Utility of cardiovascular magnetic resonance in patients with stable troponin elevation.

Aims: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging has a potential role in the evaluation of symptomatic patients with stable troponin elevation; however, its utility remains unexplored. We sought to determine the incremental diagnostic value of CMR in this unique cohort and assess the long-term clinical outcomes.

Methods And Results: Two hundred twenty-five consecutive patients presenting with cardiac chest pain/dyspnoea, stable troponin elevation, and undergoing CMR assessment were identified retrospectively from registry database.

Long-term clinical outcomes in patients with a working diagnosis of myocardial infarction with non-obstructed coronary arteries (MINOCA) assessed by cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: Myocardial infarction with non-obstructed coronary arteries (MINOCA) is a distinct entity among patients presenting with troponin-positive acute chest pain. We have previously reported on the incremental diagnostic capability of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in this cohort. There is paucity of evidence on the long-term (> 5 years) clinical outcomes of these patients as graded by their acute CMR diagnosis.

Randomized controlled trial of perhexiline on regression of left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with symptomatic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (RESOLVE-HCM trial).

Background: The presence and extent of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a major determinant of symptoms in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). There is increasing evidence to suggest that myocardial energetic impairment represents a central mechanism leading to LVH in HCM. There is currently a significant unmet need for disease-modifying therapy that regresses LVH in HCM patients.

"Incidence, clinical and angiographic characteristics, management and outcomes of coronary artery perforation at a high volume cardiac care center during percutaneous coronary intervention".

Aims: To study the incidence, clinical and angiographic characteristics, management and outcomes of coronary artery perforation (CAP) during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) at a high volume center in South-east Asia.

Methods: Data from patients who had CAP during PCI from January 2016 to December 2019 at our center were collected. Clinical features, angiographic and procedural characteristics, their management and outcomes were analyzed retrospectively.

Cardiac Amyloidosis: The Importance of Surveillance in a Patient With an Initial Negative Cardiac Biopsy.

Cardiac amyloidosis is a progressive disorder and is sometimes difficult to diagnose even when suspected in the appropriate clinical setting. We present an interesting case of rapidly progressive light-chain cardiac amyloidosis and highlights the importance of close monitoring even when the initial biopsy and imaging findings are not pathognomonic for amyloidosis. ().

Observational study of left ventricular global longitudinal strain in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients with extended pharmaco-invasive strategy: A six months follow-up study.

Aims And Objectives: To evaluate left ventricular (LV) function by assessment of LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients who underwent delayed fibrinolysis and coronary intervention (extended pharmaco-invasive strategy), since LV function is one of the determinants of both immediate and long-term outcomes.

Methods: Prospective study of consecutive STEMI patients who underwent extended pharmaco-invasive strategy. The LV function was estimated using LV GLS at baseline and at 6 months.

Intracardiac mass in chronic myeloid leukemia.

Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is a neoplastic disorder of myeloid cell lines and is a less aggressive disease compared to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Although cardiovascular complications are not uncommon, intracardiac thrombosis in CML is rarely reported. Herein, we report a case of CML presenting with an intracardiac thrombus attached to the posterior mitral leaflet, and subsequently resulting in peripheral embolization.

Selective use of drug-eluting stents in high-risk versus bare metal stents in low-risk patients according to predefined criteria confers similar four-year long-term clinical outcomes.

Aims: The aim of the study was to evaluate the long-term outcomes following selective implantation of drug-eluting stents (DES) in patients at high risk of restenosis versus bare metal stents (BMS) in low-risk patients, according to predefined criteria.

Methods And Results: Patients who underwent elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) between May 2002 and April 2004 were enrolled in this retrospective, single-centre study. All patients received a BMS while undergoing PCI, unless they fulfilled at least two entry criteria that warranted DES usage.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of biodegradable polymer versus durable polymer drug-eluting stents incorporating real-world evidence.

Aim: Compared with second-generation durable polymer drug-eluting stents (DP-DES), the cost-effectiveness of biodegradable polymer drug-eluting stents (BP-DES) remains unclear in the real-world setting. We assessed the cost-effectiveness of BP-DES in patients with coronary artery disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: We developed a decision-analytic model to compare the cost-effectiveness of BP-DES to DP-DES over 1 year and 5 years from healthcare payer perspective.

Treatment of Very Small De Novo Coronary Artery Disease With 2.0 mm Drug-Coated Balloons Showed 1-Year Clinical Outcome Comparable With 2.0 mm Drug-Eluting Stents.

Objective: To evaluate the 1-year clinical outcomes of patients treated with 2.0 mm drug-coated balloon (DCB) vs 2.0 mm drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation in small-caliber vessel de novo coronary artery disease (CAD).

Incidence and predictors of target lesion failure in a multiethnic Asian population receiving the SYNERGY coronary stent: A prospective all-comers registry.

Objectives: To evaluate the target lesion failure (TLF) rate of the SYNERGY stent in all-comers, multiethnic Asian population.

Background: Currently, most drug eluting stents deliver anti-proliferative drugs from a durable polymer which is associated with a risk of late stent thrombosis. The novel everolimus-eluting, platinum chromium SYNERGY stent is coated with a bioabsorbable abluminal polymer that resolves within 4 months.

Prosthetic mitral valve thrombosis, malfunction, and paroxysmal mitral regurgitation.

Intermittent dysfunction of mechanical mitral valve prosthesis is an uncommon condition. It carries serious clinical implications if unrecognized. Here, we present a case of a 28-year-old female with a history of rheumatic multivalvular disease, for which she had undergone double valve replacement and tricuspid annuloplasty.

A propensity score-matched comparison of biodegradable polymer vs second-generation durable polymer drug-eluting stents in a real-world population.

Aims: The safety and efficacy of BP-DES compared to second-generation DP-DES remain unclear in the real-world setting. We compared the clinical outcomes of biodegradable polymer drug-eluting stents (BP-DES) with second-generation durable polymer drug-eluting stents (DP-DES) in an all-comer percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) registry.

Methods/results: The study included a cohort of 1065 patients treated with either BP-DES or DP-DES from January 2009 through October 2015.

Percutaneous Balloon Dilation of Discrete Subaortic Stenosis: A Futile Exercise.

Discrete subaortic stenosis (DSS) is a progressive obstruction of left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) resulting in the development of aortic regurgitation in its natural course. Hence, early intervention is recommended. Percutaneous balloon dilation of DSS has been reported and can substantially reduce LVOT pressure gradient.