Risk of competitive sport in young athletes with heart disease

Integrated Approach to Highlighting the Molecular Bases of a Deep Vein Thrombosis Event in an Elite Basketball Athlete

Acute or intense exercise can result in metabolic imbalances, muscle injuries, or reveal hidden disorders. Laboratory medicine in sports is playing an increasingly crucial role in monitoring athletes' health conditions. In this study, we designed an integrated approach to explore the causes of a deep venous thrombosis event in an elite basketball player. Since the complete blood count revealed a marked platelet count (838 × 103 µL), and thrombophilia screening tests did not reveal any significant alteration, we evaluated the thrombin generation, which highlights a state of hypercoagulability. First-level haemostasis exams showed only a slight prolongation of the activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT). Thus, screening tests for von Willebrand Disease showed a reduction in vWF parameters. Therefore, we directed our hypothesis towards a diagnosis of acquired von Willebrand disease secondary to Essential Thrombocythemia (ET). To confirm this hypothesis and highlight the molecular mechanism underlying the observed phenotype, molecular tests were performed to evaluate the presence of the most common mutations associated with ET, revealing a 52-bp deletion in the coding region of CALR exon 9. This case report highlights the importance of an integrated approach to monitoring the athletes' health status to personalise training and treatments, thus avoiding the appearance of diseases and injuries that, if underestimated, can undermine the athlete's life.

Exercise stress echocardiography: Where are we now?

Exercise stress echocardiography (ESE) is a widely used diagnostic test in cardiology departments. ESE is mainly used to study patients with coronary artery disease; however, it has increasingly been used in other clinical scenarios including valve pathology, congenital heart disease, hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathies, athlete evaluations, diastolic function evaluation, and pulmonary circulation study. In our laboratories, we use an established methodology in which cardiac function is evaluated while exercising on a treadmill. After completing the exercise regimen, patients remain in a standing position or lie down on the left lateral decubitus, depending on the clinical questions to be answered for further evaluation. This method increases the quality and quantity of information obtained. Here, we present the various methods of exercise stress echocardiography and our experience in many clinical arenas in detail. We also present alternatives to ESE that may be used and their advantages and disadvantages. We review recent advances in ESE and future directions for this established method in the study of cardiac patients and underline the advantage of using a diagnostic tool that is radiation-free.

Diet-dependent entropic assessment of athletes' lifespan

Life expectancies of the athletes depend on the sports they are doing. The entropic age concept, which was found successful in the previous nutrition studies, will be employed to assess the relation between the athletes' longevity and nutrition. Depending on their caloric needs, diets are designed for each group of athletes based on the most recent guidelines while they are pursuing their careers and for the post-retirement period, and then the metabolic entropy generation was worked out for each group. Their expected lifespans, based on attaining the lifespan entropy limit, were calculated. Thermodynamic assessment appeared to be in agreement with the observations. There may be a significant improvement in the athletes' longevity if they shift to a retirement diet after the age of 50. The expected average longevity for male athletes was 56 years for cyclists, 66 years for weightlifters, 75 years for rugby players and 92 years for golfers. If they should start consuming the retirement diet after 50 years of age, the longevity of the cyclists may increase for 7 years, and those of weightlifters, rugby players and golfers may increase for 22, 30 and 8 years, respectively.

Exercise-Induced Cardiac Remodeling: Lessons from Humans, Horses, and Dogs

Physical activity is dependent upon the cardiovascular system adequately delivering blood to meet the metabolic and thermoregulatory demands of exercise. Animals who regularly exercise therefore require a well-adapted heart to support this delivery. The purpose of this review is to examine cardiac structure, and the potential for exercise-induced cardiac remodeling, in animals that regularly engage in strenuous activity. Specifically, we draw upon the literature that has studied the "athlete's heart" in humans, horses, and dogs, to enable the reader to compare and contrast cardiac remodeling in these three athletic species. The available literature provides compelling evidence for exercise-induced cardiac remodeling in all three species. However, more work is required to understand the influence of species/breed specific genetics and exercise-related hemodynamics, in order to fully understand the impact of exercise on cardiac structure.

