PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the potential benefit of a 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor antagonist, sarpogrelate-based triple antiplatelet therapy (TAPT) in comparison with dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 119 patients of STEMI were retrospectively assessed. All patients received aspirin and clopidogrel per standard of care. Among them, 53 patients received an additional loading dose of sarpogrelate and a maintenance dose for 6 months post-PCI (TAPT group), while others did not (DAPT group). RESULTS: The rates of complete ST-segment resolution at 30 minutes post-PCI and post-procedural thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow were not significantly different between the two groups (52.8% vs. 48.5%, p=0.200; 92.5% vs. 89.4%, p=0.080). In addition, no significant differences were observed between the two groups with regard to 30-day and 12-month clinical outcomes (cardiac death, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, target vessel revascularization, and severe bleeding). Meanwhile, improvement in left ventricular (LV) systolic function was observed in the TAPT group [ΔLV ejection fraction (LVEF)=17.1±9.4%, p<0.001; Δglobal longitudinal strain (GLS)=−9.4±4.2% , p<0.001] at 6 months, whereas it was not in the DAPT group (ΔLVEF= 8.8±6.5%, p=0.090; ΔGLS=−4.6±3.4%, p=0.106). In multivariate analyses, TAPT was an independent predictor for LV functional recovery (odds ratio, 2.61; 95% confidence interval, 1.16–5.87; p=0.003). CONCLUSION: Sarpogrelate-based TAPT improved LV systolic function at 6 months in STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI.
Aspirin ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Retrospective Studies* ; Serotonin ; Standard of Care ; Stents ; Thrombosis ; Ventricular Function, Left

PURPOSE: As the numbers of cancer cases and survivors increase, the incidence and natural history of chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicities in patients with breast cancer may also be expected to change. The present study aimed to investigate the incidence and predictors of chemotherapy-induced left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) in patients with breast cancer. METHODS: From 2003 to 2010, 712 female patients with breast cancer (55.7±10.7 years) were enrolled and divided into the LVD group (n=82, 56.7±10.1 years) and the non-LVD group (n=630, 55.6±10.8 years). Baseline clinical and treatment-related variables were compared. RESULTS: Chemotherapy-induced LVD developed in 82 cases (11.4%). Low body mass index (BMI), low triglyceride level, advanced cancer stage, and the use of doxorubicin, paclitaxel, trastuzumab, or radiotherapy were significant predictors of LVD in a univariate analysis. In a multivariate analysis, low BMI, advanced cancer stage, and the use of target therapy with trastuzumab were independent predictors of chemotherapy-induced LVD. Chemotherapy-induced LVD was recovered in 53 patients (64.6%), but left ventricular function was not recovered in 29 patients (35.4%). CONCLUSION: Chemotherapy-induced LVD was not uncommon and did not reduce in many of our patients with breast cancer. Low BMI, advanced cancer stage, and the use of trastuzumab were independent predictors of chemotherapy-induced LVD in patients with breast cancer. The development of chemotherapy-induced LVD should be carefully monitored in patients with breast cancer who are receiving trastuzumab therapy, have poor nutritional status, and advanced cancer stage.
Anthracyclines ; Body Mass Index ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Cardiotoxicity ; Doxorubicin ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Multivariate Analysis ; Natural History ; Nutritional Status ; Paclitaxel ; Radiotherapy ; Survivors ; Trastuzumab ; Triglycerides ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left* ; Ventricular Function, Left

