18F-FDG PET/CT in cardiovascular infection and inflammation.

The diagnosis of cardiovascular infection and inflammation by [18F]FDG PET/CT in Nuclear Cardiology is of growing interest, because with respect to echocardiography this technique has improved the certainty in the diagnosis of infective endocarditis in patients with prosthetic valves, the increasing number of patients with implantable cardiac devices because of the progressive ageing of the population, as well as in patients with suspected large vessel vasculitis. All are serious clinical situations which require correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment as soon as possible, because they can cause severe complications, high mortality and also increased health care costs. We review the use of [18F]FDG PET/CT in cardiovascular infection and inflammation, including the clinical point of view and the contribution of other image modalities. We focus on the appropriate methodology for this exploration, patient preparation, image acquisition and correct interpretation and the quantification possibilities, defining the specific characteristics of the diagnosis in patients with prosthetic valves, implantable cardiac devices and large vessel vasculitis in the initial diagnosis as well as during follow-up to assess treatment response. We analyze the possible causes of false positive and false negative results and emphasize the special value of a multidisciplinary team for optimal management of these patients.

[Limited application of prevention measures in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 and coronary artery disease in Spain. DIETRIC study]. / Escasa aplicación de las medidas de prevención en los pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 2 y enfermedad arterial coronaria en España. Estudio DIETRIC.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Diabetes is a disease with high prevalence that involves high mortality. The control of risk factors reduces the cardiovascular complications. The objective of this study is to define the control degree of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with diabetes and coronary artery disease. METHODS: In DIETRIC study 628 patients with diabetes type 2 and coronary artery disease have been included with the aim to study the antianginous effect of trimetazidine. Patients were studied basally with clinical history, physical exploration, laboratory testing, ECG and exercise test, with 6-month follow-up. In this article the profile of cardiovascular risk and the level of control of the risk factors in the basal study are analyzed. RESULTS: More than 80% of patients showed excess weight or obesity, 73% dyslipemia and 59% hypertension. More than 60% of patients showed 3 or more related risk factors. Only 15% had adequate control of blood pressure, and the control of diastolic pressure (55%) was most frequent than that of systolic (17%). Only 7.5% had adequate control of plasma lipids. Many patients did not take drugs to reduce mortality, as aspirin and statins. CONCLUSIONS: Most of these diabetic patients with coronary artery disease do not have adequate control of risk factors. A limited use of drugs that have proven to reduce cardiovascular mortality in these patients is observed.

Escasa aplicación de las medidas de prevención en los pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 2 y enfermedad arterial coronaria en España. Estudio DIETRIC / Limited application of prevention measures in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 and coronary artery disease in Spain. DIETRIC study

Introducción y objetivos. La diabetes es una enfermedad de elevada prevalencia que conlleva una elevada mortalidad. El control de los factores de riesgo reduce las complicaciones cardiovasculares. El objetivo de este estudio es conocer el grado de control de los factores de riesgo cardiovascular en pacientes con diabetes y enfermedad arterial coronaria. Métodos. En el estudio DIETRIC se han incluido 628 pacientes con diabetes tipo 2 y enfermedad arterial coronaria para estudiar el efecto antianginoso de la trimetazidina. Se les realiza basalmente historia clínica, exploración física, analítica, ECG y prueba de esfuerzo y son seguidos durante 6 meses. En este artículo se analiza el perfil de riesgo cardiovascular y el grado de control de los factores de riesgo en el estudio basal. Resultados. Más del 80% de los pacientes tenía sobrepeso u obesidad, el 73% dislipidemia y el 59% hipertensión arterial. Más del 60% de los pacientes tenía tres o más factores de riesgo asociados. Sólo el 15% tenía un adecuado control de las cifras de presión arterial, siendo más frecuente el control de la presión diastólica (55%) que el de la sistólica (17%). Sólo el 7,5% tiene un control adecuado de los lípidos plasmáticos. Muchos pacientes no toman fármacos que disminuyen la mortalidad, como la aspirina y las estatinas. Conclusiones. La mayoría de estos pacientes diabéticos con enfermedad arterial coronaria no tiene un control adecuado de los factores de riesgo. Se observa un escaso uso de fármacos que han demostrado reducir la mortalidad cardiovascular en estos pacientes

