Biventricular imaging markers to predict outcomes in non-compaction cardiomyopathy: a machine learning study.

AIMS: Left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy (LVNC) is a genetic heart disease, with heart failure, arrhythmias, and embolic events as main clinical manifestations. The goal of this study was to analyse a large set of echocardiographic (echo) and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) parameters using machine learning (ML) techniques to find imaging predictors of clinical outcomes in a long-term follow-up of LVNC patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients with echo and/or CMRI criteria of LVNC, followed from January 2011 to December 2017 in the heart failure section of a tertiary referral cardiologic hospital, were enrolled in a retrospective study. Two-dimensional colour Doppler echocardiography and subsequent CMRI were carried out. Twenty-four hour Holter monitoring was also performed in all patients. Death, cardiac transplantation, heart failure hospitalization, aborted sudden cardiac death, complex ventricular arrhythmias (sustained and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia), and embolisms (i.e. stroke, pulmonary thromboembolism and/or peripheral arterial embolism) were registered and were referred to as major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in this study. Recruited for the study were 108 LVNC patients, aged 38.3 ± 15.5 years, 48.1% men, diagnosed by echo and CMRI criteria. They were followed for 5.8 ± 3.9 years, and MACEs were registered. CMRI and echo parameters were analysed via a supervised ML methodology. Forty-seven (43.5%) patients had at least one MACE. The best performance of imaging variables was achieved by combining four parameters: left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (by CMRI), right ventricular (RV) end-systolic volume (by CMRI), RV systolic dysfunction (by echo), and RV lower diameter (by CMRI) with accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity rates of 75.5%, 77%, 75%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show the importance of biventricular assessment to detect the severity of this cardiomyopathy and to plan for early clinical intervention. In addition, this study shows that even patients with normal LV function and negative late gadolinium enhancement had MACE. ML is a promising tool for analysing a large set of parameters to stratify and predict prognosis in LVNC patients.

Is It Safe for Patients With Cardiac Channelopathies to Undergo Routine Dental Care? Experience From a Single-Center Study.

Background Brugada syndrome and long-QT syndrome may account for at least one third of unexplained sudden cardiac deaths. Dental care in patients with cardiac channelopathies is challenging because of the potential risk of life-threatening events. We hypothesized that the use of local dental anesthesia with lidocaine with and without epinephrine is safe and does not result in life-threatening arrhythmias in patients with channelopathies. Methods and Results We performed a randomized, double-blind pilot trial comparing the use of 2% lidocaine without a vasoconstrictor and with 1:100 000 epinephrine in 2 sessions of restorative dental treatment with a washout period of 7 days (crossover trial). Twenty-eight-hour Holter monitoring was performed, and 12-lead electrocardiography, digital sphygmomanometry, and anxiety scale assessments were also conducted at 3 time points. Fifty-six dental procedures were performed in 28 patients (18 women, 10 men) with cardiac channelopathies: 16 (57.1%) had long-QT syndrome, and 12 (42.9%) had Brugada syndrome; 11 (39.3%) of patients had an implantable defibrillator. The mean age was 45.9±15.9 years. The maximum heart rate increased after the use of epinephrine during the anesthesia period from 82.1 to 85.8 beats per minute (P=0.008). In patients with long-QT syndrome, the median corrected QT was higher, from 450.1 to 465.4 ms (P=0.009) at the end of anesthesia in patients in whom epinephrine was used. The other measurements showed no statistically significant differences. No life-threatening arrhythmias occurred during dental treatment. Conclusions The use of local dental anesthesia with lidocaine, regardless of the use of a vasoconstrictor, did not result in life-threatening arrhythmias and appears to be safe in stable patients with cardiac channelopathies. Clinical Trial Registration URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT03182777.

