Cardiology
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To evaluate physician-determined worsening heart failure (PD-WHF) in patients admitted with acute heart failure (AHF). ⋯ PD-WHF may be an indicator of short-term risk and treatment efficacy in AHF.
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Comparative Study
Non-invasive measurement of cardiac output during atrial fibrillation: comparison between cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and inert gas rebreathing.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most frequent heart rhythm disorders. It potentially influences cardiac function and its measurement. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) has become the new gold standard for non-invasive assessment of cardiac output (CO). A novel inert gas rebreathing (IGR) device based on the Fick Principle also proved promising in patients in sinus rhythm (SR). The aim of our study was to compare the agreement of non-invasive CO measurements between CMR and IGR in AF patients. ⋯ Non-invasive CO measurements using CMR and IGR are feasible in patients suffering from AF. Good agreement was found between the two methods in an unselected cohort. Hyperdynamic circulatory conditions can lead to significant measurement differences which, however, do not affect the reproducibility of IGR.
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Primary electrical syndromes are a group of rare inherited diseases that predispose to arrhythmias in the absence of structural abnormalities of the heart, and are associated with several ion channel mutations. Extrinsic factors, such as fever, may contribute to the development of electrical instability in these patients. ⋯ An automated defibrillator was implanted for secondary prevention of sudden cardiac arrest. We believe that these findings may represent a new form of presentation of a genetic electrical syndrome.
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Intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) plays a pivotal role in the treatment of cardiogenic shock (CS) complicating acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, the influence of IABP on the inflammatory response has not been well evaluated. We sought to assess the effects of IABP support upon C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in patients with STEMI complicated by CS undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). ⋯ IABP support improves clinical prognosis and attenuates the CRP level in patients with CS complicating STEMI after PCI.
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Sinus node dysfunction (SND) is a heterogeneous disorder of unknown etiology characterized by a variety of supraventricular arrhythmias with symptoms of syncope, palpitations, and dizziness. The mechanism underlying the abnormal rhythm is incompletely understood. ⋯ Genetic variation in KCNJ3 and KCNJ5 encoding the subunits of the KACh channels is apparently not involved in the pathogenesis of SND.