Discordant cardiac inflammation between F-FDG PET and CMR in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis.

Current diagnostic criteria for cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) rely on non-invasive imaging tools including positron emission tomography (PET-CT) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of discordant myocardial inflammation between PET-CT and CMR in patients with known cardiac sarcoidosis. We retrospectively identified patients with both F-FDG PET-CT and CMR who had histology-proven sarcoidosis (N = 148).

Optimal left ventricular ejection fraction in risk stratification of patients with cardiac sarcoidosis.

Aims: Identifying patients with cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) who are at an increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) poses a clinical challenge. We sought to identify the optimal cutoff for left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in predicting ventricular arrhythmia (VA) and all-cause mortality and to identify clinical and imaging risk factors in patients with known CS.

Methods And Results: This retrospective cohort included 273 patients with well-established CS.

Novel Multi-Parametric Mitral Annular Calcification Score Predicts Outcomes in Mitral Valve Dysfunction.

The objective of the study was to construct a multi-parametric mitral annular calcification (MAC) score using computed tomography (CT) features for prediction of outcomes in patients undergoing mitral valve surgery. We constructed a multi-parametric MAC score, which ranges between 2 and 12, and consists of Agatston calcium score (1 point: <1000 Agatston units (AU); 2 points: 1000-<3000 AU; 3 points: 3000-5000 AU; 4 points: >5000 AU), quantitative MAC circumferential angle (1 point: <90°; 2 points: 90-<180°; 3 points: 180-<270°; 4 points: 270-360°), involvement of trigones (1 point: 1 trigone; 2 points: both trigones), and 1 point each for myocardial infiltration and left ventricular outflow tract extension/involvement of aorto-mitral curtain. The association between MAC score and clinical outcomes was evaluated.

Incremental Value of Global Longitudinal Strain to Michigan Risk Score and Pulmonary Artery Pulsatility Index in Predicting Right Ventricular Failure Following Left Ventricular Assist Devices.

Background: The incremental utility of right ventricular (RV) strain on predicting right ventricular failure (RVF) following left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation, beyond clinical and haemodynamic indices, is not clear.

Methods: Two hundred and forty-six (246) patients undergoing LVAD implantation, who had transthoracic echocardiograms pre and post LVAD, pulmonary artery pulsatility index (PAPI) measurements and Michigan risk score, were included. We analysed RV global longitudinal strain (GLS) using speckle tracking echocardiography.

Impact of Frailty and Mitral Valve Surgery on Outcomes of Severe Mitral Stenosis Due to Mitral Annular Calcification.

We sought to evaluate the outcomes of patients with severe mitral stenosis (MS) resulting from mitral annular calcification and assessed the prognostic impact of co-morbidities and frailty in guiding management. Among 6,915 patients with calcific MS who underwent echocardiography between January 2011 and March 2020, a total of 283 patients with severe calcific MS were retrospectively enrolled. We calculated the Charlson co-morbidity index (CCI).

Coronavirus disease and the cardiovascular system: a narrative review of the mechanisms of injury and management implications.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), first identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, is now a pandemic, having already spread to 188 countries, with more than 28,280,000 infections worldwide. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the responsible infectious agent, and similar to other human coronaviruses, uses membrane-bound angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (membrane-bound ACE2) for entry into the host cells. COVID-19 has important cardiovascular implications, especially for patients with pre-existing cardiovascular co-morbidities, potentially mediated through several mechanisms, including direct myocardial injury, worsening of those pre-existing cardiovascular co-morbidities, and adverse cardiovascular effects of potential therapies for COVID-19.

Impact of left atrial strain mechanics on exercise intolerance and need for septal reduction therapy in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Aims: We sought to assess the relationship between left atrial (LA) strain mechanics and exercise intolerance, and to evaluate the prognostic impact of LA strain mechanics on clinical deterioration necessitating septal reduction therapy in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Methods And Results: Consecutive HCM patients who underwent exercise stress echocardiography and cardiopulmonary exercise testing on the same day between October 2015 and April 2019 were enrolled prospectively. LA strain mechanics were analysed using speckle tracking echocardiography.

Reference Ranges, Diagnostic and Prognostic Utility of Native T1 Mapping and Extracellular Volume for Cardiac Amyloidosis: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: Cardiac MRI is central to the evaluation of cardiac amyloidosis (CA). Native T mapping and extracellular volume (ECV) are novel MR techniques with evolving utility in cardiovascular diseases, including CA.

Purpose: To perform a meta-analysis of the diagnostic and prognostic data of native T mapping and ECV techniques for assessing CA.

Contemporary Outcomes of Pulmonary Valve Endocarditis: A 16-Year Single Centre Experience.

Background: Limited data exist regarding the clinical characteristics and contemporary outcomes of patients with pulmonary valve (PoV) infective endocarditis (IE).

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of IE affecting the PoV at our centre between January 2002 and October 2018. Electronic medical records were reviewed to gather the clinical and echocardiographic variables.