Incidence and predictors of new onset left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in asymptomatic patients with rheumatoid arthritis without overt cardiac disease.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with higher risk of heart failure. Several studies report that left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction (LVDD), a silent precursor of heart failure, is widely present in RA patients. Very little is known about the factors related to the development of LVDD in this disease. In this study we assessed the incidence and the predictors of new-onset LVDD in RA patients. Two-hundred-ninety-five adults with RA without overt cardiac disease were prospectively analyzed from March 2014 to March 2015 by Doppler echocardiography. Among the 295 subjects evaluated, 217 (73.6%) had normal LV diastolic function and represented the final study population. At 1-year follow-up, 53 of 217 patients (24%) developed LVDD, which was of degree I (mild dysfunction) in all of them. By multivariate logistic regression analysis, lower E/A ratio of transmitral flow (ratio between the peak velocity of early diastolic "E" wave and late diastolic "A" wave of transmitral flow) was independently associated with new-onset LVDD [OR 0.17 (CI 0.09-0.57)], together with older age and higher systolic blood pressure. In a clinical predictive model derived from multivariate analysis, the new-onset LVDD rate event ranged from 0% (patients without any factor) to 75% (patients in whom the three predictors coexisted). A significant portion of patients with RA without overt cardiac disease develop LVDD at 1-year follow-up. This condition can be predicted by a simple clinical model which could improve the clinical management and the prognostic stratification of patients with RA.

Value of Combined Circumferential and Longitudinal Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction to Predict Adverse Outcome in Patients with Asymptomatic Aortic Stenosis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Patients with asymptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) may have left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) defined as an impairment of the circumferential and/or longitudinal (C&L) myocardial fibers, despite a preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). An assessment was made as to whether the combined LVSD of C&L fibers has a prognostic impact in asymptomatic AS. METHODS: A total of 200 asymptomatic AS patients was analyzed. Midwall shortening and mitral annular peak systolic velocity were considered as indices of C&L function and classified as low if <16.5% and <8.5 cm/s, respectively. The primary outcome was a composite of major cardiovascular events (MACE), including aortic valve-related and ischemic cardiovascular-related events. RESULTS: During a 25-month follow up period, MACE occurred in 69 patients (35%),while 46 of 72 patients (64%) had C&L LVSD and 23 of 128 patients (18%) had not (p <0.001). Cox analysis identified C&L LVSD as an independent MACE predictor, together with aortic transvalvular peak gradient, E/E' ratio and excessive left ventricular mass. C&L-LVSD also predicted the occurrence of aortic valve-related events and ischemic cardiovascular-related events analyzed separately. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) for C&L LVSD in predicting MACE was 0.77, significantly higher (p = 0.002, z-statistic) than the AUCs of C&L fibers considered individually (0.64 and 0.63, respectively). CONCLUSION: C&L-LVSD provides additional prognostic information into traditional risk factors for patients with asymptomatic AS.

Reasons why patients suffering from chronic heart failure at very low risk for mortality die.

BACKGROUND: A proper prognostic stratification is crucial for organizing an effective clinical management and treatment decision-making in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). In this study, we selected and characterized a sub-group of CHF patients at very low risk for death aiming to assess predictors of death in subjects with an expected probability of 1-year mortality near to 5%. METHODS: We used the Cardiac and Comorbid Conditions HF (3C-HF) Score to identify CHF patients with the best mid-term prognosis. We selected patients belonging to the lowest quartile of 3C-HF score (≤9 points). RESULTS: We recruited 1777 consecutive CHF patients at 3 Italian Cardiology Units (age 76±10years, 43% female, 32% with preserved ejection fraction). Subjects belonging to the lowest quartile of 3C-HF score were 609. During a median follow-up of 21 [12-40] months, 48 of these patients (8%) died, and 561 (92%) survived. The variables that contributed to death prediction by Cox regression multivariate analysis were older age (HR 1.03[CI 1.00-1.07]; p=0.04), male gender (HR 2.93[CI 1.50-5.51]; p=0.002) and a higher degree of renal dysfunction (HR 0.96[CI 0.94-0.98]; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The prognostic stratification of CHF patients by 3C-HF score allows one to select patients at different outcome and to identify the factors associated with death in outliers with a very low mortality risk at mid-term follow-up. The reasons why these patients do not outlive the matching part of subjects who expectedly survive are related to a declined renal function and unmodifiable conditions including older age and male gender.

