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Mechanisms of heart failure with well preserved ejection fraction in dogs following limited coronary microembolization.

OBJECTIVE: It has been suggested that in some settings, heart failure (HF) may occur with normal ejection fraction (EF) as a consequence of undetected systolic dysfunction. However, others have argued that this can only occur in the presence of diastolic dysfunction. We therefore sought to determine the contribution of diastolic dysfunction in an animal model of HF with normal EF. METHODS AND RESULTS: Limited myocardial injury was induced in 21 dogs chronically instrumented to measure hemodynamics and LV properties by daily coronary microembolization ( approximately 115 microm beads) until LV end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) was > or =16 mm Hg. Nine dogs developed HF within 16+/-6 days (LVEDP 12+/-2 vs. 21+/-2 mm Hg, p<0.001) with no significant change in dP/dt(max) (2999+/-97 vs. 2846+/-189 mm Hg/s), mean arterial pressure (103+/-4 vs. 100+/-4 mm Hg), EF (57+/-5% vs. 53+/-4%) or E(es) (end-systolic elastance, 3.1+/-0.9 vs. 2.9+/-0.8 mm Hg/ml) but with an approximately 10 ml increase in V(o) (14+/-12 vs. 25+/-16 ml; p<0.01). The EDPVR and time constant of relaxation (tau, 25+/-3 vs. 28+/-3 ms) did not change significantly. These animals were hemodynamically stable out to 3 1/2 months. Neurohormonal activation occurred (elevations of NE, AngII, BNP) and there was intravascular volume expansion by approximately 16% (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A small amount of myocardial injury can lead to neurohormonal activation with intravascular volume expansion and elevation of LVEDP in the absence of reductions in dP/dt(max) or EF and without diastolic dysfunction. Thus, HF with preserved EF does not a priori equate with diastolic heart failure.

Angiotensin II↗

[Diastolic function of the left ventricle and congestive heart failure with normal systolic function].

Mechanical performance of the heart depends on the physiologic interplay of its systolic and diastolic function. However, the cardiologist is used to defining left ventricular (LV) function only in terms of ejection fraction, cardiac output and blood pressure, thus observing only systolic function. In the last 10 to 15 years experience has revealed that, despite the presence of a normal LV systolic function, alterations of LV diastolic function may impair exercise tolerance and may be responsible for the clinical picture of about 30% of patients with a definite diagnosis of congestive heart failure. Doppler echocardiography has emerged as the most feasible and accurate noninvasive technique in assessing LV diastolic function in the clinical setting. Combined Doppler evaluation of transmitral and pulmonary venous flow velocity recordings, by transthoracic approach, allows us to obtain clinically relevant information on LV relaxation, LV filling, LV compliance, and LV end-diastolic and mean filling pressure, as well as on left atrial function, in more than 95% of patients referred to the echo-lab. With this combined evaluation different types of filling patterns have been identified. Clinical evaluation, together with structural/functional information obtained by M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiography, and mainly with detailed analysis of these LV filling patterns by Doppler, allow for a fairly accurate identification of various diastolic abnormalities, as well as the presence of diastolic dysfunction, i.e., increased filling pressures. Diastolic failure, characterized by the association of diastolic dysfunction and symptoms of pulmonary venous congestion, can now be more precisely identified following the criteria established by the Working Group on Diastolic Heart Failure of the European Society of Cardiology. Echo-Doppler age-adjusted normal values of indices of impaired LV relaxation and filling, along with cut-off values of Doppler signs of reduced compliance or increased filling pressures have been defined by the Working Group, and are herewith reported for practical purposes. Furthermore, as a reference for an advanced echo-lab, a "decalogue" of diastological performances is suggested.

Diastole↗

Effects of uremic serum on isolated cardiac myocyte calcium cycling and contractile function.

