Multimodality Imaging in Cardiomyopathies.

Cardiomyopathy, which is shortly defined as a disease of the myocardium, has a broad definition that includes many different diagnoses. Recent advances in cardiac imaging techniques, including basic and advanced echocardiography, computed tomography, nuclear medicine, and cardiac magnetic resonance, allow for a more accurate evaluation of volumes and thickness of cardiac chambers, systolic and diastolic function of the ventricules, and tissue structure. Multimodality imaging often provides the first clinical suspicion for specific etiologies, especially when the medical and family history is unclear, by identification of red flags of underlying systemic diseases.

Clinical profile and outcomes in very elderly patients with atrial fibrillation anticoagulated with rivaroxaban: data from the EMIR study.

Objectives: To analyze the clinical profile, adequacy of treatment with rivaroxaban and outcomes in octogenarians with atrial fibrillation (AF), taking rivaroxaban in clinical practice.

Methods: Observational and non-interventional study that included AF adults recruited from 79 Spanish centers, anticoagulated with rivaroxaban ≥ 6 months before being included. Data were analyzed according to age (≥ 80 .

Is Masked Hypertension an underlying Cause of Unexplained Left Ventricle Hypertrophy?

Objectives: Unexplained left ventricular hypertrophy (ULVH) is defined as increased wall thickness in the absence of conditions that predispose to hypertrophy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate of masked hypertension in patient with unexplained left ventricle hypertrophy.

Method: A total of 120 consecutive unexplained left ventricle hypertrophy patients without overt hypertension and diabetes and 121 healthy control subjects were included in the study.

Masked hypertension is related to alteration of myocardial arrhythmia Parameters.

Background: Imbalance in autonomic nervous system and impaired myocardial repolarization have been shown to increase the risk for arrhythmias in patients with arterial hypertension. This study evaluated the effects of masked hypertension on QT interval dynamicity.

Methods: The study group consisted of 108 consecutive patients with masked hypertension and 102 control subjects.

Study of congenital heart diseases in patients with Down syndrome in Algeria.

This study aimed to describe and evaluate the type, frequency and patterns of congenital heart diseases (CHDs) in patients with Down Syndrome (DS) in Sétif, Algeria. Down Syndrome, or trisomy 21, is the most common genetic disorder in the world. Data were collected and followed from January 2009 to December 2013.