Short-Term Change of Exercise Capacity in Patients with Pulmonary Valve Replacement after Tetralogy of Fallot Repair

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) on exercise capacity and determine cardiopulmonary exercise (CPEX) parameters associated with improvement in right ventricle (RV) function. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed CPEX and magnetic resonance imaging parameters in a total of 245 patients who underwent PVR from January 1998 to October 2015. In addition, we analyzed the characteristics of the patients who showed improved exercise capacity after PVR. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients met the inclusion criteria for the study. CPEX parameters after PVR showed no significant changes in all patients. However, baseline predicted peak oxygen uptake (VO2(peak)) (%) value was significantly lower in patients with significant improvement in exercise capacity after PVR, as compared to patients who showed decreased exercise capacity after PVR (60.83±10.28 vs. 75.81±13.83) (p=0.003). In addition, patients with improved exercise capacity showed a positive correlation between the change of right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) (%) and the change of anaerobic threshold (r=0.733, p=0.007); whereas, patients with decreased exercise capacity showed a negative correlation between the change of RVEF (%) and the change of predicted VO2(peak) (%) (r=−0.575, p=0.020). CONCLUSION: The importance of predicted VO2(peak) (%) in evaluating exercise capacity differentiated from other CPEX variables. The change of anaerobic threshold and predicted VO2(peak) (%) might be a useful predictor of the change in RV function after PVR.

Impact of postoperative duration of Aspirin use on longevity of bioprosthetic pulmonary valve in patients who underwent congenital heart disease repair / 소아과

PURPOSE: Generally, aspirin is used as a protective agent against thrombogenic phenomenon after pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) using a bioprosthetic valve. However, the appropriate duration of aspirin use is unclear. We analyzed the impact of postoperative duration of aspirin use on the longevity of bioprosthetic pulmonary valves in patients who underwent repair for congenital heart diseases. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 137 patients who underwent PVR using a bioprosthetic valve between January 2000 and December 2003. Among these patients, 89 were included in our study and divided into groups I (≤12 months) and II (>12 months) according to duration of aspirin use. We analyzed echocardiographic data from 9 to 11 years after PVR. Pulmonary vale stenosis and regurgitation were classified as mild, moderate, or severe. RESULTS: The 89 patients consisted of 53 males and 36 females. Their mean age was 14.3±8.9 years (range, 2.6–48 years) and body weight was 37.6±14.7 kg (range, 14–72 kg). The postoperative duration of aspirin use was 7.3±2.9 months in group I and 32.8±28.4 months in group II. However, no significant difference in sex ratio, age, body weight, type of bioprosthetic valve, and number of early redo-PVRs. In the comparison of echocardiographic data about 10 years later, no significant difference in pulmonary valve function was found. The overall freedom rate from redo-PVR at 10 years showed no significant difference (P=0.498). CONCLUSION: Our results indicated no benefit from long-term aspirin medication (>6 months) in patients who underwent PVR with a bioprosthetic valve.

The Changes of Serum Nitric Oxide and Platelet Activating Factor Concentrations in Preeclampsia / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine whether any association exists between preeclampsia and the maternal serum level of nitric oxide (NO) and platelet activating factor (PAF). METHODS: NO concentrations were measured using Stuehr's method and PAF concentrations were measured with [3H]PAF scintillation proximity assay (SPA) system (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech). Data were analyzed with SAS windows version 6.12, with significance established at p<0.05. RESULTS: The mean (+/-SD) maternal serum concentrations of NO were significantly higher in the group with severe preeclampsia (5.535+/-0.343 ug/ml) and mild preeclampsia (5.891+/-0.481 ug/ml) than in the normotensive pregnancy group (2.036+/-0.744 ug/ml) (p<0.05). The mean (+/-SD) maternal serum concentrations of PAF were significantly higher in the group with severe preeclampsia (928.9+/-32.3 ng/ml) and mild preeclampsia (789.1+/-63.9 ng/ml) than in the normotensive pregnancy group (435.8+/-59.5 ng/ml) (p<0.05). The mean birth weight was lower in the mild and severe preeclampsia groups than in the normotensive pregnancy group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Maternal serum NO and PAF concentrations were more increased in preeclampsia than normotensive pregnancy group. NO may therefore serve as compensatory mechanism for vasoconstriction of preeclampsia and PAF as a marker for the risk of preeclampsia.

A Case of Spontaneously Regressed Hyperreactio Luteinalis Occurred in Normal Pregnancy / 대한산부인과학회잡지

Hyperreactio luteinalis rarely occurs in normal single pregnancy. About 50 such cases have been published. It is usually occurs in trophoblastic disease. This case is a huge hyperreactio luteinalis that detected in gestational age 16 weeks. The patient delivered a normal female infant at 41th week of gestation without any mass related problems. The hyperreactio luteinalis was a benign condition in itself with normal spontaneous remission in two months after delivery. Also the level of elevated human chorionic gonadotropin became normal. The conservative management was appropriated. This case is noteworthy because it resulted in spontaneous regression without surgical intervention and conserved ovarian tissue.

A Case of Multiple Placental Chorioangioma Combined with Oligohydramnios / 대한산부인과학회잡지

Chorioangioma is the most common benign tumor of the placenta and associated with adverse perinatal outcome. The prevalence of chorioangioma of the placenta is about 1 percent. The most placental chorioangioma has no clinical significance. But the uncommon large (greater than 5 cm in diameter) chorioangioma may produce both maternal and fetal complications, such as polyhydramnios, preterm labor, fetal heart failure, hydrops fetalis, fetal growth restriction, fetal microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, fetal thrombocytopenia, toxemia of pregnancy, maternal thrombocytopenia, and maternal coagulopathy. The ultrasonography and Color Doppler are used for diagnosis of these lesions. If chorioangioma is suspected, Color Doppler study is informative to confirm the presence of the vascular channels. We report a case of multiple chorioangioma combined with oligohydramnios and discuss the noxious effects of this benign tumor on the mother and the fetus.