P395 INFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS: A SUBTLE PRESENTATION

Background

Infective endocarditis is still a serious and deadly disease. Despite improvements in its management, the diagnosis it is not always easy and thus it is still associated with high mortality and severe complications. This is especially true for patients with prosthetic valves, that have higher risk of developing infective endocarditis and more often associated with severe complications and a higher rate of mortality.

Case Description

A 75–years–old woman presented to the ED for persistent low–grade fever and mild dyspnoea. She had an aortic biologic prosthetic valve implanted the year before for severe aortic stenosis. She also complained a persistent back pain, present for about three months and irresponsive to pharmacological therapy and also physiotherapy. Getting back in time, she had been hospitalized few months before for genitourinary tract infection from multi–resistant E. faecalis, treated with antibiotic therapy and then discharged after few days. She underwent a transthoracic echocardiogram in ED that showed an apparently intraprosthetic moderate aortic regurgitation, never described in the previous cardiologic controls. In the strong suspect of endocarditis complicated by systemic embolization, she also underwent transoesophageal echocardiography, that showed dehiscence of the prosthetic valve with severe paravalvular abscess and regurgitation, without rocking motion of the prosthesis. A TC scan and then a spine MRI confirmed the presence of infectious spondylodiscitis, responsible for that persistent back pain. The patient was therefore urgently sent to cardiac surgery: a Bentall procedure (aortic valve and aortic root replacement) was performed. The patient, despite the severity of the sepsis and the cardiac endocarditis, survived the surgery and after 3 weeks of intensive care hospitalization was discharged and sent back to our Department for Cardiac Rehabilitation. Entering the ward, the patient was severely deconditioned, but after about 45 days of hospitalization she was discharged fit, with good functional capacity.

Conclusion

This case shows the subtle but serious evolution that usually controlled infections can have in patients with high risk of endocarditis, as patients with prosthetic valves. This underlines on one hand the importance of antibiotic prophylaxis in this subset of patients, on the other hand the role of multimodality imaging for diagnosis and management of infective endocarditis and its complications.

P147 RECOVERY OF CHEMOTHERAPY RELATED ACUTE HEART FAILURE BY THE COMBINED USE OF SACUBITRIL VALSARTAN AND WEARABLE CARDIOVERTER DEFIBRILLATOR. A NOVEL WINNING COMBINATION IN CARDIO–ONCOLOGY

Effective anticancer treatments have dramatically improved the outcome of cancer patients but cardiac toxicity reduces their clinical efficacy in a non–negligible percentage of patients. Sacubitril/valsartan is a new paradigm in the treatment of chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction due to the enhancement of natriuretic peptides’ properties when coupled with a blocking effect on the AT1 angiotensin receptors. As with other clinical conditions of heart failure with potentially reversible declines in cardiac function, the wearable cardioverter defibrillator is a valid tool for protection against sudden death until recovery occurs. We report a case series of four patients with chemotherapy–related acute cardiac failure with severely reduced cardiac function. They were successfully treated with sacubitril/valsartan while being protected from malignant arrhythmias by the use of a wearable cardioverter defibrillator until the recovery of cardiac function. Sacubitril/valsartan was confirmed to be effective in anthracycline–related cardiac toxicity and the wearable cardioverter defibrillator should be considered as a support tool even in the oncology patient.

Treatment of iron deficiency anemia after cardiac surgery

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) after cardiac surgery (CS) increases mortality, serious adverse events and length of stay. Aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of Sucrosomal Iron (SI) on IDA and hematinic deficiencies (HD) in patients (P) after CS, compared to i.v. Ferric Carboxymaltose (FCM). SI was chosen for its peculiar intestinal absorption properties such as to overcome the hepcidin's block.

Methods

106 consecutive anemic P were tested for HD after the admission in Cardiac Rehabilitation and alternately treated with SI (56) or FCM (54). The study design included a single dose of 1000 mg of FCM at T1 (8-10 days CS) or a dose of 120 mg of SI per day from T1 to T2 (on the day of discharge 10 days after T1); since then the SI was reduced to 30 mg per day until T3 (follow-up, 10 days after T2). Measures of efficacy included changes from baseline in Hb, HD, natriuretic peptides (NP), C-reactive protein (CRP), and the 6-minute-walking-test (6MWT).

