Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction Assessment with Dual-Source CT

PurposeTo assess the impact of left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction on left atrial (LA) phasic volume and function using dual-source CT (DSCT) and to find a viable alternative prognostic parameter of CT for LV diastolic dysfunction through quantitative evaluation of LA phasic volume and function in patients with LV diastolic dysfunction.ResultsLA ejection fraction (LAEF), LA contraction, reservoir, and conduit function in patients in impaired relaxation group were not different from those in the normal group, but they were lower in patients in the pseudonormal and restrictive LV diastolic dysfunction groups (P < 0.05). For LA conduit function, there were no significant differences between the patients in the pseudonormal group and restrictive filling group (P = 0.195). There was a strong correlation between the indexed maximal left atrial volume (LAVmax, r = 0.85, P < 0.001), minimal left atrial volume (LAVmin, r = 0.91, P < 0.001), left atrial volume at the onset of P wave (LAVp, r = 0.84, P < 0.001), and different stages of LV diastolic function. The LAVi increased as the severity of LV diastolic dysfunction increased.ConclusionsLA remodeling takes place in patients with LV diastolic dysfunction. At the same time, LA phasic volume and function parameters evaluated by DSCT indicated the severity of the LV diastolic dysfunction. Quantitative analysis of LA phasic volume and function parameters using DSCT could be a viable alternative prognostic parameter of LV diastolic function.     

The Association of Growth Differentiation Factor-15 with Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Hypertensive Patients

Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) has been identified as an endogenous anti-hypertrophy effect. However, the association of plasma GDF-15 levels with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in hypertension is poorly understood. We investigate the effect of plasma GDF-15 levels on left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in hypertension. We measured the plasma levels of GDF-15 in 299 untreated hypertensive patients which consisted of 99 with LVH and 200 without LVH using immunoradiometric assay. All subjects were examined by the ultrasonic cardiograph to determine Left ventricular (LV) internal diameters, septal thickness, and posterior wall thickness. The associations of GDF-15 with left ventricular mass index (LVMI), LV end-systolic and –diastolic diameters, LV wall thickness, and LV ejection fraction were evaluated. We found that plasma GDF-15 levels in hypertensive patients with LVH [median 1101, 25th–75th percentiles (879–1344) ng/L] were higher than that in hypertensive patients without LVH [median 516, 25th–75th percentiles (344–640) ng/L] (P<0.001). After adjustment for traditional covariates, plasma GDF-15 levels were independently related to LVMI (R² = 0.53; β = 0.624, P<0.001), LV interventricular septal thickness (R² = 0.23; β = 0.087, P<0.01) and LV posterior wall thickness (R² = 0.26; β = 0.103, P<0.05). Our cross-sectional data on a hospital-based sample indicate that plasma GDF-15 levels are associated with LVH in hypertensive patients.     

超声心动图评价左室舒张性心力衰竭患者左心形态及舒张功能的应用价值

目的:研究超声心动图对左室舒张性心力衰竭(LVDHF)患者左心形态及舒张功能的评估价值。方法:选择2014年3月至2016年3月我院收治的LVDHF患者78例记为观察组,另选择同期健康志愿者80例记为对照组,两组受试者均进行血压、心率检查,并利用超声心动图技术检测两组受试者的心脏相关指标。结果:观察组的舒张压(DBP)、收缩压(SBP)、心率(HR)、左房内径(LAD)、室间隔厚度(IVST)、左室后壁厚度(LVPWT)、综合指标(E/Ea)及反向血流速度(Ar)水平均明显高于对照组,而早、晚期的运动速度比(Ea/Aa)、血流传播速度(Vp)及峰速比(S/D)水平明显低于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:超声心动图能准确地反应LVDHF患者的左心形态以及舒张功能,可在临床进行推广。     

Delayed Treatment Effects of Xanthine Oxidase Inhibition on Systolic Overload-Induced Left Ventricular Hypertrophy and Dysfunction

The nonpurine selective xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitor febuxostat attenuates development of left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and dysfunction in mice when treatment is initiated within 1 hour of transverse aortic constriction (TAC). This study investigated whether a 7-day delay of treatment with the XO inhibitors febuxostat or allopurinol would reverse TAC-induced changes after onset of heart failure (HF). Neither treatment significantly affected TAC-induced LV hypertrophy; only febuxostat caused a modest improvement in LV function (～10% increase in LV ejection fraction). However, the purine analog allopurinol tended to increase mortality compared with vehicle or febuxostat in HF mice.     

