2011;96(1) – ABC CARDIOL

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Case Report

Constrictive pericarditis with extensive calcification

Marcelo Villaça Lima et al. Juliano Novaes Cardoso Cristina Martins dos Reis Cardoso Euler Cristovan Ochiai Brancalhão … Renan Prado Limaco Antonio Carlos Pereira Barretto

A patient with signs and symptoms of right heart failure of unknown etiology was referred to a referral hospital in the eastern area of the city of São Paulo with a diagnosis of calcified constrictive pericarditis and was treated by surgery. This pathology is characterized by an irreversible process of pericardium calcification, and surgery is the only alternative to control the symptoms and improve patients’ quality of life. This case drew special attention due to the extensive calcification involving the interventricular septum. The unusual aspect of the images has made the diagnosis difficult and raised doubts about the existence of an associated disease.

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Atualização

Use of intracardiac echocardiography in the electrophysiology laboratory

Eduardo B. Saad et al. Ieda Prata Costa Luiz Eduardo M. Camanho

The intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) offers a detailed visualization of the cardiac structures, in association with hemodynamic information, allowing the precise and real-time positioning of the catheters, decreasing the time of exposure to fluoroscopy and the monitoring of acute complications during the electrophysiological procedure (i.e., formation of thrombi, pericardial effusion, cardiac tamponade), Consequently, its use has progressively increased, mainly in the ablation of atrial fibrillation and ventricular arrhythmias. It has shown to be very useful in the ablation of atrial fibrillation by providing anatomic data on the left atrium and pulmonary veins, helping in transseptal punctures, locating the ostium and antrum of the pulmonary veins, monitoring tissue injury during radiofrequency (RF) use, preventing esophageal injury by monitoring the injuries caused by RF on the left atrial posterior wall and assessing the pulmonary vein flow.

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Review Article

Nitric oxide and the cardiovascular system: cell activation, vascular reactivity and genetic variant

Rodrigo Gonçalves Dias et al. Carlos Eduardo Negrão Marta Helena Krieger

Nitric oxide (NO), primarily identified as an endothelium-derived relaxing factor, is a free radical that signals different biological processes. The identification of NO synthase (NOS) isoforms and the subsequent characterization of the mechanisms of cell activation of the enzymes permitted the partial understanding of both the physiological interactions and of the mechanisms of the diseases in which NO is involved. Mainly expressed in the vascular endothelium, the endothelial NOS isoform (eNOS) plays an important role in the regulation of vascular reactivity and in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. The purpose of this review is to contextualize the reader about the eNOS structure and its mechanisms of cell activation. In view of the advances in molecular biology, we will also address the known mechanisms of gene expression regulation and the role of variants on the genetic code of eNOS associated with cardiovascular phenotypes. Although the importance of NO as an atheroprotective molecule is recognized, our focus will be the review of the literature on NO and its participation in the modulation of the muscle vasodilatation phenotype.

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Clinicoradiological Session

Case 1/2011: 15-year-old male adolescent with congenital tricuspid insufficiency simulating Ebstein's anomaly

CLINICORADIOLOGICAL SESSION

Case 1/2011 – 15-year-old male adolescent with congenital tricuspid insufficiency simulating Ebstein’s anomaly

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Review Article

Alternative endocardial sites for artificial cardiac stimulation

Otaviano da Silva Júnior et al. Celso Salgado de Melo Marcelo Marra Dalmo Correia

The conventional right ventricular stimulation can be associated with deleterious effects on cardiac function. The need for a more physiological artificial cardiac stimulation is undoubtedly one of the most important points in the area of cardiac electrotherapy. The programming algorithms for the maintenance of adequate atrioventricular conduction, the stimulation of alternative endocardial sites and the cardiac resynchronization therapy are used with the objective of attaining these goals. The stimulation of the bundle of His and the septal stimulation have been studied as alternative endocardial sites for the positioning of the electrode on the right ventricle. The septal stimulation represents a simple and practical alternative, with no additional costs involved and with potential benefits in decreasing the deleterious effects of the right ventricular stimulation. However, this alternative site involves a heterogeneous group of patients and presents conflicting results regarding its long-term clinical benefit. This article reviews the scientific evidence on the alternative sites for right ventricular stimulation, with emphasis on the safety of the procedure, the measurement of the electrophysiological parameters, assessment of the left ventricular function and the clinical follow-up of patients.

