Moritoshi Funasako

Pronounced Shortening of QT Interval With Mexiletine Infusion Test in Patients With Type 3 Congenital Long QT Syndrome

BACKGROUND Mexiletine is often used for medical therapy in LQT3 patients, however, the usefulness of mexiletine infusion test for LQT3 patients has not been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of mexiletine infusion test for detecting LQT3 patients. METHODSANDRESULTS We analyzed response in 12-lead electrocardiogram parameters measured in II or V5 to i.v. mexiletine infusion (2 mg/kg) during sinus rhythm among 31 genotype-positive LQT patients (29 ± 18 years, 12 male). Change in QTc interval after mexiletine was compared between LQT3 (n=15, 24 ± 21 years, 9 male) and other LQT patients (4 LQT1 and 12 LQT2; 34 ± 14 years, 3 male). Baseline RR, QT, and QTc interval were not different between the 2 groups (981 ± 182 vs. 1,023 ± 192 ms; 550 ± 94 vs. 524 ± 75 ms; 556 ± 66 vs. 520 ± 62 ms, respectively). While QTc interval was shortened with mexiletine in both groups (P<0.0001 vs. baseline), degree of QTc shortening (∆QTc) was significantly larger in LQT3 than in LQT1/LQT2 patients (99 ± 39 vs. 48 ± 32 ms; P=0.0004). The sensitivity, specificity and predictive accuracy of mexiletine infusion test for differentiating LQT3 from LQT1/LQT2 were 86.7%, 81.3% and 81.3%, respectively, and the optimal cut-off for ∆QTc was 69 ms on receiver operating characteristic analysis. No pro-arrhythmic event was observed. CONCLUSIONS Pronounced shortening of QT interval with mexiletine may facilitate genetic testing in patients with LQT3 syndrome.

LIVING ALONE OR LIVING ONLY WITH AN ELDERLY SPOUSE IS AN INDEPENDENT PREDICTOR OF HOSPITAL READMISSION IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH DECOMPENSATED HEART FAILURE

The number of elderly patients with decompensated heart failure (HF) is increasing. We investigated the relation between hospital readmission and elderly people with HF who were living alone or living only with an elderly spouse and who were thought to have difficulty with self-care, such as fluid

Eosinophilia associated with dobutamine allergy causes eosinophilic endomyocarditis confirmed by serial endomyocardial biopsies

We report a case of eosinophilic endomyocarditis caused by eosinophilia due to dobutamine allergy and successfully treated by a short-term and medium-dose steroid administration. Serial endomyocardial biopsies were useful for early diagnosis and evaluation of the effect of the treatment. Eosinophilic endomyocarditis due to dobutamine allergy is a rare entity; however, because of the high utilization rate of dobutamine in patients with low output heart failure, it is important to recognize that additional deterioration of cardiac function caused by eosinophilic endomyocarditis makes prognosis poor and early intervention is necessary. <Learning objective: Eosinophilic endomyocarditis due to dobutamine allergy is a rare entity; however, because of the high utilization rate of dobutamine in patients with low output heart failure, it is important to recognize that additional deterioration of cardiac function caused by eosinophilic endomyocarditis makes their prognosis poor and early intervention is necessary. Serial endomyocardial biopsies were useful for early diagnosis and evaluation of the effect of the treatment.>.

Two Cases of Reversible Left Ventricular Wall Thickening with Takotsubo Syndrome Sequentially Detected by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Recently, it has been reported that spontaneous left ventricular wall thickening occurs among patients with takotsubo syndrome, which affects the long-term prognosis of such patients due to cerebral and cardiac complications. We herein report two cases of transient left ventricular wall thickening with takotsubo syndrome in which sequential cardiac magnetic resonance imaging revealed the existence of edematous changes in the thickened wall. Notably, a left ventricular aneurysm was detected during the course of ventricular wall thickening and may have played a role in the development of serious complications accompanied by takotsubo syndrome. This is the first case report of left ventricular aneurysm occurring with ventricular wall thickening due to takotsubo syndrome.

Platypnea-orthodeoxia Syndrome Diagnosed Using Contrast Transesophageal Echocardiography with Simultaneous SpO2 Monitoring.

Platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome (POS) is a rare condition characterized by interatrial right-to-left shunting that is exacerbated in the upright position. We herein report a 78-year-old woman with POS that remained undiagnosed for 2 years, despite repetitive transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). POS was ultimately diagnosed using contrast transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), which revealed a marked increase in right-to-left shunting in the sitting position, associated with simultaneous desaturation. Therefore, we propose that POS should be considered according to the clinical symptoms, regardless of the repetitive TTE results, and contrast TEE should be performed in both the supine and sitting positions to exclude a diagnosis of POS.