INTRODUÇÃO: A síndrome de Williams-Beuren (SWB) é uma doença genética causada por uma microdeleção na região 7q11.23 e caracterizada por dismorfismos faciais típicos, deficiência intelectual, comportamento hipersociável, cardiopatia congênita, principalmente a estenose aórtica supravalvar (EASV), e outras malformações variáveis. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 65 pacientes (40 do sexo masculino, 25 do sexo feminino), com idades entre 2 e 59 anos (mediana = 14 anos), com características clínicas sugestivas de SWB. Todos os pacientes eram filhos de pais normais. A técnica de Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification® (MLPA®) foi usada com kit específico com sondas da região da SWB (MRC Holland). As sondas foram hibridadas ao DNA e os fragmentos ligados foram amplificados por PCR e analisados com software específico. RESULTADOS: A deleção de todas as sondas da região 7q11.23 testadas foi detectada por MLPA® em 55/65 pacientes. Um caso de deleção atípica, ou seja, menor que 1,5 Mb, foi observada em um paciente com quadro clínico parcial da síndrome. Os nove pacientes sem deleção tinham um diagnóstico clínico duvidoso da SWB. Dois pacientes tiveram MLPA® positivo para SWB embora apresentassem resultados de FISH negativos. Os achados clínicos dos pacientes com deleção típica foram: fácies típica (98,2%), atraso do desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor (98,2%), comportamento hipersociável (94,5%), hiperacusia (94,5%) e cardiopatia (81,8%). Dentre os pacientes com cardiopatia, 42,2% apresentavam EASV (isolada ou associada a outras anomalias cardíacas), 26,7% apresentavam estenose pulmonar e 31,1% apresentavam outras cardiopatias isoladas ou em associação. Outros achados dos pacientes com deleção foram: anormalidades geniturinárias (85,4%), escoliose (56,4%), baixa estatura (43,6%), hérnias inguinais e/ou umbilicais (36,4%), hipertensão arterial (36,4%, com 20% destes apresentando estenose de artérias renais), estrabismo (34,5%), microcefalia (30,9%), sinostose radioulnar (10,9%), hipotireoidismo (14,5%) e hipotireoidismo subclínico (7,3%). Hipercalcemia foi detectada em um paciente apenas. Outros dois pacientes apresentaram nefrocalcinose e um paciente apresentou hipercalciúria, com níveis de cálcio sérico normais. Três pacientes adolescentes foram a óbito por causas cardiovasculares, incluindo um caso de óbito após transplante cardíaco. CONCLUSÕES: A técnica de MLPA® foi eficaz na detecção da microdeleção na região 7q11.23 possibilitando a confirmação diagnóstica da SWB em 84,6% dos pacientes estudados. Além disso, foi possível detectar uma deleção menor atípica em um paciente com fenótipo parcial e confirmar o diagnóstico em dois pacientes com quadro clínico típico de SWB e resultados de FISH negativos. Portanto, o MLPA® constitui-se um método promissor na investigação diagnóstica da SWB. Por ser uma doença multissistêmica, a SWB exige cuidados multidisciplinares e acompanhamento específico a fim de se prevenir complicações / INTRODUCTION: Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS) is a genetic disorder caused by a microdeletion in 7q11.23 region. It is characterized by typical facial dysmorphisms, mental retardation, hipersociable behavior, congenital heart disease, mainly supravalvular aortic stenosis (SVAS), and other variable congenital malformations. METHODS: 65 patients (40 males, 25 females), aged 2-59 years old (median = 14 years old), with clinical characteristics suggesting WBS, were evaluated. All patients had normal parents. Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification® (MLPA®) was performed with a kit with probes in WBS region (MRC Holland). The probes were hybridized to the DNA and the ligated fragments were amplified by PCR and analyzed with specific software. RESULTS: The deletion for all tested probes in the 7q11.23 region was detected by MLPA® in 55/65 patients. One case of atypical deletion, smaller than 1.5 Mb, was observed in one patient with partial clinical picture of the syndrome. The nine patients without the deletion did not have a definitive clinical diagnosis of WBS. Two patients had positive MLPA® results even though they had negative FISH for WBS. The clinical characteristics of the patients with the typical deletion were: typical facies (98.2%), neuropsicomotor delay (98.2%), hypersociable behavior (94.5%), hyperacusis (94.5%) and congenital heart disease (81.8%). Among the patients with cardiac abnormalities, 42.2% had SVAS (isolated or not), 26.7% had pulmonary valve stenosis and 31.1% had other cardiac anomalies (isolated or grouped). Other findings in patients with deletion comprised: genitourinary abnormalities (85.4%), scoliosis (56.4%), short stature (43.6%), inguinal and/or umbilical hernias (36.4%), arterial hypertension (36.4%, with 20% of these presenting renal arteries stenosis), strabismus (34.5%), microcephaly (30.9%), radioulnar synostosis (10.9%), hypothyroidism (14.5%), and subclinical hypothyroidism (7.3%). Hypercalcaemia was detected in