Características diferenciales del bloqueo interauricular avanzado típico y atípico / Differential characteristics of the typical and atypical advanced interatrial block

Resumen Objetivo: Se denomina bloqueo interauricular avanzado (BIA) a la existencia de una onda P ≥ 120 ms y bifásica +/- en las derivaciones inferiores (II-III-VF) del electrocardiograma (ECG) de superficie, el cual constituye un factor predictivo significativo del desarrollo de fibrilación auricular. En fecha reciente se han descrito cuatro patrones de BIA atípicos (BIA-At) con base en la morfología y la duración de la onda P, sin conocer si comparten patogenia y características clínicas similares. Método: Estudio observacional, descriptivo y retrospectivo de pacientes, visitados en el Servicio de Cardiología, en ritmo sinusal y con BIA. Las variables analizadas se obtuvieron de la historia clínica informatizada. El análisis de la onda P se efectuó al aumentar el tamaño del electrocardiograma y mediante calipers electrónicos. El análisis estadístico se realizó con SPSS 19.0, con nivel de significación de p < 0.05. Resultados: Se incluyó a 75 pacientes con media de edad de 74.4 ± 11.7 años, con 62.7% de varones. Se compararon los grupos de pacientes con BIA típico (BIA-T) y BIA-At. El primero se relacionó con la existencia de diabetes mellitus (p = 0.001), enfermedad renal crónica estadio ≥ 3 (p = 0.036), bloqueo auriculoventricular (p = 0.006) y una menor fracción de expulsión ventricular media (p = 0.025); no hubo diferencias respecto de la prevalencia de fibrilación auricular/flúter o accidente cerebrovascular. Sólo la diabetes se acompañó de riesgo de ser un BIA-T (OR: 6.4; p = 0.002; IC 95%: 2.0-21.1). Conclusiones: La diabetes mellitus constituye el único factor de riesgo de que un BIA sea típico. Los pacientes con BIA-T y BIA-At presentan similar prevalencia de fibrilación auricular y accidente cerebrovascular, por lo que son objeto de un mismo tratamiento clínico.

Abstract Objective: It is called advanced interatrial block (IAB) to the existence of a P wave ≥ 120 ms and biphasic ± in the lower leads II-III-VF of the surface electrocardiogram (ECG), which constitutes a significant predictive factor for the development of atrial fibrillation. Recently, four patterns of atypical aIAB (At-IAB) have been described based on the morphology and duration of the P wave, but it’s unknown if they share the same pathogenesis and clinical characteristics. Method: An observational, descriptive and retrospective study was performed with patients, visited in cardiology, who have a sinus rhythm and with aIAB. The analyzed variables were obtained from the computerized clinical history. The analysis of the P wave was made by increasing the size of the ECG and by electronic calipers. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 19.0; level of significance: p < 0.05. Results: A total of 75 patients with an average age of 74.4 ± 11.7 years and with a 62.7% males, were included. It was compared the group of patients with typical aIAB (T-aIAB) and with At-aIAB. The first one was associated with the existence of diabetes mellitus (p = 0.001), chronic kidney disease stage ≥ 3 (p = 0.036), atrioventricular block (p = 0.006) and a lower mean ventricular ejection fraction (p = 0.025); there were no differences regarding the prevalence of atrial fibrillation/flutter or stroke. Only diabetes was associated with the risk of T-aIAB (odds ratio: 6.4; p = 0.002; 95% confidence interval: 2.0-21.1). Conclusions: Diabetes mellitus is the only risk factor for an aIAB to be typical. Patients with T-aIAB and At-aIAB have a similar prevalence of atrial fibrillation and stroke, so they must follow the same clinical management.

Septo sigmoideo: ¿una variante de la hipertrofia ventricular o de la miocardiopatía hipertrófica? / Sigmoid septum: A variant of the ventricular hypertrophy or of the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?

Resumen Objetivo El septo sigmoideo y la miocardiopatía hipertrófica cursan con hipertrofia ventricular izquierda y, aunque parecen ser entidades distintas, muchas veces plantean problemas de diagnóstico diferencial. Este estudio se ha realizado para evaluar la prevalencia y características del septo sigmoideo ecocardiográfico y sus hallazgos diferenciales con respecto a la miocardiopatía hipertrófica. Métodos Estudio descriptivo, observacional y prospectivo. Se estudiaron 1,770 pacientes mediante ecocardiografía. El septo sigmoideo (hipertrofia focal y aislada del septo interventricular basal ≥ 13 mm en hombres y ≥ 2 mm en mujeres, que supera en ≥ 50% al grosor del septo medio) se clasificó en "tipo 1" (≤ 14 mm) y "tipo 2" (≥ 15 mm). Resultados Hubo 59 casos de septo sigmoideo (prevalencia del 3.3%): 26 (1.5%) pacientes con un tipo 1 (50% hombres) y 33 (1.9%) pacientes con un tipo 2 (72.7% hombres); se detectaron 25 (1.4%) casos de miocardiopatía hipertrófica (76% hombres). El grupo con septo sigmoideo tipo 2 se diferenció de esta última en: su mayor edad (73 ± 10.5 años; p < 0.0001), más hipertensión (84.8%; p < 0.0001), menor filtrado glomerular (73.3 ± 21.4 ml/min; p = 0.007), menor alteración de la repolarización (18.2%; p = 0.004) e índice de Cornell (en hombres; 22.2 ± 11 mm; p = 0.041), más disfunción diastólica (75%; p = 0.0089) y en la morfología y localización de la fibrosis ventricular en resonancia magnética. Conclusión Con respecto a la miocardiopatía hipertrófica, los pacientes con septo sigmoideo tipo 2 son de más edad y generalmente hipertensos; por lo demás, a menudo no presentan claras diferencias en sus características clínicas, electrocardiográficas o ecocardiográficas. Por ello, la resonancia cardíaca resulta de gran ayuda en su diagnóstico diferencial.

