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© 2020 Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. This is an open access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)., Introduction: Patient selection for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in chronic total occlusions (CTOs) is crucial to procedural success. Our aim was to identify independent predictors of success in CTO PCI in order to create an accurate score. Methods: In a single-center observational registry of CTO PCI, demographic and clinical data and anatomical characteristics of coronary lesions were recorded. Linear and logistic regression analysis were used to identify predictors of success. A score to predict success was created and its accuracy was measured by receiver operating curve analysis. Results: A total of 377 interventions were performed (334 patients, age 68±11 years, 75% male). The success rate was 65% per patient and 60% per procedure. Predictors of success in univariate analysis were absence of active smoking (OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.243-3.29; p=0.005), presence of tapered stump (OR 5.2, 95% CI 2.7-10.2; p8 with high probability (95%). Conclusion: In our sample only anatomical characteristics were predictors of success. The creation of a score to predict success, with good accuracy, may enable selection of cases that can be treated by any operator, those in which a dedicated operator will be desirable, and those with an extremely low probability of success, which should be considered individually for conservative management, surgical revascularization or PCI by a team experienced in CTO.

Although automatic artificial intelligence (AI) coronary angiography (CAG) segmentation is arguably the first step toward future clinical application, it is underexplored. We aimed to (1) develop AI models for CAG segmentation and (2) assess the results using similarity scores and a set of criteria defined by expert physicians.Patients undergoing CAG were randomly selected in a retrospective study at a single center. Per incidence, an ideal frame was segmented, forming a baseline human dataset (BH), used for training a baseline AI model (BAI). Enhanced human segmentation (EH) was created by combining the best of both. An enhanced AI model (EAI) was trained using the EH. Results were assessed by experts using 11 weighted criteria, combined into a Global Segmentation Score (GSS: 0-100 points). Generalized Dice Score (GDS) and Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC) were also used for AI models assessment.1664 processed images were generated. GSS for BH, EH, BAI and EAI were 96.9+/-5.7; 98.9+/-3.1; 86.1+/-10.1 and 90+/-7.6, respectively (95% confidence interval, p0.001 for both paired and global differences). The GDS for the BAI and EAI was 0.9234±0.0361 and 0.9348±0.0284, respectively. The DSC for the coronary tree was 0.8904±0.0464 and 0.9134±0.0410 for the BAI and EAI, respectively. The EAI outperformed the BAI in all coronary segmentation tasks, but performed less well in some catheter segmentation tasks.We successfully developed AI models capable of CAG segmentation, with good performance as assessed by all scores.

© 2019 The Authors European Journal of Heart Failure © 2019 European Society of Cardiology, Recent evidence suggests comparable in‐hospital and long‐term outcomes between takotsubo syndrome (TTS) and acute coronary syndrome. Medical scoring systems are practical tools for decision making and prognostic assessment. However, TTS‐specific scoring systems for risk stratification have not yet been established. Recently, classification based on triggering conditions proved useful in predicting adverse outcomes in TTS (InterTAK Classification).1 Since clinical parameters other than triggering conditions can be associated with adverse outcomes in TTS, such as systolic blood pressure and heart rate, the present study aimed to establish a scoring system combining triggering factors with other important but easily‐ obtainable clinical parameters of daily clinical practice., C.T. has been supported by the H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al-Thani Research Programme and the Swiss Heart Foundation. L.S.M. was supported by EU HORIZON 2020 (SILICOFCM ID777204). The InterTAK Registry is supported by the Biss Davies Charitable Trust.

© The Author(s) 2021. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/., Background: Ethnic disparities have been reported in cardiovascular disease. However, ethnic disparities in takotsubo syndrome (TTS) remain elusive. This study assessed differences in clinical characteristics between Japanese and European TTS patients and determined the impact of ethnicity on in-hospital outcomes. Methods: TTS patients in Japan were enrolled from 10 hospitals and TTS patients in Europe were enrolled from 32 hospitals participating in the International Takotsubo Registry. Clinical characteristics and in-hospital outcomes were compared between Japanese and European patients. Results: A total of 503 Japanese and 1670 European patients were included. Japanese patients were older (72.6 ± 11.4 years vs. 68.0 ± 12.0 years; p < 0.001) and more likely to be male (18.5 vs. 8.4%; p < 0.001) than European TTS patients. Physical triggering factors were more common (45.5 vs. 32.0%; p < 0.001), and emotional triggers less common (17.5 vs. 31.5%; p < 0.001), in Japanese patients than in European patients. Japanese patients were more likely to experience cardiogenic shock during the acute phase (15.5 vs. 9.0%; p < 0.001) and had a higher in-hospital mortality (8.2 vs. 3.2%; p < 0.001). However, ethnicity itself did not appear to have an impact on in-hospital mortality. Machine learning approach revealed that the presence of physical stressors was the most important prognostic factor in both Japanese and European TTS patients. Conclusion: Differences in clinical characteristics and in-hospital outcomes between Japanese and European TTS patients exist. Ethnicity does not impact the outcome in TTS patients. The worse in-hospital outcome in Japanese patients, is mainly driven by the higher prevalence of physical triggers., Open Access funding provided by Universität Zürich. CT has been supported by the H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al-Thani Research Programme and the Swiss Heart Foundation. L.S.M. has been supported by EU HORIZON 2020 (SILICOFCM ID777204). J.R.G has received a grant “Filling the gap” from the University of Zurich. The InterTAK Registry is supported by The Biss Davies Charitable Trust.

