Objective: To determine whether echocardiography affects the decisions to use beta blockers or to recommend bacterial endocarditis prophylaxis in patients suspected of having mitral valve prolapse (MVP). Design: Retrospective review of echocardiograms and clinical records. Setting: Military tertiary care hospital. Patients: 127 patients with clinically suspected MVP (105) or incidentally discovered MVP (22). Main results: Beta blockers were used more often in patients with suspected MVP and positive echocardiograms (45%) than in patients with normal echocardiograms (13%, p<0.001). Bacterial endocarditis prophylaxis was recommended more often in patients with suspected MVP and positive echocardiograms (65%) than in patients with normal echocardiograms (11%, p<0.001). Presence or absence of a murmur did not influence the decision to recommend bacterial endocarditis prophylaxis. Patients in whom MVP was incidentally discovered were unlikely to receive either beta blockers or the recommendation for bacterial endocarditis prophylaxis. Conclusions: The results of echocardiography affect the decisions to use beta blockers or to recommend bacterial endocarditis prophylaxis in patients with suspected MVP.

Cardiovascular involvement is commonly reported in various muco- polysaccharidoses. We report a first case of Sanfilippo syndrome type A in a 12-year-old white female who has developed combined progressive mitral valvar regurgitation due to prolapse and aortic regurgitation.

No description available.

No description available.

Objectives: To further characterize the echocardiographic anatomy of the canine mitral valve in healthy dogs and those affected by myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD), and to compare the level of agreement between two methods of assessment of left atrial size in identification of left atrial enlargement in dogs with MMVD. Animals: Sixty dogs with MMVD and 22 normal dogs were prospectively studied with 2-dimensional echocardiography. Methods: The length (AMVL), width (AMVW) and area (AMVA) of the anterior mitral valve leaflet and the diameter of the mitral valve annulus in systole (MVAs) and diastole (MVAd) were measured. Left atrial size was evaluated with the left atrial to aortic root ratio (LA:Ao) and by measuring left atrial volume indexed to body weight (LA Vol/BW). All patients were staged using published ACVIM guidelines and separated into groups B1 and B2/C. Results: Measurements of AMVL, AMVW, AMVA, MVAs and MVAd were all significantly greater in the B2/C group than in the control group. AMVW was significantly greater in group B1 than control. Twelve dogs had left atrial enlargement identified with LA Vol/BW that were considered normal using LA:Ao. Diagnostic disagreement between these two measurements was significant (P = 0.00012). The majority of dogs with diagnostic disagreement had concurrent echocardiographic evidence of more advanced mitral regurgitation. Conclusions: Relative to normal dogs, AMVL, AMVW, AMVA, MVAs and MVAd are greater in patients with advanced MMVD. LA Vol/BW may be superior to LA:Ao for identification of mild left atrial enlargement. / Master of Science

Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is one of the most common degenerative cardiac diseases affecting humans and dogs; however, its pathogenesis is not completely understood. This study focussed on developing tissue-engineered fibrin based canine mitral valve constructs, which can be used as an in vitro platform to study the pathogenesis of MMVD. Prior to three dimensional (3D) construct fabrication, primary canine mitral valve endothelial cells (VECs) and valve interstitial cells (VICs) were isolated, cultured and characterized utilising a variety of techniques. Moreover, preliminary experiments were carried out to optimise the purity of VEC cultures. It is uncertain if canine MMVD is initiated by long term shear stress damage to the valve endothelium or from abnormalities of VICs. To investigate both hypotheses, three types of models were produced using fibrin/based 3D culture techniques: healthy VEC-VIC co-culture (Type 1); healthy VEC-diseased VIC co-culture (Type 2); healthy VEC-VIC co-culture with endothelial damage during culture (Type 3). Histological examination demonstrated partial native tissue-like morphology of the 3D constructs. Results suggest that current static cultured constructs express MMVD markers irrespective of using healthy or diseased VICs. Simple mechanical stimulation was found to regulate VIC activity in the 3D models. Endothelial damage resulting in VIC phenotypic activation (a change typically observed in MMVD), and decreased mechanical tension appeared to be a negative regulator of this effect. Moreover, there appears to be heterogeneity in the activated VIC population. Additionally, distinct advanced glycation end product (AGE) carboxymethyllysine (CML) expression was found in canine MMVD valves, which suggesting this biochemical compound (known to affect long living protein) might be a putative regulator of MMVD pathogenesis. The role of CML in MMVD can be further investigated utilizing current 3D static mitral valve construct model in future studies. Lastly a prototype dynamic tubular construct and a customised bioreactor system were developed. Preliminary data suggest the feasibility of tubular construct fabrication and endothelialisation, which provides foundation for future dynamic conditioning experiments and will allow examination of the role of endothelial shear stress in triggering MMVD. In summary, this project successfully developed fibrin based canine mitral valve constructs. It is believed they are promising models for MMVD research, allowing new insights in understanding MMVD pathogenesis.

