2013;100(5) – ABC CARDIOL

BACKGROUND: Several local registries have sought to individually depict clinical characteristics of patients hospitalized with heart failure (HF) in Brazilian hospitals and communities. Overall, the analysis of these data suggests that there are important differences in etiology, decompensation factors, treatment and prognosis of patients with HF in different Brazilian regions. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the demographic, clinical and prognostic characteristics of 1,200 patients admitted with a clinical diagnosis of decompensated HF in a group of 60 hospitals representative of the different Brazilian regions. METHODS: Transversal observational study (registry) with a longitudinal twelve-month follow-up (admission consultations, hospital discharge, three months, six months and twelve months after inclusion), in which patients admitted to public and private hospitals clinical with a primarily defined HF diagnosis will be studied. RESULTS: The results will be shown soon after data collection completion, quality assessment and statistical analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this multicenter registry will allow for a more appropriate planning of financial, technological and personal resource supply for the health care area, as well as the planning of more effective preventive measures in decompensated HF.

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Anatomopathological Session

Case 2: sudden death after coronary artery bypass surgery in a 49-year-old female, diabetic, dyslipidemic, hypertensive, obese patient

George Barreto Miranda et al. Vera Demarchi Aiello

ANATOMOPATHOLOGICAL SESSION

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Letter to the Editor

Development of regionalized STEMI care networks in Brazil

Davi Jorge Fontoura Solla et al. Nivaldo Menezes Filgueiras-Filho Ivan de Mattos Paiva-Filho

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Development of regionalized STEMI care networks in Brazil

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Viewpoint

Warfarin in valvulopathy: how important is seniority?

Max Grinberg

VIEWPOINT

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Artigo Original

Prognostic value of chronotropic incompetence in elderly patients undergoing exercise echocardiography

Juliana Silva Santana et al. José Carlos Sizino Franco Filho Antônio Arestides de Sá Neto Enaldo Vieira de Melo … Nathalie Oliveira de Santana Ana Terra Fonseca Barreto Luiza Dantas Melo José Augusto Barreto Filho Antônio Carlos Sobral Sousa Joselina Luzia Menezes Oliveira

BACKGROUND: Chronotropic incompetence (CI), defined as failure to achieve less than 80% of age-expected heart rate, is a predictor of mortality and adverse cardiovascular events and may confer a worse prognosis in elderly diabetic individuals. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prognostic value of chronotropic incompetence (CI) in elderly diabetic patients considering endpoints with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), cerebrovascular disease (CVD) and overall mortality and compare clinical and echocardiographic characteristics between patients with and without CI. METHOD: A total of 298 elderly diabetic patients undergoing exercise echocardiography (EE) were studied from January 2001 to December 2010. Of these, 109 were chronotropic incompetent (group 1) and were compared with the chronotropic competent ones (group 2) regarding the occurrence of cardiovascular events, clinical and echocardiographic characteristics. RESULTS: Chronotropic incompetents patients showed a higher frequency of cerebrovascular disease (9.2% vs. 3.2, p = 0.027) and higher mortality was observed in those who had cerebrovascular disease or acute myocardial infarction. The presence of typical angina and dyspnea prior to the performance of EE and male gender were more frequent in group 1. Rest and exercise left ventricular wall motion score index, rate of left ventricle mass and left atrium diameter were higher in chronotropic incompetent individuals. CONCLUSION: Chronotropic incompetence was independently associated with the occurrence of cerebrovascular disease in elderly diabetic individuals.

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Artigo Original

Unrecognized diabetes and myocardial necrosis: predictors of hyperglycemia in myocardial infarction

Renata Teixeira Ladeira et al. Luciano Moreira Baracioli Tanize Espírito Santo Faulin Dulcinéia Saes Parra Abdalla … Talita Matttos Seydell Raul Cavalcante Maranhão Berenice Bilharinho Mendonça Célia Cassaro Strunz Isac de Castro José Carlos Nicolau

