The Heart in Rheumatoid Arthritis -a Clinical and Echocardiographic Study

A clinical and echocardiographic study was casrried out in arandomly selected group of 101 patients with rheumatoid arthritisto determine the prevalence of cardiae abnormalities. Adequatetwo-dimensional assessments were obtained in 84 patients and77 patients had adequate M mode recordings. Thirty-one patients(37 per cent) had 45 echocardiographic abnormalities. Five patients(6 per cent) had a pericardial effusion. Eleven abnormalitiesof the mitral valve were noted in 10 patients (13 per cent).Three patients had mitral valve prolapse, one patient with aorticincompetence had flutter on the mitral valve, five patientshad mitral annular calcium and one patient had hypertrophicobstructive cardiomyopathy and mitral annular calcification.A reduction in the E-F slope was noted in 12 patients, sevenof whom had associated cardiac disease, one patient had a sinustachycardia and four patients (5 per cent) had a mild reductionwithout any other cardiac abnormality. Apart from the presenceof pericardial effusion in 6 per cent and minor abnormalitiesof the E-F slope in 5 per cent of patients, all the other significantechocardiograp hic abnormalities could be related to the presenceof associated cardiac disease.     

Echocardiographic spectrum of posterior systolic motion of the mitral valve in the general population.

The prevalence of mitral valve prolapse has been established in selected groups of patients but not in the general population. The present study was designed to define the echocardiographic spectrum of mitral valve motion in a population of young individuals without clinical evidence of significant cardiac disease or hypertension. Echocardiograms were performed on 136 normal volunteers. Six subjects (4.4 per cent) had mitral valve prolapse. Eighteen subjects (13.2 per cent) had a lesser degree of posterior systolic motion of the mitral valve leaflets which was suggestive but not diagnostic of prolapse. Minor degrees of posterior systolic mitral valve motion may represent a variant of normal. Caution should be exercised in making the echocardiographic diagnosis of mitral prolapse until this question is settled.     

Left ventricular apical diastolic collapse: an unusual echocardiographic marker of postoperative cardiac tamponade.

A 37-year-old woman was evaluated for signs and symptoms of cardiac tamponade 11 days after mitral valve replacement and tricuspid valve repair. The transthoracic echocardiogram showed a large, compartmentalized pericardial effusion that resulted in left ventricular apical diastolic collapse. Also noted were right ventricular posterior wall diastolic collapse and hemodynamic findings consistent with cardiac tamponade. This case highlights the atypical echocardiographic findings in patients with pericardial effusions after cardiac surgery.     

Cardiovascular abnormalities in systemic lupus erythematosus

Echocardiographic examinations of 21 unselected patients with systemic lupus erythematosus revealed a wide variety of abnormalities. The abnormalities consisted of substantial pericardial effusion in five patients (24%) and a thickened pericardium in six patients(29%); significantly larger left atrial and left ventricular dimensions and significantly smaller ejection fraction percentages, fractional shortening of the left ventricle, and rate of early diastolic mitral valve closure compared to that in a control group of subjects; and paradoxical and hypokinetic movement of the septum in one patient (5%) each. The presence of pericardial effusion and a thickened septum and a decrease in the ejection fraction percentage, fractional shortening of the left ventricle, and mitral valve diastolic closing velocity showed no correlation with previous hypertension, the presence or absence of anemia, renal failure, serum levels of proteins, and duration of patients' illnesses. Long-term follow-up studies to determine the implications of these subclinical cardiac abnormalities using noninvasive techniques (such as echocardiography) is vitally important.     

Cardiac tamponade masking clinical presentation and hemodynamic effects of papillary muscle rupture after acute myocardial infarction.

A 67-year-old woman sustained an acute lateral-wall myocardial infarction and was treated with thrombolytic therapy. Postinfarction hypotension developed 3 days later. Clinical findings at that time were consistent with cardiac tamponade, and an echocardiographic study revealed a moderate-sized pericardial effusion. She underwent urgent pericardiocentesis with transient improvement in hemodynamics, followed by deterioration associated with the development of acute pulmonary edema. Follow-up transesophageal echocardiographic imaging revealed papillary muscle rupture with severe mitral regurgitation. The patient underwent urgent surgical intervention consisting of coronary artery bypass grafting and mitral valve replacement. The presence of cardiac tamponade in this patient masked the clinical manifestations of papillary muscle rupture through the hemodynamic effect of tamponade physiology on mitral regurgitation.     

