Long term outcome after mononuclear bone marrow or peripheral blood cells infusion after myocardial infarction.

Objectives: This study reports the long-term follow-up of the randomised controlled HEBE trial. The HEBE study is a multicentre trial that randomised 200 patients with large first acute myocardial infarction (AMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention to either intracoronary infusion of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMCs) (n=69), peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) (n=66) or standard therapy (n=65).

Methods: In addition to 3-5 days, and 4 months after AMI, all patients underwent cardiac MRI after 2 years.

Genetic association study of QT interval highlights role for calcium signaling pathways in myocardial repolarization.

The QT interval, an electrocardiographic measure reflecting myocardial repolarization, is a heritable trait. QT prolongation is a risk factor for ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death (SCD) and could indicate the presence of the potentially lethal mendelian long-QT syndrome (LQTS). Using a genome-wide association and replication study in up to 100,000 individuals, we identified 35 common variant loci associated with QT interval that collectively explain ∼8-10% of QT-interval variation and highlight the importance of calcium regulation in myocardial repolarization.

Cell therapy in reperfused acute myocardial infarction does not improve the recovery of perfusion in the infarcted myocardium: a cardiac MR imaging study.

Purpose: To investigate the effects of cell therapy on myocardial perfusion recovery after treatment of acute myocardial infarction (MI) with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Materials And Methods: In this HEBE trial substudy, which was approved by the institutional review board (trial registry number ISRCTN95796863), the authors assessed the effects of intracoronary infusion with bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells (BMMCs) or peripheral blood-derived mononuclear cells (PBMCs) on myocardial perfusion recovery by using cardiac magnetic resonance (MR) imaging after revascularization. In 152 patients with acute MI treated with PCI, cardiac MR imaging was performed after obtaining informed consent-before randomization to BMMC, PBMC, or standard therapy (control group)-and repeated at 4-month follow-up.

Myocardial infarct heterogeneity assessment by late gadolinium enhancement cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging shows predictive value for ventricular arrhythmia development after acute myocardial infarction.

Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the association between the proportions of penumbra-visualized by late gadolinium enhanced cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (LGE-CMR)-after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and the prevalence of ventricular tachycardia (VT).

Methods: One-hundred and sixty-two AMI patients, successfully, treated by primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) underwent LGE-CMR after a median of 3 days (3-4) and 24-h Holter monitoring after 1 month. With LGE-CMR, the total amount of enhanced myocardium was quantified and divided into an infarct core (>50% of maximal signal intensity) and penumbra (25-50% of maximal signal intensity).

Pathological Q waves in myocardial infarction in patients treated by primary PCI.

Objectives: In the present study, we investigated the association of pathological Q waves with infarct size. Furthermore, we investigated whether Q-wave regression was associated with improvement of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), infarct size, and left ventricular dimensions in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients with early Q-wave formation compared with patients without or persistent pathological Q waves.

Background: The criteria for pathological Q waves after acute myocardial infarction (MI) have changed over the years.

A proinflammatory monocyte response is associated with myocardial injury and impaired functional outcome in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: monocytes and myocardial infarction.

Background: In patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the importance of a well-balanced inflammatory reaction has been recognized for years. Monocytes play essential roles in regulating inflammation. Hence, we investigated the association between inflammatory characteristics of monocytes and myocardial injury and functional outcome in patients with STEMI.

Intracoronary infusion of mononuclear cells from bone marrow or peripheral blood compared with standard therapy in patients after acute myocardial infarction treated by primary percutaneous coronary intervention: results of the randomized controlled HEBE trial.

Aims: Previous trials that investigated cell therapy as an adjunctive therapy after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have shown conflicting results. We designed a randomized controlled trial to determine the effect of intracoronary infusion of mononuclear cells from bone marrow (BM) or peripheral blood in patients with AMI.

Methods And Results: In a multicentre trial, 200 patients with large first AMI treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention were randomly assigned to either intracoronary infusion of mononuclear BM cells (n = 69), mononuclear peripheral blood cells (n = 66), or standard therapy (without placebo infusion) (n = 65).

Value and limitations of electromechanical endocardial mapping in the assessment of global and regional left ventricular function and transmural extent of infarction: a comparison with cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

Aims: To determine the relation between electromechanical endocardial mapping (EEM) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) derived functional and viability parameters in patients with a large myocardial infarction.

Methods And Results: Forty-two patients with a large ST-elevation myocardial infarction underwent both EEM and CMR four months after primary percutaneous coronary intervention. EEM was performed to assess linear local shortening (LLS), unipolar voltage (UV) and bipolar voltage (BV).

Predictive value of tissue Doppler imaging for left ventricular ejection fraction, remodelling, and infarct size after percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction.

Aims: To investigate in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients the value of tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) for an early estimation of the extent of myocardial salvage, left ventricular (LV) remodelling, and residual LV ejection fraction (LVEF).

Methods And Results: In 50 STEMI patients hospitalized for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), we investigated whether TDI can predict LVEF, infarct size, and LV remodelling as measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 4 months post-MI. TDI was assessed within 24 h after MI with colour-coded TDI.

Early electrocardiographic findings and MR imaging-verified microvascular injury and myocardial infarct size.

