Effect of sample volume location on Doppler-derived transmitral inflow velocity values in 288 normal subjects 20 to 80 years old: an echocardiographic, two-dimensional color Doppler cooperative study.

The aims of the study were to evaluate in a population of 288 normal subjects 20 to 80 years old (1) the normal values of the indexes of the mitral flow velocity pattern measured either at the tips of the mitral leaflets or at the annulus; (2) whether there was a significant difference between the values obtained at the tips compared with those measured at the mitral annulus; (3) the correlation with aging between the indexes measured in the two different positions; and (4) whether certain physiological variables have different effects on diastolic function measured in the two different positions. The highest values were always measured at the tips of the mitral leaflets (p < 0.05); only atrial filling fraction, E acceleration time, and E deceleration velocity had higher values when measured at the level of the annulus (p < 0.05). The A-wave peak velocity had the same mean value when measured at both the tips and at the annulus. A significant difference in the correlation between parameters measured at the tips of the mitral leaflets with age and at the annulus (with age) was observed for the following parameters: (1) peak E velocity, E integral, total integral and E acceleration showed better correlation with age when measured at the annulus (p < 0.02); (2) peak A velocity and A integral showed better correlation with age when measured at the tips of the mitral leaflets (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that age was the variable that had the most influence on diastolic function parameters; heart rate had less influence on the diastolic function indexes.

[Comparison between the hemodynamic effects of nitroglycerine ointment and oral isosorbide dinitrate in the treatment of left ventricular failure (author's transl)]. / Effetti emodinamici della trinitroglicerina pomata e dell'isosorbide dinitrato per os a confronto nel trattamento dell'insufficienza ventricolare sinistra.

The hemodynamic effects of standard dose of Nitroglycerin (NTG) ointment (23 +/- 4 mg) and oral Isosorbide Dinitrate (ISDN) 10 mg were compared in the treatment of left ventricular failure. Ten patients, 8 males and 2 females (mean age 59 +/- 9 years), affected by acute myocardial infarction (7 cases). Ischemic cardiomyopathy (2 cases) and hypertensive cardiomyopathy (1 case) were submitted to right heart catheterization by triple lumen Swan-Ganz catheter. Heart Rate (HR), mean Arterial Pressure (AP), Right Atrial Pressure (RAP), mean Pulmonary Artery Pressure (PAP), Pulmonary Wedge Pressure (PWP), Stroke volume (SV), Cardiac Index (CI), Stroke Work Index (SWI), Systemic Vascular Resistances (SVR), Pulmonary Total Resistances (PTR) were controlled every 30 minutes until the disappearance of the hemodynamic effects. ISDN did not produce any statistically significant changes; on the contrary NTG ointment caused significant changes in: (formula: see text). Decrease of RAP, PAP, PWP, PTR and increase of SV, CI, SWI were statistically significant from 30 until 180 minutes after NTG ointment administration. These changes were statistically different from those produced by ISDN (p less than 0,05). Thus NTG ointment, at this dose, improved cardiac performance, while oral ISDN 10 mg did not. It is concluded that the hemodynamic effects of NTG ointment are prompt and sustained.

Arrhythmias in sport.

The presence of arrhythmias in athletes is not infrequent. Bradyarrhythmias are more frequent in sportsmen than in the general population. This fact is often due to a 'relative vagal hypertony', owing to a training effect. Tachyarrhythmias are also present in sportsmen in almost the same percentage as in sedentary people. Any of several types of tachyarrhythmia can be seen. Abnormal heart conditions can be demonstrated in many athletes with symptomatic tachyarrhythmias. These arrhythmias frequently occur during exercise and in the early phase of recovery. An organic disorder was present in 26 of 32 athletes who were investigated with an exercise test, Holter monitoring and an electrophysiological test because of the presence of tachyarrhythmias. In six cases we were not able to find any cardiac disease. In 75% of these cases the arrhythmias had a strong relation with exercise. During follow-up (1-5 years; mean 2.88 years) some arrhythmias recurred in spite of medical treatment, in 12 of the 32 subjects, while the other 20 were free of symptoms and arrhythmias. In our opinion it is not possible to ascribe to sport, per se, the direct responsibility for these arrhythmias.

