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Heart failure predisposes to an increased risk of silent cerebral infarction, and data related to left ventricular ejection fraction are still limited. Our objective was to describe the clinical and echocardiographic characteristics and factors associated with silent cerebral infarction in patients with heart failure, according to the left ventricular ejection fraction groups. A prospective cohort was performed at a referral hospital in Cardiology between December 2015 and July 2017. The left ventricular ejection fraction groups were: reduced (≤ 40%), mid-range (41-49%) and preserved (≥ 50%). All patients underwent cranial tomography, transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography. Seventy-five patients were studied. Silent cerebral infarction was observed in 14.7% of the study population (45.5% lacunar and 54.5% territorial) and was more frequent in patients in the reduced left ventricular ejection fraction group (29%) compared with the mid-range one (15.4%, p = 0.005). There were no cases of silent cerebral infarction in the group of preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. In the univariate analysis, an association was identified between silent cerebral infarction and reduced (OR = 8.59; 95%CI: 1.71 - 43.27; p = 0.009) and preserved (OR = 0.05; 95%CI: 0.003-0.817, p = 0.003) left ventricular ejection fraction and diabetes mellitus (OR = 4.28, 95%CI: 1.14-16.15, p = 0.031). In patients with heart failure and without a clinical diagnosis of stroke, reduced and mid-range left ventricular ejection fractions contributed to the occurrence of territorial and lacunar silent cerebral infarction, respectively. The lower the left ventricular ejection fraction, the higher the prevalence of silent cerebral infarction.

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Abstract Heart failure predisposes to an increased risk of silent cerebral infarction, and data related to left ventricular ejection fraction are still limited. Our objective was to describe the clinical and echocardiographic characteristics and factors associated with silent cerebral infarction in patients with heart failure, according to the left ventricular ejection fraction groups. A prospective cohort was performed at a referral hospital in Cardiology between December 2015 and July 2017. The left ventricular ejection fraction groups were: reduced (≤ 40%), mid-range (41-49%) and preserved (≥ 50%). All patients underwent cranial tomography, transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography. Seventy-five patients were studied. Silent cerebral infarction was observed in 14.7% of the study population (45.5% lacunar and 54.5% territorial) and was more frequent in patients in the reduced left ventricular ejection fraction group (29%) compared with the mid-range one (15.4%, p = 0.005). There were no cases of silent cerebral infarction in the group of preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. In the univariate analysis, an association was identified between silent cerebral infarction and reduced (OR = 8.59; 95%CI: 1.71 - 43.27; p = 0.009) and preserved (OR = 0.05; 95%CI: 0.003-0.817, p = 0.003) left ventricular ejection fraction and diabetes mellitus (OR = 4.28, 95%CI: 1.14-16.15, p = 0.031). In patients with heart failure and without a clinical diagnosis of stroke, reduced and mid-range left ventricular ejection fractions contributed to the occurrence of territorial and lacunar silent cerebral infarction, respectively. The lower the left ventricular ejection fraction, the higher the prevalence of silent cerebral infarction.

Resumo A insuficiência cardíaca predispõe a um risco aumentado de infarto cerebral silencioso, e dados relacionados com a fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo ainda são limitados. Nosso objetivo foi descrever as características clínicas e ecocardiográficas, e os fatores associados com infarto cerebral silencioso, em pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca, de acordo com os grupos de fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo. Realizou-se uma coorte prospectiva, em um hospital referência em Cardiologia, entre dezembro de 2015 e julho de 2017. Os grupos da fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo foram: reduzida (≤ 40%), intermediária (41-49%) e preservada (≥ 50%). Todos os pacientes realizaram tomografia de crânio, ecocardiograma transtorácico e transesofágico. Foram estudados 75 pacientes. Infarto cerebral silencioso foi observado em 14,7% da população do estudo (45,5% lacunar e 54,5% territorial), tendo sido mais frequente nos pacientes do grupo de fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo reduzida (29%) em comparação com a intermediária (15,4%; p = 0,005). Não ocorreram casos de infarto cerebral silencioso no grupo de fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo preservada. Na análise univariada, identificou-se associação de infarto cerebral silencioso com fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo reduzida (OR = 8,59; IC95% 1,71- 43,27; p = 0,009), preservada (OR = 0,05; IC95% 0,003-0,817; p = 0,003) e diabetes melito (OR = 4,28; IC95% 1,14-16,15; p = 0,031). Em pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca e sem diagnóstico clínico de acidente vascular cerebral, as frações de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo reduzida e intermediária contribuíram para ocorrência de infarto cerebral silencioso territoriais e lacunares, respectivamente. Quanto menor foi a fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo, maior a prevalência de infarto cerebral silencioso.

