Ali Deniz

Ultrasound Accelerated Thrombolysis May Be an Effective and Safe Treatment Modality for Intermediate Risk/Submassive Pulmonary Embolism

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a potentially life-threatening condition and the fact that 90% of PE originate from lower limb veins highlights the significance of early detection and treatment of deep vein thrombosis. Massive/high risk PE involving circulatory collapse or systemic arterial hypotension is associated with an early mortality rate of approximately 50%, in part from right ventricular (RV) failure. Intermediate risk/submassive PE, on the other hand, is defined as PE-related RV dysfunction, troponin and/or B-type natriuretic peptide elevation despite normal arterial pressure. Without prompt treatment, patients with intermediate risk PE may progress to the massive category with a potentially fatal outcome. In patients with PE and right ventricular dysfunction (RVD), in hospital mortality ranges from 5% to 17%, significantly higher than in patients without RVD.

Carotid Intima-Media Thickness as the Cardiometabolic Risk Indicator in Patients with Nonfunctional Adrenal Mass and Metabolic Syndrome Screening

Background Our purpose was to show the association of adrenal incidentaloma and metabolic syndrome in consideration of the studies and to detect the increase in the carotid intima-media thickness which is regarded as the precessor of atherosclerosis. Material/Methods Eighty-one patients who were diagnosed with adrenal mass were included in the study. Hormonal evaluation, insulin rezistance measurement with the HOMA-IR and 1-mg DST were performed of all patients. The patients were classified as follows: mass size <3 cm (K1) and mass size of at least 3 cm (K2). Echocardiography and carotid intima-media thickness of the patients were measured using B-mode ultrasound. Thirty-three healthy individuals were enrolled as the control group. Results Mass size of 64.19% K1, while mass size of the remainder (35.81%) K2 was calculated. Five of the patients with adrenal mass were detected to have subclinical Cushing syndrome. The remaining 76 patients were accepted as nonfunctional. It was seen with regard to metabolic and biochemical parameters that plasma glucose (p=0.01), insulin (p=0.00) and triglyceride (p=0.012) values of all patients were significantly high compared to those of the control group. It was detected that measured heart rate (p=0.00), end-diastolic diameter (p=0.02), end-systolic diameter (p=0.014) and carotid intima-media thickness (p=0.00) values of the patients with adrenal mass were significantly higher than those of the healthy control group. Conclusions We found that the increased insulin resistance, increased risk of cardiovascular disease with the increase in the thickness of carotid intima-media and diastolic disfunction parameters, although the patients with adrenal incidentaloma are nonfunctional.

The Incidence and the Risk Factors of Silent Embolic Cerebral Infarction After Coronary Angiography and Percutaneous Coronary Interventions

Silent embolic cerebral infarction (SECI) is a major complication of coronary angiography (CAG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent CAG with or without PCI were recruited. Cerebral diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging was performed for SECI within 24 hours. Clinical and angiographic characteristics were compared between patients with and without SECI. Silent embolic cerebral infarction occurred in 12 (12%) of the 101 patients. Age, total cholesterol, SYNTAX score (SS), and coronary artery bypass history were greater in the SECI(+) group (65 ± 10 vs 58 ± 11 years, P = .037; 223 ± 85 vs 173 ± 80 mg/dL, P = .048; 30.1 ± 2 vs 15 ± 3, P < .001; 4 [33.3%] vs 3 [3.3%], P = .005). The SECI was more common in the PCI group (8/24 vs 4/77, P = .01). On subanalysis, the SS was significantly higher in the SECI(+) patients in both the CAG and the PCI groups (29.3 ± 1.9 vs 15 ± 3, P < .01; 30.5 ± 1.9 vs 15.1 ± 3.2, P < .001, respectively). The risk of SECI after CAG and PCI increases with the complexity of CAD (represented by the SS). The SS is a predictor of the risk of SECI, a complication that should be considered more often after CAG.

