Little is known about combining diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to manage patients with suspected coronary artery disease. To bridge this gap two commonly used clinical management strategies were compared: myocardial-perfusion cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI or CMR) and invasive angiography with measurement of fractional flow research (FFR). An … [Read more...] about Managing coronary artery disease: MRI vs FFR
Imaging
Quantitative assessment of secondary mitral regurgitation: The importance of a unifying concept
The lack of a guideline consensus regarding the quantitative assessment of secondary mitral regurgitation (sMR) contributes to the uncertainty, inconsistency, and ongoing debate surrounding sMR. This can cloud medical judgement when weighing the risks of valvular intervention against the potential benefits. In a five-year, observational, non-interventional study of 423 … [Read more...] about Quantitative assessment of secondary mitral regurgitation: The importance of a unifying concept
Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging used to identify infarct-related arteries in NSTEMI patients
Non-ST-segment-elevated myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients often present with multivessel or non-significant coronary artery disease. This can complicate identification of the infarct-related artery (IRA), increasing the likelihood of revascularization of non-culprit arteries. https://youtu.be/WchARtkURiA A recently published study by Heitner et al. has … [Read more...] about Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging used to identify infarct-related arteries in NSTEMI patients
A strategy for predicting abnormal diastolic response to exercise in patients with dyspnea unable to perform an exercise test
The difficulties of diagnosing heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) are well known. In patients presenting with dyspnea, its presence can be confirmed by exercise testing. However, many patients are unable to perform adequate exercise testing, hence the need for a simpler clinical diagnostic test. Kosmala et al. describe such a diagnostic strategy that … [Read more...] about A strategy for predicting abnormal diastolic response to exercise in patients with dyspnea unable to perform an exercise test
CT angiography vs stress testing for diabetic patients with suspected CAD
Computed tomographic angiography is routinely used in diabetic patients to assess suspected coronary artery disease. However, stress tests could also be of potential benefit. Despite the established higher cardiovascular risk for diabetic patients, the optimal non-invasive test (NIT) for diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) in this population remains unclear. In a … [Read more...] about CT angiography vs stress testing for diabetic patients with suspected CAD