BACKGROUND: Diastolic dysfunction occurs in patients with chronic renal failure. Moreover, serum from uremic patients contains one or more inhibitors of the plasmalemmal Na,K-ATPase (sodium pump). We hypothesized that a circulating substance present in uremic sera contributes to both sodium pump inhibition and diastolic dysfunction. METHODS: Serum samples were obtained from six patients with chronic renal failure and diastolic dysfunction. RESULTS: Their serum samples caused marked inhibition of Na,K-ATPase purified from dog kidney at all concentrations studied (all P < 0.01) and also impaired ouabain-sensitive rubidium uptake by myocytes isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats (P < 0.01). These cardiac myocytes were studied for their contractile function with video-edge detection and calcium metabolism with indo-1 fluorescence spectroscopy after exposure to these uremic sera. These uremic sera caused increases in myocyte fractional shortening (P < 0.01) as well as an increase in the time constant of relengthening (P < 0.01). Examining the calcium transient, the time constant for calcium recovery was also increased (P < 0.01). Exposure of these cells to sera from age- and sex-matched healthy subjects did not result in significant changes in contraction or calcium cycling. Extracts of uremic serum samples inhibited isolated Na,K-ATPase whereas extracts of normal serum samples did not. The effect of uremic serum extracts on contractile function and calcium cycling were quite similar to that of intact serum or the addition of ouabain. Co-incubation of uremic serum extract with an antibody fragment directed against digoxin markedly attenuated the inhibition of Na,K-ATPase activity and completely prevented any effects on calcium cycling or contractile function. CONCLUSION: These data show that one or more substances are present in uremic sera that acutely cause increased force of contraction and impaired recovery of cardiac myocyte calcium concentration as well as impaired relaxation. As these effects are similar to that seen with ouabain and can be prevented by co-incubation with an antibody fragment to digitalis, which also attenuates the sodium pump inhibitory effect, we suggest that this (these) substance(s) circulating in uremic sera and inhibiting the sodium pump also causes the acute diastolic dysfunction seen in our system.

Adult↗

Role of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and race in the development of symptomatic myocardial dysfunction in a predominantly minority population with normal coronary arteries.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension, diabetes, and obesity have been reported as risk factors for both vascular and myocardial disease. Myocardial disease may be manifest as systolic or diastolic dysfunction. The development of coronary artery disease frequently obscures or confounds the myocardial disease. Our purpose was to study the effect of these risk factors and race on the frequency and severity of myocardial disease in the absence of coronary artery disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied patients referred to the cardiac catheterization laboratory. We selected 233 patients with normal coronary arteries and excluded patients with other structural cardiac disorders and other causes of myocardial disease. Systolic function and diastolic function were determined. We gathered demographic, risk factor, clinical, and hemodynamic data on each patient. A multivariate analysis was performed to determine factors important to the development of myocardial disease in the absence of coronary artery disease. Diastolic dysfunction (44%) and systolic dysfunction (25%) were common findings. The 3 risk factors were found most often in black and Hispanic patients, but hypertension and obesity were most severe (P <.001) in black patients. Multivariate analysis indicated that a prior diagnosis of hypertension, level of systolic blood pressure, and severe obesity were the 3 factors independently associated with myocardial disease. CONCLUSIONS: Systolic dysfunction and diastolic dysfunction are common in patients with normal coronary arteries who have hypertension, diabetes, and/or obesity. Because these risk factors are so frequent and severe in the black population, myocardial disease is significantly more common in this segment of the population.

Black or African American↗

[Underestimated--diastolic heart failure in elderly patients].

