Short and Long-Term Outcome of Stress-Induced Cardiomyopathy: What Can We Expect?

Background

Stress-induced/Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is an increasingly recognized diagnostic entity.

Objective

This study was aimed to assess the prevalence and clinical predictors of short and long-term outcome of patients (pts) diagnosed with TC.

Methods

We included all consecutive pts admitted in our department, from November 2006 to August 2011, who met the Mayo Clinic criteria for TC diagnosis.

Results

We evaluated 37 pts (35 women) with a mean age of 63 ±13 years. TC was precipitated by a stressful emotional event in the majority (57%) and chest pain was the most common symptom (89%). Twelve pts (32%) had ST-segment elevation and 15 pts (41%) had T-wave inversion on the electrocardiogram at admission. Severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction was found in 16 pts (43%) and the mean troponin I level was 2.6±1.8 ng/mL. The in-hospital complication rate was 30%, with cardiogenic shock being the most common situation. Physical stress, severe LV systolic dysfunction and peak brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were predictors of acute complications. On the other hand, we found no association between peak troponin I and electrocardiographic presentation. Thirty-five pts were followed for a mean time of 482 ± 512 days, without clinic recurrence.

Conclusion

In our cohort of pts, TC was associated with a high in-hospital complications rate. Physical stress, LV dysfunction and peak BNP could predict acute adverse outcomes.     

Clinical–Morphological Features and Outcomes of Lupus Podocytopathy

Background and objectives

Lupus podocytopathy, which is characterized by diffuse foot process effacement without peripheral capillary wall immune deposits and glomerular proliferation, has been described in SLE patients with nephrotic syndrome in case reports and small series. This study aimed to better characterize the incidence, clinical–morphologic features, and outcomes of such patients from a large Chinese cohort.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements

Lupus podocytopathy was identified from 3750 biopsies of SLE patients obtained from 2000 to 2013 that showed mild glomerular histology in patients with a clinical sign of nephrotic syndrome. The biopsy results were divided into three groups: glomerular minimal change, mesangial proliferation, and FSGS.

Results

Fifty (1.33%) cases were identified as lupus podocytopathy and included minimal change in 13 cases, mesangial proliferation in 28 cases, and FSGS in nine cases. Extensive foot process effacement appeared in all the biopsies and mesangial electron-dense deposits were present in 47 biopsies. All patients demonstrated nephrotic syndrome, and the median proteinuria was 5.72 g/24 h (interquartile range [IQR], 3.82, 6.92). Seventeen (34%) cases presented with AKI. Forty-seven (94%) patients achieved remission after immunosuppressive therapy for a median time of 4 weeks (IQR, 2, 8). Compared with the patients with minimal change and mesangial proliferation, patients with FSGS showed significantly higher incidence of AKI and severe tubule–interstitial injury and a much lower complete remission rate. During follow-up of a median of 62 (IQR, 36, 84) months, renal relapses occurred in 28 (59.6%) patients. No patient died or developed ESRD.

Conclusions

The findings from this cohort study suggest that lupus podocytopathy may represent a special entity of lupus nephritis with distinct clinical–morphologic features. The differences in AKI incidence, tubular injury severity, and response to treatment between the patients with minimal change/mesangial proliferation and those with FSGS patterns indicate two different subtypes of lupus podocytopathy.     

Clinical Features of Right-sided Infective Endocarditis

METHODSSubjectsWeretrospectivelyinvestigatedpatientswithRIEadmittedinourhospitalfromJan１９８５toDec２０００．Totally１７casesofRIEpatientswereincluded，amongwhich１２male，５female，withageof５to５６（mean２２）yearsold．Allpatientswerediagnosedbasedoncl     

