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Influence of anterior mitral leaflet second-order chordae tendineae on left ventricular systolic function.

BACKGROUND: The contribution of anterior mitral leaflet second-order ("strut") chordae tendineae to left ventricular (LV) systolic mechanics is debated; we measured the in vivo contribution of anterior chordae tendineae (ACT) and posterior chordae tendineae (PCT) to regional and global LV contractile function. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eight sheep had radiopaque markers implanted in the LV epicardium, partitioning the ventricle into 12 regions. Microminiature force transducers and snares were sutured to anterior leaflet "strut" chordae originating from ACT and PCT papillary muscles. Chordal tension, marker images, and hemodynamic data were acquired before and after (CUT) severing ACT and PCT. Fractional area shrinkage and slope of the regional end-diastolic area-regional stroke work relation (r-PRSW) were computed for each LV region. CUT did not affect global LV systolic function but reduced FAS in LV segments near the PCT insertion site: equatorial posterior lateral (19+/-2% versus 16+/-2%, P<0.05), apical posterior lateral (23+/-4% versus 19+/-4%, P<0.05), and posterior medial LV segments (16+/-2% versus 13+/-2%, P<0.05). r-PRSW fell near both the ACT (equatorial anterior medial [84+/-8 versus 62+/-11 mm Hg, P<0.05] and lateral [73+/-7 versus 53+/-9 mm Hg, P<0.05]) and PCT (apical posterior medial [91+/-12 versus 67+/-17 mm Hg, P<0.05] and lateral [72+/-8 versus 59+/-9 mm Hg, P<0.05]) LV insertion sites. Maximum tension in PCT was higher than in ACT (0.81+/-0.1 versus 0.52+/-0.08N, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Dividing anterior leaflet strut chordae in sheep was associated acutely with regional LV systolic dysfunction near the chordal insertion sites. Caution is necessary when embarking on procedures that cut second-order chordae to treat ischemic mitral regurgitation, since this may compromise LV systolic function in ventricles that are already impaired.

Animals↗

Comparison of thallium-201 resting redistribution with technetium-99m-sestamibi uptake and functional response to dobutamine for assessment of myocardial viability.

BACKGROUND: 201Tl scintigraphy is useful for determination of viability in patients with coronary artery disease and depressed left ventricular function. Whether 99mTc sestamibi is adequate for viability detection remains controversial. The primary goal of this study was to compare 99mTc-sestamibi uptake with 201Tl uptake in canine models of sustained low flow and regional asynergy for determination of viability. A secondary objective was to compare myocardial uptake of these tracers with the functional response to low-dose dobutamine. METHODS AND RESULTS: In protocol 1, 14 open-chested, anesthetized dogs with a 50% reduction in resting left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) flow underwent 1 hour of transient LAD occlusion followed by reperfusion through the severe stenosis. Then 1.0 mCi of 201Tl was injected, and serial imaging was performed 5 minutes and 2 hours later. After acquisition of the delayed 201Tl image, 10 mCi of 99mTc sestamibi was injected, and imaging was repeated 45 minutes later. No significant difference was seen between the 201Tl defect ratio (LAD/left circumflex coronary artery [LCx]) on redistribution images (0.62 +/- 0.02) and 99mTc-sestamibi defect ratio (0.60 +/- 0.02). Similarly, LAD/LCx activity ratios by gamma-well counting were comparable (0.62 +/- 0.02 versus 0.59 +/- 0.04) and reflected the flow decrement. Systolic thickening was -11 +/- 3% at the time of tracer injection. In protocol 2, 16 dogs underwent serial 201Tl and 99mTc-sestamibi imaging during a 50% reduction in LAD flow with no superimposed transient LAD occlusion. In this model, the 99mTc-sestamibi LAD/LCx image defect ratio (0.61 +/- 0.03) was significantly less than the 201Tl redistribution image defect ratio (0.66 +/- 0.03, P < .01). In 10 dogs, the stenosis was released, resulting in a significant increase in systolic thickening (P = .003), which increased further in response to 5 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 of dobutamine (P = .02). In contrast, thickening increased only from -7 +/- 3% to 2 +/- 4% (P = .004) in response to dobutamine infusion in the remaining 6 dogs with persistent severe LAD stenoses. In protocol 3, 5 dogs received both 201Tl and 99mTc sestamibi to compare the degree of delayed redistribution between tracers at 2 hours. The LAD/LCx microsphere flow ratios when 201Tl and 99mTc sestamibi were injected were 0.44 +/- 0.06 and 0.43 +/- 0.05 (P = NS), respectively. The LAD/LCx activity ratio by gamma-well counting was greater for 201Tl (0.56 +/- 0.08) than 99mTc sestamibi (0.50 +/- 0.07) at 2 hours of redistribution (P < .05), indicating greater redistribution for 201Tl. The LAD/LCx 99mTc-sestamibi defect ratios on serial imaging improved from 0.49 +/- 0.07 to 0.52 +/- 0.07 (P = .0005), consistent with a slight amount of 99mTc-sestamibi redistribution. In protocol 4, no difference between 201Tl and 99mTc-sestamibi defect magnitudes was seen in 4 dogs undergoing 3 hours of total LAD occlusion and ligation of visible coronary collaterals. Infarct size was 68 +/- 19% of the risk area. CONCLUSIONS: Although 99mTc-sestamibi and 201Tl defect magnitudes and regional activities were comparable in dogs with sustained low coronary flows and superimposed subendocardial infarctions and in dogs with large infarctions, approximately 5% more 201Tl than 99mTc-sestamibi uptake was observed in dogs with chronic low flow and severe systolic dysfunction. Substantial 99mTc-sestamibi uptake in asynergic zones was observed in this low-flow model, with some slight resting 99mTc-sestamibi redistribution observed on serial images. Systolic thickening was negligibly enhanced during dobutamine infusion in dogs with sustained low flow, whereas 201Tl uptake was only mildly reduced.

