{"title":"Redefining Effusive-Constrictive Pericarditis with Echocardiography","authors":"P. van der Bijl, P. Herbst, A. Doubell","doi":"10.4250/jcu.2016.24.4.317","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4250/jcu.2016.24.4.317","url":null,"abstract":"Background Effusive-constrictive pericarditis (ECP) is traditionally diagnosed by using the expensive and invasive technique of direct pressure measurements in the pericardial space and the right atrium. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic role of echocardiography in tuberculous ECP. Methods Intrapericardial and right atrial pressures were measured pre- and post-pericardiocentesis, and right ventricular and left ventricular pressures were measured post-pericardiocentesis in patients with tuberculous pericardial effusions. Echocardiography was performed post-pericardiocentesis. Traditional, pressure-based diagnostic criteria were compared with post-pericardiocentesis systolic discordance and echocardiographic evidence of constriction. Results Thirty-two patients with tuberculous pericardial disease were included. Sixteen had ventricular discordance (invasively measured), 16 had ECP as measured by intrapericardial and right atrial invasive pressure measurements and 17 had ECP determined echocardiographically. The sensitivity and specificity of pressure-guided measurements (compared with discordance) for the diagnosis of ECP were both 56%. The positive and negative predictive values were both 56%. The sensitivity of echocardiography (compared with discordance) for the diagnosis of ECP was 81% and the specificity 75%, while the positive and the negative predictive values were 76% and 80%, respectively. Conclusion Echocardiography shows a better diagnostic performance than invasive, pressure-based measurements for the diagnosis of ECP when both these techniques are compared with the gold standard of invasively measured systolic discordance.","PeriodicalId":88913,"journal":{"name":"Journal of cardiovascular ultrasound","volume":"78 1","pages":"317 - 323"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80860286","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nydia Ávila-Vanzzini, J. F. Fritche-Salazar, Nelva Marina Vázquez-Castro, Pedro Rivera-Lara, Ó. Pérez-Méndez, Humberto Martínez-Herrera, M. Gómez-Sánchez, Alberto Aranda-Frausto, Héctor Herrera-Bello, M. Luna-Luna, J. A. Arias Godínez
{"title":"Echocardiographic and Histologic Correlations in Patients with Severe Aortic Stenosis: Influence of Overweight and Obesity","authors":"Nydia Ávila-Vanzzini, J. F. Fritche-Salazar, Nelva Marina Vázquez-Castro, Pedro Rivera-Lara, Ó. Pérez-Méndez, Humberto Martínez-Herrera, M. Gómez-Sánchez, Alberto Aranda-Frausto, Héctor Herrera-Bello, M. Luna-Luna, J. A. Arias Godínez","doi":"10.4250/jcu.2016.24.4.303","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4250/jcu.2016.24.4.303","url":null,"abstract":"Background Severe aortic stenosis (AS), leads to pathological left ventricular remodeling that may worsen with concomitant overweight and obesity (OW/O). Methods We aimed to prospectively analyze the impact of OW/O on ventricular remodeling in severe AS, by evaluating the percentage of intraendomyocardial fibrosis (PIEF) and the percentage of infiltrating intraendocardial lipid vacuoles (PIELV) and its relationship to global longitudinal strain (GLS) in patients with OW/O. Results 44 patients with severe AS were included, 13 non-obese (29%) and 31 OW/O (71%), all of them with left ventricular ejection fraction ≥ 55%. GLS was evaluated with 2D speckle tracking. During valve replacement, an endocardial biopsy was obtained, where PIEF and PIELV were analyzed. Patients with higher PIEF and PIELV had greater body mass index (p < 0.0001) and worse GLS (p < 0.0053). A GLS cut-off point < -14% had a sensitivity of 75%, and a specificity of 92.8% to detect important PIEF (AUC: 0.928, 95% confidence interval: 0.798–1.00). On multivariate analysis, OW/O and PIELV were independently associated to the PIEF, and OW/O and PIEF were independently associated to GLS. A high correlation between the amount of PIELV and PIEF were found. Conclusion