Cor triatriatum: echocardiograhic findings.

The echocardiographic findings in a patient with cor triatriatum are presented. The preoperative echocardiogram demonstrated an unusual structure behind the mitral valve that moved anteriorly during atrial systole. There was also echocardiographic evidence of abnormalities of mitral valve motion, right ventricular and left atrial enlargement, and pulmonary hypertension. Postoperatively, the unusual echo behind the mitral valve had disappeared and the mitral valve appeared more normal. Left atrial and right ventricular dimension had decreased and the pulmonary valve appeared more normal. Fine diastolic mitral valve fluttering, an abnormal echo behind the anterior mitral valve leaflet moving anteriorly with atrial systole, an abnormal pulmonary valve echogram suggesting pulmonary hypertension, and marked right ventricular and left atrial enlargement were the main echocardiographic findings in our patient.     

系统性红斑狼疮患者超声心动图改变的研究

本文采用二维多普勒超声心动图（超声心动图）对１２９例系统性红斑狼疮（ＳＬＥ）患者进行前瞻性研究。有超声心动图异常的７９例（６１．２４％）。其中瓣膜异常５２例，８２．６％（４３／５２）的瓣膜异常患者无临床症状及血液动力学改变；心包积液３６例，其中轻度２３例无血液动力学改变；心肌异常２４例。兼有不同程度的瓣膜、心肌或心包病变者３４。有抗磷脂抗体的患者心瓣膜损害的发病率较高（３３／４９），提示这种抗体在ＳＬＥ患者心瓣膜病变的发病机制中可能有突出促进作用     

超声心动图诊断先天性双孔二尖瓣畸形

目的应用彩色多昔勒超声心动图探讨双孔二尖瓣畸形。 方法Philips Sonos-4500及IE-33彩超仪器，探头频率2．5～4MHz，对5例患者进行常规检查，观察二尖瓣口形态、血流动力学改变及有无其它心脏畸形。 结果5例双孔二尖瓣中完全桥型3例，不完全桥型2例，2例伴有二尖瓣关闭小全，1例伴有二尖瓣狭窄，全部病例均合并其它心脏畸形。3例经手术证实。 结论彩色多普勒超声心动图是诊断双孔二尖瓣畸形简单、可靠的方法。     

Mitral valve prolapse

Mitral valve prolapse, diagnosed by auscultation of typical midsystolic clicks and late systolic murmurs or by echocardiographic demonstration of definite systolic protrusion of the mitral leaflets into the left atrium, is the commonest human abnormality of heart valves, affecting roughly 4 per cent of the population. The most important clinical features of mitral valve prolapse include palpitations and small but definite risks of infective endocarditis or significant mitral regurgitation in middle age, or later. Current evidence suggests that mitral prolapse is due to an inherited abnormality in connective tissue, which causes thoracic bony abnormalities and reduced body weight and blood pressure, in addition to the changes in the mitral valve.     

心脏瓣膜钙化对血液透析患者冠状动脉钙化积分的预测价值

目的利用超声心动图研究终末期肾病血液透析患者心脏瓣膜钙化情况,探讨瓣膜钙化对冠状动脉钙化的预测价值。 方法对169例慢性肾病V期血液透析患者进行超声心动图检查评价心脏瓣膜钙化情况,并用多层螺旋CT扫描计算冠状动脉钙化积分。按照冠状动脉钙化积分11~100、101~400和≥400将患者分为3个危险等级;并根据心脏瓣膜钙化情况,将所有患者分为：无瓣膜钙化组、主动脉瓣钙化组、二尖瓣钙化组以及主动脉瓣、二尖瓣同时钙化组。Logistic回归分析瓣膜钙化与冠状动脉钙化积分危险分级之间的比值比。 结果受检的169例血液透析患者中88例（52.07%）患者存在瓣膜钙化。当患者出现主动脉瓣钙化时,冠状动脉钙化积分≥400的比值比为4.61,95%可信区间为1.22~17.4（P=0.02）,出现二尖瓣钙化时,冠脉钙化积分≥400的比值比为5.31,95%的可信区间为1.37~20.5（P=0.01）,当出现主动脉瓣、二尖瓣同时钙化时,冠状动脉钙化积分≥400的比值比为16.94,95%可信区间为5.16~55.58（P=0.001）。 结论血液透析患者心脏瓣膜钙化与冠状动脉钙化之间存在显著的相关性,超声心动图评价瓣膜钙化可以预测透析患者冠状动脉钙化的出现及危险分级。     

Papillary fibroelastoma of the mitral valve 12 years after mitral valve commissurotomy.

