Eisenmenger syndrome - an electrocardiographic and echocardiographic assessment of the right ventricle.

BACKGROUND: Eisenmenger syndrome represents severe, irreversible, and end-stage pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) associated with congenital heart defects. For long-term outcome optimal right ventricular (RV) adaptation is crucial with precise assessment of its hypertrophy, dilatation and function. OBJECTIVES: Associations of electrocardiographic (ECG) and echocardiographic (ECHO) RV characteristics were analyzed. METHODS: Included were 52 patients (39F/13M), median age 45 years (24-78). Following ECG parameters were analyzed: Butler-Leggett formula (B-L), Sokolow-Lyon criterion (S-L), QRS duration (QRS), maximum spatial QRS vector magnitude (QRS max); and ECHO parameters: RV diameter (RVd), RV wall thickness (RVAW), RV/LV function. RESULTS: Following significant ECG-ECHO associations were demonstrated: S-L criterion and B-L formula with RVAW (p 120 ms only with severely dilated RV (RVd > 45 mm), while QRS max 33 mm); A new combined scoring system was introduced. CONCLUSIONS: In Eisenmenger syndrome RV hypertrophy is compensatory; diagnosis of prognostically unfavorable RV dilatation is therefore important. Combined ECG-ECHO analysis enables more accurate risk stratification. QRS duration > 120 ms seems to be a late marker; QRS max together with ECHO parameters may help to distinguish patients at higher risk for clinical deterioration (Tab. 3, Fig. 8, Ref. 53).

Metabolic syndrome and its effect on aortic stiffness in premenopausal women.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a cluster of proatherogenic risk factors (RF) (abdominal obesity, atherogenic dyslipidemia, impaired fasting glucose or type 2 diabetes mellitus, higher blood pressure or antihypertensive therapy) that move patients into a higher risk for development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes. The preclinical (subclinical) target organ diseases (SOD) are early signs of atherosclerosis. An increased aortic stiffness characterised by an increased pulse wave velocity in aorta (PWV Ao) is one of SOD.The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of metabolic syndrome (MS) on aortic wall stiffness and the risk profile in premenopausal women. METHODS: The aortic stiffness was measured using Arteriograph-Tensiomed, based on oscillometric measurement and analysis of the shape of brachial pulse wave, giving the PWV Ao. The results of measurements characterise a global aortic stiffness. RESULTS: We examined 81 premenopausal women (without history of CVD). The MS (according to the 2009 "harmonizing" definition) was present in 31 women (mean age 41.5 y), in the control group, there were 50 women (39 y). The most frequent components of MS were abdominal obesity (93 % vs 42%), arterial hypertension (68 % vs 10 %) and dyslipidemia (29 % vs 8 %). The PWV Ao was significantly higher in women with MS (9.26 m/s) compared to the control group (7.44 m/s). CONCLUSION: The aortic stiffness in women with MS compared to controls was significantly higher despite a presumed general protective hormonal effect on cardiovascular system in women with child-bearing potential (Tab. 4, Ref. 25).

[Symmetrical phlebothrombosis of lower extremities resulting from congenital malformation of vena cava inferior]. / Obojstranná flebotrombóza dolných koncatín zaprícinená vrodenou malformáciou dolnej dutej zily.

Agenesis/atresia ofvena cava inferior is a rare congenital anomaly, caused by an aberrance of embryonal venous system development. This is in most cases asymptomatic, because of well developed collateral venous circulation. However, in some cases, it can be manifested with occurence of deep thrombosis in area of pelvis and lower limbs. In this case report, we repon a 21 year old male with painful swelling of both lower limbs. Ultrasonographic examination revealed a bilateral thrombosis in deep venous system of lower limbs and pelvis. Subsequent CT angiography showed atresia ofinfrarenal segment ofvena cava inferior. According to the CT image thrombotic proces affected also collateral venous system, that joined mostly to vena azygos and hemiazygos. Examination of coagulation system didn't reveal a procuring cause ofthrombotic occurrence. We realized a systemic trombolysis with streptokinase during 5 days. Starting from the fifth day we administered a low molecular weight heparin in anticoagulant dose. This treatment showed a good clinical effect. Pacient was discharged with a long-term oral warfarin therapy in combination with acetylsalicylic acid. In next four months of taking recommended therapy no relapse of thrombotic process nor evolvement of bleeding complication was observed.

Is left ventricular hypertrophy a risk factor in hypertensive patients?

