MODERATED POSTER SESSION: Don't look only at the left ventricule: Wednesday 3 December 2014, 09:00-16:00 * Location: Moderated Poster area

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Quantitative analysis of left atrial function in asymptomatic patients with b-thalassemia major using real-time three-dimensional echocardiography

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There is strong evidence that left atrial (LA) size is a prognostic marker in a variety of heart diseases. Recently, real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) has been reported as a useful tool for studying the phasic changes of the left atrial volumes. The aim of this study was to investigate the performance of the left atrium in beta-thalassemic patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) and no iron overload, using RT3DE.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Twenty-eight asymptomatic b-thalassemic patients (32.2 ± 4.3 years old, 17 men) who were on iron chelating therapy, as well as 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls underwent transthoracic RT3DE. The patient group had normal echocardiographic systolic and diastolic indices, while there was no myocardial iron disposition according to MRI. Apical full volume data sets were obtained and LA volumes were measured at 3 time points of the cardiac cycle: (1) maximum volume (LAmax) at end-systole, just before mitral valve opening; (2) minimum volume (LAmin) at end-diastole, just before mitral valve closure; and (3) volume before atrial active contraction (LApreA) obtained from the last frame before mitral valve reopening or at time of the P wave on the surface electrocardiogram. From the derived values, left atrial active and passive emptying volumes, as well as the respective emptying fractions were calculated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Left ventricular EF (59.2 ± 2.5% patients vs. 60.1 ± 2.1% controls), E/A, E/E' were similar between the two groups. Differences in the LAmax, LAmin and LApreA between b-thalassemic patients and controls were non-significant, LAmax:(35.5 ± 13.4 vs 31.8 ± 9.8)cm³, LAmin:(16.0 ± 6.0 vs. 13.5 ±4.2)cm³, and LApreA:(25.4 ± 9.8 vs. 24.3 ± 7.2)cm³. However, left atrial active emptying fraction was reduced in the patient group as compared to the healthy population (34.3 ± 16.4% vs. 43.2 ± 11.4%, p < 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>RT3DE may be a novel technique for the evaluation of LA function in asymptomatic patients with b-Thalassemia Major. Among three-dimensional volumes and indices, left atrial active emptying fraction may be an early index of LA dysfunction in the specific patient population.</p

Hepatocellular carcinoma with right atrial extension in a young patient with congenitally unguarded tricuspid orifice

We report a case of a young female patient with congenitally unguarded tricuspid orifice and underdeveloped pulmonary valve leaflets, who had developed severe right-sided congestive heart failure and cardiac cirrhosis early in life. She was admitted to our hospital with deterioration of dyspnea and abdominal tenderness. Hepatocellular carcinoma was diagnosed on the basis of computed tomography findings, high plasma alpha-fetoprotein levels and evidence of chronic hepatitis B viral infection. Transthoracic echocardiogram revealed a mass into the right atrium, considered to be an extension of the tumor

Acquired coronary artery disease in patients with congenital heart disease: Issues in diagnosis and management

Objective: Acquired coronary artery disease, initially thought to rarely affect survivors of congenital heart disease, is increasingly recognized in this population, as these patients grow in age and numbers in the recent era. This study reports our experience with coronary artery disease in adults with congenital heart disease and discusses treatment issues and the existing literature. Methods: Retrospective review of all charts of adults with congenital heart disease and acquired coronary artery disease was performed. Patients’ clinical characteristics, diagno-sis, risk factors, noninvasive and invasive imaging and management data were recorded. Results: Coronary artery disease was diagnosed at 35–70 of age in 17 patients out of a total of 1345 adult congenital heart disease patients followed. Congenital heart disease was moderate or complex in 5 patients (4 repaired Tetralogy of Fallot, 1 repaired ventricular septal defect) and simple unrepaired atrial septal defect diagnosed later in life before or after coronary artery disease identi-fication in 12 patients. Coronary artery disease symptoms were present in 12 patients (8 myocardial infarctions, 4 exercise intolerance), while all patients had 2–3 risk factors for coronary artery disease. Coronary angiography showed 1–3 vessel disease treated with percutaneous coronary intervention in 7 patients, coronary artery bypass graft in 2 patients and both in 2 patients. Patients received appropriate medical therapy and remained stable for 1–17 years, while 2 patients are awaiting surgical pulmonary valve replacement in the near future. Conclusion: Coronary artery disease can develop in adults with congenital heart disease later in life in the presence of traditional risk factors, and prevention, screening and treatment strategies should be applied in this population. Further studies are needed to fully elucidate the extent of this issue in this increasing and ageing population and to determine its optimal medical, interventional and surgical management. © 2020, Tech Science Press. All rights reserved