Intravascular ultrasound imaging in patients with acute myocardial infarction: comparison with chronic stable angina pectoris.

Background: Myocardial infarction is the result of acute thrombotic occlusion of a coronary artery, most likely secondary to rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque. Intracoronary ultrasonic (ICUS) examinations were performed in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in order to describe intraluminal ultrasonic findings at the site of acute coronary occlusion.

Methods: Coronary angiography and ICUS studies were performed consecutively within 6 h of the onset of chest pain in 30 patients with AMI prior to percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA).

[Stress echocardiography: evaluation of left ventricular function after administration of the transpulmonary echo contrast medium SHU 508 A].

Stress echocardiography has recently gained increased importance as a method for assessment of left ventricular function. However, suboptimal image quality in some patients may limit use of this technique. In the present study, 10 patients with moderate image quality in the resting echocardiograms (apical 4-chamberview) were reinvestigated after administration of the intravenous transpulmonary saccharide-based left heart contrast agent SHU 508 A.

[Nuclear spin tomographic imaging of aortic aneurysms. Initial results].

Thirteen patients with aortic aneurysm (abdominal 7, thoracic 4, thoraco-abdominal 2) were evaluated by magnetic resonance tomography using a super-conducting magnet of a field strength of 0.35 tesla in transversal, coronal and sagittal planes. ECG gating was used in patients with thoracic aneurysm.

[Detection of regional hypertrophy in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with ECG triggered nuclear magnetic resonance tomography--comparison with hypertensive patients and persons with healthy hearts].

Gated magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) was conducted in 40 patients (13 normal volunteers, 9 hypertensives and 18 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) using a 0.35 Tesla superconducting magnet. Multisectional spin echo imaging (35/400 msec) was obtained in coronal, transversal and sagittal planes.

[The value of two-dimensional echocardiography in the diagnosis of acute transmural primary infarctions].

The validity of two-dimensional echocardiography (2 DE) in the diagnosis of evolving myocardial infarction was assessed in 123 patients with a suspected acute myocardial infarction (chest pain for less than 4 hours). 84 patients developed a myocardial infarction, 39 did not. Detection and extent of a regional wall motion disorder in 2 DE were compared to ECG, enzymes, hemodynamics, coronary angiography and clinical data.