Biventricular thrombus and endomyocardial fibrosis in antiphospholipid syndrome

A SAF é uma doença sistêmica autoimune caracterizada pela detecção plasmática de anticorpos antifosfolípides, tais como o anticardiolipina e o anticoagulante lúpico, que se manifesta clinicamente mediante: trombose arterial e/ou venosa recorrentes, trombocitopenia, abortamentos de repetição e anemia hemolítica autoimune, além de alterações cardíacas, neurológicas e cutâneas1 . Constitui-se na principal causa adquirida de hipercoagulabilidade, ocorrendo em 2% da população geral e apresenta alta morbimortalidade2 . Pode ser classificada como primária quando não há outra doença subjacente e como secundária quando ocorre associada a outras patologias, como o lúpus eritematoso sistêmico. As alterações cardíacas são frequentes, sobretudo as valvopatias (espessamentos e vegetações) e a doença arterial coronariana (DAC)2-4; tem sido também relatada a presença de trombos intracavitários5 . Todavia, o acometimento miocárdico é raramente descrito nesta patologia6 . O presente relato descreve o caso de uma paciente lúpica, com SAF e trombo cavitário biventricular, diagnosticado pela RMC. Foi detectada, também, a presença de realce tardio endomiocárdico que pode ser manifestação precoce da ocorrência de (EMF). _________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT: The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by plasma detection of antiphospholipid antibodies such as anticardiolipin and lupus anticoagulant, which clinically manifests as: recurrent arterial and/or venous thrombosis, thrombocytopenia, recurrent miscarriage and autoimmune hemolytic anemia, in addition to cardiac, neurological and skin alterations1 . It constitutes the main acquired cause of hypercoagulability, occurring in 2% of the general population and has high morbidity and mortality2 . It can be classified as primary when there is no other underlying disease as secondary when it occurs associated with other pathologies, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The cardiac alterations are frequently observed, especially valvular heart disease (thickening and vegetations) and coronary artery disease (CAD)2-4; the presence of thrombi has been also reported5 . However, myocardial involvement is rarely described in this pathology6 . This report describes the case of a lupus patient with APS and biventricular cavitary thrombus, diagnosed by MRI. The presence of endomyocardial delayed enhancement was also observed, which may be early onset of the occurrence of endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF)

Avaliação e estratificação da cardiomiopatia hipertrófica quanto ao risco de morte súbita: uma revisão integrativa: Evaluation and stratification of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as to the risk of sudden death: an integrative review

Introdução: A cardiomiopatia hipertrófica (CMH) é uma condição genética autosômica-dominante, mais comumente causada por mutações de genes sarcoméricos, caracterizada pela hipertrofia miocárdica ventricular esquerda (HVE) de várias morfologias, com ampla gama de manifestações clínicas e alterações hemodinâmicas. É a causa mais frequente de morte súbita cardíaca (MSC) em jovens e atletas competitivos devido a arritmia ventricular fatal. Em alguns pacientes, entretanto, a CMH pode ter curso benigno. Objetivo: Identificar e analisar os fatores de risco de morte súbita associados à cardiomiopatia hipertrófica. Método: Foi realizada revisão integrativa a fim de estratificar e avaliar a história natural da cardiomiopatia hipertrófica em relação aos fatores de risco de morte súbita. Extraídos artigos científicos publicados no período de 2000 a 2022, das bases de dados – Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System online (MEDLINE/Pubmed), Literatura Latino Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (LILACS) e Scientific Eletronic Library Online (Scielo) – utilizando-se do vocabulário livre e controlado indexados nos Descritores em Ciências de Saúde (DeCS) – Cardiomiopatia hipertrófica, morte súbita, fatores de risco, morte súbita cardíaca. Foram selecionados estudos observacionais da língua inglesa. A presente revisão integrativa incluiu 23 artigos. Inicialmente encontrados 874 estudos, que passaram por uma seleção através da leitura de títulos, seguida pela exclusão de duplicação de trabalho, conseguinte de avaliação do resumo e, por fim, a análise dos artigos na íntegra, garantindo assim sua qualidade. Resultados: Os fatores de risco associados a morte súbita (MS) na cardiomiopatia hipertrófica foram: história pessoal de fibrilação ventricular (FV), MSC ou taquicardia ventricular (TV) sustentada; história familiar de MSC; síncope prévia inexplicada; taquicardia ventricular não sustentada (TVNS); espessura máxima da parede do ventrículo esquerdo de ≥30mm e resposta anormal da pressão arterial durante o exercício.  As evidências demonstraram a relevância de acrescentar ao algoritmo de seleção dos pacientes: a disfunção sistólica do VE, aneurisma apical de VE e o realce tardio extenso (RTG) na ressonância magnética cardíaca. Conclusão:  A estratificação de risco para MSC na CMH apresentou ampliação dos preditores. Existe a necessidade contínua de pesquisas em torno do tema para a instituição de medidas terapêuticas a fim de evitar desfechos fatais da doenç

