Left ventricular thrombus mimicking primary cardiac tumor in a patient with primary antiphospholipid syndrome and recurrent systemic embolism

Primary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a well-defined entity characterized by spontaneous and recurrent abortion, thrombocytopenia and recurrent vascular thromboses (arterial and venous). Left ventricular thrombus mimicking primary cardiac tumor with recurrent systemic embolism has not been previously reported. In this report we describe a 39 year-old man admitted to hospital presenting with left hemiparesis and a peripheral embolism. He had no history of thrombotic events. Transthoracic echocardiography showed a large, polypoid and mobile mass (4.0 × 1.2 cm) attached to the apex of the left ventricle, highly suggestive of primary cardiac tumor. The patient subsequently underwent open heart surgery. The histological examination showed an older thrombus and a fresh thrombus. Post-operative laboratory tests showed lupus anticoagulant activity, confirming the primary APS diagnosis. The patient initiated treatment with oral anticoagulation (INR levels between 2 and 3) and was discharged 29 days after surgery. At ten month follow-up, he was symptom-free with long-term anticoagulation therapy. No evidence of intracardiac mass recurrence on two-dimensional echocardiography was seen. Intracardiac thrombus has been rarely reported as a complication of primary APS. Left ventricular mass mimicking primary cardiac tumor with recurrent systemic embolism has not been previously reported. Pre-operative investigations could not distinguish such a thrombus from a cardiac tumor and the diagnosis was made post-operatively

Early detection of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in Chagas' disease

BACKGROUND: Chagas' disease may cause left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and its early detection in asymptomatic patients would allow to stratify the risk and to optimize medical treatment. The aim of this study is to investigate if transmitral Doppler flow can detect early abnormalities of the diastolic left ventricular function in patients during the indeterminate phase of Chagas' disease, in which the electrocardiogram (ECG), chest x-ray and 2-D echocardiogram (2D-echo) are normal. METHODS: a group of 54 patients with Chagas' disease was studied and compared to a control group of 27 subjects of similar age. All were assessed with an ECG, chest X-ray, 2-D echo, and transmitral Doppler flow. RESULTS: both groups had similar values in the 2D-echo. In patients with Chagas' disease, the transmitral Doppler showed a higher peak A velocity (control group: 0.44 m/sec, Chagas group: 0.55 m/sec, p = 0.001), a lower E/A ratio (control group: 1.45, Chagas group: 1.22, p < 0.05), and a lengthening of the deceleration time of early diastolic filling (control: 138.7 ± 26.8 msec, Chagas group: 167.9 ± 34.6 msec, p = 001), thus revealing an early disorder of the diastolic left ventricular function in patients with Chagas' disease. CONCLUSION: in patients with Chagas' disease who are in the indeterminate phase, transmitral Doppler flow allowed to identify early abnormalities of the left ventricular diastolic function, which provide useful clinical information for prognostic stratification and treatment

Repercusión de la elevación de troponina T con valores normales de creatincinasa sobre la función ventricular en los síndromes coronarios agudos