Age-related changes of diastolic left ventricular (LV) function consist of increased diastolic wall stiffness (reduced compliance) and diminished velocity and extent of relaxation. There is a shift of ventricular filling from early to late diastole. Atrial contribution to LV filling increases, which helps maintain stroke volume. In normal cardiovascular aging this diastolic dysfunction is compensated. However, the aging heart is sensitized against influences aggravating diastolic dysfunction such as arterial hypertension, LV hypertrophy, myocardial ischemia (coronary heart disease), tachycardias/ tachyarrhythmias. In diastolic heart failure LV is unable to fill adequately at normal diastolic pressures, resulting in symptoms of pulmonary congestion and, less often, low output despite normal LV size and contraction. Diastolic heart failure may be misinterpreted as systolic dysfunction and, eventually, treated in an unsuitable manner. In order to obtain data on the incidence of diastolic heart failure among inpatients of a department of geriatrics of a municipal hospital, the results of 253 patients undergoing echocardiography in the course of 1 year were analyzed. The investigations comprised 70 males and 183 females, aged 81.3 (61-98) years on average. In 164 cases, symptoms of heart failure were present. Only in 48 of them (29%) LV proved to be dilated. In the majority, LV size was normal (116 patients; 71%): systolic function was compromised in 53 cases, whereas 63 patients (38% of all cases with heart failure) had a normal systolic function. Most of the latter (48 patients) had diastolic dysfunction, whereas an adequate echocardiographic evaluation was not possible for technical reasons in the remaining 15 cases. It is highly probable, however, that they had diastolic LV dysfunction as well. Thus, the results show a high frequency of LV dysfunction in elderly inpatients, which underlines the importance of diastolic heart failure in this age group.

Aged↗

[Myocardial dysfunction, neuropathy and nephropathy in long standing type 1 diabetic patients].

UNLABELLED: Cardiovascular and renal complications among type 1 diabetic patients are predictive factors for sudden cardiac death and stroke. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of diabetic nephropathy and autonomic neuropathy in type 1 diabetic patients with and without diastolic dysfunction in echocardiographic examination. The study was performed in a group consisting of 37 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Mean age of the study group equaled 37.24 +/- 10.85 years, duration of diabetes mellitus 21.3 +/- 9.55 years. All patients performed EKG, and cardiovascular autonomic test with ProSciCard according to Ewing battery. The following parameters were assessed: heart rate (HR), standard deviation of HR, RMSDD, VLF, LF, HF, deep breathing test, Ewing supine test and Valsalva maneuver. Systolic and diastolic function was assessed in echocardiography examination at rest. In all patients following laboratory parameters were assessed: HbA1c, total chol, LDL-chol, HDL-chol, triglicerides, uremic acid, glucose, albumin, creatinine, cystatin C, microalbuminuria. RESULTS: mean heart rate in the examined group --78.38 +/- 15.54 /min, VLF--1.59 +/- 1.7; LF--4.22 +/- 1.51, HF--0.82 +/- 0.88, mean heart rate during deep breathing test --79.63 +/- 13.71, Ewing ratio--0.91 +/- 0.11. Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy and diabetic neuropathy were diagnosed in 3 patients, these patients suffered also from proliferative retinopathy and diabetic nephropathy. The remaining group of 34 patients has normoalbuminuria. Calculated creatinine clearance according to Cockroft-Gault equation was 88.85 +/- 9.60 m/min, cystatin C concentration--0.97 +/- 0.22 ng/ml. In echocardiography exam, there were no abnormalities in systolic function, and diastolic dysfunction was diagnosed in 15 patients. Preliminary results showed that only the cystatin C level significantly differed patients with and without diastolic dysfunction in echocardiographic examination. Cystatin C could be the first sign of renal failure among these patients. Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy and diabetic nephropathy were diagnosed only in 3 patients with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in echocardiographic study.

Adult↗

Mitral flow derived Doppler indices of left ventricular diastolic function in a general population; the Tromso study.

