Reverse Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in the setting of anaphylaxis treated with high-dose intravenous epinephrine.

BACKGROUND: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is seen, though rarely, in anaphylaxis treated with epinephrine. Stress cardiomyopathy is most likely to occur in middle-aged women. The underlying etiology is believed to be related to catecholamine release in periods of intense stress. Catecholamines administered exogenously, and those secreted by neuroendocrine tumors (e.g., pheochromocytoma) or during anaphylaxis have been reported to cause apical ballooning syndrome, or takotsubo syndrome. However, reverse takotsubo stress cardiomyopathy is rarely seen or reported in anaphylaxis treated with epinephrine. OBJECTIVES: To report a case illustrating that high-dose intravenous epinephrine can trigger stress cardiomyopathy, and that the risk is heightened with inappropriate dosing in the treatment of anaphylaxis. CASE REPORT: We report a rare case of iatrogenic reverse takotsubo syndrome in a young woman who was inappropriately treated with high-dose intravenous epinephrine for mild anaphylaxis. CONCLUSION: Inappropriately high doses of intravenous epinephrine can trigger stress cardiomyopathy. Emergency physicians should be familiar with the diagnosis, grading, and appropriate treatments of anaphylaxis to avoid this unnecessary complication.

An unusual case of giant cardiac fibroelastoma mimicking left atrial myxoma in a patient presenting with syncope.

Cardiac papillary fibroelastomas are the most common primary valvular tumors. Generally benign, they account only for about 10% of all primary cardiac neoplasms, can occur in normal or diseased hearts, and are associated strongly with open heart surgery and radiotherapy. They are, in most cases, incidental findings, but can be discovered after syncope. We report the case of an elderly female, who was referred for syncope and was found to have a large fibroelastoma at the mitral valve annulus, intermittently obstructing the left ventricular inflow tract, and mimicking the presentation of left atrial myxoma. This case illustrates another potential mechanism of syncope in patients with fibroelastomas.

Usefulness of red cell distribution width in predicting all-cause long-term mortality after non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is a strong predictor of adverse outcomes in patients with heart failure, stable coronary artery disease, stroke and acute myocardial infarction. The aim of our study was to explore the predictive value of RDW on all-cause mortality in patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). METHOD: This observational study includes 619 NSTEMI patients, discharged from Staten Island University Hospital between September 2004 and December 2006. Patients were divided into equal RDW tertiles and survival was evaluated in each tertile. RESULT: Patients in the highest RDW tertile (RDW >14) had higher in-patient (7 vs. 1%) and 4-year (30 vs. 7%) mortality rates compared to those in the lowest tertile (RDW <13) (Wilcoxon χ(2) = 34.64, p < 0.0001). After controlling for Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events risk profile scores and other confounding variables, the RDW adjusted hazard ratio for 4-year all-cause mortality increased by 1.10 for each one unit increase in RDW (confidence interval 1.004-1.213, p = 0.042). CONCLUSION: RDW is an independent predictor of all-cause long-term mortality in NSTEMI patients. Further studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms of this association between RDW and adverse outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease.

Mean platelet volume/platelet count ratio as a predictor of long-term mortality after non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Previous studies reported an association between elevated mean platelet volume (MPV) and post-myocardial infarction mortality. This study explores the association between long-term mortality after non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and the peripheral blood platelet indices (i.e., the mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet count, and the MPV/platelet (MPV/P) ratio). Two physicians independently reviewed the data of 619 NSTEMI patients. The blood samples were drawn and analyzed within 1 h of admission, the second, and the last hospital days. Patients were stratified into equal tertiles according to the platelet count, MPV, and MPV/platelet ratio. The primary outcome, 4-year all-cause mortality, was compared among the platelet indices tertile models. According to MPV, platelet count, and MPV/platelet ratio tertile models, there was a trend of higher 4-year mortality for the lower and upper tertiles in comparison to the middle tertiles. However, only the admission MPV/platelet ratio tercile model was statistically significant for predicting the 4-year mortality. The mortality rate of the highest MPV/platelet (48/207 (23%)) and the lowest (41/206 (20%)) tertiles were significantly higher than the middle tertile (19/206 (9%)), p = 0.0004 by the chi-squared test. After adjusting for Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events, the patients in the combined first and third MPV/P tertiles had higher mortality in reference to those in the middle MPV/P tercile (hazard ratio 1.951, confidence interval 1.032-3.687, and p < 0.0396). Our novel finding is that the MPV/platelet ratio is superior to the MPV alone in predicting long-term mortality after NSTEMI. We suggest that using this ratio will magnify any existing relationship between platelet indices and mortality post-NSTMI. Further studies are needed to confirm our finding.

Left atrial appendage lipoma: an unusual location of cardiac lipomas.

