Emerging concepts in heart failure management and treatment: focus on tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy.

Tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy is an entity characterized by reversible dysfunction of the left ventricle, which can be induced by different types of arrhythmia such as atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, incessant supraventricular tachycardia and ventricular arrhythmia (more frequent causes). Correct identification of the causative arrhythmia and normalization of the heart rate (e.g through medical treatment, electrical cardioversion, ablation) can lead to recovery of left ventricular function.

Left Ventricular Longitudinal Global Strain to Predict Severe Coronary Disease in Patients with Precordial Pain Suggestive of Non-ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Background: Diagnosing non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) is not always straightforward. Left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) is an echocardiographic method capable of detecting subclinical regional and global ventricular contractile dysfunction due to myocardial ischemia. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the efficacy of LVGLS in diagnosing severe coronary disease in patients with chest pain suggestive of NSTE-ACS and to assess the relationships between LVGLS reduction and ultrasensitive troponin T (UsTnT) elevation, electrocardiographic changes suggestive of ischemia, and the number of vessels with severe obstructions.

[Mechanical fragmentation and catheter-guided thrombolysis in intermediate risk pulmonary embolism].

Acute pulmonary thromboembolism remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Its diagnosis, risk stratification and early treatment are essential. The mainstay of treatment is anticoagulation.

Concordance and prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis in different vascular territories.

Background: Subclinical atherosclerosis (SA) in the carotid, femoral, and coronary territories is a powerful predictor of cardiovascular (CV) events. Whether it is sufficient to assess SA in a single vascular territory in early-stage disease is uncertain. We aimed to determine the prevalence and concordance of SA in these vascular beds in asymptomatic patients without known CV disease.

[Comparison of risk scores to predict subclinical atherosclerosis].

Subclinical atherosclerosis is a powerful predictor of cardiovascular events, although it is unknown which of the risk scores is more useful to predict its presence in a Latin American population. The objective was to compare the performance of the risk scores: Framingham, Regicor and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk Estimator to predict the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis in asymptomatic persons without known cardiovascular disease; as well as determining its prevalence and distribution in the different vascular beds. From 2014 to 2017, patients from 35 to 75 years, asymptomatic and without known cardiovascular disease who underwent a carotid and femoral Doppler echo and calcium score were evaluated.

[Percutaneous balloon angioplasty for treatment of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension].

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension is characterized by the presence of organized thrombotic material in the pulmonary arteries which causes elevation of the pulmonary vascular resistance, right heart failure, and death if not treated. Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy is the treatment of choice and can be curative when the obstruction is proximal. There are cases in which this therapy is not possible, and pulmonary angioplasty is a therapeutic alternative of growing interest.

Relationship between electrocardiographic characteristics of left bundle branch block and echocardiographic findings.

Background: Complete left bundle branch block (CLBBB) is an electrocardiographic (ECG) dromotropic disorder seen in patients with various structural heart diseases and sometimes is associated with poor prognosis. Its presence confounds the application of standard ECG criteria for the diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), myocardial infarction (MI) in the chronic phase, and pathologies that produce changes on ST-T segment. The aim of this investigation was to establish the relationship between CLBBB and cardiac structural abnormalities assessed by echocardiography.

[Takotsubo Syndrome: experience in three institutions of Cordoba City].

Takotsubo Syndrome is an acquired cardiomyopathy characterized by a transient left ventricular antero-apical asynergy or disynergy (apical ballooning), symptoms and electrocardiographic changes are suggestive of an acute coronary syndrome, moderate cardiac enzymatic release and absence of significant atherosclerotic lesions in coronary arteries. It predominantly affects postmenopausal women and it is frequently preceded by situations of physical or psychological stress. The physiopathology is not completely understood but there is consensus that it is triggered by a surge of catecholamines consequent to the aforementioned stress conditions.