Age and Sex-Related Outcomes in CMR Versus CT-Guided TAVR: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is the preferred treatment for older patients with severe aortic stenosis with outcomes influenced by age and sex. Computed tomography (CT) is the reference imaging modality for TAVR planning, while cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is an emerging alternative for this indication. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of age and sex on implantation success in patients undergoing CT- or CMR-guided TAVR.

Association of Intramyocardial Hemorrhage With Inflammatory Biomarkers in Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury patterns detected by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have important prognostic implications and trigger inflammatory processes that can further enhance myocardial tissue damage.

Objectives: The authors aimed to investigate the association of circulating inflammatory markers and I/R injury patterns in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods: This observational study included 456 STEMI patients.

Hepatic Tissue Alterations in ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Determinants and Prognostic Implications.

Background: The presence and clinical significance of hepatic tissue alterations as assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), are unclear. This study aimed to investigate associations of hepatic T1 patterns with myocardial tissue damage and clinical outcomes in patients suffering from STEMI.

Methods: We analyzed 485 patients with STEMI treated with percutaneous coronary intervention who were enrolled in the prospective MARINA STEMI study (Magnetic Resonance Imaging In Acute ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction).

Association of Circulating PCSK9 With Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Acute ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Beyond therapeutic implications, PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9) has emerged as a promising cardiovascular biomarker. The exact role of PCSK9 in the setting of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is incompletely understood. We aimed to investigate the association of PCSK9 with ischemia-reperfusion injury, visualized by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, in patients with STEMI revascularized by primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Cardiac shockwave therapy in addition to coronary bypass surgery improves myocardial function in ischaemic heart failure: the CAST-HF trial.

Background And Aims: In chronic ischaemic heart failure, revascularisation strategies control symptoms but are less effective in improving left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The aim of this trial is to investigate the safety of cardiac shockwave therapy (SWT) as a novel treatment option and its efficacy in increasing cardiac function by inducing angiogenesis and regeneration in hibernating myocardium.

Methods: In this single-blind, parallel-group, sham-controlled trial (cardiac shockwave therapy for ischemic heart failure, CAST-HF; NCT03859466) patients with LVEF ≤40% requiring surgical revascularisation were enrolled.

Clinical Outcomes Associated With Various Microvascular Injury Patterns Identified by CMR After STEMI.

Background: The prognostic significance of various microvascular injury (MVI) patterns after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is not well known.

Objectives: This study sought to investigate the prognostic implications of different MVI patterns in STEMI patients.

Methods: The authors analyzed 1,109 STEMI patients included in 3 prospective studies.

Mitral annular disjunction in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients-a retrospective cardiac MRI study.

Background: Mitral annular disjunction (MAD), defined as defective attachment of the mitral annulus to the ventricular myocardium, has recently been linked to malignant arrhythmias. However, its role and prognostic significance in patients requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) remain unknown. This retrospective analysis aimed to describe the prevalence and significance of MAD by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients.

Functional aortic valve area differs significantly between sexes: A phase-contrast cardiac MRI study in patients with severe aortic stenosis.

Background: Aortic stenosis (AS) is one of the most prevalent valvular heart-diseases in Europe. Currently, diagnosis and classification are not sex-sensitive; however, due to a distinctly different natural history of AS, further investigations of sex-differences in AS-patients are needed. Thus, this study aimed to detect sex-differences in severe AS, especially concerning flow-patterns, via phase-contrast cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (PC-CMR).

Culprit Lesion Vessel Size and Risk of Reperfusion Injury in ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.