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Letter to the Editor

The classic always has something extra

Max Grinberg et al. Maria Cecilia Solimene

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

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Heart Valve Diseases

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Editorial

Luiz Felipe P. Moreira

São Paulo, SP

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Letter to the Editor

Aortic stenosis and the elderly

Max Grinberg et al. Maria Cecilia Solimene

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

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Case Report

Long distance runner with dilated cardiomyopathy and excellent performance

Luciana Diniz Nagem Janot de Matos et al. Luciene Ferreira Azevedo Patrícia Chakur Brum Eduardo Argentino Sosa … Martino Martinelli Carlos Eduardo Negrão

CASE REPORT

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Artigo Original

Association between inflammatory markers and cardiovascular risk factors in women from Kolkata, W.B, India

Debdutta Ganguli et al. Nilanjan Das Indranil Saha Krishna Rao Sanapala … Debnath Chaudhuri Saurabh Ghosh Sanjit Dey

BACKGROUND: Recent research has focused on the use of inflammatory biomarkers in the prediction of cardiovascular risk. However, information is scant regarding the association between these inflammatory markers with other cardiovascular risk factors in Asian Indians, particularly in women. OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between inflammatory markers such as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and white blood cell (WBC) count and cardiovascular risk factors such as overall and central adiposity, blood pressure, lipid and lipoprotein variables and fasting glucose. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis on 100 women aged 35-80 years. Participants were selected following cluster sampling methodology from 12 different randomly selected urban wards of Kolkata Municipal Corporation. RESULTS: Hs-CRP has a significant association with body mass index (BMI) ( p < 0.001) and waist circumference (WC) (p = 0.002). Significant inverse associations were observed between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and both inflammatory markers, hs-CRP (p = 0.031) and WBC count, (p = 0.014). Apolipoprotein A1 (Apo A1) was also negatively associated with hs-CRP. WBC count has significant correlation with fasting glucose and total cholesterol (TC) /HDL-C ratio. Using logistic regression, adjusting for age, BMI (odds ratio/OR, 1.186; confidence interval/CI, 1.046-1.345; p=0.008) and WC (OR, 1.045; CI, 1.005-1.087; p=0.027) were the covariates significantly associated with hs-CRP. CONCLUSION: In the present study, risk factors like BMI, WC, and HDL-C and apo A1 show significant association with hs-CRP. WBC count was significantly correlated with HDL-C, fasting glucose, TC/HDL-C ratio in women.

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Artigo Original

Obstructive coronary disease in patients with chronic liver disease awaiting liver transplantation

Moacir Fernandes de Godoy et al. Patricia de Oliveira Roveri Marcio Antonio dos Santos Flavio Correa Pivatelli … Rita de Cássia Martins Alves da Silva Renato Ferreira da Silva

BACKGROUND: Advanced liver failure (ALF) usually presents hypocholesterolemia. Nevertheless, some patients with ALF develops major coronary obstructive diseases with consequent increased risk or contraindication to liver transplantation. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the contribution of classical risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with ALF with and without obstructive coronary disease. METHODS: Evaluation of risk factors for CAD in 119 patients in a referral center for liver transplantation, with the following characteristics: patients older than 40 years of age with ALV who underwent coronary angiography. RESULTS: Obstructive coronary disease was detected in 21 (17.6%) of the cases. These patients had really low cholesterol levels, of which 129.0 ± 53.5 mg/dl averaging 117.0 mg/dl in liver disease patients with normal coronary arteries and 135.4 ± 51.7 mg/dl averaging 122.0 mg/dl in liver disease patients with obstructive coronary artery disease (P = 0.8215). In multivariate logistic regression, age, sex, body mass index and the presence of diabetes, smoking and alcohol consumption were not statistically significant in distinguishing groups. Nor was there an association with the etiology of the ALF. In turn, hypertension was proven to be relevant in association with CAD (P = 0.0474). CONCLUSION: Only hypertension was a risk factor with statistical significance for the development of CAD in patients with ALF awaiting liver transplantation. Because it is a modifiable risk factor, this finding guides the practice of therapeutic attitudes in an attempt to prevent or delay the development of CAD in these patients.

