185 * RED BLOOD CELL DISTRIBUTION WIDTH PREDICTS MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY AFTER AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT

CORONARY ARTERY BYPASS GRAFT (CABG) PATENCY: ASSESSMENT WITH 40-ROW MULTISLICE COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY (MSCT) CERSUS CORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY

Are the leukocyte telomere length attrition and telomerase activity alteration potential predictor biomarkers for sporadic TAA in aged individuals?

A large variability in occurrence, complications, and age/gender manifestations characterizes individual susceptibility of sporadic thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA), even in subjects with the same risk factor profiles. The reasons are poorly understood. On the other hand, TAA pathophysiology mechanisms remain unclear than those involved in abdominal aorta aneurysms. However, recent evidence is suggesting a crucial role of biological ageing in inter-individual risk variation of cardiovascular diseases, including sporadic TAA. Biological age rather than chronological age is a better predictor of vascular risk. Relevant assumptions support this concept. In confirming this evidence and our preli…

APPROCCIO NON INVASIVO PER LO STUDIO DEL CIRCOLO CORONARICO CON TC MULTISLICE

L’eta’ e gli elevati livelli di proteina C-reattiva e fibrinogeno sono forti predittori di eventi clinici in una popolazione di donne con aterosclerosi carotidea.

UTILITA’ DELLA ANGIOGRAFIA CORONARICA ESEGUITA MEDIANTE TOMOGRAFIA COMPUTERIZZATA MULTIDETETTORE NEL CONTROLLO DELLA PERVIETA’ DEL BYPASS AORTO-CORONARICO

Utility of Multi-Slice Computed Tomography Coronary Angiography to Evaluate Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Patency

ACCURATEZZA DIAGNOSTICA DELLA TC 40 STRATI IN PAZIENTI CON DOLORE TORACICO

Role of Matrix Metalloproteinases in complications of thoracic aortic aneurysm

Objectve: Metalloproteinases (MMPs) are endopeptidases involved in extracellular matrix remodelling, associated with both physiopatological processes of several human tissues and systems, such as vascular system. It is well known their involvement in mediating both beneficial and pathological aorta effects, such as abdominal orta aneurysms and its complcations. On the contrary, unclear data exist about their role in the pathophysiology of sporadic thoracic aneurysm (TAA) and its complications. Thus, the aim of this study was to nalyse the role of MMPs in TAA complications, i.e. rupture and dissection.Methods: Aortic specimens obtained from 73 patients (51 men and 22 women, age 61.7 years) a…

Is the Serum N Terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide the Best Candidate Biomarker for Long-term Prognosis in Patients with Prosthesis-patient Mismatch after Mitral Valve Replacement?

AGE8. Is the Serum N Terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide the Best Candidate Biomarker for Long-term Prognosis in Patients with Prosthesis-patient Mismatch after Mitral Valve Replacement? C. R. Balistreri1, C. Pisano1, R. Franchino1, S.R. Vacirca1, F. Crapanzano1, O. F. Triolo1, C. Palmeri1, G. Ruvolo1 1University Of Palermo, Palermo, Italy Background: Natriuretic peptides (NPs) are released from the heart in response to pressure and volume overload. Among these, B-NP and Nterminal- proBNP (NT-proBNP) have become important diagnostic tools for the management of heart failure. However, B-NP and NT-proBNP levels reflect complications of systolic and diastolic function as well as alteration …

P776 Stress ecocardiography and speckle tracking analysis in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction

Abstract BACKGROUND Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is characterized by heart failure symptoms despite preserved LV systolic function together with at least one among left ventricle hypertrophy/left atrial enlargement plus diastolic dysfunction (DD) and increased brain natriuretic peptide levels. Rest echocardiography could still be normal despite patients experience HF symptoms. Speckle tracking analysis (STE) analyzes myocardial deformation and is able to identify subtle left ventricular dysfunction. PURPOSE to analyze the added value of stress echocardiography to improve diagnostic accuracy in patients with normal ejection fraction and unexplained dyspnoea by evalu…

Catheter-based closure of a large atrial septal defect with inferior rim deficiency using pulmonary vein slide-out assisted implantation technique: a case report

Abstract Background Transcatheter approach for large and complex atrial septal defects may represent a therapeutic challenge, particularly when the postero-inferior rim is deficient and floppy. Case summary Here, we describe a successful catheter-based closure of a large (>30 mm) secundum atrial septal defect associated with postero-inferior rim deficiency in a 35-year-old female with congestive heart failure using pulmonary vein slide-out assisted implantation technique. Discussion Inferior–posterior rim deficiency is a well-known risk factor for device instability or embolization. Transcatheter closure may represent a safe and effective alternative to the traditional surgical appro…

UTILITA’ DELL’ANGIOGRAFIA CORONARICA ESEGUITA MEDIANTE TOMOGRAFIA COMPUTERIZZATA MULTISTRATO NEL CONTROLLO DELLA PERVIETA’ DEL BYPASS AORTO-CORONARICO

Higher Incidence of Cancer Therapy-Related Cardiac Dysfunction in the COVID-19 Era: A Single Cardio-Oncology Center Experience

Aim: COVID-19 pandemic had a big impact on our life, it has revolutionized the practice of cardiology and the organization of hospital and outpatient activities. Thus the aim of our study was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the development of cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD). Methods and results: A single center retrospective study was carried out evaluating 96 cancer patients treated with anthracyclines and admitted to our Cardio-Oncology unit from June to August 2019 and 60 patients from June to August 2021. The incidence of CTRCD was assessed performing an echocardiogram at the time of the enrollment. We found a significantly higher incidence of CTRCD i…

Assessment of no-reflow phenomenon by myocardial blush grade and pulsed wave tissue doppler imaging in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Background: No-reflow phenomenon is a complication of myocardial revascularization and it is associated with a worse prognosis. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was carried out enrolling patients with acute myocardial infarction (64 patients, 49 male and 15 female, median age 64.9 ± 10.61 years), both STEMI and NSTEMI, who underwent myocardial revascularization with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). TIMI flow and Myocardial Blush Grade (MBG) were assessed at baseline (T0), in addition to tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and electrocardiogram. Cardiological evaluation was also performed at T1 (one month after PCI) and T2 (every year after revascularization for a mean follow-up …

Is the sporadic thoracic aneurysm the result of inflammatory process

Early structural degeneration of Mitroflow aortic valve: Another issue in addition to the mismatch?

