Impact of hypochloremia as a prognostic factor in patients with heart failure, a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: some studies suggest that hypochloremia is a risk factor in the prognosis of heart failure (HF) in patients with recent decompensation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: retrospective cohort study of patients discharged due to HF decompensation who began follow-up in a specialized clinic. Two groups are defined: patients with hypochloremia (chloride < 98 mmol/L) and normochloremic patients (chloride > 98 mmol/L) in the initial assessment within the first month after discharge. The rate of intravenous diuretic rescue, emergency department visits, readmission for HF and cardiovascular (CV) death are compared using a Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: 165 patients were included (59% women, mean age 85 years), with 60 (36%) having hypochloremia. Both groups were comparable in terms of baseline characteristics, except for female sex, presence of peripheral artery disease, moderate-to-severe liver disease (more prevalent in the hypochloremia group), PROFUND index, and baseline furosemide dose (higher in patients with hypochloremia). The incidence of the primary event was higher in subjects with hypochloremia than in normochloremic subjects (HR: 1.59, 95% CI 0.97-2.62), mainly due to the need for intravenous diuretic rescue (HR: 1.86, 95% CI 1.07-3.24). CONCLUSIONS: hypochloremia following admission for HF decompensation is associated with a greater need for intravenous diuretic rescue therapy and probably worse overall prognosis across the spectrum of the disease, regardless of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

[Cardiac myxoma: an analysis of 30 patients]. / Mixoma cardíaco: serie de 30 pacientes.

INTRODUCTION: Myxomas are the most common type of benign heart tumors. The aim of this study was to correlate the clinical forms of presentation of cardiac myxoma and complementary laboratory results with the morphological features of the tumor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively a total of 30 cardiac myxomas seen in 2 institutions after a period of 22 years. In the same period 5 cardiac sarcomas were identified. The Chi-Square test and Fischer's exact test were used to compare the variables. In one patient the IL-6 production by peripherals blood cells before and after surgical tumor resection was evaluated. RESULTS: The patients were evenly distributed between genders. The mean age of this group was 60 years. The most prevalent clinical manifestations were cardiac symptoms (73,3%), constitutional symptoms (30%) and embolisms (26,7%). All cases were diagnosed by transthoracic echocardiography and the most frequent location of the tumor was the left atrium. Larger-diameter myxomas were observed in older patients and correlated with cardiac symptoms, radiological and electrocardiographical abnormalities. Smaller-diameter myxomas presented more frequently embolic phenomenons. There were no deaths during the postoperative period and the principal postoperative complication was transient arrhytmias. There was no evidence of recurrence of the disease. In one patient with systemic manifestations monocytes were observed to contribute to the increased serum levels of IL-6. CONCLUSIONS: Myxomas are the most frequent tumors of the heart. The most common initial manifestations were cardiac symptoms. Diagnosis was achieved in all patients by transthoracic echocardiography. The size and macroscopic appearance of the tumor correlated with the age of the patients and some clinical symptoms and laboratory RESULTS: Surgical excision was a safe and effective procedure. (c) 2009 Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.

Mixoma cardíaco: serie de 30 pacientes / Cardiac myxoma: an analysis of 30 patients