© 2021 The Authors. ESC Heart Failure published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Society of Cardiology. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License., Aims: Acute pulmonary disorders are known physical triggers of takotsubo syndrome (TTS). This study aimed to investigate prevalence of acute pulmonary triggers in patients with TTS and their impact on outcomes. Methods and results: Patients with TTS were enrolled from the International Takotsubo Registry and screened for triggering factors and comorbidities. Patients were categorized into three groups (acute pulmonary trigger, chronic lung disease, and no lung disease) to compare clinical characteristics and outcomes. Of the 1670 included patients with TTS, 123 (7%) were identified with an acute pulmonary trigger, and 194 (12%) had a known history of chronic lung disease. The incidence of cardiogenic shock was highest in patients with an acute pulmonary trigger compared with those with chronic lung disease or without lung disease (17% vs. 10% vs. 9%, P = 0.017). In-hospital mortality was also higher in patients with an acute pulmonary trigger than in the other two groups, although not significantly (5.7% vs. 1.5% vs. 4.2%, P = 0.13). Survival analysis demonstrated that patients with an acute pulmonary trigger had the worst long-term outcome (P = 0.002). The presence of an acute pulmonary trigger was independently associated with worse long-term mortality (hazard ratio 2.12, 95% confidence interval 1.33-3.38; P = 0.002). Conclusions: The present study demonstrates that TTS is related to acute pulmonary triggers in 7% of all TTS patients, which accounts for 21% of patients with physical triggers. The presence of acute pulmonary trigger is associated with a severe in-hospital course and a worse long-term outcome., C. T. has been supported by the H.H. Sheikh Khalifa binHamad Al-Thani Research Programme and the Swiss HeartFoundation. The InterTAK Registry is supported by the BissDavies Charitable Trust. L. S. M. has been supported by EUHORIZON 2020(SILICOFCM ID777204)

Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published on behalf of the American Heart Association, Inc., by Wiley Blackwell. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution‐NonCommercial License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes., Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major risk factor for mortality. The prevalence, clinical correlates, and prognostic impact of AF in Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) have not yet been investigated in a large patient cohort. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, clinical correlates, and prognostic impact of AF in patients with TTS. Methods and Results Patients with TTS were enrolled from the International Takotsubo Registry, which is a multinational network with 26 participating centers in Europe and the United States. Patients were dichotomized according to the presence or absence of AF at the time of admission. Of 1584 patients with TTS, 112 (7.1%) had AF. The mean age was higher (P

To identify predictors of coronary artery disease in survivors of cardiac arrest, to define the best timing for coronary angiography and to establish the relationship between coronary artery disease and mortality.This was a single-center retrospective study including consecutive patients who underwent coronary angiography after cardiac arrest.A total of 117 patients (63 ± 13 years, 77% men) were included. Most cardiac arrest incidents occurred with shockable rhythms (70.1%), and the median duration until the return of spontaneous circulation was 10 minutes. Significant coronary artery disease was found in 68.4% of patients, of whom 75% underwent percutaneous coronary intervention. ST-segment elevation (OR 6.5, 95%CI 2.2 - 19.6; p = 0.001), the presence of wall motion abnormalities (OR 22.0, 95%CI 5.7 - 84.6; p0.001), an left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 40% (OR 6.2, 95%CI 1.8 - 21.8; p = 0.005) and elevated high sensitivity troponin T (OR 3.04, 95%CI 1.3 - 6.9; p = 0.008) were predictors of coronary artery disease; the latter had poor accuracy (area under the curve 0.64; p = 0.004), with an optimal cutoff of 170ng/L. Only ST-segment elevation and the presence of wall motion abnormalities were independent predictors of coronary artery disease. The duration of cardiac arrest (OR 1.015, 95%CI 1.0 - 1.05; p = 0.048) was an independent predictor of death, and shockable rhythm (OR 0.4, 95%CI 0.4 - 0.9; p = 0.031) was an independent predictor of survival. The presence of coronary artery disease and the performance of percutaneous coronary intervention had no impact on survival; it was not possible to establish the best cutoff for coronary angiography timing.In patients with cardiac arrest, ST-segment elevation, wall motion abnormalities, left ventricular dysfunction and elevated high sensitivity troponin T were predictive of coronary artery disease. Neither coronary artery disease nor percutaneous coronary intervention significantly impacted survival.Identificar os preditores de doença arterial coronária em sobreviventes à parada cardíaca, visando definir o melhor momento para realização de angiografia coronária e estabelecer o relacionamento entre doença arterial coronária e mortalidade.Este foi um estudo retrospectivo em centro único, que incluiu os pacientes consecutivamente submetidos à angiografia coronária após uma parada cardíaca.Incluímos 117 pacientes (63 ± 13 anos, 77% homens). A maioria dos incidentes de parada cardíaca ocorreu com ritmos chocáveis (70,1%), e o tempo mediano até retorno da circulação espontânea foi de 10 minutos. Identificou-se doença arterial coronária em 68,4% dos pacientes, dentre os quais 75% foram submetidos à intervenção coronária percutânea. Elevação do segmento ST (RC de 6,5; IC95% 2,2 - 19,6; p = 0,001), presença de alterações da contratilidade segmentar (RC de 22,0; IC95% 5,7 - 84,6; p0,001), fração de ejeção ventricular esquerda ≤ 40% (RC de 6,2; IC95% 1,8 - 21,8; p = 0,005) e níveis elevados de troponina T de alta sensibilidade (RC de 3,04; IC95% 1,3 - 6,9; p = 0,008) foram preditores de doença arterial coronária; esse último teve baixa precisão (área sob a curva de 0,64; p = 0,004), tendo o nível de 170ng/L como ponto ideal de corte. Apenas elevação do segmento ST e presença de alterações da contratilidade segmentar foram preditores independentes de doença arterial coronária. A duração da parada cardíaca (RC de 1,015; IC95% 1,0 - 1,05; p = 0,048) foi um preditor independente de óbito, e ritmo chocável (RC de 0,4; IC95% 0,4 - 0,9; p = 0,031) foi um preditor independente de sobrevivência. A presença de doença arterial coronária e a realização de intervenção coronária percutânea não tiveram impacto na sobrevivência; não foi possível estabelecer o melhor ponto de corte para o momento da angiografia coronária.Em pacientes com parada cardíaca, elevação do segmento ST, alterações da contratilidade segmentar, disfunção ventricular esquerda e níveis elevados de troponina T de alta sensibilidade foram preditivos de doença arterial coronária. Nem doença arterial coronária nem a intervenção coronária percutânea tiveram impacto significante na sobrevivência.

