Type A Acute Aortic Dissection in Nonagenarian: Rare but Possible

Acute type A aortic dissection (TA-AAD) is a highly lethal clinical entity that can occur within a wide age range, associated with multiple aetiologies and various clinical presentations. In the very elderly type A aortic dissection frequently presents with non-specific symptoms and signs and is associated with high mortality and morbidity. Thus the clinician must have a high index of clinical suspicion in order to prompt the most appropriate diagnostic-therapeutic strategy.We report a nonagenarian women with TA-AAD, treated successfully with medical therapy

Peripartum cardiomyopathy

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is an uncommon form of congestive heart failure associated with systolic dysfunction of left ventricle. The onset is characterised by symptoms of heart failure occurring between the last month of pregnancy and 5-6 months postpartum. The early diagnosis and the institution of medical treatment for this disease are essential because the inadequate management may affect the patient’s long-term prognosis and can lead to severe complications, including death.Currently its aetiology is not completely understood. Many aetiopathogenetic hypotheses have been formulated: inflammation, viral agents, autoimmune processes. In the last years, evidences aroused for a role of prolactin and its 16 kDa metabolite in reducing cardiomyocite metabolic activity and contraction. In this article we have reviewed the current literature with special emphasis on the role of prolactin and the related current treatment strategies. In particular, bromocriptine appears promising, even if women need to be informed that the drug stops the production of breastmilk. Further researchers, such as large multicenter trials, are needed to decide the best treatment for the women suffering of this disease

Peripartum cardiomyopathy

<p class="prima">Peripartum cardiomyopathy is an uncommon form of congestive heart failure associated with systolic dysfunction of left ventricle. The onset is characterised by symptoms of heart failure occurring between the last month of pregnancy and 5-6 months postpartum. The early diagnosis and the institution of medical treatment for this disease are essential because the inadequate management may affect the patient’s long-term prognosis and can lead to severe complications, including death.</p><p class="prima">Currently its aetiology is not completely understood. Many aetiopathogenetic hypotheses have been formulated: inflammation, viral agents, autoimmune processes. In the last years, evidences aroused for a role of prolactin and its 16 kDa metabolite in reducing cardiomyocite metabolic activity and contraction. In this article we have reviewed the current literature with special emphasis on the role of prolactin and the related current treatment strategies. In particular, bromocriptine appears promising, even if women need to be informed that the drug stops the production of breastmilk. Further researchers, such as large multicenter trials, are needed to decide the best treatment for the women suffering of this disease.</p

Global longitudinal strain predicts outcome after MitraClip implantation for secondary mitral regurgitation

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess preoperative determinants, prevalence, and prognostic impact of left ventricular (LV) reverse remodeling (LVRR) in patients with secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR), undergoing MitraClip implantation (MCi). METHODS: From March 2012 to January 2015, a total of 41 consecutive patients with moderate-to-severe SMR treated successfully with MCi were enrolled. All patients underwent clinical and echocardiographic follow-up after MCi. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) was obtained using two dimensional speckle tracking analysis. A reduction in LV end-systolic volume more than 10% compared with baseline was considered as a marker of LVRR. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of LVRR. Cardiac events were defined as the occurrence of cardiac death, rehospitalization for worsening heart failure, and mitral valve surgery. RESULTS: On univariable analysis, EuroSCORE II and GLS were associated with LVRR. On multivariable logistic regression analysis, GLS was the only independent correlate of LVRR (P = 0.004). A receiver operating characteristic curve identified a cutoff value for GLS of -9.25% (P < 0.001) associated with LVRR, with a sensitivity and specificity of 81 and 74%, respectively. New York Heart Failure Association class more than 2 after MCi, absence of LVRR after MCi, and preoperative GLS more than -9.25% were significantly correlated with adverse cardiac events at long-term follow-up. On multivariable logistic regression analysis, GLS was the only independent predictor of composite adverse cardiac events at 2-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: A worse preoperative GLS predicts no LVRR and is associated with adverse long-term outcome after successful MCi for SMR

Clinical profile and in-hospital outcome of Caucasian patients with takotsubo syndrome and right ventricular involvement

Aim To determine the prevalence, clinical characteristics, in-hospital course and determinants of major adverse events in a cohort of Caucasian patients with Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) and right ventricular involvement (RVi), regardless of left ventricular variant forms. Methods and results The study population consisted of 424 patients (mean age 69.1 ± 11.5 years; female 92.2%) with a diagnosis of TTS divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of RVi. RVi patients (n = 57; 13.4%) showed a higher prevalence of comorbidities, especially respiratory diseases (p = 0.011), and a higher Charlson comorbidity index (CCI; p = 0.006) than non-RVi patients. In-hospital major adverse events (acute heart failure, cardiogenic shock and death) occurred more frequently in RVi patients (p < 0.001). Heart rate and CCI, along with the echocardiographic parameters of wall motion score index, E/e’ ratio, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) were associated with adverse in-hospital outcome. At multivariate analysis, CCI (HR: 1.871; 95% CI: 1.202–2.912; p = 0.006), sPAP (HR: 1.059; 95% CI: 1.016–1.104; p = 0.007) and TAPSE (HR: 0.728; 95% CI: 0.619–0.855; p < 0.001) were independent correlates of the composite outcome in patients with RVi. Conclusion Patients with RVi are characterized by distinct clinical profile and should undergo closely clinical and echocardiographic monitoring. The presence of echocardiographic signs of right ventricular failure along with substantial comorbidities burden identify a cohort at higher risk of in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events

Long-term outcome in patients with Takotsubo syndrome presenting with severely reduced left ventricular ejection fraction

