Search

La amiloidosis es una enfermedad heterogénea, de origen hereditario o adquirido, que se caracteriza por el depósito anormal de proteínas fibrilares en diversos tejidos. Esta enfermedad puede manifestarse de manera localizada o sistémica, lo que genera una amplia variabilidad en su presentación clínica y, frecuentemente, retrasa el diagnóstico. Por ello, es fundamental la identificación temprana de los signos y síntomas para mejorar el pronóstico. El primer posicionamiento mexicano sobre la amiloidosis cardíaca tiene como objetivo resumir las principales características de la enfermedad y sus subtipos, identificando datos de alarma que incrementen la sospecha de su presencia. Además, busca ofrecer un algoritmo diagnóstico que integre los estudios de imagen y de laboratorio disponibles en nuestro país, con el fin de simplificar la toma de decisiones y llegar a un diagnóstico de manera rápida, práctica y actualizada, basado en recomendaciones sustentadas en evidencia científica. Una vez confirmado el diagnóstico, se abordan los distintos retos terapéuticos, tanto farmacológicos como no farmacológicos, ya que los pacientes no responden al tratamiento convencional de insuficiencia cardíaca. Por ello, el tratamiento debe ser individualizado para cada paciente, teniendo en cuenta la presencia de otras comorbilidades. Finalmente, se presentan los principales factores pronósticos que guiarán un tratamiento adecuado, incluyendo los resultados del asesoramiento genético., (Copyright: © 2024 Permanyer.)

Background: Infective endocarditis is a challenging diagnosis that usually requires cardiovascular image confirmation as part of the approach. 18 F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ( 18 F-FDG-PET/CT) is an imaging technique more sensible for the diagnosis of prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) when echocardiography is inconclusive., Case Summary: We present the case of a 35-year-old man who had a previous Bentall-De Bono procedure 4 years prior that included biological, national institute of cardiology (INC)-type, locally manufactured aortic valve replacement and woven Dacron tube graft implantation in the ascending aorta. He was admitted because of dyspnoea, oedema, fever, and syncope. A complete auriculoventricular blockade was diagnosed, requiring cardiac pacing. Also, infective endocarditis (IE) was suspected. Blood cultures showed the isolation of Bacillus licheniformis . Transthoracic echocardiography, transoesophageal echocardiography, and CT angiography were inconclusive for IE. Treatment was initiated with intravenous (IV) antibiotic therapy, and an extensive protocol for IE, including molecular imaging modalities, was ordered. 99m Tc-Ubiquicidin scintigraphy was acquired without abnormal findings. Images of 18 F-FDG-PET/CT revealed abnormally intense heterogeneous uptake in the prosthetic aortic annulus in a classic pattern. Applying the modified 2015 Duke criteria for PET/CT, PVE was confirmed., Discussion: Although the other imaging modalities were negative, the high clinical suspicion made it mandatory to continue the study protocol, remarking on the utility of 18 F-FDG-PET/CT on patients categorized as having 'possible' endocarditis, as in our patient., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: None declared., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.)

The authors of the image chapters of the National Association of Cardiologists of Mexico (ANCAM) and the Mexican Society of Cardiology (SMC), as well as personnel from the Department of Medicine and Nutrition of the University of Guanajuato, together with prominent experts in cardiovascular imaging from Mexico, have collaborated in the review, analysis and expansion of the various health strategies published in the first year of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, to safely perform cardiac imaging studies. This update aims to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission among patients and health-care personnel in the CT, MRI, and nuclear cardiology services. This work was expanded with supplementary information available free of charge on the website www.ancam-imagen.com.

Extracorporeal shockwave myocardial revascularization (ESMR) is a therapy for refractory angina pectoris. Our aim was to assess the efficacy and safety of ESMR in the management of patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) and heart failure as well as its effects on inflammation and angiogenesis. In this single-arm prospective trial, we included 48 patients with CAD, myocardial ischemia assessed by radionuclide imaging, echocardiographic evidence of left ventricular systolic dysfunction and without revascularization options. Changes in angina grading score, myocardial perfusion, left ventricular ejection fraction, and six-minute walk test after ESMR therapy were used for efficacy assessment. Changes of inflammation and angiogenesis biomarkers were also evaluated. ESMR therapy was performed using a commercially available cardiac shockwave generator system (Cardiospec; Medispec). After 9 weeks of ESMR therapy, a significant improvement was found regarding the initial angina class, severity of ischemia, left ventricular ejection fraction, and six-minute walk test in most patients. No deleterious side effects after treatment were detected. Regarding biomarkers, endothelial progenitor cells and angiopoietin-3 were significantly increased whereas IL-18 and TGF-β were significantly decreased after ESMR in the total group. Notably, VEGF, IL-1ß, and lipoxin A4 levels were significantly increased only in patients with myocardial ischemia improvement. In conclusion, ESMR therapy is safe and effective in most but not all patients with CAD and heart failure. ESMR is associated with increased markers of angiogenesis and decreased markers of inflammation. Myocardial ischemia improvement after ESMR is associated with increased markers of angiogenesis and pro-resolving mediators., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: There is an increasing prevalence of comorbidities in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) in developing countries. The aim of this work is to assess the prevalence of comorbidities and associated factors for IHD among patients at a reference cardiology center., Design and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. A complete clinical history which focused on the main comorbidities, previous myocardial infarction, and the main reason of referral was assessed. A single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion study (MPS) with two protocols was performed., Results: We included 1998 patients, 64.2% male, median age 63 (I.R.: 56-71) years. 1514 (75.8%) subjects had at least one associated comorbidity. The main comorbidity was diabetes (T2D) (772: 38.6%), followed by systemic hypertension (737: 36.9%), smoking (518: 25.9%), and dyslipidemia (517: 25.9%). 806 (40.3%) had histories of previous myocardial infarctions. The main cause of referral was angina (923: 46.2%). We identified 1330 (66.5%) abnormal MPS. 460 (23%) had ischemia, 292 (14.6%) infarction, and 578 (28.9%) ischemia and infarction., Conclusion: An increased prevalence of comorbidities was found in patients who were studied in the Nuclear Cardiology Department (NCD): most of them had traditional risk factors attributable to myocardial infarction. A great percentage were newly diagnosed with both ischemia and infarction.