Echocardiographic markers of inducible myocardial ischemia at baseline evaluation preparatory to exercise stress echocardiography.

BACKGROUND: Tissue Doppler Imaging (TDI) is a sensible and feasible method to detect longitudinal left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction (LVSD) in patients with diabetes mellitus, hypertension or ischemic heart disease. In this study, we hypothesized that longitudinal LVSD assessed by TDI predicted inducible myocardial ischemia independently of other echocardiographic variables (assessed as coexisting potential markers) in patients at increased cardiovascular (CV) risk. METHODS: Two hundred one patients at high CV risk defined according to the ESC Guidelines 2012 underwent exercise stress echocardiography (ExSEcho) for primary prevention. Echocardiographic parameters were measured at rest and peak exercise. RESULTS: ExSEcho classified 168 (83.6 %) patients as non-ischemic and 33 (16,4 %) as ischemic. Baseline clinical characteristics were similar between the groups, but ischemic had higher blood pressure, received more frequently beta-blockers and antiplatelet agents than non-ischemic patients. The former had greater LV size, lower relative wall thickness and higher left atrial systolic force (LASF) than the latter. LV systolic longitudinal function (measure as peak S') was significantly lower in ischemic than non-ischemic patients (8.7 ± 2.1 vs 9.7 ± 2.7 cm/sec, p = 0.001). The factors independently related to myocardial ischemia at multivariate logistic analysis were: lower peak S', higher LV circumferential end-systolic stress and LASF. CONCLUSIONS: In asymptomatic patients at increased risk for adverse CV events baseline longitudinal LVSD together with higher LV circumferential end-systolic stress and LASF were the factors associated with myocardial ischemia induced by ExSEcho. The assessment of these factors at standard echocardiography might help the physicians for improving the risk stratification among these patients for ExSEcho.

Does treatment assignment influence the prognosis of patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis?

OBJECTIVE: Aortic valve replacement (AVR) is the standard therapy in patients with symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS). In high surgical risk patients, alternative therapeutic options to medical treatment (MT) such as trans-catheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) or balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) have been proposed. In this study we evaluated whether treatment assignment influences per se the prognosis of these subjects. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Criteria for treatment assignment were based on patient's clinical conditions, Logistic EuroSCORE and other co-morbidities ignored by EuroSCORE. Due to baseline clinical differences between patients with diverse treatment assignment, we used propensity score matching to achieve balance. RESULTS: 368 patients were studied: 141 underwent AVR, 127 TAVI, 49 BAV and 51 MT. 84 events (deaths for all causes) occurred during 14 months of follow-up: 11 AVR (8%), 26 TAVI (20%), 18 MT (35%), 29 BAV group (59%). Traditional Cox analysis identified treatment assignment as independent predictor of events (HR 1.82 [CI 1.10-3.25]) together with lower left ventricular ejection fraction, impaired renal function and history of heart failure. Matched Cox analysis by propensity score confirmed treatment assignment as an independent prognosticator of events (HR 1.90 [CI 1.27-2.85]), and showed similar rate events in TAVI and AVR patients, while it was significantly increased in BAV and MT patients. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment assignment may influence outcome of symptomatic patients with AS.

