Nonatherosclerotic ostial stenosis of left main coronary artery: echocardiographic assessment and follow-up after surgical treatment.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Jarosław D Kasprzak.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
OBJECTIVE: The evaluation of diagnostic value of pulsed tissue Doppler (TD) parameters (calculated from six points of mitral annulus and separately measured in the lateral part of mitral annulus) for the detection of pseudonormal mitral inflow pattern. METHODS AND RESULTS: Among 200 persons examined by transthoracic echocardiography group with E/A value between 1 and 2 was selected and divided to normal (54 subjects, early wave deceleration time, Edt > or = 150 msec) and pseudonormal (23 patients, Edt < 150 msec together with prolonged difference between duration of atrial reversal flow in pulmonary vein and mitral flow in atrial phase, delta Ar > or = 20 msec) inflow. Wide spectrum of TD parameters was compared between the selected groups. In normal inflow, average peak velocities of early and atrial phase of diastolic mitral annulus motion were significantly higher: 11.0 +/- 2.6 versus 8.9 +/- 3.5 cm/sec; (P = 0.005) and 12.0 +/- 2.2 versus 10.0 +/- 3.0 cm/sec; (P = 0.002), respectively. Ratio of peak early mitral wave velocity to peak velocity of annulus motion in early phase (Ev/E'v avr) was higher in the pseudonormal pattern: 9.8 +/- 3.7 versus 7.0 +/- 2.0, respectively (P < 0.001). For the value of Ev/E'v avr > 10.2, 70% accuracy for the diagnosis of pseudonormalization was detected. For the parameters measured in the lateral part of mitral annulus similar relationships in the early filling phase were detected but did not reach statistical significance in the atrial phase. CONCLUSIONS: Pulsed TD offers good accuracy for the diagnosis of pseudonormalization with increased ratio of peak early mitral wave velocity to peak velocity of mitral annulus being the optimal predictor of advanced diastolic dysfunction.
The case report presents a giant aneurysm of the descending aorta in a 79- year-old female. The echocardiographic study of the patient was substantially impeded, since aortic pathology obscured the left atrium in standard views and produced images mimicking extracardiac mass. Modified imaging planes were necessary to complete the correct echocardiographic visualisation of the heart and the aorta and to establish diagnosis.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to evaluate the long-term prognostic value of transesophageal atrial pacing stress echocardiography (TAPSE) for the prediction of cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction) and mortality at 10-year follow-up. METHODS: TAPSE was applied as a diagnostic modality in 93 consecutive patients (mean age 45 +/- 8 years) who were diagnosed for the cause of chest pain. Long-term follow-up data were obtained from 87 (94%) patients with a mean duration of follow-up of 92 +/- 4 months. Stress echocardiography was performed using TAPSE with a mean pacing rate of 142 +/- 18/min. RESULTS: Predefined cardiac events occurred during the follow-up period in 45 (52%) patients, including 24 (28%) with hard end points: 10 (12%) with nonfatal myocardial infarction and 17 who died (events overlap). Positive result of TAPSE was found in 47 (54%) patients and among those with positive TAPSE result, 16 died (94% of total mortality) and 21 had a hard event (death or infarction-88% of total prevalence). Survival free from hard events was noted in 37 (92%) patients with negative TAPSE and only in 26 (55%) of those with positive TAPSE ( P = .001). Independent predictive factors for mortality were TAPSE positivity (relative risk with 95% confidence interval [RR/CI] = 39.6 [36.3-42.9], P = .0006) and diabetes (RR/CI = 10.2 [8.6-11.8], P = .0026). Independent predictive factors for myocardial infarction were diabetes (RR/CI = 8.1 [6.3-9.9], P = .0186) and significant coronary stenosis in angiography (RR/CI = 9.0 [6.8-11.2], P = .0479). Independent predictive factors for death or nonfatal myocardial infarction were TAPSE positivity (RR/CI = 12.3 [11.1-13.3], P = .0001) and diabetes (RR/CI = 7.0 [5.8-8.2], P = .0018). CONCLUSIONS: Positive TAPSE result carries long-term prognostic information regarding mortality and risk of myocardial infarction that can be used to identify patients requiring more aggressive treatment. Negative TAPSE allows highly accurate definition of low-risk population with discriminating power maintained during the 10-year period. TAPSE result and diabetes are the strongest independent predictors for long-term mortality in multivariate analysis.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the left ventricular function in patients with ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathy using tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDE). METHODS: We studied 30 patients after myocardial infarction (MI group), 30 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM group) and 60 healthy volunteers in corresponding control groups. TDE velocities, time intervals of cardiac cycle were measured and dispersion index of TDE parameters was calculated. RESULTS: Early diastolic velocities were lower in MI group than in DCM group, with similar systolic and late diastolic velocities. The dispersion index of systolic velocities was significantly higher in MI than in DCM group and in controls (respectively 33.1+/-6.0% vs 12.6+/-3.7% vs 15.9+/-5.6%; p < 0.001) and differentiated ischemic from idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. In MI group, preejection period was shorter and isovolumic relaxation and diastasis time were longer than in DCM group, with no differences in dispersion index of time intervals between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: TDE parameters: early diastolic velocity, preejection period, isovolumic relaxation time and the dispersion index of systolic velocities differentiate ischemic and nonischemic etiology of dilated cardiomyopathy.
