Showing papers by "Maurizio Galderisi published in 2004"

Pulsed tissue Doppler imaging detects early myocardial dysfunction in asymptomatic patients with severe mitral regurgitation

Abstract: Objective: To assess whether tissue Doppler myocardial imaging (TDI) indices can predict postoperative left ventricular function in patients with mitral regurgitation (MR) after surgical correction. Methods: 84 patients (mean (SD) age 54.3 (10.8) years) with asymptomatic severe MR, an end systolic diameter 60% were subdivided in two groups: 43 patients with a postoperative EF reduction Results: Postoperative EF decreased significantly (from 67 (5)% to 60 (5.5)%, p = 0.0001). Group 2 had a higher PCTm, CTm, and PCTm:CTm ratio and a lower Sm velocity than group 1 (PCTm 100.4 (19) ms v 82 (21.8) ms, p = 0.004; CTm 222 (3.1) ms v 215 (2.3) ms, p = 0.01; PCTm:CTm 0.45 (0.08) v 0.38 (0.09), p = 0.001; Sm velocity 10.4 (1.1) cm/s v 13 (1.3) cm/s, p = 0.0001). Multivariate regression analysis showed that the combination of PCTm:CTm ratio ⩾ 40 ms and Sm velocity ⩽ 10.5 cm/s was the main independent predictor of postoperative EF reduction ⩾ 10% (sensitivity 78%, specificity 95%). Conclusions: TDI systolic indices can predict postoperative left ventricular function in patients with asymptomatic MR undergoing surgical correction.

Nebivolol improves coronary flow reserve in hypertensive patients without coronary heart disease

Abstract: ObjectiveTo examine the effects of nebivolol, a β-blocker with nitroxide-mediated vasodilating properties, on coronary flow reserve (CFR) in patients with uncomplicated arterial hypertension.Design, setting and patientsFourteen newly diagnosed, never-treated, World Health Organization grade I–II hyp

Prevalence and determinants of left ventricular hypertrophy in acromegaly: impact of different methods of indexing left ventricular mass

Abstract: Summary background Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is the most common cardiac abnormality in acromegaly Left ventricular mass (LVM) is an important parameter measured to detect LVH, but the relationship with body size should be considered by correcting LVM to body surface area (BSA), height or height2·7 All trials concerning acromegaly have detected LVH on the basis of LVM indexed for BSA, but have been criticized for disregarding the effects of obesity patients and measurements 97 patients with active acromegaly and a control group of 97 nonacromegalic subjects, were compared for the prevalence of LVH, calculated with different corrections of LVM for BSA, height and height2·7 In addition, we evaluated determinants of LVH in acromegalic group results In controls, the prevalence of LVH, determined by correcting LVM for BSA (10·3%) was significantly lower than correcting by LVM/height (21·6%, P = 0·05) and LVM/height2·7 (33%, P 10 years By separate multiple regression analyses systolic blood pressure was the only independent determinant of LVM/BSA or LVM/height, while systolic blood pressure and GH levels were both predictors of LVM/height2·7 conclusions LVM indexed for height2·7 appears to be the most appropriate method to identify LVH in acromegaly, particularly in overweight patients and those with shorter disease duration

Rapid reversion of Loeffler's endocarditis by imatinib in early stage clonal hypereosinophilic syndrome.

Abstract: Endomyocardial fibrosis (Loeffler's endocarditis) is the main cause of poor outcome in Hyper Eosinophilic Syndrome (HES) and Eosinophilic Leukemia (EL). Reversion of the cardiac damage has been sel...

[Doppler echocardiography for the assessment of left ventricular diastolic function: methodology, clinical and prognostic value].

Abstract: To date, left ventricular diastolic function can be clinically assessed by Doppler echocardiography. The Doppler recording of mitral inflow and pulmonary venous flow provides main information about ventricular diastolic properties. At the level of the mitral inflow we can measure the early diastolic peak velocity (E), atrial peak velocity and derive their ratio, the E velocity deceleration time and isovolumic relaxation time, and calculate atrial filling fraction. At the level of the pulmonary veins, the peak systolic velocity (S), the peak diastolic velocity (D), the S/D ratio, the peak of reverse atrial velocity and its duration, above all in terms of difference with the mitral A duration, characterize the different patterns of diastolic function. Also the new ultrasound technologies are clinically useful to define ventricular diastolic properties. The myocardial early diastolic velocity (Em) detectable by pulsed tissue Doppler at the level of the mitral annulus, and the flow propagation velocity (Vp) recordable by color M-mode of left ventricular inflow, both relatively preload-independent, are measurements related to tau, the reference hemodynamic variable. The E/Em and E/Vp ratios provide accurate estimation of the changes in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. They allow us to distinguish the pseudonormal and restrictive patterns from the normal pattern and are, therefore, alternative tools to Valsalva maneuver of mitral inflow and pulmonary venous flow. The predictive value of the pattern of abnormal relaxation (grade I of diastolic dysfunction) and both the reversible and irreversible restrictive patterns (grade III and IV respectively) is now demonstrated and permits important prognostic stratification and appropriate therapeutic management.

