Coronary Pathology Research Articles

Implications of a new clinical classification of acute myocardial infarction

Abstract Background The Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction has provided standardisation of the diagnostic criteria for myocardial infarction. However, there remain significant challenges in adopting some of the current recommendations in practice. The diagnostic criteria for type 2 myocardial infarction identify a heterogenous group of patients with variable clinical outcomes and no clear treatment implications to date. Purpose To determine the implications of a new clinical classification for myocardial infarction with more objective diagnostic criteria using cardiac imaging.(1) Methods In a prospective cohort study,(2) patients with type 2 myocardial infarction underwent coronary angiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging or echocardiography. The new classification was applied to identify (a) spontaneous myocardial infarction due to acute coronary pathology, (b) secondary myocardial infarction precipitated by acute illness in the presence of obstructive coronary artery disease, a new regional wall motion abnormality or infarct pattern scarring, and (c) no myocardial infarction in the absence of obstructive disease or new myocardial abnormality. The diagnostic outcome was the proportion of patients with type 2 myocardial infarction reclassified as having spontaneous, secondary or no myocardial infarction by the new clinical classification. The prognostic outcome was a composite of all-cause death, any recurrent myocardial infarction, or heart failure hospitalisation during follow up. Results In 100 patients (65 years, 43% women) with type 2 myocardial infarction, the new classification identified 25 and 31 patients with spontaneous and secondary myocardial infarction, respectively, and 44 without myocardial infarction (Figure 1). Compared to patients without myocardial infarction, those with secondary myocardial infarction were older, had more risk factors, and higher troponin concentrations (P<0.05 for all). In patients who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, there was evidence of infarct-pattern late gadolinium enhancement in 95% (19/20) and 60% (15/25) of patients with spontaneous and secondary myocardial infarction, respectively, which was more likely to be transmural in the former. In patients reclassified as secondary myocardial infarction, just 45% and 58% were established on aspirin or a lipid lowering therapy. During a median follow up of 4.4 years, death, myocardial infarction or heart failure hospitalization was more common in secondary myocardial infarction compared to those without myocardial infarction (55% [17/31] versus 16% [7/44], P<0.001; Figure 2). Conclusions A new clinical classification of myocardial infarction informed by cardiac imaging would reduce the diagnosis of myocardial infarction in acute illness and identify those patients at highest risk who are most likely to benefit from treatment.Figure 1:Alluvial plotFigure 2:Kaplan Meier curve

Specific Morphology of Coronary Artery Aneurysms in Mainly White Patients With Kawasaki Disease: Initial Data From the Cardiac Catheterization in Kawasaki Disease Registry.

Patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) with coronary artery involvement require long-term cardiac care. Although respective evidence-based recommendations are missing, cardiac catheterization is still considered the gold standard for diagnosing detailed coronary pathology. Therefore, to better understand coronary artery pathology development, we conducted a survey to document and evaluate cardiac catheterization data in a European population. We retrospectively analyzed cardiac catheterization data from KD children from the year 2010 until April 2023. This registry covers basic acute-phase clinical data, and more importantly, detailed information on morphology, distribution, and the development of coronary artery pathologies. A total of 164 mainly White patients (65% boys) were included. A relevant number of patients had no coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) at the cardiac catheterization, indicating that distal CAAs were almost exclusively detected alongside proximal CAAs. Patients with multiple CAAs revealed a significant positive correlation between the number of CAAs and their dimensions in diameter and in length. Location of the CAA within the coronary artery, age at onset of KD, or natal sex did not significantly influence CAA diameters, but CAAs were longer in older children and in boys. That distal CAAs were only present together with proximal ones will hopefully reduce diagnostic CCs in patients with KD without echocardiographically detected proximal CAAs. Furthermore, this study gives valuable insights into dimensional specifics of CAAs in patients with KD. As an ongoing registry, future analyses will further explore long-term outcomes and performed treatments, helping to refine clinical long-term strategies for patients with KD. URL: https://drks.de/; Unique Identifier: DRKS00031022.

