Marfan syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder of the connective tissues, with mutation on the... more Marfan syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder of the connective tissues, with mutation on the fibrillin-1 gene encoding for fibrillin, a major component of the extracellular microfibrils. The prevalence of the syndrome is 7 to 17 in 100,000. The mean life expectancy for untreated patients with Marfan syndrome is 32 years, with aortic dissection, aortic rupture, or cardiac failure from mitral or aortic valve regurgitation as the predominant cause of death in >90% of patients. However, with optimal clinical management of patients with Marfan syndrome, life expectancy may be improved substantially to a nearly normal life span. Cornerstones of clinical management include modern noninvasive imaging modalities, molecular analysis at the complementary deoxyribonucleic acid/deoxyribonucleic acid level of the fibrillin-1 gene, genetic counseling, lifestyle changes, and cardiovascular surveillance, the latter including regular imaging of the aorta and endocarditis prophylaxis. Prophyla...
Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) is an autosomal dominant disorder that is predominantly characterized ... more Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) is an autosomal dominant disorder that is predominantly characterized by involvement of the aorta, manifesting as aneurysmal dilatation or aortic dissection. Patients with LDS manifest with spontaneous aneurysms and dissections of central and peripheral arterial beds. We present two cases of young male patients with Loeys-Dietz II aortopathy, who manifested with spontaneous intimal tear of descending thoracic aorta and contained aortic rupture. Both patients were managed by endovascular repair, with collaborative efforts of teams comprising interventional cardiologists and radiologists, and a vascular surgeon.
Zusammenfassung Patienten mit einer akut dekompensierten Herzinsuffizienz präsentieren sich als ... more Zusammenfassung Patienten mit einer akut dekompensierten Herzinsuffizienz präsentieren sich als Folge des volumenbedingten erhöhten intrakardialen Füllungsdruckes mit Ödemen sowie Dyspnoe. Trotz des zunehmenden pathophysiologischen Verständnisses der Herzinsuffizienz hat sich die Therapie der akut dekompensierten Herzinsuffizienz nicht wesentlich gewandelt. Diuretika, vorzugsweise Schleifendiuretika, sind hierbei die gängigsten eingesetzten Medikamente. Intravenöse Diuretika wirken sowohl durch eine früh einsetzende Vasodilatation sowie durch eine im weiteren
Satisfaction with sexual activity i.e. sexual satisfaction and the importance of sexuality and af... more Satisfaction with sexual activity i.e. sexual satisfaction and the importance of sexuality and affection were analysed using data from the German "Interdisciplinary Longitudinal Study of Adult Development" (ILSE). At three measurement points, 1993-1995, 1997-1998, and 2004-2006 i.e. subjects' ages of 63, 67, and 74 years, participants' reports about their affection and sexual activity were collected. The sample of completed records used for this study consisted of 194 urban non-institutionalised participants, 68% male, all living with partners. Median levels of sexual satisfaction were reported, fluctuating between the measurement points of ages 63 to 74. Between baseline, first and second follow-up no differences were found in levels of sexual satisfaction, though at measurement points age 63 and 67 women were more satisfied than men. When measured at age 74, affection was given a higher priority than sexual activity. Although men and women reported similar priori...
European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery, 2015
An expert panel on the treatment of type B intramural haematoma (IMH) and penetrating atheroscler... more An expert panel on the treatment of type B intramural haematoma (IMH) and penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer (PAU) consisting of cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, vascular surgeons and interventional radiologists reviewed the literature to develop treatment algorithms using a consensus method. Data from 46 studies considered relevant were retrieved for a total of 1386 patients consisting of 925 with IMH, and 461 with PAU. The weighted mean 30-day mortality from IMH was 3.9%, 3-year aortic event-related mortality with medical treatment 5.4%, open surgery 23.2% and endovascular therapy 7.1%. In patients with PAU early and 3-year aortic event-mortality rates with open surgery were 15.9 and 25.0%, respectively, and with TEVAR were 7.2 and 10.4%, respectively. According to panel consensus statements, haemodynamic instability, persistent pain, signs of impending rupture and progressive periaortic haemorrhage in two successive imaging studies require immediate surgical or endovascular...
The outcome of patients with acute type B aortic dissection (ABAD) is strongly related to their c... more The outcome of patients with acute type B aortic dissection (ABAD) is strongly related to their clinical presentation. The purpose of this study was to investigate predictors for mortality among patients presenting with ABAD and to create a predictive model to estimate individual risk of in-hospital mortality using the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection (IRAD). All patients with ABAD enrolled in IRAD between 1996 and 2013 were included for analysis. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to investigate predictors of in-hospital mortality. Significant risk factors for in-hospital death were used to develop a prediction model. A total of 1034 patients with ABAD were included for analysis (673 men; mean age, 63.5±14.0 years), with an overall in-hospital mortality of 10.6%. In multivariable analysis, the following variables at admission were independently associated with increased in-hospital mortality: increasing age (odds ratio [OR], 1.03; 95% confidence in...
