C. Pitsavos

Differentiating thrombus from pannus formation in obstructed mechanical prosthetic valves : An evaluation of clinical, transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiographic parameters

OBJECTIVESnWe sought to determine the clinical and echocardiographic parameters that differentiate thrombus from pannus formation as the etiology of obstructed mechanical prosthetic valves.nnnBACKGROUNDnDistinction of thrombus from pannus on obstructed prosthetic valves is essential because thrombolytic therapy has emerged as an alternative to reoperation.nnnMETHODSnWe analyzed clinical, transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) data in 23 patients presenting with 24 obstructed prosthetic valves and compared the findings to pathology at surgery.nnnRESULTSnFourteen valves had thrombus and 10 had pannus formation. Patients with thrombus had a shorter duration from time of valve insertion to malfunction, shorter duration of symptoms, but similar New York Heart Association functional class at the time of operation. Patients with thrombus had a lower rate of adequate anticoagulation (21% vs. 89%; p=0.0028). Pannus formation was more common in the aortic position (70% vs. 21%; p=0.035). Abnormal prosthetic valve motion was detected by TEE in all cases with thrombus formation but in 60% with pannus (p=0.0198). Thrombi were larger than pannuses (total length 2.8+/-2.47 cm vs. 1.17+/-0.43 cm; p=0.038). This was mostly due to extension of thrombi into the left atrium in prosthetic mitral valves. Thrombi appeared as a soft mass on the valve in 92% of cases, whereas 29% of pannuses had a soft echo density (p= 0.007). Ultrasound video intensity ratio, derived as the videointensity of the mass to that of the prosthetic valve, was lower in the thrombus group (0.46+/-0.14 vs. 0.71+/-0.17, p=0.006). A videointensity ratio of <0.70 had a positive predictive value of 87% and a negative predictive value of 89% for thrombus. Duration from onset of symptoms to reoperation of <1 month separated thrombus from pannus formation. The best objective clinical parameter for prediction of thrombus was inadequate anticoagulation, whereas the best TEE parameters were qualitative and quantitative ultrasound intensity of the mass. The presence of either inadequate anticoagulation or a soft mass by TEE improved the predictive power of either parameter alone and was similar to that of ultrasound videointensity ratio.nnnCONCLUSIONSnDuration of symptoms, anticoagulation status and qualitative and quantitative ultrasound intensity of the mass obstructing a mechanical prosthetic valve can help differentiate pannus formation from thrombus and may therefore be of value in refining the selection of patients for thrombolytic therapy of prosthetic valve obstruction.

Effects of combined administration of low dose atorvastatin and vitamin E on inflammatory markers and endothelial function in patients with heart failure.

Heart failure has been associated with impaired endothelial function, increased inflammatory process and elevated oxidative stress status. Both statins and vitamin E separately improve endothelial function in patients with hypercholesterolemia and/or advanced atherosclerosis.

Chemokines in patients with ischaemic heart disease and the effect of coronary angioplasty

Percutaneous coronary transluminal angioplasty (PTCA) may release inflammatory mediators such as chemokines. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and eotaxin (EOX) are monocyte- and eosinophil-specific chemokines involved in the inflammation and pathogenesis of coronary atherosclerosis. A total of 28 patients undergoing elective PTCA, 20 coronary artery disease (CAD) patients undergoing coronary angiography and 28 healthy controls were studied. In PTCA patients before the procedure, MCP-1 plasma levels (441+/-64 pg/ml) were similar to those of CAD patients (430+/-24 pg/ml), and significantly higher compared with controls (145+/-17 pg/ml, P<0.01). MCP-1 rose significantly after 3 and 6 months following PTCA (696+/-89 and 876+/-86 pg/ml, respectively, P<0.01 vs. before PTCA). EOX plasma levels (155+/-14 pg/ml) were similar to those of CAD patients (157+/-14 pg/ml), but significantly higher compared with controls (83.2+/-10 pg/ml, P<0.05). EOX rose significantly 24 h (273+/-41 pg/ml, P<0.05) but not 3 months after PTCA (160+/-20 and 158+/-19 pg/ml, respectively). These findings indicate that chemokine-induced monocyte- and eosinophil-specific chemoattraction is stimulated in patients with coronary artery disease. MCP-1 levels remain significantly elevated for at least 6 months following elective PTCA, suggesting an inflammatory stimulation.

Inflammatory and thrombotic processes are associated with vascular dysfunction in children with familial hypercholesterolemia

