Assessment of total cardiac repolarization's spatial distribution among patients with aortic sclerosis

WOS: 000355307300113PubMed: 26064308Objective: To measure the Tp-e value, which shows the spatial distribution of cardiac repolarization and is defined as a possible predictor for ventricular arrhythmia among patients with aortic sclerosis (AS), and to compare this parameter's length to QTc length within the same population. Method: 60 patients that have been diagnosed with AS have been prospectively included in this study. Results: 60 AS and 64 control patients were evaluated as part of the study. The median age, prevalence for hypertension and diabetes, baseline medications and laboratory results of the groups were similar. The Electrocardiographic QT length of both groups were found similar. In the AS group Tp-e tangent and Tp-e tail values were more longer than control group (P < 0.001). Tp-e tangent index and Tp-e tail index values were also statistically higher among AS patients when compared to the control group. (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Our study showed that Tp-e durations had increased in AS patients with no structural coronary heart disease. AS causes local degeneration on the aortic root and also has a negative effect on the total cardiac spatial repolarization

Relationship between epicardial fat tissue and left ventricular synchronicity: An observational study

WOS: 000366597000006PubMed: 25880051Objective: Left ventricular (LV) systolic synchrony is defined as simultaneous activation of corresponding cardiac segments. Impaired synchrony has some adverse cardiovascular effects, such as LV dysfunction and impaired prognosis. Epicardial fat tissue (EFT) is visceral fat around the heart. Increased EFT thickness is associated with some disorders, such as LV dysfunction and hypertrophy, which play a role in the impairment of LV synchrony. However, the relationship between EFT and LV systolic synchrony has never been assessed. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the possible relationship between EFT and LV synchrony in this study. Methods: The study population consisted of 55 consecutive patients (mean age 46.4 +/- 13.4 years, 32 female) without bundle branch block (BBB). EFT and LV systolic synchrony were evaluated by transthoracic echocardiography using 2D and tissue Doppler imaging. Maximal difference (Ts-6) and standard deviation (Ts-SD-6) of time to peak systolic (Ts) myocardial tissue velocity obtained from 6 LV basal segments were used to assess LV synchrony. Multiple regression analysis was used to detect the independently related factors to LV synchrony. Results: The mean values of EFT thickness, Ts-6, and Ts-SD-6 were found to be 2.7 +/- 1.6 mm (ranging from 1-7 mm), 20.1 +/- 14.2 msec, and 7.7 +/- 5.6, respectively. EFT thickness also was independently associated with Ts-6 (beta=0.332, p=0.01) and Ts-SD-6 (beta=0.286, p=0.04). Conclusion: EFT thickness is associated with LV systolic synchrony in patients without BBB

The relationship between epicardial fat tissue thickness and frequent ventricular premature beats

WOS: 000360131000008PubMed: 25733170Background: Ventricular premature beats (VPBs) are one of the most common rhythm abnormalities. Structural heart diseases such as myocardial hypertrophy and left ventricular dysfunction are associated with VPBs. However, the exact mechanism of VPBs in patients without structural heart disease has not been revealed yet. Epicardial fat tissue (EFT) is a visceral fat around the heart. Increased EFT thickness is associated with myocardial structural and ultrastructural myocardial abnormalities, which may play a role in the development of VPBs. Aims: To evaluate the possible relationship between EFT thickness and frequent VPBs. Methods and results: The study population consisted of 50 patients with VPBs and 50 control subjects. Frequent VPBs were defined as the presence of more than 10 beats per hour assessed by 24-h Holter electrocardiography monitoring. EFT thickness was measured by transthoracic echocardiography. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess factors related with frequent VPBs. Baseline demographic and biochemical features including age, gender, and rates of hypertension and diabetes mellitus were similar in both groups. EFT thickness was significantly higher in patients with frequent VPBs than in controls (3.3 +/- 1.3 mm vs. 2.2 +/- 0.8 mm, p < 0.001). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, EFT thickness was independently associated with VPB frequency (B = 1.030, OR = 2.802, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Patients with frequent VPBs had increased EFT thickness compared to control subjects. EFT thickness was independently associated with frequent VPBs

Assessment of total cardiac repolarization's spatial distribution among patients with aortic sclerosis

Objective: To measure the Tp-e value, which shows the spatial distribution of cardiac repolarization and is defined as a possible predictor for ventricular arrhythmia among patients with aortic sclerosis (AS), and to compare this parameter's length to QTc length within the same population. Method: 60 patients that have been diagnosed with AS have been prospectively included in this study. Results: 60 AS and 64 control patients were evaluated as part of the study. The median age, prevalence for hypertension and diabetes, baseline medications and laboratory results of the groups were similar. The Electrocardiographic QT length of both groups were found similar. In the AS group Tp-e tangent and Tp-e tail values were more longer than control group (P < 0.001). Tp-e tangent index and Tp-e tail index values were also statistically higher among AS patients when compared to the control group. (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Our study showed that Tp-e durations had increased in AS patients with no structural coronary heart disease. AS causes local degeneration on the aortic root and also has a negative effect on the total cardiac spatial repolarization

The relationship between epicardial fat tissue thickness and frequent ventricular premature beats