Animals↗

Diastolic heart failure. What primary care physicians need to know.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) with normal left ventricular systolic function and abnormal diastolic performance is a common clinical entity. Typically, signs and symptoms are indistinguishable from those of heart failure related to systolic dysfunction. Coronary artery disease, systemic hypertension, and aging are all associated with diastolic CHF. Diagnosis depends on a clinical suspicion of heart failure, followed by assessment of left ventricular systolic performance, which is normal in this condition. Ventricular diastolic performance can be assessed by noninvasive procedures, the most reliable and easily performed of which is echocardiography. General guidelines include searching for precipitants such as ischemia, tachycardia, and loss of atrial-ventricular synchrony. Treatment includes judicious use of nitrates and diuretics to relieve pulmonary congestion. There is no specific therapy to improve left ventricular diastolic function directly. However, calcium channel blockers and beta blockers are beneficial, and there is growing evidence that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors may prove valuable.

Cardiovascular Agents↗

Left ventricular mass and systolic function in African diabetic patients: association with microalbuminuria.

OBJECTIVE: To assess echocardiographic evidence of cardiomyopathy and its association with microalbuminuria in type 2 normotensive non-proteinuric diabetic patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty consecutive normotensive non-proteinuric type 2 diabetic patients were studied. Body mass index, blood pressure, urinary albumin excretion, ECG at rest and after exercise, left ventricular mass, and shortening fraction using two-dimensional and M-mode echocardiography were measured in every patient. RESULTS: Among the 40 patients studied, 17 (42.5%) presented with microalbuminuria, 16 (40.0%) with left ventricular hypertrophy, 22 (55.0%) with systolic dysfunction and 3 (7.5%) with ECG changes compatible with cardiac ischaemia. No significant difference existed between normoalbuminuric and microalbuminuric patients for age, known duration of diabetes, body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Ventricular mass correlated to urinary albumin excretion rate (r=0.34; p=0.04) and shortening fraction to diastolic blood pressure (r = - 0.40; p=0.01). CONCLUSION: Left ventricular structure and function might be altered in African type 2 diabetic patients in the absence of hypertension, and microalbuminuria may be an early biochemical marker of these abnormalities.

Adult↗

Radionuclide angiographic evaluation of left ventricular diastolic function.