Intramyocardial injection of autologous bone marrow cells as an adjunctive therapy to incomplete myocardial revascularization--safety issues.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the safety of intramyocardial injection of autologous bone marrow cells in patients undergoing surgical myocardial revascularization (CABG) for severe coronary artery disease. INTRODUCTION: There is little data available regarding the safety profile of autologous bone marrow cells injected during surgical myocardial revascularization. Potential risks include arrythmias, fibrosis in the injected sites and growth of non-cardiac tissues. METHODS: Ten patients (eight men) were enrolled; they were 59+/-5 years old with limiting angina and were non-optimal candidates for complete CABG. Bone marrow cells (1.3+/-0.3x10(8)) were obtained prior to surgery, and the lymphomonocytic fraction (CD34+ =1.8+/-0.3%) was separated by density gradient centrifugation. During surgery, bone marrow cells were injected in non-grafted areas of ischemic myocardium. During the first year after surgery, the patients underwent laboratory tests, cardiac imaging, and 24-hour ECG monitoring. RESULTS: Injected segments: inferior (n=7), anterior (n=2), septal (n=1), apical (n=1), and lateral (n=1) walls. Except for a transient elevation of C-reactive protein at one month post-surgery (P=0.01), laboratory tests results were within normal ranges; neither complex arrhythmias nor structural abnormalities were detected during follow-up. There was a reduction in functional class of angina from 3.6+/-0.8 (baseline) to 1.2+/-0.4 (one year) (P<0.0001). Also, patients had a significant decrease in the ischemic score assessed by magnetic resonance, not only globally from 0.65+/-0.14 (baseline) to 0.17+/-0.05 (one year) (P=0.002), but also in the injected areas from 1.11+/-0.20 (baseline) to 0.34+/-0.13 (one year) (P=0.0009). CONCLUSIONS: Intramyocardial injection of bone marrow cells combined with CABG appears to be safe. Theoretical concerns with arrhythmias and/or structural abnormalities after cell therapy were not confirmed in this safety trial.

Premature atrial and ventricular complexes in outpatients referred from a primary care facility.

BACKGROUND: Premature complexes are common electrocardiographic findings in daily clinical practice that require further evaluation. Investigation may sometimes be complex and expensive. The aim of our study was to analyze variables associated with premature beats identified in outpatients referred from a primary care facility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study of 407 outpatients (aged 55.8±11years; 56% women) who were followed by general practitioners and were referred for resting 12-lead electrocardiograms for a routine clinical follow-up. After signing informed consent, patients answered a questionnaire and underwent physical examinations, laboratory diagnostics, transthoracic echocardiograms and 24-hour Holter monitoring to evaluate for the presence of premature complexes. After the univariate analyses, logistic regression analyses were performed with adjustment for age, sex, and cardiovascular diseases. RESULTS: Premature complexes distribution revealed that they were frequent but with low density. Premature atrial complexes (≥ 4/hours) were associated with age (Odds Ratio (OD) = 1.030, Confidence Interval (CI) 95% = 1.002 ─ 1.059, p = 0.029), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels > 20mg/dL (OR = 4.489, 95%CI = 1.918 ─ 10.507, p = 0.0005), intraventricular blocks (OR = 4.184, 95%CI = 1.816 ─ 9.406, p = 0.0005) and left atrial diameter (OR = 1.065, 95%CI = 1.001 ─ 1.134, p = 0.046). Premature ventricular complexes (≥ 5/hour) were related to age (OR = 1.032, 95%CI = 1.010 ─ 1.054, p = 0.004), the use of calcium channel blockers (OR = 2.248, 95%CI = 1.019 ─ 4.954, p = 0.045), HDL-cholesterol levels (OR = 0.971, 95%CI = 0.951 ─ 0.992, p = 0.007), BNP levels > 20mg/dL (OR = 2.079, 95%CI = 0.991 ─ 0.998, p = 0.033), heart rate (OR = 1.019, 95%CI = 1.001 ─ 1.038, p = 0.041), left ventricular hypertrophy (OR = 2.292, 95%CI = 1.402 ─ 3.746, p = 0.001) and left ventricular ejection fraction (OR = 0.938, 95%CI = 0.900 ─ 0.978, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Premature complexes had low density and were associated with BNP levels > 20mg/dL, lower levels of HDL-cholesterol, left atrial enlargement and ventricular hypertrophy. The identification of premature complexes on 24-hour Holter monitor recordings of outpatients in a primary public healthcare setting was associated with uncontrolled cardiovascular risk factors that may be addressed with medical advice and therapy in a primary care setting.