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Artigo Original

Dysfunction of the pulmonary homograft used in the reconstruction of the right ventricle exit tract

Andréa Weirich Lenzi et al. Márcia Olandoski Wanderley Saviolo Ferreira Fabio Said Sallum Nelson Itiro Miyague

BACKGROUND: The pulmonary homograft has been used as an option in the correction of congenital cardiopathy with obstruction of the right ventricle exit tract. The long term results, however, are little satisfactory. OBJECTIVE: Identify the risk factors associated to the dysfunction and the pulmonary homograft failure. METHODS: Study with children submitted to the enlargement of the exit tract of the right ventricle with pulmonary homograft. The clinical, surgical, evolutional and morphological aspects of the prosthesis variables were analyzed as risk factors. RESULTS: The final sample of 75 patients with median age at the surgery of 22 months, varying from 1-157 months, presented 13 patients (17.0%) who developed dysfunction of the homograft, characterized by stenosis or severe pulmonary insufficiency. The occurrence time between the homograft implant and the detection of the dysfunction was of 45 ± 20 months. When the size of the homograft was smaller than 21 mm and the Z score of the pulmonary valva is lower than zero, or higher than three, the risk factors were considered for the dysfunction occurrence. CONCLUSION: The pulmonary homograft smaller than 21 mm and the inadequate pulmonary valva for the age and weight of the patient are determining factors for the prosthesis dysfunction.

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Artigo Original

CRP levels are higher in patients with ST elevation than non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome

Syed Shahid Habib et al. Mohammad Ibrahim Kurdi Zohair Al Aseri Mohammad Owais Suriya

BACKGROUND: There is intense interest in the use of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) for risk assessment. Elevated hsCRP concentrations early in acute coronary syndrome (ACS), prior to the tissue necrosis, may be a surrogate marker for cardiovascular co-morbidities. OBJECTIVE: Therefore we aimed to study different follow up measurements of hsCRP levels in acute coronary syndrome patients and to compare the difference between non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and ST myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. METHODS: This is an observational study. Of the 89 patients recruited 60 patients had acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Three serial hsCRP levels at baseline on admission to hospital before 12 hours of symptom onset, peak levels at 36-48 hours and follow up levels after 4-6 weeks were analyzed and compared between non-ST elevation AMI and ST elevation AMI. RESULTS: STEMI patients had significantly higher BMI compared to NSTEMI patients. Creatine kinase myocardial bound (CKMB) and Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were significantly higher in STEMI patients compared to NSTEMI patients (p<0.05). CRP levels at baseline and at follow up did not significantly differ between the two groups (p= 0.2152, p=0.4686 respectively). There was a significant difference regarding peak CRP levels between the two groups, as STEMI patients had significantly higher peak CRP levels compared to NSTEMI patients (p=0.0464). CONCLUSION: STEMI patients have significantly higher peak CRP levels compared to NSTEMI patients. These data suggest that inflammatory processes play an independent role in the pathogenesis of myocardial infarction. Thus, CRP assessment may assist in risk stratification after myocardial infarction.

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Artigo Original

Influence of breast characteristics in myocardial scintigraphy through the Monte Carlo method

Anderson Oliveira et al. Berdj Aram Meguerian Cláudio Tinoco Mesquita

BACKGROUND: By reducing the specificity associated with loss of information, the influence of attenuation of the breasts is very important in myocardial perfusion studies. However, although several studies have been conducted over the past years, little has been developed to determine accurately the influence of the characteristics of the breasts on the quality of myocardial scintigraphy, avoiding additional exposure to radiation. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to quantify the attenuation of photons by the breasts, in myocardial perfusion studies with 99mTc according to different sizes and compositions. METHODS: Each breast was assumed to be a cube composed of fibroglandular and adipose tissue. The data related to 99mTc photons were analyzed in a Monte Carlo model. We varied the thickness and composition of breasts and analyzed the interference in attenuation. The EGS 4 software was used in the simulations. RESULTS: Setting the thickness of a breast, the variation of its composition causes a maximum increase of 2.3% in the number of photons attenuated. By contrast, maintaining a fixed composition of breast tissue, the difference in photon attenuation was 45.0%, averaging 6.0% for each additional centimeter in the breast thickness. CONCLUSION: Monte Carlo simulation showed that the influence of the thickness of the breasts in the attenuation of photons in myocardial scintigraphy with 99mTc is much greater than the influence of their compositions.

