Prognostic Value and Determinants of High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin T in Patients With a Systemic Right Ventricle: Insights From the SERVE Trial.

Background: The determinants and prognostic value of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) among patients with a systemic right ventricle are largely unknown.

Methods And Results: Ninety-eight patients from the randomized controlled SERVE (Effect of Phosphodiesterase-5 Inhibition With Tadalafil on Systemic Right Ventricular Size and Function) trial were included. The correlation between baseline hs-cTnT concentrations and biventricular volumes and function quantified by cardiac magnetic resonance or cardiac multirow detector computed tomography was assessed by adjusted linear regression models.

The EVA Study: Early Vascular Aging in Women With History of Preeclampsia.

Background Early vascular aging (EVA) is associated with higher risk of adverse cardiovascular events and can be estimated noninvasively by assessing arterial hemodynamics. Women with a history of preeclampsia have increased risk of cardiovascular disease, but underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. We hypothesized that women with a history of preeclampsia display persistent arterial abnormalities and EVA in the postpartum period.

Surgical Techniques for the Treatment of Anomalous Origin of Right Coronary Artery From the Left Sinus: A Comparative Review.

The anomalous aortic origin of the right coronary artery (AAORCA) from the left sinus is a congenital anomaly affecting both the origin and course of the right coronary artery. AAORCA is nowadays easily and increasingly recognized by several cardiac imaging modalities. In most cases, patients remain asymptomatic; however, in some, and especially in young athletes, symptoms start to appear following exertion.

Implications of Myocardial Infarction on Management and Outcome in Cardiogenic Shock.

Background The randomized DOREMI (Dobutamine Compared to Milrinone) clinical trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of milrinone and dobutamine in patients with cardiogenic shock. Whether the results remain consistent when stratified by acute myocardial infarction remains unknown. In this substudy, we sought to evaluate differences in clinical management and outcomes of acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock (AMICS) versus non-AMICS.

Changes in Cardiovascular Biomarkers With Breast Cancer Therapy and Associations With Cardiac Dysfunction.

Background We examined the longitudinal associations between changes in cardiovascular biomarkers and cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) in patients with breast cancer treated with cardotoxic cancer therapy. Methods and Results Repeated measures of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT), NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide), myeloperoxidase, placental growth factor, and growth differentiation factor 15 were assessed longitudinally in a prospective cohort of 323 patients treated with anthracyclines and/or trastuzumab followed over a maximum of 3.7 years with serial echocardiograms.

Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Growth in Bicuspid Aortic Valve Patients: Role of Aortic Stiffness and Pulsatile Hemodynamics.

Background Bicuspid aortic valve ( BAV ) is the most common congenital cardiac abnormality. A thoracic aortic aneurysm ( TAA ) is present in ≈50% of BAV patients, who also have an 8-fold higher risk of aortic dissection than the general population. Because the health of the aorta is directly reflected in its stiffness and pulsatile hemodynamics, we hypothesized that measures of aortic stiffness and arterial load would be associated with TAA growth in BAV .