Electrical Inhomogeneity in Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

Recent studies designed to assess the relationship between aortic compliance and heterogeneity of heart electrical activity has shown that hypertrophy aggravates repolarization disturbances in the myocardium. Numerous mechanisms of electrical instability and inhomogeneity associated with left ventricular hypertrophy are now under investigation. Most of the studies have been found to be focused on ventricular Gradient, QT dispersion, amplitudes of isointegral maps during ventricular repolarization, abnormally low-QRST areas, dispersion of the QT interval, and spatial QRS-T _angle. These studies point to marked repolarization abnormalities in left ventricular hypertrophy and the dispersion of the QT interval as a valuable index for inhomogeneity of repolarization and the subsequent heart rate variability. The heart rate-corrected QT dispersion and QT apex dispersion seem to be significantly longer in the patients with left ventricular hypertrophy than in normal individuals. The review study has also identified QRST isointegral map as a valuable technique in assessment of the electro-cardiac events in LVH.     

The Relationship between Adiponectin and Left Ventricular Mass Index Varies with the Risk of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

Background

Adiponectin directly protects against cardiac remodeling. Despite this beneficial effect, most epidemiological studies have reported a negative relationship between adiponectin level and left ventricular mass index (LVMI). However, a positive relationship has also been reported in subjects at high risk of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Based on these conflicting results, we hypothesized that the relationship between serum adiponectin level and LVMI varies with the risk of LVH.

Methods

A community-based, cross-sectional study was performed on 1414 subjects. LVMI was measured by echocardiography. Log-transformed adiponectin levels (Log-ADPN) were used for the analysis.

Results

Serum adiponectin level had a biphasic distribution (an increase after a decrease) with increasing LVMI. Although Log-ADPN did not correlate with LVMI, Log-ADPN was modestly associated with LVMI in the multivariate analysis (β = 0.079, p = 0.001). The relationship between adiponectin level and LVMI was bidirectional according to the risk of LVH. In normotensive subjects younger than 50 years, Log-ADPN negatively correlated with LVMI (r = −0.204, p = 0.005); however, Log-ADPN positively correlated with LVMI in ≥50-year-old obese subjects with high arterial stiffness (r = 0.189, p = 0.030). The correlation coefficient between Log-ADPN and LVMI gradually changed from negative to positive with increasing risk factors for LVH. The risk of LVH significantly interacted with the relationship between Log-ADPN and LVMI. In the multivariate analysis, Log-ADPN was associated with LVMI in the subjects at risk of LVH; however, Log-ADPN was either not associated or negatively associated with LVMI in subjects at low risk of LVH.

Conclusion

Adiponectin level and LVMI are negatively associated in subjects at low risk of LVH and are positively associated in subjects at high risk of LVH. Therefore, the relationship between adiponectin and LVMI varies with the risk of LVH.     

心电图左心室劳损和左心室肥厚对主动脉瓣狭窄患者预后的影响

目的:探讨心电图左心室劳损(LV)和左心室肥厚(LVH)对无症状主动脉瓣狭窄患者预后的影响。方法:到我院治疗的主动脉瓣狭窄患者766例,心电图左心室劳损和左心室肥厚的预测值用Sokolow-Lyon(SL)电压标准和Cornell电压-时间(CVDP)标准评估,通过对其他预后协变量调整并进行评价。结果:心电图左心室劳损患者的心肌梗死的累计发生率显著高于非心电图劳损的患者(HR=2.7,95%CI:1.4-5.3,P=0.006)。与非心电图左心室肥厚的患者比较,SL标准与CVDP标准联用诊断的左心室肥厚患者心力衰竭的风险显著增加(95%CI:4.7-26.4,P0.001);行主动脉瓣置换术风险显著增加(95%CI:1.6-3.2,P0.001);非致死性梗死、心力衰竭或心血管死亡的复合终点风险也显著增加(95%CI:1.2-3.7,P0.05)。结论:心电图LV和LVH是无症状主动脉瓣狭窄患者预后不良的独立预测因子。     

