Background White-coat hypertension (WCH) is a disease based on the disparity of a patient's blood pressure measurements between the physician's office and the patient's home environment. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the left atrial (LA) volume and functions in WCH. Methods In total, this study included 37 WCH (17 women, 20 men, mean age 48.4±5.7 years) and 30 healthy individuals (18 women, 20 men, mean age 47.9±7.5 years). All patients underwent real-time three-dimensional and comprehensive two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) with tissue Doppler evaluation to estimate left atrial volumes and mechanical functions. Results LA diameters were significantly higher in the patients compared with the controls (37±2.8 vs. 35±3.1 mm, P=0.017). LA total systolic volume and LA maximal volume were significantly higher in the patients. (41.1±6.9 vs. 35.5±3.7 ml, P<0.001; 25.8±5.4 vs. 21.3±3.3 ml, P<0.001, respectively). LA volume before LA contraction and LA active stroke volume were significantly higher in the patients with WCH than in the normotensives (24.4±6.3 vs. 20.9±2 ml, P=0.002; 9.1±4.8 vs. 6.7±2.5 ml, P=0.007, respectively). Moreover, the LA expansion index was significantly higher in the patients with WCH than in the normotensives (178.7±53.6 vs. 155.3±36.3, P=0.037). However, the total emptying volume fraction of the LA was similar between the two groups. Conclusion We showed that LA structural functions and volumes were increased in the WCH group. Although increased LA volume has been observed in many diseases, structural changes in LA may be accepted as an early sign for clinical cardiac remodeling in patients with WCH, suggesting the necessity of early intervention for preventing clinical cardiovascular disease.
Aim: The prognostic role of lactate for early mortality in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) submitted to primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angiography (PTCA) is not elucidated clearly. This study was conducted with patients that presented to the emergency department (ED) with STEMI and underwent PTCA to investigate whether the changes in lactate values from ED admission to 24 hours after PTCA affected mortality.Material and Methods: This prospective observational study on 143 patients with STEMI was conducted at emergency service and tertiary-level cardiology clinic in a public university hospital. The documentation for each patient included detailed information on demographics, type of myocardial infarction according to electrocardiography and PTCA results, duration of hospital stay, vital signs, laboratory findings on admission, lactate levels 24 hours after PTCA, and outcome (hospital discharge or death). Results: The lactate values are higher in non-surviving groups measured 24 hours after PTCA (P 0.001). The differences in the lactate levels from the time of admission to 24 hours after PTCA were significantly lower in the non-surviving group (P 0.001). Conclusion: Among patients presenting to the ED with STEMI, a high lactate level is associated with mortality. Also, the difference between lactate values of the patients after PTCA is associated with the risk of mortality. Therefore, we consider that first lactate levels in ED and last lactate levels after PTCA in patients with STEMI can provide physicians with an insight into the possibility of mortality.
Coronary artery anomaly has been reported at a rate of 0.6% to 1.3% in routine angiographic series. Moreover, single coronary artery is one of the rarest anomalies among coronary anomalies. Eventhough patients with coronary anomalies are usually asymptomatic, they may also be associated with myocardial ischemia, ventricular fibrillation, syncope, congestive heart failure, and sudden death. In this article, we report a case of single coronary artery anomaly with the left anterior descending (LAD) and left circumflex (LCx) coronary artery arising separately from the proximal right coronary artery. Since the presented case was associated with ischemic heart disease, coronary artery bypass grafting was carried out. He is currently well.
To evaluate left atrial (LA) volume and functions in obese subjects using real time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) and also the relationship between LA mechanical functions and N-terminal pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (NT-proANP).This study included 40 obese (26 females and 14 males, mean age 51.9 years) and 40 normal weight subjects (23 females and 16 males, mean age 53.5 years) with normal coronary angiograms. All the study participants underwent RT3DE to assess LA volume and mechanical function. Plasma NT-proANP was determined by ELISA method.There was no significant difference between groups in left ventricular (LV) diameters and ejection fraction, which reflect LV systolic function. However, transmitral deceleration time, isovolumetric relaxation time, and peak late diastolic tissue Doppler velocity values, which reflect LV diastolic function, were found to be significantly higher in obese subjects when compared with controls. LA maximum volume (LAVmax), LAVmax index (LAVI), LA minimal volume (LAVmin), before atrial contraction volume (LAVpreA), LA active emptying volume, LA total emptying volume, and LA active emptying fraction, which reflect LA reservoir and pump functions, were also higher in obese subjects when compared with controls. LA passive emptying fraction was significantly lower in obese subjects than in controls. NT-proANP levels were similar between groups. There were positive correlations between NT-proANP level and LAVI, LAVmax, LAVmin, LAVpreA, and LA total and active emptying volumes.Left atrial mechanical functions and volumes are impaired in obese subjects. These findings may be regarded as early markers of subclinical cardiac failure in obese subjects who have not yet exhibited any clinical evidence of cardiovascular disease.
Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate left atrial ( LA ) volume and function using real time three‐dimensional echocardiography ( RT 3 DE ) in patients with cardiac syndrome X ( CSX ). Methods Fifty patients with CSX (28 females; mean age 50.9±10.9 years) and 50 age‐ and gender‐matched healthy controls (30 females; mean age 52.3±9.8 years) who had negative treadmill exercise test and normal coronary arteries on invasive coronary angiography were included in the study. Comprehensive two‐dimensional (2D), pulsed and tissue Doppler, speckle tracking echocardiography, and RT 3 DE for the assessment of LA dynamics were performed in all study participants. Results Cardiac syndrome X and control groups have similar clinical characteristics regarding age, sex, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, and smoking habit. 2D echocardiographic parameters were also similar between groups. Pulsed‐ and tissue Doppler parameters, IVRT , A , and A m values, were higher in CSX group, while E m , E / A , and E m / A m ratios were higher in the control group reflecting mild diastolic dysfunction. Regarding RT 3 DE parameters, LA maximum volume, minimum volume, volume before atrial contraction, LA maximum volume index, total and active stroke volumes were found to be increased in CSX patients. However, LA total stroke fraction, passive stroke volume, passive stroke fraction, peak systolic, and diastolic longitudinal strains were found to be lower in CSX patients. Conclusion The main finding of this study was that CSX patients had altered LA booster pump, reservoir, and conduit functions. This finding may have clinical implications for early detection of abnormal LA dynamics in CSX patients.
Hemoptysis, accompanying various chronic lung diseases, some systemic diseases, infections, structural heart diseases, or syndromes is a clinical condition that is quite mortal when it is massive. Hemoptysis is a common complication of Eisenmenger syndrome. Its frequency increases with age. It is an important cause of mortality in patients with Eisenmenger syndrome. Embolization of systemic-pulmonary collateral arteries is an effective method in the treatment of hemoptysis in eligible patients with Eisenmenger syndrome. In this case report, a patient with Eisenmenger syndrome, developed due to large patent ductus arteriosus, received dual pulmonary arterial hypertension-specific treatment, after the development of hemoptysis, medical stabilization was provided with initial inhaled nitric oxide therapy and then treated with bronchial artery embolization without complications is presented.