Multiparametric assessment of right ventricular function in heart transplant recipients by echocardiography and relations with pulmonary hemodynamics.

Objective: Right ventricular (RV) dilatation and dysfunction are usually present in heart transplant (HTx) patients and worsened with residual pulmonary hypertension (PH). We aimed to determine the ability of different echocardiographic modalities to evaluate RV function in comparison with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and their relations with pulmonary hemodynamics in HTx patients.

Methods: A total of 62 data sets [echocardiographic, hemodynamic, and CMR] were acquired from 35 HTx patients.

Direct aortic transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a safe and effective alternative to surgical valve replacement in intermediate and even in low-risk patient cohorts. Direct aortic (DAo) route may be used in patients with severe peripheral vascular disease. Here, we present an 88-year old patient hospitalized with cardiogenic shock.

Longitudinal Strain and Strain Rate for Estimating Left Ventricular Filling Pressure in Heart Transplant Recipients.

Traditional parameters have limited value to estimate left ventricular filling pressure (LVFP) in orthotropic heart transplant (OHT) recipients. We hypothesized that global longitudinal strain (GLS), diastolic, and systolic strain rate (SR) would be depressed in OHT recipients with elevated LVFP and could overcome the limitations of traditional parameters. We studied consecutively OHT patients at the time of endomyocardial biopsies and retrospectively pretransplantation studies conforming to the same protocol.

Value of cardiopulmonary exercise testing in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease.

Introduction: Respiratory and cardiac functions in association with skeletal and neurophysiologic systems can be evaluated with cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). Compared to treadmill exercise test, CPET provides more comprehensive data about the hemodynamic response to exercise.

Materials And Methods: We aimed to evaluate the relationship with CPET findings and coronary lesions identified on angiography in patients with angina pectoris who underwent teradmill exercise, CPET and coronary angiography (CAG).

Evaluation of hs-CRP and sLOX-1 Levels in Moderate-to-High Risk Acute Coronary Syndromes.

Objective: Risk stratification and prompt treatment are essential for the management of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and prediction of future prognosis. Subclinical vascular inflammation and novel biomarkers play an important role in the clinical evaluation of ACS patients.

Methods: We enrolled patients who were admitted to emergency service with unstable angina or non- ST segment elevated ACS (NSTE-ACS) in the study population.