Paul Calafiore

Evidence that patent foramen ovale is not a risk factor for cerebral ischemia in the elderly.

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) may be a risk factor for ischemic stroke in young patients. The aim of this study was to assess the importance of PFO in subjects with a wider age range using patient-control methodology. Transesophageal contrast echocardiography and carotid imaging were performed in 220 consecutive patients with cerebral ischemia (mean age 66 +/- 13 years) and in 202 community-based control subjects (mean age 64 +/- 11 years). Of patients with stroke, 35 (16%) had PFO compared with 31 control subjects (15%) (p = 0.98). Analysis of PFO prevalence by age did not show a significant difference between patients and controls subjects in the age groups < 50 years (27% vs 11%; p = 0.33), 50 to 69 years (17% vs 15%; p = 0.78), and > or = 70 years (12% vs 17%; p = 0.43). However, the group aged < 50 years was relatively small (26 cases, 19 controls). No significant difference in PFO prevalence was detected between patients with cryptogenic stroke (20%), noncryptogenic stroke (14%), and control subjects (15%). These results suggest that PFO is not a risk factor for cerebral ischemia in subjects aged > 50 years, which would have major implications for the investigation and management of stroke patients in this age group. Longitudinal studies are now required to assess the incidence of stroke in symptom-free patients with PFO.

The intraoperative assessment of ascending aortic atheroma : Epiaortic imaging is superior to both transesophageal echocardiography and direct palpation

OBJECTIVES To determine the optimal method for detecting ascending aortic atheroma intraoperatively by comparing manual palpation by the operating surgeon, intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography, and epiaortic ultrasound (linear and phased-array imaging); and to assess risk factors for severe aortic atheroma. DESIGN A longitudinal prospective study. Assessment of the atheroma by manual palpation was blinded to the results of the ultrasound images. SETTING The study was performed in a single university tertiary referral hospital. PARTICIPANTS One hundred consecutive patients undergoing coronary bypass or valve surgery were studied after their written, informed consent. INTERVENTIONS Potential risk factors were evaluated by both a patient questionnaire and examination of prior hospital records. The ascending aorta was assessed by the following methods: manual palpation by the operating surgeon, intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography, and epiaortic ultrasound (linear and phased-array imaging) performed by an echocardiologist. For analysis, the ascending aorta was divided into three equal segments: proximal, mid, and distal, corresponding to regions of different operative manipulations. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Age older than 70 years and hypertension were significant risk factors for severe ascending aortic atheroma with adjusted odds ratios of 3.3 (95% CI, 1.2 to 9.3) and 3.9 (95% CI, 1.3 to 12.0), respectively. There was no significant difference in atheroma detection between the two ultrasonic epiaortic probes in any segment; however, epiaortic probes were superior to manual palpation in all segments and also superior to transesophageal echocardiography in the mid and distal segments of the ascending aorta. CONCLUSIONS Age older than 70 years and hypertension are significant risk factors for severe ascending aortic atheroma. Intraoperative detection of ascending aortic atheroma is best achieved by epiaortic ultrasound with either a linear or phased array transducer. Transesophageal echocardiography is an insensitive technique for evaluation of mid and distal ascending aortic atheroma and, therefore, of little value in guiding surgical manipulations such as cross-clamping.

Atrial Fibrillation With Left Atrial Spontaneous Contrast Detected by Transesophageal Echocardiography Is a Potent Risk Factor for Stroke

Nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation (AF) frequently coexists with other risk factors for cerebral ischemia. This study was originally designed to determine which combinations of clinical and echocardiographic abnormalities were most closely associated with the risk of cerebral ischemic events. Patients with cerebral ischemic events (n = 214) and community-based control subjects (n = 201) underwent transesophageal echocardiography and carotid artery imaging. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were determined using multiple logistic regression analysis. Independent risk factors for cerebral ischemia included diabetes, carotid stenosis, aortic sclerosis, left ventricular dysfunction, left ventricular hypertrophy, left atrial (LA) spontaneous contrast, and proximal aortic atheroma. Nonrheumatic AF in combination with LA spontaneous contrast and LA enlargement showed a strong association with cerebral ischemic events (OR 33.7 [95% confidence interval 4.53 to 251]). In subjects with sinus rhythm or nonrheumatic AF, LA enlargement was not associated with an increased risk of cerebral ischemic events in the absence of LA spontaneous contrast. However, only 2 patients and 1 control subject had nonrheumatic AF without LA spontaneous contrast or LA enlargement. Therefore, study of a larger number of subjects is required to address the issue of whether nonrheumatic AF itself carries increased risk. The combination of nonrheumatic AF with LA spontaneous contrast is a potent risk factor for cerebral ischemia. Ascertaining the risk factor in nonrheumatic AF requires adequate examination for underlying cardiac, aortic, and carotid vascular disease. Transesophageal echocardiography may contribute to this assessment.

