Circulation. Cardiovascular imaging
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Circ Cardiovasc Imaging · Nov 2013
Comparative StudyFunctional significance of elevated mitral gradients after repair for degenerative mitral regurgitation.
We have observed that elevated mitral gradients can develop in some patients after mitral valve repair for degenerative mitral regurgitation. ⋯ After mitral valve repair for degenerative mitral regurgitation, elevated mitral gradients is not uncommon and is associated with worse intracardiac hemodynamics, higher B-type natriuretic peptide levels, lower exercise capacity, and poorer quality of life. Further refinement in the surgical technique may reduce the incidence of this complication.
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Circ Cardiovasc Imaging · Nov 2013
Comparative StudyOccult cardiotoxicity in childhood cancer survivors exposed to anthracycline therapy.
More than 50% of >270 000 childhood cancer survivors in the United States have been treated with anthracyclines and are therefore at risk of developing cardiotoxicity. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) has demonstrated utility to detect diffuse interstitial fibrosis and changes in regional myocardial function. We hypothesized that CMR would identify occult cardiotoxicity characterized by structural and functional myocardial abnormalities in a cohort of asymptomatic pediatric cancer survivors with normal global systolic function. ⋯ Asymptomatic postchemotherapy pediatric patients have abnormal myocardial characteristics and strain parameters by CMR despite normal global cardiac function by standard transthoracic echocardiography and CMR measures.