Cardiac CT angiography (CTA) and nuclear myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI)-a comparison in detecting significant coronary artery disease.

Rationale And Objectives: Endowed with sufficient diagnostic accuracy, electron beam computed tomography angiography (CTA) is being increasingly used to evaluate coronary arteries. However, data on direct comparisons with nuclear myocardial perfusion studies are limited. In this study, we sought to compare the accuracies of CTA and myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) for identifying symptomatic patients with hemodynamically significant obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD).

Current results of balloon aortic valvuloplasty in high-risk patients.

In this report, we describe our experience with a contemporary series of patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) who were not deemed to be surgical candidates. Demographic, hemodynamic and procedural data, operative risk (EuroSCORE) and long-term follow up were collected. Eighty consecutive patients with severe symptomatic AS underwent 104 BAV procedures as a single center and were followed for a mean of 3+/-2 years.

Noninvasive gadolinium-enhanced three dimensional computed tomography coronary angiography.

Rationale And Objectives: Although the use of gadolinium (Gd)-based contrast agents for angiographic studies of abdominal aorta, renal vasculature, and digital subtraction angiography has been reported, no studies have shown their diagnostic efficacy and image quality in coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA). The aim of this study is to evaluate the image quality of Gd-based contrast agents during coronary CTA.

Materials And Methods: A phantom study was done to evaluate the attenuation of serial dilutions of Gd and iodinated agents.

Outcome in patients transferred for percutaneous coronary intervention (a national registry of myocardial infarction 2/3/4 analysis).

Hospital transfer is associated with delays in performance of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Given the limited number of interventional centers in the United States, the transfer of patients is widely practiced. We compared the outcome of patients who were transferred for primary PCI and determined whether prolonged door-to-balloon times were associated with increased mortality.

Comparison of electron beam computed tomography and technetium stress testing in differentiating cause of dilated versus ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Objective: The current reference standard for differentiating between nonischemic versus ischemic cardiomyopathy (CM) is angiography. The diagnostic accuracy of nuclear stress testing and electron beam tomography (EBT) was evaluated to differentiate between nonischemic and ischemic CM, using coronary angiography as the reference standard.

Methods: A total of 56 patients who underwent technetium stress testing and coronary angiography for the evaluation of CM were enrolled.

Plasma homocysteine predicts progression of atherosclerosis.

Unlabelled: MINI ABSTRACT: Three emerging risk factors potentially useful in predicting future cardiac events are electron-beam computed tomography (EBT), homocysteine(HCY), and C-reactive Protein (CRP). We evaluated a cohort of 133 serial asymptomatic patients, who underwent two consecutive EBT scans (8-84 months apart) and a comprehensive cardiac risk factor assessment, including measurements for lipids, ultrasensitive CRP and homocysteine. Individuals with elevated HCY (> or =12 micromol/L) demonstrated a mean increase in CC progression of 35% per year, while those with HCY <12 micromol/L (median) progressed at 17% per year (p = 0.