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Biomedical subjects

Johan De Sutter

Publications and source records attributed to Johan De Sutter.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Intra- and interatrial asynchrony in patients with heart failure.

Heart failure (HF) is associated with atrial conduction delay. Color tissue Doppler imaging was used to evaluate intra- and interatrial asynchrony in patients with HF, patients with structural heart disease without HF, and controls. Twenty-three controls (mean age 65 +/- 13 years), 29 patients with structural heart disease without HF (mean age 68 +/- 9 years), and 29 patients with HF (mean age 67 +/- 9 years) were studied. Patients had no histories of atrial fibrillation. Echocardiographic color tissue Doppler imaging of the atria was performed. Measurements below the atrioventricular plane were selected on the right atrial (RA) free wall, interatrial septum (IAS), and left atrial (LA) free wall. The time difference from the onset of the P wave to the onset of the A wave at the right atrium (P-RA), the IAS (P-IAS), and the left atrium (P-LA) was measured. Asynchrony was defined as the differences between P-IAS and P-RA (RA asynchrony), P-LA and P-IAS (LA asynchrony), and P-LA and P-RA (interatrial asynchrony). In patients with HF, a significant increase in RA asynchrony was observed compared with controls and patients without HF (30 +/- 21 vs 12 +/- 13 and 14 +/- 15 ms, p <0.001). LA asynchrony was not different (19 +/- 26 vs 25 +/- 13 vs 25 +/- 14 ms, p = NS). Interatrial asynchrony was significantly increased in patients with HF (49 +/- 24 vs 37 +/- 9 and 39 +/- 17 ms, p = 0.04). There were moderate but significant correlations of RA asynchrony with log N-terminal-pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (r = 0.3, p = 0.01) and the ejection fraction (r = -0.4, p <0.001). In conclusion, in patients with HF, significant RA and interatrial asynchrony was documented, evaluated by noninvasive color tissue Doppler imaging. Asynchrony was related to N-terminal-pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and to the ejection fraction.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Non-invasive visualization of the cardiac venous system in coronary artery disease patients using 64-slice computed tomography.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to evaluate the value of 64-slice computed tomography (CT) to visualize the cardiac veins and evaluate the relation between variations in venous anatomy and history of infarction. BACKGROUND: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an attractive treatment for selected heart failure patients. Knowledge of venous anatomy may help in identifying candidates for successful left ventricular lead implantation. METHODS: The 64-slice CT of 100 individuals (age 61 +/- 11 years, 68% men) was studied. Subjects were divided into 3 groups: 28 control patients, 38 patients with significant coronary artery disease (CAD), and 34 patients with a history of infarction. Presence of the following coronary sinus (CS) tributaries was evaluated: posterior interventricular vein (PIV), posterior vein of the left ventricle, and left marginal vein (LMV). Vessel diameters were also measured. RESULTS: Coronary sinus and PIV were identified in all individuals. Posterior vein of the left ventricle was observed in 96% of control patients, 84% of CAD patients, and 82% of infarction patients. In patients with a history of infarction, a LMV was significantly less observed as compared with control patients and CAD patients (27% vs. 71% and 61%, respectively, p < 0.001). None of the patients with lateral infarction and only 22% of patients with anterior infarction had a LMV. Regarding quantitative data, no significant differences were observed between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Non-invasive evaluation of cardiac veins with 64-slice CT is feasible. There is considerable variation in venous anatomy. Patients with a history of infarction were less likely to have a LMV, which may hamper optimal left ventricular lead positioning in CRT implantation.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Effect of ischemic mitral regurgitation on the ratio of early transmitral flow velocity to mitral annulus early diastolic velocity in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

The present study evaluated the prevalence of ischemic mitral regurgitation (MR) in a large population of patients with documented coronary artery disease who had been referred for echocardiography and assessed whether ischemic MR is an independent determinant of echocardiographically estimated left ventricular (LV) filling pressures. We studied 849 consecutive patients with coronary artery disease (67 +/- 10 years; 76% men) without organic valvular disease. Ischemic MR was semiquantitatively graded as absent or trace or grades 1 to 3/4 by assessment of the color flow jet in relation to the left atrium in multiple orthogonal views. The ratio of early transmitral flow velocity to mitral annulus early diastolic velocity was determined to estimate LV filling pressures. Ischemic MR was absent in 25% of patients and 28% had grade > or = 2 ischemic MR. Only 18% of patients with preserved LV function had a significant ischemic MR, but up to 66% of patients with poor LV function had grade > or = 2 MR. The ratio of early transmitral flow velocity to mitral annulus early diastolic velocity was independently predicted by age, gender, LV ejection fraction, and ischemic MR severity. Even mild ischemic MR was associated with an increase in this noninvasive marker of LV filling pressures.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Echocardiographically estimated left ventricular end-diastolic and right ventricular systolic pressure in normotensive healthy individuals.

