scholarly journals 474 A case of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in SARS-CoV-2 infection

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_G) ◽  
Author(s):  
Annita Bava ◽  
Maria Grazia Daffinà ◽  
Giuseppe Cama ◽  
Dario Dieni ◽  
Filippo Barreca ◽  
...  

Abstract Cardiovascular complications are a frequent occurrence in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (also known as stress cardiomyopathy) is a possible cause of transient ST segment elevation (1–3% of total cases) and is characterized by a reversible left ventricular dysfunction with coronary arteries free from critical stenosis. The predominant echocardiographic pattern of this cardiomyopathy is an akinesia of the mid-apical myocardial segments (‘apical ballooning’), with preserved kinetics of the basal segments. The incidence of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy showed a marked increase during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data showed that three factors mainly contribute to the onset of cardiomyopathy in patients with COVID-19: cytokine storm, adrenergic hyperactivation and microvascular dysfunction. A 79-year-old woman was hospitalized in the Pneumology department of our hospital for acute hypoxemic respiratory failure due to bilateral interstitial pneumonia SARS-CoV-2 related. In remote medical history: in 2010 diagnosis of breast cancer, treated with quadrantectomy, adjuvant chemo- and radiotherapy, with negative follow-up for disease recovery, systemic arterial hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia and from 2016 syndrome of reduced mobility as a result of a previous ischaemic stroke. Non-invasive mechanical ventilation with c-PAP was started in the ward and, for the detection of anterolateral electrocardiographic anomalies (diffuse symmetrical negative T waves. Figure) and an increase in myocardionecrosis markers (troponin I peak: 5.4 ng/ml), in the absence of chest pain or equivalent, echocardiographic evaluation was performed, which revealed an akinesia of the mid-apical segments of the left ventricle with preserved kinetics of the basal segments and severely depressed global systolic function (ejection fraction: 30%). BNP (18.100 pg/ml), interleukin-6 (339 pg/ml), and CRP (136 mg/l) were elevated on blood chemistry tests. In the suspicion of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (InterTAK Score: 67, probability: 79.8%), cardioprotective therapy with ACE inhibitor, beta-blocker, diuretics, low molecular weight heparin, double antiaggregation, and statin was started, deferring coronary angiography to improve clinical conditions. In the following days, due to the respiratory and haemodynamic worsening, the patient was transferred to an intensive setting, where she was intubated and treated with levosimendan and noradrenaline. In the intensive care unit, serial echocardiograms (over 30 days) showed a progressive improvement, up to normalization, of the global systolic function (ejection fraction at the last checkup: 55%), with complete regression of the kinetic anomalies, confirming the diagnostic hypothesis of stress cardiomyopathy. For a pulmonary mycotic superinfection (positive bronchoaspirate for Candida albicans and Candida krusei), complicated by iatrogenic pneumothorax, in the following days the patient died.

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 429-436 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia Kallás Bachur ◽  
Marlon Hermógenes Garcia ◽  
Camila Araújo Bernardino ◽  
Rogério Camillo Requel ◽  
José Alexandre Bachur

Introduction Duchenne Muscular Dystrophies (DMD) is a genetic muscle disorder that causes degeneration and atrophy of skeletal muscle and heart. Objective The aim of this survey is accomplish an evaluation electrocardiographic and echocardiography in the patients bearers of Duchene Muscular Dystrophies (DMD), to observe which alterations, which the degree of cardiac compromising these patient present and the effectiveness of these exams in the evaluation cardiologic. Methods Nine patients of the sex male bearers of DMD, with medium age of 14.12 ± 4.19 years, varying of 7 to 23 years were appraised. All were submitted to the evaluation physiotherapy and the cardiologic: electrocardiogram and echocardiogram. Results The experimental conditions of the present survey we propitiate the observation of the alterations echocardiography, as well as: significant increase in the diastolic diameter of the left ventricular (LV), increase in the systolic diameter of the left atrium (LA), and significant decrease of the ejection fraction of the LV, characterizing global systolic function reduced, and of the alterations electrocardiographic suggested possible overload of RV, septum hypertrophy, blockade of left previous fascicle and overload of atrium left. Compatible alterations of hypertrophy left ventricular were not observed. Conclusion The evidences corroborate with the data described in the literature in the characterization of an important heart compromising that these patient present, like this the evaluation cardiologic, through the complemented exams of the echocardiography and electrocardiography provide important information for the prognostic, the accompaniment, and the treatment of patient bearers of DMD.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Cerne Cercek ◽  
P Berden ◽  
R Zbacnik

