Central blood pressure obtained by cuff-based oscillometry as a determinant of left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive patients.

Objective: Limited and conflicting data have been reported on the prognostic relevance of central blood pressure (CBP) compared with brachial blood pressure (BP) in the anticipation of hypertension-mediated organ damage and the majority of data derived using applanation tonometry with its known complexities. The objective of the present study was to investigate the diagnostic factors of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) with a special highlight on the utility of non-invasive oscillometric CBP measurement and derived hemodynamic indices compared to brachial BP as indicators of LVH.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 300 hypertensive patients (mean age 55.

Comparison between central and automated peripheral blood pressure measurement for early detection of kidney dysfunction in hypertensive patients.

Background: There is a close relationship between blood pressure levels and the risk of cardiovascular events, strokes, and kidney disease. For many years, the gold standard instrument for blood pressure measurement was a mercury sphygmomanometer and a stethoscope, but this century-old technique of Riva-Rocci/Korotkov is being progressively removed from clinical practice. Central blood pressure is considered better than peripheral blood pressure in predicting cardiovascular events, as it assesses wave reflections and viscoelastic properties of the arterial wall which make systolic and pulse pressures vary from central to peripheral arteries, but mean blood pressure is constant in the conduit arteries.

The role of preoperative venography in predicting the difficulty of a transvenous lead extraction procedure.

Introduction: We hypothesized that an accurate assessment of preoperative venography could be useful in predicting transvenous lead extraction (TLE) difficulty.

Methods And Results: A dedicated preoperative venogram was performed in consecutive patients with cardiac implantable electronic device who underwent TLE. The level of stenosis was classified as without significant stenosis, moderate, severe, and occlusion.

The additive value of copeptin for early diagnosis and prognosis of acute coronary syndromes.

Background: One promising biomarker that has received substantial interest for the evaluation of suspected acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is copeptin. Therefore, our goal was to assess the additive value of copeptin for early diagnosis and prognosis of Non-ST segment acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS).

Methods: The study included ninety patients with suspected ACS.

Hypertensive disorders in women with peripartum cardiomyopathy: insights from the ESC EORP PPCM Registry.

Aims: Hypertensive disorders occur in women with peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM). How often hypertensive disorders co-exist, and to what extent they impact outcomes, is less clear. We describe differences in phenotype and outcomes in women with PPCM with and without hypertensive disorders during pregnancy.

Transvenous lead extraction in patients with persistent left superior vena cava.

Purpose: Predictors of difficulty and complications of transvenous lead extraction (TLE) have been investigated in several studies; however, little is known about the venous anatomical characteristics that can have an impact on procedural outcomes. Among them, the persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is a common anomaly often discovered incidentally during cardiac device implantation and could raise concerns if TLE is indicated. We report technical considerations and outcomes of TLE for two patients with leads implanted via PLSVC.

Comparison between central and ambulatory blood pressure measurements in early detection of end organ damage: a single-center prospective non-randomized controlled trial.

Background: Both ambulatory blood pressure (AMBP) and non-invasive central blood pressure (NCBP) monitoring could be used as predictors for early detection of hypertensive end organ damage (EOD). However, the comparison between these two methods needs more clarification. Our cross-sectional study included 100 hypertensive patients with a mean age of 47.

Pulmonary vein remodeling following pulmonary vein isolation in patients with atrial fibrillation-do pulmonary veins represent only an epiphenomenon? A cardiac MRI study.

Background: After successful pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for atrial fibrillation (AF), the left atrium (LA) undergoes reverse remodeling. However, few studies have directly studied pulmonary vein (PV) remodeling and focused on whether pre PVI-PV conditions could predict outcome of the procedure. We hypothesize that: (I) post PVI, in addition to LA remodeling the PVs undergo a parallel degree of remodeling; and (II) that PV characteristics pre PVI can be used to identify patients more likely to sustain normal sinus rhythm (NSR).

Demographic features and prevalence of myocarditis in patients undergoing transarterial endomyocardial biopsy for unexplained cardiomyopathy.

Background: The diagnosis of myocarditis is still a challenge. The true incidence of the disease is unknown due to great variation in clinical manifestations.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the demographic features and in-hospital prevalence of myocarditis in patients undergoing transarterial endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) for unexplained cardiomyopathy.

Plasma levels of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in children with heart failure.

Introduction: Data about plasma levels of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in children with heart failure (HF) are very limited. NGAL is used widely as a biomarker for the diagnosis of renal injury in numerous clinical studies. The aim of this study is to investigate the plasma NGAL in children with HF caused by idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM) and its relation to the severity of HF.

Trans-venous lead removal without the use of extraction sheaths, results of >250 removal procedures.

Aims: The number of implanted cardiac rhythm devices has rapidly increased in the past decade. Subsequently, the need for lead extraction has also increased. Several techniques of lead removal have been documented from manual traction of the lead to lead extraction assisted with mechanical or laser sheaths.

Evaluation of recently validated non- invasive formula using basic lung functions as new screening tool for pulmonary hypertension in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients.

Background: A prediction formula for mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP) using standard lung function measurement has been recently validated to screen for pulmonary hypertension (PH) in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients.

Objective: To test the usefulness of this formula as a new non invasive screening tool for PH in IPF patients. Also, to study its correlation with patients' clinical data, pulmonary function tests, arterial blood gases (ABGs) and other commonly used screening methods for PH including electrocardiogram (ECG), chest X ray (CXR), trans-thoracic echocardiography (TTE) and computerized tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA).