Clinical Signifi cance of Angiographically Detectable Neovascularity in Patients with Cardiac Myxoma

Background:Myxomas are the most common primary cardiac tumors.Angiographically detectable neovascularity(ADN)of myxoma is increasingly being reported as a result of the use of coronary angiography(CAG)to detect coronary artery disease.However,the clinical signifi cance of these fi ndings is not fully understood.Methods:We enrolled 59 patients with cardiac myxoma who also underwent CAG between January 2013 and October 2018.Patients were followed up for a mean of 28.9 months(range 1-69 months).The clinical features,echocardiography measurements,pathological examination fi ndings,CAG results,and outcomes during follow-up were compared between patients with ADN and patients without ADN.Results:ADN was found in 25 patients(42.4%).The arteries feeding the ADN included the right coronary artery(n=15),the left circumfl ex coronary artery(n=7),and both arteries(n=3).The patients with ADN had a higher proportion of eosinophils(3.2%vs.2.2%,P=0.03)and higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level(2.7 mmol/L vs.2.2 mmol/L,P=0.02).Myxoma pedicles were more likely to be located in the interatrial septum in patients with ADN(96%vs.73.5%,P=0.02).No signifi cant correlation was observed between the groups in clinical manifestations,atrial arrhythmia,myxoma size,cardiac chamber size,left ventricular ejection fraction,and the prevalence of complication with coronary artery disease[16%in the ADN group(n=4)vs.20.6%in the non-ADN group(n=7),P=0.66].However,patients with ADN tended to have a lower incidence of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events on long-term follow-up(0%vs.14.7%,P=0.07).Conclusion:CAG-detected ADN in patients with cardiac myxoma is associated with a borderline lower rate of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events.

Development of a recurrent pleural effusion in a patient with pulmonary arterial hypertension treated with imatinib

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a devastating disease associated with progressive elevation in pulmonary pressures that eventually leads to chronic right heart failure and death. At present, agents with vasodilatory properties are being used to palliate the symptoms associated with PAH but there is a need for therapies that can prevent or even reverse established disease. Several lines of evidence have suggested that tyrosine kinase inhibitors like imatinib may have a role in reducing progression and improving outcomes in these patients, but their side effect profile is unclear. We present a case of a 55-year-old female with PAH secondary to connective tissue disease treated with triple PAH specific therapy and compassionate-use imatinib who developed a massive right pleural effusion. Despite multiple therapeutic thoracentesis and aggressive diuresis, the pleural effusion continued to re-accumulate necessitating chest tube placement. Resolution of the pleural effusion was finally achieved after imatinib was held, arguing that the patient’s presentation likely was a drug-related event. We believe that our case highlights a serious adverse reaction to imatinib therapy and stresses the need for more studies to evaluate the safety profile of this medication in patients with PAH.

A novel mutation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β leads to a reduced level of GSK3βprotein in a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy

Dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM)is a frequently inherited heart condition.A familial transmission rate of 20%-35%has been documented,and most of these cases are autosomal dominant.This condition has a high rate of morbidity and mortality,which can lead to cardiac arrest and persistent heart failure.