Diastolic dysfunction is associated with anaemia in patients with Type II diabetes.

Anaemia is common in patients with diabetes and associated with an increased risk of diabetic complications. Although the role of anaemia in heart failure is established, we hypothesize that anaemia also contributes to an increased risk of cardiac dysfunction in patients with Type II diabetes. In the present study, 228 consecutive adults with diabetes were investigated using transthoracic echocardiography. Echocardiographic parameters were correlated with the Hb (haemoglobin) level and adjusted for other risk factors for cardiac dysfunction using multivariate analysis. More than one in five patients (23%) had anaemia, which was an independent risk factor for cardiac dysfunction on echocardiography. Over one-third of all patients with evidence of abnormal cardiac function (diastolic and/or systolic dysfunction) on echocardiography had anaemia compared with <5% of patients with normal echocardiographic findings. Most patients with anaemia had cardiac dysfunction (94%), with the major abnormality being diastolic dysfunction associated with an increased left ventricular mass and impaired relaxation indices. A continuous association between diastolic function and Hb was also observed in patients without anaemia. In patients with a history of cardiovascular disease, systolic dysfunction was twice as common in patients with anaemia. Anaemia was also correlated with plasma markers of cardiac risk, including BNP (brain natriuretic peptide), CRP (C-reactive protein) and AVP (arginine vasopressin). Notably, the predictive utility of these markers was eliminated after adjusting for Hb. Consequently, the inexpensive measurement of Hb may be a useful tool to identify diabetic patients at increased risk of cardiac dysfunction.

VALIDATION OF AN ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC ASSESSMENT OF CARDIAC FUNCTION FOLLOWING MODERATE SIZE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION IN THE RAT

1. The present study determined whether two dimensional guided M‐mode echocardiography could assess left ventricular (LV) geometry and function following a moderate size myocardial infarction in the rat.

Risk factors for lacunar stroke: A case-control transesophageal echocardiographic study

Article abstract To reassess the independent risk factors for lacunar stroke and to clarify the role of potential embolic sources, we conducted a case-control study using transesophageal echocardiography and duplex ultrasonography. Among 62 consecutive patients with their first lacunar stroke and 202 normal controls, we found that hypertension (p < 0.001), smoking (p = 0.001), and aortic arch atheroma (p = 0.006) were independently associated with an increased risk of lacunar stroke. Whether proximal aortic arch atheroma is mechanistically associated with lacunar stroke or merely coexistent is uncertain.

Prevalence and predictors of cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction in patients with Type 2 diabetes

The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of an abnormal echocardiogram in patients with Type 2 diabetes. Cardiac function and structure were rigorously assessed by comprehensive transthoracic echocardiographic techniques in 229 patients with Type 2 diabetes. Cardiovascular risk factors and diabetic complications were assessed, and predictors of an abnormal echocardiogram were identified using multivariate logistic regression analysis. An abnormal echocardiogram was present in 166 patients (72%). LVH (left ventricular hypertrophy) occurred in 116 patients (51%), and cardiac dysfunction was found in 146 patients (64%), of whom 109 had diastolic dysfunction alone and 37 had systolic+/-diastolic dysfunction. Independent predictors of an abnormal echocardiogram were obesity, age, the number of antihypertensive drugs used (all P<0.001) and creatinine clearance (P<0.05). The risk of an abnormal echocardiogram increased by 9% for each year over 50 years of age {OR (odds ratio), 1.09 [95% CI (confidence interval), 1.04-1.15]}, 3-fold if obesity was present [BMI (body mass index) >30; OR, 4.2 (95% CI, 1.9-9.0)] and by 80% for each antihypertensive agent used [OR, 1.8 (95% CI, 1.3-2.4) per agent]. In conclusion, an abnormal cardiac echocardiogram is common in patients with Type 2 diabetes. Importantly, although cardiac abnormalities can be predicted by traditional risk factors, such as age, obesity and renal function, the absence of micro- or macro-vascular complications does not predict a normal echocardiogram. We suggest that an echocardiogram identifies those with Type 2 diabetes at increased cardiovascular risk due to occult LVH and diastolic dysfunction, and this information may lead to more aggressive management of known risk factors in the clinic.

