Increased systemic arterial stiffness in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

Background: Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a complication of venous thromboembolism (VTE) resulting from non-dissolving thromboemboli in the pulmonary arteries. Previous observations indicate a higher prevalence of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with VTE and CTEPH. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the arterial stiffening assessed by pulse wave velocity (PWV), a marker of arterial stiffness, in CTEPH patients in comparison with a matched control group (CG).Methods: The study group consisted of 26 CTEPH patients (9 male and 17 female, age 69 ± 10 years) and 22 CG (10 male, 12 female, age 67 ± 8 years). In all subjects a physical examination, carotid-femoral PWV and transthoracic echocardiography were performed. Right heart catheterization was done in all CTEPH.Results: Chronic tromboembolic pulmonary hypertension patients had significantly higher PWV than CG (10.3 ± 2.5 m/s vs. 9 ± 1.3 m/s, p < 0.05), even though systolic blood pressure was higher in CG (120 ± 11 vs. 132 ± 14 mmHg, p = 0.002). PWV correlated only with age and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) in CTEPH (r = 0.45, p = 0.03 and r = 0.43, p = 0.03, respectively). Arterial stiffening defined as PWV > 10 m/s was found in 11 (42%) CTEPH patients and in 5 (23%) cases from CG (p = 0.13). CTEPH patients with PWV > 10 m/s were older (74 ± 8 vs. 66 ± 10 years, p < 0.05), had decreased oxygen saturation (SaO2 89 [73–96]% vs. 96 [85–98]%, p < 0.01) and tended to have higher PVR (8.1 [3.1–14.0] vs. 5.2 [3.1–12.7] HRU, p = 0.10).Conclusions: Arterial stiffness, assessed with PWV, is increased in CTEPH. The elevated PWV is associated with older age, lower SaO2 and higher PVR in CTEPH

Evaluation of the InterTAK Diagnostic Score in differentiating Takotsubo syndrome from acute coronary syndrome. A single center experience

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of a novel clinical score — the InterTAK Diagnostic Score in differentiating Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) from acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods: Medical records of 40 consecutive patients with ACS and 20 patients with TTS were managed and retrospectively analyzed at the documented center. Each patient was evaluated using the Inter- TAK Diagnostic Score. To illustrate the diagnostic ability of the score, a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was performed. Results: Takotsube syndrome patients were more often female compared to the ACS group (70% vs. 27.5%, p = 0.002), an emotional trigger was more prevalent among the TTS group (65% vs. 7.5%, p < 0.001). The area under the curve (AUC) for the score was 0.885 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.78–0.97). Using a cut-off value of 45 points, the sum of sensitivity and specificity was the highest. However, when patients with a score of ≥ 50 were diagnosed as TTS, 85% were diagnosed correctly. When patients with score ≤ 31 were diagnosed as ACS, 92% were diagnosed correctly. Conclusions: The InterTAK Diagnostic Score might help in differentiating TTS from ACSs with high sensitivity and specificity. This finding requires further investigation to confirm its clinical utility

Drożny otwór owalny i jego znaczenie u pacjentów z ostrą zatorowością płucną

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) occurs in 25–35% of the general population and it is the most common cause of intracardiac shunt. In patients with acute pulmonary embolism (APE) and right ventricular overload, PFO is a risk factor of paradoxical embolism leading to ischaemic stroke or peripheral embolism. PFO in APE was reported to be a risk factor for the complicated course and increased in-hospital mortality.Drożny otwór owalny (PFO) występuje u 25–35% populacji ogólnej i jest najczęstszą przyczyną przecieku wewnątrzsercowego. U pacjentów z ostrą zatorowością płucną i przeciążeniem prawej komory PFO jest czynnikiem ryzyka zatorowości paradoksalnej, w tym udaru mózgu i podwyższonej śmiertelności wewnątrzszpitalnej