In-Hospital Mortality in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Literature Overview.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) continues to be a predominant cause of global morbidity and mortality, with in-hospital mortality (IHM) serving as a pivotal metric for patient outcomes. This review explores the influence of several clinical variables on IHM in individuals with AMI. Factors such as age, gender, body mass index (BMI), smoking habits, existing comorbidities, prior coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and biomarkers, including high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) and creatine kinase MB (CK-MB), significantly affect the prognosis of the patient. Advanced age and comorbid conditions such as diabetes and hypertension exacerbate myocardial damage and systemic impacts, thus increasing IHM. Gender and BMI are also critical, and women and patients with obesity face different risks. Smoking increases both the risk of AMI and IHM, underscoring the importance of cessation interventions. ST-elevation myocardial infarctionis associated with elevated IHM and requires immediate reperfusion therapy, while non-ST-elevation myocardial infarctionrequires customized management for risk assessment. Previous CABG and PCI add complexity to AMI treatment and elevate IHM due to pre-existing coronary pathology and the intricacies of the procedures involved. The application of biomarker-centered techniques facilitates the swift identification of individuals at elevated risk, improves therapeutic planning, and reduces IHM for patients with AMI. Understanding and incorporating these clinical determinants are essential to optimize the management of AMI, minimize IHM, and improve patient outcomes. This all-encompassing strategy requires ongoing research, quality improvement efforts, and personalized care approaches.

Anomalous origin of left coronary artery. RAC-sign. A case report

Anomalous coronary origin is a rarely diagnosed condition, the first manifestation of which may be sudden cardiac death. Diagnosis of this pathology, as well as other cardiac and coronary anomalies, is based on imaging diagnostic methods. Transthoracic echocardiography is the most accessible screening method to describe the retroaortic anomalous coronary (RAC) sign. However, due to the low detection rate of this condition and the suboptimal sensitivity of echocardiography, anomalous aortic origin often remains undiagnosed. This article presents the diagnosis of an anomalous origin of the left coronary artery through echocardiography and computed tomography in an elderly patient who had previously been observed for a long time for other cardiovascular diseases. With this case report, we want to emphasize the importance of awareness about congenital coronary artery pathology for the timely routing of patients and providing proper care.

Vasa vasorum enhancement on optical coherence tomography in Kawasaki disease.

Patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) prone to develop coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) with unknown etiology. We aimed to disclose the relationship between vasa vasorum (VV) and intimal thickening using optical coherence tomography (OCT) in KD. Forty-three coronary artery branches of 21 patients with KD were examined by OCT. The coronary arteries were classified into three groups: the CAA group (n = 9) in which CAAs remained since the acute phase, the regressed group (n = 16) in which CAAs were regressed, and the no CAA group (n = 18). The number and distribution of VV, and intimal thickening in coronary arteries were evaluated on OCT. Intimal thickening was significantly more severe in the CAA and regressed groups than in the no CAA group (median: 481, 474, and 218 μm, p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). The number of VV in the regressed group was significantly higher than that in the CAA and no CAA groups. The numbers of adventitial VV and internal VV were positively correlated with the intimal thickness (R = 0.64, p < 0.001; R = 0.62, p < 0.001, respectively). In the no CAA group, no internal VV were observed. VV enhances according to intimal thickening, suggesting that VV may have some link to the healing process, such as CAA regression and intimal thickening. Kawasaki disease (KD) is a vasculitis syndrome developing coronary artery aneurysm, however its etiology still remains unclear. Coronary artery imaging using optical coherence tomography (OCT) can reveal coronary arterial wall pathology, however OCT studies are limited in patients with KD. Using OCT, we disclosed the closed relationship between vasa vasorum enhancement and regressed coronary arterial lesions. Vasa vasorum enhancement is involved in the pathomechanism of the convalescent phase of KD.

