Mauro Sturiale

ST-segment elevation and diminution of prostate-specific antigen in a patient with coronary spasm and without significant coronary stenoses

Many patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) had no culprit lesion. Coronary spasm is a frequent cause of ACS and should regularly be considered as a differential diagnosis. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is an established marker for detection of prostate cancer. Both elevated as well as diminished PSA have been reported during acute myocardial infarction(AMI) and our preliminary observations have concluded that when elevation of PSA occurs during AMI, coronary lesions are frequent and often more severe than when a diminution of PSA occurs. Moreover, our preliminary observations have concluded also that when elevation of prostate-specific antigen occurs during AMI, it seems to relate to a higher occurrence of major adverse cardiac events in the first 8 days after AMI than when a diminution of PSA occurs. We present a case of ST-segment elevation in a patient with diminution of PSA, coronary spasm and without significant coronary stenoses. Our report extends the evaluation of PSA during ACS.

Changing axis deviation during atrial fibrillation

Changing axis deviation has been reported also during atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. Changing axis deviation has been also reported during acute myocardial infarction associated with atrial fibrillation too or at the end of atrial fibrillation during acute myocardial infarction. We present a case of changing axis deviation during atrial fibrillation in a 63-year-old Italian woman. Also this case focuses attention on changing axis deviation.

Changing axis deviation and acute myocardial infarction

Changing axis deviation has been rarely reported also during atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. Changing axis deviation has been also rarely reported during acute myocardial infarction associated with atrial fibrillation too or at the end of atrial fibrillation during acute myocardial infarction. We present a case of changing axis deviation in a 77-year-old Italian woman admitted to the Cardiology Unit with an acute myocardial infarction. Also this case focuses attention on changing axis deviation and acute myocardial infarction.

Acute myocardial infarction and left bundle branch block with changing axis deviation

Changing axis deviation has been reported also during atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. Changing axis deviation has been also reported during acute myocardial infarction associated with atrial fibrillation too or at the end of atrial fibrillation during acute myocardial infarction. Left bundle branch block is usually associated with normal or left axis deviation. Rarely the ECG shows a LBBB with changing QRS morphology and changing axis deviation. There are several possible explanations for the intermittent shift in the QRS axis in the presence of complete left bundle branch block. The most plausible explanation is the coexistence of left posterior hemiblock and predivisional left bundle branch block. We present a case of a left bundle branch block with changing axis deviation in a 93-year-old Italian woman admitted to the Cardiology Unit with an acute myocardial infarction.

Atrial flutter, ventricular tachycardia and changing axis deviation associated with scleroderma

Rhythm disturbances have been described in immunological and connective diseases. Scleroderma is a fibrotic condition characterized by immunological abnormalities, vascular injury and increased accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins. The heart is one of the major organs involved in scleroderma, the involvement of which can be manifested by myocardial disease, conduction system abnormalities, arrhythmias, or pericardial disease. Additionally, scleroderma renal crisis and pulmonary hypertension lead to significant cardiac dysfunction secondary to damage in the kidney and lung. Changing axis deviation has been reported also during atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. Changing axis deviation has been also reported during acute myocardial infarction associated with atrial fibrillation too or at the end of atrial fibrillation during acute myocardial infarction. We present a case of atrial flutter, ventricular tachycardia and changing axis deviation in a 61-year-old Italian woman with scleroderma. This case focuses attention on changing axis deviation and on the presentation of arrhythmias in scleroderma. The underlying arrhythmogenic mechanisms are probably multiple and intriguing, even though the myocardial fibrosis and immunological autoantibody-mediated mechanisms seem to play a pivotal role.

