Coronary heart disease

2005191 Characteristics of treadmill electrocar-diography and dipyridamole 201T1 myocardial perfu-sion imaging in patients with coronary artery spasm. XIANG Ding-cheng (向定成), et al. Dept Cardiol, Guangzhou Command General Hosp, PLA, Guangzhou 510010. Chin J Nucl Med, 2005; 25(1): 10-13. Objective: To investigate the characteristics of treadmill electrocardiography and dipyridamole 201T1 myocardial perfusion imaging in patients with coronary artery spasm, and to explore a non-invasive pro-     

Left Main Coronary Artery Disease in Diabetics: Percutaneous Coronary Intervention or Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting?

The choice between coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for myocardial revascularization in patients with left main disease (LMD) is controversial. There is general agreement that CABG is appropriate for all patients, and PCI is acceptable for those with low-to-intermediate anatomic complexity. However, there is uncertainty about the relative safety and efficacy of PCI in patients with more complex LMD and with comorbidities such as diabetes. No direct comparison trial has focused on revascularization in diabetic patients with LMD, and thus conclusions on the topic are subject to the limitations of subgroup analysis, as well as the heterogeneous exclusion criteria, and methodologies of individual trials. The available evidence suggests that among diabetics, CABG is superior in patients with LMD with SYNTAX (SYNergy between percutaneous coronary intervention with TAXus and dardiac surgery) score greater than 33, distal bifurcation disease, or multivessel disease. PCI may be appropriate in those with less-extensive disease or those with limited life expectancy or high surgical risk.     

Coronary subclavian steal syndrome

Coronary subclavian steal syndrome arises when a stenosis of the subclavian artery results in reduced antegrade or retrograde flow in an internal mammary artery with result- ant coronary ischemia. This occurs in patients who have previously undergone surgical coronary revascularization utilizing an internal mammary artery graft. This syndrome     

Revascularization in Heart Failure: Coronary Bypass or Percutaneous Coronary Intervention?

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common cause of heart failure in Western countries. Selected patients who have low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and CAD clearly benefit from coronary revascularization with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). CABG results seem to be superior to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the few comparative studies of the two approaches in patients who have CAD and low LVEF completed to date. Clinical improvement should be expected in most patients who undergo CABG. This is important for patients who have a limited life span that they could spend with a good functional status rather than being hospitalized for multiple repeat PCIs or symptomatic deterioration.     

Off-pump Coronary Endarterectomy and Bypass Grafting in Patients With Diffuse Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention are effective therapeutic modalities for patients with ischemic heart disease. However, many patients referred for CABG nowadays had experienced failed percutaneous intervention…     

Effect of Carvedilol on the Coronary Vascular Endothelial Function after Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty

Objectives To understand the effect of carvedilol on the coronary vascular endothelial function of the patients with coronary heart disease after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Methods 51cases, having one or more than two branches narrow ( ≥ 70% ) , were diagnosed by coronary angiography. These patients were divided randomly into carvedilol group (n = 28) and control group ( n = 23) who did not take carvedilol. Endothelin (ET) and nitro dioxide (NO) levels of peripheral blood were measured before and after PTCA, before and after two weeks by taking earvedilol. Results Compared with the ET and NO levels before PTCA, ET were markedly increased and NO were decreased after PTCA (p <0. 05) ; compared with the ET and NO levels before taking carvedilol, ET were decreased and NO were increased after two week (p <0.05 ) , but the ET and NO levels of the control group did not change in the period of two weeks observation (p > 0.05). Conclusions Carvedilol may improve the coronary vascular     

Coronary CT and the Coronary Calcium Score,the Future of ED Risk Stratification?

Accurate and efficient evaluation of acute chest pain remains clinically challenging because traditional diagnostic modalities have many limitations. Recent improvement in non-invasive imaging technologies could potentially improve both diagnostic efficiency and clinical outcomes of patients with acute chest pain while reducing unnecessary hospitalizations. However, there is still controversy regarding much of the evidence for these technologies. This article reviews the role of coronary artery calcium score and the coronary computed tomography in the assessment of individual coronary risk and their usefulness in the emergency department in facilitating appropriate disposition decisions. The evidence base and clinical applications for both techniques are also described, together with cost- effectiveness and radiation exposure considerations.     

Microvascular Coronary Dysfunction—an Overview

Purpose of Review

We will review the available data on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of microvascular coronary dysfunction (MCD).

Recent Findings

The study of MCD was pioneered by the Women’s Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE) cohort. New techniques in the diagnosis of this condition, using invasive and noninvasive means, are helping to increase awareness of this condition as well as ways in which to treat it.

Summary

Microvascular coronary disease without epicardial involvement has become an increasingly recognized cause of cardiac chest pain, particularly in women. Dysfunction of the microvasculature related to endothelium-dependent and endothelial-independent factors likely results in symptoms and/or evidence of ischemia. Although there is a growing body of research, there is still much about MCD that we do not understand.

     

Coronary Artery Calcium Progression Is Associated With Coronary Plaque Volume Progression: Results From a Quantitative Semiautomated Coronary Artery Plaque Analysis

Objectives

The aim of this study was to determine whether coronary artery calcium (CAC) progression was associated with coronary plaque progression on coronary computed tomographic angiography.