Cardiac lipomas are benign neoplasms of the heart and accounts for 8.4% of all primary tumors. They can occur sporadically at any age with no sex preference. The tumor originates mostly in the subendocardium and subepicardium but very rarely within the myocardium. Clinically this tumor is asymptomatic and found incidentally in the vast majority of cases. On occasion large lesions can lead to mechanical obstruction and pericardial effusions if located in the epicardium. Although lipomas can occur at different atrial or ventricular locations, it was never reported at the level of the left atrial appendage (LAA). Usually a mass in the LAA represents a thrombus, however there are few case reports of LAA tumors mainly representing fibroelastomas, myxomas, hemangiomas, and malignant tumors. To our knowledge there are no reported cases of left atrial appendage lipomas (LAAL) in the medical literature. We report the first case of LAAL discovered incidentally on transesophageal echocardiogram during off pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

Dietary intake in hemodialysis patients does not reflect a heart healthy diet.

OBJECTIVE: Cardiovascular disease is highly prevalent and has a major effect on morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). Dietary factors that may contribute to cardiovascular disease have not been well studied in this population. We hypothesize that dietary intake in this population does not meet the guidelines for cardiovascular risk reduction. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was completed using the validated "Block Dialysis 1 Food Frequency Questionnaire" to assess dietary intake of MHD patients. SETTING AND PATIENTS: A total of 70 patients undergoing MHD at our outpatient dialysis center completed the questionnaire under the supervision of a trained dietitian. The population consisted of 38 men and 32 women. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Dietary intake was the main outcome measure, with a focus on calories, soluble fiber, saturated fatty acid (SFA), unsaturated fatty acid intake (UFA), and protein. RESULTS: The mean fiber intake was 10.77 (±5.87) g/day, and only 2 of 71 (2.9%) were in compliance with the recommended daily intake of >25 g/day. As percentage of total calories, of the 70 patients, 5 (7.1%) had a fat intake of <30%, 22 (31.4%) had SFA intake of <10%, 64 (91.4%) had a UFA of ≤30%, 22 (31.4%) had a protein-based diet of ≥15%, and 66 (94.3%) had a carbohydrate diet of <60%. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients did not meet the dietary guidelines for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Substituting UFA or soluble fiber for SFA improves low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels without negative effects on other lipid parameters.

Ginseng: a potential cause of long QT.

Ginseng is a frequently used food additive and considered to be relatively safe. Long QT syndrome can be hereditary or acquired. It presents as syncope, sudden cardiac death, or seizures. We report the novel case of a female patient without cardiovascular risk factors who developed prolonged QT with subsequent torsades de pointes during periods in which she was drinking large amounts of ginseng.

Drug coated balloon angioplasty for subclavian artery stenosis: A potential novel indication.

Subclavian artery stenosis is associated with increased cardiovascular disease mortality. It remains an important treatable cause of upper extremity, brain and cardiac ischemia. Endovascular treatment with angioplasty and stenting has become the preferred modality of treatment. Surgical revascularization is reserved for difficult cases with unfavorable anatomy to endovascular approach. Here we describe a case of subclavian artery stenosis causing subclavian steal syndrome with unfavorable anatomy to stenting treated successfully with drug coated balloon angioplasty with maintenance of patency at 6months.

A sanguineous pleuro pericardial effusion in a patient recently treated with Dabigatran.

Dabigatran, a direct thrombin inhibitor, is one of the new oral anticoagulants. As more patients receive treatment with Dabigatran, and as the clinical indications for Dabigatran use expand, reporting serious adverse effects is fundamental to future safety assessment. Although patients taking Dabigatran had fewer life-threatening bleeds when compared to Coumadin, those events continue to be reported. We describe, in the same patient, a sanguineous pleuro pericardial effusion that was diagnosed incidentally on a pre-ablation cardiac CT angiography. The diagnosis was made approximately two months after initiating Dabigatran treatment for non-valvular atrial fibrillation in a 63-year-old patient.

Persistent thebesian vessels involving the right and left ventricles leading to coronary steal phenomena and ischemia.

We report an extremely rare case of thebesian vein microfistulae to both ventricles. A 65-year-old woman, with no major cardiovascular risk factors, presented with multiple episodes of chest pain. The resting electrocardiogram showed T-wave inversion in leads V(1) -V(4). A Dipyridamole myocardial perfusion imaging revealed large and severe inferior defect with complete reversibility. Coronary angiography showed no coronary artery disease. On contrast injection, an exaggerated capillary blush from the distal portions of the right and left coronary artery systems was seen in both ventricles, mimicking the image of ventriculography. This appearance suggests prominent thebesian vessels, a congenital communication between the coronaries and the two ventricles. The clinical relevance of these myocardial sinusoids is still not well established. Although the majority of these fistulas are small in size and with no clinical significance, they can rarely present with chest pain, cardiac arrhythmia, syncope, myocardial infarction, and/or pulmonary hypertension. These fistulae when excessive can cause significant shunting of blood to the ventricles, leading to coronary steal phenomena and ischemia. This phenomenon is facilitated by the low resistance in these microfistulae as opposed to the higher resistance in the normal coronary circulation. Due to the diffuse nature of these microfistulae, neither surgery nor transcatheter therapy is feasible. This condition can only be managed medically; however, it should be noted that vasodilator agents, such as nitrates, can worsen the coronary steal phenomenon. Our patient was treated with ranolazine with significant improvement in her symptoms, which was not reported previously. Multiple coronary artery microfistulae could be an underestimated condition of angina in patient with normal coronaries.

