SummaryObjectivesWe aimed to investigate the relationship between myocardial performance index (MPI) and severity of coronary artery disease, as assessed by the Gensini score (GS), in patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI).MethodsNinety patients with an initial diagnosis of NSTEMI were enrolled in our study. They were divided into tertiles according to the GS: low GS <19; mid GS > 19 and ≤ 96; and high GS > 96.ResultsThe low-, mid- and high-GS groups included 24, 38 and 28 patients, respectively. Clinical features such as gender distribution; body mass index (BMI); prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension and hyperlipidaemia; and smoking status were similar in the three groups. MPI and isovolumic relaxation time were significantly higher in the high-GS group than in the low- and mid-GS groups (p < 0.001 and p = 0.005, respectively). Furthermore, the high-GS group had a significantly lower ejection fraction and ejection time (p = 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively). MPI was positively correlated with the GS (r = 0.47, p < 0.001), and multivariate regression analysis showed that MPI was an independent predictor of the GS (β = 0.358, p < 0.001).ConclusionsPatients with NSTEMI who fall within the high-risk group may be identified by means of a simple MPI measurement.

Amantadine hydrochloride is an antiviral agent that is also effective in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. In the literature, cardiac arrhythmia is reported in toxic doses of amantadine, but in this paper we report a patient with right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) tachycardia after an initial dose of amantadine. A 47-year-old female patient was admitted to the emergency department with the complaint of palpitation and dizziness after taking 200 mg amantadine. A 12-lead standard ECG showed wide QRS complex tachycardia with a heart rate of 167/min. The wide QRS complex tachycardia had an inferior axis and left bundle branch block morphology, compatible with RVOT ventricular tachycardia (RVOT-VT). Tachycardia terminated spontaneously and sinus ECG was completely normal. No arrhythmia was inducible at the electrophysiological study. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case in the literature to describe RVOT-VT after amantadine intake. Amantadine may cause RVOT-VT as well as other cardiac arrhythmias.

The Anatolian Journal of Cardiology is an international monthly periodical on cardiology published on independent, unbiased, double-blinded and peerreview principles. The journal's publication language is English however titles of articles, abstracts and Keywords are also published in Turkish on the journal's web site.The Anatolian Journal of Cardiology aims to publish qualified and original clinical, experimental and basic research on cardiology at the international level. The journal's scope also covers editorial comments, reviews of innovations in medical education and practice, case reports, original images, scientific letters, educational articles, letters to the editor, articles on publication ethics, diagnostic puzzles, and issues in social cardiology.The target readership includes academic members, specialists, residents, and general practitioners working in the fields of adult cardiology, pediatric cardiology, cardiovascular surgery and internal medicine.

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