only one patient. Two other patients had nephrocalcinosis and one patient had hypercalciuria, with normal serum calcium levels. Three adolescents died due to cardiovascular problems, including one case that died after a cardiac transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: MLPA® was effective to detect the microdeletion in 7q11.23 region confirming the diagnosis of WBS in 84.6% of the patients. It was also possible to detect a small atypical deletion in one patient with partial phenotype and confirm the diagnosis in two patients with typical clinical characteristics of WBS and negative FISH results. Thus, MLPA® is a promising method in the diagnostic investigation of WBS. WBS is a multisystemic disorder and therefore requires multidisciplinary care and specific follow-up in order to prevent complications

L’implantation valvulaire (mise en place d’une stent-valve percutanée), pulmonaire ou aortique, est une procédure récente en plein (et rapide) développement. Cette procédure prometteuse, possède plusieurs écueils parmi lesquels, l’altération du matériel implanté lors de son déploiement. L’implantation valvulaire dans les voies pulmonaires dilatées, est une autre limite de la procédure. Dans notre travail, nous avons étudié le traumatisme valvulaire lié au déploiement des prothèses. Ensuite, nous avons évalué un nouveau dispositif de réduction du calibre de la voie pulmonaire, afin d’en élargir les indications ultérieurement.Nous avons donc dans un premier temps comparé 2 types de stent-valves, l’un expansible par ballon et l’autre auto-expansible. La comparaison a porté sur l’occurrence de lésions valvulaires lors du sertissage et du déploiement de ces 2 types de prothèses. Nous avons pu montrer la présence de lésions des feuillets péricardiques de ces prothèses, induites par la compression des dispositifs. Par ailleurs, la présence de lésions histologiques plus marquées avec les valves expansibles par ballon, suggère aussi un rôle de l’expansion de ces prothèses dans la genèse des lésions valvulaires post-déploiement. Nous n’avons pas constaté d’altérations des propriétés mécaniques du tissu valvulaire induites par la compression et le déploiement des feuillets.Dans une autre partie de notre travail, nous avons mis au point un modèle d’élargissement de la voie pulmonaire, associé à la création d’une insuffisance pulmonaire sévère. Nous avons pu montrer que la réduction du calibre de la voie d’éjection pulmonaire était possible avec notre réducteur, par voie endovasculaire ou transventriculaire droite. Il n’a pas été observé de migration ou de fracture du stent de ces prothèses 2 mois après la procédure. Si le modèle d’élargissement de la voie pulmonaire est intéressant pour évaluer les réducteurs et la faisabilité de leur implantation, un suivit à plus long terme est nécessaire avant d’envisager une implantation chez l’homme. Enfin, l’altération des feuillets induite par le maniement des prothèses, est un phénomène à prendre en considération. Il nécessite, compte tenu de son impact potentiel sur la durabilité des prothèses, une investigation plus approfondie. / Percutaneous valve implantation (PVI) is a new with fast growing expansion procedure. Nevertheless, this promising technic has some reefs. Impairment of the implanted device at deployment is one of them. Valvular implantation in dilated right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) is another limit of the procedure. In our work, we studied the valvular traumatism after prosthesis deployment. Subsequently, we evaluated a new device for RVOT size reduction, in order to widen PVI indications.Firstly, We compared 2 types of valved-stent (VS) (balloon expandable and self-expandable). We compared the occurrence of valvular leaflets injury after crimping and deployment of both types of prosthesis. We showed the occurrence of pericardial leaflet injuries, induced by devices crimping. Otherwise, the presence of sharp histologic lesions with balloon expandable VS, suggests a prosthesis expansion role, in genesis of valvular injuries, as well. We couldn’t show any impairment of valvular tissue mechanical properties after leaflets crimping and deployment. In another part of our work, experimental asymmetric enlargement of the RVOT with creation of severe pulmonary regurgitation, were performed in an ovine model. Size reduction of the enlarged RVOT and PVI were successfully achieved through an endovascular and right transventricular access. Valve function was satisfactory in all correctly implanted VS (one case of inversion). No migration or fractures of the size reducer or VS were seen before animal sacrifice, after 2 months follow-up. Since feasibility of RVOT enlargement and RVOT reduction has been demonstrated, a long-term study is necessary before considering a human implantation. At last but not least, deterioration on valvular leaflets after prosthesis handling is an effect to consider. Taking into account its potential impact on prosthesis durability, it requires further deep investigations.

