scholarly journals Aortic valve stenosis awareness in Austria—results of a nationwide survey in 1001 subjects

2019 ◽  
Vol 170 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 141-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Hengstenberg ◽  
Martin Thoenes ◽  
Peter Bramlage ◽  
Jolanta Siller-Matula ◽  
Julia Mascherbauer

Summary Despite the prognostic significance of severe aortic valve stenosis, knowledge is limited in the general population. To document the status quo for Austria, knowledge about valvular heart disease/aortic valve stenosis was documented in 1001 participants >60 years of age. 6.7% of respondents were knowledgeable of aortic valve stenosis, with 1.6% being concerned about the condition (24.1% cancer, 18.8% Alzheimer’s disease, 15.1% stroke). 29.5% were familiar with valvular heart disease (76.7% heart attack, 36.9% stroke). Only 1/3 reported auscultation by their general practitioner (GP) at least every third visit. Typical symptoms of aortic valve stenosis were likely to be reported by 50%. After exposure to further information on aortic valve stenosis, only 20% reported to be more concerned and ready to obtain more disease-related information. Awareness of surgical and catheter-based treatment options was claimed by 77% of respondents. Awareness campaigns on valvular heart disease are warranted to improve patient care in Austria.

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-101
Author(s):  
Ryan Karl Kaple ◽  
Evelyn M. Horn

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) can be due to a primary pulmonary vasculature abnormality, but is more often secondary to lung, cardiac, or environmental insults, and is frequently multifactorial. Most commonly, left heart disease is at fault, a subset of which is valvular heart disease (VHD). With sufficient time, most chronic left-sided valve lesions will result in some element of PH. Long-standing PH causes pulmonary vascular remodeling and progressive PH due to reduced vascular compliance. Careful monitoring of VHD progression is critical, both through screening imaging and patient education, in order to properly time intervention to prevent the development or worsening of PH. The primary diagnostic tool in PH due to VHD is echocardiography, while invasive hemodynamic evaluation can be helpful to determine PH etiology or severity when echocardiography is not adequate. The presence of PH in VHD is often an indication for intervention, but it also increases procedural risk. Severe PH, however, has not been proven to preclude safe intervention, but rather should prompt full preprocedural evaluation and close intra- and postprocedural monitoring. Valve replacement or repair can be viewed as a treatment for PH secondary to the valvular lesion. Percutaneous alternatives to surgical interventions are available for some mitral and aortic valve conditions. Though in relatively early stages of development, these less invasive procedures may improve the safety profile of valve interventions. Pulmonary hypertension that fails to improve after intervention should raise suspicion for procedural failure or underlying pulmonary vascular disease (either precapillary possibly in association with interstitial lung disease or scleroderma or secondary to combined pre-/postcapillary PH due to long-standing pulmonary venous hypertension). This review is focused on the pathophysiology, treatment options, and outcomes in patients with PH due to mitral and aortic valve lesions.


Cardiac CT is not the first nor the most frequently applied imaging technique in patients with suspected or established valvular heart disease. It has a complementary role in the management of valvular heart disease in specific situations. This chapter covers the role of cardiac CT, including scan protocols, limitations, and challenges, the mitral and aortic valve, stenosis, regurgitation, the tricuspid valve, pulmonary valve, and prosthetic valves.


Author(s):  
Muhammad Hanif Ahmad Nizar ◽  
Chow Khuen Chan ◽  
Azira Khalil ◽  
Ahmad Khairuddin Mohamed Yusof ◽  
Khin Wee Lai

