Baseline Anemia Is an Independent Predictor of Long-Term Mortality in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between baseline anemia and long-term mortality in a single-center retrospective study involving patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The study population included 412 consecutive patients undergoing TAVI at a center for severe aortic valve stenosis between August 2011 and November 2018. The primary end point of the study was all-cause mortality.

Prosthetic valve endocarditis 7 months after transcatheter aortic valve implantation diagnosed with 3D TEE.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) was introduced as an alternative treatment for patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis for whom surgery would be high-risk. Prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis is a serious complication of surgical AVR (SAVR) with high morbidity and mortality. According to recent cases, post-TAVI prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) seems to occur very rarely.

Transfemoral aortic valve implantation in severe aortic stenosis patients with prior mitral valve prosthesis.

Introduction: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation for severe symptomatic aortic stenosis in patients with a previous mitral valve prosthesis is technically challenging, and pre-procedural comprehensive assessment of these patients before transcatheter aortic valve implantation is vital for an uncomplicated and successful procedure.

Aim: We want to share our experience with transcatheter aortic valve implantation in patients with a preexisting functional mitral valve prosthesis and describe a series of important technical and pre-procedural details.

Material And Methods: At our center, 135 patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis were treated with transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation in the presence of hematologic malignancies.

Objective: Cardiac surgery may be performed in patients with hematologic disorders, but carries an increased risk of morbidity. This series describes an experience of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in patients with hematologic malignancies, and highlights the technical considerations to be kept in mind.

Methods: Between June 2011 and April 2014, 133 consecutive high-risk patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis were treated with TAVI at our centre.

An unusual complication after permanent pacemaker implantation: Methemoglobinemia.

Permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) is usually a very safe procedure with a low complication risk. It is a relatively straightforward process carried out under local anesthetic. This case report presents an 80-year-old male patient who required a permanent pacemaker due to complete atrioventricular (AV) block, and who developed cyanosis and was diagnosed with methemoglobinemia after the pacemaker insertion procedure, in which the local anesthetic prilocaine was administered.

Evaluation of CA125 and NT-proBNP values in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a minimally invasive, emerging therapy in surgically high risk, or inoperable patients. Parameters used for risk classification have some deficiencies in the selection of patients. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of TAVI on carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) and N-Terminal pro Brain-type Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP) as biomarkers that have been used frequently in recent years, and also the relationship of these biomarkers to prognosis.

Assessment of left ventricular function by strain-strain rate echocardiography in patients with celiac disease.

Background/aim: Celiac is predominantly a disease of the small intestine characterized by chronic malabsorption in genetically susceptible individuals who ingest grains containing. gluten, such as wheat, barley, and rye. In the present study, we evaluate left ventricular function in patients with celiac disease by using strain and strain rate echocardiography imaging.

Early outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement in patients with severe aortic stenosis: single center experience.

Introduction: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation is a promising alternative to high risk surgical aortic valve replacement. The procedure is mainly indicated in patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis who cannot undergo surgery or who are at very high surgical risk.

Aim: Description early results of our single-center experience with balloon expandable aortic valve implantation.

Impact of transcatheter aortic valve implantation in patients with reduced ejection fraction.

Background: Aortic stenosis increases with age. According to guidelines, left ventricular systolic dysfunction is an indication for aortic valve replacement, even in asymptomatic patients. There is no clear data on the application of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), which is a method showing continuous improvement in recent years, in patients with reduced ejection fraction (REF) having a poor prognosis for surgical aortic valve replacement.

Coronary Slow Flow is Associated with Depression and Anxiety.

Background: There is an established relationship between depression/anxiety disorders and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality which has been previously documented. However, there has been no study evaluating coronary slow flow in association with depression and anxiety.

Methods And Results: A total of consecutive 90 patients were included in the study.

Evaluation of left ventricle functions by tissue Doppler, strain, and strain rate echocardiography in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism.

Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality are increased in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). We aimed to evaluate left ventricle systolic and diastolic functions with tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and strain and strain rate echocardiography in patients with PHPT. Thirty-one patients with PHPT and 29 healthy controls were evaluated with conventional and pulse Doppler echocardiography, TDI and strain and strain rate echocardiography.

Diminished serum paraoxonase activity in patients with coronary artery calcification.

Background: Previous studies have shown an association between paraoxonase (PON) activity and the presence and severity of coronary atherosclerosis.

Aim: To demonstrate any association between serum PON activity and the presence and severity of coronary artery calcification (CAC).

Methods: A total of 156 consecutive patients having the suspicion of coronary atherosclerosis or needing risk stratification for cardiovascular events were included in the present study.

