Comprehensive Risk Management in Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy Associated With Autosomal Dominant Carvajal Syndrome: Protecting Families.

In a 37-year-old cardiac arrest survivor with autosomal dominant Carvajal syndrome and arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, a desmoplakin mutation was identified. Cascade screening identified 2 affected family members and 2 healthy children carrying the mutation. Strategies for primary and secondary risk prevention emphasize the role of genetic testing in rare cardiomyopathies.

Myocardial blood flow in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy receiving perindopril (CARAPaCE): a pilot study.

Aims: Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) represents a powerful independent predictor of adverse outcome in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). No treatment for CMD exists. The angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitor perindopril improves myocardial blood flow (MBF) in animal models of cardiac hypertrophy and in hypertensive patients.

Clinical Implications of "Tailored" Antiplatelet Therapy in Patients With Chronic Total Occlusion.

Background Clopidogrel nonresponsiveness is a prognostic marker after percutaneous coronary intervention. Prasugrel and ticagrelor provide a better platelet inhibition and represent the first-line antiplatelet treatment in acute coronary syndrome. We sought to assess the prognostic impact of high platelet reactivity (HPR) and the potential clinical benefit of a "tailored" escalated or changed antiplatelet therapy in patients with chronic total occlusion.

Targeted Medical Therapies for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Purpose Of Review: The management of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) has changed considerably over the years, although molecular therapies targeting core mechanisms of the disease are still lacking. This review provides an overview of the contemporary medical approach to patients with HCM, and of promising novel developments hopefully soon to enter the clinical arena.

Recent Findings: Our perception of therapeutic targets for medical therapy in HCM is rapidly evolving.

Life-Threatening Acute Pulmonary Thromboembolism Following Severe Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: A Plausible Association.

A 57-year-old man admitted with severe carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning suffered life-threatening pulmonary embolism (PE) after hyperbaric oxygen therapy, in the absence of other risk factors for thromboembolism, and was successfully treated with thrombolysis. CO is a thrombophilic condition predisposing to PE and active surveillance is advisable. ().

Impact of complete percutaneous revascularization in elderly patients with chronic total occlusion.

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the prognostic impact of successful chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and completeness of revascularization in the elderly.

Background: Successful CTO-PCI is associated with clinical benefit. Notwithstanding elderly patients are currently underrepresented in CTO-PCI randomized controlled trials and registries.

Clinical and Angiographic Outcomes Comparison of Patients With Left Main Vs Non-Left Main Bifurcation Lesions Treated With Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Second-Generation Drug-Eluting Stents.

Introduction: It is not clear if differences exist about treating left main bifurcation (LMB) and non-left main bifurcation (non-LMB) lesions by means of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: We prospectively analyzed all consecutive patients treated at our center for bifurcation lesions from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2015, including acute myocardial infarction (MI) and cardiogenic shock, and compared the angiographic and clinical outcomes of patients with LMB and non-LMB lesions treated with PCI and second-generation drug-eluting stent (2G-DES) implantation. The primary endpoint was the major adverse cardiac event (MACE) composite, including MI, clinically indicated target-vessel revascularization (TVR), and cardiac death (CD) at 2-year follow-up.

Angiographic and clinical outcome after crush of everolimus-eluting stent for distal unprotected left main disease.

Unlabelled: Obiectives: Angiographic and clinical outcomes after crushing of everolimus-eluting stent (EES) for distal unprotected left main disease (ULMD).

Background: Few data exist about crushing of EES for distal ULMD.

Methods: From the Florence ULMD Percutaneous Coronary Interevention Registry consecutive patients with distal ULMD treated with EES were included in the analysis.

Impact of BMI on cardiovascular events, renal function, and coronary artery calcification.

Background/aims: High BMI increases the risk of cardiovascular events (CVEs) in the general population. Conflicting results have been reported on the role of BMI on CVEs and on decline of renal function in patients with chronic kidney disease not on dialysis (CKD). This study evaluates the impact of BMI on CVEs, dialysis initiation, and coronary artery calcification (CAC) in CKD patients.

Parathyroid hormone may be an early predictor of low serum hemoglobin concentration in patients with not advanced stages of chronic kidney disease.

Background: Parathyroid hormone (PTH) has been associated with anemia only in dialysis patients with severe hyperparathyroidism. Whether an association between PTH and hemoglobin also exists in patients with chronic kidney disease not on dialysis (CKD-patients) is still unclear. In this study we evaluated the association between PTH and hemoglobin in CKD-patients without severe secondary hyperparathyroidism.