Long-Term Outcome of Perianal Paget’s Disease

PURPOSE: Extramammary Pagets disease of the perianal region is a rare finding that often results in delayed diagnosis and treatment. Although the natural history of the disease is not well characterized, it historically has been associated with other cancers. This study summarizes the history and treatment of all patients diagnosed with perianal Pagets disease at a single institution. METHODS: Charts of all patients with a diagnosis of extramammary Pagets disease of the perianal region confirmed or treated at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center between 1950 and 2000 were reviewed. Patients with vulvar Pagets disease or Bowens disease were excluded except when Pagets disease of the perianal region was diagnosed first. Whenever possible, follow-up information was updated. Estimates of overall and disease-free survival were made by the method of Kaplan and Meier. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients with a median age of 63 years were diagnosed with perianal Pagets disease. Most patients (74 percent) were treated with wide excision. Local recurrence occurred in 37 percent of all patients treated and in 30 percent of patients (6/20) undergoing a wide excision as part of their treatment. An invasive component was identified in 44 percent of patients (12/27) with perianal Pagets disease. Six patients (22 percent) required a colostomy as part of the treatment for their disease. Adjuvant chemoradiotherapy was used in 22 percent of patients (6/27) who had more aggressive disease. At a median follow-up of 67 months, 56 percent (15/27) had no evidence of disease, and two patients had died of metastatic disease. The overall and disease-free survival at five years was 59 and 64 percent, respectively, which decreased to 33 and 39 percent, respectively, by ten years. CONCLUSIONS: Perianal Pagets disease is a rare finding even at a large referral center. The disease process is generally a prolonged one marked by frequent recurrences, and the treatment of first choice is wide excision. Patients with invasive malignancies require more extensive surgery. The role of chemoradiotherapy remains undefined in this disease.     

Clinical,Angiographic, and Procedural Correlates of Very Late Absorb Scaffold Thrombosis: Multistudy Registry Results

Objectives

The aim of this study was to identify independent correlates of very late scaffold thrombosis (VLST) from an analysis of consecutively treated patients from 15 multicenter studies.

Implications of Underlying Mechanisms for the Recognition and Management of Diabetic Cardiomyopathy

Heart failure is a complex clinical syndrome, the incidence and prevalence of which is increased in diabetes mellitus, pre-diabetes, and obesity. Although this may arise from underlying coronary artery disease, it often occurs in the absence of significant major epicardial coronary disease, and most commonly manifests as heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Despite epidemiological evidence linking diabetes to heart failure incidence and outcome, the presence of a distinct primary “diabetic” cardiomyopathy has been difficult to prove, because the link between diabetes and heart failure is confounded by hypertension, microvascular dysfunction, and autonomic neuropathy. Nonetheless, several mechanistic associations at systemic, cardiac, and cellular/molecular levels explain different aspects of myocardial dysfunction, including impaired cardiac relaxation, compliance, and contractility. This review seeks to describe recent advances and limitations pertinent to integrating molecular mechanisms, clinical screening, and potential therapeutic avenues for this condition.     

Coronary Artery Calcium and Long-Term Risk of Death,Myocardial Infarction,and Stroke: The Walter Reed Cohort Study

Objectives

This study aimed to assess the long-term risk of death and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) outcomes, including stroke, in a real-world cohort that underwent coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring.

Clinical Features, Serum Interleukin-6, and Interferon-γ Levels of 34 Turkish Patients With Hepatoportal Sclerosis

Hepatoportal sclerosis (HPS) is a clinical disorder of obscure pathogenesis with a variable clinical profile. The aim of the study was to summarize the clinical features of Turkish patients with HPS and to measure the serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and interferon (IFN)-γ to determine the T helper cell profile in the pathogenesis. The study was conducted on 34 HPS patients (17 men, 17 women; mean age at diagnosis, 27±10 years) and 15 healthy controls. The clinical features of HPS patients including demographics, clinical history, laboratory, and ultrasonography findings were summarized. Serum IL-6 and IFN-γ levels were measured by using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Gastrointestinal bleeding was the most common dominant presenting symptom. Majority of the patients had preserved liver function tests. Serum triglyceride levels were decreased in 30%. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed well-demarcated bands of increased echogenicity surrounding the portal vein wall and sudden narrowing of the intrahepatic second-degree portal vein branches in all cases. Spontaneous shunts and/or collaterals were seen in 13 cases (37%). Extrahepatic portal vein thrombosis were seen in 7 (20%) patients after at least 5 years of disease duration. Serum levels of both IL-6 (median, 3.2 pg/mL) and IFN-γ (median, 7.8 pg/mL) were significantly higher in HPS patients compared with the control group (median, 1 pg/mL). HPS has variable clinical profile in different geographic areas of the world. Both Th1 and 2 cells may have a role in the regulation of immune response and pathogenesis of the disease.     

