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Query: UMLS:C0018799 (heart disease)
 34,133 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Cardiomyopathies are defined as 'heart muscle diseases of unknown cause' and classified into hypertrophic, dilated and restrictive types, respectively. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is notable for massive ventricular hypertrophy without obvious cause, impaired diastolic and systolic function, a tendency for sudden death and a familial propensity. Dilated cardiomyopathy by contrast, demonstrates severe systolic failure progressing to congestive heart failure, with usually no familial tendency. Restrictive cardiomyopathy and diastolic heart disease represent syndromes with restriction to ventricular filling due to restrictive forces in the endomyocardium (and in constrictive pericarditis in the pericardium). The commonest cause of restrictive cardiomyopathy is endomyocardial fibrosis now usually known as hypereosinophilic endomyocardial disease. Specific heart muscle diseases are those conditions in which myocardial disease is due to a known cause: they usually produce systolic failure though occasionally a restrictive syndrome is evident. Amyloid heart disease occupies a place intermediate between cardiomyopathies and specific heart muscle diseases. The major features of the above conditions are described and current and future advances noted. Examples are the identification of the gene probably responsible for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy located on chromosome 14, and the identification of virus RNA particles in the myocardium in both myocarditis and in dilated cardiomyopathy, which strengthens the growing evidence suggesting that some cases of dilated cardiomyopathy may be due to previous myocarditis.
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PMID:Cardiomyopathies and specific heart muscle diseases. Definitions, terminology, classifications and new and old approaches. 140 13

Amyloid heart disease characteristically produces a stiff heart syndrome whereby diastolic filling is impaired yet systolic function is well preserved. We report two patients with this pattern of amyloid heart disease, both of whom developed cardiogenic thromboemboli. The rarity of this complication is striking given the pathophysiologic bases of amyloid heart disease. Investigation of contributing causes revealed that the phenomena appeared to represent the cumulative effects of disorders producing stasis, endothelial disturbance, and probable abnormalities in blood coagulability, the classic Virchow's triad revisited. Understanding of the pathophysiologic basis of this event leads to specific suggestions for workup and management in this patient population.
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PMID:Amyloid heart disease manifested by systemic arterial thromboemboli. 162 76

Aim of this study is the analysis of clinical, morphologic and haemodynamic features of cardiac amyloidosis. Cardiac amyloidosis was demonstrated histologically in 7 of our patients: in 6 by endomyocardial biopsy during cardiac catheterization, in one at autopsy. The clinical picture was characterized in every patient by signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure. The electrocardiogram showed several non specific signs: low voltage of the QRS complexes, both in peripheral (4/7) and precordial leads (7/7 cases); marked leftward and upward deviation of the QRS axis (6/7 cases); first degree A-V block (5/7); abnormal Q waves (7/7). M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiography invariably demonstrated a typical pattern: a non dilated left ventricle with thickened and hyper-refractile walls, and usually a slight-moderate diffuse hypokinesia. Other common features were a thickening of right ventricular walls, interatrial septum, and atrioventricular and semilunar valves. Computerized analysis of the M-mode tracings disclosed a marked impairment of the indexes of both systolic and diastolic ventricular function in all patients. By correlating electrocardiographic and echocardiographic data, we found in every case a striking disproportion between the low QRS voltage and the high muscle cross-sectional area (an echocardiographic index of left ventricular mass): this pattern appears to be highly suggestive of infiltrative heart disease. Cardiac catheterization (performed in 6 cases) showed an increase of left ventricular (6/6) and right ventricular (5/6) end-diastolic pressure, with a dip plateau pattern in some cases (4/6 of the left, 2/6 in the right ventricle). The cardiac index was decreased in 3/6 cases. Left ventricular angiography confirmed the echocardiographic data of normal volumes and a slight-moderate decrease of the ejection fraction. We conclude that cardiac amyloidosis usually mimics a restrictive cardiomyopathy (severe congestive heart failure with increased ventricular filling pressures, in the absence of severe systolic ventricular dysfunction). This disease can be suspected clinically by the correlation of the clinical, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic data. The final diagnosis requires an endomyocardial biopsy.
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PMID:[Cardiac amyloidosis. Invasive and noninvasive diagnosis]. 350 97

