The cardiac component of cardiac cachexia

Background Recent evidence suggests the importance of noncardiac mechanisms in the genesis of the syndrome of cardiac cachexia. This raises the question of the relative role of the heart itself in this syndrome. This study sought to assess the cardiac dimensions, mass, and function and changes in these parameters over time in patients with chronic heart failure with and without cachexia. Methods Doppler echocardiography was performed in 28 patients with nonedematous weight loss (>7.5% over a period of >6 months) compared with 56 matched patients without weight loss in a ratio of 1:2 (age 71 ± 13 vs 67 ± 8 years, P = .07; New York Heart Association class 2.9 ± 0.7 vs 2.6 ± 0.6, P = .08). In 18 cachectic and 35 noncachectic patients with previous echocardiographic recordings, we analyzed the changes in left ventricular (LV) dimensions and mass over time. Results Cardiac dimensions including LV diastolic (69 ± 9 mm vs 67 ± 13 mm) and systolic cavity diameter (58 ± 11 mm vs 55 ± 15 mm), LV mass (480 ± 180 g vs 495 ± 190 g), and LV systolic and diastolic function including fractional shortening (16% ± 10% vs 18% ± 10%), isovolumic relaxation time (29 ± 22 ms vs 36 ± 27 ms), and E/A ratio (2.7 ± 1.6 vs 3.3 ± 2.9) did not differ between cachectic and noncachectic patients (all P > .1). By analyzing changes in LV mass over time, we found an increase (>20%) in 2 (11%) cachectic and 14 (40%) noncachectic patients and a decrease in LV mass (>20%) in 9 (50%) cachectic and 8 (23%) noncachectic patients (χ² test, P < .05). Conclusions Although no specific cardiac abnormality could be detected echocardiographically in cachectic patients compared with patients with noncachectic chronic heart failure in a cross-sectional study, over time a significant loss of LV mass (>20%) occurs more frequently in patients with cardiac cachexia. (Am Heart J 2002;144:45-50.)     

Analysis of cardiac symptoms preceding cardiac arrest

Prodromal symptoms and cardiac history were examined in 227 patients with coronary artery disease who were successfully resuscitated after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest was sudden—with either no symptoms or symptoms for less than 1 hour—in 71% of the patients. Nonsudden death—death occurring after more than 1 hour of symptoms—occurred in 29% of the patients. A history of cardiovascular disease was present in 85% of patients with sudden cardiac arrest and in 83% with nonsudden arrest. Cardiac arrest occurred without symptoms in 38% of the patients with sudden cardiac arrest and was the first expression of coronary artery disease in 4% of the entire study group. This study indicates that cardiac arrest usually occurs with symptoms and almost always in the setting of a history of cardiovascular disease.     

Occult cardiac lymphoma presenting with cardiac tamponade

Subxiphoid pericardiostomy is the procedure of choice for treatment of a pericardial effusion with tamponade. We report a case in which this procedure not only failed to reveal the presence of an occult malignancy, but also resulted in a recurrent symptomatic effusion.     

External cardiac pacing during in-hospital cardiac arrest

External noninvasive cardiac pacing offers a rapid and simple method of pacing the heart during an emergency. It has been suggested that early use of cardiac pacing for bradycardia or asystole may improve survival in patients who have cardiac arrest. To investigate this possibility 58 consecutive episodes of cardiac arrest occurring on the medical wards or emergency room. Twenty-six episodes underwent external noninvasive pacing for bradycardia or asystole refractory to standard drugs. Only 2 patients survived, and survival could be directly attributed to pacing in only 1 of them. Of the 32 episodes not undergoing pacing, 23 had transient asystole or bradycardia, 13 of which rapidly responded to medications. The 17 cases (53%) not undergoing pacing survived. In conclusion, when bradycardia or asystole during cardiac arrest fails to respond to standard pharmacologic measures, it is an indicator of severe myocardial damage, and attempts at cardiac pacing rarely improve survival.     