Aim: To evaluate the long-term outcome of patients with Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) and severely reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF ≤ 35%) at presentation. Methods and results: The study population included 326 patients (mean age 69.5 ± 10.7 years, 28 male) with TTS enrolled in the Takotsubo Italian Network, divided into two groups according to LVEF (≤ 35%, n = 131; > 35%, n = 195), as assessed by transthoracic echocardiography at hospital admission. In-hospital events were recorded in both groups. At long-term follow-up (median 26.5 months, interquartile range 18–33), composite major adverse cardiac events (MACE: cardiac death, acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, and TTS recurrence) and rehospitalization were investigated. Compared to patients with LVEF > 35%, patients with LVEF ≤ 35% were older (71.2 ± 10.8 vs. 68.4 ± 10.6 years; P = 0.026) and experienced more frequently cardiogenic shock (16% vs. 4.6%; P < 0.001), acute heart failure (28.2% vs. 12.8%; P = 0.001), and intra-aortic balloon pump support (11.5% vs. 2.6%; P = 0.001) in the acute phase. At long-term follow-up, higher rates of composite MACE (25.2% vs. 10.8%; P = 0.001) and rehospitalization for cardiac causes (26% vs. 13.3%; P = 0.004) were observed in these patients. LVEF ≤ 35% at admission [hazard ratio (HR) 2.184, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.231–3.872; P = 0.008] and age (HR 1.041, 95% CI 1.011–1.073; P = 0.006) were independent predictors of MACE. Patients with LVEF ≤ 35% also had a significant lower freedom from composite MACE during long-term follow-up (χ2 = 11.551, P = 0.001). Conclusion: Left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 35% at presentation is a key parameter to identify TTS patients at higher risk not only in the acute phase but also at long-term follow-up

Clinical value of echocardiographic assessment of coronary flow reserve after left anterior descending coronary artery stenting in an unselected population

Background Transthoracic Doppler echocardiography is a valuable tool to measure coronary flow reserve (CFR) and detect in-stent restenosis (ISR) after percutaneous coronary angioplasty in selected series of patients. Objectives To assess the usefulness of coronary flow reserve measured by echocardiography in detecting significant (>= 70%) ISR of the left anterior descending coronary artery in a large unselected population. Methods Two hundred and twenty-three patients (age 61 +/- 10 years; 168 men) treated with left anterior descending stenting underwent CFR measurement by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography and venous adenosine infusion 24-72 h before control coronary angiography. Coronary-active drugs were continued, and patients with multiple risk factors and old anterior-apical myocardial infarction were included. Results Significant ISR occurred in 56 patients (25%). Patients with ISR had higher basal coronary flow velocity (27 +/- 10 cm/s vs. 24 +/- 7 cm/s; P < 0.002) and lower CFR (1.5 +/- 0.5 vs. 2.7 +/- 0.6; P < 0.0001) than those without ISR. A linear relation was found between ISR and CFR (r = -0.73; P < 0.0001) and remained significant after adjustment for blood pressure and heart rate (r = -0.74; P < 0.0001). A CFR less than two identified significant ISR (sensitivity 88%, specificity 88%, area under the curve = 0.943; P < 0.001). In a multivariate model of CFR prediction, myocardial infarction and heart rate were slightly contributory (beta = -0.19, P < 0.01; beta = -0.16, P < 0.03, respectively), whereas ISR had a large influence (beta = -0.66; P < 0.0001). The inverse correlation between ISR and CFR persisted in patients with myocardial infarction (r = -0.64; P < 0.0001) and in those treated with beta-blockers (r = -0.71; P < 0.0001). Conclusion Echocardiographic measurement of CFR detects significant left anterior descending ISR in unselected patients with multiple risk factors, old anterior-apical myocardial infarction, and taking beta-blockers. J Cardiovasc Med 9:1254-1259 (C) 2008 Italian Federation of Cardiology

Beta-blockers are associated with better long-term survival in patients with Takotsubo syndrome

Objective The advantage of beta-blockers has been postulated in patients with Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) given the pathophysiological role of catecholamines. We hypothesised that beta-blocker treatment after discharge may improve the long-term clinical outcome in this patient population. Methods This was an observational, multicentre study including consecutive patients with TTS diagnosis prospectively enrolled in the Takotsubo Italian Network (TIN) register from January 2007 to December 2018. TTS was diagnosed according to the TIN, Heart Failure Association and InterTAK Diagnostic Criteria. The primary study outcome was the occurrence of all-cause death at the longest available follow-up; secondary outcomes were TTS recurrence, cardiac and non-cardiac death. Results The study population included 825 patients (median age: 72.0 (63.0-78.0) years; 91.9 % female): 488 (59.2%) were discharged on beta-blockers and 337 (40.8%) without beta-blockers. The median follow-up was 24.0 months. The adjusted Cox regression analysis showed a significantly lower risk for all-cause death (adjusted HR: 0.563; 95% CI: 0.356 to 0.889) and non-cardiac death (adjusted HR: 0.525; 95% CI: 0.309 to 0.893) in patients receiving versus those not receiving beta-blockers, but no significant differences in terms of TTS recurrence (adjusted HR: 0.607; 95% CI: 0.311 to 1.187) and cardiac death (adjusted HR: 0.699; 95% CI: 0.284 to 1.722). The positive survival effect of beta-blockers was higher in patients with hypertension than in those without (p(interaction)=0.014), and in patients who developed cardiogenic shock during the acute phase than in those who did not (p(interaction)=0.047). Conclusions In this real-world register population, beta-blockers were associated with a significantly higher long-term survival, particularly in patients with hypertension and in those who developed cardiogenic shock during the acute phase