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Methodist DeBakey Cardiovascular Journal 2023Congenital absence of the pericardium is a rare anomaly, affecting the left pericardium (86%) more than the right, with male predilection distribution (3:1). In the...
Congenital absence of the pericardium is a rare anomaly, affecting the left pericardium (86%) more than the right, with male predilection distribution (3:1). In the majority of cases, the condition is asymptomatic. We describe a case of a 55-year-old female with a history of chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure secondary to restrictive lung disease who was referred to cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) lab for shunt evaluation based on right ventricular pressure overload and paradoxical septal motion.
Topics: Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pericardium; Magnetic Resonance Imaging
PubMed: 37213871
DOI: 10.14797/mdcvj.1232 -
Forensic Science, Medicine, and... Mar 2017
Topics: Aged; Fatal Outcome; Humans; Male; Myocardium; Pericardial Fluid; Pericarditis; Pericardium; Pneumonia, Pneumococcal; Suppuration
PubMed: 28000077
DOI: 10.1007/s12024-016-9829-2 -
Clinical Cardiology Sep 2014Primary malignancies of the heart and pericardium are rare. All the available data come from autopsy studies, case reports, and, in recent years, from large,... (Review)
Review
Primary malignancies of the heart and pericardium are rare. All the available data come from autopsy studies, case reports, and, in recent years, from large, specialized, single-center studies. Nevertheless, if primary malignancy is present, it may have a devastating implication for patients. Malignancies may affect heart function, also causing left-sided or right-sided heart failure. In addition, they can be responsible for embolic events or arrhythmias. Today, with the widespread use of noninvasive imaging modalities, heart tumors become evident, even as an incidental finding. A multimodality imaging approach is usually required to establish the final diagnosis. Despite the increased awareness and improved diagnostic techniques, clinical manifestations of primary malignancy of the heart and pericardium are so variable that their occurrence may still come as a surprise during surgery or autopsy. No randomized clinical trials have been carried out to determine the optimal therapy for these primary malignancies. Surgery is performed for small tumors. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can be of help. Partial resection of large neoplasms is performed to relieve mechanical effects, such as cardiac compression or hemodynamic obstruction. Most patients present with marginally resectable or technically nonresectable disease at the time of diagnosis. It seems that orthotopic cardiac transplantation with subsequent immunosuppressive therapy may represent an option for very carefully selected patients. Early diagnosis and radical exeresis are of great importance for long-term survival of a primary cardiac malignancy. This can rarely be accomplished, and overall results are very disappointing.
Topics: Cardiac Surgical Procedures; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; Diagnostic Imaging; Early Detection of Cancer; Heart Neoplasms; Heart Transplantation; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Incidental Findings; Pericardium; Predictive Value of Tests; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 24895291
DOI: 10.1002/clc.22295 -
JACC. Cardiovascular Imaging Jun 2020Frequently, multimodality imaging is indispensable in the care of patients with pericardial disease. With cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, pericardial inflammation... (Review)
Review
Frequently, multimodality imaging is indispensable in the care of patients with pericardial disease. With cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, pericardial inflammation can be characterized as acute, subacute, or chronic. This spectrum of inflammation is variably associated with reduced compliance of the pericardium, which may result in constrictive pathophysiology, typically well-defined with echocardiography. This interplay between inflammation and hemodynamics is often optimally characterized with multimodality imaging and has redefined the approach of pericardiologists to diagnose, prognosticate, and tailor individual therapies.
Topics: Acute Disease; Asymptomatic Diseases; Cardiac Imaging Techniques; Chronic Disease; Clinical Decision-Making; Hemodynamics; Humans; Multimodal Imaging; Pericarditis; Pericardium; Predictive Value of Tests
PubMed: 31734199
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmg.2019.08.027 -
American Journal of Physiology. Heart... Feb 2022Obesity is associated with higher risks of cardiac arrhythmias. Although this may be partly explained by concurrent cardiometabolic ill-health, growing evidence suggests... (Review)
Review
Obesity is associated with higher risks of cardiac arrhythmias. Although this may be partly explained by concurrent cardiometabolic ill-health, growing evidence suggests that increasing adiposity independently confers risk for arrhythmias. Among fat depots, epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) exhibits a proinflammatory secretome and, given the lack of fascial separation, has been implicated as a transducer of inflammation to the underlying myocardium. The present review explores the mechanisms underpinning adverse electrophysiological remodeling as a consequence of EAT accumulation and the consequent inflammation. We first describe the physiological and pathophysiological function of EAT and its unique secretome and subsequently discuss the evidence for ionic channel and connexin expression modulation as well as fibrotic remodeling induced by cytokines and free fatty acids that are secreted by EAT. Finally, we highlight how weight reduction and regression of EAT volume may cause reverse remodeling to ameliorate arrhythmic risk.
