Are aortic coarctation and rheumatoid arthritis different models of aortic stiffness? Data from an echocardiographic study.

Background: Patients who underwent a successful repair of the aortic coarctation (CoA) show high risk for cardiovascular (CV) events. Mechanical and structural abnormalities in the ascending aorta (Ao) might have a role in the prognosis of CoA patients. We analyzed the elastic properties of Ao measured as aortic stiffness index (AoSI) in CoA patients in the long-term period and we compared AoSI with a cohort of 38 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 38 non-RA matched controls.

Echocardiographic markers of inducible myocardial ischemia at baseline evaluation preparatory to exercise stress echocardiography.

Background: Tissue Doppler Imaging (TDI) is a sensible and feasible method to detect longitudinal left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction (LVSD) in patients with diabetes mellitus, hypertension or ischemic heart disease. In this study, we hypothesized that longitudinal LVSD assessed by TDI predicted inducible myocardial ischemia independently of other echocardiographic variables (assessed as coexisting potential markers) in patients at increased cardiovascular (CV) risk.

Methods: Two hundred one patients at high CV risk defined according to the ESC Guidelines 2012 underwent exercise stress echocardiography (ExSEcho) for primary prevention.

Insights from Cardiac Mechanics after Three Decades from Successfully Repaired Aortic Coarctation.

Background And Aims: Patients who underwent a successful repair of the aortic coarctation show chronic hyperdynamic state and normal left ventricular (LV) geometry; however, there are few data regarding the LV systolic function in the long term. Accordingly, we assessed LV systolic mechanics and factors associated with LV systolic dysfunction (LVSD) in patients with repaired CoA.

Methods: Clinical and echocardiographic data from 19 repaired CoA were analyzed 28 ± 13 years after surgery.

Oral anticoagulation and VKORC1 polymorphism in patients with a mechanical heart prosthesis: a 6-year follow-up.

Therapy with Vitamin K antagonists (VKA) effectively reduces the thrombosis risk in many clinical conditions. Genetic variants of vitamin K epoxide reductase (VKORC-1) are associated with increased VKA effect and bleeding risk. It is unknown whether these variants could also affect the long-term outcome in patients with high-dosage oral anticoagulation and/or more difficult adherence to the therapeutic INR range.

Morbidity and mortality in 229 elderly patients with nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation. A five-year follow-up.

Background: In the elderly the impact of atrial fibrillation on mortality and morbidity is substantial. Oral anticoagulant therapy reduces the risk of stroke by 70%; nevertheless, it remains largely underused. We evaluated, in a community prospective study, the factors associated with embolic events and death and the feasibility of oral anticoagulant therapy managed by general practitioners.