P Wave Duration And Dispersion In Patients With Hyperthyroidism And The Short-term Effects Of Antithyroid Treatment

Background: Prolonged P wave duration and P wave dispersion (PWD) have been associated with an increased risk for atrial fibrillation (AF). Hyperthytodism is a frequent cause of atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods: Forty-two patients with newly diagnosed overt hyperthyroidism and 20 healthy people were enrolled in the study. Transthoracic echocardiography, 12 lead surface ECG and thyroid hormone levels were studied at the time of enrollment and after achievement of euthyroid state with propylthiouracil treatment. Results: Maximum P wave duration (Pmax) (97.4±14.6 vs. 84.2±9.5 msec, p<0.001), PWD (42.9±10.7 vs. 31.0±6.2 msec, p<0.001), deceleration (DT) (190.7±22.6 vs. 177.0±10.2 msec, p=0.013) and isovolumetric relaxation times (IVRT) (90.9±11.2 vs. 79.6±10.5 msec, p<0.001) were significantly higher in hyperthyroid patients compared to control group. Pmax and PWD were significantly correlated with the presence of hyperthyroidism. Pmax (97.4±14.6 to 84.3±8.6 msec, p<0,001) Pmin (54.1±8.6 to 48.1±8.5 msec, p=0.002), PWD (42.9±10.7 to 35.9±8.1 msec, p=0.002) and DT (190.7±22.6 to 185.5±18.3, p=0.036) were significantly decreased after achievement of euthyroid state in patients with hyperthyroidism. Diastolic dyfunction was seen in 5 patients at hyperthroid state but only in one patient at euthyroid state. Conclusions: Hyperthyroidism is associated with prolonged P wave duration and dispersion. Achievement of euthyroid state with propylthiouracil treatment results in shortening of P wave variables. Diastolic function may have a partial effect for the increased Pmax and PWD. Shortening of Pmax and PWD may be a marker for the prevention of AF with the anti-thyroid treatment

Confiabilidade de sintomas sugestivos de angina em pacientes com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica Confiabilidad de síntomas sugestivos de angina en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica Reliability of symptoms suggestive of angina in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

