A rare case of isolated persistent left superior vena cava diagnosed by echocardiography

BACKGROUND

The persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is an infrequent vascular variant. PLSVC with absent right superior vena cava, also known as isolated PLSVC, is an exceptionally rare entity. In this case we present a patient with isolated PLSVC draining to coronary sinus, diagnosed incidentally during echocardiography.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 35-year-old man underwent a transthoracic echocardiography which showed an enormously dilated coronary sinus. Hand-agitated saline was injected via peripheral intravenous cannulas. The contrast appeared firstly in the coronary sinus before it opacified the right atrium. Since this was also visible by the right antecubital saline injection, it indicated an extremely rare case of PLSVC with the absence of right superior vena cava which was confirmed by cardiac magnetic resonance.

CONCLUSIONS

The finding of a distinctively dilated coronary sinus in echocardiography led us to further investigation using agitated saline that revealed an infrequent anomaly termed isolated PLSVC. The in-depth diagnosis of this vascular variant is crucial considering that it may lead to important clinical implications, such as difficulties with central venous access, especially in the current era of a rapid development of cardiac device therapies.

The usefulness of speckle tracking echocardiography for the prediction of cardiac involvement in patients with biopsy-proven sarcoidosis

INTRODUCTION

Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is commonly diagnosed based on clinical criteria and abnormalities in noninvasive imaging reported in patients with biopsy-proven extracardiac sarcoidosis. Electrocardiogram and two-dimensional echocardiography have a low sensitivity for CS detection. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) and positron emission tomography (PET) have limitations in terms of cost and availability.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to assess the usefulness of left ventricular longitudinal strain, measured using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (STE), for the prediction of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) presence in CMR in patients with biopsy-proven sarcoidosis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 119 patients with biopsy-proven extracardiac sarcoidosis were divided, according to the clinical criteria proposed by the 2014 Heart Rhythm Society expert consensus statement (HRS 2014), into two groups: 43 individuals with "probable cardiac sarcoidosis", CS(+) and 76 individuals without cardiac sarcoidosis, CS (-). Data from echocardiography, CMR, 12-lead ECG and 24 h Holter monitoring were analyzed.

RESULTS

Left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS) was slightly reduced in the entire sarcoidosis group (-18.61± 2.96), no difference between the CS (+) and CS (-) subgroups was found (-18.0% ± 3.2% and -18.9% ± 2.8%, respectively; p = .223). No cut-off value for LV-GLS was identified that could predict the presence of LGE. Segmental longitudinal strain impairment partially correlated with the presence of LGE on CMR.

CONCLUSIONS

In our cohort of sarcoidosis patients, segmental longitudinal strain proved more helpful in the diagnostic process than LV-GLS. The ultimate role of STE in the diagnosis of CS remains to be established.

Coexistence of Left Atrial Tumor and Lung Cancer-The Key Role of an Individualized Approach

During the diagnostic work-up in oncology, it is exceedingly rare to assume a concomitant presence of two cancers, a benign one and a malignant one, in a single patient. A 61-year-old man was admitted to the cardiology department for cardiac evaluation prior to planned radical treatment of non-small cell (NSCLC) left lung cancer (cT3N1M0). Echocardiography revealed a prominent, unpedunculated structure, measuring 17 × 14 mm, located in the left atrium (LA) near the fossa ovalis. The tumor was confirmed via cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging, which showed the radiological features of an atrial myxoma. The patient consulted with the Cardiac Surgery Department and was deemed ineligible for surgical treatment of a lesion with mucinous features; thus, no definitive histopathologic confirmation of the tumor present was possible. He was then successfully treated with radical radiochemotherapy and immunotherapy. During the 2-year follow-up, regular echocardiography and CMR were performed, which documented a stable LA tumor size.

