Abstract Cancer and cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of mortality worldwide. As these diseases share common metabolic pathways, patients with cancer are currently seen as having subclinical alterations with great potential for developing cardiovascular diseases (and vice versa). This tenuous interrelationship has led to the emergence of cardio-oncology (CO) as an area of study and discussion, with a major impact on the management of these cases. In clinical practice, CO is dominated by the dilemma of how to best […]

Abstract Background: Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) leads to abnormal myocardial structure and function in the absence of cardiac risk factors. Screening in the pre-clinical phase is not well established. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) has been measured as an important echocardiography parameter in asymptomatic patients. Objective: To describe the presence of early parameters of DCM in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) without cardiovascular disease and to compare results against 2 control groups (CT groups). Methods: A total of 58 patients were […]

Introduction The Takotsubo Syndrome, also known as “broken heart syndrome”, is characterized by a severe and transitory left ventricular dysfunction, with the presence of alterations in the contraction of the basal, medial, or apical segments of the left ventricular walls. The syndrome can be caused by an emotional or physical trigger, or by a combination of both; however, this is not a mandatory criterion for its diagnosis. This study describes a case of Takotsubo Syndrome after mitral valve surgery to […]

Abstract Introduction Pulmonary hypertension (PH), a serious clinical condition, can lead to right ventricular systolic dysfunction (RVSD) with prognostic implications. Patients with suspected PH should undergo transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) for diagnosis and evaluation as the main screening and follow-up exam. Objective To verify the associations of and agreement between measurements of mean pressure in the right atrium (RA) and RVSD with TTE Method Individuals diagnosed with PH were included. All patients underwent TTE and RCC. The following were evaluated by […]

Abstract Chagas disease represents an important public health problem, especially in endemic countries in Latin America. Chronic cardiomyopathy is its most frequent clinical presentation. Myocardial involvement has a multifactorial pathogenesis and can lead to heart failure, thromboembolic events, arrhythmias, and sudden death. In this context, cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is an excellent noninvasive method for investigating myocardial damage and understanding the mechanisms and consequences of these injuries. CMR has high spatial resolution and tissue characterization capacity, enabling a highly […]

Abstract Background Chemotherapy for breast cancer is associated with serious cardiovascular complications such as heart failure. The left ventricular ejection fraction is the main parameter used to assess systolic function in these patients. However, the occurrence of diastolic dysfunction may precede that of systolic dysfunction. Objectives To evaluate left ventricle diastolic and systolic functions in women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy using anthracyclines. Methods This observational, longitudinal, analytical, and prospective study included 62 women with breast cancer aged 21–75 years […]

A 45-year-old asymptomatic man diagnosed with asymmetric septal hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was referred for follow-up at the Instituto do Coração (InCor), São Paulo, SP, Brazil. The patient was using atenolol 100 mg/day and had no history of coronary artery disease. Physical examination findings were normal. […]

Abstract The analysis of diastolic function using conventional echocardiography (two-dimensional method, spectral Doppler and tissue Doppler) may not determine some cases of diastolic dysfunction or high left atrial pressure. The parameters that study myocardial strain (left atrial strain rate and longitudinal strain) may help diagnosis. This study describes the diastolic strain rate methods during isovolumetric relaxation time and at peak filling, apical twisting rate and maximal longitudinal left atrial strain, analyzing their applications and advantages.

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 […]