AngioVac thrombectomy in patient with right atrial thrombus and gastrointestinal bleed: case and literature review.

Catheter-directed thrombectomy is a novel promising therapy with little published experience. Previous reports have described it as a useful tool in high risk patients in need of intravascular material resection. Here we present a unique and never reported case of AngioVac device thrombectomy use in a patient with right atrial catheter-associated thrombus and gastrointestinal bleed that contraindicated other thrombectomy therapies due to severe anemia and high bleeding risk. A brief literature review about this therapy and its main outcomes is presented to contextualize the reader and contribute to academic knowledge.

Cardiotoxicity: Myocardium or Endothelium.

Endothelial biomarkers are gaining interest in the stratification of cardiovascular risk and early diagnosis of cardiotoxicity secondary to antineoplastic drugs. Interestingly, some drugs, such as anthracyclines, have been recently associated with vascular damage, which reveals the pivotal role of research in identifying biomarkers that could potentially be included into more specific cardiotoxicity risk scores. An extensive report of the incidences of cardiovascular adverse effects of oncologic drugs is presented, with the main purpose of highlighting not only the risk of developing heart failure but also the importance of associated vascular adverse effects (i.e., hypertension, venous, and arterial thrombosis) experienced by patients in the post-chemotherapy phase.

Mid-ventricle Takotsubo in a Patient with Goodpasture Syndrome.

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is characterized by transient, regional systolic dysfunction of the left ventricle, often mimicking acute coronary syndrome. Atypical variants of this syndrome with mid-ventricular, basal, and focal wall motion patterns are increasingly diagnosed and show different clinical features compared to typical TTS. Even though TTS was generally considered a benign condition, continuous and strict monitoring is necessary to diagnose potentially life-threating complications. This is the first case report, to our knowledge, of atypical TTS in a patient with Goodpasture syndrome triggered by acute kidney injury (AKI).

Swinging heart caused by diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Pericardial disease is a common complication of solid tumors and occasionally seen in hematologic malignancies. Pericardial effusion, when it occurs, is usually caused by tumor seeding of the pericardium leading to a serous effusion or by mass effect from mediastinal lymphadenopathy blocking drainage of lymphatic ducts. Pericardial disease from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is uncommon and malignant pericardial effusion is even rarer. Here we present a case of a 31-year-old male with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma who developed cardiac tamponade from a malignant pericardial effusion.

Diffuse interstitial fibrosis assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance is associated with dispersion of ventricular repolarization in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is characterized by myocyte hypertrophy, disarray, fibrosis, and increased risk for ventricular arrhythmias. Increased QT dispersion has been reported in patients with HCM, but the underlying mechanisms have not been completely elucidated. In this study, we examined the relationship between diffuse interstitial fibrosis, replacement fibrosis, QTc dispersion and ventricular arrhythmias in patients with HCM. We hypothesized that fibrosis would slow impulse propagation and increase dispersion of ventricular repolarization, resulting in increased QTc dispersion on surface electrocardiogram (ECG) and ventricular arrhythmias. METHODS: ECG and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) image analyses were performed retrospectively in 112 patients with a clinical diagnosis of HCM. Replacement fibrosis was assessed by measuring late gadolinium (Gd) enhancement (LGE), using a semi-automated threshold technique. Diffuse interstitial fibrosis was assessed by measuring T1 relaxation times after Gd administration, using the Look-Locker sequence. QTc dispersion was measured digitally in the septal/anterior (V1-V4), inferior (II, III, and aVF), and lateral (I, aVL, V5, and V6) lead groups on surface ECG. RESULTS: All patients had evidence of asymmetric septal hypertrophy. LGE was evident in 70 (63%) patients; the median T1 relaxation time was 411±38 ms. An inverse correlation was observed between T1 relaxation time and QTc dispersion in leads V1-V4 (p<0.001). Patients with HCM who developed sustained ventricular tachycardia had slightly higher probability of increased QTc dispersion in leads V1-V4 (odds ratio, 1.011 [1.004-1.0178, p=0.003). We found no correlation between presence and percentage of LGE and QTc dispersion. CONCLUSION: Diffuse interstitial fibrosis is associated with increased dispersion of ventricular repolarization in leads, reflecting electrical activity in the hypertrophied septum. Interstitial fibrosis combined with ion channel/gap junction remodeling in the septum could lead to inhomogeneity of ventricular refractoriness, resulting in increased QTc dispersion in leads V1-V4.

Cardio-Oncology: Cancer Therapy-related Cardiovascular Complications in a Molecular Targeted Era: New Concepts and Perspectives.

