in the winter (n = 13; 56.5%), in girls (n = 12; 52.2%) and in children aged 5 years or less (n = 18; 78.3%). Patients presented with fever (n = 23; 100%) and changes in the oropharyngeal mucosa (n = 21; 91.3%), with elevation of C-reactive protein and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (n = 20; 86.95% and n = 13; 86.6%). Treatment consisted of intravenous immunoglobulin (n = 22; 95.7%) and acetylsalicylic acid at anti-inflammatory doses (n = 22; 95.7%) or antithrombotic doses (n = 20; 87%). Three patients (13%) developed coronary artery abnormalities that eventually resolved. Conclusions: in our cohort, the prevalence of coronary complications was similar to the prevalence reported for Spain and higher than the prevalence reported in international studies. The main risk factors for coronary artery abnormalities were delays in diagnosis or treatment, a white blood cell count greater than 12 000 cells/µl, a serum level of C-reactive protein greater than 3 mg/dl and thrombocytosis