A metric for evaluating the cardiac response to resynchronization therapy.

We hypothesized that the response to cardiac resynchronization therapy with a defibrillator (CRT-D) in patients with mildly symptomatic heart failure (HF) is more favorable than the commonly referenced figure of 70%. This study involves the Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial with Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (MADIT-CRT) study population in which paired echocardiograms from baseline and 1-year follow-up were available in 621 implantable cardioverter-defibrillator-treated patients and 749 patients treated with CRT-D. We prespecified CRT-D responders as the patients who at 1-year follow-up had a reduction in left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV) that corresponded to the top (best) quintile of LVESV reduction in the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator-treated patients, that is, a ≥17% reduction in LVESV.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy is associated with reductions in left atrial volume and inappropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy in MADIT-CRT.

Background: There are no prior studies assessing the relationship between left atrial volume (LAV) and inappropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy following treatment with cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that patients randomized to cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillator (CRT-D) in the Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Trial-Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (MADIT-CRT) who had significant LAV reductions would have reduced risks of inappropriate ICD therapy.

Methods: Cardiac resynchronization remodeling was assessed by measuring LAV change between baseline and 12-month echocardiograms in 751 CRT-D treated patients.

New-onset atrial fibrillation predicts malignant arrhythmias in post-myocardial infarction patients--a Cardiac Arrhythmias and RIsk Stratification after acute Myocardial infarction (CARISMA) substudy.

Background: After myocardial infarction (MI) the risk of sudden cardiac death due to arrhythmias is substantial.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate if new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with development of potential malignant brady- and tachyarrhythmias after an acute MI.

Methods: The study included 277 post-MI patients from the CARISMA study with left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 40%, New York Heart Association class I, II, or III and no history of AF.

NT-ProBNP independently predicts long-term mortality in patients admitted for coronary angiography.

Recently, research interests are focussed on biomarkers to predict the outcome in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). We examined whether the levels of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) could predict outcome in patients who underwent elective or acute coronary angiography (CAG). A total of 337 patients with suspected CAD who underwent elective or acute CAG were followed up for a mean period of 6.

[Methylphenidate induced ST elevation acute myocardial infarction].

Adult attention deficit and hyperkinetic disorder (ADHD) is increasingly diagnosed and treated with methylphenidate. We present the case of an 20 year-old man, who was diagnosed with ADHD and suffered a ST elevation acute myocardial infarction due to coronary vasospasm related to an overdose, and subsequent episodes of myocardial injury due to the use and misuse of methylphenidate over a period of two years. We recommend an increased attention to the subscription of methylphenidate to patients, who are at risk of misuse and patients, who have a cardiovascular history.