AIMS: Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction has been proposed as the basis of heart failure in patients with normal left ventricular systolic function. Doppler indices of mitral inflow have been widely used to diagnose this condition and have been shown to correlate well with increased left atrial pressure in patients with cardiovascular disease. We wanted to establish age-specific criteria for normality of these indices in a large population and to determine the association of abnormal values to age and cardiovascular disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: In our sample of subjects aged 25-85 years, 3022 had pulsed Doppler measurements of mitral inflow velocities and early inflow deceleration time. The association of these indices to age and gender were established in a 'healthy' reference subsample of 949 subjects. Age-specific percentiles showed a significant decline with increasing age for peak early mitral inflow velocity and the ratio of peak early and atrial inflow velocities (E/A ratio), whereas early inflow deceleration time and peak atrial inflow velocity showed a significant increase with increasing age. According to current criteria for diastolic dysfunction, the prevalence of dysfunction decreases with increasing age in the general population, as well as in the subgroup with cardiovascular disease. Only 7% of the variance in deceleration time was explained by cardiovascular disease or risk factors. For the E/A ratio, however, 41 and 48% of the variance were explained for men and women, respectively. CONCLUSION: Age- and gender-specific criteria for normality are provided. Our data confirm the existence of a significant effect of age and gender on mitral Doppler indices of diastolic dysfunction. However, Doppler criteria for diastolic dysfunction based on these measurements need revision.

Adult↗

[Treatment for diastolic failure].

Diastolic dysfunction is now recognized as an important mechanism of heart failure, but treatment for diastolic failure has not yet been established. Many of causes for diastolic dysfunction have been related to myocardial hypertrophy or fibrosis. Until recently, angiotensin II has been proposed as one of important growth factors that lead into hypertrophy and fibrosis. Angiotensin II blockade, therefore, is a promising candidate for the treatment of diastolic failure. Two randomized studies with angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker are under way. This review will describe the pathophysiologic basis for diastolic dysfunction, and discuss the possible treatments for diastolic failure referring to the recently-proposed two guidelines.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

[Doppler echocardiographic study of left ventricular diastolic function in hemodialysis patients].

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to examine the diastolic dysfunction particularities in hemodialysis patients and to identify the parameters having the most discriminating power of diastolic dysfunction. METHODS: Conventional Doppler echocardiography study implies left ventricular diastolic function from Doppler transmitral flow (E/A), color M-mode flow propagation velocity (Vp) and combined indexes: ratio of peak E-wave velocity to Vp (ENp) and difference in duration of pulmonary venous and mitral flow at atrial contraction (Ap-Am). RESULTS: Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction is found in 86% of the 100 hemodialysis patients: abnormal relaxation pattern 52%, pseudo-normal pattern 21%, restrictive pattern 13%. Left ventricular hypertrophy is independent of blood pressure (eta2=3.386; p>0.06). Diastolic function pattern has no relation with duration of dialysis treatment (F=2.637, p>0.05) or left ventricular mass (F=4.298, p>0.06). We noted correlations with age for all parameters of transmitral Doppler flow (p<0.01), Vp and systolic fraction except combined indexes (p>0.05). Doppler parameters of which discriminating power is significant (p<0.001) are in deceasing order: isovolumic relaxation time, E/A, Vp, early filling deceleration time, Ap-Am, E/VP and systolic fraction. The parameter Vp discriminates normal filling from abnormal or pseudo-normal patterns. However it doesn't allow any discrimination between abnormal and pseudo-normal patterns or abnormal and restrictive patterns. Discriminating analysis classify correctly 100% of pseudo normal pattern patients with 2 variables (isovolumic relaxation time and Vp or VP with E/Vp). Factor analysis suggests that Vp characterizes normal pattern and E/A ratio and Ap-Am characterize restrictive pattern. CONCLUSION: Parameters of diastolic function discriminating value is different from one stage to another. VP characterizes normal pattern, combined indexes restrictive pattern. Vp and isovolumic relaxation time discriminates normal from pseudo-normal pattern.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

[Relationship of variability of blood pressure, cardiac sinus rhythm, and structural and functional characteristics of the left ventricular myocardium in elderly and senile patients with arterial hypertension].