Combined circumferential and longitudinal left ventricular systolic dysfunction in patients with asymptomatic aortic stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Early detection of left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction is pivotal in the management of patients with aortic stenosis (AS). LV circumferential and/or longitudinal shortening may be impaired in these patients despite LV ejection fraction is preserved. We focused on prevalence and factors associated with combined impairment of circumferential and longitudinal shortening (C&L) in asymptomatic AS patients. METHODS: Echocardiographic and clinical data from 200 patients with asymptomatic AS of any degree without history of heart failure and normal LV ejection fraction were analyzed. C&L were evaluated by mid-wall shortening (MS) and tissue Doppler mitral annular peak systolic velocity (S'), and classified low if <16.5% and if <8.5 cm/sec, respectively (10th percentiles of controls). RESULTS: Combined C&L dysfunction was detected in 72 patients (36%). The variables associated with this condition were higher LV mass (OR 1.02 [CI 1.01-1.04], P = 0.03), concentric LV geometry (OR 4.30 [CI 1.79-10.34], P = 0.001), increasing pulmonary artery wedge pressure (by E/e' ratio; OR 1.11 [CI 1.04-1.19], P = 0.001). The relation of MS and peak S' was linear and slightly significant in the whole population (r = 0.23; F statistic=0.001), absent in patients with C&L dysfunction (r = 0.04; F = ns), negative (linear model) in the subgroup of patients without C&L dysfunction (r = -0.22; F = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: C&L dysfunction is present in more than one-third of patients with asymptomatic AS and is associated with concentric LV geometry and higher degree of diastolic dysfunction. The relation between MS and peak S' largely varies in the subgroups with different C&L function.

Reasons why patients suffering from chronic heart failure at very high risk for death survive.

BACKGROUND: An accurate prognostic stratification is essential for optimizing the clinical management and treatment decision-making of patients with chronic heart failure (HF). Among the best available models, we used the Cardiac and Comorbid Conditions HF (3C-HF) Score, to predict all-cause mortality in patients with CHF. METHODS: we selected and characterized the subgroup of patients at very high risk with the worst mid-term prognosis belonging to the highest decile of 3C-HF score with the aim to assess predictors of survival in subjects with an expected probability of 1-year mortality near to 45%. METHODS AND RESULTS: We recruited 1777 consecutive chronic HF patients at 3 Italian Cardiology Units. Median age was 76 ± 10 years, 43% were female, and 32% had preserved ejection fraction. Subjects belonging to the highest decile of 3C-HF score were 246 (13.8% of total population). During a median follow-up of 21 [12-40] months, 110 of these patients (45%) survived and 136 (55%) died. The variables that contributed to survival prediction emerged by Cox regression multivariate analysis were the lower degree of renal dysfunction and higher body mass index. CONCLUSIONS: The prognostic stratification of chronic HF patients allows in daily practice to select patients at different risk for death and identify prognosticators of survival in outliers at very high risk of death. The reasons why these patients outlive the matching part of subjects who expectedly die are related to the maintenance of a satisfactory renal function and body mass index.

Left atrial work in patients with stable chronic heart failure: factors associated and prognostic role.

BACKGROUND: Limited information is available on left atrial (LA) work in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients. We evaluated correlates and prognostic role of LA work in 243 CHF patients using as reference for normal LA work values 230 healthy controls. METHODS: Left atrial work was assessed by computation of LA kinetic energy (LAKE) from the formula: 0.5 × m × A(2) where m is LA stroke volume × blood density, and A is transmitral Doppler peak atrial velocity. The prespecified primary endpoint of the study was major cardiovascular (CV) events, a composite endpoint defined as CV death + hospitalization for heart failure (HF). RESULTS: Left atrial kinetic energy was 3.9 ± 2.7 in CHF patients and 2.6 ± 1.4 Kdynes/m(2) in controls (P < 0.001). Abnormally high LAKE (>5.4 Kdynes/m(2) = mean + 2 SD of the controls) was found in 19% of CHF patients and 4% of controls (P < 0.001). LAKE was independently associated with an increased shortening of left ventricular (LV) longitudinal fibers and renal dysfunction. CV death or hospitalization for decompensated HF occurred in 66% and 20% of patients with abnormally high and normal LAKE, respectively (P < 0.001). Abnormally high LAKE, not LA size, was an independent predictor of events hazard ratio (HR) 3.92 [95% CI 1.96-7.84] together with renal dysfunction and lower LV ejection fraction. CONCLUSION: In CHF patients, LAKE is significantly higher than in healthy controls, the prevalence of abnormally high LAKE is near fivefold higher in the former than in the latter. LAKE depends on systolic LV and renal function and is a strong predictor of CV death and hospitalization for HF. LA work has an incremental prognostic value over LA size.