Acute pericarditis with transient constriction: surgical impetus must be contained

Constrictive pericarditis is typically a chronic and progressive condition characterised by debilitating chronic right heart failure and surgical pericardiectomy remains the treatment of choice. Although most cases of acute pericarditis are self-limiting, an uncommon but known complication is a transient form of constrictive pericarditis that shares the same clinical features with the chronic form but resolves without surgical intervention

Atherosclerotic Plaque in Patients with Zero Calcium Score at Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography

<div><p>Abstract Background: In view of the high mortality for cardiovascular diseases, it has become necessary to stratify the main risk factors and to choose the correct diagnostic modality. Studies have demonstrated that a zero calcium score (CS) is characteristic of a low risk for cardiovascular events. However, the prevalence of individuals with coronary atherosclerotic plaques and zero CS is conflicting in the specialized literature. Objective: To evaluate the frequency of patients with coronary atherosclerotic plaques, their degree of obstruction and associated factors in patients with zero CS and indication for coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). Methods: This is a cross-sectional, prospective study with 367 volunteers with zero CS at CCTA in four diagnostic imaging centers in the period from 2011 to 2016. A significance level of 5% and 95% confidence interval were adopted. Results: The frequency of atherosclerotic plaque in the coronary arteries in 367 patients with zero CS was 9.3% (34 individuals). In this subgroup, mean age was 52 ± 10 years, 18 (52.9%) were women and 16 (47%) had significant coronary obstructions (> 50%), with involvement of two or more segments in 4 (25%) patients. The frequency of non-obese individuals (90.6% vs 73.9%, p = 0.037) and alcohol drinkers (55.9% vs 34.8%, p = 0.015) was significantly higher in patients with atherosclerotic plaques, with an odds ratio of 3.4 for each of this variable. Conclusions: The frequency of atherosclerotic plaque with zero CS was relatively high, indicating that the absence of calcification does not exclude the presence of plaques, many of which obstructive, especially in non-obese subjects and alcohol drinkers.</p></div

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans—anteaters, sloths, and armadillos—have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, 10 anteaters, and 6 sloths. Our data set includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the southern United States, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to the austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n = 5,941), and Cyclopes sp. have the fewest (n = 240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n = 11,588), and the fewest data are recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n = 33). With regard to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n = 962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n = 12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other data sets of Neotropical Series that will become available very soon (i.e., Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans data set. Please cite this data paper when using its data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using these data

NEOTROPICAL ALIEN MAMMALS: a data set of occurrence and abundance of alien mammals in the Neotropics

Biological invasion is one of the main threats to native biodiversity. For a species to become invasive, it must be voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into a nonnative habitat. Mammals were among first taxa to be introduced worldwide for game, meat, and labor, yet the number of species introduced in the Neotropics remains unknown. In this data set, we make available occurrence and abundance data on mammal species that (1) transposed a geographical barrier and (2) were voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into the Neotropics. Our data set is composed of 73,738 historical and current georeferenced records on alien mammal species of which around 96% correspond to occurrence data on 77 species belonging to eight orders and 26 families. Data cover 26 continental countries in the Neotropics, ranging from Mexico and its frontier regions (southern Florida and coastal-central Florida in the southeast United States) to Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay, and the 13 countries of Caribbean islands. Our data set also includes neotropical species (e.g., Callithrix sp., Myocastor coypus, Nasua nasua) considered alien in particular areas of Neotropics. The most numerous species in terms of records are from Bos sp. (n = 37,782), Sus scrofa (n = 6,730), and Canis familiaris (n = 10,084); 17 species were represented by only one record (e.g., Syncerus caffer, Cervus timorensis, Cervus unicolor, Canis latrans). Primates have the highest number of species in the data set (n = 20 species), partly because of uncertainties regarding taxonomic identification of the genera Callithrix, which includes the species Callithrix aurita, Callithrix flaviceps, Callithrix geoffroyi, Callithrix jacchus, Callithrix kuhlii, Callithrix penicillata, and their hybrids. This unique data set will be a valuable source of information on invasion risk assessments, biodiversity redistribution and conservation-related research. There are no copyright restrictions. Please cite this data paper when using the data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us on how they are using the data