The international journal of cardiovascular imaging
-
Int J Cardiovasc Imaging · Feb 2013
Comparative StudyQuantification of mitral valve regurgitation with color flow Doppler using baseline shift.
Vena contracta width (VCW) and effective regurgitant orifice area (EROA) are well established methods for evaluating mitral regurgitation using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). For color-flow Doppler (CF) measurements Nyquist limit of 50-60 cm/s is recommended. Aim of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of a baseline shift of the Nyquist limit for these measurements. ⋯ Correlation between VCA 3D NL37.5 and EROA 2D NL50 was 0.41 (p < 0.05) vs. 0.53 (p < 0.05) using EROA 2D NL37.5. Baseline shift of the NL to 37.5 cm/s improves the correlation for VCW and EROA when compared to RT 3D NL50 planimetry of the vena contracta area. Baseline shift in RT 3D to a NL of 37.5 cm/s shows similar results like NL50.
-
Int J Cardiovasc Imaging · Feb 2013
Quantitative assessment of glucose metabolism in the vessel wall of abdominal aortic aneurysms: correlation with histology and role of partial volume correction.
Inflammatory-proteolytic processes in the vessel wall are essential in the pathophysiology of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). It has been demonstrated that, (18)F-FDG-PET/CT may be useful for detection of pathological wall metabolism and therefore risk stratification. Quantification of the FDG-uptake in AAA wall is hampered by partial-volume (PV)-effects. ⋯ No correlation of (18)F-FDG-uptake and MMP-2 was found. In vivo correlations of detected FDG-uptake with clinical and histological results showed comparable results for corrected and uncorrected SUVs. PV-correction is not mandatory for qualitative clinical assessment of glucose metabolism in the vessel wall of AAA-patients but may be necessary to establish quantitative cut off values to stratify patients for aneurysm repair.
-
Int J Cardiovasc Imaging · Jan 2013
Can ischemia and dyssynchrony be detected during early stages of dobutamine stress echocardiography by 2-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography?
Strain and strain rate (SR) measured with 2-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2-D STE) can quantitatively assess myocardial function. Our aim was to evaluate whether we could detect abnormalities in strain, strain rate, and dyssynchrony by applying 2-D STE in patients with severe coronary artery disease during early stages of dobutamine stress echocardiography. Thirty-four patients with angiographically documented severe 3-vessel coronary artery disease and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction were compared with 42 control patients without evidence of coronary artery disease. ⋯ Compared with control subjects, patients with coronary artery disease showed lower circumferential SR [-1.42 (0.34) s(-1) vs -1.64 (0.34) s(-1); P < .02] and significantly lower longitudinal strain [-15.41% (3.52%) vs -19.37% (3.21%); P < .001] and SR [-0.91 (0.18) s(-1) vs -1.19 (0.24) s(-1); P < .001] at intermediate doses; these values were also compromised at peak dose. The SD of longitudinal time to systolic peak strain at intermediate dose was significantly greater in patients with coronary artery disease than in control patients [37.89 (12.32) vs 27.21 (10.86); P < .001]. The 2-D STE-derived strain and SR detected myocardial dysfunction and asynchrony in patients with coronary artery disease during intermediate doses of dobutamine stress, with minimal changes in regional wall motion abnormalities at this stage.
-
Int J Cardiovasc Imaging · Jan 2013
Transthoracic echocardiographic guidance during transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects in children and adults.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of transcatheter atrial septal defect (ASD) closure guided by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). Since 2004, ASD closure was performed successfully in total 337 patients. Transthoracic echocardiography guidance was used in 206 patients (61.1%) (group 1). ⋯ Transthoracic echocardiography guidance during transcatheter ASD closure is safe and effective in children and in many adults. Even complex ASDs could be closed with TTE in patients with good acoustic windows. Performing the procedure under TTE guidance significantly reduces procedure time and also provides increased patient's comfort.
-
Int J Cardiovasc Imaging · Dec 2012
Correlation of left ventricular wall thickness, heart mass, serological parameters and late gadolinium enhancement in cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging of myocardial inflammation in an experimental animal model of autoimmune myocarditis.
For a definitive diagnosis of myocarditis, different strategies like analysis of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) up to invasive endomyocardial biopsy have been applied. The objective of the study was to investigate inflammatory changes like left ventricular wall thickening and increase of ventricular mass and to quantitatively analyse their correlation with extent and localisation of myocardial damage in CMR and with subsequent changes of serological markers in an animal model of an experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM). In the current study, an EAM was induced in 10 male Lewis rats, 10 rats served as control. ⋯ Wall thickness correlated with the LGE area in CMR imaging and the histopathological severity of myocarditis for the left lateral myocardial wall segment. In a similar way, the heart mass correlated to the extent of LGE for the left lateral segment. We conclude that in our animal model left ventricular wall thickness and mass reflect the severity of myocardial changes in myocarditis and that the EAM rat model is well suited for further investigations of myocarditis.