A Case of a Senile Systemic Amyloidosis Patient Presenting With Angina Pectoris and Dilated Cardiomyopathy

A 77-year-old man visited our hospital complaining of aggravated exertional chest pain. He was diagnosed with syndrome X 7 years ago and underwent medical treatment in a regional hospital. Coronary angiography and echocardiography did not show any significant abnormalities. On the seventh in-hospital day, cardiogenic shock developed and echocardiography showed a dilated left ventricular (LV) cavity and severe LV systolic dysfunction. We thus inserted an intra-aortic balloon pump for hemodynamic support and were forced to maintain it because of weaning failure several times. Finally, heart transplantation was the decided necessary procedure. After successful heart transplantation, the biopsy specimen revealed a wild-type transthyretin deposition indicating senile systemic amyloidosis in the intramuscular coronary vessels and interstitium. Cardiac biopsy at the 4-year follow-up showed no recurrence of amyloid deposition.

Assessment of the anti-Xa activities of Low Molecular Weight Heparins in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Standard unfractionated heparin (UFH) has long been used to prevent death and myocardial infarction in patients with acute coronary syndrome and acute occlusion undergoing percutaneous revascularization. However, UFH binds to several plasma proteins, platelets, and endothelial cells producing a highly variable anticoagulant response. In contrast, Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) exhibits less protein binding and provides more predictable anticoagulant response with reduced need for patient monitoring and dosage adjustment. The purpose of this study was to assess the anti-Xa activities of LMWH in Korean patients with acute coronary syndrome after recommended dose for caucasians and to determine an optimal method of administration of LMWH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty five patients with acute coronary syndrome were enrolled and allocated to five separate groups (5 patients in each group) by types according to molecular weight (LMWH (A): (molecular weight of 4500 daltons, LMWH (B): molecular weight of 6400 daltons) and methods of administration (Group 1A and 1B: Subcutaneous and subcutaneous injections (SC-SC), Group 2: Intravenous and subcutaneous injections (IV-SC), Group 3A and 3B: Intravenous, subcutaneous and subcutaneous injections (IV-SC-SC). Five groups were as follows: Group 1A: LMWH (A) 1 mg/kg SC every 12 hours, Group 1B: LMWH (B) 100 IU/kg SC every 12 hours, Group 2: LMWH (A) 1 mg/kg IV bolus and 1 mg/kg SC 12 hours later, Group 3A: LMWH (A) 0.5 mg/kg IV bolus, 3 hours later 1 mg/kg SC every 12 hours, Group 3B: LMWH (B) 50 IU/kg IV bolus, 3 hours later 100 IU/kg SC every 12 hours. Anti-Xa activity was measured by amidolytic assay method (Rotachrome, Stago, France) in 555 samples from 25 patients. All the data of anti-Xa activity in each group were plotted along the sequential time and mean values of them were analyzed by Wilcoxon signed rank test. RESULTS: 1)The anti-Xa activity (mean 0.6216+/-0.238 IU/mL) of LMWH (A) was greater than that of LMWH (B)(mean 0.2587+/-0.1709 IU/mL) in the conventional SC-SC method (p<0.001). 2) The anti-Xa activity of LMWH (A) (mean 0.6203+/-0.2383 IU/mL) was also greater than that of LMWH (B)(mean 0.468+/-0.2428 IU/mL) in the IV-SC-SC method (p<0.001). 3) More rapid and effective anti-Xa activities were achieved by IV-SC-SC method compared with conventional SC-SC method. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that immediate achievement and optimum maintenance of anticoagulant activity can be accomplished by IV-SC-SC method rather than conventional SC-SC method in patients of acute coronary syndrome.

Dobutamine Echocardiography in Chronic Coronary Artery Disease with Left Ventricular Dysfunction

BACKGROUND: Dobutamine echocardiography has been shown to be a valuable tool for determining myocardial viability in both acute and chronic coronary artery disease with left ventricular dysfunction. The purpose of the our study was to identify the role of dobutamine echocardiography in the prediction of improvement of regional left ventricular (LV) dysfunction after revascularization of chronic coronary artery disease. METHODS: Twenty-three patients (mean age 61.2+/-9.0 years;20 men) with chronic LV dysfunction underwent dobuta-mine echocardiography (dobutamine:baseline, 5, 10, 20 microgram/Kg/min) before coronary revascularization (coronary artery bypass graft surgery 16, percutaneous coronary angioplasty 7). The mean LV ejection fraction was 42.9+/-8.8% with ranging from 26% to 58%. Follow-up echocardiography was performed at 2 to 21 months (mean 9.0+/-6.2 months) after revascularization. RESULTS: During dobutamine echocardiography, there was no major complication. Improvement of the dysfunctional myocardium was observed in 12 of 23 patients in dobutamine echocardiography. Among them, 10 patients showed functonal recovery after revascularization. Another 11 patients did not show improvement of dysfunctional myocardium in dobutamine echocardiography, however 3 of them showed functional recovery after revascularization. One hundred fifteen dysfunctional segments were found in 368 segments of 23 patients, and improvement of wall motion abnormality was observed in 46 of 115 segments in dobutamine echocardiography. Among them, 31 segments showed functional recovery after revascularization. Another 69 segments did not show wall motion improvement in dobutamine echocardiography. But among them, 13 segments showed functional recovery after revas-cularization. The sensitivity and specificity of dobutamine echocardiography for the prediction of postoperative improvement of segmental wall motion were 70% and 79%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive value of dobutamine echocardiography were 67% and 81%, respectively. CONCLUSION: In patients with chronic LV dysfunction, dobutamine echocardiography can be used as a predictor of the improvement of dysfunctional segments after revascularization.