Determinants of Secondary Pulmonary Hypertension in Patients with Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Although takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) has been reported to have a favorable outcome, many complications may occur in the acute phase. Heart failure is the most common clinical complication in patients with TTC. We aimed to investigate determinants of secondary pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients with TTC.

Atropine as an adjunct to supine bicycle stress echocardiography: an alternative strategy to achieve target heart rate or rate pressure product.

Aims: To investigate the use of atropine to achieve target heart rate (THR) and rate pressure product (RPP) during supine bicycle exercise stress echocardiography (SBESE) to increase the number of diagnostic stress tests.

Methods And Results: Forty-four patients that were unable to achieve THR or RPP during SBESE performed to evaluate ischaemia were given 0.4-1.

Mechanisms of acute mitral regurgitation in patients with takotsubo cardiomyopathy: an echocardiographic study.

Background: Recent studies have suggested acute mitral regurgitation (MR) as a potentially serious complication of takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC); however, the mechanism of acute MR in TTC remains unclear. The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanisms of acute MR in patients with TTC.

Methods And Results: Echocardiography was used to assess the mitral valve and left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) pressure gradient in 47 patients with TTC confirmed by coronary angiography and left ventriculography.

Morphologic features of carcinoid heart disease as assessed by three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography.

Background: Carcinoid heart disease (CHD) is a rare cause of valvular heart disease and carries a poor prognosis. CHD has a unique morphology and echocardiographic features that predominantly involve right-sided valvular structures. The diagnosis of CHD is usually made by two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (TTE).