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is supposed to be a risk factor of cardiovascular (CV) complications in hypertensive patients. AIM: To compare clinical events in hypertensives with and without LVH. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 319 hypertensives with LVH (mean age 64.1+/-10.6 ys) and 177 hypertensives without LVH (mean age 62.5+/-11.3 ys). LVH defined by echo Penn convention as left ventricular mass index >134 g/m2 in men and >110 g/m2 in women. Clinical events--heart failure (EF<40 %), left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (echo-doppler: transmitral-flow where peak A>peak E), myocardial infarction (history, ECG, cardiac enzymes), chronic atrial fibrillation (more than 2 weeks duration), mitral regurgitation (echo) and renal involvement (creatininemia>120 micromol/l). The two groups of hypertensives were matched by demographic criteria, duration and intensity of hypertension, obesity, diabetes mellitus, lipid serum levels and smoking habits. RESULTS: There were statistically significant at least p<0.05 more CV events (heart failure, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, myocardial infarction, chronic atrial fibrillation, and mitral regurgitation cases) and renal involvement in LVH-positive patients than in LVH-negative patients. CONCLUSION: LVH is a strong risk factor for clinical events in hypertensives, which necessitates their more intensive treatment, mainly with drugs producing also LVH regression. (Tab. 5, Ref. 48.)

[Heart failure in hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy]. / Srdcové zlyhanie u hypertonikov s hypertrofiou l'avej komory.

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is supposed to be a useful marker of cardiovascular complications during the course of hypertension. Authors compared the presence of heart failure, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and chronic atrial fibrillation in hypertensive patients with and without left ventricular hypertrophy defined by echocardiography. Hospital records of 192 hypertensives treated in our medical department during years 1996-1999 were analysed. Left ventricular hypertrophy was defined by echocardiography (Penn convention) as left ventricular mass index > 134 g/m2 in men and > 110 g/m2 in women. Presence of LVH was found in 128 patients (mean age 65.9 years), absence of LVH in 64 patients (mean age 64.8 years). Both groups of hypertensives were matched by demographic parameters, by the presence of hyperlipidemia, by smoking habits. Hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy were more often treated by ACE inhibitors. There were statistically significant more patients with heart failure, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and chronic atrial fibrillation in LVH-positive patients than in LVH-negative once. There was also statistically significant lower ejection fraction (50.3 +/- 11.4% vs 56.5 +/- 7.4%) in LVH-positive patients than in LVH-negative once. Left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with hypertension brings usually a complicated course of the disease with a high contribution to the development of chronic heart failure.

[QT interval dispersion in hypertensive diabetics and in patients with hypertension with chronic heart failure without diabetes]. / Disperzia QT intervalov u hypertonických diabetikov a u pacientov s hypertenziou bez diabetu s chronickým srdcovým zlyhaním.

AIM: Our aim was to: 1. compare QT dispersion from routine ECG in diabetic and no-diabetic patients with congestive heart failure, 2. describe associations between QT dispersion and circadian blood (BP) pressure variation in type 2 diabetic patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). PATIENTS AND METHODS: 122 patients admitted to hospital due to CHF in the period between years 2000-2001 have been divided into 2 groups: group 1:70 patients (m: 40, f: 30, mean age 64.7 +/- 9 years) with type II diabetes mellitus (DM), group 2:52 patients (m: 28, f:24, mean age 62.5 +/- 10.9 years) without DM. Diagnosis of CHF was made clinically and proved by ECG and ECHO (EF < 40%), DM was defined clinically or by using oral glucose tolerance test (75 g glucose, 2 h blood glucose > 11.1 mmol/l). The QT interval was measured from the beginning of the QRS complex to the end of the T wave from routine 12-lead ECG. QT intervals were corrected for heart rate using Bazett's formula. QT dispersion (QTd) and rate corrected QT dispersion (QTc) were defined as the difference between the maximum and minimum QT and QTc intervals, respectively. Ambulatory blood pressure (AMBP) was measured by an oscillometic technique. Diabetic patients with CHF were divided both according to below and above the median QTc dispersion (65 ms). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Chi-square and Student's t-test. Significant differences were assumed of p < 0.05. RESULTS: Both groups were matched by gender, age, duration and intensity of hypertension, the presence and intensity of obesity, hyperlipidemia (TC, TG, LDL-C, HDL-C) and smoking habits. Diabetic patients with CHF had significantly longer QTc interval (maximum and minimum), QT dispersion and QTc dispersion compared with non-diabetic patients with CHF. Diabetic patients with CHF with QTc dispersion > 65 ms had significantly higher night systolic (133 +/- 14 vs. 112 +/- 14) and diastolic (80 +/- 11 vs. 65 +/- 6) BP and significantly higher night/day ratio for both systolic (0.94 +/- 0.05 vs. 0.86 +/- 0.06) and diastolic (0.89 +/- 0.07 vs. 0.80 +/- 0.05) compared with diabetic patients with CHF with QTc dispersion < 65 ms. CONCLUSION: Diabetic patients with CHF are higher risk than non-diabetic. Our data describe both factors related to cardiovascular risk in diabetic patients with CHF-prolongation of the QT and QTc dispersion and reduced nocturnal blood pressure.