Aortic Wall Thickness as a Surrogate for Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Familial and Nonfamilial Hypercholesterolemia: Quantitative 3D Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study and Interrelations with Computed Tomography Calcium Scores, and Carotid Ultrasonography

We aimed to compare the extent of subclinical atherosclerosis in the ascending and descending aortas by measuring wall area and thickness using 3D cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (aAWAI and dAWAI) in patients with asymptomatic familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and nonfamilial hypercholesterolemia (NFH). We also aimed to establish the interrelations of CMR parameters with other subclinical atherosclerosis measurements, such as calcium scores, obtained using computed tomography in coronary arteries (CCS) and ascending and descending aorta (TCSasc and TCSdsc), as well as the carotid intima-media thicknesses (cIMT) using ultrasonography. A total of 60 patients with FH (29 men and 31 women), with a mean age of 52.3 ± 9.6 years, were analyzed. A subclinical atherosclerosis assessment was also performed on a group consisting of 30 age- and gender-matched patients with NFH, with a mean age of 52.5 ± 7.9 years. We found the ascending and descending aortic wall areas and thicknesses in the FH group to be significantly increased than those of the NFH group. A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that a positive FH mutation value was a strong predictor of high aAWAI and dAWAI independent of the LDL cholesterol level. Correlations across CMR atherosclerotic parameters, calcium scores, and cIMT in the FH and NFH groups, were significant but low. Most of the atherosclerosis tests with high results belonged to the FH group. We found that patients with documented heterozygous FH had a higher atherosclerosis burden in the aorta compared to patients with severe hypercholesterolemia without FH gene mutation. Atherosclerosis is not severe in asymptomatic patients with FH, but is more pronounced and also more diffuse than in patients with NFH. The etiology of hypercholesterolemia, and not just cholesterol levels, plays a significant role in determining the degree of subclinical atherosclerosis.

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Relaxometry Parameters, Late Gadolinium Enhancement, and Feature-Tracking Myocardial Longitudinal Strain in Patients Recovered from COVID-19

COVID-19 infection is associated with myocarditis, and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is the reference non-invasive imaging modality for myocardial tissue characterization. Quantitative CMR techniques, such as feature tracking (FT) and left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS) analysis, have been introduced as promising diagnostic tools to improve the diagnostic accuracy of suspected myocarditis. The aim of this study was to analyze the left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS) and the influence of T1 and T2 relaxation times, ECV, and LGE appearance on GLS parameters in a multiparametric imaging protocol in patients who recovered from COVID-19. The 86 consecutive patients enrolled in the study had all recovered from mild or moderate COVID-19 infections; none required hospitalization. Their persistent symptoms and suspected myocarditis led to cardiac magnetic resonance imaging within 3 months of the diagnosis of the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results: Patients with GLS less negative than -15% had significantly lower LVEF (53.6% ± 8.9 vs. 61.6% ± 4.8; <0.001) and were significantly more likely to have prolonged T1 (28.6% vs. 7.5%; p = 0.019). Left ventricular GLS correlated significantly with T1 (r = 0.303; p = 0.006) and LVEF (r = -0.732; p < 0.001). Left ventricular GLS less negative than -15% was 7.5 times more likely in patients with prolonged T1 (HR 7.62; 95% CI 1.25-46.64). The reduced basal inferolateral longitudinal strain had a significant impact on the global left ventricular longitudinal strain. ROC results suggested that a GLS of 14.5% predicted prolonged T1 relaxation time with the best sensitivity and specificity. Conclusions: CMR abnormalities, including a myocarditis pattern, are common in patients who have recovered from COVID-19. The CMR feature-tracking left ventricular GLS is related to T1 relaxation time and may serve as a novel parameter to detect global and regional myocardial injury and dysfunction in patients with suspected myocardial involvement after recovery from COVID-19.

A distinct septal pattern of late gadolinium enhancement specific for COVID-induced myocarditis: A multicenter cardiovascular magnetic resonance study

BACKGROUND

Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is a great medical challenge provoking acute respiratory distress, pulmonary manifestations, and cardiovascular (CV) consequences.

AIMS

This study compares cardiac injury in COVID-19 myocarditis patients with non-COVID myocarditis patients.

METHODS

Patients who recovered from COVID-19 were scheduled for cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) owing to clinical myocarditis suspicion. The retrospective non-COVID-19 myocarditis (2018-2019) group was enrolled (n=221 patients). All patients underwent a contrast-enhanced CMR, conventional myocarditis protocol, and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). The COVID study group included 552 patients with a mean (standard deviation [SD]) age 45.9 (12.6) years old.

