scholarly journals Disorganization of intercalated discs in dilated cardiomyopathy

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yukinobu Ito ◽  
Makoto Yoshida ◽  
Hirotake Masuda ◽  
Daichi Maeda ◽  
Yukitsugu Kudo-Asabe ◽  
...  

AbstractDilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a primary myocardial disease, the pathology of which is left ventricular or biventricular dilation and impaired myocardial contractility. The clinical and pathological diagnosis of DCM is difficult, and other cardiac diseases must be ruled out. Several studies have reported pathological findings that are characteristic of DCM, including cardiomyocyte atrophy, nuclear pleomorphism, and interstitial fibrosis, but none of these findings are DCM-specific. In this study, we examined the morphological differences in the intercalated discs (ICDs) between three groups of patients, a DCM group, a chronic heart failure group, and a control group. A total of 22 autopsy cases, including five DCM cases, nine CHF cases and eight control cases, were retrieved from the archives of the Department of Pathology at Akita University, Japan. The morphological differences were examined using multiple methods: macroscopic examination, light microscopy, immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, and gene expression analyses. We observed disorganized ICDs, clearly illustrated by N-cadherin immunostaining in the DCM group. “Reduction of N-cadherin immunostaining intensity” and “ICD scattering” was DCM-specific. The results suggest that disorganized ICDs contribute to the development of DCM, and that N-cadherin immunostaining is useful for determining the presence of disorganized ICDs and for the pathological diagnosis of DCM.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yukinobu Ito ◽  
Makoto Yoshida ◽  
Hirotake Masuda ◽  
Daichi Maeda ◽  
Yukitsugu Kudo-Asabe ◽  
...  

Abstract Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a primary myocardial disease, the pathology of which is left ventricular or biventricular dilation and impaired myocardial contractility. The clinical and pathological diagnosis of DCM is difficult, and other cardiac diseases must be ruled out. Several studies have reported pathological findings that are characteristic of DCM, including cardiomyocyte atrophy, nuclear pleomorphism, and interstitial fibrosis, but none of these findings are DCM-specific. In this study, we examined the morphological differences in ICDs between three groups of patients, a DCM group, a chronic heart failure group, and a control group. A total of 21 autopsy cases, including five DCM cases, eight CHF cases and eight control cases, were retrieved from the archives of the Department of Pathology at Akita University, Japan. The morphological differences were examined using multiple methods: macroscopic examination, light microscopy, immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, and gene expression analyses. We observed disorganized intercalated discs (ICDs), clearly illustrated by N-cadherin immunostaining in the DCM group. “Reduction of N-cadherin immunostaining intensity” and “ICD scattering” was DCM-specific. The results suggest that disorganized ICDs contribute to the development of DCM, and that N-cadherin immunostaining is useful for determining the presence of disorganized ICDs and for the pathological diagnosis of DCM.


2010 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 555-563 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.C. Soares ◽  
G.G. Pereira ◽  
L.C. Petrus ◽  
M. Leomil Neto ◽  
F.L. Yamaki ◽  
...  

Sixty dogs with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy were randomly treated with traditional therapy - digitalis, diuretics, angiotensin-converting inhibitors - (group A) or treated with these drugs plus carvedilol (group B). Echocardiographic variables were measured before and after 3, 13, 26, and 52 weeks of treatment or until death. Comparisons between groups and time were performed. No significant differences between groups were found in the most of the echocardiographic variables. The left ventricular end-systolic diameter indexed to body surface area (LVESDi) increased significantly in the group A dogs compared to the group B animals. The survival of groups A and B dogs were not different (P-value=0.1137). In conclusion, the stability of the LVESDi observed in the group treated with carvedilol may represent the beneficial effect over the ventricular remodeling.


1992 ◽  
Vol 263 (4) ◽  
pp. H1243-H1249
Author(s):  
Y. Qiu ◽  
M. Galinanes ◽  
R. Ferrari ◽  
A. Cargnoni ◽  
A. Ezrin ◽  
...  

