Background And Objective: Myocardial contrast echocardiography has recently been proposed as a valid technique in the evaluation of myocardial perfusion after myocardial infarction. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relation between changes in myocardial perfusion assessed by myocardial contrast echocardiography and left ventricular ejection fraction after myocardial infarction.
Patients And Methods: We prospectively studied 17 patients with acute myocardial infarction, on whom two echocardiographic studies were performed, at 48-72 hours and at 6 months. Left ventricular ejection fraction and myocardial perfusion were evaluated with myocardial contrast echocardiography (Multiple-Frame Triggering and Harmonic Angio). Basal, medial and distal segments of the interventricular septum (anterior location infarction) and inferior wall (inferior infarction) were assessed. Myocardial perfusion was classified semi-quantitatively as grade 0, 1 or 2 (absent, heterogeneous or homogeneous opacification, respectively), giving a perfusion score.
Results: Left ventricular ejection fraction improved in 9 patients (53%), the proportion of grade 0 segments decreasing by 11 +/- 17%; by contrast, this proportion increased by 9 +/- 13% in patients with no improvement in ejection fraction (p = 0.028). Additionally, a significant correlation was observed between changes in ejection fraction and both perfusion score (r = 0.625; p = 0.007) and the proportion of grade 2 segments (r = 0.649; p = 0.005).
Conclusion: After myocardial infarction, there is a significant relation between changes in left ventricular ejection fraction and myocardial perfusion assessed by myocardial contrast echocardiography with i.v. agents.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|
Nature
January 2025
German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Lower Saxony, Göttingen, Germany.
Cardiomyocytes can be implanted to remuscularize the failing heart. Challenges include sufficient cardiomyocyte retention for a sustainable therapeutic impact without intolerable side effects, such as arrhythmia and tumour growth. We investigated the hypothesis that epicardial engineered heart muscle (EHM) allografts from induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and stromal cells structurally and functionally remuscularize the chronically failing heart without limiting side effects in rhesus macaques.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Reduced insulin secretion is linked to diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD), but its role in non-diabetic CVD patients is unclear. The homeostasis model assessment of β-cell function (HOMA-β) measures pancreatic β-cell function. This study investigated the association between HOMA-β and adverse cardiovascular events in non-diabetic CVD patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Although revascularization is first-line therapy for chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI), there are no established treatments for patients in whom revascularization is not (or is a poor) option, including CLTI that has responded poorly to revascularization. This study verified the efficacy of the Rheocarna, a novel apheresis device, for no-option CLTI or poor-response CLTI after revascularization.
Methods And Results: This multicenter retrospective observational study analyzed 221 patients (221 limbs) with no- or poor-option CLTI (mean [±SD] age 71±10 years; males, 70.
Heart
January 2025
Division of Cardiovascular Research, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
Background: Early heart failure (HF) diagnosis is crucial to ensure that optimal guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) is administered to reduce morbidity and mortality. Limited access to echocardiography could lead to a later diagnosis for patients, for example, during an HF hospitalisation (hHF). This study aimed to compare the incidence and outcomes of inpatient versus outpatient diagnosis of HF.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMJ Open
January 2025
Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester and the National Institute for Health Research Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester LE3 9QP, UK
Introduction: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is characterised by severe exercise intolerance, particularly in those living with obesity. Low-energy meal-replacement plans (MRPs) have shown significant weight loss and potential cardiac remodelling benefits. This pragmatic randomised trial aims to evaluate the efficacy of MRP-directed weight loss on exercise intolerance, symptoms, quality of life and cardiovascular remodelling in a multiethnic cohort with obesity and HFpEF.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!