International journal of cardiology
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Letter Case Reports
Subarachnoid haemorrhage associated with midventricular Tako-Tsubo syndrome.
A new form of Tako-Tsubo cardiomyopathy has recently been described as a midventricular localisation, opposite to the apical typical form. ⋯ This case relates for the first time, the association of a subarachnoid haemorrhage and the recently described midventricular form of Tako-Tsubo syndrome with a hawk's beak. It is an illustration of the complexity of the relationships between brain and heart.
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Risk stratification of patients with unstable angina or non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (UA/NSTEMI) is problematic given the heterogeneous presentation of the condition. This study was undertaken to compare, in UA/NSTEMI patients, the prognostic value of two clinical risk scores (RS) (i.e. Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) and physician's risk assessment (PRA)) and to assess whether serum biomarkers can increase the prognostic accuracy of these RS. ⋯ Our study suggests both that TIMI RS is a better marker of risk than PRA RS and inflammatory biomarkers do not increase the predictive value of these clinical risk scores.
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Letter Comparative Study
Benefit of prostaglandin infusion in severe heart failure: preliminary clinical experience of repetitive administration.
Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) is a potent vasodilating drug, which has been used in treatment of primary pulmonary hypertension. However intravenous PGE1 infusion may be of benefit and also has been proposed as a therapeutic tool in patients with end-stage heart failure. The aim of this prospective not randomized study was to assess the clinical and instrumental effects of this agent in patients with severe heart failure and pulmonary hypertension. ⋯ These preliminary data suggest that intermittent PGE1 infusion in patients with advanced congestive heart failure and high pulmonary pressure is able to improve NYHA mean class (p<0.05), ventricular contractility (LVEF p<0.001), pulmonary pressure and clinical data. It hasn't been associated to morbid events or increased risk of death.