Right atrial phasic function and outcome in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction: Insights from speckle-tracking and three-dimensional echocardiography.

Background: Atrial phasic function can be assessed using speckle-tracking and three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography. The extent and role of right atrial (RA) dysfunction in left-sided heart failure (HF) is incompletely understood. We aimed to characterize RA phasic function in HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and to assess its prognostic significance.

Three-dimensional right ventriculo-arterial coupling as an independent determinant of severe heart failure symptoms in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Background: Right ventricular-pulmonary artery coupling (RVPAC) is a predictor of outcome in pulmonary hypertension. However, the role of this parameter in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) remains to be established. The aim of this study was to assess the contribution of RVPAC to the occurrence of severe heart failure (HF) symptoms in patients with DCM using three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography.

Non-invasive right ventriculo-arterial coupling as a rehospitalization predictor in dilated cardiomyopathy: A comparison of five different methods.

Background: Right ventricular (RV) pulmonary artery coupling (RVPAC) is a predictor of outcome in left-sided heart failure (HF). Several echocardiographic estimates for RVPAC have been proposed.

Aims: This study aimed to compare multiple non-invasive methods to calculate RVPAC and to assess its prognostic role in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Severe Coronary Artery Disease in a Person Living with HIV.

The pathophysiology of accelerated atherosclerosis in people living with Human Immunofediciency virus (HIV) is complex. Coronary artery disease (CAD) has become an important cause of mortality in these patients. They often have atypical symptoms, leading to frequently missed diagnoses.

The prognostic value of right ventricular longitudinal strain and 3D ejection fraction in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Several studies showed that right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is a powerful predictor in heart failure (HF). Advanced echocardiographic techniques such as speckle-tracking imaging and three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography proved to be accurate tools for RV assessment, but their clinical significance remains to be clarified. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of two-dimensional (2D) RV strain and 3D ejection fraction (RVEF) in predicting adverse outcome in patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Ratio between Right Ventricular Longitudinal Strain and Pulmonary Arterial Systolic Pressure: Novel Prognostic Parameter in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy.

Background: We aimed to evaluate whether right ventricle (RV) longitudinal strain indexed to pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PASP) has prognostic significance in patients undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

Methods: Patients undergoing CRT were prospectively included. The primary endpoint was adverse cardiovascular events (death and HF-related hospitalizations).

Right ventricular-arterial coupling - A new perspective for right ventricle evaluation in heart failure patients undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Background: Right ventricular - arterial (RV-PA) coupling can be estimated by echocardiography using the ratio between (TAPSE) and pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PASP). TAPSE/PASP ratio proved to be a prognostic parameter in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Objective: To evaluate the significance of RV-PA coupling in patients with HFrEF undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

The Role of Left-Atrial Mechanics Assessed by Two-Dimensional Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography to Differentiate Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy from Hypertensive Left-Ventricular Hypertrophy.

Unlabelled: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and arterial hypertension (HTN) are conditions with different pathophysiology, but both can result in left-ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). The role of left-atrial (LA) functional changes detected by two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) in indicating LVH etiology is unknown.

Methods: We aimed to characterize LA mechanics using STE in LVH patients with HCM and HTN.

Forgotten No More-The Role of Right Ventricular Dysfunction in Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction: An Echocardiographic Perspective.

During the last decade, studies have raised awareness of the crucial role that the right ventricle plays in various clinical settings, including diseases primarily linked to the left ventricle. The assessment of right ventricular performance with conventional echocardiography is challenging. Novel echocardiographic techniques improve the functional assessment of the right ventricle and they show good correlation with the gold standard represented by cardiac magnetic resonance.

Combined right and left ventricular mechanical dispersion enhance the arrhythmic risk stratification in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Ventricular arrhythmias are the most frequent cause of sudden cardiac death in individuals with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). In the present study we investigated if combined left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) mechanical dispersion (MD) are correlated with ventricular arrhythmias. We aimed also to analyze if MD enhances the arrhythmic risk stratification in HCM.

Left Atrial Strain for Predicting Atrial Fibrillation Onset in Hypertensive Patients.

Introduction: We aimed to find new predictive parameters for atrial fibrillation (AF) onset in hypertensive patients using two-dimensional (2D) conventional and speckle tracking echocardiography of the left atrium (LA).

Methods: One hundred and eight patients with essential hypertension (HTN) were prospectively enrolled, from which 67 patients had no other important comorbidities (HTN group), while 41 patients had a recent AF episode, but were in sinus rhythm at the moment of enrollment (HTN and AF group). LA diameters and maximal volume, LV mass, LV ejection fraction and diastolic function were assessed through 2D conventional echocardiography.

Exploring the Continuum of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy-From DNA to Clinical Expression.

The concepts underlying hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) pathogenesis have evolved greatly over the last 60 years since the pioneering work of the British pathologist Donald Teare, presenting the autopsy findings of "asymmetric hypertrophy of the heart in young adults". Advances in human genome analysis and cardiac imaging techniques have enriched our understanding of the complex architecture of the malady and shaped the way we perceive the illness continuum. Presently, HCM is acknowledged as "a disease of the sarcomere", where the relationship between genotype and phenotype is not straightforward but subject to various genetic and nongenetic influences.

Prognostic Value of Right Ventricular Function Assessed by Echocardiography in Patients Presenting With a First Acute ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction Treated By Primary PCI.

Aims: Informations regarding the prognostic value of right ventricular function changes in the setting of a first acute ST elevation myocardial infarction irrespective of the site of the necrosis and of the left ventricular systolic function are scarce. Purpose of the study was to assess the relation between parameters reflecting global and systolic right ventricular function assessed by conventional, speckle tracking and three-dimensional echocardiography and in hospital major cardiac events (MACE).

Materials And Methods: We have prospectively analyzed a cohort of 44 consecutive patients (mean age 62,71 years, 70.

The prevalence of peripheral arterial disease in relationship with cardiovascular risk factors in Romania.

Unlabelled: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) represents a disease with high prevalence and related mortality and morbidity. However, there are spearing epidemiological information regarding PAD in Romania. The objective of our study was to evaluate the prevalence of PAD in relationship with cardiovascular risk factors (RF) in Romania.