Tpeak-to-Tend/QT is an independent predictor of early ventricular arrhythmias and arrhythmic death in anterior ST elevation myocardial infarction patients.

Background: The aim of our study was to analyse the markers of transmural dispersion of ventricular repolarization, especially Tpeak-to-Tend and Tpeak-to-Tend /QT ratio, in patients with anterior ST elevation myocardial infarction on admission and to evaluate their association with in-hospital life-threatening arrhythmias and mortality.

Methods And Results: A total of 223 consecutive patients with anterior wall ST elevation myocardial infarction admitted to our Division of Cardiology between January 2010 and December 2012 were prospectively evaluated. A standard electrocardiogram was obtained on admission and then analysed.

Dynamic changes of repolarization abnormalities in takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

Objective: This study analyses dynamicchangesin dispersion of ventricularrepolarization over the time course of takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC), and their relationships with clinical features and life-threatening arrhythmias.

Methods And Results: All consecutive patients admitted to our division between January 2008 and December 2011 with a diagnosis of TC were analysed. Patients with prior myocardial infarction, symptoms-onset-to-admission time greater than 12 hours, an implanted pacemaker, or under treatment with drugs affecting QTinterval, were excluded.

Acute electrocardiographic differences between Takotsubo cardiomyopathy and anterior ST elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare ECG findings between anterior ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) in a similar sample of postmenopausal women.

Methods: Between 2008 and 2011, 27 patients with TC were retrospectively enrolled and matched with 27 STEMI patients with the same age and sex taken from the prospective database of our laboratory.

Results: The absence of abnormal Q waves, the ST depression in aVR and the lack of ST elevation in V1 were significantly associated with TC (respectively: 52% vs 18%, p=0.

Safety and efficacy of the percutaneous radial artery approach for coronary angiography and angioplasty in the elderly.

Background: The transradial approach to coronary interventions has been accepted as a safe and effective alternative to the femoral approach due to fewer access site complications and improved patient comfort. In the present study we aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of transradial procedure in the elderly.

Methods: We analyzed 850 patients who underwent transradial coronary angiography and/or angioplasty.