Determinants of functional mitral regurgitation severity in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy versus nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Aims: Functional mitral regurgitation (MR) is prevalent among patients with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and is associated with a poorer prognosis. Our aim was to assess the primary determinants of MR severity in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) and nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Methods And Results: Patients with functional MR secondary to ICM (n = 55) and DCM (n = 48) were prospectively enrolled.

Increased right atrial volume index predicts low Duke activity status index in patients with chronic heart failure.

Introduction: The aim of the present study was to examine the value of the right atrial volume index (RAVI) as predictor of functional capacity in patients with heart failure.

Methods: A total of 51 patients with stable chronic heart failure of ischaemic or non-ischaemic aetiology were prospectively enrolled. The systolic function of the right ventricle was quantified using the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE).

Effects of renin-angiotensin system inhibition on left atrial function of hypertensive patients: an echocardiographic tissue deformation imaging study.

Background: Although renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors have beneficial effects on left ventricular myocardium, their effect on left atrial (LA) function remains unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of treatment with RAS inhibitors on LA function of patients with essential hypertension.

Methods: Forty hypertensive patients (17 males, mean age 47.

Differences in echocardiographic characteristics of functional mitral regurgitation in ischaemic versus idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy: a pilot study.

Introduction: Functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) is a common complication in patients with ischaemic (ICM) or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), as a consequence of left ventricular (LV) remodelling. The aim of this study was to elucidate the differences in FMR between patients with ICM and DCM utilising conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography.

Methods: We studied 21 patients with ICM and 17 with DCM using conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography.

Sex-related differences in the angiographic results of 14,500 cases referred for suspected coronary artery disease.

Objective: To investigate sex differences of angiographic results in patients undergoing coronary angiography for suspected coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: We retrospectively assessed the coronary angiograms of 2840 women and 11,610 men from 1984 to 2003. We examined sex differences regarding the extent and topography of significant stenoses (SS) (i.

Prevalence of narrowing >or=50% of the left main coronary artery among 17,300 patients having coronary angiography.

We sought to investigate the prevalence of left main coronary artery significant stenosis (LMSS) (>or=50% of the luminal diameter) in an angiographic series of patients, to describe the associated coronary stenoses, and to assess the influence of age and gender on these findings. The angiograms of 17,323 consecutive patients from January 1, 1984 to December 31, 2003 were retrospectively analyzed. LMSS was found in 823 patients (4.

Prevalence of ectasia in human coronary arteries in patients in northern Greece referred for coronary angiography.

We determined the prevalence of coronary artery ectasia (CAE) in patients who were referred to our institution for coronary angiography for any reason and investigated its potential association with angiographically significant coronary artery disease (CAD). We also examined whether CAE and CAD are topographically associated. In 10,524 consecutive patients from January 1, 1995 to December 31, 2003, the corresponding coronary angiographies were analyzed and cases of CAE were identified, recorded, and summarized.