Clinical outcomes of newly diagnosed, stable angina patients managed according to current guidelines. The ARCA (Arca Registry for Chronic Angina) Registry: A prospective, observational, nationwide study.

Background: Clinical outcomes of stable angina patients treated according to guidelines recommendations (medical therapy first, selective revascularization in high risk or unresponsive patients) are not fully known.

Methods And Results: Eight hundred thirty-three patients with newly diagnosed, stable angina were enrolled in a prospective, observational, nationwide registry and followed for 1 year. Symptoms and quality of life were evaluated with the CCS angina grading, with a self-assessment scale and with the SAQ-7.

Physiopathologic correlates of intrathoracic impedance in chronic heart failure patients.

Background: Increased plasma levels of amino-terminal fraction of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and alterations of diastolic filling as described by Doppler transmitral flow pattern are well-known markers of decompensated heart failure (HF). Recently, some implantable defibrillators have allowed monitoring of intrathoracic impedance, which is related to lung water content, potentially indicating HF deterioration. The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between intrathoracic impedance and NT-proBNP and echo-Doppler transmitral flow indexes.

Non-invasive assessment of coronary flow velocity reserve: a new method using transthoracic Doppler echocardiography.

Transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTDE) allows noninvasive flow measurement in the distal left anterior descending artery (LAD). The feasibility of detecting coronary flow by contrast-enhanced TTDE with second harmonic technique was assessed, the coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) was evaluated in comparison to intracoronary Doppler flow (ICD) analysis and the CFVR after PTCA in LAD was investigated. In 77 (96%) of 80 patients, CFVR was successfully determined with intravenous adenosine infusion.

Myocardial viability independently influences left ventricular diastolic function in the early phase after acute myocardial infarction.

Background: After acute myocardial infarction, a broad range of left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) is expected because of chamber remodeling. However, intrinsic characteristics of the infarcted tissue (necrosis or viability) may also play a role. We aimed to evaluate whether myocardial viability (Mviab) has an influence on LVEDP.