Patients with severe AS and OW/O have greater PIEF and PIELV, suggesting more pathological remodeling. GLS is useful to detect subclinical myocardial injury and is potentially useful for endomyocardial fibrosis detection. The presence of higher PIELF may be a trigger factor for the development of intraendomyocardial fibrosis.","PeriodicalId":88913,"journal":{"name":"Journal of cardiovascular ultrasound","volume":"8 1","pages":"303 - 311"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"91006329","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jongmin Hwang, Y. Park, Kyung Un Choi, J. Kim, K. Hwang, Sang Hyun Lee, M. Chon, Soo Yong Lee, Dae Sung Lee
{"title":"Rapidly Growing Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Mass in Patient with Sarcomatoid Renal Cell Carcinoma","authors":"Jongmin Hwang, Y. Park, Kyung Un Choi, J. Kim, K. Hwang, Sang Hyun Lee, M. Chon, Soo Yong Lee, Dae Sung Lee","doi":"10.4250/jcu.2016.24.4.329","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4250/jcu.2016.24.4.329","url":null,"abstract":"Cardiac metastasis from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) without inferior vena cava (IVC) involvements is extremely rare with few reported cases. Sarcomatoid RCC with rhabdoid feature is a rare pathologic type of RCC having aggressive behavior due to great metastatic potential. Here, we report a case of rapidly growing cardiac metastasis of RCC which brought on right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) obstruction without IVC and right atrial involvement in a 61-year-old woman. Cardiac arrest occurred during radical nephrectomy and echocardiography revealed mass nearly obstructing the RVOT which was not recognized by preoperative echocardiography 1 month ago. Postoperative immunohistochemical evaluation of renal mass revealed sarcomatoid RCC with rhabdoid feature.","PeriodicalId":88913,"journal":{"name":"Journal of cardiovascular ultrasound","volume":"39 1","pages":"329 - 333"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88669651","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A. Garg, Deepika Mishra, M. Bansal, Hariram Maharia, Vikram Goyal
{"title":"Right Atrial Paraganglioma: An Extremely Rare Primary Cardiac Neoplasm Mimicking Myxoma","authors":"A. Garg, Deepika Mishra, M. Bansal, Hariram Maharia, Vikram Goyal","doi":"10.4250/jcu.2016.24.4.334","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4250/jcu.2016.24.4.334","url":null,"abstract":"In this report, we present a case of 35-year-old lady who had presented with atypical chest pain and exertional breathlessness for past six months. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiograms showed a well-circumscribed, echo-dense mass in the right atrium, attached to the interatrial septum at the level of atrioventricular junction and in the vicinity of coronary sinus ostium. She underwent successful resection of the cardiac mass. Histopathology revealed paraganglioma, which was reconfirmed by immunohistochemistry study. This represents an extremely rare presentation as primary cardiac tumors are 20-times less common than metastatic tumors and paraganglioma is one of the rarest primary cardiac tumors, accounting for < 1% of all cases.","PeriodicalId":88913,"journal":{"name":"Journal of cardiovascular ultrasound","volume":"32 1","pages":"334 - 336"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80703186","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jae-Hyeong Park, Ju-Hee Lee, Sang Yeub Lee, Jin-Oh Choi, M. Shin, Mi-Jeong Kim, H. Jung, Jeong Rang Park, I. Sohn, Hyungseop Kim, S. Park, N. Yoo, J. Choi, Hyung‐Kwan Kim, G. Cho, Mi-Rae Lee, Jin-Sun Park, C. Shim, Dae‐Hee Kim, Dae-Hee Shin, G. Shin, S. Shin, Kye-Hun Kim, Woo-Shik Kim, S. Park