A 63 year-old woman who had had mitral valve commissurotomy 12 years earlier was seen because of rheumatic mitral stenosis and left brachial paresis due to cerebral embolism. On clinical evaluation, a diastolic rumble was heard over the mitral area, and the echocardiogram revealed a mass attached to the mitral subvalvular apparatus. The patient was operated on, and both the surgical and histologic findings depicted papillary fibroelastoma. This tumor may occur as an isolated lesion or be associated with mitral valve stenosis or other cardiac abnormalities, and it is an important source of emboli. Early echocardiographic diagnosis, followed by surgical excision, may avoid serious complications such as stroke, myocardial infarction, and sudden death.     

Diet drug-related cardiac valve disease: the Mayo Clinic echocardiographic laboratory experience

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence of diet drug-related valvular disease among our referral population and the association of valvular disease with duration of exposure to fenfluramine and phentermine in combination and to dexfenfluramine alone. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this retrospective review of clinical and echocardiographic data, charts of patients referred for treatment of toxic effects of diet drugs were reviewed, and telephone interviews were conducted. RESULTS: Between June and December 1997, 191 patients (164 women, 27 men; mean age, 47 years) were referred for possible diet drug-related valvular disease. Twenty-eight (28%) of the 99 asymptomatic patients and 40 (43%) of the 92 symptomatic patients had abnormal echocardiographic findings. Valvular lesions among the 68 patients with abnormal echocardiographic findings included mild (or greater) aortic regurgitation in 55 patients (81%), moderate (or greater) mitral regurgitation in 12 (18%), and moderate (or greater) tricuspid regurgitation in 7 (10%). The Food and Drug Administration case definition of diet drug-related valvulopathy was noted in 31 % of this referral population. Of patients with valvulopathy, mean duration of therapy with fenfluramine and phentermine in combination and dexfenfluramine alone was 9 months and 5 months, respectively. Duration of therapy was not associated with presence or absence of disease. Five patients had surgical intervention for severe valvulopathy: 3 had mitral valve repair, 1 had mitral valve replacement, and 1 had aortic valve replacement. Pulmonary hypertension (>40 mm Hg) was found in 24 patients (13%), and 17 (71 %) had pulmonary hypertension in association with valvulopathy. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated a 31% (60/191) prevalence of valvulopathy in patients with a history of diet drug exposure who were referred for echocardiographic evaluation. The most common finding was mild aortic regurgitation. Twenty-eight percent of asymptomatic patients had abnormal echocardiographic findings. This study emphasizes the spectrum of diet drug-related cardiac disease and the potential for valvulopathy in asymptomatic patients.     

Interobserver variability in echocardiography.

High-quality echocardiograms were performed on 146 normal individuals whose ages ranged from 3 to 73 years (mean 27 years). Normal values for mitral diastolic excursion and E-F slope, the chamber dimensions of the right ventricle, left atrium, and left ventricle, the aortic root dimension, and thickness of the interventricular septum and left ventricular posterior wall were determined. Each tracing was then read independently by two experienced echocardiographers. The extent of interobserver variability was calculated and expressed as a percent of the mean. The 95 per cent confidence limits for these estimates were calculated. Small but significant interobserver variability was found for all nine of these commonly measured echocardiographic parameters. Observer variability is a small but potentially important consideration in investigative echocardiography.     

Non-invasive evaluation of the myopathy of coronary artery disease

The application of cross-sectional echocardiography to the evaluation of patients with ischaemic heart diseases has been limited to certain specific situations, such as recognition of generalised ventricular dysfunction and regional wall motion abnormalities. Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy using thallium-201 has been used at rest and after exercise to display perfusion defects. Clinical, echocardiographic data and thallium-201 studies of 36 patients with chronic congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease were analysed to confirm the differential diagnosis of the myopathy of coronary artery disease. Thirty patients (85 per cent) had a history of one or more myocardial infarctions, 22 per cent cardiomegaly, 16 per cent mitral insufficiency and 30 per cent anginal pain. Echocardiographic studies showed global hypokinesia in 40 per cent of patients, aneurysmal dilatation of the left ventricle in 11 per cent, markedly reduced shortening fraction in 40 per cent and increased left ventricular systolic and diastolic dimensions in all the tested cases (100 per cent). All patients displayed perfusion defects, with reverse redistribution defects in 10 cases only (30 per cent) and extensive fixed defects in 26 cases (70 per cent). This study indicates that ischaemic cardiomyopathy is a distinct entity, since it results from multiple infarcts producing multifocal ventricular wall motion abnormalities with reduced left ventricular function.     