Background: Valvular heart disease is a serious disease leading to mortality and increasing medical care cost. The aortic valve is the most common valve affected by this disease. Doctors rely on echocardiogram for diagnosing and evaluating valvular heart disease. However, the images from echocardiogram are poor in comparison to Computerized Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging scan. This study proposes the development of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) that can function optimally during a live echocardiographic examination for detection of the aortic valve. An automated detection system in an echocardiogram will improve the accuracy of medical diagnosis and can provide further medical analysis from the resulting detection. Methods: Two detection architectures, Single Shot Multibox Detector (SSD) and Faster Regional based Convolutional Neural Network (R-CNN) with various feature extractors were trained on echocardiography images from 33 patients. Thereafter, the models were tested on 10 echocardiography videos. Results: Faster R-CNN Inception v2 had shown the highest accuracy (98.6%) followed closely by SSD Mobilenet v2. In terms of speed, SSD Mobilenet v2 resulted in a loss of 46.81% in framesper- second (fps) during real-time detection but managed to perform better than the other neural network models. Additionally, SSD Mobilenet v2 used the least amount of Graphic Processing Unit (GPU) but the Central Processing Unit (CPU) usage was relatively similar throughout all models. Conclusion: Our findings provide a foundation for implementing a convolutional detection system to echocardiography for medical purposes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Gilles Uijtterhaegen ◽  
Laura De Donder ◽  
Eline Ameloot ◽  
Kristof Lefebvre ◽  
Jo Van Dorpe ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), formerly known as Wegener’s granulomatosis, is a systemic inflammatory process predominantly affecting upper and lower respiratory tract and kidneys. Valvular heart disease is a rare manifestation of GPA. Case summary We report two cases of acute valvular heart disease mimicking acute endocarditis caused by GPA. Both patients were middle-aged females with acute aortic valve regurgitation suggestive of possible infective endocarditis. In their recent medical history, atypical otitis and sinusitis were noted. The first patient was admitted with heart failure and the second patient because of persisting fever. Echocardiogram revealed severe aortic regurgitation with an additional structure on two cusps, suggestive of infective endocarditis in both patients. Urgent surgical replacement was performed; however, intraoperative findings did not show infective endocarditis, but severe inflammatory changes of the valve and surrounding tissue. In both patients, the valve was replaced by a prosthetic valve. Microscopic examination of the valve/myocardial biopsy showed diffuse acute and chronic inflammation with necrosis and necrotizing granulomas, compatible with GPA after infectious causes were excluded. Disease remission was obtained in both patients, in one patient with Rituximab and in the other with Glucocorticoids and Cyclophosphamide. Both had an uneventful follow-up. Discussion Granulomatosis with polyangiitis can be a rare cause of acute aortic valve regurgitation mimicking infective endocarditis with the need for surgical valve replacement. Atypical ear, nose, and throat symptoms can be a first sign of GPA. Symptom recognition is important for early diagnosis and appropriate treatment to prevent further progression of the disease.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J Aceituno Melgar ◽  
JF Fritche-Salazar ◽  
ME Soto-Lopez

