Regression of left ventricular hypertrophy in hemodialyzed patients is possible: a follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have addressed the description of serial changes in left ventricular mass (LVM) and relevant risk factors. The aims of our study were to describe trends in left ventricular (LV) structure and function derived from echocardiographic measurements over a 10-year period in Fresenius Nephrocare Dialysis Center in Iasi and to compare the results with those obtained on a smaller group 4 years ago. METHODS: Three hundred and thirty-four hemodialyzed patients were enrolled at baseline, between January 1999 and March 2009. Echocardiography was performed at inclusion and several times for each patient during this period, until the end of the study. Mean values of the biochemical parameters (hemoglobin, serum proteins, calcium, phosphate) at the time of the echocardiographic examination were calculated and included in the final analysis. RESULTS: Outcome in dialysis was 70.5% alive at the end of the study. The most important improvement was observed in LV mass index: at the 4th echocardiography, the mean LVMi was 144.8 vs. 156.0 g/m(2) at the 2nd echocardiographic examination vs. 167.2 g/m(2) at the first echocardiographic examination (mean decrease 3.34 ± 9.6 g/m(2)/month). Significant results were obtained by comparing LVMi only in patients with all 4 echocardiographies: left ventricular hypertrophy regression was statistically significant, from 172.7 g/m(2) at the 1st echocardiography to 146.0 g/m(2) at the 4th, i.e. 15.4% reduction of LVMi. Delta LVMi significantly correlated only with changes in hemoglobin (P < 0.05).There was a significant regression of the relative wall thickness from an average of 0.46 to 0.42 (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study proves that regression of LVH in hemodialyzed patients is possible and constitutes a must-achieve objective in dialysis centers.

[Treatment with hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme-A-reductase inhibitors in elderly patients: is it necessary?]. / Tratamentul cu inhibitori ai hidroxi-metil-glutaril coenzima-A-reductazei: o necesitate in tratamentul dislipidemiei la vârstnic?

OBJECTIVE: To study the benefit of the therapy with hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (simvastatin) associated with diet in treating dyslipidemia in elderly patients, considering that they are more exposed to sudden death, myocardial infarction and stroke. Efficient and long-term serum cholesterol concentration lowering has beneficial effects on the risk for coronary heart disease as well as on other major cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes. METHODS: A retrospective study of 84 patients aged > or = 65 years, admitted in the last 6 months in Medical Clinic IV, was conducted. Admission criteria in the study were: age > or = 65 years old and high serum levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio. The patient population was divided into two groups: Group I of 40 patients treated for dyslipidemia only with diet and Group II with 44 patients in which was associated treatment with hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, 10 mg/day. The patients were controlled when admitted in the study and then at 3 and 6 weeks afterwards. RESULTS: Serum cholesterol and triglycerides concentration lowering was modest in Group I at 3 and 6 weeks, maybe because we registered a progressively lowered compliance of patients to hypocholesterolemic diet. In Group II the results were much better as we obtained significant serum cholesterol and triglycerides levels lowering after 3 weeks of treatment, and in 32 cases (72%) we had a normal lipid profile after 6 weeks of treatment. The other 12 patients (28%) abandoned treatment after 4 weeks of therapy because of financial reasons. There were no side effects during the treatment with hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS: The therapy with hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors associated to hypocholesterolemic diet controlled efficiently dyslipidemia in elderly patients. Diet alone could not control cholesterol and triglycerides levels, mainly because of lack of adherence of the patients to the diet. Based on the fact that dyslipidemia is a major, independent cardiovascular risk factor, we consider that therapy with hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme-A-reductase inhibitors is beneficial in elderly patients because of their efficacity, minimal side effects and protection against sudden death, myocardial infarction and stroke.

[Risk of sudden death in patients with chronic renal failure and hemodialysis]. / Riscul mortii subite la pacientii cu insuficienta renala cronica hemodializati.

