A radial global dyssynchrony index as predictor of left ventricular reverse remodeling after cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Background: Cardiac mechanical efficiency requires that opposing left ventricular regions are coupled both in shortening and lengthening during the same phase of cardiac cycle. Aim of this study was to evaluate whether global measures of mechanical dyssynchrony are able to predict reverse remodeling of the left ventricle in patients receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

Methods: Sixty-two patients underwent a clinical examination, including New York Heart Association class evaluation and 6-minute walking distance and both echocardiographic study before and 6 months after CRT.

End-diastolic wall thickness as a predictor of reverse remodelling after cardiac resynchronization therapy: a two-dimensional echocardiographic study.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether in patients with ischemic heart failure (HF) with mechanical dyssynchrony the echocardiographic assessment of the extent of scarred ventricular tissue by end-diastolic wall thickness (EDWT) could predict reverse remodeling (RR) after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Recent studies using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging have shown that the burden of myocardial scar is an important factor influencing response to CRT, despite documented mechanical dyssynchrony. EDWT assessed by two-dimensional (2D) resting echocardiography is a simple and reliable marker to identify scar tissue in patients with ischemic left ventricular dysfunction.

Presence of left ventricular contractile reserve, evaluated by means of dobutamine stress-echo test, is able to predict response to cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Introduction: We evaluated whether the dobutamine stress-echo test can select responders to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Up to 50% of patients do not respond to CRT. Lack of response may be due to a significant amount of scar or fibrotic tissue at myocardial level.

Factors predicting coronary flow reserve impairment in patients evaluated for chest pain: an ultrasound study.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of multiple cardiovascular risk factors on coronary flow reserve (CFR) in a large patient population with acute chest pain referred for coronary angiography.

Methods: Three hundred and ninety-four consecutive patients (mean age 59 +/- 10 years) were enrolled in the study. Blood flow velocity was measured, using transthoracic echocardiography, in the middle-distal tract of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) at rest and during infusion of high-dose dipyridamole in 6 min.

An unusual presentation of "tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy".

We report a case of tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy, complicated by left ventricular apical thrombus.