Determination of central blood pressure by a noninvasive method (brachial blood pressure and QKD interval): a noninvasive validation.

Objective: We validated against invasive measurements a measure of central SBP based on the QKD interval. The present objective is a comparison to the SphygmoCor device.

Materials And Methods: A first cohort was used to redefine an algorithm for estimating ascending aorta SBP (cSBP) with respect to SphygmoCor.

Prognostic value of the extent of left ventricular hypertrophy and its evolution in the hypertensive patient.

Objective: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a marker of cardiovascular risk. However, the progression of the risk as a function of the course of the LVH has only been the subject of few studies.

Methods: We report the consequences of the evolution of the left ventricular mass (LVM) in a cohort of hypertensive patients whose LVM was measured before any antihypertensive treatment.

ECG detection of left ventricular hypertrophy: the simpler, the better?

Objective: ECG is commonly employed to identify left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and a high risk of cardiovascular events (CVE) in hypertensive patients. However, the multiplicity of the existing criteria does not simplify interpretation of the data. We compared a number of common criteria in hypertensive patients by taking as references left ventricular mass (LVM) measured by echocardiography and prediction of incident CVE.

Microbiologic characteristics and in vitro susceptibility to antimicrobials in a large population of patients with cardiovascular implantable electronic device infection.

Introduction: The incidence of cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) infection is steadily increasing. However, no consensus has been reached with respect to the type and duration of antimicrobial therapy in this specific population of patients. The role played by new anti-Staphylococcus agents has not been defined.

Long-term outcomes after pocket or scar revision and reimplantation of pacemakers with preerosion.

Introduction: Cardiac pacemakers with preerosion are often reimplanted. Preerosion may be caused by an evolving local infectious process affecting the entire pacing system or by mechanical migration of the device causing ischemic necrosis of the skin tissues. We examined the long-term outcome of 33 patients who underwent pocket or scar revision and submuscular reimplantation of cardiac pacemakers in our institution.