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Biomedical subjects

Karen M Modesto

Publications and source records attributed to Karen M Modesto.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Safety of exercise stress testing in patients with abnormal concentrations of serum potassium.

The objective of this study was to determine the safety of performing exercise stress testing in patients with abnormal serum potassium concentrations. Data were reviewed from 9,084 patients (mean age 63 +/- 12 years) referred for exercise echocardiography who had serum potassium measured <48 hours before the test were reviewed, and the occurrence of arrhythmias during stress testing was determined. Of 10,272 studies, 9,067 (88%) were in patients with normokalemia and 1,205 (12%) were in patients with abnormal serum potassium concentrations: 309 (26%) with hypokalemia (mean 3.4 +/- 0.16 mmol/L) and 896 (74%) with hyperkalemia (mean 5.1 +/- 0.19 mmol/L). Ventricular and supraventricular ectopy were common during exercise. Only 1 patient (potassium 4.9 mmol/L) had sustained ventricular tachycardia; all other episodes were nonsustained. Although ventricular and supraventricular ectopy are common during exercise testing, life-threatening arrhythmias are not. Exercise testing is generally safe despite mild to moderate hypokalemia or hyperkalemia.

Age Factors↗

Two-dimensional acoustic pattern derived strain parameters closely correlate with one-dimensional tissue Doppler derived strain measurements.

BACKGROUND: Two-dimensional strain echocardiography (2D-SE) calculates tissue velocities via frame-to-frame tracking of unique acoustic markers within the image and provides strain parameters in two dimensions. Novel 2D-SE software allows semi-automated strain measurements and increased averaging capabilities optimizing signal-noise ratio. AIM: We tested whether 2D-SE and the currently used and well-validated tissue Doppler derived strain echocardiography (TD-SE) yield similar information in the clinical setting. METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed 2D-SE and TD-SE on 17 patients with amyloid cardiomyopathy and 10 age-matched healthy volunteers. Single walls from standard apical views (2- and 4-chamber) were acquired at high frame rates ( approximately 200fps). Offline analysis was performed by observers blinded to clinical data using the EchoPAC program with custom 2D-SE software. Longitudinal strain rate and strain from the basal, mid and apical segments of the septal and lateral walls were determined by each method (TD-SE and 2D-SE). Ejection fraction was >0.55 in healthy volunteers and ranged from 0.30 to 0.80 in cardiomyopathy group. A total of 54 walls (162 segments) were examined. Acceptable quality strain data was available in 92% and 85% segments by 2D-SE and TD-SE, respectively. Two-dimensional strain echocardiography values correlated closely with TD-SE values (r=0.94 and 0.96 for strain rate and strain, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Deformation analysis by 2D-SE is feasible in a clinical setting and 2D-SE values correlate closely with TD-SE measurements over a wide range of global systolic function. Two-dimensional strain echocardiography may help to facilitate the routine clinical implementation of deformation analysis.

Acoustics↗

Analysis of the interaction between segmental relaxation patterns and global diastolic function by strain echocardiography.

BACKGROUND: Strain echocardiography can depict segmental mechanical activity with high temporal and spatial accuracy, and may allow assessment of segmental relaxation not possible with conventional echocardiography. METHODS: Conventional and strain echocardiography were performed in healthy volunteers (young [group 1] and old [group 2]) and patients with normal 2-dimensional and stress echocardiography, with either normal global diastolic function (group 3a) or grade I or II global diastolic dysfunction (DD) (group 3b). Standard echocardiography criteria were used to define global DD. Early to late diastolic strain rate ratio less than 1.1 was defined as altered segmental relaxation. RESULTS: All participants had normal wall motion and ejection fraction. Participants of group 1 had normal segmental and global diastolic function. Participants of groups 2 and 3a demonstrated a wide range of altered segmental relaxation in the absence of global DD. All patients of group 3b had 12 or more segments with altered relaxation and global DD. Age and hypertension were associated with a larger number of altered segments, a lower mean early to late diastolic strain rate ratio, and global DD. CONCLUSIONS: A wide range of altered segmental relaxation can exist in the absence of global DD. Age and hypertension are associated with altered segmental relaxation and global DD. Assessment of segmental relaxation may be beneficial in the elderly and patients with hypertension.