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We evaluated the association between coding region variants of adrenergic receptor genes and therapeutic effect in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). METHODS: One hundred patients with stable CHF (left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] < 45%) were enrolled. Enrolled patients started 1.25 mg bisoprolol treatment once daily, then up-titrated to the maximally tolerable dose, at which they were treated for 1 year. RESULTS: Genotypic analysis was carried out, but the results were blinded to the investigators throughout the study period. At position 389 of the beta-1 adrenergic receptor gene (ADRB1), the observed minor Gly allele frequency (Gly389Arg + Gly389Gly) was 0.21, and no deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was observed in the genotypic distribution of Arg389Gly (p = 0.75). Heart rate was reduced from 80.8 +/- 14.3 to 70.0 +/- 15.0 beats per minute (p < 0.0001). There was no significant difference in final heart rate across genotypes. However, the Arg389Arg genotype group required significantly more bisoprolol compared to the Gly389X (Gly389Arg + Gly389Gly) group (5.26 +/- 2.62 mg vs. 3.96 +/- 2.05 mg, p = 0.022). There were no significant differences in LVEF changes or remodeling between two groups. Also, changes in exercise capacity and brain natriuretic peptide level were not significant. However, interestingly, there was a two-fold higher rate of readmission (21.2% vs. 10.0%, p = 0.162) and one CHF-related death in the Arg389Arg group. CONCLUSIONS: The ADRB1 Gly389X genotype showed greater response to bisoprolol than the Arg389Arg genotype, suggesting the potential of individually tailoring beta-blocker therapy according to genotype.
Adrenergic beta-1 Receptor Antagonists/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Adult ; Aged ; Bisoprolol/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Heart Failure/diagnosis/*drug therapy/*genetics/physiopathology ; Heart Rate/drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Maximum Tolerated Dose ; Middle Aged ; Pharmacogenomic Testing ; Phenotype ; *Polymorphism, Genetic ; Precision Medicine ; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-1/*drug effects/*genetics ; Republic of Korea ; Stroke Volume/drug effects ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; Ventricular Function, Left/drug effects ; Ventricular Remodeling/drug effects

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers (ARBs) have not been adequately evaluated in patients without left ventricular (LV) dysfunction or heart failure after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: Between November 2005 and January 2008, 6,781 patients who were not receiving angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or ARBs were selected from the Korean AMI Registry. The primary endpoints were 12-month major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) including death and recurrent AMI. RESULTS: Seventy percent of the patients were Killip class 1 and had a LV ejection fraction > or = 40%. The prescription rate of ARBs was 12.2%. For each patient, a propensity score, indicating the likelihood of using ARBs during hospitalization or at discharge, was calculated using a non-parsimonious multivariable logistic regression model, and was used to match the patients 1:4, yielding 715 ARB users versus 2,860 ACEI users. The effect of ARBs on in-hospital mortality and 12-month MACE occurrence was assessed using matched logistic and Cox regression models. Compared with ACEIs, ARBs significantly reduced in-hospital mortality(1.3% vs. 3.3%; hazard ratio [HR], 0.379; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.190 to0.756; p = 0.006) and 12-month MACE occurrence (4.6% vs. 6.9%; HR, 0.661; 95% CI, 0.457 to 0.956; p = 0.028). However, the benefit of ARBs on 12-month mortality compared with ACEIs was marginal (4.3% vs. 6.2%; HR, 0.684; 95% CI, 0.467 to 1.002; p = 0.051). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that ARBs are not inferior to, and may actually be better than ACEIs in Korean patients with AMI.
Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Logistic Models ; Multivariate Analysis ; Myocardial Infarction/diagnosis/*drug therapy/mortality/physiopathology ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Prospective Studies ; Recurrence ; Registries ; Republic of Korea ; Risk Factors ; Secondary Prevention/*methods ; Stroke Volume ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; Ventricular Function, Left

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Few studies have invasively assessed diastolic functional reserve and serial changes in left ventricular hemodynamics in euvolemic patients with exertional dyspnea. In this study, sequential changes in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) to leg-raise exercise were measured invasively in patients with early heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) to determine the association between these serial changes and echocardiographic results or clinical features. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: During their hospital stay, 181 patients with early HFpEF underwent left cardiac catheterization, coronary angiography, and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). Leg-raise exercise was performed in two stages: during cardiac catheterization and again during TTE. RESULTS: Compared with the initial values, all the invasively measured LVEDP values increased significantly during the leg-raise exercise, whereas the septal e/e' ratio remained unchanged. Active leg-raise led to increased LVEDP, which caused dyspnea. The severity of symptoms correlated with the level and extent of changes in LVEDP. At the end of active leg-raise, LVEDP decreased in 40 patients (22.1%), who were younger and had significantly lower e/e' ratios. On multivariate analysis to predict the response of LVEDP to active leg-raise, age and the septal e/e' ratio remained significant predictors. CONCLUSION: Despite having similar LVEDP values at rest, patients may respond to exercise with different LVEDP levels and clinical manifestations, depending on their diastolic capacity. The leg-raise exercise in early HFpEF can elucidate individual diastolic profiles, and the LVEDP response to the leg-raise test may serve as a useful criterion in stratifying patients with early HFpEF with respect to functional reserve.
Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Coronary Angiography ; Dyspnea* ; Echocardiography ; Heart Failure ; Heart Failure, Diastolic ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Multivariate Analysis ; Ventricular Function, Left