BACKGROUND: Hyperglycemia in the acute phase of myocardial infarction is an important prognostic factor. However, its pathophysiology is not fully understood. OBJECTIVE: To analyze simultaneously the correlation between hyperglycemia and biochemical markers related to stress, glucose and lipid metabolism, coagulation, inflammation, and myocardial necrosis. METHODS Eighty patients with acute myocardial infarction were prospectively included. The following parameters were analyzed: blood glucose; stress hormones (cortisol and norepinephrine); glucose metabolism factors [glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c); insulin]; lipoproteins (total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, minimally modified electronegative LDL, and adiponectin); glycerides (triglycerides, VLDL and fatty acids); coagulation factors (factor VII, fibrinogen, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1); inflammation (high-sensitivity C reactive protein); and myocardial necrosis (CK-MB and troponin). Continuous variables were converted into degrees of relevance using fuzzy logic. RESULTS: Significant correlation was observed between hyperglycemia and glucose metabolism (p < 0.001), lipoproteins (p = 0.03), and necrosis factors (p = 0.03). In the multivariate analysis, only glucose metabolism (OR = 4.3; CI = 2.1-68.9; and p < 0.001) and myocardial necrosis (OR = 22.5; CI = 2-253; and p = 0.012) showed independent and significant correlation. For the analysis of the influence of history of diabetes mellitus, a regression model including only patients without diabetes mellitus was developed, and the results did not change. Finally, in the model adjusted for age, gender, and clinical variables (history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension and dyslipidemia), three variables maintained a significant and independent association with hyperglycemia: glucose metabolism (OR = 24.1; CI = 4.8-122.1; and p < 0.001), myocardial necrosis (OR = 21.9; CI = 1.3-360.9; and p = 0.03), and history of DM (OR = 27; CI = 3.7-195.7; and p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Glucose metabolism and myocardial necrosis markers were the best predictors of hyperglycemia in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

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Artigo Original

Elderly hypertensives show decreased cognitive performance compared with elderly normotensives

Juliana Magalhães Duarte Matoso et al. Wellington Bruno Santos Irene de Freitas Henriques Moreira Roberto Alves Lourenço Marcelo Lima de Gusmão Correia

BACKGROUND: Essential hypertension has been associated with decreased cognitive performance; however, the literature is conflicting. OBJECTIVE: This study aims at comparing cognitive performance between elderly normotensives (“N”; n = 17; age 68 ± 1; blood pressure = 133 ± 3/74 ±2 mmHg) and hypertensives (“H”; n = 28; age 69 ± 1, blood pressure = 148 ± 4/80 ± 1mmHg) with at least 5 years of education. METHODS: The comprehensive neuropsychological assessment was comprised of the Cambridge Cognition-Revised (CAMCOG-R), the Trail Making Test A and B (TMT A and B) and the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT). RESULTS: Elderly hypertensives presented lower CAMCOG-R global scores (N = 87.6 ± 1.8; H = 78.6 ± 1.4; p = 0.002). The hypertensive’s performance was slower in the TMT A and B (TMT A: N = 39 ± 3s; H = 57 ± 3s; p = 0.001; TMT B: N = 93 ± 7s; H = 124 ± 7s; p = 0.006), which was also reflected in smaller percentiles achieved by hypertensives in these tests. Hypertensive subjects exhibited a significantly lower RAVLT summation score (N = 51.8 ± 1.7; H = 40.7 ± 1.5; p < 0.0001). Even when adjusted for age, sex, education and depression symptoms, hypertension was an independent predictor of cognitive performance as measured by CAMCOG-R global score, TMT A and RAVLT summation score. CONCLUSION: Cognitive performance is lower in elderly hypertensives as compared with elderly normotensives.