The variability of blood pressure (BP), autonomic cardiac sinus rhythm regulation, and myocardial structural and functional characteristics of the left ventricle (LV) was comparatively analyzed in 201 patients aged 65-88 years who had uncomplicated systolic and diastolic and isolated systolic arterial hypertension (SDAH and ISAH, respectively). There was a greater variability of systolic and diastolic BP no matter what the type of arterial hypertension (AH) was. It was ascertained that ISAH was characterized by absolute parasympaticotonia and SDAH was marked by relative sympaticotonia with the involvement of central ergotropic and humoral-and-metabolic mechanisms. In elderly and senile patients, uncomplicated AH was accompanied in 86.6% of cases by LV remodeling, mainly as its concentric hypertrophy (52.7%), characterizing primarily by non-restrictive diastolic dysfunction. There were no significant differences in the types of LV remodeling and diastolic dysfunction in patients with combined AH and ISAH. Moreover, the development of LV remodeling and associated diastolic dysfunction in SDAH was followed by a decrease in the overall variability of cardiac sinus rhythm with a smaller contribution of a segmental link of the parasympathetic portion of the autonomic nervous system and by the development of relative sympaticotonia due to suprasegmental and humoral-and-metabolic influences.

Age Factors↗

Necrotizing myocardial vasculitis in Churg-Strauss syndrome: clinicohistologic evaluation of steroids and immunosuppressive therapy.

Treatment of cardiac dysfunction associated with Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) is empiric since the histologic findings provided by endomyocardial biopsy are rare and often nondiagnostic. Myocardial necrotizing vasculitis presenting as restrictive cardiomyopathy has not been reported before. A case of CSS, presenting with fever and progressive heart failure due to pericarditis, eosinophilic endomyocarditis, and myocardial necrotizing vasculitis, is reported. Cardiac involvement assessed by noninvasive (cardiac two-dimensional echocardiogram and nuclear magnetic resonance [NMR] imaging) and invasive (cardiac catheterization, angiography, and biopsy) studies showed a moderate degree of pericardial effusion and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction (ejection fraction 0.40), severe diastolic dysfunction (increased right and LV filling pressure with a dip and plateau pattern) and a severe reduction of cardiac index (1.6 L/min/m2). Histologic characteristics showed marked eosinophilic infiltration of the endocardium and myocardium with myocitolysis and fibrinoid necrosis of arterioles, venules, and capillaries. Combination therapy of steroids and cyclophosphamide resulted in both a clinical (regression of pericardial effusion, normalization of systolic and diastolic dysfunction, and increase of cardiac index to 2.8 L/min/m2) and histologic (sequential endomyocardial biopsies at 1, 3, and 6 months of follow-up) resolution of cardiac involvement. No recurrences were registered at 12-month follow-up with the patient receiving a maintenance drug regimen.

Cardiomyopathies↗

Effect of cilazapril on ventricular remodeling assessed by Doppler-echocardiographic assessment and cardiac gene expression.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the administration of the ACE inhibitor cilazapril can lessen the adverse effects of ventricular remodeling, including systolic and diastolic dysfunction, modulation of fetal gene expression, increase of collagen genes, and depression of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ ATPase gene in a myocardial infarcted (MI) rat model. At 1 day after MI, the animals were randomly assigned to cilazapril treatment or no treatment. We performed Doppler-echocardiographic examinations and measured cardiac mRNA in rats at 1 month and 3 months after MI (each group n = 8). The weights of the right (RV) and left ventricles (LV) in 1- and 3-month MI rats were significantly larger than those of the control rats. Cilazapril significantly prevented the increase. The MI rats showed systolic dysfunction, as evidenced by decreased fractional shortening (control, 34 +/- 3% vs. MI, 17 +/- 3%; P < 0.01) and ejection fraction measured by the modified Simpson's method (control, 61 +/- 2% vs. MI, 36 +/- 3%; P < 0.01) in rats at 1 month after operation. MI rats showed diastolic dysfunction, defined as increased peak early filling velocity, increased deceleration rate of the early filling wave, decreased late filling velocity, and an increase in the ratio of early filling to late filling velocity. Cilazapril significantly prevented systolic and diastolic dysfunction in rats after MI. The increases in beta-MHC, alpha-skeletal actin, ANP, and collagen I and III mRNAs in the nonischemic LV and RV were significantly suppressed by treatment with cilazapril. Depressed SR Ca(2+)-ATPase mRNA (nonischemic LV, 0.7-fold, P < 0.05 vs. control; RV, 0.5-fold, P < 0.05 vs. control) at 3 months after MI was significantly restored to normal levels by cilazapril. Cilazapril improved the adverse remodeling process by attenuating the progression of systolic and diastolic dysfunction, and prevented abnormal cardiac gene expression following MI.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