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Studies reveal that the microvolt T wave alternans (MTWA) test has a high negative predictive value for arrhythmic mortality among patients with ischemic or non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. In this study, we investigate the effects of trimetazidine treatment on MTWA and several echocardiographic parameters in patients with stable coronary artery disease. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred patients (23 females, mean age 55.6±9.2 years) with stable ischemic heart disease were included in the study group. Twenty-five age- and sex-matched patients with stable coronary artery disease formed the control group. All patients were stable with medical treatment, and had no active complaints. Trimetazidine, 60 mg/day, was added to their current treatment for a minimum three months in the study group and the control group received no additional treatment. Pre- and post-treatment MTWA values were measured by 24 hour Holter testing. Left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions were assessed by echocardiography. RESULTS: After trimetazidine treatment, several echocardiographic parameters related with diastolic dysfunction significantly improved. MTWA has been found to be significantly improved after trimethazidine treatment (63±8 µV vs. 53±7 µV, p<0.001). Abnormal MTWA was present in 29 and 11 patients pre- and post-treatment, respectively (p< 0.001). CONCLUSION: Trimetazidine improves MTWA, a non-invasive determinant of electrical instability. Moreover, several echocardiographic parameters related with left ventricular functions also improved. Thus, we can conclude that trimetazidine may be an effective agent to prevent arrhythmic complications and improve myocardial functions in patients with stable coronary artery disease.
Cardiomyopathies ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Mortality ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Trimetazidine* ; Ventricular Function, Left

PURPOSE: Severe aplastic anemia (SAA), a fatal disease, requires multiple transfusion, immunosuppressive therapy, and finally, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) as the definitive treatment. We hypothesized that iron overloading associated with multiple transfusions and HSCTrelated complications may adversely affect cardiac function. Left ventricular (LV) function was assessed in children after HSCT for SAA. METHODS: Forty-six consecutive patients with a median age of 9.8 years (range, 1.5-18 years), who received HSCT for SAA and who underwent comprehensive echocardiography before and after HSCT, were included in this study. The data of LV functional parameters obtained using conventional echocardiography, tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), and speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) were collected from pre- and post-HSCT echocardiography. These data were compared to those of 40 age-matched normal controls. RESULTS: In patients, the LV ejection fraction, shortening fraction, end-diastolic dimension, mitral early diastolic E velocity, TDI mitral septal E' velocity, and STE LV longitudinal systolic strain rate (SSR) decreased significantly after HSCT. Compared to normal controls, patients had significantly lower post-HSCT early diastolic E velocity and E/A ratio. On STE, patients had significantly decreased LV deformational parameters including LV longitudinal systolic strain (SS), SSR, and diastolic SR (DSR), and circumferential SS and DSR. Serum ferritin levels showed weak but significant correlations (P<0.05) with LV longitudinal SS and SSR and circumferential SS and DSR. CONCLUSION: Subclinical LV dysfunction is evident in patients after HSCT for SAA, and was associated with increased iron load. Serial monitoring of cardiac function is mandatory in this population.
Anemia, Aplastic* ; Case-Control Studies* ; Child* ; Echocardiography* ; Ferritins ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation* ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells* ; Humans ; Iron ; Iron Overload ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left* ; Ventricular Function