Background The role of elevated troponins to predict changes on ventricular function in patients with high creatine kinase (CK) levels has been well established; yet, little is known about the clinical significance of high troponin levels with normal CK levels. Objective To analyze the relation between Troponin T (TnT) levels and global and regional left ventricular function in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) with normal CK and CK-MB levels. Material and Methods We included patients admitted to the coronary care unit due to ACS within 48 hours from symptoms onset with elevated TnT levels measured by quantitative determination and normal CK and CK-MB levels. Biomarkers were measured at baseline, 24 and 48 hours. Left ventricular function was analyzed by two-dimensional echocardiography at admission and before discharge, and compared with the highest levels of the biomarkers. Ejection fraction, regional wall motion and global systolic longitudinal strain based on speckle-tracking technique were evaluated. Results Thirty patients with ACS were included. The highest median value of TnT was 0.13 ìg/L (interquartile range, 0.07-0.25) measured 24 hours after admission. Left ventricular ejection fraction was 62.9%±10% at admission and 62.8%±10.3% before discharge. Wall motion index was 1.04±0.1 and 1.03±0.1, respectively. Systolic strain at admission was 14.93±3 and improved before discharge 16.51±3.33 (p = 0.0003). Conclusions High TnT values in ACS with normal CK levels do not modify global or regional left ventricular function assessed by conventional echocardiography. The evaluation of systolic strain using a more sensitive technique detects transient abnormalities. These findings might question the definition of acute myocardial infarction based on high troponin levels, considering that the classical definition is based on elevated CK values which are associated with changes in ventricular function.Introduccion La repercusion de la elevacion de troponinas sobre la funcion ventricular izquierda en pacientes que no presentan aumento de creatincinasa (CK) por sobre el valor normal se conoce poco, a diferencia de lo que ocurre con los que presentan elevacion de CK. Objetivos Analizar la relacion entre los valores de troponina T (TnT) y la funcion ventricular izquierda global y regional en pacientes con sindromes coronarios agudos (SCA) sin elevacion de CK total ni de CK-MB. Material y metodos Se estudiaron pacientes ingresados a Unidad Coronaria con SCA que durante las primeras 48 horas de evolucion presentaron elevacion de TnT medida cuantitativamente con valores normales de CK y CK-MB. Se dosaron los biomarcadores en forma basal, a las 24 y a las 48 horas. Los valores mas elevados se utilizaron para compararlos con la funcion ventricular izquierda medida con ecocardiografia bidimensional transtoracica efectuada al ingreso y antes del alta hospitalaria. Se evaluaron la fraccion de eyeccion, la motilidad parietal regional y la deformacion sistolica longitudinal global del ventriculo izquierdo, esta ultima mediante la tecnica de speckle tracking. Resultados Se incluyeron 30 pacientes con SCA. La TnT mas elevada (mediana, rango intercuartil) fue de 0,13 mg/L (0,07-0,25) correspondiente a las 24 horas del ingreso. La fraccion de eyeccion ventricular izquierda en el primer ecocardiograma fue del 62,9% �} 10% y en el segundo, del 62,8% �} 10,3%. El indice de motilidad parietal fue de 1,04 �} 0,1 y de 1,03 �} 0,1. La deformacion sistolica tuvo un valor de .14,93 �} 3 al ingreso, que mejoro antes del alta con un valor de .16,51 �} 3,33 (p = 0,0003). Conclusiones La elevacion de TnT en los SCA sin elevacion concomitante de CK no altera la funcion ventricular global ni regional medida con metodologias convencionales. Utilizando un metodo mas sensible que mide la deformacion sistolica ventricular se detectan alteraciones transitorias. Esto podria cuestionar la definicion de infarto agudo de miocardio basada en la elevacion de troponinas, teniendo en cuenta que la definicion clasica basada en la CK suele repercutir, en mayor o en menor grado, sobre la funcion ventricular

Utilidad del Doppler pulsado tisular en la detección precoz de anormalidades diastólicas en familiares de primer grado de pacientes con miocardiopatía hipertrófica familiar

