Use of nitroglycerin in the active phase of tilt testing: is there a difference in elderly patients?

INTRODUCTION: The importance of tilt testing has been demonstrated in the evaluation of patients with syncope of unknown cause, and it is the gold standard technique for the diagnosis of neurocardiogenic syncope, particularly with the use of pharmacological provocative agents to improve diagnostic accuracy. Stimulation with sublingual nitroglycerin is generally well tolerated and increases test sensitivity, shortening the test duration; this also allows the test to be applied in elderly patients. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate, in a population referred for syncope of unknown etiology, the value of tilt testing with sublingual nitroglycerin and to compare the responses obtained in elderly and younger patients. METHODS: We studied 158 patients who underwent tilt testing using nitroglycerin as a provocative agent. We compared patients aged <65 years (Group A, n=74) and > or =65 years (Group B, n=84). Tilt testing was performed according to the Italian protocol, with continuous monitoring of the electrocardiogram and blood pressure (Task Force Monitor, CNSystems). Only patients who were asymptomatic in the passive phase of the test were included. The test was considered positive for neurocardiogenic response when symptoms were reproduced with bradycardia and/or hypotension; the responses were classified as cardioinhibitory, vasodepressor or mixed. A gradual and parallel decrease in blood pressure after nitroglycerin administration, followed by syncope, was considered an exaggerated response to nitrates. RESULTS: There were no differences in gender distribution between groups. Tilt testing was positive in 57% of group A and 51% of group B patients (p=NS), with an exaggerated response to nitrates in 11% and 16% respectively (p=NS). With regard to neurocardiogenic responses, vasodepression was more frequent in group B (53% vs. 24%; p=0.001), while a mixed response tended to be more frequent in group A (59% vs. 40%; p=0.07), with no significant difference in cardioinhibitory responses (17% in group A vs. 7% in group B; p=NS). CONCLUSIONS: In a population with syncope of unknown origin, tilt testing potentiated with nitroglycerin: a) makes a significant contribution to clarifying diagnosis and is of equal value in both elderly and younger patients; and b) is associated with a higher incidence of neurocardiogenic vasodepressor response in the elderly, although with a similar rate of exaggerated responses to nitrates.

Temporal variations in microvolt T-wave alternans testing after acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Microvolt T-wave alternans (TWA) have been accepted as a tool for assessing vulnerability to ventricular tachyarrhythmias. There is lack of data concerning prospective temporal variations in TWA measurements after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We analysed the temporal patterns of TWA in post-AMI patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: TWA tests were performed <1 month (TWA_early) and 6 months (TWA_late) after AMI in 51 consecutive patients treated with successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Twenty seven patients (53%) had anterior wall infarctions and 24 (47%) had inferior/lateral wall infarctions. TWA was measured during a treadmill manual exercise protocol and defined as positive, negative and indeterminate. Group A included patients with TWA negative in both tests and Group B included those with TWA abnormal (positive or indeterminate) at first or second determinations. TWA_early was negative, positive and indeterminate in 38 (74.6%), 8 (15.6%) and 5 (9.8%) patients, respectively, whereas TWA_late was negative, positive and indeterminate in 30 (58.9%), 14 (27.4%) and 7 (13.7%) patients, respectively. TWA_early was classified as normal in 74.6% and abnormal in 25.4% of the cases, and TWA_late was normal in 58.9% and abnormal in 41.1%. TWA tests were concordant in 36 patients (70.6%) and discordant 15 patients (29.4%). At TWA_late, 10 patients (19.6%) changed from TWA negative to TWA abnormal and 4 patients (7.8%) from TWA abnormal to TWA negative. After TWA_early+TWA_late, 45% of the patients had 1 test classified as abnormal. Left ventricular ejection fraction was <50% in 22% of Group A and 52% of Group B (P = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS: In the era of primary PCI, temporal changes in TWA measurements may occur frequently during the first 6 months post-AMI. These findings should be considered in risk stratification strategies following AMI.