Changing axis deviation and intermittent right bundle branch block during acute myocardial infarction

Dissimilar electrocardiographic patterns associated with right bundle branch block have been described. The prognosis of right bundle branch block in the absence of underlying cardiac disease is good but it may be poor in other cases, particularly coronary artery disease. Changing bundle branch block, new right bundle branch block, right bundle branch conduction disturbances have been reported in literature. Changing axis deviation has been reported alone or during acute myocardial infarction also associated with atrial fibrillation. Intermittent right axis deviation has been rarely reported in the presence of left bundle branch block also during atrial fibrillation and with acute myocardial infarction too. Isolated left posterior hemiblock is a very rare finding and transient right axis deviation associated with a left posterior hemiblock pattern has been also rarely described associated with acute myocardial infarction. We describe a case of changing axis deviation with intermittent right bundle branch block in a patient admitted with acute myocardial infarction. Also this case focuses attention on changing axis deviation and intermittent right bundle branch block during acute myocardial infarction.

Significant coronary artery disease associated with coronary artery aneurysm and elevation of prostate-specific antigen during acute myocardial infarction

Coronary artery aneurysms are defined as coronary dilatations which exceed the diameter of normal adjacent segments by 1.5 times. Although more commonly associated with atherosclerosis, a variety of other acquired (eg, inflammatory, infectious, iatrogenic) or congenital causes have been identified that lead to impaired vessel media. A number of complications have been reported to occur during the course of the disease including thrombosis and distal embolization, myocardial ischemia and/or infarction, dissection, vasospasm, calcification, fistulization and rupture. Other complications relate to the size of the aneurysm and compression of adjacent structures. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is an established marker for detection of prostate cancer. Elevation of prostate-specific antigen as well as its diminution during acute myocardial infarction has also been reported. It seems that when elevation of prostate-specific antigen occurs during acute myocardial infarction, coronary lesions are frequent and often more severe than when diminution of prostate-specific antigen occurs. PSA has been identified as a member of the human kallikrein family of serine proteases. In recent years, numerous observations have suggested that the activity of the kallikrein-kinin system is related to inflammation and to cardiovascular diseases. We present a case of elevation of serum PSA concentration during acute myocardial infarction in a 64-year-old Italian man with significant coronary artery disease and coronary artery aneurysm. Also this case confirms previous findings and extends the evaluation of PSA during acute myocardial infarction. It confirms a possible new intriguing scenario of the role of the prostate-specific antigen in acute myocardial infarction.

Myocarditis and cardiomyopathy HIV associated

Heart muscle involvement associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection may present as myocarditis, dilated cardiomyopathy or as isolated left or right ventricular dysfunction. Histopathological and ultra structural findings with different degrees of cardiac-chamber dilation have been described and an important role of the cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 (IL-1) and IL-6 has been suggested. We present a case of myocarditis in a 47-year-old woman with HIV associated cardiomyopathy, focussing attention on heart muscle involvement in HIV disease.

Treatment failure of low molecular weight heparin bridging therapy before a cardiac surgery intervention in a patient with atrial fibrillation.

From time to time, it may be necessary to interrupt oral anticoagulant therapy in preparation for surgical procedures. In high-risk patients or for longer periods, unfractionated or low-molecular-weight heparin bridging treatment has been reported safe. This case focuses attention on treatment failure of low molecular weight heparin bridging therapy in a patient with atrial fibrillation.

Endogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism and cardiovascular system: Time to reconsider?

Subclinical hyperthyroidism is an increasingly recognized entity that is defined as a normal serum free thyroxine and free triiodothyronine levels with a thyroid-stimulating hormone level suppressed below the normal range and usually undetectable. Exogenous sublinical hyperthyroidism is a thyroid metabolic state caused by L-thyroxine administration. Endogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism is a thyroid metabolic state in patients with autonomously functioning thyroid nodule or multinodular goiter, various forms of thyroiditis, in areas with endemic goiter and particularly in elderly subjects. Endogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism is currently the subject of numerous studies and it yet remains controversial particularly as it relates to its treatment and to cardiovascular impact nevertheless established effects have been demonstrated. Recently, acute myocardial infarction without significant coronary stenoses and recurrent acute pulmonary embolism have been reported associated with subclinical hyperthyroidism without L-thyroxine administration. So, it is very important to recognize and to treat promptly also endogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism.