Milorad Tesic

Regional difference of microcirculation in patients with asymmetric hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: transthoracic Doppler coronary flow velocity reserve analysis.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate, by noninvasive coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR), whether patients with asymmetric hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC), with or without left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, demonstrate significant regional differences of CFVR. METHODS We evaluated 61 patients with HC (27 men; mean age 49 ± 16 years), including 20 patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) and 41 patients without obstruction (HCM). The control group included 20 age- and sex-matched subjects. Transthoracic Doppler echocardiography CFVR of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) and the posterior descending coronary artery (PD) were performed, including calculation of relative CFVR as the ratio between CFVR LAD and CFVR PD. RESULTS Compared with the controls, all the patients with HC had lower CFVR LAD (2.12 ± 0.53 vs 3.34 ± 0.67; P < .001) and CFVR PD (2.29 ± 0.49 vs 3.21 ± 0.65; P < .001). CFVR LAD in HOCM group in comparison with the HCM group was significantly lower (1.93 ± 0.42 vs 2.22 ± 0.55; P = .047), due to higher basal diastolic coronary flow velocities (0.40 ± 0.09 vs 0.33 ± 0.07 m/sec; P = .002), with similar hyperemic diastolic flow velocities (0.71 ± 0.16 vs 0.76 ± 0.19 m/sec; P = .330), respectively. There was no significant difference in CFVR PD between patients with HOCM and those with HCM (2.33 ± 0.46 vs 2.27 ± 0.50; P = .636), respectively. Relative CFVR was lower in the HOCM group compared with the HCM group (0.84 ± 0.16 vs 0.98 ± 0.14; P = .001). By multivariable regression analysis, left ventricular outflow tract gradient was the independent predictor of CFVR LAD (B = -0.24; P = .008) and relative CFVR (B = -0.34; P = .016). CONCLUSIONS CFVR LAD and relative CFVR were significantly lower in patients with HOCM compared with patients with HCM. Regional differences of CFVR are present only in patients with significant left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, which suggests that obstruction per se, by increasing wall stress in basal conditions, leads to higher basal diastolic coronary flow velocities and results in lower CFVR in LAD compared with PD.

Predictors of diabetic cardiomyopathy in asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes

Jelena P. Seferovic Mitrovic , Petar M. Seferovic ⁎, Bosiljka Vujisic Tesic , Milan Petrovic , Arsen D. Ristic , Katarina Lalic , Aleksandra Jotic , Milorad Tesic , Vojislav Giga , Natasa Milic , Sandra Singh , Nebojsa M. Lalic a,d a Clinic for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia b Clinic of Cardiology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia c Institute for medical statistics and informatics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia d Belgrade University Faculty of Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia

Prediction of Myocardial Functional Recovery by Noninvasive Evaluation of Basal and Hyperemic Coronary Flow in Patients with Previous Myocardial Infarction

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation of basal and hyperemic coronary flow with myocardial functional improvement in patients with previous myocardial infarction undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS Coronary flow was measured using transthoracic Doppler echocardiography in 50 patients (41 men; mean age, 53 ± 8 years) with previous myocardial infarction before, 24 hours, and 3 months after elective PCI. Diastolic deceleration time (DDT) was measured from the peak diastolic velocity to the point of intercept of initial decay slope with baseline. Coronary flow reserve (CFR) was calculated as the ratio of hyperemic to basal peak diastolic flow velocities. RESULTS In comparison with patients without improvements in left ventricular function, patients with recovered left ventricular function had longer DDTs before angioplasty (841 ± 286 vs. 435 ± 80 msec, P < .001). CFR was significantly higher in recovered compared with nonrecovered patients (2.60 ± 0.70 vs. 2.16 ± 0.34, P = .034) 24 hours after PCI. Global and regional wall motion scores before PCI, end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes, and CFR 24 hours after PCI and DDT before PCI were univariate predictors of left ventricular functional recovery. By multivariate analysis, DDT and regional wall motion score before PCI were independent predictors of left ventricular recovery in the follow-up period (P = .003 and P = .007, respectively). CONCLUSIONS In patients with previous myocardial infarction undergoing elective PCI, evaluation of basal coronary flow pattern and measurement of DDT before angioplasty may predict functional improvement of myocardium in the follow-up period and could be useful quantitative parameters in the evaluation of potential improvement in myocardial function.