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background  The autoimmune diseases (AD) have high morbidity and mortality due to their affection to the heart. Purpose Our objective was to describe the valvular heart disease (VHD) in patients with AD. Methods Patients with systemic lupus erythematous (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and systemic sclerosis (SS) diagnosis were included, from January 1st 2008 to December 31th 2018. Prevalence rates of valve involvement were calculated. Results A total of 163 patients (57.6% with SLE, 23.3% with RA, 19.0% with SS) were included. The global prevalence of VHD was 5.4% in SLS, 23.6% en RA, and 15.9% in SS. The more affected valve in SLS was the tricuspid valve in 24% (12% with severe tricuspid regurgitation (STR), p = 0.028), in RA was the aortic valve in 26% (13% with severe aortic stenosis (SAS), p = 0.02), and with SS was the tricuspid valve in 48% (29% with moderate tricuspid regurgitation (MTR)). The calcium deposit was present in 66% in RA (37% in aortic valve, p < 0.001). The valve thickening (>5 mm) was higher in RA (50%, p < 0.001), with predominance in mitral valve (26%). Conclusions We found significant higher rates of STR in SLE, SAS in RA, and MTR in SS compared with the literature. Moreover, calcification and valve thickening were found more often in RA. Early diagnosis of subclinical VHD is mandatory to improve the long-term prognosis of these patients. Valvular heart disease. Autoimmune Disease (n = 163) P value* SLE (n = 94) RA (n = 38) ES (n = 31) Demographic characteristics Age, years. Gender, Male / Female, n Body Mass Index (kg/m2) Arterial hypertension, n (%) Diabetes Mellitus, n (%) 38.8 (12.6) 9/85 26.2 (5.9) 21(22.3%) 6 (6.3%) 62.45 (12.3) 7/31 26.6 (7.1) 14(36.8%) 4 (10.5%) 53.8 (13.3) 2/29 25.4 (4.7) 12 (38.7) 5 (16.1%) <0.001 NS NS NS NS Echocardiographic findings. Valve thickening Aortic Mitral 8 (9%) 1 (1%) 7 (7%) 19 (50%) 9 (24%) 10 (26%) 1 (3%) 0 1 (3%) <0.001 Calcium Deposit Aortic Mitral 4 (4%) 2 (2%) 2 (2%) 25 (66%) 14 (37%) 11 (29%) 8 (26%) 4 (12.8%) 4 (12.9%) <0.001 Aortic valve disease 4 (4%) 10 (26%) 0 Aortic stenosis Moderate Severe 0 0 0 7 (18%) 2 (5%) 5 (13%) 0 0 0 0,02 Moderate Aortic Regurgitation 4 (4%) 3 (8%) 0 NS Mitral valve disease 8 (9%) 2 (5%) 2 (6%) Mitral stenosis Moderate Severe 4 (4%) 2 (2%) 2 (2%) 1 (3%) 0 1 (3%) 1 (3%) 0 1 (3%) NS Mitral Regurgitation Moderate Severe 4 (4%) 2 (2%) 2 (2%) 1 (3%) 0 1 (3%) 1 (3%) 0 1 (3%) NS Tricuspid Regurgitation Moderate Severe 22 (24%) 11 (12%) 11 (12%) 8 (21%) 7 (18%) 1 (3%) 15 (48%) 9 (29%) 6 (19%) 0,028 Pulmonic valve disease Moderate Pulmonic Stenosis Moderate Pulmonic Regurgitation 6 (6%) 1 (1%) 5 (5%) 1 (3%) 0 1 (3%) 0 0 0 NS * Not Significant.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
S Habjan ◽  
D Cantisani ◽  
I S Scarfo` ◽  
M C Guarneri ◽  
G Semeraro ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Radiation therapy is one of the cornerstones of treatment for many types of cancer. These patients can later in life develop cardiovascular complications associated with radiation treatment. Late cardiovascular effects of radiation treatment include coronary artery disease (CAD), valvular heart disease, congestive heart failure, pericardial disease and sudden death. The most common sign of radiation-induced valvular heart disease is the calcification of the intervalvular fibrosa between the aortic and mitral valve. Case presentation A 71-year-old male patient with a history of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy 20 years ago, CAD, arterial hypertension, diabetes type II, dyslipidemia, obesity and currently smoking presented in the emergency room in our medical facility with acute pulmonary edema. The patient had unstable angina pectoris in 2018, the coronary angiography showed two-vessel disease with a non-significant stenosis of the left main coronary artery (LMCA) and 70% stenosis of the left anterior descending artery (LAD), for which he refused the percutaneous coronary intervention. At the same time, a transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) showed severe aortic stenosis and moderately severe mitral stenosis, at that time the patient refused the operation. After the initial treatment for pulmonary edema, TTE and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) were performed and showed a tricuspid aortic valve with calcification of the cusps and a very severe aortic stenosis (planimetric aortic valve area 0.74 cm², functional aortic valve area 0.55 cm², indexed functional aortic valve area 0.25 cm²/m², mean gradient 61 mmHg, peak gradient 100 mmHg, stroke volume (SV) 69 ml, stroke volume index (SVI) 31 ml/m², flow rate 221 ml/s, aortic annulus 20x26 mm). The left ventricle was severely dilated (end diastolic volume 268 ml) with diffuse hypokinesia and severe systolic dysfunction (ejection fraction 32%). We appreciated a calcification of the mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa and the mitral annulus, without mitral stenosis but with moderate mitral regurgitation. The calcification of the intervalvular fibrosa suggested our final diagnosis of radiation-induced valvular heart disease with a severe aortic stenosis in low-flow conditions. The patient was successfully treated with transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Conclusion Radiation-induced heart disease is a common reality and is destinated to raise due to the increasing number of cancer survivors. Effects are seen also many years after the radiation treatment. The exact primary mechanism of radiation injury to the heart is still unknown. The treatment of radiation-induced valve disease is the same as the treatment of valve disease in the general population. Abstract P1692 Figure. Radiation-induced valvular heart disease


Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael I Brener ◽  
Amisha Patel ◽  
Torsten Vahl ◽  
Nadira Hamid ◽  
Melana Yuzefpolskaya ◽  
...  