Drug-eluting stents in primary angioplasty long-term clinical outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: The use of drug-eluting stents in the context of mechanical reperfusion following ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (MI) was initially viewed with concern. The main fear was that the drugs' action in unstable lesions could increase the risk of thrombotic stent occlusion. Furthermore, there was no evidence that the proven benefit of reduced instent restenosis could be extended to such patients, since they were excluded from the initial clinical trials. OBJECTIVES: To assess the safety and long-term clinical outcomes of the use of drug-eluting stents in primary angioplasty. METHODS: The first 100 consecutive and non-selected patients admitted for MI and treated by primary angioplasty with drug-eluting stent implantation in the target lesion were analyzed retrospectively. The efficacy and safety of the procedure, in-hospital clinical evolution and the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events in the first year were assessed. RESULTS: Patients' mean age was 58.2 +/- 11.5 years, and 78 were male. The success rate of primary angioplasty was 99%. Stents coated with sirolimus were used in 67 patients, paclitaxel in 19 and dexamethasone in 16. In-hospital mortality was 3%. The follow-up rate at 12 months was 98%. During this period, the rate of target vessel revascularization was 1% (with no patient requiring target lesion revascularization), MI 2%, and overall mortality 3.9%. Fourteen patients had clinical indication for repeat coronary angiography, which showed no significant in-stent restenosis. One event was considered to be due to acute stent thrombosis. The incidence of major adverse events was 5.9%. CONCLUSION: The use of drug-eluting stents in MI patients undergoing primary mechanical revascularization is safe and is associated with a reduced incidence of major adverse events, thrombosis and clinical restenosis at one year.

Is chronic nitrate therapy associated with a different clinical presentation of acute coronary syndrome?

BACKGROUND: Nitrate therapy can induce ischemic preconditioning with a consequent increase in tolerance to ischemia. In the context of acute coronary syndromes (ACS), nitrates may result in a different presentation. with greater protection. OBJECTIVES: To investigate in a population of patients with ACS whether previous chronic use of nitrates results in a different presentation of ACS. METHODS: We studied 287 patients (65 +/- 13 years, 66% male) admitted to our department in the first six months of 2005 with ACS (with and without ST-segment elevation). Of these, 8% were under nitrate therapy at the time of admission. In this group, 27% presented ACS without ST-segment elevation, while in the group without nitrates this value was 58% (p = 0.005). By univariate analysis, the use of nitrates was a predictor of the preferential occurrence of non-ST-segment elevation ACS (OR 0.27, 95% CI 0.10-0.71). After correction for the potential influence of variables (age, gender, previous revascularization and smoking) by multivariate logistic regression, nitrate therapy remained a borderline predictor of clinical presentation as non-ST-segment elevation ACS (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.13-1.04, p = 0.059). CONCLUSIONS: Previous use of nitrates was associated with a tendency to present as non-ST-segment elevation ACS. This finding may be explained by the hypothesis that nitrates induce pharmacological preconditioning, reducing the transmural extent of myocardial infarction.

Isolated cleft of the anterior mitral valve leaflet.

Isolated anterior mitral leaflet cleft (not associated with atrio-ventricular septal defect) is a rare cause of congenital mitral regurgitation, and the treatment consists of direct suturing of the cleft. We present a clinical case with this entity.

Assessment of T-wave alternans after acute myocardial infarction: influence of the timing of PTCA on cardiac electrical stabilization.