Introducción y objetivos: El mixoma es la neoplasia benigna cardíaca más frecuente. El objetivo de este estudio es relacionar los síntomas y los hallazgos en las pruebas complementarias de los pacientes diagnosticados de mixoma con las características macroscópicas del tumor. Material y métodos: Se analizaron de forma retrospectiva en dos hospitales de tercer nivel un total de 30 mixomas cardíacos en los últimos 22 años. En el mismo período se identificaron 5 sarcomas cardíacos. Para las comparaciones se utilizó el test de la ji cuadrado y el test exacto de Fischer. En un paciente con síntomas sistémicos e inflamatorios se determinó la producción de interleucina 6 (IL-6) en células mononucleares de sangre periférica antes y después de la cirugía. Resultados: La distribución de los enfermos fue equitativa para ambos sexos. La edad media fue de 60 años. Las manifestaciones clínicas más prevalentes fueron los síntomas cardíacos (73,3%), seguidos de los síntomas generales (30%) y las manifestaciones embólicas (26,7%). El diagnóstico se realizó mediante ecocardiograma, siendo la localización predominante la aurícula izquierda. Los tumores de mayor tamaño se presentaron en edades avanzadas y se relacionaron más frecuentemente con manifestaciones cardíacas y con más alteraciones radiológicas y electrocardiográficas. Por el contrario, los tumores de menor tamaño y pediculados tuvieron manifestaciones embólicas con mayor asiduidad. No hubo mortalidad postoperatoria aunque sí arritmias transitorias. No se describieron recidivas locales. Se comprobó que los monocitos de sangre periférica contribuyen de forma mayoritaria a la producción de IL-6 en un paciente con síntomas sistémicos. Conclusiones: El mixoma es la neoplasia cardíaca más frecuente. Los síntomas cardíacos son la forma de presentación más común de los mixomas. El diagnóstico se realizó mediante ecocardiografía. El tamaño y la morfología del tumor se relacionan con la edad del paciente y con algunas manifestaciones clínicas y hallazgos de las pruebas complementarias. El tratamiento es quirúrgico y suele ser seguro y curativo (AU)

Introduction: Myxomas are the most common type of benign heart tumors. The aim of this study was to correlate the clinical forms of presentation of cardiac myxoma and complementary laboratory results with the morphological features of the tumor. Materials and methods: We reviewed retrospectively a total of 30 cardiac myxomas seen in 2 institutions after a period of 22 years. In the same period 5 cardiac sarcomas were identified. The Chi-Square test and Fischer's exact test were used to compare the variables. In one patient the IL-6 production by peripherals blood cells before and after surgical tumor resection was evaluated. Results: The patients were evenly distributed between genders. The mean age of this group was 60 years. The most prevalent clinical manifestations were cardiac symptoms (73,3%), constitutional symptoms (30%) and embolisms (26,7%). All cases were diagnosed by transthoracic echocardiography and the most frequent location of the tumor was the left atrium. Larger-diameter myxomas were observed in older patients and correlated with cardiac symptoms, radiological and electrocardiographical abnormalities. Smallerdiameter myxomas presented more frequently embolic phenomenons. There were no deaths during the postoperative period and the principal postoperative complication was transient arrhytmias. There was no evidence of recurrence of the disease. In one patient with systemic manifestations monocytes were observed to contribute to the increased serum levels of IL-6. Conclusions: Myxomas are the most frequent tumors of the heart. The most common initial manifestations were cardiac symptoms. Diagnosis was achieved in all patients by transthoracic echocardiography. The size and macroscopic appearance of the tumor correlated with the age of the patients and some clinical symptoms and laboratory results. Surgical excision was a safe and effective procedure (AU)

[Venous thromboembolism and hyperhomocysteinemia as first manifestation of pernicious anemia]. / Tromboembolia venosa e hiperhomocisteinemia como primera manifestación de una anemia perniciosa.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Hyperhomocysteinemia is associated to thrombosis and atherosclerosis. Vitamin B12 is among its main causes and may be due to a pernicious anemia. This study aimed to know the prevalence of this disease in patients who have venous thromboembolism and hyperhomocysteinemia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 80 consecutive patients (55 men and 25 women; age: mean [standard deviation] 63 [15] years) with pulmonary embolism and/or venous thrombosis and elevated values of homocysteine (> 12 micromol/l) were studied. RESULTS: Pernicious anemia was diagnosed (positive Schilling test, presence of anti-intrinsic factor antibodies and/or anti-parietal cells and fundal atrophic gastritis) in 5 patients (6.25% with range of age: 42-73 years. Only one of them had macrocytic anemia and there were no alterations in any of them in the thrombophilia study. The patients were treated with vitamin B12, administering it orally (1 mg/day) in 4 of them. The homocysteine and vitamin B12 values were normalized in every case at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Although the prevalence of pernicious anemia is not elevated in patients with venous thromboembolism and hyperhomocysteinemia, its existence must be ruled out to avoid other thrombotic and neurological complications.