Acute cardiac tamponade due to cardiac actinomycosis

Cardiac actinomycosis occurs in less than 2 percent of the patients with infections due to Actinomyces israelii. We describe the findings in a patient with acute cardiac tamponade who survived through pericardial drainage and aggressive medical therapy. Although uncommon, this disorder is important to recognize because it is curable with current medical and surgical therapy.     

心脏骤停和心脏性猝死

心脏性猝死(SCD)是目前社会关注的热点问题.2005年WHO的数据表明,在全球死于心脑血管疾病的约1700万人群中,40%～50%是SCD.SCD虽然有多种定义,但目前一般认为是在1 h内出现的由于心血管原因导致的非预期死亡事件或无目击者的死亡事件.心脏骤停(SCA)不等同于SCD,SCA如果救治失败会引起真正的SCD.     

Sodium-induced cardiac aldosterone synthesis causes cardiac hypertrophy

High sodium intake causes cardiac hypertrophy independently of increases in blood pressure. Aldosterone is synthesized in extraadrenal tissues such as blood vessels, brain, and heart. Effects of 8 weeks of high sodium intake on cardiac aldosterone synthesis, as well as cardiac structure, mass, and aldosterone production, levels of mRNA coding for aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) and the angiotensin II AT1 receptor, were studied in normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Isolated rat hearts were perfused for 2 hr, and the perfusate was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Aldosterone synthase activity was estimated from the conversion of [14C]deoxycorticosterone to [14C]aldosterone. Levels of mRNA for CYP11B2 and AT1 receptor were determined by competitive polymerase chain reactions. A high sodium intake for 8 weeks produced left ventricular hypertrophy without elevation of blood pressure. Plasma aldosterone concentrations and plasma renin concentrations were decreased by high sodium intake. Aldosterone production, activity of aldosterone synthase, and expression of mRNA for CYP11B2 and AT1 receptor were increased in hearts of rats with high sodium intake. These results suggest that high sodium intake increases cardiac aldosterone synthesis, which may contribute to cardiac hypertrophy independently of the circulating renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.     

心脏介入性治疗并发心脏压塞的处理策略

目的 探讨心脏介入治疗并发心脏压塞的处理策略。方法 12例心脏压塞患者，男性5例，女性7例，年龄28～52岁。其中经皮二尖瓣球囊扩张术8例，冠状动脉腔内成形术1例，先天性动脉导管未闭封堵术2例，右心室起搏1例。根据心脏穿孔的不同原因、可能的部位及心脏压塞情况，分别采用心包穿刺引流、心包穿刺引流与开胸修补或开胸置管引流等方法治疗。结果 3例单纯心包穿刺引流均痊愈；8例紧急心包穿刺引流后开胸修补有7例痊愈，1例主动脉根部破裂者因心源性休克时间过长，死于呼吸衰竭；1例冠状动脉腔内成形术者左回旋支穿孔，紧急心包穿刺引流后心包切开、胸腔置管引流痊愈。结论 根据心脏介入性治疗导致心脏压塞的不同原因、可能部位及心脏压塞进展情况，采取相应措施，可有效治疗此类并发症。     

Coronary angioscopy during cardiac catheterization and cardiac surgery

Summary Coronary angioscopy (CA) was performed in 30 patients (pts) during cardiac catheterization (Group 1) and in 11 pts during coronary bypass surgery (Group 2) using ultrathin fiberoptic angioscopes (Ø1.2–1.8 mm). For percutaneous CA (Group 1) the angioscope was introduced through a 9F guiding catheter from the femoral artery. The viewing field was cleared by flushing Ringer's solution and short-time occlusion of the coronary ostium by the guiding catheter. In Group 2 CA was performed retrogradely from the distal arteriotomy and through the bypass vein during flushing with cardioplegic solution. In Group 1 in 17/30 pts the coronary artery could be successfully examined by CA. In 13 pts the obstruction was eccentric and irregular shaped. In 2/5 pts, in whom CA was performed successfully pre and post balloon dilatation, CA after PTCA revealed an intimal rupture without clinical or angiographical signs of the intimal dissection. In Group 2 in 9/11 pts good visualization of stenoses could be achieved. At the obstruction site CA revealed thrombi in 3 pts and ulcer in 1 pts. In contrast to angiography, which estimates the lumen diameter of a segmental lesion, CA gives information about the luminal shape and the underlying substance of the obstruction (e.g. atheroma, thrombus, ulceration). The main problems in percutaneous CA are the insufficient intraluminal guidance, the insufficient depth of view of the angioscopes, and the limited examination time.     

