Fethi Yavuz

Relationship between mean platelet volume and atrial thrombus in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Platelets and clotting cascade play a major role in development of atrial thrombus in patients with atrial fibrillation. The mean platelet volume (MPV) reflects platelet size and is considered a marker and determinant of platelet function because larger platelets are hemostatically more reactive than platelets of normal size, increasing the propensity to thrombosis. We have investigated the relationship between MPV and left atrial thrombus in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation. A total of 205 consecutive patients (men: 67.3%, women: 32.7%; mean age: 62.3 ± 12.8) who had persistent atrial fibrillation, undergone transesophageal and transthoracic echocardiography. Study individuals were divided into two groups. Group 1 (n: 96, 46.8%): atrial fibrillation complicated with atrial thrombus and group 2 (n: 109, 53.2%): atrial fibrillation free of thrombus, which was identified by means of transesophageal echocardiogram. The MPV, platelet distribution weight, and platelet count were measured. There was no difference in terms of MPV, platelet distribution weight, and platelet count in two groups. MPV was not correlated with thrombus and spontaneous echo contrast. Left atrial thrombus was included in multivariate logistic regression analysis and only low ejection fraction was a predictor of left atrial thrombus (P = 0.04). This is first report showing that MPV is not related with left atrial thrombus in patients with atrial fibrillation. According to our result, MPV cannot be considered as an index of left atrial thrombus in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Mean platelet volume in functional and thrombotic prosthetic mitral valve.

The mean platelet volume (MPV) values reflect platelet size and are accepted as marker of platelet activation. We sought to test the hypothesis that platelet activation occurs independently from presence or absence of thrombus in prosthetic mitral valve. A total of 168 patients were included in the study. Study participants were divided in three groups: group 1 (n = 62) – patients with normal prosthetic mitral valve; group 2 (n = 37) – patients with prosthetic mitral valve thrombosis; and group 3 (n = 69) – healthy individuals. MPV values were significantly higher in normal and thrombotic prosthetic mitral valve patients than in healthy individuals (P = 0.008 and P = 0.01, respectively). MPV values were not different between normal prosthetic mitral valve and thrombotic prosthetic mitral valve. This is the first study indicating that increased MPV is present in normal and thrombotic prosthetic mitral valve, implying that platelet reactivity occurs in prosthetic mitral valve irrespective of development of thrombus formation.

Isolated invasive endomyocardial cystic echinococcosis presenting with heart failure.

Cardiac cystic echinococcosis is a rarely encountered parasitic infestation caused by Echinococcus granulasus larvae. Cystic echinococcosis hydatid composes 0.5–2% of all human cystic echinococcosis cases. Isolated cardiac involvement is very rare. Cardiac cystic echinococcosis hydatid generally accompanies another organ involvement, however, it might be isolated as in the present case and although rare and it can cause heart failure. We present a case of isolated apical cardiac cystic echinococcosis hydatid which leads to heart failure.

Evaluation of early subclinical cardiotoxicity of chemotherapy in breast cancer.

Objective: Cardiac effects of chemotherapy are usually recognized after clinical symptom or sign occurrence in patients with breast cancer. In this study, we aimed to determine the potential subclinical cardiotoxic effects of chemotherapy that were given lower dosage than well known cardiac safety dosage limits in patients with breast cancer during early period. Methods: Fifty-one patients consecutively enrolled to this prospective cohort study. All patients were diagnosed as breast cancer at oncology hospital in University of Gaziantep. Before chemotherapy, all of the patients underwent to detailed ECG and echocardiography (ECHO) examinations. After 6 months, detailed ECG and ECHO examinations were repeated and compared with baseline values. Statistical analysis was performed using Shapiro-Wilk tests, Student t-test and Spearman correlation test. Results: The average age of patients was 51 and one was male. Statistically significant decrease in ejection fraction was found after treatment (62.3%±3.3 and 59.9%±5.9, p=0.002). Evaluation of diastolic parameters; significant increase in the transmitral A flow velocity and significant decrease of E/A ratio were observed on Doppler ECHO analysis (77.4±19.1 cm/sec versus 86±18 cm/sec, p<0.001; 1.01±0.3 versus 0.9±0.2, p=0.03, respectively). On tissue Doppler analysis we observed that significant reduction in the value of E’ and significantly increase E/E’ ratio were present (12.5±3.6 cm/sec versus 10.7±2.9 cm/sec, p=0.001; 6.6±2.9 versus 7.7±3.3, p=0.04, respectively). Conclusion: Chemotherapy has detrimental subclinical effect on both of systolic and diastolic function in early six months period despite the prescription of lower dosage of chemotherapy than well-known cardiac safety dosage limits. Tissue Doppler imaging may be more sensitive than ECG, conventional ECHO and Doppler for determining the subclinical cardiac damage.