1H- and 31P-myocardial magnetic resonance spectroscopy in non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients and competitive athletes

PURPOSE

The clinical differentiation between athlete's heart and mild forms of non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is crucial. We hypothesized that differences do exist between the myocardial metabolism of patients with non-obstructive HCM and competitive athletes (CAs). Our aim was to evaluate myocardial metabolism with ³¹P-MRS and ¹H-MRS in HCM patients and CAs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

After Ethics Committee approval, 15 CAs and 7 HCM patients were prospectively enrolled. They underwent a 1.5-T cardiac MR including electrocardiographically triggered cine images, single-voxel ¹H-MRS and multivoxel ³¹P-MRS. ¹H-MRS was performed after imaging using standard coil with the patient in the supine position; thereafter, ³¹P-MRS was performed using a dedicated coil, in the prone position. Data were reported as median and interquartile range. Mann-Whitney U test was used.

RESULTS

In CAs, left ventricular mass index was 72 (66-83) g/m², septal thickness 10 (10-11) mm, end diastolic volume index 95 (85-102) ml/m², end systolic volume index 30 (28-32) ml/m² and ejection fraction 68% (65-69%); in HCM patients, 81 (76-111) g/m² (P = 0.052), 18 (15-21) mm (P = 0.003), 73 (58-76) ml/m² (P = 0.029), 20 (16-34) ml/m² (P = 0.274) and 68% (55-73%) (P = 1.000), respectively. At ¹H-MRS, total lipids were 35 (0-183) arbitrary units (au) for CA and 763 (155-1994) au for HCM patients (P = 0.046). At ³¹P-MRS, PCr/γATP was 5 (4-6) au for CA and 4 (2-5) au for HCM patients (P = 0.230). Examination time was 20 min for imaging only, 5 min for ¹H-MRS and 15 min for ³¹P-MRS.

CONCLUSIONS

We observed a significant increase of myocardial lipids, but a preserved PCr/γATP ratio in the metabolism of HCM patients compared with competitive CAs.

The Impending Dilemma of Electrocardiogram Screening in Athletic Children

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) affects 2/100,000 young, active athletes per year of which 40% are less than 18 years old. In 2004, the International Olympic Committee accepted the Lausanne Recommendations, including a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), as a pre-participation screening tool for adult Olympic athletes. The debate on extending those recommendations to the pediatric population has recently begun. The aims of our study were to highlight the characteristics of the young athlete ECG, phenotypical manifestations of SCD-related disease in children, and challenges of implanting ECG screening in athletic children. A systematic review of the literature is performed. We searched available electronic medical databases for articles relevant to SCD, ECG, silent cardiac diseases, and athletic children. We focused on ECG screening and description in a pediatric population. We identified 2240 studies. Sixty-two relevant articles and one book were selected. In children, prepubertal ECG and the ECG phenotype of most SCD-related diseases differ notably from adults. The characteristics of the prepubertal ECG and of the phenotypical manifestation of SCD-related disease in children will result in less specific and less sensitive ECG-based screening programs. Those limitations advise against extending the adult recommendation to children, without further studies. Until then, history and physical exam should remain the cornerstone of screening for SCD-related pathologies in children.

Clinical applications of exercise stress echocardiography in the treadmill with upright evaluation during and after exercise

Exercise stress echocardiography is the most frequently used stress test in our laboratory. Exercise echocardiography is used mainly in the study of patients with coronary artery disease. However, the technique is increasingly being used to study other diseases. In our centre, we use an original methodology, published by us in 2000, in which we evaluate heart function during exercise in the treadmill. After the exercise, patients are maintained in orthostatic position when appropriate or lying down in left lateral decubitus for further evaluation. Since this method seems to increase the quality and the quantity of information obtained in so many clinical arenas, we now present a detailed review of this methodology and its applications.

Exercise: friend or foe?