Cardio-oncology is a medical discipline that identifies, prevents, and treats the cardiovascular complications related to cancer therapy. Due to the remarkable proliferation of new cancer therapies causing cardiovascular complications, such as hypertension, heart failure, vascular complications, and cardiac arrhythmia, we provide an extensive, comprehensive revision of the most up-to-date scientific information available on the cardiovascular complications associated with the use of newer, novel chemotherapeutic agents, including their reported incidence, suggested pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, potential treatment, and prevention. The authors consider this topic to be relevant for the clinicians since cardiovascular complications associated with the administration of recently approved drugs are relatively underappreciated. The purpose of this article is to provide a state-of-the-art review of cardiovascular complications associated with the use of newer, novel chemotherapeutic agents and targeted therapies, including their reported incidence, suggested pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, potential treatment, and prevention.  Ongoing efforts are needed to provide a better understanding of the frequency, mechanisms of disease, prevention, and treatment of cardiovascular complications induced by the newer, novel chemotherapeutic agents. Development of a cardio-oncology discipline is warranted in order to promote task forces aimed at the creation of oncology patient-centered guidelines for the detection, prevention, and treatment of potential cardiovascular side effects associated with newer cancer therapies.

Exercise heart rates in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

The exercise heart rate (HR) profile and its relation to cardiac function and arrhythmias were investigated in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC). Chronotropic response (CR) and heart rate recovery (HRR) were computed during and after treadmill exercise testing in 273 patients with HC and 95 age-matched healthy controls. Patients with HC had higher prevalence of chronotropic incompetence and lower HRR1-5min compared with controls. Exercise capacity, diastolic function (assessed by E/e') and left atrial volume index were associated with HRR1min and CR in HC. Septal myectomy was associated with reduction in chronotropic incompetence but did not affect HRR1min. In conclusion, impaired CR and HRR1min are associated with advanced disease and do not appear to be independent clinical markers indicating high-risk status in HC. Improving CR by titrating doses of negative chronotropic agents, myectomy, and atrial pacing may be useful to increase exercise capacity in patients with HC.

Diferencia elevada de presión arterial interbraquial: Frecuencia y factores clínicos y demográficos / High difference of inter-arm blood pressure measurements: frequency and clinical and demographic factors

La diferencia elevada de presión arterial interbraquial (DEPAI) podría predecir eventos cardiovasculares adversos. Objetivos: Conocer la frecuencia de DEPAI y describir factores clínicos y demográficos relacionados. Material y métodos: Estudio descriptivo transversal. Muestra aleatoria de 211 pacientes de un hospital público de Lima. Se tomó la presión arterial tres veces, de forma simultánea en ambos brazos, con dos tensiómetros automáticos OMROM HEM-705CP propiamente calibrados, estando el paciente en posición sentada, con un reposo previo de cinco minutos. Se recolectaron datos demográficos y clínicos. Se estableció la DEPAI sistólica (≥10 mm Hg y ≥ 20 mm Hg) y diastólica (≥ 10 mm Hg). Se consideró las tres tomas y sólo las dos últimas. Se empleó las pruebas de Chi Cuadrado o Exacta de Fisher y el coeficiente de correlación puntual biserial para variables cualitativas y cuantitativas, respectivamente. Resultados: La edad promedio fue 48,92 ± 16,75 años. El 67,3% fue de sexo femenino. 23,08% de los participantes fueron obesos; 19,23%, hipertensos y 13,42%, fumadores. Según los punto de corte y cantidad de medidas consideradas, las frecuencias de DEPAI sistólica fueron 40,38%, 30,29%, 15,88% y12,98%; y las de DEPAI diastólica 13% y 10,1%. Hubo correlación entre DEPAI y HTA e IMC (p<0,05). Conclusiones: La frecuencia de DEPAI en un hospital de Lima es similar a la encontrada en otros medios. Este estudio encontró una asociación estadística de DEPAI con el IMC y HTA, pero se necesitan más estudios con poblaciones más grandes para conocer la relación de esta variable con predictores conocidos de morbilidad y mortalidad. (AU)

High difference of inter-arm blood pressure (HDIABP) measurements could predict adverse cardiovascular events. Objectives: To determine the frequency of HDIABP and to describe clinical and demographic factors related to it. Methods: Cross sectional study. A random sample of 211 patients from a public hospital in Lima was taken. Blood pressure was measured three times, simultaneously in both arms with two automated sphygmomanometers OMROM HEM705CP properly calibrated, with the patient seated with at least 5 minutes of previous resting. Clinical and demographic data were collected. Systolic HDIABP was defined as ≥ 10 mmHg and ≥ 20 mmHg, and diastolic HDIABP as ≥ 10 mmHg. Chi square test and Fisher´s exact test were used, as well as the correlation coefficient for qualitative and quantitative data. Results: Mean age was 48.92 ± 16.75 years; 67.3% were females; 23.08% were obese; 19.23% had blood hypertension and 13.42% were smokers. The frequencies of systolic and diastolic HDIABP were 40.38%, 30.29%, 15.88%, 12.98% and 13%, 10.1%. There was correlation between HDIABP and body mass index (p<0.05). Conclusions: The frequency of HDIABP found is similar than that reported elsewhere. We found and association between HDIABP and body mass index, but more studies are needed to determine a true association between these two variables. (AU)