Prognostic stratification by conventional echocardiography of patients with aortic stenosis: the "CAIMAN-ECHO score".

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Surgery is not recommended in asymptomatic patients with aortic stenosis (AS). However, prognosis of these patients is worse than retained. We built a simple score (named by the acronym "CAIMAN") for stratifying asymptomatic patients with AS according to the different risk for cardiovascular events. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data from 141 patients with moderate-to-severe AS followed up for 36 months were analyzed. The end point "outcome" was defined as death of all causes or aortic valve replacement imposed by symptoms or hospital admission for myocardial infarction and/or heart failure. The score was validated in 143 patients prospectively recruited in 2 different centers. RESULTS: The 40 events occurred in the original cohort were associated with higher aortic transvalvular peak jet velocity, calcium score, and observed/predicted left ventricular (LV) mass ratio. Based on the hazard ratios of Cox analysis, the score was calculated as follows: calcium score 1-3 = 1 point, 4 = 6 points; transvalvular peak jet velocity ≤3.6 m/sec = 1 point, 3.6 m/sec = 3 points, observed/predicted LV mass ratio ≤110% = 1 point, >110% = 3 points. After a mean period of 28 ± 18 months, event-free survival was 18%, 42%, 91%, and 96% in the 4 quartiles of echo score. The accuracy of the score in predicting events was 84% and 77% (P = 0.09) in the original and validation cohort, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The CAIMAN-ECHO score is a simple and feasible tool useful for an accurate prognostic stratification of patients with asymptomatic moderate-to-severe AS.

Analysis of circumferential and longitudinal left ventricular systolic function in patients with non-ischemic chronic heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (from the CARRY-IN-HFpEF study).

Heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HFpEF) is implicitly attributed to diastolic dysfunction, often recognized in elderly patients with hypertension, diabetes, and renal dysfunction. In these patients, left ventricular circumferential and longitudinal shortening is often impaired despite normal ejection fraction. The aim of this prospective study was to analyze circumferential and longitudinal shortening and their relations in patients with nonischemic HFpEF. Stress-corrected midwall shortening (sc-MS) and mitral annular peak systolic velocity (S') were measured in 60 patients (mean age 73 ± 13 years) with chronic nonischemic HFpEF in stable New York Heart Association functional class II or III and compared to the values in 120 healthy controls and 120 patients with hypertension without HFpEF. Sc-MS was classified as low if <89% and S' as low if <8.5 cm/s (the 10th-percentile values of healthy controls). Isolated low sc-MS was detected in 46% of patients with HFpEF, 27% of patients with hypertension, and 2% of controls; isolated low S' was detected in 11% of patients with HFpEF, 7% of patients with hypertension, and 5% of controls; and combined low sc-MS and low S' was detected in 26% of patients with HFpEF, 9% of patients with hypertension, and 5% of controls (HFpEF vs others, all p values <0.001). Thus, any alteration of systolic function was found in 83% of patients with HFpEF. The relation between sc-MS and S' was nonlinear (cubic). Changes in S' within normal values corresponded to negligible variations in sc-MS, whereas the progressive decrease below 8.5 cm/s was associated with substantial decrease in sc-MS. In conclusion, circumferential and/or longitudinal systolic dysfunction is present in most patients with HFpEF. Circumferential shortening normalized by wall stress identifies more patients with concealed left ventricular systolic dysfunction than longitudinal shortening.

Analysis of left ventricular systolic function by midwall mechanics in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea.

