A loud right-apical systolic murmur is associated with the diagnosis of secondary pulmonary arterial hypertension: retrospective analysis of data from 201 consecutive client-owned dogs (2006-2007).

Canine pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) remains under-recognized and under-treated despite being prevalent. This retrospective study investigated whether selected historical and physical examination findings were associated with the diagnosis of canine PAH, defined as tricuspid regurgitation (TR) with a confirmed systolic pressure gradient ≥ 35 mm Hg. Two hundred and one client-owned dogs (PAH group, n=96; control group, n=105) were studied. Dogs in the control group had TR with a confirmed systolic gradient <35 mm Hg. All dogs underwent a complete physical examination and a complete echocardiographic assessment. A loud systolic right-apical murmur (RAM) was significantly associated with TR ≥ 35 mm Hg. The proportion of dogs with PAH significantly increased as the RAM grade increased, with odds ratios of 4.4-37.6 for Grades 3/6-5/6 (P=0.004 to <0.001), respectively. A stronger right-than-left apical-murmur had a positive predictive value (PPV) of 83% and was 96% specific for TR ≥ 35 mm Hg, and when combined with syncope, it had a PPV of 92% and was 92% specific. A Grade ≥ 4/6 RAM had a PPV of 85% and was 93% specific. Syncope with a Grade ≥ 4/6 RAM had a PPV of 94% and was 92% specific. Ascites combined with a Grade ≥ 4 or ≥ 5/6 RAM had a PPV of 100% and was 100% specific for TR ≥ 35 mm Hg. For each of these three murmur categories (Grades ≥ 4/6, ≥ 5/6, and a louder-right-than-left murmur), when detected with no concurrent ascites or syncope, the positive likelihood ratio varied from 4.6 to 6.4. A loud systolic RAM in dogs with degenerative valve disease is highly suggestive of concurrent PAH.

Comunicación intraventicular en un paciente adulto / Ventricular septal defect in an adult patient

Presentamos el caso clínico de un varón asintomático de 46 años en cuya radiografía de tórax se observa un botón aórtico derecho y en la exploración física un soplo sistólico con frémito palpable paraesternal izquierdo. Al realizársele ecocardiografía transesofágica y RMN se encontró una comunicación interventricular (CIV) que únicamente precisa revisiones ecocardiográficas periódicas. La CIV es la cardiopatía congénita más frecuente. Las CIV pueden ser membranosas, de entrada, trabeculadas o infundibulares. La sintomatología puede ser desde anodina únicamente con un soplo pansistólico paraesternal izquierdo en la exploración física, hasta hiperaflujo pulmonar que llegue a causar insuficiencia cardiaca. La radiografía de tórax mostrará cardiomegalia, el electrocardiograma hipertrofia biventricular y la ecocardiografía y la resonancia magnética mostrarán tamaño y número de comunicaciones. El tratamiento es conservador, ya que el 50% se cierran de forma espontánea en los primeros años de vida, reservando la cirugía para los casos sintomáticos y los asintomáticos con cortocircuito significativo (AU)

We report the case of a 46 year old asymptomatic male whose chest X-ray showed a right aortic knob and in the physical examination he had a systolic murmur with a palpable left parasternal heave. On performing the transesophageal echocardiography and MRI a ventricular septal defect (VSD) was observed which only requires periodic echocardiographic reviews. VSD is the most common congenital heart disease. The VSD may be membranous, inlet, trabecular, or infundibular. The clinical signs may range from only anodyne with a left pansystolic parasternal murmur on physical examination, up to lung hyper-flow which may lead to heart failure. The chest X-ray showed cardiomegaly, the electrocardiogram showed biventricular hypertrophy, and the echocardiography and MRI showed the size and number of communications. Treatment is conservative, since 50% close spontaneously in the first years of life, reserving surgery for symptomatic and asymptomatic cases with a significant shunt (AU)

Casos clínicos en Cardiología (nº 3): niño de 7 años con un soplo sistólico / No disponible

Continuamos con la serie de casos clínicos en Cardiología pediátrica revisando los motivosde consulta y datos exploratorios frecuentes en las consultas de Pediatría de Atención Primaria,y presentados de forma breve y práctica. En este número se presenta el caso de un niñode 7 años al que se le detecta un soplo sistólico en el contexto de una infección respiratoria vírica.Se discute cómo la exploración y los hallazgos electrocardiográficos orientan el manejodiagnóstico de este paciente(AU)

We continue the series of clinical cases in Pediatric Cardiology checking frequent reasonsfor consultation in the pediatric offices of Primary Care as well as exploratory signs, and presentingthem in a brief and practical way. In this paper we present the case of a 7 years old boyto whom a systolic murmur is noticed in the context of a viral respiratory infection. The waythe physical exploration and the electrocardiographic findings guide the diagnosis of this patientis discussed(AU)