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Artigo Original

Prognostic value of dipyridamole stress echocardiography in women

Maria Celita de Almeida et al. Brivaldo Markman Filho

BACKGROUND: Stress echocardiography is an important diagnostic and prognostic tool in ischemic heart disease. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of dipyridamole stress echocardiography (DSE) in the investigation of myocardial ischemia in women and its ability to predict combined events (cardiovascular death, acute myocardial infarction [AMI], unstable angina, coronary artery bypass grafting [surgery or percutaneous intervention] at an average follow-up of 16 months. METHODS: A prospective study using the protocol of dipyridamole at 0.84 mg in 10 minutes, associated with atropine (0.25 mg/min up to 1.0 mg). RESULTS: This study evaluated 147 women. DSE was positive in 14 patients (9.5%), negative in 128 (87.1%) and inconclusive in 5 (3.4%). Events occurred in 8 patients, 7 had positive DSE. The other 138 did not present any events. Our of these, 128 had negative DSE. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, the positive and negative predictive values of the test before the events were respectively: 83%, 95%, 94%, 42% and 99%. The event-free survival for patients with negative DSE was 99.2% compared with 58% for positive DSE (p < 0.001). Univariate analysis identified the DSE result, basal electrocardiogram (ECG), LV ejection fraction, dyslipidemia, wall motion score index at rest and peak, history of AMI, coronary artery bypass grafting, as prognostic predictors related to outcomes. The results of DSE and ECG remained significantly associated with outcomes in the multivariate analysis (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The baseline ECG and positive DSE were independent variables for the occurrence of outcomes. The DSE showed excellent negative predictive value, confirming its usefulness in evaluating prognosis in such patients.

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Artigo Original

Reference values for cardiopulmonary exercise testing for sedentary and active men and women

Artur Haddad Herdy et al. Dorian Uhlendorf

BACKGROUND: The reference values for cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) available in Brazil were derived from a cycle ergometer in a sedentary and relatively small population. OBJECTIVE: Provide reference values for CPET in Brazilians of both sexes, either sedentary or active. METHODS: From 2006 to 2008, 3,992 CEPT of healthy individuals were selected from our laboratory. Athletes, smokers, patients with any known pathology, users of continuous medication and obese patients were excluded. Peak VO2 was considered max VO2. We also analyzed the anaerobic threshold VO2, maximum ventilation and oxygen pulse according to sex, age, sedentary and active patients. Age groups were divided as follows: G1 (15-24), G2 (25-34), G3 (35-44), G4 (45-54), G5 (55-64) and G6 (65-74). RESULTS: According to age groups, the mean values of VO2 in ml/kg/min with their standard deviations were: Active man: G1-50.6 ± 7.3, G2-47, 4 ± 7.4, G3-45, 4 ± 6.8, G4-40.5 ± 6.5; G5-35.3 ± 6.2; G6-30.0 ± 6.1. Active woman: G1-38.9 ± 5.7; G2-38.1 ± 6.6; G3-34.9 ± 5.9; G4-31.1 ± 5.4; G5-28.6 ± 6.1; G6-25.1 ± 4.4. Sedentary man: G1-47.4 ± 7.9; G2-41.9 ± 7.2; G3-39.0 ± 6.8; G4-35.6 ± 7.7; G5-30.0 ± 6.3; G6-23.1 ± 6.3. Sedentary woman: G1-35.6 ± 5.7; G2-34.0 ± 4.8; G3-30.0 ± 5.4; G4-27.2 ± 5.0; G5-23.9 ± 4.2; G6-21.2 ± 3.4. CONCLUSION: This article provides reference values of max VO2, among other parameters, in the Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing performed on the treadmill in individuals of both sexes, either active and sedentary.

