Feasibility and cost of FH cascade screening in Belgium (BEL-CASCADE) including a novel rapid rule-out strategy.

Background: Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is underdiagnosed in most countries. We report our first experience from a national pilot project of cascade screening in relatives of FH patients.

Methodology: Participating specialists recruited consecutive index patients (IP) with Dutch Lipid Clinic Network (DLCN) score ≥6.

A microvascular myocardial infarction in a 16-year-old girl with antiphospholipid syndrome: a case report.

: The antiphospholipid syndrome can manifest itself by silent (or not) myocardial infarction. : We report the case of a 16-year-old girl who presented a myocardial infarction for whom a coronary-computer tomography did not reveal any coronary abnormalities or obstruction. She had a livedo reticularis on her physical exam.

Practical recommendations on the use of echocardiography to assess pulmonary arterial hypertension--a Belgian expert consensus endorsed by the Working Group on Non-Invasive Cardiac Imaging.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is defined by a sustained increase in mean pulmonary arterial pressure > 25 mmHg. Due to its widespread availability, echocardiography (ECHO) is used as the first-line imaging modality to detect pulmonary PH and assess right ventricular (RV) function in daily routine. As such, ECHO is the key examination to detect the presence of PH, to provide valuable prognostic information and to give an orientation to therapeutic strategies.

Coronary stenting is associated with an acute increase in plasma myeloperoxidase in stable angina patients but not in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Myeloperoxidase (MPO) has emerged as a critical mediator in the physiopathology of atherosclerosis from plaque formation and growth until destabilization and rupture leading to acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Using coronary stenting as a model of plaque injury, we aimed to determine the evolution of systemic MPO levels following coronary stenting in stable angina patients and in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods: Plasma levels of MPO, lactoferrin, interleukin (IL)-6, C-reactive protein and PMN counts were assessed in 13 patients with Non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) (Group A) and in 29 patients with stable angina pectoris (Group B), undergoing coronary stenting.

Uncommon acquired Gerbode defect (left ventricular to right atrial communication) following a tricuspid annuloplasty without concomitant mitral surgery.

Left ventricular (LV) to right atrial (RA) communication, also known as Gerbode defect, is very rare, usually congenital but sometimes also acquired. Cases of Gerbode defect have been reported after left valve surgery, usually valve replacement. We describe the first case of LV-RA communication following a tricuspid annuloplasty not combined to a left valve surgery.

An unusual case of late bioprosthetic mitral valve thrombosis successfully managed with anticoagulation.

In this report, we present the case of a patient with hemodynamically significant thrombosis of a mitral bioprosthesis occurring 11 years after valve replacement. The diagnosis was suspected on the basis of a subacute increase in the transvalvular gradient seen on transthoracic echocardiography and was con- firmed by transesophageal echocardiography which disclosed unusual features. A hypercoagulable work up showed raised plasma factor VIII levels.

Sympathetic control after cardiac resynchronization therapy: responders versus nonresponders.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) decreases muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) in patients with severe congestive heart failure (CHF) and cardiac asynchrony. Whether this affects equally patients who clinically respond or not to CRT is unknown. We tested the hypothesis that the favorable effects of CRT on MSNA disappear on CRT interruption only in those who respond to CRT.