Salma Charfeddine

Isolated Streptococcus agalactiae tricuspid endocarditis in elderly patient without known predisposing factors: Case report and review of the literature.

Group B streptococcal (GBS) tricuspid infective endocarditis is a very rare clinical entity. It affects intravenous drug users, pregnant, postpartum women, and the elderly. We report the case of a 68-year-old patient without known predisposing factors who presented a GBS tricuspid endocarditis treated by penicillin and aminoglycosides with no response. The patient was operated with a good evolution. Our case is the 25th reported in the literature. GBS disease is increasing in the elderly and is mainly associated to comorbid conditions. Tricuspid infective endocarditis with Group B streptococcus predominantly presents as a persistent fever with respiratory symptoms due to pulmonary embolism. Therefore, it requires a medicosurgical treatment and close follow-up.

Echocardiographic analysis of the left ventricular function in young athletes: a focus on speckle tracking imaging

Introduction The objectives were to assess the left ventricular (LV) structure and function in regularly trained young athletes, using 2 D conventional echocardiographic (echo) methods and speckle tracking echocardiography (STE). An observational cross-sectional study. Methods Thirty-three footballers and 20 healthy untrained subjects were included in the study. The systolic and diastolic LV functions were evaluated by 2D conventional echo parameters, Doppler method and STE. Results All the found values were within the normal range. The LV End Diastolic Diameter (LVED 37.24±2.08 mm/m2) and the LV Mass index (LVMi 97.93±15.58 g/m2) were significantly higher in young athletes as compared with controls. There was no difference regarding the LV systolic function assessed by conventional echo parameters in the 2 study groups. Regarding the diastolic function, the transmitral inflow velocities ratio was significantly higher in athletes (E/A = 2.10±0.49 versus 1.64±0.26, p< 0.001) but there was no difference in the filling pressure in the 2 groups. The STE demonstrated a different pattern of LV deformation in the different groups. A significant lower LV global longitudinal strain (GLS -20.68±2.05 versus -22.99±2.32 %, p<0.001) and higher radial and circumferential strains have been found in the young athletes as compared with controls. A significant relationship between the GLS values and LVED (r= 0.299, p = 0.03) and LVMi was also reported in athletes. Conclusion While conventional morphological and functional echocardiographic parameters failed to distinguish the adaptations in the athlete’s heart, deformation parameters showed a different pattern of LV mechanics in young footballers versus controls.

0522: Evaluation of the left ventricular function using speckle tracking echocardiography in hemodialysis patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction

Objective Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) more frequently develop a wide range of left ventricular (LV) structural and functional abnormalities. The aim of our study is to evaluate the left ventricular function using two-dimensional and three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) in ESRD patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (PLVEF) undergoing haemodialysis (HD) treatment. Methods Thirty patients on maintenance HD were examined before and after HD. All of the patients had normal left ventricular ejection fraction (50% or greater). Using the 2D-STE and 3D-STE methods, values belonging to the LV global longitudinal (GLS), circumferential (GCS) and radial (GRS) peak systolic strain were measured. BNP levels were measured before and after HD. Results While the LVEF values in the ESRD group were found to be lower in 3D measurement than in 2D- echocardiography (58.46±7.14 vs. 61.36±7.87, P=0.03). LV global longitudinal and radial peak systolic strain was decreased in the study group population. No difference was observed in terms of the GCS. Strain values improved in longitudinal and radial directions after HD [pre- vs. post-HD; GLS: –16.43 (1.7) vs. –18.49 (1.9)%, p Conclusion In patients with ESRD, although the longitudinal and radial systolic functions are reduced, the LVEF may remain within normal limits due to the preservation of the circumferential functions. 2D-STE has the potential to detect the severity of uraemic cardiomyopathy in the early stages of the disease and might provide useful information for the risk stratification in ESRD patients with PLVEF.

A huge cardiac hydatid cyst: An unusual cause of chest pain revealing multivisceral hydatidosis in a young woman.

Hydatid disease remains endemic in some parts of the world. Cardiac hydatidosis with multivisceral involvement is uncommon but potentially fatal. We report the case of a 36-year-old Tunisian woman admitted with chest pain and T-wave inversion in the inferior leads on her electrocardiogram. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a large hydatid cyst in the epicardium throughout the left ventricle. Thoraco-abdominal computerized tomography (CT) scan showed several hydatid cysts in the left lung, the liver, and in both breasts. After one week of albendazole treatment, surgical excision of the cardiac cyst on cardiopulmonary bypass was carried out as well as excision of the pulmonary and breast cysts. The postoperative course was uneventful and albendazole treatment was continued for six months. Though hydatid cardiac involvement is very rare, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of atypical chest pain in young patients, especially those living in regions where hydatid disease is endemic.