INTRODUÇÃO: A síndrome de Williams-Beuren (SWB) é uma doença genética causada por uma microdeleção na região 7q11.23 e caracterizada por dismorfismos faciais típicos, deficiência intelectual, comportamento hipersociável, cardiopatia congênita, principalmente a estenose aórtica supravalvar (EASV), e outras malformações variáveis. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 65 pacientes (40 do sexo masculino, 25 do sexo feminino), com idades entre 2 e 59 anos (mediana = 14 anos), com características clínicas sugestivas de SWB. Todos os pacientes eram filhos de pais normais. A técnica de Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification® (MLPA®) foi usada com kit específico com sondas da região da SWB (MRC Holland). As sondas foram hibridadas ao DNA e os fragmentos ligados foram amplificados por PCR e analisados com software específico. RESULTADOS: A deleção de todas as sondas da região 7q11.23 testadas foi detectada por MLPA® em 55/65 pacientes. Um caso de deleção atípica, ou seja, menor que 1,5 Mb, foi observada em um paciente com quadro clínico parcial da síndrome. Os nove pacientes sem deleção tinham um diagnóstico clínico duvidoso da SWB. Dois pacientes tiveram MLPA® positivo para SWB embora apresentassem resultados de FISH negativos. Os achados clínicos dos pacientes com deleção típica foram: fácies típica (98,2%), atraso do desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor (98,2%), comportamento hipersociável (94,5%), hiperacusia (94,5%) e cardiopatia (81,8%). Dentre os pacientes com cardiopatia, 42,2% apresentavam EASV (isolada ou associada a outras anomalias cardíacas), 26,7% apresentavam estenose pulmonar e 31,1% apresentavam outras cardiopatias isoladas ou em associação. Outros achados dos pacientes com deleção foram: anormalidades geniturinárias (85,4%), escoliose (56,4%), baixa estatura (43,6%), hérnias inguinais e/ou umbilicais (36,4%), hipertensão arterial (36,4%, com 20% destes apresentando estenose de artérias renais), estrabismo (34,5%), microcefalia (30,9%), sinostose radioulnar (10,9%), hipotireoidismo (14,5%) e hipotireoidismo subclínico (7,3%). Hipercalcemia foi detectada em um paciente apenas. Outros dois pacientes apresentaram nefrocalcinose e um paciente apresentou hipercalciúria, com níveis de cálcio sérico normais. Três pacientes adolescentes foram a óbito por causas cardiovasculares, incluindo um caso de óbito após transplante cardíaco. CONCLUSÕES: A técnica de MLPA® foi eficaz na detecção da microdeleção na região 7q11.23 possibilitando a confirmação diagnóstica da SWB em 84,6% dos pacientes estudados. Além disso, foi possível detectar uma deleção menor atípica em um paciente com fenótipo parcial e confirmar o diagnóstico em dois pacientes com quadro clínico típico de SWB e resultados de FISH negativos. Portanto, o MLPA® constitui-se um método promissor na investigação diagnóstica da SWB. Por ser uma doença multissistêmica, a SWB exige cuidados multidisciplinares e acompanhamento específico a fim de se prevenir complicações / INTRODUCTION: Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS) is a genetic disorder caused by a microdeletion in 7q11.23 region. It is characterized by typical facial dysmorphisms, mental retardation, hipersociable behavior, congenital heart disease, mainly supravalvular aortic stenosis (SVAS), and other variable congenital malformations. METHODS: 65 patients (40 males, 25 females), aged 2-59 years old (median = 14 years old), with clinical characteristics suggesting WBS, were evaluated. All patients had normal parents. Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification® (MLPA®) was performed with a kit with probes in WBS region (MRC Holland). The probes were hybridized to the DNA and the ligated fragments were amplified by PCR and analyzed with specific software. RESULTS: The deletion for all tested probes in the 7q11.23 region was detected by MLPA® in 55/65 patients. One case of atypical deletion, smaller than 1.5 Mb, was observed in one patient with partial clinical picture of the syndrome. The nine patients without the deletion did not have a definitive clinical diagnosis of WBS. Two patients had positive MLPA® results even though they had negative FISH for WBS. The clinical characteristics of the patients with the typical deletion were: typical facies (98.2%), neuropsicomotor delay (98.2%), hypersociable behavior (94.5%), hyperacusis (94.5%) and congenital heart disease (81.8%). Among the patients with cardiac abnormalities, 42.2% had SVAS (isolated or not), 26.7% had pulmonary valve stenosis and 31.1% had other cardiac anomalies (isolated or grouped). Other findings in patients with deletion comprised: genitourinary abnormalities (85.4%), scoliosis (56.4%), short stature (43.6%), inguinal and/or umbilical hernias (36.4%), arterial hypertension (36.4%, with 20% of these presenting renal arteries stenosis), strabismus (34.5%), microcephaly (30.9%), radioulnar synostosis (10.9%), hypothyroidism (14.5%), and subclinical hypothyroidism (7.3%). Hypercalcaemia was detected in only one patient. Two other patients had nephrocalcinosis and one patient had hypercalciuria, with normal serum calcium levels. Three adolescents died due to cardiovascular problems, including one case that died after a cardiac transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: MLPA® was effective to detect the microdeletion in 7q11.23 region confirming the diagnosis of WBS in 84.6% of the patients. It was also possible to detect a small atypical deletion in one patient with partial phenotype and confirm the diagnosis in two patients with typical clinical characteristics of WBS and negative FISH results. Thus, MLPA® is a promising method in the diagnostic investigation of WBS. WBS is a multisystemic disorder and therefore requires multidisciplinary care and specific follow-up in order to prevent complications

