Mortality due to infective endocarditis (IE) in Chile is close to 30%. To report the experience w... more Mortality due to infective endocarditis (IE) in Chile is close to 30%. To report the experience with patients admitted with the diagnosis of IE in a regional tertiary hospital. Retrospective study of 107 patients aged 50 ± 16 years (75% males) discharged with a definitive diagnosis of IE according to modified DUKE criteria, between years 2003 and 2010. Demographic variables, severity scores, clinical characteristics, bacteriology and hospital evolution were recorded. Fifty nine percent of patients had concomitant cardiovascular problems. APACHE II and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores on admission were 8.4 ± 4.7 and 2.7 ± 2.8 respectively. Native valves were affected in 91% of cases (aortic and mitral valves in 62% and 50% of cases respectively). Prosthetic valves were affected in 9.3% of cases. Rheumatic heart disease was the predominant primary lesion in 10% of patients. Antibiotics were used in 45.1% before blood cultures were performed. In 68% of patients blood c...
The typical symptoms of pheochromocytoma are palpitations, sweating, headaches and hypertension. ... more The typical symptoms of pheochromocytoma are palpitations, sweating, headaches and hypertension. We report a 70-year-old female admitted to the hospital due to a sudden onset of precordial pain with electrocardiographic changes. After admission the patient evolved with recurrent chest pain accompanied by hypertensive paroxysms and a pheochromocytoma was suspected. Measurement of catecholamines and metanephrines confirmed the diagnosis and an abdominal magnetic resonance localized the tumor. The patient underwent surgery with successful removal of the pheochromocytoma and was discharged in good conditions.
Carcinoid is a rare neuroendocrine tumor typically arising in the gastrointestinal tract that can... more Carcinoid is a rare neuroendocrine tumor typically arising in the gastrointestinal tract that can cause heart valve involvement. We report two patients with carcinoid syndrome and tricuspid/pulmonary valve lesions. A 33-year-old male presenting with fatigue and weight loss: A tumor in the tail of the pancreas was found on an abdominal CAT scan. The percutaneous biopsy was informed as a carcinoid tumor. A trans-esophageal echocardiogram showed a tricuspid and pulmonary valve involvement, which was replaced surgically. The biopsy informed an extensive fibrous and myxoid degeneration of the valves. A 35-year-old male with a carcinoid syndrome and cardiac failure: An echocardiogram showed a severe tricuspid stenosis and severe pulmonary regurgitation. The patient was subjected to a double surgical valve replacement. The pathology report of the excised valve showed a deforming fibrous and myxoid valvulopathy.
The assessment of patients with a suspected cardiac failure aims to an early and precise diagnosi... more The assessment of patients with a suspected cardiac failure aims to an early and precise diagnosis and risk stratification. Only natriuretic peptides have demonstrated to be clinically useful. Brain natriuretic peptide stands out due to its diagnostic and prognostic value. However its results should be cautiously interpreted in the clinical context, bearing in mind possible confounders. The combination of markers can provide a better risk stratification and compensates the limitations of individual markers. Each new marker gives a new insight on the underlying physiopathology of cardiac failure and proposes new therapeutic approaches.
Mortality due to infective endocarditis (IE) in Chile is close to 30%. To report the experience w... more Mortality due to infective endocarditis (IE) in Chile is close to 30%. To report the experience with patients admitted with the diagnosis of IE in a regional tertiary hospital. Retrospective study of 107 patients aged 50 ± 16 years (75% males) discharged with a definitive diagnosis of IE according to modified DUKE criteria, between years 2003 and 2010. Demographic variables, severity scores, clinical characteristics, bacteriology and hospital evolution were recorded. Fifty nine percent of patients had concomitant cardiovascular problems. APACHE II and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores on admission were 8.4 ± 4.7 and 2.7 ± 2.8 respectively. Native valves were affected in 91% of cases (aortic and mitral valves in 62% and 50% of cases respectively). Prosthetic valves were affected in 9.3% of cases. Rheumatic heart disease was the predominant primary lesion in 10% of patients. Antibiotics were used in 45.1% before blood cultures were performed. In 68% of patients blood c...
The typical symptoms of pheochromocytoma are palpitations, sweating, headaches and hypertension. ... more The typical symptoms of pheochromocytoma are palpitations, sweating, headaches and hypertension. We report a 70-year-old female admitted to the hospital due to a sudden onset of precordial pain with electrocardiographic changes. After admission the patient evolved with recurrent chest pain accompanied by hypertensive paroxysms and a pheochromocytoma was suspected. Measurement of catecholamines and metanephrines confirmed the diagnosis and an abdominal magnetic resonance localized the tumor. The patient underwent surgery with successful removal of the pheochromocytoma and was discharged in good conditions.
Carcinoid is a rare neuroendocrine tumor typically arising in the gastrointestinal tract that can... more Carcinoid is a rare neuroendocrine tumor typically arising in the gastrointestinal tract that can cause heart valve involvement. We report two patients with carcinoid syndrome and tricuspid/pulmonary valve lesions. A 33-year-old male presenting with fatigue and weight loss: A tumor in the tail of the pancreas was found on an abdominal CAT scan. The percutaneous biopsy was informed as a carcinoid tumor. A trans-esophageal echocardiogram showed a tricuspid and pulmonary valve involvement, which was replaced surgically. The biopsy informed an extensive fibrous and myxoid degeneration of the valves. A 35-year-old male with a carcinoid syndrome and cardiac failure: An echocardiogram showed a severe tricuspid stenosis and severe pulmonary regurgitation. The patient was subjected to a double surgical valve replacement. The pathology report of the excised valve showed a deforming fibrous and myxoid valvulopathy.
The assessment of patients with a suspected cardiac failure aims to an early and precise diagnosi... more The assessment of patients with a suspected cardiac failure aims to an early and precise diagnosis and risk stratification. Only natriuretic peptides have demonstrated to be clinically useful. Brain natriuretic peptide stands out due to its diagnostic and prognostic value. However its results should be cautiously interpreted in the clinical context, bearing in mind possible confounders. The combination of markers can provide a better risk stratification and compensates the limitations of individual markers. Each new marker gives a new insight on the underlying physiopathology of cardiac failure and proposes new therapeutic approaches.
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Papers by Alejandro Paredes