Syncope paradox in the outcome of patients with pulmonary thromboembolism: short-term and midterm outcome.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: We compare the early and midterm outcomes of pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) in patients with and without syncope in our single-center registry. METHOD: Between December 2006 and May 2013, 351 consecutive patients (mean age = 60.21 ± 16.91 years, 55.3% male) with confirmed acute symptomatic PTE were divided in with and without syncope groups. Groups were compared in terms of the effect of syncope on 30-day mortality and adverse events, and mortality in a median follow-up time of 16.9 months. RESULTS: From 351 patients, 39 (11.1%) had syncope and 312 (88.9%) did not. Syncope group had less frequently chest pain (30.8% vs 51.4%; P value = 0.015). Also, the rates of 30-day adverse events and mortality were 12.8% and 5.1% for the group with syncope, and 14.4% and 10.3% for the group without syncope, respectively, with no significant difference. At follow up, 65 patients died and mortality was 18.5% for 351 patients (5.1% in the group with syncope and 20.2% for the other group). After adjustment for confounding factors, the effect of syncope on 30-day adverse events and mortality remained non-significant and on the midterm mortality was significant, showing that the presence of syncope was associated with lower midterm mortality (P value = 0.038). CONCLUSION: Among PTE patients in our registry, 11.1% presented with syncope. Relationship between syncope and 30-day adverse events and mortality remained non-significant after adjustments for other factors. However, in midterm follow up, patients with syncope were significantly at decreased risk of mortality compared to those without syncope.

Correlation between systolic deformation and dyssynchrony indices and the grade of left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive patients with a preserved systolic ejection fraction undergoing coronary angiography, based on tissue Doppler imaging.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether systolic mechanical dyssynchrony occurs in hypertensive patients with a normal coronary artery and a normal ejection fraction and its relationship with different degrees of left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy. METHODS: A total of 125 angiographically normal coronary patients (42.4% male; mean age ± SD, 57.16 ± 8.26 years) with an ejection fraction greater than 50% were included, of which 84 were hypertensive and 41 normotensive. The hypertensive patients were categorized into 3 groups: no, mild, and moderate LV hypertrophy. Tissue Doppler and deformation imaging parameters were measured in the 6 LV basal segments at peak systole. RESULTS: The frequency of dyssynchrony was 40.5% in the hypertensive patients compared to 19.5% in the control patients (P = .020). Among the hypertensive patients, LV dyssynchrony was found in 5 patients (20%) with no hypertrophy, 20 (42.6%) with mild hypertrophy, and 9 (75%) with moderate hypertrophy. There was a moderate correlation between the grade of hypertrophy and septal-lateral wall delay (r = 0.497), 6-basal segment delay (r = 0.454), overall strain (r = 0.453), overall peak systolic velocity (r = -0.430), and standard deviation of the time to peak systolic velocity in the basal segments (r = 0.429). After adjustment for the LV end-systolic diameter and body surface area, overall strain was the best correlate of the hypertrophy grade (odds ratio, 7.043; 95% confidence interval, 1.839-26.980; P = .0044). CONCLUSIONS: Among tissue Doppler and deformation indices, overall peak systolic strain was the strongest correlate of the LV hypertrophy grade. Therefore, in hypertensive patients with normal cardiac systolic function, a reduction in overall strain in the 6 basal LV segments may be a good indicator of progression of the LV hypertrophy grade and systolic dysfunction.

Coronary anatomy characteristics in patients with isolated right bundle branch block versus subjects with normal surface electrocardiogram.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Isolated right bundle branch block is a common finding in the general population. It may be associated with variations in detailed coronary anatomy characteristics. The aim of this study was to investigate the coronary anatomy in patients with isolated right bundle branch block and to compare that with normal individuals. METHOD: In this case-control study we investigated the coronary anatomy by reviewing angiographic films in two groups of normal coronary artery patients: patients with right bundle branch block (RBBB) (n = 92) and those with normal electrocardiograms (n = 184). RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of diminutive left anterior descending artery, dominancy, number of obtuse marginal artery, diagonal, acute marginal artery, the position of the first septal versus diagonal branch, presence of ramus artery, and size of left main artery. The number of septal branches was higher in the case group (p-value <0.001). Origination of the atrioventricular node artery from the right circulatory system was more common in both groups but cases showed more tendency to follow this pattern (p-value = 0.021). The frequency of the normal conus branch was higher in the cases versus controls (p-value = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Coronary anatomy characteristics are somewhat different in subjects with RBBB compared to normal individuals.

