Autonomic and diastolic dysfunction association with quality of life impairment in cirrhotic patients.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Cirrhosis is a multisystem disorder characterized by hyperdynamic circulation which can progress to multiple organ dysfunctions. Recent studies have demonstrated autonomic dysfunction and cirrhotic cardiomyopathy including diastolic dysfunction, systolic dysfunction with electrophysiologic abnormalities in patients with cirrhosis. Due to the long and complicated course of the disease, health related quality of life is affected. We aimed to evaluate the frequency of diastolic dysfunction and autonomic dysfunction in cirrhosis, and the effects on health-related quality of life. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Hundred cirrhotic patients were enrolled in the study. According to the Child-Pugh classification 35 patients were of Child A, 36 of Child B and 29 of Child C. The proportion of autonomic dysfunction was 52%, and diastolic dysfunction 51%. Autonomic dysfunction was diagnosed using bedside maneuvers and tests; diastolic dysfunction was diagnosed using the E/A ratio in echocardiographic findings. Health-related quality of life measurements was obtained from an SF-36 questionnaire. RESULTS: Patients with advanced Child-Pugh classifications were found to have significantly lower health-related quality of life values (p < 0.05). Likewise, health-related quality of life values were observed to be significantly lower in patients with autonomic dysfunction (p < 0.05). No significant difference was found in health related quality of life measurements between patients with and without diastolic dysfunction. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that autonomic dysfunction and diastolic dysfunction are found in patients with cirrhosis. Further studies are needed to assess the effects of autonomic dysfunction and diastolic dysfunction on health-related quality of life.

Evaluation of Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT ratio and Tp-e/QTc ratio in patients with acute myocarditis.

BACKGROUND: Acute myocarditis (AM) can be defined as an inflammatory disease of the myocardium and characterized by large heterogeneity of clinical presentation. Myocarditis is becoming increasingly recognized as a contributor to unexplained mortality, and is thought to be a major cause of sudden cardiac death in the first two decades of life. The present study aimed to search the assessment of repolarization dispersion measured from the 12-lead surface electrocardiogram (including Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc ratios) in AM patients. METHODS: Totally 56 patients (mean age was 22 ± 3.7 years and 67% of the patients were male) with AM and 56 control subjects (23 ± 4.7 years and 64% of the patients were male) were enrolled. Tp-e intervals, Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/corrected QT (QTc) ratios were calculated from 12-lead electrocardiogram. RESULTS: Heart rate, QT and QTc values were similar between groups. QRS interval was lower in AM group compared to the control group (p <  0.001). Tp-e, Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/ QTc were significantly higher in AM group (p <  0.001, p <  0.001, p = 0.03 respectively) and they were significantly correlated with high troponin and high sensitive C reactive protein levels. In hospital follow-up time was 6 ± 2 days. Four patients have non sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias and 1 patient dead because of cardiac arrest. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that Tp-e intervals, Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc ratios were higher in patients with AM than control subjects. The increased frequency of ventricular arrhythmias can be clarified by increased indexes of ventricular repolarization parameters in patients with AM.

Effect of transient ulnar artery compression on radial artery diameter.

The transradial approach is widely preferred in coronary procedures. A small radial artery diameter (RAD) is the most important factor affecting successful access. Various maneuvers and medications have been used to increase the RAD and thereby facilitate RA cannulation. Ulnar artery compression (UAC) for 30 min has been indicated to be effective in increasing the RAD and facilitating RA access. The aim of the present preliminary study was to assess the effect of transient UAC for 1 min on the RAD. A total of 151 patients were included in the present study. RA ultrasonography was performed at the level of the wrist. The UA was compressed for 1 min. The RAD was measured at baseline, at the end of UAC and at 1 min thereafter. The results indicated that the RAD was significantly smaller in diabetic vs. non-diabetic patients (2.35±0.43 vs. 2.50±0.39 mm, P=0.024) and in women vs. men (2.25±0.38 vs. 2.56±0.38 mm, P<0.001). At the end of UAC, the RAD was increased compared with that at baseline (2.45±0.41 vs. 2.62±0.41 mm, P<0.001), but it started to decrease thereafter, and the RAD measured at 1 min after stopping UAC was significantly smaller (2.62±0.41 vs. 2.55±0.40 mm, P<0.001), while remaining significantly larger than that at baseline (P<0.001). The RA peak systolic flow velocity also increased significantly during UAC (35.3±8.9 vs. 60.3±19.2 cm/sec; P<0.001). In conclusion, Transient UAC for 1 min significantly increased the RAD and the peak systolic flow velocity. Further studies with clinical endpoints are required for further exploration of the feasibility of this approach.