Background: Microvascular obstruction (MVO) and intramyocardial hemorrhage (IMH) are well-established imaging biomarkers of failed myocardial tissue reperfusion in patients with ST-segment elevation-myocardial infarction treated with percutaneous coronary intervention. MVO and IMH are associated with an increased risk of adverse outcome independent of infarct size, but whether the size of the culprit lesion vessel plays a role in the occurrence and severity of reperfusion injury is currently unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the association between culprit lesion vessel size and the occurrence and severity of reperfusion injury as determined by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

Association of dysglycaemia with persistent infarct core iron in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: Dysglycaemia increases the risk of myocardial infarction and subsequent recurrent cardiovascular events. However, the role of dysglycaemia in ischemia/reperfusion injury with development of irreversible myocardial tissue alterations remains poorly understood. In this study we aimed to investigate the association of ongoing dysglycaemia with persistence of infarct core iron and their longitudinal changes over time in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Infarct severity and outcomes in ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients without standard modifiable risk factors - A multicenter cardiac magnetic resonance study.

Background: Standard modifiable cardiovascular risk factors (SMuRFs) are well-established players in the pathogenesis of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, in a significant proportion of STEMI patients, no SMuRFs can be identified, and the outcomes of this subgroup are not well described.

Objectives: To assess the infarct characteristics at myocardial-tissue level and subsequent clinical outcomes in SMuRF-less STEMIs.

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Versus Computed Tomography to Guide Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: A Randomized, Open-Label, Noninferiority Trial.

Background: Computed tomography (CT) is recommended for guiding transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). However, a sizable proportion of TAVR candidates have chronic kidney disease, in whom the use of iodinated contrast media is a limitation. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is a promising alternative, but randomized data comparing the effectiveness of CMR-guided versus CT-guided TAVR are lacking.

Correlation of 99mTc-DPD bone scintigraphy with histological amyloid load in patients with ATTR cardiac amyloidosis.

Background: The significance of measuring 99mTc-labelled-3,3-diphosphono-1,2-propanodicarboxylic acid (99mTc-DPD) in transthyretin (ATTR) cardiac amyloidosis has not been adequately studied. This single-centre observational study evaluated the correlation between 99mTc-DPD scintigraphy and histological amyloid load in endomyocardial biopsy (EMB).

Methods: Twenty-eight patients with biopsy-proven ATTR amyloidosis and concomitantly available 99mTc-DPD scintigraphy were included.

Temporal Trends in Infarct Severity Outcomes in ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.

Background Severity of myocardial tissue injury is a main determinant of morbidity and death related to ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Temporal trends of infarct characteristics at the myocardial tissue level have not been described. This study sought to assess temporal trends in infarct characteristics through a comprehensive assessment by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging at a standardized time point early after STEMI.

Visualization of the SyncAV Algorithm for CRT Optimization by Non-invasive Imaging of Cardiac Electrophysiology: NICE-CRT Trial.

(1) Background: Periodic repetitive AV interval optimization using a device-based algorithm in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices may improve clinical outcomes. There is an unmet need to successfully transform its application into clinical routine. (2) Methods: Non-invasive imaging of cardiac electrophysiology was performed in different device programming settings of the SyncAV algorithm in 14 heart failure patients with left bundle branch block and a PR interval ≤ 250 milliseconds to determine the shortest ventricular activation time.

Improved detection of echocardiographically occult left ventricular thrombi following ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate predictors of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE)-occult left ventricular (LV) thrombi (LVT) and to propose a clinical model for improved detection of TTE-occult LVT post-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Patients with acute STEMI are at significant risk for developing LVT. However, this complication often (up to 65%) remains undetected by using TTE, referred to as TTE-occult LVT.

Safety and efficacy of direct cardiac shockwave therapy in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (the CAST-HF trial): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial-an update.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains a severe socio-economic burden in the Western world. Coronary obstruction and subsequent myocardial ischemia result in the progressive replacement of contractile myocardium with dysfunctional, fibrotic scar tissue. Post-infarctional remodelling is causal for the concomitant decline of left-ventricular function and the fatal syndrome of heart failure.

Prevention of Oxidative Damage in Spinal Cord Ischemia Upon Aortic Surgery: First-In-Human Results of Shock Wave Therapy Prove Safety and Feasibility.

Background Spinal cord ischemia (SCI) remains a devastating complication after aortic dissection or repair. A primary hypoxic damage is followed by a secondary damage resulting in further cellular loss via apoptosis. Affected patients have a poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options.