Comparison of dobutamine echocardiography and positron emission tomography in patients with chronic ischemic left ventricular dysfunction

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to correlate dobutamine-induced contractile reserve as detected by echocardiography with findings on positron emission tomography in patients with chronic ischemic left ventricular dysfunction. BACKGROUND Contractile reserve induced by low dose dobutamine infusion has been proposed as a marker of myocardial viability. METHODS Sixty patients with stable coronary artery disease and left ventricular dysfunction (mean ejection fraction [+/- SD] 29 +/- 10%) underwent transthoracic echocardiography with dobutamine infusion (up to 10 micrograms/kg body weight per min) and positron emission tomography with nitrogen-13 ammonia and fluorine-18 (F-18) fluorodeoxyglucose as a perfusion and a metabolic tracer, respectively. Regional wall motion, perfusion and metabolism were analyzed semiquantitatively by using a 16-segment model. Segments with F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose uptake > 50% were considered viable on positron emission tomography. RESULTS After dobutamine infusion, hemodynamic variables changed significantly, and myocardial ischemia was evident in 17 patients. All 60 patients had dysfunctional myocardium considered viable on positron emission tomography (8 +/- 4 segments/patient), whereas 52 patients had dysfunctional myocardium with contractile enhancement by dobutamine echocardiography (4 +/- 2 segments/patient, p = 0.01). The extent of dysfunctional myocardium with contractile reserve appeared to correlate less closely with the total extent of viable dysfunctional myocardium identified by positron emission tomography than with the number of such segments associated with a pattern of perfusion-metabolism mismatch. CONCLUSIONS In patients with chronic ischemic left ventricular dysfunction, echocardiography can be used to identify enhancement in the contractile function of viable dysfunctional myocardium after infusion of low dose dobutamine. In this study, the presence and extent of such enhancement were relatively less than the values obtained from positron emission tomography.

Lacunar Stroke: Transoesophageal Echocardiographic Factors Influencing Long-Term Prognosis

Objective: Since little is known concerning factors which may influence long-term prognosis of patients presenting with lacunar stroke, we conducted a longitudinal study of this stroke subtype. Variables likely to affect outcome were assessed at baseline, including those from transoesophageal echocardiographic studies. Methods: Consecutive patients presenting with first-ever lacunar stroke underwent diagnostic workup that included brain CT or MRI, carotid duplex, and transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography. An assessment of patients was planned at entry (baseline), and thereafter every 12 months (clinic visit or telephone call), drop-out, or endpoint. The primary endpoint was nonfatal or fatal stroke. Secondary endpoint was death due to any cause. Results: Among 60 consecutive lacunar patients with the mean follow-up period of 3.9 years, 12 patients (20%) had stroke recurrence. The mean annual rate for stroke was 5.2%, and for death 2.8%. For multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis, the following three variables with the values of p < 0.1 after univariate testing were chosen: age (p = 0.095); aortic atheroma (p = 0.066); and any source of embolism from heart (p = 0.007). Any source of embolism from heart was the only factor which significantly enhanced the risk of stroke recurrence (p = 0.015). Using Kaplan-Meier life table analysis, the curves of percent free of recurrent stroke were significantly different (log rank test p = 0.002). Conclusions: Until the mechanism of lacunar stroke is better understood, it is reasonable to suggest that its investigation and prevention should be directed at all potential causes of future strokes including cardioembolism.

Right ventricular global longitudinal strain is an independent predictor of right ventricular function: a multimodality study of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, real time three-dimensional echocardiography and speckle tracking echocardiography.

Accurate assessment of right ventricular (RV) systolic function is important, as it is an established predictor of mortality in cardiac and respiratory diseases. We aimed to compare speckle tracking–derived longitudinal deformation measurements with traditional two‐dimensional (2D) echocardiographic parameters, as well as real time three‐dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR)‐derived RV volumes and ejection fraction (EF).