Layer-specific strain analysis in patients with suspected stable angina pectoris and apparently normal left ventricular wall motion.

BACKGROUND: Non-invasive imaging tests are widely used in the evaluation of stable angina pectoris (SAP). Despite these tests, non-significant coronary lesions are not a rare finding in patients undergoing elective coronary angiography (CAG). Two-dimensional (2D) speckle tracking global longitudinal strain (GLS) imaging is a more sensitive and accurate technique for measuring LV function than conventional 2D methods. Layer-specific strain analysis is a relatively new method that provides endocardial and epicardial myocardial layer assessment. The aim of the present study was to evaluate longitudinal layer-specific strain (LSS) imaging in patients with suspected SAP. METHODS: Patients who underwent CAG for SAP were retrospectively screened. A total of 79 patients with no history of heart disease and wall motion abnormalities were included in the study. Forty-three patients with coronary lesions > 70% constituted the coronary artery disease (CAD) group and 36 patients without significant CAD constituted the control group. Layer-specific GLS transmural, endocardium, and epicardium values (GLS-trans, GLS-endo, and GLS-epi, respectively) were compared between the groups. RESULTS: Patients in the CAD group had significantly lower GLS values in all layers (GLS-trans: -18.2 + 2.4% vs -22.2 + 2.2% p < .001; GLS-endo: -20.8 + 2.8% vs -25.3 + 2.6%, p < .001; GLS-epi: 15.9 + 2.4% vs -19.5 + 1.9%, p < .001). Multivariate adjustment demonstrated GLS-trans as the only independent predictor of CAD [OR:0.472, CI (0.326-0.684), p < .001]. Additionally, the GLS values were all lower in myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) true-positive patients compared with MPS false-positive patients (GLS-trans: -17.7 ± 2.4 vs. -21.9 ± 2.4%, p < .001; GLS-endo: -20.2 ± 2.9% vs -24.9 ± 2.9%, P < .001; GLS-epi: 15.4 ± 2.6% vs. -19.2 ± 1.8%, P < .001). CONCLUSION: Resting layer-specific strain as assessed by 2D speckle tracking analysis demonstrated that GLS values were reduced in all layers of myocardium with SAP and with no wall motion abnormalities. LSS analysis can improve the identification of patients with significant CAD but further prospective larger scale studies are needed to put forth the incremental value of LSS analysis over transmural GLS.

Cutaneous analgesia before transradial access for coronary intervention to prevent radial artery spasm.

AIM: Transradial access (TRA) for coronary intervention is increasingly used in current clinical practice. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the hypothesis that cutaneous analgesia before TRA for coronary intervention at a puncture site 30 minutes before puncture can reduce patient discomfort and the incidence of radial artery spasm (RAS). METHODS: Patients (n=104) undergoing planned coronary interventions using TRA were prospectively randomized to receive either 1 mL of 1% lidocaine subcutaneously (n=52) (control group) or subcutaneous lidocaine plus 5% lidocaine cream (n=52) cutaneously 30 minutes before puncture (treatment group). The primary endpoint was angiographically or clinically confirmed RAS. Secondary endpoints were the occurrence of patient discomfort in the forearm during the procedure and access-site crossover to the femoral artery. Patient discomfort was quantified with a visual analogue scale (VAS) score. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients in the treatment group (60.5±9.4 years of age and 16 female) and 52 patients in the control group (60.4±9.7 years of age and 16 female) were included in the final analysis. Radial artery spasm occurrence decreased in the treatment group compared to the control group (26.9% vs 9.6%; p=0.04) accompanied by a VAS score of 3.7±1.8 in the treatment group and 4.9±2.0 in the control group; p=0.02. The access site crossover rate did not differ between the groups (7.6% vs 21.1%; p=0.09). CONCLUSION: Cutaneous analgesia before TRA for coronary interventions is associated with a substantial reduction in the RAS and the procedure-related level of patient discomfort.