Favorable Safety Experience of Local Dental Anesthesia in ICD Recipients with Cardiac Channelopathies

Abstract Background Dental anesthetic management in implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) recipients with cardiac channelopathies (CCh) can be challenging due to the potential risk of life-threatening arrhythmias and appropriate ICD therapies during procedural time. Objectives The present study assessed the hypothesis that the use of local dental anesthesia with 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine or without a vasoconstrictor can be safe in selected ICD and CCh patients, not resulting in life-threatening events (LTE). Methods Restorative dental treatment under local dental anesthesia was made in two sessions, with a wash-out period of 7 days (cross-over trial), conducting with a 28h - Holter monitoring, and 12-lead electrocardiography, digital sphygmomanometry, and anxiety scale assessments in 3 time periods. Statistical analysis carried out the paired Student's t test and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. In all cases, a significance level of 5% was adopted. All patients were in stable condition with no recent events before dental care. Results Twenty-four consecutive procedures were performed in 12 patients (9 women, 3 men) with CCh and ICD: 7 (58.3%) had long QT syndrome (LQTS), 4 (33.3%) Brugada syndrome (BrS), and 1 (8.3%) Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT). Holter analysis showed no increased heart rate (HR) or sustained arrhythmias. Blood pressure (BP), electrocardiographic changes and anxiety measurement showed no statistically significant differences. No LTE occurred during dental treatment, regardless of the type of anesthesia. Conclusion Lidocaine administration, with or without epinephrine, can be safely used in selected CCh-ICD patients without LTE. These preliminary findings need to be confirmed in a larger population with ICD and CCh.

Cardiac arrhythmias and atrioventricular block in a cohort of asymptomatic individuals without heart disease.

AIMS: To evaluate cardiac arrhythmias and rhythm disturbances on 24 h ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring in a cohort of asymptomatic healthy individuals with normal clinical examination. METHODS AND RESULTS: 625 asymptomatic healthy individuals, in the age range 15-83 (mean 42, SD 11.9) years; 276 (44.2%) men and 349 (55.8%) women were submitted to 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring. Statistical analysis was performed with likelihood ratio test and automatic backward logistic regression. The frequency of atrial arrhythmias (p < 0.0001; OR 1.059; 95% CI 1.050-1068) and of ventricular arrhythmias (p < 0.0001; OR 1.023; 95% CI 1.017-1.029) increased for each age increase of 1 year; neither atrial nor ventricular arrhythmias demonstrated a statistically significant difference relative to gender. Transient second-degree atrioventricular block (Mobitz I) was observed in 14 (2.2%) individuals and was more frequent in individuals with resting heart rate <60 bpm (p = 0.006; OR 6.7, 95% CI 1.7-25.5). CONCLUSION: The frequency of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias increased with age and did not demonstrate a significant difference relative to gender. Transient atrioventricular block was more frequent in individuals with lower resting heart rate.

Lower heart rate variability is associated with higher serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein concentration in healthy individuals aged 46 years or more.

