Prevalence of transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy in patients admitted for acute heart failure.

Introduction: Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) is an underdiagnosed cause of AHF that benefits from a specific approach. The aim was to determine the prevalence of ATTR-CM among patients hospitalized for AHF.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted on consecutive patients aged 60 or older admitted for acute AHF without cardiogenic shock.

A new perspective on an old method: gated SPECT imaging for left ventricular contractile function assessment.

The ejection fraction (LVEF) is a commonly used marker of left ventricular function. However, because it is strongly influenced by loading conditions, it can be inaccurate in representing cardiac contractility. We therefore evaluated a gated SPECT based tool to simultaneously assess preload, afterload, and contractility.

[Non-invasive follow-up of adjusted treatment in patients with microvascular angina].

There are currently multiple invasive and non-invasive methods that can be used to establish the diagnosis of microvascular dysfunction (MVD) in patients with INOCA (Ischemia with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries) and microvascular angina. However, we still do not have a specific treatment approach for this group of patients. The current trend is to adjust the treatment to the pathophysiological mechanism involved, adding calcium blockers in those patients where endothelial dysfunction is demonstrated or beta blockers in those patients who present smooth muscle-dependent dysfunction.

[Positron emission tomography in infective endocarditis associated with intracardiac devices and prosthetic valves].

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious and potentially lethal condition. The diagnostic capacity of the modified Duke criteria is high for native valves, but it declines in the case of EI of prosthetic valves or EI associated with devices. Echocardiography and microbiological findings are essential for diagnosis but may be insufficient in this group of patients.

[Bone seeking tracers' scintigraphy for the diagnosis of transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis].

Transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR) is a restrictive cardiomyopathy that leads to heart failure in considerable number of patients. Early diagnosis allows specific treatment options. However, ATTR diagnosis is complex and requires invasive procedures.