Immunohistochemical quantification of inflammatory cells in endomyocardial biopsy fragments after heart transplantation: a new potential method to improve the diagnosis of rejection after heart transplantation.

Inconsistencies in cardiac rejection grading systems corroborate the concept that the evaluation of inflammatory intensity and myocyte damage seems to be subjective. We studied in 36 patients the potential role of the immunohistochemical (IHC) counting of inflammatory cells in endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) as an objective tool, testing the hypothesis of correlation between the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation 2004 rejection and IHC counting of inflammatory cells. We observed a progressive increment in CD68+ cells/mm(2) (P = .000) and CD3+ cells/mm(2) (P = .000) with higher rejection grade. A strong correlation between the grade of cellular rejection and both CD68+ cells/mm(2) and CD3+ cells/mm(2) was obtained (P = .000). One patient with CD3+ and CD68+ cells/mm(2) above the upper limit of the 95% confidence interval for cells/mm(2) found in rejection grade 1R evolved to rejection grade 2R without treatment. In patients with 2R that did not respond to treatment the values of CD68+ or CD3+ cells were higher than the overall median values for rejection grade 2R. For diagnosis of rejection needing treatment, the CD68+ and CD3+ cells/mm(2) areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves were 0.956 and 0.934, respectively. IHC counting of mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate in EMB seems to have additive potential role in evaluation of EMB for the diagnosis and prognosis of rejection episodes.

Successful endomyocardial biopsy guided by transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography.

INTRODUCTION: Two-dimensional (2-D) echocardiography is an excellent alternative method to perform endomyocardial biopsies (EB) in special situations, mainly when the patient is in a critical state and cannot go to the catheterization laboratory or when there are contraindications to the use of fluoroscopy as in the pregnancy. OBJECTIVE: This single-center experience analyzed the last 25 years use of an EB technique guided by echocardiography realized at the bedside on critical patients. METHODS: From 1985 to 2010, we performed 76 EB guided by 2-D echocardiography on 59 patients, among whom 38 (64.4%) were critically ill with examinations at the bedside; among 10 (16.9%) subjects, the procedure was carried out simultaneously with fluoroscopy for safety's sake during the learning period. In addition, 8 (13.6%) were unavailable for fluoroscopy, and 3 (5.1%) required a hybrid method due to an intracardiac tumor. RESULTS: The main adverse effects included local pain (n = 4, 5.6%); difficult out successful puncture due to previous biopsies (n = 4, 5.6%); local hematoma without major consequences (n = 3, 4.2%); failed but ultimately successful puncture on the first try due to previous biopsies or (n = 3, 4.2%); obesity and immediate postoperative period with impossibility to pass the bioptome into the right ventricle; however 2 days later the procedure was repeated successfully by echocardiography (n = 1, 1.4%). All myocardial specimens displayed suitable size. There were no undesirable extraction effects on the tricuspid valve tissue. In this series, there was no case of death, hemopericardium, or other major complication as a direct consequence of the biopsy. CONCLUSION: 2-D echocardiography is a special feature to guide EB is mainly in critically ill patients because it can be performed at the bedside without additional risk or disadvantages of fluoroscopy. The hybrid method associating 2-D echocardiography and fluoroscopy allows the procedure in different situations such as intracardiac tumor cases.

Recovery of renal function in heart transplantation patients after conversion from a calcineurin inhibitor-based therapy to sirolimus.

BACKGROUND: Renal failure is the most important comorbidity in patients with heart transplantation, it is associated with increased mortality. The major cause of renal dysfunction is the toxic effects of calcineurin inhibitors (CNI). Sirolimus, a proliferation signal inhibitor, is an imunossupressant recently introduced in cardiac transplantation. Its nonnephrotoxic properties make it an attractive immunosuppressive agent for patients with renal dysfunction. In this study, we evaluated the improvement in renal function after switching the CNI to sirolimus among patients with new-onset kidney dysfunction after heart transplantation. METHODS: The study included orthotopic cardiac transplant (OHT) patients who required discontinuation of CNI due to worsening renal function (creatinine clearance < 50 mL/min). We excluded subjects who had another indication for initiation of sirolimus, that is, rejection, malignancy, or allograft vasculopathy. The patients were followed for 6 months. The creatinine clearance (CrCl) was estimated according to the Cockcroft-Gault equation using the baseline weight and the serum creatinine at the time of introduction of sirolimus and 6 months there after. Nine patients were included, 7 (78%) were males and the overall mean age was 60.1 +/- 12.3 years and time since transplantation 8.7 +/- 6.1 years. The allograft was beyond 1 year in all patients. There was a significant improvement in the serum creatinine (2.98 +/- 0.9 to 1.69 +/- 0.5 mg/dL, P = .01) and CrCl (24.9 +/- 6.5 to 45.7 +/- 17.2 mL/min, P = .005) at 6 months follow-up. CONCLUSION: The replacement of CNI by sirolimus for imunosuppressive therapy for patients with renal failure after OHT was associated with a significant improvement in renal function after 6 months.

Effects of carvedilol in heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy. Results of a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study (CARIBE study).