AIM: To study the effect of aging on and the relationship between echocardiographically estimated left ventricular (LV) filling pressure and estimated right ventricular (RV) systolic pressure among healthy normotensive individuals. METHODS: We analyzed 249 healthy individuals (aged 18-82 years, 52% men) with normal echocardiographic findings and reliably measurable tricuspid regurgitation gradients. Subjects with blood pressure >140/90 mmHg and/or LV hypertrophy were excluded. LV & RV dimensions and LV mass were measured with M-mode echocardiography. Atrial (A) volumes were determined with the area-length method. Diastolic function was assessed with transmitral Doppler and mitral annulus tissue Doppler. The ratio of transmitral early peak velocity to early diastolic mitral annulus velocity (E/E') was used as estimation of LV filling pressure. The transtricuspid Doppler gradient was used to estimate RV end-systolic pressure. RESULTS: Even in normotensive individuals aging was accompanied by an increase in LV mass and LA dimensions and an increase in relaxation abnormalities. E/E' increased with every decade: from 7.8 for age 18-35 years to 10.9 for age > or =75 years (p<0.0001) as did the transtricuspid gradient: from 18.3 mmHg for age 18-35 years to 25.8 mmHg for age > or =75 years (p<0.0001). Linear regression showed that estimated RV systolic pressure was independently predicted by age, LA volume, LV systolic function and E/E'. CONCLUSION: Among normotensive healthy individuals both E/E' and tricuspid regurgitation gradients increase significantly with aging. Moreover the E/E' ratio was independently predicting the tricuspid regurgitation gradient. These findings support the need for further studies defining age specific normal values.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Fasting blood glucose levels are related to exercise capacity in patients with coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Previous studies have demonstrated reduced exercise capacity in patients with diabetes mellitus. This study evaluated the relationship between fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels and exercise capacity in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: We evaluated 986 consecutive patients with CAD referred for bicycle spiroergometry combined with gated myocardial perfusion imaging. Maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) and maximal watts were measured. Patients were divided into 4 FBG categories: < 100 mg/dL (n = 611), 100 to 109 mg/dL (n = 144), 110 to 125 mg/dL (n = 102), and > or = 126 mg/dL (n = 129). Differences in clinical characteristics, exercise hemodynamics, perfusion imaging, and univariate as well as multivariate predictors of exercise capacity were determined. RESULTS: Maximal watts and VO2max were significantly lower (P < .0001) in patients with higher FBG levels and were related to FBG values in univariate and multivariate analyses. Left ventricular volumes and ejection fractions did not differ between the FBG categories. Myocardial perfusion imaging showed a comparable degree of ischemia in the 4 FBG groups. However, patients with higher FBG levels had higher heart rate and blood pressure values at rest resulting in a higher rate-pressure product (values in the 4 FBG groups 8299 +/- 2051, 8733 +/- 2008, 9558 +/- 2583, and 9588 +/- 2468 beat/min x mm Hg, P < .0001), suggesting increased myocardial oxygen consumption per unit time at rest. CONCLUSION: Exercise capacity in patients with CAD is related to FBG levels. Patients with impaired fasting glucose or an FBG level > or = 126 mg/dL reached lower peak watts and lower VO2max values. This could be attributed to a higher myocardial oxygen consumption per unit time at rest and the inability to adapt their coronary flow adequately to higher metabolic demands during maximal exercise.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Maximum oxygen uptake at peak exercise in elderly patients with coronary artery disease and preserved left ventricular function: the role of inflammation on top of tissue Doppler-derived systolic and diastolic function.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have shown that longitudinal systolic function and left ventricular filling pressures, as assessed with tissue Doppler imaging, predict exercise capacity. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether natriuretic peptides and inflammatory parameters can independently predict maximum oxygen uptake at peak exercise (VO2max) on top of tissue Doppler imaging-derived markers. METHODS: We evaluated 142 patients (age 70 +/- 6 years, 77% men) with known or suspected coronary artery disease and a preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (> or = 50%). All patients underwent bicycle spiroergometry, and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels were determined. Cytokines (IL-6 and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors 1 and 2) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were measured as inflammatory markers. Tissue Doppler imaging was applied to evaluate peak long axis systolic velocities (Sm) and early mitral annulus velocities (E'). Ratio of early transmitral flow (E) to E' was assessed as marker of left ventricular filling. Analysis of variance, comparing VO2max quartiles, was used to determine univariate predictors and linear regression to determine multivariate VO2max predictors. RESULTS: Average VO2max was 18.5 +/- 5.7 mL/kg per minute (range 6-36.6). Compared with the highest quartile, patients with low VO2max were more frequently women (P < .0001). N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and cytokine levels were significantly higher in the lower VO2max categories. Longitudinal myocardial velocities increased, and E/E' decreased along with increasing VO2max. In multivariate linear regression analysis, VO2max was independently predicted by sex, glucose, Sm, E/E', and cytokine levels. CONCLUSION: Maximum oxygen uptake at peak exercise in patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease and preserved systolic function was independently predicted by inflammatory makers on top of tissue Doppler-derived systolic and diastolic function.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Prospective evaluation of the oxygen uptake efficiency slope as a submaximal predictor of peak oxygen uptake in aged patients with ischemic heart disease.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES) as a predictor of peak oxygen consumption (VO2) in aged patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and to compare its predictive value to that of ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VAT). METHODS: A total of 160 aged (>60 years) patients with stable CAD performed a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test. The equations were computed by using data of 85 randomly selected patients and were validated in the remaining 75 patients. Bland-Altman (BA) analysis was used to assess the agreement between measured and predicted peak VO2. RESULTS: In the first 85 patients, peak VO2 correlated best with VAT and OUES per kilogram (P < .001). The linear regression to predict peak VO2 for OUES per kilogram was peak VO2 = 4.591 + 0.64 x OUES/kg (SEE = 2.61 mL kg(-1) min(-1)). The BA 95% limits of agreement were -29% and +30% of the predicted value. For VAT, the linear regression to predict peak VO2 was peak VO2 = 2.995 + 1.251 x VAT (SEE = 2.26 mL kg(-1) min(-1)). The BA 95% limits of agreement were -23% and +33% of the predicted value. Cross-tabulation analysis in 3 subgroups with different exercise capacities showed significant relationship between predicted and measured peak VO2 (all P < .001). OUES per kilogram showed the best measure of agreement with measured peak VO2, resulting in high sensitivity and specificity scores. CONCLUSION: OUES is not able to acceptably predict peak VO2 in aged patients with CAD but is at least as performant as VAT in categorizing patients into subgroups with different exercise capacities. Therefore, the objectively measurable OUES is the preferred submaximal predictor of functional capacity in the assessment of aged patients with CAD.

