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OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify possible differences between blood culture-negative and blood culture-positive groups of infective endocarditis (IE), and explore the associations between biological parameters and in-hospital mortality. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of patients hospitalized for IE between 2007 and 2017. Epidemiological, clinical and paraclinical characteristics, by blood culture-negative and positive groups, were collected. The best predictors of in-hospital mortality based on the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and AUC (area under the curve) results were identified. RESULTS: A total of 126 IE patients were included, 54% with negative blood cultures at admission. Overall, the in-hospital mortality was 28.6%, higher in the blood culture-negative than positive group (17.5% vs. 11.1%, p = 0.207). A significant increase in the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease Excluding International Normalized Ratio (MELD-XI) score was observed in the blood culture-negative group (p = 0.004), but no baseline characteristics differed between the groups. The best laboratory predictors of in-hospital death in the total study group were the neutrophil count (AUC = 0.824), white blood cell count (AUC = 0.724) and MELD-XI score (AUC = 0.700). CONCLUSION: Classic laboratory parameters, such as the white blood cell count and neutrophil count, were associated with in-hospital mortality in infective endocarditis. In addition, MELD-XI was a good predictor of in-hospital death.
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The close connection and interaction between the cardiac and the liver functions are well-known, as cirrhotic cardiomyopathy is an important clinical entity which best describes the mutual pathogenical influence between these two organs. Due to the fact that cardiac dysfunction in patients with chronic hepatic disorders is oligosymptomatic or even asymptomatic, an early diagnosis represents a challenge for every physician. Syndecan-1-a transmembrane proteoglycan that exerts its functions mainly via its heparane sulfate chains-is a very promising biomarker, correlated not only with the degree of cardiac fibrosis but also with the severity of liver fibrosis. Many studies highlighted its role in the development of cardiac fibrosis or atherogenesis, being significantly correlated with the activity of angiotensin II. Multiple evidence revealed that syndecan-1 is also associated with tissue injury and may regulate inflammatory and regenerative responses, being considered a protective molecule that limits the inflammation and reduces cardiac remodelling and dysfunction after a myocardial infarction. Syndecan-1 may also be used as a reliable biomarker for the noninvasive assessment of liver fibrosis. Under various fibrogenetic conditions, shedding of syndecan's extracellular domain took place, becoming a soluble form that binds different growth factors and inhibits further fibrosis. This complex molecule is also involved in the lipid metabolism, by altering the clearance of cholesterol particles, and in chronic hepatitis, by enhancing the viral invasion of hepatocytes. Due to the growing interest in this biomarker, multiple studies aimed at revealing syndecan-1's potential benefits in the diagnosis and prognosis assessment in patients with heart failure or chronic liver disorders. In this review, we review the mechanisms by which syndecan-1 exerts its effects and the possible perspectives opened by its use as a dual cardio-hepatic biomarker.
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RATIONALE: Cardiac amyloidosis, considered for the last years to be a rare disease, is one of the determinants of HFpEF. The non-specific clinical presentation and the difficulties related to endomyocardial biopsy have made cardiac amyloidosis an underdiagnosed clinical entity. Improvement of non-invasive diagnostic techniques and the development of new therapies increased clinical awareness for this form of restrictive cardiomyopathy. We here summarize echocardiography and Tc-HDP scintigraphy findings in 6 cases of cardiac amyloidosis and review the literature data of this progressive and fatal cardiomyopathy. PATIENTS CONCERNS: The main clinical manifestations were fatigue, low exercise tolerance and edemas. The right heart failure symptoms usually dominated the clinical picture. DIAGNOSES: All cases were evaluated by echocardiography; 3 cases were further examined by bone scintigraphy and 4 cases a peripheral biopsy was performed. Electrocardiography showed low-voltage QRS complexes and "pseudo-infarct" pattern in the precordial leads, contrary to the echocardiographic aspect, which revealed thickening of ventricle walls. Biatrial dilation and diastolic disfunction were observed. Impaired systolic function was detected in advanced stages of the disease. Tc-HDP scintigraphy revealed cardiac uptake of radiopharmaceutical and managed to confirm the diagnosis in 1 case of cardiac amyloidosis in which salivary gland biopsy was negative. INTERVENTIONS: The treatment was based on managing fluid balance, with the mainstream therapy represented by diuretics. Neurohormonal agents, usually used in heart failure treatment were avoided, due to poor tolerance and worsening of disease course. The management of these 6 cases was challenging due to the refractory manifestation of congestive heart failure. OUTCOMES: During follow-up, 4 of the 6 patients from the current study died in the first year after the final diagnosis was established. LESSONS: Nuclear imaging of cardiac amyloidosis has a revolutionary development nowadays. Bone scintigraphy presents promising results for identifying patients at early stages of disease and to differentiate between cardiac amyloidosis types. Further studies are necessary for the standardization of imaging protocol and development of non-invasive diagnostic tools, especially in assessing the response to treatment and disease progression, for which little is known.