Physical and mental components after cardiac rehabilitation intervention: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background Cardiovascular disease is a major public health problem associated with high mortality and morbidity, reduced exercise capacity, and Health-related quality of life (HRQol). Interventions in Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) programmes have gained ground in optimising these indicators, using patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) to assess the HRQol of patients participating in these programmes, allowing them to show their state of health and make more informed clinical decisions. Purpose To analyse, using PROMs, the effect of CR programmes on the HRQoL of patients after a cardiac event, depending on the time of assessment. Methods The search was carried out in the MEDLINE, CINAHL, CENTRAL and Web of Science databases after registering the protocol in PROSPERO. We included all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared interventions in CR programmes with usual care after a cardiac event and that used PROMs to assess HRQoL over time. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane tool (RoB2) and the quality of evidence using the GRADE system. A meta-analysis was carried out with studies that assessed HRQoL in patients with coronary pathology using the SF-12 PROM at 6 months after a CR programme. Results 17 studies with 4,993 patients participating in CR programmes were included. The PROMs used in these studies to assess HRQoL were SF-12 (n=7), SF-36 (n=2), EQ5D (n=5), KCCQ (n=3), MacNewHRQL (n=3) and HeartQol (n=1). In the 3 RCTs of the meta-analysis, and after applying the SF-12 PROM at 6 months after a CR programme in patients with coronary pathology, the effect of participation was positive on HRQoL only in the physical component (MD 7.02; 95%CI [0.41,13.62]; p=0.04). The results of our meta-analysis indicate a moderate overall quality of evidence, using the GRADE approach, when assessing HRQoL at 6 and 12 month after intervention in a CR program. Conclusions This study develops knowledge on CR by showing the different PROMs applied after a programme, demonstrating a positive effect of CR on HRQoL after evaluation by the same PROM. The importance of time for assessing HRQoL was demonstrated by applying the SF-12 after the CR programme in patients with coronary pathology, with statistically significant results in the physical domain at 6 months. Given the importance of these results in improving HRQoL, it will be important for healthcare organisations to implement PROMs, investing more time and resources in a utilisation strategy.

Case of dilated cardiomyopathy after cellular therapy

Dilated cardiomyopathy is an etiologically heterogeneous myocardial disease characterized by left ventricular or biventricular dilation with systolic dysfunction in the absence of hemodynamic overload factors (hypertension, valvular defects, congenital heart anomalies) or coronary pathology (ischemic heart disease) [1].

Urgent and emergent pediatric cardiovascular imaging.

The need for urgent or emergent cardiovascular imaging in children is rare when compared to adults. Patients may present from the neonatal period up to adolescence, and may require imaging for both traumatic and non-traumatic causes. In children, coronary pathology is rarely the cause of an emergency unlike in adults where it is the main cause. Radiology, including chest radiography and computed tomography in conjunction with echocardiography, often plays the most important role in the acute management of these patients. Magnetic resonance imaging can occasionally be useful and may be suitable in more subacute cases. Radiologists' knowledge of how to manage and interpret these acute conditions including knowing which imaging technique to use is fundamental to appropriate care. In this review, we will concentrate on the most common cardiovascular emergencies in the thoracic region, including thoracic traumatic and non-traumatic emergencies and pulmonary vascular emergencies, as well as acute clinical disorders as a consequence of primary and postoperative congenital heart disease. This review will cover situations where cardiovascular imaging may be acutely needed, and not strictly emergencies only. Imaging recommendations will be discussed according to the different clinical presentations and underlying pathology.

Tactics for Treating Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms using Hybrid and Endovascular Techniques in Patients with Concomitant Coronary Heart Disease

