International journal of cardiology
-
Comparative Study
Q-wave evolution of a first acute myocardial infarction without significant ST segment elevation.
Some patients with acute myocardial infarction presenting without significant ST segment elevation develop a Q-wave infarction. It is unclear whether these patients can be identified from the admission electrocardiogram (ECG) and whether they differ in their in-hospital prognosis from those who retain a non-Q-wave myocardial infarction. ⋯ About one fifth of patients with a first acute myocardial infarction without a significant ST segment elevation develop a Q-wave infarction and the admission ECG can help identify them. This evolution, however, is not associated with a worse in-hospital outcome.
-
Comparative Study
Impact of gender on the left ventricular cavity size and contractility in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
The aim of the study was to assess gender-specific differences in left ventricular cavity size, contractility and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. ⋯ Females with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy featured smaller left ventricular cavity size, which predisposed to left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (the most potent predictor of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction was left ventricular end-systolic dimension). Higher left ventricular contractility also determined left ventricular outflow tract gradient occurrence in females with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In males despite a larger left ventricular cavity size the left ventricular outflow tract obstruction occurred with a similar frequency as in females. Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction was not predicted by left ventricular cavity size or contractility in males.