UNLABELLED: It is accepted that the timing of myocardial revascularization in patients undergoing PTCA for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) may improve the clinical outcome. However, its impact on microvolt T-wave alternans (TWA), a recognized tool for assessing vulnerability to ventricular tachyarrhythmias that can cause sudden cardiac death in infarction survivors, remains unknown. AIM: To analyze TWA in patients with AMI treated by PTCA and assess whether the timing of myocardial revascularization can influence TWA measurements. METHODS: We studied 79 patients (67 male; 57 +/- 11 years) who underwent successful PTCA for the treatment of AMI. The presence of TWA was assessed using a HearTwave system (Cambridge Heart, Inc.) within 30 days of AMI. Orthogonal Frank XYZ leads and associated vector magnitude (microvolt alternans sensors) and 7 standard ECG leads were recorded during a treadmill manual exercise protocol to increase heart rate slowly to approximately 110 bpm. TWA was considered positive if the sustained alternans microvoltage was > or = 1.9 microV at heart rates of > 100 bpm, negative if the criteria for positivity were not met while maintaining heart rate at > or =105 bpm (maximum negative heart rate), and inconclusive if it could not be definitively classified as either positive or negative. Patients were excluded if they had atrial fibrillation, > 10 extrasystoles/min, bradycardia 40 beats/min, wide QRS complex, congestive heart failure or implanted pacemaker, or were under antiarrhythmic therapy. The presence of positive or inconclusive TWA (non-negative TWA) was considered a risk marker for the occurrence of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. TWA results were compared between the group of patients who underwent PTCA within 24h of AMI (early PTCA; n=45) and those treated >24h after hospital admission (late PTCA; n=34). RESULTS: TWA was positive in 16 patients (20.2%), negative in 56 (70.9%) and inconclusive in 7 (8.9%). Overall, TWA was non-negative in 29.1% of the patients. In the early PTCA group, TWA was non-negative in 9 patients (20%) (6 positive and 3 inconclusive) and negative in 36 (80%). In the late PTCA group, TWA was non-negative in 14 patients (41%) (10 positive and 4 inconclusive) and negative in 20 (59%) (p < 0.05). There were no differences in left ventricular ejection fraction between the two groups. No spontaneous ventricular arrhythmias, syncope or deaths were recorded in the first 60 days after hospital discharge. Five patients (7%) were re-admitted with angina. CONCLUSIONS: In a population of AMI survivors: a) the prevalence of non-negative TWA was 25%, despite myocardial revascularization by PTCA; b) PTCA performed within 24h of onset of AMI significantly reduced the number of patients with non-negative TWA, suggesting a lower arrhythmic risk. These findings should be investigated in larger studies.

Rupture of a congenital aneurysm of the non-coronary sinus of Valsalva into the right atrium.

We present the case of a patient evaluated for a continuous murmur, in which a ruptured congenital sinus of Valsalva aneurysm with fistulization to the right atrium was demonstrated by echocardiography. The authors review the relevant clinical features of this entity.

Infective endocarditis complicated by large aortic pseudoaneurysm after cardiac surgery.

A 66-year-old female with Streptococcus viridans aortic and tricuspid infective endocarditis develops, during the course of antibiotic therapy, rupture of a right coronary sinus of Valsalva aneurysm to the right ventricle. An urgent cardiac surgery is preformed with implantation of a mechanical aortic prosthesis and a right coronary sinus plasty. Six months later a huge aortic pseudoaneurysm is diagnosed and she is submitted to a second uneventful surgery. A review is done for the significant features with discussion of diagnosis and therapy.

Impact of combination medical therapy on mortality in patients with acute coronary syndromes.

INTRODUCTION: Conventional risk stratification after acute myocardial infarction is usually based on the extent of myocardial damage and its clinical consequences. However, nowadays, more aggressive therapeutic strategies are used, both pharmacological and invasive, with the aim of changing the course of the disease. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether the number of drugs administered can influence survival of these patients, based on recent clinical trials that demonstrated the benefit of each drug for survival after acute coronary events. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of 368 consecutive patients admitted to our ICU during 2002 for acute coronary syndrome. A score from 1 to 4 was attributed to each patient according to the number of secondary prevention drugs administered--antiplatelets, beta blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and statins--independently of the type of association. We evaluated mortality at 30-day follow-up. RESULTS: Mean age was 65 +/- 13 years, 68% were male, and 43% had ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction. Thirty-day mortality for score 1 to 4 was 36.8%, 15.6%, 7.8% and 2.5% respectively (p < 0.001). The use of only one or two drugs resulted in a significant increase in the risk of death at 30 days (OR 4.10, 95% CI 1.69-9.93, p = 0.002), when corrected for other variables. There was a 77% risk reduction associated with the use of three or four vs. one or two drugs. The other independent predictors of death were diabetes, Killip class on admission and renal insufficiency. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a greater number of secondary prevention drugs in patients with acute coronary syndromes was associated with improved survival. A score of 4 was a powerful predictor of mortality at 30-day follow-up.