Usefulness of pulsed tissue Doppler for the assessment of left ventricular myocardial function in overt hypothyroidism.

Abstract: BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to assess the role of tissue Doppler (TD) in the identification of left ventricular (LV) myocardial regionl abnormalities in overt hypothyroidism. METHODS Fourteen women with newly diagnosed, never treated overt hypothyroidism and 14 healthy women, matched for age, underwent standard echocardiography and pulsed TD, by placing the sample volume at the basal posterior septum and lateral mitral annulus, in the apical 4-chamber view. The myocardial systolic (SM) and diastolic velocities (Em, Am and their ratio) and time intervals (relaxation time [RTm], pre-contraction time [PCTm], contraction time) were measured. RESULTS The two groups were comparable for body surface area, blood pressure and heart rate. At standard echocardiography, patients with overt hypothyroidism had a significantly greater septal thickness and LV mass index, a longer LV pre-ejection period (PEP), deceleration time and isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) and a lower E peak velocity and E/A ratio. TD showed a significantly longer PCTm and RTm and a lower Em and Em/Am ratio of both the septum and mitral annulus in overt hypothyroidism. The ratio of the standard Doppler E to Em of the mitral annulus was 5.5 +/- 1.2 in controls and 5.3 +/- 1.7 in overt hypothyroidism (p = NS). In the overall population, PEP, IVRT, PCTm and RTm were correlated negatively with FT3 and FT4, and positively with thyroid-stimulating hormone. After adjusting for age, body surface area and heart rate in separate multivariate analyses, the associations of TD PCTm with the thyroid hormones and thyroid-stimulating hormone were greater than the homologous associations of standard Doppler PEP. CONCLUSIONS Standard echocardiography confirms itself as a satisfactory diagnostic technique for the identification of LV global dysfunction in overt hypothyroidism. Pulsed TD may be useful to determine the severity of LV myocardial dysfunction in relation to the degree of hormonal impairment.

Transthoracic coronary flow reserve and dobutamine derived myocardial function: a 6-month evaluation after successful coronary angioplasty

Abstract: After percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), stress-echocardiography and gated single photon emission computerized tomography (g-SPECT) are usually performed but both tools have technical limitations. The present study evaluated results of PTCA of left anterior descending artery (LAD) six months after PTCA, by combining transthoracic Doppler coronary flow reserve (CFR) and color Tissue Doppler (C-TD) dobutamine stress. Six months after PTCA of LAD, 24 men, free of angiographic evidence of restenosis, underwent standard Doppler-echocardiography, transthoracic CFR of distal LAD (hyperemic to basal diastolic coronary flow ratio) and C-TD at rest and during dobutamine stress to quantify myocardial systolic (Sm) and diastolic (Em and Am, Em/Am ratio) peak velocities in middle posterior septum. Patients with myocardial infarction, coronary stenosis of non-LAD territory and heart failure were excluded. According to dipyridamole g-SPECT, 13 patients had normal perfusion and 11 with perfusion defects. The 2 groups were comparable for age, wall motion score index (WMSI) and C-TD at rest. However, patients with perfusion defects had lower CFR (2.11 ± 0.4 versus 2.87 ± 0.6, p < 0.002) and septal Sm at high-dose dobutamine (p < 0.01), with higher WMSI (p < 0.05) and stress-echo positivity of LAD territory in 5/11 patients. In the overall population, CFR was related negatively to high-dobutamine WMSI (r = -0.50, p < 0.01) and positively to high-dobutamine Sm of middle septum (r = 0.55, p < 0.005). In conclusion, even in absence of epicardial coronary restenosis, stress perfusion imaging reflects a physiologic impairment in coronary microcirculation function whose magnitude is associated with the degree of regional functional impairment detectable by C-TD.

[The right ventricle: role of Doppler echocardiography in clinical practice].

Abstract: To date, right ventricular function can be clinically assessed by Doppler echocardiography. Monodimensional and two-dimensional echocardiography provide information about right ventricular dimensions, wall thickness and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, which is an accurate estimate of longitudinal systolic function. Additional insights into right ventricular systolic function are given by Doppler interrogation of right ventricular outflow, measuring the duration of systolic time intervals. The Doppler recordings of the tricuspid inflow and hepatic venous flow allow the assessment of right ventricular diastolic properties. Also the new ultrasound technologies are clinically useful. The myocardial velocities and time intervals, detectable by pulsed tissue Doppler at the level of the tricuspid annulus, are markers of systolic and diastolic longitudinal motion of the right ventricle. The off-line strain rate imaging permits quantification of right ventricular myocardial contractility and may be particularly useful for the assessment of congenital cardiomyopathies. The right ventricular filling pressure and pulmonary arterial pressure may be derived by the combined analysis of the grade of tricuspid regurgitation and the respiratory reactivity of the inferior vena cava. The systolic time intervals, measured at the level of the right ventricular outflow, represent estimates of changes in pulmonary vascular resistance. The prognostic value of Doppler echocardiographic measurements of right ventricular function is demonstrated in various pathologies. This evaluation also provides additional value for the risk stratification of patients with chronic heart failure.