[Screening for familial hypercholesterolemia from low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels at admission in the coronary care unit]. / Dépistage de l'hypercholestérolémie familiale à partir du LDL cholestérol à l'admission en unité de soins intensifs cardiologiques.

BACKGROUND: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a frequent genetic disorder that leads to premature atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. However, knowledge of FH by cardiologists is weak, and FH remains underdiagnosed in France. FH should be suspected when low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) levels exceed 1.9g/L (4.9mmol/L) without lipid lowering therapy. PURPOSE: This multicenter retro- and prospective observational study aimed at estimating the prevalence of high LDLc levels in patients admitted in coronary care units, and the impact for the personal and familial follow-up for lipid status. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of all plasma lipid measurements performed at admission in coronary care unit of 4 hospitals in 2017. Retrospective analyses of demographic, clinical, and coronary data of consecutive patients with LDLc levels≥1.9g/L. Prospective 1 year follow-up focused on lipid levels, treatments, and personal and familial screening for FH. RESULTS: Lipid measurement has been performed in 2172 consecutive patients, and 108 (5%) had LDLc level≥1.9g/L (mean age 64±14 years, men 51%). The primary cause of the hospitalisation was acute coronary syndrome (78%), and 22% of patients were free off coronary artery disease. Lipid lowering therapy was present in 9% of patients at admission, and 84% at discharge, with high statins regimen. At 1-year follow-up, control of LDLc level was not performed in 20% of patients, and statin dose was decreased (36%) or withdrawn (7%) in 43%. Lipid measurement has been performed in at least one first degree relative in 37% of patients, and genetic exploration has been done for 3 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Screening of FH in CCU should be routinely performed using the Dutch Score when LDLc is above 1.9g/L. Individual and familial management of patients at high risk for FH screened in CCU should be optimized, both for diagnosis and therapeutic purposes.

Reduction of radiation exposure associated with renewal of the radiologic systems in coronary interventions.

PURPOSE: Interventional coronary procedures are an important source of radiation. This study sought to evaluate the effect of the renewal of the radiologic system on patient exposure during diagnostic coronary angiography (DCA) and percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs). METHODS: DCA and PCIs were obtained from three centres, which renewed their radiologic systems during their participation in the multicentre prospective observational RAY'ACT-2 study. Data were analysed from the months before and after the radiologic system was changed. The primary outcomes were the dose reduction estimated by the kerma.area product (KAP in Gy·cm2) and the ratio of the KAP to fluoroscopy time (Gy·cm2·min-1). RESULTS: A total of 2148 patients underwent DCA (1575 before and 573 after the system change), and 1563 underwent PCI (1196 before and 367 after). A change in the radiologic system was associated with a KAP reduction of 43% for DCA (median [interquartile range]: 18.1Gy·cm2 [10.2-34.0] versus 31.5 [19.0-49.0], P<0.0001), and 38% for PCI (42.2Gy·cm2 [23.8-81.7] versus 70.1 [42.0-109.0], P<0.0001). Fluoroscopy time did not vary significantly, and the ratio KAP to fluoroscopy time significantly decreased by 54%. The dose reduction was homogeneous between the three centres and between different manufacturer's systems. CONCLUSIONS: In this multicentre study, the renewal of the radiologic system was associated with a highly significant 40%-50% reduction in radiation dose, irrespective of the manufacturer. A close interaction between manufacturers and operators is needed to optimise the use of new equipment and the effectiveness of radiation reduction tools and techniques.

[Transient left ventricular apical ballooning syndrome or Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. About 11 cases]. / Ballonisation apicale transitoire du ventricule gauche ou syndrome de tako-tsubo. a propos de 11 cas et revue de la littérature.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a clinical entity mimicking an ST elevation myocardial infarction recently identified. Are associated a chest pain, electrocardiographics abnormalities, minor elevation of enzyme biomarkers in patients who don't have any significant angiographic stenosis on the coronary angiography and where left ventricle angiography shows apical regional wallmotion abnormalities with a characteristic apical ballooning aspect. Between march 2003 and march 2005, we included 11 patients for whom this syndrom was suspected. Mean age was 70, 3 years old. Electrocardiogram was abnormal in all cases. Biological markers show for all patients an elevation of troponin I. All patients had a coronary angiography and coronary arteries were normal. Left ventricle angiography showed in all cases wall-motion abnormalities in the apex with a ballooning aspect. A psychological or physical inducing factor has been found for 8 patients. The evolution was simple for all patients with no complications noted and no recurrence with a mean follow up of 15 months. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy or transient left ventricular apical ballooning syndrom have a good long-term prognosis even if serious complications sometimes deathly can be seen. The cause of this syndrom is unknown but it must be considered as a possible diagnosis of ST elevation myocardial infarction with normal coronary arteries.