Changes of Clinical Features of Aortic Dissection Over Ten Years

Objectives To investigate changes of clinical features of aortic dissection （AD） in recent years in Guangzhou. Methods Retrospective analysis of consecutive patients with AD over 10 years in Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute. Demographic features and outcomes in cases presenting with acute dissection were compared between patients admitted in two five-year periods. Results 339 patients with AD were admitted during the recent ten years. Their mean age was 55.7 ± 11.2 years. Male verse female ratio was 4.8. Surgery was performed in 37 % of cases with acute type A and 7 % with acute type B dissection. Apart from a fast increase in number of patients admitted each year, there were no significant changes in demographic characteristics over these ten years. Survival of patients with acute dissection showed a trend of improvement, though it had not been statistically confirmed. Conclusions The number of admitted patients with AD has been fast increasing in Guangzhou. These patients were about ten years younger than previously reported by foreign researchers. Surgery was much less frequently performed than it was in western countries. Survival in acute cases showed a trend of improvement. These data support urgent improvement in prevention and management of aortic dissection.     

Native T1 and ECV of Noninfarcted Myocardium and Outcome in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease

Background

Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains the major cause of cardiac morbidity and mortality worldwide, despite the advances in treatment with coronary revascularization and modern antiremodeling therapy. Risk stratification in CAD patients is primarily based on left ventricular volumes, ejection fraction (LVEF), risk scores, and the presence and extent of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). The prognostic role of T1 mapping in noninfarcted myocardium in CAD patients has not yet been determined.

Is Long-Term Esophageal pH Monitoring of Clinical Value?

Two hundred eighty-nine patients with various chest symptoms were studied by interview for the presence and type of symptoms, and by long-term esophageal pH monitoring for acid reflux. One hundred eighty of the patients also had upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. There was significant correlation between the results of all three methods. pH monitoring was more sensitive (92.9% vs. 81.0%) and specific (41.3% vs. 23.9%), and classified more patients correctly (55.6% vs. 37.2%), than an interview by an experienced gastroenterologist when esophageal erosions were regarded as "gold standard" for pathologic reflux. Of all patients, 31.5% had unclear symptoms and therefore could not be diagnosed by interview alone. Forty nine percent of these had pathologic reflux on pH monitoring. Among the patients, 72.3% who had symptoms typical of reflux disease also had a pathologic result at pH monitoring. It is concluded that most patients with unambiguous symptoms of esophageal reflux can correctly be diagnosed by interview, but that esophageal pH monitoring has a role in the management of patients with less characteristic chest symptoms.     

Outcome of overlapping anal sphincter repair after 3 months and after a mean of 80 months

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the functional results of anal sphincter repair after a long follow-up (mean 80.1 months). METHODS: In the period 1990-2002, 65 sphincter repairs were performed. Obstetric trauma was the cause of incontinence in 72.3% cases, fistulotomy in 13.8%, nonspecific trauma in 9.2%, and war injury in 4.6%. At the time of surgery, 12 patients had undergone an urgent stoma procedure. In all cases, anal manometry, electromyography, and defecography were performed. The severity of incontinence was evaluated preoperatively using the Wexner score system. Anterior sphincteroplasty was performed in 52 cases, lateral in 9 cases, and posterior in 4 cases. RESULTS: The results were determined according to the Wexner score system and the Browning-Parks scale. The Wexner score was calculated 3 months after operation and during every follow-up visit. Preoperative scores and those at the first and last follow-up visits were analyzed. Three months after operation excellent results were achieved in 55.5%, good in 18.5%, fair in 16.9%, and poor in 9.2% patients. After follow-up (mean 80.1 months), 26.8% had excellent results, 21.4% had good results, 12.5% had fair results, and 39.3% of patients had a poor outcome. Results determined by the Wexner score system improved from 17.8 preoperatively to 3.6 three months after operation, but deteriorated over time to 6.3 after longer follow-up (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Overlapping sphincter repair provides satisfactory results in more than two-thirds of patients initially, but the results tend to worsen over time and are satisfactory in half of patients after longer follow-up.