Most patients with aortic stenosis (AS) can be treated with either traditional surgical aortic valve replacement or newly emerged transcatheter aortic valve implantation. Therefore, the early and ...appropriate detection of significant AS has become more important for avoiding overlooking patients who require treatment. AS is initially detected by the presence of a systolic ejection murmur (SEM). However, it is time-consuming and expensive for all subjects presenting with SEM to undergo comprehensive standard echocardiography using high-end ultrasound machines since the SEM is audible in a large proportion of elderly patients and is not specific for significant AS. Therefore, further physical examination and/or focused cardiac ultrasound (FoCUS) is required to determine whether patients with a SEM should be referred for standard echocardiography. One or more abnormal physical findings in addition to a SEM can rule out a certain proportion of normal cases without overlooking severe AS. Most of the previous studies suggesting the usefulness of FoCUS in screening for valvular heart disease only used visual impressions in their assessment of AS. By contrast, visual AS and calcification scores are good objective parameters in screening for AS with FoCUS. Patients with severe AS and patients with a high probability of AS-related events are rarely overlooked even if comprehensive standard echocardiography is performed only when either (or both) of the FoCUS scores is 3 or more. The appropriate combination of physical examinations and FoCUS to screen for AS is discussed in this review article.
Background:We investigated the prevalence and prognostic significance of functional mitral regurgitation (MR) and tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and preserved ...left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).Methods and Results:We retrospectively studied the cases of 11,021 consecutive patients who had undergone transthoracic echocardiography. AF appeared in 1,194 patients, and we selected 298 with AF and LVEF ≥50% but without other underlying heart diseases. Moderate or greater (significant) degree of functional MR and of TR was seen in 24 (8.1%) and in 44 (15%) patients, respectively (P=0.0045). In contrast, significant MR and TR were more frequently seen in patients with AF duration >10 years (28% vs. 25%, respectively). During the follow-up period of 24±17 months, 35 patients (12%) met the composite endpoint defined as cardiac death, admission due to heart failure, or mitral and/or tricuspid valve surgery. On Cox proportional hazard ratio analysis, both MR and TR grading predicted the endpoint, independently of other echocardiographic parameters. On Kaplan-Meyer analysis, presence of both significant functional MR and TR was associated with poor prognosis, with an event-free rate of only 21% at the mean follow-up period of 24 months.Conclusions:Significant functional MR and TR are seen in a substantial proportion of patients with longstanding AF, despite preserved LVEF. This MR/TR combination predicts poor outcome for AF patients, who may have to be treated more intensively.
Atrial functional mitral regurgitation is a hot research topic in the field of mitral valve disease. Atrial functional mitral regurgitation is distinctly different from ventricular functional mitral ...regurgitation. The surgical indications for atrial functional mitral regurgitation have not been well established because of the small amount of evidence gathered to date. Mitral annular plication with an artificial ring is an essential surgical procedure because dilatation of the mitral valve annulus is a main factor underlying this pathology. Most of these cases can be treated by mitral annuloplasty alone. However, additional procedures, such as application of artificial chordae to the anterior leaflet for pseudo-prolapse, and posterior leaflet augmentation with a pericardial patch, are required in advanced cases with a giant left atrium and extremely enlarged mitral annulus. Chronic atrial fibrillation causes enlargement of the right and left atria. This pathology is a bilateral atrioventricular valve disease (dual-valve disease). Therefore, the conventional guidelines of single-valve disease should not be applied. Although atrial functional tricuspid regurgitation is underappreciated, tricuspid annuloplasty should be considered for most patients to prevent future regurgitation. In addition to the mitral and tricuspid valve procedure, integrated surgical management, including plication of the atrium and left appendage closure, is required. This review summarizes the current considerations of surgical treatment for atrial functional regurgitation of the mitral and tricuspid valves based on the etiological mechanism.
•Atrial fibrillation can cause atrial functional mitral regurgitation (AFMR).•The left atrial and mitral annular dilatations are determinants of AFMR.•The hamstringing of the posterior mitral leaflet ...also relates to AFMR.•The AFMR, especially with tricuspid regurgitation, carries a poor prognosis.•Intervention for the mitral valve can be applied in patients with AFMR.
Functional mitral regurgitation (MR) has been traditionally known as secondary MR resulting from left ventricular (LV) dilatation and systolic dysfunction. However, deterioration of functional MR also relates to mitral annular (MA) dilatation. Furthermore, MA dilatation due to left atrial dilatation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) can also cause functional MR, even in the absence of LV systolic dysfunction, in a condition referred to as “atrial functional MR” (AFMR). AFMR also has other etiological factors, including disruption of the MA saddle shape, reduction in MA contractility, inadequate compensation for the MA dilatation resulting from the lack of leaflet remodeling, and hamstringing of the posterior mitral leaflet by atriogenic tethering. AFMR has recently received much attention as an important cause of heart failure, and it represents a considerable therapeutic target in heart failure patients with AF. The traditional functional MR occurring in patients with LV dilatation and systolic dysfunction has since been designated “ventricular functional MR” (VFMR) to distinguish it from AFMR. This review article compares the current perceptions of newly recognized AFMR with those of traditional VFMR.
Arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy (AIC) occurring in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is a reversible form of cardiomyopathy characterized by LV systolic dysfunction. However, it is difficult ...to predict the reversibility before rhythm control therapy. We performed this study to develop a parameter for the identification of AIC in routine transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in patients with presumptive AIC due to AF.We retrospectively studied 72 patients treated with catheter ablation therapy for persistent AF, and LV ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 45%. The patients were divided into 2 groups by follow-up TTE performed within 12 ± 6 months postoperatively. Patients with ≥ 15% improvement in LVEF or ≥ 10% improvement and ≥ 50% in LVEF were classified as the AIC group, and the others were classified as the non-AIC group.A total of 57 (79%) patients were classified as the AIC group. In the stepwise multivariate logistic regression model, LV end-diastolic dimension (LVDd) and e' (septal) were independent predictors of AIC. The sensitivities of LVDd ≤ 53 mm and e' (septal) ≥ 6.3 cm/second were 60% and 75%, respectively. Their specificities were 80% and 67%, respectively. The presence of either LVDd ≤ 53 mm or e' (septal) ≥ 6.3 cm/second had a higher sensitivity (90%); their co-occurrence had a higher specificity (93%) in predicting AIC.The functional recovery in patients with AIC can occur in LV systolic dysfunction without remodeling and impairment of relaxation. The combination of LVDd and e' (septal) is useful in predicting AIC due to AF with routine TTE.
Abstract Background Functional mitral regurgitation (MR) can occur in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) despite having preserved left ventricular (LV) systolic function. This MR is known as ...atrial functional MR. The aim of this study was to clarify the mechanism of atrial functional MR using real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3DTEE). Methods Sixty patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography and 3DTEE: 16 patients with AF and significant non-organic MR and preserved LV ejection fraction (>50%) constituted the AF-MR group, 20 patients with AF and no significant MR formed the AF-NSMR group, and 24 normal subjects comprised the control group. Results The left atrial volume index was significantly larger in the AF-MR group (95 ± 41 ml/m2 ) than in the AF-NSMR group (38 ± 13 ml/m2 , p < 0.05) or the control group (21 ± 7 ml/m2 , p < 0.05). The 3D annular circumference was significantly longer in the AF-MR group than in the AF-NSMR group. The annular-anterior leaflet coaptation angle was smaller in the AF-MR group than in the AF-NSMR group (11 ± 6° vs. 18 ± 9°, p < 0.05). The annular-posterior leaflet coaptation angle was comparable between the two AF groups (26 ± 12° vs. 28 ± 10°), whereas the annular-posterior leaflet tip angle was larger in the AF-MR group than in the AF-NSMR group (59 ± 13° vs. 44 ± 11°, p < 0.05). The posterior leaflet bending toward LV cavity was therefore significantly larger in the AF-MR group than in the AF-NSMR group (32 ± 10° vs. 18 ± 15°, p < 0.05). Conclusions In patients with AF and significant functional MR occurring despite their preserved LV systolic function, the left atrium and mitral annulus were dilated and the anterior leaflet was flattened along the mitral annular plane, whereas the posterior leaflet was bent toward the LV cavity.
Cerebral vascular embolism is one of the complications of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Thrombolytic therapy is not expected to be effective when embolic material consists of a large ...tissue fragment. Instead, mechanical aspiration may be more effective therapy for acute cerebral infarction after TAVR. Here, we describe the case of an 87-year-old woman with aortic valve stenosis and heart failure who underwent TAVR using a self-expandable valve. Acute cerebral infarction with left middle cerebral artery occlusion caused by a large tissue fragment developed after the procedure.
In addition to the hyperactivation of the inflammatory cytokines, high-mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1), recently identified as a lethal late-phase mediator is suspected to be closely correlated ...with the development of sepsis. Therefore, the therapeutic efficacy of recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin (ART-123) administration on the production of inflammatory cytokines and the plasma level of HMGB1 was investigated in experimental endotoxemia.
Prospective, comparative, experimental study.
Laboratory animal research center at a university.
Male Sprague-Dawley rats (250-300 g).
Endotoxemia was induced in rats by a bolus intravenous injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at a dosage of 4 mg/kg (LPS group). ART-123 (1 mg/kg) was administered as a bolus injection 30 minutes before or 4 hours after injection of LPS (ART-123 pretreated/treated group). As a control, an equal volume of physiologic saline was administered instead of LPS and ART-123 (control group).
Rats were randomly divided into ART-123 pretreated group, ART-123 treated group, and LPS group, respectively. After the injection of LPS, the levels of inflammatory cytokines and thrombin-antithrombin III complex, plasma HMGB1 concentrations, liver immunohistochemical and histopathologic characteristics, liver dysfunction, and survival rate were examined. The increased levels of inflammatory cytokines and plasma HMGB1 induced by LPS in this rat model were improved by the administration of ART-123; additionally, reduced liver dysfunction and increased survival rate were observed.
This study demonstrated that ART-123 inhibits the expression of inflammatory cytokines and decreases the plasma HMGB1 levels in experimental endotoxemia. In addition, ART-123 administration markedly reduced liver dysfunction and mortality even with delayed treatment of ART-123. The use of ART-123 may therefore be a beneficial treatment for septic patients.
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