[Fast track chest pain pathway in emergency department]. / La prise en charge rapide des douleurs thoraciques aux urgences.

Acute chest pain is a common reason of consultation in the emergency department. The difficulty lies in discriminating patients with acute coronary syndrome or other life-threatening conditions from those non-cardiovascular, non-life-threatening chest pain. Only 15 to 25 % of patients with acute chest pain actually have acute coronary syndrome. Algorithms using high sensitivity troponin at admission and a second assessment 1 or 3hours later are validated to "rule in" or "rule out" the diagnosis of non ST-elevation myocardial infarction. This may reduce the delay for the diagnosis translating into shorter stay in the emergency department. Those algorithms must be interpreted in the context of clinical and ECG criteria.

[Troponin elevation in the absence of acute coronary syndrome]. / L'élévation de la troponine en dehors des syndromes coronariens aigus.

Cardiac troponins are the most sensitive and specific markers of myocardial injury. Cardiac troponin elevation are common in many diseases and do not necessarily indicate the presence of a thrombotic acute coronary syndrome. In clinical practice, interpretation of dynamic changes of troponin may be challenging. Troponin evaluation should be performed only if clinically indicated and must be interpreted in the context of clinical presentation, ECG changes, troponin level and kinetic. In the absence of thrombotic acute coronary syndrom, troponin retains a prognostic value. Its practical interest as a risk criteria is limited to a few situations like pulmonary embolism, pericarditis an myocarditis.

[Measurement of fractional flow reserve in patients with severe aortic stenosis: A valid test?] / Sténose aortique et lésions coronaires : la fractional flow reserve (FFR) est-elle valide ?

A 54-year-old woman was hospitalized for an acute pulmonary oedema revealing a severe aortic stenosis (AS) associated with an aortic aneurysm and a left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). The coronary angiography found an equivocal left main lesion. Fractional flow reserve (FFR) showed hemodynamic significance (FFR=0.78) and optical coherence tomography confirmed this result with a minimal lumen area of 4.9mm2. FFR-guided percutaneous intervention is reported to improve outcome in patients with stable coronary disease. However, only few data are available in cases of AS. In this condition, secondary LVH is associated with microcirculatory dysfunction, which interferes with optimal hyperemia. An elevated right atrial pressure could also modify FFR measurement. This risk of underestimation of a coronary lesion in patients with severe AS has to be taken into consideration in clinical practice.

Functional results 5 years after successful percutaneous mitral commissurotomy in a series of 528 patients and analysis of predictive factors.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to assess late functional results after successful percutaneous mitral commissurotomy and to determine their predictors. BACKGROUND: Few studies have reported late results of percutaneous mitral commissurotomy or have analyzed their late results regardless of immediate results, despite the fact that late deterioration may well be related either to a decrease in valve area or to poor initial results. METHODS: Between 1986 and 1992, 528 patients underwent successful percutaneous mitral commissurotomy (mean [+/- SD] age 46 +/- 18 years; mean follow-up 32 +/- 18 months). A successful procedure was defined by a mitral valve area > or = 1.5 cm2 and no regurgitation > 2/4. Dilation was performed using a single balloon in 13 patients, a double balloon in 349 and the Inoue balloon in 166. Multivariate analysis was performed with a Cox model. RESULTS: The survival rate for patients in New York Heart Association functional class I or II, with no cardiac-related deaths or need for mitral surgery or repeat dilation, was 76 +/- 6% at 5 years. By multivariate analysis, the independent predictors of good functional results were echocardiographic group (p = 0.01), functional class (p = 0.02) and cardiothoracic index (p = 0.005) before the procedure and valve area after the procedure (p = 0.007). The predictive model derived allowed estimation of the probability of good functional results according to the value of these four predictors for any given patient. CONCLUSIONS: Good functional results were observed 5 years after successful percutaneous mitral commissurotomy in a large series of varied patients. The analysis of predictive factors may provide useful indications for follow-up results in patients undergoing this technique.

[Free floating thrombus in right cardiac chambers and thrombolysis]. / Thrombus flottant dans les cavités droites.