{"title":"Normal 2-Dimensional Strain Values of the Left Ventricle: A Substudy of the Normal Echocardiographic Measurements in Korean Population Study","authors":"Jae-Hyeong Park, Ju-Hee Lee, Sang Yeub Lee, Jin-Oh Choi, M. Shin, Mi-Jeong Kim, H. Jung, Jeong Rang Park, I. Sohn, Hyungseop Kim, S. Park, N. Yoo, J. Choi, Hyung‐Kwan Kim, G. Cho, Mi-Rae Lee, Jin-Sun Park, C. Shim, Dae‐Hee Kim, Dae-Hee Shin, G. Shin, S. Shin, Kye-Hun Kim, Woo-Shik Kim, S. Park","doi":"10.4250/jcu.2016.24.4.285","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4250/jcu.2016.24.4.285","url":null,"abstract":"Background It is important to understand the distribution of 2-dimensional strain values in normal population. We performed a multicenter trial to measure normal echocardiographic values in the Korean population. Methods This was a substudy of the Normal echOcardiogRaphic Measurements in KoreAn popuLation (NORMAL) study. Echocardiographic specialists measured frequently used echocardiographic indices in healthy people according to a standardized method at 23 different university hospitals. The strain values were analyzed from digitally stored images. Results Of a total of 1003 healthy participants in NORMAL study, 2-dimensional strain values were measured in 501 subjects (265 females, mean age 47 ± 15 years old) with echocardiographic images only by GE echocardiographic machines. Interventricular septal thickness, left ventricular (LV) posterior wall thickness, systolic and diastolic LV dimensions, and LV ejection fraction were 7.5 ± 1.0 mm, 7.4 ± 1.0 mm, 29.9 ± 2.8 mm, 48.9 ± 3.6 mm, and 62 ± 4%, respectively. LV longitudinal systolic strain (LS) values of apical 4-chamber (A4C) view, apical 3-chamber (A3C) view, apical 2-chamber (A2C) view, and LV global LS (LVGLS) were −20.1 ± 2.3, −19.9 ± 2.7, −21.2 ± 2.6, and −20.4 ± 2.2%, respectively. LV longitudinal systolic strain rate (LVLSR) values of the A4C view, A3C view, A2C view, and LV global LSR (LVGLSR) were −1.18 ± 0.18, −1.20 ± 0.21, −1.25 ± 0.21, and −1.21 ± 0.21−s, respectively. Females had lower LVGLS (−21.2 ± 2.2% vs. −19.5 ± 1.9%, p < 0.001) and LVGLSR (−1.25 ± 0.18−s vs. −1.17 ± 0.15−s, p < 0.001) values than males. Conclusion We measured LV longitudinal strain and strain rate values in the normal Korean population. Since considerable gender differences were observed, normal echocardiographic cutoff values should be differentially applied based on sex.","PeriodicalId":88913,"journal":{"name":"Journal of cardiovascular ultrasound","volume":"48 1","pages":"285 - 293"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77851239","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sang-Cheol Cho, H. Yoo, J. Lee, J. Jang, R. Heo, Jong-Min Song
{"title":"Fabry Disease Presenting with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and Tricuspid Regurgitation","authors":"Sang-Cheol Cho, H. Yoo, J. Lee, J. Jang, R. Heo, Jong-Min Song","doi":"10.4250/jcu.2016.24.4.324","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4250/jcu.2016.24.4.324","url":null,"abstract":"A 71-year-old female who was diagnosed with nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy since 1999 presented with dyspnea and severe edema on both legs. For the management of her symptom, cardiac surgery including tricuspid annuloplasty, Maze operation and right atrial reduction plasty was performed. During follow-up after cardiac surgery, a plasma α-galactosidase activity was checked for the screening of Fabry disease and the result was around lower normal limit. DNA analysis was implemented for confirmation and it revealed a heterozygote α-galactosidase mutation at exon 6 [c.901C>T (p.Arg301Ter)]. This case suggests that Fabry disease might be easily undetected, and clinical suspicion is critical.","PeriodicalId":88913,"journal":{"name":"Journal of cardiovascular ultrasound","volume":"136 1","pages":"324 - 328"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76738452","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Su-Jin Yoo, Jae-Hyeong Park, Yunseon Park, Jae-Hwan Lee, Byung-Joo Sun, Jinhyun Kim, In Seol Yoo, Seung Cheol Shim, Seong Wook Kang