No description available.

Os cães da raça Dachshund apresentam acondroplasia/hipocondroplasia, considerada uma condição fisiológica da raça, resultando num corpo longo com os membros curtos, arqueados e musculosos, esterno largo e proeminente, caixa torácica oval e ampla. Essas condições podem dificultar a realização e interpretação de alguns exames. A hipótese desse trabalho é que os cães da raça Dachshund tenham valores ecocardiográficos, eletrocardiográficos, radiográficos e pressóricos diferenciados. Para isso, foram estudados 69 cães adultos e sadios da raça Dachshund, sendo 28 (40,6%) machos e 41 (59,4%) fêmeas; com idade variando de 18 meses a 10 anos de idade; e peso médio de 8,4&#177;2,3 kg. Foram realizados exames ecocardiográfico, eletrocardiográfico, radiográfico, bem como determinação de pressão arterial sistêmica em todos os animais. Para a análise dos resultados, os animais foram categorizados, segundo, gênero, presença ou ausência de castração, faixa etária (A: &gt;1 a &le; 3 anos, B: &gt;3 a &le; 6 anos e C: &gt;6 a &le; 10 anos), peso (&lt; 8 kg e &ge; 8 kg) e circunferência torácica (&gt; 45 cm e &ge; 45 cm). Foram estabelecidos, em cães adultos e sadios da raça Dachshund, os valores de ecocardiografia convencional, eletrocardiografia, radiografia e de pressão arterial sistêmica por meio do método Doppler Os resultados ecocardiográficos principais, com a média e intervalo de confiança de 95% foram: septo interventricular em diástole SIVd (6,5 [6,3-6,7] cm), parede livre de ventrículo esquerdo em diástole PLVEd (6,3 [6,1-6,4] cm), diâmetro interno de ventrículo esquerdo na diástole DIVEd (2,5 [2,5-2,6] cm), diâmetro interno de ventrículo esquerdo na sístole DIVEs (1,2 [1,2-1,3] cm), fração de encurtamento - FE -(51,32 [49,79-52,84]%), fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo Fej (0,84 [0,82-0,85]). Não houve diferença estatística para gênero ou castração. Mas quando os cães foram separados pela faixa etária, houve diferença estatística significativa entre os grupos A e B (p = 0,0073) para SIVd e PLVEd; sendo que os valores para o grupo A foram de: SIVd (6,2 [5,9-6,5] cm) e PLVEd (6,0 [5,7-6,2] cm). Os valores para o grupo B foram: SIVd (6,9 [6,5-7,3] cm) and PLVEd (6,5 [6,3-6,8] cm). Não houve diferença entre o grupo C e os grupos A e B; os valores para o grupo C foram: SIVd (6,4 [5,9-6,8] cm) e PLVEd (6,4 [6,1-6,7] cm). Portanto, cães adultos da raça Dachshund possuem espessura maiores de SIVd e PLVEd quando comparados com valores padronizados para outras raças. Quando os animais foram divididos pelo peso (&gt;8 kg e &ge; 8 Kg), houve diferenças significativas para DVEd (2,44&#177;0,26 cm; 2,64&#177;0,27 cm; p&gt;0,001), como também para circunferência torácica (&gt; 45 cm e &ge; 45 cm), com valores de 2,43&#177;0,25 cm e 2,63&#177;0,27 cm (p&gt;0,001). Também foram estabelecidos valores ecocardiográficos para tamanho do átrio esquerdo, nos eixos látero-lateral e ápico-basilar, respectivamente, iguais a 2,24&#177;0,31 cm e 2,17&#177;0,31 cm; bem como os valores de Doppler tecidual do anel valvar mitral lateral: onda E`=0,11&#177;0,02 m/s, onda A´=0,10&#177;0,02 m/s e razões E´/A´=1,12&#177;0,33 m/s e E/E´=5,91&#177;1,21 m/s. Cães adultos e sadios da raça Dachshund podem apresentar prolapso valvar mitral (40,58%). O valor de pressão arterial sistêmica por meio do método Doppler