Feasibility, safety, and early outcomes of direct carotid artery stent implantation with use of the FilterWire EZ Embolic Protection System.

Objectives: To report on early outcomes of prospective single-center registry, which evaluated feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of direct carotid stenting using FilterWire EZ Embolic Protection System in high-risk patients.

Background: Little is known about the use of direct carotid stenting with FilterWire EZ Embolic Protection System and different carotid stents.

Methods: Between September 2005 and August 2008, 176 consecutive patients (70 +/- 9 years, 36% symptomatic, 89% at high risk) underwent 214 direct carotid artery stenting procedures with FilterWire EZ Embolic Protection System and different carotid stents.

Alcohol septal ablation for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: ultra-low dose of alcohol (1 ml) is still effective.

Echo-guided alcohol septal ablation (ASA) is an alternative treatment for highly symptomatic patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HOCM). Previous reports suggest that a low dose of alcohol (1.5-2 ml) is as effective as the classic dose (2-4 ml) used in the past.

Thirty-day outcomes of direct carotid artery stenting with cerebral protection in high-risk patients.

Background: Implantation of a carotid artery stent after predilation is a standard approach in the endovascular treatment of carotid artery stenoses. Stenting without predilation may be an alternative approach in a certain subset of patients. The present prospective, single-center registry was designed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of direct carotid artery stenting (DCAS) in high-risk patients.

Impact of ethanol dosing on the long-term outcome of alcohol septal ablation for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a single-center prospective, and randomized study.

Background: The impact of ethanol dose on the long-term outcome of alcohol septal ablation (ASA) for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was investigated.

Methods And Results: Fifty-four patients (age 24-82 years; 65% women) undergoing ASA were randomized into 2 groups according to the dose of injected ethanol: Group A 1-2 ml, Group B >2 ml. Clinical and echocardiographic data were obtained at baseline and during follow-up.

Age-related hemodynamic and morphologic differences in patients undergoing alcohol septal ablation for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

Background: Alcohol septal ablation (ASA) decreases the left ventricular (LV) outflow gradient and relieves symptoms in patients with highly symptomatic hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). The aim of this study was to evaluate the early course of hemodynamic, morphologic and clinical changes in younger and elderly patients.

Methods And Results: Forty-four consecutive patients (age, 24-81 years) underwent the ASA procedure for HOCM.

Preprocedural statin therapy reduces the risk and extent of cardiac biomarker release following percutaneous coronary intervention.

This study evaluates the association between statin therapy in patients treated by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for stable angina pectoris and postinterventional myocardial injury with subsequent long-term clinical outcome. Prospectively collected data on 400 consecutive patients with stable angina pectoris or evidence of inducible myocardial ischemia were analyzed. The incidence of myocardial infarction based on postinterventional release of troponin I>1.

Relationship of C-reactive protein to adverse cardiovascular events in patients treated by percutaneous coronary intervention for stable angina pectoris.

Low-grade inflammation as detected by increased C-reactive protein (CRP) levels predicts the risk of cardiovascular events. However, there is still controversy over the mid-term predictive value of CRP in patients referred for elective percutaneous coronary revascularization (PCI) for stable angina pectoris. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between baseline CRP level and mid-term outcome of patients undergoing PCI.

Effects of varying ethanol dosing in percutaneous septal ablation for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy on early hemodynamic changes.

This prospective, randomized study evaluates the association between ethanol dose and postprocedural hemodynamic changes in 42 patients treated by alcohol septal ablation for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. These results suggest that the early course of hemodynamic changes is not related to the use of a small (1 to 2 ml) or standard (>2 ml) dose of ethanol.

Effects of alcohol septal ablation for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy on Doppler Tei index: a midterm follow-up.

Alcohol septal ablation (PTSMA) improves outflow gradient, left ventricular (LV) diastolic function, and symptoms in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). Tei index (TI) is a Doppler parameter reflecting both systolic and diastolic LV function. Midterm changes of TI after PTSMA have not been determined up to now.

Alcohol septal ablation for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy: Lower alcohol dose reduces size of infarction and has comparable hemodynamic and clinical outcome.

Patients with highly symptomatic hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) are considered to be good candidates for percutaneous transluminal septal myocardial ablation (PTSMA). However, there is ongoing discussion regarding the optimal dose of alcohol injected into target septal artery and the impact of infarct sizes on the clinical and hemodynamic outcome. Thirty-four patients with symptomatic HOCM receiving maximum medical therapy were consecutively enrolled.

The biphasic course of changes of left ventricular outflow gradient after alcohol septal ablation for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

Background And Aim: Alcohol septal ablation (PTSMA) decreases left ventricular outflow gradient (LVOG) and relieves symptoms in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). The time course of early changes of LVOG has not been clearly determined up to now.

Methods: Doppler echocardiography was used to determine the maximal LVOG.

Relationship of C-reactive protein to presence and severity of coronary atherosclerosis in patients with stable angina pectoris or a pathological exercise test.

Background: C-reactive protein (CRP) level is a sensitive marker of inflammation and a probable predictor of cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the presence and the extent of coronary atherosclerosis and CRP level in patients referred for coronary angiography for stable angina pectoris or a pathological exercise test.

Patients And Methods: A group of 200 patients were prospectively analyzed for the relationship between the presence and extent of coronary atherosclerosis and high-sensitivity CRP.