Transesophageal echocardiography during percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty

To ascertain the value of transesophageal echocardiography during percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty, the present study was undertaken in 26 anesthesized patients (21 women and 5 men; mean age, 47 years) with symptomatic rheumatic mitral valve stenosis. In all but one patient the balloon dilation of the mitral valve was successful and Doppler-derived valve area increased (0.9 +/- 0.3 to 1.9 +/- 0.4 cm2). Transesophageal echocardiography provides continuous monitoring, as well as guidance of the procedure. Crossing the arterial septum, as well as delivery of the sheath through the mitral valve orifice and correct positioning of the balloon, was highly facilitated and reduced x-ray exposure time. The degree of mitral regurgitation and the presence of interatrial shunting at the end of the procedure could be readily assessed, making cineangiography not necessary. Complications of the procedure, such as pericardial effusion, could be detected before hemodynamic deterioration had occurred (one patient). The advantages of transesophageal echocardiography for routine monitoring of percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty, however, should be weighted against the added risk and expense of this support.     

超声心动图对十字交叉心脏的诊断价值

目的探讨超声心动图对十字交叉心脏（crisscross heart，CH）的诊断价值，并讨论超声心动图的表现特征。方法自2004年4月至2005年7月应用超声心动图的二维图像，多普勒及彩色多普勒对3例CH解剖及血流动力学异常进行观察，将其声像图表现与心血管造影、手术结果对比分析，总结其诊断特点。结果3例CH的超声心动图特征是：心房均为正位，1例心房与心室连接关系一致，2例不一致；3例均为房室瓣呈前上（三尖瓣）、后下（二尖瓣）垂直排列，而非左右并列；右心室位于前、上，左心室位于后、下；室间隔呈水平，伴巨大室缺；1例二尖瓣骑跨在室间隔上，1例三尖瓣发育不良；3例均合并大动脉转位，2例合并右室双出口，2例合并肺动脉狭窄，1例合并肺动脉高压。超声诊断均与心血管造影、手术结果符合。结论超声心动图诊断CH具有较高的准确性，心室呈上下结构及心房与心室交叉连接是诊断十字交叉心脏的重要依据。     

Assessment of the left ventricular diastolic function in constrictive pericarditis by digitised M-mode echocardiography

Digitised M-mode echocardiography was used to study the diastolic left ventricular function in ten patients with constrictive pericarditis. Each patient was matched for heart rate and stroke volume with a control patient who had normal left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and coronary arteries. All 20 patients underwent right and left cardiac catheterisation. In patients with constrictive pericarditis compared with controls, the median (range) left ventricular peak diameter lengthening rate, normalised for end-diastolic dimension, was 4.5 (2.5-8.0) s-1 and 2.9 (1.6-4.1) (p less than 0.01), and the rapid filling period fraction of diastole was 0.28 (0.18-0.37) and 0.37 (0.21-0.58) (p less than 0.05), while the mitral valve E-F slope was 20.1 (10.5-39.2) cm/s and 11.8 (7.6-14.5) (p less than 0.05), respectively. Thus, the early rate of left ventricular diameter lengthening is increased in constrictive pericarditis independent of heart rate and stroke volume, while the actual duration of the rapid filling period is decreased. These results, obtained noninvasively, extend the findings of previous invasive studies. The method may help in the difficult clinical diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis, although there is some overlap with the normal control range.     