The presence of ischemic heart disease (IHD) in patients with aortic dissection increases the risk of intraoperative and postoperative complications during aortic repair. Researches on the effect of IHD on the treatment outcomes of patients with type B aortic dissection have not been carried out often. Only single publications based on relatively small statistical material are devoted to this problem in the literature. The cohort of patients with aortic dissection and IHD is extremely complex, and surgical correction of this comorbid condition is still a controversial topic. The aim. To analyze the impact of IHD with prior correction of coronary artery lesions on the results of hybrid and endovascular treatment of patients with thoracic aortic aneurysms. Materials and methods. From 2017 to 2023, on the basis of the National Amosov Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, 245 patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm were treated using hybrid and endovascular techniques. Of these, 14 (5.7%) patients with coronary malperfusion underwent previous cor-rection of IHD either alone or in combination with prosthetics of the aortic valve, ascending aorta and arch of the aorta, initial section of the descending aorta (elephant trunk) with a good outcome. The comparison group included 30 (12.2%) patients who underwent endovascular or hybrid correction of the descending thoracic aorta without coronary pathology. Results. In the experimental group, 5 complications (42.9%) were detected (3 in the intraoperative period and 2 in the postoperative period). The frequency of complications of a similar nature in patients without concomitant IHD (com-parison group) was 13.3%. Endoleak type 1 was also dominant in this group. In most cases, it was eliminated by balloon dilatation of the stent graft. Only in 1 case, Endoleak type 1b was the reason for re-intervention with placement of an additional stent after 6 months. Conclusions. Studies show that the presence of even corrected IHD complicates the course of endovascular and hy-brid surgical treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms, as evidenced by significantly higher rates of postoperative compli-cations, longer length of stay in the intensive care unit, as well as time on mechanical ventilation. Preliminary myocardial revascularization in patients with IHD should be one of the main conditions for the endovas-cular treatment of aortic aneurysms, taking into account the specifics of performing such operations and the possibility of fatal complications with hemodynamically significant narrowing of the coronary arteries.

Myocardial Bridge and Atherosclerosis, an Intimal Relationship.

This review investigates the relationship between myocardial bridges (MBs), intimal thickening in coronary arteries, and Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. It focuses on the role of mechanical forces, such as circumferential strain, in arterial wall remodeling and aims to clarify how MBs affect coronary artery pathology. MBs have been identified as influential in modulating coronary artery intimal thickness, demonstrating a protective effect against thickening within the MB segment and an increase in thickness proximal to the MB. This is attributed to changes in mechanical stress and hemodynamics. Research involving arterial hypertension models and vein graft disease has underscored the importance of circumferential strain in vascular remodeling and intimal hyperplasia. Understanding the complex dynamics between MBs, mechanical strain, and vascular remodeling is crucial for advancing our knowledge of coronary artery disease mechanisms. This could lead to improved management strategies for cardiovascular diseases, highlighting the need for further research into MB-related vascular changes.

#2141 Lipoprotein a levels and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in hemodialysis patients

Abstract Background and Aims Lipoprotein a (Lp(a)) is an LDL cholesterol-like particle to which two apolipoprotein(a) molecules are attached. Epidemiological and genetic studies strongly support a causal and continuous association between Lp(a) concentration and atherosclerotic cardiovascular (CV) disease, including aortic valve stenosis, even with low levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. On the other hand, it is well known that patients on hemodialysis (HD) have high comorbidity due to cardiovascular pathology. Method We conducted a cross-sectional, observational, retrospective study in a cohort of patients on HD, with the aim of evaluating whether there was any correlation between Lp(a) concentration and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). For this purpose, in December 2023 we measured Lp(a) levels (in nmol/L) in all prevalent HD patients in the province of Cáceres (Spain) and collected their major adverse coronary events (MACE): acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and angina, as well as major adverse non-coronary cardiovascular events (MANCE): cerebrovascular disease and peripheral artery disease. Aortic valve stenosis/calcification was also assessed by echocardiography. SPSS version 21 software was used for statistical analysis. Results A total of 214 patients were included, 68.7% male, with a mean age of 70.5 years. The mean Lp(a) value was 76.9 nmol/L, without differences in both sexes. A total of 66.4% had Lp(a) &amp;lt; 75 nmol/L and 23.8% had levels ≥ 125 nmol/L. The main cardiovascular event was peripheral artery disease (14.9%), followed by AMI (14.1%), aortic valve stenosis (10.7%), stroke (8.4%), angina (2.8%) and transient ischemic attack (1.4%). Some 23.4% (50 patients) had a CV event and, among them, almost half (42%) had Lp(a) levels &amp;gt;75 nmol/L. A statistically significant linear correlation was found between Lp(a) concentration and AMI (p 0.03) and aortic valve stenosis (p 0.001). No correlation was observed between Lp(a) and the other CV events analyzed (peripheral artery disease, stroke, angina, transient ischemic attack), nor between Lp(a) and sex. Conclusion There is a linear and positive correlation between Lp(a) levels and coronary pathology, and with aortic valve stenosis in HD patients in the cohort studied. Studies are needed to assess whether reducing their levels reduces cardiovascular disease in these patients.

