Diagnostic significance of three-dimensional echocardiography in asymptomatic unicuspid aortic valve.

Unicuspid aortic valve (UAV) is a rare congenital anomaly of aorta associated with a faster progress of valvular dysfunction, aortic dilatation and with necessity for more frequent controls and precise evaluation Asymptomatic 35 year old man had abnormal systolic diastolic murmur on aortic valve during routine examination. Initial diagnostic with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) supposed bicuspid aortic valve, while three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3D TEE) and multidetector computed tomography defined unicuspid, unicomissural aortic valve with moderate aortic stenosis and regurgitation. This case report confirmed that 3D TEE gives us opportunity for early, improved and precise diagnosis of UAV.

The cardioprotective role of preinfarction angina as shown in outcomes of patients after first myocardial infarction.

This prospective study evaluated the relationship between preinfarction angina (2 months before a 1st acute myocardial infarction) and the extent of postinfarction myocardial injury, myocardial perfusion, contractile function, and late recovery of global left ventricular contractile function. We enrolled 46 patients who had been admitted for a 1st, single-vessel-disease, acute myocardial infarction. Low-dose dobutamine echocardiography and technetium-99m-tetrofosmin scintigraphy were performed on all patients 7 to 10 days after acute myocardial infarction; and resting echocardiography was performed 7 to 12 months later.