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[Current role of phonomechanocardiographic recording in the diagnosis of heart valve diseases].

Phonocardiography (and auscultation) provide many accurate diagnoses of valvular heart diseases, when they are fully developed and give rise to a typical murmur. Echocardiography displays its mechanism, in most cases (leaflet thickening, ruptured chordae tendinae, vegetations, prolapse). Assessment of their severity is based on analysis of the systolic time intervals on the one hand, and on echocardiographic measurements on the other, i.e., internal dimensions of the heart chambers, wall thickenesses and motions. When necessary, acute pharmacologic interventions permit the diagnosis (positive and differential) of the various types of ventricular outflow tract obstructions (mild or severe), of mild, atypical or "masquerading" regurgitations and of the "innocent" murmurs. They are easier to carry out and to interpret on the basis of phonocardiographic than echocardiographic recordings. Hence the advisability of using both diagnostic methods, as each provides specific data which often support, and always complete one another.

Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic↗

Natriuretic peptides in heart valve disease.

Synthesis and release of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) are increased in heart failure, and plasma concentrations provide important therapeutic and prognostic information. Recent studies have shown that BNP concentrations are also increased with disease of the mitral and aortic valves. The extent of the increase is broadly related to the severity of the valve abnormality and the degree of consequent cardiac remodelling. BNP concentrations appear to relate to prognosis in these patients and might have a role in identifying suitable candidates for cardiac surgery. This paper reviews the current literature and identifies areas where further research is required if assessment of BNP is to be of practical use.

Atrial Natriuretic Factor↗

[Surgical risk in patients with heart valve disease in non-cardiac surgery].

Our purpose was to retrospectively evaluate major risk of non cardiac surgery in patients with valvular heart disease. We studied retrospectively 136 patients, 44 affected by aortic, 81 by mitral and 11 by mitroaortic valve disease. NYHA class was I-II in 130 and III in 6 patients. Sixty four patients underwent orthopedic surgery, 57 patients occulistic surgery and 5 patients urological surgery. There were no hospital deaths. Fifteen patients developed major perioperative complication: 7 serious ventricular arrhythmias, 6 hypotension, 2 "hypertensive attacks". We conclude that non cardiac surgery is safe in patients with valvular heart disease.

Aged↗

Long-term serotonin administration induces heart valve disease in rats.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether rats dosed with serotonin develop changes similar to those seen in human carcinoid heart disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ten Sprague-Dawley rats were given serotonin injections subcutaneously once daily for 3 months; controls were given saline. A long-lasting hyperserotoninemia with a >10-fold increase in both platelet-poor plasma and dialysate from the femoral muscles appeared. The animals developed clinical signs such as flushing and loose stools. After 3 months, 6 of 10 rats given serotonin had pathological echocardiographs. Two animals had a combination of aortic and pulmonary valve insufficiency, 1 had isolated aortic valve insufficiency, and 3 had isolated pulmonary valve insufficiency. Histopathological examination revealed shortened and thickened aortic cusps and carcinoidlike plaques characterized by a collection of myofibroblasts within an extracellular matrix of collagen ground substance. Immunostaining for Ki-67 demonstrated an increased number of proliferating subendocardial cells. In the control group, no pathological changes were seen. With the use of reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, normal rat aortic cusps were shown to express mRNA for serotonin receptors 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A, and 5-HT2B and the serotonin transporter 5-HTT. CONCLUSIONS: For the first time, long-term serotonin administration was performed in rats. Morphological and echocardiographic changes similar to those seen in human carcinoid heart disease developed. This study demonstrates that serotonin most likely is involved in the pathogenesis of carcinoid heart disease.

Animals↗