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Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a common complication of end-stage heart failure (ESHF) and associated with increased mortality. The definition of PH has recently been changed from a mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PAPm) ≥25 mmHg to a PAPm20 mmHg. Since this change, there are no data evaluating group 2 PH subgroups on outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of updated group 2 PH subgroups on outcomes, as well as to evaluate the clinical, echocardiographic, and haemodynamic characteristics of subgroups, and determine predictors of PH in patients with ESHF.A total of 416 patients with ESHF with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤25% were divided into three groups. Pulmonary hypertension was defined as PAPm20 mmHg. Primary outcome was defined as left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation, urgent heart transplantation (HT), or death. Secondary outcome was defined as LVAD implantation and HT.Over a median follow-up of 503.5 days, combined pre- and postcapillary PH (Cpc-PH) displayed greater risk of primary outcome than those with isolated postcapillary (Ipc-PH) (hazard ratio [HR], 1.57; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.29-1.91; p0.001) and those with no PH (HR, 2.47; 95% CI, 1.68-3.63; p0.001). Patients with Ipc-PH demonstrated greater risk than those with no PH (HR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.57-1.90; p0.001). Likelihood ratios of updated PH criteria and old PH criteria (PAPm ≥25 mmHg) in identifying primary outcome were 75.6 (RPulmonary hypertension increases the risk of LVAD, urgent HT, or death, and Cpc-PH further increases risk in patients with ESHF. Compared to the previous definition, a new PH definition better discriminates death, going to urgent HT, or LVAD implantation for PH subgroups.

BACKGROUND It is known that non-dipper pattern (NDP) is associated with adverse outcomes in hypertensive patients. However, there is insufficient data on the outcome of NDP in normotensive individuals. Using myocardial work (MW) analysis, as a new echocardiographic examination method, this study aimed to determine the early myocardial effects of NDP in normotensive individuals. METHODS This study included 70 normotensive individuals who were followed by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). The subjects were divided into two groups according to dipper pattern (DP) and NDP. Conventional, strain, and MW findings were compared between the groups by making echocardiographic evaluations. RESULTS The demographic characteristics, laboratory parameters, and measurements of cardiac chambers, and left ventricular (LV) walls were similar between the groups. There was no statistical difference between the groups in terms of LV 3-2-4 chambers strains and global longitudinal strain (GLS) values. LVMW parameters, global work index (GWI), and global constrictive work (GCW) were not statistically different between groups (2012 ± 127, 2069 ± 137, p = 0.16; 2327 ± 173, 2418 ± 296, p = 0.18, respectively). However, global waste work (GWW) and global work efficiency (GWE) parameters were different between the groups (144 ± 63.9, 104 ± 24.8, p

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of heart failure (HF) etiology on clinical, echocardiographic, and hemodynamic findings, right ventricular (RV) function, and outcomes in patients with end-stage HF. Patients and Methods: A total of 470 end-stage HF patients who undergoing evaluation for heart transplantation (HT) were divided into two groups: ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICMP, n=249) and nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICMP, n=221). RV dysfunction was defined as tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) ≤1.5 cm (TAPSE-defined RV dysfunction) and right ventricular stroke work index (RVSWI) Results: Patients with ICMP had higher pulmonary vascular resistance, systolic and mean pulmonary artery pressures (PAPs and PAPm) than those with NICMP [3.0 (1.1-6.0) vs. 2.0 (1.0-5.0),P=0.013; 53.5 (42.0-68.0) vs. 46.0 (32.5-64.5),P Conclusion: We that demonstrated patients with end-stage HF, ICMP had greater RV afterload and RVSWI value than NICMP and HF etiology was not predictor of primary outcome. However, we couldn't say for sure whether HF etiology has an effect on RV function because of the conflicting results in TAPSE-defined RV dysfunction and RVSWI-defined RV dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE: Increased pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) are important prognostic factors in patients with heart transplantation (HT). It is well known that severe mitral regurgitation increases pulmonary pressures. However, the European Society of Cardiology and the 6(th) World Symposium of pulmonary hypertension (PH) task force redefined severe functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) and PH, respectively. We aimed to investigate the effect of severe FMR on PAP and PVR based on these major redefinitions in patients with HT. METHODS: A total of 212 patients with HT were divided into 2 groups: those with severe FMR (n=70) and without severe FMR (n=142). Severe FMR was defined as effective orifice regurgitation area ≥20 mm(2) and regurgitation volume ≥30 mL where the mitral valve was morphologically normal. A mean PAP of >20 mm Hg was accepted as PH. Patients with left ventricular ejection fraction ≤25% were included in the study. RESULTS: The systolic PAP, mean PAP, and PVR were higher in patients with severe FMR than in those without severe FMR [58.5 (48.0–70.2) versus 45.0 (36.0–64.0), p