Introduction: The Portuguese National Registry of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation records prospectively the characteristics and outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedures in Portugal. Objectives: To assess the 30-day and one-year outcomes of TAVI procedures in Portugal. Methods: We compared TAVI results according to the principal access used (transfemoral (TF) vs. non-transfemoral (non-TF)). Cumulative survival curves according to access route, other procedural and clinical variables were obtained. The Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 (VARC-2) composite endpoint of early (30-days) safety was assessed. VARC-2 predictors of 30-days and 1-year all-cause mortality were identified. Results: Between January 2007 and December 2018, 2346 consecutive patients underwent TAVI (2242 native, 104 valve-in-valve; mean age 81±7 years, 53.2% female, EuroSCORE-II - EuroS-II, 4.3%). Device success was 90.1% and numerically lower for non-TF (87.0%). Thirty-day all-cause mortality was 4.8%, with the TF route rendering a lower mortality rate (4.3% vs. 10.1%, p=0.001) and higher safety endpoint (86.4% vs. 72.6%, p5% (p5% (p

Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author(s) 2020. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com. This article is published and distributed under the terms of the Oxford University Press, Standard Journals Publication Model (https://academic.oup.com/journals/pages/open_access/funder_policies/chorus/standard_publication_model), Distal left main (LM) PCIremains a challenge. One of the most debated issues is whether to use a single vs 2 stent provisional strategy. While most studies and guidelines favour a single stent strategy, the recent DK-CRUSH V trial has shown better results with a 2 stent strategy., Type of funding source: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): Hospita Santa Maria

Objective: Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is characterized by acute left ventricular dysfunction, which can contribute to intraventricular thrombus and embolism. Still, prevalence and clinical impact of thrombus formation and embolic events on outcome of TTS patients remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate clinical features and outcomes of patients with and without intraventricular thrombus or embolism. Additionally, factors associated with thrombus formation or embolism, as well as predictors for mortality, were identified. Approach and Results: TTS patients enrolled in the International Takotsubo Registry at 28 centers in Australia, Europe, and the United States were dichotomized according to the occurrence/absence of intraventricular thrombus or embolism. Patients with intraventricular thrombus or embolism were defined as the ThrombEmb group. Of 1676 TTS patients, 56 (3.3%) patients developed intraventricular thrombus and/or embolism following TTS diagnosis (median time interval, 2.0 days [range, 0–38 days]). Patients in the ThrombEmb group had a different clinical profile including lower left ventricular ejection fraction, higher prevalence of the apical type, elevated levels of troponin and inflammatory markers, and higher prevalence of vascular disease. In a Firth bias-reduced penalized-likelihood logistic regression model apical type, left ventricular ejection fraction ≤30%, previous vascular disease, and a white blood cell count on admission >10×10 3 cells/μL emerged as independent predictors for thrombus formation or embolism. Conclusions: Intraventricular thrombus or embolism occur in 3.3% of patients in the acute phase of TTS. A simple risk score including clinical parameters associated with intraventricular thrombus formation or embolism identifies patients at increased risk. Clinical Trial Registration: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT01947621.