na cauda de cães Dachshund adultos e sadios foi de 134&#177;20 mmHg diferenciando-se estatisticamente (p &gt; 0,0001) dos valores obtidos no membro torácico (155&#177;28 mmHg). / Dachshund dogs present achondroplasia/hypochondroplasia, considered a breed physiological condition, that results in a long body with short, arched and muscular limbs, large sternum, oval and wide ribcage and developed heart and lungs. All this factors can difficult exams realization and interpretation. The hypothesis is that Dachshund dogs have differentiated echocardiographic, electrocardiographic, radiographic, and systolic blood pressure parameters. Therefore, 69 adult and healthy Dachshund dogs were studied (28 [40.6%] males and 41 [59.4%] females); from 18 months to 10 years-old, weighting 8.4&#177;2.3 kg. Echocardiographic, electrocardiographic, radiographic and systemic arterial pressure evaluations were performed. Animals were categorized according to gender, neutered or not, age group (A: &gt;1 a &le; 3 years, B: &gt;3 a 6 years e C: &gt;6 a &le; 10 years), weight (&lt; 8 kg e &ge; 8 kg) e thoracic circumference (&lt; 45 cm e &ge; 45 cm). The values of conventional echocardiography, electrocardiography, radiography and systemic arterial pressure were established in Dachshund dogs using the Doppler method. The main echocardiographic results, with a mean and 95% confidence interval were: interventricular septum in diastole IVSd (6.5 [6.3-6.7] cm), left ventricular free wall in diástole - LVFWd (6.3 [6.1-6.4] cm), left ventricular internal diameter in diastole LVIDd (2.5 [2.5-2.6] cm), left ventricular internal diameter LVIDs (1.2 [1.2-1.3] cm), shortening fraction SF (51.32 [49.79-52.84]%), left ventricular ejection fraction LVEF (0.84 [0.82-0.85]). There was no statistical difference for gender or castration. But when dogs were categorized by age, there was a statistically significant difference between groups A and B (p = 0.0073) for IVSd and LVFWd.; and the values for group A were: IVSd (6.2 [5.9-6.5] cm) and LVFWd (6.0 [5.7-6.2] cm). The values for group B were: IVSd (6.9 [6.5-7.3] cm) and LVFWd (6.5 [6.3-6.8] cm). There was no difference between group C and groups A and B; The values for group C were: IVSd (6.4 [5.9-6.8] cm) and LVFWd (6.4 [6.1-6.7] cm). Therefore, adult dogs of the breed Dachshund have thickness of IVSd and LVFWd when compared with values standardized for other breeds. When animals were divided by weight (&lt; 8 kg and &ge; 8 kg), there were significant differences for LVIDd (2.44 &#177; 0.26 cm, 2.64 &#177; 0.27 cm, p (&lt; 0.001), as well as for thoracic circumference (&lt; 45 cm and &ge; 45 cm), with values of 2.43 &#177; 0.25 cm and 2.63 &#177; 0.27 cm (p &lt; 0.001). Echocardiographic values were also established for left atrial size, on the latero-lateral and apical-basilar axes at 2.24 &#177; 0.31 cm and 2.17 &#177; 0.31 cm, respectively. In addition, the tissue Doppler values of the lateral mitral valve ring: E\' wave = 0.11&#177;0.02 m/s, A\' wave = 0.10&#177;0.02 m/s and E\'/A\' ratios = 1,12&#177;0.33 m/s and E/E \'= 5.91&#177;1.21 m/s. Adult and healthy Dachshund dogs may present with mitral valve prolapse (40.58%). The Doppler method in the tail of healthy Dachshund dogs was 134 &#177; 20 mmHg, statistically different (p &lt; 0.0001) from values obtained in left forelimb (155 &#177; 28 mmHg).