Results

The data are shown in the Table. At T1, two treatment groups did not show statistically significant differences. Hb increased significantly (p<0.001), with no differences between SI and FCM. Transferrin saturation and sideremia significantly increased, albeit more rapidly with FCM. Ferritin, elevated at baseline for inflammation due to CS, decreases to T3 with SI, while significantly increases in the FCM group. NP were reduced with both treatments, but not significantly; CRP, on the other hand, was significantly reduced over time. At 6MWT the distance increased significantly with no difference between SI and FCM.

Conclusions

SI and FCM show similar efficacy on HD, starting from Hb, in P with IDA, after CS. The quick response to treatment, comparable between SI and FCM, could support the choice of oral iron, with organizational and cost benefits. In addition, was shown a positive impact on functional capacity, assessed with the 6MWT, for the first time similar between an oral and i.v. iron. Inflammation was reduced, but only SI is able to recover Hb levels, avoiding the risk of hyperferritinemia.

Short and medium-term impact of a cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program in COVID-19 patients after acute care hospitalization

Background

COVID-19 (C-19) infection can acutely cause organ dysfunctions, especially cardiorespiratory, even with a long recovery period, inducing a significant functional deficit. Aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of a holistic hospital intensive rehabilitation program, based on CR, on C-19 patients (P), after acute care, to improve their fitness, in order to return to their life in the best conditions.

Methods

In the period april-august 2020, 30 P (mean age 73 years, 60% male) were admitted to the rehabilitation centre at a mean distance of 31±11 days from the onset of C-19; 34% of them had undergone prolonged invasive ventilation, 34% non invasive ventilation and 32% required high flow oxygen. Comorbidities were: hypertension (77%), diabetes (13%) and chronic coronary syndrome (10%); 18 P were unable to stand, and 12 showed impaired trunk control. No P had impaired LVEF or significant valvular disease. Initially, the program focused on training for trunk and sitting control; then on exercises for straightening the upper and lower limbs. From the second week, started a CR training on the cycle ergometer 10–20 minutes a day for 6 days a week, similar protocol to that used in P with heart failure. The aerobic training was of moderate intensity, not exceeding 40–60% of the maximum heart rate, Borg scale 10–12, starting with zero load, gradually increasing by 10–15 watts and up to a minimum target of 25–30 watts. The impact of the protocol on motor functions [MRC Muscle Strenght Scale, Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)] on functional capacity [6 Minutes Walking Test (6MWT)] on anxiety (A) and depression (D) [Hamilton Anxiety Rating scale (HAMA) and Hamilton Depression Rating scale (HAMD)] and on basic activities of daily life [Barthel Index (BI)] were evaluated. The assessment was done on the admission (T0), at the discharge (T1, on average after 31 days) and after a follow-up of 55 days (T3).

Results

The results are shown in the table below. Only 4 P were able to perform the 6MWT at T0. The motor function improves rapidly and then reaches a plateau and its trend is reflected in the BI. Functional capacity, on the other hand, improves significantly even at a distance. A and D decreased rapidly but increased over time.

Conclusions

A rehabilitation protocol, centered on CR, induces a rapid increase in motor capacity, even in severely compromised subjects such as C-19. The improvement in fitness over time, as demonstrated by the 6MWT, probably is due to the severe muscle deconditioning, for the long stay in acute care. The long-term worsening of A and D may depend on various causes: no longer living in a “protected and safe” place, the fear of relapse, returning home and discovering new deaths and mournings. A program, CR-like, can counteract many of the negative consequences of C-19; however these P deserve an outpatient rehabilitation to maintain and consolidate the positive results over time.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None. Table 1

Enhanced diffuse optical tomographic reconstruction using concurrent ultrasound information

Multimodal imaging is an active branch of research as it has the potential to improve common medical imaging techniques. Diffuse optical tomography (DOT) is an example of a low resolution, functional imaging modality that typically has very low resolution due to the ill-posedness of its underlying inverse problem. Combining the functional information of DOT with a high resolution structural imaging modality has been studied widely. In particular, the combination of DOT with ultrasound (US) could serve as a useful tool for clinicians for the formulation of accurate diagnosis of breast lesions. In this paper, we propose a novel method for US-guided DOT reconstruction using a portable time-domain measurement system. B-mode US imaging is used to retrieve morphological information on the probed tissues by means of a semi-automatical segmentation procedure based on active contour fitting. A two-dimensional to three-dimensional extrapolation procedure, based on the concept of distance transform, is then applied to generate a three-dimensional edge-weighting prior for the regularization of DOT. The reconstruction procedure has been tested on experimental data obtained on specifically designed dual-modality silicon phantoms. Results show a substantial quantification improvement upon the application of the implemented technique. This article is part of the theme issue 'Synergistic tomographic image reconstruction: part 2'.

