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Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is characterized by transient myocardial dysfunction, typically at the left ventricular (LV) apex. Its pathophysiology and recovery mechanisms remain unknown. We investigated LV morphology and deformation in n = 28 TCM patients. Patients with MRI within 5 days from admission ("early TCM") showed reduced LVEF and higher ventricular volumes, but no differences in ECG, global strains or myocardial oedema. Statistical shape modelling described LV size (Mode 1), apical sphericity (Mode 2) and height (Mode 3). Significant differences in Mode 1 suggest that "early TCM" LV remodeling is mainly influenced by a change in ventricular size rather than apical sphericity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Noninvasive imaging methods, either anatomical or functional tests, serve as essential instruments for the appropriate management of patients with established or suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). We sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) plus stress cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (S-CMR) strategy in patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS). Methods: Patients with suspected CCS showing intermediate coronary plaques (stenosis 30–70%) at CCTA underwent S-CMR. Patients with a positive S-CMR were referred to invasive coronary angiography (ICA) plus instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR), and myocardial revascularization if recommended. All patients received guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT), including high-dose statins, regardless of myocardial revascularization. The primary endpoint was a composite of death from cardiovascular causes, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and unplanned revascularization. Results: According to the results of CCTA, 62 patients showing intermediate coronary plaques underwent S-CMR, which was positive for a myocardial perfusion deficit in n = 17 (27%) and negative in n = 45 (73%) patients. According to the results of ICA plus iFR, revascularization was performed in 13 patients. No differences in the primary endpoint between the positive and negative S-CMR groups were observed at 1 year (1 [5.9%] vs. 1 [2.2%], p = 0.485) and after a median of 33.4 months (2 [11.8%] vs. 3 [6.7%]; p = 0.605). Conclusions: Our study suggests that a CCTA plus S-CMR strategy is effective for the evaluation of patients with suspicion of CCS at low–intermediate risk, and it may help to refine the selection of patients with intermediate coronary plaques at CCTA needing coronary revascularization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Seattle Heart Failure Model (SHFM) is a multimarker risk assessment tool able to predict outcome in heart failure (HF) patients. Aim: To assess whether the SHFM can be used to risk-stratify HF patients who underwent cardiac resynchronization therapy with (CRT-D) or without (CRT) an implantable defibrillator. Methods and Results: The SHFM was applied to 342 New York Heart Association class III-IV patients who received a CRT (23%) or CRT-D (77%) device. Discrimination and calibration of SHFM were evaluated through c-statistics and Hosmer-Lemeshow (H-L) goodness-of-fit test. Primary endpoint was a composite of death from any cause/cardiac transplantation. During a median follow-up of 24 months (25th-75th percentile [pct]: 12-37 months), 78 of 342 (22.8%) patients died; seven patients underwent urgent transplantation. Median SHFM score for patients with endpoint was 5.8 years (25th-75th pct: 4.25-8.7 years) versus 8.9 years (25th-75th pct: 6.6-11.8 years) for those without (P < 0.001). Discrimination of SHFM was adequate for the endpoint (c-statistic always ranged around 0.7). The SHFM was a good fit of death from any cause/cardiac transplantation, without significant differences between observed and SHFM-predicted survival. Conclusion: The SHFM successfully stratifies HF patients on CRT/CRT-D and can be reliably applied to help clinicians in predicting survival in this clinical setting. (PACE 2012; 35:88-94) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]