Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome is a rare disorder associated with neurologic symptoms secondary to diffuse cerebral vasospasm. Cardiac involvement in this disease is exceedingly rare. A 50-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for evaluation of chest pain. During a 3-year period, she had been admitted multiple times because of chest pain and elevated serum cardiac enzymes. Transthoracic echocardiograms showed transient wall-motion abnormalities; however, coronary angiograms revealed no coronary artery disease. At the current admission, she had a thunderclap headache, and cerebral angiograms revealed diffuse cerebral vasoconstriction that improved after verapamil infusion, confirming the diagnosis of reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome. The patient was treated successfully with oral diltiazem and had no recurrence of symptoms. We describe what we think is the first reported case of coronary artery spasm in association with reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome. Future research should be focused on identifying treatment options and defining the mechanisms by which the cerebral and coronary vasculature are affected.
In this pilot study, we collected data on study design, demographics of first and senior authors of the first 584 heart failure abstracts that were accepted to the AHA Scientific Sessions 2010 meeting. We determined the proportion of these abstracts published by February 2017, gender of first and senior authors, and whether studies that were published had different conclusions, results or number of study participants compared to the original abstracts. Results: Of the 584 abstracts reviewed, 266 (45.54%) were published as articles in peer reviewed journals within 7 years of presentation at the conference. In total, 10.68% of senior authors and 27.11% of first authors were female. However, 53.44% of female senior authors published manuscripts of their abstracts compared to 45.15% of male senior authors (P = .23). Similarly, 44.8% of female first authors converted abstracts to manuscripts in comparison to 45.83% of male first authors (P = .80). Among the 266 abstracts that were eventually published as full manuscripts, 60(22.55%) articles reported a different sample size, 178 (66.91%) articles reported different results, and 8(3%) articles published with different conclusions, when compared to their original abstracts. Conclusions: Less than 50% of abstracts presented at the AHA Scientific Sessions 2010 were published as full manuscripts, in over six years since the conference. There was no significant difference in the proportion of first and senior authors of both genders who published abstracts into articles, although in total, far more authors were males. With many studies reporting different sample sizes, results and conclusions compared to the original abstracts, data presented at the abstract stage are likely to be incomplete. It may be premature to use data from abstracts in systematic reviews or secondary analyses. Further analysis is needed to determine the more prevalent barriers so that supportive interventions can be performed to increase successful completion and dissemination of research.
Background: Abnormal electrocardiographic findings in cardiac amyloidosis were suggested that they could predict mortality. Also longitudinal strain was a strong prognostic factor in comparison with any other echocardiographic parameter. The aim of the present study was to confirm a prognostic value of abnormal electrocardiographic findings and longitudinal strain. Methods: A total 32 patients with cardiac amyloidosis and mean left ventricular wall thickness ≤14 mm were enrolled retrospectively. A longitudinal strain was measured by 2-D speckle tracking technique in basal and global segment. A standard 12-lead electrocardiography was reviewed to find abnormal findings. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of all-cause mortality (n = 20), or the absence of all-cause mortality (n = 12). All electrocardiographic abnormalities and longitudinal strain were analyzed and the relationship between abnormal electrocardiographic findings and longitudinal strain also confirmed. We invented the ECG Scoring System additionally to predict mortality. Results: The prevalence of abnormal electrocardiographic findings was similar to results of previous studies, except for interventricular conduction delay. All abnormal electrographic findings were not associated with adverse outcomes directly. Patients with all-cause mortality reported higher N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels (16286 pg/ml vs 6174 pg/ml, P < .002), lower average basal longitudinal strain (5.8 vs 9.1, P < .008) and lower global longitudinal strain (8.6 vs 11.2, P < .009). Multivariate Cox analysis showed that the average basal longitudinal strain and NT pro-BNP levels were the only independent predictor of all-cause mortality. Among abnormal electrocardiographic findings, low voltage in limb leads, pseudo-infarction, right and/or extreme axis deviation of QRS axis, and Total ECG Score (The sum of ECG score) were related with poor longitudinal strain values. Conclusion: The average basal longitudinal strain was an independent prognostic factor in cardiac amyloidosis. Low voltage in limb lead, pseudo-infarction, and Total ECG Score has the possibility of predicting poor outcomes in cardiac amyloidosis but, need larger study to prove it.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.