RESULTS

CMR assessment confirmed a myocarditis-like LGE in 46% of the cases (68.5% of the segments with LGE <25% transmural extent), left ventricular (LV) dilatation in 10%, and systolic dysfunction in 16%. The COVID-myocarditis group showed a smaller median (interquartile range [IQR]) LV LGE (4.4% [2.9%-8.1%] vs. 5.9% [4.4%-11.8%]; P <0.001), lower LVEDV (144.6 [125.5-178] ml vs. 162.8 [136.6-194] ml; P <0.001), limited functional consequence (LVEF, 59% [54.1%-65%] vs. 58% [52%-63%]; P = 0.01), and a higher rate of pericarditis (13.6% vs. 6%; P = 0.03) compared to non-COVID myocarditis. The COVID-induced injury was more frequent in septal segments (2, 3, 14), and non-COVID myocarditis showed higher affinity to lateral wall segments (P <0.01). Neither obesity nor age was associated with LV injury or remodeling in subjects with COVID-myocarditis.

CONCLUSIONS

COVID-19-induced myocarditis is associated with minor LV injury with a significantly more frequent septal pattern and a higher pericarditis rate than non-COVID-19 myocarditis.

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Findings in Patients Recovered from COVID-19 Pneumonia and Presenting with Persistent Cardiac Symptoms: The TRICITY-CMR Trial

The prevalence and clinical consequences of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related non-ischemic cardiac injury are under investigation. The main purpose of this study was to determine the occurrence of non-ischemic cardiac injury using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging in patients with persistent cardiac symptoms following recovery from COVID-19 pneumonia. We conducted a single-center, cross-sectional study. Between January 2021 and May 2021, we enrolled 121 patients with a recent COVID-19 infection and persistent cardiac symptoms. Study participants were divided into those who required hospitalization during the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection (n = 58; 47.9%) and those non-hospitalized (n = 63; 52.1%). Non-ischemic cardiac injury (defined as the presence of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) lesion and/or active myocarditis in CMR) was detected in over half of post-COVID-19 patients (n = 64; 52.9%). LGE lesions were present in 63 (52.1%) and active myocarditis in 10 (8.3%) post-COVID-19 study participants. The majority of LGE lesions were located in the left ventricle at inferior and inferolateral segments at the base. There were no significant differences in the occurrence of LGE lesions (35 (60.3%) vs. 28 (44.4%); p = 0.117) or active myocarditis (6 (10.3%) vs. 4 (6.3%); p = 0.517) between hospitalized and non-hospitalized post-COVID-19 patients. However, CMR imaging revealed lower right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF; 49.5 (44; 54) vs. 53 (50; 58) %; p = 0.001) and more frequent presence of reduced RVEF (60.3% vs. 33.3%; p = 0.005) in the former subgroup. In conclusion, more than half of our patients presenting with cardiac symptoms after a recent recovery from COVID-19 pneumonia had CMR imaging abnormalities indicating non-ischemic cardiac injury. The most common finding was LGE, while active myocarditis was detected in the minority of patients. CMR imaging abnormalities were observed both in previously hospitalized and non-hospitalized post-COVID-19 patients. Further research is needed to determine the long-term cardiovascular consequences of COVID-19 infection and the optimal management of patients with suspected post-COVID-19 non-ischemic cardiac injury.

Long COVID-19 Myocarditis and Various Heart Failure Presentations: A Case Series

(1) Background: Emerging data indicate that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic may result in long-term cardiovascular complications, among which long COVID-19 myocarditis seems to be one of the most dangerous. Clinical presentation of cardiac inflammation ranges from almost asymptomatic to life-threatening conditions, including heart failure (HF) in different stages. (2) Methods: This is a retrospective case-series study that includes three adults with different clinical presentations of heart failure on grounds of myocarditis after initial COVID-19 infection. (3) Results: All patients had new-onset symptomatic HF of various severity: from a moderately reduced left ventricular ejection fraction in one patient to significantly reduced fractions in the remaining two. Moreover, complex ventricular arrhythmias were present in one case. All patients had confirmed past myocarditis in cardiac magnetic resonance. With optimal medical treatment, cardiac function improved, and the symptoms subsided in all cases. (4) Conclusions: In COVID-19 patients, long COVID myocarditis may be one of the severe complications of this acute disease. The heterogeneity in clinical symptoms and a paucity of specific diagnostic procedures expose the patient to the significant risk of misdiagnosing and further HF development.

