Arterial function, biomarkers, carcinoid syndrome and carcinoid heart disease in patients with small intestinal neuroendocrine tumours.

PURPOSE: Carcinoid heart disease (CHD) is a life-threatening complication of carcinoid syndrome (CS) characterised by tricuspid regurgitation (TR). However, there is an unmet need for earlier diagnosis of CHD. We cross-sectionally assessed the prevalence and potential predictive or diagnostic markers for CS and CHD in a contemporary cohort of patients with small intestinal neuroendocrine tumours (SI-NETs). METHODS: Biochemical characteristics, hepatic tumour load, measures of arterial and endothelial function, atherosclerosis, and transthoracic echocardiography were analysed in a prospective cross-sectional setting. RESULTS: Among the 65 patients studied, 29 (45%) had CS (CS+ ), and 3 (5%) CHD. CS+ was characterised by significantly higher hepatic tumour load, S-5-HIAA and fP-CgA, higher frequency of diarrhoea and flushing, and more frequent PRRT compared to CS- (for all, P < 0.05). Central systolic, central mean, and central end-systolic blood pressures were significantly higher in CS+ than in CS- (for all, P < 0.05). Subjects with grades 2-4 TR had higher hepatic tumour burden, fP-CgA, and S-5-HIAA compared to those with grades 0-1 TR, but measures of vascular function did not differ. fP-CgA (P = 0.017) and S-5-HIAA (P = 0.019) but not proBNP increased significantly according to the severity of TR. CONCLUSION: Although CS is common, the prevalence of CHD was found to be lower in a contemporary cohort of SI-NET patients than previously anticipated. Measures of arterial or endothelial function or carotid atherosclerosis do not identify subjects with mild TR. Echocardiography remains the most sensitive means to diagnose CHD in CS patients with high tumour burden and elevated CgA and 5-HIAA.

[Treatment of valvular heart diseases with catheterization techniques]. / Sydämen läppäivikojen hoito katetritekniikalla.

While valve surgery is an established form of treatment in significant valvular heart diseases, open heart surgery is not possible for all patients, owing to the risks involved. The incidence of valvular heart diseases increases sharply with age, and it is common that operative risks are overestimated due to age and associated diseases. This review deals with two catheter therapies that are in clinical use for valvular heart diseases: insertion of aortic valve prosthesis through a catheter and treatment of mitral valve insufficiency by clip implantation via the transvenous access.

Transaortic valve-in-valve implantation after previous aortic root homograft.

Catheter-based valve implantation techniques are becoming a viable option in various clinical situations to replace difficult redo open heart surgical procedures. This is a report of a first, to our knowledge, successful valve-in-valve (VinV) transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) into a homograft through the transaortic (TAo) access route using an Edwards SAPIEN valve prosthesis (Edwards Lifesciences, LLC, Irvine, CA) in a patient with poor left ventricular function and generalized severe atherosclerosis.

Reversible pulmonary hypertension associated with vitamin C deficiency.

We describe the case of a 40-year-old female patient who developed severe pulmonary hypertension and life-threatening right-sided heart failure in association with dietary scurvy and iron deficiency. Supplementation with oral vitamin C and iron very likely contributed to her complete cure. Scurvy-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension could result from impaired availability of endothelial nitric oxide, but inappropriate activation of the hypoxia-inducible family (HIF) of transcription factors could play an even more important role. HIF coordinates the body's responses to hypoxia, and its activity is regulated by oxygen-dependent prolyl hydroxylases, which need vitamin C and iron as cofactors. Deficiency of these cofactors could lead to uncontrolled HIF activity and pulmonary vasoconstriction responsive to vitamin C and iron administration.

[Chronic back pain, hepatomegaly and dyspnea]. / Selkäkipuisen miehen suurentunut maksa ja hengenahdistus.

A 57-year-old male had suffered from back pain for years. Three years before the presenting symptoms he had had a lumbar disc operation during which he had bled markedly. Current symptoms of tiredness and dyspnea were new to this otherwise healthy and active man. Initial examinations revealed an enlarged liver, some ascites and signs of heart failure. A liver biopsy showed well-preserved structures with minor signs of inflammation. Cardiac cathetrization revealed increased pulmonary pressures and thus portopulmonary hypertension was suspected. A clinical examination, however, revealed a thrill and a strong systodiastolic murmur in the lower abdomen. CT-angiography confirmed the suspicion of an arteriovenous fistula. The fistula was successfully treated with a covered stent placed in the common iliac artery.