INTRODUÇÃO: Avaliação da função diastólica de pacientes portadores de estenose ou insuficiência aórtica submetidos à troca valvar. OBJETIVOS: Avaliação da função diastólica através da análise do NTpró-BNP como método não invasivo para caracterização da insuficiência cardíaca diastólica, comparando com os dados ecocardiográficos através do Doppler Pulsado em Fluxo Mitral, Doppler Pulsado em Veias Pulmonares e Doppler Tecidual em portadores de IAO e EAO. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 63 pacientes, 32 pacientes com IAO (25 pacientes do sexo masculino e 7 do sexo feminino), 31 pacientes com EAO (11 pacientes do sexo masculino e 20 pacientes do sexo feminino). As variáveis foram comparadas na média entre os pacientes portador de IAO e EAO no pré e pós-operatório. RESULTADOS: A idade dos pacientes variou de 21 a 81 com média de 55 anos. Observa-se diferença quanto à média de idades entre as diferentes patologias (t-Student p< 0,0001). Os pacientes com IAO apresentam uma média de idade igual a 45,7±14,3 com variação entre 21 e 79 anos e os pacientes com EAO apresentam uma média de idade igual a 61,5±14,7 com variação entre 21 e 81 anos. Na IAO em relação à disfunção diastólica tivemos os seguintes dados com significância estatística do pré para o pós-operatório (6 meses): TRIV (p=0,0011), diferença entre Tempo de onda A mitral e onda A pulmonar (p=0,0097), Vol. Sistólico de AE (p=0,0019), Vol Sistólico de AE Indexado (0,0011), Vol. Diastólico de AE (p=0,0110), DDVE (p<0,0001), DSVE (p<0,0001), VSF (p<0,0001), VDF (p<0,0001), Massa Indexada de VE (p<0,0001) e Relação Volume/Massa do VE (p<0,0001). Na EAO em relação à disfunção diastólica tivemos os seguintes dados com significância estatística do pré para o pós-operatório (6 meses): E/E (p=0,0379), TRIV (p=0,0072), diferença entre o tempo de onda A mitral e tempo de onda A pulmonar (p=0,0176), Vol sistólico de AE(p=0,0242), Vol. Sistólico de AE indexado (p=0,0237), FEdeAE (p=0,0339), DDVE (p=0,0002), DSVE (p=0,0085), VDF (p=0,0194), Massa Indexada de VE (p<0,0001) e Relação Volume/Massa de VE(p<0,0001). O NTpró-BNP se correlacionou positivamente com os diversos graus de disfunção diastólica tanto no pré como pós-operatório CONCLUSÃO: Foram verificados no estudo da função diastólica variação com significância estatística tanto na IAO como na EAO na comparação do pré e o pós-operatório. Da mesma forma notamos variação do NT-proBNP com correlação com as variáveis ecocardiográficas que caracterizam a disfunção diastólica. / INTRODUCTION: Assessment of diastolic function in patients with aortic stenosis or aortic regurgitation waiting for aortic valve replacement. OBJECTIVE: Assesment of diastolic function with Doppler methods:Doppler signals from transvalvar mitral inflow, tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and Doppler in pulmonary veins(DPV) correlating with serum brain peptide natriuretic (NTproNP) before and 6 months after aortic valve replacement (AVR). METHODS: We have analyzed 63 patients, 32 with AR (25 males and 7 females), 31 AS (11 males and 20 females).The indices were compared with AS and AR before and after AVR. RESULTS: The ages of patients ranged from 21 to 81 mean age was 55 years old.We have seen difference between mean age of AS and AR (t-Student-p<0.0001). Patients with AR have had mean age 45.67 plus/minus 14.28, range 21 to 79 years old and patients with AS have had mean age 61.50 plus/minus 14.72, range 21 to 81 years old. The patients who had AR the indices showed differences: Isovolumetric Relaxation Time IRT(p=0.0011), Diference between the pulmonary A wave duration and mitral A duration (p=0.0097), Left Atrial Systolic Volume (p=0.0019), Left Atrial Systolic Volume Index(p=0.0011), Left Atrial Diastolic Volume (p=0.0110), Left Ventricular Diastolic Diameter (p<0.0001), Left Ventricular Systolic Diameter (p<0.0001), End Systolic Volume (p<0.0001), End Diastolic Volume (p<0.0001), Left Ventricular Mass Index (p<0.0001) and Left Ventricular Volume and Left Ventricular Mass Index ratio (p<0.0001). Analyzing patients with AS the indices who showed differences: (The ratio of mitral velocity to early diastolic velocity of the mitral annulus) E/E (p=0.0379)(Isovolumetric Relaxation Time)(p=0.0072) IRT, Diference between the pulmonary A wave duration and mitral A duration (p=0.0176), Left Atrial Sistolic Volume (p=0.0242), Left Atrial Systolic Volume Index (p=0.0237), Left Atrial Ejection Fraction (p=0.0339) Left Ventricular Diastolic Diameter (p=0.0002), Left Ventricular Systolic Diameter (p=0.0085), End Diastolic Volume (LVEDV) (p=0.0194), Left ventricular Mass Index(p<0.0001), Left Ventricular Volume and Mass Index Ratio (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: As we studied diastolic function we have verified significant statistic variation in aortic regurgitation and aortic stenosis comparing before and after aortic valve replacement. Likewise we have seen there is correlation between NTproBNP and echocardiographic variables that show diastolic dysfunction.