Physical activity and exercise have been associated with reduced cardiovascular risk, morbidity, and mortality, as well as all-cause mortality, both in the general population and in patients with various forms of cardiovascular disease. Increasing amounts of exercise are associated with incremental reductions in mortality, but considerable benefits have been found even with a low level of exercise. Exercise is beneficial for most individuals, but risks exist. Exercise is associated with reduced long-term morbidity and mortality, but acute exercise can transiently increase the risk of fatal or nonfatal cardiovascular events. Although tragic, these events are very rare, and even to some extent preventable with screening programmes. Low-intensity physical activity is important and beneficial to all individuals, including those with a high risk of adverse cardiovascular events. In individuals who are physically fit and who do not have genetic predisposition to, or signs of, cardiovascular disease, the greater the intensity and amount of exercise, the greater the health benefits. Nevertheless, effective strategies to encourage exercise in the population are lacking. A sustained increase in physical activity is likely to require more than individual advice, and needs to include urban planning and possibly even legislation.

Significance of deep T-wave inversions in asymptomatic athletes with normal cardiovascular examinations: practical solutions for managing the diagnostic conundrum

Preparticipation screening programmes for underlying cardiac pathologies are now commonplace for many international sporting organisations. However, providing medical clearance for an asymptomatic athlete without a family history of sudden cardiac death (SCD) is especially challenging when the athlete demonstrates particularly abnormal repolarisation patterns, highly suggestive of an inherited cardiomyopathy or channelopathy. Deep T-wave inversions of ≥ 2 contiguous anterior or lateral leads (but not aVR, and III) are of major concern for sports cardiologists who advise referring team physicians, as these ECG alterations are a recognised manifestation of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC). Subsequently, inverted T-waves may represent the first and only sign of an inherited heart muscle disease, in the absence of any other features and before structural changes in the heart can be detected. However, to date, there remains little evidence that deep T-wave inversions are always pathognomonic of either a cardiomyopathy or an ion channel disorder in an asymptomatic athlete following long-term follow-up. This paper aims to provide a systematic review of the prevalence of T-wave inversion in athletes and examine T-wave inversion and its relationship to structural heart disease, notably HCM and ARVC with a view to identify young athletes at risk of SCD during sport. Finally, the review proposes clinical management pathways (including genetic testing) for asymptomatic athletes demonstrating significant T-wave inversion with structurally normal hearts.

[Sudden cardiac death in young athletes]

Cardiovascular diseases are the cause of death in up to 90% of athletes. The most frequent cause of death in young athletes is a sudden cardiac death (SCD). Causes of SCD among athletes are strongly correlated with age. In young athletes (< 35 years), the leading causes are congenital cardiac diseases, particularly hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and congenital coronary artery anomalies. By contrast, most of deaths in older athletes (< 35 years) are due to coronary artery disease. Although there is no possibility to decrease the risk of SCD to "zero", especially in sport competitions, clear recommendations, if available, for cardiovascular evaluation before athletic participation and side effects of sports activities, would minimize the frequency of SCD. If a specific condition of the cardiovascular system is diagnosed, it is necessary to establish the risk of SCD associated with a continual involvement in physical activities and competitive sports, and to define clearly disqualification criteria for each individual athlete.

Morte súbita em atletas: protocolos e rotinas adotados por clubes de futebol profissional em São Paulo

A morte súbita cardíaca em atletas não é um fato novo e nem isolado. Historicamente, ela atinge principalmente atletas jovens, tendo como maior incidência a cardiomiopatia hipertrófica. No ano de 2005, a Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte instituiu a Diretriz sobre a Morte Súbita no Exercício e no Esporte. A implementação dessas recomendações por clubes de futebol profissional poderá contribuir para detecção precoce de risco e prevenção de morte súbita nesses atletas. OBJETIVO: Identificar a adoção de protocolos e rotinas por clubes de futebol profissional quanto à avaliação pré-participação dos atletas e sua adequação à Diretriz. MÉTODO: Todos os clubes de futebol profissional do município de São Paulo pertencentes à Federação Paulista de Futebol foram avaliados através de entrevista com o médico responsável pelo Departamento Médico de cada clube, após aprovação do projeto pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa e autorização do sujeito de pesquisa. As respostas foram submetidas à estatística descritiva e comparadas à Diretriz. RESULTADOS: Nenhum clube adota integralmente os exames sugeridos pela Diretriz; contudo, os exames como anamnese completa com enfoque cardiovascular, teste ergométrico e eletrocardiograma de repouso são realizados por todos. O ecocardiograma é realizado por 82,5% dos clubes. CONCLUSÃO: Todos os clubes avaliados seguem um protocolo institucional que contempla parcialmente as recomendações da Diretriz. Sugere-se a integração entre os órgãos responsáveis pelo esporte no Brasil e parcerias privadas com o objetivo de diminuir o custo efetivo dos exames

