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E J Câmara

Publications and source records attributed to E J Câmara.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1993

[Segmental changes in contractility of the left heart ventricle in Chagas cardiomyopathy with and without ventricular dilatation].

PURPOSE: To evaluate left ventricular (LV) segmental wall motion abnormalities in dilated and nondilated chronic chagasic myocarditis (CCM), to better understand the myocardial dysfunction progression in this pathology. METHODS: Sixty nine patients with the CCM, 39 had normal end-diastolic left ventricular dimension (LVEDD) and normal cardio-thoracic ratio (CTR) (group A), and 30 had increased LVEDD and CTR (group B), all of them with abnormal EKG, had the LV global and segmental contractility analysed by two-dimensional echocardiogram (Echo). A point score system to the LV contractility was applied. RESULTS: Segmental wall motion abnormalities were seen in 68% of the patients: apical 64%, postero-inferior 30%, septal 17%, anterior 6% and lateral 0. Apical aneurysm was observed in 42% of the patients, postero-inferior in 6% and basal septal in 3%. There was a statistically significant correlation between the LVDD and the LV score of contractility (r = 0.66; p = 0.0000). The LV contractility was normal in 28% of the patients, 47% in group A and 3% in group B. While in group A the abnormal pattern of contractility was segmental in all, but one patient, in group B it was diffuse in the large majority (93%). CONCLUSION: Initially LV abnormality in CCM is segmental. Beyond the apex, other regions of the LV are involved, the postero-inferior wall and basal septum for instance, even with aneurysm morphology. The CCM seems to evolve from an stage with essentially segmental wall motion abnormalities and normal LVDD to LV dilatation and diffuse hypocontractility.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Evaluation of endomyocardial fibrosis by two-dimensional echocardiogram. Analysis of the severity and correlation with angiocardiography].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the capacity of two-dimensional echocardiogram (2D-Echo) to establish the severity of endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) in comparison with angiography (Angio). METHODS: Twelve patients with EMF were prospectively studied by both: 2D-Echo and Angio. The mean age was 24.6 +/- 6.6 years (14 to 35), with 8 women and 4 men. To compare the severity by the 2 methods the obliterative process was graded according to its extension relative to the long axis of the respective, in diastole, as follows: 1 + only apical: 2 + less than 50% and 3 + greater than or equal to 50% from the apex to the atrioventricular valve level. RESULTS: All patients (100%) had biventricular disease by Angio, with right ventricle (RV) predominance in 5 (42%), left ventricle (LV) predominance in 1 (8%) and balanced in 6 (50%). By 2D-Echo the se numbers were: 11 (92%), 5 (42%), 1 (8%) and 5 (42%), respectively. The degree of concordance between 2D-Echo and Angio was 100% for the RV and 75% for the LV (p less than 0.005). In only 1 patient the LV apical involvement (+) was not identified by 2D-Echo. Mitral insufficiency (MI) was detected in 7 (58%) and tricuspid (TI) in 11 (92%) patients by Angio. These patients, expect one, had the corresponding atrial area greater than 18 cm2 by 2D-Echo. It was observed a statistically significant correlation between the atrial area and the degree of AV valve insufficiency (MI p less than 0.005; TI p less than 0.05). Paradoxical movement of the interventricular septum (IVS) was noted in 6 (50%) patients, associated with predominant RV disease, severe TI and mild or absent MI. CONCLUSION: The 2D-Echo, a valuable non-invasive method to diagnose and to grade severity of the fibrotic involvement of the ventricles by EMF, has a good correlation with Angio.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Muscle magnesium content and cardiac arrhythmias during treatment of congestive heart failure due to chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy.

Magnesium (Mg2+) plays a significant role in the electrical stability of the heart and hypomagnesemia may predispose patients to arrhythmias and digitalis toxicity. We measured the serum and skeletal muscle Mg2+ content of patients with chronic Chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC) during treatment for congestive heart failure and compared it to 15 normal patients who were used to establish the normal values of our population. There is a high frequency of muscle Mg2+ deficiency (66%) in patients with CCC during treatment for heart failure. However, serum Mg2+ is not a sensitive index of deficiency, since hypomagnesemia occurred in only 50% of the patients whose muscle Mg2+ was low. Digitalis toxicity was observed in all muscle Mg2+-deficient patients (100%) and in 25% of patients with normal Mg2+ levels (P less than or equal to 0.05). Ventricular tachycardia (VT) occurred in 75% of muscle Mg2+-deficient patients and in none of the patients with normal magnesium levels (P less than or equal to 0.05). The frequency and severity of premature ventricular contractions (PVC) were higher in muscle Mg2+-deficient patients. We conclude that muscle Mg2+ deficiency is very common in patients with CCC being treated for congestive heart failure and that muscle Mg2+ deficiency defines a higher risk CCC group in terms of digitalis toxicity and severe ventricular arrhythmias such as ventricular tachycardia.

Adolescent↗