Comparison between the 6-minute walking test (6MWT) and gait speed (GS) during outpatient cardiac rehabilitation

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): USL TOSCANA CENTRO USL TOSCANA NORD-OVEST

Background

6MWT is the gold standard for the functional and prognostic evaluation of patients (P) undergoing cardiac rehabilitation (CR), documenting the increase in exercise capacity induced by CR intervention. However, 6MWT requires an adequate space of at least 30 meters and a non-negligible operator time. GS has been proposed as a test of rapid execution, that can be performed even in a small space. Due to the limited experiences, the aim of the present study was to validate GS in CR in comparison with 6MWT.

Material and Methods

44 P (31 males and 13 females; age 68.2 ± 11.9 years) were enrolled consecutively in an outpatient rehabilitation program; 20 of them after cardiac surgery, 18 after acute cardiac syndrome and 6 with heart failure. After evaluating equilibrium and gait with the Tinetti scale (score ≥ 19), P performed 6MWT and GS at the beginning and at the end of the CR program. The speed at GS was calculated as the average of 3 tests. Data were expressed as mean ± SD. The results of 6MWT and GS at the initial and the final evaluation were compared with Student’s t-test for paired data (statistical significance at p <0.05). The Pearson correlation index (r) was calculated to evaluate the linearity relationship between distance traveled at 6MWT and velocity at GS; the  statistical significance was tested with ANOVA. The Statistical Package SPSS (version 24) was used for statistical analysis.

Results

the meters traveled at the initial and the final 6MWT were 434 ± 100 and 491 ± 96 respectively (p <0.001). The velocity in m/sec at the initial and the final GS was 1.68 ± 0.42 and 1.80 ± 0.44 respectively (p <0.001). The correlation between meters traveled and velocity is strong at baseline (r = 0.896) and after CR (r = 0.859), with p <0.001 in both cases.

Conclusions

certainly, aerobic capacity and resistance to exercise are better described by 6MWT. However, given the strong correlation between the distance traveled at 6MWT and the speed at GS, the latter test can be proposed as a tool for a rapid, precise and repeatable functional evaluation, even in clinical settings other than CR.

Is kinesiophobia a predictor of early functional performance after total hip replacement? A prospective prognostic cohort study

Background

Considerable attention has been paid to the role of kinesiophobia with respect to knee prosthesis but it has not yet been studied as a prognostic factor of short-term functional performance following total hip replacement. The main purpose of the present study is to examine the possible predictors of early functional performance of patients undergoing total primary hip arthroplasty, including demographics as age, sex and body mass index, preoperative functional ability, type of anaesthesia, level of haemoglobin, pain and level of kinesiophobia before surgery. Secondly, we want to describe the main characteristics of the population with the highest levels of kinesiophobia.

Methods

A prospective, prognostic cohort study was carried out. Patients undergoing primary hip replacement were recruited consecutively. The main outcome is the early functional performance achieved by patients after surgery and measured using the Iowa Level of Assistance (ILOA) scale on the fifth postoperative day. Preoperative kinesiophobia was measured by the Tampa Scale and the preoperative functional ability by the Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). The multivariate analysis was performed by the General Linear Model. The analysis of the population with high levels of kinesiophobia was conducted by identifying a cut-off of 40 compared to the Tampa Scale.

Results

Statistical analysis was performed on 269 patients. The average ILOA score recorded was 19.5 (DS 8.3). The levels of kinesiophobia, showed an average score of 35.1 (7.8) and it was not associated with early functional performance. The independent predictive factors include age, sex and body mass index. Kinesiophobia high levels were recorded in 30% of the population and this population had a higher level of pre-operative WOMAC score.

Conclusions

Early functional performance after hip replacement surgery was not correlated with the level of kinesiophobia. Three significant factors that describe a population most at risk of not achieving optimal functional performance are increased age, being female and increase in body mass index. In the preoperative phase, high levels of kinesiophobia were associated with more impaired preoperative functional ability.

Trial registration

Current Controlled Trials NCT02786121, May 2016. Retrospectively registered.