Left ventricular diastolic function is altered in the majority of patients with cardiac diseases, especially those characterized by myocardial ischemia or hypertrophy. In many circumstances, such abnormalities related to impaired relaxation or reduced distensibility may precede evidence of left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Radionuclide angiography may be adapted to study the rapid filling phase of diastole, the duration of the isovolumic relaxation phase, the relative contributions of rapid filling and atrial systole to left ventricular stroke volume, and the relation between regional nonuniformity of left ventricular function and global filling properties. Technical aspects of data acquisition that must be considered for such studies include the effects of cardiac cycle length fluctuations, temporal resolution, temporal smoothing, and normalization parameters. As noninvasive radionuclide methods (and any other analyses using purely noninvasive techniques) do not permit assessment of the left atrial-left ventricular pressure gradient or the simultaneous evaluation of changes in left ventricular pressure and volume during relaxation and filling, complete clinical interpretation of "abnormal" left ventricular filling indexes, or changes in these indexes after interventions, is not possible. Despite the inherent limitations of noninvasive assessment of left ventricular diastolic function, radionuclide evaluation of left ventricular filling may provide clinically useful insights, especially in patients with congestive heart failure symptoms and normal left ventricular systolic function.

Aging↗

Amiodarone for pharmacological cardioversion of recent-onset atrial fibrillation.

The efficacy and safety of amiodarone for pharmacological cardioversion of recent-onset atrial fibrillation was examined by reviewing the trials on the subject identified through a comprehensive literature search. Amiodarone has been used both intravenously (i.v.) and orally for the pharmacological cardioversion of recent-onset atrial fibrillation. Intravenous amiodarone has been used as a bolus only or as a bolus followed by a continuous i.v. infusion until conversion or up to 24 h. The dose of i.v. bolus given ranged from 3 to 7 mg/kg body weight and that of infusion from 900 to 3000 mg/day. The efficacy reported is 34-69% with the bolus only regimens, and 55-95% with the bolus followed by infusion regimens. Only the higher dose (>1500 mg/day) amiodarone is superior to placebo in converting recent-onset atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm. The highest 24-h conversion rates have been reported with the i.v. regimen of 125 mg/h until conversion or a maximum of 3 g and the oral regimen of 25-30 mg/kg body weight administered as a single loading-dose (>90% and >85%, respectively). Most of the conversions occur after 6-8 h of the initiation of therapy. Predictors of successful conversion are shorter duration of atrial fibrillation, smaller left atrial size, and higher amiodarone dose. Amiodarone is not superior to the other antiarrhythmic drugs conventionally used for the pharmacological cardioversion of recent-onset atrial fibrillation but is relatively safe in patients with structural heart disease and in those with depressed left ventricle function. Therefore, amiodarone could be used particularly in patients with structural heart disease and in those with left ventricular systolic dysfunction as the use of class IC drugs, propafenone and flecainide, for cardioversion of atrial fibrillation is contraindicated in such patients.

Administration, Oral↗

The impact of left ventricular dysfunction on cardiac donor transplant rates.

BACKGROUND: Because of the shortage of heart donors in the United States, efforts are necessary to maximize the yield of donor screening. The purpose of this study was to quantify the effects of left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction on heart donor use. METHODS: Using the California Transplant Donor Network database, the records of all potential organ donors screened between January 1997 and June 1998 were reviewed. After excluding subjects for whom family consent could not be obtained and subjects <13 or >or=60 years old, a study group of 223 potential heart donors was analyzed. The number of hearts not used because of LV dysfunction, coronary artery disease (CAD), valvular disease, and LV hypertrophy were quantified. A logistic regression model was developed to quantify the independent effect of LV dysfunction on donor use rates after adjustment for age, weight, and cause of death. RESULTS: Ninety-nine (44%) of the 223 potential donor hearts were not transplanted. Thirty-six of these hearts were not transplanted because of cardiac causes, primarily LV dysfunction (26 cases) and CAD (8 cases). The multivariable analysis showed that after adjusting for other donor variables, ejection fraction was the most significant predictor of non-use, with an odds ratio of 1.48 per 5-point decrease in ejection fraction. CONCLUSIONS: Left ventricular dysfunction is an important cause of failure to transplant adult donor hearts. Efforts to improve the yield of heart donor screening should focus on prevention or reversal of LV dysfunction.

