Aminoterminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide and ventricular filling pressures in heart transplant recipients.

We tested the hypothesis that, in heart transplant recipients, plasma aminoterminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) dosage is useful for diagnosis of high ventricular loading pressures in the absence of systolic dysfunction. We studied 60 consecutive transplanted heart recipients without systolic dysfunction at 1 to 16 years after transplantation. We found that, in these patients with frequent high ventricular filling pressures, plasma NT-proBNP was highly correlated with creatininemia and not correlated with ventricular loading pressures.

[Isolated non-compaction of the left ventricle].

Isolated non compaction of the left ventricle is a rare congenital cardiomyopathy linked to an arrest of normal myocardial embryogenesis. We report two cases of isolated non compaction of the left ventricle discovered by echocardiography in 2 males of 30 and 55 years. The first had progressively worsening cardiac insufficiency, the second was being followed for an unexplained cardiomyopathy.

Comparison of clinical and echocardiographic characteristics of Streptococcus bovis endocarditis with that caused by other pathogens.

The aim of our study was to compare the clinical, echographic, and prognostic features of Streptococcus bovis (S. bovis) endocarditis with those caused by other streptococci and pathogens in a large sample of patients with definite endocarditis by Duke criteria, using transesophageal echocardiography. Two hundred six patients (149 men, mean age 57 +/- 15 years) with a diagnosis of infective endocarditis formed the study population.

Echocardiography predicts embolic events in infective endocarditis.

Objectives: The aim of our study was to assess the value of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in predicting embolic events (EEs) in a large group of patients with definite endocarditis according to the Duke criteria, including silent embolism.

Background: The value of echocardiography in predicting embolism in patients with endocarditis remains controversial. Some studies reported an increased risk of embolism in patients with large and mobile vegetations, whereas other studies failed to demonstrate such a relationship.