2009;92(6) – ABC CARDIOL

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Artigo Original

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and cardiovascular risk in resistant hypertensive women

Monica Maria Ferreira Magnanini et al. Armando da Rocha Nogueira Marilia Sá Carvalho Katia Vergetti Bloch

BACKGROUND: Few studies have explored the prognostic value of ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) in resistant hypertensive patients, a high-risk group. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prognostic value of uncontrolled daytime ABP in resistant hypertensive women. METHODS: We followed 382 resistant hypertensive women, aged 24-92 years, from a hypertension unit of a university hospital, for up to 8.9 years (mean 3.9). Patients were classified as controlled (office BP>140/90mmHg and daytime ABP 140/90mmHg and daytime ABP >135/85 mmHg). We analyzed a combined endpoint, consisting of cardiovascular mortality, ischemic heart disease, stroke and nephropathy. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the risk for cardiovascular events, adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: The total event rate was 5.0 per 100 women-years. In the controlled and uncontrolled groups, the rates were 3.7 vs. 5.8 events respectively, p=0.06. The relative risks adjusted for age and current smoking status associated with a 10 mmHg increment in systolic ABP were greater than the ones associated with a 5 mmHg increment in diastolic ABP. Non-dipper patients had a higher risk for cardiovascular events than dipper patients (RR = 1.42 (0.87 – 2.32)), although this association had no statistical significance. Uncontrolled daytime blood pressure (yes/no) was a stronger independent risk factor, 1.67 (1.00-2.78). CONCLUSIONS: There was a 67% increase in the risk of a cardiovascular event if daytime ambulatory blood pressure was uncontrolled in women with resistant hypertension. Therefore, it is mandatory to use ABP to evaluate control and to guide therapeutic strategies in resistant hypertensive patients.

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Artigo Original

Prevalence of Chlamydia Pneumoniae and Mycoplasma Pneumoniae in different forms of coronary disease

Irineu Luiz Maia et al. José Carlos Nicolau Maurício de Nassau Machado Lília Nigro Maia … Isabela Thomaz Takakura Paulo Ricardo de Fernando Rocha José Antônio Cordeiro José Antônio Franchini Ramires

BACKGROUND: Several infectious agents have been investigated since the association between atherosclerosis and infection was demonstrated; however, the results of these studies are contradictory. OBJECTIVE: To test the association between serum titers of anti-Chlamydia and anti-Mycoplasma antibodies in different forms of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). METHODS: One hundred and twenty-six patients were divided in 4 groups: ACS with ST- segment elevation (32 patients), ACS without ST-segment elevation (30 patients), chronic coronary artery disease (30 patients) and blood donors without known coronary disease (34 patients – control group). In the two first groups, serum samples were collected at hospital admission (first 24 hours of hospitalization) and after a 6-month follow-up. In the other two groups, only a basal sample was collected. Anti-Chlamydia and anti-Mycoplasma antibodies were measured by indirect immunofluorescence in all samples. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed between the basal sample and the one measured after a 6-month follow-up in patients with myocardial infarction with ST-segment elevation for Chlamydia (650±115.7 versus 307±47.5, p=0.0001) as well as Mycoplasma (36.5±5.0 versus 21.5±3.5, p=0.0004). The groups with ACS had higher anti-Chlamydia and anti-Mycoplasma serum antibody levels in the basal measurement, when compared to the patients with chronic coronary disease and the control group, but the differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The present study showed an association between the serum titers of anti-Chlamydia and anti-Mycoplasma antibodies in the acute phase of patients with unstable angina or myocardial infarction.

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Artigo Original

Small ventricular septal defect: long-term expectant clinical management

BACKGROUND: The small ventricular septal defect (VSD) usually presents good clinical evolution, even at long-term follow-up. OBJECTIVE: To verify the clinical evolution of patients with small VSD in order to determine the continuation or not of the expectant conduct, considering the low operative risk, which results in a more liberal indication for surgery. METHODS: From October 1976 to December 2007, 187 cases of small VSD (diameter < 3 mm at the echocardiogram) were evaluated and 155 of them were assessed at long-term follow-up. Time of the clinical manifestation of the murmur and evolution aspects such as the spontaneous closure of the defect (group I) – 64 cases, persistence of the initial size (group II – 74 cases and decrease in the size of the defect (group III) – 17 cases, in addition to clinical complications, were studied. RESULTS: The clinical manifestation of the murmur occurred, in the majority of cases, during the first month of life, corresponding to 48 (75%), 54 (72.9%) and 12 (70.5%) patients, in the three groups, respectively and after the first year of life in 11 (5.8%) patients. Spontaneous closure occurred in the first year of life in 48 cases (75%), mean of 7.6 months and from 1 to 5.5 years in 15 patients (23.4%), with a maximum follow-up of 18 years. The persistence of the defect until 40 years of age was observed. The decrease in the size of the defect occurred on a mean of 15 months, followed for up to 9 years. The probability of VSD closure by the actuarial curve was 34.38% in 1 year and 49.89% in 5 years. There were no clinical complications. CONLCUSION: A favorable evolution of the small VSD at long-term follow-up does not require surgical intervention, with concerns regarding the strict antibiotic prophylaxis.