Contrast effects of isoproterenol and ouabain on left ventricular diastolic relaxation dysfunction in isolated, blood-perfused rabbit hearts.

We studied the influence of inotropic agents on prompt and transient left ventricular (LV) diastolic relaxation dysfunction produced by superimposition of pacing tachycardia on low-flow ischemia, using an isolated, blood-perfused and isovolumic (balloon-in-LV) rabbit heart preparation. The LV balloon volume was adjusted to produce an LV end-diastolic pressure (EDP) of 15 mmHg and was held constant thereafter. Coronary perfusion pressure was adjusted to 100 mmHg during baseline and to 20 mmHg during low-flow ischemia of 6 min. At baseline, isoproterenol and ouabain were administered to cause moderate and similar rises (14 +/- 3 and 16 +/- 4% above baseline values, respectively) in maximum + dp/dt of LVP with no change in LVEDP. In control hearts which received no drug, superimposition of 5-min pacing tachycardia on low-flow ischemia produced a significant and transient increase in LVEDP under constant LV volume (from 13.4 +/- 0.4 to 24.7 +/- 3.3 mmHg, p less than 0.01). In the hearts which received isoproterenol it did not change LVEDP (from 14.0 +/- 0.4 to 16.2 +/- 1.0 mmHg, NS). In contrast, the ouabain hearts showed a further increase in LVEDP (from 13.7 +/- 0.8 to 29.9 +/- 4.6 mmHg, p less than 0.01). LV developed pressure, myocardial oxygen consumption or myocardial lactate production during pacing tachycardia superimposed on the low-flow ischemia did not differ significantly among the 3 groups. Thus, isoproterenol markedly improved transient LV relaxation dysfunction produced by superimposition of pacing tachycardia on low-flow ischemia, in which an equipotent inotropic dose of ouabain exaggerated the relaxation dysfunction. These results suggest that calcium overload rather than ATP depletion per se contributes to transiently impaired diastolic relaxation by pacing tachycardia and low-flow ischemia.

Animals↗

Left ventricular function after myocardial infarction.

After acute myocardial infarction, left ventricular filling pressure is elevated because of systolic and/or diastolic dysfunction. The severity of the left ventricular dysfunction is influenced not only by infarct size and location but also by biochemical, neurohormonal, and peripheral vascular responses to infarction. Short-term vasodilator therapy improves left ventricular dysfunction and may influence favorably long-term prognosis in the presence of severe systolic dysfunction but not with predominant diastolic dysfunction. The chronic systolic dysfunction which may follow acute myocardial infarction also is influenced favorably by chronic vasodilator therapy.

Heart↗

Relief of diastolic cardiac dysfunction after cyclosporine withdrawal in a cardiac transplant recipient.

Severe heart failure developed in a 49-year-old patient 18 months after orthotopic cardiac transplantation. Acute rejection as well as other overt causes of graft failure were excluded. Haemodynamic measurements suggested severe diastolic myocardial dysfunction. Since no other causes of diastolic heart failure were identified, a potential side effect from cyclosporine was considered. Cyclosporine was therefore withdrawn and immunosuppressive treatment was switched to conventional therapy consisting of azathioprine and prednisolone. Withdrawal of cyclosporine was followed by an impressive clinical improvement and by complete haemodynamic normalization. Therefore, in cases of otherwise unexplained graft failure, a potentially reversible side effect from cyclosporine should be taken into consideration.