KLINICZNE PODEJRZENIE ZAPALENIA MIĘŚNIA SERCOWEGO i OSIERDZIA. ROLA OZNACZEŃ BNP W SUROWICY KRWI Doniesienie wstępne

Background: Diagnosis of perimyocarditis is often very challenging. Clinical presentation includes chest pain and ECG changes which are difficult to interpret. Clinical course is usually mild, however, some patients develop heart failure symptoms and require aggressive treatment. Plasma b-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a marker of the heamodynamical impairment of the heart. Its diagnostic role in patients with acute perimyocarditis has not yet been examined.Aim: To assess the usefulness of BNP measurement in the diagnosis of perimyocarditis.Methods: The study group consisted of 14 consecutive patients (13 males, mean age 32.1±12.4 years) with suspected perimyocarditis (history of influenza, typical symptoms, ECG and echocardiographic results as well as myocardial necrotic markers). Plasma BNP was assessed at bedside at the time of admission.Results: Plasma BNP, measured in 12 patients, was 163±154 pg/mL (max. 519 pg/mL) and exceeded upper normal level in 6 (50%) patients. When normal levels were adjusted for age and gender, 9 (80%) patients had elevated BNP. One patient had heart failure symptoms and a BNP level of 205 pg/mL. In all 4 patients who had transient myocardial contractility disturbances, detected by echocardiography, BNP level exceeded 100 pg/mL.Conclusions: BNP level is increased in some patients with acute perimyocarditis. BNP elevation is probably associated with haemodynamical stress caused by transient contractility abnormalities. Diagnostic and prognostic role of BNP in acute perimyocarditis requires further studies

High prevalence of severe coronary artery disease in elderly patients with non-operable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension referred for balloon pulmonary angioplasty

Introduction : Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) is a new emerging catheter-based alternative treatment option for patients with inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Aim : To show that all elderly CTEPH patients referred for BPA are at higher risk of obstructive coronary artery disease and that, in daily practice, they should undergo invasive coronary angiography. Material and methods : Eleven patients at the age of at least 65 years (6 males, 5 females, 77.2 ±5.9 years) with confirmed non-operable type II or type III CTEPH, considered for BPA, underwent elective coronary angiography. Severe obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) was diagnosed when stenosis of left main coronary artery ≥ 50% or stenosis of ≥ 70% of epicardial arteries was angiographically confirmed. We also screened for CAD consecutive age- and sex-matched 114 PE survivors (52 males, 62 females, 74.8 ±7.2 years) with excluded CTEPH. Results : Severe CAD was more frequent in elderly patients with non-operable type II or type III CTEPH candidates for BPA than in elderly acute PE survivors with excluded CTEPH (54.5% vs. 16.7%, p < 0.01), and therefore elderly CTEPH patients referred for BPA were at higher risk of CAD (OR = 5.9, 95% CI: 1.64–21.46, p = 0.007) when compared to elderly survivors after acute PE with excluded CTEPH. Conclusions : All elderly CTEPH patients referred for BPA are at higher risk of severe CAD and should routinely undergo invasive coronary angiography before BPA

Balloon pulmonary angioplasty – efficient therapy of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension in the patient with advanced sarcoidosis – a case report

Abstract Background Approximately a quarter of patients with advanced sarcoidosis develop pulmonary hypertension (PH), which affects their prognosis. We report unusual case of confirmed chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) in a patient with stage IV sarcoidosis successfully treated with balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA). Case presentation A 65 years old male with a history of colitis ulcerosa, and pulmonary sarcoidosis diagnosed in 10 years before, on long term oral steroids, with a history of deep vein thrombosis and acute pulmonary embolism chronically anticoagulated was referred to our center due to severe dyspnea. On admission he presented WHO functional class IV, mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) in right heart catheterization (RHC) was elevated to 54 mmHg. Diagnosis of CTEPH was definitely confirmed with typical V/Q scan, and with selective pulmonary angiography (PAG) completes by intravascular imagining (intravascular ultrasound, optical coherent tomography). The patient was deemed inoperable by CTEPH team and two sessions of BPA with multimodal approach resulted in significant clinical and haemodynamical improvement to WHO class II and mPAP decrease to 27 mmHg. Conclusions Balloon pulmonary angioplasty, rapidly developing method of treatment of inoperable CTEPH patients, is also extremely useful therapeutic tool in complex PH patients