The role of polycystic ovary syndrome in preclinical left ventricular diastolic dysfunction: an echocardiographic approach: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder affecting women of childbearing age, causing hormonal imbalances, reproductive issues, and metabolic disturbances. Women with PCOS have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease due to insulin resistance, obesity, and hyperandrogenism. Detecting impaired left ventricular (LV) function is important in managing this condition. Echocardiography, a non-invasive imaging technique, can effectively detect LV dysfunction.

Aim

The goal of this systematic review was to assess whether there are any variations in echocardiographic measures between women with PCOS and those without the condition in order to determine the potential impact of PCOS on LV function.

Methods

This review followed the PRISMA reporting guidelines. A thorough search of databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane was conducted. The quality of the selected studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute appraisal instruments. After applying strict eligibility criteria, data were extracted and organized in Microsoft Excel sheets. Review Manager (RevMan) software was used for the analysis.

Results

Analysis of 29 studies revealed significant differences in echocardiographic measures related to diastolic function between women with PCOS and healthy controls. However, there were no significant differences in measures of systolic function.

Conclusion

These findings indicate that PCOS may be linked to impaired LV function, thereby increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Further research is necessary to better understand this association and its clinical implications. Early detection and management of PCOS could potentially help prevent cardiovascular complications in affected women.

Inorganic nitrate supplementation may improve diastolic function and the O2 cost of exercise in cancer survivors: a pilot study

In non-cancer populations, inorganic dietary nitrate (NO₃^-) supplementation is associated with enhanced cardiorespiratory function but remains untested in patients with a history of cancer. Therefore, this pilot study sought to determine if oral NO₃^- supplementation, as a supportive care strategy, increases left ventricular (LV) function and exercise performance in survivors of cancer treated with anticancer therapy while simultaneously evaluating the feasibility of the methods and procedures required for future large-scale randomized trials. Two cohorts of patients with a history of cancer treated with anticancer chemotherapy were recruited. Patients in cohort 1 (n = 7) completed a randomized, double-blind, crossover study with 7 days of NO₃^- or placebo (PL) supplementation, with echocardiography. Similarly, patients in cohort 2 (n = 6) received a single, acute dose of NO₃^- supplementation or PL. Pulmonary oxygen uptake (VO₂), arterial blood pressure, and stroke volume were assessed during exercise. In cohort 1, NO₃^- improved LV strain rate in early filling (mean difference (MD) [95% CI]: - 0.3 1/s [- 0.6 to 0.06]; P = 0.04) and early mitral septal wall annular velocity (MD [95% CI]: 0.1 m/s [- 0.01 to - 0.001]; P = 0.02) compared to placebo. In cohort 2, NO₃^- decreased the O₂ cost of low-intensity steady-state exercise (MD [95% CI]: - 0.5 ml/kg/min [- 0.9 to - 0.09]; P = 0.01). Resting and steady-state arterial blood pressure and stroke volume were not different between conditions. No differences between conditions for peak VO₂ (MD [95% CI]: - 0.7 ml/kg/min [- 3.0 to 1.6]; P = 0.23) were observed. The findings from this pilot study warrant further investigation in larger clinical trials targeting the use of long-term inorganic dietary NO₃^- supplementation as a possible integrative supportive care strategy in patients following anticancer therapy.

E-cigarette aerosol impairs male mouse skeletal muscle force development and prevents recovery from injury