The degenerative, calcified aortic stenosis is the most common form of adult valvular heart disea... more The degenerative, calcified aortic stenosis is the most common form of adult valvular heart disease. Surgical aortic valve replacement is the method of choice and can be performed at low risk in suitable candidates. However, a fair amount of patients is rejected from surgery due to old age and preexisting comorbidities increasing operative mortality. For this reason frequently operation is not accomplished. Today, with the development of percutaneous aortic valve replacement, the treatment of aortic stenosis has entered a new era providing a new durable treatment option.
The aim of regenerative medicine is the reconstitution of the physiological structure of critical... more The aim of regenerative medicine is the reconstitution of the physiological structure of critically damaged organs. Bone marrow derived stem cells (BMDCs) show promising therapeutic potential. BMDCs are already used in oncology and are ideally suited for regenerative medicine due to their regenerative potential and safety profile. A variety of cells have been contemplated in cardiology, and there is emerging preclinical and clinical data on the feasibility and safety of different cell lines in the setting of acute myocardial infarction and chronic heart failure. In this review, the various concepts and cells will be discussed in further detail.
Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) leads to a reduction of left-ventricular dyssynchrony and... more Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) leads to a reduction of left-ventricular dyssynchrony and an acute and sustained hemodynamic improvement in patients with chronic heart failure. Furthermore, an optimized AV-delay leads to an improved myocardial performance in pacemaker patients. The focus of this study is to investigate the acute effect of an optimized AV-delay on parameters of dyssynchrony in CRT patients. 11 chronic heart failure patients with CRT who were on stable medication were included in this study. The optimal AV-delay was defined according to the method of Ismer (mitral inflow and trans-oesophageal lead). Dyssynchrony was assessed echocardiographically at three different settings: AVDOPT; AVDOPT-50 ms and AVDOPT+50 ms. Echocardiographic assessment included 2D- and M-mode echo for the assessment of volumes and hemodynamic parameters (CI, SV) and LVEF and tissue Doppler echo (strain, strain rate, Tissue Synchronisation Imaging (TSI) and myocardial velocities in the ba...
The objective of this study was to determine the morbidity and mortality of patients with acute t... more The objective of this study was to determine the morbidity and mortality of patients with acute thoracic aortic dissections who present primarily with abdominal pain. Nine hundred ninety-two patients (mean age, 62.1 years +/- 14.1; 68% male) encountered from 1996 to 2001 with acute thoracic aortic dissections from the International Registry of acute Aortic Dissection were studied. Patient demographics, presenting symptoms, signs of aortic dissection, aortic pathology, and mortality were compared in patients presenting primarily with abdominal pain (group I, 46 patients, 4.6%) versus all others (group II). Demographics were similar between the two groups. When signs of aortic dissection were examined, 63% of patients in group I presented with hypertension compared to only 47% of patients in group II (p = 0.04). Patients in group I were less likely to present with evidence of end-organ malperfusion. Importantly, mortality in patients with a type B dissection, specifically following su...
Bypass-graft intervention was associated with worse outcomes in the bare-metal stent era. Without... more Bypass-graft intervention was associated with worse outcomes in the bare-metal stent era. Without sufficiently powered data from subgroup analyses, and in absence of randomized controlled trials targeting clinical endpoints, controversy is ongoing over safety and efficacy of drug-eluting stents (DES) in saphenous vein graft (SVG) lesions. Between October 2005 and October 2006, 5,183 patients receiving DES in SVG (n = 251) or native coronary arteries (NCA) (n = 4,932) were enrolled at 98 DES.DE sites. The composite of death, myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke defined as major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) and target-vessel revascularization (TVR) were defined as primary endpoints. Baseline clinical and descriptive morphology of coronary artery disease revealed more severe lesions and comorbidities in the SVG group. At 1-year follow-up, the SVG group suffered from higher rates of overall death (6.6 vs. 2.5%; p < 0.0001), myocardial infarction (5.9 vs. 2.2%; p < 0.0001), MACCE (13.6 vs. 5.4%; p < 0.0001), TVR (17.7 vs. 10.4%; p < 0.001) and overall stent thrombosis (10.0 vs. 3.7%; p < 0.0001). Data collected in DES.DE revealed that first generation DES used in SVG lesions did not offset the worse clinical outcomes of bypass-graft intervention. Such sobering results in SVG may suggest to opt for native vessel PCI preferentially or occasionally for surgical reintervention as decided by the Heart Team.
