Cold at the Core: Osborn Waves in Neurosarcoidosis-Induced Central Hypothermia.

Osborn waves, or J waves, initially described by John Osborn in 1953 in hypothermic dog experiments, are highly sensitive and specific for hypothermia. Initially thought to be secondary to a hypothermia-induced "injury current," they have more recently been attributed to a voltage differential between epicardial and endocardial potassium (Ito) currents. While the exact conditions required to induce such waves have been debated, numerous clinical scenarios of environmental and iatrogenic hypothermia have been described. Below, we report a novel case of hypothermia-that of neurosarcoidosis-induced central hypothermia with resultant Osborn waves and other associated findings found on electrocardiogram (ECG).

Systemic mastocytosis presenting as cardiac tamponade with CD25(+) pericardial mast cells.

In this first-in-literature case, we describe a patient with Systemic mastocytosis presenting with life-threatening cardiac tamponade associated with the presence of aberrant mast cells in the pericardium. Procedures involving surgical incisions through the pericardium in such cases can lead to uncontrolled mast cell degranulation leading to circulatory collapse.

Patent foramen ovale: Unanswered questions.

The foramen ovale is a remnant of the fetal circulation that remains patent in 20-25% of the adult population. Although long overlooked as a potential pathway that could produce pathologic conditions, the presence of a patent foramen ovale (PFO) has been associated with a higher than expected frequency in a variety of clinical syndromes including cryptogenic stroke, migraines, sleep apnea, platypnea-orthodeoxia, deep sea diving associated decompression illness, and high altitude pulmonary edema. A unifying hypothesis is that a chemical or particulate matter from the venous circulation crosses the PFO conduit between the right and left atria to produce a variety of clinical syndromes. Although observational studies suggest a therapeutic benefit of PFO closure compared to medical therapy alone in patients with cryptogenic stroke, 3 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) did not confirm the superiority of PFO closure for the secondary prevention of stroke. However, meta-analyses of these RCTs demonstrate a significant benefit of PFO closure over medical therapy alone. Similarly, observational studies provide support for PFO closure for symptomatic relief of migraines. But one controversial randomized study failed to replicate the results of the observational studies while another two demonstrated a partial benefit. The goal of this review is to discuss the clinical conditions associated with PFO and provide internists and primary care physicians with current data on PFO trials, and clinical insight to help guide their patients who are found to have a PFO on echocardiographic testing.

Mechanical valve obstruction: Review of diagnostic and treatment strategies.

Prosthetic valve obstruction (PVO) is a rare but feared complication of mechanical valve replacement. Diagnostic evaluation should focus on differentiating prosthetic valve thrombosis (PVT) from pannus formation, as their treatment options differ. History of sub-optimal anti-coagulation and post-op time course to development of PVO are useful clinical characteristics in differentiating thrombus from pannus formation. Treatment of PVT is influenced by the patient's symptoms, valve location, degree of obstruction and thrombus size and may include thrombolysis or surgical intervention. Alternatively, pannus formation requires surgical intervention. The purpose of this article is to review the pathophysiology, epidemiology, diagnostic approach and treatment options for aortic and mitral valve PVO.

Outcomes in World Health Organization group II pulmonary hypertension: mortality and readmission trends with systolic and preserved ejection fraction-induced pulmonary hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) has been increasingly recognized as a leading cause of pulmonary hypertension (HFpEF-PH). It remains unknown how HFpEF-PH fares in relation to systolic HF (reduced ejection fraction)-induced PH (HFrEF-PH). Therefore, we sought to determine the long-term morbidity and mortality of HFpEF-PH and HFrEF-PH. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied all patients over a 6-year period with symptomatic HF and severe PH (PASP ≥65 mm Hg) in The Bronx, New York. We classified patients as having either preserved (≥50%) or reduced (≤35%) left ventricular ejection fraction. Trends in mortality and HF readmission rates were defined in 650 patients (HFrEF-PH: n = 277; HFpEF-PH: n = 373). HFpEF-PH patients were older and more often female and white. HFrEF-PH patients were more often black, had ischemic cardiomyopathy, and were on typical HF drug regimens. Patients with HFpEF-PH had a significantly increased all-cause 5-year mortality (52% vs 42%; P = .024). HFpEF-PH was a significant predictor of mortality (adjusted hazard ratio 1.70; P = .012). Patients with HFrEF-PH had more HF readmissions (≥1) than patients with HFpEF-PH (28.6% vs 15%; P = .003), especially within the 1st year (9.1% vs 1.7%; P = .005). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with HFrEF-PH and HFpEF-PH have a significantly elevated long-term mortality, with HFpEF-PH having a higher 5-year mortality rate. These findings testify to the overall poor prognosis of World Health Organization Group II PH, especially HFpEF-PH.