The prognostic impact of renal failure in patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction.

INTRODUCTION: Renal insufficiency (RI) is associated with higher morbidity and mortality in patients (P) with coronary artery disease and in P submitted to angioplasty. In ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEAMI), this impact has not been well demonstrated. AIM: To evaluate the impact of RI in P with STEAMI. METHODS: We evaluated 160 P admitted with STEAMI, mean age of 62+/-14 years, 76% male. We determined creatinine levels on admission. RI was defined as a level >1.5 mg/dl. Analysis of clinical, electrocardiographic and laboratory variables was performed, in relation to the endpoint defined as the occurrence of death at 30-day follow-up. RESULTS: There were 16 deaths (10%) at 30-day follow-up. P with RI (n=21) were older (68+/-11 vs 61+/-14 years, p<0.001), more often had diabetes (57 vs 24 %, p=0.004) and presented more often with Killip class > or =2 (57 vs 12%, p<0.001). The use of statins (62 vs 83%, p=0.05) and beta-blockers (24 vs 65%, p<0.001) was lower in P with RI. Mortality was higher in RI P (62 vs 2%, p<0.001). The univariate predictors of death were age > or =75 years, diabetes, Killip class > or =2 on admission, RI, non-use of statins and beta-blockers and use of diuretics. In multivariate analysis, independent predictors of death at 30 days were RI (HR 29.6, 95% CI 6.3-139.9, p<0.001) and non-use of beta-blockers (HR 0.13, 95% CI 0.02-1.01, p=0.01). CONCLUSION: In P admitted for STEAMI, the presence of RI was an independent predictor of death at 30 days whereas the usage of beta-blockers was protective.

Tilt test in elderly patients with syncope of unknown etiology: experience with pharmacological stimulation with nitroglycerin.

UNLABELLED: The importance of head-up tilt testing has been demonstrated in the evaluation of patients with unexplained syncope. In elderly patients, the prevalence of syncope increases, is associated with a worse outcome and frequently requires several complementary tests. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the utility of head-up tilt testing with sublingual nitroglycerin as a provocative agent, in elderly patients with unexplained syncope. METHODS: We studied 46 consecutive patients aged >65 years (74 +/- 6 years, 56.5% female) with unexplained syncope. In 25 patients (54%), we found no cardiac anomaly. The remaining patients had hypertensive (14 patients) or ischemic (7 patients) heart disease. The protocol included carotid sinus massage in decubitus and after passive orthostatism. Tilt testing was performed with continuous electrocardiographic and blood pressure monitoring, at a 70 degrees tilt for 20 minutes. In the absence of syncope, we administered 500 mcg of nitroglycerin with an additional 20 minutes monitoring. The tilt test was considered positive when there was reproduction of symptoms associated with bradycardia and/or arterial hypotension (cardioinhibitory, vasodepressor or mixed response). We considered orthostatic hypotension to be present when systolic blood pressure decreased by >20 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure decreased by >10 mmHg during the first 3 minutes after orthostatism; patients with symptoms associated with a progressive and parallel decrease of systolic and diastolic blood pressure during passive tilt testing were considered to have a dysautonomic profile; patients with symptoms and a gradual decrease of blood pressure after nitroglycerin were considered to have an exaggerated response to nitrates. RESULTS: Symptoms were reproduced in 34 patients (73.9%): 19.6% during passive tilting (neurocardiogenic vasodepressor response--3 patients, carotid sinus hypersensitivity--1 patient, orthostatic hypotension--1 patient, dysautonomic profile--4 patients) and 54.3% after nitroglycerin (neurocardiogenic vasodepressor response--12 patients, mixed--5 patients, cardioinhibitory--2 patients and exaggerated response to nitrates--6 patients). Syncope was neurocardiogenic in 47.8% (passive test--13.6%, after nitroglycerin--86.4%). There was an exaggerated response to nitrates in 16.2% of the patients given nitroglycerin. There were no complications during the test. CONCLUSIONS: Tilt testing in the elderly with syncope of unknown origin: (1) helps differential diagnosis in etiological study of the syncope and (2) when potentiated by nitroglycerin, it produces a significant increase in positive responses, and identifies a considerable number of patients with an exaggerated response to nitrates.

