Cardiometabolic biomarker patterns associated with cardiac MRI defined fibrosis and microvascular dysfunction in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Introduction: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a complex disease process influenced by metabolic disorders, systemic inflammation, myocardial fibrosis, and microvascular dysfunction. The goal of our study is to identify potential relationships between plasma biomarkers and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging markers in patients with HFpEF.

Methods: Nineteen subjects with HFpEF and 15 age-matched healthy controls were enrolled and underwent multiparametric CMR and plasma biomarker analysis using the Olink® Cardiometabolic Panel (Olink Proteomics, Uppsala, Sweden).

Alirocumab and plaque volume, calf muscle blood flow, and walking performance in peripheral artery disease: A randomized clinical trial.

Background: The distal superficial femoral artery (SFA) is most commonly affected in peripheral artery disease (PAD). The effects of the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor alirocumab added to statin therapy on SFA atherosclerosis, downstream flow, and walking performance are unknown.

Methods: Thirty-five patients with PAD on maximally tolerated statin therapy were recruited.

Long-term outcomes in patients with normal coronary arteries, nonobstructive, or obstructive coronary artery disease on invasive coronary angiography.

Background: Normal or near normal coronary arteries (NNCA) or nonobstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) are commonly found on invasive coronary angiography (ICA).

Hypothesis: We aimed to determine long-term outcomes by severity of CAD in a contemporary cohort of patients undergoing ICA for evaluation for ischemic heart disease.

Methods: We assessed a consecutive cohort of 925 patients who underwent non-emergent ICA over 24 months.

Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography Demonstrates a High Burden of Coronary Artery Disease Despite Low-Risk Nuclear Studies in Pre-Liver Transplant Evaluation.

We investigated the presence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) candidates using coronary artery calcium score (CACS) and coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) as compared with the prevalence of normal and abnormal single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). A total of 140 prospective OLT candidates without known CAD underwent coronary artery calcium (CAC) scans with (n = 77) or without CCTA and coronary computed tomography angiography-derived fractional flow reserve (FFR ; n = 57) using a dual-source computed tomography (CT) and were followed for 2.6 ± 1.

Frequency of Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction and Diffuse Myocardial Fibrosis (Measured by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance) in Patients With Heart Failure and Preserved Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is frequently accompanied by co-morbidities and a systemic proinflammatory state, resulting in coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD), as well as myocardial fibrosis. The purpose of this study is to examine the relation between myocardial perfusion reserve (MPR) and diffuse myocardial fibrosis in patients with HFpEF using cardiovascular magnetic resonance. A single center study was performed in 19 patients with clinical HFpEF and 15 healthy control subjects who underwent quantitative first-pass perfusion imaging to calculate global MPR.

Role of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Valvular Heart Disease: Diagnosis, Assessment, and Management.

Purpose Of Review: This article will review the current techniques in cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) for diagnosing and assessing primary valvular heart disease.

Recent Findings: The recent advancements in CMR have led to an increased role of this modality for qualifying and quantifying various native valve diseases. Phase-contrast velocity encoded imaging is a well-established technique that can be used to quantify aortic and pulmonic flow.

Myocardial Viability Testing to Guide Coronary Revascularization.

Left ventricular dysfunction remains one of the best prognostic determinants of survival in patients with coronary artery disease. Revascularization has been shown to improve survival compared with medical therapy alone. Viability testing can help direct patients who will benefit the most from revascularization.

Cardiac MRI for the evaluation of oncologic cardiotoxicity.

Cancer therapeutics-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) is a well-established adverse effect resulting from a number of cancer therapeutics. Newer immunotherapy has been associated with cardiomyopathy and myocarditis making comprehensive imaging useful for early recognition. Cardiac MRI (CMR) offers a comprehensive evaluation to detect CTRCD.

Clinical Characteristics, Sex Differences, and Outcomes in Patients With Normal or Near-Normal Coronary Arteries, Non-Obstructive or Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: Normal or near-normal coronary arteries (NNCAs) or nonobstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) are found on invasive coronary angiography in ≈55% of patients. Some attribute this to frequent referral of low-risk patients. We sought to identify the referral indications, pretest risk, key clinical characteristics, sex, and outcomes in patients with NNCAs and nonobstructive CAD versus obstructive CAD on nonemergent invasive coronary angiography.

Usefulness of Achieving ≥10 METs With a Negative Stress Electrocardiogram to Screen for High-Risk Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease in Patients Referred for Coronary Angiography After Exercise Stress Testing.

Functional capacity in exercise stress testing is an independent predictor of cardiac events. Routine use of nuclear perfusion imaging increases radiation burden and cost. Our goal was to assess the clinical utility of exercise functional capacity with stress electrocardiogram (ECG) as an adjunct in predicting the presence of high-risk obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) on diagnostic coronary angiography.

Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction, Microvascular Angina, and Management.

Recent analyses have found that coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) portends a poor prognosis in patients with and without obstructive epicardial coronary artery disease (CAD). Chest pain in the absence of epicardial CAD is a common entity. Angina caused by CMD, microvascular angina (MVA), is often indistinguishable from that caused by obstructive epicardial CAD.

Coronary microvascular dysfunction, microvascular angina, and treatment strategies.

Angina without coronary artery disease (CAD) has substantial morbidity and is present in 10% to 30% of patients undergoing angiography. Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is present in 50% to 65% of these patients. The optimal treatment of this cohort is undefined.

Effect of renal function on prognosis in chronic heart failure.

Renal dysfunction (RD) is associated with increased mortality in heart failure (HF). The aim of this study was to identify whether worsened or improved renal function during mid-term follow-up is associated with worsened outcomes in patients with chronic HF. A total of 892 participants from a multicenter cohort study of chronic HF were followed over 3.