Cardiac myxomas are benign primer cardiac tumors of the heart. They can be fatal with a thromboembolic presentation. Myocardial infarction is one of these unusual thromboembolic presentations. We report a patient who presented with cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation related to myocardial infarction. After successful resuscitation, coronary angiography and transthoracic echocardiography were performed. A left atrial mass was observed and interpreted as a possible cause of coronary embolism leading to myocardial infarction. After surgical excision, the pathological examination confirmed myxoma, which was the essential cause of the tendency to arterial embolism.

Unicommissural unicuspid aortic valve (UAV) is a rare valvular malformation. It may lead to severe aortic stenosis with or without aortic regurgitation. UAVs have many characteristic changes such as premature dysmorphic valvular calcification and premature valvular dysfunction. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was described as the gold standard for the diagnosis of UAVs. We reported the case of a 58 years old man who presented with syncope and dyspnea due to severe aortic stenosis secondary to a heavily calcified unicommissural UAV. After the surgery pathological specimen showed severe amorphous calcification just like a calcified amorphous tumor (CAT).

Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is associated with worse prognosis in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Early identification and intervention for patients with a high risk of CIN are very important to improve clinical outcomes. Inflammation plays important role in the development of CIN in the setting of ACS. The monocyte to high-density lipoprotein ratio (MHR) is a novel inflammatory marker. Bleeding is also associated with worse prognosis in such patients. We aimed to investigate whether the preprocedural MHR had a predictive role for CIN development in such patients. In addition, using the thrombolysis in myocardial infarction classification, we aimed to assess whether there was any relationship between bleeding and CIN. A total of 647 patients (496 males; age: 63.3 ± 12.7 years) with ACS who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were included in the study. Seventy patients (10.8%) had developed CIN. Age, diabetes mellitus, contrast volume, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and MHR were independent predictors for CIN. Preprocedural MHR may be used as a simple marker of CIN. It may help with the early identification of patients with ACS who underwent PCI who are at high risk of CIN thus allowing the planning of protective measures.