Adult↗

Brain natriuretic peptide is stable in whole blood and can be measured using a simple rapid assay: implications for clinical practice.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the stability of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) to that of N-terminal atrial natriuretic peptide (NT-ANP) in whole blood and plasma stored under different conditions. To compare a rapid, simple, direct (unextracted) BNP assay to a conventional assay using plasma extraction. DESIGN: Blinded, prospective, comparative study. SETTING: Tertiary referral cardiology department. SUBJECTS: Forty two subjects (24 men, 18 women) comprising 28 patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) ranging from mild to severe and 14 healthy volunteers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Stability of NT-ANP and BNP when stored as whole blood or plasma at room temperature over three days. Reproducibility of measurements. RESULTS: BNP was stable in whole blood stored at room temperature for three days; mean change in concentration -7.4% (95% CI 0.6 to -14.8), (direct), -6.3% (5.0 to -16.4), (extracted); whereas a significant decline in BNP concentration was noted in plasma stored at room temperature; -23.2% (-13.7 to -31.6), (direct); -14.4% (-3.2 to -24.3), (extracted). By contrast a small nonsignificant rise in NT-ANP concentration was noted both in whole blood and plasma stored at room temperature for three days; whole blood +8.6% (+22.3 to -3.5), plasma +6.3%, (23.2 to -8.4). The reproducibility of the BNP measurements, and particularly the rapid, direct, measurement, was superior to that for NT-ANP. CONCLUSIONS: BNP is shown to be stable in whole blood for three days and can be measured using a rapid, simple assay. Routine assay of BNP is feasible in ordinary clinical practice and may be of value to general practitioners and hospital based physicians in the diagnosis and management of patients with LVSD. Samples can be sent to a central laboratory without special handling requirements.

Adult↗

[Non-invasive evaluation of the hemodynamic profile in patients with heart failure: estimation of left atrial pressure].

The management of patients with heart failure requires an accurate and non-invasive estimation of left ventricular filling pressures. This is essential in order to optimize unloading treatment, interpret equivocal symptoms, assess disease severity (and prognosis), and follow up the hemodynamic effect of long-term treatments. Since Doppler technique was implemented, several non-invasive methods to estimate left ventricular filling pressures were developed. Among these, a method based on the calculation of the left ventricular-atrial pressure gradient and its subtraction from systolic arterial blood pressure can be used in patients with significant mitral regurgitation and well-defined continuous wave Doppler signal of the regurgitant flow. Mitral and pulmonary venous flow velocities, as assessed by pulsed Doppler, are closely related to left atrial pressures, and several derived indices can be used to qualitatively estimate left ventricular filling pressures in patients with heart failure due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction who are in sinus rhythm. Furthermore, the combination of these indices in multivariable equations can improve this relationship and allows for a quantitative estimation of filling pressures, even in patients with significant mitral regurgitation and atrial fibrillation. There are, however, several groups of patients with heart failure in whom pulsed Doppler of mitral and pulmonary venous flow provides limited hemodynamic information. These include those with a) sinus tachycardia and/or prolonged P-R interval; b) normal left ventricular systolic function (and "pure" diastolic heart failure); c) primarily abnormal left atrial dysfunction (such as patients who had undergone heart transplantation), and d) technically inadequate Doppler recordings of pulmonary venous flow. To assess left ventricular filling pressures in these patients, two new methods which combine pulsed Doppler mitral flow indices with load-independent indices of left ventricular relaxation (either early diastolic velocity of mitral annulus, as assessed by tissue Doppler, or propagation velocity of mitral inflow, as assessed by color M-mode) can be used.

Atrial Function, Left↗

Effects of carvedilol on left ventricular remodelling in chronic stable heart failure: a cardiovascular magnetic resonance study.