To date, there has been a lag between the rise in E-cigarette use and an understanding of the long-term health effects. Inhalation of E-cigarette aerosol delivers high doses of nicotine, raises systemic cytokine levels, and compromises cardiopulmonary function. The consequences for muscle function have not been thoroughly investigated. The present study tests the hypothesis that exposure to nicotine-containing aerosol impairs locomotor muscle function, limits exercise tolerance, and interferes with muscle repair in male mice. Nicotine-containing aerosol reduced the maximal force produced by the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) by 30%-40% and, the speed achieved in treadmill running by 8%. Nicotine aerosol exposure also decreased adrenal and increased plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine levels, and these changes in catecholamines manifested as increased muscle and liver glycogen stores. In nicotine aerosol exposed mice, muscle regenerating from overuse injury only recovered force to 80% of noninjured levels. However, the structure of neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) was not affected by e-cigarette aerosols. Interestingly, the vehicle used to dissolve nicotine in these vaping devices, polyethylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG), decreased running speed by 11% and prevented full recovery from a lengthening contraction protocol (LCP) injury. In both types of aerosol exposures, cardiac left ventricular systolic function was preserved, but left ventricular myocardial relaxation was altered. These data suggest that E-cigarette use may have a negative impact on muscle force and regeneration due to compromised glucose metabolism and contractile function in male mice.NEW & NOTEWORTHY In male mice, nicotine-containing E-cigarette aerosol compromises muscle contractile function, regeneration from injury, and whole body running speeds. The vehicle used to deliver nicotine, propylene glycol, and vegetable glycerin, also reduces running speed and impairs the restoration of muscle function in injured muscle. However, the predominant effects of nicotine in this inhaled aerosol are evident in altered catecholamine levels, increased glycogen content, decreased running capacity, and impaired recovery of force following an overuse injury.

Prognostic significance of diastolic dysfunction in patients with systolic dysfunction undergoing atrial fibrillation ablation

Background

The relationship between pre-ablation left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) and prognosis in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) undergoing atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation remains unclear.

Methods

The prognosis of 173 patients with impaired left ventricular ejection fraction (<50%) who underwent AF ablation was examined. The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause mortality, heart failure (HF) hospitalization, and worsening HF symptoms requiring unplanned outpatient intensification of decongestive therapy.

Results

During the follow-up period (median, 3.5 years), the primary outcome after AF ablation occurred in 28 patients (16%). The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that early septal diastolic mitral annular velocity (e′) had a larger area under the curve (0.70) than other LVDD parameters, and optimal cut-off values of LVDD, represented by e′, septal E (early diastolic left ventricular filling velocity)/e′, and peak tricuspid valve regurgitation velocity (TRV), were 5.0 cm/s, 13.2, and 2.5 m/s, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that e′ ≤5.0 cm/s (standard hazard ratio [HR], 3.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.73–8.69; p = 0.001), septal E/e′ ≥13.2 (HR, 3.62; 95% CI, 1.60–8.21; p = 0.002), and peak TRV ≥ 2.5 m/s (HR, 2.42; 95% CI, 1.13–5.16; p = 0.02) independently predicted the outcome. Patients with New York Heart Association functional status ≥ III had a 3.3–4.5-fold higher risk of the outcome.

Conclusions

LVDD or severe HF symptoms predict poor outcomes in patients with LVSD undergoing AF ablation. Therefore, patients with LVDD or severe HF symptoms should receive more intensive treatment even after AF ablation.

Associations between cardiac and pulmonary involvement in patients with juvenile dermatomyositis-a cross-sectional study

This study aimed at exploring the association between detectable cardiac and pulmonary involvement in long-term juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) and to assess if patients with cardiac and pulmonary involvement differ with regard to clinical characteristics. 57 JDM patients were examined mean 17.3 (10.5) years after disease onset; this included clinical examination, myositis specific/associated autoantibodies (immunoblot), echocardiography, pulmonary function tests and high-resolution computed tomography. Cardiac involvement was defined as diastolic and/or systolic left ventricular dysfunction and pulmonary involvement as low diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide, low total lung capacity and/or high-resolution computed tomography abnormalities. Patients were stratified into the following four groups: (i) no organ involvement, (ii) pulmonary only, (iii) cardiac only, and (iv) co-existing pulmonary and cardiac involvement. Mean age was 25.7 (12.4) years and 37% were males. One patient had coronary artery disease, seven had a history of pericarditis, seven had hypertension and three had known interstitial lung disease prior to follow-up. There was no association between cardiac (10/57;18%) and pulmonary (41/57;72%) involvement (p = 0.83). After stratifying by organ involvement, 21% of patients had no organ involvement; 61% had pulmonary involvement only; 7% had cardiac involvement only and 11% had co-existing pulmonary or cardiac involvement. Patients with co-existing pulmonary or cardiac involvement had higher disease burden than the remaining patients. Patients with either cardiac or pulmonary involvement only, differed in clinical and autoantibody characteristics. We found no increased risk of developing concomitant cardiac/pulmonary involvement in JDM. Our results shed light upon possible different underlying mechanisms behind pulmonary and cardiac involvement in JDM.