The isolated blood-perfused rabbit heart, subjected to 60 min of cardioplegic arrest and 60 min of reperfusion, was used to assess the effects of polyethylene glycol-conjugated superoxide dismutase (PEG-SOD) on postischemic recovery of left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), the tissue activity of SOD, and tissue redox state. The five groups studied were the following: PEG-SOD-free control (group A), PEG-SOD as a pretreatment and as an additive during cardioplegia and reperfusion (group B), PEG-SOD as a pretreatment and a cardioplegic additive (group C), PEG-SOD in cardioplegia alone (group D), and PEG-SOD in reperfusion alone (group E). The results show that pretreatment with PEG-SOD improves postischemic recovery of LVDP (72 +/- 2% and 66 +/- 7 vs. 47 +/- 4% in groups B, C, and A, respectively). This protection was associated with an improved tissue redox state. Thus the ischemia-induced rise in oxidized glutathione was reduced from 313 +/- 26% (group A) to 162 +/- 15 and 138 +/- 14% (groups B and C, respectively), and the fall in reduced glutathione was attenuated from 51 +/- 5% to 35 +/- 6 and 13 +/- 5%, respectively. Tissue Mn-SOD activity was also conserved from 36 +/- 4% (group A) to 71 +/- 6 and 94 +/- 4% (groups B and C, respectively). No significant effect was seen when PEG-SOD was applied in cardioplegia or during reperfusion alone.


2009 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 382-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kitipan V Arom ◽  
Permyos Ruengsakulrach ◽  
Michael Belkin ◽  
Montip Tiensuwan

To determine the efficacy of intramyocardial injection of angiogenic cell precursors in nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy, 35 patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy underwent injections of angiogenic cell precursors into the left ventricle (cell group). Seventeen patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy were matched from the heart failure database to form a control group that was treated medically. Angiogenic cell precursors were obtained from autologous blood, cultured in vitro, and injected into all free-wall areas of the left ventricle in the cell group. After these injections, New York Heart Association functional class improved significantly by 1.1 ± 0.7 classes at 284.7 ± 136.2 days, and left ventricular ejection fraction improved in 71.4% of patients (25/35); the mean increase in left ventricular ejection fraction was 4.4% ± 10.6% at 192.7 ± 135.1 days. Improved quality of life was demonstrated by better physical function, role-physical, general health, and vitality domains in a short-form health survey at the 3-month follow-up. In the control group, there were no significant improvements in left ventricular ejection fraction or New York Heart Association class which increased by 0.6 ± 0.8 classes. It was concluded that intramyocardial angiogenic cell precursor injection is probably effective in the treatment of nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. Disclosures and Freedom of Investigation Professor Michael Belkin is an advisory board member, a minor shareholder, and receives a consulting fee from TheraVitae Co. Ltd. However, the authors had full control of the study, methods used, outcome measurements, data analysis, and production of the written report.


2005 ◽  
Vol 108 (4) ◽  
pp. 349-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniele G. BEZERRA ◽  
Carlos A. MANDARIM-de-LACERDA

The aim of the present study was to investigate the possibility of different effects of the hydrophobic statin simvastatin and the hydrophilic statin pravastatin on the remodelling process in the overloaded left ventricle and renal cortex of SHRs (spontaneously hypertensive rats). Fifteen SHRs were treated for 40 days with simvastatin, pravastatin or placebo (water) via orogastric administration. Left ventricle and renal cortex were examined by light microscopy and stereology. LV (left ventricular) cardiomyocyte nuclei (N[cmn]) and glomeruli (N[gl]) numbers were estimated by the dissector method. BP (blood pressure) and serum triacylglycerols (triglycerides) were lower in the statin-treated groups than in the untreated control group. The volume density of the interstitial connective tissue was smaller and length density of the intramyocardial arteries, as well as the arteries/cardiomyocyte ratio, was greater in the statin-treated groups than in the control group. No difference was observed between the two statin-treated groups. The cross-sectional cardiomyocyte area was significantly smaller in the simvastatin-treated group than in the control or pravastatin-treated groups, and it was smaller in the pravastatin-treated group than in the control group. N[cmn] and N[gl] were greater in the two statin-treated groups than in the control group, but no significant difference was observed between the two statin-treated groups. In conclusion, administration of the statins simvastatin and pravastatin to SHRs effectively prevented the elevation in BP and serum triaclyglycerols, and also attenuated adverse cardiac and kidney remodelling by preventing LV hypertrophy, enhancing myocardial vascularization with the decrease in interstitial fibrosis and attenuating cardiomyocyte and glomerular loss.