BACKGROUND: The ability of beta blockers to improve left ventricular function has been demonstrated, but data on the effects on cardiac remodelling are limited. OBJECTIVE: To investigate, using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), the effects of carvedilol on left ventricular remodelling in patients with chronic stable heart failure and left ventricular systolic dysfunction caused by coronary artery disease. DESIGN: Randomised, double blind, placebo controlled study. SETTING: Chronic stable heart failure. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTION: 34 patients with chronic stable heart failure and left ventricular systolic function taking part in the CHRISTMAS trial (double blind carvedilol v placebo) underwent CMR before randomisation and after six months of treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Left ventricular remodelling at six months. RESULTS: The carvedilol and placebo groups were well balanced at baseline, with no significant intergroup differences. Over the study period, there was a significant reduction in end systolic volume index (ESV(I)) and end diastolic volume index (EDV(I)) between the carvedilol and the placebo group (carvedilol -9 v placebo +3 ml/m2, p = 0.0004; carvedilol -8 v placebo 0 ml/m2, p = 0.05). The ejection fraction increased significantly between the groups (carvedilol +3% v placebo -2%, p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of chronic stable heart failure with carvedilol results in significant improvement in left ventricular volumes and function. These effects might contribute to the benefits of carvedilol on mortality and morbidity in patients with chronic heart failure.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

Aldosterone antagonists in the treatment and prevention of heart failure.

Aldosterone is elevated in heart failure and exerts multiple detrimental effects. In addition to playing key roles in sodium and volume regulation, aldosterone is involved in regulation of autonomic tone, endothelial dysfunction, tissue collagen turnover, myocyte fibrosis, and release of inflammatory modulators. Aldosterone receptor antagonists have proven to be a valuable treatment tool in the management of heart failure due to systolic dysfunction. Blocking the effects of aldosterone can improve many of the functions that are deranged in patients with heart failure, as well as promote excretion of sodium and water and preservation of potassium and hydrogen in the distal renal tubule. These medications can be especially effective at removing fluid from the periphery and soft tissues. Prevention of hypokalemia, which may predispose patients to arrhythmia, is an added benefit. Spironolactone and eplerenone are the two agents in this class that have been studied in patients with heart failure and left ventricular dysfunction. However, aldosterone antagonist therapy may not be appropriate for all patients with heart failure. Therefore, guidelines in managing patients on these medications should be followed to avoid serious electrolyte abnormalities and renal dysfunction. This review examines some of the mechanisms of action and the usefulness of aldosterone blockade in the management of heart failure.

Journal Article↗

Echocardiographic characteristics of electrocardiographically unrecognized myocardial infarctions in a community population.

Unrecognized myocardial infarction (UMI) as diagnosed by surveillance electrocardiography has been shown to carry the same poor prognosis as recognized myocardial infarction (RMI). The echocardiographic characteristics of UMI have never been studied before. Due to a similar prognosis, we hypothesized that UMI and RMI would exhibit similar degrees of echocardiographic ventricular dysfunction. We studied a random community cohort of 2,042 adults who were > or =45 years of age in a cross-sectional setting in Olmsted County, Minnesota. RMI was diagnosed by review of medical records and UMI was diagnosed if the electrocardiogram met MI criteria without a previous MI recorded in the medical record. All subjects underwent transthoracic echocardiography. We identified 80 patients who had UMI and 101 who had RMI. In bivariate analyses, a stepwise increase in echocardiographic abnormalities was observed from participants who had no MI to UMI to RMI: respective mean ejection fractions were 63%, 61%, and 55; prevalences in left ventricular enlargement were 13%, 22%, and 52%; mean left ventricular mass indexes were 98, 103, and 118 g/m(2); prevalences in regional wall motion abnormality were 2%, 13%, and 42%; and prevalences in diastolic dysfunction were 25%, 56%, and 65% (p for trend <0.0001 for all comparisons). After adjusting for standard coronary risk factors, patients who had UMI continued to exhibit significant abnormalities in systolic dysfunction, diastolic dysfunction, and regional wall motion abnormality, although to a lesser extent than patients who had RMI. In conclusion, patients who have UMI manifest structural abnormalities more commonly than do patients who have no MI but less commonly than do those who have RMI. The similar prognosis after UMI and RMI cannot be explained by comparable degrees of ventricular damage.