Improvement in renal functions with transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Background & Objectives: In recent years, emerging transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become an alternative for surgery. However, with advanced age, several co-morbid factors together with contrast agent usage can cause deterioration in renal function and increase in the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) with poor prognosis in patients with AKI. Therefore, many patients cannot benefit from this treatment.

Assessment of the relationship between aortic stiffness and left ventricular functions with echocardiography in patients with Sjögren's syndrome.

Background And Aim: Capable of multi-organ involvement in Sjogren's syndrome (SS), cardiac findings of pulmonary effusion, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension are seen in patients with SS. Aortic stiffness (AS) reflects the mechanical tension and elasticity of the aorta. In this study, our aim is to determine if there is any differences in AS and left ventricular function between patients diagnosed as SS and healthy control groups.

The importance of echocardiography in transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Valvular heart diseases cause serious health problems in Turkey as well as in Western countries. According to a study conducted in Turkey, aortic stenosis (AS) is second after mitral valve disease among all valvular heart diseases. AS is frequently observed in elderly patients who have several cardiovascular risk factors and comorbidities.

Assessment of left ventricular functions in patients with Sjögren's syndrome using tissue Doppler echocardiography.

Aim: In our study, we aimed to evaluate left ventricular function in patients with Sjögren syndrome (SS) using tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDE) and myocardial performance index (MPI) in addition to conventional echocardiographic methods.

Methods: We evaluated 50 patients with SS and 48 healthy volunteers with similar demographic characteristics. Systolic and diastolic functions of the left ventricle were analyzed with standard two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography, M-mode echocardiography, pulsed-wave (PW) Doppler and tissue Doppler imaging.

The effects of undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy on left ventricular systolic and diastolic function.

Background: Recent studies report that cardiovascular mortality is more common in patients with spondyloarthropathy (SpA) compared with the normal population. In this study, we aimed to determine left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions using tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDE) in addition to conventional methods in undifferentiated SpA (uSpA) patients.

Methods: A total of 45 patients and 44 age and sex matched healthy controls participated in the present study.

Coronary slow flow and abnormal nocturnal blood pressure profile in normotensives.

Background: Abnormal nocturnal blood pressure (BP) profile has been linked to microvascular function and autonomic dysfunction. However, no data were available regarding nocturnal BP profile in coronary slow flow (CSF).

Aim: The aim was to investigate any association between CSF and abnormal BP response in normotensive patients.

Aortic elastic properties and left ventricular diastolic function in patients with isolated bicuspid aortic valve.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is one of the most common congenital heart defects. BAV disease is not only a disorder of valvulogenesis, but also represents a genetic disorder of aorta and cardiac development. Recent studies have shown that BAV is associated with abnormal aortic elasticity, and that a reduced distensibility of the aortic root may have a negative impact on left ventricular function.

The evaluation of endothelial functions in patients with celiac disease.

Aim: Celiac disease is characterized by malabsorption resulting from inflammatory injury to the mucosa of the small intestine after the ingestion of wheat gluten or related rye and barley proteins. This study aimed to identify individuals who are at risk of heart failure and increased risk for cardiovascular events by evaluating endothelial function in patients with celiac disease.

Materials And Methods: The study included 36 patients with celiac disease and 35 healthy volunteers.

A rare cause of atrial fibrillation: mad honey intoxication.

Background: Mad honey intoxication occurs after ingestion of honey containing grayanotoxin.

Case Report: We report the case of a 36-year-old man who ingested mad honey and developed atrial fibrillation.

Discussion: Mad honey intoxication is often characterized by symptoms such as hypotension, bradycardia, and syncope.

Late stent thrombosis after paclitaxel-eluting stent placement in a patient with essential thrombocytosis.

We report on a case of late stent thrombosis after drug-eluting stent placement in a patient with essential thrombocytosis. A 51-year-old male patient with a three-month history of paclitaxel-eluting stent placement to the left anterior descending artery presented with a complaint of severe retrosternal chest pain. A high platelet count (1,063,000/mm3) was detected two months prior to presentation, which was interpreted as essential thrombocytosis.

Aortic strain, distensibility and elastic modulus are associated with the presence and quantity of coronary calcium.

Background: An association between aortic stiffness and atherosclerosis has been previously demonstrated by pulse wave velocity. Whether echocardiographically assessed aortic stiffness also correlates with the extent of atherosclerosis has not yet been established.

Aim: To evaluate the association between echocardiographically measured aortic stiffness and atherosclerosis.

Infective endocarditis mimicking left atrial myxoma.

Infective endocarditis (IE) is an inflammatory disease of the endocardium and can be seen with various clinical presentations such as large intracardiac vegetations. The differential diagnosis of intracardiac mass is important to guide the management. Echocardiography is of critical use in the diagnosis of intracardiac mass.