Detection of left ventricular dysfunction by Doppler tissue imaging in patients with complete recovery of visual wall motion abnormalities 6 months after a first ST-elevation myocardial infarction

AIMS: The aim of this study was to assess left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function, using Doppler tissue imaging (DTI), in patients with complete recovery of visual wall motion abnormalities six months after a first ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS: Out of 90 patients presenting with a STEMI, 68 patients without a history of heart disease were examined by echocardiography before discharge and after 6 months. The patients were compared to 41 age matched healthy subjects (HS). LV function was assessed by visual wall motion and mitral annular velocities using pulsed wave DTI. RESULTS: Sixty-eight patients had visual wall motion abnormalities at baseline. Of these, 19 patients showed complete recovery of wall motion at 6-months follow-up. Patients with complete recovery of wall motion abnormalities had significantly reduced peak systolic and peak early diastolic mitral annular velocities compared to HS at 6 months (8.3 cm s(-1) versus 9.9 cm s(-1), P<0.001 for systolic velocity and 9.3 cm s(-1) versus 13.1 cm s(-1), P<0.001 for diastolic velocity, respectively). CONCLUSION: In patients presenting with a first STEMI, mitral annular systolic and early diastolic velocities assessed by DTI at 6-months follow-up are significantly reduced compared to HS, despite normal standard echocardiographic parameters of LV function. This probably reflects a residual subendocardial damage not detected by conventional echocardiographic methods.     

Clinical and echocardiographic evaluation of mitral valve aneurysms: a retrospective,single center study

Mitral valve aneurysms (MVAs) are rarely encountered in echocardiography laboratories. Although they are commonly associated with endocarditis of the aortic valve, various mechanisms have been suggested for the etiopathogenesis of MVAs associated with non-infectious conditions. 5,887 patients who underwent transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) between 2007 and 2012 were evaluated retrospectively for MVA. Mitral valve aneurysm is defined as a localized saccular bulging of the mitral leaflet towards the left atrium with systolic expansion and diastolic collapse. The color flow Doppler image of a perforation was described as a high-velocity turbulent jet traversing a valve leaflet in systole. We found that 12 of 5,887 patients (0.204 %) had MVA in TEE examinations. The mean age of patients with MVA was 53 years (range 21–80 years), including four females and eight males. Nine patients presented with symptoms of endocarditis. On TEE, aneurysms were located in the anterior mitral leaflet in 11 patients, and in the posterior mitral leaflet in one patient. Eight patients had severe, three had moderate, and one had trace mitral regurgitation. Of the nine patients with perforated leaflets, eight patients had severe and one patient had moderate mitral regurgitation. Aortic regurgitation was present in nine patients, being severe in three, moderate in two, mild in two, and trace in two patients. Two patients without severe mitral regurgitation were followed-up conservatively, while nine patients underwent surgery. Two patients died from septic shock, one in the postoperative period and the other one prior to surgery. Although MVAs occur during the course of aortic valve endocarditis and, in particular, due to aortic regurgitation jet, it should be borne in mind that they may develop as an isolated valvular pathology and may be misdiagnosed as chordal rupture, other cardiac masses, or vegetation. Thus, MVAs may not be so infrequent as they are thought; they may justify to be considered in the differential diagnosis of masses seen on the mitral valve on echocardiographic examination.     

Clinical Utility of Routine Transthoracic Echocardiographic Studies After Uncomplicated Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation: A Prospective Multicenter Study

Unsuspected cardiac complications have been occasionally identified on postablation echocardiographic studies; however, the clinical utility of route echocardiographic studies following uncomplicated radiofrequency catheter ablation procedures has not been established. Two-dimensional/Doppler echocardiographic studies obtained preablation (within 3 months of the procedure) in 355 consecutive patients (180 males and 175 females, mean age 37 ± 21 years) were compared to postablation (within 24 hours of the procedure) studies obtained after a total of 387 uncomplicated RF catheter ablation procedures for AV node slow pathway (n = 120), accessory AV pathways (n = 214), and complete AV junction (n = 39). Postablation studies identified 6 new cases (1.5%) of new wall motion abnormalities, and 3 additional patients had septal wall motion abnormalities during ventricular pacing. LVEF remained unchanged from baseline (62 ± 10 vs 62 ± 11). A small pericardial effusion was detected after 11 procedures (2.8%), and there were 9 (2.3%), 21 (5.4%), and 20 (5.2%) new findings of mild (1 +) aortic, mitral, and tricuspid regurgitation, respectively; and no cases of significant valvular dysfunction in any patient. There were no new cases of cavity thrombus. There was no clear relationship between postablation echocardiographic findings and the type and approach to ablation, and no patient had any clinical sequelae possibly related to any of the new echocardiographic findings during a mean follow-up of 15 ± 6.0 months (range 1–26 months). Routine transthoracic echocardiographic studies after uncomplicated RF catheter ablation procedures identify occasional minor abnormalities that (1) may or may not be procedure related, (2) are of no apparent clinical consequence, and (3) thus appear to be of limited value.