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Infective endocarditis in aortic bicuspid valve and at aorta coarctation

Wálmore Pereira de Siqueira Júnior et al. Maria Eduarda Menezes de Siqueira

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Infective endocarditis in aortic bicuspid valve and at aorta coarctation

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Case Report

Leopard syndrome and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: an association related to sudden death

Murillo de Oliveira Antunes et al. Edmundo Arteaga Afonso Yoshikiro Matsumoto Barbara Maria Ianni

We describe an uncommon association between Leopard syndrome and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in a 27-year-old woman, who was little symptomatic and came for sudden death risk stratification and prevention. She has a rare syndrome, whose symptoms are maculae over the body and abnormalities in eyes, genital organs, heart and in growth. Association of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with sudden death risk factors determined the implantation of cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) for primary prevention.

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Case Report

Primary idiopathic chylopericardium: case report

Marcos Augusto de Moraes Silva et al. Antonio Sérgio Martins Nelson Leonardo K. Leite de Campos Rubens Ramos de Andrade … Leonardo Massato Tohi João Carlos Hueb

The accumulation of chyle in the pericardial space, or chylopericardium, is a condition occurring most frequently after trauma, cardiac and thoracic surgery, or in association with tumors, tuberculosis or lymphangiomatosis. When its precise cause cannot be identified, it is called primary or idiopathic chylopericardium. This is a rare clinical entity. We report the case of a surgically treated 20-year-old female patient. A brief review of the literature and comments on the clinical presentation, etiopathogenesis, ancillary diagnostic tests and treatment options are also presented.

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Artigo Original

Metabolic syndrome in patients with high blood pressure in Cuiabá – Mato Grosso State: prevalence and associated factors

Gilberto Paulo Pereira Franco et al. Luiz César Nazário Scala Carlos José Alves Giovanny Vinícius Araújo de França … Tatiane Cassanelli Paulo César Brandão Veiga Jardim

BACKGROUND: Metabolic Syndrome (MS) is a cluster of predisposing factors for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus, whose epidemiological characteristics are poorly known at regional and national levels. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of MS and its associated factors in a sample of patients with high blood pressure in the urban area of Cuiabá, Mato Grosso State. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study (May to November 2007) in a sample of 120 patients with high blood pressure (aged > 20 years), paired by gender and selected by the systematic sampling of a source population of 567 patients with high blood pressure in Cuiabá. All patients answered to home inquiries to provide sociodemographic and life habits data. The following measurements were taken: blood pressure; body mass index (BMI); waist and hip circumferences; plasma glucose, insulin, and lipid levels; homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance (HOMA); C-reactive protein, uric acid and fibrinogen levels. High blood pressure criterion: average systolic blood pressure > 140mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure > 90mmHg; and Metabolic Syndrome diagnosis according to the I Brazilian Directive for Metabolic Syndrome and the NCEP-ATP III criteria. RESULTS: 120 patients (60 women), with high blood pressure and an average age of 58.3 ± 12.6 years, were analyzed. We found a MS prevalence of 70.8% (95%CI 61.8 to 78.8), predominantly among women (81.7% vs. 60.0%; p=0.009), with no difference between adults (71.4%) and elderly patients (70.2%). The multiple regression analysis showed a positive association between MS and BMI > 25 kg/m², insulin resistance and family history of high blood pressure. CONCLUSION: A high prevalence of MS was observed among patients with high blood pressure living in Cuiabá, with a significant association with BMI > 25 kg/m², insulin resistance (HOMA index) and, especially, a family history of high blood pressure. These results suggest the need for deeper studies on this subject.