2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. E107-E111
Author(s):  
Hongwei Shi ◽  
Zhenming Jiang ◽  
Teng Wang ◽  
Yongting Chen ◽  
Feng Cao

Background: The status of the swelling-activated chloride channel (ICl, swell) during heart failure remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether the ICl, swell activity is altered during heart failure and to determine how the ICl, swell influences atrial arrhythmias of the failing heart. Methods: We established a heart failure rabbit model and analyzed the hemodynamic indicators 8 weeks after myocardial infarction, which include left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVDEP). Five untreated rabbits and 5 receiving a sham operation served as the control group. Left auricular appendage tissues were obtained and CLCN3 mRNA/CLCN3 protein expression levels were examined by using reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively. Results: Compared to the control group, the heart failure group showed a significantly decreased LVSP (14.2 ± 0.27 versus 16.9 ± 0.86 kPa, P <.05)and elevated LVDEP (2.49 ± 0.30 versus 0.15 ± 0.03 kPa, P <.05), indicating that myocardial infarction leads to progressive heart failure of rabbits in the heart failure group. CLCN3 mRNA and CLCN3 protein expression were both significantly elevated in the heart failure group compared to the control group (P <.05). Conclusion: In sum, we propose that the dynamic nature of ICl, swell upregulation may contribute to the elevated expression of CLCN3 mRNA and CLCN3 protein, resulting in myocardial cell remodeling induced by heart failure. However, further study is needed to investigate the potential functions of ICl, swell, especially the relation between ICl, swell augmentation and arrhythmia after heart failure.


2021 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 57-71
Author(s):  
Dušan Bastać ◽  
Biserka Tirmenštajn-Janković ◽  
Predrag Marušić ◽  
Zoran Joksimović ◽  
Vojkan Čvorović ◽  
...  

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROBLEM: The diagnosis of acute viral myocarditis is one of the diagnoses most difficult to make in cardiology and medicine in general. Echocardiography and cardiomagnetic resonance play a crucial role in the clinical diagnosis and the serum titer of antiviral antibodies to cardiotropic viruses is still unjustifiably used for the diagnosis of myocarditis in everyday practice. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES: To analyze the frequency and significance of echocardiographic parameters in the diagnosis of clinically suspected acute viral myocarditis, to determine the role of antiviral antibody titer (AVA) dynamics for the diagnosis of myocarditis and to compare viral serology and echocardiographic function versus echocardiographic function. METHODOLOGY: A retrograde transverse study was performed in the ten-year period from 2006. to 2015, where 126 consecutive patients from the database of the Office of Internal medicine ''Dr. Bastać'' were analyzed, with a working diagnosis of clinically suspected viral myocarditis. They were clinically, ECG, echocardiographically and serologically monitored for 4 to 8 weeks due to the dynamics of AVA titer. The examined group (A) was divided into subgroups: A1 with elevated AVA class IgM titer in 43 (32%) subjects and subgroup A2 without elevated IgM titer in 83 (68%) patients. The control group of healthy (B) of 103 subjects was comparable.Statistical processing was done in the EXCELL database via descriptive statistics, Student's-T test and Chi2 test. RESULTS: 126 patients had clinically suspected myocarditis (≥2 ESC criteria). Diastolic left ventricular dysfunction in 39/126 (31%) patients was the dominant echocardiographic criterion for clinically suspected myocarditis. Reduced ejection fraction (EF <50%) was measured at 19/126 (15%), followed by left ventricular dilatation. Regional systolic dysfunction was found in 21/126 (17%) and changes in myocardial texture in 17 (13%) subjects. The clinical probability of viral etiology was diagnostically supported by elevated titer of IgM antibodies in 43 (32%) subjects (subgroup A1) where IgM antibodies to Parvo B 19 virus predominate in 36/43 patients (84%). Most were without elevated titer of IgM antibodysubgroup A2 83 (68%). Clear dynamics of IgM antibody titer was observed in 23 persons, a decrease in IgM titer with an increase in IgG titer (seroconversion) in 13 patients. Determination of anti-heart autoantibodies (AHA) was done in 17 severe cases, of which 9 had positive AHA. A comparison of subgroups A1 and A2 did not reveal a statistically significant difference in echocardiographic parameters. The whole group A of clinically suspected myocarditis compared to control group B has statistically highly significantly lower parameters of global systolic (EF=8,7±4,6 vs. 63±7,9; p<0,001), longitudinal systolic (S'=6,9±1,3 vs. 9,9±2,1) and diastolic function (E/e'11,9±4,8 vs. 8,7±4,6; p<0,001), and a highly statistically significant increase in left ventricular telediastolic dimension, myocardial mass index, and left atrial size. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of acute viral myocarditis in clinical practice is made on the basis of the clinical picture, ECG and echocardiography that indicate myocarditis with the exclusion of cardiac comorbidities, based on the ESC criteria for suspected clinical myocarditis. The whole group A had highly statistically significantly lower parameters of systolic and diastolic function compared to control group B. Normal ECG and echocardiography cannot serve to exclude the diagnosis of myocarditis. Comparison of subgroups A1 and A2 did not reveal a statistically significant difference in echocardiographic parameters.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sha Tang ◽  
Lina Guan ◽  
Yuming Mu