Resumo: Introdução e objetivos: A avaliação de lesões coronárias pelo instantaneous wave free ratio (iFR) tem gerado debate. Pretendeu‐se analisar o desempenho diagnóstico do iFR e o seu impacto na decisão de usar o fractional flow reserve (FFR) e nas características do procedimento. Métodos: Registo unicêntrico de doentes submetidos a avaliação funcional de lesões coronárias. O desempenho do iFR foi aferido com o FFR como referência. Valores de iFR 0,93 foram considerados positivos e negativos, respetivamente. Resultados: Avaliaram‐se 402 lesões, em 154 casos com ambas as técnicas, em 222 apenas com FFR e 26 apenas com iFR. Com um limiar de FFR ≤ 0,80, a área sob a curva foi de 0,73 (95% IC 0,65‐0,81) – valor ótimo de iFR ≤ 0,91. Efetuou‐se FFR em 93 de 94 lesões inconclusivas por iFR e em 69,1% dos restantes casos aferidos com iFR. O iFR e o FFR foram concordantes em 87% dos casos (X2 =22,43; p 0.93 was considered negative. Results: Functional testing was undertaken of 402 lesions, of which 154 were assessed with both techniques, 222 with FFR only, and 26 with iFR only. Using a cut‐off of ≤0.80 for iFR, the area under the curve was 0.73 (95% CI 0.65‐0.81), with an optimal value of ≤0.91. FFR was undertaken in 93 out of 94 lesions with an inconclusive iFR and was performed in 69.1% of the remaining iFR‐tested lesions. Concordance between iFR and FFR was 87% (chi‐square=22.43; p

© 2017 Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved., Introduction: Percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) has been limited by the risk of complications and restenosis. However, growing use of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has revived interest in this technique. We analyzed the current indications for BAV and outcomes in a single center. Methods: Acute results and long-term outcomes were analyzed in a retrospective single-center registry of patients undergoing BAV between January 2013 and January 2016. Results: Twenty-three patients underwent BAV, 56.5% male, mean age 78±7 years. Indications were severe aortic stenosis and decompensated heart failure (n=5), urgent non-cardiac surgery (n=8), or bridge to definitive treatment (n=10). Peak invasive gradient decreased from a median of 54.0±19.0 mmHg to 28.5±13.8 mmHg (p=0.002). Complications included one ischemic stroke, one lower limb ischemia and one femoral pseudoaneurysm requiring surgery. During a mean follow-up of 11±10 months, eight patients underwent TAVI and two underwent surgical aortic valve replacement. Thirteen patients died, nine of non-cardiovascular causes. On Kaplan-Meier analysis mortality was significantly lower among patients undergoing definitive treatment(20.0% vs. 84.6% at two-year follow-up; p=0.005). Conclusion: BAV should be considered for selected patients with temporary contraindications to definitive therapy or as palliative therapy., Introdução: A implantação de próteses aórticas percutâneas reavivou o interesse na valvuloplastia aórtica por balão, habitualmente limitada por complicações e restenose. Analisámos as indicações e resultados desta técnica. Métodos: Registo retrospetivo, unicêntrico, de doentes submetidos a valvuloplastia aórtica por balão, de janeiro de 2013 a janeiro de 2016. Analisaram-se os resultados imediatos e a longo prazo. Resultados: Vinte e três doentes foram submetidos a valvuloplastia aórtica por balão, 56,5% homens, idade média 78 ± 7 anos. As indicações foram estenose aórtica grave com: insuficiência cardíaca descompensada (n = 5); cirurgia não-cardíaca urgente (n = 8); ponte para terapêutica definitiva (n = 10). O gradiente de pico invasivo reduziu-se de uma mediana de 54,0 (19,0) mmHg para 28,5 (13,8) mmHg (p = 0,002). Registaram-se um acidente vascular cerebral isquémico, uma isquemia aguda do membro inferior e um pseudoaneurisma femoral resolvidos cirurgicamente. Durante um seguimento médio de 11 ± 10 meses, efetuaram-se oito implantações percutâneas de prótese aórtica e duas substituições cirúrgicas. Treze doentes morreram, nove de causas não-cardiovasculares. Por análise de sobrevivência de Kaplan-Meier, a mortalidade foi menor nos doentes submetidos a tratamento definitivo (20,0 versus 84,6% a dois anos; p = 0,005). Conclusão: A alvuloplastia aórtica por balão deve ser considerada em doentes selecionados com contraindicações temporárias ao tratamento definitivo ou como terapêutica paliativa.

