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.     

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。     

Outcomes of emergent cardiac catheterization following pediatric cardiac surgery

Background: Although there is agreement of the importance of cardiac catheterization, especially interventional procedures, cardiac catheterization in postoperative critical care unit (CCU) period is often debated. The focus of this study was to explore the indications for and determinants of outcome after cardiac catheterization in this setting. Methods: Between March 2004 and October 2006, 49 children (2.8% of cardiac surgeries) underwent 62 catheterizations before discharge from the CCU. Morphological, surgical, and catheterization data were accrued and analyzed using parametric competing risks models and multivariable risk‐hazard analysis. Results: Median age at surgery was 167 days (0–13.5 years) and time to catheterization was 8.5 (0–84) days following surgery. Catheterization procedures were either interventional (n = 35) or noninterventional (n = 27). Children who required a more urgent investigation following initial surgery more often had deployment of a stent at catheterization (P = 0.01) or subsequent surgical pulmonary artery augmentation (P < 0.01). Surgical reoperation was required following 23 (37%) catheterizations and was more common following index surgery involving a cavopulmonary shunt. Overall mortality was high (43%). Delayed invasive investigation beyond 2–3 weeks (P = 0.04) or a splinted sternum (P < 0.001) were risk factors for death. In addition, reoperation after a noninterventional catheterization predicted worse survival (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The need for invasive investigation in the immediate CCU period is associated with a poor outcome, especially when the investigation is delayed or an intervention is not possible. Identification of at‐risk patients may improve outcomes. Best outcomes follow expedient catheterization with definitive management (often stent deployment or pulmonary artery augmentation). © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

转录因子在心肌肥大中的调控作用

虽然近年来对心力衰竭的治疗有了很大的进步,但其病死率、致残率仍然很高。心肌重构是心力衰竭发展的一个重要病理机制,目前认为抑制心肌重构是预防和治疗心力衰竭的重要手段,而心肌细胞肥大是心力衰竭发展过程中心肌重构的一个主要特征之一。大量研究表明心肌细胞转录因子在心肌细胞肥大过程中起重要调控作用,一些心肌细胞转录因子在受到肥大刺激信号作用后能够被激活并且在心肌肥大过程中起重要作用。该文对几种转录因子在心肌细胞肥大过程中的最新研究状况作一简单介绍。     

心脏介入性治疗合并急性心脏压塞分析

目的 分析2746例各类心脏介入性治疗病例并发急性心脏压塞(acute cardiac tampon—ade，ACT的原因和诊断、处理的经验及教训。方法回顾性分析1995～2003年1061例射频消融，1384例冠状动脉介入治疗(percutaneous coronary intervention，PCI)，425例二尖瓣球囊扩张成形术(per-cutaneous balloon mitralvalvoplasty PBMV)，76例先天性心脏病介入性治疗的病人合并急性心脏压塞的原因和诊断处理的过程。结果 在2746例介入性治疗的患者中，共有9例发生ACT，发生率为0．33％。其中8例行急诊心包穿刺引流，1例开胸并行修补术。9例病人无1例死亡。1061例射频消融病例中，2例发生ACT，占0．89％。1384例PCI病人中2例出现ACT，发生率为0．14％，5例冠状动脉脉破裂，经球囊和带膜支架封堵等处理，没发生ACT。425例经皮二尖瓣球囊成形术患者中共有5例ACT，占1．18％。其中1例开胸行修补术。76例先天性心脏病无ACT并发。结论心脏介入性冶疗中ACT发生率较低，早期发现，及时心包穿刺引流，可以避免外科开胸手术治疗。     

心血管介入性治疗导致心脏压塞的临床分析

统计了 1999年 1月～ 2 0 0 3年 5月介入性检查和治疗10 31例患者 ,其中经皮冠状动脉腔内成形术 (PTCA) 335例、射频导管消融术 (RFCA) 390例、心脏起搏器植入术 2 6 3例、其它 (二尖瓣球囊扩张术、房缺伞堵术等 ) 4 3例。男性 715例 ,女性 316例 ,年龄 3～ 82 (5 1 75± 12 11)岁。PTCA术前给噻氯吡啶 2 5 0mg/d或氯吡格雷 75mg/d ,术中给肝素70 0 0～ 10 0 0 0U ,闭塞病变部分用导丝加球囊。RFCA组经锁骨下静脉、颈内静脉、股动脉、股静脉穿刺 ,分别送入 10极冠状静脉窦、高位右心房、希氏束和右心室电极导管。心脏起搏器植入组选…     

心脏介入治疗并发急性心脏压塞11例临床分析

目的探讨心脏介入治疗并发急性心脏压塞的临床治疗方法。方法回顾性分析心脏介入治疗病人发生急性心脏压塞的特点、原因、治疗方法及预后。结果11例发生急性心脏压塞。其中4例发生在冠状动脉介入治疗术中,3例发生在射频消融术中,1例发生在先天性心脏病介入治疗术中．3例发生在二尖瓣球囊扩张术中。8例行心包穿刺引流后抢救成功,3例经心包穿刺治疗后未能有效控制出血,予外科开胸修补术后抢救成功,无死亡例数。结论心脏介入手术所致心脏压塞发生迅速,其症状具有特征性,正确识别和处理对急性心脏压塞的预后至关重要。     

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.     

Role of cardiac resynchronisation in the treatment of cardiac failure

For 10 years cardiac resynchronisation has seen considerable development, as much on the technological side as at the level of its scientific validation. Several prospective studies have shown the functional benefits of cardiac resynchronisation in a selected population of refractory cardiac failure patients with improvement in symptoms, exercise tolerance and quality of life. Equally, cardiac resynchronisation allows a significant reduction in hospital episodes for cardiac failure and also has a beneficial effect on left ventricular inverse remodelling. Finally, the first results of morbidity/mortality trials are very encouraging with a significant reduction in overall mortality at one year in the COMPANION study with the biventricular defibrillator. However, numerous important, unresolved questions remain such as the problem of non-responders and thus patient selection, or such as the place of cardiac resynchronisation in patients with permanent atrial fibrillation. The choice of the type of implantable prosthesis (pacemaker or biventricular defibrillator) and the choice of the mode of pacing (biventricular or solely left ventricular) are still under discussion. New indications for cardiac resynchronisation could be seen next, for example such as the optimisation of stimulation mode in already paced patients or "systematic" biventricular pacing in patients with a conventional indication for pacing..... In 2004, cardiac resynchronisation must be considered as an effective adjuvant therapy in cardiac failure patients refractory to optimal medical treatment with left ventricular dysfunction and intraventricular conduction disorders.