{"title":"Prevalence of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Korean Adult Patients with Systemic Sclerosis: Result of a Pilot Echocardiographic Screening Study.","authors":"Su-Jin Yoo, Jae-Hyeong Park, Yunseon Park, Jae-Hwan Lee, Byung-Joo Sun, Jinhyun Kim, In Seol Yoo, Seung Cheol Shim, Seong Wook Kang","doi":"10.4250/jcu.2016.24.4.312","DOIUrl":"10.4250/jcu.2016.24.4.312","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Early detection and prompt treatment of PAH associated with SSc (SSc-PAH) result in better prognosis. We conducted echocardiographic study to presume the prevalence of PAH in Korean adult SSc patients and to diagnose SSc-PAH in their early stages with right heart catheterization (RHC).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We performed free of charge echocardiographic study including 37 adult SSc patients at the Chungnam National University Hospital. The possibility of PAH is determined by the estimation of pulmonary arterial pressure by peak tricuspid regurgitation velocity of > 3.0 m/s. Patients with possible PAH were recommended to undergo RHC to confirm the diagnosis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In 37 patients, 8 patients were suspected with PAH. Among them, 6 patients agreed to be examined with RHC, and 4 were confirmed with PAH. The prevalence of possible PAH was 21.6% (8 of 37 patients), and that of confirmed PAH was 10.8% (4 of 37 patients). Four patients who were confirmed with SSc-PAH through RHC have been treated with specific pulmonary vasodilators and maintained stable.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Eight patients (21.6%) were possible PAH and 4 (10.8%) were diagnosed as SSc-PAH by RHC after the echocardiographic screening study of 37 adult SSc patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":88913,"journal":{"name":"Journal of cardiovascular ultrasound","volume":"42 1","pages":"312-316"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5234342/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81036579","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
B. Kim, K. Cho, J. Choi, Dong Hyun Park, Ga-In Yu, S. Im, H. Kim, J. Heo, T. Cha
{"title":"Epicardial Fat Thickness and Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio are Increased in Non-Dipper Hypertensive Patients","authors":"B. Kim, K. Cho, J. Choi, Dong Hyun Park, Ga-In Yu, S. Im, H. Kim, J. Heo, T. Cha","doi":"10.4250/jcu.2016.24.4.294","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4250/jcu.2016.24.4.294","url":null,"abstract":"Background In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between echocardiographic epicardial fat thickness (EFT), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR; an important inflammatory marker), and diurnal blood pressure (BP) changes in patients with recently diagnosed essential hypertension. Methods A total of 647 patients underwent echocardiography and 24 hours of ambulatory BP monitoring. EFT was measured by echocardiography, while NLR was measured by dividing the neutrophil count by the lymphocyte count. Patients were categorized into three groups according to BP pattern: the normotensive group, the dipper group, and the non-dipper group. Results The mean EFT was highest in the non-dipper group (non-dipper group, 7.3 ± 3.0 mm; dipper group, 6.1 ± 2.0 mm; control group, 5.6 ± 2.0 mm; p < 0.001). NLR was also highest in the non-dipper group (non-dipper, 2.75 ± 2.81; dipper, 2.01 ± 1.32; control, 1.92 ± 1.11; p < 0.001). EFT was significantly correlated with age (r = 0.160, p < 0.001) and NLR (r = 0.353, p < 0.001). Furthermore, an EFT ≥ 7.0 mm was associated with the non-dipper BP pattern with 51.3% sensitivity and 71.6% specificity [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.56–0.65, p < 0.001]. In a multivariate analysis, EFT [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 3.99, 95% CI = 1.22–13.10, p = 0.022] and NLR (OR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.05–1.71, p = 0.018) were independent parameters that distinguished a non-dipper pattern after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors. Conclusion EFT and NLR are independently associated with impaired diurnal BP profiles in hypertensive individuals. EFT (as measured by echocardiography) and NLR appear to be helpful in stratifying cardiometabolic risk.","PeriodicalId":88913,"journal":{"name":"Journal of cardiovascular ultrasound","volume":"42 1","pages":"294 - 302"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"91309921","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}