Incremental value of the combined brain-cardiac CT protocol on prediction of atrial fibrillation after stroke.

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common causes of ischemic stroke. It is essential to target patients at highest risk of AF detected after stroke (AFDAS), who should benefit from a prolonged rhythm screening strategy. Cardiac-CT angiography (CCTA) was added to the stroke protocol used in our institution in 2018.

Coronary-subclavian steal syndrome causing myocardial infarction after arteriovenous fistula creation: a case report.

Coronary subclavian steal syndrome (CSSS) caused by left subclavian artery (LSA) stenosis is a rare cause of myocardial infarction in patients having coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and it has also been observed after an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) was made. A 79-year-old woman who had undergone CABG years earlier and an AVF creation 1 month before experienced a non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). While selective catheterization of the left internal thoracic artery graft was impossible, a computed tomography scanner showed patency of all bypasses and proximal subocclusive LSA stenosis, and the digital blood pressure measurements objectified a haemodialysis-induced distal ischaemia.

Acute myocardial infarction related to coronary artery embolism: A systematic cardiac and cerebral magnetic resonance imaging study.

Background: Coronary artery embolism (CAE) is a rare, non-atherosclerotic cause of acute myocardial infarction (MI). Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent cause of CAE, and can be associated with multiple embolisms, particularly in the brain.

Aims: To characterize CAE-related myocardial injury, assess the proportion of cardiocerebral infarction and characterize brain injuries associated with dual embolism.

Coronary artery embolism and acute coronary syndrome: A critical appraisal of existing data.

The occurrence of coronary artery embolism (CE) has been associated with various clinical conditions, including aortic and mitral prosthetic heart valve implantation, atrial fibrillation (AF), dilated cardiomyopathy, neoplasia, infective endocarditis, atrial septal defect, cardiac tumors, and hypercoagulable states. CE is also a rare cause of myocardial infarction (MI), with a prevalence of about 5%, a figure probably underestimated. The purpose of this article was to determine the current state of knowledge on acute coronary syndrome (ACS) related to CE.

More than 50% of Persistent Myocardial Scarring at One Year in "Infarct-like" Acute Myocarditis Evaluated by CMR.

Background: Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) has emerged as a reference tool for the non-invasive diagnosis of myocarditis. However, its role in follow-up (FU) after the acute event is unclear. The objectives were to assess the evolution of CMR parameters between the acute phase of infarct-like myocarditis and 12 months thereafter and to identify the predictive factors of persistent myocardial scarring at one year.

Acute myocarditis with autoimmune features: one-year follow-up with CMR.

In this prospective study on patients with acute myocarditis (AM), we aimed to describe the new concept of AMAF (AM with autoimmune features) similar to the previously described interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (IPAF). IPAF has recently emerged as a new entity, and IPAF patients appear to have fewer episodes of exacerbation and better survival than patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Consecutive patients with infarct-like CMR-confirmed AM were classified AMAF if their serologic status measured from blood sampled at presentation was positive (antinuclear antibodies (ANA) ≥ 1:320), but without meeting established classification criteria for connective tissue disease (CTD).

Left Atrial Remodeling and Brain Natriuretic Peptide Levels Variation after Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion.

Background: Few data are available about brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) variation and left atrial remodeling after the left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) technique.

Methods: Prospective study included all consecutive patients successfully implanted with an LAAO device. Contrast-enhanced cardiac computed tomography (CT) was performed before and 6 weeks after the procedure with reverse left atrial remodeling defined by an increase in LA volume >10%, together with blood sampling obtained before, 48 h after device implantation and at the first visit after discharge (30-45 days) for BNP measurement.

No impact of sub-clinical coronary artery disease identified by cardiac CT scan on the recurrence of atrial fibrillation after a single ablation procedure.

Background: Performing a cardiac CT scan before ablation provides a better understanding of the anatomical variations of the left atrium and pulmonary veins, as well as an analysis of coronary anatomy and the calcium score. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the CT characteristics of patients with unknown CAD have an impact on recurrence of AF.

Methods: This monocentric retrospective study included patients with AF who had undergone cardiac CT prior to a single ablation.

High rate of cardiac thrombus diagnosed by adding cardiac imaging in acute stroke computed tomography protocol.

Background: Detection of left atrial appendage thrombus (LAAt) in acute stroke patients can be improved by cardiac computed tomography using prospective electrocardiogram-gated volume acquisition, which was added to the acute stroke computed tomography protocol in our institution in 2018.

Aims: To evaluate the factors and clinical management associated with LAAt in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Methods: We retrospectively included 324 consecutive patients with ischemic stroke from November 2018 to October 2019.

A case report of an acute coronary syndrome in a 10-year-old boy with homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia.

Background: Familial hypercholesterolaemia is a well-known disorder, but clinical diagnoses tend to be delayed. Acute coronary syndrome may occur in childhood.

Case Summary: Our patient, a young boy with homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia, complained of persistent chest pain at rest and suffered a non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI).

Relation between high levels of myeloperoxidase in the culprit artery and microvascular obstruction, infarct size and reverse remodeling in ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Main Objective: To better understand the role of myeloperoxidases (MPO) in microvascular obstruction (MO) phenomenon and infarct size (IS) using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) data in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Method: 40 consecutive patients classified according to the median level of MPO in the culprit artery. A CMR study was performed during the week following AMI and at 6 months, with late gadolinium enhancement sequences.

Incremental predictive value of mean platelet volume/platelet count ratio in in-hospital stroke after acute myocardial infarction.

Stroke is a serious complication after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and is associated with an increased risk of death. Though the pathophysiological mechanisms are not exactly known, increased inflammation and platelet reactivity could play an important role in the occurrence of stroke during AMI. We aimed to investigate the relationship between both mean platelet volume (MPV), a parameter of platelet function, and C-reactive protein (CRP) and the occurrence of in-hospital ischemic stroke (IHS) after AMI.