AIMS: midwall mechanics reveal systolic dysfunction in obese and hypertensive patients with concentric left ventricular (LV) geometry, which is frequently detected in subjects with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Midwall mechanics have never been studied in these patients, who frequently experience heart failure (HF). METHODS AND RESULTS: we analysed midwall stress-shortening relations by echocardiography in 150 controls and 200 patients with OSA (age 62 ± 13 years) without known cardiac disease. On the basis of the severity of OSA, patients were divided into mild OSA (n = 63), moderate OSA (n = 70), and severe OSA (n = 67). LV stress-corrected midwall shortening (scMS) was considered low if <87% in men and <90% in women. scMS was similar in controls and mild OSA (90 ± 13 and 91 ± 18%, respectively) and significantly lower in moderate and severe OSA (83 ± 14 and 83 ± 15%; all P < 0.001 vs. controls and mild OSA). Prevalence of low scMS was 40 and 39% in controls and mild OSA (P=NS), 62% in moderate and 61% in severe OSA (both P < 0.001 vs. controls and mild OSA). In logistic regression analysis, low scMS was associated with moderate-severe OSA (OR 3.82, P < 0.001) independent of significant associations with diabetes (OR 5.06, P < 0.01), LV hypertrophy (OR 1.89, P = 0.01), and LV concentric geometry (OR 2.79, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: midwall mechanics are impaired in more than half of middle-aged patients with OSA without known cardiac disease. Moderate-severe OSA predicts LV systolic dysfunction independent of diabetes, LV hypertrophy, and concentric geometry. These relations may in part explain the increased rate of HF and cardiovascular events in these patients.

Chronic kidney disease elicits excessive increase in left ventricular mass growth in patients at increased risk for cardiovascular events.

BACKGROUND: The hemodynamic alterations induced by the impairment of renal function explain only in part the development of left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), who are theoretically exposed to an inappropriate high growth of left ventricular mass (iLVM) due to the activation of neuro-hormonal stressors. Few data are available on the relations between iLVM and renal function. STUDY DESIGN AND MEASUREMENTS: Three hundred and forty individuals at increased risk for cardiovascular events underwent assessment of renal function by the estimation of glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and echocardiography: 227 patients had stages 1-2 CKD (eGFR ≥60 ml/min per 1.73 m), and 113 stages 3-5 (eGFR <60 ml/min per 1.73 m). LVM was predicted in each patient from height, sex and stroke work using a validated equation. iLVM was defined as LVM more than 28% of the predicted value. Sixty-eight healthy individuals served as controls. RESULTS: iLVM was detected in seven controls (10%) and in 146 study patients (43%). There was an inverse relation between observed/predicted LVM ratio and eGFR (r 0.54, P < 0.001). In linear regression analysis, iLVM was related to eGFR (ß 0.40), relative wall thickness (ß 0.29), diabetes (ß 0.14), and maximal left atrial volume (ß 0.25) (all P < 0.001). Prevalence of iLVM was 10% in patients in stage-1 CKD, 31% in stage 2, 67% in stage 3, and 100% in stages 4 and 5. CONCLUSION: In patients at increased risk for cardiovascular events, iLVM is strongly related to the presence and magnitude of CKD. Further longitudinal studies are needed to evaluate the prognostic value of the coexistence of iLVM and CKD.

Left atrial size and force in patients with systolic chronic heart failure: Comparison with healthy controls and different cardiac diseases.

