The international journal of cardiovascular imaging
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Int J Cardiovasc Imaging · Apr 2012
Optical coherence tomography findings of very late stent thrombosis after drug-eluting stent implantation.
Previous optical coherence tomography (OCT) studies in patients with drug-eluting stents (DESs)-related very late stent thrombosis (VLST) were scarce. Therefore, we investigated OCT findings of VLST after implantation of DESs. Using OCT, we analyzed the status of stent struts and neointimal characteristics in 18 patients who developed VLST after DES implantation. ⋯ Time to OCT study after DES implantation was significantly longer in the eight patients with lipid-laden neointima than in 49 patients without lipid-laden neointima (45.5 ± 17.7 months vs. 11.7 ± 7.2 months, respectively, P < 0.001). Lipid-laden neointima was detected in some patients with neointimal hyperplasia > 1 year after DES implantation. In addition to uncovered or malapposed struts, rupture of lipid-laden neointima inside DESs was identified in some patients with DES-related VLST.
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Int J Cardiovasc Imaging · Apr 2012
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyCardiac magnetic resonance imaging for the diagnosis of patients presenting with chest pain, raised troponin, and unobstructed coronary arteries.
To evaluate the incremental diagnostic and prognostic value of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in patients with chest pain, raised troponin and unobstructed coronary arteries, and to compare subsequent event rates between diagnostic groups. 130 patients (mean age: 54 ± 17) presenting with troponin-positive acute chest pain and unobstructed coronary arteries were included. All patients were managed according to European Society of Cardiology guidelines, including echocardiography, and had CMR within 6.2 ± 5.3 days of presentation. During follow-up, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were recorded. ⋯ MACE rate was not different between patients with a conclusive CMR and normal CMR. In patients with acute troponin-positive chest pain and unobstructed coronary arteries, early CMR has important diagnostic and therapeutic implications. However its association with occurrence of MACE during mid term follow-up was not obvious.
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Int J Cardiovasc Imaging · Apr 2012
Degree and distribution of left ventricular hypertrophy as a determining factor for elevated natriuretic peptide levels in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: insights from cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.
Whether the left ventricular (LV) mass index (LVMI) and LV volumetric parameters are associated independently with natriuretic peptide levels is unclear in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Therefore, we investigated which parameters have an independent relationship with N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels in HCM patients using echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR). A total of 103 patients with HCM (82 men, age 53 ± 12 years) were evaluated. ⋯ On multivariable analysis, non-apical HCM, increased maximal wall thickness and LAVI were independently related with NT-proBNP. Severity of LV hypertrophy and diastolic parameters might be important in the elevation of NT-proBNP level in HCM. Therefore, further evaluation of these parameters in HCM might be warranted.
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Int J Cardiovasc Imaging · Apr 2012
Comparative StudyPerformance and efficacy of 320-row computed tomography coronary angiography in patients presenting with acute chest pain: results from a clinical registry.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of 320-row computed tomography angiography (CTA) in the identification of significant coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients presenting with acute chest pain and to examine the relation to outcome during follow-up. A total of 106 patients with acute chest pain underwent CTA to evaluate presence of CAD. Each CTA was classified as: normal, non-significant CAD (<50% luminal narrowing) and significant CAD (≥50% luminal narrowing). ⋯ In patients with non-significant CAD on CTA, no cardiac death or myocardial infarctions occurred and only 1 patient underwent revascularization due to unstable angina. In patients presenting with acute chest pain, an excellent clinical performance for the non-invasive assessment of significant CAD was demonstrated using CTA. Importantly, normal or non-significant CAD on CTA predicted a low rate of adverse cardiovascular events and favorable outcome during follow-up.
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Int J Cardiovasc Imaging · Apr 2012
Comparative StudyEvaluation of right ventricular dysfunction and prediction of clinical outcomes in acute pulmonary embolism by chest computed tomography: comparisons with echocardiography.
To evaluate the ability to identify right ventricular (RV) dysfunction, and to predict adverse outcomes of chest computed tomography (CT), we compared CT and echocardiography in acute pulmonary embolism patients. We analyzed 56 patients diagnosed by CT with acute pulmonary embolism, who underwent echocardiography within 48 h of CT scan from January 2004 to December 2008. From the CT scan, the ratio of RV diameter to left ventricular diameter (RVd/LVd), the presence of septal bowing and embolus location were determined. ⋯ The three-parameter combination predicted adverse clinical outcomes with a PPV of 54.5%, and a NPV of 94.1%. CT parameters including RV dysfunction were significantly associated with poor outcomes. Rapid risk stratification of patients with acute pulmonary embolism based on chest CT appears to be comparable with echocardiography, is clinically reliable, and may be useful in guiding management strategy.