Thromboembolic and/or bleeding complications in patients under oral anticoagulation followed at a tertiary hospital.

UNLABELLED: A better understanding of the characteristics of patients that come to the anticoagulation (AC) clinic of a tertiary hospital could lead to better healthcare provision and reduce the number of thromboembolic and bleeding complications. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the characteristics of patients followed at our AC clinic and to determine which factors could predict an increased risk of complications. METHODS: Data obtained by doctors through a questionnaire from patients attending the AC clinic of our hospital were analyzed. Demographic characteristics (gender, age, literacy, educational level), classical coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors, the diagnosis that led to oral anticoagulation therapy (OAT) and its duration, the number of INR determinations, the minimum, maximum and current INR value and complications of OAT were studied. Complications were defined as bleeding and/or thromboembolic events occurring during the course of OAT. RESULTS: Of the 101 patients enrolled, 74 were female (73.3%), with a mean age of 6410 years (21-85). This population had had 4.53.5 years of schooling and there was a 15% incidence of illiteracy. The main reason for OAT was mechanical valve prosthesis implantation (56.4%). Each patient had an average of one CAD risk factor. The mean number of months of OAT was 99.489 (1-360). Sixty-six patients (65.3%) knew the reason for the therapy. Each patient had 1.20.6 INR determinations per month. Forty-five patients had bleeding and/or thromboembolic complications during OAT. There were 50 bleeding complications in 41 patients, seven leading to hospital admission. There were 7 thromboembolic events (central or peripheral), in 7 patients. The patients were divided into two groups: group I--with complications (GI) and group II--without complications (GII). There were 45 patients in GI, mean age 63.59.1 years (39-80), and 56 patients in GII, mean age 64.711.3 years (21-85). A greater number of complications were found in patients with mitral valve mechanical prostheses (GI--60.6%; GII--9.4%; p = 0.024). More complications were also found in patients with recommended maximum INR >3 (GI--55.2; GII--44.8; p = 0.013) and in those who had undergone dental procedures (GI--68.3%; GII--31.7; p < 0.001). The duration of OAT had the greatest predictive value for the development of complications (GI--138.196.5 months; GII--67.868.2 months; p < 0.00005). Multivariate analysis identified OAT duration as the only independent predictive factor. CONCLUSIONS: The high percentage of illiteracy found in this observational study could have hindered understanding of this sometim&e complex therapy. However, in our study this was not a significant predictor of complications. The predictive factors for bleeding and/or thromboembolic complications during OAT were the duration of therapy, the recommended maximum INR value and dental procedures. After multivariate analysis only the first variable was shown to be significant in this context.

Cardiac extension of renal cell carcinoma.

We present the case of a sixty-two-year-old man evaluated for a dyspnea episode. Echocardiographic study revealed a tumor in the right atrium that was related to a right kidney neoplasm. Complete resection was possible with a combined thoracic and abdominal approach. Pathological study indicated a renal cell carcinoma.

Multivalve endocarditis with multiple peripheral and pulmonary embolisms: a case report.

Fever of unknown origin in elderly patients is a difficult diagnostic problem. Infective endocarditis is often not diagnosed in this group of patients, in whom other etiologies like cancer are considered first. The authors report a case in which an elderly woman with subacute mitral and tricuspid infective endocarditis was correctly diagnosed only after a peripheral embolism. Besides having multiple pulmonary and peripheral embolisms, she developed a left femoral mycotic aneurysm.

[Large pseudoaneurysm of left ventricle following cardiac surgery]. / Volumoso pseudoaneurisma do ventrículo esquerdo após cirurgia cardíaca.