BACKGROUND: Left atrial (LA) systolic force (LASF) is significantly increased in chronic heart failure (CHF), arterial hypertension (HT) and aortic stenosis (AS). The increase is proportional to the degree of left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction. OBJECTIVES: To assess the magnitude of changes in maximal LA volume (LAV(max)) and LASF in systolic CHF compared with other cardiac diseases, and to assess whether the left atrium remodels differently and works in response to specific conditions affecting diastolic function and to individual factors associated with LA alterations. METHODS: LAV(max) and LASF were measured and evaluated by two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography in 94 patients with systolic CHF and normal left ventricular filling pressure, 100 control patients, 181 patients with HT, 40 patients with idiopathic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCMP) and 85 patients with AS. The prevalence of LA dilation and supernormal LASF (defined as values of LAV(max) and LASF exceeding two SDs of the mean of controls) was measured in all groups. RESULTS: LAV(max) and LASF were 7.1±2 mL/m(3) and 7.8±4 kdynes in controls, and 11.0±4 mL/m(3) and 19.7±11 kdynes in systolic CHF patients, respectively (both P<0.001). These values were significantly higher than in patients with HT, but similar to those with AS and HCMP. LA dilation and supernormal LASF were detected in 13% and 11% of patients with HT, 32% and 59% of patients with AS, 26% and 43% of patients with HCMP, and 41% and 56% of patients with systolic CHF, respectively (all P<0.01). In multiple logistic analysis, systolic CHF represented the strongest predictor of supernormal LASF. It was not independently associated with LA dilation, which was mainly related to indexes of volume load. CONCLUSIONS: LAV(max) and LASF were markedly increased in patients with systolic CHF, with a magnitude that was significantly higher than that of HT patients, but similar to that measured in HCMP and AS patients. In the present community population with various cardiac diseases, systolic CHF represented the most powerful stimulus for increasing LASF and was not related to LA dilation.

Severe obstructive sleep apnea elicits concentric left ventricular geometry.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has several negative effects on the heart including increase in myocardial end-systolic stress, venous return and sympathetic activity, all potential stimuli of left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy. The impact of the severity of OSA on LV geometry is unknown. We hypothesized that OSA is related to concentric LV geometry. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-seven patients with suspected OSA underwent echocardiography, ambulatory 24-h blood pressure and ECG monitoring. On the basis of the severity of OSA, patients were divided into controls, mild OSA and moderate/severe OSA (apnea-hypopnea index <5, 5-15 and >15/h, respectively). Patients with LV hypertrophy were defined as LV mass at least 49.2 g/m2.7 for men and at least 46.7 for women. Relative wall thickness of at least 0.43 identified patients with concentric LV geometry. RESULTS: Patients with moderate/severe OSA (n = 86) had a higher body mass index and a higher prevalence of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation than those (n = 51) with mild OSA and controls (n = 20). Prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, LV mass and blood pressure did not differ between the groups. Relative wall thickness was positively related to apnea-hypopnea index (r = 0.30; P = 0.003) and the prevalence of concentric LV geometry was 20% in controls, 12% in mild OSA and 58% in moderate/severe OSA (P < 0.001). In logistic regression analysis concentric LV geometry was associated with moderate/severe OSA [odds ratio (OR) 7.6, P < 0.001], low stress-corrected midwall shortening (OR 3.38, P = 0.004), and higher body mass index (OR 1.09, P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Moderate/severe OSA is associated with high prevalence of concentric LV geometry. This increased prevalence may in part explain the increased rate of cardiovascular events in these patients.

Compensatory or inappropriate left ventricular mass in different models of left ventricular pressure overload: comparison between patients with aortic stenosis and arterial hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Aortic valve stenosis and arterial hypertension (AH) are two models of left ventricular (LV) pressure overload, which commonly induce increase in LV mass. Prevalence and predictors of excess of LV mass (inappropriate LVM) has been recently investigated in AH patients. Whether or not this phenomenon also exists in patients with aortic valve stenosis has to be defined. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate prevalence of and factors associated with inappropriate LVM as a response to overload in aortic valve stenosis compared to AH patients. DESIGN AND METHODS: One hundred patients with aortic valve stenosis (mean valve area 0.67 +/- 0.18 cm/m) were studied by Doppler echocardiography and compared to 200 patients with AH. Inappropriate LVM was diagnosed when the measured LV mass exceeded by 28% the expected value predicted from height, sex and stroke work. RESULTS: Prevalence of inappropriate LVM was similar in aortic valve stenosis (n: 24 = 24%) and AH patients (n: 55 = 27.5%). Aortic valve stenosis had greater LVM (203 +/- 57 vs. 182 +/- 53 g, P = 0.001), more concentric LV geometry, lower midwall shortening and higher left atrial systolic force than AH. In both study groups, high LV mass, concentric LV geometry and reduced systolic function emerged as independent correlates of inappropriate LV mass. CONCLUSION: Although LV and left atrial geometric adaptation in aortic valve stenosis is different from AH, reflecting a near-pure pressure overload, aortic valve stenosis patients have a prevalence of inappropriately high LVM which is similar to those with AH. Geometric and functional characteristics of inappropriate LVM do not differ in aortic valve stenosis and AH, despite the different loading conditions.