Neopterin as a novel marker; well correlated with mortality and morbidity in patients with advanced systolic heart failure

Abstract Objective: The aim of this study is research relation of serum neopterin level with mortality and morbidity due to systolic HF and also its role in diagnosis of patients with systolic HF. Material and methods: Eighty-one patients with systolic heart failure (HF group) and eighty-one age- and gender-matched healthy subjects (the control group) were enrolled in the study. Echocardiographic examination was performed accordingly. At the beginning of the study, serum B type natriuretic peptide (BNP), neopterin, and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were measured accordingly. The subjects were followed for one year then after. Mortality rate and number of hospitalisation due to HF were recorded. Results: Age and gender distribution over the groups were statistically similar (p > .05). LVEF of the control and HF groups were 62 ± 3 and 27 ± 3%, respectively (p < .001). Average neopterin value of HF group was significantly higher than that of the control group (p < .001). Both hs-CRP and BNP values were well correlated to neopterin values (p = .667 and .778, respectively). There was a significant correlation between number of hospitalisation and neopterin values among patients in HF group (p = .008). Also among HF group, neopterin value of patients died within first year of follow-up (n = 29) was higher than that of patients survived beyond first year (n = 52 and p = .011). Conclusions: Neopterin is a biomarker reflecting ongoing inflammatory process in deteriorating heart. High level of serum neopterin concentrations was associated with mortality and morbidity in systolic HF.

Clinical, Laboratory and Echocardiographic Features of Patients with Pericardial Effusion in Gaziantep Regions

PP-086 Pericardial effusion (PE) is called that increase in the amount of fluid between the pericardium surrounding the heart. PE may be due to primary pericardial diseases, or associated with different clinical situations such as malignancy, chronic renal failure, cardiovascular diseases,

Impact of Rheumatic Mitral Stenosis on Aortic Elastic Properties

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY Although mitral stenosis has profound effects on the circulation and hemodynamics, few data exist regarding its impact on aortic elastic properties. The study aim was to determine the association between mitral stenosis and aortic elastic properties by using strain and distensibility as a surrogate. METHODS Sixty-six patients with echocardiographic documentation of rheumatic mitral stenosis, and 25 age- and gender-matched healthy control subjects were enrolled in the study. Aortic elasticity parameters including strain and distensibility were measured by means of echocardiography. RESULTS The mean age of the patient and control groups were 41.8 +/- 12.0 and 38.9 +/- 5.0 years, respectively (p = 0.12). There was a significant impairment in distensibility and strain in the patient group compared to controls (0.276 +/- 0.167 versus 0.491 +/- 0.260 cm2 x dyn(-1), p = 0.001; 6.54 +/- 3.18% versus 9.19 +/- 4.78%, p = 0.015). There was a strong correlation between distensibility and left atrial diameter (p < 0.001; r = -0.39), left atrial volume index (p < 0.001; r = -0.56), mitral valve area (p < 0.001; r = 0.40), and mean transmitral gradient (p = 0.022; r = -0.18). Strain was also associated with left atrial diameter (p = 0.002; r = -0.32), left atrial volume index (p < 0.001; r = -0.41), mitral valve area (p = 0.002; r = 0.31), and mean transmitral gradient (p = 0.035; r = -0.18). CONCLUSION Mitral stenosis was shown to be associated with impaired aortic elasticity, but further studies are required to clarify the clinical significance of this finding.

Clinical, laboratory, and echocardiographic features of patients with pericardial effusion in Gaziantep region -

Pericardial effusion (PE) is called that increase in the amount of fluid between the pericardium surrounding the heart. PE may be due to primary pericardial diseases, or associated with different clinical situations such as malignancy, chronic renal failure, cardiovascular diseases, infectious diseases. In our study, patients with PE present in the Gaziantep region to evaluate the clinical characteristics and treatment. 132 patients, having PE on transthoracic echocardiography, admitted to the cardiology clinic between January 2010 and January 2011, were retrospectively reviewed data. Background, echocardiography, laboratory findings, and treatment of the patients were recorded. The average age of the patients was 51 ± 17 (17-86) year. It was observed with equal frequency in males and females (66/66). The most common primary complaint of patients with PE were dispne(73.5%). Mild PE (

Rare complication of permanent pacemaker: protrusion of the battery connected to the pacemaker pocket infection -

Pacemaker pocket infection will recently increasingly be seen as a problem related to expanding range of indications of the permanent pacemaker, cardiac resynchronization therapy, implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Seventy-four-year-old male patient with ICD implanted in 2008 due to ischemic cardiomyopathy, who had the pacemaker battery protruding from the skin after pacemaker pocket infection. After 4 weeks of antibiotic therapy, all pacemaker equipment removed by surgery. Pacemaker pocket infection developed more frequently in the presence of risk factors, needs long-term use of antibiotics, and surgical treatment as complicated.

Recurrent atrial septal defect device mobile thrombus in a patient with heart failure presenting with embolic stroke and decompensation

A 47-year-old man presented with acute stroke and decompensation. His medical history consisted of ischaemic cardiomyopathy diagnosed 3 years ago and secundum atrial septal defect that had been closed with an Amplatzer occluder device 2 years ago. He has a history of thrombus formation on both …