Usefulness of Preprocedural Left Ventricular End-Systolic Volume Index and Early Diastolic Mitral Annular Velocity in Predicting Improvement in Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction Following Atrial Fibrillation Ablation in Patients With Impaired Left Ventricular Systolic Function

Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is known to facilitate reverse remodeling of the left ventricle. However, factors that can improve the left ventricular (LV) systolic function remain elusive. In this study, we investigated factors related to LV ejection fraction (LVEF) improvement following AF ablation in patients with systolic dysfunction. A total of 140 patients with impaired LVEF (<50%) who underwent AF ablation were retrospectively evaluated. The primary outcome was LVEF improvement. A total of 68, 9, and 15 patients achieved LVEF improvement at 3, 6, and 12 months after AF ablation, respectively. Five patients achieved late LVEF improvement. The overall LVEF improvement rate was 69%. In the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the LV end-systolic volume (LVESVI) and early diastolic mitral annular velocity (e') had larger areas under the curve (0.79 and 0.75, respectively) than other echocardiographic parameters, and the most optimal cutoff values of LVESVI and e' were 49.8 ml/m² and 5.4 cm/s, respectively. Moreover, preprocedural LVESVI ≤49.8 ml/m² and e' ≥5.4 independently predicted the outcome after adjusting for confounders (hazard ratio 1.74; 95% confidence interval 1.06 to 2.95; p = 0.03; hazard ratio, 1.99; 95% confidence interval 1.13 to 3.64; p = 0.01). LVEF improvement was achieved in 69% of patients who underwent AF ablation, including 4% with late improvement. Lower LVESVI and higher e' could independently predict LVEF improvement.

Age-related changes in four-dimensional CMR-derived atrioventricular junction velocities and displacements: Implications for the identification of altered annular dynamics for ventricular function assessment

Background

We determined the age-related changes in atrioventricular junction (AVJ) velocities and displacements by feature tracking cardiovascular magnetic resonance (FT-CMR) in a healthy community-based population. We also investigated the importance of age-matching for the identification of altered AVJ dynamics.

Methods

FT-CMR was performed in 230 controls (18-78 years) and in two patient groups each consisting of 40 subjects (group 1: 23-55 years, group 2: 56-80 years). AVJ dynamic parameters, including systolic velocity Sm, early diastolic velocity Em, late diastolic velocity Am, maximal systolic excursion MAPSE and the new parameter sweep surface area velocity SSAV were measured.

Results

Increasing age in the control group was significantly associated with reductions in Sm, Em, MAPSE (r = -0.40, -0.76, -0.34, all P < 0.001) and an increase in Am (r = 0.45, P < 0.001). For patient group 1, the selection of an age-unmatched control group (56-76 years) underestimated the number of patients with abnormal AVJ dynamics during systole and early diastole (38% vs. 70% for Sm; 20% vs. 60% for Em; 35% vs. 50% for MAPSE). In contrast, for patient group 2, the number of patients with systolic and early diastolic AVJ dynamic abnormalities was overestimated (88% vs. 63% for Sm; 90% vs. 68% for Em; 73% vs. 58% for MAPSE) when compared with age-unmatched controls (24-55 years). Fifty-percent (20/40) of the sub-group of patients with normal left ventricular ejection fraction exhibited abnormal systolic Sm or MAPSE measurements.

Conclusions

Significant correlations exist between age and AVJ dynamics. Age matching is important for evaluating AVJ long-axis function.

