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[Hypertension in hemodialyzed uremic patients].

The pathogenesis of hypertension in haemodialyzed uraemic patients is multifactorial. The following are involved: sodium and water retention as a result of the impaired excretory capacity of the kidneys, excessively increased activity of the RAAS and sympathetic nerve, increased levels of the vascular constrictor endothelin-1, cumulation of endogenous inhibitors of NO synthesis and reduced formation of vasodepressor factors. As to other factors in the development of hypertension raised intracellular calcium associated with hyperparathyroidism may participate, the stiffness of calcified arteries, erythropoietin treatment and preexisting essential hypertension. Treatment comprises salt restriction below 5 g/day, systematic control of the volume of extracellular fluid by ultrafiltration during every haemodialysis to the level of so-called dry weight and pharmacological treatment in patients where volume control dos not suffice. All drug groups are used. In their selection contraindications are taken into consideration as well as co-morbidity, the dialyzability of antihypertensive drugs and compelling evidence. In patients with a preserved residual diuresis furosemide is administered--125-750 mg/day. Beta-blockers are indicated in patients with IHD, in particular after IM. Calcium blockers are recommended in ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction, when beta-blockers are contraindicated and in elderly patients. ACEI indicated in congestive heart failure and left ventricular hypertrophy with systolic dysfunction. Inhibitors of AT1 receptors are an alternative in case of undesirable effects od ACEI. Alpha-blockers and central alpha agonists are used mainly in combinations. In case of failure the haemodialyzation method can be altered or changing the patients to CAPD may be considered. The relationship between BP and the survival of haemodialyzed patients is bimodal. An adverse effect is exerted by a high as well as low BP and in particular by interdialyzation hypotension. The target BP for the haemodialyzed population has not been defined so far. There is, however, evidence that a high BP is independently associated with the de novo development of IHD and MAP above 106 mm Hg with de novo development of cardiac failure. MAP below 98 mm Hg minimalizes the development and progression of left ventricular hypertrophy and MAP below 106 mm Hg the development of heart failure. Long-term survival for 15 and more years is statistically significantly associated with MAP lower than 99 mm Hg.

Humans↗

Diastolic dysfunction in persons with hypertensive heart failure.

Arterial hypertension is the commonest cause of heart failure in the Savannah region of Nigeria. The prevalence of diastolic dysfunction in patients with hypertensive heart failure in this region is unknown. This needs to be determined, since it may influence therapy. Left ventricular function of 95 patients with hypertensive heart failure and 92 age-/sex-matched, healthy normotensive control was determined by echocardiography using ALOKA SSD 1700 two-dimensional echocardiograph/ Doppler and color flow ultrasound machine. Compared to the controls, the hypertensive heart failure patients had increased left ventricular mass index (LVMI), p = 0.0001; cardiothoracic ratio (CTR), p = 0.0001; and electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy (ECG-LVH), p = 0.0001. Isolated diastolic dysfunction, E/A ratio < 1.0, and EF > 50%, was seen in 12 patients (12.6%). Twenty-three patients (24.2%) had combined diastolic and systolic dysfunction (E/A ratio < 1.0 and EF < 50%). Six patients (6.3%) had pseudonormalization (E/A ratio 1.0-2.0 and deceleration time, DT, 150-200 msec), while restrictive pattern of diastolic dysfunction was seen in 25 patients (26.3%). This prevalence of 69.4% of diastolic dysfunction in Nigerians with hypertensive heart failure seen in this study emphasizes the need for Doppler echocardiographic evaluation and diagnosis where these facilities are available. This will aid the physician to prescribe appropriate treatment.

Adult↗

Effect of long-term beta-blocker therapy on microvolt-level T-wave alternans in association with the improvement of the cardiac sympathetic nervous system and systolic function in patients with non-ischemic heart disease.