Oncology and Cardiac Rehabilitation: An Underrated Relationship

Cancer and cardiovascular diseases are globally the leading causes of mortality and morbidity. These conditions are closely related, beyond that of sharing many risk factors. The term bidirectional relationship indicates that cardiovascular diseases increase the likelihood of getting cancer and vice versa. The biological and biochemical pathways underlying this close relationship will be analyzed. In this new overlapping scenario, physical activity and exercise are proven protective behaviors against both cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Many observational studies link an increase in physical activity to a reduction in either the development or progression of cancer, as well as to a reduction in risk in cardiovascular diseases, a non-negligible cause of death for long-term cancer survivors. Exercise is an effective tool for improving cardio-respiratory fitness, quality of life, psychological wellbeing, reducing fatigue, anxiety and depression. Finally, it can counteract the toxic effects of cancer therapy. The protection obtained from physical activity and exercise will be discussed in the various stages of the cancer continuum, from diagnosis, to adjuvant therapy, and from the metastatic phase to long-term effects. Particular attention will be paid to the shelter against chemotherapy, radiotherapy, cardiovascular risk factors or new onset cardiovascular diseases. Cardio-Oncology Rehabilitation is an exercise-based multi-component intervention, starting from the model of Cardiac Rehabilitation, with few modifications, to improve care and the prognosis of a patient's cancer. The network of professionals dedicated to Cardiac Rehabilitation is a ready-to-use resource, for implementing Cardio-Oncology Rehabilitation.

Prediction of Chemoresistance in Women Undergoing Neo-Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Locally Advanced Breast Cancer: Volumetric Analysis of First-Order Textural Features Extracted from Multiparametric MRI

Purpose

To assess correlations between volumetric first-order texture parameters on baseline MRI and pathological response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for locally advanced breast cancer (BC).

Materials and Methods

69 patients with locally advanced BC candidate to neoadjuvant chemotherapy underwent MRI within 4 weeks from the start of therapeutic regimen. T2, DWI, and DCE sequences were analyzed and maps were generated for Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC), T2 signal intensity, and the following dynamic parameters: k-trans, peak enhancement, area under curve (AUC), time to maximal enhancement (TME), wash-in rate, and washout rate. Volumetric analysis of these parameters was performed, yielding a histogram analysis including first-order texture kinetics (percentiles, maximum value, minimum value, range, standard deviation, mean, median, mode, skewness, and kurtosis). Finally, correlations between these values and response to NAC (evaluated on the surgical specimen according to RECIST 1.1 criteria) were assessed.

Results

Out of 69 tumors, 33 (47.8%) achieved complete pathological response, 26 (37.7%) partial response, and 10 (14.5%) no response. Higher levels of AUCmax (p value = 0.0338), AUCrange (p value = 0.0311), and TME75 (p value = 0.0452) and lower levels of washout10 (p value = 0.0417), washout20 (p value = 0.0138), washout25 (p value = 0.0114), and washout30 (p value = 0.05) were predictive of noncomplete response.

Conclusion

Histogram-derived texture analysis of MRI images allows finding quantitative parameters predictive of nonresponse to NAC in women affected by locally advanced BC.

Optimizing the management of children with latent tuberculosis infection

INTRODUCTION

The management of latent tuberculosis (LTBI) in children represents an important issue for paediatricians because of the disease burden, the lack of a gold standard for the diagnosis and the high annual risk of progression to active disease. Areas covered: A review of English language articles on LTBI in children, published between the 1st of January 2010 and the 1st of July 2016, was conducted using multiple keywords and standardized terminology in PubMed database. This review provides an updated overview of the available tests for LTBI diagnosis in children, management strategies and treatment options. Expert commentary: Two tests are available for LTBI diagnosis: tuberculin skin test and interferon-gamma release assays, both with a suboptimal specificity and sensitivity, and both with the lack of capability in distinguishing between infection and disease. Several new markers have been identified but further studies are needed. Among all treatment regimes, because of the high safety and efficacy profile showed and to avoid the poor completion rate, the treatment with a three-month course of isoniazid and rifampicin is currently recommended. New vaccines are needed because of the spread of the disease despite BCG vaccination in high risk countries. Currently, 15 new vaccines are in the pipeline.

Use, abuse and misuse of biomarkers in paediatrics

Currently, a gold standard for distinguishing between infectious, inflammatory, auto-immune diseases and malignancy in infants and children is not available. The combination of biomarkers with clinical features and other diagnostic tests could help clinicians in the diagnostic process. Ideally, a biomarker should have high sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value, as well as being easily obtained also in preterm babies and infants, requiring a small amount of blood and being quickly measured. The available literature agrees on the fact that a “perfect” biomarker is not currently available in paediatric practice. Thus, clinicians must consider time by time the balance between marker characteristics and their sensitivity and specificity in different conditions. The development of new tests with higher sensitivity and specificity in distinguishing different pathological situations is auspicable. Moreover, future efforts should be focused on validating also in children the recently developed biomarkers including CD64, IL-27 and IL-8.