Right Ventricular Endocardial Mapping and a Potential Arrhythmogenic Substrate in Cardiac Amyloidosis-Role of ICD

Patients with cardiac amyloidosis (CA) have an increased risk of sudden cardiac death. (SCD). However, the role of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator in the primary prevention of SCD in this group of patients is still controversial. We present a case with CA with recurrent syncope and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia. In order to further stratify the risk of SCD, an electrophysiological study with endocardial electroanatomic voltage mapping was performed prior to the ICD placement.

Respiratory Motion-Registered Isotropic Whole-Heart T2 Mapping in Patients With Acute Non-ischemic Myocardial Injury

Background: T₂ mapping is a magnetic resonance imaging technique that can be used to detect myocardial edema and inflammation. However, the focal nature of myocardial inflammation may render conventional 2D approaches suboptimal and make whole-heart isotropic 3D mapping desirable. While self-navigated 3D radial T₂ mapping has been demonstrated to work well at a magnetic field strength of 3T, it results in too noisy maps at 1.5T. We therefore implemented a novel respiratory motion-resolved compressed-sensing reconstruction in order to improve the 3D T₂ mapping precision and accuracy at 1.5T, and tested this in a heterogeneous patient cohort. Materials and Methods: Nine healthy volunteers and 25 consecutive patients with suspected acute non-ischemic myocardial injury (sarcoidosis, n = 19; systemic sclerosis, n = 2; acute graft rejection, n = 2, and myocarditis, n = 2) were included. The free-breathing T₂ maps were acquired as three ECG-triggered T₂-prepared 3D radial volumes. A respiratory motion-resolved reconstruction was followed by image registration of the respiratory states and pixel-wise T₂ mapping. The resulting 3D maps were compared to routine 2D T₂ maps. The T₂ values of segments with and without late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) were compared in patients. Results: In the healthy volunteers, the myocardial T₂ values obtained with the 2D and 3D techniques were similar (45.8 ± 1.8 vs. 46.8 ± 2.9 ms, respectively; P = 0.33). Conversely, in patients, T₂ values did differ between 2D (46.7 ± 3.6 ms) and 3D techniques (50.1 ± 4.2 ms, P = 0.004). Moreover, with the 2D technique, T₂ values of the LGE-positive segments were similar to those of the LGE-negative segments (T_2LGE-= 46.2 ± 3.7 vs. T_2LGE+ = 47.6 ± 4.1 ms; P = 0.49), whereas the 3D technique did show a significant difference (T_2LGE- = 49.3 ± 6.7 vs. T_2LGE+ = 52.6 ± 8.7 ms, P = 0.006). Conclusion: Respiratory motion-registered 3D radial imaging at 1.5T led to accurate isotropic 3D whole-heart T₂ maps, both in the healthy volunteers and in a small patient cohort with suspected non-ischemic myocardial injury. Significantly higher T₂ values were found in patients as compared to controls in 3D but not in 2D, suggestive of the technique's potential to increase the sensitivity of CMR at earlier stages of disease. Further study will be needed to demonstrate its accuracy.

Segmental longitudinal strain as the most accurate predictor of the patchy pattern late gadolinium enhancement in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND

The prognostic value of myocardial fibrosis in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) has been well-established. Although cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is the method of choice in its revealing as the presence of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), this technique still has limited availability in daily clinical practice. Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D STE) seems to be helpful in verification which HCM patient has the highest probability of LGE presence and hence needs to be qualified to CMR. While the majority of HCM patients have a patchy pattern of myocardial fibrosis, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether segmental rather than global longitudinal strain is more accurate in the identification of the presence of LGE.

METHODS

Forty-six HCM patients had transthoracic echocardiography and CMR imaging performed. Each patient had global longitudinal strain and rotation parameters calculated, as well as segmental analyses for wall thickness, longitudinal strain, and LGE presence based on 736 segments of the left ventricle (LV). The presence of LGE in CMR was confirmed on a per-segment basis, which was similar to LV segments in the echocardiographic examination. All patients were divided into two groups according to the CMR result: LGE (+) and LGE (-).

