Slotlarsson8695

Background Constrictive pericarditis is a chronic inflammation of the pericardium leading to the thickening of the pericardium that restricts cardiac filling. Globally tuberculosis is the commonest aetiology of constrictive pericarditis. Though normally considered to be an irreversible pathology; which requires surgical pericardiectomy, in early stage of the disease antitubercular therapy (ATT) along with steroids and other anti-inflammatory therapy can reverse the pathology. But, complete reversal of constrictive physiology with ATT without any anti-inflammatory drugs is not documented. Case summary Here, we describe a case where a 54-year-old lady presented with progressive dyspnoea and pedal oedema for 2 years along with anorexia and weight loss for two months. Two-dimensional echocardiography and computed tomography scan was suggestive of constrictive pericarditis. In view of systemic features and high acute phase reactants, patient was started on oral ATT without any steroids. After 4 months, constriction physiology was completely reversed. Discussion Constriction physiology if treated timely can be largely reversed only with ATT without adjuvant anti-inflammatory therapy. Further studies are required to find out the specific indications of anti-inflammatory therapy in tubercular constrictive pericarditis. © The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.Background Surgery is the fundamental method for the treatment of primary cardiac tumours. However, due to the inaccessibility of anatomy and the proximity of important structures, it is very difficult to completely resect tumours of the left atrium or left ventricle without damaging the normal tissues. Cardiac autotransplantation for the resection of cardiac tumours is carried out by taking out the heart from the body, resecting cardiac tumours, and then transplanting the heart back into the body. Case summary This article presents a successful case of cardiac autotransplantation for the complete resection of primary cardiac tumour in a 2-month-old infant and shares the noteworthy experience. Discussion Tumours located in the left atrium and left ventricle are difficult to be exposed because of their deep posterior location and proximity to important anatomical structures such as mitral valve and chordae tendineae. How to resect the tumours completely without damaging the normal tissues is a great challenge. This case proves that cardiac autotransplantation is a good solution for tumours that are difficult to be resected completely by orthotopic cardiac transplantation. © The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.Background Fabry disease (FD) is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder resulting from a deficiency in alpha-galactosidase A. The major causes of death due to cardiac complications include life-threatening arrhythmias. In addition, life-threatening arrhythmias may be related to myocardial fibrosis assessed by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). Case summary A 43-year-old man with sinus bradycardia and left ventricular hypertrophy was referred to our cardiology department. Family history includes unexplained hypertrophy and sick sinus syndrome in mother. Additionally, his plasma alpha-galactosidase A activity was low. He was subsequently diagnosed with FD. Enzyme replacement therapy using 1.0 mg/kg agalsidase-β was initiated. During the fifth administration, he developed ventricular fibrillation (VF). Electrocardiography conducted immediately before VF revealed ST elevation in the inferior leads with reciprocated ST depression. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging showed no LGE in the myocardium. Coronary angiography showed no organic stenosis; moreover, coronary spasms were induced by an intracoronary acetylcholine injection. Ventricular fibrillation was not observed as the patient received calcium antagonists. Discussion This report suggests that vasospastic angina pectoris is associated with life-threatening arrhythmias in patient with FD without LGE. © The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.Background Severely reduced right heart function and high operative risk are major challenges in the treatment of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) as both can lead to low cardiac output heart failure (LCO-Hf). Alternative methods and criteria for patient selection are actively being sought. Case summary We report on a 66-year-old patient with severe right heart failure (rHF) with recurrent TR after prior surgical valve repair with a 32-mm-Edwards-MC3 annuloplasty ring (AR). Surgical revision was discarded due to extreme high surgical risk. A right ventricular assist device was discussed but declined by the patient. Percutaneous edge-to-edge repair was not applicable due to massive tethering of the anterior leaflet and complete lack of coadaptation. According to the Heart team decision, percutaneous tricuspid valve-in-ring implantation was performed using a 29-mm Sapien-3 prosthesis (SP3) under moderate balloon overinflation. Despite satisfying positioning, the prosthesis showed massive intravalvular regurgitation due to immobility of the septally oriented cusp, which was most likely caused by eccentric bulging of the prosthesis in the opening region of the AR. Implantation of a second prosthesis leads to a perfectly functional result. Importantly, no major haemodynamic complications ensued. Discussion Although being a potential risk of tricuspid valve repair LCO-hf could not be observed in the present case. Additionally, deformation of the implanted transcatheter aortic valve replacement prosthesis resulting from the regional lack of abutment in AR should be considered as a potential complication. Hence, further careful evaluation of the feasibility of percutaneous tricuspid valve treatment, also in patients with rHF, is needed. © The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.Background Clinically evident cardiac involvement has been documented in 5% of sarcoidosis patients, primarily manifesting as heart block, ventricular arrhythmias, and heart failure. Heart Rhythm Society consensus guidelines recommend advanced cardiac imaging with fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) scan for diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis, given endomyocardial biopsy's low sensitivity. Case summary We describe four patients with cardiac sarcoidosis diagnosed with FDG-PET scan performed using a standardized imaging protocol for cardiac sarcoidosis. Serial FDG-PET scans were performed to monitor disease progression and response to therapy. Patients 1 and 2 presented with heart block, Patient 3 with heart failure and ventricular tachycardia (VT), and Patient 4 with VT. Patient 1 showed an initial decrease in standard uptake value (SUV) on immunosuppression, followed by an increase in SUV, necessitating steroid therapy. selleck chemicals llc Patient 2's SUV decreased on immunosuppression. Patient 3 required 3.5 years of immunosuppression for the SUV to decrease to inactive disease levels, with SUV increasing and decreasing at different times during treatment, and subsequently developed VT.