Les anomalies du système nerveux sympathique (SNS) contribuent au développement de certaines pathologies cardiovasculaires comme l'insuffisance cardiaque (IC) et les cardiomyopathies de stress. Ces anomalies impliquent une activation persistante, défavorable du SNS dans l'IC et une activation sympathique épisodique dans les cardiomyopathies de stress. Le rôle du SNS au cours des cardiopathies valvulaires reste quand à lui encore mal connu. Notre travail de thèse avait pour objectif d'analyser par microneurographie l'activité du SNS et sa modulation par les arcs réflexes physiologiques, au cours de l'IC avec ou sans comorbidités (notamment l'anémie, l'insuffisance rénale) ainsi qu'au cours des cardiomyopathies de stress et de la sténose aortique. L'hyperactivité du SNS participe à l'initiation et à la progression de l'IC et constitue un marqueur pronostique mais aussi une cible thérapeutique. Les mécanismes fondamentaux qui sous-tendent l'activation du SNS au cours de l'IC restent encore incertains. Une hypothèse engloberait une diminution des réflexes inhibiteurs, comme le baroréflexe artériel périphérique et une augmentation des réflexes excitateurs, comme le chémoréflexe artériel périphérique. Avec notre premier travail nous rapportons que l'augmentation de l'activité du chémoréflexe périphérique diminue directement la fonction du baroréflexe artériel chez les patients IC et que cette interaction contribue à l'hyperactivité sympathique. Notre équipe avait déjà démontré qu'au cours de l'IC, l'insuffisance rénale (IR) et l'anémie contribuent à l'augmentation de l'activité du SNS. Bien que la dysfonction rénale et l'anémie aient été largement étudiées séparément dans l'IC, des données épidémiologiques suggèrent également que l'IR peut coexister avec l'anémie chez les patients atteints d'IC dans ce qu'on désigne par le "syndrome d'anémie cardio-rénale". Nous avons démontré que ce syndrome au cours de l'IC est associé à une hyperactivité sympathique médiée à la fois par une activation tonique du chémoréflexe périphérique et une atténuation du baroréflexe artériel. Le syndrome du Tako Tsubo est une cardiomyopathie de stress caractérisée par une insuffisance ventriculaire gauche aiguë réversible. La physiopathologie exacte reste inconnue, mais l'hyperactivation sympathique semble jouer un rôle fondamental. Nous avons démontré par microneurographie la présence d'une hyperactivation du SNS dans la phase subaiguë de la maladie associée à une altération du baroréflexe périphérique. La sténose aortique (SA) est, dans les pays développés, la plus fréquente de toutes les maladies cardiaques valvulaires. Le remplacement valvulaire aortique transcathéter (TAVI) est une option thérapeutique émergente chez les patients avec une SA sévère symptomatique à haut risque chirurgical. La SA est associée à une morbi-mortalité cardiovasculaire accrue. Nous avons souhaité apprécier si au cours de la SA il existait une hyperactivité du SNS qui pouvait contribuer à expliquer le pronostic réservé des patients et être la cible du TAVI. Nous avons montré que les patients atteints de SA ont une activité du SNS augmentée et qui est associée à une diminution du gain du baroréflexe périphérique. Le TAVI normalise ces paramètres. Au total, ce travail de thèse a permis d'identifier de nouveaux mécanismes contribuant à l'hyperactivité du tonus sympathique au cours de l'insuffisance cardiaque, de la sténose aortique et de la cardiomyopathie du Tako Tsubo. L'hyperactivité du SNS jouant un rôle critique dans l'insuffisance cardiaque, la connaissance des mécanismes physiopathologiques qui la sous-tendent pourrait permettre l'identification et/ou la validation de nouvelles stratégies pour son traitement. / Sympathetic nervous system (SNS) abnormalities contribute to the development of some cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure (HF) and stress cardiomyopathies. These abnormalities involve persistent, adverse activation of SNS in HF and episodic sympathetic activation in stress cardiomyopathies. Less is still known about the role of SNS in valvular heart diseases. Our PhD work had as a purpose to analyse, by microneurography, the activity of SNS and its modulation by physiological reflex arcs, during HF, with and without comorbidities (including anemia and kidney failure), in stress cardiomyopathies and during aortic stenosis. SNS hyperactivity participates in the initiation and progression of HF being also a prognostic marker and a therapeutic target. The fundamental mechanisms underlying the activation of SNS in HF remain uncertain. One hypothesis would include a decrease in inhibitory reflexes activity, such as peripheral arterial baroreflex and an increase in excitatory reflexes activity, such as peripheral arterial chemoreflex. With our first work we report that the increased activity of peripheral chemoreflex directly decreases the arterial baroreflex function in HF patients and that this interaction contributes to sympathetic hyperactivity. Our team had already shown that during HF, renal dysfunction and anemia contribute to the increased activity of SNS. Although