Association of Age at Menarche With Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction in Middle-Aged Women

BACKGROUND

There is sparse research on whether if early menarche is related to left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction. The present study examined this relationship in Korean women.Methods and Results:In a cross-sectional study we analyzed the records of 18,910 Korean women (≥30 years) who underwent echocardiography as part of a comprehensive health examination. Age at menarche was assessed using standardized, self-administered questionnaires. Presence of LV diastolic dysfunction was determined from the echocardiographic findings. Of the 18,910 women, 3,449 had LV diastolic dysfunction. Age at menarche was inversely associated with prevalence of LV diastolic dysfunction. In a multivariable-adjusted model, odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for LV diastolic dysfunction comparing menarche age to menarche at 15-18 years were 1.77 (1.38-2.27) for <12 years, 1.31 (1.11-1.54) for 12 years, 1.26 (1.11-1.43) for 13 years, and 1.03 (0.91-1.15) for 14 years (P for trend <0.001). Adjusting for body mass index or percent fat mass partially reduced these associations.

CONCLUSIONS

This large study found an inverse relationship between menarche age and LV diastolic dysfunction. Future prospective studies are needed to investigate potential causal relationships.

Immune markers, diurnal blood pressure profile and cardiac function in virologically suppressed HIV-infected patients

PURPOSE

Non-dipping nocturnal blood pressure (BP) pattern has been reported prevalent among HIV-infected patients and is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. The aims of this observational study were to identify predictors of nocturnal BP decline, and to explore whether diurnal BP profile is associated with alterations in cardiac structure and function.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 108 treated HIV-infected patients with suppressed viremia underwent ambulatory BP measurement, 51 of these patients also underwent echocardiography.

RESULTS

Non-dipping nocturnal BP pattern was present in 51% of the patients. Decreased nocturnal decline in systolic BP (SBP) correlated with lower CD4 count (r_sp = 0.21, p = 0.032) and lower CD4/CD8 ratio (r_sp = 0.26, p = 0.008). In multivariate linear regression analyses, lower BMI (p = 0.015) and CD4/CD8 ratio <0.4 (p = 0.010) remained independent predictors of nocturnal decline in SBP. Nocturnal decline in SBP correlated with impaired diastolic function, e' (r = 0.28, p = 0.049) as did nadir CD4 count (r_sp = 0.38, p = 0.006). In multivariate linear regression analyses, nadir CD4 count <100 cells/μL (p = 0.037) and age (p < 0.001) remained independent predictors of e'.

CONCLUSIONS

Compromised immune status may contribute to attenuated diurnal BP profile as well as impaired diastolic function in well-treated HIV infection.

Relationship Between γ-Glutamyltransferase Levels and Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction

BACKGROUND

The goal of this study was to examine the association of serum γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) levels with left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction and LV hypertrophy.Methods and Results:A cross-sectional study of 79,459 Korean men and women who underwent an echocardiography as part of a comprehensive health examination between March 2011 and December 2014. The presence of LV diastolic dysfunction and LV hypertrophy was determined using echocardiography. Of the subjects, 5,447 had LV diastolic dysfunction and 2,070 had LV hypertrophy. Both LV diastolic dysfunction and LV hypertrophy were associated with higher levels of serum GGT. Multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for LV diastolic dysfunction comparing serum GGT quartiles 2-4 with quartile 1 were 1.25 (1.08-1.44), 1.65 (1.43-1.91) and 2.23 (1.92-2.58), respectively (P for trend <0.001). Multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (95% CI) for LV hypertrophy comparing serum GGT quartiles 2-4 with quartile 1 were 1.13 (0.94-1.36), 1.14 (0.93-1.40) and 1.33 (1.07-1.65), respectively (P for trend 0.01). These associations of serum GGT levels with LV diastolic dysfunction and LV hypertrophy were modified by age (P for interaction <0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated a positive association between serum GGT levels and LV diastolic dysfunction and LV hypertrophy in a large cohort of middle-aged men and women independent of potential confounders.

