Best Practices for Imaging of Transcatheter Valve Failure: An Update From the Heart Valve Collaboratory.

This updated Heart Valve Collaboratory framework addresses the growing concern for transcatheter valve failure (TVF) following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). With the increasing volume of redo-TAV and surgical TAV explantation, there is a critical need for standardized pathways and protocols for evaluating TVF using echocardiography and cardiac computed tomography (CT) angiography. This document clarifies prior definitions of bioprosthetic valve deterioration and bioprosthetic valve failure in a practical, imaging directed context for TAVR.

Epicardial adipose tissue, myocardial remodelling and adverse outcomes in asymptomatic aortic stenosis: a post hoc analysis of a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Epicardial adipose tissue represents a metabolically active visceral fat depot that is in direct contact with the left ventricular myocardium. While it is associated with coronary artery disease, little is known regarding its role in aortic stenosis. We sought to investigate the association of epicardial adipose tissue with aortic stenosis severity and progression, myocardial remodelling and function, and mortality in asymptomatic patients with aortic stenosis.

Imaging small dynamic lesions using positron emission tomography and computed tomography: an F-sodium fluoride valvular phantom study.

Aims: F-sodium fluoride (F-NaF) positron emission tomography (PET) detects active microcalcification and predicts adverse outcomes including bioprosthetic valve deterioration. However, measuring small areas of F-NaF uptake within moving structures remains challenging, requiring further optimization. We developed a representative cardiac phantom to optimize F-NaF imaging of bioprosthetic valves.

Socioeconomic status, cardiovascular risk factors and coronary atherosclerosis: a SCOT-HEART trial analysis.

Aims: To investigate the relationship between socioeconomic status, plaque burden on coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), management and outcomes.

Methods: In a post-hoc analysis of a multicentre randomised control trial, we assessed associations between socioeconomic status and qualitative (stenosis, adverse plaque characteristics) and quantitative (total plaque, calcified plaque, non-calcified and low attenuation) CCTA plaque features and examined the interaction of socioeconomic status on cardiovascular outcomes.

Results: Socioeconomic status was available in 3948 participants of whom 1989 were randomised to CCTA and 1629 scans were suitable and available for quantitative plaque analysis.