Marfan syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder of the connective tissues, with mutation on the... more Marfan syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder of the connective tissues, with mutation on the fibrillin-1 gene encoding for fibrillin, a major component of the extracellular microfibrils. The prevalence of the syndrome is 7 to 17 in 100,000. The mean life expectancy for untreated patients with Marfan syndrome is 32 years, with aortic dissection, aortic rupture, or cardiac failure from mitral or aortic valve regurgitation as the predominant cause of death in >90% of patients. However, with optimal clinical management of patients with Marfan syndrome, life expectancy may be improved substantially to a nearly normal life span. Cornerstones of clinical management include modern noninvasive imaging modalities, molecular analysis at the complementary deoxyribonucleic acid/deoxyribonucleic acid level of the fibrillin-1 gene, genetic counseling, lifestyle changes, and cardiovascular surveillance, the latter including regular imaging of the aorta and endocarditis prophylaxis. Prophyla...
Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) is an autosomal dominant disorder that is predominantly characterized ... more Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) is an autosomal dominant disorder that is predominantly characterized by involvement of the aorta, manifesting as aneurysmal dilatation or aortic dissection. Patients with LDS manifest with spontaneous aneurysms and dissections of central and peripheral arterial beds. We present two cases of young male patients with Loeys-Dietz II aortopathy, who manifested with spontaneous intimal tear of descending thoracic aorta and contained aortic rupture. Both patients were managed by endovascular repair, with collaborative efforts of teams comprising interventional cardiologists and radiologists, and a vascular surgeon.
Zusammenfassung Patienten mit einer akut dekompensierten Herzinsuffizienz präsentieren sich als ... more Zusammenfassung Patienten mit einer akut dekompensierten Herzinsuffizienz präsentieren sich als Folge des volumenbedingten erhöhten intrakardialen Füllungsdruckes mit Ödemen sowie Dyspnoe. Trotz des zunehmenden pathophysiologischen Verständnisses der Herzinsuffizienz hat sich die Therapie der akut dekompensierten Herzinsuffizienz nicht wesentlich gewandelt. Diuretika, vorzugsweise Schleifendiuretika, sind hierbei die gängigsten eingesetzten Medikamente. Intravenöse Diuretika wirken sowohl durch eine früh einsetzende Vasodilatation sowie durch eine im weiteren
Satisfaction with sexual activity i.e. sexual satisfaction and the importance of sexuality and af... more Satisfaction with sexual activity i.e. sexual satisfaction and the importance of sexuality and affection were analysed using data from the German "Interdisciplinary Longitudinal Study of Adult Development" (ILSE). At three measurement points, 1993-1995, 1997-1998, and 2004-2006 i.e. subjects' ages of 63, 67, and 74 years, participants' reports about their affection and sexual activity were collected. The sample of completed records used for this study consisted of 194 urban non-institutionalised participants, 68% male, all living with partners. Median levels of sexual satisfaction were reported, fluctuating between the measurement points of ages 63 to 74. Between baseline, first and second follow-up no differences were found in levels of sexual satisfaction, though at measurement points age 63 and 67 women were more satisfied than men. When measured at age 74, affection was given a higher priority than sexual activity. Although men and women reported similar priori...
European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery, 2015
An expert panel on the treatment of type B intramural haematoma (IMH) and penetrating atheroscler... more An expert panel on the treatment of type B intramural haematoma (IMH) and penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer (PAU) consisting of cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, vascular surgeons and interventional radiologists reviewed the literature to develop treatment algorithms using a consensus method. Data from 46 studies considered relevant were retrieved for a total of 1386 patients consisting of 925 with IMH, and 461 with PAU. The weighted mean 30-day mortality from IMH was 3.9%, 3-year aortic event-related mortality with medical treatment 5.4%, open surgery 23.2% and endovascular therapy 7.1%. In patients with PAU early and 3-year aortic event-mortality rates with open surgery were 15.9 and 25.0%, respectively, and with TEVAR were 7.2 and 10.4%, respectively. According to panel consensus statements, haemodynamic instability, persistent pain, signs of impending rupture and progressive periaortic haemorrhage in two successive imaging studies require immediate surgical or endovascular...
The outcome of patients with acute type B aortic dissection (ABAD) is strongly related to their c... more The outcome of patients with acute type B aortic dissection (ABAD) is strongly related to their clinical presentation. The purpose of this study was to investigate predictors for mortality among patients presenting with ABAD and to create a predictive model to estimate individual risk of in-hospital mortality using the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection (IRAD). All patients with ABAD enrolled in IRAD between 1996 and 2013 were included for analysis. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to investigate predictors of in-hospital mortality. Significant risk factors for in-hospital death were used to develop a prediction model. A total of 1034 patients with ABAD were included for analysis (673 men; mean age, 63.5±14.0 years), with an overall in-hospital mortality of 10.6%. In multivariable analysis, the following variables at admission were independently associated with increased in-hospital mortality: increasing age (odds ratio [OR], 1.03; 95% confidence in...