Structural myocardial alterations in diabetes and hypertension: the role of galectin-3.

Abstract Background: Galectin-3 is a protein widely distributed in the heart, brain and blood vessels, and has a regulatory role in inflammation, immunology and cancer. Many studies demonstrated that the increased level of galectin-3 is associated with progressive fibrosis and stiffening of the myocardium. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of galectin-3 in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and/or arterial hypertension (HT). Methods: Study population included 189 patients, with no coronary artery disease, divided into three groups: group 1 (T2D), group 2 (T2D+HT), and group 3 (HT). All subjects underwent routine laboratory tests, as well as specific biomarkers assessment [galectin-3, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), N- terminal fragment B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP)]. Cardiological evaluation included physical examination, transthoracic tissue Doppler echocardiography and stress echocardiography. Results: The results of this study demonstrated significantly increased levels of galectin-3, blood glucose, and HbA1c in group 2. Also, echocardiographicaly, left ventricular (LV) diameters and IVS thickness were increased in this group of patients. Furthermore, in the same cohort a positive correlation between galectin-3 and NT-pro BNP, and galectin-3 and LV mass were demonstrated. In addition, a negative correlation between galectin-3 and LV end-diastolic diameter was revealed. Conclusions: This study revealed that levels of galectin-3 were higher in patients with both T2D and HT, and correlated with LV mass, indicating the potential role of this biomarker for early detection of myocardial structural and functional alterations.

Prognostic role of stress echocardiography in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: The International Stress Echo Registry.

BACKGROUND Stress echo (SE) may have a role in the outcome in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). OBJECTIVES The aim was to assess the prognostic value of SE in a retrospective multicenter study in HCM. METHODS We enrolled 706 HCM patients. The employed stress was exercise (n=608) and/or vasodilator (n=146, dipyridamole in 98 and adenosine in 48). We defined SE positivity according to clinical/hemodynamic criteria including: symptoms (all stress modalities), exercise-induced hypotension (failure to increase or fall >20mmHg, exercise) and exercise-induced left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (left ventricular outflow tract obstruction >50mmHg); and ischemic criteria, such as new wall motion abnormalities (new wall motion abnormality) and/or reduction of coronary flow reserve velocity (CFVR≤2.0) on left anterior descending coronary artery with vasodilator stress assessed in 116 patients. All patients completed the clinical follow-up. RESULTS Positive SE showed more frequently CFVR reduction, exercise-induced hypotension, left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, and symptoms (38, 23, 20 and 15% respectively), but new wall motion abnormality only in 6%. During a median follow-up of 49months 180 events were observed, including 40 deaths. Clinical/hemodynamic criteria did not predict outcome (X2 0.599, p=0.598), whereas ischemia-related SE criteria (X2: 111.120, p<0.0001) was significantly related to outcome. Similarly, mortality was predicted with SE ischemic-criteria (X2 16.645, p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS SE has an important prognostic significance in HCM patients, with ischemia-related end-points showing greater predictive accuracy than hemodynamic endpoints. New wall motion abnormalities and impairment of CFVR should be specifically included in SE protocols for HCM.