Amyloidosis is a family of disorders of the immune system. Each member of the family is characterized clinically by a unique syndrome and chemically by a specific amyloid fibril protein. The diagnosis of amyloidosis requires histopathologic identification of amyloid deposits in the affected tissues. Since none of the commonly used histochemical stains is specific for amyloid and their sensitivity is variable, application of a battery of staining methods (two or more) is essential for the histologic diagnosis of amyloidosis. The heart may be affected in any form of systemic amyloidosis and in senile amyloidosis. Cardiac amyloidosis is an important cause of progressive heart failure and refractory arrhythmia of obscure origin, especially in elderly persons. The average survival time of amyloid heart disease after the onset of symptoms is less than 3 years. Clinically, amyloid heart disease may mimic constrictive pericarditis, coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, and idiopathic hypertrophic or congestive cardiomyopathy. A confirmatory biopsy is needed for diagnosis since cardiac amyloidosis has no pathognomonic symptoms and signs, nor diagnostic electrocardiographic, radiologic, cardioangiographic and echocardiographic findings.
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PMID:Pathology of amyloidosis and amyloid heart disease. 640 Apr 65

Cardiac amyloidosis, most often of AL type, is a non-exceptional disease as it represents 5 to 10% of non-ischemic cardiomyopathies. It realizes typically a restrictive cardiomyopathy. Nevertheless the wide diversity of possible presentation makes it a "big shammer" which must be evoked in front of every unexplained cardiopathy after the age of forty. If some associated manifestations can rapidly suggest the diagnosis, as a peripheric neuropathy especially a carpal tunnel syndrome or palpebral ecchymosis, cardiac involvement can also evolve in an apparently isolated way. The most suggestive paraclinic elements for the diagnosis are, in one hand, the increased myocardial echogenicity with a "granular sparkling" appearance seen throughout all walls of the left ventricle and, in the other hand, the association of a thickened left ventricle and a low voltage (electrocardiogram could also show pseudo-infarct Q waves). In front of such aspects, the proof of amyloidosis is brought by an extra-cardiac biopsy or by scintigraphy with labelled serum amyloid P component, so that the indications of endomyocardial biopsy are very limited today. The identification of the amyloid nature of a cardiopathy has an direct therapeutic implication: it contra-indicates the use of digitalis, calcium channel blockers and beta-blockers. The treatment of AL amyloidosis (chemotherapy with alkylant agents) remains very unsatisfactory especially in the cardiac involvement which is the most frequent cause of death (in AL amyloidosis). Last, cardiac amyloidosis is a bad indication for transplantation which results are burden by rapid progression of deposits especially in the gastro-intestinal tract and the nervous system.
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PMID:[Cardiac amyloidosis. General review]. 805 46

The common underlying heart diseases were ischemic heart disease (39%), valvular heart disease (27%), hypertensive heart disease (10%) in 104 patients (mean age 79 yrs) with congestive heart failure (CHF). Cardiomyopathy (5%) and congenital heart disease (2%) such as atrial septal defect were less common. In addition, many extracardiac diseases including anemia, hypothyroidism, renal failure and pulmonary disease contributed to the etiology of CHF in the elderly. Cardiac amyloidosis should be considered as an uncommon cause of refractory CHF. While the precipitating factor was not found in half of the 104 patients with CHF, the most common factors were respiratory infection, myocardial ischemia and arrhythmia. In addition, inappropriate drug usage including poor drug compliance, the use of beta-blockers and excessive intake of sodium and fluid precipitated or exacerbated heart failure. Renal failure was a most important complication and predisposed to refractory CHF. Aged patients with mild CHF (NYHA class II) showed an insufficient production of cyclic AMP and GMP in proportion to the increases of norepinephrine and atrial natriuretic peptide in comparison with health aged subjects after the submaximal treadmill exercise test. This finding may suggest that an inadequate compensation of neurohumoral factors is prone to cause CHF in the elderly. Appropriate management of acute CHF in the elderly begins with recognition of the underlying heart disease, complications and the severity of cardiac function. In addition to medical management including loop diuretics, vasodilator, beta-receptor agonist and phosphodiesterase inhibitor, cases associated with respiratory and renal failure require mechanical ventilation and continuous hemofiltration.
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PMID:[The etiology and management of congestive heart failure in the elderly]. 820 67