Coronary Disease↗

In vivo gene transfer of parvalbumin improves diastolic function in aged rat hearts.

OBJECTIVE: Diastolic dysfunction is a characteristic finding of the aged mammalian heart. Parvalbumin acts as a Ca2+ sink and enhances relaxation in skeletal muscle, and overexpression of parvalbumin in myocardium increased cardiac relaxation in vitro as well as in vivo. Therefore, the objective of this study is to test the hypothesis that in vivo gene transfer of parvalbumin will improve diastolic dysfunction in aged rat heart. METHODS: We used adenovirus to transfer parvalbumin into two different rat models of aging: the Fischer 344 (F344) and the Fischer 344 x Brown Norway F1 hybrid (F344 x BN). Cardiac function was measured and compared after gene transfer. RESULTS: In vivo overexpression of parvalbumin in both rat aging models had no effect on systolic parameters but reduced left ventricular diastolic pressure and the time course of pressure decline. Overexpression of parvalbumin also improved the force frequency relationship in senescent rats. CONCLUSION: In vivo overexpression of parvalbumin improves diastolic dysfunction in two rat models of senescence, and this effect is independent of the rat strain investigated. The results show promise that gene therapy of parvalbumin may address the impaired Ca2+ homeostasis and diastolic dysfunction without an increase in energy expenditure.

Adenoviridae↗

Evaluation of the effect of haemodialysis on cardiac dysfunction in patients of chronic renal failure.

Thirty-eight patients with end stage renal disease who were on haemodialysis and had recurrent congestive cardiac failure were analysed. Echocardiographic findings were evaluated at start of haemodialysis and after 6 dialysis sessions. Seventeen cases (48%) had diastolic dysfunction, 11 (29%) systolic dysfunction 8 (18%) had normal echocardiogram and 2 (5%) had dilated left ventricle with normal ejection fraction. In the systolic dysfunction group the end diastolic diameter decreased after 6 dialysis sessions. In the diastolic dysfunction group the end diastolic diameter and ejection fraction decreased minimally. In the systolic dysfunction group 8 patients (42%) expired within 18 months with a mean survival of 5 months and in the diastolic dysfunction group 5 patients (28%) died within 18 months with a mean survival of 12 months.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗

Acromegalic cardiomyopathy: evaluation of the left ventricular diastolic function in the subclinical stage.

It is recently shown that the majority of acromegalic patients without concomitant heart disease have diastolic dysfunction at rest. The aim of this study is to evaluate left ventricular diastolic function in normotensive acromegalic patients without any evidence of heart disease. Eleven acromegalic patients and 16 normal subjects of comparable age and sex distribution were studied by echocardiography. Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, interventricular septal thickness, left ventricular posterior wall thickness, left ventricular end-diastolic volume and stroke volume were found to be significantly higher in acromegalic patients. Left ventricular mass and left ventricular mass index increased significantly in acromegalics in comparison with controls (229.16 +/- 46.11 g versus 167.17 +/- 24.57 g and 124.99 +/- 26.91 g/m2 versus 95.09 +/- 13.29 g/m2 respectively, p < 0.001). Mitral A wave desceleration rate and isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT)-two of the studied parameters of left ventricular diastolic filling- were significantly prolonged in patients as compared with controls (p = 0.03 and p < 0.001 respectively). Four (36%) of the acromegalic patients had peak early/late diastolic mitral velocity ratio lower than 1, indicating diastolic dysfunction. All of the patients had IVRT longer than 90 ms (mean + 2 standart deviations of normals). It is concluded that in acromegalic patients without any other evidence of heart disease left ventricular diastolic function is impaired. This indicates a specific cardiomyopathy exists in the subclinical stage. IVRT is found to be more sensitive than other studied parameters for detecting diastolic dysfunction at this stage.

Acromegaly↗