Does robot-assisted gait training ameliorate gait abnormalities in multiple sclerosis? A pilot randomized-control trial

BACKGROUND

Gait disorders are common in multiple sclerosis (MS) and lead to a progressive reduction of function and quality of life.

OBJECTIVE

Test the effects of robot-assisted gait rehabilitation in MS subjects through a pilot randomized-controlled study.

METHODS

We enrolled MS subjects with Expanded Disability Status Scale scores within 4.5-6.5. The experimental group received 12 robot-assisted gait training sessions over 6 weeks. The control group received the same amount of conventional physiotherapy. Outcomes measures were both biomechanical assessment of gait, including kinematics and spatio-temporal parameters, and clinical test of walking endurance (six-minute walk test) and mobility (Up and Go Test).

RESULTS

16 subjects (n = 8 experimental group, n = 8 control group) were included in the final analysis. At baseline the two groups were similar in all variables, except for step length. Data showed walking endurance, as well as spatio-temporal gait parameters improvements after robot-assisted gait training. Pelvic antiversion and reduced hip extension during terminal stance ameliorated after aforementioned intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

Robot-assisted gait training seems to be effective in increasing walking competency in MS subjects. Moreover, it could be helpful in restoring the kinematic of the hip and pelvis.

[Chylothorax following myocardial revascularization with the internal mammary artery]

Chylothorax is a rare but serious complication of coronary artery bypass grafting. We describe a case of double myocardial revascularization with the internal mammary artery developing the complication ten weeks after cardiac surgery. The reasons for late symptomatology of lymphatic injury are analyzed. Conservative treatment with low-fat diet, total parenteral nutrition and pleural drainage was attempted unsuccessfully; chyle leakage of around 500 ml/day and onset of nutritional deficiency made it advisable to seal the thoracic duct surgically.

Early synthesis and correlation of serum anti-thyroid antibodies with clinical parameters in multiple sclerosis

A high frequency of anti-thyroid antibodies has been demonstrated in multiple sclerosis (MS), but there is a lack of data on the possible association of thyroid autoimmunity with disease activity. To assess whether anti-thyroid antibodies are synthesized early in MS or are induced over the course of the disease and whether or not they are correlated with clinical findings, we assayed serum anti-peroxidase and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies in 129 relapsing-remitting MS patients at the time of diagnosis and prior to any immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory treatment. Anti-peroxidase antibodies were detected in 28/129 (21.7%) MS patients, compared to 12/130 (9.2%) neurological controls (P=0.006) and 8/152 (5.3%) normal healthy subjects (P<0.0001). High titres of anti-thyroglobulin antibodies were detected in 11/129 (8.5%) MS patients compared to 6/130 (4.6%) patients with other neurological diseases (P=0.22) and 5/152 (3.3%) normal healthy subjects (P=0.07). Anti-peroxidase antibodies were associated with initial relapse in 14 of 28 (50%) of the patients compared to 18/101 (18%) without antibodies (P=0.001). Similarly, anti-thyroglobulin antibodies were associated with first relapse in 8/11 (73%) of the patients compared to 11/118 (9.3%) of those without (P<0.0001). However, there was no correlation between anti-thyroid antibody titres and disease duration or CSF IgG index values. By contrast, a significant inverse correlation was found between anti-thyroglobulin antibody titres and EDSS score (r(s)=-0. 75; P=0.008). Our findings demonstrate that anti-peroxidase and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies are synthesized early in relapsing-remitting MS and are associated with early clinical disease activity. Furthermore, high titres of anti-thyroglobulin antibodies are associated with low disability scores, suggesting a possible protective role of these antibodies that deserves further investigation.

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.

METHODS

We evaluated 28 patients with no history of heart disease who were not undergoing pharmacological treatment and who had at least one episode of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation recorded during an 24-hour ECG Holter monitoring. We analyzed values of frequency domain heart rate variability parameters 5 minutes before the onset of atrial fibrillation (prefa period) compared to an equivalent period at least 1 hour after from atrial fibrillation (random period).