BACKGROUND: To test the hypothesis of an association between cardiac autonomic activity evaluated by heart rate variability and systemic inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein, we studied the correlation of the indices of heart rate variability relative to serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in a healthy Brazilian population. METHODS: Four hundred twenty-one healthy individuals aged 15-82 years (mean 40.4 years), 184 men (43.7%) and 237 women (56.3%) were enrolled between July 1998 and July 2001. The relationship between the log-transformed indices of the heart rate variability and the serum concentration of hs-CRP were analyzed stratified by age tertile using the Spearman correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression. RESULTS: The log standard deviation of all normal sinus RR intervals over 24 h (SDNN) (r = -0.801; p = 0.024) was independently correlated with log hs-CRP in the individuals with age in the oldest tertile (> or = 46 years). In addition, the body mass index (BMI) was independently correlated with hs-CRP in all of the age groups. CONCLUSIONS: In the healthy subjects aged 46 years or more the lower heart rate variability correlated with higher concentration of hs-CRP.

Reproducibility for Heart Rate Variability Analysis during 6-Min Walk Test in Patients with Heart Failure and Agreement between Devices.

Heart rate variability (HRV) analysis is a useful method to assess abnormal functioning in the autonomic nervous system and to predict cardiac events in patients with heart failure (HF). HRV measurements with heart rate monitors have been validated with an electrocardiograph in healthy subjects but not in patients with HF. We explored the reproducibility of HRV in two consecutive six-minute walk tests (6MW), 60-minute apart, using a heart rate monitor (PolarS810i) and a portable electrocardiograph (called Holter) in 50 HF patients (mean age 59 years, NYHA II, left ventricular ejection fraction ~35%). The reproducibility for each device was analysed using a paired t-test or the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Additionally, we assessed the agreement between the two devices based on the HRV indices at rest, during the 6MW and during recovery using concordance correlation coefficients (CCC), 95% confidence intervals and Bland-Altman plots. The test-retest for the HRV analyses was reproducible using Holter and PolarS810i at rest but not during recovery. In the second 6MW, patients showed significant increases in rMSSD and walking distance. The PolarS810i measurements had remarkably high concordance correlation [0.86

Dysregulation of Autonomic Nervous System in Chagas' Heart Disease Is Associated with Altered Adipocytokines Levels.

BACKGROUND: Chagas disease (CD) induces autonomic dysfunction and inflammatory activity, which may promote metabolic abnormalities. We studied metabolism and his correlation with Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) and inflammation in CD. METHODS AND RESULTS: Sixty subjects were divided into 4 groups: control group (CG), IF (indeterminate form) group; ECG group (ECG abnormalities and normal left ventricular systolic function), and LVD group (left ventricular sistolic dysfunction). Levels of adiponectin, leptin, insulin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were assayed in serum samples by ELISA. ANS was assessed by heart rate variability in frequency domain in 24-hour Holter and postural tilt test (rest and orthostatic position). High frequency (HFr) component values were used to estimate parasympathetic activity and low frequency (LFr) component, sympathetic activity. Analyzes were made of the correlations of each of the metabolic parameters (leptin and adiponectin) with the inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6 and TNF- alpha) and with the ANS assessment measurements. No significant differences were observed in leptin and insulin levels. Adiponectin was higher in ECG and LVD groups: [CG = 4766.5 (5529.5), IF = 4003.5 (2482.5), ECG = 8376.5 (8388.5), LVD = 8798 (4188.0) ng/mL, p<0.001)]. IL-6 and TNF-alpha were higher in LVD group: [IL-6: CG = 1.85 (6.41); IF = 1.58 (1.91); ECG = 1.0 (1.57); LVD= 31.44 (72.19) pg/ml; p = 0.001. TNF-alpha: CG = 22.57 (88.2); IF = 19.31 (33.16); ECG = 12.45 (3.07); LVD = 75.15 (278.57) pg/ml; p = 0.04]. Adiponectin levels had a positive association with the HFr component (r = 0.539; p = 0.038) and an inverse association with the LFr component (r = - 0.539; p = 0.038) in ECG group. Leptin levels had a negative association with the HFr component (r= - 0.632; p = 0.011) and a positive association with the LFr component (r = 0.632; p = 0.011) in LVD group. CONCLUSIONS: We found increased adiponectin levels in Chagas' heart disease with systolic dysfunction and in patients with ECG abnormalities and normal systolic function at rest. Adipocytokines levels (adiponectin and leptin) were associated with ANS parameters in Chagas' heart disease.

