Prognostic Value of Incidental Coronary Artery Calcifications in Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiography for Suspected Pulmonary Embolism.

Computed tomography (CT) has emerged as a noninvasive method to identify coronary artery calcifications (CAC). We sought to investigate the association between opportunistic visual CAC evaluation in patients without known coronary artery disease who underwent CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) for pulmonary embolism (PE) suspicion, and cardiovascular prognosis. We analyzed data of patients who underwent CTPA for suspected PE in 2017 at CHU Dupuytren, Limoges, France.

Morphological and dynamic analysis of the normal aortic valve with 4D computed tomography.

Objectives: To evaluate the precise dimensions of the normal aortic root, especially the true aortic annulus, during the cardiac cycle using an innovative reconstruction method based on multiphase cardiac computed tomography and to assess the feasibility and the reproducibility of this method for aortic root analysis.

Methods: Between January 2019 and June 2021, 30 optimal consecutive ECG-gated multiphase cardiac computed tomography of patients with normal tricuspid aortic valve were analysed using an in-house software. Aortic annulus border was pinpointed on 9 reconstructed planes and the 3D coordinates of the 18 consecutive points were interpolated into a 3D curve using a cubic spline.

Distribution and determinants of coronary artery calcium score in asymptomatic patients with Type-2 diabetes: The French-CAC100 score.

Background: Coronary artery calcium score (CACS) refines the cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk prediction in patients with Type-2 diabetes (T2D). We aimed to identify the determinants for high CACS in CVD-free patients with T2D.

Methods: We studied 796 patients with T2D with CACS measured in three centers: two in continental France and a third in the Reunion Island.

Left ventricular assessment in patients with systemic light chain amyloidosis: a 3-dimensional speckle tracking transthoracic echocardiographic study.

Cardiac involvement in systemic light chain (AL) amyloidosis carries a poor prognosis mainly through involvement of the left ventricular (LV) myocardium. Despite its limitations, two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (2D-TTE) remains the main tool used for the assessment of LV systolic function in AL patients. We hypothesize that 3D-TTE coupled with speckle tracking imaging allows earlier detection of LV systolic dysfunction than 2D-TTE in AL amyloidosis.

Comparison of echocardiographic parameters in Fabry cardiomyopathy and light-chain cardiac amyloidosis.

Background: Fabry cardiomyopathy (FC) and light-chain amyloid cardiomyopathy (AL) present with concentric left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy/remodeling and diastolic rather than systolic dysfunction. Direct comparisons are difficult due to rarity and confounded by variability of LV thickness.

Aims: To compare LV diastolic and systolic properties between patients with FC and AL in a cohort matched for interventricular septal thickness (IVS).

Left atrial function in patients with light chain amyloidosis: A transthoracic 3D speckle tracking imaging study.

Background: Systemic light chain amyloidosis (AL) is characterized by the extracellular deposition of amyloid fibrils. Transthoracic echocardiography is the modality of choice to assess cardiac function in patients with AL. Whereas left ventricular (LV) function has been well studied in this patient population, data regarding the value of left atrial (LA) function in AL patients are lacking.

Impact of Pulmonary Hypertension on Outcome in Patients with Severe Aortic Stenosis and Preserved Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction.

Aims: The prognostic impact of elevated pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) remains controversial in aortic stenosis (AS) and few studies focused on patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). We aimed to investigate the impact of pulmonary hypertension (PH), invasively derived, on survival in severe AS with preserved LVEF.

Methods And Results: Between 2000 and 2010, 749 patients (74 ± 8 years, 57% males) with preserved LVEF and severe AS without other valvular heart disease underwent cardiac catheterization.

Prevalence and prognostic impact of left-sided valve thickening in systemic light-chain amyloidosis.

Background: Left heart valve thickening (LVT) was described in patients with light-chain amyloidosis (AL). This phenomenon reflects likely infiltration of the valve by amyloid proteins. However, the prevalence of LVT and its prognostic value have not been investigated in patients with AL.

Prognostic value of left atrial function in systemic light-chain amyloidosis: a cardiac magnetic resonance study.

Background: Cardiac involvement in systemic light-chain amyloidosis (AL) imparts an adverse impact on outcome. The left atrium (LA), by virtue of its anatomical location and muscular wall, is commonly affected by the amyloid process. Although LA infiltration by amyloid fibrils leads to a reduction in its pump function, the infiltration of the left ventricular (LV) myocardium results in diastolic dysfunction with subsequent increase in filling pressures and LA enlargement.

Prognostic impact of global left ventricular hemodynamic afterload in severe aortic stenosis with preserved ejection fraction.

Introduction: Global left ventricular (LV) afterload as assessed by valvulo-arterial impedance (Zva), may be an independent predictor of mortality in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) and preserved LV ejection fraction (LVEF). However, its quantification using echocardiography may be subject to error measurement. We aimed to determine the prevalence and impact on long-term survival of high Zva, purposely measured by cardiac catheterization.

Prevalence and long-term outcome of aortic prosthesis-patient mismatch in patients with paradoxical low-flow severe aortic stenosis.

Background: Patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) and paradoxical low flow (PLF) have worse outcome compared with those with normal flow. Furthermore, prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM) after aortic valve replacement is a predictor of reduced survival. However, the prevalence and prognostic impact of PPM in patients with PLF-AS are unknown.