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of carvedilol in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. METHODS: In a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study, 30 patients (7 women) with functional class II and III heart failure were assessed. Their ages ranged from 28 to 66 years (mean of 43 +/- 9 years), and their left ventricular ejection fraction varied from 8% to 35%. Carvedilol was added to the usual therapy of 20 patients; placebo was added to the usual therapy of 10 patients. The initial dose of carvedilol was 12.5 mg, which was increased weekly until it reached 75 mg/day, according to the patient's tolerance. Clinical assessment, electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, and radionuclide ventriculography were performed in the pretreatment phase, being repeated after 2 and 6 months of medication use. RESULTS: A reduction in heart rate (p = 0.016) as well as an increase in left ventricular shortening fraction (p = 0.02) and in left ventricular ejection fraction (p = 0.017) occurred in the group using carvedilol as compared with that using placebo. CONCLUSION: Carvedilol added to the usual therapy for heart failure resulted in better heart function.

Compliance with pharmacological treatment in outpatients from a Brazilian cardiology referral center.

To evaluate the degree of compliance with pharmacological therapy, and to identify predictors of non-compliance in outpatients from a cardiology referral center in São Paulo, Brazil, we studied 485 outpatients 230 (47.4 percent) males and 255 (52.6 percent) females, through an interview guided by a questionnaire during medical consultation. The ages ranged between 17 and 86 (mean 54, standard deviation 15) years. Heart disease and socioeconomic factors (residence, means of transport, educational level and professional status) were studied. In addition, we examined the drugs prescribed including: difficulties in taking them; the source of supply, and the patient's knowledge of the drugs. Assessment of compliance was based on the patients' response. The patients' answers were compared with the prescription and progress notes. Errors were recorded if the patient reported using one or more nonprescribed medicines. Compliance with therapy was recorded if the patient said the prescription was taken correctly without interruption and without error. The variables with significant differences in univariate analysis were further analyzed by multivariate log-linear regression analysis. Noncompliance occurred in 286 (59 percent) of the patients, and was predicted by the reported difficulty in taking medication (P < 0.001), and by the lack of knowledge of medication names (P < 0.001). Thus, noncompliance with medical therapy was common. The main predictors of non-compliance were the reported difficulty in taking medication and inability to identify medicines' names.

[Ambulatory cardiologic care: comparison between patients from a referral hospital and from community health centers]. / Atendimento cardiológico ambulatorial: comparação entre pacientes atendidos em hospital de referência e em centro de saúde comunitário.

PURPOSE--Comparison between patients from a cardiology referral center and those from community health facility. PATIENTS AND METHODS--564 (5.3%) of 10667 patients from the referral center--Instituto do Coração (InCor) and 105 (58.6%) of 169 from community health facility--Centro de de Santo Amaro (CSSA), São Paulo. RESULTS--217 (35.8%) patients in InCor and 27 (25.5%) in CSSA were younger than 40 years of age. Female patients were more frequent: 316 (56%) in InCor and 70 (66.7%) in CSSA. In InCor, 317 (56.2%) patients lived in São Paulo City and in CSSA all the patients live in the surroundings. Forty-three percent of the patients sought for medical attention in InCor by themselves, without medical referral. The diagnosis of heart disease was established in 81% of the patients in InCor and in 92.5% of the patients in CSSA. Other tests (besides electrocardiogram and chest roentgenogram) were considered to be indicated in 35% of the patients from InCor. The diagnoses were: a) coronary heart disease in 92 (20.1%) cases (InCor) and in 8 (8.2%) cases (CSSA); b) valvular heart disease in 46 (10.1%) cases (InCor) and in 9 (9.2%) cases (CSSA); c) mitral valve prolapse in 31 (6.8%) cases (InCor) and in 7 (7.1%) cases (CSSA); d) congenital heart disease in 10 (2.2%) cases (InCor) and in 1 (1%) case (CSSA); e) systemic arterial hypertension in 161 (35.2%) cases (InCor) and in 55 (56.1%) cases (CSSA); f) Chagas' infection or Chagas' heart disease in 44 (9.6%) cases (InCor) and in 8 (8.2%) cases (CSSA); g) cardiac rhythm disorders in 38 (8.3%) cases (InCor) and in 8 (8.2% cases (CSSA); h) other diseases in 33 (7.2%) cases (InCor) and in 1 (1%) (CSSA); i) diseases of the aorta in 2 (0.4%) cases (InCor) and in 1 (1%) (CSSA). Medical treatment was recommended to 71.5% of the patients from the InCor and to 92.5% of the patients from CSSA. CONCLUSION--Our data suggest a degree of similarity between the groups of patients cared for in a cardiology referral center in our city in relation to a community health facility. These data may be useful in planning optimal use of referral hospitals facilities in our city.

[Postoperative serum amylases of patients undergoing cardiac surgery]. / Amilasemia pós-operatória de pacientes submetidos à cirurgia cardíaca.

Serum amylase was studied in twenty seven patients submitted to cardiac operation. The ages ranged between 16 and 74 (mean 55) years; twenty one (78) were male and six (22%) female. Myocardial revascularization was carried on in 17 patients, mitral valve replacement in four patients, aortic valve replacement in two patients, plastic surgery of the aortic valve in two patients, plastic surgery of the mitral valve in one patient. Blalock Taussig anastomosis was carried on in one patient. The serum amylase was determined in samples obtained before operations, 24 hours and 48 hours postoperatively. Seven (26%) patients showed postoperative elevation of seric amylase in the absence of clinical signs of pancreatitis. Thus, postoperative elevation of seric amylase after cardiac surgery may occur in the absence of pancreatitis and may be due to other factors associated with the patient, with the operative procedure, with drugs used and with surgical complications.