Adult↗

Left atrial myopathy in cardiac amyloidosis: implications of novel echocardiographic techniques.

AIMS: To assess left atrial (LA) function and determine the prevalence of LA dysfunction in AL amyloidosis (AL) using conventional and strain echocardiography. METHODS AND RESULTS: LA ejection fraction, LA filling fraction, LA ejection force, peak LA systolic strain rate (LAsSR), and LA systolic strain (LA epsilon) were determined in 95 AL patients (70 with and 25 without echocardiographic evidence of cardiac involvement, abbreviated CAL and NCAL, respectively), 30 age-matched controls (CON), and 20 patients with diastolic dysfunction and LA dilatation (DD). Peak LAsSR >2 standard deviations below mean CON value was used as the cut-off for normal LA function. LA ejection fraction was lower in CAL when compared with CON (40.4+/-13.6 vs. 67.0+/-6%, P=0.01). Left atrial septal strain rate and strain were lower in CAL (0.8+/-0.5 s(-1) and 5.5+/-4%, respectively) compared with CON (1.8+/-0.8 s(-1) and 14+/-4%, respectively, P=<0.0001), NCAL (1.6+/-0.8 s(-1) and 13+/-7%, respectively, P<0.0001) and DD (1.3+/-0.4 s(-1) and 10+/-2%, respectively, P<0.0001). Based on peak LA systolic strain rate criteria, the cut-off values for normal LA function were -1.1 s(-1) and -1.05 s(-1) for lateral and septal walls. Using these criteria, LA dysfunction was identified in 32% (lateral LA criteria) and 60% (septal LA criteria) of CAL patients. Lateral and septal LAsSR were lower in CAL patients with vs. those without symptoms of heart failure. Inter- and intra-observer agreement was high for LA strain echocardiography. CONCLUSION: LA function assessment using strain echocardiography is feasible with low intra- and inter-observer variability. LA dysfunction is observed in AL patients without other echocardiographic features of cardiac involvement and may contribute to cardiac symptoms in CAL.

Aged↗

Prediction of mortality in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy by clinical, exercise stress, and echocardiographic data.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the clinical, exercise stress test, and echocardiographic predictors of mortality and cardiac events in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). BACKGROUND: Left ventricular hypertrophy is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. METHODS: Symptom-limited treadmill exercise echocardiography was performed for evaluation of coronary artery disease in 483 patients (age, 66 +/- 11 years; 281 men) with LVH. End points during follow-up were all-cause mortality and hard cardiac events (cardiac death and nonfatal myocardial infarction [MI]). RESULTS: Forty-six patients died and 14 had nonfatal MI. The cumulative mortality rate was higher in patients with abnormal exercise echocardiography (3% vs. 0.4% at one year, 11.7% vs. 3.7% at three years, and 18.3% vs. 9.5% at five years, p < 0.001). In a sequential multivariate analysis model of clinical, exercise test, and rest and exercise echocardiographic data, incremental predictors of mortality were workload (hazard ratio [HR], 0.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.3 to 0.9), rate pressure product (HR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.5 to 0.9), left ventricular (LV) mass index (HR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1 to 1.8), and failure to increase ejection fraction (EF) with exercise (HR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.1 to 3.8). Predictors of cardiac events were history of coronary artery bypass grafting (HR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.2 to 5.4), lower exercise rate-pressure product (HR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.5 to 0.8), resting wall motion score index (HR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1 to 1.8), and failure to increase EF with exercise (HR, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.6 to 6.9). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with LVH, LV mass index and EF response to exercise are independent predictors of mortality, incremental to clinical and exercise test data and resting LV function. A normal exercise echocardiogram predicts a relatively low mortality rate during the following three years.

Aged↗

Mycotic aneurysm of the left ventricle: echocardiographic diagnosis.

We report an unusual case of myocardial mycotic aneurysm of the left ventricle resulting from a healed myocardial abscess caused by an aortic regurgitant jet lesion. The diagnosis was made during intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography and confirmed by surgical inspection. The echocardiographic features are described.

Aneurysm, Infected↗