renal dysfunction and anemia have been widely studied separately in HF, epidemiological data also suggest that renal impairment can coexist with anemia in HF patients in the so called "cardio-renal anemia syndrome". We demonstrated that this syndrome during HF is associated with elevated sympathetic activity mediated by both tonic peripheral chemoreflex activation and arterial baroreflex impairment.The Tako Tsubo (TTC) is a stress cardiomyopathy characterized by acute reversible left ventricular failure. The exact pathophysiology remains unknown but sympathetic hyperactivation seems to play a fundamental role. We reported by microneurography the presence of SNS hyperactivation in the subacute phase of the disease associated with impairment in arterial baroreflex.In developed countries, aortic stenosis (AS) is the most prevalent of all valvular heart diseases. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an emerging therapeutic option in symptomatic patients with severe AS at high surgical risk. AS is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. We wanted to assess whether in AS sympathetic hyperactivity existed that could help to explain the poor prognosis of these patients and be the target of TAVI. We have shown that AS patients have an increased SNS activity that is associated with reduced peripheral baroreflex gain. The TAVI normalizes these parameters.On the whole this PhD work identified new mechanisms that contribute to SNS hyperactivity in heart failure, aortic stenosis and Tako Tsubo cardiomyopathy. Since SNS hyperactivity plays a critical role in heart failure, knowledge of the pathophysiological mechanisms that underlie it could allow identification and/or validation of new strategies for its treatment.

Abstract Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) represents a disease spectrum, ranging from mild aortic valve sclerosis to severe obstructive aortic stenosis (AS), associated with a high risk of myocardial infarction and cardiovascular death. It is a common disease in the Western countries, and with their aging populations, its prevalence is likely to increase. Today, CAVD is recognized as an actively regulated disease. Mechanical stress and endothelial injury are the initiating factors, followed by lipid accumulation and oxidation, leading to inflammation, fibrosis and calcification. Ultimately, the progressive calcification hinders the normal valvular function and obstructs the flow of blood through the valve. The only effective treatment for symptomatic AS is aortic valve replacement. The trials with pharmacological treatments, mainly with anti-atherosclerotic drugs, have not been successful in slowing the progression of the disease. This study was aimed to identify differentially expressed transcripts, and molecular markers taking part in the pathophysiology behind CAVD. In particular, factors related to the renin-angiotensin system, and the apelin – APJ pathway, were investigated during the development of CAVD. In addition, the expressions of granzymes and perforin, as well as podoplanin, were studied in different stages of CAVD. It was demonstrated that these molecules are expressed in aortic valves and dysregulated in AS. These results can help to clarify the mechanisms driving CAVD, thus being potential targets for pharmacological therapy. Furthermore, the studied molecules may reflect the stage and possible subgroups of CAVD. / Tiivistelmä Aorttaläpän ahtauma edustaa tautijatkumoa, joka alkaa lievästä aorttaläpän paksuuntumisesta eli aorttaskleroosista ja jatkuu vaikeaan aorttaläpän kalkkeutuneeseen ahtaumaan eli aorttastenoosiin, johon liittyy korkea sydäninfarktin ja sydän- ja verisuonitatutiperäisen kuoleman riski. Aorttaläpän ahtauma on yleinen tauti länsimaissa, ja väestön ikääntyessä sen esiintyvyys on luultavimmin lisääntymässä. Nykyään aorttaläpän ahtauman tiedetään olevan aktiivisesti säädelty tauti. Mekaaninen rasitus ja endoteelivaurio käynnistävät tautiprosessin, läppäkudokseen kertyy lipidejä ja ne hapettuvat, mikä johtaa tulehdukseen, sidekudoksen lisääntymiseen ja kalkkeutumiseen. Lopulta etenevä kalkkeutuminen heikentää läpän normaalia toimintaa ja estää veren normaalia virtausta sydämestä aorttaan. Ainoa tehokas hoito oireiseen aorttastenoosiin on aorttaläpän korvausleikkaus. Lääkehoitoina on kokeiltu erityisesti ateroskleroosin hoitoon käytettäviä lääkkeitä, mutta niillä ei ole onnistuttu estämään taudin etenemistä. Tässä väitöskirjatyössä tutkittiin molekyylejä ja biokemiallisia reittejä, jotka liittyvät reniini-angiotensiinijärjestelmään ja apeliini-APJ-reittiin. Lisäksi tutkittiin grantsyymien ja perforiinin sekä podoplaniinin ilmentymistä aorttaläpän ahtauman eri kehitysvaiheissa. Tulosten perusteella näitä tekijöitä ilmennetään aorttaläpässä ja niiden määrä on muuttunut kalkkeutuneessa läpässä. Tulokset auttavat osaltaan ymmärtämään aorttaläpän ahtaumaan ja kalkkeutumiseen johtavia mekanismeja, joita voidaan hyödyntää uusia lääkehoidon kohteita suunniteltaessa. Tutkitut molekulaariset tekijät voivat kuvastaa aortan ahtaumataudin vaiheita ja mahdollisia alaryhmiä.

