Myocardial beta-adrenoceptor down-regulation early after infarction is associated with long-term incidence of congestive heart failure.

Aims: Adverse left ventricular (LV) remodelling after myocardial infarction (MI) frequently leads to congestive heart failure (CHF). We have previously shown that myocardial beta-adrenoceptor density (beta-ARD) is reduced soon after acute MI and correlates with LV dilatation in the short term. The aim of the present study was to determine whether myocardial beta-ARD measured early after MI was associated with progression to CHF in the long term.

Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy presenting with features of left ventricular non-compaction.

Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy is a poorly understood syndrome. We report a case of a 76-year-old female patient with apical ballooning syndrome and features of left ventricular non-compaction that was followed up by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (CMR) imaging.

Resolution of ventricular thrombus identified by contrast enhanced cardiac MRI.

A 53 year old man was referred for a contrast enhanced cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) scan for assessment of anterior myocardial wall viability. An earlier coronary angiogram had shown a mid left anterior descending artery (LAD) occlusion, and echocardiography had shown mildly reduced global left ventricular function without any other abnormalities. Cine CMR images (steady state free precession sequence) showed a dilated left ventricle (LV) with reduced global systolic function [End-diastolic volume 224 mls (NR 77-195 mls); end-systolic volume 124 mis (NR 19-72 mls); ejection fraction 45%].

Myocardial beta-adrenoceptor density one month after acute myocardial infarction predicts left ventricular volumes at six months.

Objective: To investigate whether myocardial beta-adrenoceptor (beta-AR) downregulation precedes and predicts left ventricular (LV) dilation after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), we measured beta-AR density within four weeks of AMI and correlated it with serial measurements of LV volumes.

Background: Patients who develop heart failure following AMI have an increased sympathetic drive to the heart within the first four weeks after infarction.

Methods: We prospectively studied 61 patients in whom AMI was the first presentation of coronary artery disease (CAD) and with no signs of heart failure.

Low frequency spectral component of heart rate variability and myocardial beta-adrenoceptor density after acute myocardial infarction.

Objective: The low frequency spectral component (LF; 0.04-0.15 Hz) of heart rate variability (HRV) is considered to be an index of sympathetic modulation of sinus node activity under physiological conditions, although the relationship is less clearly defined in non-physiological conditions.