Non-Sustained Ventricular Tachycardia Episodes Predict Future Hospitalization in ICD Recipients with Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy is well known to reduce mortality in selected patients with heart failure (HF). OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether monitored episodes of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) might predict future HF hospitalizations in ICD recipients with HF. METHODS: We examined 104 ICD recipients (mean age: 60 ± 10.1 years, 80.8 % male) with HF who were referred to our outpatient clinic for device follow-up. After device interrogation, patients were divided into NSVT positive and negative groups. The primary endpoint was the rate of hospitalization within the next 6 months after initial ICD evaluation. RESULTS: Device evaluation demonstrated at least one episode of monitored NSVT in 50 out of 104 patients. As expected, no device therapy (shock or anti-tachycardia) was needed for such episodes. At 6 months, 24 patients were hospitalized due to acute decompensated HF. Hospitalization rate was significantly lower in the NSVT negative as compared with positive groups (38% versus 62%; adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0.166 ; 95% CI 0.056 to 0.492; p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Monitored NSVT bouts in ICD recordings may serve as a predictor of future HF hospitalizations in ICD recipients with HF suggesting optimization of therapeutic modalities in these patients along with a close supervision in the clinical setting.

Non-Sustained Ventricular Tachycardia Episodes Predict Future Hospitalization in ICD Recipients with Heart Failure / Episódios de Taquicardia Ventricular não Sustentada Predizem Futura Hospitalização em Receptores de CDI com Insuficiência Cardíaca

Abstract Background: Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy is well known to reduce mortality in selected patients with heart failure (HF). Objective: To investigate whether monitored episodes of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) might predict future HF hospitalizations in ICD recipients with HF. Methods: We examined 104 ICD recipients (mean age: 60 ± 10.1 years, 80.8 % male) with HF who were referred to our outpatient clinic for device follow-up. After device interrogation, patients were divided into NSVT positive and negative groups. The primary endpoint was the rate of hospitalization within the next 6 months after initial ICD evaluation. Results: Device evaluation demonstrated at least one episode of monitored NSVT in 50 out of 104 patients. As expected, no device therapy (shock or anti-tachycardia) was needed for such episodes. At 6 months, 24 patients were hospitalized due to acute decompensated HF. Hospitalization rate was significantly lower in the NSVT negative as compared with positive groups (38% versus 62%; adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0.166 ; 95% CI 0.056 to 0.492; p = 0.01). Conclusions: Monitored NSVT bouts in ICD recordings may serve as a predictor of future HF hospitalizations in ICD recipients with HF suggesting optimization of therapeutic modalities in these patients along with a close supervision in the clinical setting.

Resumo Fundamentos: A terapia de cardioversor-desfibrilador implantável (CDI) é bem conhecida por reduzir a mortalidade em pacientes selecionados com insuficiência cardíaca (IC). Objetivo: Investigar se os episódios monitorados de taquicardia ventricular não sustentada (TVNS) poderiam prever futuras hospitalizações por IC em receptores de CDI com IC. Métodos: Examinamos 104 receptores da CDI (idade média: 60 ± 10,1 anos, 80,8% do sexo masculino) com IC que foram encaminhados para o nosso ambulatório para acompanhamento do dispositivo. Após a interrogação do dispositivo, os pacientes foram divididos em grupos positivo e negativo de TVNS. O desfecho primário foi a taxa de hospitalização nos próximos 6 meses após a avaliação inicial do CID. Resultados: A avaliação do dispositivo demonstrou pelo menos um episódio de TVNS monitorado em 50 dos 104 pacientes. Como esperado, não foi necessária terapia de dispositivo (choque ou anti-taquicardia) para tais episódios. Aos 6 meses, 24 pacientes foram hospitalizados por insuficiência cardíaca descompensada aguda. A taxa de hospitalização foi significativamente menor na TVNS negativa em relação ao grupo positivo (38% contra 62%; Razão de risco ajustada [RR] 0,166; IC 95%: 0,056 a 0,492; p = 0,01). Conclusões: Os episódios de TVNS monitorados em gravações de CDI podem servir como preditores de hospitalizações futuras por insuficiência cardíaca em receptores CDI com IC sugerindo otimização de modalidades terapêuticas nesses pacientes, além de uma estreita supervisão no cenário clínico.