Echocardiographic determinants of ischemic mitral regurgitation.

OBJECTIVES: It is not clear whether the presence and degree of chronic ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) in patients with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction are related to LV dysfunction, local LV remodeling or mitral valve deformation. We sought to establish the strongest determinants of IMR severity in patients with LV dysfunction and IMR. METHODS: We prospectively performed transthoracic echocardiography for 135 patients (mean age = 60.76 ± 9.69 years, 71.9% male) with LV dysfunction (ejection fraction ≤ 50%) and coronary artery disease (70% stenosis in ≥ 1 coronary artery and no myocardial infarction during the previous 16 days). Global and local LV remodeling and mitral deformity indices were measured. Using the vena contracta, MR severity was graded as no regurgitation; mild; moderate; and severe. RESULTS: Mild regurgitation was found in 45 (33.3%) patients, moderate in 71 (52.6%), severe in 6 (4.4%), and no regurgitation in 13 (9.6%). By linear logistic multivariable analysis, the major echocardiographic determinants of MR severity were tenting area (TA), sphericity index (LV systolic length/width), and C-septal (distance between the leaflet coaptation and the septum). TA was best related to coaptation depth and annulus diameter. Mitral annular diameter was best correlated with left atrial surface area (r = 0.630, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: TA was significantly correlated with annulus diameter and, along with sphericity index and C-septal, were the independent echocardiographic determinants of MR severity. These findings warrant consideration when performing mitral valve repairs for patients with IMR.

Relationship between left atrial function and size and level of left ventricular dyssynchrony in heart failure patients.

AIM: To study whether there is any relation between left atrial (LA) size or function and the level of left ventricular dyssynchrony (LV) in patients with heart failure. METHOD: Fifty-two patients (male 34, mean age = 65.77 ± 8.69 years) with ejection fraction (EF) <35%, who were candidates for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), underwent conventional transthoracic echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). Intra-ventricular dyssynchrony, inter-ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony (IVMD), and related time intervals were measured. The LA size and function were evaluated by transthoracic echocardiography and deformation imaging using LA lateral wall strain (ST) and strain rate (SR), and the septal wall ST. RESULTS: The LA volume showed severe dilation in 41 (78.8%) patients. 44 (84.6%) cases had intra-ventricular dyssynchrony and 33 (63.5%) had IVMD. In univariable analysis, the LA lateral wall ST and SR as well as the LA septal wall ST had significant but poor correlation with IVMD. There were also poor to moderate correlation between these parameters and the LV end diastolic diameter and mitral annulus tissue velocity at early and late diastole. However, after adjustment for all the related factors, IVMD remained a significant independent correlate for the LA lateral wall ST and SR. This correlation for the LA septal wall ST was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: IVMD was a significant independent correlate for the LA lateral wall ST and SR. This correlation for the LA septal wall ST was nonsignificant. Future studies are needed to examine whether the correction of inter-ventricular dyssynchrony by CRT in patients with concomitant LA dysfunction can have an independent role in the improvement of the LA function.

On-label and off-label use of drug-eluting stents: comparison of short- and long-term outcomes.

In this retrospective study, we compared the in-hospital and long-term outcomes of the on-label and off-label uses of drug-eluting stents.From April 2003 through June 2007, 1,538 patients underwent percutaneous coronary intervention with a drug-eluting stent (sirolimus or paclitaxel) at Tehran Heart Center. Off-label implantation of the drug-eluting stent was as implemented on the basis of specific clinical and procedural characteristics set forth in our text. There were 708 patients in the on-label group and 830 in the off-label group.Baseline characteristics were not significantly different between the groups. Histories of non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction, percutaneous coronary intervention, and coronary artery bypass grafting were more prevalent in the off-label group. Both groups had similar procedural and in-hospital complications. The follow-up rate at 1 year was 93.1% in the on-label group and 93.3% in the off-label group. During that period, the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events was not significantly different between the groups. After 1 year between the respective on- and off-label uses of the sirolimus-eluting and paclitaxel-eluting stents, and after adjustment for diabetes mellitus, myocardial infarction, percutaneous coronary intervention, and coronary artery bypass grafting, there was no remarkable difference in the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (hazard ratio, 0.688; 95% confidence interval, 0.365-1.295; P=0.2463) or target-vessel revascularization (hazard ratio, 0.69; 95% confidence interval, 0.291-1.636; P=0.3993).We found that off-label use of drug-eluting stents was safe after 1 year and that such use was not associated with increased in-hospital myocardial infarction or death.