In patients with aortic stenosis, accurate assessment of severity with echocardiography is central to surgical decision making. But, when image quality is poor or equivocal results obtained, another robust non-invasive technique would be invaluable. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) may be a useful alternative. Phase contrast CMR can measure ow and velocity, therefore it is theoretically possible to estimate the main determinant of severity aortic valve area, using the continuity approach. However, it was found that the phase contrast estimate of stroke volume, sampled in the stenotic jet, systematically underestimated left ventricular stroke volume. This underestimation was greater with increasing aortic stenosis severity. Critical clinical treatment decisions depend on the ability to reliably differentiate between patients with moderate and severe aortic stenosis. To achieve accurate estimation of aortic valve areas the velocity and ow data obtained in these turbulent, high velocity jets must be accurate. In this thesis, non-stenotic and stenotic phantoms were designed and constructed to experimentally interrogate the error. It was determined that signal loss, due to intravoxel dephasing, decreased the reliability of the measured forward ow jet velocities. Extreme signal loss in the jet eventuated in salt and pepper noise, which, with a mean velocity of zero, resulted in the underestimation. Intravoxel dephasing signal loss due to higher order motions, turbulence and spin mixing could all be mitigated by reducing the duration of the velocity sensitivity gradients and shortening the overall echo time (TE). However, improvements in an optimised PC sequence (TE 1:5ms) were not satisfactory. Flow estimates remained variable and were underestimated beyond the aortic valve. To reduce the TE further, a new phase contrast pulse sequence based on an ultrashort TE readout trajectory and velocity dependent slice excitation with gradient inversion was designed and implemented. The new sequence's TE is approximately 25% (0:65ms) of what is currently clinically available (TE 2:8ms). Good agreement in the phantom was maintained up to very high ow rates with improved signal characteristics shown in-vivo. This new phase contrast pulse sequence is worthy of further investigation as an accurate evaluation of patients with aortic stenosis. / This work in this thesis was conducted at The Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The Centre for Advanced MRI and The Oxford Centre for Clinical Magnetic Resonance in collaboration with Siemens Health care.

In patients with aortic stenosis, accurate assessment of severity with echocardiography is central to surgical decision making. But, when image quality is poor or equivocal results obtained, another robust non-invasive technique would be invaluable. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) may be a useful alternative. Phase contrast CMR can measure ow and velocity, therefore it is theoretically possible to estimate the main determinant of severity aortic valve area, using the continuity approach. However, it was found that the phase contrast estimate of stroke volume, sampled in the stenotic jet, systematically underestimated left ventricular stroke volume. This underestimation was greater with increasing aortic stenosis severity. Critical clinical treatment decisions depend on the ability to reliably differentiate between patients with moderate and severe aortic stenosis. To achieve accurate estimation of aortic valve areas the velocity and ow data obtained in these turbulent, high velocity jets must be accurate. In this thesis, non-stenotic and stenotic phantoms were designed and constructed to experimentally interrogate the error. It was determined that signal loss, due to intravoxel dephasing, decreased the reliability of the measured forward ow jet velocities. Extreme signal loss in the jet eventuated in salt and pepper noise, which, with a mean velocity of zero, resulted in the underestimation. Intravoxel dephasing signal loss due to higher order motions, turbulence and spin mixing could all be mitigated by reducing the duration of the velocity sensitivity gradients and shortening the overall echo time (TE). However, improvements in an optimised PC sequence (TE 1:5ms) were not satisfactory. Flow estimates remained variable and were underestimated beyond the aortic valve. To reduce the TE further, a new phase contrast pulse sequence based on an ultrashort TE readout trajectory and velocity dependent slice excitation with gradient inversion was designed and implemented. The new sequence's TE is approximately 25% (0:65ms) of what is currently clinically available (TE 2:8ms). Good agreement in the phantom was maintained up to very high ow rates with improved signal characteristics shown in-vivo. This new phase contrast pulse sequence is worthy of further investigation as an accurate evaluation of patients with aortic stenosis. / This work in this thesis was conducted at The Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The Centre for Advanced MRI and The Oxford Centre for Clinical Magnetic Resonance in collaboration with Siemens Health care.