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OBJECTIVE: To identify the presence of ventricular diastolic dysfunction by tissue Doppler in fetuses of diabetic mothers, with or without septal hypertrophy, in comparison to fetuses of nondiabetic mothers. METHODS: A contemporary transverse study in fetuses with a gestational age between 25 weeks to term, studying diastolic function by assessment using tissue Doppler and pulsed wave Doppler of the atrioventricular diastolic flow. The mothers of the fetuses all had previous or gestational diabetes, and were referred to the Fetal Cardiology Unit of the Institute of Cardiology in Porto Alegre, Brazil. We analysed variance with the Student-Neumann-Keuls post hoc test. An alfa of 0.05 was considered significant for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The mean myocardial velocities of the E'and A' waves at the mural mitral annulus, in fetuses of diabetic mothers with myocardial hypertrophy, were, respectively, 7.00 plus or minus 1.6 centimetres per second, and 10.24 plus or minus 3.3 centimetres per second. In the fetuses of diabetic mothers group without myocardial hypertrophy, the comparable values were 7.19 plus or minus 2.4 centimetres per second and 10.77 plus or minus 3.77 centimetres per second, respectively. In the control group, they were 4.81 plus or minus 0.85 centimetres per second and 8.01 plus or minus 2.2 centimetres per second. The difference between the velocities in fetuses of diabetic mothers and in fetal normal mothers was statistically significant (p less than 0.05). Statistically significant differences were also observed in E' and A' diastolic waves at the aortic mitral annulus, as well as for the tricuspid annulus when tissue Doppler assessment was carried out in the same sample. The mean ratio between the E and E' of mitral and tricuspid waves in the control fetuses of normal mothers was significantly higher than in fetuses of diabetic mothers. CONCLUSION: Pulsed tissue Doppler, when used in fetuses of diabetic mothers and compared with fetuses of nondiabetic mothers, shows evidence of impaired diastolic function, independently of the presence of myocardial hypertrophy.

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OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the correlation and concordance between the measurements of echocardiographic analysis of cardiac dimensions obtained through the Echo off-line applicative (software for obtaining digitized image measurements in a dedicated workstation) available to public domain, and those obtained through the conventional method. METHOD: Transversal contemporary study, of 56 randomized patients whose images were obtained during examinations. The measurements of the M mode and 2D, were done in the ventricles, left atrium, and aorta by the Echo off-line program. These measurements were compared to those obtained by another professional, through Pearson's correlation test (r), alpha = 0.05 and by concordance analysis (Bland and Altman). RESULT: The measurements carried out by the Echo off-line system showed r that varied from 0.85 to 0.98. The analysis of concordance showed that for most measurements, the mean difference between the methods was approximately zero. The variation of absolute values did not show, in average, a clinical significance. The Echo off-line applicative allows a reduction of approximately 30% in the time spent to obtain the measurements. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the accuracy of the Echo off-line program to measure cardiac dimensions in a dedicated workstation, showing that it can be routinely used in echocardiography labs.

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OBJETIVO: Avaliar a correlação e concordância entre medidas ecocardiográficas das dimensões cardíacas, obtidas através do aplicativo Echo off-line (programa para obtenção de medidas de imagens digitalizadas em estação de trabalho dedicada), com as realizadas convencionalmente. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal, contemporâneo, sendo randomizados 56 pacientes. Através do programa Echo off-line foram mensuradas as medidas ao modo M e 2D ao nível dos ventrículos, do átrio esquerdo e da aorta. Estas medidas foram comparadas às realizadas por outro profissional, através do teste de correlação de Pearson (r), com alfa crítico de 0,05 e pela análise de concordância (Bland e Altman). RESULTADOS: As mensurações realizadas no sistema Echo off-line demonstraram r de 0,85 a 0,98. A análise de concordância mostrou que, para a maioria das medidas, a diferença média entre os métodos foi aproximadamente zero. A variação de valores absolutos não apresentou, em média, significância clínica. O aplicativo Echo off-line permite uma redução de, aproximadamente, 30 por cento no tempo para realização das medidas. CONCLUSÃO: Este trabalho demonstrou a acurácia do programa Echo off-line para mensurar as dimensões cardíacas em estação de trabalho dedicada, podendo ser utilizado rotineiramente nos laboratórios de ecocardiografia.

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BACKGROUND: Several studies have analyzed the correlation between digital and standard videotape echocardiographic images. The advantages of digital echocardiography are a faster exam, lower costs and a greater number of exams performed. Our study's aim was to evaluate the correlation and agreement between cardiac dimensions measured by M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiography, using the Echo Off Line free software, and by standard echocardiography. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, randomized study, in 56 patients, whose images were acquired during echocardiographic examination. Left ventricular systolic and diastolic diameters, septal and posterior wall thicknesses, and left atrial and aortic diameters were measured using the Echo Off Line program. These measures were compared to those acquired using the standard method by a different sonographer, through correlation and agreement analysis as described by Bland and Altman. Values of p<0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: The correlation index between the methods varied from 0.85 to 0.98 (Pearson's correlation coefficient) for all the variables studied. The analysis showed that there was good agreement between the methods for most of the measures, the mean difference being close to zero. The variability in absolute values, for most measures, did not reach clinical significance. The method's reproducibility (intra-observer) was adequate. This measurement tool demonstrated correlation indices similar to those in the literature consulted, as well as adequate reproducibility indices for intra-observer measures. Its low cost, compared to that of imported workstations on the market, means it can be widely used without significant costs (free software). CONCLUSION: There is a direct correlation and good agreement between M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiographic measures of cardiac dimensions obtained by the Echo Off Line program and by the standard videotape-based method. The Echo Off Line program can be used routinely in echocardiography laboratories.

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