A rare case of silent transmural myocardial infarction with diffuse ST elevations complicated by concomitant severe hyperkalemia.

It is well described that certain group of patients do not display the typical symptoms of myocardial infarction (MI). Elderly patients, diabetics and those with previous coronary artery bypass graft surgery are at high risk for silent MI. The diagnosis of Acute MI in the emergency room (ER) is mainly based on the electrocardiogram (EKG) findings of ST elevations or new onset left bundle branch block which is supported by the clinical presentation and positive biomarkers when present. The diagnoses can sometimes become challenging when the patient is asymptomatic and has coincidental finding of hyperkalemia with diffuse ST segment elevations simulating that seen with electrolyte disturbance. Despite the well known pseudoinfarction pattern of hyperkalemia, acute MI should be ruled out first. A high index of suspicion is needed, especially in high risk patients. We think that in rare clinical situation when the diagnosis is in doubt, MI should be ruled out, as time has a high impact on patient mortality. An urgent bedside echocardiogram is very beneficial in excluding regional wall motion abnormalities and preventing any delay in destination therapy for transmural MI. We present a 67 years old female with history of diabetes and chronic kidney disease sent by her nephrologist to the ER for severe hyperkalemia (Potassium 7.2 milliequivalent/L). She was found to have ST elevations on EKG despite having no chest pain or distress. On cardiac catheterization she had a total occlusion of the proximal left circumflex artery, with a filling defect consistent with large thrombus.

Successful endovascular extraction of newer generation Angio-Seal collagen plug and anchor after acute embolization.

A 75-year-old woman with past medical history of coronary bypass, atrial fibrillation, mitral valve repair undergoes percutaneous coronary intervention of left circumflex artery with a drug eluting stent. An Anglo-Seal vascular closure device was used post procedure to obtain hemostasis. Shortly after deployment, frank bleeding was observed necessitating manual compression at the arteriotomy site. After hemostasis was achieved, the right lower extremity was found to be pale, bluish with feeble pulses. Doppler ultrasound was emergently performed revealing decreased blood flow after mid superficial femoral artery (SFA) and an echo lucent object lodged luminally in the SFA. Patient was urgently taken to the vascular laboratory where an Angio-Seal device, including the collagen plug and anchor, was successfully removed endovascularly patient made full recovery and was discharged home the following day.

A rare case of double-chambered right ventricle associated with ventricular septal defect and congenital absence of the pulmonary valve.

Double-chambered right ventricle (DCRV) is a rare congenital heart disorder involving 2 different right ventricle (RV) pressure compartments that is often associated with ventricular septal defect (VSD). Usually, the obstruction is caused by an anomalous muscle bundle crossing the RV from the interventricular septum to the RV free wall. We are reporting a case of double-chambered right ventricle associated with ventricular septal defect and congenital absence of the pulmonary valve, a rare form of congenital infundibular pulmonary stenosis. In addition to ventricular septal defect, our patient had congenital absence of the pulmonary valve, which is very unusual and has never been reported to our knowledge.

Isolated dysphagia unmasking bulbar neurosarcoidosis and pulmonary sarcoidosis.

Dysphagia is a rare manifestation of sarcoidosis. It is more commonly the result of esophageal compression by enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes rather than direct esophageal involvement and rarely secondary to neurosarcoidosis and oropharyngeal dysphagia. We report a 54 year old female presenting with a six month history of worsening dysphagia. She denied respiratory symptoms. Physical exam was normal. ESR was 61 mm/hr. Serum ACE level was 65 mcg/L. Chest X-ray was normal. Esophagram revealed a large amount of contrast pooling in pharyngeal recesses with intermittent laryngeal aspiration. Swallow videofluorography showed a decreased retraction of the base of the tongue, limited laryngeal elevation, and a large amount of contrast pooling in pharyngeal recesses with intermittent laryngeal aspiration. EGD showed a normal opening of the upper esophageal sphincter and the cricopharyngeus appeared normal. Proximal esophageal biopsies were normal. Brain MRI with gadolinium was normal. Lumbar puncture was performed. CSF showed a moderate pleocytosis, a WBC count of 19 with 97% lymphocytes, an elevated total protein level of 85 mg/dl (15-60). Neck CT scan showed no oropharyngeal tissue thickening or infiltration, no masses or enlarged lymph nodes. Chest CT scan showed enlarged intrathoracic lymph nodes and no esophageal compression. Bronchoscopy showed the vocal cords to be intact, and the CD4/CD8 ratio in BAL was 5.3. Subcarinal lymph node EBUS biopsy revealed non caseating granulomas. The patient was started on IV methylprednisolone. Three days later, the swallow videofluorography showed a near complete response to steroids. The patient tolerated regular consistency diet with thin liquids, and she was discharged on a slow taper of prednisone over a period of three months. A unique case of isolated dysphagia unmasking bulbar neurosarcoidosis and pulmonary sarcoidosis is herein reported.