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Artigo Original

Surgical mitral valve repair in children with rheumatic fever

Andréa Rocha e Silva et al. Gesmar Volga Haddad Herdy Alan Araujo Vieira Luiz Carlos Simões

BACKGROUND: Mitral repair is well accepted in children with rheumatic fever. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the outcomes of surgical mitral repair in children with rheumatic lesions after four years of follow-up. METHODS: Retrospective study of 40 patients younger than 18 years, who underwent surgery in the National Institute of Cardiology (Rio de Janeiro) between January 1998 and January 2003. The echocardiographic degree of mitral regurgitation; surgical technique used; pre and postoperative functional class; patient outcome; need for valve replacement; and deaths were analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty one patients (52.5%) were females. Severe mitral regurgitation was observed in 32 patients (80%) and moderate in eight (20%). Three immediate deaths occurred (7.5%). Three months after surgery, echocardiography showed no valve regurgitation or mild regurgitation in 35 of 37 cases (94.6%) patients, and severe regurgitation in two (5.2%). Thirty three cases (82.5%) were in functional class III or IV in the preoperative period, and three months after surgery all the 37 cases (100%) were in functional class I or II. The differences between the degree of mitral regurgitation and functional class in pre and postoperative periods were statistically significant (p<0.01). Seven (19%) patients underwent heart valve replacement before four years of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Mitral valve repair showed favorable results in most of the cases as regards the degree of mitral regurgitation and the pre and postoperative functional class. Only 19% of the patients required surgical valve replacement before four years of follow-up.

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Artigo Original

Effects of the administration of beta-blockers on ventricular remodeling induced by cigarette smoking in rats

Daniella R. Duarte et al. Lucienne C. Oliveira Marcos F. Minicucci Paula S. Azevedo … Beatriz B. Matsubara Luiz S. Matsubara Álvaro O. Campana Sergio A. R. Paiva Leonardo A. M. Zornoff

BACKGROUND: The role of the adrenergic system on ventricular remodeling induced by cigarette smoking is unknown. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the influence of propranolol on ventricular remodeling induced by exposure to tobacco smoke. METHODS: Rats were divided into three groups: 1) C, n=10 – control group; 2) F, n=10 – animals exposed to tobacco smoke; 3) BB, n=10 – animals receiving propranolol and exposed to tobacco smoke (40 mg/kg/day). After 2 months, the animals underwent echocardiographic and morphometric analyses. One-way ANOVA (mean ± standard deviation) or the Kruskal-Wallis test (median and interquartile interval) was used. RESULTS: Group BB showed a lower heart rate than group F (C = 358 ± 74 bpm, F = 374 ± 53 bpm, BB = 297 ± 30; P = 0.02). Group F showed greater end-diastolic diameters (C = 18.6 ± 3.4 mm/kg, F = 22.8 ± 1.8 mm/kg, BB = 21.7 ± 1.8 mm/kg; P = 0.003) and left ventricular (LV) end-systolic diameters (C = 8.6 ± 2.1 mm/kg, F = 11.3 ± 1.3 mm/kg, BB = 9.9 ± 1.2 mm/kg; P = 0.004), adjusted for body weight (BW) and a tendency towards a lower ejection fraction (C = 0.90 ± 0.03, F = 0.87 ± 0.03, BB =0.90 ± 0.02; P = 0.07) than group C. Group BB showed a tendency towards a lower LV/BW ratio than group F (C = 1.94 (1.87 – 1.97), F = 2.03 (1.9-2.1) mg/g, BB = 1.89 (1.86-1.94); P = 0.09). CONCLUSION: Administration of propranolol attenuated some of the variables of ventricular remodeling induced by the exposure to tobacco smoke in rats.

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Anatomopathological Session

A 20 year-old man with heart failure due to restrictive cardiomyopathy

Nilson Tavares Poppi et al. Marta Vidigal de Andrade Reis Vera Demarchi Aiello

ANATOMOPATHOLOGICAL SESSION

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Artigo Original

Effect of diaphragmatic breathing on heart rate variability in ischemic heart disease with diabetes

Anupama Bangra Kulur et al. Nagaraja Haleagrahara Prabha Adhikary P. S. Jeganathan

