Calcinosis – ABC CARDIOL

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Research Letter

Caseous Calcification of the Mitral Annulus: A Post-Heart Transplant Diagnosis

Bruno Jordão Chaves et al. Matheus Bitencourt Duarte Luiz Guilherme Passaglia Claudio Gelape … Paulo Hernane Rabelo Azevedo Geraldo Brasileiro Filho

Introduction

Caseous calcified mitral annulus is a non-neoplastic cardiac lesion considered to be a variant of mitral annular calcification that should be suspected when heart masses are detected by echocardiogram, chest x-ray or other radiologic studies.^– The majority of the patients is asymptomatic, but signs and symptoms of mitral regurgitation, systemic embolization and atrioventricular blocks have been described.³ The diagnosis is confirmed by anatomopathologic examination. The prognosis is good. Here, we present a caseous calcification of the mitral annulus case diagnosed after the pathologic analysis of explanted heart.

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ABCIC

My Approach To

My Approach to the Echocardiographic Assessment of Mitral Annular Calcification: Challenges and Particularities

Antonio Carlos Leite de Barros Filho et al. Minna Moreira Dias Romano

Introduction

Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is a chronic degenerative process that affects the fibrous structure supporting the mitral valve. It is present in 8–15% of the general population; however, its prevalence can reach 40% in older people and 50% in patients with chronic kidney disease. Although it was previously classified as a degenerative pathophysiology associated with age or calcium metabolism, other etiological factors have been suggested, such as atherosclerotic disease and its risk factors (hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, smoking), exposure to radiation therapy, and conditions that increase mitral valve stress, such as aortic valve stenosis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and mitral valve prolapse.^–

MAC is related to an increased risk of a number of adverse cardiac events, such as acute myocardial infarction, stroke, arrhythmias (conduction disorders and atrial fibrillation), and mitral valve disease (mitral stenosis, mitral regurgitation, and infective endocarditis).^– It is also associated with a higher risk of complications and mortality in patients undergoing mitral valve surgery. Although most cases are not associated with mitral valve dysfunction, some may progress with an increased mitral transvalvular gradient.^,

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ABC

Editorial

Aortic Arch Calcification on routine Chest Radiography is Strongly and Independently Associated with Non-Dipper Blood Pressure Pattern

Rui Póvoa

Arterial hypertension is the most prevalent chronic disease worldwide, and it is estimated that in Brazil, according to the Vigitel study of 2018, the Brazilian population has 24.7% of hypertensive individuals. It is the most important risk factor for all cardiovascular diseases, being one of the main factors responsible for stroke, coronary artery disease, heart failure, renal failure, and so on.

Blood pressure is not simply a biological phenomenon characterized by two numbers expressed in mmHg that reflect systolic and diastolic pressure. It is a multiform event resulting from the hydrodynamic action of a complex fluid that exerts force on a compliant vascular wall, with elastic properties governed by multiple forces arising from vascular structures (muscle cells, extracellular matrix, elastic fibers, etc.). This vector wave of blood follows the laws of sympathetic and parasympathetic interaction, varying more or less depending on the conditions of each patient. Therefore, the simple measurement of blood pressure in the office does not reflect the reality of the patient’s true daily life.

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ABC

Original Article

Impact of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation on Kidney Function

Rita Calça et al. Rui C. Teles Patrícia Branco Augusta Gaspar … João Brito Tiago Nolasco Manuel D. Almeida José P. Neves Miguel Mendes Domingos S. Machado André Weigert

Abstract

Background:

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is frequently present in patients with aortic valve disease. Decreased kidney perfusion as a consequence of reduced cardiac output may contribute to renal dysfunction in this setting.

Objective:

Given the potential reversibility of kidney hypoperfusion after valve repair, this study aimed to analyze the impact of percutaneous transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) on kidney function.

Methods:

We performed a retrospective analysis of 233 consecutive patients who underwent TAVI in a single center between November 2008 and May 2016. We assessed three groups according to their baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (mL/min/1.73 m²): Group 1 with eGFR ≥ 60; Group 2 with 30 ≤ eGFR < 60; and Group 3 with eGFR < 30. We analyzed the eGFR one month and one year after TAVI in these three groups, using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) formula to calculate it.

Results:

Patients from Group 1 had a progressive decline in eGFR one year after the TAVI procedure (p < 0.001 vs. pre-TAVI). In Group 2 patients, the mean eGFR increased one month after TAVI and continued to grow after one year (p = 0.001 vs. pre-TAVI). The same occurred in Group 3, with the mean eGFR increasing from 24.4 ± 5.1 mL/min/1.73 m² before TAVI to 38.4 ± 18.8 mL/min/1.73 m² one year after TAVI (p = 0.012).

Conclusions:

For patients with moderate-to-severe CKD, kidney function improved one year after the TAVI procedure. This outcome is probably due to better kidney perfusion post-procedure. We believe that when evaluating patients that might need TAVI, this ‘reversibility of CKD effect’ should be considered.

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Original Article

Aortic Arch Calcification on Routine Chest Radiography is Strongly and Independently Associated with Non-Dipper Blood Pressure Pattern

Adem Adar et al. Orhan Onalan Fahri Cakan Ertan Akbay Ekrem Karakaya

Abstract

Background:

Non-dipper blood pressure (NDBP) is one of the important causes of hypertension-related target organ damage and future cardiovascular events. Currently, there is no practical tool to predict NDBP pattern.

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between aortic arch calcification (AAC) on chest radiography and NDBP pattern.

