Introduction Patent forame ovale (PFO) is the most common type of interatrial shunt, with a prevalence between 25% and 27% of the adult population. It has a flap-like functioning and is generally asymptomatic. In some cases, it can be associated with clinical complications, such as brain strokes, paradoxical embolism, platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea. The diagnosis is mainly found in young patients who present brain strokes, with no other apparent risk factor. The evaluation of PFO is commonly performed […]

Introduction Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) belongs to the group of lysosomal storage diseases associated with the partial or total deficiency of 11 different lysosomal hydrolases responsible for glycosaminoglycan (GAG) degradation. GAG accumulation may affect the valves, myocardium, and coronary vessels. The forms that accumulate dermatan sulfate (MPS I, II, VI, and VII) are associated with valvular thickening (L > R). MPS is one of the most common causes of mitral annulus thickening in children. Cardiac involvement also includes hypertrophy, tendinous cord shortening, […]

Circular shunt is a condition in which blood from a cardiac chamber is diverted through the heart to return to the original chamber without reaching the pulmonary capillary bed. A 27-year-old pregnant woman, G1, P0, A0, 25 gestational weeks, was referred for fetal echocardiography due to an increased cardiac area on morphological obstetric ultrasound in the second trimester. She had no comorbidities, and early pregnancy ultrasound findings were normal. A 25-week fetal echocardiogram showed cardiomegaly, attachment of the tricuspid valve […]

Abstract Background: Coronary flow with a diastolic predominance increases two to five times in hyperemia, mediated by vasodilation (coronary flow reserve, CFR) and, in hypertrophy, relative ischemia may occur. In secondary hypertrophy (LVH), the flow, normal at rest, becomes ischemic due to increased demand. In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) with perivascular fibrosis, collateral vessels appear to increase the irrigation of hypertrophied segments. Objective: To determine the coronary flow pattern in patients with secondary hypertrophy and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, evaluating the coronary flow […]

Abstract Background Left ventricular ejection fraction is one of the most used echocardiographic parameters in clinical practice. Its estimation by two-dimensional manual method (Simpson method) has limited reproducibility and accuracy, and semi-automatic methods have been proposed. It becomes necessary to compare the semi-automatic two-dimensional method with more accurate methods of assessing left ventricular ejection fraction, such as measurement by automatic three-dimensional echocardiography. Objective To compare the left ventricular ejection fraction, and left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes estimates by the […]

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Abstract These are Amyloidosis is characterized by the localized or systemic deposition of proteins with unstable tertiary structure, which aggregate and form amyloid fibrils. Cardiac amyloidosis is a frequently underdiagnosed condition and it is an important cause of heart failure. There are more than 30 known types of amyloid proteins, but only five often infiltrate the heart, causing cardiac amyloidosis. light chain immunoglobulin, heavy chain immunoglobulin, transthyretin, serum amyloid A and apolipoprotein AI, mostly in light chain immunoglobulin or transthyretin […]

Summary Introduction The left ventricle diastolic dysfuntion (LVDD) can lead to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Echocardiography, especially the tissue Doppler, is the main exam. The clinic has dyspnea as a typical symptom, which is evaluated by modified Medical Research Council (mMRC). However, there are few studies that investigate what is the association between the symptom and LVDD. Objective Evaluate if dyspnea is associated with the advancement of LVDD and if there is a linkage between mMRC and the […]