RESULTS

Receiver-operating characteristic analyses identified peak global longitudinal strain and peak twisting velocity with the cut-off values -14.4% and 116°/s respectively as the accurate predictors of LGE presence in CMR, whereas segmental longitudinal strain of -12.5% cut-off value had the highest area under the curve value (87.4%, confidence interval 84.5-90.3%), with 93.7% sensitivity, 86.5% negative predictive value, and 55% specificity.

CONCLUSIONS

Segmental longitudinal strain with the cut-off value of -12.5% has the highest discriminatory power for LGE presence and seems to be more adequate than global speckle tracking parameters in identification of HCM patients with strong indications for CMR for more accurate risk stratification.

Influence of observer-dependency on left ventricular hypertrabeculation mass measurement and its relationship with left ventricular volume and ejection fraction - comparison between manual and semiautomatic CMR image analysis methods

Background

Recent studies concerning left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) suggest that the extent of left ventricular (LV) hypertrabeculation has no impact on prognosis. The variety of methods of LV noncompacted myocardial mass (NCM) assessment may influence the results. Hence, we compared two methods of NCM estimation: largely observer-independent Hautvast’s_(H) computed algorithm-based approach and commonly used Jacquier’s_(J) method, and their associations with LV end-diastolic volume (EDV) and ejection fraction (EF).

Methods

Cardiac magnetic resonance images of 77 persons (45±17yo) - 42 LVNC, 15 non-ischemic dilative cardiomyopathy, 20 control group were analyzed. LVNC patients were divided into the subgroup with normal (LVNC_N) and high EDV (LVNC_DCM). NCM and total left ventricular mass (LVM) were estimated by Hautvast’s [excluding intertrabecular blood (ITB) and including papillary muscles (PMs) into NCM] and Jacquier’s approach (including ITB and PMs, if unclearly distinguished, into NCM).

Results

The cut-off value of NCM for LVNC diagnosis was 22% (AUC 0.933) for NCM_H/LVM_H and 26% (AUC 0.883) for NCM_J/LVM_J. Inter- and intra-observer variability (estimated by coefficient of variation [CoV] and intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC]) of NCM_H/LVM_H appeared better than of NCM_J/LVM_J (CoV 4.3%, ICC 0.981 and CoV 4.9%, ICC 0.978; respectively for NCM_H/LVM_H, while for NCM_J/LVM_J: CoV 19.7%, ICC 0.15 and CoV 12.9%, ICC 0.504). In LVNC_N subgroup, the correlation between EDV and NCM_H was stronger than NCM_J (r = 0.677, p<0.001 vs. r = 0.480, p = 0.038; respectively). In LVNC the EDV correlated with NCM_H/LVM_H (r = 0.391, p<0.01), but not with NCM_J/LVM_J. In the overall group a relationship was present between EF and NCM_H/LVM_H (r = -0.449, p<0.001), but not NCM_J/LVM_J. Only NCM_H/LVM_H explained the variability of EDV (b 0.434, p<0.001).

Conclusions

Choosing a method of NCM assessment that is less observer-dependent might increase the reliability of results. The impact of method selection on the LV parameters and cut-off values for hypertrabeculation should be further investigated.

The "athlete's heart" features in amateur male marathon runners

BACKGROUND

Training on a professional level can lead to cardiac structural adaptations called the "athlete's heart". As marathon participation requires intense physical preparation, the question arises whether the features of "athlete's heart" can also develop in recreational runners.

METHODS

The study included 34 males (mean age 40 ± 8 years) who underwent physical examination, a cardiopulmonary exercise test and echocardiographic examination (ECHO) before a marathon. ECHO results were compared with the sedentary control group, reference values for an adult male population and those for highly-trained athletes. Runners with abnormalities revealed by ECHO were referred for cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR).