Left atrial systolic force: comparison between two methods for the noninvasive assessment of left atrial systolic function.

BACKGROUND: Left atrial systolic force (LASF) is a measure of atrial systolic function applied both in patients with systemic arterial hypertension and aortic valve disease. DESIGN AND METHODS: The method used for assessing LASF was described by Manning in 1993. It assumes a constant circular area for estimating the mitral orifice and measures peak atrial velocity of transmitral flow. Using this approach, several authors showed a positive association between LASF and left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction. Recently, we proposed another approach measuring atrial velocity at the level of the mitral orifice and calculating mitral orifice area by continuity equation with Doppler technique. LASF estimated by this method predicted a higher risk for cardiovascular events in hypertensive patients. In this study we compared these for calculating LASF. RESULTS: Fifty-six hypertensive patients and 31 healthy controls underwent measurement of LASF with the two methods. Correlation coefficient between the two methods was 0.74 (P < 0.00001) in the whole population, 0.70 in hypertensive patients and 0.80 in the controls, 0.73 and 0.67 in the subgroups with and without left ventricular hypertrophy, respectively. Mean LASF was 10.4 +/- 5.6 and 8.0 +/- 3.9 Kdynes when calculated in the whole population by Manning's or continuity equation method, respectively (P = 0.003). LASF was constantly and significantly higher with Manning's than the continuity equation method. The following equation corrects the differences: LASF (continuity equation method) = 2.6 + 0.55* Manning's method. CONCLUSION: The Manning's method is closely related to the continuity equation method, though LASF results are constantly higher. Conversion is possible by application of a simple formula.

Prevalence, predictors and prognostic value of acute impairment in renal function during intensive unloading therapy in a community population hospitalized for decompensated heart failure.

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: Chronic heart failure (CHF) is often associated with impaired renal function. Diuretics and vasodilators may lead to aggravated renal dysfunction (ARD), particularly among patients with decompensated CHF. Although the prevalence of ARD has been evaluated in patients awaiting heart transplantation, little is known about ARD in the community sample of CHF patients. Accordingly, we prospectively assessed the prevalence, predictors and prognostic value of ARD in 79 consecutive patients admitted to our general community hospital for decompensated CHF undergoing intensive unloading therapy (intravenous nitroprusside and furosemide). ARD was defined as a >or= 25% increase in serum creatinine between admission and maximal value of >or= 2 mg/dl. RESULTS: Sixteen patients (20%) developed ARD with a mean increase in serum creatinine of 31% (from 1.74 +/- 0.6 to 2.27 +/- 0.9 mg/dl). ARD persisted at 8-day evaluation in seven of 16 subjects (44%) whereas it was reversible in nine (56%). Lower creatinine clearance at baseline [exp beta = 0.93, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.87-0.99] and the higher dose of furosemide (exp beta=1.02, 95% CI=1.01-1.03) emerged as independent predictors of ARD. During a follow-up of 11 +/- 8 months, death and hospitalization for worsening CHF occurred more frequently in ARD than non-ARD patients (69% versus 17%, P=0.0001; 69% versus 29%, P=0.003, respectively). Persistent ARD was a powerful independent predictor of long-term adverse outcome (odds ratio=11.1; 95% CI=1.12-36.1; P=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Intensive unloading therapy is associated with the development of ARD in one-fifth of the community population hospitalized for decompensated CHF. The magnitude of this phenomenon is not greater than that observed in younger selected populations with advanced CHF, and depends on baseline renal function and increased diuretic dosage. ARD persisting after 8 days from starting intensive unloading is a powerful predictor of subsequent worsened clinical outcome.