Aged↗

Neurohumoral changes in patients with left ventricular dysfunction following acute myocardial infarction and the effect of nitrate therapy: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled long-term study.

BACKGROUND: Several neurohumoral mechanisms involved in cardiovascular regulation are activated in the failing heart, but only limited information is available regarding the influence of long-term nitrate therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a double-blind, randomized comparison of isosorbide-5-mononitrate (IS-5-MN), 60 mg given orally, once daily for 11 months to patients (n = 47) with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Forty-five patients received placebo. All patients received ramipril.Plasma natriuretic peptides (atrial [ANP] and brain [BNP] natriuretic peptide), epinephrine, norepinephrine (NEPI), antidiuretic hormone, aldosterone (Aldo), renin activity (PRA), substance P, neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity, calcitonin gene-related peptide, and vasoactive intestinal peptide were measured at baseline and at the end of the treatment period. Clinical, echocardiographic, and hemodynamic data were also obtained. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Chronic nitrate therapy does not significantly affect the neurohumoral status in patients with LV dysfunction after AMI, apart from a decrease in ANP. Some hormones are more closely associated with diastolic dysfunction/increased volume load (ANP and BNP) and others are more closely associated with systolic dysfunction (PRA, NEPI, Aldo). There is a temporal dissociation of these 2 groups of hormones 1 year post infarction: ANP and BNP decrease, whereas NEPI and Aldo show a slight increase. BNP levels do not reflect all important pathophysiologic mechanisms in heart failure. Consequently, the use of other neurohormonal factors than BNP for monitoring of heart failure therapy should be explored.

Adult↗

Relationship of baseline electrocardiographic characteristics with the response to cardiac resynchronization therapy for heart failure.

Prospective identification of patients most and least likely to respond to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) for congestive heart failure (CHF) will allow clinicians to target this intervention most efficiently. The authors hypothesized that ECG variables including RBBB and indicators of RV dysfunction and extensive prior myocardial infarction would correlate with diminished response to CRT. This study analyzed preimplantation ECGs in 110 patients with ICD indications and CHF due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction randomized to active biventricular pacing in the MIRACLE ICD trial. Clinical and ECG variables on the outcome of change in peak oxygen consumption from baseline to 6 months (Delta-VO2 ) were evaluated. For this cohort, average peak VO2 improved from 13.4 to 14.3 mL/kg per minute. Among clinical variables, the strongest predictors of increasing Delta-VO2 were reduced exercise time and peak VO2 at baseline. A dominant R wave in lead a VR, RBBB, and evidence of prior anterior infarction were each associated with significantly smaller average improvements in Delta-VO2 than their absence in univariate analysis. Alternative ECG criteria, including QRS duration, had no relationship with the outcome. In a multivariate model, only baseline VO2 (beta=-0.3, P=0.001) and ECG evidence of prior anterior infarction (beta=-1.3, P=0.03) were associated with the outcome. ECG markers of anterior infarction and RV dilation may help identify CHF patients unlikely to benefit from biventricular pacing. Further assessment is needed of these and other predictors of therapeutic response to CRT.

Aged↗

Improved left ventricular diastolic filling in patients with coronary artery disease after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.

Left ventricular (LV) diastolic filling is abnormal at rest in many patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), even in the presence of normal resting LV systolic function. To determine the effects of improved myocardial perfusion on impaired. LV diastolic filling, we studied 25 patients with one-vessel CAD by high-temporal-resolution radionuclide angiography before and after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). No patient had ECG evidence of previous myocardial infarction. Despite normal regional and global LV systolic function at rest in all patents, LV diastolic filling was abnormal (peak LV filling rate [PFR] less than 2.5 end-diastolic volumes (EDV)/sec or time to PFR greater than 180 msec) in 17 of 25 patients. Twenty-three patients had abnormal LV systolic function during exercise. After successful PTCA, LV ejection fraction and heart rate at rest were unchanged, but LV ejection fraction during exercise increased, from 52 +/- 8% (+/- SD) to 63 +/- 5% (p less than 0.001). LV diastolic filling at rest improved: PFR increased from 2.3 +/- 0.6 to 2.8 +/- 0.5 EDV/sec (p less than 0.001) and time to PFR decreased from 181 +/- 22 to 160 +/- 18 msec (p less than 0.001). Thus, a reduction in exercise-induced LV systolic dysfunction after PTCA, reflecting a reduction in reversible ischemia, was associated with improved LV diastolic filling at rest. These data suggest that in many CAD patients with normal resting LV systolic function and without previous infarction, abnormalities of resting LV diastolic filling are not fixed, but appear to be reversible manifestations of impaired coronary flow.

