Overlooked Ventricular Septal Defect Post-Myocardial Infarction and Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

Ventricular septal defect (VSD) represents a severe complication that may manifest after a myocardial infarction (MI), typically occurring between 2 and 7 days later. Due to advancements in reperfusion management, the incidence of VSDs after MI has become very rare, occurring in approximately 0.2% of MIs.

Acute myocardial infarction and polycythemia rubra vera: The double effect of treatment with hydroxyurea.

We report a case of acute myocardial infarction in a patient with polycythemia rubra vera, who has been treated with hydroxyurea. The patient presented with chest pain extending to both arms accompanied by nausea and sweating. Hemoglobin was 18.

Quadricuspid Aortic Valve and Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Coincidence or Interconnection.

Quadricuspid aortic valve is a very rare congenital anomaly. Its association with rheumatoid arthritis is exceptional with this being the third case reported in the literature. We report a case of a 52 year old female patient with quadricuspid aortic valve type C accompanied by moderate to severe aortic regurgitation and longstanding, advanced form of rheumatoid arthritis.

Large intercoronary communication between the right coronary artery and the left circumflex artery in a patient with late stent thrombosis: A case report.

Intercoronary communication (ICC) is a very rare coronary artery anomaly that connects directly 2 coronary arteries. This anastomosis is found between 2 nonobstructed coronary arteries with unidirectional or bidirectional blood flow. We report a case of a large ICC between the right coronary artery and the left circumflex artery in a patient with late stent thrombosis.

Association between apelin-12 and creatine kinase-MB, depending on success of reperfusion in STEMI patients.

Background: Acute myocardial infarction is characterised by an imbalance in the supply and demand of oxygen in the heart. It requires urgent reperfusion, and poor outcomes are attributed to myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion injury. We aimed to evaluate the association between apelin-12 levels and creatine kinase-MB activity in predicting the effectiveness of reperfusion therapy in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients.

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention on split left coronary artery: Two case reports.

The split left coronary artery (LCA) is an anomaly of coronary arteries connection related to the aorta, presenting more often in patients who underwent invasive coronary angiography compared to coronary computed tomography angiography. Although this anomaly causes no hemodynamic impairment, failure to recognize may lead to incorrect diagnosis and prolonged procedures during acute myocardial infarction resulting in serious complications. We report 2 cases of split left coronary artery presenting with acute myocardial infarction who underwent primary percutaneous coronary interventions (pPCI) with excellent outcomes.

Coronary to pulmonary artery fistula associated with significant coronary atherosclerosis and severe aortic valve stenosis: A Case Report.

Coronary artery fistulas are anomalous connections between one or two coronary arteries with either a cardiac chamber or any major blood vessels (coronary sinus, superior vena cava, pulmonary veins and pulmonary artery). It is rarely reported, occurring only in 0.1%-0.

Size of Acute Myocardial Infarction Correlates with Earlier Time of Initiation of Reperfusion Therapy with Cardiac Perfusion Scintigraphy: A National Single-Center Study.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between the size of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and the time of initiation of reperfusion therapy with cardiac perfusion scintigraphy. MATERIAL AND METHODS Overall, 80 patients with acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) were examined. All patients were treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI).

A Case of Successfully Implanted Dual Chamber Pacemaker in a Young Patient with Dextrocardia and Sick Sinus Syndrome.

Dextrocardia is a rare congenital anomaly, whereas its association with sick sinus syndrome in young adults without accompanying heart abnormalities is exceptional. We report a case of a 38 year old female patient who was admitted to our hospital due to syncope as a consequence of sinus pauses up to 4.9 seconds.

Predictors of Spontaneous Echo Contrast in Left Heart Chambers in Patients with Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Slowing Down Might not Always Mean Enjoying Life.

Introduction: Spontaneous echo contrast(SEC) is usually detected in heart chambers as a result of reduced flow velocity in the cavity. The clinical importance of SEC lies in its association with embolic events. The aim of our study was to determine the frequency of SEC in left heart chambers in sinus rhythm patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and predictors for its emergence.

Catheter Left Main Dissection Bailout Treatment with Stenting.

Background: Iatrogenic left main coronary artery dissection is a rare complication during invasive coronary procedures. Prompt action is needed avoiding acute pump failure followed with hemodynamic collapse and fatal results.

Case Report: We report a 48-year-old woman who underwent bail-out stenting.

Immature teratoma mimicking pulmonary stenosis: a case report.

