Current barriers and recommendations on the diagnosis of transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy: a Delphi study.

Objectives: This study has been conducted to investigate the non-invasive diagnostic journey of patients with a transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (aTTR-CM) in Turkey, identify the challenges and uncertainties encountered on the path to diagnosis from the perspectives of expert physicians, and develop recommendations that can be applied in such cases.

Methods: This study employed a three-round modified Delphi method and included 10 cardiologists and five nuclear medicine specialists. Two hematologists also shared their expert opinions on the survey results related to hematological tests during a final face-to-face discussion.

Six-Minute Walk Test: How to do Guide for Performing a Reliable Test, Interpretation, and Prognostication in Pulmonary Hypertension.

Six-minute walk test (6MWT) is the most widely used exercise capacity measurement worldwide in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH). Although cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is the gold standard for the assessment of exercise capacity in cardiovascular diseases; the limited accessibility of the device, the need for experience in interpreting the results, and the difficulties in performing CPET in advanced PH have aroused the interest in the application of easier methods for the measurement of exercise capacity. Since then, accumulated data proved that; 6-minutes walking distance (6MWD) can be used to determine exercise capacity and is highly correlated with maximum oxygen consumption (peak VO2) detected by CPET in patients with heart failure and/or PH.

Unusual Case of Pulmonary Hypertension due to Acquired Arteriovenous Fistula.

Pulmonary hypertension is a disease process affecting pulmonary circulation and is defined by an increase in pulmonary artery pressure subsequently causing right ventricular failure. Vascular complications, including arteriovenous (AV) fistula, are recognized, but are uncommon complications of spinal surgery. AV fistula increases venous return to the right heart and can promote a volume overload related high-output cardiac state, pulmonary hypertension, and right heart failure.

The Definition of Sarcomeric and Non-Sarcomeric Gene Mutations in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Patients: A Multicenter Diagnostic Study Across Türkiye.

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a common genetic heart disease and up to 40%-60% of patients have mutations in cardiac sarcomere protein genes. This genetic diagnosis study aimed to detect pathogenic or likely pathogenic sarcomeric and non-sarcomeric gene mutations and to confirm a final molecular diagnosis in patients diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Methods: A total of 392 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy were included in this nationwide multicenter study conducted at 23 centers across Türkiye.

Can lipid mediators and free fatty acids guide acute coronary syndrome diagnosis and treatment?

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate fatty acids, lipid mediator levels, and the desaturase index rates on different acute coronary syndrome types and their possible relationship with routine lipid parameters.

Methods: The study included 81 patients with myocardial infarction (MI), 20 patients with unstable angina pectoris, and 31 healthy people. Fatty acids, CD59, lipoxin A4, 8-isoprostane, serum lipids, albumin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and high sensitive troponin levels were measured in all participants.

Risk Assessment Tool Implementation in Congenital Heart Disease-Associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

Background: Risk assessment is recommended for patients with congenital heart disease-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension. This study aims to compare an abbreviated version of the risk assessment strategy, noninvasive French model, and an abridged version of the Registry to Evaluate Early and Long-term Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Disease Management 2.0 risk score calculator, Registry to Evaluate Early and Long-term Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Disease Management Lite 2.

Current clinical practice of cardiac resynchronization therapy in Turkey: Reflections from Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Survey-II.

Objective: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has been shown to reduce mortality in selected patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). CRT Survey-II was a snapshot survey to assess current clinical practice with regard to CRT. Herein, we aimed to compare Turkish data with other countries of European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

Concealed role of red blood cells in pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension: Decreased red blood cell nitric oxide generation and effect of Rho-Kinase inhibitor fasudil.

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a devastating disease characterized with alterations in pulmonary vasculature yielding increased pulmonary arterial resistance. Emerging evidences suggest important regulatory roles of red blood cells (RBCs) on nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, mainly by modulating their endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) enzyme activity.

Objective: The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the alterations in RBC eNOS activity and intracellular NO generation in PAH patients and the modulatory effects of Rho-Kinase (ROCK) inhibitors.

Risk assessment and survival of patients with pulmonary hypertension: Multicenter experience in Turkey.

Objective: Risk stratification continues to evolve in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Our aim was to further confirm the risk assessment strategy in our cohort and to determine the most reliable model.

Methods: We enrolled incident patients with idiopathic PAH (IPAH), heritable, drug-induced, congenital heart disease (CHD), connective tissue diseases (CTD) subsets, and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) from January 2008 to February 2018.

Assessment of left atrial function using speckle tracking echocardiography in ankylosing spondylitis: a case-control study.

