Chest
-
In recent years, the population of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) has changed dramatically, including more advanced age at diagnosis. We hypothesized that older patients have a distinct clinical profile with different disease characteristics and response to intervention. ⋯ For the first time, using data from large randomized controlled trials, this study characterizes the different phenotype and outcomes of older patients with PAH, which includes different disease etiology, diminished functional status, and decreased response to intervention. This may have significant implications for the management of this patient population and design of future therapy trials.
-
Recent literature has implicated severe neurologic injuries, such as aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, as a cause of cardiac dysfunction, impaired hemodynamic function, and poor outcomes. Mechanistic links between the brain and the heart have been explored in detail over the past several decades, and catecholamine excess, neuroendocrine dysfunction, and unchecked inflammation all likely contribute to the pathophysiologic process. Although cardiac dysfunction has also been described in other disease paradigms, including septic shock and thermal injury, there is likely a common underlying pathophysiology. In this review, we will examine the pathophysiology of cardiac dysfunction after neurologic injury, discuss the evidence surrounding cardiac dysfunction after different neurologic injuries, and suggest future research goals to gain knowledge and improve outcomes in this patient population.
-
Observational Study
Relationship of Bisphosphonate Therapy and Atrial Fibrillation/Flutter: Outcomes of Sleep Disorders in Older Men (MrOS Sleep) Study.
Prior studies suggested an association between bisphosphonates and atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF) in women. This relationship in men, including those with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), remains unclear. This study evaluated the relationship between bisphosphonate use and prevalent (nocturnal) and incident (clinically relevant) AF in a population of community-dwelling older men. ⋯ These results support an association between bisphosphonate use and prevalent nocturnal AF in community-dwelling older men. The data further suggest that those with moderate to severe SDB may be a particularly vulnerable group susceptible to bisphosphonate-related AF. Similar associations were not seen for bisphosphonate use and clinically relevant incident AF.
-
Endobronchial ultrasonography (EBUS) facilitates a lung cancer diagnosis. However, qualitative tissue characterization of lung tumors is difficult using EBUS. Integrated backscatter (IBS) is an ultrasound technique that calculates the power of the ultrasound signal to characterize tissue components in coronary arteries. We hypothesized that qualitative diagnosis of lung tumors is possible using the IBS technique. The aim of the present study was to elucidate whether the IBS technique can be used in lung tissue diagnoses. ⋯ Qualitative diagnosis of lung tumors was possible, with a sensitivity of 84% and a specificity of 85%, using the ultrasound IBS technique.
-
One of the foremost diagnostic challenges in clinical pulmonary hypertension is discriminating between pulmonary arterial hypertension (group 1) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (group 2.2). Group 2.2 is defined as a normal left ventricular ejection fraction (> 50%) and a pulmonary arterial wedge pressure (PAWP) > 15 mm Hg. We aimed to determine whether patient history, demographics, and noninvasive measures could predict PAWP before to right heart catheterization. ⋯ Clinical characteristics obtained before diagnostic right heart catheterization accurately predict the probability of elevation of PAWP > 15 mm Hg in patients with preserved ejection fraction. These combined clinical characteristics can be used a priori to predict the likelihood of group 2.2 pulmonary hypertension.