Improvement in quality of life and cardiac function after catheter ablation for asymptomatic persistent atrial fibrillation.

Background: Catheter ablation (CA) for atrial fibrillation (AF) is widely performed. However, the indication for CA in patients with asymptomatic persistent AF is still controversial.

Methods: Among 259 consecutive patients who were hospitalized for initial CA of AF, a total of 45 patients who had asymptomatic persistent AF were retrospectively analyzed.

Assessment of myocardial damage after acute myocardial infarction by diastolic deceleration time of coronary flow velocity using echocardiography and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: There are limited data available regarding the use of diastolic deceleration time (DDT) of three major arteries measured by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) for assessing coronary microvascular damage after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Therefore, we aimed to compare the DDT of three major arteries using TTE with the transmural extent of infarction (TEI) and infarct size, which were classified using contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI), in patients with AMI.

Methods: The DDT of the culprit coronary artery was measured in 74 patients using TTE and CE-MRI 1 week after the onset of AMI.

Relationship between left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and very late recurrences after multiple procedures for atrial fibrillation ablation.

Although very late recurrences (VLRs) (first recurrence >12 months after the last catheter ablation) of atrial fibrillation (AF) after multiple catheter ablation procedures are rare, it remains a critical issue. The risk factors for VLRs remain largely unclear. From December 2011 to April 2014, 253 patients underwent an initial catheter ablation.

Actual management and prognosis of severe isolated tricuspid regurgitation associated with atrial fibrillation without structural heart disease.

Background: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) without structural heart diseases can show severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR), especially among aged people. The aim of this study was to clarify the actual management, prognosis, and prognostic factors for severe isolated TR associated with AF without structural heart diseases.

Methods And Results: We retrospectively investigated actual management in 178 consecutive patients with severe isolated TR associated with AF between 1999 and 2011 in our institution.

Diagnostic accuracy of the Embolic Risk French Calculator for symptomatic embolism with infective endocarditis among Japanese population.

Background: Recently, the Embolic Risk French Calculator (ER-Calculator) was designed to predict symptomatic embolism (SE) associated with infective endocarditis (IE), but external validation has not been reported. This study aimed to determine predictors of SE and the diagnostic accuracy of the ER-Calculator in left-sided active IE among a Japanese population.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 166 consecutive patients with a definite diagnosis of left-sided IE from 1994 to 2015 in our institution.

Long-Term Clinical Outcomes and Prognostic Factors After Pericardiectomy for Constrictive Pericarditis in a Japanese Population.

Background: Constrictive pericarditis (CP) is characterized by impaired diastolic cardiac function leading to heart failure. Pericardiectomy is considered effective treatment for CP, but data on long-term clinical outcomes after pericardiectomy are limited.

Methods and results: We retrospectively investigated 45 consecutive patients (mean age, 59±14 years) who underwent pericardiectomy for CP.

Pre- and Postoperative Predictors of Long-Term Prognosis After Aortic Valve Replacement for Severe Chronic Aortic Regurgitation.

Background: There are few data on the long-term prognosis and chronological changes in left ventricular (LV) function after aortic valve replacement (AVR) in patients with severe chronic aortic regurgitation (AR) among the Japanese population.

Methods and results: We retrospectively investigated the long-term prognosis in 80 consecutive patients with severe chronic AR who underwent AVR. Additionally, 65 patients with follow-up echocardiography at 1 year after AVR were investigated to evaluate chronological changes in LV function.

Late recurrence of left ventricular dysfunction after aortic valve replacement for severe chronic aortic regurgitation.

Background: Aortic valve replacement (AVR) for chronic aortic regurgitation (AR) with a decreased ejection fraction (EF) leads to improvement in left ventricular (LV) function, but there are no reports on late recurrence of LV dysfunction over long-term after AVR. This study aimed to identify frequency and predictors of late recurrent LV dysfunction after AVR.

Methods: We retrospectively investigated 58 consecutive patients undergoing AVR for severe chronic AR and with follow-up echocardiography for >5years after AVR.

Successful Ablation with a Multipolar Mapping Catheter for Swallowing-induced Atrial Tachycardia.

We herein report a case of a 52-year-old woman who presented with a history of recurrent palpitations that occurred during swallowing solid food. On a Holter electrocardiogram, paroxysmal atrial tachycardias (PATs) were detected while eating. We mapped the right atrium (RA) with a multipolar mapping catheter while she swallowed a rice ball and it was revealed that the earliest endocardial breakthrough was on the anterior septal side near the superior vena cava junction of the RA.

Predictors of Rapid Progression and Clinical Outcome of Asymptomatic Severe Aortic Stenosis.

Background: The optimal timing of aortic valve replacement (AVR) is controversial in patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis (AS) except when very severe. Prediction of progression of severe AS is helpful in deciding on the timing of AVR. The purpose of this study was to clarify the predictors of progression rate and clinical outcomes of severe AS.

Multiple Coronary Artery Aneurysms and Thoracic Aortitis Associated with IgG4-related Disease.

A 60-year-old man was admitted due to the onset of right coronary artery (RCA) aneurysms. Coronary angiography showed two RCA aneurysms and focal stenosis with limitations in the blood flow. Balloon angioplasty was performed.

Progression of aortic regurgitation after subpulmonic infundibular ventricular septal defect repair.

Objective: In patients with subpulmonic infundibular ventricular septal defect (VSD), postoperative progression of aortic regurgitation (AR) sometimes occurs despite early operation before the development of AR. The present study was aimed to identify the occurrence rate and predictors of late AR progression after VSD repair alone.

Methods: We retrospectively investigated 91 consecutive patients who underwent subpulmonic infundibular VSD repair alone and were followed up with echocardiography for >3 years postoperatively.

Detecting Cardiac Sarcoidosis with a Right Atrial Mass Using Transthoracic Echocardiography.

An asymptomatic 40-year-old woman with a first-degree atrioventricular block presented a right atrial mass in transthoracic echocardiograms. Transesophageal echocardiograms showed abnormally thickened tissue on the interatrial septum, which extended around the aortic annulus. Multimodality examinations demonstrated lesions in the heart, lungs, liver, and spleen, suggesting sarcoidosis.

Unexpectedly High Prevalence of Acquired von Willebrand Syndrome in Patients with Severe Aortic Stenosis as Evaluated with a Novel Large Multimer Index.

Aim: Severe gastrointestinal bleeding sometimes occurs in patients with aortic stenosis (AS), known as Heyde's syndrome. This syndrome is thought to be caused by acquired von Willebrand syndrome and is characterized by reduced large von Willebrand factor (vWF) multimers. However, the relationship between the severity of AS and loss of large vWF multimers is unclear.

Relationship between diastolic ventricular dysfunction and subclinical sleep-disordered breathing in atrial fibrillation ablation candidates.

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is recognized as a primary factor or mediator of atrial fibrillation (AF). We hypothesized that the severity of SDB among AF ablation candidates would be associated with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) even for subclinical SDB. A total of 246 patients hospitalized for initial pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) were analyzed.

Relation of albuminuria to coronary microvascular function in patients with chronic kidney disease.

The relation between albuminuria and coronary microvascular function in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) has not been fully investigated. Therefore, we sought to assess whether albuminuria is associated with coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) impairment in patients with CKD. Coronary flow study was prospectively performed in 175 patients with CKD.