In patients with aortic stenosis, accurate assessment of severity with echocardiography is central to surgical decision making. But, when image quality is poor or equivocal results obtained, another robust non-invasive technique would be invaluable. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) may be a useful alternative. Phase contrast CMR can measure ow and velocity, therefore it is theoretically possible to estimate the main determinant of severity aortic valve area, using the continuity approach. However, it was found that the phase contrast estimate of stroke volume, sampled in the stenotic jet, systematically underestimated left ventricular stroke volume. This underestimation was greater with increasing aortic stenosis severity. Critical clinical treatment decisions depend on the ability to reliably differentiate between patients with moderate and severe aortic stenosis. To achieve accurate estimation of aortic valve areas the velocity and ow data obtained in these turbulent, high velocity jets must be accurate. In this thesis, non-stenotic and stenotic phantoms were designed and constructed to experimentally interrogate the error. It was determined that signal loss, due to intravoxel dephasing, decreased the reliability of the measured forward ow jet velocities. Extreme signal loss in the jet eventuated in salt and pepper noise, which, with a mean velocity of zero, resulted in the underestimation. Intravoxel dephasing signal loss due to higher order motions, turbulence and spin mixing could all be mitigated by reducing the duration of the velocity sensitivity gradients and shortening the overall echo time (TE). However, improvements in an optimised PC sequence (TE 1:5ms) were not satisfactory. Flow estimates remained variable and were underestimated beyond the aortic valve. To reduce the TE further, a new phase contrast pulse sequence based on an ultrashort TE readout trajectory and velocity dependent slice excitation with gradient inversion was designed and implemented. The new sequence's TE is approximately 25% (0:65ms) of what is currently clinically available (TE 2:8ms). Good agreement in the phantom was maintained up to very high ow rates with improved signal characteristics shown in-vivo. This new phase contrast pulse sequence is worthy of further investigation as an accurate evaluation of patients with aortic stenosis. / This work in this thesis was conducted at The Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The Centre for Advanced MRI and The Oxford Centre for Clinical Magnetic Resonance in collaboration with Siemens Health care.

In patients with aortic stenosis, accurate assessment of severity with echocardiography is central to surgical decision making. But, when image quality is poor or equivocal results obtained, another robust non-invasive technique would be invaluable. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) may be a useful alternative. Phase contrast CMR can measure ow and velocity, therefore it is theoretically possible to estimate the main determinant of severity aortic valve area, using the continuity approach. However, it was found that the phase contrast estimate of stroke volume, sampled in the stenotic jet, systematically underestimated left ventricular stroke volume. This underestimation was greater with increasing aortic stenosis severity. Critical clinical treatment decisions depend on the ability to reliably differentiate between patients with moderate and severe aortic stenosis. To achieve accurate estimation of aortic valve areas the velocity and ow data obtained in these turbulent, high velocity jets must be accurate. In this thesis, non-stenotic and stenotic phantoms were designed and constructed to experimentally interrogate the error. It was determined that signal loss, due to intravoxel dephasing, decreased the reliability of the measured forward ow jet velocities. Extreme signal loss in the jet eventuated in salt and pepper noise, which, with a mean velocity of zero, resulted in the underestimation. Intravoxel dephasing signal loss due to higher order motions, turbulence and spin mixing could all be mitigated by reducing the duration of the velocity sensitivity gradients and shortening the overall echo time (TE). However, improvements in an optimised PC sequence (TE 1:5ms) were not satisfactory. Flow estimates remained variable and were underestimated beyond the aortic valve. To reduce the TE further, a new phase contrast pulse sequence based on an ultrashort TE readout trajectory and velocity dependent slice excitation with gradient inversion was designed and implemented. The new sequence's TE is approximately 25% (0:65ms) of what is currently clinically available (TE 2:8ms). Good agreement in the phantom was maintained up to very high ow rates with improved signal characteristics shown in-vivo. This new phase contrast pulse sequence is worthy of further investigation as an accurate evaluation of patients with aortic stenosis. / This work in this thesis was conducted at The Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The Centre for Advanced MRI and The Oxford Centre for Clinical Magnetic Resonance in collaboration with Siemens Health care.