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Artigo Original

Body mass index and hypertension in adult subjects in Brazil's Midwest

Nadia Mohamed Amer et al. Sonia Silva Marcon Rosangela Getirana Santana

BACKGROUND: Overweight and obesity are an important public health problem in society, due to the growth in all age groups and their association with various chronic diseases, especially hypertension OBJECTIVE: To investigate possible factors associated with changes in body mass index (BMI). METHODS: Study developed in the city of Nova Andradina, State of Mato Grosso do Sul, with 369 subjects registered in the Family Health Strategy Program in 2007. Data were collected at the subjects’ homes, by using a semi-structured interview and by an anthropometric assessment. In the analysis of data, we used the Chi-square and Mantel Haenszel tests, for categorical responses, and ANOVA and Tukey tests, for continuous responses. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 33.3% and 23.0%, respectively. Most of the individuals had the following characteristics: they were female (85.4%), physically inactive (89.7%), their waist-hip ratio (WHR) was inadequate (83.7%) and they had some chronic health problem (31.9%), especially hypertension. Risk factors for overweight and obesity may be linked to variables such as widowed status, inadequate WHR, lower income and health problems. On the other hand, high blood pressure may be linked only to obesity. CONCLUSION: The percentage of people that were overweight and those who did not do exercises in Nova Andradina indicates that these issues are also an important challenge for the health sector in smaller cities. Therefore, it is urgent that multidisciplinary intervention programs be implemented in primary health care.

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Artigo Original

Implementing clinical guidelines on acute myocardial infarction care in an emergency service

Claudia Caminha Escosteguy et al. Alfredo Brasil Teixeira Margareth Crisostomo Portela Artur Eduardo Cotrim Guimarães … Sheyla Maria Lemos Lima Vanja Maria Bessa Ferreira Claudia Brito

BACKGROUND: The implementation of clinical guidelines on acute myocardial infarction (AMI) care produces better results. OBJECTIVE: To present a multidisciplinary program to implement these guidelines in a large public emergency center and check its impact. METHODS: Evaluation study on health services, with “before and after” type design, to assess the indicators of quality of AMI care before and after implementation of training strategies and to facilitate emergency teams’ acceptance of clinical guidelines. This includes the development of educational and awareness-raising materials and continued supervision. Relative risk estimate (RR) and confidence intervals (95%). RESULTS: Pre-program group, 78 cases of AMI; post-program group, 66 cases of AMI. Most cases were treated only in the emergency room, due to small number of vacancies in the coronary care unit. We observed a significant increase (p<0.05) in the use of various interventions evaluated (process indicators): beta-blockers, 83%; angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, 22%; lipid-lowering agents, 69%; intravenous nitrate, 55%; coronary reperfusion in acute myocardial infarction with ST-segment elevation, 98%. The use of aspirin from the first day of the IAM reached 95.5% of cases. The loss of opportunity of coronary reperfusion in patients with this indication, reduced from 71.4% to 17.6% post-training. CONCLUSION: The program achieved a significant impact and its propagation to other units may contribute to better assist IAM in the public health system.

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Artigo Original

Quality of life of patients that had a heart transplant: application of Whoqol-Bref scale

Maria Isis Freire de Aguiar et al. Deisiana Rios Farias Mabel Leite Pinheiro Emília Soares Chaves … Isaura Letícia Tavares Palmeira Rolim Paulo César de Almeida

BACKGROUND: The success of cardiac transplantation involves ensuring the survival of patients with heart disease and allowing them to carry out their daily activities. Heart transplant is the first option of treatment for heart failure and it represents an increase in the survival rate and quality of life of transplant patients. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the quality of life of patients that had a heart transplant by using a standardized scale (Whoqol-Bref). METHODS: A quantitative descriptive exploratory study, conducted with 55 patients that had a heart transplant, in a period ranging between the third and 103rd months, who were monitored at the Transplant and Heart Failure Unit in a benchmark cardiology hospital in the city of Fortaleza, State of Ceará. The data were collected from February 2009 to April 2009, by administering a WHO-standardized questionnaire and by using data contained in medical records. RESULTS: With respect to the physical domain, 62.8% of male patients and 58.3% of female patients are satisfied. In the psychological domain, 65.1% of males are satisfied with the quality of life and, 58.3% of females are satisfied. In terms of social relations, it was observed that 53.5% of males are very satisfied and 100% of females are satisfied. With regard to the environment, 65.1% of male patients and 83.3% of female patients are satisfied. CONCLUSION: The heart transplant had a lot of influence on the quality of life of transplant patients, because the results have proven to be statistically significant after the transplant.

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