Objectives: This study investigated early electrocardiographic findings in relation to left ventricular (LV) function, extent and size of infarction, and microvascular injury in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Background: The electrocardiogram (ECG) is the most used and simplest clinical method to evaluate the risk for patients immediately after reperfusion therapy for acute MI. ST-segment resolution and residual ST-segment elevation have been used for prognosis in acute MI, whereas Q waves are related to outcome in chronic MI.

Left ventricular volume assessment by planar radionuclide ventriculography evaluated by MRI.

Background: Assessment of left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (LVEF) and LV volume are essential for the evaluation of prognosis in cardiac disease. LVEF and LV volumes can be measured with several imaging modalities, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography; however, these are relatively expensive and time consuming. In contrast, planar radionuclide ventriculography (PRV) for LVEF assessment is a cost-effective, fast, and reliable technique, but PRV for LV volumes calculation is less common.

Predictive value of Q waves on the 12-lead electrocardiogram after reperfusion therapy for ST elevation myocardial infarction.

Design: The data used for the present study were obtained as part of a clinical trial evaluating the effect of thrombus aspiration after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Setting: The study was conducted at a tertiary referral facility for primary PCI at a University Medical Center Groningen in The Netherlands.

Background: Prognosis after ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is strongly related to infarct size.

Evaluation of global left ventricular function assessment by dual-source computed tomography compared with MRI.

Left ventricular (LV) function assessment by dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) was compared with the reference standard method using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Accurate assessment of LV function is essential for the prediction of prognosis in cardiac disease. Thirty-four patients undergoing DSCT examination of the heart for various clinical indications underwent MRI after DSCT.

The importance of left ventricular function for long-term outcome after primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: In the present study we sought to determine the long-term prognostic value of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), assessed by planar radionuclide ventriculography (PRV), after ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI).

Methods: In total 925 patients underwent PRV for LVEF assessment after PPCI for myocardial infarction before discharge from the hospital. PRV was performed with a standard dose of 500 Mbq of 99mTc-pertechnetate.

Intracoronary infusion of autologous mononuclear bone marrow cells in patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with primary PCI: Pilot study of the multicenter HEBE trial.

Objective: This study was a pilot trial to determine safety and feasibility of intracoronary infusion of mononuclear bone marrow cells (MBMC) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI).

Background: Studies reporting the effect of MBMC therapy on improvement of left ventricular (LV) function have shown variable results. The HEBE trial is a large multicenter, randomized trial that currently enrolls patients.

Assessment of global left ventricular functional parameters: analysis of every second short-axis Magnetic Resonance Imaging slices is as accurate as analysis of consecutive slices.

The purpose of this study was to assess whether accurate global left-ventricular (LV) functional parameters can be obtained by analyzing every second short-axis magnetic resonance imaging cine series instead of consecutive slices, in order to reduce post-processing time. Forty patients, were scanned on a 1.5 T MRI-system (Magnetom Sonata, Siemens Medical Systems, Erlangen, Germany) using a steady-state free precession (SSFP) sequence.

Parallel imaging for first-pass myocardial perfusion.

Two parallel imaging methods used for first-pass myocardial perfusion imaging were compared in terms of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and image artifacts. One used adaptive Time-adaptive SENSitivity Encoding (TSENSE) and the other used GeneRalized Autocalibrating Partially Parallel Acquisition (GRAPPA), which are both applied to a gradient-echo sequence. Both methods were tested on 12 patients with coronary artery disease.

Intracoronary infusion of autologous mononuclear bone marrow cells or peripheral mononuclear blood cells after primary percutaneous coronary intervention: rationale and design of the HEBE trial--a prospective, multicenter, randomized trial.

Background: Recently, several preliminary reports have demonstrated that cell transplantation after acute myocardial infarction in humans is safe and leads to better preserved left ventricular function and improved myocardial perfusion and coronary flow reserve.

Methods: The HEBE trial is a multicenter, prospective, randomized, 3-arm open trial with blinded evaluation of end points. Patients with acute large myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) will undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and echocardiography.

The feasibility of repeated left ventricular ejection fraction analysis with sequential single-dose radionuclide ventriculography.

Objective: Repeated left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) analyses with sequential single-dose radionuclide ventriculography might be an interesting technique for monitoring the effect of positive inotropic interventions. The aim of the study was to assess the reproducibility of LVEF measurement with planar radionuclide ventriculography within 3 h, using a standard single dose of radioactive tracer.

Methods: Sixteen patients underwent routine planar radionuclide ventriculography with a standard dose of 500 MBq of [Tc]pertechnetate and returned after 3 h for a repeat planar radionuclide ventriculography without administration of additional tracer.

Long-term safety of intracoronary haemodynamic assessment for deferral of angioplasty in intermediate coronary stenoses: a 5-year follow-up.

Background: Intracoronary flow and pressure measurements can be used for evaluating intermediate lesions. Studies focussing on short- and medium-term results demonstrated its safety. Long-term results are, however, not available.

Treatment synergy of silicon carbide-coated stenting and abciximab for complex coronary artery lesions: clinical results of a single-center study.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the combination of a silicon carbide-coated stent with the periprocedural use of abciximab in patients with type B2/C lesions. The study was a prospective cohort study and was conducted at the University Medical Center of Groningen.

Methods: Elective percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty was performed in a total of 44 patients.