The purpose of this study was to test a hypothesis that T-wave alternans (TWA) is improved in association with an improvement in cardiac sympathetic nervous system and systolic function by oral beta-blocker therapy in patients with non-ischemic heart disease (NIHD). TWA testing, (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) imaging and echocardiography were performed at the baseline and 3 months after beta-blocker therapy in 26 patients with NIHD and positive TWA. The alternans voltage (V(alt)), the heart-to mediastinal-ratio on the early (e-H/M) and delayed (d-H/M) images, the washout rate (WR), the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and the calculated rate of change by beta-blocker therapy in each parameter (ie, deltaV(alt), deltae-H/M, deltad-H/M, deltaWR and deltaLVEF) were measured. After therapy, TWA turned negative in 8 patients (group A) and remained positive in 18 (group B); V(alt) was significantly decreased in group B (p<0.001). In group A, e-H/M, d-H/M and LVEF were significantly increased (e-H/M: p<0.05, d-H/M and LVEF: p<0.01), as were e-H/M and LVEF in group B (p<0.05). There were significant correlations between deltaV(alt) and deltae-H/M (r=-0.61, p<0.01), deltad-H/M (r=-0.82, p<0.0001), deltaWR (r=0.60, p<0.01) and deltaLVEF (r=-0.70, p<0.01). In patients with NIHD, the TWA is improved in association with the improvement in cardiac sympathetic nervous system abnormalities and left ventricular systolic dysfunction by beta-blocker therapy.

Action Potentials↗

[The U-wave in ischemia and left ventricular dysfunction after myocardial infarct].

INTRODUCTION: The occurrence of U-wave in electrocardiogram appears after T-wave. It is period of the greatest excitability of the myocardium in heart electrical activity usually of the some direction as its own T-wave. AIM OF THE WORK ANALYSE: U-wave with ischaemia and dysfunction of the myocardium in exercise test. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The prospective study has been done for 51 patients. Electrocardiogram, exercise test vas made for all patients and immediately after test, echocardiography with Doppler and colour-Doppler. In the analysis of dysfunction of the left chamber these important parameters were followed: METS; decrease of blood pressure, devaluation of ST-segment, U-wave, heart rate, dyspnea, sweating and paleness. RESULTS: Positive U-wave was noticed in 51%, negative in 24% examinees. Sensitivity of U-wave on the base of the breakdown of segmental vall motion in echocardiography (ischaemia) is 66.67% with false negative resists of 33.33%. Systolic dysfunction with influential parameters correlates in the best way with decrease of blood pressure and regressive coefficient is 66.93, but the weabest correlation is with U-wave (0.53). Correlative coefficient for U-wave in systolic function is 0.263. Regressive coefficient with influential parameters in diastolic dysfunction is 3.34, correlative coefficient is 0.108. CONCLUSIONS: U-wave in registered at rest after exercise test when heart rate is equal or below 95 in a minute. Registration of U-wave is an additional parameter in diagnostics of ischaemia and dysfunction of the myocardium of the left chamber (small influence).

Echocardiography↗

Left ventricular papillary muscle morphology and function in left ventricular hypertrophy and left ventricular dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: This study was prospectively performed to evaluate the anatomy and contractile performance of LV papillary muscles (PM) in humans using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), and to determine the relationship between PM anatomy and contractile function in normal left ventricle (LV), left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and systolic dysfunction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: TEE examinations were prospectively performed in 153 patients. End-diastolic (ED) and end-systolic (ES) cross sectional areas of both PMs were obtained at the transgastric mid papillary short axis views. ED and ES lengths of PMs were obtained from the transgastric long axis views, and fractional systolic shortening (FS) was calculated. PM shape description was derived from the formula Area/L2. LV EF, wall thickness and mass were determined from transthoracic echocardiographic measurements. RESULTS: The % FS in patients with normal EF (>55%) was 21.1 +/- 9.1% for anterior PM (APM) and 17.1 +/- 6.2% for posterior PM (PPM). The values for hypertrophic LV were as follows; 25.2 +/- 8.1 (APM) and 15.8 +/- 5.6 (PPM), for dilated cardiomyopathy, 15.0 +/- 6.8 (APM) and 13.4 +/- 4.2 while values for non-dilated cardiomyopathy were 15.6 +/- 8.0 and 11.3 +/- 6.0 respectively. In dilated cardiomyopathy patients, both PM lengths were significantly longer (p<0.05) and thinner (p<0.05) than in patients with normal EF. In the hypertrophied LV, the PMs were thicker (p<0.05) and had larger cross sectional areas p<0.05. CONCLUSIONS: TEE is a safe and useful method for detailed study of PM morphology and contractile performance in living humans with normal or impaired LV systolic function. Quantitative TEE data on PM geometry, size, and contractile function are presented here for the first time.