© 2019 The Authors. Published on behalf of the American Heart Association, Inc., by Wiley. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes., Background: Left ventricular (LV) recovery in takotsubo syndrome (TTS) occurs over a wide‐ranging interval, varying from hours to weeks. We sought to investigate the clinical predictors and prognostic impact of recovery time for TTS patients. Methods and Results: TTS patients from the International Takotsubo Registry were included in this study. Cut‐off for early LV recovery was determined to be 10 days after the acute event. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess factors associated with the absence of early recovery. In‐hospital outcomes and 1‐year mortality were compared for patients with versus without early recovery. We analyzed 406 patients with comprehensive and serial imaging data regarding time to recovery. Of these, 191 (47.0%) had early LV recovery and 215 (53.0%) demonstrated late LV improvement. Patients without early recovery were more often male (12.6% versus 5.2%; P=0.011) and presented more frequently with typical TTS (76.3% versus 67.0%, P=0.040). Cardiac and inflammatory markers were higher in patients without early recovery than in those with early recovery. Patients without early recovery showed unfavorable 1‐year outcome compared with patients with early recovery (P=0.003). On multiple logistic regression, male sex, LV ejection fraction, Christian Templin was supported by the H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al‐Thani Research Programme and the Swiss Heart Foundation. The InterTAK Registry is supported by the Biss Davies Charitable Trust.

Copyright © 2020 European Society of Cardiology, Aims: Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is an acute heart failure syndrome, which shares many features with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Although TTS was initially described with angiographically normal coronary arteries, smaller studies recently indicated a potential coexistence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in TTS patients. This study aimed to determine the coexistence, features, and prognostic role of CAD in a large cohort of patients with TTS. Methods and results: Coronary anatomy and CAD were studied in patients diagnosed with TTS. Inclusion criteria were compliance with the International Takotsubo Diagnostic Criteria for TTS, and availability of original coronary angiographies with ventriculography performed during the acute phase. Exclusion criteria were missing views, poor quality of angiography loops, and angiography without ventriculography. A total of 1016 TTS patients were studied. Of those, 23.0% had obstructive CAD, 41.2% had non-obstructive CAD, and 35.7% had angiographically normal coronary arteries. A total of 47 patients (4.6%) underwent percutaneous coronary intervention, and 3 patients had acute and 8 had chronic coronary artery occlusion concomitant with TTS, respectively. The presence of CAD was associated with increased incidence of shock, ventilation, and death from any cause. After adjusting for confounders, the presence of obstructive CAD was associated with mortality at 30 days. Takotsubo syndrome patients with obstructive CAD were at comparable risk for shock and death and nearly at twice the risk for ventilation compared to an age- and sex-matched ACS cohort. Conclusions: Coronary artery disease frequently coexists in TTS patients, presents with the whole spectrum of coronary pathology including acute coronary occlusion, and is associated with adverse outcome.

© 2016 Sociedad Española de Cardiología. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved. Submitted by André Silva (andresilva@medicina.ulisboa.pt) on 2018-07-26T14:07:35Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Subacute_Retrograde_TAVI.pdf: 1006754 bytes, checksum: 5313acf1bed3158235de99219c48e9a3 (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-26T14:50:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Subacute_Retrograde_TAVI.pdf: 1006754 bytes, checksum: 5313acf1bed3158235de99219c48e9a3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017 info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

© 2018 Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved., Introduction and Objective: Assessment of coronary lesions by the instantaneous wave free ratio (iFR) has generated significant debate. We aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of iFR and its impact on the decision to use fractional flow reserve (FFR) and on procedural characteristics. Methods: In this single-center registry of patients undergoing functional assessment of coronary lesions, FFR was used as a reference for assessing the diagnostic performance of iFR. An iFR value 0.93 was considered negative. Results: Functional testing was undertaken of 402 lesions, of which 154 were assessed with both techniques, 222 with FFR only, and 26 with iFR only. Using a cut-off of ≤0.80 for iFR, the area underthe curve was 0.73 (95% CI 0.65-0.81), with an optimal value of ≤0.91. FFR was undertaken in 93 out of 94 lesions with an inconclusive iFR and was performed in 69.1% of the remaining iFR-tested lesions. Concordance between iFR and FFR was 87% (chi-square=22.43; p, Introdução e objetivos: A avaliação de lesões coronárias pelo instantaneous wave free ratio (iFR) tem gerado debate. Pretendeu-se analisar o desempenho diagnóstico do iFR e o seu impacto na decisão de utilizar o fractional flow reserve (FFR) e nas características do procedimento. Métodos: Registo unicêntrico de doentes submetidos a avaliação funcional de lesões coronárias. O desempenho do iFR foi aferido utilizando o FFR como referência. Valores de iFR < 0,86 e > 0,93 foram considerados positivos e negativos, respetivamente. Resultados: avaliaram-se 402 lesões, em 154 casos com ambas as técnicas, em 222 apenas com FFR e 26 apenas com iFR. Utilizando um limiar de FFR ≤ 0,80, a área sob a curva foi de 0,73 (95% IC 0,65-0,81) - valor ótimo de iFR ≤ 0,91. Efetuou-se FFR em 93 de 94 lesões inconclusivas por iFR e em 69,1% dos restantes casos aferidos com iFR. O iFR e o FFR foram concordantes em 87% dos casos (X2=22,43; p

Adult-onset Still's disease is a rare disorder with potentially severe clinical features, including cardiac involvement. This systemic inflammatory disease of unknown origin should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pericarditis, with or without pericardial effusion. Cardiac tamponade is a very rare sequela that requires an invasive approach, such as percutaneous or surgical pericardial drainage, in addition to the usual conservative therapy. The authors describe a case of adult-onset Still's disease rendered more difficult by pericarditis and cardiac tamponade, and they briefly review the literature on this entity.