Tromboembolia venosa e hiperhomocisteinemia como primera manifestación de una anemia perniciosa / Venous thromboembolism and hyperhomocysteinemia as first manifestation of pernicious anemia

Fundamento y objetivo. La hiperhomocisteinemia se asocia a trombosis y aterosclerosis. Entre sus principales causas está la deficiencia de vitamina B12, que puede deberse a una anemia perniciosa. El objetivo del estudio ha sido conocer la prevalencia de esta enfermedad en los pacientes que presentan tromboembolia venosa e hiperhomocisteinemia. Pacientes y método. Se estudiaron consecutivamente 80 pacientes (55 varones y 25 mujeres; edad: media [desviación estándar]: 63 [15] años) con embolia pulmonar y/o trombosis venosa y valores elevados de homocisteína (> 12 µmol/l). Resultados. En 5 pacientes (6,25%), con rango de edad: 42-73 años se diagnosticó una anemia perniciosa (prueba de Schilling positiva, presencia de anticuerpos antifactor intrínseco y/o anticélulas parietales y gastritis atrófica fúndica). Sólo uno de ellos tenía anemia macrocítica y en ninguno existían otras alteraciones en el estudio de trombofilia. Los pacientes se trataron con vitamina B12, administrándosela a 4 de ellos por vía oral (1 mg/día), y en todos los casos se normalizaron a los 6 meses los valores de homocisteína y de vitamina B12. Conclusiones. En los pacientes con tromboembolia venosa e hiperhomocisteinemia, aunque la prevalencia de anemia perniciosa no es elevada, es necesario descartar su existencia para evitar otras complicaciones trombóticas y neurológicas

Introduction and objective. Hyperhomocysteinemia is associated to thrombosis and atherosclerosis. Vitamin B12 is among its main causes and may be due to a pernicious anemia. This study aimed to know the prevalence of this disease in patients who have venous thromboembolism and hyperhomocysteinemia. Patients and methods. A total of 80 consecutive patients (55 men and 25 women; age: mean [standard deviation] 63 [15] years) with pulmonary embolism and/or venous thrombosis and elevated values of homocysteine (> 12 µmol/l) were studied. Results. Pernicious anemia was diagnosed (positive Schilling test, presence of anti-intrinsic factor antibodies and/or anti-parietal cells and fundal atrophic gastritis) in 5 patients (6.25% with range of age: 42-73 years. Only one of them had macrocytic anemia and there were no alterations in any of them in the thrombophilia study. The patients were treated with vitamin B12, administering it orally (1 mg/day) in 4 of them. The homocysteine and vitamin B12 values were normalized in every case at 6 months. Conclusions. Although the prevalence of pernicious anemia is not elevated in patients with venous thromboembolism and hyperhomocysteinemia, its existence must be ruled out to avoid other thrombotic and neurological complicationsIntroduction and objective. Hyperhomocysteinemia is associated to thrombosis and atherosclerosis. Vitamin B12 is among its main causes and may be due to a pernicious anemia. This study aimed to know the prevalence of this disease in patients who have venous thromboembolism and hyperhomocysteinemia. Patients and methods. A total of 80 consecutive patients (55 men and 25 women; age: mean [standard deviation] 63 [15] years) with pulmonary embolism and/or venous thrombosis and elevated values of homocysteine (> 12 µmol/l) were studied. Results. Pernicious anemia was diagnosed (positive Schilling test, presence of anti-intrinsic factor antibodies and/or anti-parietal cells and fundal atrophic gastritis) in 5 patients (6.25% with range of age: 42-73 years. Only one of them had macrocytic anemia and there were no alterations in any of them in the thrombophilia study. The patients were treated with vitamin B12, administering it orally (1 mg/day) in 4 of them. The homocysteine and vitamin B12 values were normalized in every case at 6 months. Conclusions. Although the prevalence of pernicious anemia is not elevated in patients with venous thromboembolism and hyperhomocysteinemia, its existence must be ruled out to avoid other thrombotic and neurological complications