The aim of this study is to assess the left atrium (LA) deformation parameters by using 2D speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients and to evaluate the relationship between these parameters and AS clinical indexes. 30 patients with AS (22 males, 8 females) and 30 healthy individuals (19 males, 11 females) were enrolled in this study. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed to both groups.

Evaluation of cardiac autonomic functions in myasthenia gravis.

Objective: We aimed to comprehensively evaluate cardiac autonomic function in patients with MG and to investigate the relationship between this disorder and disease duration, thymoma and acetylcholine receptor antibody positivity in cases of cardiac autonomic disorder.

Methods: The study included 30 patients with MG and 30 age-matched healthy control subjects. Haemodynamic parameters (heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure) and autonomic parameters (low frequency [LF], high-frequency [HF], sympathovagal balance [LF/HF], baroreceptor reflex sensitivity [BRS]) of the patients were automatically measured at rest and in a tilted position with the Task Force Monitor.

Right atrial thrombus associated with subclavian catheter developed due to total parenteral nutrition application.

Central venous catheterization as a frequent routine clinical procedure may have significant complications. Mechanical complications may occur during catheter placement, whereas thromboembolic and infectious complications can be seen during follow-up. Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) associated central venous catheterizations may result in early mechanical complications and thrombotic and infectious complications in the long term.

Determination of subclinical atherosclerosis in plaque type psoriasis patients without traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis.

Objectives: Systemic inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in psoriasis patients. Therefore, persistent skin inflammation in psoriasis patients may contribute to the development of premature atherosclerosis, as it occurs in rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between subclinical atherosclerosis and psoriasis by using pulse wave velocity (PWV) and the measurement of carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) in psoriatic patients.

Successful percutaneous epicardial ablation of an accessory pathway located at the right atrial appendage.

In patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, difficulty in ablation of accessory pathways is associated with failures and recurrences. Epicardially located accessory pathways may require different management strategies when conventional ablation attempts fail. In particular, an epicardial accessory pathway communicating the right atrial appendage to the right ventricle is an extraordinary situation resulting in difficulties in ablation.

Acquired QT interval prolongation and ventricular arythmias associated with brucellosis: A case report and review of literature.

Brucellosis is a zoonosis caused by species and usually involves the lymphoreticular system. Cardiovascular involvement is rare but fatal. Endocarditis is the most common cardiovascular manifestation of brucellosis.

Aorta-right atrial tunnel leading to heart failure.

Congential aorta-right atrial tunnel (ARAT) is a rare anomaly. Many patients are asymptomatic and diagnosis can be made during investigation of systolic and diastolic continuous murmur heard on cardiac oscultation. In some patients, symptoms such as palpitation, dyspnea, and fatigue on exertion can be seen.

Utilization of impedance cardiography in noninvasive assessment of hemodynamic status in cirrhotic patients.

Background/aims: This study aimed to assess hemodynamic alterations noninvasively using a dedicated device Task Force® Monitor providing various hemodynamic data utilizing impedance cardiography and beat-to-beat blood pressure analysis via a vascular unloading unit.

Methods: Forty-seven patients with cirrhosis awaiting hepatic transplantation and 26 healthy volunteers matched for age and gender were enrolled. Basic hemodynamic status of these patients (following temporary interruption of any drugs affecting the cardiovascular system) was evaluated noninvasively by Task Force® Monitor with patients in the supine position.

Recurrent ventricular arrhythmias and myocardial infarctions associated with cocaine induced reversible coronary vasospasm.

Cocaine has become the most frequently used illicit drug among patients presenting to emergency departments worldwide. Although acute myocardial infarction is the most common reported cardiovascular manifestation in this setting, there are many other potential cardiotoxic effects of cocaine use including coronary artery spasm, arrhythmia, and sudden death. We report the case of a 54 year-old male with angiographically documented reversible coronary arterial spasm leading to severe life-threatening recurrent ventricular arrhythmias and electrocardiographic changes suggesting acute myocardial infarction secondary to cocaine use.

The value of procalcitonin, a novel inflammatory marker, in the diagnosis of myocardial infarction and evaluation of acute coronary syndrome patients.

Background: Procalcitonin is a calcitonin precursor that is used as an inflammatory biomarker in the plasma of patients with sepsis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of emergency department (ED) point-of-care blood procalcitonin testing in identifying myocardial infarction (MI) in patients with chest pain of presumed ischemic origin.

Methods: Patients over 18 years of age who presented to the ED with MI-typical chest pain of presumed ischemic origin were included in the study.