Frequency of metastatic tumors in the heart

Introduction. Secondary or metastatic tumors in the heart occur more frequently than primary ones, and, according to the published series, their frequency found in autopsic material ranges from 1.6% to 20.6%. Metastatic tumors in the heart are rarely clinically symptomatic, and, therefore, they are rarely diagnosed within the lifetime. They are mostly diagnosed at autopsy. The aim of this study was to analyze the frequency of metastatic tumors of the heart, their primary localization, as well as the localization of the metastases found in the autopsic material within the period 1972−2004. Metods. During the autopsy of the patients died of metastatic tumors, we microscopically and macroscopically analyzed all the organs and tissues to determine the metastases of primary tumors in other organs, especially in the heart and pericardium. Results. Within the period from 1972−2004, 11 403 autopsies were performed. In 2 928 (25.6%) out of 11 403 autopsies, the presence of malignant tumor was diagnosed, and in 79 (2.7%) of these cases, metastasis of the heart was found out. Only in 5 of the cases, the presence of metastasis in the heart was diagnosed during the lifetime. The most frequent metastases in the heart were caused by pulmonary carcinoma (18 cases), leukemia and malignant lymphoma (8 cases, each), then pancreatic and breast carcinoma, while the metastases of other carcinomas were rather rare. In 40 (60.76%) cases, the metastasis was localized in the myocardium, but more often in the left ventricle, in 24 (30.38%) cases in the pericardium, in 4 cases in the epicardium and in the 3 of them in the mitral and tricuspid valve. Only in one case of renal carcionoma, metastasis was found in the right atrium and it occurred by spreading (dissemination) through the lumen of the inferior vena cava. Conclusion. Metastatic tumors of the heart are rather rare, and rarely clinically symptomatic, and, thus, rarely diagnosed during life. The methods of choice for the diagnosis of the metastasis in the heart are echocardiography, computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, cytological analysis of the pericardial effusion and biopsy. The treatment includes surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy

Dual chamber pacemaker in the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

Background. Atrial fibrillation is the most frequent cardiac dysrhythmia. The aim of this study was to show the role and the efficacy of a dual chamber pacemaker with the algorithm of atrial dynamic overdrive, in the suppression of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Case report. A woman with a classical bradycardia-tachycardia syndrome, and frequent attacks of atrial fibrillation, underwent the implantation of a single chamber permanent pacemaker (VVI). Pacemaker successfully treated the episodes of symptomatic bradycardia, but the patient had frequent attacks of atrial fibrillation, despite the use of different antiarrhythmic drugs, which she did not tolerate well. The decision was made to reimplant a permanent dual chamber pacemaker with the algorithm of atrial dynamic overdrive. The pacemaker was programmed to the basic rate of 75/min, while rate at rest was 55/min. In addition, sotalol was administered. After three months, the patient became asymptomatic with only 4 short − term episodes of atrial fibrillation, and a high level of atrial pacing (99%). Conclusion. In selected patients with bradycardia−tachycardia syndrome, atrial-based pacing seemed to be very effective in reducing the incidence of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

Ischemic preconditioning

Background. Ischemic preconditioning is a phenomenon during which myocardium, subjected to brief episodes of ischemia followed by reperfusion, tolerates better the subsequent, more prolonged episode of this ischemia, thus reducing the infarction size substantially. Case report. Two patients with acute left anterior descendent artery occlusion received fibrinolytic therapy (alteplase) within 6 hours of the onset of chest pain, but developed myocardial infarctions of different sizes. The first patient, without the history of preinfarction angina, developed large anterior infarct, because there was no time either for ischemic preconditioning or for the coronary collateral vessels development. In the second patient, with 4-day history of preinfarction angina, the more favorable outcome was seen he developed smaller apical necrosis, with the great degree of myocardial viability in the infarct-related area. Conclusion. Ischemic preconditioning in patients with acute myocardal infarction results in the reduction of mortality, infarction size, as well as in the frequency of malignant arrhythmias

Morphological changes in aorto-coronary vein graft: The analysis of autopsy and biopsy material

Background. Patients with implanted aortic coronary grafts have different survival time, which raises the question why the efficacy of graft implants is so poor. The aim of this study was to present the results of the analysis of morphological changes in the vein grafts taken after the death of patients who died after surgery in different time intervals, as well to present the analysis of the grafts obtained after surgical reintervention. Methods. The total number of 656 grafts of 308 dead patients was analyzed, as well as 76 grafts from 40 patients who underwent surgical reintervention. According to the duration of the graft since surgical intervention until death, all the analyzed changes were divided into two groups: a) early changes and complications, and b) late changes and complications in aorto-coronary vein grafts. Results. After the autopsy, 518 vein grafts from the first group were evaluated histopathologically. Changes were found in the form of small or large areas with peeled endothelium in 266 grafts, with the insudation of fibrin and thrombocytes in such places, subendothelial edema, and occlusive thrombosis of the graft lumen. Significant stenosis, which occurred distally from the anastomoses, was present in 118 grafts without changes in the walls of the graft, and there was significant narrowing of the graft lumen in 134 vein grafts due to intimal hyperplasia. In the second group, 138 grafts were histopathologically analyzed after autopsy. Significant hyperplasia was present in 117 grafts with the migration of smooth muscle cells from media into intima, and in 21 grafts there were atheromatous plaques. In 120 veins analyzed before the graft implantation, the lesion or the lack of endothelium was found, as well as the penetration of fibrin and blood elements and intimal hyperplasia. In 46 veins analyzed before the graft implantation, significant intimal hyperplasia with the elevated number of smooth muscle cells was found. Conclusion. The most frequent lesions in the grafts were the lesions of the endothelium, which caused thrombosis formation and lumen occlusion. Intimal hyperplasia in patients with longer survival time occurred due to the migration of smooth muscle cells from the media, or due to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, which caused graft lumen stenosis or thrombosis

