BackgroundDeficiency of 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D] is a treatable condition that has been associated with coronary artery disease and many of its risk factors. A practical time to assess for 25(OH)D deficiency, and to initiate treatment, is at the time of an acute myocardial infarction(AMI). The prevalence of 25(OH)D deficiency and the characteristics associated with it in patients with acute myocardial infarction are unknown.MethodsIn this study 25(OH)D was assessed in 314 subjects enrolled in a Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Science and Research(SJICS&R). Patients enrolled from December 1, 2011 to February 28, 2012 had serum samples sent to a centralized laboratory for analysis using the ELECYS assay. Normal 25(OH)D levels are ≥ 30 ng/ml, and patients with levels < 30 and > 20 ng/ml were classified as insufficient and those with levels ≤ 20 ng/ml as deficient. Vitamin D and other baseline characteristics were analyzed with T-test and chi-squared test.ResultsOf the 314 enrolled patents, 212 (67.5%) were 25(OH)D deficient and 50(16%) were insufficient, for a total of 83.5% of patients with abnormally low 25(OH)D levels. No significant heterogeneity was observed among age or gender sub groups but 25(OH)D deficiency was more commonly seen in those with lower socioeconomic status, lower activity levels, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia(LDL), hypertriglyceridemia and in smokers.ConclusionVitamin D deficiency is present in most of the patients with acute myocardial infarction and it is associated with many of its risk factors in our study.

Duct occluders can be used to effectively close small- and moderate-sized ventricular septal defects. The incidence of complete heart block and valvular regurgitations are much less than reported with other devices, and they are cost-effective.

An infant with cyanotic cardiac disease that was palliated with a bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt developed progressive and worsening cyanosis 5 years after the surgical procedure. A large venous collateral was found to be decompressing the bidirectional Glenn shunt from the superior caval vein to the inferior caval vein and was percutaneously closed with a vascular plug. The unusually large venous collateral, and the excellent outcome associated with percutaneous procedure are discussed.

The double-chambered right ventricle (DCRV) is a rare congenital heart disease caused by hypertrophic anomalous muscle bands that divide the ventricular cavity, resulting in the formation of a high-pressure proximal chamber and other low-pressure distal one. Because of its evolving nature, its diagnosis is usually made during childhood/adolescence and very rarely during adulthood. It accounts for approximately 0.5-1% of patients with congenital heart disease. We report a case of a 50-year-old man who presented to us with acute inferior wall myocardial infarction (MI). Echocardiography revealed the features of DCRV and ventricular septal defect. Coronary angiogram revealed significant stenosis in right coronary artery. This is the first case where an adult patient with DCRV incidentally diagnosed after presentation with acute MI and had undergone successful coronary angioplasty.

No abstract