Introdução: A história natural da insuficiência mitral associa-se a décadas de remodelação ventricular esquerda com fibrose intersticial. A fronteira entre o processo adaptativo e a miocardiopatia dilatada demanda avaliação clínico-histológica. Atualmente, sabe-se que o melhor método empregado para quantificar as alterações decorrentes do remodelamento que acomete o ventrículo esquerdo é a biópsia miocárdica, que analisa a doença, somente após a cirurgia ou no post mortem. O presente estudo visa avaliar a fibrose miocárdica associada à insuficiência mitral crônica, através de estudo pela Ressonância Magnética, de maneira não invasiva, precoce e rápida. Objetivos: Avaliar a capacidade e a aplicabilidade da ressonância magnética cardíaca de detectar a fibrose miocárdica na insuficiência mitral crônica importante, tendo como referência a biópsia miocárdica. Métodos: Foram selecionados 52 pacientes portadores de IM crônica pura ou associada a estenose mitral leve, com PVM e DR, e com indicação cirúrgica. Todos os pacientes foram reavaliados pelo EcoDopplercardiograma e realizaram ressonância magnética cardíaca para avaliação da função ventricular, volumes e índice de massa ventricular esquerda, através da cine-ressonância e pela técnica do realce tardio miocárdico, com injeção de 0,2 mmol/kg de contraste gadolínio para a detecção de FM, sendo submetidos a cirurgia de plástica ou troca de válvula mitral com bióspsias miocárdicas, retiradas de locais padrão, na parede lateral do ventrículo esquerdo. Todas foram coradas pela técnica do hematoxilinaeosina, e as positivas para FM, confirmadas pelo corante picrossirius, que cora colágeno, e quantificadas pelo aparelho do quantimet. Resultados: Os pacientes foram divididos em quatro grupos, conforme a RM e a biópsia. A RM diagnosticou FM em 18 pacientes, concordantes com a BM (RMC/BM +). A RM foi negativa para FM em 33 pacientes, sendo 28 concordantes com a BM (RMC/BM -). Observou-se discordância de RM com a BM, em 7 casos falsos negativos (RMC-/BM +). A sensibilidade da RMC à fibrose foi de 72%, especificidade de 100%, e acurácia de 86,3%. Nos grupos distintos estudados, a sensibilidade, especificidade e acurácia foram de 64,7%, 100% e 82,4%, respectivamente, na PVM, e de 97,5%, 100% e 92,9%, respectivamente, na DR. O índice Kappa foi de 0,724 (p<0,001) para o grupo total; 0,665 (p<0,001) para PVM e 0,857(p<0,001) na DR. VDF, VSF e IMVE tiveram correlação positiva e significativa com a porcentagem de fibrose, sendo que, quanto maiores esses valores, maior a porcentagem de fibrose. Conclusão: RMC teve boa concordância com a BM, em relação aos achados de FM / Introduction: The natural history of mitral insufficiency (MI) is associated to decades of left ventricular remodelation with intersticial fibrosis. The frontier between adaptative process and dilatade miocardiopaty needs clinic and histologic evaluation. Now a days , we know that the best method to quantify the alterations of remodelation in left ventricule is myocardial biopsies which analyses the illness only after surgery or post morten. This actual study aims to evaluate myocardial fibrosis associated with cronic MI, through the study with magnetic resonance (MR), in a not invasive, early and quickly way. Objectives: Evaluate capacity and applicability of the magnetic resonance in detection of myocardial fibrosis in chronic important mitral insufficiency in reference with myocardial biopsis. Methods: It was selected 52 patients with pure chronic MI or associated with mild mitral stenosis, with cirurgical indication. All of the patients were reevaluated by EcoDopplercardiogram and it was done cardiac MR to evaluate ventricular function, volumes and left ventricular mass rate through MR cine and myocardial late realce techinique with 0,2 mmol/Kg with gadoline contrast and myocardial fibrosis (MF) detection and being undergone plastic or mitral valvular changes surgery with myocardial biopsis (MB) were taken from the left ventricular lateral wall. All of them were colored with hematoxilin eosine and the positives were confirmated with picrossirius and quantified with quantimet device. Results: Patients were divided in four groups according to MR and biopsies. MR diagnosticated MF in 18 patients agreed with MB (MR / MB +). MR was negative for MF in 33 