Cardiomegaly↗

Prevention of heart failure.

BACKGROUND: The number of people in the United States with heart failure (HF) is expected to rise dramatically as the population ages unless efforts to prevent HF improve. METHODS AND RESULTS: PubMed/MEDLINE searches were conducted to identify treatment trials of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, asymptomatic left ventricular systolic dysfunction, and diabetes that reported HF incidence. Treatment of hypertension reduces the incidence of HF by approximately 50%, even among very elderly patients. Diuretics, beta-blockers, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors appear more effective than calcium channel blockers and doxazosin. Hydroxy methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase inhibitors reduce the incidence of HF by approximately 20% among patients with hypercholesterolemia and coronary artery disease. ACE inhibitors reduce HF incidence by 37% among patients with reduced systolic function and by 23% among patients with coronary artery disease and normal systolic function. Observational studies have shown lower HF incidence among people with diabetes with better glycemic control. Unfortunately, all of these effective therapies appear to be underused, and control of hypertension is particularly poor. CONCLUSIONS: If clinical practice can live up to the potential shown from clinical trials, the suffering and economic toll imposed by HF can be dramatically reduced. Improved control of hypertension, primary prevention of myocardial infarction, and more widespread use of secondary prevention measures are essential.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

Efficacy of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition in reducing progression from asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction to symptomatic heart failure in black and white patients.

OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken to determine whether enalapril had comparable efficacy in black and white patients with asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction (ALVD) in preventing the development of symptomatic heart failure (HF). BACKGROUND: Recent studies have suggested that black patients with HF due to systolic dysfunction may derive less benefit than white patients with HF when treated with the same medication. METHODS: This is a post hoc analysis of the 4,054 black and white participants of the Studies of Left Ventricular Dysfunction Prevention Trial. RESULTS: Randomization to enalapril was associated with a comparable reduction in the relative risk of the development of symptomatic HF in black (relative risk [RR] 0.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.49, 0.92, p = 0.01) and white patients (RR 0.61, 95% CI 0.53, 0.70, p < 0.001). Treatment with enalapril was also associated with a comparable reduction in the risk of the development of HF requiring medical therapy and the composite end point of death or development of HF in black and white patients. Black as compared with white patients with ALVD were at increased risk of the development of symptomatic HF (RR 1.81, 95% CI 1.51, 2.17, p < 0.001) despite adjustment for available measures of disease severity. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the increased absolute risk in black patients compared with white patients for the progression of ALVD, enalapril was equally efficacious in reducing the risk of progression of ALVD in these two ethnic groups.

Black or African American↗

[Lung function in cardiac dysfunction].