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Artigo Original

Aortic stiffness is an independent predictor of stroke in hypertensive patients

Telmo Pereira et al. João Maldonado Liliana Pereira Jorge Conde

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in developed countries and is not entirely predicted by classic risk factors. Increased arterial stiffness is an important determinant of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether Aortic Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) predicts the occurrence of stroke in hypertensive patients METHODS: A cohort, observational and prospective study, including 1133 hypertensive patients (586 men), with a mean age 51.05 ± 12.64 years, was designed. PWV with the Complior method was performed in all patients, as well as a detailed clinical evaluation and blood pressure measurement. RESULTS: The cumulative incidence of stroke in hypertensive patients with increased PWV was 3.25% (CI: 1.97% -5.25%), compared with 0.78% (CI: 0.28% -1.87%) in hypertensive patients with normal PWV (Risk Ratio (RR) =4.15; CI:1.53-11.26). In a multivariate analysis, adjusting the model to classical cardiovascular risk factors, PWV was an independent predictor of stroke, with a Hazard Ratio (HR) = 1.40 (CI:1.13-1.73, p<0.001), indicating a 40% increase in the risk of stroke per 1m/s increment in PWV. The addition of PWV to a model consisting of conventional cardiovascular risk factors significantly improved the discriminative capacity for stroke (Harrell's C increased from 0.68 to 0.71 after the inclusion of the PWV; p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Aortic PWV is a risk factor for stroke in hypertensive patients, and its integration into clinical follow-up programs in patients whose cardiovascular risk is manifest is strongly recommended.

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Artigo Original

Prognostic factors in patients with acute coronary syndrome without ST segment elevation

Jessica Carolina Matos D'Almeida Santos et al. Mário de Seixas Rocha Marcos da Silva Araújo

BACKGROUND: In patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) without ST segment elevation (SSE), it is suggested that a series of markers (inflammatory cells, hyperglycemia and renal function) can identify individuals with increased risk for cardiovascular events. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of these laboratory parameters on intra-hospital outcomes of patients with ACS with no SSE. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated 195 patients consecutively admitted with ACS with no SSE. Demographic and clinical laboratory data were recorded during the course of the hospitalization period in relation to the occurrence of combined events. RESULTS: Mean age was 67 ± 12 years, and 52% were men. In analyzing the area under the ROC curve, only neutrophil/lymphocyte ratios (AUC: 70%, CI 95% 56%-82%, p = 0.006) and creatinine (AUC: 62%, CI 95% 50%-80%, p = 0.03) discriminated those patients with ACS with no SSE who presented an adverse outcome. The patients who suffered an adverse event during hospitalization had lower lymphocyte counts (1502 ± 731/mm ³ vs. 2020 ± 862/mm³; p = 0.002), lower glomerular filtration rates (51 ± 27 mL / min vs. 77 ± 34 mL/min; p < 0,001) and higher serum creatinine levels (2.1 ± 2.7 mg/dL vs. 1.1 ± 1.3 mg/dL; p = 0.047) than those who progressed through hospitalization without incident. The logistic regression analysis showed that variables remaining as independent and significant predictors were: glomerular filtration rate (OR: 1.03; CI 95%: 1.00 – 1.13, p = 0.002), and lymphocyte count (OR: 1.02; CI95%: 1.01 to 1.04, p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Assessment of renal function and lymphocyte count provide potentially useful information for the prognostic stratification in patients with ACS with no SSE (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2013; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0).

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Artigo Original

Ventricular arrhythmias and left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Beatriz Piva e Mattos et al. Marco Antonio Rodrigues Torres Valéria Centeno de Freitas Fernando Luís Scolari Melina Silva de Loreto

BACKGROUND: In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), the degree of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) could influence the development of ventricular arrhythmias. OBJECTIVE: In HCM, analyze the association between the occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias determined by Holter electrocardiogram (ECG-Holter) and the degree of LVH determined by maximum wall thickness (MWT) in echocardiography and body mass index (BMI). METHODS: Fifty-four consecutive patients with HCM underwent 24-hour ECG-Holter and echocardiography for assessment of level of LVH through MWT and BMI. Two levels were established for the occurrence of Ventricular Arrhythmias: I – alone or paired extrasystoles and II – Non- Sustained Ventricular Tachycardia (NSVT). RESULTS: In 13 patients (24%) with NSVT (level II), there was a higher frequency of MWT of the left ventricle (LV) > 21 mm (n = 10, 77%, 25 ± 4 mm) and LLLV = 144 g/m² (n = 10, 77%, 200 ± 30 g/m²), in comparison with those presenting with extrasystole arrhythmias (level I) (n = 41, 76%), in which these measures were identified in, respectively, 37 % (n= 15, 23 ± 1 mm), p = 0.023, and 39% (n = 16, 192 ± 53 g / m²) of the cases (p = 0.026). The cut-off values mentioned were determined by the ROC curve with a confidence interval of 95%. NSVT was more common in patients with MWTLV > 21 mm and LLLV > 144 g/m² (8 of 13, 62%) than in those with (4 of 13, 31%) or without (1 of 13; 8%) echocardiographic variables above cut-off values (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: In HCM, occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias by Holter was associated with the degree of LVH assessed by echocardiography through MWT and BMI.

