BACKGROUND

Sinus of Valsalva aneurysm (SVA) may be congenital or acquired. They could mimic ventricular tumor symptoms and cause signs and symptoms of ventricular outflow tract obstruction. They may also involve the conduction system and cause palpitations or syncopal episodes. Both transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) serve as quick, noninvasive methods to provide information on size and location of aneurysmal dilatation and cardiac chamber involvement. These methods can identify any associated anomalies or complications. This study presents a patient with unruptured SVA.

CASE REPORT

A 46-year-old man, who had been suffering from nonspecific symptoms such as exercise intolerance and weakness for a few months, referred to our clinic in Isfahan (Iran). In TTE, a large mass was observed in the right ventricle. SVA was suspected after meticulous probing. This diagnosis was confirmed by TEE and computed tomography angiography. At open heart surgery, an SVA with a lot of clots it was removed.

CONCLUSION

SVA must be kept in mind when a tumor-like mass is observed in the right ventricle. Detailed evaluation would thus be necessary to rule out SVA and to prevent wrong diagnosis and treatment that can sometimes be catastrophic.

BACKGROUND

The role of novel biomarkers like homocystein as a risk factor of coronary artery disease (CAD) is being increasingly recognized. Since there is a marked geographical variation in plasma homocystein concentration and because of importance of hyperhomocysteinemia as a CAD risk factor and due to the paucity of studies in Iran evaluating this risk factor in our population, we evaluated the association between plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) concentration and CAD risk in Iranian population.

METHODS

In a case-control study, we compared the level of tHcy of forty five patients of angiographically proven CAD with forty five subjects without CAD as control group matched for age and gender. The patients with diabetes, hypertension, thyroid dysfunction, chronic renal failure, hyperlipidemia and obesity and other conventional CAD risk factors were excluded from the study. Plasma tHcy was measured using immunoturbidimetry. The results were compared between groups using student t test.

RESULTS

CAD patients had significantly higher mean plasma tHcy than control group (17.1±5.3 versus 14.2±3.8, P= 0.004).

CONCLUSION

This study denoted that high plasma homocysteine concentration was associated to CAD risk in Iranian people.