BACKGROUNDnEvidence suggests that children with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) have endothelial dysfunction. Inflammatory and haemostatic abnormalities are associated with advanced atherosclerosis and increased cardiovascular events. However, it is unknown whether these abnormalities present in FH children and contribute to their vascular dysfunction.nnnMETHODS AND RESULTSnWe studied 38 children with FH (19 males, 19 females aged 14.8+/-0.9 years mean+/-S.E.) and 41 healthy children (controls; 22 males, 19 females aged 15.4+/-0.7 years). Endothelium-dependent reactive hyperemia (RH%) and endothelium-independent nitrate hyperemia dilatation (NH%) were measured by strain gauge plethysmography. Inflammatory and haemostatic parameters were assessed by ELISA. RH% and NH% were significantly reduced in FH compared to controls (91.3+/-9.3% vs. 120.4+/-10.6% and 53.6+/-3.8% vs. 74.5+/-7.4%, p<0.05 for both). Total cholesterol and lipoprotein (a) were increased in FH children compared to controls (282.3+/-8.8 mg/dl vs. 163.8+/-4.6 mg/dl and 11.0[4.6, 30.7]mg/dl vs. 5.24[2.63, 11.0]mg/dl median [IQR] respectively; p<0.001 for both). Intercellular cell adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) serum levels were increased in FH compared to controls (p<0.05 and <0.001, respectively). Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) levels were also higher in FH children (p<0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that reactive hyperemia was independently associated with nitrate-dependent reactive hyperemia (beta=0.597(0.199), p<0.01), PAI-1(beta=-6.78(2.65), p<0.05), log IL-1 beta (beta=-102.8 (30.2), p<0.01), age (beta=-5.06 (2.35), p<0.05) and FH status (beta=-25.2(10.6), p<0.05) (R(2) for the model: 0.63, p=0.001).nnnCONCLUSIONSnInflammatory and haemostatic abnormalities are present in FH children and contribute to the endothelial dysfunction observed in these children.

Basic fibroblast growth factor changes in response to coronary angioplasty in patients with stable angina

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of coronary atherosclerosis and in angiogenesis. We assessed the changes in serum bFGF before, immediately after, and 6 months after coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Using the ELISA methods we measured plasma bFGF in 28 patients who underwent PTCA, in 20 patients with coronary artery disease who underwent elective coronary angiography and in 28 healthy subjects. Before PTCA and coronary angiography, bFGF plasma levels were similar in both patient groups (4.4+/-1.0 vs. 3.3+/-0.5 pg/ml), but were significantly higher compared with those of the control group (0.8+/-0.1 pg/ml, P<0.05). By 24 h, 3 months and 6 months after PTCA, bFGF levels had decreased significantly in the PTCA group (3.2+/-0.6, 1.7+/-0.3 and 2.7+/-0.6 pg/ml, respectively, P<0.05). In conclusion, these findings show that bFGF levels are elevated in patients with coronary artery disease. Following PTCA, bFGF levels decreased significantly and remained stable for 6 months after the procedure. Thus, bFGF level may change in response to PTCA in patients with coronary artery disease and stable angina.

Partial Thrombosis of a Bileaflet Mitral Prosthetic Valve: Diagnosis by Transesophageal Echocardiography

We describe the contribution of transesophageal echocardiography in the diagnosis of acute thrombosis of a bileaflet mechanical prosthetic valve in the mitral position. The thrombus had immobilized one hemidisc without affecting the function of the other. These findings were confirmed at surgery.

Left ventricular hypertrophy regression and function changes with ketanserin in elderly hypertensives.

SummaryKetanserin is a serotonin antagonist with age-related antihypertensive efficacy. Its effects on left ventricular (LV) function and hypertrophy have not been adequately reported. We studied noninvasively 54 elderly hypertensives before and 6 months after ketanserin monotherapy. Mean blood pressure was controlled (174/101 to 145/86 mmHg, p<0.0001) with no heart rate changes. LV dimensions and volumes remained unchanged, as did all LV ejection indices, thus preserving LV output (p=ns). Total peripheral resistances fell (from means of 1986 to 1615 dynes, cm.s-5, p<0.0001), as did LV systolic wall stresses. Mean LV mass was reduced (248 to 237 g, p<0.0001), mainly due to interventricular septum thinning (11.8 to 11.1 mm, p<0.0001), resulting in a decrease in mean LV cross-sectional area (21.3 to 20.5 cm2, p<0.0001) and mass/volume ratio (2.14 to 2.01 p=0.0001). Thus, LV hypertrophy regression did not affect contractility (LV mass index relation to stress/end-systolic volume index, r=−0.558 before and r=−0.564 after ketanserin therapy). It is concluded that ketanserin is an effective antihypertensive agent in the elderly that reduces LV hypertrophy indices and maintains cardiac output, with no concomitant burdening on LV hemodynamics.

C-Reactive Protein and Lesion Morphology

To the Editor:nnSano et al1 in a recent work using intravascular ultrasound examined the relationship between lesion morphology and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with acute myocardial infarction. They found that elevated CRP is related to the presence of ruptured plaque, and this may reflect the inflammatory activity of the ruptured plaque.nnThe importance of stenosis morphology in predicting the high-risk stenoses that will progress to acute myocardial infarction has been …

829 Atorvastatin affects the expression of endothelium- and liver-derived components of both thrombosis and fibrinolysis systems, in patients with congestive heart failure

Conclusions: Hypergammaglobulinemia is characteristic of HIV infection and has also been noted in select autoimmune diseases. In our study, increased levels of serum IgG were noted in both HIV infected and to a lower extent in HIV non-infected PPCM patients. It is of interest that serum IgG levels either remain elevated (non-HIV infected) or increase (HIV infected) following 6 months of therapy despite significant improvement in cardiac function.

Aortic elastic properties in patients with repaired coarctation of aorta

Patients with successfully repaired coarctation of the aorta have impaired distensibility. Age at surgery as well as left ventricular mass index are factors that are related to the distensibility index.