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Artigo Original

Correlation to NT-ProBNP and remodeling after cardiac surgery

Berta Paula Napchan Boer et al. Marcelo Luiz Campos Vieira Roney Orismar Sampaio Henry Abensur … Alessandra Gomes de Oliveira João Ricardo Fernandes Max Grinberg

BACKGROUND: Few data are available on diastolic function in patients with aortic stenosis (AOS) with indication of surgical treatment. A potential correlation between biomarkers and diastolic function has not been established. OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to evaluate diastolic function in patients with AOS waiting for aortic valve replacement (AVR) echocardiographically, and to verify its correlation with serum brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). METHODS: Thirty-one AOS patients (11 male), 21 to 81 years old (mean age, 61±15 years old) were studied before and after AVR. Diastolic function was assessed with Doppler methods: transvalvar mitral flow, tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and pulmonary venous Doppler (PVD), correlating with serum brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) before and 6 months after AVR. RESULTS: Comparing pre to post-operative period, we observed an increase of the left atrial ejection fraction and isovolumetric relaxation time (IRT), and the decrease of the mitral velocity to early diastolic velocity of the mitral annulus ratio (E/E’), the difference between the pulmonary A wave duration and mitral A duration, left atrial systolic volume, left atrial systolic volume index, left ventricular diastolic diameter, left ventricular systolic diameter, end diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular mass index, left ventricular volume and mass index ratio. The values of NT-proBNP were positively correlated to diastolic dysfunction, both before and after surgery. CONCLUSION: AOS patients’ ventricular diastolic function improved after AVR. The biomarker NT-proBNP might be a useful biomarker of diastolic function in these patients, before and after AVR. NT-proBNP values show a positive correlation with echocardiographic variables that determine diastolic dysfunction, and is a good marker for the characterization of this dysfunction in AOS patients.

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Artigo Original

Do interleukin-1β levels correlate with MIBG and exercise parameters in heart failure?

Leandro Rocha Messias et al. Maria Angela M. de Queiroz Carreira Sandra Marina Miranda Jader Cunha de Azevedo … Paula Cardoso Benayon Ronaldo Campos Rodrigues Elisabeth Maróstica Evandro Tinoco Mesquita Claudio Tinoco Mesquita

BACKGROUND: Interleukin 1β (IL 1β) levels are associated with prognosis in heart failure. The cardiac adrenergic activity as assessed by metaiodobenzylguanidine (I123 MIBG) scintigraphy along with exercise parameters are important predictors of prognosis. The relationship between these variables is not fully established. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of IL 1β levels with exercise and I123 MIBG parameters. METHODS: Cross-sectional observational study evaluating 25 consecutive patients with heart failure and ejection fraction lower than 45% by means of: determination of IL 1β levels; I123 MIBG parameters [early and late heart/mediastinum ratio, washout rate (WO)]; and treadmill exercise test using the ramp protocol. RESULTS: The patients were divided into two groups according to their IL 1β levels (normal vs. increased). The group with increased levels showed lower double-product reserve (DPR); lower functional capacity (FC); slower heart rate recovery at the first (HRR 1º) and second minute (HRR 2º); and higher WO. In the univariate analysis, all variables correlated with IL 1β; DPR: r = 0.203, p = 0.024; FC: r = 0.181, p = 0.034; HRR 1º: r = 0.182, p = 0.034; HRR 2º: r = 0.204, p = 0.023; WO: r = 0.263, p = 0.009. In the multivariate analysis, only WO maintained a significant correlation (r² = 0.263, p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: Adrenergic overactivity was the main determinant of IL 1β levels, thus demonstrating that an excessive sympathetic activity influences the systemic inflammatory response. Exercise test variables were not able to identify patients with high IL 1β levels.