OBJECTIVE: The alterations in lung function caused by heart failure were first described some decades ago. The advent of new tools for the diagnosis and investigation of heart disease, such as echocardiography, has subsequently made it possible to classify cardiac dysfunction with greater precision. The objective of this study was to analyze and compare a series of lung function and gas exchange variables in patients who had been classified into 4 groups according to type of heart disease as diagnosed by echocardiography. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Emergency room patients whose main symptom was acute dyspnea caused by cardiac or respiratory disease were included in the study. The final sample comprised 71 patients whose echocardiogram revealed cardiac dysfunction. Spirometry was carried out and resting arterial blood gases measured in this group. RESULTS: Of the 71 patients with cardiopathy, 31 had systolic dysfunction, 27 diastolic dysfunction, 7 cor pulmonale, and 6 primary valve disease. Spirometry revealed a generally obstructive pattern, more marked in the group with cor pulmonale. Analysis of arterial blood gases revealed slight hypoxemia with normocapnia in all groups, but this was more accentuated in the patients with cor pulmonale and diastolic dysfunction. An analysis of the correlations (Pearson's r) between cardiac and pulmonary variables revealed the statistically significant associations between cardiac mass and other variables to be as follows: forced vital capacity r=0.34 (P=.02), forced expiratory volume in one second r=0.526 (P=.0001), forced expiratory volume in one second as a percentage of predicted r=0.3 (P=.037), and forced midexpiratory flow rate r=0.31 (P=.03). The correlation between left ventricular ejection fraction and PaO2 was r=-0.312 (P=.01); the correlation between left ventricular end-diastolic diameter and PaO2 was r=0.369 (p=.006). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with cardiac dysfunction, spirometry reveals a generally obstructive pattern, which is more accentuated in patients with right ventricular dysfunction owing to the existence of prior lung disease. The associations found between the cardiac and lung function variables do not help the physician to determine the predominant diagnosis for a patient more precisely or to establish a prognosis.

Adult↗

[Trends in pharmacological treatment of congestive heart failure].

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is growing epidemiologic and clinical problem, and is the only common cardiovascular condition that is increasing in incidence, prevalence and mortality. During last years numerous clinical trial have been conduced evaluating the effect of various treatment procedures on clinical endpoints in patients with CHF. The major risk factor for CHF are hipertension and atherosclerotic vascular diseases, and now it is clear that aggressive treatment of hypertension and hyperlipidemia can be effective in preventing CHF. Treatment strategies for CHF are aimed at preventing and delaying progression of the disease and improving survival. In the treatment of CHF diuretics are at present the first drugs line for patients with fluid retention and are necessary to relieve symptoms but cannot halt progression or improve the prognosis of CHF. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) therapy has been shown to decrease mortality and progression of CHF and should be used early in patients with left ventricular dysfunction whether they have symptomatic or asymptomatic CHF. Digoxin therapy is associated with decrease in the risk of worsening CHF irrespective of rhythm, systolic function, severity of CHF or therapy with ACE inhibitors. In patients with symptomatic CHF due to systolic dysfunction the addition of diuretics and digoxin appears to reducing worsening CHF without improving survival. Other than digoxin oral inotropic agents (amrinone, pimobendan, vesnarinone, ibopamine) increase mortality in patients with CHF and have not improved symptom status and other clinical endpoints during long-term therapy. Hydralazine and isosorbide dinitrate administrated in combination are less effective alternative to ACE inhibitors. Beta-blockers and particular carvedilol may prolong survival and decrease worsening CHF when used in combination with digoxine, diuretics and ACE inhibitors. Beta-blockers therapy improve hemodynamics, LVEF and functional status patients with CHF and the ideal candidate for this therapy is stable patients with NYHA II-III CHF due to nonischemic cause. Calcium antagonists do not appear to be useful in patients with CHF, although amlodipine and mibefradil appears to be safe for treatment of angina or hypertension in this group. On the basis of current data, antiarrhythmic agents should not be given to patients with CHF free from arrhythmia but those with sustained ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation amiodaron appears to be safe.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

A narrow QRS does not predict a normal left ventricular function in Chagas' disease.

Left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction is a major prognostic determinant in Chagas' disease (ChD), a potentially fatal disorder which affects nearly 20 million individuals in Latin America. Therefore, reliable screening methods are needed to identify patients in need of a detailed evaluation of LV function. Since previous reports have suggested that a prolonged QRS duration may be an accurate predictor of LV dysfunction, the relationship between QRS duration and LV function was evaluated in ChD patients, in order to determine whether a narrow QRS on surface electrocardiogram (ECG) predicts a normal LV function. Ninety-eight patients with ChD and no other cardiac or systemic illness were underwent standard 12-lead ECG and Doppler echocardiogram (echo) examination. An investigator (blinded to the echo data) measured manually the QRS duration. LV dysfunction was defined by the presence of LV dilatation (LV diastolic dimension > 55 mm), depressed LV ejection fraction (LVEF < 0.50), segmental contractile abnormalities (SCA) or LV aneurysm. QRS duration was significantly correlated with LV diastolic dimension (r = 0.44, P = 0.000) and LVEF (r = 0.24, P = 0.016). A significant percentage of patients with QRS < 100 ms had abnormal systolic LV parameters, including LV dilatation (8.1%), reduced EF (10.2%), SCA (42.8%) and LV aneurysm (14.2%). A narrow QRS does not exclude the presence of significant global and segmental LV dysfunction in ChD patients. Since these abnormalities have prognostic and therapeutic implications, further evaluation of LV systolic performance is desirable in such patients.