patients where 28 agreed with MB (MR / MB -). We observated discordance with MR and MB in 7 cases false negatives (MR- /MB+). The sensibility of MR to fibrosis was 72%, specificity was 100% and acurace was 86,3%. In the distinct groups studied, we see sensibility, specifity and acure were 64,7%, 100 % and 82,4% respectivity in PVM and 97,5%, 100% and 92,9% respectivity in reumathic disease. The Kappa indice is 0,714 (p<0,001) for the total group; 0,665 (p<0,001) for PMV and 0,857 (p<0,001) in RD. There is a positive correlation and significative between fibroses percentage with VDF, VSF, IMVE of the MR. So the higher the values, higher the fibrosis percentage. Conclusion: MR had a good concordance with MB in relation to found the MF in IMC

A fim de avaliar o resultado da gestação em pacientes cardíacas foram considerados dois grupos controle: o grupo \"I\" ou clínico e o grupo \"II\" ou cirúrgico. Foram considerados para este estudo todas as pacientes reumáticas matriculadas no Programa de Assistência à Gestante Cardíaca, no período de 01/06/15 a 30/10/79, tomando-se por base a gravidez e a doença reumática como ponto comum a todas as pacientes. Os resultados obtidos nestas gestações estão baseados nos parâmetros a seguir relacionados: idade da paciente no início da gestação, número de gestações, paridade, diagnóstico clínico-cardiológico, tipo funcional segundo a \"New York Heart Association\", idade gestacional, eletrocardiograma, tipo de parto, peso do recém-nascido ao nascer e suas condições de saúde. As pacientes do grupo \"II\" ou cirúrgico foram divididas em três subgrupos a saber: cirúrgico \"1\" (submetidas a comissurotomia valvar); cirúrgico \"2\" (submetidas a implante de prótese valvar-metálica tipo Starr-Edwards; e cirúrgico \"3\" (submetida a implante de prótese biológica de dura-máter). Os filhos das gestantes do grupo \"II\" ou cirúrgico têm peso significativamente menor que os filhos das gestantes do grupo \"I\" ou clínico. Entre as pacientes dos subgrupos cirúrgicos os filhos das pacientes com prótese de Starr-Edwards têm peso menor do que os filhos das gestantes dos outros subgrupos cirúrgicos, o que pode, pelo menos em parte, ser explicado pela ação dos anticoagulantes orais. Em relação ao tipo funcional, as pacientes cardíacas reumáticas clínicas podem engravidar se estiverem classificadas nos tipos funcionais I e II da \"New York Heart Association\", enquanto que as do grupo cirúrgico, com qualquer tipo de procedimento cirúrgico anterior, só poderão engravidar se pertencerem ao tipo funcional I, sem história de descompensação cardíaca anterior. As pacientes com prótese de Starr-Edwards na vigência de anticoagulação oral, devem ser bem orientadas em relação aos riscos do uso de tal medicação e entrarem para o programa especial de acompanhamento, com emprego de heparina subcutânea, principalmente durante a organogênese e ao controle rigoroso do tempo de protrombina, para prevenir o aparecimento de fenômenos trómboembólicos e do síndrome warfarínico fetal. As pacientes com prótese de dura-máter aórtica devem ser desencorajadas a engravidar. O período ideal para uma gravidez em pacientes cardíacas reumáticas, após qualquer tipo de cirurgia cardíaca, é com duração superior a 1 ano e inferior a 6 anos de pós-operatório. O maior número de cesáreas foi uma constante em todos os grupos estudados e realizadas por indicação obstétrica. No cirúrgico \"2\" (ou com prótese de Starr-Edwards) há indicação relativa de parto programado devido ao uso de anticoagulantes orais. Os procedimentos cirúrgicos devem ser realizados preferentemente antes ou apÓs a gestação. Durante o período gestacional,a época teoricamente \"ideal\" é entre a 18a. e 24a. semanas de gestação, ou em qualquer fase da gestação quando este for um procedimento de urgência. A cardioversão elétrica, processo inócuo durante a gravidez pode ser realizado em qualquer período gestacional para reversão da fibrilação atrial a ritmo sinusal. A taxa de óbitos maternos nas 301 gestações estudadas foi de 1,66 por cento , sendo que houve diferença significativa entre as proporções de óbitos nos dois grupos \"I\" e \"II\". As perdas do produto conceptual foram significativamente menores no grupo \"I\" ou clínico (4,48 por cento ) do que no grupo \"II\" ou cirúrgico (12,39 por cento ). Os