A 75-year old female patient, with previous inferior acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in December 2000, was admitted in April 2001 with angina and heart failure. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was suggestive of a postero-inferior pseudoaneurysm (PA) of the left ventricle (LV), with 61x49 mm. of size and mitral regurgitation. Cardiac catheterization was suspected of a PA of the LV and revealed a three vessels coronary artery disease. On 20th April she was submitted to cardiac surgery with resection of a large LV aneurysm (AN) and triple coronary artery bypass surgery. Afterwards, she was on NYHA class III and subsequent TTE and transesophagic echocardiography (TEE) were suggestive of a 90x60 mm LV posterior PA (confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance) and severe mitral regurgitation, with good LV systolic function. She underwent a new cardiac surgery on 31st May 2002, with resuturing of the LV postero-inferior wall patch and removal of the PA. The patient is in good condition and on NYHA functional class I-II.

Non-invasive coronary artery evaluation with multidetector computed tomography.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of 16-slice multidetector spiral computed tomography in the non-invasive detection of coronary artery disease compared to invasive coronary angiography. DESIGN: Prospective study. PATIENTS: We studied 35 patients, 21 men and 14 women, mean age 63.6+/-13.8 years, who underwent elective invasive coronary angiography one week prior to undergoing 16-slice multidetector computed tomography. METHODS: We used a Toshiba Aquilion 16-slice system. Helical acquisition was performed with breath holding after injection of 140 ml of a contrast agent into a peripheral vein. Cross-sectional images were reconstructed with a slice thickness of 0.5 mm or 1 mm. We set 15 anatomical segments for the coronary tree and the evaluation was performed independently for both techniques. Coronary artery lesions with over 50% reduction in diameter were considered significant. Findings from both techniques were evaluated using ROC curve analysis. RESULTS: It was possible to evaluate 87.7% of the coronary tree segments; heavy calcification, enability to perform breath holding, motion artefacts and stents made evaluation of the other segments impossible. Overall sensitivity and specificity were 85.9% and 98.2% respectively with a 95 % confidence interval; positive predictive value was 87% and negative predictive value 97% For the different anatomical segments, sensitivity and specificity were: proximal 88.9% and 97.8%; medial 90.9% and 95.8%; distal 86.7% and 99.1% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Multidetector computed tomography is a promising non-invasive technique for detecting or ruling out significant coronary lesions.

Long-term clinical outcome in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction and an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator after ventricular tachyarrhythmias.

UNLABELLED: Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is accepted as an important prognostic marker in patients (pts) with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD). The impact of this therapeutic approach in the survival of pts with life-threatening arrhythmias and severe left ventricular dysfunction remains a matter of discussion. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term clinical implications of severe left ventricular dysfunction in pts with an ICD implanted for secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death (SD). METHODS: Out of 70 pts undergoing ICD implantation in our institution over four consecutive years, we studied 24 pts with LVEF <35% and a post-ICD follow-up of >12 months (87.5% male; age 62.79 years). The index arrhythmia was ventricular tachycardia in 19 cases and SD with ventricular fibrillation in 5 cases. The underlying disease was ischemic cardiomyopathy (n=19), dilated cardiomyopathy (n=4) and hypertensive heart disease (n=1). Mean LVEF at the time of implant was 25 +/- 7% (between 11% and 34%; NYHA class II/III in 83.3%). A du chamber system was implanted in 5 cases, and an ICD plus cardiac resynchronization pacing in 2 cases. There was no perioperative mortality. At the time of discharge, 71.2% of the pts were taking amiodarone and 66.7 % beta-blockers. During a 38 +/- 16-month follow-up (4 appointments/year), we analyzed the following parameters: rehospitalization for cardiovascular cause, appropriate ICD shocks, inappropriate detections/therapy, nonfatal major arrhythmic events (arrhythmic storm, therapeutic exhaustion, recurrent ventricular tachycardia), cardiac mortality, SD and total mortality. RESULTS: Forty-five readmissions (1.9 +/- 2.3/pt) occurred in 14 pts (58%), 24.4% due to congestive heart failure. Appropriate ICD shocks (without hospitalization) occurred in 62.5% of the pts, 16.6% had inappropriate therapy (50% because of increased heart rate due to atrial fibrillation) and 37.5% suffered nonfatal major arrhythmic events. Death due to SD was 4.2%, cardiac mortality 12.5% and total mortality 25%. CONCLUSIONS: Severe left ventricular dysfunction is common in ICD pts. During long-term follow-up, the majority of these pts receive appropriate ICD shocks, which emphasizes the importance of SD prevention in this population. The frequent documentation of supraventricular arrhythmias (causing inappropriate ICD therapy) and nonfatal major arrhythmic events also reflects the presence of a worse arrhythmic substrate in this subgroup. Despite the poor initial prognosis associated with ventricular tachyarrhythmias in pts with severe left ventricular dysfunction, ICD therapy may contribute to a better long-term clinical outcome.

