Aspirin plus verapamil relieves angina and perfusion abnormalities in patients with coronary microvascular dysfunction and Chagas disease: a pilot non-randomized study.

Introduction: Most patients with chronic cardiomyopathy of Chagas disease (CCCD) harbor a secondary cause of coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD), for which there is no evidence-based therapy. We evaluated the impact of verapamil plus aspirin on symptoms and perfusion abnormalities in patients with CCCD and CMD.

Methods: Consecutive patients with angina pectoris, who had neither coronary artery obstructions nor moderate-severe left ventricular dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction > 40%) despite showing wall motion abnormalities on ventriculography, were referred for invasive angiography and tested for Chagas disease.

Electrical Storm in Chagas Cardiomyopathy: Clinical Predictors, Outcome, and Arrhythmic Characteristics in a Prospective Registry.

Objectives: This study of patients with Chagas heart disease (CHD) with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) for secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death sought to compare the characteristics of those with or without electrical storm (ES) during long-term follow-up.

Background: ES is a common problem in patients with CHD harboring an ICD, but data on clinical predictors and outcomes are limited.

Methods: The authors retrospectively evaluated 110 patients with CHD with a mean follow-up of 1,949 ± 1,271 days.

Long-term follow-up of Chagas heart disease patients receiving an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator for secondary prevention.

Background: Chagas heart disease (CHD) is a dilated cardiomyopathy characterized by malignant ventricular arrhythmias and increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Much controversy exists concerning the efficacy of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICDs) in CHD because of mixed results observed. We report our long-term experience with ICDs for secondary prevention in CHD, with the specific aim of assessing the results in groups with preserved or depressed global left ventricular function.

In-Lab Upfront Use of Tirofiban May Reduce the Occurrence of No-Reflow During Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention. A Pilot Randomized Study.

Background:: Despite successful opening of culprit coronary artery, myocardial reperfusion does not always follows primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors are used in the treatment of no-reflow (NR), but their role to prevent it is unproven.

Objective:: To evaluate the effect of in-lab administration of tirofiban on the incidence of NR in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with PPCI.