Velocity-Time Integral of Aortic Regurgitation: A Novel Echocardiographic Marker in the Evaluation of Aortic Regurgitation Severity.

Background: Echocardiography is essential for the diagnosis and quantification of aortic regurgitation (AR). Velocity-time integral (VTI) of AR flow could be related to AR severity.

Objective: This study aims to assess whether VTI is an echocardiographic marker of AR severity.

Low Performance of a Clinical-Genetic Model in the Estimation of Time in Therapeutic Range in Acenocoumarol-Adherent Patients with Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation: The Quality of Anticoagulation Challenge.

Background: Anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists continues to be a challenging task given the difficulty of achieving a correct time in therapeutic range (TTR). The SAMeTTR score has been proposed to identify patients that will be good responders. In this study we aimed to analyse clinical and genetic factors involved in a correct level of anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation and thereby potentially improve the diagnostic performance of SAMeTTR score.

Correlation of Blood Pressure Variability as Measured By Clinic, Self-measurement at Home, and Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring.

Background: Blood pressure variability (BPV) has been postulated as a potential predictor of cardiovascular outcomes. No agreement exists as to which measurement method is best for BPV estimation. We attempt to assess the correlation between BPV obtained at the doctor's office, self-measurement at home (SMBP) and ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM).

Trends and Characteristics of Hospitalization for Heart Failure in a Population Setting From 2003 to 2013.

Introduction And Objectives: Population-based studies in other countries have reported a reduction of standardized rates of hospitalization for heart failure (HF) but data from a well-defined population are lacking in Spain.

Methods: All hospitalizations with a principal diagnosis of HF between 2003 and 2013 were obtained from the Minimum Basic Data Set, which includes all hospitals in the Region of Murcia. Health care episodes were identified by the individual health card (27 158 episodes).

Genotyping of six clopidogrel-metabolizing enzyme polymorphisms has a minor role in the assessment of platelet reactivity in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Objective: To evaluate the contribution of six polymorphisms to the platelet reactivity in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) treated with clopidogrel.

Methods: Cross-sectional study of 278 consecutive patients with ACS. Detailed clinical information for each patient was collected and genotypes (CYP2C9*2, CYP2C9*3, CYP2C19*2, CYP2C19*17, CYP3A4*1B, and PON1-Q192R) were evaluated with TaqMan® and KASPar® assays.

[Value of coronary blood flow pattern as a predictor of functional recovery and short-term left ventricular remodeling after primary coronary angioplasty. A transthoracic Doppler study].

Introduction And Objectives: Coronary blood flow measurement using a Doppler guidewire is the most sensitive way of detecting the no-reflow phenomenon following reperfusion of a myocardial infarction (MI). New high-frequency Doppler probes enable coronary blood flow velocity to be measured noninvasively. Our aims were to study the different patterns of left anterior coronary artery blood flow observed by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography, and to describe their association with functional recovery following reperfusion of an anterior MI.

[Last developments on hypertension].

The following article reviews some of the most recent data that have come to light in the field of hypertension during the last year, including the long lasting controversy USA/Europe on the definition and treatment of hypertension, the importance of the interrelationship hypertension/sleep apnea syndrome, to conclude by discussing some of the most compelling implications of the main trials that have been published during the last few months.

Noninvasive assessment of coronary flow velocity reserve in left anterior descending artery adds diagnostic value to both clinical variables and dobutamine echocardiography: a study based on clinical practice.

Aims: Our objective was to evaluate, in clinical practice, whether noninvasive assessment of coronary flow velocity reserve in left anterior coronary artery adds diagnostic information to both clinical variables and wall motion abnormalities derived from dobutamine stress echocardiography.

Methods And Results: We studied 130 patients who were scheduled for coronary angiography after undergoing dobutamine stress echocardiography. The same day, flow in left anterior descending artery was detected by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography.

[Functional assessment of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy by maximal oxygen consumption].

Introduction And Objectives: Differences between anatomical severity and clinical manifestations are frequent in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Our objective was to assess functional capacity in a consecutive group of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy measuring exercise aerobic parameters, as well as clinical and echocardiographic variables.

Patients And Method: We studied 98 consecutive patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

[Detection of angiographic lesions in the left anterior descending coronary artery by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography: usefulness of non-invasive assessment of coronary flow reserve].

Introduction: We evaluated the feasibility of detecting blood flow in the left anterior descending coronary artery and the usefulness of measuring coronary flow reserve to diagnose significant coronary artery disease, both by means of transthoracic Doppler echocardiography using a high-frequency transducer and echo-contrast agent.

Patients And Method: We studied 107 patients who were scheduled for coronary arteriography for known or suspected ischemic heart disease. A Doppler signal was recorded by a pulsed wave in the distal left anterior descending artery at baseline and after dipyridamole infusion.

[2003 update of the Guidelines of the Spanish Society of Cardiology on High Blood Pressure].

Since publication of the Spanish Society of Cardiology Clinical Practice Guidelines on High Blood Pressure in January 2000, a new body of scientific evidence has been obtained that needs to be taken into account in clinical practice. A complete clinical evaluation by assessment of the global cardiovascular risk score should be done in patients with hypertension. In this connection, ECG findings and urine albumin excretion are of particular value.