Abstract Loeffler endocarditis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patient with hypereosinophilia-associated syndromes. It is a rare disease that occurs due to eosinophilic inflammation of the endocardium with fibrosis and thrombus formation. We describe a case of Loeffler endocarditis with unusual clinical course. 61-year-old woman was admitted due to chest pain and elevated troponin I level. Her past medical history was remarkable for persistent asthma, rhinitis, and productive cough for almost 1 year. Laboratory test revealed hypereosinophilia. Further workup for parasitic diseases, allergy, malignancy, hematological causes were all negative Coronary angiography excluded coronary artery disease. Transthoracic echocardiography (TEE) showed endocardium thickening at the septal left ventricular wall, diastolic dysfunction (Grade II), and moderate pericardial effusion (Figure 1A). Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMR) confirmed endocardial inflammation. The Loeffler endocarditis was diagnosed and corticosteroid treatment was started. After one year the patient was asymptomatic, TEE showed improvement of left ventricular diastolic function (Grade I) and complete regression of myocardial thickening (Figure 1B). Therefore, corticosteroids were slowly tapered. After 16 months she relapsed with severe chest pain, marked eosinophilia and elevated troponin I level. Left ventricular systolic function rapidly deteriorated to ejection fraction of 40%. Urgent cMR showed diffuse edomyocardial inflammation with apical thrombus formation. She was immediately treated with high doses of corticosteroid and heparin, which resulted in systolic function normalization and thrombus disappearance. In conclusion, Loeffer endocarditis still represents diagnostic challenge, may have unpredictable clinical course and generally respond well to corticosteroid treatment in early stages. Abstract P1685 Figure 1.


2011 ◽  
pp. 62-70
Author(s):  
Lien Nhut Nguyen ◽  
Anh Vu Nguyen

Background: The prognostic importance of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction has been suggested in patients with systolic heart failure (due to primary or secondary dilated cardiomyopathy - DCM). Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) is a simple, feasible, reality, non-invasive measurement by transthoracic echocardiography for evaluating RV systolic function. Objectives: To evaluate TAPSE in patients with primary or secondary DCM who have left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 40% and to find the relation between TAPSE and LVEF, LVDd, RVDd, RVDd/LVDd, RA size, severity of TR and PAPs. Materials and Methods: 61 patients (36 males, 59%) mean age 58.6 ± 14.4 years old with clinical signs and symtomps of chronic heart failure which caused by primary or secondary DCM and LVEF ≤ 40% and 30 healthy subject (15 males, 50%) mean age 57.1 ± 16.8 were included in this study. All patients and controls were underwent echocardiographic examination by M-mode, two dimentional, convensional Dopler and TAPSE. Results: TAPSE is significant low in patients compare with the controls (13.93±2.78 mm vs 23.57± 1.60mm, p<0.001). TAPSE is linearly positive correlate with echocardiographic left ventricular ejection fraction (r= 0,43; p<0,001) and linearly negative correlate with RVDd (r= -0.39; p<0.01), RVDd/LVDd (r=-0.33; p<0.01), RA size (r=-0.35; p<0.01), TR (r=-0.26; p<0.05); however, no correlation was found with LVDd and PAPs. Conclusions: 1. Decreased RV systolic function as estimated by TAPSE in patients with systolic heart failure primary and secondary DCM) compare with controls. 2. TAPSE is linearly positive correlate with LVEF (r= 0.43; p<0.001) and linearly negative correlate with RVDd (r= -0.39; p<0.01), RVDd/LVDd (r=-0.33; p<0.01), RA size (r=-0.35; p<0.01), TR (r=-0.26; p<0.05); however, no correlation is found with LVDd and PAPs. 3. TAPSE should be used routinely as a simple, feasible, reality method of estimating RV function in the patients systolic heart failure DCM (primary and secondary).


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yumin Li ◽  
Jia Liu ◽  
Yukun Cao ◽  
Xiaoyu Han ◽  
Guozhu Shao ◽  
...  

