Lupus anticoagulant in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus is associated with lower E/A ratio and progressive left ventricular dilatation: a five-year follow-up study

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): Copenhagen University Hospital

Background

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with increased risk of cardiovascular complications such as coronary artery disease, myocarditis, pericarditis and valvular dysfunction. The pathophysiological mechanisms are poorly understood and clinical, biochemical and/or imaging markers to identify high risk patients are warranted.

Purpose

We aimed to identify SLE-characteristics that are associated with progressive cardiac dysfunction during a five-year follow-up period in patients with SLE.

Methods

A total of 147 patients with SLE were included from 2013 to 2014. All patients underwent standard echocardiography at baseline as well as a collection of blood samples, including a selection of biomarkers. Patients were invited to a five-year follow-up with a total of 108 patients (90 % female, mean age 46 ± 13 years, median disease duration of 14 (7-21) years) completing a full echocardiographic, laboratory, and clinical examination. Multivariate regression analyses with eight independent baseline variables of interest (age, sex, disease activity (SLEDAI-2K), lupus nephritis, ischemic heart disease (IHD), antiphospholipid antibodies (IgM and IgG), and lupus anticoagulant(LAC)) were performed as for the association with baseline echocardiographic parameters as well as for changes during follow-up. Only echocardiographic measurements that changed significantly (p < 0.01) during follow-up were selected for the regression analyses. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVI) and E/A ratio were log-transformed at baseline in the regression analyses due to non-normality.

Results

During a five-year follow-up period, LVEDVI increased from 43.5 ± 13.9 to 52.5 ± 15.7 ml/m2 (p <0.001), and left ventricular diastolic measures declined (E/A ratio 1.4 ± 0.5 vs. 1.3 ± 0.5, p = 0.002; e’ velocity 12.8 ± 3.8 vs. 12.0 ± 3.7 ms, p = 0.02; mitral valve deceleration time 227.9 vs. 200.8 ms, p < 0.001), except for E/e’ (7.5 ± 3.8 vs. 6.8 ± 3.4, p = 0.02). Left ventricular ejection fraction remained stationary (59.5 ± 6.8 vs. 59.6 ± 6.4 %, p = 0.81). In multivariate regression analyses, presence of LAC was significantly associated with progressive left ventricular dilation during the follow-up period (p = 0.003) but not with higher baseline levels (p = 0.64) (Fig. A1 & A2). LAC was associated with lower E/A ratio at baseline (p = 0.005) but did not predict a decrease of E/A ratio during follow-up (p = 0.24) (Fig. B1 & B2). IHD was associated with higher LVEDVI at baseline (p = 0.004), but not with further progression of dilation (p = 0.07).

Conclusion

Presence of LAC was associated with lower E/A ratio at baseline as well as progressive left ventricular dilation during a five-year follow-up period. Hence, LAC might be a predictor of progressive cardiac dysfunction in patients with SLE. LAC is known to have implications for the microvascular circulation, but the clinical significance of the present findings is yet to be elucidated. Abstract Figure A  Abstract Figure B

Evaluating the potential of IP-10 and MCP-2 as biomarkers for the diagnosis of tuberculosis

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential of diagnostic tests based on interferon-gamma inducible protein (IP)-10 and monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-2, and compare the performance with the QuantiFERON TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-IT; Cellestis, Carnagie, Australia) test. IP-10 and MCP-2 were determined in supernatants from whole blood stimulated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific antigens. Samples were obtained from 80 patients with culture- and/or PCR-proven tuberculosis (TB), and 124 unexposed healthy controls: 86 high school students and 38 high school staff. IP-10 and MCP-2 test cut-offs were established based on receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. TB patients produced significantly higher levels (median) of IP-10 (2158 pg x mL(-1)) and MCP-2 (379 pg x mL(-1)) compared with interferon (IFN)-gamma (215 pg x mL(-1)). The QFT-IT, IP-10 and MCP-2 tests detected 81, 83 and 71% of the TB patients; 0, 3 and 0% of the high school students and 0, 16 and 3% of the staff, respectively. Agreement between tests was high (>89%). By combining IP-10 and IFN-gamma tests, the detection rate increased among TB patients to 90% without a significant increase in positive responders among the students. In conclusion, interferon-gamma inducible protein-10 and monocyte chemotactic protein-2 responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific antigens could be used to diagnose infection. Combining interferon-gamma inducible protein-10 and interferon-gamma may be a simple approach to increase the detection rate of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific in vitro tests.

Replacement of a severe chronic post-traumatic aneurysm of the ascending aorta with aortic valve conduit--reconstruction of the anterior mitral valve ring and implantation of A-V sequential/biventricular pacemaker

We present the case of a 23-year-old African professional footballer who was admitted on April 1, 1999 to the Cardiology Department of the University Hospital in Magdeburg, on an emergency basis, from a regional lung clinic. According to the history, he was involved in a collision with an opposing player during a football match in his country (in Africa). He lost consciousness for a short time, but continued playing to the end of the match. About two months later he was invited by a German football club for a check-up, with the view to ultimately playing for the club. The team did not find him physically fit enough to play professional football, so he decided to go to Paris by bus on March 31, 1999. During the journey he suddenly became cardio-pulmonary decompensated and had to undergo cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). He was intubated and placed on a respirator and immediately transferred to a nearby lung clinic. From the lung clinic he was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit of the Cardiology Department of the Magdeburg University Hospital, on April 1, 1999 as an emergency case. He was intensively treated with catecholamines, intravenous ACE inhibitors and diuretics. His clinical condition did not improve appreciably. His chest X-ray showed extreme dilatation of the right and left heart as well as extreme pulmonary congestion.

Cardiopulmonary effects of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV)--a controlled, prospective study

BACKGROUND

This study was undertaken to investigate the haemodynamic effect of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) in patients after cardiac surgery. NPPV has recently become popular as method for treating acute respiratory failure. Its influence on cardiopulmonary haemodynamics is still unknown.

METHODS

30 extubated low-risk patients were included in four study intervals after cardiac surgery. During the first and the third interval, the patients breathed spontaneously and received oxygen via face mask for 45 min. Both intervals were followed by 45 min on NPPV.

RESULTS

Cardiac index increased significantly from 2.8 to 3.1 ml/min/m2 during NPPV (p < 0.001) and from 2.7 to 3.2 ml/ min/m2 (p < 0.001). Mixed venous saturation rose significantly from 72.4 to 74.8 % (p < 0.001) and from 72.1 to 75.4 % (p < 0.001) during NPPV while the oxygen extraction ratio decreased from 25.5 and 26.1 % to 23.0 (p < 0.001) and 22.6 % (p < 0.001) during NPPV. At the same time, urine production increased significantly from 182 to 328 ml/h and from 186 to 285 ml/h (p < 0.001). Heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure rose significantly during NPPV. There were no significant changes in systemic and pulmonary haemodynamics, oxygenation or CO 2 elimination.

CONCLUSIONS

NPPV improves CI significantly in stable cardiac surgery patients. Factors other than blood pressure, vascular resistance or blood gases must exert an additional influence on CI. They are still not identified. Changes in transmural pressure during NPPV may play an important role.

Antihyperglycemic and blood pressure-reducing effects of stevioside in the diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rat

Stevioside, a glycoside present in the leaves of the plant, Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni (SrB), has acute insulinotropic effects in vitro. Its potential antihyperglycemic and blood pressure-lowering effects were examined in a long-term study in the type 2 diabetic Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rat. Rats were fed 0.025 g x kg(-1) x d(-1) of stevioside (purity > 99.6%) for 6 weeks. An intra-arterial catheter was inserted into the rats after 5 weeks, and conscious rats were subjected to arterial glucose tolerance test (2.0 g x kg(-1)) during week 6. Stevioside had an antihyperglycemic effect (incremental area under the glucose response curve [IAUC]): 985 +/- 20 (stevioside) versus 1,575 +/- 21 (control) mmol/L x 180 minutes, (P <.05), it enhanced the first-phase insulin response (IAUC: 343 +/- 33 [stevioside] v 136 +/- 24 [control] microU/mL insulin x 30 minutes, P <.05) and concomitantly suppressed the glucagon levels (total AUC: 2,026 +/- 234 [stevioside] v 3,535 +/- 282 [control] pg/mL x 180 minutes, P <.05). In addition, stevioside caused a pronounced suppression of both the systolic (135 +/- 2 v 153 +/- 5 mm Hg; P <.001) and the diastolic blood pressure (74 +/- 1 v 83 +/- 1 mm Hg; P <.001). Bolus injections of stevioside (0.025 g x kg(-1)) did not induce hypoglycemia. Stevioside augmented the insulin content in the beta-cell line, INS-1. Stevioside may increase the insulin secretion, in part, by induction of genes involved in glycolysis. It may also improve the nutrient-sensing mechanisms, increase cytosolic long-chain fatty acyl-coenzyme A (CoA), and downregulate phosphodiesterase 1 (PDE1) estimated by the microarray gene chip technology. In conclusion, stevioside enjoys a dual positive effect by acting as an antihyperglycemic and a blood pressure-lowering substance; effects that may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome.

Effect of topical nasal pharmaceuticals on sodium and chloride transport by human airway epithelia

The human airway epithelium lines the respiratory tract from the nasal mucosa to the bronchioles. Electrolyte transport by these epithelia is crucial in maintaining the appropriate volume and salt composition of the airway surface fluid. When this epithelium becomes functionally impaired, the airways are more prone to respiratory infections. We studied the effect of six common topical agents that are commonly used to treat rhinorrhea and nasal inflammation on the transepithelial resistance, sodium, and chloride transport of primary cultures of human airway epithelia grown at the air-liquid interface. The pharmaceuticals fluticasone propionate, cromolyn sodium, ipratropium bromide, azelastine, oxymetazoline, and normal saline were used and the electrical function of the epithelia was studied in Ussing chambers. Azelastin and ipratropium bromide-treated epithelia were found to have a significant decrease in transepithelial resistance. Both normal saline and fluticasone propionate resulted in significant increases in amiloride-sensitive short circuit currents that reflect sodium transport. Finally, normal saline resulted in a significant increase in bumetanide-sensitive short circuit current that reflects chloride transport across the epithelia. The data presented may explain a mechanism by which some topical pharmaceuticals help reduce rhinorrhea, and may point to some unwanted side effects of some pharmaceuticals on the electrolyte transport of the airway epithelia. In summary, several of the common topical nasal agents alter the electrolyte transport of the nasal airway epithelia. The in vivo significance of these findings is to be determined.