Introducción y objetivos. El Doppler pulsado tisular (DPT) permite analizar la función miocárdica regional independientemente de la precarga. Se realizó DPT a los familiares de primer grado de pacientes con miocardiopatía hipertrófica familiar (MHF) para detectar anormalidades precoces. Pacientes y método. Se estudió a 47 familiares de primer grado de pacientes con MHF (grupo GI) y se los comparó con un grupo control de 47 sujetos normales (grupo GII). Se realizó ecocardiografía 2D y Doppler pulsado de los flujos mitral y tricuspídeo. Mediante DPT en la pared lateral del ventrículo izquierdo, el ventrículo derecho y el septo interventricular se midieron las velocidades pico S', E' y A' y los períodos de relajación y contracción isovolumétricos. Se consideró función diastólica regional normal a una relación E'/A' > 1 y disfunción diastólica a una relación E'A'< 1. Resultados. No hubo alteraciones de la relajación ventricular en el GII (E'A' derecho, 1,78 ± 0,58; septo, 2,03 ± 0,53; izquierdo, 2,55 ± 0,80), mientras que en el GI la relación E'/A' permitió diferenciar 2 subgrupos: GIa de 37 familiares de primer grado que presentaron patrón de relajación normal (E'/A' derecho, 1,8 ± 0,44; septo, 2,07 ± 0,41; izquierdo, 2,35 ± 0,6, sin diferencias significativas con el grupo control) y GIb de 10 familiares de primer grado con relajación prolongada en el ventrículo derecho (E'/A', 0,70 ± 0,28; p < 0,001), con menor tendencia significativa en el septo (1,57 ± 0,49; p < 0,01) y el lateral izquierdo (1,85 ± 0,53; p < 0,01). Conclusiones. En familiares de primer grado de pacientes con MHF, el DPT permitió diferenciar anormalidades de la relajación ventricular en 10 de los 47 casos (21,3%), más manifiestas en el ventrículo derecho, que podrían ser un marcador preclínico de la enfermedad

Two-Dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography for Early Detection of Myocardial Damage in Young Patients with Fabry Disease

Fabry disease (FD) is characterized by left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Conventional echocardiography is not sensitive enough to perform the preclinical diagnosis To assess whether longitudinal myocardial strain of the left ventricle (LV), using speckle tracking, is useful to detect early myocardial involvement in FD. Forty‐four patients with FD who were diagnosed with genetic testing were prospectively included and were compared to a sex‐matched control group. They were divided into three groups: 22 with LVH (Group I), 22 without LVH (Group II), and 22 healthy volunteers (Group III). LV longitudinal strain was measured from the apical views. An ANOVA test was used for multiple comparisons for variables with a normal distribution, and a Kruskal–Wallis test was used for variables with non‐Gaussian distribution. Longitudinal LV strain was different in the three groups: it was ≥−15% in at least one segment in all Group I patients, in 50% of patients of Group II and in no patient of Group III. Seventy percent of the segments with abnormal strain in Group II were located in the basal regions (32/46). These findings show that the presence of at least one strain value ≥−15% demonstrates subclinical myocardial dysfunction in patients with preclinical FD. Longitudinal myocardial LV strain measured with speckle tracking is a useful tool to detect early myocardial involvement in young patients with FD. This information allows the detection and treatment of myocardial dysfunction at an early stage, which is of high clinical importance.Fil: Saccheri, María C.. Ministerio de Defensa. Ejército Argentino. Hospital Militar Central Cirujano Mayor "Dr. Cosme Argerich"; ArgentinaFil: Cianciulli, Tomás F.. Ministerio de Defensa. Ejército Argentino. Hospital Militar Central Cirujano Mayor "Dr. Cosme Argerich"; ArgentinaFil: Lax, Jorge A.. Ministerio de Defensa. Ejército Argentino. Hospital Militar Central Cirujano Mayor "Dr. Cosme Argerich"; ArgentinaFil: Gagliargi, Juan A.. Ministerio de Defensa. Ejército Argentino. Hospital Militar Central Cirujano Mayor "Dr. Cosme Argerich"; ArgentinaFil: Caceres, Guillermo L.. Centro para la Enfermedad de Fabry; ArgentinaFil: Quarin, Alejandra E.. Centro para la Enfermedad de Fabry; ArgentinaFil: Kisinovsky, Issac. Centro para la Enfermedad de Fabry; ArgentinaFil: Rozenfeld, Paula Adriana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas. Laboratorio de Investigaciones del Sistema Inmune; ArgentinaFil: Reisin, Ricardo C.. Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires; Argentin