RESULTS

Thirty-six episodes of atrial fibrillation were recorded and our results showed we had two types of episodes. Eighteen were classified as Type A, in which we had an increase of low frequency (LF) (79.15 +/- 10.76 in comparison with 62.64 +/- 19.55) (P = 0.004) and a decrease of high frequency (HF) (20.82 +/- 10.74 in comparison with 37.64 +/- 20.20) (P = 0.004) consistent with an increase of sympathetic tone; and 18 were classified as Type B in which there was a decrease of LF (62.82 +/- 15.38 in comparison with 85.97 +/- 8.48) (P < 0.001), and an increase of HF (36.79 +/- 14.72 compared with 14.01 +/- 8.48) (P < 0.001), consistent with an increase of parasympathetic tone.

CONCLUSION

We observed abrupt changes in sympathovagal balance in the last 5 minutes preceding an episode of atrial fibrillation. This can be related to a double behavior in the neurogenic drive: in Type A episodes there is an increase of the LF spectrum, LF:HF ratio, and a decrease of the HF spectrum consistent with an increase of neurogenic sympathetic drive; in Type B episodes there is a reduction of the LF spectrum, LF/HF ratio, and an increase of HF spectrum consistent with an enhancement of the neurogenic parasympathetic drive. In some patients, we found that the two mechanisms operate during different hours of the day and that sometimes there is an increase of sympathetic tone, and in the same instances an increase of parasympathetic tone. Heart-rate variability measures fluctuation in autonomic inputs to the heart rather than the mean level of autonomic impulse; autonomic imbalance is probably more important than the vagal or sympathetic drive alone.

[Post-infantile giant cell hepatitis. Clinical and histological response to immunosuppressive therapy]

Giant cell transformation of hepatocytes combined with variable degrees of hepatocyte necrosis and liver fibrosis is distinctly uncommon in adults. In this age group it has most often been associated with autoimmunity, drug reaction and viral infection. Prognosis is considered quite severe ranging from mild fibrosis to established cirrhosis. We report a case of giant cell hepatitis that occurred in a 30 yrs old man, who had been taking ticlopidine for 3 years. The causative role of the drug is uncertain because aminotransferase did not fall after withdrawal. The patient fulfilled most of the criteria for a diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis and was treated accordingly with prednisolone and azathioprine. Immunosuppressive therapy led to a clinical, biochemical and histological response.

[Lactic acidosis shock. Report of a clinical case]

Lactic acidosis is a severe metabolic disorder with multiple pathogenesis; biguanides increase serum lactate. The authors describe a case of phenformin-associated acidosis enhanced by predisposing conditions (dilated cardiomyopathy, renal failure, hypothyroidism). Causative mechanisms and consequences on production/clearance lactic acid cycle are discussed. The benefits of hemodialysis and inotropic therapy (dobutamine) are emphasized. Treatment of critically ill patients must be designed to avoid increase in serum lactate.

[Posttraumatic pericardial laceration and cleft of the anterior mitral leaflet]

A 17-year-old patient sustained blunt trauma to the chest, during a motor vehicle accident, resulting in a pericardial laceration and cleft of anterior leaflet of mitral valve; both lesions were treated conservatively at a later date. The reasons of late symptomatology of valvular injury and absent initial identification are analyzed. Echocardiography's role for diagnosis, indication and choice of surgical treatment is emphasized.

[Myoglobinuria due to a deficiency of carnitine palmitoyltransferase II. A clinical case report]

The most frequent metabolic cause of myoglobinuria seems to be carnitine palmitoyl-transferase II deficiency. The authors describe a case, trying to explain the peculiarities and the importance, for the prognosis, of the residual enzymatic activity. The genetical etiology of the disease emphasize the role of hygienic behavior and of the L-carnitine as pathogenetic therapy.

[Ebstein's tricuspid anomaly and Down's syndrome. A clinical case report]

The authors describe a case of a 55 years old white man with Down's syndrome in whom an Ebstein's anomaly of tricuspid valve was casually diagnosed. The peculiarity of this association was searched in the literature, trying to explain, at the same time, the poor symptomatology. The role of echocardiography in the diagnosis of Ebstein's anomaly is emphasized.

[Prolongation of the Q-T interval and hyperkinetic ventricular arrhythmias probably induced by terfenadine use in liver cirrhosis patients]

The authors describe the prolongation of Q-T interval and secondary appearance of ventricular sustained ectopic beats in a 57 years old cirrhotic female treated for 4 days with antihistaminic drug (terfenadine) 240 mg/die/os. The pro-arrhythmic properties of terfenadine may be due to the quinidine-like mechanism of the drug and is strictly linked to the direct effect of the drug on H1 histaminergic receptors, which cause the prolongation of the myocardial cells action potential.