Cardiovascular mortality in uremic patients treated by hemodialysis overrates ten times cardiovascular mortality in general population. Approximatively 40% of patients on iterative hemodialysis die from cardiac diseases, half of cases by sudden death. Several risk factors for sudden death are well known: QTc interval prolongation, decrease of RR interval <750 msec, decrease of heart rate variability, presence of late ventricular potentials (LVP), presence of high risk ventricular extrasystoles, decrease of ejection fraction (EF) <40 %, presence of left ventricular hypertrophy. Our study evaluated the above-mentioned risk factors for sudden death in patients with chronic renal failure on hemodialysis. We studied 37 patients, 22 males and 15 females, with mean age of 42 years old, without diabetes, heart failure and arrhythmias, without myocardial ischemia on ECG, being on hemodialysis (HD) programme for minimum 1 year (HD parameters are: 4 h x 3/week, qB = 300 ml/min, buffer = bicarbonate, Ca dialysate = 1.75 mmol/l, K dialysate = 2.1 mmol/l, conductivity = 135 mS). The patients were evaluated by echocardiography, standard and Holter ECG. Statistics evaluation was performed in SPSS v.9.0. Program. The results proved that 80% of patients on HD have risk factors for sudden death, which are closely related with age and hyperhydration. Statistics proved that presence of high-risk arrhythmias is connected with heart rate variability and prolongation of QTc interval (favored by HD). 50% of our patients have 2 to 4 risk factors for sudden death, which increase incidence of sudden death in patients on HD.

[Early diagnosis in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy--case report]. / Importanta diagnosticului precoce în cardiomiopatia hipertrofica.

Disproportionate heart muscle enlargement compared with little or no chamber enlargement are characteristic for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The clinical course of HCM is highly variable. Many patients are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic and may be relatives of patients with known disease. Unfortunately, the first clinical manifestation of the disease may be sudden death, frequently occurring in children and young adults, often during or after physical exertion. We present 2 cases of HCM who emphasize the variability of clinical and ECG modifications and underline the importance of routine echocardiography in patients with atypical cardiac symptoms in order to identify the disease and prevent high risk for sudden death.

[When is it a diagnosis of overlap syndrome?]. / Când punem diagnosticul de sindrom overlap?

The connective tissue diseases comprise a group of syndromes of unknown etiology affecting as many as 1 person in 40, often with a predilection for the female sex. Included are: systemic lupus erytematosus (SLE), polymyositis and dermatomyositis, Sjögren syndrome, scleroderma and the vasculitis (polyarteritis nodosa, Wegener's, giant cell arteritis). There are patients who are not easily defined; having features overlapping with those of other connective tissue diseases. A variety of terms such as mixed connective tissue disease, undifferentiated connective tissue syndrome and overlap syndrome have emerged to describe such patients. Although many of these overlap syndromes are unlikely to have life-threatening consequences, they may be extremely debilitating and distressing, significantly reducing quality of life for the patient and his or her family. We present the case of a patient initially diagnosed with dermatomyositis and who eventually evolved to overlap syndrome by developing SLE.

[Oxidative stress in atherosclerosis]. / Stresul oxidativ în ateroscleroza.

Oxidative stress is the result of the imbalance between pro-oxidant and antioxidant factors. The participation of oxidative stress in atherosclerosis (ATS) is reflected by lipid peroxidation which is a process initiated and maintained by oxygen reactive species generated by the aterogenic cells themselves. The endothelial aggression in ATS is accompanied by endothelial dysfunction, which is due to the neutralization of nitric oxide by superoxid anion. The key role in the onset and the development of the ATS lesions belongs to oxidated LDL-cholesterol that influence at different levels and by several mechanisms the ATS process. The neutralization of the toxic effects of free radicals is due to the endo and exogen antioxidant systems. It appears that the individual antioxidant status is influenced by environmental factors as well as by a genetic determinant. The antioxidant therapy, which is controversial at the moment, represents an associated therapy in endothelial dysfunction from ATS.

[Chronic lead poisoning-- a" forgotten" cause of anemia]. / Intoxicatia cronica cu plumb--o cauza "uitata" a sindromului anemic.

We present the case of a female patient with a chronic hypersideremic anemia associated with digestive and neurological symptoms, with a long time ignored toxic history. The diagnose was based on very high levels of lead in serum and urine, very high levels of D-aminolaevulinic acid in the urine, and the presence of basophilic stippling of erythrocytes in the smear of the patient. Lead intoxication was due to ingestion of home-made alcohol (domestic devices made from lead mixtures) and of yogurt preserved in lead-glazed mugs.