Realtime Automatic Assessment of Cardiac Function in Echocardiography

Assessment of cardiac function by echocardiography is challenging for nonexperts. In a patient with dyspnea, quantification of the mitral annular excursion (MAE) and velocities is important for the diagnosis of heart failure. The displacement of the atrioventricular (AV) plane is a good indicator of systolic left ventricular function, while the peak velocities give supplementary information about the systolic and diastolic function. By measuring these parameters automatically, a preliminary diagnosis can be given by the nonexpert. We propose an automatic algorithm to localize the mitral annular points in an apical four-chamber view and estimate the MAE, as well as the systolic, early diastolic, and late diastolic tissue peak velocities, by using a deformable ventricle model for orientation and tissue Doppler data for tracking. Automatic parameter estimates from 367 tissue Doppler recordings were compared to reference measurements by experienced cardiologists to assess the accuracy of the estimation, as well as the ability to correctly detect reduced MAE, which we defined as less than 10 mm. The dataset consisted of 200 recordings from a patient population and 167 healthy from a population study. When considering the average of the septal and lateral values, the estimation error for the MAE had a standard deviation of 2.1 mm, which was reduced to 1.9 mm when excluding recordings for which the automatic segmentation failed to locate the AV plane (41 recordings). The corresponding standard deviations for the peak velocities were around 1 cm/s. The classification of MAE was correct in 90% of the cases and had a sensitivity of 83% and a specificity of 92%. We conclude that the algorithm has good accuracy and note that the estimation error for the MAE was comparable to interobserver and methodology agreements reported in the literature.

Additional Prognostic Value of EAS index in predicting the occurrence of rehospitalizations in chronic heart failure: data from the Daunia Heart Failure Registry

BACKGROUND

Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) may be useful in identifying subjects at higher risk among patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). The clinical role of newly developed TDI parameters, however, still needs to be documented.

METHODS

A total of 287 consecutive patients with CHF enrolled in the Daunia Heart Failure Registry underwent echocardiography assessment and were followed prospectively for a median 255 (204-316) days. Conventional echocardiography and TDI parameters were calculated. We also quantified by TDI a combined index (EAS index) of diastolic and systolic performance E'/(A'xS') and assessed its possible additional prognostic role in combination with 'traditional' parameters such as left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and myocardial performance index (MPI).

RESULTS

Subjects readmitted for worsening HF were characterized by higher levels of EAS index (median 0·14 (95% C.I. 0·12-0·21) vs. 0·11 (0·10-0·12, P < 0·05)). Increased rates of rehospitalization were found in subjects with EAS index >median (0·115) (21% vs. 10%, P < 0·05); higher EAS index values predicted the incidence of readmissions for worsening HF during follow-up, even at multivariable analysis. The assessment of EAS index in addition to LVEF and MPI showed an adjunctive prognostic value (log-rank P < 0·001 and P < 0·05, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

EAS index assessed by TDI may be helpful in predicting the risk of rehospitalizations in subjects with CHF. EAS index may represent an independent adjunctive tool for the risk stratification of patients with CHF in addition to 'traditional' tools such as LVEF or MPI.

Automated quantitative assessment of cardiovascular magnetic resonance-derived atrioventricular junction velocities