Introduction and objectives. Diabetes is a disease with high prevalence that involves high mortality. The control of risk factors reduces the cardiovascular complications. The objective of this study is to define the control degree of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with diabetes and coronary artery disease. Methods. In DIETRIC study 628 patients with diabetes type 2 and coronary artery disease have been included with the aim to study the antianginous effect of trimetazidine. Patients were studied basally with clinical history, physical exploration, laboratory testing, ECG and exercise test, with 6-month follow-up. In this article the profile of cardiovascular risk and the level of control of the risk factors in the basal study are analyzed. Results. More than 80% of patients showed excess weight or obesity, 73% dyslipemia and 59% hypertension. More than 60% of patients showed 3 or more related risk factors. Only 15% had adequate control of blood pressure, and the control of diastolic pressure (55%) was most frequent than that of systolic (17%). Only 7.5% had adequate control of plasma lipids. Many patients did not take drugs to reduce mortality, as aspirin and statins. Conclusions. Most of these diabetic patients with coronary artery disease do not have adequate control of risk factors. A limited use of drugs that have proven to reduce cardiovascular mortality in these patients is observed

[Spontaneous postpartum coronary dissection]. / Disección coronaria espontánea posparto.

We report a case of spontaneous dissection of right coronary artery diagnosed in a 31-year-old woman in the postpartum period, presenting with prolonged angina and ST segment elevation in the ECG, a rare manifestation of this extremely uncommon anatomico-clinic entity. We described the clinical presentation, the findings derived from transthoracic echocardiography and coronary arteriography, and the clinical course with medical therapy.

[Usefulness of the Doppler index delta P/delta t in the evaluation of left ventricular systolic dysfunction]. / Utilidad del índice Doppler delta P/delta t en la evaluación de la disfunción sistólica ventricular izquierda.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: It has been shown that the delta P/delta t index, derived from the continuous Doppler mitral regurgitation signal correlates strongly with dP/dt. This study evaluates the feasibility, reproducibility and correlation of the index with ejection fraction and other conventional echocardiographic parameters. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred and ten patients with mitral regurgitation demonstrated by colour Doppler were studied. delta P/delta t were calculated by the ratio between the interval of pression between two points of the Doppler signal (-1 and -3 m/s; 32 mmHg, applying the modified Bernouilli equation) and the interval of time (s) which separates both. Ejection fraction was measured in 70 patients by non-echocardiographic methods (isotopic ventriculography, n = 52, and angiography, n = 18). RESULTS: The index was feasible in 91 cases, the variability of intra and interobserver was 5% and 7% respectively. The correlation between delta P/delta t and ejection fraction was significant although weak (r = 0.59; p < 0.001; n = 70). It was better in the group of dilated idiopathic myocardiopathy (r = 0.72; p < 0.001; n = 18) than in the group of myocardial infarction (r = 0.54; p < 0.01; n = 25). No significant correlation was founded in the cases with mitral rheumatic valvulopathy. Regarding to the echocardiographic parameters, the best correlation was obtained with end systolic diameter (r = -0.64; p < 0.001; n = 49). Finally, a value of delta P/delta t < 1,000 mmHg/s predicted the existence of left ventricular systolic dysfunction with high accuracy (84%), sensitivity (80%) and specificity (92%). CONCLUSIONS: High feasibility when mitral regurgitation exists, adequate reproducibility and heightened precision in diagnosing left ventricular systolic dysfunction, are characteristics which make delta P/delta t useful in the echocardiographic routine practice.

[Syncope and chest pain. Demonstration of the mechanism by the hyperventilation test]. / Síncope y dolor torácico. Demostración del mecanismo mediante test de hiperventilación.

Two patients admitted to hospital because syncope and chest pain are presented. In both patients, hyperventilation test caused severe myocardial ischaemia (ST segment elevation) and sudden development of presyncopal sustained ventricular tachycardia which immediately responded to intravenous nitroglycerin. The relationship between coronary vasospasm and sudden death secondary to polymorphic ventricular tachycardia is discussed. Also, the usefulness of the hyperventilation test to detect this problem and to monitor its therapeutic response is addressed.