AbstractMyocardial fibrosis assessed by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) on cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is associated with cardiovascular outcomes in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients, but little is known about the utility of non-invasive markers for detecting LGE. This study aims to explore the association between cardiac-specific biomarkers, CMR myocardial strain, left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and LGE in HCM patients with preserved ejection fraction (EF) and investigate the predictive values of these indexes for LGE. We recruited 33 healthy volunteers and 86 HCM patients with preserved EF to undergo contrast-enhanced CMR examinations. In total, 48 of 86 HCM patients had the presence of LGE. The LGE-positive patients had significant higher serum high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) and N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide (Nt-proBNP) levels and lower global longitudinal (GLS) and circumferential (GCS) strains than the LGE-negative group. The LGE% was independently associated with the Nt-proBNP levels, GCS, LV end-diastolic maximum wall thickness (MWT) and beta-blocker treatment. In the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the combined parameters of Nt-proBNP ≥ 108.00 pg/mL and MWT ≥ 17.30 mm had good diagnostic performance for LGE, with a specificity of 81.25% and sensitivity of 70.00%. These data indicate that serum Nt-proBNP is a potential biomarker associated with LGE% and, combined with MWT, were useful for identifying myocardial fibrosis in HCM patients with preserved EF. Additionally, LV GCS may be a more sensitive indicator for reflecting the presence of myocardial fibrosis than GLS.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
V Marcos Garces ◽  
C Rios-Navarro ◽  
L Hueso ◽  
A Diaz ◽  
C Bonanad ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Angiogenesis participates in re-establishing microcirculation after myocardial infarction (MI). Purpose In this study, we aim to further understand the role of the anti-angiogenic isoform vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A165b after MI and explore its potential as a co-adjuvant therapy to coronary reperfusion. Methods Two mice MI models were formed: 1) permanent coronary ligation (non-reperfused MI), 2) transient 45-min coronary occlusion followed by reperfusion (reperfused MI); in both models, animals underwent echocardiography before euthanasia at day 21 after MI induction. Serum and myocardial VEGF-A165b levels were determined. In both experimental MI models, functional and structural implication of VEGF-A165b blockade was assessed. In a cohort of 104 ST-segment elevation MI patients, circulating VEGF-A165b levels were correlated with cardiovascular magnetic resonance-derived left ventricular ejection fraction at 6-months and with the occurrence of adverse events (death, heart failure and/or re-infarction). Results In both models, circulating and myocardial VEGF-A165b presence was increased 21 days after MI induction. Serum VEGF-A165b levels inversely correlated with systolic function evaluated by echocardiography. VEGF-A165b blockage increased capillary density, reduced infarct size, and enhanced left ventricular function in reperfused, but not in non-reperfused MI experiments. In patients, higher VEGF-A165b levels correlated with depressed ejection fraction and worse outcomes. Conclusions In experimental and clinical studies, higher serum VEGF-A165b levels associates with a worse systolic function. Its blockage enhances neoangiogenesis, reduces infarct size, and increases ejection fraction in reperfused, but not in non-reperfused MI experiments. Therefore, VEGF-A165b neutralization represents a potential co-adjuvant therapy to coronary reperfusion. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): This study was funded by “Instituto de Salud Carlos III” and “Fondos Europeos de Desarrollo Regional FEDER” (Exp. PIE15/00013, PI17/01836, PI18/00209 and CIBERCV16/11/00486).


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
C Borrelli ◽  
P Sciarrone ◽  
F Gentile ◽  
N Ghionzoli ◽  
G Mirizzi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Central apneas (CA) and obstructive apneas (OA) are highly prevalent in heart failure (HF) both with reduced and preserved systolic function. However, a comprehensive evaluation of apnea prevalence across HF according to ejection fraction (i.e HF with patients with reduced, mid-range and preserved ejection fraction- HFrEf, HFmrEF and HFpEF, respectively) throughout the 24 hours has never been done before. Materials and methods 700 HF patients were prospectively enrolled and then divided according to left ventricular EF (408 HFrEF, 117 HFmrEF, 175 HFpEF). All patients underwent a thorough evaluation including: 2D echocardiography; 24-h Holter-ECG monitoring; cardiopulmonary exercise testing; neuro-hormonal assessment and 24-h cardiorespiratory monitoring. Results In the whole population, prevalence of normal breathing (NB), CA and OA at daytime was 40%, 51%, and 9%, respectively, while at nighttime 15%, 55%, and 30%, respectively. When stratified according to left ventricular EF, CA prevalence decreased from HFrEF to HFmrEF and HFpEF: (daytime CA: 57% vs. 43% vs. 42%, respectively, p=0.001; nighttime CA: 66% vs. 48% vs. 34%, respectively, p&lt;0.0001), while OA prevalence increased (daytime OA: 5% vs. 8% vs. 18%, respectively, p&lt;0.0001; nighttime OA: 20 vs. 29 vs. 53%, respectively, p&lt;0.0001). When assessing moderte-severe apneas, defined with an apnea/hypopnea index &gt;15 events/hour, prevalence of CA was again higher in HFrEF than HFmrEF and HFpEF both at daytime (daytime moderate-severe CA: 28% vs. 19% and 23%, respectively, p&lt;0.05) and at nighttime (nighttime moderate-severe CA: 50% vs. 39% and 28%, respectively, p&lt;0.05). Conversely, moderate-severe OA decreased from HFrEF to HFmrEF to HFpEF both at daytime (daytime moderate-severe OA: 1% vs. 3% and 8%, respectively, p&lt;0.05) and nighttime (noghttime moderate-severe OA: 10% vs. 11% and 30%, respectively, p&lt;0.05). Conclusions Daytime and nighttime apneas, both central and obstructive in nature, are highly prevalent in HF regardless of EF. Across the whole spectrum of HF, CA prevalence increases and OA decreases as left ventricular systolic dysfunction progresses, both during daytime and nighttime. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None


