Coronary and peripheral artery aneurysms in a patient with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
A 48-year-old man was referred to our institution for acute limb ischaemia. He had been diagnosed with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, so-called mycosis fungoides by gene rearrangement analysis of skin biopsy samples 9 years ago. He had received prednisolone 5 mg daily and phototherapy for mycosis fungoides. Although allergy symptoms and signs including asthma, peripheral neuropathy and glomerulonephritis had not been evident, his rashes had been worsening in his face and abdomen for a few months. On examination, enhanced CT revealed thrombotic occlusion in the left posterior tibial artery (figure 1A, B) and multiple ...
Source: Heart Asia - January 4, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Yasutake, H., Ikeda, Y., Kawarada, O. Tags: Open access Images in cardiovascular medicine Source Type: research
Prognostic significance of exercise-induced premature ventricular complexes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies
Conclusions
EI-PVCs are correlated with a higher risk of all cause death or cardiovascular events in the long term. This risk is elevated in asymptomatic patients without clinical heart disease and in patients with symptomatic heart disease. The fact that only EI-PVCs during recovery, and not during exercise, have poor prognostic value suggests that autonomic dysfunction may play a role in this association. Further studies are needed to see if autonomic manipulation by drugs or catheter-based methods can improve the poor prognosis associated with EI-PVCs. (Source: Heart Asia)
Source: Heart Asia - January 3, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Lee, V., Perera, D., Lambiase, P. Tags: Review Source Type: research
Association between genetic loci linked to HDL-C levels and Indian patients with CAD: a pilot study
Conclusions
None of the HDL-C associated loci included in this study were found to be a significant risk factor for CAD. However, the study could replicate the findings of four variants influencing HDL-C levels. (Source: Heart Asia)
Source: Heart Asia - January 3, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Stanley, A., Ponde, C. K., Rajani, R. M., Ashavaid, T. F. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
Awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in Nepal: findings from the Dhulikhel Heart Study
Conclusions
The levels of awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in this sample of Nepalese adults were low. (Source: Heart Asia)
Source: Heart Asia - January 3, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Karmacharya, B. M., Koju, R. P., LoGerfo, J. P., Chan, K. C. G., Mokdad, A. H., Shrestha, A., Sotoodehnia, N., Fitzpatrick, A. L. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
Correction
Mingji C, Onakpoya IJ, Heneghan CJ, et al. Assessing agreement of blood pressure-measuring devices in Tibetan areas of China: a systematic review. Heart Asia 2016;8:46–51. doi:10.1136/heartasia-2016-010798.
The following should have been included in the Funding statement: CM is employed and supported through the ERC Starting Grant RATIMED (336932) at the Institute for Social Anthropology, Austrian Academy of Sciences. (Source: Heart Asia)
Source: Heart Asia - December 21, 2016 Category: Cardiology Tags: Correction Source Type: research
Measuring and reporting disease progression in subclinical rheumatic heart disease
Echocardiography is a sensitive test for detecting subclinical rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in asymptomatic individuals. However, it also detects a large number of minor abnormalities which may overlap with the normal range of variability in valve morphology and function in the population. These abnormalities do not fulfil criteria for the diagnosis of RHD and have been variously termed ‘possible’ or ‘borderline’ by different guidelines.1 2 The utility of routine screening echocardiography in endemic populations hinges on two critical parameters: (1) the rate of disease progression and (2) the impa...
Source: Heart Asia - November 27, 2016 Category: Cardiology Authors: Karthikeyan, G. Tags: Editorial Source Type: research
Screening-detected rheumatic heart disease can progress to severe disease
Conclusions
The natural history of screening-detected RHD is not benign. Most definite RHD cases persist and others may require surgery or succumb. Progression of borderline cases to severe RHD demonstrates the need for monitoring and individualised consideration of prophylaxis. Robust health system structures are needed for follow-up and delivery of secondary prophylaxis if RHD screening is to be scaled up. (Source: Heart Asia)
Source: Heart Asia - November 27, 2016 Category: Cardiology Authors: Engelman, D., Wheaton, G. R., Mataika, R. L., Kado, J. H., Colquhoun, S. M., Remenyi, B., Steer, A. C. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
Prevalence of atrial fibrillation in the Malaysian communities
Conclusions
The prevalence of AF in the Malaysian population was low at 0.54% compared to the global average of 1%. We found that AF was associated with older age, male sex, hypertension, and ischaemic heart disease. (Source: Heart Asia)
Source: Heart Asia - November 17, 2016 Category: Cardiology Authors: Lim, C. W., Kasim, S., Ismail, J. R., Chua, N. Y. C., Najme Khir, R., Zainal Abidin, H. A., Abdul Rahman, E., Mohd Arshad, M. K., Ibrahim Othman, Z., Yusoff, K. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
Cardiovascular disease in patients with chronic kidney disease: a neglected subgroup
The burden of non-communicable diseases has increased exponentially over the past decade and they account for majority of the health-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. In line with this, the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been increasing over the years. CKD progresses through stages and it is well known that patients are more likely to die than to progress to end-stage renal disease. The presence of multiple classical and novel risk factors predisposes this group of patients to premature cardiovascular mortality. Though being a common entity, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular dis...
