Evaluation of transmural myocardial perfusion by ultra-harmonic myocardial contrast echocardiography in reperfused acute myocardial infarction.

Background: The transmural distribution of myocardial perfusion is important for predicting the contractile reverse of an infarcted wall in reperfused acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Evaluating transmural myocardial perfusion by myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) could predict the long-term recovery of left ventricular (LV) function.

Methods And Results: The study group comprised 20 consecutive patients with a first-episode anterior AMI with total occlusion of the proximal left anterior descending artery, who underwent successful percutaneous coronary intervention within 24 h of onset.

Effect of atrial septal aneurysm on risk of cerebrovascular events in Japanese patients.

Background: The aim of the present study was to determine whether atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) detected by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is an independent risk factor of cerebrovascular events for Japanese people.

Methods: A control study was conducted with 178 patients with ASA (follow-up rate, 96.7%; median follow-up period, 5.