FUNDAMENTO: Devido à sobreposição de sintomas e inadequada capacidade de exercícios, o diagnóstico não-invasivo da doença arterial coronariana (DAC) pode ser sub ou superestimado em pacientes com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica (DPOC). OBJETIVO: Avaliar os resultados de angiografias coronarianas em pacientes com DPOC dependendo das características clínicas basais. MÉTODOS: Os registros médicos de 157 pacientes com DPOC e 157 pacientes sem DPOC pareados por características clínicas basais, que haviam sido submetidos a angiografia coronariana diagnóstica pela primeira vez, foram revisados, retrospectivamente. RESULTADOS: A frequência de DAC era significantemente mais baixa em pacientes com DPOC do que no grupo controle (52,8% vs. 80,2%, p<0,001). As frequências dos fatores de risco para DAC (idade avançada, hipertensão, diabete, histórico de fumo) eram significantemente mais comuns entre os pacientes com DPOC que tinham DAC significativa. Entre os pacientes que reportavam angina pectoris estável, DAC significativa foi detectada em 32,7% dos pacientes com DPOC e em 71,0% dos pacientes sem DPOC (p<0,001). Entretanto, para os pacientes com diagnóstico de angina pectoris instável, DAC significativa foi detectada em 87,5% dos pacientes com DPOC e 90,2% dos pacientes sem DPOC (p=0,755). CONCLUSÃO: O diagnóstico de DAC pacientes com DPOC através da sintomatologia, somente, pode ser difícil. Entretanto, o diagnóstico clínico de DAC no quadro de angina instável é acurado na maioria dos pacientes com DPOC. Assim, outros métodos diagnósticos não-invasivos ou seguimento cuidadoso podem ser mais apropriados para pacientes com DPOC que reportam angina pectoris estável.<br>FUNDAMENTO: A causa de la superposición de síntomas e inadecuada capacidad de ejercicios, el diagnóstico no-invasivo de la enfermedad arterial coronaria (EAC) se puede sub o superestimar en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC). OBJETIVO: Evaluar los resultados de angiografías coronarias en pacientes con EPOC dependiendo de las características clínicas basales. MÉTODOS: Se revisaron retrospectivamente los registros médicos de 157 pacientes con EPOC y 157 pacientes sin EPOC distribuidos en grupos según características clínicas basales, que se habían sometido a angiografía coronaria diagnóstica por primera vez. RESULTADOS: La frecuencia de EAC era significantemente más baja en pacientes con EPOC que en el grupo control (52,8% vs. 80,2%, p<0,001). Las frecuencias de los factores de riesgo para EAC (edad avanzada, hipertensión, diabetes, histórico de fumo) eran significantemente más comunes entre los pacientes con EPOC que tenían EAC significante. Entre los pacientes que reportaban angina de pecho estable, se detectó EAC significante en un 32,7% de los pacientes con EPOC y el 71,0% de los pacientes sin EPOC (p<0,001). Sin embargo, para los pacientes con diagnóstico de angina de pecho inestable, se detectó EAC significante en un 87,5% de los pacientes con EPOC y un 90,2% de los pacientes sin EPOC (p=0,755). CONCLUSIONES: El diagnóstico de EAC pacientes con EPOC solamente mediante la sintomatología puede ser difícil. Sin embargo, el diagnóstico clínico de EAC en el cuadro de angina inestable resulta preciso en la mayoría de los pacientes con EPOC. Así, otros métodos diagnósticos no-invasivos o seguimiento cuidadoso pueden ser más apropiados para pacientes con EPOC que refieren angina de pecho estable.<br>BACKGROUND: Due to overlapping symptoms and inadequate exercise capacity, noninvasive diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) may be under- or overestimated in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). OBJECTIVE: To assess outcomes of coronary angiography in COPD patients depending on baseline clinical characteristics. METHODS: Medical records of 157 patients with COPD and 157 patients without COPD matched for baseline clinical characteristics who had undergone diagnostic coronary angiography for the first time were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: The frequency of significant CAD was significantly lower in COPD patients than in the control group (52.8% vs. 80.2%, p<0.001). Frequencies of CAD risk factors (older age, hypertension, diabetes, smoking history) were significantly more frequent among COPD patients having significant CAD. Among patients reporting stable angina pectoris, significant CAD was detected in 32.7% of COPD patients and 71.0% of non-COPD patients (p<0.001). However, among the patients with a diagnosis of unstable angina pectoris, significant CAD was detected in 87.5% of COPD patients and 90.2% of non-COPD patients (p=0.755). CONCLUSION: Diagnosis of CAD in COPD patients by symptomatology may be difficult. However, clinical diagnosis of CAD in the setting of unstable angina is accurate in most of the COPD patients. Therefore, further noninvasive diagnostic methods or careful follow up may be more appropriate for COPD patients reporting stable angina pectoris

Effects of statin use on total oxidant and antoxidant capacity and ceruloplasmin activity

Purpose: Oxidative damage plays an important role in atherosclerosis development. Statin drugs have anti-oxidant properties, but the clinical value of their antioxidant properties remains unclear. In this study, our aims were: (1) to assess the anti-oxidant effects of statins in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) using a newly developed valid measure of total oxidant and anti-oxidant capacity; and (2) to identify whether statins influence ceruloplamin levels. Methods: Within a cross-sectional study, 67 dyslipidemic CAD patients on atorvastatin for at least three months were compared with 69 age- and gender-matched CAD patients not using atorvastatin. All patients were either newly-diagnosed with or already had established CAD. Patients and controls were selected from among patients who had undergone coronary angiography for a variety of reasons. Immediately prior to angiography, plasma total oxidant and antioxidant capacity and ceruloplasmin (Cp) levels were measured by means of a relatively new and highly-reliable method. Results: Total oxidant capacity levels were significantly lower and total antioxidant capacity significantly higher in those on atorvastatin; serum seruloplasmin levels also were significanly increased in the atorvastatin groups (all p < 0.05). On multivariate analysis, atorvastatin use was a significant determinant of Cp increase, independent of any antioxidant effect. Conclusions: This study clearly demonstrates increased anti-oxidant capacity and decreased oxidative stress with statin use. Atorvastatin use may also increase Cp levels although this effect appears to be independent of its anti-oxidant effects