Acridines↗
PubMed2006

Right sided infective endocarditis: tempus fugit!

We report a case of an intravenous drug user who already had a tricuspid bioprosthesis implanted after an infective endocarditis with massive tricuspid regurgitation one year ago. Now he presents with a large mass on the atrial side of the bioprosthesis that led to obstruction; hemocultures contained Enterococcus faecalis. After one-week therapy with antibiotics, aspirin and enoxaparin the mass untangled to a swinging structure and moderate to severe triscupid regurgitation developed; surgery appeared inevitable. After two weeks however the mass was gone, tricuspid insufficiency subsided and the patient became asymptomatic. This case illustrates the potential but controversial role of anticoagulation in the treatment of patients with infective endocarditis.

Anti-Infective Agents↗
PubMed2006

Comparison among tomographic radionuclide ventriculography algorithms for computing left and right ventricular normal limits.

BACKGROUND: Various algorithms have been developed to compute right ventricular (RV) and left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic volumes, end-systolic volumes, and ejection fractions (EF) from tomographic radionuclide ventriculography (TRV). The aims of this investigation were to establish sex-specific normal limits, to determine whether different algorithms produce the same normal values, and to compare TRV normal limits vs for magnetic resonance imaging values in the literature. METHODS: Fifty-one healthy volunteers (29 men, 22 women) were studied prospectively. All subjects had normal electrocardiograms and echocardiographic examinations, and underwent both planar radionuclide ventriculography and TRV. Four algorithms were used to process TRV data. RESULTS: Normal limits for most functional parameters differed significantly from one algorithm to another. Volumes were greater in men, but no statistically significant differences were found between men and women for LV EF or RV EF values for any method. Normal LV and RV EF and volumes were largely consistent with the literature for cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. CONCLUSIONS: Ventricular measurements differ significantly among TRV algorithms. Therefore, it is important to apply sex-specific normal limits that are specific to a given TRV algorithm in interpreting LV and RV EF and volume measurements for each patient.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Myocardial perfusion imaging in the elderly: a review.

