BackgroundIt is suggested that interleukin (IL)-13 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta play a role in the pulmonary vascular changes found in animal models of schistosomiasis. The aim of this study was to assess and compare the serum levels of total TGF-beta and IL-13 of patients with schistosomiasis with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and patients with schistosomiasis without PAH.Methods34 patients from the schistosomiasis outpatient clinic of the Hospital das Clinicas, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, without PAH assessed by echocardiography and 34 patients from the Reference Centre of Pulmonary Hypertension of Pronto Socorro Cardiológico de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil with PAH, confirmed by right heart catheterization, were enrolled on the study. Both groups presented with schistosomal periportal fibrosis after abdominal ultrasound. Serum levels of TGF-beta1 and IL-13 were determined by ELISA. Student t test to independent samples, Mann-Whitney test to nonparametric variables, Pearson correlation test for correlation analyses and Fisher Chi-squared test to compare categorical analyses were used.ResultsThe median value of TGF-beta1 was significantly higher in patients with PAH (22496.9 pg/ml, interquartile range [IR] 15936.7 – 32087.8) than in patients without PAH (13629.9 pg/ml, IR: 10192.2- 22193.8) (p = 0.006). There was no difference in the median value of IL-13 in the group with Sch-PAH compared to patients without Sch-PAH (p > 0.05).ConclusionOur results suggest that TGF-beta possibly plays a role in the pathogenesis of schistosomiasis-associated PAH.

BackgroundSchistosomiasis-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (SPAH) is a major concern worldwide. However, the role of gender specific contributing factors in SPAH is unknown. ObjectiveWe investigated how systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) values and the presence of severe SPAP relate to gender, menopausal status, and pregnancy history in SPAH patients. MethodsSeventy-nine patients diagnosed with SPAH from 2000 to 2009 were assessed and 66 were enrolled in the study. Information about age, menopausal status, pregnancy, echocardiography-derived SPAP, and invasive mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) was collected from medical records. The relation between values of SPAP and mPAP and their agreement for severe disease were assessed. Regression models assessed the association of gender, menopausal status, and pregnancy history with SPAP values and the presence of severe SPAP. ResultsModerate correlation and good agreement for severe disease were found between mPAP and SPAP. Mean SPAP values were similar for men and women. A trend toward higher values of SPAP was found for non-menopausal women compared to men. Higher SPAP values were found for menopausal compared to non-menopausal women; the values were non-significant after adjustment for age. Pregnancy history had no association with SPAP. Menopause and positive pregnancy had no association with severe SPAP. ConclusionIn SPAH patients, neither gender, nor menopausal status, nor pregnancy history showed independent correlation with SPAP values assessed by echocardiography.

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Introduction Chicungunya fever, epidemic caused by Alphavirus (CHIKV) transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes, is characterized by highly debilitating joint pain and can cause atypical cardiac complications in 10% of patients. CHIKV produces direct damage to myofibrils (inflammation and infiltration) and secondary damage due to hypersensitivity and necrosis. Objective To evaluate, by echocardiography, the chronic cardiac alterations of the CHIKV infection. Methods Thirty-two patients were studied (mean age was 56 ± 14 years, 17 females) with CHIKV-confirmed infection and signs of cardiac involvement between 5 and 25 months of evolution. The dimensions and function of the ventricles were measured by two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography. The global longitudinal strain (GLS) of the left ventricle (LV) and left atrial longitudinal strain (LALS) were evaluated. Patients were divided into Group A, with duration of CHIKV infection shorter than 12 months (12 patients) and Group B, with disease duration equal to or greater than 12 months (20 patients). Comparative statistical data were considered significant when p <0.05. Results The diameters and volumes of LV, Left atrium (LA), right ventricular (RV) diameter and RV wall thickness were increased in Group B. LV ejection fraction (EF) was lower in Group B patients. The GLS was decreased in both Groups and the regression equation with EF were significant (r = 0.74, r ² = 0.55, p <0.00001). LALS was decreased in Group B. Diastolic dysfunction was predominantly grade 1 in Group A and restrictive in Group B. Segmental alteration (akinesia, dyskinesia) occurred in 7 patients. No patient had a history of precordial pain or coronary disease, nor clear signs of myocardial infarction on the ECG. Seven patients were hypertensive and four were diabetic. Eccentric LV hypertrophy and concentric remodeling of the walls were observed in 14 patients. Two patients had atrial fibrillation. Nine patients presented other types of arrhythmia, mainly ventricular extrasystoles. Conclusion Decreased EF of LV and SLG was observed in most patients with chronic CHIKV infection. In the first 12 months of evolution, the dimensions of the LV were normal, but after one year, most of the patients had dilatation of the cavity. LV concentric remodeling was more frequent in the first year and eccentric hypertrophy after one year of evolution. Segmental changes were observed in almost a quarter of the cases, as well as a high incidence of arrhythmias. All these findings suggest the progressive nature of the disease. Echocardiography plays an important role in the detection of cardiovascular alterations caused by Chicungunya fever and should be used after confirmation of infection, to initiate appropriate treatment already in the acute phase, which will probably minimize the deleterious effects of disease.

Fundamento: A avaliação da disfunção diastólica do ventrículo esquerdo (VE) apresenta significativo número de disfunções indeterminadas, principalmente quando a fração de ejeção (FE) está preservada. O strain longitudinal global (SLG), e o strain rate sistólico (SRs) e diastólico precoce (SRd), pode ser útil para reclassificar os pacientes assim diagnosticados. Objetivo: Avaliar, com SLG, SRs e SRd, pacientes com disfunção diastólica, comparar com indivíduos saudáveis e verificar o valor aditivo do método. Métodos: Estudados 149 pacientes (idade 62,2 ± 10,6 anos) com disfunção diastólica (49,7% grau 1; 15,4% grau 2; 18,1% grau 3 e 16,8% indeterminada) e 189 indivíduos sadios (idade 44,5 ± 13,3 anos). Aferidas dimensões e função do VE e átrio esquerdo (AE), velocidades Doppler mitral e tecidual e suas relações, SLG, SRs e SRd do VE. Avaliação dos dados pelos testes de Kolmogorov-Smirnoff, Kruskal-Wallis, análise de regressão múltipla e área sob a curva ROC. Dados significativos quando p < 0,05. Resultados: Na disfunção diastólica as dimensões e espessura do VE estavam aumentadas e verificou-se menor FE. O Doppler mitral e tecidual estava alterado e o volume do AE e a velocidade de refluxo tricúspide estavam aumentados. O SLG e SRs estavam diminuídos na disfunção grau 2 e 3 e o SRd diminuído já na disfunção grau 1, correlacionando-se melhor com a disfunção diastólica. O valor de corte da curva ROC para o SRd foi 1,0 s-1. Conclusão: A disfunção diastólica complementada com strain rate miocárdico parece acrescentar sensibilidade e especificidade nos casos em que a função diastólica é indeterminada, podendo ser usado para reclassificar estes pacientes. (Arq Bras Cardiol: Imagem cardiovasc. 2017;30(2):46-53) Palavras-chave: Disfunção Ventricular Esquerda; Complacência (Medida de Distensibilidade)/fisiologia; Ecocardiografia Doppler; Doença da Artéria Coronariana; Ecocardiografia sob Estresse.