Left bundle branch block and myocardial infarction, a diagnosis not always easy: Our experience and review of literature

The occurrence of left bundle branch block (LBBB) is quite common in clinical practice. The changes in cardiac repolarization, caused by this disorder of electric conduction, may mask the presence of an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), delaying the diagnostic-therapeutic iter, with an important impact on prognosis. We describe the case of a woman of 59 years with LBBB, came to our observation for a constrictive chest pain associated with dyspnea. The diagnostic workup for suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS), initially conducted only on the analysis of the electrocardiogram (negative TnI at entry), showed the presence of coronary arteries free of stenosis. However, the diagnostic confi…

A rare case of Prinzmetal angina 3 days after coronary artery stenting with a second-generation drug-eluting stent

Non previsto.

Acidi grassi ematici e infarto miocardico

Lower plasma testosterone levels enhance the predictive value of endothelial dysfunction for future cardiovascular events: A 5-year prospective study.

LETTER TO EDITOR

Five-year prospective study on cardiovascular events, in patients with erectile dysfunction and hypotestosterone.

Objective: Testosterone levels play a role in cardiac and vascular pathology. In the present study we investigated the prognostic significance of this hormone for cardiovascular outcome, in a 5-year follow-up. Materials and methods: Our cohort included 802 adult subjects, from 40 to 80 years. Patients were excluded if they had a past history of peripheral or coronary artery disease, and revascularization. A blood sample was drawn to valuate testosterone level, and we considered normal testosterone levels 300 ng/dl. FMD (flow mediated dilatation) of the brachial artery was assessed by measuring the increase of the brachial artery diameter during reactive hyperemia after transient forearm isc…

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy features at cardiac magnetic resonance

Abstract Diagnosis of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is based on clinical symptoms, electrocardiographic changes, absence of angiographic significant coronary lesions and presence of suggestive wall motion abnormalities. CardioMRI is an useful complementary tool especially to role out the diagnosis of myocarditis and of myocardial infarction with angiographically normal coronary artery and to document complications of the disease.

High plasma levels of endothelin-1 enhance the predictive value of preclinical atherosclerosis for future cerebrovascular and cardiovascular events: a 20-year prospective study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Clinical and experimental evidence suggests that endothelin-1 (Et-1) plays a role in cardiac and vascular disease. In the present study, we investigated the prognostic significance of Et-1 for cerebrovascular and cardiovascular outcome, in a 20-year follow-up. METHODS: We studied 82 originally healthy individuals, referred to our Unit of Cardiovascular Prevention, to evaluate the presence of asymptomatic carotid lesions. We subdivided these individuals into two groups, according to the plasma values of Et-1 (respectively ≤ or >2.7 pg/ml). Traditional cardiovascular risk factors were investigated, and by carotid ultrasound examination, we distinguished between normal …

Angiographic Evaluation of Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction in Patients with Heart Failure and Preserved Ejection Fraction

Background The aim of this study was to evaluate myocardial perfusion and coronary blood flow through validated angiography indices to assess whether there is greater MVD in patients with microvascular angina and HFPEF compared to those who do not have. Methods Our study was performed on a population of 286 patients with stable angina that underwent coronary angiography and echocardiography. They showed epicardial coronary arteries free from stenosis. We divided the sample into two categories: patients with HFPEF and those without. We calculated indices for each patient based on angiographic images, including TFC, MBG, and TMBS. Results Our sample compared two groups: HFPEF (n = 155) and no…

Decision making and devices approach in a case of left main coronary artery thrombus.

☆ This statement is to certify that all authors have seen being submitted, have contributed significantly to the w legitimacy of the data and its interpretation, and ag International Journal of Cardiology. We attest that the artic has not received prior publication and is not under elsewhere. We adhere to the statement of ethical pub (Shewan LG et al 2013 in press). ☆☆ On behalf of all co-authors, the corresponding author the submission. ⁎ Corresponding author at: Division of Cardiology II, D and Cardiovascular Diseases, University Hospital Paolo Gi 90127 Palermo, Italy. Tel.: +39 1 6554303; fax: +39 1 65 E-mail address: odisseos86@alice.it (V. Sucato).