Abstract Objective Sigmoid septum and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy presenting with left ventricular hypertrophy and, although they appear to be different entities, often involve problems in the differential diagnosis. This study was carried out to assess the prevalence and characteristics of the echocardiographic sigmoid septum and its differential findings regarding hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Methods Descriptive, observational and prospective study. A total of 1,770 patients were studied by echocardiography. Sigmoid septum (focal and isolated hypertrophy of the basal interventricular septum ≥ 13 mm in men and ≥ 12 mm in women, exceeding ≥ 50% of the median septum thickness) was classified as "Type 1" (≤ 14 mm) and "Type 2" (≥ 15 mm). Results There were 59 cases of sigmoid septum (prevalence of 3.3%): 26 (1.5%) patients with type 1 (50% male) and 33 (1.9%) patients with type 2 (72.7% male); there were 25 (1.4%) cases of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (76% male). The group with type 2 sigmoid septum differed from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in: was older (73 ± 10.5 years; P < .0001), with more hypertension (84.8%; P < .0001), lower glomerular filtering (73.3 ± 21.4 ml/min; P = .007), lower repolarization abnormalities (18.2%; P = .004) and Cornell index (in men, 22.2 ± 11 mm; P = .041), more diastolic dysfunction (75%; P = .0089) and in ventricular morphology and fibrosis location in magnetic resonance. Conclusion Regarding the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, patients with type 2 sigmoid septum are older and generally hypertensive; otherwise, often they have no clear differences in their clinical, electrocardiographic or echocardiographic characteristics. Therefore, cardiac resonance is helpful in the differential diagnosis.

Insuficiencia renal en pacientes cardiológicos: buscar para encontrar / Frequency of kidney failure in cardiologic patients: the need to search

Background: Chronic kidney disease is a major health problem since it is associated with a high cardiovascular risk, total morbidity and mortality, increasing prevalence and high cost treatment. Aim: To assess the frequency of chronic kidney disease among patients consulting in a cardiology clinic. Material and Methods: Cross-sectional assessment of 649 patients attended at a cardiology clinic. Demographic, clinical, electrocardiographic, echocardiographic and laboratory variables were registered. Patients were considered to have a kidney failure when their estimated glomerular filtration rate was < 60 ml/min/1.73 m² according to the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula. Kidney failure was considered chronic if this alteration lasted ≥ 3 months and hidden when serum creatinine levels were normal. Results: The frequency of kidney failure was 20.8% (28.4% in patients ≥ 65 years old). The mean age of patients with the disease was 71.5 ± 9.1 years and 52% were women. Eighty seven percent were in stage 3, 10% in stage 4 and 3% in stage 5. Among patients with kidney failure, in 114 (84%) it was chronic and in 28%, hidden. The latter was observed almost exclusively in women with creatinine levels of approximately 1 mg/dl. Hypertension (Odds ratio (OR) 4.2), age (OR 1.1), ventricular ejection fraction (OR 0.97) and low hemoglobin (OR 0.735) were the risk factors for kidney failure detected in the multivariate analysis. Conclusions: The frequency of kidney failure (chronic or hidden) was high in this group of cardiologic patients. Most patients had a mild to moderate failure and the risk factors were hypertension, age, low ventricular ejection fraction and low hemoglobin levels.

Estado actual de los aneurismas de las arterias pulmonares / Current status of aneurysms of the pulmonary arteries / Estado atual dos aneurismas das artérias pulmonares

Los aneurismas de las arterias pulmonares (AAP) constituyen una rara anomalía vascular de difícil diagnóstico, tanto por su baja prevalencia como por su clínica ausente o inespecífica, haciendo que con frecuencia su hallazgo sea casual durante una prueba de imagen o en la autopsia. Hasta un 50% de dichos aneurismas se asocia a cardiopatías congénitas, otros se relacionan con diversas patologías bien es, y en gran parte de los casos se detecta también una hipertensión pulmonar; sin embargo, sólo excepcionalmente son idiopáticos. Entre sus posibles complicaciones algunas pueden resultar fatales, en especial su rotura, que suele cursar con hemoptisis severa e incluso con la muerte súbita del paciente. Pruebas de imagen como la ecocardiografía y, principalmente, la tomografía computarizada y la resonancia magnética permiten el diagnóstico en la mayoría de los casos. Actualmente, el manejo de los AAP resulta controvertido de modo que, en base a la mejor evidencia científica disponible y ante la falta de recomendaciones claras al respecto, deberá individualizarse en cada caso.