Stress-induced intraventricular gradients in symptomatic athletes during upright exercise continuous wave Doppler echocardiography

The development of significant intraventricular gradients (IVGs) during exercise has been described anecdotally in athletes. However, the prevalence and clinical effect of this observation are unclear. In addition, the most appropriate exercise technique (upright vs semisupine) for eliciting IVGs also remains unknown. The present study had 2 main aims: (1) to identify the prevalence of exercise IVGs in athletes whose preparticipation cardiovascular screening result for sports practice, according to the European Society of Cardiology guidelines, was positive; and (2) to evaluate the influence of performing exercise echocardiography, as described, on the detection of IVGs. We enrolled 139 consecutive athletes (135 amateurs and 4 professionals, mean age 22 ± 9.9 years; 30 women) who underwent treadmill exercise echocardiography. In each athlete, the IVG was evaluated by continuous wave Doppler during 5 conditions: left lateral decubitus at rest; upright at rest; upright at peak treadmill exercise; upright in the recovery phase; and left lateral decubitus in the recovery phase. All patients had normokinetic regional wall motion at rest and during exercise. According to the detection of IVG during treadmill echocardiography (IVG was considered significant if >30 mm Hg at rest or >50 mm Hg during/after exercise), 2 groups were identified: a group (n = 52), with significant IVG and a group (n = 87) without significant IVG. The IVG was greater in the upright position, both at rest (only 2 athletes from group with IVG) and after exercise (52 athletes, all from group with IVG). The IVG was lower in the recovery phase in the left lateral decubitus position (55 ± 15 mm Hg in 30 athletes, all from group with IVG) than in the upright position in the recovery phase (95 ± 35 mm Hg in 52 athletes, all from group with IVG) and at peak exercise (66 ± 24 mm Hg in 41 athletes from group with IVG). We observed systolic anterior movement of the mitral valve in 33 of the 52 athletes in the group with IVG and in none of the athletes in the group without IVG. In conclusion, in athletes, exercise-induced symptoms and/or ischemia-like electrocardiographic signs are often associated with significant IVG, developing in the absence of wall motion abnormalities. IVG was more evident during post-treadmill upright imaging.

[Distinguishing the athlete's heart syndrome from some pathological conditions]

The response of the body to vigorous physical activity is a multiorgan system phenomenon. As a result, the body undergoes profound morphologic and functional alterations, but as there are different kinds of physical activities, the degree of these changes is highly variable as well. Considering many sudden cardiac deaths in sport, it is needless to say how important it is to know where the border of normal changes of the body due to physical activity is and when these changes become unhealthy. Also it is very important to distinguish physiological changes of the body due to physical activity and pathological changes due to some cardiac diseases. In order to prevent sudden cardiac deaths in sport, it is very important to distinguish athletes heart syndrome and hypertrophic cardiomiopathy, dilatative cardiomiopathy, aritmogenic cardiomiopathy of the right ventricle and myocarditis. More frequent physical examinations of athletes are recommended.

[Sudden cardiac death in athletes]

The entity of sudden cardiac death in young athletes has been known since the year 490 B.C. when young Greek soldier Phidipides had run the distance from Marathon to Athens and suddenly fell down dead. In the last twenty years, sudden death of famous athletes have attracted huge attention of medical and social community; afterwards both American and European Cardiology Societies started to publish periodically guidelines for preparticipation screening. These guidelines have focused on both identifying athletes with potential cardiovascular risk for sudden death and eligibility conditions for athletes participating in competitive sports. Structural and functional abnormalities causing sudden cardiac death in young athletes have been identified by autopsy-based studies. Unrecognized congenital cardiovascular abnormalities associated with excessive physical effort create background for electrophysiological instability and occurrence of malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmia and consequent death. The most frequent causes of sudden cardiac death in young athletes include hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, anomalies of the coronary arteries and idiopathic left ventricular hypertrophy. Current ACC/AHA & ESC guidelines should be widely used in order to reduce potential sudden cardiac death in young athletes.

