Incidence and Predictors of Progression in Asymptomatic Patients With Stable Heart Failure.

Data from previous heart failure (HF) trials suggest that patients with mild symptoms (NYHA II) actually have a poor clinical outcome. However, these studies did not assess clinical stability and rarely included patients in NYHA I. We sought to determine the incidence of short-term clinical progression in supposedly stable HF patients in NYHA I.

Ventricular tachycardia secondary to thyrotoxic periodic paralysis: A case report.

Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) is a rare but potentially life-threatening entity, which is characterized by sudden onset of muscle weakness and can in exceptional cases be associated with more severe symptoms, such as severe hypokalemia. We present the rare case of a young patient presenting with monomorphic ventricular tachycardia secondary to hypokalemia due to TPP. This case report highlights the importance of recognition of TPP as a rare cause of VT.

Atrial cholangiocarcinoma diagnosed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

In this rare case of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) tumor thrombus with right atrial (RA) invasion, we describe its diagnostic workup based on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI). An 85-year-old man underwent transthoracic echocardiography due to dyspnea, revealing a RA mass. Comprehensive cMRI evaluation, including cine bright blood, T1- and T2-weighed, fat-suppressed, and contrast-enhanced imaging, was performed and diagnosis of ICC tumor thrombus with RA invasion was made.

[Antiplatelet therapy: resistance to traditional antiaggregation drugs and role of new antiplatelet agents].

Platelet aggregation plays a key role in the development of major cardiovascular events (MACE) related to atherothrombosis. Since the appearance of coronary stenting, the importance of measuring and modulating platelet activity has considerably increased in the scientific literature during the last decade. Double antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel administrated to stent carriers has widely demonstrated its efficacy in the prevention of MACE compared with aspirin alone.

Poor response to antiplatelet drugs. An important issue in drug-eluting stents.

Platelet aggregation activity is the cornerstone of the pathogenesis of atherothrombosis and plays a main role in the appearance of major adverse cardiac events (MACE). This aspect has become even more important nowadays due to the use of drug-eluting stents (DES), where a proper platelet inhibition is required. Dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has widely demonstrated its beneficial effect in reducing MACE compared with aspirin alone.