Cardiovascular care

HEART UK statement on the management of homozygous familialhypercholesterolaemia in the United Kingdom (2016)

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Type of publication:
Journal article

Author(s):
France M., Rees A., Datta D., Thompson G., *Capps N., Ferns G., Ramaswami U., Seed M., Neely D., Cramb R., Shoulders C., Barbir M., Pottle A., Eatough R., Martin S., Bayly G., Simpson B., Halcox J., Edwards R., Main L., Payne J., Soran H.

Citation:
Atherosclerosis, December 2016, vol./is. 255/(128-139)

Abstract:
This consensus statement addresses the current three main modalities of treatment of homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (HoFH): pharmacotherapy, lipoprotein (Lp) apheresis and liver transplantation. HoFH may cause very premature atheromatous arterial disease and death, despite treatment with Lp apheresis combined with statin, ezetimibe and bile acid sequestrants. Two new classes of drug, effective in lowering cholesterol in HoFH, are now licensed in the United Kingdom. Lomitapide is restricted to use in HoFH but, may cause fatty liver and is very expensive. PCSK9 inhibitors are quite effective in receptor defective HoFH, are safe and are less expensive. Lower treatment targets for lipid lowering in HoFH, in line with those for the general FH population, have been proposed to improve cardiovascular outcomes. HEART UK presents a strategy combining Lp apheresis with pharmacological treatment to achieve these targets in the United Kingdom (UK). Improved provision of Lp apheresis by use of existing infrastructure for extracorporeal treatments such as renal dialysis is promoted. The clinical management of adults and children with HoFH including advice on pregnancy and contraception are addressed. A premise of the HEART UK strategy is that the risk of early use of drug treatments beyond their licensed age restriction may be balanced against risks of liver transplantation or ineffective treatment in severely affected patients. This may be of interest beyond the UK.

Comparison of the size of persistent foramen ovale and atrial septal defects in divers with shunt-related decompression illness and in the general population (2015)

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Type of publication:
Journal article

Author(s):
Wilmshurst P.T., Morrison W.L., Walsh K.P., Pearson M.J., Nightingale S.

Citation:
Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine, June 2015, vol./is. 45/2(89-93)

Abstract:
Introduction: Decompression illness (DCI) is associated with a right-to-left shunt, such as persistent foramen ovale (PFO), atrial septal defect (ASD) and pulmonary arteriovenous malformations. About one-quarter of the population have a PFO, but considerably less than one-quarter of divers suffer DCI. Our aim was to determine whether shunt-related DCI occurs mainly or entirely in divers with the largest diameter atrial defects. Methods: Case control comparison of diameters of atrial defects (PFO and ASD) in 200 consecutive divers who had transcatheter closure of an atrial defect following shunt-related DCI and in an historic group of 263 individuals in whom PFO diameter was measured at post-mortem examination. Results: In the divers who had experienced DCI, the median atrial defect diameter was 10 mm and the mean (standard deviation) was 9.9 (3.6) mm. Among those in the general population who had a PFO, the median diameter was 5 mm and mean was 4.9 (2.6) mm. The difference between the two groups was highly significant (P < 0.0001). Of divers with shuntrelated DCI, 101 (50.5%) had an atrial defect 10 mm diameter or larger, but only 1.3% of the general population studied had a PFO that was 10 mm diameter of larger. Conclusions: The risk of a diver suffering DCI is related to the size of the atrial defect rather than just the presence of a defect.

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Cardiovascular risk assessment in psychiatric inpatient setting (2016)

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Type of publication:
Conference abstract

Author(s):
*Dahmer E., *Lokunarangoda N.C., Romain K., Kumar M.

Citation:
European Psychiatry, March 2016, vol./is. 33/(S281)

Abstract:
Objectives To assess the general cardiac health of inpatients in acute psychiatric units and to evaluate the practice of ECG use in this setting. Aims Overall cardiac risk is assessed using QRISK2. Clinically significant ECG abnormality detection by psychiatric teams are compared with same by cardiologist. Methods Ten percent of patients (n = 113) admitted to five acute psychiatric wards during a period of 13 months across three hospital sites, covering a population of 1.1 million, were randomly selected. Electronic health care records were used to collect all data, in the form of typed entries and scanned notes. An experienced cardiologist, blind to the psychiatrist assessments, performed ECG analysis. The QRISK2 online calculator was used to calculate 10-year cardiovascular risk as recommended by NIHR, UK. Results A score of 10% or more indicates a need for further intervention to lower risk.13.5% of patients had a QRISK2 score of 10-20%, 5.2% had a score of 20-30%, and 1 patient had a QRISK2 score > 30%. In total, 19.7% had a QRISK2 of 10% or greater. A total of 2.9% had prolonged QTC interval (> 440 ms), with 2.9% having a borderline QTC (421-440). A total of 34.3% of ECGs were identified by the ward doctors as abnormal, with action being taken on 41.6% of these abnormal ECGs. Cardiologist analysis identified 57.1% of ECGs with abnormalities of potential clinical significance. Conclusions One in five patients admitted to psychiatry wards have poor cardiac health requiring interventions. Though QTC interval prolongation is rare, half of patients may have abnormal ECGs that require further analysis.

Chest pain with raised troponin, ECG changes but normal coronary arteries (2014)

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Type of publication:
Journal article

Author(s):
*Amjad A,  *Ali A, *Bashir A,  *Ali M,  *Azam MN

Citation:
BMJ Case Reports, 2014, vol./is. 2014/, 1757-790X (2014)

Abstract:
A 65-year-old woman presented to A&E department, with acute onset central chest pain and dyspnoea. ECG showed dynamic T wave changes while 12 h troponin was elevated. A diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome was made and she underwent an inpatient coronary angiogram. Although her coronary arteries were normal, symptoms persisted and D-dimers were found to be elevated. This led to a CT pulmonary angiogram, which ruled out pulmonary embolism, but uncovered a large ascending aortic aneurysm with a contained leak. She was immediately transferred to regional cardiothoracic unit for urgent surgical intervention. This case report illustrates the importance of a good clinical history, physical examination and timely investigations. It also emphasises that not all chest pain events with elevated troponin level are due to acute coronary syndrome and that alternative diagnoses should still be considered.

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Link to full-text: http://casereports.bmj.com/content/2014/bcr-2013-201975.abstract

 

Asymptomatic coronary artery spasm with acute pathological ST elevation on routine ECG: is it common? (2014)

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Type of publication:
Journal article

Author(s):
Mohammed I, *Zaatari MS, Tyrogalas N, Khalid MI

Citation:
BMJ Case Reports, 2014, vol./is. 2014/, 1757-790X (2014)

Abstract:
Asymptomatic spontaneous coronary artery spasm is rare and there are no case reports in literature presenting with acute ST elevation on routine ECG. We present the case of a 68-year-old Caucasian man who presented to a primary care physician for a routine ECG as part of hypertension follow-up. ECG revealed ST elevation in inferior leads II, III and aVF with reciprocal ST depression in leads I, aVL and also ST depression in anterior leads V1, V2 and V3 suggesting ongoing inferoposterior ST elevation myocardial infarction. The patient was completely well, stable and asymptomatic and he was rushed immediately to the coronary care unit via emergency ambulance. The patient was subjected to a battery of urgent investigations which were all normal. Also an urgent coronary angiogram was undertaken which showed completely normal coronary anatomy. 2014 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.

Link to full-text: http://casereports.bmj.com/content/2014/bcr-2013-202586.abstract