Source: Heart Asia - November 6, 2016 Category: Cardiology Authors: Subbiah, A. K., Chhabra, Y. K., Mahajan, S. Tags: Review Source Type: research
Is there such as a thing as non-ischaemic cardiac pain?
Over time, in the minds of clinicians and laypeople alike, cardiogenic pain is intimately associated with angina pectoris, the characteristic syndrome which accompanies myocardial ischaemia. However, in conditions such as myocarditis or cardiac sarcoidosis, both notorious for their silent clinical presentation, tissue damage is caused by inflammation, not ischaemia. One might wonder why there is no pain or angina-like syndrome accompanying these conditions. Recent insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying cardiac pain may provide an explanation. Ischaemic or inflammatory damage of any tissue, including the myocardi...
Source: Heart Asia - October 25, 2016 Category: Cardiology Authors: Zareifopoulos, N. Tags: Viewpoints Source Type: research
Are blood pressure monitors affected by high altitude?
The importance of accurate blood pressure measurement cannot be overemphasised, and there is an overall understanding that validated blood pressure monitors are needed for reliable pressure measurement. However, some researchers have raised the question whether high altitude, mainly due to the lower atmospheric pressure, can affect the accuracy of automatic blood pressure monitors.1–3 In the current issue of the journal, Mingji et al present a systematic review about the accuracy of blood pressure measuring devices in the Tibetan areas of China.4 The authors conclude that oscillometric blood pressure monitors, w...
Source: Heart Asia - October 25, 2016 Category: Cardiology Authors: Verberk, W. J., Mieke, S. Tags: Editorial Source Type: research
Assessing agreement of blood pressure-measuring devices in Tibetan areas of China: a systematic review
Conclusion
The limited evidence from published studies suggests that automated (Omron) BP monitors show a high degree of agreement for DBP when compared against mercury sphygmomanometer at high altitudes. However, the degree of such agreement for SBP is not consistent. Few studies assessing the validity of automated BP monitors at high altitudes have been conducted, and they differ in design and methodology. Further research assessing the suitability of BP-measuring instruments at high altitudes is therefore warranted. (Source: Heart Asia)
Source: Heart Asia - October 25, 2016 Category: Cardiology Authors: Mingji, C., Onakpoya, I. J., Heneghan, C. J., Ward, A. M. Tags: Open access Original research Source Type: research
'Striped TR signal: an intriguing Doppler echocardiography artefact or a pathological correlate?
Case summary A 51-year-old man presented with complaints of insidious onset, gradually progressive dyspnoea on exertion NYHA (New York Heart Association) class II associated with paroxysmal palpitations. There was no history suggestive of rheumatic activity, rash, joint pains, haemoptysis, chest pain, cough, embolic phenomenon, intravenous drug abuse, cyanosis or similar illness in family. Clinical examination revealed a loud S1, opening snap and soft mid-diastolic murmur at the apex suggestive of mitral stenosis. ECG showed normal sinus rhythm, right axis deviation, left atrial enlargement and right ventricular enlargemen...
Source: Heart Asia - October 23, 2016 Category: Cardiology Authors: Sahu, A. K., Kapoor, A. Tags: Images in cardiovascular medicine Source Type: research
Outcomes of a multidisciplinary coronary heart disease prevention programme in southern India
Conclusions
A multidisciplinary approach to preventing CHD is lacking in India. This study shows that a comprehensive lifestyle intervention programme has significant benefits and can be incorporated in the routine management of all patients and at-risk individuals in the region. (Source: Heart Asia)
Source: Heart Asia - October 11, 2016 Category: Cardiology Authors: Chockalingam, P., Sakthi Vinayagam, N., Ezhil Vani, N., Chockalingam, V. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
Development of macaronic Hindi-English 'Hinglish text message content for a coronary heart disease secondary prevention programme
Conclusions
Our process for customisation of a text message program considered cultural, linguistic and the medical context of potential participants. This is important in optimising intervention fidelity across populations enabling examination of the generalisability of text message programs across populations. We also demonstrated the customised program was acceptable to patients in India and that a centralised cross-country delivery model was feasible. This process could be used as a guide for other groups seeking to customise their programs.
Trial registration number
TEXTMEDS Australia (Parent study)—ACTRN 12613...
Source: Heart Asia - September 29, 2016 Category: Cardiology Authors: Thakkar, J., Karthikeyan, G., Purohit, G., Thakkar, S., Sharma, J., Verma, S., Parakh, N., Seth, S., Mishra, S., Yadav, R., Singh, S., Joshi, R., Thiagalingam, A., Chow, C. K., Redfern, J. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
