A case of biventricular apical obliteration.

We present a case of Loëffler endocarditis in a 45-year-old man. This syndrome is characterized by unexplained prolonged and marked hypereosinophilia (>1500 eosinophils/mm), absence of a primary cause of hypereosinophilia and evidence of eosinophil-mediated organ damage. Detection of cardiac damage is based on electrocardiography, echocardiography, cardiac MRI and endomyocardial biopsy.

Modifications in cardiovascular functional parameters with aging.

Background: The constant rise in the number of old people involves a great interest towards the aging of the cardiovascular system. Many authors have studied age-adjusted limits to echocardiographic and functional parameters. The aim of this study is to evaluate some functional parameters so as to define the cardiovascular modifications of the aging heart.

[Cardiorenal physiopathology and heart failure: current aspects and therapeutic prospects].

The heart and the kidney exert a reciprocal control of their function in order to maintain a steady state of haemodynamics, both in physiological and pathological conditions. The functional relationship between the two organs becomes particularly evident during heart failure. The knowledge of such relationship may play an important role in the management of heart failure.

Analysis of heart rate variability five minutes before the onset of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Background: Various experimental and clinical observations suggest changes in sympathetic and vagal neural regulatory mechanisms play a critical role in altering cardiac electrical properties and favor the occurrence of arrhythmic events. There is limited information about the influences of the autonomic tone on the development of episodes of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in patients with no evidence of organic heart disease. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in sympatho-vagal balance 5 minutes before the onset of atrial fibrillation.