High-density lipoprotein in uremic patients: metabolism, impairment, and therapy.

Several studies have shown that HDL has altered antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in chronic uremia, either by the reduction in its antioxidant enzymes or by the impairment of their activity. Systemic oxidative stress, which is highly prevalent in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, has been shown to decrease antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of HDL and even transform it into a pro-oxidant and pro-inflammatory agent. For this reason, we believe that the propensity for accelerated cardiovascular disease in CKD is facilitated by a few key features of this disease, namely, oxidative stress, inflammation, hypertension, and disorders of lipid metabolism. In a nutshell, oxidative stress and inflammation enhance atherosclerosis leading to increased cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in this population. In this detailed review, we highlight the current knowledge on HDL dysfunction and impairment in chronic kidney disease as well as the available therapy.

Rare case of coronary to pulmonary vein fistula with coronary steal phenomenon.

Coronary artery fistulas are abnormal connections between coronary artery territories and cardiac chambers or major vessels, most of them are congenital. Patients with coronary artery fistula can be asymptomatic or present with different symptoms like angina. Cardiac computed tomography (CT) is one of the best modalities for diagnosis. We present an elderly patient that presented with angina symptoms, non invasive stress test was positive for ischemic heart disease, coronary angiogram could not reveal any obstructive lesions, but an abnormal branch of the left descending coronary artery (LAD), cardiac CT showed fistula that connect left anterior descending coronary artery to left superior pulmonary vein. Our case is extremely rare as most of the reported cases were fistulas between LAD and pulmonary artery, but in our case the fistula between LAD and left superior pulmonary vein. In addition, our patients' symptoms resolved with anti-ischemic medical treatment without any surgical intervention.

Do omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids reduce risk of sudden cardiac death and ventricular arrhythmias? A meta-analysis of randomized trials.

INTRODUCTION: Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have demonstrated to have antiarrhythmic properties. However, randomized studies have shown inconsistent results. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to analyze the effect of omega-3 PUFA on preventing potentially fatal ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. METHODS: Randomized trials comparing omega-3 PUFA to placebo and reporting sudden cardiac death (SCD) or first implanted cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) event for ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation were included in this study. A meta-analysis using a random effects model was performed and results were expressed in terms of Odds Ratio (OR) and 95% Confidence Interval (CI) after evaluating for interstudy heterogeneity using I(2). The reported data were extracted on the basis of the intention-to-treat principle. RESULTS: A total of 32,919 patients were included in nine trials; 16,465 patients received omega-3 PUFA and 16,454 received placebo. When comparing omega-3 PUFA to placebo, there was nonsignificant risk reduction of SCD or ventricular arrhythmias (OR = 0.82 [95% CI: 0.60-1.21], p = 0.21 I(2) = 49.7%). CONCLUSION: Dietary supplementation with omega-3 PUFA does not affect the risk of SCD or ventricular arrhythmias.

Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and cardiovascular diseases: a review.

The role of inflammatory markers in cardiovascular diseases has been studied extensively and a consistent relationship between various inflammatory markers and cardiovascular diseases has been established in the past. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a new addition to the long list of these inflammatory markers. NLR, which is calculated from complete blood count with differential, is an inexpensive, easy to obtain, widely available marker of inflammation, which can aid in the risk stratification of patients with various cardiovascular diseases in addition to the traditionally used markers. It has been associated with arterial stiffness and high coronary calcium score, which are themselves significant markers of cardiovascular disease. NLR is reported as an independent predictor of outcome in stable coronary artery disease, as well as a predictor of short- and long-term mortality in patients with acute coronary syndromes. It is linked with increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and higher long-term mortality in patients undergoing PCI irrespective of indications of PCI. In patients admitted with advanced heart failure, high NLR was reported with higher inpatient mortality. Recently, NLR has been reported as a prognostic marker for outcome from coronary artery bypass grafting and postcoronary artery bypass grafting atrial fibrillation.