Abstract BackgroundTo investigate the changes in deformation and myocardial microcirculation perfusion of left ventricular three-layer myocardium in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) by using speckle tracking imaging (STI) and myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE).MethodsTwenty-four patients with DCM and 19 healthy controls were selected. Two-dimensional and MCE dynamic images of apical four-chamber, two-chamber, and three-chamber sections and left ventricular mitral valve, papillary muscle and apex sections were collected. The peak values of longitudinal strain (LS), circumferential strain (CS), cross-sectional area of a microvessel (A) and average myocardial microvascular lesion (β) were obtained by Qlab 10.8 workstation values, and myocardial blood flow (MBF) was calculated with A×β to evaluate the deformation and coronary microvascular perfusion of left ventricular three-layer myocardium.ResultsThe brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVEDS), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV), left atrial volume index (LAVI), E peak in early diastolic period/A peak velocity in late diastolic period (E/A) and average E/e' in the DCM group were higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05); left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular fractional shortening (FS) rate, stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), cardiac index (CI), A peak, and the e' and a' velocities of both the lateral wall and interventricular septum were smaller than those in the control group (P<0.05). The LS, CS, A, β, and A×β of the DCM group were all lower than those of the control group (P < 0.05). The pattern of myocardial strain and perfusion among myocardial layers was subendocardial>middle>subepicardial. The correlation coefficients of LS with A, β, and A×β were -0.500, -0.279 and -0.190, respectively, and the correlation coefficients of CS with A, β, and A×β were -0.383, -0.255 and -0.208, respectively.ConclusionsThe deformation of the three-layer myocardium and coronary microcirculation perfusion in DCM patients were diffusely damaged from the endocardium to the epicardium, layer by layer. The longitudinal function of the left ventricular myocardium was closely related to changes in myocardial microcirculation perfusion.


Author(s):  
Elsayed M. Mehana ◽  
Abeer M. Shawky ◽  
Heba S. Abdelrahman

Abstract Background Left ventricular thrombus (LVT) formation represents a common complication of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). LVT is usually underestimated with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) while cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) is promising as an alternative imaging modality for cardiac thrombus detection. The study aims to compare TTE and CMRI in their ability to detect LVT, also, to assess the clinical and imaging parameters to determine variables that may predispose for thrombus formation. The study population includes seventy-six patients with ischemic DCM. They were divided into 2 groups based on the presence of LVT as detected by delayed-enhancement CMRI (DE-CMRI) [Group A included 20 patients with a LVT and Group B included 56 patients without]. Results All of the current study population had ischemic DCM with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 50%. DE-CMR detected thrombus in 20 cases of the studied population that represented group A. From group A, conventional TTE detected LVT only in 8 and cine-CMR detected 13 cases out of the out of 20 cases. The ejection fraction of the left ventricle as measured by functional CMRI was significantly lower in group A (P = 0.045). Interestingly, the myocardial scarring in group A was seen significantly more extensive than in group B (the P value is < 0.00001), paralleling the increased prevalence of thrombus. Conclusions DE-CMRI provides superiority for the detection of LVT compared with standard TTE or cine-CMRI and the amount of myocardial scarring detected by DE-CMRI can be considered an independent marker for thrombus presence.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Huailing Su ◽  
Bin Li ◽  
Zhisheng Jia

Objective: To investigate the effect of metoprolol on cardiac function and prognosis in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Methods: 100 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy treated in our hospital from January 2018 to December 2019 were randomly divided into control group (n = 50) and observation group (n = 50). The control group was treated with conventional methods, and the observation group was treated with conventional methods and metoprolol for 6 months. The cardiac function [left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO)] and prognosis [Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score] of the two groups before and at the end of 6 months of intervention were compared, and the incidence of adverse reactions of the two groups were compared. Results: After 6 months of treatment, the levels of LVEF, SV and CO in the two groups were higher than before treatment, and the comparison level between the observation group and the control group was higher, the difference was statistically significant (P  < 0.05);After 6 months of treatment, the GOS score of the observation group was higher than that of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05);There was no significant difference in the total incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion:  Metoprolol can improve the cardiac function and prognosis of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, without increasing the incidence of adverse reactions.


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