Implications of Left Bundle Branch Block in Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy: Propensity Match Analysis from the National Inpatient Sample.

Introduction: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC), also called stress cardiomyopathy, is a transient reversible left ventricular dysfunction mimicking acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Studies have shown similar rates of in-hospital complications in TTC and myocardial infarction (MI). Left bundle branch block (LBBB) is associated with increased mortality in patients with MI; however, similar studies comparing outcomes of TTC in the presence of LBBB are lacking.

A simple validated clinical tool to predict the absence of coronary artery disease in patients with systolic heart failure of unclear etiology.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major cause of systolic heart failure (HF). Identifying CAD as a cause of systolic HF has prognostic and treatment implications. Whether all patients with systolic HF of unclear etiology should undergo coronary angiography has been controversial.

Soft Tissue Attenuation Patterns Associated with Supine Acquisition SPECT Myocardial Perfusion Imaging: A Descriptive Study.

Purpose: Soft-tissue attenuation patterns in SPECT-myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) of supine acquisition systems are well recognized. Their prevalence and interaction with body-habitus and gender are ill-defined, which we sought to describe in this study.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we described the prevalence of soft-tissue attenuation patterns in normal SPECT-MPI studies acquired with a supine patient-position SPECT system.

Soft Tissue Attenuation Patterns Associated with Upright Acquisition SPECT Myocardial Perfusion Imaging: A Descriptive Study.

Background: Little is known about soft tissue attenuation artifacts when an upright patient-position SPECTmyocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) system is used. In this investigation we sought to describe the patterns and frequency of attenuation artifacts associated with this type of instruments and we explored the impact of gender and body habitus on these artifacts.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we described the prevalence of various soft-tissue attenuation patterns in 212 normal SPECT-MPI studies acquired with an upright patient-position imaging system.

Soft tissue attenuation patterns in stress myocardial perfusion SPECT images: a comparison between supine and upright acquisition systems.

Background: Soft tissue attenuation patterns and their interaction with body habitus and gender in Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT)-myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) of upright patient-position acquisition systems are not well described.

Methods: In a retrospective cross-sectional study, we compared the prevalence and patterns of soft tissue attenuation in two groups of normal SPECT-MPI studies acquired by supine (n = 263) vs upright (n = 212) acquisition systems.

Results: Attenuation patterns observed in the study population were: anterior (22.

Myocardial degradation and left bundle branch block predict conversion to low ejection fraction in heart failure with preserved systolic function.

The authors prospectively investigated whether left bundle branch block (LBBB) and myocardial degradation as indicated by elevated troponin T (tnT) predict the phenomenon of systolic conversion to low ejection fraction (EF 40%). Thirty consecutive patients with HFPSF were included and followed over a 4-year interval. A follow-up EF assessment was performed in 25 patients.