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 5G/5G genotype is associated with early spontaneous recanalization of the infarct-related artery in patients presenting with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

BackgroundWe aimed to examine the association between plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) genetic polymorphism and early spontaneous recanalization in patients presenting with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction. MethodsPatients admitted to our emergency department with ST-elevation myocardial infarction in the first 6 h of symptom onset were included. An immediate primary percutaneous coronary intervention was performed. Patients were grouped according to the initial patency of the infarct-related artery (IRA) as follows: total occlusion (TO) group [Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) 0–1 flow in the IRA], partial recanalization group (TIMI 2 flow in the IRA), and complete recanalization (CR) group (TIMI 3 flow in the IRA). PAI-1 4G/5G polymorphism was detected using the real-time PCR method. ResultsThere were 107 patients in the TO group, 30 patients in the partial recanalization group, and 45 patients in the CR group. When we evaluated degrees of patency according to the PAI-1 genotype, TO of the IRA was the highest in patients with the PAI 4G/4G genotype (PAI-1 4G/4G: 66.7%, PAI-1 4G/5G: 65.9%, PAI-1 5G/5G: 40.4%) and CR of the IRA was the highest in patients with the PAI 5G/5G genotype (PAI-1 5G/5G: 38.5%, PAI-1 4G/5G: 19.8%, PAI-1 4G/4G: 17.9%). The distribution of genotypes in different degrees of patency of IRA was statistically significant (P=0.029). In logistic regression analysis, the PAI-1 5G/5G genotype was associated independently with the spontaneous CR of the IRA (odds ratio: 2.875, 95% confidence interval [1.059–7.086], P=0.038). ConclusionPatients with the PAI-1 5G/5G genotype seem to be luckier than others in terms of early spontaneous recanalization of the IRA. Further prospective studies with large patient populations are required for more precise results.

Prevalence of cardiac arrhythmia and risk factors in chronic kidney disease patients

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients have a high risk for cardiac arrhythmia. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of cardiac arrhythmia in CKD patients and to evaluate the relationship between arrhythmia and biochemical and echocardiographic parameters. CKD patients between 18 and 80 years of age were enrolled from the nephrology outpatient clinic. Physical examination, complete blood count, urinalysis biochemical analysis, electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, and 24-h Holter electrocardiogram were performed. Patients with and without cardiac arrhythmia were compared regarding their characteristics, laboratory findings, and echocardiographic parameters. Risk factors for cardiac arrhythmia were also evaluated. The carotid intima-media thickness was measured using Doppler ultrasonography. In our study involving 59 patients, 44 (74%) had atrial arrhythmia (AA) and 40 (68%) had ventricular arrhythmia (VA). Atrial and/or VA were diagnosed in 46 patients (78%), of whom six (10.2%) had AA, two (3.4%) had VA and 38 (64.4%) had AA plus VA. Atrial fibrillation (AF) was present in two patients (3.4%) in the form of paroxysmal AF. Risk factors for AA were low calcium level and posterior wall thickness, while factors associated with VA were age, triglyceride level, leukocyte count, and nonusage of angiotensin 2 receptor blockers. Risk factors for AA and/or VA included increased platelet count, age, and leukocyte count. AA and/or VA were found in as high as 78% of CKD patients. Further studies evaluating course of the disease from early stages are needed to identify risk factors.

Predictors of the paroxysmal atrial fibrillation recurrence following cryoballoon-based pulmonary vein isolation: Assessment of left atrial volume, left atrial volume index, galectin-3 level and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio

Background Cryoballoon-based pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is a treatment option for atrial fibrillation (AF). Left atrial volume (LAV) and left atrial volume index (LAVi) are important parameters for long term success of PVI. Galectin-3 (Gal-3) and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (N/L ratio) are biomarkers to demonstrate the cardiac fibrosis and remodelling. Methods 50 patients with symptomatic PAF despite ≥1 antiarrhythmic drug(s), who underwent PVI were enrolled. LAV, LAVi, Gal-3 and N/L ratio were calculated before ablation and after ablation at 6 and 12 months. According to AF recurrence patients were divided into two groups, recurrent AF (n = 14) and non-recurrent AF (n = 36). Results In both groups (recurrent and non-recurrent), initial and 12 months follow-up LAV values were 41.39 ± 18.13 ml and 53.24 ± 22.11 ml vs 48.85 ± 12.89 ml and 42.08 ± 13.85 (p = 0.037). LAVi were 20.9 ± 8.91 ml/m2 and 26.85 ± 11.28 ml/m2 vs 25.36 ± 6.21 and 21.87 ± 6.66 (p = 0.05) for recurrent and non-recurrent AF groups, respectively. In both groups PVI had no significant effect on serum Gal-3 levels and N/L ratio during 12 months follow-up. The comparison between two groups at the end of 12th month showed Gal-3 values of 6.66 ± 4.09 ng/ml and 6.02 ± 2.95 ng/ml (p = 0.516), N/L ratio values of 2.28 ± 1.07 103/μl and 1.98 ± 0.66 103/μl (p = 0.674). Conclusion LAV and LAVi are useful to predict the remodelling of the left atrium and AF recurrence after cryoballoon-based PVI. However, biomarkers such as Gal-3 and N/L ratio are not associated with AF recurrence.

Association among tenascin-C and NT-proBNP levels and arrhythmia prevalence in heart failure

PURPOSE Tenascin-C (TN-C) and amino-terminal fragment of the B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) are the important predictors in prognosis of heart failure (HF). The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship of TN-C and NT-proBNP levels with the frequency and severity of ventricular arrhythmia. MATERIALS AND METHODS Our study included 107 HF patients with EF < 45%. According to Holter analysis, the patients were divided into two groups as malignant arrhythmia group (n=29) with Lown Class 4a and 4b arrhythmia and benign arrhythmia group(n=78) with Lown Class 0-3b arrhythmia. The groups were compared with respect to levels of TN-C and NT-proBNP. The relationship of TN-C and NT-proBNP levels with frequency of ventricular premature beat (VPB) was also analyzed. FINDINGS NT-proBNP (5042.1±1626 versus 1417.1±1711.6 pg/ml) and TN-C (1089±348.6 versus 758.5±423.9 ng/ml) levels were significantly higher in the malignant arrhythmia group than that of the benign arrhythmia group (p.

Assessment of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-I) level in patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis

OBJECTIVES Insulin-like growth factor-1 may serve some regulatory function in the immune system. Rheumatic mitral stenosis is related to autoimmune heart valve damage after streptococcal infection. The aim of this study was to assess the level of insulin-like growth factor-1 and its correlation with the Wilkins score in patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis. METHODS A total of 65 patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis and 62 age- and sex-matched control subjects were enrolled in this study. All subjects underwent transthoracic echocardiography. The mitral valve area and Wilkins score were evaluated for all patients. Biochemical parameters and serum insulin-like growth factor-1 levels were measured. RESULTS Demographic data were similar in the rheumatic mitral stenosis and control groups. The mean mitral valve area was 1.6±0.4 cm2 in the rheumatic mitral stenosis group. The level of insulin-like growth factor-1 was significantly higher in the rheumatic mitral stenosis group than in the control group (104 (55.6-267) versus 79.1 (23.0-244.0) ng/ml; p=0.039). There was a significant moderate positive correlation between insulin-like growth factor-1 and thickening of leaflets score of Wilkins (r=0.541, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS The present study demonstrated that serum insulin-like growth factor-1 levels were significantly higher in the rheumatic mitral stenosis group compared with control subjects and that insulin-like growth factor-1 level was also correlated with the Wilkins score. It can be suggested that there may be a link between insulin-like growth factor-1 level and immune pathogenesis of rheumatic mitral stenosis.

Aortic isthmic atresia and aorta-right atrial communication: a case report.

The development of an aorta-right atrial fistula is a very rare complication of aortic isthmic atresia. We described a case of aorta-right atrial communication associated with isthmic atresia.

Coronary venous angioplasty to a ring- like stricture preventing left ventricular lead insertion.

implant left ventricular lead in coronary veins. These include unsuitable branching angle of coronary veins and tortuosity of coronary sinus anatomy, postoperative deformation, presence of venous valves, absence of vessel in target location, and coronary venous stenosis (2, 3). We here describe coronary venous angioplasty before left ventricular lead insertion in a patient with coronary venous stenosis.