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Is Independently Associated with Early Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Accumulating evidence suggests that nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) in nondiabetic individuals. To date, there are very limited data on this topic in patients with type 2 diabetes and it remains uncertain whether NAFLD is independently associated with the presence of LVDD in this patient population. We performed a liver ultrasonography and trans-thoracic echocardiography (with speckle-tracking strain analysis) in 222 (156 men and 66 women) consecutive type 2 diabetic outpatients with no previous history of ischemic heart disease, chronic heart failure, valvular diseases and known hepatic diseases. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between NAFLD and the presence/severity of LVDD graded according to the current criteria of the American Society of Echocardiography, and to identify the variables that were independently associated with LVDD, which was included as the dependent variable. Patients with ultrasound-diagnosed NAFLD (n = 158; 71.2% of total) were more likely to be female, overweight/obese, and had longer diabetes duration, higher hemoglobin A1c and lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) than those without NAFLD. Notably, they also had a remarkably greater prevalence of mild and/or moderate LVDD compared with those without NAFLD (71% vs. 33%; P<0.001). Age, hypertension, smoking, medication use, E/A ratio, LV volumes and mass were comparable between the two groups of patients. NAFLD was associated with a three-fold increased odds of mild and/or moderate LVDD after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes duration, hemoglobin A1c, eGFR, LV mass index and ejection fraction (adjusted-odds ratio 3.08, 95%CI 1.5–6.4, P = 0.003). In conclusion, NAFLD is independently associated with early LVDD in type 2 diabetic patients with preserved systolic function.     

高血压左心室肥厚机制的研究进展

高血压左心室肥厚（LVH）是指由于高血压导致左室重量增加,病理表现为心室壁的增厚及心肌重量的增加和以心肌细胞肥大、心肌纤维化为主的心肌重构。LVH一方面是心脏的适应性肥厚,是一种代偿机制;另一方面它又是心血管事件一个独立的危险因素。随着高血压LVH进展,冠状动脉储备功能减低,心肌缺血、心力衰竭、心律失常、猝死等事件明显上升。因此,逆转左心室肥厚的治疗能改善高血压病人的预后,并减少心血管疾病的发病率和死亡率。本文就近年来高血压LVH的机制研究进展作一综述。     

Nocturnal Blood Pressure Pattern Affects Left Ventricular Remodeling and Late Gadolinium Enhancement in Patients with Hypertension and Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

Background

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an independent predictor of cardiac mortality, regardless of its etiology. Previous studies have shown that high nocturnal blood pressure (BP) affects LV geometry in hypertensive patients. It has been suggested that continuous pressure overload affects the development of LVH, but it is unknown whether persistent pressure influences myocardial fibrosis or whether the etiology of LVH is associated with myocardial fibrosis. Comprehensive cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) including the late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) technique can evaluate both the severity of changes in LV geometry and myocardial fibrosis. We tested the hypothesis that the nocturnal non-dipper BP pattern causes LV remodeling and fibrosis in patients with hypertension and LVH.

Methods

Forty-seven hypertensive patients with LVH evaluated by echocardiography (29 men, age 73.0±10.4 years) were examined by comprehensive CMR and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM).

Results and Conclusions

Among the 47 patients, twenty-four had nocturnal non-dipper BP patterns. Patients with nocturnal non-dipper BP patterns had larger LV masses and scar volumes independent of etiologies than those in patients with dipper BP patterns (p = 0.035 and p = 0.015, respectively). There was no significant difference in mean 24-h systolic BP between patients with and without nocturnal dipper BP patterns (p = 0.367). Among hypertensive patients with LVH, the nocturnal non-dipper blood pressure pattern is associated with both LV remodeling and myocardial fibrosis independent of LVH etiology.     

Relationship between Serum Bilirubin and Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Patients with Essential Hypertension

Background

Prospective studies have found low bilirubin levels were an important predictive factor of cardiovascular events. However, few have yet investigated possible association between serum bilirubin level and LVH in essential hypertension. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between serum bilirubin levels with LVH in newly diagnosed hypertension patients.

Methods

The present study evaluated the relationship between serum total bilirubin level and left ventricle hypertrophy (LVH) in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients with a sample size of 344. We divided subjects into LVH group (n=138) and non-LVH group (n=206). Physical examination, laboratory tests and echocardiography were conducted. The multivariate logistic regression model was used to verify the independent association between RDW and LVH.

Results

Our results found that patients with LVH had lower bilirubin levels than non-LVH ones. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis showed total bilirubin level (B=-0.017, P=0.008) was negatively associated with left ventricle mass index (LVMI) even adjusting for some confounders. The multiples logistic regression found total bilirubin level was independently related with of LVH, as a protective factors (OR=0.91, P=0.010).

Conclusion

As a routine and quick laboratory examination index, serum bilirubin may be treated as novel marker for evaluating LVH risk in hypertensive patients. Cohort study with larger sample size are needed.     

