Relative apical sparing obtained with speckle tracking echocardiography is not a sensitive parameter for diagnosing light-chain cardiac amyloidosis.

Background: Distinguishing light-chain cardiac amyloidosis (AL CA) from left ventricular wall thickening (LVWT) resulted from other etiologies has proven to be challenging. This study aimed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of relative apical sparing in diagnosing AL CA and investigate the differences in clinical and echocardiographic characteristics between AL CA patients with apical sparing and those with non-apical sparing.

Methods: A total of 63 consecutive patients with AL CA, 102 consecutive patients with LVWT (including 51 hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and 51 hypertension) and 33 healthy individuals were recruited retrospectively at Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology.

Persistent Endothelial Dysfunction in Coronavirus Disease-2019 Survivors Late After Recovery.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can result in an endothelial dysfunction in acute phase. However, information on the late vascular consequences of COVID-19 is limited.

Methods: Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) examination were performed, and inflammatory biomarkers were assessed in 86 survivors of COVID-19 for 327 days (IQR 318-337 days) after recovery.

Normalized Cardiac Structure and Function in COVID-19 Survivors Late After Recovery.

Coronavirus disease 2019 can result in myocardial injury in the acute phase. However, information on the late cardiac consequences of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is limited. We conducted a prospective observational cohort study to investigate the late cardiac consequences of COVID-19.