[The treatment of valvular heart disease]. / Läpplivikojen kehittyvä hoito.

During the last few years, progress has been made in the diagnostics and treatment of valvular heart disease. Valvuloplasties have become more common in cases of valve leakage, whereby complications associated with artificial valves and anticoagulant therapy can be avoided. New less invasive catheter valve techniques seem to be as good as conventional ones. In the treatment of aortic valve stenosis, artificial valve replacement via catheter has become almost routine for patients having an excessive risk in open heart surgery.

[Three dimensional echocardiography]. / Sydämen kolmiulotteinen kaikututkimus.

Real time three dimensional echocardiography has arrived into clinical cardiology, allowing noninvasive and repeatable spatial visualisation and accurate quantification of cardiac movement and volumes. Evaluation of valvular disease and cardiac masses with three dimensional echocardiography is superior to traditional two dimensional imaging. Since transesophageal imaging is also available, three dimensional intraoperative echocardiography and monitoring of percutaneous procedures like ASD and PFO closures is now possible.

Predictive value of electrocardiographic QT interval and T-wave morphology parameters for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in a general population sample.

BACKGROUND: The predictive value of ECG QT interval for mortality in the general population has been weak. Only a few population studies on the predictive value of ECG T-wave morphology parameters for mortality have been reported. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the predictive value of ECG QT interval and T-wave morphology parameters for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in the general population. METHODS: The prognostic values of ECG QT interval and four T-wave morphology parameters (principal component analysis ratio, T-wave morphology dispersion, total cosine R-to-T, T-wave residuum) were assessed in 5,917 adults (45% men; age 52 +/- 14 years) participating in the Finnish population-based Health 2000 Study. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up of 5.9 +/- 0.8 years, 335 deaths had occurred, including 131 cardiovascular deaths. QT interval and, with a few exceptions, all T-wave morphology parameters were significant univariate mortality predictors. In men, in Cox multivariate analyses, principal component analysis ratio and T-wave morphology dispersion remained as independent predictors of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, with the above-median T-wave morphology dispersion group showing the highest risk of cardiovascular death (hazard ratio [HR] 4.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.1-9.4). In women, independent mortality predictors were total cosine R-to-T (cardiovascular mortality) and T-wave residuum (all-cause and cardiovascular mortality), with the above-median T-wave residuum group showing the highest risk of cardiovascular death (HR 2.2, 95% CI 1.1-4.2). CONCLUSION: In the general population, T-wave morphology parameters, but not heart rate-corrected QT interval, provide independent prognostic information on mortality. The prognostic value of T-wave morphology parameters is specifically related to cardiovascular mortality and seems to be gender specific.

Treatment of serious calcium channel blocker overdose with levosimendan, a calcium sensitizer.

Calcium channel blocker (CCB) overdose is often lethal. Conventional medical treatment includes i.v. calcium, high doses of catecholamines, insulin, and glucagon. A new inotropic drug, levosimendan, should be considered in severe CCB poisoning. Levosimendan's pharmacologic features differ from other inotropic drugs. It is a calcium sensitizer and improves contraction without increasing intracytosolic calcium concentration. We describe two patients with serious CCB overdose. Despite intensive medical and mechanical cardiovascular support, both patients remained in shock. Hemodynamics gradually improved after administration of levosimendan.

Simplifying the estimation of jugular venous pressure.

The classic technique of estimating jugular venous pressure, with variable inclination of the upper body and the sternal angle as the reference point, is complicated and little used in general practice. The aim of this prospective, comparative study was to assess whether estimating neck vein distension with the patient in the sitting position could be used to detecting elevated venous pressure. Patients (n = 96) who underwent right-sided cardiac catheterization or endomyocardial biopsy were evaluated. The visible height of the right internal jugular venous column above the clavicle was estimated, and the mean pressure in the right atrium or superior vena cava at cardiac catheterization was measured. Invasive venous pressure was elevated (>8 mm Hg) in 23 patients. A deep venous column visibly distended above the right clavicle in the sitting position had sensitivity of 65% and specificity of 85% to identify truly elevated venous pressure. Abdominal compression increased sensitivity to 77% but decreased specificity to 68%. In conclusion, studying the deep neck veins of a sitting patient simplifies the estimation of jugular venous pressure and has moderate to high diagnostic performance in detecting elevated central venous pressure.