Association of takotsubo cardiomyopathy and long QT syndrome.

A young woman presented with takotsubo cardiomyopathy after a syncopal attack caused by torsades de pointes. Two-dimensional echocardiography on admission showed left ventricular apical akinesis (ballooning) and basal hyperkinesis, compatible with takotsubo cardiomyopathy. This gradually normalized in 2 months.

Effect of infarcted myocardium on diagnostic accuracy of exercise echocardiography for detecting noninfarct-related coronary artery lesions.

Background: The utility of exercise echocardiography for evaluating remote ischemia due to noninfarct-related artery (n-IRA) lesions in patients with prior myocardial infarction has not been established.

Methods: Quantitative coronary angiography and treadmill exercise echocardiography were performed within 2 weeks in 115 patients with prior myocardial infarction (>6 weeks) and 224 patients without myocardial infarction. Coronary lumen diameter stenosis > or =50% (by angiography) and the lack of a hyperdynamic response on exercise echocardiography were considered significant.

The repeatability of left ventricular volume assessment by a new ambulatory radionuclide monitoring system during head-up tilt.

The precise measurement of changes in left ventricular volume is important to elucidate the mechanisms of neurally mediated syncope. This study was conducted to determine whether or not a brand-new ambulatory radionuclide monitoring system (C-VEST system) can be clinically used to easily and precisely measure left ventricular volume and function in tilt testing. To assess the repeatability of the C-VEST system, 12 healthy volunteers (mean age 24+/-4 years old) underwent 20 minute head-up tilt testing and we measured the temporal changes in left ventricular volume and ejection fraction twice a day (first and second studies).

Utility and limitation of treadmill exercise echocardiography for detecting significant coronary stenosis in infarct-related arteries in patients with healed myocardial infarction.

This clinical study examines the diagnostic accuracy of exercise echocardiography for detecting significant coronary stenoses in infarct-related arteries in patients with healed myocardial infarction. Quantitative coronary angiography and exercise echocardiography using treadmill testing were performed within 2 weeks of each other in 123 patients with a prior myocardial infarction. Coronary lumen diameter stenosis > or =50% by quantitative coronary angiography and the lack of a hyperdynamic response on exercise echocardiography was considered significant.