The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion/pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (TAPSE/PASP) ratio and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score in patients with advanced heart failure.A total of 103 patients with advanced heart failure evaluated for candidacy for heart transplantation were included in this study. TAPSE was measured by M‑mode echocardiography and cardiac catheterization was performed. TAPSE/ PASP ratio and MELD score were calculated.The median age of patients was 49 (40.5-54) years and the majority were male (92%). The percentage of patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy was 40%. The mean value of the group's MELD score was 10 ± 3.3 and the median value of TAPSE/PASP 0.24 (0.18-0.34). There was a moderate negative correlation between TAPSE/PASP and MELD score (r: -0.38, p 0.001). Right atrial pressure (RAP) and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) were also negatively correlated with TAPSE/PASP (correlation coefficients were r: -0.562 and r: -0.575, respectively). In patients with a lower TAPSE/PASP ratio, MELD score, LVEDP and RAP were higher and tricuspid regurgitation was more severe, but there were no significant differences between cardiac output (CO) and mean aortic pressure (mean BP). The presence of ischemia was found to be an independent predictor for lower values of TAPSE/PASP.The lower TAPSE/PASP obtained on echocardiography may be a sign of the multi-organ failure defined as a high MELD score in patients with advanced heart failure.EINLEITUNG: Ziel dieser Studie war es, die Beziehung zwischen dem TAPSE/PASP-Verhältnis („tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion“/systolischer Pulmonalarteriendruck) und dem Model-for-end-stage-liver-disease(MELD)-Score bei Patienten mit fortgeschrittener Herzinsuffizienz zu untersuchen.Die Studie schloss insgesamt 103 Patienten mit fortgeschrittener Herzinsuffizienz ein, deren Anwartschaft auf eine Herztransplantation geprüft wurde. Die TAPSE wurde mithilfe der M‑Modus-Echokardiographie gemessen, und es erfolgte eine Herzkatheterisierung. Das TAPSE/PASP-Verhältnis und der MELD-Score wurden berechnet.Die Patienten hatten ein medianes Alter von 49 (40,5–54) Jahren und waren mehrheitlich männlich (92 %). Der Anteil der Patienten mit ischämischer Kardiomyopathie betrug 40 %. Der Mittelwert des MELD-Scores lag in der Gruppe bei 10 ± 3,3 und der Mittelwert des TAPSE/PASP-Verhältnisses bei 0,24 (0,18–0,34). Es fand sich eine mäßige negative Korrelation zwischen TAPSE/PASP und MELD-Score (r: −0,38, p 0,001). Der rechtsatriale (RA) Druck und der linksventrikuläre enddiastolische Druck (LVEDP) korrelierten ebenfalls negativ mit TAPSE/PASP (Korrelationskoeffizienten r: −0,562 bzw. r: −0,575). Bei Patienten mit einem niedrigeren TAPSE/PASP-Verhältnis waren MELD-Score, LVEDP und RA-Druck höher und die Trikuspidalklappeninsuffizienz schwerwiegender, es bestanden aber keine signifikanten Unterschiede in Bezug auf Herzzeitvolumen und mittleren Aortendruck (mittlerer Blutdruck). Eine bestehende Ischämie zeigte sich als unabhängiger Prädiktor für niedrige TAPSE/PASP-Werte.Das erniedrigte TAPSE/PASP-Verhältnis, wie es in der Echokardiographie ermittelt wurde, könnte ein Zeichen des Multiorganversagens, definiert als hoher MELD-Score, bei Patienten mit fortgeschrittener Herzinsuffizienz sein.

Background and objective: In patients with acute myocardial infarction and multivessel disease, the timing of intervention to non-culprit lesions is still a matter of debate, especially in patients without shock. This study aimed to compare the effect of multivessel intervention, performed at index percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (MVI-I) or index hospitalization (MVI-S), on the 30-day results of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and to investigate the effect of coronary lesion complexity assessed by the Syntax (Sx) score on the timing of multivessel intervention. Materials and methods: We enrolled 180 patients with MVI-I, and 425 patients with MVI-S. The major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) for this study were identified as mortality, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, acute heart failure, ischemia driven revascularization, major bleeding, and acute renal failure developed within 30 days. Results: The unadjusted MACE rates at 30 days were 11.2% and 5% among those who underwent MVI-I and MVI-S, respectively (OR 3.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.51&ndash, 6.02, p=0.002). Associations were statistically significant after adjusting for covariates in the penalized multivariable model (adjusted OR 2.06, 95%CI 1.02&ndash, 4.18, p=0.043), propensity score adjusted multivariable model (adjusted OR 2.46, 95%CI 1.19&ndash, 5.07, p=0.015), and IPW (adjusted OR 2.11, 95%CI 1.28&ndash, 3.47, p=0.041). We found that the Syntax score of lesions did not affect the results. Conclusion: MVI-S was associated with a lower incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events within 30 days after discharge.