Introduction: Multiple valvular heart disease (mVHD) caused by mixed stenotic and regurgitant lesions involving at least two valves is a common condition which is poorly understood and challenging to manage. Herein, we simulate the hemodynamics of a patient with mVHD before and after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) to better understand the physiology of this complex disease. Case: A 67-year-old man with celiac enteropathy presented to a local hospital with dyspnea, hypotension, and oliguria. Echocardiography revealed a dilated left ventricle (end-diastolic diameter [LVEDD] 6.7 cm) with an ejection fraction (EF) of 20% and multiple severe valvulopathies, including aortic stenosis (AS), aortic regurgitation (AR), and mitral regurgitation (MR). Right heart catheterization revealed a low cardiac index (1.76 L/min/m 2 ) and a high wedge pressure (36 mmHg) with V-waves exceeding 50 mmHg. The patient’s severe AR precluded mechanical circulatory support, so TAVR was emergently performed in the setting of worsening cardiogenic shock (CS) with a 29 mm self-expanding bioprosthesis via transfemoral access. Valve deployment was successfully guided by fluoroscopy and transthoracic echocardiography alone. CS resolved in the subsequent 48 hours, and at 3-month follow-up, his LV EF returned to 55% and LVEDD decreased to 4.4 cm. LV pressure-volume loops pre- and post-TAVR were generated using a cardiovascular physiology simulator (Fig. 1). TAVR’s correction of the patient’s severe AS and AR produced immediate energetic benefits, with pressure-volume area declining 13% and cardiac power output increasing 2.24-fold. Conclusions: This challenging case and the accompanying pressure-volume analysis affirms the feasibility of emergent TAVR in highly selected patients, the procedure’s ability to immediately improve ventricular performance, and the LV’s capacity to remodel when operating under more physiologic loading conditions.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Tim Salinger ◽  
Kai Hu ◽  
Dan Liu ◽  
Scharoch Taleh ◽  
Sebastian Herrmann ◽  
...  

Background. Fast progression of the transaortic mean gradient (Pmean) is relevant for clinical decision making of valve replacement in patients with moderate and severe aortic stenosis (AS) patients. However, there is currently little knowledge regarding the determinants affecting progression of transvalvular gradient in AS patients. Methods. This monocentric retrospective study included consecutive patients presenting with at least two transthoracic echocardiography examinations covering a time interval of one year or more between April 2006 and February 2016 and diagnosed as moderate or severe aortic stenosis at the final echocardiographic examination. Laboratory parameters, medication, and prevalence of eight known cardiac comorbidities and risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, peripheral artery occlusive disease, cerebrovascular disease, renal dysfunction, body mass index ≥30 Kg/m2, and history of smoking) were analyzed. Patients were divided into slow (Pmean < 5 mmHg/year) or fast (Pmean ≥ 5 mmHg/year) progression groups. Results. A total of 402 patients (mean age 78 ± 9.4 years, 58% males) were included in the study. Mean follow-up duration was 3.4 ± 1.9 years. The average number of cardiac comorbidities and risk factors was 3.1 ± 1.6. Average number of cardiac comorbidities and risk factors was higher in patients in slow progression group than in fast progression group (3.3 ± 1.5 vs 2.9 ± 1.7; P=0.036). Patients in slow progression group had more often coronary heart disease (49.2% vs 33.6%; P=0.003) compared to patients in fast progression group. LDL-cholesterol values were lower in the slow progression group (100 ± 32.6 mg/dl vs 110.8 ± 36.6 mg/dl; P=0.005). Conclusion. These findings suggest that disease progression of aortic valve stenosis is faster in patients with fewer cardiac comorbidities and risk factors, especially if they do not have coronary heart disease. Further prospective studies are warranted to investigate the outcome of patients with slow versus fast progression of transvalvular gradient with regards to comorbidities and risk factors.


Circulation ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 132 (suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula Johnson ◽  
Noel C Bairey Merz ◽  
Holly Andersen ◽  
Mark Keida ◽  
Emily Sprague ◽  
...  

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women in the US, yet too few women personalize awareness. In November 2014, the Women’s Heart Alliance (WHA) conducted a nationwide survey to determine barriers and opportunities to personalize awareness the women’s heart health epidemic. Methods: From September 18-26, 2014, a total of 1,011 U.S. women ages 25-60 were interviewed. Fieldwork was conducted online using GfK KnowledgePanel - the only representative panel of the American public. The KnowledgePanel covers 97% of U.S. households. Respondents are selected using random probability address-based sampling; computers and Internet service are provided to respondents who do not have them to ensure fuller representation of the American public. The survey took 15 minutes on average to administer. Final data were weighted by age, region, race/ethnicity, education, and income, according to the March 2014 Current Population Survey. The margin of sampling error for this poll is +/- 3.4 percentage points (total sample); this is higher for subgroups. Results: Few (27%) can name a woman in their lives with heart disease. Younger and middle-aged women ages 25-49 are less apt than those in the 50-60 age-range to know a woman affected by heart disease (23% vs. 37%). Even fewer (11%) women can name a woman who has died from it. Women who report knowing another woman with heart disease are more apt to express concern and - importantly - bring up this issue with their doctor (Figure). Conclusions: Heart disease in women is largely invisible. A personal connection with heart disease is associated with personalized awareness. Campaigns should make heart disease “real” to the millions of American women who say they have no personal connection to the disease.


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