Comparison of mean platelet volume values among different causes of pulmonary hypertension

Background: Pulmonary hypertension is caused by a heterogenous group of disorders with diverse pathophysiological mechanisms, with ultimate structural changes in the pulmonary vascular bed. Platelet activation plays an important role in the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension, while it is unknown whether it contributes to pathogenesis in other conditions. We aimed to investigate platelet activation in different causes of pulmonary hypertension by means of mean platelet volume measurement. Methods: A total of 67 patients with different causes of pulmonary hypertension, and 31 controls, were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with pulmonary hypertension were further grouped according to underlying disease, including pulmonary arterial hypertension, pulmonary hypertension due to left ventricular failure, and pulmonary hypertension due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder. All patients and controls&#8217; past medical data, admission echocardiograms and complete blood counts were reviewed. Results: Patients with pulmonary hypertension had higher mean platelet volume levels compared to healthy controls (8.77 &#177; 1.18 vs 7.89 &#177; 0.53; p < 0.001), and statistical significance was still present when pulmonary arterial hypertension patients were not included in the pulmonary hypertension group (8.59 &#177; 1.23 vs 7.89 &#177; 0.53; p < 0.001). Among patients with pulmonary hypertension, the pulmonary arterial hypertension group and the pulmonary hypertension due to left ventricular failure group had higher mean platelet volumes compared to healthy controls. Mean platelet volume did not correlate with pulmonary artery pressure. Conclusions: Our results indicate that mean platelet volume is not only elevated in pulmonary arterial hypertension, but also due to other causes of pulmonary hypertension. (Cardiol J 2012; 19, 2: 180&#8211;187

The Effects of Blood Pressure Lowering on P-Wave Dispersion in Patients with Hypertensive Crisis in Emergency Setting

Hypertensive emergency refers to a severe hypertension (HT) that is associated with new or progressive end-organ damage. In these clinical situations, blood pressure (BP) should be reduced immediately to prevent or minimize organ dysfunction. The present study evaluated the diagnostic value of two electrocardiographic indices in detecting patients, who are at risk for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF), in the setting hypertensive crisis. The study population consisted of 30 consecutive patients aged >= 40 years, who were admitted to the emergency room with hypertensive crisis. Electrocardiographic (ECG) recordings of the patients were performed before and after the treatment. The minimum (P-min) and maximum (P-max) P wave duration on ECG, and P-wave dispersion (P-d), which was defined as the difference between P-min and P-max, were measured. The mean P-d was 118.0 +/- 32.1 and 94.0 +/- 44.3 before and after the treatment, respectively. The decrease observed in the mean P-d was statistically significant (p = 0.005). The mean Pmax was 214.7 +/- 37.1 before the treatment, while it was 194.0 +/- 47.3 after the treatment, and the difference was significant (p = 0.021). The mean P-min was 96.7 +/- 26.3 and 100.0 +/- 41.0 before and after the treatment, respectively; however, the difference was not significant (p = 0.624). P-max and Pd display significant changes with acute treatment of HT. There is a need for larger prospective studies to clearly elucidate the diagnostic value of ECG indices, P-max and P-d as indicators of future PAF

Quantification of rheumatic mitral stenosis severity with three-dimensional vena contracta area

Introduction: Rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS) is an important health issue in developing countries. Assessment of the correct mitral valve area (MVA) is essential for the timing of intervention. Most of the parameters for the assessment of rheumatic MS are derived from Two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography. Three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography is commonly used in our daily practice at the present time. The aim of this study was to assess the value of 3D echocardiography mitral valve vena contracta area (VCA) in predicting the severity of Rheumatic MS by comparing 3D planimetry. Methods: The patients, who had been diagnosed as mild, moderate, and severe rheumatic MS with conventional methods (pressure half time, planimetry) by 2D transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)/ transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), underwent 3D TEE evaluation. Also, the patients who had an atrial fibrillation and more than moderate aortic regurgitation were included in the study. 3D TEE full volume mitral valve VCA was measured in end-diastole during its largest dimensions. 3D TEE full volume and 3D zoom MVA planimetry were measured at the end-diastole during the mitral valve's largest opening. Results: We studied 40 patients (the mean age: 51.1 +/- 11.6 years, 31 females) with rheumatic MS. 3D TEE VCA was found to be highly correlated with the 3D TEE MVA (r = 0.82, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Our study findings provide evidence that 3D TEE mitral valve VCA can be additionally used in detecting the severity of rheumatic MS

Exercise-induced increase in lipid peroxidation in patients with chronic heart failure: Relation to exercise intolerance