Adult↗

Acutely decompensated heart failure: characteristics of hospitalized patients and opportunities to improve their care.

UNLABELLED: Heart failure (HF) remains a major public health problem in western countries, despite the enormous progress in its diagnosis and treatment. Acute and chronic decompensated HF are leading medical causes of hospitalization among people aged over 65 years in European countries, the USA, Australia and New Zealand. However, there have been few studies on acute and chronic decompensated HF and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines on this subject have only just been published. AIM: To evaluate the overall prevalence of hospitalization due to HF according to its subtypes, comorbidities, and decompensating factors, in the Medical Department of a central teaching hospital in an urban area. METHODS: We performed a retrospective observational study of patients admitted consecutively to the Medical Department via the emergency room between January and June 2001. Discharge casenotes on 1038 admissions were reviewed. Those with a diagnosis of HF or cardiovascular conditions associated with or precursors of HF were analyzed. Cases with a final diagnosis of HF according to the criteria of the ESC guidelines were included in the study. We evaluated the overall prevalence of HF and subtypes of cardiac dysfunction, etiological risk factors, patients' demographic characteristics, decompensating factors, comorbidity, mean length of hospital stay, and in-hospital mortality rate. RESULTS: We identified 180 patients with HF (17.4%), mean age 74.6 +/- 14; 87 were male (48%), aged 73.7 +/- 14.2, and 93 female (52%), aged 75.6 +/- 14. Left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) was present in 42.2% of cases, preserved left ventricular systolic function in 32.6%, and valvular heart disease in 10.6%. Hypertension and coronary artery disease were the main etiological risk factors (62.2% and 42.8% respectively). Atrial fibrillation was recorded in 43.4% of the patients, diabetes was diagnosed in 21.6%, and anemia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in about one third. Infection, predominantly respiratory, was the main factor triggering decompensation, followed by uncontrolled hypertension and supraventricular tachyarrhythmia. At admission, 42.2% of the patients were in NYHA class III and 44.8% in NYHA class IV. HF patients had a mean hospital stay of 13.8 days, slightly shorter than the mean overall stay of patients admitted to the Medical Department in the same period (14.5 days). In-hospital mortality for HF patients was 7.7%, with HF being the first cause of admission to the Medical Department, followed by stroke (10.6%). CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the high prevalence of acute or chronic decompensated HF in patients hospitalized in the Medical Department of a central teaching hospital in an urban area. The patients were mainly elderly, of both genders, with a slightly higher proportion of HF due to LVSD. Most patients were in NYHA classes III and IV. Mean hospital stay was no longer than that of all patients admitted in the same period. The in-hospital mortality rate was low. The age-group affected and the high prevalence of multiple comorbidities emphasize the need to establish HF clinics with multidisciplinary teams to manage these patients, and health authorities must be made aware of the burden of this syndrome.

Acute Disease↗

Changes in absolute and relative importance in the prognostic value of left ventricular systolic function and congestive heart failure after acute myocardial infarction. TRACE Study Group. Trandolapril Cardiac Evaluation.