Adult↗

Subclinical left ventricular abnormalities in young diabetics.

Twenty young asymptomatic diabetic patients were evaluated for left ventricular dysfunction by determining the radionuclide ejection fraction response to supine bicycle ergometry. The double product at peak exercise (28,743 +/- 3,314 vs 29,007 +/- 3,625, p greater than .05) was not significantly different between the two groups. Seven of 20 diabetics had either no change or a drop in their ejection fraction during exercise while 1 of 20 control subjects had no change in ejection fraction. There was no correlation between the FBS (r = .26) and HbA1c (r = .32) and ejection fraction change during exercise, although those diabetics with LV dysfunction tended to have a higher HbA1c level as compared to diabetics with a normal response (16.8 +/- 3.1 percent vs 12.5 +/- 3.8 percent respectively, p greater than .05). The LV systolic dysfunction in young asymptomatic diabetic subjects does not appear to correlate with the degree of acute or chronic hyperglycemia, and therefore, is not a direct function of the dynamic metabolic state of diabetes.

Adult↗

[Clinical characteristics of patients with ischemic heart failure].

UNLABELLED: A major cause of heart failure is coronary heart disease with an increasing prevalence and progression to heart failure. The objective of the study is the analysis of the clinical peculiarities, coronary risk factors and some resting hemodynamic parameters at patients with ischemic heart failure. METHODS: There have been studied 189 patients with ischemic heart disease. The ejection fraction (EF) assessed by echocardiographic examination was used to divide them into three groups: group A of 106 with EF above 50%, group B of 55 with EF between 40-49% and group C of 28 with EF below 40%. RESULTS: The mean age increased from group A (58 +/- 13 years) to group C (64 +/- 11 years, p = 0.05). Ischemic cardiomyopathy was higher at group C (32% vs 13% at group A and 24% at group B, p = 0.01) and old myocardial infarction was more frequent at group A (44% vs 45% at group B and 36% at group C, p = 0.009). Group C revealed a greater incidence of dyspnea (100%) and a greater resting heart rate (83 +/- 12/min, p = 0.03). The radiologic cardiomegaly was present at group C and at 42% at group A (p = 0.001). The echocardiographic findings show a greater prevalence of kinetic abnormalities and diastolic dysfunction at group C (p = 0.002 respectively 0.009). CONCLUSION: Patients with myocardial dysfunction are older, with a lower prevalence of myocardial infarction in contrast with a higher prevalence of cardiomyopathy. Dyspnea is the dominant symptom and the resting heart rate is higher. Systolic dysfunction is present at all patients and diastolic dysfunction at the majority. There were not differences concerning the prevalence of the coronary risk factors.

Adult↗

[The role of Doppler echography in the evaluation of systolic and/or diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle].

The doppler-echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunction involves numerous indices. Preload is evaluated by measurement of the end-diastolic left ventricular diameter and sometimes by the rapid filling E wave on doppler recordings. The best index of of afterload is the end-systolic stress. Most indices of contractility are load-dependent, including percentage of fibre shortening, FCV, FCVc, EF. This leads to the construction of end-systolic regression slopes by varying the load to determine the myocardial contractile value. In the future, automated analysis of doppler curves will be used to determine the aortic flow maximal acceleration. The diastolic function is easily evaluated through the transmitral flow, but its interpretation must take into account the patient's age, heart rate and filling state. Two aspects are regarded as pathological: the filling disorder aspect with E/A under 1, and the hypernormal assay described by Appleton. In doppler-echocardiographic studies as well as in haemodynamic studies all these indices are interrelated, which shows the complexity of cardiac physiology and the interdependence of its factors.

Diastole↗