We reported two cases of early structural valve degeneration (SVD) with Mitroflow prosthesis in aortic position in patients above the age of 65 years. Microscopic aspects have been analysed to investigate the intrinsic mechanism of SVD. New techniques to improve the structure and the preservation of this prosthesis are needed in order to reduce potential dangerous early complications.

DIAGNOSTIC ACCURACY OF MDCT 40 SLICES IN PATIENTS WITH CHEST PAIN

Microvascular angina in diabetic patients with uninjured coronary arteries

Received 14 March 2012; Accepted 26 July 2012 Abstract: Aims: The study aims at the evaluation, of patients with chest pain and uninjured coronary arteries, and the impact of diabetes mellitus on coronary microcirculation. Moreover we want to verify whether a correlation between myocardial scintigraphy results and coronary angiography or not. Methods: The study population included 316 patients (173 males,143 females) with uninjured coronary arteries. Patients with chest pain (208) were divided into two populations: diabetics (72) and non-diabetics (136).We compared 66 patients with a myocardial scintigraphy with results of angiographic indexes. On angiographic images we evaluated, on the th…

Associations of rs3918242 and rs2285053 MMP-9 and MMP-2 polymorphisms with the risk, severity, and short- and long-term complications of degenerative mitral valve diseases: A 4.8-year prospective cohort study

Abstract Background Degenerative forms of mitral valve diseases (MVDs) are very complex pathologies. Thus, it is difficult to make generalizations about the disease pathways or genetic risk factors contributing to these diseases. However, a key role of metalloproteinases (MMPs) in their pathophysiology is emerging. Thus, we performed for the first time a perspective study to assess eventual associations of some functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in MMP-2 and MMP-9 genes with the MVD risk, symptom severity, and short- and long-term (4.8 years) complications. Materials and methods For this purpose, 90 patients and two control groups were genotyped for rs3918242, rs243865, and r…

Approccio diagnostico non invasivo con tomografia computerizzata multidetettore a 40 strati per lo studio della malattia aterosclerotica coronarica

Background. Multidetector computed tomography coronary angiography (MDCT-CA) is a non-invasive technique that clearly shows coronary anatomy and correctly identifies plaque location and morphology. In this study we assessed diagnostic accuracy of MDCT-CA in detectiong significant stenosis in patients with clinically relevant coronary tree disease. Methods. Fifty patients (38 males, 12 females, mean age 60.9 ± 9.2 years) with atypical chest pain, stable or unstable angina pectoris, or non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction underwent MDCT-CA (Brilliance 40, Philips Medical Systems, Cleveland, OH, USA) within 3 days before diagnostic conventional coronary angiography. Inclusion criteria were s…

CRT-724 Can the Aortic Wall Communicate with Us?

Association between aortic aneurysm wall and risk of rupture or dissection. Aortic specimens were obtained from 73 patients (51 men and 22 women, whose median age 61.7± 10.7 years) undergoing surgical repair of thoracic ascending aneurysm (TAA). Histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses

Effects of Essential Hypertension on coronary Microcirculation: Focus on a Population of Hypertensives Affected by Microvascular Angina

A correlation between essential hypertension and the establishmentof myocardial ischemia is nowadays universally accepted. Coronary atherosclerosis is deemed to be the most important process through which the capability of coronary district to supply a blood flow consistent with myocardial needs can be impaired, until the onset of an anginal syndrome. In this study, we verified whether hypertensives’ coronaries, seen by performing an angiographic study, are properly definable as normal, even in presence of an overt exertional angina, or if they should rather be barely defined as “macroscopically unharmed”, through the clues of a microvascular alteration

P1462 Additive value of global longitudinal strain measurement in patients with known or suspected ischaemic heart disease undergoing stress echo

Abstract BACKGROUND Speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) can be applied in a large variety of clinical conditions. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) shows high diagnostic accuracy for the detection of myocardial ischemia as it reflects changes in subendocardial fibers deformation that are more exposed to ischemic damage, even before alterations in segmental kinetics are revealed. PURPOSE Aim of our study was to assess whether the measurement of global longitudinal strain during stress-echo can provide additional information compared to the assessment of conventional parameters such as left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and wall motion abnormalities. We also evaluated the added valu…

Coronary embolism in a young patient with nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis related to antiphospholipid syndrome

myocardial infarction

40 Slices MDCT Non-Invasive Diagnostic Approach to Coronary Artery Disease

Usefulness of coronary angiography with multidetector computed tomography in the evaluation of aorto-coronary bypass patency

[Forty-slice multidetector computed tomography for non-invasive diagnostic approach to coronary artery disease]

CRT-723 Is the Sporadic Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm the Result of an Inflammatory Process?

Sporadic thoracic aortic aneurysm (S-TAA) is potentially devastating with severe morbidity and mortality. The histopathologic underlying abnormality of both ascending aortic aneurysm and dissection is medial degeneration, a pathological entity initially described as no inflammatory lesions of smooth