Cemil Gürgün

Treatment of hypertension in dialysis patients by ultrafiltration : Role of cardiac dilatation and time factor

We retrospectively analyzed the blood pressure (BP) and cardiothoracic index (CTi) of 67 hemodialysis patients with hypertension who could be followed up for at least 8 months. A new treatment policy was adopted, aimed at strict volume control. Dietary salt restriction was strongly emphasized. Ultrafiltration (UF) was applied during regular dialysis sessions and sometimes in additional sessions, as long as BP and CTi remained at greater than normal values. All antihypertensive drugs were discontinued at the beginning of treatment. Average BP decreased from 173 +/- 17/102 +/- 9 to 139 +/- 18/86 +/- 11 mm Hg after 6 months and to 118 +/- 12/73 +/- 6 mm Hg after 36 months. Corresponding values for CTi were 52% +/- 4%, 47% +/- 3%, and 42% +/- 4%, respectively. Conventional relatively short dialysis (three times weekly for at least 4 hours) can achieve normal BPs with prolonged effort in most patients, whereas improvement in heart condition facilitates this.

Right atrial and ventricular thrombi in Behçet's disease : a case report and review of literature

Behçets disease is a chronic multi-system disease presenting with recurrent oral and genital ulceration, and relapsing uveitis. Cardiac involvement is an extremely rare manifestation of this disorder. We report an unusual case of Behçets disease characterized by a mural cardiac thrombi in the right atrium and right ventricle along with transient protein C and S deficiency.

Plasma and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid Levels of Endothelin-1 in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Pulmonary Hypertension

Background: Secondary pulmonary hypertension (PH) and cor pulmonale are the major clinical cardiovascular complications affecting prognosis in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is also known that endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent vasoconstrictor peptide produced by the pulmonary vascular endothelium, and ET-1 may be implicated in the pathogenesis of PH. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of ET-1 in patients with COPD and to assess the correlation of ET-1 levels in the plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid (BALF) in COPD patients with or without PH. Methods: Twenty-two patients with COPD and 15 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Peripheral venous blood samples were collected in all patients and controls. BAL was obtained in COPD patients, and ET-1 levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in all plasma and BALF samples. Results: Plasma ET-1 levels were 2.46 ± 0.55 and 1.70 ± 0.42 pmol/dl in patients with COPD and controls, respectively (p < 0.0001). Sixteen of the 22 patients with COPD (73%) had PH established by echocardiography. The ET-1 level in these patients amounted to 2.59 ± 0.50 pmol/dl, and it was 2.10 ± 0.54 pmol/dl in 6 patients with COPD without PH. In COPD patients with and without PH, BALF ET-1 levels were 0.19 ± 0.08 and 0.24 ± 0.01 pmol/dl, respectively (p > 0.05). Conclusions: These results suggest that ET-1 is detectable in both the peripheral blood and BALF of COPD patients, but the levels do not statistically differ between patients with and without PH.

The efficacy of telmisartan compared with perindopril in patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension.

In this study, efficacy of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker telmisartan given as monotherapy was compared with that of perindopril monotherapy in patients with mild‐to‐moderate hypertension. After a 2‐week, single‐blind, placebo run‐in period, 60 patients were randomised to double‐blind, once‐daily treatment with telmisartan 80 mg or perindopril 4 mg for 6 weeks. Clinic and ambulatory blood pressure measurements and clinical laboratory evaluation were performed at the end of the placebo run‐in and active treatment phases. Both telmisartan and perindopril significantly (p < 0.0001) reduced clinic systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) compared with baseline values. Also, both drugs significantly (p < 0.0001) reduced 24‐h mean ambulatory SBP and DBP compared with baseline. Comparison of the mean hourly antihypertensive activities showed that the reduction in mean ambulatory DBP for the last 8 h of the dosing interval was significantly greater (p < 0.05) in telmisartan‐treated patients. A 24‐h mean DBP of <85 mmHg was observed in 66.6% of the telmisartan‐treated patients but in only 46.6% of the perindopril‐treated patients (p < 0.05). It is concluded that telmisartan and perindopril both produce significant reductions in clinic SBP and DBP, but the mean reduction in ambulatory DBP during the last 8 h of the dosing interval is greater in patients treated with telmisartan.

Two cases of cardiac cyst hydatid with right and left ventricular involvement.

Cardiac cyst hydatic is a rare disease. Two cases with left and right ventricular involvement are presented that demonstrate the use of echocardiography in the diagnosis and during follow up of the disease.

A giant inferoposterior true aneurysm of the left ventricle mimicking a pseudoaneurysm

A left ventricular aneurysm (LVA) is most commonly the result of myocardial infarction, usually involving the anterior wall. A left ventricular pseudoaneurysm (LVPSA) or false aneurysm forms when cardiac rupture is contained by adherent pericardium or scar tissue. The accurate diagnosis, although difficult to establish, is an important one to make because these aneurysms are prone to rupture. In this article, we report a challenging case of a cardiac aneurysm a year after a coronary bypass operation which could not be definitively diagnosed despite of imaging with different techniques including echocardiography, coronary angiography, left ventriculography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The patient underwent a second cardiac surgery, the aneurysm was resected, the mitral valve was replaced and the defect in the ventricular wall was repaired. Because of the combined diagnostic capabilities like detailed and functional pathoanatomy and aneurysmal wall characterization, MRI seems to have multiple advantages in differential diagnosis.

Ruptured aneurysm of sinus of valsalva with ventricular septal defect: the role of transesophageal echocardiography in diagnosis

We present a case of ruptured aneurysm of sinus of valsalva (ASV) along with subaortic ventricular septal defect (VSD). Transesophageal echocardiographic examination in addition to transthoracic echocardiography provides more powerful information about ASVs and coexistent cardiac malformations. This may be additional value for the cardiac surgeon planning resection of the lesion.

Relationship Between Echocardiographic Determinants of Left Atrial Spontaneous Echo Contrast and Thrombus Formation in Patients with Rheumatic Mitral Valve Disease.

Spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) may be detected by ultrasonography in environments favoring blood stasis. It is most commonly seen through the use of transesophageal echocardiography in the left atrium of patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease especially in the presence of atrial fibrillation. We studied the predictors of SEC, such as cardiac rhythm, left atrium and left atrial appendage functions, and mitral and pulmonary vein flow parameters, in patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease. The relationship between these parameters and the severity of SEC and appearance of thrombus was evaluated.

Paraoesophageal hiatal hernia as a rare cause of dyspnoea

A 76 year old woman was admitted to our cardiology clinic with a history of dyspnoea on exertion and palpitation over a period of several months. Irregular …

Two different pentalogies in an adult patient: a pentalogy of Cantrell associated with a pentalogy of Fallot

Pentalogy of Cantrell is a rare syndrome characterized by defects involving the abdominal wall, lower sternum, diaphragm, pericardium, as well as congenital cardiac anomalies. Tetralogy of Fallot is a cardiac anomaly consisting of a ventricular septal defect (VSD), dextroposition of the aorta, obstruction to the pulmonary blood flow, and right ventricular (RV) hypertrophy. Addition of atrial septal defect (ASD) to these anomalies is called pentalogy …