Free-floating thrombi in the right heart chambers is a rare phenomenon. Nearly 99% of detected cases are associated with the presence of proven pulmonary embolism. Its presence is associated with a poor outcome with a mortality between 27 to 44% according to studies. Despite the emergency of treatment, optimal management of free floating right heart thrombus remains controversial with no clear consensus. We present the case of a 84-year-old man hospitalised for acute decompensated heart failure. After an initial favourable evolution, a degradation of respiratory occurred with dyspnea and desaturation. A bedside transthoracic echocardiography showed a mobile serpiginous thrombus, 7cm size, moving to and across the tricuspid valve. A computed tomography of the chest demonstrated massive bilateral pulmonary embolism. After persistence of the thrombus and seven days of heparinotherapy, thrombolysis therapy was initiated. The thrombus disappeared 24h after thrombolysis. Without contra-indication, thrombolysis is a faster, readily available treatment for the management of floating thrombus in the right heart chambers associated with pulmonary embolism.

Early assessment by transesophageal echocardiography of left atrial appendage function after percutaneous mitral commissurotomy.

Thirty-seven consecutively admitted patients with severe mitral stenosis underwent percutaneous mitral commissurotomy with a transthoracic and biplane or multiplane transesophageal echocardiographic examination before and between 24 and 48 hours after percutaneous mitral commissurotomy. Thirty patients (81%) were in sinus rhythm and 7 were in atrial fibrillation. Left atrial appendage (LAA) function was evaluated in both the transverse and the longitudinal planes by planimetry and pulsed Doppler echocardiographic interrogation at the LAA outlet. Percutaneous mitral commissurotomy resulted in a twofold increase in mitral valve area, and no severe mitral regurgitation occurred. With use of the planimetry method, there was no significant improvement in LAA ejection fraction, except in the transverse plane for patients in sinus rhythm (p = 0.03). With use of Doppler method, 3 distinct flow patterns were observed before the procedure: a "sinus pattern" in patients in sinus rhythm, and a "fibrillatory pattern" (n = 3) or a "no-flow pattern" (n = 4) in patients in atrial fibrillation. After commissurotomy, there was a marked increase in LAA peak Doppler velocity (+62%) and in LAA velocity time integral (+31%). Of the 4 patients in atrial fibrillation with a no-flow pattern, 2 had recovery of a typical effective fibrillatory flow pattern after the procedure. The increase in peak Doppler velocity after commissurotomy was related to the decrease or regression in left atrial spontaneous echo contrast, and correlated with the increase in mitral valve area, the decrease in tranmitral pressure gradient, and the increase in cardiac index; improvement in valve function after successful percutaneous mitral commissurotomy is associated with early improvement in LAA function.

[Other indications of thrombolysis: thrombolysis in the elderly, late thrombolysis]. / Les autres indications de la thrombolyse: thrombolyse chez le sujet âgé, thrombolyse tardive.

Thrombolytic therapy has been shown to preserve left ventricular function and reduce mortality in the acute phase of myocardial infarction. When the usual inclusion criteria are respected, only about 30% of patients can benefit from this form of treatment. The "excluded" cases are more numerous and have a worse prognosis. This has led to a review or the indications, especially with respect to age and the maximum time delay before instituting treatment. The data currently available comes mainly from large from retrospective analyses of subgroups taken from large scale thrombolytic trials, and must be confirmed by randomized studies specifically designed to analyse these problems. In elderly patients, the benefits in terms of mortality are important but the haemorrhagic risk is also greater and has to be accurately evaluated. Age by itself should not be considered to be an absolute contraindication to thrombolytic therapy which may be undertaken in elderly patients with large infarcts after having carefully excluded the other contraindications frequently observed in this age group. Late thrombolysis probably acts by mechanisms other than limitation of infarct size. The results are less impressive than when thrombolysis is instituted early require confirmation by the randomised studies currently under way. However, at present, is seems justified to prescribe thrombolytic therapy after the 6th hour in patients with large infarcts who continue to have chest pain. The limitations of thrombolytic therapy with regards to age and delay of administration should, therefore, be reconsidered taking into account the individual risk benefit ratio.

[Prognosis of reoperation for prosthesis dysfunction]. / Pronostic des réinterventions pour dysfonction de bioprothèse.