左西孟旦治疗心脏术后左心室收缩功能低下

目的:明确左西孟旦治疗心脏术后左心室收缩功能低下的效果。方法:随即抽取2009年6月至今手术治疗后左室射血分数小于35%的患者,分为治疗组和对照组,各25例,给与不同治疗方案。比较两组患者治疗后效果;呼吸状况和全身状况;再次气管插管例数和监护室滞留时间;治疗后左心室射血分数(LVEF)、小轴短缩率(LVFS)。结果:治疗组和对照组分别有3例和5例因心力衰竭死亡。两组患者治疗后再次气管插管例数无统计学差异。与对照组比较,治疗组患者监护室滞留时间短、呼吸状况和全身状况较好(P<0.05),LVEF和LVFS较高有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:左西孟旦治疗心脏术后左心室收缩功能低下安全有效,缓解症状明显。     

AGT基因SNPs与哈萨克族高血压左室肥厚关系的研究

目的探讨血管紧张素原基因（angiotensinogen gene,AGT）-6A／G,-20A／C,M235T和T174M 4个单核苷酸多态性（single nucleotide polymorphisms,SNPs）与新疆哈萨克族高血压患者左室肥厚的关系。方法采用低渗溶血法破裂血细胞、蛋白酶K消化、饱和酚／氯仿抽提法提取白细胞基因组DNA。采用聚合酶链反应-限制性片断长度多态性（polymerase chain reaction—restriction fragment length polymorphism,PCR-RFLP）技术进行个体基因型分型。结果①在不考虑年龄、高血压病史时间、性别及收缩压、舒张压对左室肥厚的影响的前提下,未发现-6A／G、-20A／C与哈萨克族高血压左室肥厚的相关关系。②在以性别作为亚变量的分析结果中,我们发现-6A／G和-20A／C分别与哈萨克族女性和男性高血压左室肥厚相关。③不同SNPs间的配对连锁不平衡分析结果显示,除M235T与T174M之间外,其他各位点间存在有统计学意义的连锁不平衡关系。④单体型分析结果发现,研究人群AGT基因-6A／G、-20A／C、M235T和T174M4个SNPs构成了11种主要的单体型,其中H2（A—G—M—T）、H5（C—A—M—M）、H6（C—A-T—T）、H9（C-A—T—M）的频率在左室肥厚、非左室肥厚两组的分布存在差异,且具有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论AGT基因-6A／G、-20A／C、M235T和T174M变异可能与新疆哈萨克族高血压左室肥厚有关。     

ACE and AGTR1 Polymorphisms in Pathogenesis of Human Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

The A2350G polymorphism of exon 17 of the angiotensin I-converting enzyme gene (ACE) and the A1166C polymorphism of the 3-untranslated region (3-UTR) of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor gene (AGTR1) were tested for association with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in patients with essential hypertension (EH) or arterial hypertension (AH) combined with diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2). The patients with EH or AH + DM2 did not differ significantly in ACE or AGTR1 allele or genotype frequencies from healthy subjects. Both polymorphisms were associated with LVH in EH. AGTR1 allele 1166C was more frequent in patients with LVH than without (33.6 vs. 20.7%) and affected the left ventricular mass index (LVMI) in patients with EH (p = 0.007). The frequency of ACE allele 2350G in EH patients with LVH was 1.5 times higher, and that of genotype GG was 3.5 times higher, than in patients without LVH. LVMI differed significantly (p = 0.002) between patients with different ACE genotypes, being maximum in homozygotes GG and minimum in homozygotes AA. Thus, AGTR1 allele 1166C and ACE allele 2350G were identified as predisposing to LVH in EH. The two polymorphisms were not associated with the incidence or severity of LVH in patients with AH and DM2.     

ET-1与NT-proBNP浓度变化对高血压左心室肥厚的诊断价值

目的:探讨高血压左心室肥厚(Left ventricular hypertrophy,LVH)患者血浆内皮素(Endothelin,ET-1)、氨基末端脑钠肽前体(N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide,NT-proBNP)的浓度变化及其诊断价值。方法:收集2011年3月-2013年5月我医院确诊为高血压LVH患者128例设为观察组,选取同期128例体检正常人作为对照组。分析比较两组ET-1、NT-proBNP的浓度。结果:观察组血浆NT-proBNP及ET-1浓度分别为(6.4±3.5)pg/m L和(18.4±1.5)pg/m L,显著高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);ROC图显示,NT-proBNP曲线下面积为0.932,可信区间为0.886-0.988,灵敏度为97.8%,特异度为79.9%;血浆ET-1曲线下面积为0.798,可信区间为0.709-0.892,灵敏度为65%,特异度为93.1%。结论:高血压LVH患者NT-proBNP及血浆ET-1水平显著高于正常人,对高血压LVH患者NT-proBNP及血浆ET-1的诊断具有重要意义。     

Hemoglobin A1c and Arterial and Ventricular Stiffness in Older Adults

Objective

Arterial and ventricular stiffening are characteristics of diabetes and aging which confer significant morbidity and mortality; advanced glycation endproducts (AGE) are implicated in this stiffening pathophysiology. We examined the association between HbA_1c, an AGE, with arterial and ventricular stiffness measures in older individuals without diabetes.

