T1 Mapping in Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance-A Marker of Diffuse Myocardial Fibrosis in Patients Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients are at increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. In our study, we aimed to find subclinical changes in myocardial tissue after HSCT with the help of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) tissue imaging techniques. The data of 44 patients undergoing autologous and allogeneic HSCT in the Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kaunas Clinics from October 2021 to February 2023 were analyzed.

Early Impact of Mobilization Process on Cardiac Function and Size in Patients Undergoing Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

The hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) process is known to cause cardiac toxicity of different grades. In this paper, we aimed to evaluate the impact of mobilization procedure of hematopoietic stem cells for autologous HSCT process for left and right ventricle sizes and functions. The data of 47 patients undergoing autologous HSCT were analyzed.

Surgical dilemma - spare or replace regurgitant aortic valve: Late comparative outcomes of two strategies.

Background: To evaluate different aortic root surgery techniques and their contemporary clinical outcomes in patients with regurgitant aortic valve and aortic root aneurysm.

Methods: The study consisted of 141 adult patients who underwent aortic valve reimplantation (David group = 73) or aortic valve replacement surgery (Bentall group = 68) for aortic valve regurgitation (AR) and dilatation of the aortic root at our institution within the same period (April 2004-October 2016). Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate survival and other clinically relevant outcomes between the groups.

The predictive value of left ventricular myocardium mechanics evaluation in asymptomatic patients with aortic regurgitation and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. A long-term speckle-tracking echocardiographic study.

Background: The management of asymptomatic patients with aortic regurgitation (AR) and preserved left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (LVEF) remains challenging. The purpose of the study was to assess the early changes of LV mechanics by 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) in order to predict a decrease in LVEF.

Methods: Sixty-seven patients (age, 47 ± 15 years) with asymptomatic moderate (n = 27) and severe AR (n = 40) with preserved LVEF were prospectively followed for about 5 years.

Two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography for evaluation of dilative ascending aorta biomechanics.

Background: Two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography is one of the most feasible, noninvasive methods for assessing the aortic diameter and biomechanical changes. We studied possible interfaces between noninvasive biomechanical and speckle-tracking (ST) echocardiographic data from dilated aortas.

Methods: Altogether, 44 patients with dilative pathology of ascending aorta (DPAA) were compared with subjects without ascending aortic dilation (diameter <40 mm).

Determinants of reduced tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion in patients with severe systolic left ventricular dysfunction.

Objective: Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is associated with poor exercise tolerance and prognosis, regardless of left ventricular (LV) function. Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) is a non-invasive parameter of RV longitudinal function which can predict outcome in heart failure (HF) patients (pts). Our aim was to investigate the relation of TAPSE to clinical and echocardiographic parameters in severe LV dysfunction.