Prognostic role of coronary flow reserve for left ventricular functional improvement after cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy

AIMS The aim of the study was to assess the value of coronary flow reserve (CFR) for predicting improvement of left ventricular function after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). METHODS AND RESULTS Study population included 40 patients (mean age 58 ± 9 years) with heart failure (ejection fraction 25, 7 ± 5, 4%) and QRS duration of 158 ± 22 ms, planned for CRT. Before and after CRT implantation, CFR was measured non-invasively during hyperaemia induced with adenosine. Responders were defined by decrease in end-systolic volume ≥15%. Follow-up echocardiography and CFR measurements were obtained after 6 months. At baseline there was no significant difference in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), QRS duration, 6 min walk test distance and coronary flow velocity at rest between responder (n = 26) vs. non-responder group (n = 14, P = ns). Before CRT implantation, responders compared with non-responders, showed a greater increase in coronary flow velocity during hyperaemia, and consequently higher CFR: 2.41 ± 0.60 vs. 1.61 ± 0.45 (P = 0.001). There was significant correlation between CFR before CRT implantation and LVEF after 6 months (r = 0.545, P = 0.001). End-diastolic, end-systolic left ventricular diameter, and CFR before CRT were predictors of LV functional improvement. By multivariate analysis, only CFR before CRT was independent predictor of left ventricular recovery in the follow-up period (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate that preserved CFR in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy is predictive of left ventricular improvement after CRT implantation.

Time-dependent changes of plasma adiponectin concentration in relation to coronary microcirculatory function in patients with acute myocardial infarction treated by primary percutaneous coronary intervention

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE To analyze plasma adiponectin kinetics in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated by primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) and its association with coronary flow reserve (CFR), an index of coronary microcirculatory function. METHODS A total of 96 consecutive patients with the first anterior STEMI treated by pPCI without heart failure were included. CFR was assessed on the 7th day after pPCI. Plasma adiponectin was measured on admission before pPCI, and on the 2nd and 7th day after pPCI. RESULTS Adiponectin concentration was the highest on admission, declined to the lowest level on the 2nd day, and rose on the 7th day remaining below admission values. Impaired coronary microcirculatory function (CFR<2) was observed in 41% of the patients. Adiponectin concentrations significantly positively correlated with CFR, and the strongest correlation was with the 2nd day adiponectin (r=0.489, p<0.001). In multivariate models, adiponectin concentrations were independent predictors of impaired CFR [on admission: odds ratio (OR) 0.175, confidence interval (CI): 0.047-0.654, p=0.010; 2nd day: OR 0.146, 95% CI: 0.044-0.485, p=0.002; 7th day: OR 0.198, CI: 0.064-0.611, p=0.005]. The best power to predict impaired CFR was the 2nd day adiponectin. Delta values of adiponectin (differences between adiponectin concentrations) did not correlate with CFR. CONCLUSIONS In patients with the first anterior STEMI treated by pPCI plasma adiponectin concentrations before and after pPCI are strongly associated with CFR. Our results support the hypothesis that low adiponectin, especially during the early post-pPCI period, carries the risk for impaired coronary microcirculatory function in STEMI patients.