Between 1969 and 1990, 75 adults living in mainland France underwent reoperation for bioprosthetic valve dysfunction. The average time between the initial operation and reoperation was 65 +/- 41 months. The average age was 44 years and half of the patients were severely symptomatic (NYHA Stages III or IV in half the cases). Dysfunction of an aortic valve prosthesis was observed in 65% of cases (N = 49) and of a mitral valve prosthesis in 35% of cases (N = 26). The causes of reoperation were: 50 primary degenerations (67%), 19 infectious endocarditis (25%) and 6 perivalvular leaks (8%). Valve replacement was performed in 74 cases and suture of the sewing ring in 1 case. An associated procedure was performed in 24 cases: 12 drainage of abscess, 10 double valve replacements and 2 tricuspid valvuloplasties. The operative mortality was 9.3% and early morbidity was 46%. Univariate and multivariate analysis identified two factors predictive of operative mortality: the duration of cardiopulmonary bypass and the cardiothoracic ratio. During follow-up, which lasted 36 +/- 31 months, there were 12 deaths, 4 of cardiac failure; 4 sudden deaths, 3 deaths related to the prosthesis and 1 extracardiac death. The 6 year actuarial survival rate was 71%. The cardiothoracic ratio, the preoperative ejection fraction and the bypass time were factors predictive of global showed bypass time and the cardiothoracic ratio to be prognostic factors. The 6 year survival without cardiac events was 40%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Pure epicarditis after surgical repair of atrial septal defect: a rare form of constrictive pericarditis. Apropos of a case]. / Epicardite pure après correction chirurgicale d'une communication interauriculaire: une forme rare de péricardite constrictive. A propos d'un cas.

The authors report a case of constrictive pericarditis occurring two years after surgical repair of an atrial septal defect in a 37 year-old-man. The diagnosis was made by right heart catheterisation and magnetic resonance imaging. The special feature of this clinical case was the exclusive localisation of the fibrosis on the visceral pericardium or epicarditis. The outcome was favourable after resection of the visceral pericardium respecting the parietal pericardium. Magnetic resonance imaging and right heart catheterisation performed 6 months after surgery were normal. Constrictive pericarditis is a classical complication of cardiac surgery but relatively rare after repair of an atrial septal defect. Isolated involvement of the visceral pericardium is rare and allows surgical correction by exclusive epicardectomy respecting the parietal pericardium.

[Value of transesophageal echocardiography in the follow-up of successful percutaneous mitral valvotomy]. / Intérêt de l'échographie transoesophagienne dans le suivi des commissurotomies mitrales percutanées réussies.

This study was undertaken to determine the value of transoesophageal echocardiography in the follow-up of patients with severe mitral stenosis having undergone successful percutaneous mitral commissurotomy as defined as a final valve surface area > 1.5 cm2 without > 2/4 mitral regurgitation (MR). Eighty one patients who had undergone successful procedures were studied by transthoracic (TTE) and transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) before, immediately after (24 to 48 hours) and at medium term (8 +/- 4 months) after balloon commissurotomy. The three main parameters studied were the degree of MR, presence of inter-atrial shunt and spontaneous left atrial contrast. Immediately after commissurotomy the MR was graded 0/4 in 6 patients (7.5%), 1/4 in 48 patients (59%) and 2/4 in 27 patients (33.5%). The TOE showed small traumatic lesions (localised valve tears, rupture of an accessory chordae tendinae) in 9 cases (11%). At medium term follow-up, the MR was stable in 75 patients (93%), decreased by one grade in 3 patients (3.5%), without the occurrence of severe MR. Interatrial shunts were more frequently observed by TOE than by TTE or oximetry with a prevalence of 57%. They usually disappeared at medium term follow-up. There were 3 factors associated with its persistence: a shunt visible at TTE, immediately after commissurotomy, visualisation of an atrial septal defect and a shunt jet width > or = 5 mm at TOE immediately after commissurotomy. Spontaneous contrast was common before the procedure (65%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Isolated carcinoid tumor of the ovary disclosed by tricuspid insufficiency]. / Une tumeur carcinoïde isolée de l'ovaire révélée par une insuffisance tricuspide.

A 68-year old woman was hospitalised because of isolated right heart failure. Doppler echocardiography revealed severe tricuspid regurgitation with thickened, shortened, hypomobile leaflets. Pulmonary valve was thickened with mild pulmonary regurgitation. Mitral and aortic valves were normal. The patient was finally diagnosed with carcinoid heart disease from an isolated ovarian carcinoid cancer without hepatic metastases. Ovarectomy was performed and the patient was considered cured of her cancer. Because of refractory right heart failure, she underwent tricuspid valve replacement with a bioprosthesis. Such cardiovascular manifestations are rarely the presenting symptoms of carcinoid disease. Carcinoid heart disease from ovarian primary cancer is exceptional. In this circumstance, carcinoid cardiac lesions may develop in the absence of hepatic metastases because the venous blood from the ovaries drains into the inferior vena cava without hepatic first past effect. Surgical resection of primary ovarian carcinoid tumor is often curative and the prognosis depends mainly on the cardiac condition. The diagnosis of carcinoid syndrome should be discussed in patients with organic tricuspid regurgitation without left valvular disease.

[Indications of coronary angioplasty after thrombolysis]. / Indications de l'angioplastie coronaire après thrombolyse.

Thrombolysis is the most widely used method of coronary reperfusion in the acute phase of myocardial infarction. The indications of angioplasty after thrombolysis have been subject of considerable controversy over the last few years. Three randomised trials (TIMI 2, TAMI, ECSG) have shown that it is not desirable to perform systematic immediate angioplasty after intravenous thrombolysis with rt-PA. Angioplasty may be carried out as a "salvage" procedure in cases of failure of thrombolysis. The validity of this approach was confirmed recently by the "RESCUE" trial in anterior myocardial infarction. The practical application of its results is confronted by logistical problems inherent to the practice of angioplasty in the acute phase of myocardial infarction and to the inadequacy of non-invasive methods for the detection of coronary reperfusion after thrombolysis. Angioplasty may also be necessary in cases of left ventricular failure or cardiogenic shock. The efficacy of a rapid angioplasty in cases of recurrence of ischaemia after thrombolysis has been proved in reducing mortality and preserving left ventricular function. The results of TIMI IIB and SWIFT trials show that secondary angioplasty, several days after thrombolysis, is only usually indicated in patients with residual clinical ischaemia or positive stress tests. This attitude should however be modulated in the light of the "open artery" theory and the limitations of methods of evaluating myocardial viability. The present strategies will no doubt be modified with the introduction of new thrombolytic and/or antithrombotic agents and the use of coronary stents.

[Indications of drug eluting stents]. / Indication des stents actifs.

The publication in 2001 of the first in-man results showing zero restenosis after sirolimus eluting stent implantation produced enormous excitement in the cardiological community. Today, both sirolimus and paclitaxel eluting stents have been shown in randomized trials to reduce restenosis as compared with conventional metallic stents. However, since drug eluting stents become available in Europe very little has changed in the every life of almost all interventional laboratories in Europe. The limitation currently impeding more widespread use of the new technology is nontechnical, nonmedical but economic. The high price of drug eluting stents relative to bare stents has been an obstacle to more widespread utilization of drug eluting stents.

[Extensive iatrogenic coronary dissection during coronary angioplasty: a series of 19 consecutive patients]. / Dissection coronaire extensive compliquant une angioplastie: à propos d'une série de 19 cas consécutifs.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Extensive coronary dissection is a rare complication of intraluminal angioplasty. We report a retrospective study of 19 patients who consulted in a general hospital without cardiac surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: After consulting our coronarography and angioplasty database, we included the extensive coronary dissections (type D, E and F) in our study. The medical files of the selected patients were analysed. RESULTS: Between January 2003 and March 2010, 19 coronary angioplasty (total: 2542) were complicated with extensive dissections (incidence 0,75%). For 62,3% of the patients, the dissection was related to the guiding catheter. Eleven patients had type A and B1 lesions. The dissections affected the right coronary artery for 16 patients, the left anterior descending coronary artery for two patients and the left main coronary artery for one patient. After angioplasty, a final TIMI flow 3 was obtained for only 11 patients. In nine cases, we observed a limited extension to the aorta that did not need a chirurgical intervention and had no influence on the prognosis. The complications were common, such as death (n=1), coronary bypass (n=2), myocardial infarction (n=8), cardiogenic shock (n=2) and circulatory assistance (n=2). CONCLUSION: Extensive coronary dissection is a rare complication of angioplasty. The right coronary is the most frequent vessel concerned and an extension to aorta is usual. The treatment is usually based on sealing the entry with a coronary stent. The complications are common and serious and we did not find any predicting factors to extensive coronary dissections that are unpredictable.

[Non invasive methylergometrine test should be carried out after cardiac arrest due to coronary spasm?]. / Faut-il faire un test au méthergin non invasif après un arrêt cardiaque par spasme coronaire?

A 59-year-old man was admitted after cardiac arrest with successful reanimation. There was no significant coronary lesion. We conclude to the diagnosis of coronary spasm after the occurrence of a chest pain with anterior ST elevation reversible with intravenous nitrates. One month later, non-invasive methylergometrine test was carried out and complicated by a cardiac arrest due to complete heart block and asystole treated by chest compression, molsidomine and epinephrine. No cardiac event occurred within the following six months. Technique (invasive versus not invasive) and indication of methylergometrine test for the follow-up of severe manifestations of coronary spasm should be better specified in international guidelines.