Do cardiovascular risk factors influence cardiac allograft vasculopathy?

BACKGROUND: Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is the leading cause of heart transplant failure after the first year. The etiological factors involved are currently a controversial matter. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is considered the diagnostic procedure of choice. We assessed the relationship of cardiovascular risk factors with CAV. MATERIALS: We analyzed prospectively 22 patients. We conducted a first study with coronary angiography and IVUS at 36 +/- 3 days and a second at 598 +/- 49 days. We performed an average of 5.6 clinical revisions per patient, assessing the effect of the classic cardiovascular risk factors, the cause of heart failure, and the age of the patient and donor. The statistics used were chi(2), Fisher exact test, and Student t test. RESULTS: CAV was found in 10 subjects (45.5%). Univariate analysis showed statistically significant differences in the assessment of the presence of diabetes and dyslipidemia posttransplantation, but not pretransplantation. Among the patients with CAV there was a higher percentage of diabetics (32.8% vs 12%, P < .01). The patients with CAV also had higher levels of total cholesterol (211 +/- 40 mg/dL vs 195 +/- 35 mg/dL, P = .02), triglycerides (172 +/- 108 mg/dL vs 136 +/- 66 mg/dL, P = .03), low-density lipoprotein (133 +/- 35 mg/dL vs 117 +/- 30 mg/dL, P = .01), and lower high-density lipoprotein levels (46 +/- 15 mg/dL vs 52 +/- 12 mg/dL, P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Only the diabetes and dyslipidemia present in the posttransplantation period were associated with CAV, which highlights the fact that it is a condition that both shares and has different features with atherosclerosis and probably requires a different diagnostic-therapeutic approach.

[A right aorto-atrial fistula as a complication of early prosthetic endocarditis]. / Fístula aorta-aurícula derecha como complicación de endocarditis protésica precoz.

Early infectious endocarditis occurs in 3% of prostheses in the first 12 months after valvular surgery and is more aggressive than late prosthetic endocarditis. Mortality remains high, especially in early cases, despite combined medical and surgical treatment. Clinical manifestations of early cases are due to both bacteremia and prosthetic malfunction, and is mainly caused by staphylococci. We present a case report of early prosthetic endocarditis in aortic prostheses complicated with severe aortic regurgitation and right atria-aortic root fistula with auriculoventricular and intraventricular disturbance in electrocardiogram.

[Myocardial bridging as a cause of acute ischemia. Description of a case and review of the literature]. / Puente miocárdico como causa de isquemia aguda. Descripción del caso y revisión de la bibliografía.

Myocardial bridges consist of muscle fiber bundles lining an epicardial coronary artery for a variable distance. They are a relatively common finding, with incidence changing on the basis of the study method used (angiographic/necropsy). Although myocardial bridges are usually associated with a benign prognosis, being in many cases asymptomatic and only found by chance, their presence has also been considered a cause of angina, malignant arrhythmia, myocardial infarction and sudden death. They are diagnosed in vivo by angiography when a systolic compression of a coronary artery which disappears during diastole is evidenced. We report the case of a patient with electrocardiographic signs of severe ischemia in the territory of the anterior descending artery, which was initially assessed as myocardial infarction and treated as such. Eventually, the ECG returned to normal, and no new Q waves of necrosis occurred. An angiohemodynamic study confirmed the existence of an isolated muscular bridge over the middle third of the anterior descending artery, with no other associated coronary lesions.

[Emergency implantation of intracoronary stent after acute occlusion of the common trunk of the left coronary artery]. / Implantación emergente de stent intracoronario tras oclusión aguda del tronco común de la coronaria izquierda.

Nowadays, the implantation of coronary endoprosthesis within the left main coronary artery is not considered as an absolute contraindication. Here, we show a case of acute occlusion within the left main coronary artery. This was resolved by implanting a stent during a programmed cardiac catheterization. It should be stressed that this problem was occurred without manipulating the left coronary tree. In addition, the patient was in cardiac arrest when the stent was implanted. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was applied because of this condition.