Influence of age, gender, body mass index, and functional capacity on heart rate variability in a cohort of subjects without heart disease.

We studied the time- and frequency-domain indexes of heart rate variability (HRV) in 653 patients without any evidence of heart disease relative to age, gender, heart rate, body mass index, and functional capacity. There was an inverse correlation of HRV with heart rate (p <0.001). HRV indexes decreased with increasing age, differed by gender, and were higher in patients with higher functional capacity. No correlation was noted between HRV and body mass index.

Electrocardiographic and blood pressure alterations during electroconvulsive therapy in young adults.

OBJECTIVE: To study cardiovascular alterations in young patients with no apparent organic disease who underwent electroconvulsive therapy. METHODS: The study comprised 47 healthy patients (22 males and 25 females) with a mean age of 30.3 years, who underwent electroconvulsive therapy. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and continuous electrocardiographic monitoring (Holter monitor) were performed during 24 hours. Blood pressure and heart rate were assessed 4 hours prior to electric shock administration, during electric shock administration, and 3 hours after electric shock administration. Arrhythmias and alterations in the ST segment in 24 hours were recorded. RESULTS: On electroconvulsive therapy, a significant increase in blood pressure and heart rate was observed and the measurements returned to basal values after 25 minutes. Three females had tracings with depression of the ST segment suggesting myocardial ischemia prior to and after electroconvulsive therapy. Coronary angiography was normal. No severe cardiac arrhythmias were diagnosed. CONCLUSION: 1) Electroconvulsive therapy is a safe therapeutic modality in psychiatry; 2) it causes a significant increase in blood pressure and heart rate; 3) it may be associated with myocardial ischemia in the absence of coronary obstructive disease; 4) electroconvulsive therapy was not associated with the occurrence of severe cardiac arrhythmias.

Recommendations of the Brazilian Society of Cardiac Arrhythmias for holter monitoring services.

BACKGROUND: There are innumerous indicators to assure the quality of a service. However, medical competence and the proper performance of a procedure determine its final quality. The Brazilian Society of Cardiac Arrhythmias recommends minimum parameters necessary to guarantee the excellence of ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring services. OBJECTIVE: To recommend minimum medical competences and the information required to issue a Holter monitoring report. METHODS: This study was grounded in the concept of evidence-based medicine and, when evidence was not available, the opinion of a writing committee was used to formulate the recommendation. That committee consisted of professionals with experience on the difficulties of the method and management in providing services in that area. RESULTS: The professional responsible for the Holter monitoring analysis should know cardiovascular pathologies and have consistent formation on electrocardiography, including cardiac arrhythmias and their differential diagnoses. The report should be written in a clear and objective way. The minimum parameters that comprise a Holter report should include statistics of the exam, as well as quantification and analysis of the rhythm disorders observed during monitoring. CONCLUSION: Ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring should be performed by professionals knowledgeable about electrocardiographic analysis, whose report should comprise the minimum parameters mentioned in this document.

Left cardiac sympathetic denervation for treatment of symptomatic systolic heart failure patients: a pilot study.