A case of non-Q myocardial infarction in a previously healthy 17-year-old body builder, who used clenbuterol, a long-acting beta(2) adrenergic agonist with anabolic and lipolytic effects, is reported. Only 1 case report of myocardial infarction associated with the use of clenbuterol was found in a literature review and that case was, however, associated with anabolic steroid use. This is the first case report to describe myocardial infarction in a young male body builder only taking clenbuterol.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
UNLABELLED: It has been shown in several in-vitro studies that IVUS images correlate well with histology and angioscopy. The existing data on intravascular imaging of large-diameter elastic arteries are scant. The aim of this study was to compare the IVUS images of aorta with the reference method--histological section by evaluating the accuracy of measurements performed at corresponding aortic segments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 15 human aortic specimens were derived from post-mortem examination and in-vitro IVUS imaging was performed, including measurements of vessel diameters and cross-sectional areas in three specified areas. Corresponding regions of interest obtained with histology were subsequently evaluated and parameters matched to those by IVUS were calculated. RESULTS: Total of 45 pairs of measurement were compared. Mean vessel internal diameter on IVUS was 14.4 mm (SD 2.7 mm) and intima thickness was 0.6 mm (SD 0.8 mm). The corresponding aortic internal diameter observed with histology was 13.2 (SD 2.6 mm) and intima thickness--0.3 mm (SD 0.03). An overall agreement between IVUS and histology specimens was high, yelling correlation ratio of 0.99. The highest level of agreement was observed for external vessel area validation--correlation ratio 0.98. The largest discrepancy was observed for intima and media thickness, with correlation ratios of 0.61 and 0.72, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that examination of aorta with intravascular ultrasound is feasible and may provide additional information in assessment of cardiovascular pathology. More complete risk stratification, which includes IVUS examination of aorta, is an important factor to determine the necessity for early preventive treatment, especially in patients with normal coronary arteries.
UNLABELLED: Aortic pulsation is caused by the arterial blood pressure variation during the cardiac cycle. Thickening of arterial intima, as well as the presence of atherosclerotic plaques may influence vessel pulsation by increasing wall stiffness. There is no data available concerning regional changes in aortic elasticity in relation with local wall thickness and the magnitude of atherosclerosis. The study group comprised 36 patients (27 men, 9 women, mean age 53 +/- 10 years) referred to our echocardiographic laboratory for transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). TEE probe was placed at the depth of 35 cm. The spatial interval between acquired images was 3 degrees. The reconstructed data sets were reviewed and the border between the aortic wall, plaque and lumen was determined. The reconstruction of a two-centimeter-long segment of aorta was divided by coaxial planes into four longitudinal sections. Thereafter the diastolic and systolic radius of each section, thickness of atherosclerotic plaques and intima-media thickness in each section were measured. The regional beta-index was calculated as Ln (systolic pressure/diastolic pressure)/relative change in regional aortic lumen, where relative change in regional aortic lumen was calculated as the difference between aortic lumen volume in systole and diastole divided by aortic lumen volume in diastole. In total, 144 aortic sections were analyzed. The volume of two-centimeter-long segments of descending aorta ranged from 6.9 cm3 to 31.5 cm3 (mean 12.8 +/- 5.2 cm3) in systole and from 4.9 cm3 to 29.2 cm3 (mean 11.2 +/- 4.9 cm3) in diastole. The volume of the examined sections of the aortic segments ranged from 1.3 cm3 to 10.6 cm3 (mean 3.2 +/- 2.6 cm3) in systole and from 1.1 cm3 to 8.7 cm3 (mean 2.8 +/- 1.5 cm3) in diastole. The pulsation of the aortic sections varied from 0.01 cm3 to 2.7 cm3 (mean 0.4 +/- 0.3 cm3), which constituted 0 to 37% (mean 13 +/- 8%) of the section volume. The thickness of atherosclerotic plaques in the studied aortic sections ranged from 0.0 mm to 1.1 mm (mean 0.3 +/- 0.2 mm) and the intima-media thickness was within the range 1.3 mm to 2.5 mm (mean 1.9 +/- 0.3 mm). The regional beta-index of the individual section ranged from 1.1 to 253.9 (mean 9.3 +/- 24.3). The regional beta-index was statistically significantly dependent on the intima-media thickness (p=0.02). We found no significant correlation between beta-index and the thickness of atherosclerotic plaques in the studied segments (p=0.38). CONCLUSIONS: Transoesophageal three-dimensional echocardiography facilitates quantitative analysis of aortic wall stiffness and regional beta-index measurements. The local variability of beta-index is correlated with intima-media thickness, whereas the correlation with the thickness of atherosclerotic plaques is not statistically significant. These measurements may be of importance in the assessment of the degree of atherosclerosis advancement. It forms new perspectives in diagnostics with the ability to evaluate the influence of pharmacotherapy and life-style modifications.