Clinical significance of intraventricular gradient during effort in an adolescent karate player

The authors report the case of a 16-year-old boy who practices karate, who underwent medical evaluation because of atypical chest discomfort, related to strenuous effort. The ECG and echocardiogram findings were normal. The young boy did a treadmill stress test which was positive for myocardial ischemia. Late during the investigation, he underwent treadmill stress echocardiography, during which he developed intraventricular gradient of over 130 mmHg with end-systolic peak and systolic anterior movement (SAM) of the mitral valve. These echocardiographic findings were not present at rest and disappeared shortly after termination of exercise. The authors discuss the significance of this event. This leads us to advise withdrawal from participation in competitive sport according to the recomendations of the European Society of Cardiology. A possible role of exercise stress echo for intraventricular pressure gradient assessment in symptomatic athletes with structurally normal hearts is suggested.

Echocardiographic characteristics of professional tennis players at the Roland Garros French Open

BACKGROUND

Intensive sport may induce cardiac modifications. No recent study has been performed in elite tennis players. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to analyze the cardiac characteristics in a population of professional tennis players.

METHODS

During the 2004 French Open Tennis Tournament, we offered complete echocardiographic screening to all professional tennis players. The study population consisted of 160 subjects: 80 tennis players (50 men and 30 women) and age- and sex-matched control groups (n = 80).

RESULTS

Indexed left ventricular mass was significantly higher in tennis players (P < .0001). Left ventricular hypertrophy was present in 18 male (36%) and 6 female (20%) tennis players versus 2 men (4%) and no woman in the control groups (P < .0001 and P = .02, respectively). All indexed right and left atrial measurements were significantly higher in tennis players (P < .003). The incidence of left and right atrial dilation was significantly higher in tennis players (P < or = .0001). Indexed right atrial area and left atrial volume were significantly higher in baseline players as compared with offensive players and to control groups (P < .0001), whereas there was no significant difference in left ventricular mass according to the style of play (P > .75). No significant between-group difference was observed in Doppler data.

CONCLUSIONS

In the present study, professional tennis players presented significant cardiac differences, as compared to a control group, with moderate left ventricular hypertrophy, bilateral atrial dilation, and normal systolic and diastolic functions. Atrial dilation is related to the style of play (baseline or offensive) and should be considered as physiological in tennis players.

The role of echocardiography in the differential diagnosis between training induced myocardial hypertrophy versus cardiomyopathy

Increased myocardial mass due to regular high-volume intense exercise training (so-called athlete's heart) is not uncommon. Although directly correlated with the extent of training loads, myocardial hypertrophy is not present exclusively in well-trained or elite athletes. Athlete's heart is considered a physiological phenomenon with no known harmful consequences. However, extreme forms of myocardial hypertrophy due to endurance training resemble a structural heart disease such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition associated with substantially increased risk of cardiac event. Endurance sports such as rowing and road cycling, rather than strength/power training, are most commonly associated with left ventricular (LV) wall thickness compatible with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The differentiation between physiological and maladaptive cardiac hypertrophy in athletes is undoubtedly important, since untreated cardiac abnormality often possesses a real threat of premature death due to heart failure during intense physical exertion. Luckily, the distinction from pathological hypertrophy is usually straightforward using transthoracic echocardiography, as endurance athletes, in addition to moderately and proportionally thickened LV walls with normal acoustic density, tend to possess increased LV diameter. In more uncertain cases, a detailed evaluation of myocardial function using (tissue) Doppler and contrast echocardiography is effective. When a doubt still remains, knowledge of an athlete's working capacity may be useful in evaluating whether the insidious cardiac pathology is absent. In such cases cardiopulmonary exercise testing typically resolves the dilemma: indices of aerobic capacity are markedly higher in healthy endurance athletes compared to patients. Other characteristics such as a decrease of LV mass due to training cessation are also discussed in the article. Key pointsTransthoracic echocardiography is still the most common relevant differentiation technique applied to distinguish athlete's heart from the cardiomyopathy.Conventional echocardiographic criteria such as left ventricular chamber size and diastolic function parameters are to be regarded first when making differential diagnosis between substantially increased wall thickness in athlete's heart (i.e. physiological adaptation) versus a disease (usually hypertrophic cardiomyopathy).When conventional echocardiographic parameters fail to diagnose the nature of myocardial hypertrophy, other differentiation criteria such as aerobic fitness, cardiac performance in response to physical exertion, and changes in echocardiographic parameters due to detraining, must be taken into consideration.Tissue Doppler, contrast and three-dimensional imaging are state-of-the-art echocardiographic techniques which have recently appeared in the differential diagnostics.