The degenerative, calcified aortic stenosis is the most common form of adult valvular heart disea... more The degenerative, calcified aortic stenosis is the most common form of adult valvular heart disease. Surgical aortic valve replacement is the method of choice and can be performed at low risk in suitable candidates. However, a fair amount of patients is rejected from surgery due to old age and preexisting comorbidities increasing operative mortality. For this reason frequently operation is not accomplished. Today, with the development of percutaneous aortic valve replacement, the treatment of aortic stenosis has entered a new era providing a new durable treatment option.
The aim of regenerative medicine is the reconstitution of the physiological structure of critical... more The aim of regenerative medicine is the reconstitution of the physiological structure of critically damaged organs. Bone marrow derived stem cells (BMDCs) show promising therapeutic potential. BMDCs are already used in oncology and are ideally suited for regenerative medicine due to their regenerative potential and safety profile. A variety of cells have been contemplated in cardiology, and there is emerging preclinical and clinical data on the feasibility and safety of different cell lines in the setting of acute myocardial infarction and chronic heart failure. In this review, the various concepts and cells will be discussed in further detail.
Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) leads to a reduction of left-ventricular dyssynchrony and... more Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) leads to a reduction of left-ventricular dyssynchrony and an acute and sustained hemodynamic improvement in patients with chronic heart failure. Furthermore, an optimized AV-delay leads to an improved myocardial performance in pacemaker patients. The focus of this study is to investigate the acute effect of an optimized AV-delay on parameters of dyssynchrony in CRT patients. 11 chronic heart failure patients with CRT who were on stable medication were included in this study. The optimal AV-delay was defined according to the method of Ismer (mitral inflow and trans-oesophageal lead). Dyssynchrony was assessed echocardiographically at three different settings: AVDOPT; AVDOPT-50 ms and AVDOPT+50 ms. Echocardiographic assessment included 2D- and M-mode echo for the assessment of volumes and hemodynamic parameters (CI, SV) and LVEF and tissue Doppler echo (strain, strain rate, Tissue Synchronisation Imaging (TSI) and myocardial velocities in the ba...
The objective of this study was to determine the morbidity and mortality of patients with acute t... more The objective of this study was to determine the morbidity and mortality of patients with acute thoracic aortic dissections who present primarily with abdominal pain. Nine hundred ninety-two patients (mean age, 62.1 years +/- 14.1; 68% male) encountered from 1996 to 2001 with acute thoracic aortic dissections from the International Registry of acute Aortic Dissection were studied. Patient demographics, presenting symptoms, signs of aortic dissection, aortic pathology, and mortality were compared in patients presenting primarily with abdominal pain (group I, 46 patients, 4.6%) versus all others (group II). Demographics were similar between the two groups. When signs of aortic dissection were examined, 63% of patients in group I presented with hypertension compared to only 47% of patients in group II (p = 0.04). Patients in group I were less likely to present with evidence of end-organ malperfusion. Importantly, mortality in patients with a type B dissection, specifically following su...
Bypass-graft intervention was associated with worse outcomes in the bare-metal stent era. Without... more Bypass-graft intervention was associated with worse outcomes in the bare-metal stent era. Without sufficiently powered data from subgroup analyses, and in absence of randomized controlled trials targeting clinical endpoints, controversy is ongoing over safety and efficacy of drug-eluting stents (DES) in saphenous vein graft (SVG) lesions. Between October 2005 and October 2006, 5,183 patients receiving DES in SVG (n = 251) or native coronary arteries (NCA) (n = 4,932) were enrolled at 98 DES.DE sites. The composite of death, myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke defined as major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) and target-vessel revascularization (TVR) were defined as primary endpoints. Baseline clinical and descriptive morphology of coronary artery disease revealed more severe lesions and comorbidities in the SVG group. At 1-year follow-up, the SVG group suffered from higher rates of overall death (6.6 vs. 2.5%; p < 0.0001), myocardial infarction (5.9 vs. 2.2%; p < 0.0001), MACCE (13.6 vs. 5.4%; p < 0.0001), TVR (17.7 vs. 10.4%; p < 0.001) and overall stent thrombosis (10.0 vs. 3.7%; p < 0.0001). Data collected in DES.DE revealed that first generation DES used in SVG lesions did not offset the worse clinical outcomes of bypass-graft intervention. Such sobering results in SVG may suggest to opt for native vessel PCI preferentially or occasionally for surgical reintervention as decided by the Heart Team.
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