UNLABELLED: There are several parameters of left ventricular (LV) systolic function assessment. The calculation of the ejection fraction (EF) strongly relates to the preload and afterload conditions. Wall motion score index (WMSI) seems to be to impractical as the semi-quantitative method. Measurement of the LV pressure rise by Doppler evaluation of mitral regurgitation is a reproducible and an accurate method for dP/dt evaluation. As a method for LV systolic function estimation it does not depend on loading conditions. We have compared the prognostic value of these three methods in patients with a broad spectrum of systolic dysfunction. The study group consisted of 75 patients evaluated by all these methods in years 1995-1999 in our echocardiographic laboratory (73%--men, mean 54 +/- 12 years). In 13 patients the coronary artery disease was diagnosed but LV function was apparently normal, in 35--regional dysfunction after myocardial infarction was described, and in 27--global dysfunction due to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. The EF ranged from 11% to 70% (mean 34 +/- 14%), WMSI--from 1 to 3.6 points (mean 2.2 +/- 0.7), and dP/dt from 235 to 4000 mmHg/s (mean 1108 +/- 698 mmHg/s). The closest relationship was noted between EF and dP/dt (R2=0.50). During 38 +/- 19 months of follow-up, 40 patients died (53%). In the multivariate logistic analysis the only significant parameter related to prognosis was EF (p=0.001). WMSI (p=0.12) and dP/dt (p=0.16) were not statistically significant correlated to death. CONCLUSION: The left ventricular ejection fraction still remains the most important parameter for the evaluation of prognosis in patients with depressed systolic function. Left ventricular pressure rise describes the systolic function but does not have impact on the prognostic evaluation.
BACKGROUND: Cardiogenic pulmonary oedema is a typical clinical presentation of acute heart failure and is associated with a poor outcome. Therapeutic strategies in patients with this condition have not yet been uniformly developed and are based on expert consensus rather than results of randomised studies. The underlying aetiology seems to be one of the most important factors influencing therapy. AIM: To evaluate treatment of patients with acute cardiogenic pulmonary oedema. METHODS: The analysed group consisted of 276 consecutive patients who were treated due to acute cardiogenic pulmonary oedema in two cardiac centres in the city of Łódź between 1998 and 2000. Clinical characteristics, aetiology and therapy were retrospectively analysed based on medical records. RESULTS: Fifty nine (21%) patients died in hospital whereas the remaining 218 subjects were discharged. Etiologic Results. Fifty nine (21%) patients died in hospital whereas the remaining 218 subjects were discharged. Etiologic factors included a marked elevation of blood pressure (BP) (29%), acute myocardial infarction (MI) (25%), unstable angina (16%), decompensation of valvular disorder (9%), respiratory tract infection (8%) and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (4%). The highest in-hospital mortality (35%) was associated with acute MI, and the lowest (6%) - with BP elevation. The most frequently used agents during in-hospital stay were diuretics (89%), followed by antibiotics (84%) and acetylsalicylic acid (81%). Compared with survivors, patients who died during hospital stay were significantly more frequently treated with catecholamines (59% vs 7%, p<0.00001), corticosteroids (71% vs 15%, p<0.00001) and morphine (62% vs 41%, p<0.0015) whereas angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, intravenous nitroglycerine, beta-blockers and acetylsalicylic acid were less frequently used in deceased patients (34% vs 89%, p<0.00001; 52% vs 78%, p<0.00001; 14% vs 37%, p<0.001; and 64% vs 86%, p<0.0003, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In spite of intensive pharmacotherapy, cardiogenic pulmonary oedema is still associated with a high in-hospital mortality. Therapy should be tailored according to aetiology. Differences in pharmacological treatment between survivors and deceased patients depict better prognosis in those who have on admission normal or elevated blood pressure which enables an early administration of vasodilators and beta-blockers.