Topics: Adipose Tissue; Animals; Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Cytokines; Humans; Ion Channels; Pericardium
PubMed: 34890279
DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00565.2021 -
Circulation Journal : Official Journal... Apr 2020
Topics: Adipose Tissue; Cadaver; Humans; Inflammation; Pericardium; Plaque, Atherosclerotic; Vasa Vasorum
PubMed: 32281580
DOI: 10.1253/circj.CJ-20-0249 -
Journal of Thoracic Oncology : Official... Apr 2016This article reviews the nomenclature of benign and malignant neoplasm of the heart and pericardium in the 4th edition of the World Health Organization's Classification,... (Review)
Review
This article reviews the nomenclature of benign and malignant neoplasm of the heart and pericardium in the 4th edition of the World Health Organization's Classification, with emphasis on differences since the 3rd edition of 2004. The tumours are divided into benign, malignant, and intermediate tumors of uncertain behavior, with separate sections on germ cell tumours and tumors of the pericardium. There are important updates in the sarcoma classification, with emphasis on the most common site, the left atrium. The importance of the new genetic finding in cardiac myxomas, namely somatic mutations in the PRKAR1A gene underscores the importance of this alteration in the pathogenesis of these tumors. Challenges on the classification of each entity are discussed.
Topics: Heart Neoplasms; Humans; Pericardium; World Health Organization
PubMed: 26725181
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2015.11.009 -
Turk Kardiyoloji Dernegi Arsivi : Turk... Sep 2021
Topics: Adipose Tissue; Humans; Pericardium
PubMed: 34523589
DOI: 10.5543/tkda.2021.21189 -
Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therapy Nov 2019: Acute pericarditis is frequently complicated with recurrences, which represent a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for the physician, a bothersome trouble for... (Review)
Review
: Acute pericarditis is frequently complicated with recurrences, which represent a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for the physician, a bothersome trouble for patients. An incorrect treatment of pericarditis may cause further recurrence of symptoms, while an incorrect diagnosis may cause either a prolonged symptoms course with a possible risk of chronic constriction, or useless and potentially harmful treatments.: This review will focus on the most useful and recent diagnostic tools for recurrent pericarditis. Medline/Pubmed Library were screened with specific key search: 'recurrent AND pericarditis'. The research was restricted to papers published in the last 5 years (2015-2019) and papers in English language, in order to appraise the latest advances in diagnostic assessment.: An accurate diagnosis of recurrent pericarditis is critical to provide timely and appropriate treatment of symptoms and prevention of further episodes. Diagnosis is made in case of recurrent symptoms associated with a documented evidence of pericardial inflammation. Further studies are needed to develop newer diagnostic tools aimed at identification of a predominant auto-inflammatory of auto-immune mechanism, which is essential to tailor the treatment.
Topics: Humans; Pericarditis; Pericardium; Recurrence
PubMed: 31709840
DOI: 10.1080/14779072.2019.1691916 -
Methodist DeBakey Cardiovascular Journal 2017Epicardial fat is a unique adipose tissue located between the myocardium and the visceral layer of pericardium. This tissue is characterized by highly active fatty acid... (Review)
Review
Epicardial fat is a unique adipose tissue located between the myocardium and the visceral layer of pericardium. This tissue is characterized by highly active fatty acid metabolism and highly expressed thermogenic genes. Epicardial fat and the underlying myocardium share the same microcirculation, suggesting a close and strong interaction between these two structures. Under physiological conditions, epicardial fat protects and supports the heart to exert its normal function. Many clinical studies have shown significant associations between increased amounts of epicardial fat and coronary artery disease (CAD). In patients with CAD, increased epicardial fat becomes inflammatory and may promote plaque development through secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and other mechanisms. Therefore, epicardial fat is a biomarker of cardiovascular risk and a potential therapeutic target for cardiovascular disease. Weight loss and pharmaceuticals can reduce epicardial fat and improve its protective physiological functions.
Topics: Adipokines; Adipose Tissue; Adiposity; Animals; Cardiovascular Diseases; Cytokines; Energy Metabolism; Humans; Inflammation Mediators; Obesity; Pericardium; Prognosis; Risk Factors; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 28413578
DOI: 10.14797/mdcj-13-1-20