RESULTS

The mean training distance was 56.5 ± 19.7 km/week, peak oxygen uptake was 53.7 ± 6.9 mL/kg/min and the marathon finishing time was 3.7 ± 0.4 h. Compared to sedentary controls, amateur athletes presented larger atria, increased left ventricular (LV) wall thickness, larger LV mass and basal right ventricular (RV) inflow diameter (p < 0.05). When compared with ranges for the general adult population, 56% of participants showed increased left atrial volume, indexed to body surface area (LAVI), 56% right atrial area and interventricular septum thickness, while 47% had enlarged RV proximal outflow tract diameter. In 50% of cases, LAVI exceeded values reported for highly-trained athletes. Due to ECHO abnormalities, CMR was performed in 6 participants, which revealed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in 1 runner.

CONCLUSIONS

"Athlete's heart" features occur in amateur marathon runners. In this group, ECHO reference values for highly-trained elite athletes should be considered, rather than those for the general population and even then LAVI can exceed the upper normal value.

Myocardial function in patients with anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery syndrome: A long-term speckle tracking echocardiographic study

Background

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery (LCA) from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare congenital heart disease. Retrograde flow from the right coronary artery (RCA) through natural collaterals to the low-pressure main pulmonary artery causes extensive ischemia. Limited data concerning the extent of permanent myocardial damage and functional recovery after surgical repair in the long-term follow-up is available.

Aim

Determination of the incidence of incipient myocardial dysfunction in ALCAPA patients in the long-term observation using tissue Doppler and speckle tracking echocardiography.

Methods and results

Eighteen ALCAPA patients after surgical repair (at median age of 7 months, range 3–167) underwent echocardiographic examination after (median) 17 years. All but 4 patients in NYHA class II presented well at follow-up. No narrowing in proximal LCA was detected in color Doppler. The initial (pre-surgical) left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction of 33±17% almost normalized to 55±6%, but was lower than in the age, sex and body surface area matched control group: 62±5% (p<0.001). At follow-up, LV global longitudinal strain (LS): -15.8±3.3% vs -21.9±1.7%; right ventricular LS: -20.6±3.9% vs -24.9±4.6%; left atrial LS: 27.7±4.3% vs 41.0±11.5%; right atrial LS: 26.8±7.4% vs 44.0±7.9% and early pulsed wave to tissue Doppler mitral filling ratio (E/E’): 8.1±2.6 vs 5.8±1.3 were impaired in the ALCAPA population in comparison to the control group (p<0.01 for all comparisons). LV radial and circumferential strain did not differ between groups. Mean LS in the ALCAPA patients in the RCA region was -19.0±4.4%, while in the LCA region -13.8±7.3% (p<0.00001).

Conclusions

Despite good clinical condition and normalized LV ejection fraction in ALCAPA patients after surgical repair in the long-term follow-up, the diastolic and longitudinal systolic function of all cardiac chambers remained impaired, especially in the LCA region. Lifelong surveillance of repaired ALCAPA patients is needed.

[Cardiac sarcoidosis: diagnostics, treatment and follow-up]

Sarcoidosis is a generalised granulomatous disorder of unknown aetiology. Cardiac involvement may affect conduction system, myocardium, valvular apparatus and pericardium. Clinical spectrum ranges from asymptomatic involvement to sudden cardiac death. Patients with biopsy-proven extracardiac sarcoidosis should be screened for cardiac involvement (standard ECG, 24-hour Holter ECG, echocardiography) and in case of any abnormalities found on these tests, more advanced diagnostic methods should be used. Steroid treatment is still the mainstay of therapy in cardiac sarcoidosis. Several immunosuppresive agents are also effective and used in different combinations with steroids, as well as heart failure treatment (including ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, beta-blockers and diuretics). Advanced heart block requires pacemaker implantation, and implantable cardioverterdefibrillator is an effective treatment in primary and secondary prophylaxis of sudden cardiac death. Heart transplantation is considered in advanced, drug-resistant heart failure or incessant ventricular arrhythmias unresponsive to other forms of therapy.

Required temporal resolution for accurate thoracic aortic pulse wave velocity measurements by phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging and comparison with clinical standard applanation tonometry

Background

Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a biomarker for arterial stiffness, clinically assessed by applanation tonometry (AT). Increased use of phase-contrast cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging allows for PWV assessment with minor routine protocol additions. The aims were to investigate the acquired temporal resolution needed for accurate and precise measurements of CMR-PWV, and develop a tool for CMR-PWV measurements.

