Egyptian Heart Journal最新文献

Background

Right ventricular involvement in ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) entails an increased morbidity and mortality. However, very scarce data is present on its affection in the setting of non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI).

Aim

To assess the affection of right ventricular function in patients presenting with NSTEMI undergoing an invasive procedure.

Subjects and methods

One hundred and fifty patients admitted with a first NSTEMI and eligible for reperfusion therapy via invasive percutaneous coronary intervention. These patients were divided in two groups; group A including patients with normal RV function, and group B including patients with impaired RV function as diagnosed by tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) cutoff value < 17 mm. All patients underwent angioplasty and were followed up in-hospital and for 3 months.

Results

RV dysfunction occurred in ninety-five (61.3%) patients of the study population. Significant improvement occurred to TAPSE after 3 months in comparison to TAPSE at baseline (15.45 ± 3.21 versus 17.09 ± 4.17 mm). Those with impaired RV function showed improvement of TAPSE after three months as compared to baseline (13.62 ± 2.58 vs 17.16 ± 3.64 p = 0.008). Multivariate analysis determined the independent predictors of RV dysfunction as RVEDD > 26 mm, RVFAC < 35%, RAA > 20 cm², and TAPSE < 17 mm.

Conclusion

RV dysfunction is not uncommon in NSTEMI when using the definition of TAPSE < 17 mm. Following up RV function by TAPSE, showed significant improvement after 3 months with successful PCI as compared to baseline. We recommend assessing and following up RV function in all patients admitted with a NSTEMI.

Background

Effective management of hyperlipidemia is of utmost importance for prevention of recurring cardiovascular events after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Indeed, guidelines recommend a low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level of <70 mg/dL for such patients. The Dyslipidemia International Study II (DYSIS II) – Egypt was initiated in order to quantify the prevalence and extent of hyperlipidemia in patients presenting with an ACS in Egypt.

Methods

In this prospective, observational study, we documented patients presenting with an ACS at either of two participating centers in Egypt between November 2013 and September 2014. Individuals were included if they were over 18 years of age, had a full lipid profile available (recorded within 24 h of admission), and had either been taking lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) for ≥3 months at time of enrollment or had not taken LLT. Data regarding lipid levels and LLT were recorded on admission to hospital and at follow-up 4 months later.

Results

Of the 199 patients hospitalized for an ACS that were enrolled, 147 were on LLT at admission. Mean LDL-C at admission was 127.1 mg/dL, and was not significantly different between users and non-users of LLT. Only 4.0% of patients had an LDL-C level of <70 mg/dL, with the median distance to this target being 61.0 mg/dL. For the patients with LDL-C information available at both admission and follow-up, LDL-C target attainment rose from 2.8% to 5.6%. Most of the LLT-treated patients received statin monotherapy (98.6% at admission and 97.3% at follow-up), with the mean daily statin dose (normalized to atorvastatin) increasing from admission (30 mg/day) to follow-up (42 mg/day).

Conclusions

DYSIS II revealed alarming LDL-C goal attainment, with none of the patients with follow-up information available reaching the target of LDL-C <70 mg/dL, either at hospital admission or 4 months after their ACS event. Improvements in guideline adherence are urgently needed for reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease in Egypt. Strategies include the effective use of statins at high doses, or combination with other agents recommended by guidelines.

Background

Obstructive coronary artery disease (OCAD) and coronary slow flow (CSF) are frequent angiographic findings for patients that have chest pain and require frequent hospital admission. The retina provides a window for detecting changes in microvasculature relating to the development of cardiovascular diseases such as arterial hypertension or coronary heart disease.

Objectives

To assess the coronary and ocular circulations in patients with CSF and those with obstructive coronary artery disease.

Methods

A prospective study was conducted over 3.5 years, included a total of 105 subjects classified to 4 groups: Group I (OCAD): Included 30 patients with obstructive coronary artery disease, group II (CSF): Included 30 patients with coronary slow-flow, group III (Control 1): Included 30 healthy control persons and group IV (Control 2): Included 15 patients indicated for coronary angiography that proved normal. All participants were subjected to coronary angiography (except control group 1), ophthalmic artery Doppler for measuring Pulsatility index (PI) and resistivity index (RI) and Fluorescence angiography of retinal vessels.