resultados obtidos permitiram melhor avaliação dos riscos cardiológico e gravídico, bem como possibilitaram a caracterização de diferentes parâmetros que, considerados em conjunto, serão fundamentais para a avaliação do prognóstico destas mulheres com cardiopatia reumática. / With a view to assessing the consequences of pregnancy in rheumatic heart patients this study considered two control groups: the clinical group (I) and the surgical group (II). All the rheumatic patients enrolled, during the period from June 1, 1975 to October 3 O, 1979, in the \"Programme of Assistance to the Cardiac pregnant Woman\" were included in this study. Pregnancy and rheumatic disease were the common factors in all the cases studied. The results obtained during these pregnancies are based on the following parameters: age of the patient at the beginning of pregnancy, number of pregnancies, parity, cardiological clinical diagnosis, functional type according to the \"New York Heart Association\", gestational age, electrocardiogram, type of birth, birth-weight and state of health of the babies. The patients of Group \"II\" (Surgical) were divided into three sub-groups, namely: Surgical \"1\" (composed of those who had undergone Valvotomy); Surgical \"2\" (who had undergone implant of the Starr-Edwards heart valve prosthesis) and Surgical \"3\" (who had undergone implant of the \"dura-mater\" allograft prosthesis). The children of the mothers of group II (Surgical) were found to be of considerably lower weight than the children of mothers of group I (Clinical). With regard to the patients of the surgical sub-groups, the children of those with Starr-Edwards prosthesis are of lower weight than the children of the patients of the other surgical sub-groups which can be accounted for, at least in some measure, as a result of the use of oral anticoagulants. With regard to the functional type, theclinical rheumatic heart patients may become pregnant if classified as of the functional types I and II of the \"New York Heart Association\", while those of the surgical group, with any kind of earlier surgical treatment, may only become pregnant if they belong to the functional type I, with no previous history of cardiac insufficiency. The patients with Starr-Edwards prosthesis must be fully advised about the risks of using oral anticoagulants and must be put onto a special assistance programme, with employment of intradermic heparin, especially during organogenesis. They must also be advised about the necessary rigorous control of the prothrombine time to guard against the appearance of thromboembolic problems and Warfarin embryopathy. Patients with aortic \"dura-mater\" prosthesis should be discouraged from becoming pregnant. The most favorable period for pregnancy in rheumatic heart patients with any kind of cardiac surgical history is that lasting from a minimum of one year to a maximum of six years after operation. A majority of births by ceasarean section was a constant in all groups studied these were carried out on the basis of the obstetrician\'s recommendation. In the surgical sub-group \"2\" (those with Starr-Edwards prosthesis) there is a relatively high probability of programm~d births due to the use of oral anticoagulants. Surgery ought to be carried out, preferably, either before of after pregnancy. During the period of pregnancy the theoretically ideal occasion for surgery is between the 18th and 24th. weeks of pregnancy or, at any time during the pregnancy in urgent cases. Electrical cardioversion is a harmless procedure for the expectant mother and may be carried out at any time during the pregnancy for the reversal of the atrial fibrilation to the sinus rhythm. The maternal death rate for the 301 pregnancies studied was of 1.66 per cent , though there was a significant difference between the proportion of deaths occuring in groups I and II. The loss of the conceptual product was significantly less in Group I (clinical) 4.48 per cent than in Group II (surgical) 12.39 per cent . The result obtained permitted a better assessment of the cardiological and pregnancy risks, as well as making possible the characterization of the different parameters which, considered as a group, will be fundamental to the assessment of the prognosis of women with rheumatic heart disease.