BACKGROUND: A biomarker that is of great interest in relation to adverse cardiovascular events is soluble ST2 (sST2), a member of the interleukin family. Considering that metabolic syndrome (MetS) is accompanied by a proinflammatory state, we aimed to assess the relationship between sST2 and left ventricular (LV) structure and function in patients with MetS. METHODS: A multicentric, cross-sectional study was conducted on180 MetS subjects with normal LV ejection fraction as determined by echocardiography. LV hypertrophy (LVH) was defined as an LV mass index greater than the gender-specific upper limit of normal as determined by echocardiography. LV diastolic dysfunction (DD) was assessed by pulse-wave and tissue Doppler imaging. sST2 was measured by using a quantitative monoclonal ELISA assay. RESULTS: LV mass index (β=0.337, P<0.001, linear regression) was independently associated with sST2 concentrations. Increased sST2 was associated with an increased likelihood of LVH [Exp (B)=2.20, P=0.048, logistic regression] and increased systolic blood pressure [Exp (B)=1.02, P=0.05, logistic regression]. Comparing mean sST2 concentrations (adjusted for age, body mass index, gender) between different LV remodeling patterns, we found the greatest sST2 level in the group with concentric hypertrophy. There were no differences in sST2 concentration between groups with and without LV DD. CONCLUSIONS: Increased sST2 concentration in patients with MetS was associated with a greater likelihood of exhibiting LVH. Our results suggest that inflammation could be one of the principal triggering mechanisms for LV remodeling in MetS.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Area Under Curve ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular/diagnostic imaging ; Interleukin-1 Receptor-Like 1 Protein/*analysis ; Linear Models ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome X/metabolism/*physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; ROC Curve ; Sex Factors ; Ventricular Function, Left/*physiology ; Ventricular Remodeling/physiology

BACKGROUND: Chronic aortic regurgitation (AR) patients demonstrate left ventricular (LV) remodeling with increased LV mass and volume but may have a preserved LV ejection fraction (EF). We hypothesize that in chronic AR, global longitudinal systolic and diastolic function will be reduced despite a preserved LV EF. METHODS: We studied with Doppler echocardiography 27 normal subjects, 87 patients with chronic AR with a LV EF > 50% (AR + PEF), 66 patients with an EF < 50% [AR + reduced LV ejection fraction (REF)] and 82 patients with hypertensive heart disease. LV volume, transmitral spectral and tissue Doppler were obtained. Myocardial velocities and their timing and longitudinal strain of the proximal and mid wall of each of the 3 apical views were obtained. RESULTS: As compared to normals, global longitudinal strain was reduced in AR + PEF (13.8 +/- 4.0%) and AR + REF (11.4 +/- 4.7%) vs. normals (18.4 +/- 3.6%, both p < 0.001). As an additional comparison group for AR + PEF, global longitudinal strain was reduced as compared to patients with hypertensive heart disease (p = 0.032). The average peak diastolic annular velocity (e') was decreased in AR + PEF (6.9 +/- 3.3 cm/s vs. 13.4 +/- 2.6 cm/s, p < 0.001) and AR + REF (4.8 +/- 2.1 cm/s, p < 0.001). Peak rapid filling velocity/e' (E/e') was increased in both AR + PEF (14.4 +/- 6.2 vs. 6.2 +/- 1.3, p < 0.001) and AR + REF (18.8 +/- 6.4, p < 0.001 vs. normals). Independent correlates of global longitudinal strain (r = 0.6416, p < 0.001) included EF (p < 0.0001), E/e' (p < 0.0001), and tricuspid regurgitation velocity (p = 0.0176). CONCLUSION: With chronic AR, there is impaired longitudinal function despite preserved EF. Moreover, global longitudinal strain was well correlated with noninvasive estimated LV filling pressures and pulmonary systolic arterial pressures.
Aortic Valve Insufficiency* ; Arterial Pressure ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency ; Ventricular Function, Left ; Ventricular Remodeling

This study was conducted to assess the ability of two-dimensional tissue tracking (2DTT) to evaluate changes in left ventricular (LV) myocardial function associated with sustained high electrical pacing. Pacemakers were implanted at the right ventricular (RV) apex of five female Beagles, and sustained high electrical pacing of 250 beats per minute (bpm) was performed for three consecutive weeks. Conventional echocardiography and 2DTT were performed at baseline, and at every week for three weeks with pacing. The baseline parameters were then compared to those of weeks 1, 2, and 3. Three weeks of pacing resulted in significant reduction of radial and circumferential global strains (p < 0.001). Regional analysis revealed reduction of segmental strains in both radial and circumferential directions, as well as increased dyssynchrony after three weeks of pacing in the radial direction (p = 0.0007). The results of this study revealed the ability of 2DTT to measure radial and circumferential strains in dogs with sustained high-electrical pacing, and allowed assessment of global and regional myocardial function and the degree of dyssynchrony.
Animals ; Cardiac Pacing, Artificial ; Dogs ; Echocardiography/*methods ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Heart Ventricles/*ultrasonography ; *Ventricular Function, Left