Aneurysms of the pulmonary arteries (APA) are rare vascular anomaly is difficult to diagnose because of its low prevalence and its clinical absent or nonspecific, which often makes their discovery is casual during an imaging or autopsy. Up to 50% of such aneurysms are associated with congenital heart disease, while others are related to various diseases, and in many of the cases are also detected pulmonary hypertension, however, are exceptionally idiopathic. Among some possible complications can be fatal, especially rupture, which usually presents with severe hemoptysis and even sudden death. Imaging tests such as echocardiography and computerized mainly tomography and magnetic resonance imaging allow diagnosis in most cases. Currently, the management of APA is controversial so that, based on the best scientific evidence available and the lack of clear recommendations must be individualized in each case.

Os aneurismas das artérias pulmonares (AAP) são uma anomalia vascular rara é difícil de diagnosticar devido à sua baixa prevalência e sua clínica ausente ou inespecífica, que muitas vezes faz com que a sua descoberta é casual durante uma imagem ou autópsia. Até 50% destes aneurismas são associados com a doença cardíaca congênita, enquanto outras estão relacionadas com várias doenças, e em muitos dos casos, são também detectados hipertensão pulmonar, no entanto, são excepcionalmente idiopáticas. Entre algumas possíveis complicações podem ser fatais, especialmente se romper, o que geralmente se apresenta com hemoptise grave e morte súbita mesmo. Os exames de imagem, como a ecocardiografia e tomografia computadorizada principalmente e a ressonância magnética permitem o diagnóstico na maioria dos casos. Atualmente, a gestão do AAP é controversa, de modo que, com base nas melhores evidências científicas disponíveis e da falta de recomendações claras deve ser individualizado para cada caso.

A propósito de la pericarditis constrictiva / Study of a case of constrictive pericarditis / A propósito de um caso de pericardite constritiva

La pericarditis constrictiva (PC) crónica es una entidad infrecuente, pero incapacitante y potencialmente fatal, cuyo diagnóstico supone un desafío para los facultativos. Su diagnóstico se basa en la existencia de una afectación hemodinámica, una fisiopatología de constricción y, en la mayoría de los casos, de un pericardio engrosado, y a menudo, también calcificado. La ecocardiografía es la técnica de elección y la más utilizada en la evaluación inicial de pacientes con sospecha de patología pericárdica, dado que, principalmente, permite determinar numerosos parámetros que demuestran la fisiopatología constrictiva. La pericardiectomía es el tratamiento de elección de la PC crónica con clínica persistente, siendo el pronóstico muy bueno si se realiza de forma precoz. Se reporta el caso de un varón de 72 años en el que, como ocurre con frecuencia, el diagnóstico y tratamiento de la PC sintomática se realizó tras numerosas visitas y exploraciones y en una fase avanzada de la enfermedad.

The chronic constrictive pericarditis (CP) is an uncommon, disabling and potentially fatal disease but whose diagnosis is a challenge for physicians. Diagnosis is based on the existence of hemodynamic compromise, pathophysiology constriction and, in most cases, a thickened pericardium and often also calcified. Echocardiography is the technique of choice and the most used in the initial evaluation of patients with suspected pericardial disease, because, mainly, to determine many parameters those demonstrate the constrictive pathophysiology. Pericardiectomy is the treatment of choice for chronic CP with persistent clinical, with very good prognosis if performed early. We report the case of a man of 72 years in which, as often happens, the diagnosis and treatment of CP was reached after numerous visits and examinations and in an advanced stage of the disease.

A pericardite constritiva (PC) crônica é uma doença rara, incapacitante e potencialmente fatal, mas cujo diagnóstico é um desafio para os médicos. O diagnóstico baseia-se na existência de um compromisso hemodinâmico, com uma fisiopatologia de constrição e ,na maioria dos casos, um pericárdio espessado e frequentemente também calcificado. O ecocardiograma é a técnica de escolha e os mais utilizados na avaliação inicial de pacientes com suspeita de doenças do pericárdio, pois principalmente, ajuda a determinar vários parâmetros que demonstram a fisiopatologia constritiva. A pericardiectomia é o tratamento de escolha para a PC crônica com clínica persistente, e o prognóstico é muito bom se for feito precocemente. Relatamos o caso de um homem de 72 anos em que, como muitas vezes acontece, o diagnóstico e tratamento da PC foi alcançado após inúmeras visitas e exames e em um estágio avançado da doença.