The role of inflammation and metabolic risk factors in the pathogenesis of calcific aortic valve stenosis.

Given the epidemiologic increase of aged population in the world, aortic stenosis (AS) represents now the most common valvular heart disease in industrialized countries. It is a very challenging disease, representing an important cause of morbidity, hospitalization and death in the elderly population. It is widely recognized that AS is the result of a very complex active process, driven by inflammation and involving multifactorial pathological mechanisms promoting valvular calcification and valvular bone deposition.

Echocardiographic Epicardial Adipose Tissue Thickness for Risk Stratification of Patients With Heart Failure.

Background And Aims: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) has been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of heart failure (HF). In this study we aimed to explore the predictive value of echocardiographic EAT thickness on prognosis of a selected population of HF patients.

Methods: The patient population included n.

Imbalance Between Interleukin-1β and Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist in Epicardial Adipose Tissue Is Associated With Non ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Introduction: Interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) is crucially involved in the pathogenesis of coronary atherosclerotic diseases (CAD) and its inhibition has proven cardiovascular benefits. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is a local source of inflammatory mediators which may negatively affect the surrounding coronary arteries. In the present study, we explored the relationship between serum and EAT levels of IL-1β and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) in patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) and recent acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Statin therapy modulates thickness and inflammatory profile of human epicardial adipose tissue.

Background: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness and pro-inflammatory status has been shown to be associated with several cardiac diseases, including aortic stenosis (AS). Thus, cardiac visceral fat could represent a potential new target for drugs. In the present study we evaluate the effect of statin therapy on EAT accumulation and inflammation.

Left atrial dilatation: A target organ damage in young to middle-age hypertensive patients. The Campania Salute Network.

Background: Left atrial (LA) volume is a predictor of outcome in hypertension. It is unclear whether or not this effect depends on coexisting target organ damage (TOD).

Purpose: To investigate whether LA volume predicts outcome independently of TOD [left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy (LVH) and/or carotid plaque] in a registry of hypertensive treated patients.

Three-dimensional echocardiographic ventricular mass/end-diastolic volume ratio in native hypertensive patients: relation between stroke volume and geometry.

Background: Elevated left ventricular (LV) mass/end-diastolic volume ratio (LVM/EDV) has been associated with higher evidence of myocardial fibrosis and dysfunction in hypertensive patients by cardiac magnetic resonance, a technique with limited availability.

Objectives: We investigated the ability of three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography in identifying a phenotype of LV concentric geometry according to LVM/EDV ratio, possibly detecting early myocardial damage in native-hypertensive patients.

Methods: One hundred and twenty-eight native-hypertensive patients underwent 2D and 3D-echocardiography.

Increased Epicardial Adipose Tissue Volume Correlates With Cardiac Sympathetic Denervation in Patients With Heart Failure.

Rationale: It has been reported that epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) may affect myocardial autonomic function.

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between EAT and cardiac sympathetic nerve activity in patients with heart failure.

Methods And Results: In 110 patients with systolic heart failure, we evaluated the correlation between echocardiographic EAT thickness and cardiac adrenergic nerve activity assessed by (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine ((123)I-MIBG).