Effect of tafamidis on left atrial function of patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy.

Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) is characterized by the functional and structural effects of amyloid infiltration, predominantly within the ventricles, causing biventricular wall thickening. Amyloid infiltration can be observed in the left atrium in ATTR-CM patients, but the association of left atrial (LA) myocardial function with cardiovascular events and of changes in LA myocardial function with tafamidis administration have not yet been clarified. Our aim was, therefore, to use speckle-tracking strain for investigating LA myocardial function in patients with ATTR-CM treated with tafamidis.

Left Ventricular Longitudinal Myocardial Function of Heart Failure Patients With Transition From Reduced to Preserved Ejection Fraction and of Those With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Left ventricular (LV) longitudinal myocardial function is associated with the outcomes of heart failure (HF) patients. HF with improved ejection fraction (EF), known as HFimpEF, which is defined as current LVEF >40% but any previously documented LVEF ≤40%, has favorable outcomes compared with HF with preserved EF (HFpEF). However, LV longitudinal myocardial function in patients with previously reduced LVEF (<50%) but improved LVEF to within the normal range (≥50%) (HFnorEF) and its association with cardiovascular events remain unclear.

Effect of increase in heart rate after anthracycline chemotherapy on subsequent left ventricular dysfunction.

Background: Anthracycline chemotherapy-related cardiac dysfunction is believed to be refractory to conventional pharmacological therapy and is associated with a poor prognosis. Increased heart rate (HR) is a known marker of cardiovascular outcomes for various categories of heart failure (HF). However, little interest has been expressed regarding increased HR after anthracycline chemotherapy.

Identification of factors associated with progression of left atrial enlargement in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Left atrial (LA) enlargement frequently occurs in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients, and this enlargement is associated with the development of heart failure, thromboembolism, or atrial functional mitral regurgitation (AFMR). AF patients can develop LA enlargement over time, but its progression depends on the individual. So far, the factors that cause progressive LA enlargement in AF patients have thus not been elucidated, so that the aim of this study was to identify the factors associated with the progression of LA enlargement in AF patients.

Impact of Tafamidis on Echocardiographic Cardiac Function of Patients With Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis.

Background: The efficacy of a therapy for patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) has not been proven, but tafamidis has been associated with favorable outcomes. However, echocardiographic details of the association of tafamidis with cardiac morphology remain undetermined. Moreover, whether the efficacy of tafamidis varies with the degree of cardiac involvement remains unknown.

Impact of bisoprolol transdermal patch on early recurrence during the blanking period after atrial fibrillation ablation.

Background: Early recurrences of atrial arrhythmias (ERAAs) after ablation may require therapeutic intervention. The optimal medical therapy that prevents ERAAs requires clarification. This study aimed to compare the incidence of ERAAs between patients who received or did not receive bisoprolol transdermal patches (BTPs) at 3 months postablation.

Familial Carney complex with biatrial cardiac myxoma.

We report a case of Carney complex (CNC) with biatrial cardiac myxoma. The patient had left and right atrial myxomas which were resected in a surgery. She showed bilateral adrenal tumors and multiple mammary tumors.