The prognostic value of positron emission tomography in the evaluation of suspected cardiac sarcoidosis.

Objectives: To assess the prognostic value of positron emission tomography (PET) imaging in patients undergoing evaluation for known or suspected cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) while not on active immunotherapy.

Background: Previous studies have attempted to identify the value of PET imaging to aid in risk stratification of patients with CS, however, most cohorts have included patients currently on immunosuppression, which may confound scan results by suppressing positive findings.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 197 patients not on immunosuppression who underwent F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET scans for evaluation of known or suspected CS.

COVID-19 Outcomes Among Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: A Case-control Study.

Background: Solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients are considered to be "vulnerable" to COVID-19 infection due to immunosuppression. To date, there are no studies that compared the disease severity of COVID-19 in SOT recipients with nontransplant patients.

Methods: In this case-control study, we compared the outcomes of COVID-19 between SOT recipients and their matched nontransplant controls.

Assessing the utility of pre-operative first pass radionuclide angiography to predict right ventricular failure post left ventricular assist device implantation.

Introduction: Right ventricular failure (RVF) after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) placement is associated with worse outcomes. We hypothesized that decreased right ventricular (RV) ejection fraction (EF) as well as qualitative assessments of RV function and dilation, as assessed by first pass radionuclide angiography (FPRNA), are associated with an increased risk of RVF following LVAD implantation.

Methods: We retrospectively identified 46 patients from 1/2008 to 11/2017 that underwent FPRNA and LVAD implantation.

Initial clinical experience of N13-ammonia myocardial perfusion PET/CT using a compact superconducting production system.

Background: Although N13-ammonia has favorable properties among FDA approved radiotracers, complexity of implementation has limited its use. We describe the initial patient experience of N13-ammonia PET imaging using a compact N13-ammonia production system.

Methods: N13 was produced using the ION-12SC, a 12MeV, 10uA superconducting minimally shielded cyclotron, and reduced to N13-ammonia in an automated multi-use purification unit.

Diagnostic Accuracy of FDG PET/CT in Suspected LVAD Infections: A Case Series, Systematic Review, and Meta-Analysis.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to describe our experience with fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography computed tomography (PET/CT) in diagnosing left ventricular assist device (LVAD) infections and perform a meta-analysis of published studies to determine overall diagnostic accuracy.

Background: Device-related infections are a common complication of LVADs and are linked to worse outcomes. Diagnosis of LVAD infections remains challenging.

Association of Holter-Derived Heart Rate Variability Parameters With the Development of Congestive Heart Failure in the Cardiovascular Health Study.

Objectives: This study sought to determine whether Holter-based parameters of heart rate variability (HRV) are independently associated with incident heart failure among older adults in the CHS (Cardiovascular Health Study) as evidenced by an improvement in the predictive power of the Health Aging and Body Composition Heart Failure (Health ABC) score.

Background: Abnormal HRV, a marker of autonomic dysfunction, has been associated with multiple adverse cardiovascular outcomes but not the development of congestive heart failure (CHF).

Methods: Asymptomatic CHS participants with interpretable 24-h baseline Holter recordings were included (n = 1,401).