AIMS: To evaluate the feasibility, safety, and potential beneficial effects of left cardiac sympathetic denervation (LCSD) in systolic heart failure (HF) patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this prospective, randomized pilot study, inclusion criteria were New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class II or III, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤40%, sinus rhythm, and resting heart rate >65 b.p.m., despite optimal medical therapy (MT). Fifteen patients were randomly assigned either to MT alone or MT plus LCSD. The primary endpoint was safety, measured by mortality in the first month of follow-up and morbidity according to pre-specified criteria. Secondary endpoints were exercise capacity, quality of life, LVEF, muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels and 24 h Holter mean heart rate before and after 6 months. We studied clinical effects in long-term follow-up. Ten patients underwent LCSD. There were no adverse events attributable to surgery. In the LCSD group, LVEF improved from 25 ± 6.6 to 33 ± 5.2 (P = 0.03); 6 min walking distance improved from 167 ± 35 to 198 ± 47 m (P = 0.02). Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLWHFQ) score physical dimension changed from 21 ± 5 to 15 ± 7 (P = 0.06). The remaining analysed variables were unchanged. During 848 ± 549 days of follow-up, in the MT group, three patients either died or underwent cardiac transplantation (CT), while in the LCSD group six were alive without CT. CONCLUSIONS: LCSD was feasible and seemed to be safe in systolic HF patients. Its beneficial effects warrant the development of a larger randomized trial. Trail registration: NCT01224899.

Influence of parasympathetic modulation in doppler mitral inflow velocity in individuals without heart disease.

BACKGROUND: The relation between left ventricular filing velocities determined by Doppler echocardiography and autonomic nervous system function assessed by heart rate variability (HRV) is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the autonomic nervous system assessed by the time and frequency domain indices of HRV in the Doppler indices of left ventricular diastolic filling velocities in patients without heart disease. METHODS: We studied 451 healthy individuals (255 female [56.4%]) with normal blood pressure, electrocardiogram, chest x-ray, and treadmill electrocardiographic exercise stress test results, with a mean age of 43+/-12 (range 15-82) years, who underwent transthoracic Doppler echocardiography and 24-hour electrocardiographic ambulatory monitoring. We studied indices of HRV on time (standard deviation [SD] of all normal sinus RR intervals during 24 hours, SD of averaged normal sinus RR intervals for all 5-minute segments, mean of the SD of all normal sinus RR intervals for all 5-minute segments, root-mean-square of the successive normal sinus RR interval difference, and percentage of successive normal sinus RR intervals>50 ms) and frequency (low frequency, high frequency, very low frequency, low frequency/high frequency ratio) domains relative to peak flow velocity during rapid passive filling phase (E), atrial contraction (A), E/A ratio, E-wave deceleration time, and isovolumic relaxation time. Statistical analysis was performed with Pearson correlation and logistic regression. RESULTS: Peak flow velocity during rapid passive filling phase (E) and atrial contraction (A), E/A ratio, and deceleration time of early mitral inflow did not demonstrate a significant correlation with indices of HRV in time and frequency domain. We found that the E/A ratio was<1 in 45 individuals (10%). Individuals with an E/A ratio<1 had lower indices of HRV in frequency domain (except low frequency/high frequency) and lower indices of the mean of the SD of all normal sinus RR intervals for all 5-minute segments, root-mean-square of the successive normal sinus RR interval difference, and percentage of successive normal sinus RR intervals>50 ms in time domain. Logistic regression demonstrated that an E/A ratio<1 was associated with lower HF. CONCLUSION: Individuals with no evidence of heart disease and an E/A ratio<1 demonstrated a significant decrease in indexes of HRV associated with parasympathetic modulation.

Evidence that the degree of obstructive sleep apnea may not increase myocardial ischemia and arrhythmias in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

UNLABELLED: There is controversy regarding whether obstructive sleep apnea is responsible for triggering myocardial ischemia, arrhythmias and heart rate variability in patients with coronary artery disease. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to identify relationships between sleep apnea, myocardial ischemia and cardiac arrhythmia in patients with coronary artery disease. METHODS: Fifty-three patients with stable coronary disease underwent simultaneous polysomnography and electrocardiographic Holter recording. The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was defined as the number of apneas/hypopneas per hour of sleep. Patients were divided into a Control group (AHI15, n=23 pts) and an Apnea group (AHI>15, n=30 pts). A subgroup of 13 patients with an AHI>30 (Severe Apnea group) was also studied. We analyzed ischemic episodes (ST-segment depressions >1 mm, > 1 min), heart rate variability and the occurrence of arrhythmias during wakefulness and sleep. RESULTS: Baseline clinical characteristics among the groups were similar except for higher blood pressure in the Apnea groups (p<0.05). Myocardial ischemia was recorded in 39 (73.6%) patients. The number and duration of ischemic episodes significantly decreased during sleep in all groups; during wakefulness, patients with severe apnea exhibited fewer and shorter episodes in comparison with the controls. There were no significant differences in heart rate variability or in the occurrence of arrhythmias among the groups. Malignant ventricular arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation/flutter, bradycardia and high-degree atrioventricular blocks were not detected. CONCLUSION: Obstructive sleep apnea was not related to myocardial ischemia, heart rate variability or arrhythmias in patients with stable coronary artery disease and did not alter the circadian pattern of myocardial ischemia.