Coronary artery disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly population. As a result of ageing of the population and better medical, interventional and surgical treatment of patients with coronary artery disease, more and more elderly patients are referred to the cardiology department for diagnostic work-up. Stress testing, in combination with myocardial perfusion imaging, is routinely used in elderly patients, a population in which the diagnosis of significant coronary artery disease is often challenging because of atypical symptomatology. Since the introduction of technetium-99m ligands for myocardial perfusion imaging, it is possible to perform electrocardiogram-gated perfusion imaging. This not only improves the specificity of the test for coronary artery disease detection, but also enables the simultaneous assessment of left ventricular functional parameters. This article briefly overviews the possible stress modalities, diagnostic accuracy and prognostic value of myocardial perfusion imaging in elderly patients.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

A critical analysis of minor cardiovascular criteria in the diagnostic evaluation of patients with Marfan syndrome.

PURPOSE: The prevalence of most minor cardiovascular manifestations in Marfan syndrome (MFS) is unknown. We assessed the prevalence of minor cardiovascular manifestations in MFS to evaluate their usefulness in a diagnostic setting. METHODS: Seventy-seven patients with MFS (aged 4 months to 55 years) underwent echocardiography to assess the presence of mitral valve prolapse and the diameter of the main pulmonary artery. A subset of 29 adult patients with MFS also underwent magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of the diameters of the thoracoabdominal aorta. RESULTS: Mitral valve prolapse was encountered in 66% of patients with MFS, with an equal distribution of classic and nonclassic mitral valve prolapse. The main pulmonary artery diameter was significantly larger in patients with MFS at all ages when compared with controls. In the adult group (> or = 14 years), we were able to provide a cutoff value of 23 mm to define pulmonary artery dilatation. The descending aorta was enlarged, but with substantial overlap with controls, thus precluding the use of a cutoff value. CONCLUSIONS: Mitral valve prolapse and main pulmonary artery dilatation are common findings in MFS patients at all ages and are easy to assess with echocardiography. Cutoff values to define dilatation of the descending aorta are hard to define, making them of limited value in the diagnostic evaluation. We recommend echocardiographic evaluation of mitral valve prolapse and main pulmonary artery diameter in patients referred for cardiovascular diagnostic assessment for MFS.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

VE/VCO2 slope and oxygen uptake efficiency slope in patients with coronary artery disease and intermediate peakVO2.