Heart disease remains the most frequent cause of death in the general population and is intimately related to aging. Either extreme premature aging or marked longevity may be monogenic, but in most humans aging is a complex polygenic phenomenon. Hypercholesterolemia and hypertension are important factors. Cardiac amyloidosis and vascular elastin degradation may be separate factors. Humans with the greatest longevity are relatively refractory to atherosclerosis. Frequencies of heart deaths among relatives of a heart-death proband without dyslipoproteinemia conform to expectations of a polygenic trait. Careful, attentive medical management of major environmental factors and of heart senescence can result in more successful aging.
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PMID:Genetics, aging, and the heart. 977 Sep 46

In a post-mortem analysis of 1,500 patients, aged 70 years or more, heart disease and malignancy were the two major causes of death. Coronary disease was exceedingly prevalent, almost one in five being subject to this form of heart disease, and 13% dying from its effects. The levelling of the sex ratio in coronary disease in the aged was a striking feature. The clinical manifestations of coronary thrombosis were often atypical. The incidence of demonstrable coronary thrombosis was as high as in younger age groups. The pathological findings and the incidence of local complications in coronary disease were similar to those in other age groups. Other causes of heart failure were relatively infrequent. Certain features of these conditions in old age are discussed. Cardiac amyloidosis, in the form associated with senility, occurred in a very few cases but did not contribute to heart failure.
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PMID:HEART DISEASE IN OLD AGE. 1407 70

Cardiac amyloidosis of transthyretin type in the elderly may be senile or familial. The senile form is not typically associated with specific genetic changes. However, the familial form is and also occurs more frequently in African Americans than in the general population. One transthyretin mutation, V122I, is common in the African-American population, has a carrier frequency of 4%, and has marked cardiac specificity. Symptoms generally develop in the eighth and ninth decades. Here, we report the case of a 60-year-old African-American man who had a 2-year history of dyspnea and diffuse left ventricular wall thickening. Endomyocardial biopsy showed interstitial deposits of amorphous material confirmed as amyloid by Congo red staining and electron microscopy. Mass spectrometry showed a shift in protein mass of 14 d, indicative of transthyretin and confirming the production of abnormal protein. Bidirectional whole gene sequencing showed a homozygous mutation leading to a valine 122 isoleucine substitution (V122I). The 14-d mass shift observed using mass spectrometry is consistent with the V122I mutation. Homozygosity for the V122I mutation may be associated with earlier onset of cardiac disease. Transthyretin analysis should be considered for older African Americans with amyloid heart disease of transthyretin type.
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PMID:Homozygous transthyretin mutation in an African American Male. 1725 46

Amyloid cardiomyopathy is characterized by non-dilated thick-walled left ventricular, thickening of interventricular septum and right ventricular free wall, biatrial enlargement associated with granular 'sparkling' appearance of the myocardium. Typically, decreased left ventricular compliance results in abnormal diastolic functions but left ventricular systolic functions are preserved until late in the course of the illness when left ventricle starts to dilate culminating into dilated cardiomyopathy. We present a 77-year-old patient who had typical echocardiographic features of amyloid heart disease, a giant Eustachian valve resembling cor triatriatum dexter and left ventricular systolic dysfunction without associated left ventricular dilatation.
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PMID:Giant Eustachian valve and left ventricular systolic dysfunction in a patient with non-dilated amyloid cardiomyopathy. 1760 Jul 67


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