The results of the treatment of right ventricle myocardial infarction

Aim. To present the results and experience in diagnosing and treating of patients with acute right ventricle infarction, during the period of hospitalization of one month, with adjuvant analyses of the obtained results in the period of fifteen years. Methods. Acute right ventricle infarction porved clinicaly, enzymologicaly, by ECG, echochardiographically or scintigraphically we treated with thrombolitic therapy within first six hours after admittion, with salvaged PTA in case of the cardiogenic shock or AV block IIº−IIIº despite of thrommbolitic therapy, or with postponed PTA within first month of intrahospital treatment. Results. In the period from 1990 to 2004, 3 225 patients of both sexes were treated for acute myocardial infarction at the different localization in patients' at the mean age of 53.7 ± 5.8. One-hundredthirty - nine (43.9%) patients were treated with thrombolitic therapy according to the speed up protocole. Heparin was administered to 160 (50.7%) patients with water load, and 17 (5.4%) patients had the primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PPTCA), so that the mechanical blood flow could be established, by the implantation of a stent when necessary. In 316 patients with right ventricle infarction, 58 (18.3%) had postponed and salvaged percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Twenty-two (15.8%) patients had thrombolitic therapy, whereas 36 (22.5%) patients were treated with heparin. We had a successful balloon dilatation in 21 (36.2%), whereas 32 (55.2%) patients had 1−3 intracoronary stents inplanted, depending upon the necessity, and 5 (8.6%) patients from this group were sent to surgical intervention. In the group of 214 (67.7%) patients treated with heparin or thrombolitic therapy combined therapy, with PTCA, 12 (5.7%) patients died, whereas in the group of 124 (39.3%) patients treated only with heparin 26 (16.2%) patients died, statistically significant difference (p < 0.001, χ2 = 18.423). Was noticed n the group of 1 204 patients with inferoposterior infarction, 122 (10.1% ) patients died. In the group of 316 patients with right ventricle infarction, 38 (12%) died. In the group of 888 control patients with inferoposterior infarction, but without right ventricle infarction, 84 (9.4%) patients died. In the group of 2 021 patients (62.2%) with anterior infarction, 248 (12.3%) died. Conclusion. The obtained results showed that the patients with right ventricle infarction, due to the great expansion of necrosis and the involvement of the inferoposterior wall of the left ventricle, as well as the ischemia of sinus and AV nodes, were the patients of a high risk. That was why it was essential to do urgent widening of the artery to reestablish blood flow either by using drugs or by means of mechanical methods

Importance of inflammation in arteriosclerotic plaque destabilization and rupture

Introduction. Although Rudolf Virchow considered arteriosclerosis an inflammatory disease in his book Cellular Pathology published in 1858, the opinion that it was a degenerative arterial disease as a civilization disease prevailed. Nowadays, a great attention has been paid to the inflammatory process in the pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis and particularly in the destabilization and rupture of plaque. Aim. To find out whether T and B lymphocytes, lipid macrophages, vascular smooth muscle and mast cells as well as plaque destabilization and rupture are present in ruptured arteriosclerotic plaque in the coronary arteries. Methods. Histochemical and immunochemical analyses of 68 ruptured arteriosclerotic plaques from the coronary arteries were performed. Microscopic examination revealed the presence of inflammation elements in all of them. The following histochemical and immunochemical methods were applied: Masson's trichrome, actins, vimentin, CD3, CD43, CD68, CD20, CD45 and chlorine acetyl esterase. The control group included 10 arteriosclerotic plaques from the coronary arteries with fibrous cap, but without inflammation cells. Results. Rupture of the arteriosclerotic plaque fibrous cap, with thinned and torn collagen fibers, was found in all of the 68 arteriosclerotic plaques. In 57 out of 68 analysed plaques, the increased number of T-lymphocytes, lipid macrophages, vascular smooth muscle and mast cells particularly on the plaque rupture site were found. In the remaining 11 specimens, mast cells were present in a somewhat smaller number. In the control group with the stable plaque, inflammation cells were not observed. Conclusion. Our results pointed out that the inflammatory elements, which might exert an effect upon the arteriosclerotic plaque destabilization, and rupture had been present in the ruptured arteriosclerotic plaque