Maternal-fetal monitoring during dental procedure in patients with heart valve disease.

BACKGROUND: The effects of local dental anesthesia with lidocaine and epinephrine on cardiovascular parameters of pregnant women with heart valve diseases and their fetuses are not fully understood. OBJECTIVES: To assess and analyze cardiotocographic, blood pressure and electrocardiographic parameters of pregnant women with rheumatic heart valve disease undergoing local anesthesia with 1.8mL of lidocaine 2% with or without epinephrine 1:100,000 during restorative dental treatment. METHODS: Maternal ambulatory blood pressure and electrocardiographic monitoring as well as cardiotocography of 31 patients with rheumatic heart disease were performed between the 28th and 37th week of gestation. The patients were divided into two groups, those with or without vasoconstrictor. RESULTS: A significant reduction in maternal heart rate was shown in both groups during the procedure in comparison with the other periods (p<0.001). Cardiac arrhythmia was observed in nine (29.0%) patients, of which seven (41.8%) were from the group of 17 pregnant women who received anesthesia plus epinephrine. No difference in maternal blood pressure was observed when periods or groups were compared (p>0.05). The same occurred (p>0.05) with the number of uterine contractions, baseline level and variability, and number of accelerations of fetal heart rate. CONCLUSION: The use of 1.8mL of lidocaine 2% in combination with epinephrine was safe and efficient in restorative dental procedures during pregnancy in women with rheumatic heart valve disease.

Heart rate recovery after treadmill electrocardiographic exercise stress test and 24-hour heart rate variability in healthy individuals.

BACKGROUND: Heart rate recovery after treadmill electrocardiographic exercise stress test is modulated by the autonomic nervous system. Analysis of heart rate variability can provide useful information about autonomic control of the cardiovascular system. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis of association between heart recovery after treadmill electrocardiographic exercise test and heart rate variability. METHODS: We studied 485 healthy individuals aged 42+/- 12.1 (range 15-82) years, 281(57.9%) women, submitted to treadmill electrocardiographic exercise stress tests and heart rate variability evaluations over time (SDNN, SDANN, SDNNi, rMSSD, pNN50) and frequency (LF, HF, VLF, LF/HF ratio) domains in 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring. RESULTS: Heart rate recovery was 30+/- 12 beats in the 1st minute and 52+/- 13 beats in the 2nd minute after exercise. Younger individuals recovered faster from the 2nd to the 5th minute after exercise (r= 0.19-0.35, P< 0.05). Recovery was faster in women than in men (4+/- 1.1 beats lower in the 1st minute, p<0.001; 5.7+/- 1.2 beats lower in the 2nd minute, p<0.01; 4.1+/- 1.1 beats lower in the 3rd minute, p<0.001). There was no significant correlation between heart rate recovery and heart rate variability in 1st and 2nd minutes after exercise. SDNN, SDANN, SDNNi, rMSSD, and pNN50 indices demonstrated a significant correlation with heart rate recovery only at the 3rd and 4th minutes. CONCLUSION: The hypothesis of association between heart rate recovery and 24-hour heart rate variability in the first two minutes after exercise was not substantiated in this study. Heart rate recovery after exercise was associated with age and gender.