A Novel Approach to Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Scar Characterization in Patients Affected by Cardiac Amyloidosis: A Pilot Study.

: Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging has become an essential instrument in the study of cardiomyopathies; it has recently been integrated into the diagnostic workflow for cardiac amyloidosis (CA) with remarkable results. An additional emerging role is the stratification of the arrhythmogenic risk by scar analysis and the possibility of merging these data with electro-anatomical maps. This is made possible by using a software (ADAS 3D, Galgo Medical, Barcelona, Spain) able to provide 3D heart models by detecting fibrosis along the whole thickness of the myocardial walls.

Manufacturer change and risk of system-related complications after implantable cardioverter defibrillator replacement: physicians' survey and data from the Detect Long-term Complications After Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Replacement Registry.

Aims: Some barriers seem to exist in changing implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) manufacturer at the time of device replacement. We sought to understand the obstacles to changing ICD manufacturer within the cohort of patients enrolled in the Detect Long-term Complications After ICD Replacement Registry.

Methods: We analyzed 784 consecutive ICD/cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) device replacements within a 1.

Risk of arrhythmias in myotonic dystrophy: trial design of the RAMYD study.

Objective: Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is the most frequent muscular dystrophy in adults. DM1 is a multisystem disorder also affecting the heart with an increased incidence of sudden death, which has been explained with the common impairment of the conduction system often requiring pacemaker implantation; however, the occurrence of sudden death despite pacemaker implantation and the observation of major ventricular arrhythmias generated the hypothesis that ventricular arrhythmias may play a causal role as well. The aim of the study was to assess the 2-year cumulative incidence and the value of noninvasive and invasive findings as predictive factors for sudden death, resuscitated cardiac arrest, ventricular fibrillation, sustained ventricular tachycardia and severe sinus dysfunction or high-degree atrioventricular block.

Platelet-leukocyte mixed conjugates in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Although platelets may contribute to the inflammatory component in atrial fibrillation (AF), the impact of platelet-leukocyte mixed conjugates has not yet been determined. Seventeen patients with persistent AF (8/9 m/f; mean age 68.1 +/- 2.

Heart rate turbulence as a noninvasive risk predictor of ventricular tachyarrhythmias in myotonic dystrophy type 1.

Introduction: Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (MD1) is the most common muscular dystrophy of adult life. Cardiac involvement is characterized by disorders of atrioventricular conduction, ventricular arrhythmias, and sudden death. Heart rate turbulence (HRT) is a noninvasive risk predictor in patients affected by ischemic heart disease.

Widespread electroanatomic alterations of right cardiac chambers in patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1.

Introduction: Conduction disturbances and arrhythmias characterize the cardiac feature of myotonic dystrophy type 1 (MD1); a myocardial involvement has been suggested as part of the cardiac disease. The aim of our study was to investigate the underlying myocardial alterations using electroanatomic mapping (CARTO) and their possible correlation with genetic and neurological findings.

Methods And Results: Right atrial and ventricular CARTO maps were obtained in 13 MD1 patients.

Safety and feasibility of coronary sinus left ventricular leads extraction: a preliminary report.

Background: transvenous positioning of the left ventricular (LV) lead in a branch of the coronary sinus (CS) is generally the preferred implantation technique in biventricular pacing. Very few data are reported about removal of LV pacing leads positioned in a CS branch. Aim of the study was to describe our experience with percutaneous extraction of LV pacing leads in order to evaluate feasibility and safety of this procedure.

A randomized evaluation of different approaches to coronary sinus venography during biventricular pacemaker implants.

Aim: Biventricular implantation procedures require contrast venography of the coronary sinus. The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of contrast venography obtained by direct manual contrast injection into the guiding catheter, compared with venography obtained after occlusion of the coronary sinus by a Swan-Ganz catheter.

Methods: Eighty-three patients were randomly assigned to direct or occlusive venography technique.

A randomized comparison of alternative techniques to achieve coronary sinus cannulation during biventricular implantation procedures.

Introduction: Biventricular pacing system implantation is a time-consuming and challenging procedure. A critical step in biventricular pacemaker implantation is coronary sinus (CS) cannulation. CS cannulation can be achieved either using dedicated guiding catheters (guiding catheter alone positioning strategy, GCA) or with the aid of an electrophysiology catheter advanced inside the guiding catheter (electrophysiology catheter aided positioning strategy, EPA).

Cardiac features of Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy caused by lamin A/C gene mutations.

Aims: Retrospective studies have identified a mutation in the lamin A/C (LMNA) gene in patients selected on the basis of a phenotype characterized by dilated cardiomyopathy, atrioventricular conduction disturbances and sudden death. However, the features of cardiac abnormalities in patients with an initial diagnosis of Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD) are poorly known. Aim of the present study was to investigate the spectrum of cardiac disease in patients with an initial diagnosis of EDMD caused by a mutation in the LMNA gene.

Ultrasound tissue characterization detects preclinical myocardial structural changes in children affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Our goal was to identify early changes in myocardial physical properties in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMDch). Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is caused by the absence of dystrophin, which triggers complex molecular and biological events in skeletal and cardiac muscle tissues. Although about 30% of patients display overt signs of cardiomyopathy in the late stage of the disease, it is unknown whether changes in myocardial physical properties can be detected in the early (preclinical) stages of the disease.