Noninvasive transcutaneous cardiac pacing in prehospital cardiac arrest

This study evaluated the efficacy of prehospital external cardiac pacing in cardiac arrest patients. From October 1984 to June 1985, 91 patients were paced. Mean time from cardiac arrest to advanced life support (ALS) intervention in this metropolitan-rural ALS system was 14.5 minutes. Electrical capture occurred in 85 (93%), mechanical capture (pulses) occurred in ten (11%), and a measurable blood pressure occurred in three (3%) of the 91 patients. Despite a high rate of electrical capture, palpable pulses were produced only in 11%, and no patients survived to be discharged from the hospital. There was no difference in the frequency of electrical capture, palpable pulses, or outcome for patients receiving pharmacologic intervention before or after pacing. Likewise there was no difference in the frequency of electrical capture, palpable pulses, or outcome for patients receiving ALS therapy within or after ten minutes of their arrest. Although we found that external cardiac pacing was easily used in the prehospital setting, pacing did not result in any increase in survival in cardiac arrest patients.     

Cellular physiology of rat cardiac myocytes in cardiac fibrosis: in vitro simulation using the cardiac myocyte/cardiac non-myocyte co-culture system

An understanding of the cellular physiology of cardiac myocytes (MCs) and non-myocytes (NMCs) may help to explain the mechanisms underlying cardiac hypertrophy. Despite numerous studies using MC/NMC co-culture systems, it is difficult to precisely evaluate the influence of each cell type because of the inherent cellular heterogeneity of such a system. Here we developed a co-culture system using Wistar rat neonatal MCs and NMCs isolated by discontinuous Percoll gradient and adhesion separation methods and cultured on either side of insert well membranes. Co-culture of MCs and NMCs resulted in significant increases in [3H]-leucine incorporation by MCs, in the amount of protein synthesized by MCs, and in the secretion of natriuretic peptides, while the addition of MCs to NMC cultures significantly reduced [3H]-thymidine incorporation by NMCs. Interestingly, the percentage of the brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) component of total natriuretic peptide secreted (atrial natriuretic peptide+BNP) increased as the number of NMCs placed in the MC/NMC co-culture system increased. However, MCs did not affect production of angiotensin II (Ang II) by NMCs or secretion of endothelin-1 and transforming growth factor-beta1 into the MC/NMC co-culture system. This finding was supported by the anti-hypertrophic and anti-fibrotic actions of RNH6270, an active form of olmesartan, on MCs in the MC/NMC co-culture system and on NMCs that may synthesize Ang II in the heart. The present data indicate that cardiac fibrosis may not only facilitate MC hypertrophy (possibly through the local angiotensin system) but may also change particular pathophysiological properties of MCs, such as the secretory pattern of natriuretic peptides.     

Does cardiac resynchronization therapy reduce sudden cardiac deaths?

Rivero-Ayerza et al.¹ report a meta-analysis of five trialscomparing cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) with optimalmedical treatment to determine if CRT affects total mortality,heart failure deaths, and sudden cardiac deaths (SCD). In threeof the trials,^2–4 the follow-up     

心脏术后急性心功能不全VA-ECMO支持

静脉-动脉体外膜肺氧合(VA-ECMO)以其有效的容量转换可以快速建立高效的心肺支持,其在心脏手术后因各种原因引起的严重急性心功能不全治疗中的应用越来越多.作为高效的体外生命支持治疗,VA-ECMO的建立、抗凝、撤除等患者管理依然是临床治疗中的棘手问题.心脏术后患者的特殊性决定了此类患者的VA-ECMO管理难度更大,需...