Selective pulmonary vasodilators for severe pulmonary hypertension: comparison between endpoints.

UNLABELLED: The therapeutic approach to severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), whether primary or secondary to connective tissue disorders, thromboembolic phenomena or congenital heart disease with Eisenmenger syndrome, has evolved in recent years following the introduction of selective pulmonary vasodilators, including prostacyclin analogs and endothelin receptor antagonists. AIM: To correlate three different endpoints (6-minute walk test, Tei index and peak tricuspid regurgitation velocity by Doppler echocardiographic study) during follow-up of PAH patients under selective vasodilator therapy. METHODS: Eleven patients (9 female, age 42 +/- 18 years) with severe PAH (> or = 65 mmHg), 64% with Eisenmenger syndrome, in NYHA class > or = II, were assessed during a follow-up of 11 +/- 8 months. Eight patients were already under therapy with iloprost or bosentan. RESULTS: There was no correlation between the three endpoints before and after therapy as assessed by Pearson's correlation coefficient. There was, however, an improvement in all of them after selective vasodilatory therapy. CONCLUSION: Therapeutic response can be accurately measured by the traditional endpoint (6-minute walk test) or by echocardiographic endpoints. However, the lack of correlation between them excludes their use as alternatives in patient follow-up.

Eisenmenger syndrome in the adult--experience with new drugs for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension.

BACKGROUND: The last few years have seen significant progress in the treatment of advanced pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The efficacy of new drugs has been proved mainly in idiopathic PAH or PAH associated with connective tissue diseases. As the pathophysiologic patterns are similar, it is reasonable to use these drugs also in Eisenmenger syndrome or in other congenital heart defects with PAH related to initial high pulmonary flow. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate our early experience with new drugs for PAH in patients with Eisenmenger syndrome. METHODS: A retrospective study of five patients, aged 28 to 51 years (39.6 +/- 9.94), four female, with Eisenmenger syndrome due to atrial septal defect (n = 2), patent ductus arteriosus (n = 2) or ventricular septal defect (n = 1), who began therapy with iloprost (n = 4, later associated with sildenafil in one patient) and bosentan (n = 1), between April 2001 and May 2003. The existence of severe and fixed PAH, with predominant right-to-left shunt, was confirmed by hemodynamic study in all cases. The patients were evaluated by clinical examination, Doppler echocardiography and the six-minute walk test before treatment and throughout follow-up (9 to 34 months, 19.8 +/- 9.04). Before treatment two patients were in NYHA class III and three in class III with periods in class IV. By Doppler echocardiography the right ventricle-right atrium (RV-RA) gradient was 74 to 111 mmHg (90.6 +/- 15.73) and the Tei index was 0.53 to 2.05 (1.13 +/- 0.62). In the six-minute walk test the distance was 214 to 500 meters (296.8 +/- 115.27). RESULTS: All patients improved clinically, though three are still in class III. One patient is in class II and one patient died. At the latest evaluation the RV-RA gradient was 60 to 112 mmHg (84.8 +/- 19.11) and the Tei index was 0.5 to 1.33 (0.85 +/- 80.32). In the six-minute walk test a net increase in the distance covered was evident: 376 to 520 meters (420 +/- 57.89). The treatment was well tolerated in all cases, without serious adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: Though the number of patients was small, our initial experience with the new specific drugs for PAH in Eisenmenger syndrome showed promising results, with clinical and functional improvement and without adverse effects.