The assessment of atrioventricular junction (AVJ) deformation plays an important role in evaluating left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in clinical practice. This study aims to demonstrate the effectiveness and consistency of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) for quantitative assessment of AVJ velocity compared with tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDE). A group of 145 human subjects comprising 21 healthy volunteers, 8 patients with heart failure, 17 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, 52 patients with myocardial infarction, and 47 patients with repaired Tetralogy of Fallot were prospectively enrolled and underwent TDE and CMR scan. Six AVJ points were tracked with three CMR views. The peak systolic velocity (Sm1), diastolic velocity during early diastolic filling (Em), and late diastolic velocity during atrial contraction (Am) were extracted and analyzed. All CMR-derived septal and lateral AVJ velocities correlated well with TDE measurements (Sm1: r = 0.736; Em: r = 0.835; Am: r = 0.701; Em/Am: r = 0.691; all p < 0.001) and demonstrated excellent reproducibility [intrastudy: r = 0.921-0.991, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC): 0.918-0.991; interstudy: r = 0.900-0.970, ICC: 0.887-0.957; all p < 0.001]. The evaluation of three-dimensional AVJ motion incorporating measurements from all views better differentiated normal and diseased states [area under the curve (AUC) = 0.918] and provided further insights into mechanical dyssynchrony diagnosis in HF patients (AUC = 0.987). These findings suggest that the CMR-based method is feasible, accurate, and consistent in quantifying the AVJ deformation, and subsequently in diagnosing systolic and diastolic cardiac dysfunction.

Galectin-3 as a new biomarker of diastolic dysfunction in hemodialysis patients

BACKGROUND

Galectin-3 (gal-3) is an emerging prognostic biomarker in heart failure (HF). Clinical and experimental studies suggest that gal-3 is an important mediator of HF. Here we aimed to examine the relationship between gal-3 and diastolic dysfunction in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (HD).

METHODS

We examined the relationship between plasma gal-3 levels and left ventricular diastolic function. Plasma gal-3 was measured in 87 subjects with chronic HD and in 45 healthy controls using biochemical evaluations. Conventional echocardiography and pulsed tissue Doppler assessment were performed in all patients. Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) was defined as E' < 8 cm/s. The E/E' ratio was used as the main determinant of LVDD grade.

RESULTS

The mean gal-3 concentrations were: 16.05 ng/ml (13.89-19.75) in healthy controls; 14.54 ng/ml (10.85-17.65) in HD patients with normal diastolic function; and 23.30 ng/ml (20.12-26.87) in HD patients with LVDD (p  < 0.01). Plasma gal-3 levels correlated with E/E' (r = 0.933, p  < 0.01), left atrial volume index (r = 0.713, p  < 0.01), and E' (r = -0.685, p  < 0.01). ROC analysis showed that the best gal-3 cut-off point for the diagnosis of LVDD was 20.12 ng/ml with a sensitivity of 67.6 % and specificity of 84.6 % (AUC = 0.803).

CONCLUSION

We suggest that gal-3 may be a promising biomarker for the detection of LVDD in HD patients.

Intravenous phentolamine abolishes coronary vasoconstriction in response to mild central hypovolemia

Animal studies indicate alpha-adrenergic coronary vasoconstriction helps maintain left ventricular function during physiological stress. Whether this process occurs in humans is unknown. In the current study, we used transthoracic Doppler echocardiography to test the effect of lower body negative pressure (LBNP) on coronary blood flow velocity (CBV, left anterior descending coronary artery) and myocardial function in eight young healthy subjects before and after systemic infusion of phentolamine, a nonselective alpha blocker. Heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) were monitored on a beat-by-beat basis. Peak diastolic CBV and myocardial systolic and diastolic tissue velocities (Sm and Em), were quantified at baseline, and at -5 mmHg, -10 mmHg, and -15 mmHg LBNP. Coronary vascular resistance index (CVRI) was calculated as the quotient of diastolic BP and CBV. Phentolamine reduced baseline diastolic BP and increased HR but did not affect the reflex adjustments to LBNP. The reduction in CBV due to LBNP was blunted by phentolamine at -10 mmHg and -15 mmHg. Importantly, the increase in CVRI (i.e., coronary vasoconstriction) was abolished by phentolamine at -5 mmHg (0.21 ± 0.06 vs. 0.83 ± 0.13), -10 mmHg (0.24 ± 0.03 vs. 1.68 ± 0.31), and -15 mmHg (0.27 ± 0.10 vs. 2.34 ± 0.43). These data indicate that alpha-adrenergic coronary vasoconstriction is present during low levels of LBNP. With alpha blockade, more coronary flow is needed to maintain cardiac function. Our data suggest that alpha-adrenergic tone enhances coronary flow efficiency, presumably by redistributing flow from the epicardium to the endocardium.

