ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between fragmented QRS and left ventricular (LV) systolic function in patients with erectile dysfunction (ED). METHODS: A total of 106 patients with ED and without a history of coronary artery disease (CAD) were compared with 54 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. LV systolic function was evaluated using speckle tracking echocardiography via global longitudinal strain (GLS) and global circumferential strain (GCS). The patients with ED were compared with healthy controls. The study group was further subdivided into fQRS (+) and fQRS (-) groups and compared with each other. RESULTS: The frequency of fQRS was significantly higher in the patients with ED (p = 0.01). The frequency of fQRS was higher in the patients with mild and moderate ED, and significantly higher in those with severe ED (p < 0.001). LV-GLS (%) was 17.46 ± 1.37 and 20.05 ± 1.42 in the fQRS (+) and fQRS (-) groups, respectively (p ≤ 0.001). LV-GCS (%) was 17.33 ± 0.81 and 18.55 ± 0.92 in the fQRS (+) and fQRS (-) groups, respectively (p ≤ 0.001). fQRS and age were independent predictors of LV-GLS. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of fQRS was higher in the patients with ED even in the absence of overt CAD. In the patients with ED, the fQRS (+) group had significantly lower values of LV-GLS and LV-GCS. These results indicate that presence of fQRS is associated with subclinical LV dysfunction in patients with ED.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: While the effects of percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty (PMBV) on left ventricular, right ventricular, left atrial and right atrial functions have been well demonstrated, the effects on coronary flow velocity remain unclear. The study aim was to evaluate the effects of PMBV on coronary flow velocity and flow velocity reserve in patients with mitral stenosis (MS). METHODS: A total of 32 symptomatic patients (22 females, 10 males; mean age 41.2 years) with moderate or severe isolated rheumatic MS (valve area <1.5 cm2) detected by planimetric methods was included in the study. The left anterior descending (LAD) artery flows were evaluated by coronary presets and pulsed-wave Doppler echocardiography. Hyperemic diastolic coronary flow velocities were evaluated under basal conditions and after intravenous dipyridamole, and the coronary flow velocity reserve was calculated. At seven days after PMBV the coronary flow velocity and flow velocity reserve were re-evaluated, and values obtained pre- and post-PMBV were compared. RESULTS: The pre- and post-PMBV basal diastolic flow velocities were 22.6 ± 5.1 cm/s and 33.0 ± 7.9 cm/s, respectively (p = 0.030), while hyperemic diastolic flow velocities were 45.8 ± 10.0 cm/s and 53.7 ± 11.5 cm/s, respectively (p = 0.003). The systolic and diastolic peak flow velocities were significantly increased compared to the pre-PMBV values, whereas there was no significant change in diastolic coronary flow velocity reserve (2.04 ± 0.55 versus 1.83 ± 0.28, p = 0.265). CONCLUSIONS: PMBV increases coronary flow in isolated MS without affecting coronary flow reserves. The low coronary flow velocities may be a reason for the subclinical left ventricular dysfunction that occurs in isolated MS.