BACKGROUND: Reduced heart rate variability is associated with an unfavorable prognosis in patients with ischemic heart disease and diabetes. Whether change in breathing pattern can modify the risk factor in these patients has not been definitely proved. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of diaphragmatic breathing on heart rate variability (HRV) in ischemic heart disease patients with diabetes. METHODS: Study population consisted of 145 randomly selected male patients of which 45 had ischemic heart disease (IHD), 52 had IHD and diabetes (IHD-DM) and the remaining 48 had IHD and diabetic neuropathy (IHD-DN). HRV was assessed by 5 minute-electrocardiogram using the time domain method. The intervention group was divided into compliant and non-compliant groups and follow-up recording was carried out after three months and one year. RESULTS: Baseline recordings showed a significant decrease in HRV in ischemic heart disease (IHD) patients with or without diabetes (p<0.01). IHD patients had higher HRV than IHD patients with diabetes (p<0.01) or diabetic neuropathy (p<0.01). Increase in HRV was observed in patients who practiced diaphragmatic breathing for three months (IHD-DM: p<0.01; IHD-DN: p<0.05) and for one year (IHD-DM: p<0.01; IHD-DN: p<0.01). The HRV significantly decreased after one year in non-compliant patients. The regular practice of diaphragmatic breathing also improved the glycemic index in these patients. CONCLUSION: The regular practice of diaphragmatic breathing significantly improves heart rate variability with a favorable prognostic picture in ischemic heart disease patients who have diabetes. These effects seem to be potentially beneficial in the management of IHD patients with diabetes.

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Editorial

Archives and the new Capes Qualis

EDITORIAL

Archives and the new Capes Qualis

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Página do Presidente

World recognition to the Archives

Antonio Carlos Palandri Chagas

THE PRESIDENT’S PAGE

World recognition to the Archives

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Artigo Original

Dyslipidemia in schoolchildren from private schools in Belém

Simone Augusta Ribas et al. Luiz Carlos Santana da Silva

BACKGROUND: Currently, childhood dyslipidemia, associated to other non-transmissible diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity, represent a significant public health problem in Brazil. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of dyslipidemia in children and adolescents from private schools in the city of Belem, state of Para, Brazil. METHODS: Transversal and prospective study that assessed 437 schoolchildren, paired by sex. The age range was established between 6 and 19 years of age and stratified in four subgroups (6 to 9 years; 10 to 12 years; 13 to 15 years and 16 to 19 years). To obtain the anthropometric variables, weight and height were measured for the calculation of the body mass index and skin folds were measured for the calculation of body fat percentage. The serum lipoprotein profile was obtained through the measurement of total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol after a 12-hour fasting period, by enzymatic methods. RESULTS: Of the total number of schoolchildren analyzed, 126 (28.8%) were overweight and 158 (36.2%) presented a high adiposity index. The children (33.6%) presented a higher prevalence of obesity when compared to the adolescents (10.1%; p < 0.001). Regarding the biochemical characteristics, it was observed that 214 (41%) presented some alteration in the lipid profile and that children and adolescents in the age range of 10 to 15 years were the age groups that presented the highest rates of dyslipidemia (34.6% and 25.5%), respectively. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate the importance of establishing an early diagnosis of the lipid profile, mainly if it is already associated to another risk factor, such as obesity.

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Artigo Original

Effects of weight loss induced by bariatric surgery on the prevalence of metabolic syndrome

Francisco das Chagas Monteiro Júnior et al. Wellington Santana da Silva Júnior Natalino Salgado Filho Pedro Antônio Muniz Ferreira … Gutenberg Fernandes Araújo Natália Ribeiro Mandarino José Bonifácio Barbosa Joyce Santos Lages José de Ribamar Oliveira Lima Carolina Cipriano Monteiro

BACKGROUND: Metabolic Syndrome (MS) is often linked to overweight/obesity and can improve after weight loss, such improvement is expected to be proportional to the intensity of weight loss. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of weight loss induced by bariatric surgery (BS) on the prevalence of MS in a middle-term period. METHODS: Thirty-five (35) patients who underwent surgical Roux’s Y gastrojejunal by-pass from October 2001 until October 2005 in our University Hospital were evaluated. 88.5% were female, with a mean age at the time of surgery of 37.8±11.1 years and a mean BMI of 45.0±6.2 Kg/m². During the first stage of our study demographic and clinical-anthropomorphic data were collected prior to the BC procedure, including those criteria needed for the diagnosis of MS, according to the guidelines of the US NCEP. The second stage consisted of reevaluation of those patients in the post-surgical period in order to determine the prevalence of MS in an outpatient setting. RESULTS: Prior to surgery, MS was diagnosed in 27 patients (77.1%). When those patients were reevaluated 34.4±15 months after surgery, a reduction of mean BMI to 28.3±5.0 Kg/m² and MS was identified in only two patients (5.7%) (p<0.001). Prevalence of individual criteria such as abdominal circumference, fasting glucose levels, arterial blood pressure, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides had a reduction of 45.8%, 83%, 87.5%, 57.13% and 94% respectively. CONCLUSION: MS is a rather common feature in obese patients enrolled for BS and this procedure has been proved to be extremely efficient reversing the metabolic syndrome, with an expressive reduction of prevalence of each and all of the NCEP criteria.