Background: Little is known about the relationship be tween exercise intolerance and lipid peroxidation in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients. This study was designed to investigate the relationship between exercise-induced plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) changes in CHF patients and to determine whether there is any association between plasma MDA levels and exercise capacity assessed by cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Methods: Cardiopulmonary exercise testing was applied to 31 CHF patients ( 16 ischemic, 15 idiopathic) and controls. Rest and peak exercise blood samples were analyzed for MDA. Results: Patients with CHF had elevation of plasma MDA levels during exercise compared with controls ( p < 0.001 vs. p = 0.588). MDA change remained significant both in ischemic and idiopathic cardiomyopathy groups ( p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). Delta MDA (peak exercise MDA - rest MDA) showed significant inverse correlation with peak oxygen consumption in patients with CHF. Conclusion: Lipid peroxidation is increased in patients with CHF during exercise regardless of etiology, and this increase is inversely related to oxygen consumption. Copyright (c) 2007 S. Karger AG, Base

Plasma homocysteine concentration in patients with poor or good coronary collaterals

Background Elevated plasma homocysteine (Hcy) concentrations are associated with an increased risk of vascular disease. Hcy is known to inhibit endothelial cell proliferation in vitro. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the role of plasma Hcy concentrations on development of collateral circulation in single-vessel chronic total occlusion. Methods and Results Collateral status was determined by Rentrop's classification. Of 817 patients, 56 cases of pure single-vessel chronic total occlusion were studied. Plasma Hcy concentrations in patients with single-vessel total coronary occlusion were higher compared with controls (17.3 +/- 12.6 mu mol/L vs 10.9 +/- 4.9 mu mol/L, p = 0.015). There was no significant difference in plasma Hey concentrations of the good and poor collateral groups (17.2 +/- 13.7 mu mol/L vs 15.3 +/- 9.3 mu mol/L, p = 0.834). Plasma Hcy concentrations in individual Rentrop subclasses 0, 1, 2 and 3 were as follows: 15.9 +/- 9.1, 16.3 +/- 12.4, 17.1 +/- 14.1 and 20.1 +/- 13.5 mu mol/L (p = 0.893). There was a positive linear correlation between Rentrop subclass and angina pectoris duration (r = 0.41, p = 0.003). Angina pectoris duration was the only independent variable affecting the development of coronary collaterals in the present study (odds ratio [confidence interval]: 1.85 [1.12-2.91], p = 0.014). Conclusion Patients with single-vessel chronic total occlusion had higher plasma Hcy concentrations than controls, but similar Hey concentrations when compared according to the presence of poor or good coronary collaterals. There is a lack of association between plasma Hcy concentration and coronary collateral status in the current study

Quantification of rheumatic mitral stenosis severity with three-dimensional vena contracta area

WOS: 000458874600020PubMed ID: 30548321Introduction: Rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS) is an important health issue in developing countries. Assessment of the correct mitral valve area (MVA) is essential for the timing of intervention. Most of the parameters for the assessment of rheumatic MS are derived from Two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography. Three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography is commonly used in our daily practice at the present time. The aim of this study was to assess the value of 3D echocardiography mitral valve vena contracta area (VCA) in predicting the severity of Rheumatic MS by comparing 3D planimetry. Methods: The patients, who had been diagnosed as mild, moderate, and severe rheumatic MS with conventional methods (pressure half time, planimetry) by 2D transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)/ transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), underwent 3D TEE evaluation. Also, the patients who had an atrial fibrillation and more than moderate aortic regurgitation were included in the study. 3D TEE full volume mitral valve VCA was measured in end-diastole during its largest dimensions. 3D TEE full volume and 3D zoom MVA planimetry were measured at the end-diastole during the mitral valve's largest opening. Results: We studied 40 patients (the mean age: 51.1 +/- 11.6 years, 31 females) with rheumatic MS. 3D TEE VCA was found to be highly correlated with the 3D TEE MVA (r = 0.82, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Our study findings provide evidence that 3D TEE mitral valve VCA can be additionally used in detecting the severity of rheumatic MS

The Possible Role of NLRP3 Inflammasome in Depression and Myocardial Infarction Comorbidity

It is well-established that cardiovascular disease and depression are highly comorbid. This study aimed to assess the possible role of the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome pathway and the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in patients with incident myocardial infarction in the presence or absence of depression. Sixty-eight consecutive patients with incident ST-elevation myocardial infarction and twenty healthy subjects were included. The patients were assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Disorders—Clinician Version during their 1–4-day-long hospitalization and were divided into two groups: with and without comorbid depression. Blood samples for the determination of NLRP3, interleukin-18 (IL-18), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and hsCRP levels were analyzed using ELISA. NLRP3, IL-1β, IL-18, and hsCRP levels were significantly higher in myocardial infarction patients compared to the healthy group (p = 0.02, p p p p = 0.015, OR = 1.72, and CI = 1.11–2.66). The likelihood of depression is associated with increasing NLRP3 levels in myocardial infarction patients. However, this potential role should be further explored in a larger sample

Correction to: Comparison of 2D vena contracta area with 3D planimetric mitral valve area in rheumatoid mitral valve disease

Orijinal makaledeki bir hatadan kaynaklanan düzeltme.In the original publication of the article one co-author, A. Zencirci, was listed by mistake. Dr. A. Zencirci has not contributed to this article and therefore, the author list has been updated. The author name A. Zencirci has been removed. All authors have agreed to the updated author list. Correct order given in this article. The original article has been corrected