Mai Iwataki

Prognostic value of LA volumes assessed by transthoracic 3D echocardiography: comparison with 2D echocardiography.

OBJECTIVES The hypothesis of this study was that minimal left atrial volume index (LAVImin) by 3-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) is the best predictor of future cardiovascular events. BACKGROUND Although maximal left atrial volume index (LAVImax) by 2-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) is a robust index for predicting prognosis, the prognostic value of LAVImin and the superiority of measurements by 3DE over 2DE have not been determined in a large group of patients. METHODS In protocol 1, we assessed age and sex dependency of LAVIs using 2DE and 3DE in 124 normal subjects and determined their cutoff values (mean + 2 SD). In protocol 2, 2-dimensional (2D) and 3-dimensional (3D) LAVImax/LAVImin were measured in 556 patients with high prevalence of cardiovascular disease. After excluding patients with atrial fibrillation, mitral valve disease, and age <18 years, 439 subjects were followed to record major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Patients were divided into 2 groups by the cutoff criteria of LAVI in each method. RESULTS In protocol 1, there was no significant age and sex dependency for each 2D and 3D LAVI. In protocol 2, during a mean of 2.5 years of follow-up, MACE developed in 88 patients, including 32 cardiac deaths. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses showed that all 4 LAVI cutoff criteria had significant predictive power of MACE. After variables were adjusted for clinical variables and left ventricular ejection fraction, all 4 methods were still independently and significantly associated with MACE, but 3D-derived LAVImin had the highest risk ratio. 3D LAVImin also had an incremental prognostic value over 3D LAVImax. CONCLUSIONS LAVIs by both 2DE and 3DE are powerful predictors of future cardiac events. 3D LAVImin tended to have a stronger and additive prognostic value than 3D LAVImax.

Calcific extension towards the mitral valve causes non-rheumatic mitral stenosis in degenerative aortic stenosis: real-time 3D transoesophageal echocardiography study

Objective Mitral annular/leaflet calcification (MALC) is frequently observed in patients with degenerative aortic stenosis (AS). However, the impact of MALC on mitral valve function has not been established. We aimed to investigate whether MALC reduces mitral annular area and restricts leaflet opening, resulting in non-rheumatic mitral stenosis. Methods Real-time three-dimensional transoesophageal images of the mitral valve were acquired in 101 patients with degenerative AS and 26 control participants. The outer and inner borders of the mitral annular area (MAA) and the maximal leaflet opening angle were measured at early diastole. The mitral valve area (MVA) was calculated as the left ventricular stroke volume divided by the velocity time integral of the transmitral flow velocity. Results Although the outer MAA was significantly larger in patients with AS compared to control participants (8.2±1.3 vs 7.3±0.9 cm2, p<0.001), the inner MAA was significantly smaller (4.5±1.1 vs 5.9±0.9 cm2, p<0.001), resulting in an average decrease of 45% in the effective MAA. The maximal anterior and posterior leaflet opening angle was also significantly smaller in patients with AS (64±10 vs 72±8°, p<0.001, 71±12 vs 87±7°, p<0.001). Thus, MVA was significantly smaller in patients with AS (2.5±1.0 vs 3.8±0.8 cm2, p<0.001). Twenty-four (24%) patients with AS showed MVA <1.5 cm2. Multivariate regression analysis including parameters for mitral valve geometry revealed that a decrease in effective MAA and a reduced posterior leaflet opening angle were independent predictors for MVA. Conclusions Calcific extension to the mitral valve in patients with AS reduced effective MAA and the leaflet opening, resulting in a significant non-rheumatic mitral stenosis in one-fourth of the patients.

Immediate Amelioration of Mechanical Pulsus Alternans by Adaptive Servo-ventilation Therapy

echanical pulsus alternans is sometimes seen inpatients with severe heart failure. This case reportdescribes a patient with medically refractory acute heartfailure due to severe left ventricular (LV) systolic dys-function withpulsusalternans,whereshort-termadaptiveservo-ventilation (ASV)therapyimmediatelyamelioratedthe mechanical pulsus alternans.A 52 year-old male was admitted to the hospitaldue to progressive exertional dyspnoea. Auscultationof the chest revealed fine crackles over both lungs.An S3 gallop rhythm and a grade 2/6 of pansystolicmurmur were audible at the apex. His blood pres-sure was 110/70mmHg and heart rate was 120bpm.Chest X ray showed cardiomegaly with bilateral pul-monary congestion. The electrocardiogram showed sinustachycardia with normal QRS duration. Blood exami-nation on admission revealed remarkable elevation inthe serum level of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) of1740 pg/dl (<18.4pg/ml). Echocardiography showed aseverely dilated left ventricle (LV) with an ejection frac-tion of 15% (Movie 1). Estimated systolic pulmonaryartery pressure from tricuspid regurgitation velocity was64 mmHg. Initial treatment with angiotensin II recep-tor blockers, intravenous diuretics, and carperitide failedto provide a favourable response. Subsequently, intra-venous phosphodiesterase III inhibitor for three daysdid not improve his condition. Radial pulse revealedalternating strong and weak beats, indicating mechanicalpulsus alternans. Repeated echocardiography demon-strated alternating pulsed Doppler flow velocities acrossthe LV outflow tract (LVOT) with no significant change ofLV size and systolic function compared to the previousstudy (Fig. 1). Although oxygen saturation was preservedby