Prevalence and factors associated with left ventricular dysfunction in the EULAR Scleroderma Trial and Research group (EUSTAR) database of patients with systemic sclerosis.

OBJECTIVES: To measure the prevalence of, and factors associated with, left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS: The EUSTAR database was first searched. A case-control study of a patient subset was then performed to further identify independent factors associated with LV dysfunction by simple and multiple regression. RESULTS: Of 7073 patients, 383 (5.4%) had an LV ejection fraction (EF) of <55%. By multiple regression analysis, age, sex, diffuse cutaneous disease, disease duration, digital ulcerations, renal and muscle involvement, disease activity score, pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary arterial hypertension were associated with LV dysfunction. In the second phase, 129 patients with SSc with LVEF <55% were compared with 256 patients with SSc with normal LVEF. Male sex (OR 3.48; 95% CI 1.74 to 6.98), age (OR 1.03; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.06), digital ulcerations (OR 1.91; 95% CI 1.05 to 3.50), myositis (OR 2.88; 95% CI 1.15 to 7.19) and use of calcium channel blockers (OR 0.41; 95% CI 0.22 to 0.74) were independent factors associated with LV dysfunction. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of LV dysfunction in SSc is 5.4%. Age, male gender, digital ulcerations, myositis and lung involvement are independently associated with an increased prevalence of LV dysfunction. Conversely, the use of calcium channel blockers may be protective.

Coronary tortuosity: a long and winding road.

Coronary tortuosity is a phenomenon often encountered by cardiologists performing coronary angiography. The aetiology and clinical importance of coronary tortuosity are still unclear. Coronary tortuosity without fixed atherosclerotic stenosis in patients with angina pectoris and an abnormal exercise stress test has never been described in the literature.This article describes three cases of patients with anginal complaints, an abnormal exercise stress test and coronary angiography without the presence of a fixed atherosclerotic lesion.It is hypothesised that coronary tortuosity leads to flow alteration resulting in a reduction in coronary pressure distal to the tortuous segment of the coronary artery, subsequently leading to ischaemia. Future studies will be necessary to elucidate the actual mechanism of coronary tortuosity and its clinical significance. (Neth Heart J 2007;15:191-5.).

Acute myocardial infarction due to an acute type A aortic dissection involving the left main coronary artery.

We report a case of anterior myocardial infarction due to a Stanford type A aortic dissection involving the left main trunk of the coronary artery. Acute myocardial infarction due to extension of an acute Stanford type A aortic dissection is an infrequent but devastating situation. In our case a spontaneous aortocoronary dissection involving the Valsalva sinus and the ascending aorta with a history of hypertension is the most plausible cause. Emergent aortic replacement and revascularisation was performed. (Neth Heart J 2007;15:263-4.).

Papillary fibroelastoma of the mitral valve.

We present a case of a 69-year-old woman with a history of stroke five years previously and an abnormal ECG prior to eye surgery. There were no signs of cardiac disease. Echocardiography disclosed a tumour of the papillary muscle. Surgical excision was performed and histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of a papillary fibroelastoma.

Recurrent pacemaker lead induced axillary subclavian vein thrombosis.

This report describes a patient with two recurrences of axillary subclavian vein thrombosis more than 1 year after implantation of a permanent transvenous pacemaker. Both recurrences were successfully treated with local thrombolysis.