Changes in the importance of left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction and congestive heart failure (CHF) with time after an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) after the introduction of thrombolytic therapy have not been studied. LV systolic function, measured as wall motion index (WMI) by echocardiography, was assessed in 6,676 consecutive patients with an enzyme-confirmed AMI. So that changes in the prognostic value of WMI or CHF could be studied, separate analyses were performed at selected time periods. Average monthly mortality (deaths per 100 patients per month) was determined from life-table analyses, with groups divided by WMI above and below 1.2 (a WMI > 1.2 corresponds to an ejection fraction > 0.35) or by presence and/or absence of CHF. Relative risk (95% confidence intervals [CI]) was determined by proportional hazard models, including baseline characteristics. In patients with LV dysfunction or CHF, monthly mortality was high during the first month (18.3 +/- 1.6% and 20.2 +/- 1.6%, respectively), decreased during the first year, and was stable thereafter (0.8 +/- 0.1% and 1.0 +/- 0.1%, respectively, average monthly mortality after year 3). The relative risk of LV dysfunction decreased from 2.4 (CI 2.0 to 2.9) to 1.3 (CI 1.0 to 1.6) in the same period. The relative risk of CHF decreased from 2.9 (CI 2.3 to 3.8) to 1.6 (CI 1.3 to 2.0). In patients without LV dysfunction or CHF, monthly mortality was relatively high during the first month (5.2% +/- 0.7% and 3.4% +/- 0.6%, respectively) but decreased within the first year to low, stable values (0.6% +/- 0.1% and 0.4% +/- 0.1%, respectively, average monthly mortality after year 3). In patients who received thrombolytic therapy, the relative risk associated with a WMI < or = 1.2 decreased from 3.0 (CI 2.0 to 4.4) to 1.3 (CI 0.9 to 1.6) and from 3.2 (CI 2.0 to 5.1) to 1.7 (CI 1.2 to 2.4) in patients with CHF. The risk of dying decreases steeply with time after an AMI with or without LV dysfunction or CHF and stabilizes at low values after 1 year. This is in contrast to the relative importance of these risk factors, which is maintained for > or = 5 years but decreases with time.

Aged↗

Left ventricular dysfunction resulting from frequent unifocal ventricular ectopics with resolution following radiofrequency ablation.

A case is presented, in which asymptomatic but persistent right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) ectopics resulted in left ventricular (LV) dilatation and systolic dysfunction. The patient underwent extensive investigation with no other cause for the cardiomyopathy being found. Successful ablation of the RVOT ectopic focus resulted in normalization of LV size and function. This case suggests that frequent ventricular ectopy should be considered as a potentially remediable cause of LV dysfunction.

Adult↗

Autoimmune myocarditis: cellular mediators of cardiac dysfunction.

Immune mediators play a critical role in the pathogenesis and outcomes of a number of cardiac diseases. This review summarizes recent findings on the composition of the inflammatory infiltrate and the role of different types and subtypes of immune cells and their products in mediating cardiac dysfunction in experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM). CD4+ T cells are required for initiation of myocarditis and their numbers in the heart infiltrate correlate with systolic dysfunction during disease progression. Other immune cells, including CD8+ T cells, granulocytes, and mast cells, can directly affect cardiomyocyte function. When regulatory mechanisms fail, the local damage leads to cardiomyocyte death, replacement fibrosis and overall cardiac dysfunction. EAM provides insights into the role of the immune system in the development of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and heart failure and may serve as a general paradigm for autoimmune organ-specific tissue damage.

Animals↗

Prevalence, predictors, and prognostic implications of improvement in left ventricular systolic function and clinical status in patients >70 years of age with recently diagnosed systolic heart failure.

In recent years, several clinical trials conducted on selected middle-aged patients have documented the positive effects of new pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatment on chronic heart failure (HF). More recently, some investigators reported cases of elderly patients who had improved clinical conditions and left ventricular (LV) systolic function, but neither the prevalence nor the clinical variables associated with this phenomenon have ever been characterized in this population. To assess the prevalence and the predictors of "improvement" of HF, we prospectively analyzed 87 patients with a recent diagnosis of HF and LV systolic dysfunction, aged >70 years, who were consecutively admitted to our center for functional class impairment (New York Heart Association class III and IV). After discharge, patients underwent clinical and echocardiographic evaluations every 6 months. During follow-up (17 +/- 9 months) improvement was documented in 31 subjects (36%). The variables associated with improvement in the multivariate analysis were the absence of diabetes (odds ratio [OR] 5.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3 to 19.9, p = 0.007), history of arterial hypertension (OR 3.9, CI 1.3 to 11.1, p = 0.01), and beta-blocker therapy (OR 3.4, CI 1.1 to 10.8, p = 0.03). An improvement in clinical status and LV systolic function is not infrequently observed in patients >70 years of age who have a recent diagnosis of HF. This behavior occurs prevalently in patients receiving beta-blocker therapy who have a history of arterial hypertension, and is inversely related to the presence of diabetes mellitus.