BACKGROUND: Peak exercise oxygen uptake (peakVO2) is a widely used prognosticator. Novel spirometric parameters, less affected by submaximal performance, such as the rate of increase of minute ventilation per unit decrease of carbon dioxide production (VE/VCO2 slope) and the oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES) have recently been introduced. AIM: To evaluate the discriminative value of OUES, as compared to VE/VCO2 slope in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and intermediate peakVO2 values. METHODS AND RESULTS: Bicycle spiroergometry was applied in 214 patients with CAD (age 67+/-8 years, 85% men). OUES was strongly related to peakVO2 (r=0.79). New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, 6-min walking distance, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), inflammatory markers, left ventricular (LV) volumes and ejection fraction were evaluated. NT-proBNP levels predicted independently VE/VCO2-slope and OUES. Patients with intermediate peakVO2 (12-18 ml/kg per min) and increased VE/VCO2-slope (> or = 35) had higher NYHA class, lower walking distance, higher NT-proBNP levels and higher LV volumes as compared to patients with a similar peakVO2 but lower VE/VCO2-slope. Similar findings were found for patients with intermediate peakVO2 and high OUES/kg (median value>15.3). CONCLUSION: In CAD patients, OUES was strongly correlated with peakVO2. Both VE/VCO2 slope and OUES were independently associated with NT-proBNP levels. Both VE/VCO2 slope and OUES/kg were able to identify a subgroup of patients with an intermediate peakVO2 that was characterized by advanced remodelling and a higher degree of neurohumoral activation.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Primary impairment of left ventricular function in Marfan syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular involvement in Marfan syndrome is mainly characterized by progressive dilatation of the proximal aorta. Whether left ventricular dysfunction is present in these patients is not clear at present. OBJECTIVES: Assess left ventricular function in patients with Marfan syndrome, free of significant valvular heart disease, using a combination of MRI and Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 26 Marfan patients (mean age=32.0+/-10.9, 12 men) without significant valvular heart disease, and 26 age- and sex-matched controls were studied. Left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction were measured with magnetic resonance imaging. Systolic and diastolic function parameters were assessed using conventional echocardiography and TDI. When compared to controls, Marfan patients showed impairment of left ventricular contractile function as expressed by a reduced ejection fraction (53.5+/-9.0% vs. 59.6+/-6.7%, p=0.009), an increased end-systolic volume (36.0+/-9.5 vs. 29.5+/-6.7 ml/m(2), p=0.007), and reduced peak systolic velocities at the basal septal and lateral myocardial wall (5.2+/-1.4 vs. 6.4+/-1.3 cm/s, p=0.003 and 6.0+/-2.2 vs. 7.5+/-2.3 cm/s, p=0.03, respectively). Diastolic function was impaired with an increased deceleration time of the E wave (171+/-41 ms vs. 141+/-36 ms, p=0.006). Peak early diastolic velocity at the mitral valve annulus was significantly lower (9.6+/-2.4 cm/s vs. 11.9+/-3.3 cm/s, p=0.006). CONCLUSION: These data provide evidence for mild, but significant impairment of left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in Marfan patients, not related to valvular heart disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Relationship between QRS duration, left ventricular volumes and prevalence of nonviability in patients with coronary artery disease and severe left ventricular dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), a QRS duration >or=120 ms and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) or=120 ms was present in 91 patients (69%). Although there were no differences in LVEF, patients with longer QRS durations had significant larger end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes (p<0.01). Substantial nonviable tissue in the inferior or lateral wall was present in 29% of patients with a QRS duration >or=120 ms versus 7% of those with a QRS duration <120 ms (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: An increased QRS duration is associated with more advanced remodeling in patients with CAD and poor LV function. Almost one third of these patients with a prolonged QRS duration have no viable tissue in the inferolateral wall, an area that is usually stimulated with CRT.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Prevalence of mechanical dyssynchrony in patients with heart failure and preserved left ventricular function (a report from the Belgian Multicenter Registry on dyssynchrony).

The present study evaluated the prevalence of mechanical inter- and intraventricular dyssynchrony in patients with heart failure and preserved left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (LVEF). We studied 138 patients with heart failure (age 67+/-11 years; 76% men); 60 patients had preserved LVEF (>40%). Using conventional Doppler echocardiography, an interventricular mechanical delay>or=40 ms was defined as interventricular dyssynchrony. Using pulse-wave tissue Doppler imaging, the time from the beginning of the QRS complex to onset of systolic motion was measured in 4 basal LV segments. A dispersion of >or=60 ms was defined as intraventricular dyssynchrony. The prevalence of inter- and intraventricular dyssynchrony was lower in patients with preserved LVEF than in those with reduced LVEF (17% vs 41%, p<0.01 for interventricular dyssynchrony, 18% vs 36%, p<0.01 for intraventricular dyssynchrony). However, patients with preserved LVEF and a QRS width>or=120 ms had higher values for the parameters for inter- and intraventricular dyssynchrony than patients with a QRS width<120 ms (interventricular mechanical delay 33+/-20 vs 20+/-16 ms, p<0.05; tissue Doppler imaging dispersion 42+/-26 vs 33+/-22 ms, p<0.05). In patients with a QRS width>or=120 ms, the prevalence of inter- and intraventricular dyssynchrony was comparable for patients with preserved and reduced LVEF (42% vs 55%, p=NS for interventricular dyssynchrony and 45% vs 46%, p=NS for intraventricular dyssynchrony). In conclusion, the prevalence of inter- and intraventricular dyssynchrony was low (17% and 18%, respectively) in patients with heart failure and preserved LVEF. However, in the presence of a QRS width of >or=120 ms, this prevalence increased to almost 50%, comparable to that for patients with heart failure and reduced LVEF and a QRS width of >or=120 ms.

Aged↗