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Query: UMLS:C0004153 (atherosclerosis)
 77,401 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The histopathology, ultrastructure, and clinicopathologic correlations in six patients with cardiac failure and iron encrustation of lung elastic tissue were examined at autopsy. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive x-ray analysis were applied to two cases. Of the group, five patients had cardiac failure due to systemic hypertension (4 patients), valvular disease (4 patients), or coronary atherosclerosis (4 patients). Biventricular failure in one patient was associated with sleep apnea. Both iron and calcium, identified by histochemical stains, impregnated degenerated alveolar and vascular elastic fibers and were associated with a foreign body reaction and focal interstitial fibrosis. Energy dispersive x-ray analysis and TEM demonstrated iron and calcium on the microfibrillar portion of elastin. Morphometry indicated vascular changes of pulmonary venous hypertension. The authors concluded that mineral deposition probably represents nonspecific precipitation of metallic ions on altered elastic fibers in patients with cardiac failure. "Mineralizing elastosis" potentially contributes to lung restriction and, occasionally, can be a source of diagnostic confusion.
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PMID:Mineralizing pulmonary elastosis in chronic cardiac failure. "Endogenous pneumoconiosis" revisited. 827 51

Importance. Constrictive pericarditis is a rare clinical entity that frequently necessitates surgical intervention. Here we present a case of biventricular failure due to stress cardiomyopathy after pericardiectomy. This is an extremely rare complication that is not well described and does not have a definitive mechanism. Observations. A 40-year-old Ecuadorian woman who was found to have constrictive pericarditis due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection was referred to our institution. The presence of constrictive pericarditis was confirmed by echocardiography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and cardiac catheterization. Following pericardiectomy, the patient developed biventricular failure consistent with stress cardiomyopathy (Takotsubo cardiomyopathy), based on the echocardiographic assessment of the ventricles, which demonstrated an akinetic apex and hyperactive base in both ventricles, the absence of significant epicardial coronary atherosclerosis, and prompt normalization of the cardiac function after intensive medical therapy. Conclusions and Relevance. Biventricular failure in the form of stress cardiomyopathy after pericardiectomy in the manner presented here has not been previously described in the literature. While postulations as to the cause of single ventricle dysfunction have been described, the exact mechanism is unclear and current theories do not explain the clinical features in this case of stress cardiomyopathy after pericardiectomy.
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PMID:Biventricular Failure due to Stress Cardiomyopathy after Pericardiectomy for Constrictive Pericarditis. 2436 70