La plastie tricuspide: annuloplastie de Carpentier versus technique de De VEGA

Tricuspid valve disease has been neglected for a long time by cardiologists and surgeons, but for some years now leakage of tricuspid valve has been demonstrated as a prognostic factor in the evolution of patients with left heart valve disease undergoing surgery. Several techniques for plastic repair of tricuspid valve have been developed and the published studies differ on the results of these techniques; we conducted this study to assess the results of plastic repair of tricuspid valve in a population of patients with a high prevalence of rheumatic disease and to compare Carpentiers ring annuloplasty techniques with DEVEGA plasty. We conducted a retrospective study of patients undergoing plastic repair of tricuspid valve in the Department of Cardiology at the Medicine University of Sfax over a period of 25 years. We compared the results from the Group 1 (Carpentiers ring annuloplasty) with Group 2 (DeVEGA plasty). 91 patients were included in our study, 45 patients in the Group 1 and 46 patients in the Group 2. Most patients had mean or severe TI (83%) before surgery, ring dilation was observed in 90% of patients with no significant difference between the two groups. Immediate results were comparable between the two techniques but during monitoring recurrent, at least mean, insufficiency was significantly more frequent in the DeVEGA plasty Group. The predictive factors for significant recurring long term TI were DeVEGA technique (OR=3.26[1.12-9.28]) in multivariate study and preoperative pulmonary artery systolic pressure (OR=1.06 (1.01-1.12)). Plastic repair of tricuspid valve using Carpentiers ring seems to guarantee better results than DeVEGA plasty. On the other hand, preoperative high PASP is predictive of recurrent leakage of tricuspid valve even after plasty; hence the importance of surgery in the treatment of patients at an early stage of the disease.

Unusual case of ruptured sinus of valsalva aneurysm in a pregnant woman

Sinus of Valsalva aneurysms are extremely rare, and usually of a congenital nature. There are few documented cases of this condition during pregnancy, which renders unclear the therapeutic options. We here report the case of a 26 years old pregnant woman who was referred to our cardiac center for the evaluation of a heart murmur. The two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography allowed quickly to establishthe diagnosis of a ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm into the right ventricle. A successful surgical correction of the ruptured aneurysm was performed with patch repair.

A continuous murmur following a nonpenetrating chest trauma

We reported a rare case of non-penetrating chest trauma-induced fistula from the right sinus of Valsalva to the right heart chambers. The ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm was diagnosed preoperatively and operated on successfully. The rarity of this case highlights the need for a precise preoperative diagnosis, the role of transthoracic echocardiography, and the importance of a prompt surgical management.

Cystatin C: A prognostic marker after myocardial infarction in patients without chronic kidney disease

Aims Cystatin C is an endogenous marker of renal function. It is a well established better marker of glomerular filtration rate than serum creatinine. There is also evidence that cystatin C is associated with atherosclerotic disease. The present prospective study evaluated the prognostic value of cystatin C after myocardial infarction in patients without chronic kidney disease. Methods and results A total of 127 patients who underwent coronary angiography after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) were included. Cystatin C was associated with the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD). Cystatin C levels were significantly higher in patients with 3-vessels disease and severe CAD according to GENSINI score (p = 0.01 and p < 0.001 respectively). Among the patients admitted for ST elevation myocardial infarction, Cystatin C concentration was correlated with the initial TIMI flow in the culprit artery (p < 0.001). Mean duration of the follow-up period was 10.76 ± 2.1 months. High Cystatin C concentrations were associated to the occurrence of unfavourable outcomes and cardiovascular mortality during follow-up (1.19 ± 0.4 vs. 1.01 ± 0.35 mg/L, p = 0.01 and 1.21 ± 0.36 vs. 0.96 ± 0.27 mg/L, p = 0.03). Among different laboratory parameters, cystatin C was the best marker to predict the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events during the follow-up (Area under the receiveroperating characteristic curve = 0.743). Conclusion High cystatin C levels are associated with the severity of coronary artery disease in patients presenting an acute coronary syndrome and a normal renal function. Cystatin C is also associated to unfavourable cardiovascular outcomes during follow-up and appears as a strong predictor for risk of cardiovascular events and death.

Efficacy of tigecycline–colistin combination in the treatment of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae endocarditis

Here we discuss the efficacy of colistin-tigecycline combination in the treatment of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Klebsiella pneumoniae infective endocarditis (IE). We report a case of a 67-year-old head-injured patient who developed a carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae IE. The patient was treated with colistin-tigecycline combination, with a favourable outcome. In conclusion, colistin-tigecycline combination may be a possible combination in the therapy of IE caused by MDR Enterobacteriaceae.

PW085 Impact of pulmonary artery hypertension on immediate and long-term results of percutaneous mitral balloon commissurotomy: Our experience

Introduction: Patients with mitral stenosis with severe pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) constitute a high-risk subset for surgical commissurotomy or valve replacement. Objectives: to examine the effect of PAH on immediate and long term results of the percutaneous mitral commissurotomy (PMC) in 480 patients. Methods: The immediate procedural and the long-term clinical outcome after first-time PMC of 225 patients with systolic pulmonary artery pressure >1⁄445 mmhg (group 1) were retrospectively collected and compared with those of 255 patients with systolic pulmonary artery pressure 8, and atrial fibrillation. The two groups were similar in terms of the final mitral valve area, the gain of mitral valve area, the mean pressure gradient across the mitral valve, and the complication rate (NS for all). The procedural success was similar (p 1⁄4 NS). The residual systolic pulmonary artery pressure was higher in group 1 (42.9+/-14mmhg VS 31.8+/-12 mmhg, p<0.01). During a mean follow-up of 79+/-51months, there was no difference in the overall survival rate, but restenosis rate and cardiac events was higher in group 1 (p<0.05). Conclusion: PMC is safe and effective, has a low morbidity and mortality rate, but has poorer long-term outcome in patients with PAH. Disclosure of Interest: None Declared