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Artigo Original

Association between ankle-brachial index and carotid atherosclerotic disease

Augusto Cezar Lacerda Brasileiro et al. Dinaldo Cavalcanti de Oliveira Edgar Guimarães Victor Danielle A. G. Cavalcanti Oliveira Laecio Leitão Batista

BACKGROUND: The association between the ankle brachial index (ABI) and the measurement of intimal medial thickness (IMT) has not been fully studied. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate whether the prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis was higher in patients with ABI 0.9. METHODS: From January 2011 to December 2011, 118 patients (48 men and 70 women) were enrolled. ABI and IMT Measurements were performed in all patients. Patients were divided in Group 1 (ABI 0.9) according to ABI values. Mann-Whitney, Chi-square and Fischer tests were used for comparison among the groups. Pearson’s correlation was used to assess correlation between ABI and IMT. RESULTS: The prevalence of ABI 1.5 mm was 34.7 %. Clinical characteristics were similar between groups 1 and 2: mean age (64 ± 9 vs. 62 ± 7.2 years, p = 0.1), male gender (40% vs. 41%, p = 0.9), hypertension (74% vs. 59%, p = 0.1), diabetes mellitus (54% vs. 35%, p = 0.051), dyslipidemia (26% vs. 24%, p = 0.8), smoking (57% vs. 65%, p = 0.4). The prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis was higher in group 1 (48.6% vs. 28.9%, p = 0.04). Pearson’s correlation between ABI and IMT was -0.235, with a p value = 0.01. CONCLUSION: Patients with ABI < 0.9 showed a higher prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis. There was a negative correlation between ABI and IMT.

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Review Article

Heart failure-induced cachexia

Marina Politi Okoshi et al. Fernando G. Romeiro Sergio A. R. Paiva Katashi Okoshi

Heart failure patients often develop cachexia, which is an independent factor for survival reduction. Cachexia can be diagnosed when there is loss of more than 6% of the body weight, in the absence of other diseases. Even though its pathophysiology has not yet been completely clarified, various factors seem to be involved, such as reduction in food consumption, gastrointestinal tract abnormalities, immunologic and neuro-hormonal activarion and changes in the relationship between anabolic and catabolic processes. Since there is not specific therapy for heart failure-induced cachexia, management is based on nutritional support, neuro-hormonal blockade, control of edema and anemia and exercise. Drugs with anabolic and immunomodulating properties are being evaluated and clinical and non-clinical trials.

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Artigo Original

Transplantation of adipose tissue mesenchymal stem cells in experimental chronic chagasic cardiopathy

Ticiana Ferreira Larocca et al. Bruno Solano de Freitas Souza Cristina Aragão Silva Carla Martins Kaneto … Adriano Costa de Alcantara Carine Machado Azevedo Murilo Fagundes Castro Simone Garcia Macambira Milena Botelho Pereira Soares Ricardo Ribeiro-dos-Santos

BACKGROUND: Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is a major cause of heart failure in Latin America. Tissue therapy has been investigated as a possible therapeutic option for patients with cardiovascular disease. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effects of therapy with mesenchymal stem cells in an experimental model of chronic Chagasic cardiomyopathy. METHODS: C57BL/6 mice were infected with 1000 trypomastigotes from the Colombian strain of T. cruzi and, after six months of infection, were treated with mesenchymal human stem cells from adipose tissue (STAT) or with Dulbecco/Vogt modified Eagle’s minimal essential medium – DMEM (control). The treated group received two intraperitoneal injections of STAT (1×10(6) cells/dose), with a month interval between the two doses. Before and after the first and second months of treatment, the chagasic and normal control animals underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing and electrocardiography. All animals were sacrificed under anesthesia after two months of treatment for histopathological analysis of the heart. RESULTS: No improvement was observed in arrhythmias and cardiovascular function in the group of animals treated with STAT; however, sections of mice hearts in this group revealed a significant reduction in the number of inflammatory cells (p<0.0001) and areas of fibrosis (p<0.01) in comparison with chagasic animals treated with DMEM. CONCLUSION: Thus, it is concluded that administration of intraperitoneal STAT can reduce inflammation and fibrosis in the heart of mice chronically infected with T. cruzi; however, there were no effects on the cardiac function two months after transplantation.

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