2012 ◽  
Vol 166 (6) ◽  
pp. 977-982 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa P Araujo ◽  
Manuel H Aguiar-Oliveira ◽  
Joselina L M Oliveira ◽  
Hertaline M N Rocha ◽  
Carla R P Oliveira ◽  
...  

ObjectiveGH replacement therapy (GHRT) in adult-onset GH deficiency (AOGHD) reduces carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and increases myocardial mass, with improvement of systolic and diastolic function. These observations have reinforced the use of GHRT on AOGHD. Conversely, we have previously reported that in adults with lifetime congenital and severe isolated GH deficiency (IGHD) due to a mutation in GHRH receptor gene (GHRHR), a 6-month treatment with depot GH increased carotid IMT, caused the development of atherosclerotic plaques, and an increase in left ventricular mass index (LVMI), posterior wall, and septal thickness and ejection fraction. Such effects persisted 12 months after treatment (12-month washout – 12mo).MethodsWe have studied the cardiovascular status (by echocardiography and carotid ultrasonography) of these subjects 60 months after completion of therapy (60-month washout – 60mo).ResultsCarotid IMT reduced significantly from 12 to 60mo, returning to baseline (pre-therapy) value. The number of individuals with plaques was similar at 12 and 60mo, remaining higher than pre-therapy. LVMI, relative posterior wall thickness, and septum thickness did not change between 12 and 60mo, but absolute posterior wall increased from 12 to 60mo. Systolic function, evaluated by ejection fraction and shortening fraction, was reduced at 60mo in comparison with 12mo returning to baseline levels. The E/A wave ratio (expression of diastolic function) decreased at 60mo compared with both 12mo and baseline.ConclusionsIn adults with lifetime congenital IGHD, the increase in carotid IMT elicited by GHRT was transitory and returned to baseline 5 years after therapy discontinuation. Despite this, the number of subjects with plaques remained stable at 60mo and higher than at baseline.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1153
Author(s):  
Alessandra Scatteia ◽  
Angelo Silverio ◽  
Roberto Padalino ◽  
Francesco De Stefano ◽  
Raffaella America ◽  
...  

The left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) is the preferred parameter applied for the non-invasive evaluation of LV systolic function in clinical practice. It has a well-recognized and extensive role in the clinical management of numerous cardiac conditions. Many imaging modalities are currently available for the non-invasive assessment of LVEF. The aim of this review is to describe their relative advantages and disadvantages, proposing a hierarchical application of the different imaging tests available for LVEF evaluation based on the level of accuracy/reproducibility clinically required.


2013 ◽  
Vol 304 (12) ◽  
pp. H1644-H1650 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lori A. Walker ◽  
David A. Fullerton ◽  
Peter M. Buttrick

Human heart failure has been associated with a low level of thin-filament protein phosphorylation and an increase in calcium sensitivity of contraction relative to both “control” human heart tissue and tissue from small animal models. However, diverse strategies of human tissue procurement and the reliance on tissue obtained from subjects with end-stage heart failure suggest this may be an incomplete characterization. Therefore, we evaluated cardiac left ventricular (LV) biopsy samples from patients with aortic stenosis undergoing valve replacement who presented either with LV hypertrophy and preserved systolic function (Hyp) or with LV dilation and reduced ejection fraction (Dil). In Hyp, total troponin I (TnI) phosphorylation was markedly increased and myosin light chain 2 (MLC2) phosphorylation was unchanged relative to a control group of patients with normal LV function. Conversely, in Dil, total TnI phosphorylation was significantly reduced compared with control subjects and MLC2 phosphorylation was increased. Site-specific analysis of TnI phosphorylation revealed phenotype-specific differences such that Hyp samples demonstrated significant increases in phosphorylation at serine 22/23 and Dil samples had significant decreases at serine 43. The ratio of phosphorylation at the two sites was biased toward serine 22/23 in Hyp and toward serine 43/45 in Dil. Western blot analysis showed that protein phosphatase-1 was reduced in Hyp and protein phosphatase-2 was reduced in Dil. These data suggest that posttranslational modifications of sarcomeric proteins, both singly and in combination, are stage specific. Defining these changes in progressive heart disease may provide important diagnostic and treatment information.


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