Research Design & Methods

Baseline HbA_1c was measured in 830 participants free of diabetes defined by fasting glucose or medication use in the Cardiovascular Health Study, a population-based cohort study of adults aged ≥65 years. We performed cross-sectional analyses using baseline exam data including echocardiography, ankle and brachial blood pressure measurement, and carotid ultrasonography. We examined the adjusted associations between HbA_1c and multiple arterial and ventricular stiffness measures by linear regression models and compared these results to the association of fasting glucose (FG) with like measures.

Results

HbA_1c was correlated with fasting and 2-hour postload glucose levels (r = 0.21; p<0.001 for both) and positively associated with greater body-mass index and black race. In adjusted models, HbA_1c was not associated with any measure of arterial or ventricular stiffness, including pulse pressure (PP), carotid intima-media thickness, ankle-brachial index, end-arterial elastance, or left ventricular mass (LVM). FG levels were positively associated with systolic, diastolic and PP and LVM.

Conclusions

In this sample of older adults without diabetes, HbA_1c was not associated with arterial or ventricular stiffness measures, whereas FG levels were. The role of AGE in arterial and ventricular stiffness in older adults may be better assessed using alternate AGE markers.     

老年高血压患者血清D-二聚体与左室肥厚的相关性研究

目的:探讨血清D-二聚体(D-D)与老年原发性高血压(EH)患者左室肥厚的相关性。方法:选取我院收治的老年EH患者158例为研究对象,均行心脏超声检查,依据左室质量指数(LVMI)将患者分为左室肥厚组(LVH组,n=72例)和非左室肥厚组(非LVH组,n=86例);分析比较两组患者血清D-D水平及相关实验室检查指标的差异。用Logistic回归模型分析血清D-D水平与左室肥厚的关系,用ROC曲线分析血清D-D水平预测老年EH患者发生左室肥厚的价值。结果:LVH组患者血清D-D水平[(315.54±45.70)μg/L]高于非LVH组[(148.29±37.65)μg/L](t=13.456,P0.05);D-D增高组患者LVMI[(137.25±16.94)g/m~2]高于非LVH组[(104.39±14.84)g/m~2](t=12.876,P0.05);D-D增高组中有发生左室肥厚的比例显著高于D-D正常组(65.1%vs 38.3%,X2=4.567,P0.05)。血清D-D与LVMI呈正相关(r=0.354,P0.05),与NT-pro BNP亦呈正相关(r=0.394,P0.05)。血清D-D水平(OR=1.239,95%CI:1.134~1.548,P0.05)是老年EH发生左室肥厚呈的独立相关因素。血清D-D预测发生左室肥厚的曲线下面积(ROCAUC)为0.879;灵敏度及特异度分别是89.8%及78.7%,最佳诊断截点为295.54μg/L。结论:老年EH患者血清D-D水平可能是左室肥厚发生的独立危险因素,血清D-D指标对于评价高EH患者左室肥厚的发生具有一定的临床意义。     

Circulating Level of miR-378 Predicts Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Patients with Aortic Stenosis

Aims

Excessively high left ventricle mass is an independent predictor of adverse prognosis. MicroRNAs (miRs) play crucial roles in the regulation of left ventricle hypertrophy (LVH). However, few circulating miRs have been established as predictors of LVH in aortic stenosis (AS) patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether circulating levels of miR-1, miR-133, and miR-378 predict LVH in patients with AS.

Methods and Results

One-hundred twelve patients with moderate to severe AS and 40 healthy controls were included in the study. Levels of miR-1, miR-133, and miR-378 in the plasma were measured by qPCR. Compared with healthy controls, AS patients had significantly lower circulating levels of miR-1, miR-133, and miR-378. AS patients with LVH had significantly lower miR-378 but not miR-1 and miR-133 compared with those without LVH. Linear regression analysis showed circulating miR-378 had strong correlation with left ventricular mass index (r = 0.283, p = 0.002) and logistic regression showed that lower miR-378 was an independent predictor for LVH in patients with AS (p = 0.037, OR 4.110, 95% CI 1.086 to 15.558).

Conclusion

Circulating levels of miR-1, miR-133 and miR-378 were decreased in AS patients, and miR-378 predicts LVH independent of the pressure gradient. Further prospective investigations are needed to elucidate whether these circulating miRs affect clinical outcome.