Myocardial infarction associated with infective endocarditis: a case series.

Introduction: Embolic myocardial infarction is an uncommon but increasingly recognized complication of infective endocarditis (IE). Its incidence ranges between 1% and 10%, but it has a high mortality rate. A high index of suspicion is required to diagnose it.

Early aspirin desensitization in unstable patients with acute coronary syndrome: Short and long-term efficacy and safety.

Background: Aspirin hypersensitivity is not a rare condition among patients with acute coronary syndrome. However, despite the publication of several successful desensitization protocols, the procedure is not as widespread as expected. We present a cohort of patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing aspirin desensitization to evaluate its short- and long-term efficacy and safety and to reinforce data from previous studies.

[Transient ventricular dysfunction after emotional stress].

We describe a patient who developed severe ventricular dysfunction and cardiogenic shock after intense emotional stress. Her subsequent course was favorable, with complete recovery of left ventricular systolic function. The coronary arteries were normal and no specific etiologic agent was demonstrated.

[Is heart transplantation for primary cardiac sarcoma a useful therapeutic option?].

Primary cardiac sarcomas are rapidly progressive malignant tumors. No good therapeutic option is known. In recent years, heart transplantation has sometimes been performed in selected patients with cardiac sarcoma.

[A case of transient left ventricular apical ballooning with an unusual complication].

A retrospective study of patients with acute myocardial ischemia syndrome, mainly middle-aged and elderly women, was published in july 2001. The main features of acute myocardial ischemia were typical triggering circumstances, initial ECG mimicking acute myocardial infarction (AMI with transient appearance of Q waves and large negative T waves), mild or no enzymatic changes, and a combination of a normal coronary angiogram and transient left ventricular apical dyskinesia that normalized within days. The clinical course and prognosis were completely different from those of conventional AMI, with an increased number of acute-phase complications such as acute pulmonary edema, cardiogenic shock, and ventricular tachycardia.