Gadolinium-based coronary angiography in a patient with prior known anaphylaxis to iodine-based dye.

Gadodiamide is a gadolinium-based chemical element that is considered safe and well tolerated in patients without renal dysfunction and is therefore routinely used as a contrast agent in magnetic resonance imaging. Although radio-opaque, it is not frequently used for coronary angiography due to its less than optimal image quality and prohibitive cost. Our center's previous experience was less than satisfactory but the addition of a power injection system yielded good quality diagnostic images.

Coronary Stents in Diabetic Patients: State of the Knowledge.

Purpose Of Review: This review article aims to summarize the findings of the most relevant research that compared the use of paclitaxel vs. "limus" based drug eluting stent (DES) in diabetic patients and to define the current state of knowledge with new stent technologies in this patient population.

Recent Findings: Since drug eluting stents (DES) were introduced, it has been of great interest to establish whether paclitaxel or sirolimus eluting stents have the same safety and efficacy features for patients with coronary artery disease.

Predictors, Trends, and Outcomes (Among Older Patients ≥65 Years of Age) Associated With Beta-Blocker Use in Patients With Stable Angina Undergoing Elective Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Insights From the NCDR Registry.

Objectives: This study sought to examine predictors, trends, and outcomes associated with β-blocker prescriptions at discharge in patients with stable angina without prior history of myocardial infarction (MI) or systolic heart failure (HF) undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Background: The benefits of β-blockers in patients with MI and/or systolic HF are well established. However, whether β-blockers affect outcomes in patients with stable angina, especially after PCI, remains uncertain.

Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Pseudoaneurysm after Aortic Valve Replacement.

Left ventricular outflow tract pseudoaneurysm is an uncommon complication following aortic valve replacement (AVR), occurring most frequently secondary to endocarditis. We present a case of a 47-year-old female with a history of intravenous drug abuse and a past surgical history of two AVRs (2001 and 2009 with aortic root replacement for endocarditis) who presented with symptoms of lower extremity weakness. Subsequent radiologic imaging revealed the presence of a left ventricular outflow tract pseudoaneurysm, which was surgically managed with a homologous conduit.

Changes in myocardial infarction guideline adherence as a function of patient risk: an end to paradoxical care?

Objectives: The goals of this analysis were to determine: 1) whether guideline-based care during hospitalization for a myocardial infarction (MI) varied as a function of patients' baseline risk; and 2) whether temporal improvements in guideline adherence occurred in all risk groups.

Background: Guideline-based care of patients with MI improves outcomes, especially among those at higher risk. Previous studies suggest that this group is paradoxically less likely to receive guideline-based care (risk-treatment mismatch).

The significance of transient ischemic dilation in the setting of otherwise normal SPECT radionuclide myocardial perfusion images.

Background: Transient ischemic dilation (TID) in the setting of an abnormal SPECT radionuclide myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) study is considered a marker of severe and extensive coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the clinical significance of TID and its association with CAD in patients with an otherwise normal MPI study is unclear.

Methods: From a database of patients who underwent MPI over a 9-year period, 96 without known cardiac history who had normal image perfusion patterns, and who underwent coronary angiography within 6 months, were identified.

Risk Factors in first presentation acute coronary syndromes (ACS): how do we move from population to individualized risk prediction?

Patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) have a poor short- and long-term prognosis. We sought to examine the presence of established coronary risk factors in contemporary patients presenting with an ACS for the first time and no known coronary artery disease (CAD) in the past. The study was conducted in 3171 consecutive patients admitted with the diagnosis of ACS.

A prior myocardial infarction: how does it affect management and outcomes in recurrent acute coronary syndromes?

Background: Despite improved secondary prevention efforts, acute coronary syndrome (ACS) recurrence among patients with prior history of coronary events remains high. The differences in presentation, management, and subsequent clinical outcomes in patients with and without a prior myocardial infarction (MI) and presenting with another episode of ACS remain unexplored.

Methods: A total of 3,624 consecutive patients admitted to the University of Michigan with ACS from January 1999 to June 2006 were studied retrospectively.

Cardiovascular risk, obesity, and myocardial blood flow in postmenopausal women.

Background: This study was designed to determine whether overweight or obese status is independently associated with myocardial flow reserve (MFR), an established predictor of cardiovascular mortality, in a group of postmenopausal women with no previous cardiovascular disease. Postmenopausal women are the largest group of overweight and physically inactive individuals in the United States. Increased body mass index (BMI) is consistently associated with increased cardiovascular mortality in this population.

Impact of duty hours restrictions on quality of care and clinical outcomes.

Background: In July 2003, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education instituted residency duty-hours requirements in response to growing concerns regarding clinician fatigue and the incidence of medical errors. These changes, which limited maximum continuous hours worked and total hours per week, often resulted in increased discontinuity of care. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of the duty-hours restrictions on quality of care and outcomes of patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Temporal trends in antiplatelet/antithrombotic use in acute coronary syndromes and in-hospital major bleeding complications.

Antithrombotic and antiplatelet agents are essential for the management of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACSs). These pharmacologic agents have the potential for increased risk of bleeding. It is not clear if the increased uptake of these therapies has resulted in a clinically evident increase in bleeding complications over time.

Drospirenone for oral contraception and hormone replacement therapy: are its cardiovascular risks and benefits the same as other progestogens?

The use of combined estrogen/progesterone has been shown to result in an increased cardiovascular risk in randomised double-blinded trials. However, these studies used oral progestogen (progestin) preparations, which lack anti-mineralocorticoid activity and have suboptimal anti-androgenic activity compared with progesterone. Drospirenone is a unique progestogen that has clinically been shown to have anti-mineralocorticoid/anti-androgenic effects.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors: a new mechanism of action.

Background: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are valuable agents for the treatment of hypertension, heart failure, and other cardiovascular and renal diseases. The cardioprotective effects of ACE inhibitors are mediated by blockade of both conversion of angiotensin (Ang) I to Ang II and kinin hydrolysis. Here, we report a novel mechanism that may explain the cardiac antifibrotic effect of ACE inhibition, involving blockade of the hydrolysis of N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP).