Prevalence of myocardial scar in patients with cryptogenic cerebral ischemic events and patent foramen ovale.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the prevalence of subclinical myocardial infarctions with cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) in patients with patent foramen ovale (PFO) after cryptogenic cerebral ischemic events.

Background: A thrombotic mass passing a PFO may embolize in cerebral but also in coronary arteries, resulting in both cerebral and myocardial ischemic events. CMRI with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) analysis is the most sensitive imaging technique to detect small myocardial infarctions.

Angiographic results of the cobalt chromium Vision and Mini-Vision stents.

Background: Drug-eluting stents (DES) have been shown to reduce repeat revascularizations compared with their bare-metal stent (BMS) platforms. Modern BMS may be associated with better angiographic results compared with the older BMS platforms. In the Basel Stent Kosten Effektivitats Trial (BASKET), target vessel revascularization after six months was nonsignificantly different between DES and BMS with clinical follow-up.

Impact of percutaneous device implantation for closure of patent foramen ovale on valve insufficiencies.

Background: In patients with percutaneous device implantation for closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO), a 10% incidence of new or worsened aortic regurgitation within 12 months has been reported with echocardiography. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is a powerful noninvasive tool to quantify volume and fraction of valve insufficiencies. We studied the acute and long-term impact of percutaneous device implantation for PFO closure on valve insufficiencies in cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

Carbon-coated stents in patients with acute coronary syndromes.

Background: For patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) or non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), rapid restoration of coronary blood flow is the primary therapeutic goal. Because of the acute nature of this clinical presentation, bleeding risks may not be adequately evaluated, limiting the use of drug-eluting stents, since premature discontinuation of antiplatelet therapy strongly predicts stent thrombosis. We evaluated angiographic and clinical results of non-drug-eluting carbon-coated stents.

Characterization of patients with acute chest pain using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether CMRI provides characteristic findings in patients with acute chest pain suffering from ST-elevation-myocardial infarction (STEMI), non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), acute myocarditis or Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy.

Patients And Methods: 230 consecutive patients with acute chest pain underwent cardiac catheterization followed by CMRI within median 5 days. Patients were classified to suffer from STEMI (n = 102), NSTEMI (n = 89), acute myocarditis (n = 27), or Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy (n = 12) on the synopsis of all clinical data.

Intracoronary application of abciximab in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Aims: Abciximab provides dose-dependent antiplatelet and anti-inflammatory properties. No specifically designed prospective studies have addressed the role of intracoronary bolus administration of abciximab in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods And Results: In a prospective observational study 633 STEMI patients were enrolled.

Magnetic resonance imaging to assess acute changes in atrial and ventricular parameters after transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects.

Purpose: To evaluate acute changes in atrial and ventricular parameters by the use of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with percutaneous transcatheter atrial septal defects (ASD) closure.

Materials And Methods: The study included 14 patients (six males and eight females, 45 +/- 18 years) with congenital ASD. Cardiac MRI (1.

Assessment of myocardial perfusion for detection of coronary artery stenoses by steady-state, free-precession magnetic resonance first-pass imaging.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic impact of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) first-pass perfusion using steady-state, free-precession (SSFP) sequences with parallel imaging (SENSE) for detection of coronary stenoses.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Setting: University hospital, cardiac MRI and catheterisation laboratories.

Myocardial perfusion reserve in cardiovascular magnetic resonance: Correlation to coronary microvascular dysfunction.

The present study examined the association of myocardial perfusion reserve index (MPRI) in cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) with coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) and serum levels of markers of inflammation or endothelial activation. Twelve patients with typical angina pectoris without coronary artery disease were enrolled in this study, and CMR perfusion was analyzed using a steady-state-free-precession sequence with 3 short axis slices per heartbeat during first pass of 0.025 mmol Gadolinium-DTPA/kg body weight.

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and transesophageal echocardiography in patients with transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale.

Objectives: We studied the value of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) before and after closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) in patients with cryptogenic ischemic events.

Background: Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is a powerful noninvasive tool for detailed assessment of cardiac anatomy and function. The relevance of CMRI compared with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in patients undergoing transcatheter PFO closure has not been evaluated so far.

Intracoronary beta-brachytherapy using a rhenium-188 filled balloon catheter in restenotic lesions of native coronary arteries and venous bypass grafts.

Purpose: We have previously demonstrated the efficacy of intracoronary beta-brachytherapy using a liquid (188)Re-filled balloon in a randomised trial including de novo lesions. Percutaneous coronary interventions in restenotic lesions and in stenoses of venous bypass grafts are characterised by a high recurrence rate for restenosis and re-interventions. Against this background, we wanted to assess the impact of intracoronary beta-brachytherapy using a liquid (188)Re-filled balloon in restenotic lesions in native coronary arteries and venous bypass grafts.

Prognostic role of myocardial tumor necrosis factor-alpha and terminal complement complex expression in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Background: In patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), elevated plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) are associated with poor prognosis. The terminal complement complex (C5b-9) stimulates myocardial TNF-alpha expression.

Aims: To investigate whether myocardial TNF-alpha and C5b-9 expression correlate with clinical outcome in DCM.

Repeat intracoronary beta-brachytherapy using a rhenium-188-filled balloon catheter for recurrent restenosis in patients who failed intracoronary radiation therapy.

Background: Conventional percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in restenotic lesions after brachytherapy failure is associated with a high recurrence rate of restenoses and revascularizations. Intracoronary brachytherapy using a liquid rhenium-188-filled balloon in de novo or restenotic lesions safely and effectively reduced restenosis rates. We report clinical and angiographic data regarding the safety and efficacy of rhenium-188 brachytherapy in restenoses after brachytherapy failure.

Myocardial biopsy based classification and treatment in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Background: We investigated whether myocardial biopsy analysis for inflammation and viruses correlates with outcome in dilated cardiomyopathy.

Methods: Myocardial biopsies of 82 patients were analyzed for HLAI, HLAII, CD54, CD2, CD68 and entero-/adenovirus. Ejection fraction was determined by left ventriculography.

Myocardial biopsy findings and gadolinium enhanced cardiovascular magnetic resonance in dilated cardiomyopathy.

Background: In some patients suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) shows late gadolinium enhancement with variable distribution. Myocardial biopsies in DCM reveal a chronic myocardial inflammatory process in almost 50% and myocardial persistence of adenoviral or enteroviral genome in about 15% of the patients.

Aims: We prospectively investigated whether the pattern of late gadolinium enhancement correlates with myocardial biopsy findings.

Sequelae of acute myocardial infarction regarding cardiac structure and function and their prognostic significance as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging.

Aims: Because of its high spatial resolution and tissue contrast, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to assess cardiac structure and function in a large population of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods And Results: One hundred and ten patients were studied by MRI 6.1 +/- 2.

Re-angioplasty of in-stent restenosis versus balloon restenoses--a matched pair comparison.

Background: Despite different biological mechanisms involved in the restenotic process of in-stent restenosis and restenosis after balloon angioplasty alone, the occurrence of a second restenosis has been reported in the same range. There are no data available comparing the outcome after re-angioplasty of such lesions. We analyzed in a matched pair comparison the clinical outcome and angiographic long-term result of patients with balloon angioplasty of a first in-stent restenosis versus patients with balloon re-angioplasty of a first balloon restenosis.

Intracoronary beta-irradiation with a rhenium-188-filled balloon catheter: a randomized trial in patients with de novo and restenotic lesions.

Background: Restenosis requiring reintervention is the main limitation of coronary angioplasty. Intracoronary irradiation reduces neointimal proliferation. We studied the efficacy of a self-centering liquid rhenium-188-filled balloon catheter for coronary beta-brachytherapy.

No effect of highly dosed nitric oxide donor molsidomine on the angiographic restenosis rate after percutaneous coronary angioplasty: a randomized, placebo controlled, double-blind trial.

Background: Nitric oxide (NO) counteracts several mechanisms involved in the restenotic process after coronary angioplasty. NO mediates an antiproliferative effect on smooth muscle cells, inhibition of leukocyte-vessel wall interactions, and platelet aggregation and adhesion. Because these effects are mainly dose dependent, NO-releasing drugs have to be applied at a high dose to have an effect on restenotic mechanisms.

Reduction of major adverse cardiac events with intracoronary compared with intravenous bolus application of abciximab in patients with acute myocardial infarction or unstable angina undergoing coronary angioplasty.

Background: In patients with acute myocardial infarction or unstable angina undergoing coronary angioplasty, abciximab reduces major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Clinical trials have studied intravenous administration only. Intracoronary bolus application of abciximab causes very high local drug concentrations and may be more effective.

Quantification of mitral regurgitation by the proximal flow convergence method--comparison of transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography.

Background: No dataexist to indicate whether transthoracic (TTE) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) are of comparable value for the detection and quantification of mitral regurgitation using the proximal flow convergence method.

Hypothesis: The study was performed to compare the value of TTE and TEE for the detection and quantification of mitral regurgitation using this method.

Methods: The study included 57 patients with and 11 patients without mitral regurgitation.

Complement and dilated cardiomyopathy: a role of sublytic terminal complement complex-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha synthesis in cardiac myocytes.

Dilated cardiomyopathy is a syndrome characterized by cardiac enlargement and impaired systolic function of the heart. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, a pleiotropic cytokine, seems to play a central role in the progression of dilated cardiomyopathy. Recent data suggest that ongoing inflammation in the myocardium may, in many cases, contribute to the development of disease.