Age Factors↗

Diastolic dysfunction and diastolic heart failure: mechanisms and epidemiology.

Studies have demonstrated that diastolic dysfunction is frequently present in asymptomatic community-based individuals, especially in the elderly with hypertension, coronary artery disease, and diabetes. The presence of diastolic dysfunction is a predictor for the development of heart failure (HF) and confers a higher risk of mortality. These findings have raised the question of whether treating preclinical diastolic dysfunction will be helpful in preventing or delaying the onset of clinical HF and mortality, as has been proven with treatment of asymptomatic left ventricular systolic dysfunction. In addition, in some individuals, diastolic dysfunction in the presence of a normal ejection fraction is associated with exercise intolerance as well as symptomatic clinical HF, referred to as diastolic HF. Patients with diastolic HF, who are more often elderly women, have a significant mortality and morbidity burden compared with age-matched controls. Studies that further our understanding of mechanisms underlying diastolic dysfunction and diastolic HF will provide potential new targets for development of effective therapies for these conditions.

Age Factors↗

[Diagnosis and therapeutic guidance of diastolic heart failure].

Despite diastolic dysfunction is recognized to play a major role in the pathophysiology of heart failure, the importance of an accurate diagnosis and treatment of this syndrome in clinical practice is poorly established. Recent publications suggest that diastolic dysfunction is the primary cause of heart failure in 30-50% of patients. Several studies also show that, in a significant number of patients with systolic dysfunction, diastolic function is the major determinant of their symptomatic status, their response to treatment and their outcome. Other preliminary data suggest that diastolic dysfunction is an important cause of exercise intolerance in patients with chronic hypertension. This paper discusses the most recent concepts related to the mechanisms, the diagnosis and the treatment of diastolic dysfunction based on diagnostic imaging techniques.

Diastole↗

Relations of pulse pressure and other components of blood pressure to preclinical echocardiographic abnormalities.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the extent to which pulse pressure (PP) is associated with echocardiographic abnormalities, and in particular to whether PP is related to LV hypertrophy taking into account other blood pressure (BP) components. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: University hospital, hypertension outpatient unit. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 275 adults (mean age 47 years, range 19-69, 3% aged > or = 65) with essential hypertension. Overt coronary artery disease, valvular disease and secondary hypertension were exclusion criteria. Subjects were divided in two groups with PP < or = 50 or PP > 50 mmHg. OUTCOME MEASURES: Left ventricular (LV) mass, hypertrophy, LV systolic dysfunction. RESULTS: Prevalence of LV hypertrophy was higher in subjects with clinic PP > 50 mmHg. Subjects with PP > 50 mmHg had higher clinic and ambulatory systolic than subjects with PP < or = 50 mmHg while diastolic BP did not differ between groups. PP and systolic BP, either clinic or ambulatory, showed similar correlation to LV hypertrophy in separate logistic multivariate models. Using different methodologies, PP was not related to LV mass index or hypertrophy when the effect of its component systolic BP was taken into account. In separate analyses, PP was not significantly related to ejection fraction or midwall mechanics. CONCLUSION: Middle-aged clinically healthy hypertensives with PP > 50 mmHg had two-fold higher prevalence of LV hypertrophy than those with PP < or = 50 mmHg, which may contribute to the higher cardiovascular risk in subjects with higher PP. However, in our sample, PP was not related to LV hypertrophy independently of systolic BP, suggesting that systolic BP is the explanatory link of the relation between PP and LV hypertrophy.

Adult↗