Resumo: A dissecção aórtica aguda é a síndrome aórtica aguda mais frequente, ocorrendo predominantemente no sexo masculino e em idosos, estando associada a uma elevada mortalidade. Existem vários fatores de risco, destacando a hipertensão arterial. O diagnóstico é feito com base na clínica, exames laboratoriais e imagiológicos. A terapêutica habitual baseia‐se na abordagem cirúrgica, existindo em alguns casos a alternativa do tratamento endovascular. O paraganglioma é um tumor neuroendócrino raro. A maioria produz catecolaminas e manifesta‐se frequentemente por crises hipertensivas, palpitações, cefaleias e hipersudorese. O diagnóstico deste tumor passa pelo doseamento de catecolaminas urinárias e séricas, e pela realização de TC toracoabdominopélvica, ressonância magnética ou cintigrafia com 123MIBG. O tratamento cirúrgico é o único tratamento potencialmente curativo. Neste artigo, descreve‐se um caso clínico de uma doente com uma dissecção aórtica do tipo A, associada a um paraganglioma. Esta associação é extremamente rara e a abordagem de ambas as patologias constitui um desafio. Abstract: Acute aortic dissection is the most common acute aortic syndrome. It is more prevalent in males and in the elderly, and has a high mortality. Hypertension is the main risk factor. Diagnosis is based on clinical features, laboratory tests and imaging exams. Treatment is usually surgical, although in some cases an endovascular approach is an alternative.Paraganglioma is an uncommon neuroendocrine tumor. Most produce catecholamines, and so usually manifest with hypertensive crisis, palpitations, headache and sweating. This tumor is diagnosed by measurement of plasma or urinary catecholamines and by computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and 123I‐metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scintigraphy. Surgery is the only potentially curative treatment. Palavras‐chave: Dissecção aórtica, Paraganglioma, Hipertensão arterial, Catecolaminas, Tratamento cirúrgico, α e β‐bloqueantes, Keywords: Aortic dissection, Paraganglioma, Hypertension, Catecholamines, Surgery, Alpha and beta‐blockers

Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author 2017. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

© 2017 Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved., Introduction: Patients referred for percutaneous transcatheter mitral valve repair using the MitraClip® system frequently have atrial fibrillation, which imposes additional challenges due to the need for oral anticoagulation. Left atrial appendage occlusion is currently regarded as a non-inferior alternative to anticoagulation in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and both high thromboembolic and bleeding risk. Considering that both MitraClip implantation and left atrial appendage occlusion are percutaneous techniques that require transseptal puncture, it is technically attractive to consider their concomitant use. Objectives: We aim to evaluate the feasibility of a combined approach with MitraClip implantation and left atrial appendage occlusion in a single procedure. Methods: We report the first case series regarding this issue, discussing the specific advantages, pitfalls and technical aspects of combining these two procedures. Results: Five patients underwent left atrial appendage occlusion with the Watchman® device followed by MitraClip implantation in the same procedure. All patients experienced significant reduction in mitral valve regurgitation of at least two grades, optimal occluder position, no associated complications and significant clinical improvement assessed by NYHA functional class (reduction of at least one functional class, with four patients in class I at one-month follow-up). Conclusion: In selected patients rejected for surgical mitral valve repair, with atrial fibrillation and increased risk of bleeding and embolic events, a combined approach with MitraClip implantation and left atrial appendage occlusion in a single procedure is feasible, safe and effective., Introdução: Os doentes referenciados para reparação mitral percutânea, usando o sistema MitraClip, têm frequentemente fibrilhação auricular, com desafios adicionais devido à necessidade de anticoagulação. O encerramento percutâneo do apêndice auricular esquerdo é, atualmente, uma alternativa não inferior à anticoagulação em doentes com fibrilhação auricular não valvular, com elevado risco quer tromboembólico quer hemorrágico. Considerando que estas duas técnicas (MitraClip e encerramento percutâneo do apêndice auricular esquerdo) requerem punção transeptal, é tecnicamente atrativo considerar o seu uso concomitante. Objectivos: Avaliar a exequibilidade de efectuar no mesmo procedimento implantação de MitraClip e encerramento percutâneo do apêndice auricular esquerdo. Métodos: Descrição da primeira série de casos sobre a aplicac¸ão destas duas técnicas num só procedimento, com análise das vantagens, dificuldades e aspetos técnicos. Resultados: Cinco doentes foram submetidos a encerramento percutâneo do apêndice auricular esquerdo com dispositivo Watchman, seguido de implantação de MitraClip no mesmo procedimento. Em todos os doentes verificou-se redução significativa do grau da regurgitação mitral em pelo menos dois graus, posição ótima do sistema de oclusão do apêndice, sem complicações associadas e com melhoria clínica significativa avaliada pela classe funcional de NYHA (redução de pelo menos uma classe funcional, com quatro doentes em classe funcional I no final do primeiro mês de seguimento). Conclusão: Em doentes selecionados, recusados para reparação cirúrgica da valvular mitral, com fibrilhação auricular e risco elevado de eventos hemorrágicos e embólicos, uma abordagem combinada com implantac¸ão de MitraClip e encerramento percutâneo do apêndice auricular esquerdo num só procedimento é viável, segura e eficaz.