Background: Ventricular premature beats (VPBs) are one of the most common rhythm abnormalities. Structural heart diseases such as myocardial hypertrophy and left ventricular dysfunction are associated with VPBs. However, the exact mechanism of VPBs in patients without structural heart disease has not been revealed yet. Epicardial fat tissue (EFT) is a visceral fat around the heart. Increased EFT thickness is associated with myocardial structural and ultrastructural myocardial abnormalities, which may play a role in the development of VPBs

Zależność między grubością nasierdziowej tkanki tłuszczowej a występowaniem częstych przedwczesnych pobudzeń komorowych

Background: Ventricular premature beats (VPBs) are one of the most common rhythm abnormalities. Structural heart diseases such as myocardial hypertrophy and left ventricular dysfunction are associated with VPBs. However, the exact mechanism of VPBs in patients without structural heart disease has not been revealed yet. Epicardial fat tissue (EFT) is a visceral fat around the heart. Increased EFT thickness is associated with myocardial structural and ultrastructural myocardial abnormalities, which may play a role in the development of VPBs. Aims: To evaluate the possible relationship between EFT thickness and frequent VPBs. Methods and results: The study population consisted of 50 patients with VPBs and 50 control subjects. Frequent VPBs were defined as the presence of more than 10 beats per hour assessed by 24-h Holter electrocardiography monitoring. EFT thickness was measured by transthoracic echocardiography. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess factors related with frequent VPBs. Baseline demographic and biochemical features including age, gender, and rates of hypertension and diabetes mellitus were similar in both groups. EFT thickness was significantly higher in patients with frequent VPBs than in controls (3.3 ± 1.3 mm vs. 2.2 ± 0.8 mm, p &lt; 0.001). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, EFT thickness was independently associated with VPB frequency (B = 1.030, OR = 2.802, p &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: Patients with frequent VPBs had increased EFT thickness compared to control subjects. EFT thickness was independently associated with frequent VPBs.Wstęp: Pobudzenia przedwczesne komorowe (VPB) to jedne z najczęstszych zaburzeń rytmu. Choroby strukturalne serca, takie jak przerost mięśnia sercowego i dysfunkcja lewej komory, wiążą się z VPB. Jednak dotychczas nie wyjaśniono dokładnie mechanizmu powodującego VPB u pacjentów bez strukturalnej choroby serca. Nasierdziowa tkanka tłuszczowa (EFT) jest zlokalizowana wokół serca, a jej zwiększona grubość wiąże się z występowaniem strukturalnych i ultrastrukturalnych zaburzeń mięśnia sercowego, które mogą przyczyniać się do rozwoju VPB. Cel: Badanie przeprowadzono w celu oceny możliwych zależności między grubością EFT a częstymi VPB. Metody i wyniki: Badana populacja składała się z 50 chorych z VPB i 50 osób stanowiących grupę kontrolną. Częste VPB definiowano jako obecność ponad 10 pobudzeń na godzinę ocenianych w całodobowym monitorowaniu elektrokardiograficznym metodą Holtera. Grubość EFT mierzono w echokardiografii przezklatkowej. Do oceny czynników związanych z częstymi VPB zastosowano wielozmiennową analizę regresji logistycznej. Wyjściowe dane demograficzne i biochemiczne, w tym wiek, płeć, odsetek osób z nadciśnieniem tętniczym i cukrzycą, były podobne w obu grupach. Grubość EFT była istotnie większa u chorych z częstymi VPB niż u osób z grupy kontrolnej (3,3 ± 1,3 mm vs. 2,2 ± 0,8 mm; p &lt; 0,001). W wielozmiennowej analizie regresji logistycznej wykazano, że grubość EFT była niezależnie związana z częstością VPB (B = 1,030; OR = 2,802; p &lt; 0,001). Wnioski: U chorych z VPB grubość EFT była większa niż u osób z grupy kontrolnej. Grubość EFT była niezależnie związana z częstymi VPB

Left ventricular synchronicity is impaired in patients with active acromegaly

Acromegaly is associated with a variety of cardiovascular disturbances such as left ventricular hypertrophy, diastolic cardiac dysfunction, and hypertension. Left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony means the impairment of synchronicity and is defined as the loss of the simultaneous peak contraction of corresponding cardiac segments. The objective of this study was to investigate whether acromegalic patients have left ventricular dyssynchrony. Dyssynchrony was evaluated in 30 patients with active acromegaly and 30 controls. All the patients and controls were subjected to a tissue synchronization imaging. The time to regional peak systolic tissue velocity (Ts) in LV by the six-basal-six-mid-segmental model was measured on ejection phase TSI images and four TSI parameters of systolic dyssynchrony were computed. All TSI parameters of LV dyssynchrony increased in patients with acromegaly compared to the controls: the standard deviation (SD) of the 12 LV segments Ts (43.5 +/- A 13.5 vs 26.2 +/- A 12.5, p < 0.001); the maximal difference in Ts between any 2 of the 12 LV segments (133.3 +/- A 38 vs 84.6 +/- A 37.6, p < 0.001); the SD of the 6 basal LV segments (41.1 +/- A 15.9 vs 25.4 +/- A 14.8, p = 0.001); and the maximal difference in Ts between any 2 of the 6 basal LV segments (102.6 +/- A 37.5 vs 65.2 +/- A 36.9, p = 0.001). In addition, there were significant relationships between the levels of growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-1 and Ts-SD-12. LV synchronicity has been impaired in patients with acromegaly. Left ventricular dyssynchrony is associated with disease activity and it may contribute to the harmful cardiovascular effects of acromegaly