Methods:

All patients referred for ambulatory BP monitoring test were approached for the study participation. NDBP was defined as the reduction of ≤10% in nighttime systolic BP as compared to the daytime values. AAC was evaluated with chest radiography and inter-observer agreement was analyzed by using kappa statistics. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the association of AAC and NDBP pattern. A 2-tailed p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results:

A total of 406 patients (median age: 51.3) were included. Of these, 261(64%) had NDBP pattern. Overall, the prevalence of AAC was 230 (57%). Non-dipper group had significantly higher prevalence of AAC (70% vs. 33%, p < 0.0001) as compared to the dipper group. Presence of AAC was a strong and independent predictor of NDBP pattern (OR 3.919, 95%CI 2.39 to 6.42) in multivariate analysis.

Conclusions:

Presence of AAC on plain chest radiography is strongly and independently associated with the presence of NDBP pattern.

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IJCS

Case Report

Caseous Necrosis of the Mitral Valve: Imaging Methods Allow the Diagnosis and Prevent Surgery

Rodrigo de Moura Joaquim et al. Edileide de Barros Correia Suéllen Lacerda Bezerra Ibraim Masciarelli Francisco Pinto … Tiago Senra Garcia dos Santos Fabiano de Castro Albrecht

Introduction

Calcification of the mitral annulus (CMA) is defined as a chronic degeneration of the mitral annulus fibrous involving mainly the posterior annulus. It is a common condition in the elderly, especially in women, and is associated with hypertension. Caseous necrosis of the mitral valve (CNMV) is a rare and less known CMA variant with a prevalence of 0.64%, which can reach up to 2.7% in autopsy studies of patients with CMA.^–

On echocardiography, CNMV appears as a large rounded or semilunar echodense mass, with a liquid filling and central echolucency, similar to a periannular tumor.^, The mechanism of liquefaction and caseification are still not well understood, but it is believed to occur due to changes in calcium metabolism.

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Artigo Original

Association of ankle-arm index with inflammation and mineral bone disorder in hemodialysis patients

Jair B. Miguel et al. Jorge P. Strogoff de Matos Frederico Ruzany Claudia S. Miguel … Sebastião J. S. Miguel Luiz T. Naveiro Jocemir R. Lugon

BACKGROUND: Reduced ankle-arm index (AAI), inflammation and mineral bone disorder (MBD) are all associated with increased risk of death and cardiovascular complications in patients on hemodialysis (HD), but the association between them deserves clarification. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between abnormal AAI with MBD and inflammation in patients on HD. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional analysis of 478 patients on hemodialysis for at least one year. The AAI was evaluated using a portable Doppler and mercury column manometer. Patients were divided into 3 groups, according to AAI (low: 1.3). C-reactive protein measurement was used as an inflammatory marker, whereas MBD was evaluated by calcium, phosphorus and intact parathyroid hormone levels. RESULTS: Participants were 54 (18 to 75) years old, 56% males, 17% diabetics, and had been on hemodialysis for a mean of 5 (1 to 35) years. The prevalence of low, normal and high AAI was 26.8%, 64.6% and 8.6%, respectively. Using a backward conditional logistic regression model, age (p6 mg/L (p= 0.006) were associated with the presence of low AAI, whereas male gender (p<0.001), diabetes (p= 0.001) and elevated calcium x phosphorus product (p= 0.026) were associated with high AAI. CONCLUSION: In patients on hemodialysis, the presence of diabetes was associated with both low and high AAI. The risk of having low AAI seems to be increased by aging and inflammation, whereas BMD was associated with high AAI.

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Artigo Original

Prevalence and correlates of vascular disease at ultrasound examination in patients on hemodialysis

Sebastião Baptista Miguel et al. Jair Baptista Miguel Luis Guilhermo Velarde Elisa de Albuquerque Sampaio … Jorge Paulo Strogoff de Matos Jocemir Ronaldo Lugon

BACKGROUND: Patients on hemodialysis present an increased risk of cardiovascular death. Intimal media thickness (IMT) and presence of arterial calcifications are well-known risk factors for cardiovascular death in hemodialysis patients. OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of IMT and arterial calcifications in HD patients and to correlate image findings with clinical and laboratory data. METHODS: Cross-sectional study involving 75 patients on dialysis for >12 months. Patients underwent B-mode ultrasound scan (US) for determination of IMT of the distal third of the common carotid arteries. Arterial calcifications were assessed by US of carotids, femoral and tibial arteries, and labeled positive if calcification was found in any arterial site. RESULTS: Patients were 52±13 years old, 57% were males and 16% were diabetics. IMT > 0.9 mm was found in 57% of cases and arterial calcifications at US in 48%. Aging (decades) and smoking were associated with both increased IMT (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 3.4, p < 0.001; aOR = 4.4, p = 0.045, respectively) and presence of vascular calcifications (aOR = 3.0, p < 0.001; aOR = 6.8, p = 0.011, respectively). High intact parathyroid hormone levels (per each 100 pg/ml) were significantly associated with increased IMT (aOR = 1.7, p = 0.021), but not with vascular calcification. In contrast, Diabetes and time on dialysis (years) were significant determinants for calcifications at US (aOR = 15.0, p = 0.009; aOR = 1.39, p = 0.020), but not for increased IMT. CONCLUSION: Increased IMT and calcifications at US are common findings in hemodialysis patients. Aging and smoking are consistent determinants for both image alterations. Parathyroid hormone elevation is associated with increased IMT. Diabetes and time on dialysis substantially increase the risk for arterial calcification.

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