Detection of left ventricular dysfunction using early diastolic mitral annular velocity in patients undergoing mitral valve repair for mitral regurgitation

OBJECTIVES

Ejection fraction (EF) is considered an unreliable index in patients with mitral regurgitation (MR). Left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) frequently occurs after mitral valve repair (MVR), with the incidence being 15% to 34%. This study aimed at investigating whether preoperative early diastolic mitral annular velocity (E') is associated with LVD after MVR.

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

University hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Sixty-three patients undergoing MVR for severe MR.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

LVD was defined by a postoperative EF of<50%. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and separate multivariate logistic regression models were used to examine the independent effects of echocardiographic variables on LVD risk. LVD occurred in 20 patients (31.7%). E' was correlated significantly with perioperative EF change (p = 0.019, r = 0.293). The area under the ROC curve was 0.777 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.644-0.911) for E', and the optimal threshold value of E' for predicting LVD was 6.5 cm/s (sensitivity, 80%; specificity, 67.4%). The frequency of LVD was 33.3% for a preoperative EF< 65%; 44.4% for preoperative EF< 65% and left ventricular end-systolic diameter>32 mm; and 88.9% for preoperative EF< 65%, left ventricular end-systolic diameter>32 mm, and E'< 6.5 cm/s (p = 0.006). Multivariate logistic regression models analysis revealed that E' was an independent risk factor for LVD (odds ratio: 1.98, 95% CI: 1.22-3.22).

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative E' value was an independent risk factor of LVD after mitral valve repair in patients with severe MR.

Electromechanical relationship in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

We examined whether there is a relationship between repolarization abnormalities on electrocardiography (EKG) and deformation abnormalities by echocardiography. Analysis of baseline EKGs and mechanical (echo-based deformation) changes was performed in 128 patients with a clinical diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) or repolarization abnormalities had higher septal thickness when compared to patients with normal EKG. Patients with EKG evidence of LVH or QTc prolongation had lower systolic velocity, systolic strain, systolic strain rate, late diastolic velocity, and late diastolic strain rate than patients with a normal EKG. Patients with strain pattern or ST depression/T-wave inversion had lower systolic velocity, systolic strain, systolic strain rate, early diastolic velocity, and late diastolic velocity when compared to patients with normal EKGs. LVH and repolarization abnormalities on surface EKG are markers of impaired systolic and diastolic mechanics in HCM.

Cardiac mechanics are impaired during fatiguing exercise and cold pressor test in healthy older adults

We sought to determine how the aging left ventricle (LV) responds to sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activation. Three separate echocardiographic experiments were conducted in 11 healthy young (26 ± 1 yr) and 11 healthy older (64 ± 1 yr) adults. Tissue Doppler imaging was used to measure systolic myocardial velocity (S(m)), early diastolic myocardial velocity (E(m)), and late diastolic myocardial velocity (A(m)) during isometric fatiguing handgrip (IFHG), a 2-min cold pressor test (CPT), and 5 min of normobaric hypoxia. Heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were also monitored on a beat-by-beat basis; rate pressure product (RPP) was used as an index of myocardial oxygen demand. At peak IFHG, the groups had similar increases in RPP, but the ΔS(m) was significantly greater (i.e., larger impairment) in the older subjects (-0.82 ± 0.13 cm/s) compared with the young subjects (0.37 ± 0.30 cm/s). At peak IFHG, the ΔE(m) was similar between older (-1.59 ± 0.68 cm/s) and young subjects (-1.06 ± 0.76 cm/s). In response to the CPT, both S(m) and E(m) were reduced in the older adults but did not change relative to baseline in the young subjects. Normobaric hypoxia elevated HR and RPP in both groups but did not alter Tissue Doppler parameters. These data indicate that S(m) and E(m) are reduced in healthy older adults during IFHG and CPT. We speculate that suboptimal LV adaptations to SNS stress may partly explain why acute heavy exertion can trigger myocardial ischemia.