Exercise echocardiography in severe asymptomatic aortic stenosis.

in Archives of Cardiovascular Diseases (2010), 103(4), 262-269

The management of asymptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis is challenging. Unfortunately, evaluation of symptoms such as dyspnoea remains subjective. The use of exercise echocardiography may help ... [more ▼]

The management of asymptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis is challenging. Unfortunately, evaluation of symptoms such as dyspnoea remains subjective. The use of exercise echocardiography may help to predict major events in patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis. This article explains how to perform the test and discusses which echocardiographic measurements should be obtained, focusing on the diagnostic and prognostic value of these measurements. An increase in mean transaortic pressure gradient >or= 18 mmHg predicts a worse prognosis in patients with severe aortic stenosis. The absence of left ventricular contractile reserve also has an important prognostic impact. Evaluation of filling pressures and looking for a worsening or a new mitral regurgitation are also part of the exam. Further studies are required to determine whether surgery should be recommended in the presence of an abnormal exercise echocardiogram in severe asymptomatic aortic stenosis. [less ▲]

Effects of eythropoietin administration on mitral regurgitation and left ventricular remodeling in heart failure patients.

in International Journal of Cardiology (2010), 138(3), 306-307

The effects of erythropoietin administration on mitral regurgitation in patients with congestive heart failure have not yet been examined. After 2 months, erythropoietin treatment results in a significant ... [more ▼]

The effects of erythropoietin administration on mitral regurgitation in patients with congestive heart failure have not yet been examined. After 2 months, erythropoietin treatment results in a significant reduction in left ventricular volumes and mitral regurgitation severity and improves hemodynamics. [less ▲]

Contractile reserve assessed using dobutamine echocardiography predicts left ventricular reverse remodeling after cardiac resynchronization therapy: prospective validation in patients with left ventricular dyssynchrony.

in Echocardiography (2010), 27(6), 668-76

Background: The presence of viable myocardium may predict response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). The aim of this study is to evaluate in patients with left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony ... [more ▼]

Background: The presence of viable myocardium may predict response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). The aim of this study is to evaluate in patients with left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony whether response to CRT is related to myocardial viability in the region of the pacing lead. Methods: Forty-nine consecutive patients with advanced heart failure, LV ejection fraction < 35%, QRS duration > 120 ms and intraventricular asynchronism ≥ 50 ms were included. Dobutamine stress echocardiography was performed within the week before CRT implantation. Resting echocardiography was performed 6 months after CRT implantation. Viability in the region of LV pacing lead was defined as the presence of viability in two contiguous segments. Response to CRT was defined by evidence of reverse LV remodeling (≥15% reduction in LV end-systolic volume). Results: Thirty-one patients (63%) were identified as responders at follow-up. The average of viable segments was 5.9 ± 2 in responders and 3.2 ± 3 in nonresponders (P = 0.0003). Viability in the region of the pacing lead had a sensitivity of 94%, a specificity of 67%, a positive predictive value of 83%, and a negative predictive value of 86% for the prediction of response to CRT. Conclusions: In patients with LV dyssynchrony, reverse remodeling after CRT requires viability in the region of the pacing lead. This simple method using echocardiography dobutamine for the evaluation of local viability (i.e., viability in two contiguous segments) may be useful to the clinician in choosing the best LV lead positioning. [less ▲]

Exercise-induced changes in degenerative mitral regurgitation

in Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2010), 56(4), 300-309

OBJECTIVES: We sought to quantify exercise-induced changes in patients with degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR), to examine the relationship between exercise-induced changes in MR and in systolic ... [more ▼]

OBJECTIVES: We sought to quantify exercise-induced changes in patients with degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR), to examine the relationship between exercise-induced changes in MR and in systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), and to identify their potential impact on symptom-free survival. BACKGROUND: MR severity can change during exercise in patients with functional MR. Quantified changes in MR severity during exercise remain undetermined in patients with degenerative MR. METHODS: Resting and bicycle exercise Doppler-echocardiography were performed in 61 asymptomatic patients (age 62+/-14 years) with moderate to severe degenerative MR (i.e., mitral valve prolapse or flail). Mitral regurgitation was quantified at rest and exercise with effective regurgitant orifice (ERO) area and regurgitant volume calculated with the proximal isovelocity surface area (EROP) and the quantitative Doppler (EROD) methods. RESULTS: At rest, EROP and EROD were well-correlated (r=0.87, p<0.0001), but EROD was larger than EROP (54+/-21 mm2 vs. 42+/-24 mm2, p<0.0001). During exercise, mean ERO and regurgitant volume markedly increased in 32% of patients by >or=10 mm2 and >or=15 ml, respectively. There was good correlation between exercise EROP and EROD (r=0.84, p<0.0001). Changes in systolic PAP were correlated with changes in ERO and regurgitant volume (r=0.59, p=0.02 and r=0.60, p=0.02). Patients with a marked increase in regurgitant volume during exercise had lower symptom-free survival than those in whom MR decreased or remained unchanged (p=0.0015). CONCLUSIONS: Degenerative MR might be dynamic and increases during exercise in one-third of patients. Marked changes in MR severity are associated with exercise-induced changes in systolic PAP and reduced symptom-free survival. [less ▲]

Long axis dysfunction is related to symptomatic status and brain natriuretic peptide level in aortic stenosis.

Conference (2010)

Is global left ventricular afterload has an impact on left atrial function in patients with aortic stenosis?

Conference (2010)

Exercise Pulmonary Hypertension in Asymptomatic Degenerative Mitral Regurgitation: Mechanisms and impact on Symptoms.

Conference (2010)

Brain natriuretic peptide predicts left ventricular contractile reserve in asymptomatic degenerative mitral regurgitation.

Conference (2010)

Impact of aortic stifness on left ventricular filling pressures and BNP levels in patients with severe aortic stenosis and preserved ejection fraction.

Conference (2010)

Impact of prosthesis-patient mismatch on mitral regurgitation after aortic valve replacement

in Heart (2010), 96(20), 1627-1632