Diagnostic implications of elevated levels of smooth-muscle myosin heavy-chain protein in acute aortic dissection. The smooth muscle myosin heavy chain study.

Background: A rapid 30-minute assay of circulating smooth-muscle myosin heavy-chain protein has been developed as a biochemical diagnostic tool for aortic dissection.

Objective: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of this assay.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Intracoronary serum smooth muscle myosin heavy chain levels following PTCA may predict restenosis.

Recently a novel biochemical method that uses an immunoassay to quantitate serum smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (SMMHC) levels was developed for diagnosis of aortic dissection.) The purpose of this study was to determine whether SMMHC released from the coronary arterial wall can be used to predict restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Fifty-two consecutive patients undergoing successful PTCA for single vessel disease were examined (40 men, 12 women, 63 +/- 8 years).

Catheter ablation for ventricular tachycardia from a diverticulum at the right ventricular outflow tract.

A case is presented of a 73-year-old man with drug resistant ventricular tachycardia that originated from the right ventricular outflow tract. A right ventriculogram showed a diverticulum in the interventricular septum at the right ventricular outflow tract. Low energy radiofrequency catheter ablation within the diverticulum was performed successfully and safely.

Shortcut link between the fast and slow pathways and the mechanism of cure in atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia by catheter ablation.

Unlabelled: The mechanism of cure in AV nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) by catheter ablation has not been fully clarified. We hypothesized that disruption of a shortcut link between the fast and slow pathways is responsible for the elimination of tachycardia.

Results: AVNRT was eliminated in 20 patients by catheter ablation.

Novel biochemical diagnostic method for aortic dissection. Results of a prospective study using an immunoassay of smooth muscle myosin heavy chain.

Background: Aortic dissection is one of the most common aortic catastrophes. Although newer diagnostic methods as exemplified by image diagnostic techniques have greatly improved the diagnosis of aortic dissection, the diagnosis is still frequently missed today because the signs and symptoms of the disease are at times obscure. A reliable biochemical diagnostic method for aortic dissection would be beneficial.