Acute aortic dissection is the most common acute aortic syndrome. It is more prevalent in males and in the elderly, and has a high mortality. Hypertension is the main risk factor. Diagnosis is based on clinical features, laboratory tests and imaging exams. Treatment is usually surgical, although in some cases an endovascular approach is an alternative. Paraganglioma is an uncommon neuroendocrine tumor. Most produce catecholamines, and so usually manifest with hypertensive crisis, palpitations, headache and sweating. This tumor is diagnosed by measurement of plasma or urinary catecholamines and by computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and

© 2016 All rights are reserved to the Japanese Circulation Society., Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key players in cardiovascular development and disease. However, not only miRNAs of a cardiac origin have a critical role in heart function. Recent studies have demonstrated that miR-122-5p, a hepatic miRNA, increases in the bloodstream during ischemic cardiogenic shock and it is upregulated in the infarcted myocardium. The aim of the present study was to determine the potential of circulating miR-122-5p as a biomarker for early prognostic stratification of ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. Methods and Results: One hundred and forty-two consecutive STEMI patients treated with primary angioplasty were included in the study. Serum levels of miR-1-3p, -122-5p, -133a-3p, -133b, -208b-3p and -499a-5p were measured at the time of cardiac catheterization by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and related to in-hospital and long-term outcome. During a follow up of 20.8 months, 9 patients died, 6 had recurrence of myocardial infarction, and 26 patients suffered an adverse cardiovascular event. Event-free survival was significantly worse in patients with a higher miR-122-5p/133b ratio (3rd tertile distribution, above 1.42 Log(10)), having almost a 9-fold higher risk of death or myocardial infarction and a 4-fold higher risk of adverse cardiovascular events. Conclusions: This study showed that the miR-122-5p/133b ratio is a new prognostic biomarker for the early identification of STEMI patients at a higher risk of developing major adverse events after undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention., This work was supported, in part, by the Programme for Advanced Medical Education (Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, Ministry of Health and Foundation for Science and Technology), the João Porto Research Grant from the Portuguese Society of Cardiology (to N.C.-D.) and the Santa Maria University Hospital – Sanofi Aventis Grant for Clinical Research (to N.C.-D.). M.C.C. was supported by a Foundation for Science and Technology postdoctoral fellowship (Ref. SFRH/BPD/65121/2009).

Introduction Takotsubo cardiomyopathy was first described about two decades ago and has been recognized with increasing frequency. It is characterized by the typical apical ballooning of the left ventricle, resulting from apical and midventricular akinesis and hypercontractility of the basal segments, in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease. The pathophysiology of the condition has not been completely understood, and several theories including catecholamine excess, microcirculatory dysfunction, and intracavitary gradient have been described. The diagnosis is usually suspected during coronary angiography, but in recent years there has been increasing interest in the use of several imaging modalities for its diagnosis and evaluation. Objectives In this review the role of several imaging techniques for the initial assessment, follow-up and pathophysiological characterization of takotsubo cardiomyopathy is discussed, focusing on echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, nuclear medicine imaging and novel invasive modalities.

© The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of ERA-EDTA. All rights reserved.

A previously healthy 27-year-old male patient from Sao Tome and Principe presented with severe oppressive, precordial pain, refractory to medical therapy, and was evacuated to our institution 4 months after presentation. An ECG showed deep, inverted T-waves on inferior and lateral leads. The eosinophil count was elevated (800 cells/μL), without leucocytosis, and the cardiac troponin I was …

Carcinoid heart disease typically presents with pulmonary stenosis and tricuspid regurgitation. Management is intended for symptomatic relief, and valvular intervention is indicated in refractory heart failure. Balloon valvuloplasty is an option for patients not suitable for surgery. We report the case of a patient with a carcinoid tumour, who developed postoperative refractory hypoxemia. Transthoracic echocardiogram revealed carcinoid pulmonary and tricuspid valve disease, with severe pulmonary stenosis. Balloon valvuloplasty was performed with major clinical improvement.

