Impaired myocardial function in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) parameters of peak myocardial velocities (S', E', and A') has been employed to assess the regional left ventricular myocardial function. The global function index (GFI) derived from TDI has been recently employed to distinguish the different etiologies of left ventricular hypertrophy. OBJECTIVE: To analyze whether the GFI or individual TDI parameters of peak myocardial velocities (S', E', and A') allows detecting different degrees of regional myocardial dysfunction in the most frequent forms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). METHODS: GFI = (E/E')/S' (where E is the peak transmitral flow velocity, E' is the early diastolic myocardial velocity, and S' is the peak systolic myocardial velocity) and TDI peak myocardial velocities was measured in the septal and lateral mitral annulus in 101 patients with HCM (mean age 47.5 +/- 14 years, 58 women) and in age-matched group of 30 healthy controls (mean age 46 +/- 6 years, 16 women). RESULTS: Forty-five patients had nonobstructive asymmetric septal HCM, 20 patients had a subaortic gradient >or= 30 mm Hg, 21 p. had apical HCM, and 15 p. had other forms of HCM (midventricular, symmetric, and biventricular). All patients with HCM exhibited a decrease in early diastolic (E') and systolic (S') myocardial velocities, both in the lateral and septal-mitral annulus border, but more pronounced in septal-mitral annulus. Septal GFI was higher in HCM patients than in healthy subjects (1.8 (1.1-2.5) and (0.57 (0.31-0.92), respectively, P < 0.001), but no differences were seen when different forms of HCM were compared. CONCLUSIONS: In a selected population of patients with HCM and a preserved left ventricular(LV) systolic function, GFI and individual TDI parameters of peak velocity (S', E', and A') and E/E' ratio were similar in different forms of HCM, indicating that in all patients with HCM there is regional systolic and diastolic myocardial dysfunction, regardless of the location of hypertrophy.

Right and left atrial appendage function in patients with mitral stenosis and sinus rhythm.

Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) is generally used for the assessment of ventricular function, and to a lesser extent, to evaluate the left atrial appendage (LAA). In the present study, we used TDI to analyze the contractile function of the right atrial appendage (RAA). The aim of this study was a comprehensive evaluation of RAA and LAA contractile function in patients with mitral stenosis and sinus rhythm. A total of 69 patients were assessed: group 1 (23 patients with severe MS, 38 +/- 11 years, 20 women), group 2 (23 patients with mild MS, 39 +/- 12 years, 19 women) and group 3 (23 healthy subjects, 42 +/- 14 years, 16 women). Multiplane transesophageal echo was performed in all patients. The RAA was visualized at 130 degrees and the LAA at 0 degrees . TDI sample volume was placed in the tip of both atrial appendages, with an ultrasound beam angle < 10 degrees . Flow velocities and myocardial velocities were measured. The presence of thrombus and/or spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) was assessed. TDI showed in normal subjects, myocardial contraction velocities in RAA similar to that of the LAA (21.8 +/- 4.2 vs. 20.1 +/- 4 cm/s, respectively, P = NS). In patients with MS, myocardial velocities in both atrial appendages were significantly lower than in normal subjects (RAA: 17.4 +/- 5.1 vs. 21.8 +/- 4.2 cm/s, respectively, P < 0.01, LAA: 9 +/- 5.1 vs. 20.1 +/- 4 cm/s, respectively, P < 0.001). Linear regression analysis showed a correlation between the impairment of systolic function of both appendages, pulmonary arterial pressure, valve area and transmitral gradient. Of the 46 patients with MS, patients with intense SEC had lower flow and myocardial velocities in the LAA than patients without SEC (16 +/- 5 vs. 50 +/- 3 cm/s, 6 +/- 2 vs. 10.6 +/- 5.6 cm/s, respectively, P < 0.001 and P < 0.001). In healthy subjects, myocardial contraction velocities in both appendages were similar. Patients with MS and sinus rhythm had contractile dysfunction of both appendages, shown by the decrease in myocardial velocities and related to the increase in atrial afterload. Both appendages exhibited a relation between contractile dysfunction and the presence of SEC, but dysfunction was less marked in the RAA, which might explain the lower prevalence of thrombi in the RAA.

Left ventricular diverticulum, a rare echocardiographic finding: two adult patients and review of the literature.

Congenital diverticulum of the left ventricle is a very rare cardiac abnormality characterized by a local embryological development failure of the ventricular muscle. It may present as an isolated disorder or may be associated with other cardiac abnormalities. Clinically, it has been reported that it can lead to chest pain, arrhythmias, cardiac rupture, and sudden death, although frequently the course is asymptomatic. This article presents two illustrative cases of left ventricular diverticulum. The diagnosis was made by two-dimensional echocardiography and was confirmed by cardiac catheterization. There were no other thoracoabdominal or cardiac abnormalities. The patient was asymptomatic and surgical resection was not indicated. Given the few cases reported in the medical literature, the information available is scarce; hence, physicians should be trained to make the appropriate diagnosis.

Absence of myocardial dysfunction during cold pressor stress echocardiography in patients with endothelial dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Several methods are available for the assessment of coronary endothelial function, but there are no reports to date regarding the usefulness of cold pressor stress echocardiography (CPSE). OBJECTIVE: To assess regional systolic and diastolic left ventricular function using CPSE in patients with endothelial dysfunction. METHODS: We studied 24 patients, of whom 10 were men, aged 27 to 68 years, who had coronary risk factors and a normal exercise MP-SPECT test. They were compared with 10 normal subjects (6 men), aged 21 to 44 years. All patients underwent a CPSE. RESULTS: The cold pressor-MP-SPECT revealed myocardial ischemia in 10 patients (Group I) and was normal in 14 patients (Group II). All normal subjects (Group III) had normal cold pressor-MP-SPECT. The cold pressor test caused a significant increase in systolic BP in the three groups (baseline 117 +/- 17 mmHg vs. postcold test 137 +/- 16 mmHg, P < 0.05), without changes in heart rate, PR interval, or the corrected QT interval. During the CPSE, no patient developed WMA in 2D echo or changes in regional systolic or diastolic LV function in the pulsed Doppler tissue imaging. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with endothelial dysfunction and no known coronary artery disease, the ischemic response to the cold pressor-MP-SPECT is not accompanied by WMA or changes in regional systolic or diastolic LV function during CPSE. Such negative findings indicate that the amount of ischemia that occurs secondarily to endothelial dysfunction does not involve sufficient myocardial mass to cause contractile dysfunction.

Right atrial thrombus mimicking myxoma with pulmonary embolism in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus and secondary antiphospholipid syndrome.

Antiphospholipid syndrome is a well-defined entity that is characterized by spontaneous abortion, thrombocytopenia, and recurrent arterial and venous thromboses. A partially calcified right atrial thrombus mimicking myxoma with recurrent pulmonary embolism has not been previously reported in a patient who also had systemic lupus erythematosus and secondary antiphospholipid syndrome. Herein, we describe the case of a 37-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus and secondary antiphospholipid syndrome who was admitted to the hospital with progressive exertional dyspnea. Ventilation-perfusion scanning showed multiple parenchymal defects in the lungs that portended pulmonary embolism. In addition, the scanning revealed normal regional ventilation. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography showed a right atrial mass that was highly suggestive of myxoma, and the patient subsequently underwent surgery. A histologic examination showed an organized, partially calcified thrombus. Intracardiac thrombus has been rarely reported as a complication of antiphospholipid syndrome. In our patient, the preoperative investigations could not differentiate the partially calcified right atrial thrombus from a myxoma, and the diagnosis was made postoperatively.