Results

Patients with CSF showed slow flow retinal circulation (microcirculation) evidenced by prolonged fluorescein angiography (Arm-retina time [ART] & Arterio-venous Transit time [AVTT]). Ophthalmic artery Doppler measurements (RI & PI) were significantly delayed in OCAD and CSF patients. There was significant positive correlation between TIMI frame count in all subjects and ART, AVTT, PI, RI and Body Mass Index. Using ART cutoff value of >16 s predicted CSF with sensitivity and specificity of 100%, meanwhile AVTT of >2 s predicted CSF with a sensitivity 96.7% and specificity of 93.3.

Conclusion

Both delayed arm-retina time and retinal arterio-venous transit times can accurately predict coronary slow-flow.

Background

The main focus of most of the studies in heart failure (HF) is the assessment of the left ventricular functions, while the right ventricle was much less studied. Much of this neglect is due to the complexity of anatomy and physiology of the right ventricle which are considered challenges during assessment of RV.

Objective

[1] To review the alterations of right ventricular dimensions & function associated with chronic heart failure. [2] To predict the prevalence of right ventricular systolic dysfunction in patients with chronic heart failure, based on echocardiographic parameters.

Methods

100 chronic left sided heart failure patients with LVEF less than 40% were evaluated in Ain Shams University hospitals from April 2015 to March 2016. All patients were subjected to full history taking & clinical evaluation. ECG was done mainly to exclude presence of ischemic heart disease. Complete trans-thoracic echocardiography study was done for assessment of [B] Left ventricular dimensions, systolic and diastolic functions [B] Assessment of the right side of the heart: [1] Measurement of the right ventricular dimensions [basal – mid cavity and the longitudinal diameters]. [2] Right ventricular area and calculation of the fractional area change (FAC). [3] Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE). [4] Tissue Doppler derived tricuspid lateral annular systolic velocity (S′ wave velocity). [5] Tissue Doppler derived Myocardial Performance Index (MPI) (Tei index). [6] Grading of tricuspid regurgitation severity, and assessment of right ventricular systolic pressure.

Results

Right ventricle was dilated at the basal level in 36% of the studied patients & at the mid cavity level in 23% of the patients. Longitudinal RV diameter was enlarged in 20% of the patients.

Right ventricular systolic dysfunction was found in 36% of patients with DCM in the current study. Patients who had right ventricular systolic dysfunction had significantly higher incidence of elevated JVP, significantly lower EF and significantly higher grade of LV Diastolic dysfunction. They showed significantly larger RV dimensions at different levels, significantly worse degree of TR and significantly higher mean value of RVSP.

Conclusions

The occurrence of right ventricular systolic dysfunction in patients with DCM is common [Approaching 40% in this study] and is independent of age and sex, and is proportionate to the degree of LV dilatation, and EF impairment.

Objective

The aim of this study was to find out the level of death anxiety among 3 groups: patients with acute myocardial infarction, patients with cancer and healthy individuals in two training and research hospitals; also to evaluate its relationship with several sociodemographic and clinical variables.

Materials and method

This study was conducted with one hundred and eighty persons (108 male, 72 female) who have been referred to cardiology or oncology departments and the healthy individuals. Participants completed sociodemographic and clinical data form, State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-I, STAI-II), Thorson Powell Death Anxiety Scale (TPDAS), Death Depression Scale (DDS).

Results

Participants included in the present study were 40% female with an average age of 53.48 for whole group. The mean TPDAS score for patients with AMI was 51.60 ± 16.40, for patients with cancer 37.10 ± 10.23 and for healthy individuals 43.40 ± 13.35. In AMI group there were positive correlations between STAI-I and TPDAS, DDS scores and also between STAI-II and DDS. In cancer group positive correlations were between STAI-I, II and TPDAS, DDS. TPDAS and DDS were positively correlated in all three groups. Women and participants who were unemployed scored higher on DDS.

Conclusion

In this study patients with AMI had higher death anxiety than patients with cancer or healthy individuals. Generally death anxiety was related with education, employment and socioeconomic status. Prospective studies carefully searching for different variables in different medical groups would reveal and help us to understand the importance of death anxiety and its impact on courses of physical and mental disorders.

Background

Early invasive strategies; in management of acute coronary syndrome; has led to improvement of patient outcomes. However, these invasive therapies have their own risks, namely bleeding and blood transfusion.

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of bleeding, its location and severity among the study population, to correlate between the patients' characteristics and the risk profile of the patients based upon the CRUSADE risk score and increased bleeding events, and lastly; to identify the predictors of increased bleeding risk among Egyptian patients who presented with acute coronary syndrome.

