Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography : official publication of the American Society of Echocardiography
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Sep 2006
Single-vessel versus multivessel territory acute ischemic stroke: value of transesophageal echocardiography in the differentiation of embolic stroke.
We sought to assess the presence of potential aortic or cardiac sources of embolism in patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke in one or more vascular territories. ⋯ In patients with acute ischemic stroke, the incidence of a potential cardiac or aortic source of embolism is high, regardless of the vascular distribution of the stroke. TEE may be a useful tool to assess the source of stroke in single-vessel, multivessel, and lacunar territory stroke distribution. We aimed to assess the presence of potential aortic or cardiac sources of embolism in patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke in one or more vascular territories. A total of 210 patients with acute ischemic stroke were divided into 3 groups (lacunar stroke, nonlacunar stroke/single-vessel involvement, nonlacunar stroke/multivessel involvement) and the frequency of potential embolic sources on transesophageal echocardiography was compared. Patients with multivessel strokes had fewer potential embolic sources on transesophageal echocardiography than patients with single-vessel or lacunar strokes, but the frequency of a potential cardiac or aortic source of embolism was high, regardless of the vascular distribution of stroke.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Sep 2006
Case ReportsDouble atrial septum with persistent interatrial space: echocardiographic features of a rare atrial septal malformation.
We describe the echocardiographic features of 4 new cases of a rare atrial septal malformation consisting a double atrial septum with a midline chamber between the left and right atrium. Half of the cases had major left-sided obstructive lesions. Transthoracic, transesophageal, intracardiac, and fetal echocardiographic features of this anomaly are demonstrated. Previous descriptions, embryologic speculations, and clinical considerations are discussed.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Aug 2006
Controlled Clinical TrialN-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide levels: correlation with echocardiographically determined left ventricular diastolic function in an ambulatory cohort.
To investigate the correlations of plasma N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels with echocardiographic measurements of left ventricular (LV) systolic and/or diastolic function. ⋯ In this clinically stable, ambulatory cohort of patients with cardiovascular disease and healthy control subjects, plasma NT-proBNP levels were significantly higher in those with LV systolic dysfunction and/or elevated filling pressures, independent of the effects of LV mass, renal function, and age. These results suggest that NT-proBNP levels may be a useful adjunct in the characterization of patients presenting with history and/or symptoms compatible with LV systolic and/or diastolic dysfunction.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Aug 2006
Controlled Clinical TrialThe prognostic value of pulmonary vascular capacitance determined by Doppler echocardiography in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.
We sought to determine if a novel measurement of pulmonary vascular (PV) capacitance (PVCAP) by Doppler echocardiography predicts all-cause mortality in patients with primary pulmonary arterial (PA) hypertension (PPAH). ⋯ The novel measure of PVCAP, as determined by Doppler echocardiography, is a strong noninvasive predictor of mortality in patients with PPAH and adds prognostic value to conventional risk markers.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Jul 2006
Randomized Controlled TrialLeft ventricular chamber and myocardial systolic function reserve in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus: insight from traditional and Doppler tissue imaging echocardiography.
We sought to evaluate in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1): (1) whether myocardial afterload correlates with left ventricular (LV) circumferential and longitudinal systolic function at rest and during low-dose dobutamine (LDD) infusion, and whether longitudinal and circumferential LV systolic function reserves are correlated; and (2) to explore relations between LV systolic mechanics and LV chamber output reserves. ⋯ LV longitudinal systolic function (DTI) parameters did not fall into the paradigm of the stress-shortening relationship used to describe LV contractility. However, both LV circumferential contractility and longitudinal systolic function reserves correlated with stroke index reserve during LDD.