Is echocardiography mandatory for patients with chronic kidney disease?

This study aims at evaluating the prevalence of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in a group of 319 hypertensive patients with stage 3b–4–5 chronic kidney disease (according to Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes classification), compared with 216 patients with essential hypertension and normal renal function. All patients underwent echocardiographic examination. Patients on stage 1–2–3a chronic kidney disease, dialysis treatment, or with previous manifestations of heart failure or other cardiovascular diseases were excluded. Patients with renal disease had significantly worse diastolic function (both considering trans-mitral flow and tissue Doppler imaging parameters). Diastolic …

Scrotal swelling in a patient with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia

We present a case of a patient with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia and a history of chronic ischemic disease evolved into dilated cardiomyopathy. During hospitalization, the occurrence of arrhythmic crisis, our patient felt sporadic palpitations associated with dyspnea, distended jugular veins and scrotal swelling, quite unexpected clinical sign that caught our attention. Echocardiography showed dilated left ventricle, severely reduced systolic function, dilated right-sided, dilated inferior vena cava with reduced respiratory excursions. Echography of both testicles showed bilateral expansion of pampiniform plexus with reflux to the functional maneuvers, such as varicocele of grade…

The importance of being “responder” in cardiac resynchronization therapy