The Use of Intracoronary Sodium Nitroprusside to Treat No-Reflow after Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background:The no-reflow phenomenon is characterized by an inadequate myocardial tissue perfusion in the presence of a patent epicardial coronary artery. The incidence of no-reflow appears to be highest in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in acute myocardial infarction or during PCI of saphenous vein grafts (SVGs). Treatment of no-reflow phenomenon is based on the intracoronary administration of medications that induce vasodilatation in small distal coronary vasculature. Sodium nitroprusside (NTP) is a direct nitric oxide donor and does not require intracellular metabolism to induce vasodilatation in microcirculation.Case Study:Two patients are reported, in whom no-reflow following primary PCI of SVG and native coronary artery was successfully treated with intracoronary NTP. Repeated injections of 50 μg NTP were given selectively distal to the occlusion site utilizing coronary microcatheter (a total NTP dose of 200 μg was given in both cases). Because of the extremely short half-life, the use of intracoronary NTP was easily tolerated by both patients, without causing prolonged or profound hypotension.Conclusion:The authors therefore propose the use of NTP for treatment of no-reflow phenomenon in both vein grafts and native coronary arteries in the setting of acute myocardial infarction.ZusammenfassungHintergrund:Das No-Reflow-Phänomen ist durch eine unzureichende Versorgung des Herzmuskels bei offenen epikardialen Koronararterien gekennzeichnet. Die höchste Inzidenz scheinen Patienten mit primärer perkutaner koronarer Intervention (PCI) bei akutem Myokardinfarkt oder während PCI aortokoronarer Venenbypässe (SVG [„saphenous vein grafts“]) aufzuweisen. Die Behandlung des No-Reflow-Phänomens stützt sich auf die intrakoronare Verabreichung von Medikamenten, welche die kleinen distalen koronaren Gefäße erweitern. Nitroprussidnatrium (NTP), ein direkter Stickoxiddonor, ist hierfür bestens geeignet, da es keinen intrazellulären Stoffwechsel benötigt, um Vasodilatation in der Mikrozirkulation zu bewirken.Fallbericht:Vorgestellt werden zwei Patienten, bei denen ein No-Reflow-Phänomen nach primärer PCI eines Venenbypasses und einer nativen Koronararterie mit intrakoronarer Gabe von NTP erfolgreich behandelt wurde. Wiederholte Injektionen von 50 μg NTP wurden selektiv distal der Okklusion mittels eines koronaren Mikrokatheters verabreicht (NTP-Gesamtdosis in beiden Fällen 200 μg). Aufgrund der extrem kurzen Wirkung wurde die intrakoronare NTP-Gabe gut vertragen und führte zu keiner signifikanten Hypotonie.Schlussfolgerung:Die Autoren schlagen deshalb die Verwendung von NTP zur Behandlung des No-Reflow- Phänomens sowohl in Venenbypässen als auch in nativen Koronararterien bei Patienten mit akutem Myokardinfarkt vor.

Two rare conditions in an Eisenmenger patient: Left main coronary artery compression and Ortner's syndrome due to pulmonary artery dilatation

The left-main coronary artery extrinsic compression due to enlarged pulmonary artery has been described in several case series. Ortners syndrome is also a rare condition in some cardiovascular disorders. There have been no reports about these two rare conditions in the same patient. Hence, we report a very rare case of an Eisenmenger patient with severe pulmonary hypertension and dilated pulmonary artery which has compressed the left main coronary artery, severely narrowing it, and the left laryngeal recurrent nerve with subsequent Ortners syndrome and brief literature review.

Estimation of infarct size using transthoracic Doppler echocardiographic measurement of coronary flow reserve in infarct related and reference coronary artery.

BACKGROUND Patients in chronic phase of myocardial infarction (MI) have decreased coronary flow reserve (CFR) in infarct related artery (IRA) that is proportional to the extent of microvascular/myocardial damage. We proposed a novel model for the assessment of microvascular damage and infarct size using Doppler echocardiography evaluation of CFRs of the IRA (LAD) and reference artery (RCA). METHODS Our study included 34 consecutive patients (28 men, mean age 50 ± 11 years) with first anterior STEMI and single vessel disease successfully treated with primary PCI. All patients underwent SPECT MPI for the assessment of infarct size (expressed as a percentage of myocardium with fixed perfusion abnormalities) and CFR evaluation of LAD and RCA. CFR derived percentage of microvascular damage (CFR PMD) was calculated as: CFR PMD=(CFR RCA-CFR LAD)/(CFR RCA-1)×100 (%). RESULTS CFR PMD correlated significantly with all parameters evaluating the severity of myocardial damage including: peak CK activity (r=0.632, p<0.001), WMSI (r=0.857, p<0.001), ejection fraction (r=-0.820, p<0.001), left ventricular end diastolic (r=0.757, p<0.001) and end systolic volume (r=0.794, p<0.001). Most importantly, CFR PMD (22 ± 17%) correlated significantly with infarct size by SPECT MPI (21 ± 17%) (r=0.874, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS CFR PMD derived from the proposed model was significantly related to echocardiographic and enzymatic parameters of infarct size, as well as to myocardial damage assessed by SPECT MPI in patients with successfully reperfused first anterior STEMI.