Sudden cardiac death in athletes: the Lausanne Recommendations

OBJECTIVES

This study reports on sudden cardiac death (SCD) in sport in the literature and aims at achieving a generally acceptable preparticipation screening protocol (PPSP) endorsed by the consensus meeting of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

BACKGROUND

The sudden death of athletes under 35 years engaged in competitive sports is a well-known occurrence; the incidence is higher in athletes (approximately 2/100,000 per year) than in non-athletes (2.5 : 1), and the cause is cardiovascular in over 90%.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature identified causes of SCD, sex, age, underlying cardiac disease and the type of sport and PPSP in use. Methods necessary to detect pre-existing cardiac abnormalities are discussed to formulate a PPSP for the Medical Commission of the IOC.

RESULTS

SCD occurred in 1101 (1966-2004) reported cases in athletes under 35 years, 50% had congenital anatomical heart disease and cardiomyopathies and 10% had early-onset atherosclerotic heart disease. Forty percent occurred in athletes under 18 years, 33% under 16 years; the female/male ratio was 1/9. SCD was reported in almost all sports; most frequently involved were soccer (30%), basketball (25%) and running (15%). The PPSP were of varying quality and content. The IOC consensus meeting accepted the proposed Lausanne Recommendations based on this research and expert opinions (http://multimedia.olympic.org/pdf/en_report_886.pdf).

CONCLUSION

SCD occurs more frequently in young athletes, even those under the age of 18 years, than expected and is predominantly caused by pre-existing congenital cardiac abnormalities. Premature atherosclerotic disease forms another important cause in these young adults. A generally acceptable PPSP has been achieved by the IOC's acceptance of the Lausanne Recommendations.

Implantable Cardioverter- Defibrillator Therapy in Clinical Practice

Pharmacologic treatment of heart failure has led to dramatic improvements in survival and quality of life. Nonetheless, heart failure often progresses despite treatment with diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, beta-adrenergic blockers, aldosterone antagonists, and digoxin. Further, despite a steady decline in the risk of death from pump failure, many patients remain at high risk for sudden cardiac death. The annual incidence of sudden cardiac death in the U.S. alone has been estimated at 184,000 to over 400,000 cases. During the past decade, substantial advances have been made in the use of device-based therapy for this population. The role of the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) continues to evolve in routine heart failure management. The current status of ICD therapy in the treatment of heart failure patients based on randomized clinical trial results and published practice guidelines is summarized in this review.

Sudden cardiac death in athletes: a guide for emergency physicians

A conditioned athlete is usually regarded as a member of the healthiest segment of society, and exercise itself is looked upon as a means to improve health. Although extremely uncommon, sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young athletes is a devastating medical event to all involved (patient, family, community, team, and caregivers). Most etiologies of SCD in athletes result in the same final common denominator (cardiac arrest) on presentation to an emergency physician. There are, however, certain historic, physical examination, and electrocardiographic features of many of these disease processes that emergency physicians should have a working knowledge of to try to identify them before they result in SCD. This review examines the clinical presentation, diagnostic techniques, and management options applicable to emergency practitioners.

Detection and assessment of coronary artery anomalies by three-dimensional magnetic resonance coronary angiography

BACKGROUND

Coronary artery anomalies (CAAs) are a relatively rare condition usually diagnosed in vivo by conventional angiography. In the past few years Magnetic resonance coronary angiography (MRCA) has been used to detect CAAs and found to be highly accurate. No data is available regarding the ability of MRCA to detect previously not suspected anomalies.

METHODS

We prospectively analyzed the origin and course of 336 patients undergoing a diagnostic Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) study. After the completion of a standard examination a navigator-echo 3D-MRCA low-quality scan was used in all the cases to rule out CAAs. The high-quality MRCA was applied only if an abnormal coronary arterial tree was seen.

RESULTS

Nineteen patients with CAAs (12 men, 7 women; mean age, 53+/-18 years) were identified by MRCA. Six out of the 19 CAAs subjects had already been detected by other means (coronary angiography in 5, and transesophageal echocardiography in 1 case). However in none of them a complete anatomical assessment was achieved. In 13 patients CAAs were an unexpected and new finding. MRCA was able to assess the origin and proximal course of the anomalous artery in all the cases.

CONCLUSIONS

MRCA is able to detect the presence and anomalous course of CAAs. Besides offering precise information about already suspected CAAs, MRCA can identify anomalies previously not suspected. This study suggests a potential role for MRCA as a screening tool for CAAs in young patients with angina, ventricular arrhythmias, or unexplained syncope as well as in highly competitive athletes.

Physical activity: the health benefits outweigh the risks

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This article will summarize the current findings on the effects of physical activity on human health and well-being.

RECENT FINDINGS

Physical activity is associated with enhanced health and reduced risk of all-cause mortality such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis, sarcopenia, cognitive disorders, and some forms of cancer. Nevertheless, the effects of exercise with respect to potential health consequences are complex. When untrained or previously sedentary persons undertake vigorous exertion suddenly, the undesired side effects of injuries, dehydration or cardiac arrest are amplified.

SUMMARY

It is reasonable to conclude that the risk exposure through physical activity is outweighed by its overall benefits, and health authorities strongly encourage participation in moderate intensity physical activity on a daily basis. In the future, the identification and characterization of particularly inactive sub-groups of the population may facilitate and optimize the planning of public health interventions.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a common genetically transmitted disease, defined clinically by the presence of unexplained left ventricular hypertrophy. The disease has a varied clinical course and outcome; many patients have little or no discernible cardiovascular symptoms, whereas others have profound exercise limitation and recurrent arrhythmias. The overall risk of disease-related complications such as sudden death, endstage heart failure, and fatal stroke is roughly 1-2% per year, but the absolute risk in individuals varies as a function of underlying genetic abnormality, age, myocardial pathology, and other pathophysiological abnormalities such as impaired peripheral vascular responses. Genetic counselling and clinical risk stratification are relevant to all patients, but many therapeutic interventions, including septal alcohol ablation, septal myectomy, and implantable cardioverter defibrillators, are appropriate only in particular patient subsets. We review the management of patients with unexplained myocardial hypertrophy, considering the influence of underlying genetic and pathophysiological substrates on clinical decision-making.

Dysrhythmias and the Athlete

Young competitive athletes are perceived by the general population to be the healthiest members of society. The possibility that highly trained high school and college athletes may have a potentially serious cardiac condition that can predispose to life-threatening dysrhythmias or sudden cardiac death (SCD) seems paradoxical. The occurrence of SCD in young athletes from dysrhythmias is an uncommon but highly visible event. Media reports of sudden death in athletes have intensified the public and medical interest in medical, ethical, and legal issues related to cardiac disorders in the athlete. Developing screening strategies to identify conditions associated with sudden death has been the focus of attention of experts in the fields of arrhythmology and sports medicine and has resulted in Consensus Statements and Guidelines for evaluation of athletes. These guidelines provide information and recommendations for detection, evaluation, and management of athletes with cardiovascular disorders and criteria for eligibility and disqualification from participation in high-intensity and competitive sports. Differentiating normal exercise-induced physiologic changes in the heart from pathological conditions associated with sudden death is critical for developing screening strategies to identify athletes at high risk. This article discusses a case report of sudden cardiac death in an athlete followed by a brief review of various causes of cardiac dysrhythmias in young athletes and recommendations for screening and management of athletes with cardiovascular diseases.