Methods

Computer phantoms were generated for PWV = 2–20 m/s based on human CMR-PWV data. The PWV measurements were performed in 13 healthy young subjects and 13 patients at risk for cardiovascular disease. The CMR-PWV was measured by through-plane phase-contrast CMR in the ascending aorta and at the diaphragm level. Centre-line aortic distance was determined between flow planes. The AT-PWV was assessed within 2 h after CMR. Three observers (CMR experience: 15, 4, and <1 year) determined CMR-PWV. The developed tool was based on the flow-curve foot transit time for PWV quantification.

Results

Computer phantoms showed bias 0.27 ± 0.32 m/s for a temporal resolution of at least 30 ms. Intraobserver variability for CMR-PWV were: 0 ± 0.03 m/s (15 years), -0.04 ± 0.33 m/s (4 years), and -0.02 ± 0.30 m/s (<1 year). Interobserver variability for CMR-PWV was below 0.02 ± 0.38 m/s. The AT-PWV overestimated CMR-PWV by 1.1 ± 0.7 m/s in healthy young subjects and 1.6 ± 2.7 m/s in patients.

Conclusions

An acquired temporal resolution of at least 30 ms should be used to obtain accurate and precise thoracic aortic phase-contrast CMR-PWV. A new freely available research tool was used to measure PWV in healthy young subjects and in patients, showing low intra- and interobserver variability also for less experienced CMR observers.

Visualization of Heart Rate Variability of Long-Term Heart Transplant Patient by Transition Networks: A Case Report

We present a heart transplant patient at his 17th year of uncomplicated follow-up. Within a frame of routine check out several tests were performed. With such a long and uneventful follow-up some degree of graft reinnervation could be anticipated. However, the patient's electrocardiogram and exercise parameters seemed largely inconclusive in this regard. The exercise heart rate dynamics were suggestive of only mild, if any parasympathetic reinnervation of the graft with persisting sympathetic activation. On the other hand, traditional heart rate variability (HRV) indices were inadequately high, due to erratic rhythm resulting from interference of the persisting recipient sinus node or non-conducted atrial parasystole. New tools, originated from network representation of time series, by visualization short-term dynamical patterns, provided a method to discern HRV increase due to reinnervation from other reasons.

Dobutamine stress echocardiography in the diagnosis of asymptomatic ischemic heart disease in patients with chronic kidney disease--review of literature and single-center experience

BACKGROUND

Coronary artery disease (CAD) may be present in kidney transplant (KT) candidates without the presence of CAD clinical symptoms. This study joins an ongoing discussion about appropriate noninvasive diagnostic approaches for ischemic heart disease (IHD) assessment and patient selection for revascularization procedures. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) in IHD diagnosis in initially asymptomatic maintenance hemodialysis (HD) patients.

METHODS

Forty HD patients aged 52.4 ± 2.0 years, were studied for 2.5 years. At inclusion, they were free of both symptoms and history of IHD. Standard electrocardiography (ECG), chest X-ray, standard echocardiography, DSE, 24-hour Holter ECG, and Doppler ultrasonography (carotids and lower extremities) were performed. Results were analyzed according to a predefined diagnostic algorithm.

RESULTS

DSE yielded negative results in all patients. Left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction ≤ 60%, LV hypertrophy, and Holter ECG silent ischemia features were noticed in 15%, 70%, and 10% of patients, respectively. Atherosclerotic lesions in lower extremities and carotid arteries were present in 50% and 37.5% of patients, respectively. During the follow-up, 9/40 patients died, including 6 cardiovascular (CV) deaths: 2 with intermediate and 4 with high CV risk according to the proposed algorithm.

CONCLUSIONS

In asymptomatic KT candidates, not only DSE, but also other noninvasive tests (eg, echocardiography and Doppler ultrasonography of the carotid and peripheral arteries) along with a detailed profile of the remaining CV risk factors should be performed and analyzed. Defined composition of risk factors and particular changes in noninvasive tests may be an indication for coronary angiography.

[Cardiac involvement in neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis]

We present a case of a 58-year-old female with neuropsychiatric symptoms, followed by recurrent episodes of atrial flagellation and symptoms of heart failure. Based on intraoperative myocardial biopsy, neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis was diagnosed.