[Sepsis and endocarditis: two rare complications following pacemaker implantation. Description of a case and review of the literature]. / Sepsi ed endocardite: due rare complicanze conseguenti all'impianto di pacemaker. Descrizione di un caso e revisione della letteratura.

A case of Staphylococcus aureus tricuspid valve endocarditis in a patient with permanent transvenous VVI pacemaker and recurrent febrile episodes is described. Medical treatment was not effective, and only with surgical removal of the lead was the infection successfully treated.

Left ventricular diastolic parameters in 288 normal subjects from 20 to 80 years old.

Left ventricular diastolic indexes are influenced by several variables. In order to evaluate the relationship of these indexes to age, heart rate, sex and to standard echo parameters, 288 normal subjects aged from 20 to 80 years, divided into six age groups, underwent a two-dimensional colour Doppler examination. Doppler examination was performed from the apical four chamber view to evaluate transmitral flow; isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) was measured from an apical five chamber view. In order to obtain a sufficient number of subjects for an adequate statistical analysis, seven hospitals were involved in the study. Univariate analysis showed that age influences the peak velocity of the E (r = -0.46) and A waves (r = 0.46), the E/A ratio (peak velocities) (r = -0.69), the A wave integral (r = 0.48) and the E/A integral ratio (r = -0.57), the early and late filling fractions (r = -0.48 and r = 0.51 respectively), and the E wave deceleration (r = -0.43) and deceleration time (r = 0.36). In subjects older than 70 years an inversion of the E/A wave ratio was observed. Multivariate analysis confirmed that age has an important influence on left ventricular diastolic indexes but also demonstrated that heart rate has a significant influence. Sex, ejection fraction (EF), and the dimensions of the mitral annulus and the left ventricular posterior wall had less influence on left ventricular diastolic indexes. The mean values of E and A wave acceleration, deceleration and peak velocity were used to depict left ventricular filling morphology in various age groups for three different heart rate values. The conclusions of the study, are: (1) normal left ventricular diastolic parameters were obtained as mean values at seven different hospitals (2) when evaluating left ventricular diastolic function parameters it is important to take into account age and heart rate; E/A inversion in older subjects should be considered the normal mitral flow pattern.

Pulmonary venous flow velocity patterns in 143 normal subjects aged 20 to 80 years old. An echo 2D colour Doppler cooperative study.

In order to find out the normal values and to evaluate the effects of age, heart rate, sex, and haemodynamic and standard echocardiographic parameters on pulmonary venous flow velocity obtained by the transthoracic approach. Doppler pulmonary venous flow parameters were measured in 143 healthy subjects aged from 20 to 80 years. Doppler pulmonary venous flow parameters which had the best correlation with age were: the peak velocity of the systolic wave (r = 0.39) and its integral (r = 0.5), the peak velocity of the diastolic wave (r = -0.6) and its integral (r = -0.44); the systolic (r = 0.68) and diastolic fractions (r = -0.68); the systolic/diastolic peak velocity ratio (r = 0.73) and the systolic/diastolic integral ratio (r = 0.7). The atrial reversal wave did not correlate with age; the atrial reversal wave was more difficult and probably less reliable to measure than the systolic and diastolic waves. The correlations of pulmonary venous flow parameters with mitral flow parameters were also examined. This study showed that, in healthy subjects, despite an increase in the early and atrial waves from the annulus to the tips of the mitral leaflets, there is a similar association between pulmonary venous flow and mitral flow measured at the annulus or at the tips of the mitral leaflets. The intra-observer reproducibility of all the pulmonary venous flow parameters considered were found to be excellent. Moderate inter-observer variability was observed for the systolic, diastolic and atrial reversal wave peak velocities and integrals; however, the systolic/diastolic ratio improved the precision of the measurements. Multivariate analysis showed that age is the principal determinant of the Doppler parameters of pulmonary venous flow: heart rate, sex, body surface area, the size of the left atrium in systole and the left ventricular ejection fraction all influence the Doppler parameters of pulmonary venous flow, even if only slightly.