Background: Immature teratoma in a mediastinal location is a rare disease that might present as a valve pathology. Germ cell tumors with mediastinal locations account for up to 6% of immature teratoma cases. We present a case of an immature teratoma located primarily in the anterior mediastinum that manifested solely through symptoms of pulmonary stenosis.

Influence of apelin-12 on troponin levels and the rate of MACE in STEMI patients.

Background: During acute myocardial infarction, phosphorylated TnI levels, Ca sensitivity and ATPase activity are decreased in the myocardium, and the subsequent elevation in Ca levels activates protease I (caplain I), leading to the proteolytic degradation of troponins. Concurrently, the levels of apelin and APJ expression are increased by limiting myocardial injury.

Methods: In this prospective observational study, 100 consecutive patients with ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction were included.

Ectopic Origin of Coronary Arteries Diagnozed by Coronary Angiography.

Introduction: Anomalous origin of coronary arteries from opposite sinus of Valsalva is rare finding. The incidence of anomalous origination of the left coronary artery from right sinus is 0.15% and the right coronary artery from the left sinus is 0.

Anomalous Origin of Left Circumflex Artery.

Introduction: The coronary anatomic variation of the left circumflex artery (LCx) is considered as the most common anatomic variation with a separate ostium from the right sinus, and very unusual variation as a proximal branch of right coronary artery (RCA).

Case Report: We report two cases, the first case is a 64-year-old man with chest pain and with history of hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia and current smoker, and the second case is a 67-year-old who presented to the emergency department with chest pain and with a past medical history of arterial hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus. In the coronarography of the first case is detected an ectopic left circumflex coronary artery from the right coronary sinus with stenotic changes in RCA and LCx.

Atrioventricular septal defect with common atrioventricular junction guarded by a common valve consisting of left atrioventricular trifoliate valve.

Introduction: Atrioventricular septal defect with common atrioventricular junction is a rare adult congenital cardiac syndrome. This occurrence with prolonged survival is exceptionally rare.

Case Report: We present the case of a patient who presented with this defect with common atrioventricular junction who survived to the age of 32.

Age-related Epstein-Barr virus-positive cutaneous ulcer arising after a self-limited subcutaneous abscess: a case report.

Introduction: Epstein-Barr virus-positive mucocutaneous ulcer is a newly recognized clinicopathologic entity in the spectrum of Epstein-Barr virus-positive lymphoproliferative disorders. This entity is characterized by a self-limited, indolent course.

Case Presentation: We report the case of a 74-year-old, type 2 diabetic man who presented with an ulceroinfiltrative skin lesion on the left side of his neck.

The impact of acute myocardial infarction on left ventricular systolic function.

Background: During acute myocardial infarction left ventricular systolic function is an important prognostic factor whose worsening is still frequent despite the therapeutic approach. We aimed to estimate the incidence of left ventricular systolic dysfunction among patients experiencing acute myocardial infarction.

Methods: The study involved 154 consecutive patients admitted at Coronary Care Unit.

Limitations of CHADS2 scoring system in predicting stroke risk--need to change the age criteria.

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia with a strong association with age. The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate of stroke in relation to age and anticoagulation status based on CHADS2 risk criteria.

Methods: This study included all patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation admitted to our clinic between 1/11/2007 and 1/11/2009, with minimum one year follow up for patients without stroke.

Cardiac and pulmonary alterations in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Introduction: cardiac and pulmonary clinical manifestations frequently absent in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of this study was to evaluate cardiac and pulmonary alterations in RA among patients without clinical manifestations.

Materials And Methods: The study was conducted in 169 patients (127 female and 42 male, with mean age 51.

Poststaphylococcal coagulase negative reactive arthritis: a case report.

We report a case of a 49-year-old patient who developed poststaphylococcal coagulase negative reactive arthritis. The woman presented with constitutional symptoms, arthritis, urinary infection and conjunctivitis. The blood culture was positive for the staphylococcal coagulase negative infection.

Single ventricle, bicuspid aorta and interatrial wall aneurysm as a rare complex adult congenital heart disease: a case report.

Background: Single ventricle, bicuspid aortic valve and interatrial wall aneurysm in adulthood are a rare and unique case in medical literature. This presented case with congenital heart disease has never been treated surgically and clinical consequences seriously presented in adulthood.

Case Presentation: A 27 year old man with complex congenital heart disease presented.