Acta cardiologica
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Review Case Reports
Carcinoid heart disease: case and literature review.
We present the case of a 69-year-old woman with a metastatic neuroendocrine tumour of the ileum and severe tricuspid valve regurgitation due to carcinoid valvulopathy. Carcinoid heart disease arises in the context of metastatic serotonin-producing neuroendocrine tumours and typically presents as structural and functional abnormalities of tricuspid (TV) or pulmonary valve (PV). ⋯ Our patient was not considered a candidate for valvular surgery because of the progressive nature of the malignancy. However, surgical valve replacement is a therapeutic option that, although it has a significant mortality, needs to be considered in selected patients and leads to improvement in functional capacity and survival.
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The present study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of specific ECG markers in the differentiation of common type atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) and atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT) via a concealed accessory pathway. ⋯ Twelve-lead ECG parameters may help to differentiate the mechanism of supraventricular tachycardia prior to the ablation procedure.
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Comparative Study
The clinical relevance of the duration of loss of consciousness provoked by tilt testing.
The authors assessed the relationships between the duration of loss of consciousness (dLOC) during tilt testing-induced syncope (TTS) and demographics, medical history as well as tilt testing results. Previous research focused on the relevance of the type of neurocardiogenic reaction during TTS. The importance of dLOC has not been assessed so far. The study was carried out in 274 patients with suspected neurally mediated syncope and total loss of consciousness during tilt testing. ⋯ The loss of consciousness during tilt testing-induced syncope differs in terms of duration among patients with neurally mediated syncope. The dLOC during TTS is associated with medical history and tilt-testing data which confirm the vasovagal aetiology of spontaneous events. The longer dLOC suggests deeper cerebral haemodynamic disturbances during either spontaneous or provoked syncope.
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The objective of this study was to investigate the possible relationship between the TGF-beta1 gene C-509T and T869C polymorphisms and rheumatic heart disease (RHD), as well as their clinical significance. ⋯ TGF-beta1 T869C TT genotype, 869T allele and 509T allele are possible risk factor for RHD in Egypt. Future studies on larger populations are warranted.
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The Brugada syndrome is an inherited cardiac disorder initially described in 1992 by Pedro and Josep Brugada, with variable electrocardiographic features characteristic of right bundle-branch block, persistent ST-segment elevation in the precordial leads (VI-V3) at rest and sudden cardiac death. The genetic abnormalities that cause Brugada syndrome have been linked to mutations in the ion channel gene SCN5A which encodes for the alpha-subunit of the cardiac sodium channel. ⋯ Two specific types of ST-segment elevation, coved and saddleback, are observed in the Brugada syndrome, the former of which is reported to relate to a higher incidence of ventricular tachycardial ventricular fibrillation (VTNF) and sudden cardiac death. The objective of this paper is to review the genetics and the molecular biology behind the Brugada syndrome, the diagnostic criteria, including clinical and electrocardiographic characteristics, and current management.