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Case Report

Right Sinus of Valsalva Aneurysm causing extrinsic coronary compression

Ricardo Ribeiro Dias et al. Flávio Duarte Camurça Osanan Amorim Leite Filho Noedir Antônio Groppo Stolf

Sinus of Valsalva aneurysm is a rare cardiac disorder. It is more frequently a congenital, but it may also be an acquired condition. Takayasu’s disease is an extremely rare cause of this disorder. Most cases of unruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm are asymptomatic. Compression of the left coronary artery is an unusual manifestation of the disease that can cause angina, myocardial infarction or death. This report describes a 19-year-old black male with an unruptured right sinus of Valsalva aneurysm caused by Takayasu’s disease and manifested by an acute coronary syndrome, successfully treated by surgery.

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Artigo Original

Impact of the nursing consultation on the frequency of hospitalizations in patients with heart failure in Curitiba, Parana State

Vivian Freitas Rezende Bento et al. Paulo Roberto Slud Brofman

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) has become a public health problem with increased incidence and prevalence in the last decade, a consequence of the aging of the population and improved pharmacological and interventionist therapies. It has high rates of mortality and morbidity, expressed as high rates of hospitalizations and re-hospitalizations, even in patients submitted to new therapies, especially ACEI and beta-blockers. OBJECTIVE: This study is the analysis of the impact that the nursing consultation has on the frequency of hospitalizations in patients with HF living in the city of Curitiba, state of Parana and its metropolitan region. METHOD: Patients with a iagnosis of HF and New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification, with telephone access, living in the city of Curitiba or its metropolitan region, life expectancy > 3 months due to non-cardiac diseases, aged 18 or older, non-users of illicit drugs. The groups were created by simple random allocation (drawing lots) and one group received the usual medical care, nursing consultation and telephone monitoring every 15 days of educational nature, intervention group (IG), whereas the other group received the usual medical care, monthly telephone monitoring of administrative and epidemiological nature, control group (CG). The follow-up was carried out for 6 months. RESULTS: The IG needed 0.25±0.79 and the CG needed 1.10 ±1.41; p = 0.037 hospitalizations. CONCLUSION: The nursing consultation promotes the decrease in the frequency of hospitalizations in patients with HF undergoing treatment and living in the city of Curitiba and its metropolitan region.

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Artigo Original

Treatment of a cohort of patients with acute myocardial infarction and ST-segment elevation

Jamil da Silva Soares et al. Nelson Robson Mendes de Souza Jair Nogueira Filho Cristiane C. Cunha … Georgina Severo Ribeiro Ronald Souza Peixoto Carlos Eduardo C. Soares Leandro C. Soares Aldo Franklyn Reis Carlos Augusto Cardozo de Faria

BACKGROUND: Although thrombolysis and primary CTA are well-established procedures, they are not administered in a large proportion of the patients with STEMI who arrive to the emergency rooms. OBJECTIVE: Describe initial and final the results in a cohort of STEMI patients METHODS: The study included, from hospital admission to the discharge, 158 patients diagnosed with STEMI, from a total of 351 patients with ACS admitted to hospitals in Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil, between 2004 and 2006. RESULTS: Of the 158 patients with STEMI, 67.7% arrived to the hospital within 180 minutes, 81.3% within 360 minutes, and 8.4% after twelve hours from the symptoms. Cinecoronariographic studies (148) were performed (93,7%). Lesions of over 70% were observed in 266 artery territories. The initial treatment was CTA in 41 (26%), thrombolytics in 50 (32%), 80% of success. Clinical treatment in 67 (42%). Approximately 35% of the patients should have undergone thrombolysis, but they didn´t. During the final treatment, 93 CTAs were performed: 89 with angiographic success (95.7%), bleeding 2 (2.2%), subacute occlusion 2 (2.2%), trunk dissection 1 (1.1%), pseudoaneurism 1 (1.1%). No deaths during angioplasty; during evolution, there were two deaths (2.1%). Twelve patients underwent myocardial revascularization surgery (MRS), while 53 underwent clinical treatment, with 11 deaths (20.7%). Global lethality was 9.5%, considering the three types of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Patients were suitable for reperfusion, but one third of them did not have the procedure. Two deaths during evolution. The most predominant treatment was CTA, with low morbidity. Low global lethality.

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