Methods

The study had included eight hundred and twenty-three patients referred to coronary care unit (CCU), to (Ain Shams University hospital, Specialized Ain Shams hospital, and 6th October insurance hospital) with diagnosis of Acute Coronary Syndrome “ACS” within a period from 1/2014 till 7/2014, and they were followed up for additional three months following discharge with assessment of their bleeding risk and risk scores.

Results

More bleeding events had been witnessed among the study population who were older, diabetics, had renal impairment, had peripheral vascular disease, had congestive heart failure picture at presentation; more among female sex category and more among patients receiving GPIIbIIIa antagonists. Those bleeding events had been experienced during hospital stay.

Conclusion

Risk of bleeding can be evaluated using a simple risk score in both STEMI & NSTEMI patients, and across anti-coagulant strategies, providing important prognostic information. Variability in the rates of bleeding is likely based on differences in baseline characteristics, comorbidities, and invasive treatment strategies rather than specific anti-coagulation regimens. Patients at highest risk of bleeding are also at highest risk of ischaemia and thrombotic complications. Thus higher risk patients need a more careful treatment approach to maximize the efficacy of therapy and to reduce thrombotic risk while reducing the bleeding risk.

Background and objectives

P-wave dispersion (PWD) and Interatrial block (IAB) are common in heart failure (HF), and could be associated with adverse cardiac events. We aimed to assess the prevalence of PWD and IAB and their relationship with functional status, hospitalization and mortality rate in patients with systolic HF.

Methods

We enrolled 110 HF patients in sinus rhythm & LVEF <50%. Patients had undergone clinical evaluation, 6 min walking test (6MWT), 12-lead electrocardiography (ECG), 24-h Holter ECG & echocardiogram. Hospitalization and mortality rate were followed-up for one year. PWD was defined as the difference between maximum & minimum P-wave duration >40 ms. IAB was defined as maximum P duration >110 ms. Measurements were done by 2 blinded investigators using a caliber, a ruler and a magnifying lens.

Results

Mean age was 58.9 ± 9.7 years and 67.3% were males. Prevalence of PWD and IAB was 68.2% and 57.3%, respectively. Patients with PWD showed these features: 84% in NYHA class III or IV HF, 77.4% had LVEF <35%, 78.7% had paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation (AF) and 89.4% couldn’t complete >200 m (m) in 6MWT. Patients with PWD had more hospitalizations (72% vs 28.6%, P value <0.02) and higher 1-year mortality rate (20% vs 8.6%, P value <0.04) than patients without PWD. Likewise, patients with IAB had nearly similar clinical features, hospitalization and mortality as patients with PWD.

Conclusion

PWD and IAB are prevalent in patients with systolic HF and they are significantly associated with low LVEF, paroxysmal AF, poor functional capacity, hospitalization and mortality rate.

Background

Arterial hypertension adversely affects left atrial (LA) size and function, effect on function may precede effect on size. Many techniques were used to assess LA function but with pitfalls.

Objectives

Early detection of left atrial dysfunction with speckle tracking echocardiography in hypertensive patients with normal left atrial size.

Patients and methods

The study was conducted on 50 hypertensive patients and 50 age matched normotensive controls, all with normal LA volume index and free from any other cardiovascular disease that may affect the LA size or function. They were all subjected to history taking, clinical examination and echocardiographic study with assessment of LA functions [total LA stroke volume, LA expansion index by conventional 2D echocardiography and Global peak atrial longitudinal strain by speckle tracking (PALS)], left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic functions, and LV mass.

Results

Different indices of LA dysfunction (Total LA stroke volume, LA expansion index and global PALS) were significantly lower in the hypertensive group despite the normal LA volume index in all the studied subjects. The presence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and higher grade of LV diastolic dysfunction were significantly associated with lower global PALS. The higher age, systolic blood pressure (BP), body mass index (BMI), LA volume index, and LV mass index and the lower LA expansion index were associated with lower global PALS.

Conclusion

Speckle tracking echocardiography is a useful novel technique in detecting LA dysfunction in hypertension even before LA enlargement occurs.

Primary cardiac hemangioendothelioma is a very rare tumor. Up to now, <20 cases have been reported worldwide; involvement of mitral valve by the tumor is extremely rare. In this report, a case of hemangioendothelioma arose from the mitral valve and was successfully resected, and after few months the tumor recurred and infiltrated the heart.