Relationships of the appropriateness of left ventricular mass to left atrial size and function in arterial hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether left ventricular mass (LVM) appropriateness may be related to left atrial changes in both size and performance in arterial hypertension. METHODS: Three hundred and thirty-five hypertensive outpatients were studied by Doppler echocardiography and divided into two groups on the basis of LVM appropriateness. Left ventricular mass was defined inappropriate when greater than 128% of the value predicted from age, sex and stroke work (95th percentile of normal distribution) and appropriate for values

Right atrial size and function in patients with pulmonary hypertension associated with disorders of respiratory system or hypoxemia.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) determines various adaptive changes in right ventricular (RV) geometry which may progressively lead to hypertrophy, mechanical dysfunction and dilatation with pump failure. Right atrium (RA) is theoretically involved in this physiopathological process, but its role has never been investigated. We hypothesized that RA increases volume and function to assist RV during the chronic pressure overload exposition due to PH. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 66 consecutive patients referred to our echolab with a diagnosis of PH [defined as pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) >30 mmHg] associated with disorders of the respiratory system and/or hypoxemia and normal RV systolic function. Ejection force was taken up as index of RA systolic function and calculated according to the Manning's formula. Thirty-three healthy subjects for whom PH was definitely excluded by echoDoppler evaluation were used as controls. RESULTS: PASP was 42+/-10 and 20+/-8 mmHg in PH patients and controls, respectively; p=0.00001). In comparison with controls, PH patients exhibited higher RA volume (37+/-13 vs 32+/-13 ml, p=0.04) and RA ejection force (6.7+/-3.0 vs 3.5+/-1.8 Kdynes, p=0.00001). Both variables were positively related to PASP (r=0.23 and 0.48, p=0.02 and 0.00001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with chronic PH, RA size and systolic function significantly increase and parallel signs of activation of the Frank-Starling mechanism in both right chambers. The magnitude of these phenomena is positively related to PASP levels.

Changes in plasma N-terminal proBNP levels and ventricular filling pressures during intensive unloading therapy in elderly with decompensated congestive heart failure and preserved left ventricular systolic function.

BACKGROUND: Plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels depend on left ventricular (LV) filling pressures and correlate with the state of neurohormonal modulation in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). In these subjects, therapy of decompensated CHF can determine acute changes in BNP levels. METHODS AND RESULTS: We defined the sequential pattern of N-terminal (T) proBNP in elderly with decompensated CHF and preserved LV systolic function undergoing intensive unloading therapy, assessed the prevalence of patients who significantly reduced NTproBNP at the end of treatment, and verified the relations between changes in NTproBNP and ventricular filling pressures. NTproBNP was measured in 30 patients hospitalized for worsening CHF with LV ejection fraction >50% at admission and after 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 days from the start of treatment. Patients who exhibited a reduction in NTproBNP >35% from baseline to 8-day evaluation were defined as "responders." Twelve healthy subjects matched for age and sex were used as controls. NTproBNP was significantly higher in CHF patients than controls in all time points, to a greater extent in baseline evaluation (2982 [lower/upper quartile 1273/8146] versus 235 [150/280] pg/mL). A progressive, linear reduction of NTproBNP was detected in CHF patients during unloading. At Day 8, 18 patients (60%) resulted in "responders," whereas 12 (40%) were "nonresponders." The former could be predicted through higher pulmonary artery wedge pressure at baseline. Surprisingly, ventricular filling pressures similarly declined in responders and non responders. At Day 8, NTproBNP was yet 7-fold higher in CHF patients than controls. CONCLUSION: Intensive unloading therapy is associated with a significant short-term reduction in NTproBNP in elderly with CHF and preserved LV systolic function. This behavior is progressive and linear during the first week and parallels a reduction in ventricular filling pressures which, however, does not differ between patients who significantly reduce NTproBNP and those who do not. Thus the short-term changes in NTproBNP during intensive unloading therapy in our patients do not depend only on the acute improvement in hemodynamic conditions.