No abstract

Background-Abnormalities in left ventricular (LV) structure and function occur in patients with diastolic heart failure (DHF). The reasons for the transition from asymptomatic dysfunction to heart failure need better definition, including noninvasive measurements that can detect the transition. Methods and Results-In 64 patients undergoing right heart catheterization, simultaneous echocardiographic imaging was performed. As a control group, 27 healthy subjects were included. There were 25 with ejection factor (EF) Ͻ50%, 20 in DHF, and 19 with normal EF and LV hypertrophy but not in heart failure (diastolic dysfunction). LV volumes, mass, left atrial (LA) volumes and EF, annular atrial velocity (aЈ), and LA strain during systole (LA S ), and atrial contraction (LA A ) were measured. The ratio of wedge pressure to LA S strain was used as an index of LA stiffness, as was the ratio of E/eЈ to LA S strain. All 3 patient groups had increased LA volumes and depressed LA EF, aЈ, and LA A strain, with no significant difference between patients with DHF and diastolic dysfunction in LA systolic function indices, LV mass, LA volumes, LV, and arterial elastance. LA S strain was lower in patients with DHF, and LA stiffness (invasive and noninvasive) was higher (both PϽ0.01), related well to pulmonary artery systolic pressure (rϭ0.79, PϽ0.001), and was most accurate in identifying DHF patients from those with diastolic dysfunction (invasive area under the curve: 0.93, noninvasive: 0.85). Conclusions-Patients

The utilization of CE in technically difficult cases improves endocardial visualization and impacts cardiac diagnosis, resource utilization, and patient management.

The present study indicated a significant correlation between the criteria of MS and inflammation on the basis of NLR. Furthermore, there an increase in NLR as the severity of MS increases.

Hypoalbuminemia on admission is a strong independent predictor for long-term mortality and development of advanced HF in patients with STEMI undergoing p-PCI.