International journal of cardiology
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Letter Comparative Study
Aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP) is associated with ascending aortic aneurysm growth rate.
Plasma levels of PIIINP a marker of extracellular matrix metabolism activity have been linked to abdominal aortic aneurysm growth rate, but its relationship with thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) growth has never previously been studied. ⋯ Our results suggest that it may in the future be possible to monitor TAA growth by means of PIIINP levels.
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The aim of this study was to investigate preoperative clinical and echocardiographic characteristics and N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels as prognostic factors for regression of the left ventricular (LV) mass after valvular surgery in patients with chronic severe mitral regurgitation (MR). ⋯ A lower preoperative NT-proBNP level predicted the regression of LV mass after valvular surgery in patients with chronic severe MR. This measure could be used as a biomarker for predicting the postoperative course in such patients.
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Metal-induced allergic reactions are not rare in every day practice but nickel, cobalt and chromium are the most common offenders. Other metal anions and metal alloys represent also emerging causes for hypersensitivity reaction in humans. ⋯ Newer intracoronary stents avoid nickel thus making them less allergenic. It is advisable that, before any device implantation, careful history of any metal allergy should be taken and efforts should be made for the development of new devices with better biocompatibility.
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Letter Comparative Study
Accuracy of Doppler-derived pulmonary artery hypertension to predict heart failure with normal ejection fraction.
Recent advances have highlighted the clinical relevance of pulmonary artery hypertension in terms of diagnosis and prognosis in heart failure with normal ejection fraction. We addressed the usefulness of Doppler-derived pulmonary artery systolic pressure to predict heart failure with normal ejection fraction in stable patients with exertional dyspnea. 25 patients referred for clinically indicated catheterism with evidence of heart failure according to the European diagnostic flowchart on "how to diagnose heart failure with normal ejection fraction" and 12 controls referred for clinically indicated catheterism without this condition according to the diagnostic flowchart on "how to exclude heart failure with normal ejection fraction" were included. ⋯ Positive and negative predictive values were 93 and 50% for the cut-off value of 40 mmHg. Doppler-derived pulmonary artery hypertension is a landmark of heart failure with normal ejection fraction in patients without severely increased pulmonary vascular resistance and deserves further attention in upcoming international recommendations.
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Letter Case Reports
Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy mimicking acute aortic dissection: a case report.
Tako-Tsubo cardiomyopathy is characterized by a transient and reversible left ventricular dysfunction possibly due to a catecholamine-mediated myocardial stunning. This form of cardiomyopathy is rarely associated with cardiogenic shock. Here we report on a patient with Tako-Tsubo cardiomyopathy induced low output failure in which blood flow disturbances in the thoracic aorta mimicked an acute type A aortic dissection.