© 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved., Cystatin C is a marker of renal dysfunction, and preliminary studies have suggested it might have a role as a prognostic marker in patients with coronary artery disease. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the usefulness of cystatin C for risk stratification of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, regarding in-hospital and long-term outcomes. We included 153 consecutive patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated by primary angioplasty. The baseline cystatin C level was measured at coronary angiography. The in-hospital outcome was determined as progression to cardiogenic shock or in-hospital death, and the long-term outcome was assessed, considering the following end points: (1) death and (2) death or reinfarction. Of the 153 patients evaluated (age 61 ± 12 years; 75.6% men), 15 (14.4%) progressed to cardiogenic shock and 4 (2.7%) died during hospitalization. The patients who progressed to cardiogenic shock or died during hospitalization had significantly greater cystatin C levels (1.02 ± 0.44 vs 0.69 ± 0.24 mg/L; p = 0.001). Long-term follow-up was available for 130 patients (583 ± 163 days). Among them, 11 patients died and 7 had reinfarction. A high baseline cystatin C level was associated with an increased risk of death (hazard ratio 8.5; p = 0.009) and death or reinfarction (hazard ratio 3.89; p = 0.021). Furthermore, only high baseline cystatin C levels and left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40% were independent predictors of the long-term risk of death, with synergistic interaction between the 2. In conclusion, cystatin C is a new biomarker with significant added prognostic value for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention, predicting both short- and long-term outcomes., This study was funded by the Programme for Advanced Medical Education (sponsored by Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, Fundação Champalimaud, Ministério da Saúde, and Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia) and by the Hospital Santa Maria–Sanofi Aventis, Grant for Clinical Research.

Although the prevalence of rheumatic fever has greatly decreased in developed countries, rheumatic mitral stenosis still causes significant morbidity and mortality. Symptomatic patients have a poor prognosis, with a 0 to 15% 10-year survival rate, particularly if percutaneous or surgical intervention are contraindicated or considered high risk. We present a case of severe rheumatic mitral stenosis with an evolution over 4 decades, in which exceptional venous distention has established.

© 2014 Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved., A 53-year-old man, with a 15-year history of mycosis fungoides (MF), presented with fever, dizziness, and presyncope. On examination, he was tachycardic (180 bpm) and hypotensive (100/70 mmHg). The ECG showed diffuse ST-segment depression, and cardiac troponin I was elevated (3.47 ng/ml). He was admitted with a suspected acute coronary syndrome. On the third day of hospitalization there were several episodes of sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (MVT).

Um homem de 69 anos de idade, caucasiano, foi transferido para a nossa Instituicao Hospitalar com os diagnosticos de aneurisma da aorta ascendente e suspeita de disseccao aguda da aorta, de tipo A. Tinha antecedentes pessoais de hipertensao arterial, irregularmente medicada, diabetes mellitus tipo 2 e habitos tabagicos pregressos (35 UMA). Apresentava queixas de cansaco e dispneia de esforco, com um ano de evolucao e de agravamento progressivo. O atual internamento havia sido motivado por dor toraco-epigastrica com irradiacao ao dorso, acompanhada de dispneia, com um dia de evolucao. Na observacao inicial, o doente encontrava-se hipertenso e salientava-se um sopro diastolico aortico grau iv/vi. As analises e o eletrocardiograma iniciais eram normais. A avaliacao ecocardiografica transtoracica evidenciou marcada dilatacao da raiz da aorta e aorta ascendente (diâmetro transverso maximo: 71 mm), com regurgitacao aortica major associada. Uma imagem duvidosa de flap intimal conduziu a realizacao de um ecocardiograma transesofagico, que confirmou a dilatacao aneurismatica da raiz aortica e aorta ascendente (diâmetro transverso maximo: 71 mm), poupando a crossa e a aorta descendente. A valvula aortica era tricuspide e apresentava regurgitacao grave por ausencia

© 2020 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation., BACKGROUND: Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) occurs predominantly in post-menopausal women but is also found in younger patients. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate age-related differences in TTS. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with TTS and enrolled in the International Takotsubo Registry between January 2011 and February 2017 were included in this analysis and were stratified by age (younger: #50 years, middle-age: 51 to 74 years, elderly: $75 years). Baseline characteristics, hospital course, as well as short- and long-term mortality were compared among groups. RESULTS Of 2,098 TTS patients, 242 (11.5%) patients were #50 years of age, 1,194 (56.9%) were 51 to 74 years of age, and 662 (31.6%) were $75 years of age. Younger patients were more often men (12.4% vs. 10.9% vs. 6.3%; p ¼ 0.002) and had an increased prevalence of acute neurological (16.3% vs. 8.4% vs. 8.8%; p ¼ 0.001) or psychiatric disorders (14.1% vs. 10.3% vs. 5.6%; p < 0.001) compared with middle-aged and elderly TTS patients. Furthermore, younger patients had more often cardiogenic shock (15.3% vs. 9.1% vs. 8.1%; p ¼ 0.004) and had a numerically higher in-hospital mortality (6.6% vs. 3.6% vs. 5.1%; p ¼ 0.07). At multivariable analysis, younger (odds ratio: 1.60; 95% confidence interval: 0.86 to 3.01; p ¼ 0.14) and older age (odds ratio: 1.09; 95% confidence interval: 0.66 to 1.80; p ¼ 0.75) were not independently associated with in-hospital mortality using the middle-aged group as a reference. There were no differences in 60-day mortality rates among groups. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial proportion of TTS patients are younger than 50 years of age. TTS is associated with severe complications requiring intensive care, particularly in younger patients.