Search

Background: Several studies have reported that primary hyperparathyroidism is a risk factor of higher cardiovascular mortality, mainly because hyperparathyroidism is related to arterial hypertension, arrhythmias, structural heart abnormalities and activation of the renin-angiotensin- aldosterone system. However, very few studies have shown the electrocardiographic changes that occur after parathyroidectomy. That was the aim of this study., Methods: We studied 57 consecutive patients with primary hyperparathyroidism surgically treated. Electrocardiogram, serum electrolytes, parathyroid hormone, creatinine and albumin measures were obtained before and after surgery and were compared., Results: The most common basal electrocardiographic abnormalities were left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH, 24.6%), conduction disturbances (16.3%), and short QT and QTc intervals. After surgery, a QTc interval lengthening and a tendency of T wave shortening were observed, as well as an inverse association between QTc interval and serum levels of magnesium and corrected calcium. There were no differences in LVH and conduction disturbances after surgery., Conclusions: Primary hyperparathyroidism is an important factor in the development of electrocardiographic abnormalities in this population, some of which are not corrected after parathyroidectomy. Further studies are required to demonstrate what factors are associated with persistence of electrocardiographic disturbances after surgery.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of left ventricular dysfunction on right ventricular ejection fraction during exercise in heart failure patients and its implications in functional capacity and blood pressure response., Methods: In a cross-sectional study 65 patients with heart failure were included. Left and right ventricular ejection fractions were evaluated by radio-isotopic ventriculography. All subjects underwent an exercise treadmill test (Bruce modified protocol). Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were also recorded., Results: From the total population, 38 (58.46%) showed a significant increase (> or = 5%) in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and 27 (41.5%) showed a significant decrease in LVEF (> or = 5%) after the stress test. Patients with a significant reduction in LVEF during stress had lower exercise tolerance (4.1 +/- 2.5 vs. 6.1 +/- 2.5 METs, p = 0.009) compared to those who showed an increase in LVEF. Diastolic blood pressure was higher at rest among those who had a reduced LVEF during stress (83 +/- 12.2 vs. 72.6 +/- 12.2 mm Hg, p = 0.035) and during exercise (95 +/- 31.3 vs. 76.9 +/- 31.3 mm Hg, p = 0.057), as well as mean arterial pressure in the same group (97.1 +/- 11.6 mm Hg, p = 0.05). In addition, this group decrease of -8.8 +/- 51.6% in the right ventricular ejection fraction after exercise compared to an increase of 27.3 +/- +/- 49.1% (p = 0.007) among the patients with an increase in LVEF., Conclusions: Biventricular systolic dysfunction during exercise is associated with higher rest and stress blood pressure and worse functional capacity.

Background: Heart failure (HF) patients can benefit from a proper RS. We had observed that they show an increase in the number of arrhythmias during the first year of pharmacological treatment., Methods: We carried out a prospective observational study in which patients in an HF Clinic were included when they had follow-up Holter monitoring. Patients also had a baseline myocardial perfusion scan (Tc99 sestaMIBI/dypiridamole) and a control scan., Results: We included 90 patients with follow-up Holter and 35 with scintigraphy, for analysis. Fifty-six (62.2%) were men and the average age was 60.8 +/- 14.6 years. Follow-up periods were divided by six-month intervals up to 18 months or more, an increase in premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) occurred in the six-month to one-year period (1915.4 +/- +/- 4686.9 vs. 2959 +/- 6248.1, p = 0.09). In the one-year to 18-month control, PVCs went from 781.6 +/- 1082.4 to 146.9 +/- 184.1, p = 0.05. The increase in PVCs correlated with a reduction in scintigraphy-detected ischemic territories, 5.64 +/- 5.9 vs. 3.18 +/- 3 (p = 0.1) and a gain in those showing a reverse redistribution pattern (0.18 +/- 0.6 vs. 2.09 +/- 4.01, p = 0.1). Necrotic territories and time domain heart rate variability did not show significant changes., Conclusions: PVCs increase during the first year of HF treatment, and then they tend to diminish and stabilize. These changes seem to correlate with changes in the perfusion state of the patient. While ischemic territories decrease, reverse redistribution increases, showing that endothelial dysfunction could have a relevant role in arrhythmia generation, possibly because of membrane instability of recovered hibernating myocardium.

Background: Microalbuminuria is considered a major risk factor predisposing to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Microalbuminuria levels in patients with or without diabetes have been associated with a higher risk of chronic heart failure (HF). However, there are limited data regarding prevalence of microalbuminuria in chronic heart failure and its prognostic value. The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of microalbuminuria in chronic heart failure patients as well as its association with clinical, echocardiographic, and body composition markers., Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we included 72 chronic heart failure patients (NYHA I-III) on standard HF therapy. All patients had an echocardiogram and body composition by vector bioelectric impedance analysis (measured by Body Stat Quad Scan)., Results: The studied population consisted of 64% men at mean age of 62.6 +/- 15.1 years. Patients were divided into systolic and diastolic HF groups. Microalbuminuria was observed in 40% of diastolic and 24% systolic HF patients (p = 0.04). Microalbuminuria was present in more patients with volume overload (80 vs. 21.9%, p = 0.002), with a worse phase angle and lower serum albumin (4.7 vs. 5.9 degrees and 3.5 vs. 4.0 mg/dl, p = 0.02) and higher pulmonary arterial pressure compared with patients without microalbuminuria in systolic HF patients. There was no significant association between frequency of microalbuminuria and ejection fraction. In the diastolic HF group, the presence of microalbuminuria was not associated with any known risk factor., Conclusions: Microalbuminuria was more frequent in diastolic than systolic HF patients. In systolic HF patients microalbuminuria was associated with factors known to be markers of worse prognosis.