Early silent coronary bypass graft occlusion following coronary bypass surgery, implication of routine coronary computed tomography angiography

ObjectiveTo evaluate incidence and predictors of early silent bypass occlusion following coronary bypass surgery using cardiac computed tomography angiography.MethodsA total of 439 consecutive patients with mean age of 66 ± 10 years comprising 17% (n = 75) females underwent isolated coronary bypass surgery followed by CT scan before discharge. Graft patency was evaluated in 1,319 anastomoses where 44% (n = 580) arterial and 56% (n = 739) vein graft anastomosis were performed. Cardiovascular risk factors, demographics, and intraoperative variables were analyzed. We conducted univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses to analyze variables potentially associated with graft occlusion following CABG. Variables included gender, surgery duration, graft flow, pulsatility index, vein vs. artery graft, and recent MI.ResultsOverall incidence of graft occlusion was 2.4% (31/1,319), and it was diagnosed in 6.6% (29/439) of patients. The difference in occlusion between arterial (2.1%) and vein (2.6%) grafts was not significant, p = 0.68. The duration of intervention p = 0.034, cross clamp time p = 0.024 as well the number of distal anastomosis p = 0.034 were significantly higher in occlusion group. The univariate and multivariate logistic regression indicated duration of surgery being predictive for bypass graft occlusion with OR = 1.18; 95% CI: 1.01–1.38; p = 0.035.ConclusionsEarly graft occlusion was associated with surgical factors. The number of distant anastamoses, along duration of surgical intervention were, significantly influenced the risk of EGO. Prolonged procedural time reflecting complex coronary pathology and time-consuming revascularization procedure was as well associated to the elevated risk of occlusion.

Material strengths of shear-induced platelet aggregation clots and coagulation clots

Arterial occlusion by thrombosis is the immediate cause of some strokes, heart attacks, and peripheral artery disease. Most prior studies assume that coagulation creates the thrombus. However, a contradiction arises as whole blood (WB) clots from coagulation are too weak to stop arterial blood pressures (> 150 mmHg). We measure the material mechanical properties of elasticity and ultimate strength for Shear-Induced Platelet Aggregation (SIPA) type clots, that form under stenotic arterial hemodynamics in comparison with coagulation clots. The ultimate strength of SIPA clots averaged 4.6 ± 1.3 kPa, while WB coagulation clots had a strength of 0.63 ± 0.3 kPa (p < 0.05). The elastic modulus of SIPA clots was 3.8 ± 1.5 kPa at 1 Hz and 0.5 mm displacement, or 2.8 times higher than WB coagulation clots (1.3 ± 1.2 kPa, p < 0.0001). This study shows that the SIPA thrombi, formed quickly under high shear hemodynamics, is seven-fold stronger and three-fold stiffer compared to WB coagulation clots. A force balance calculation shows a SIPA clot has the strength to resist arterial pressure with a short length of less than 2 mm, consistent with coronary pathology.

REPEATED MYOCARDIAL INFARCTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH KAWASAKI SYNDROME

Kawasaki syndrome is characterized by damage to the coronary arteries with the formation of aneurysms, which persist and progress after the completion of the acute stage of the process and cause hemodynamically significant stenoses and thrombosis. The literature research data on cardiac pathology in patients with Kawasaki syndrome are presented. A clinical case of a young non-mongoloid patient with a high probability of Kawasaki syndrome suffered in childhood is described. Repeated myocardial infarctions, multiple aneurysms of characteristic shapes and sizes in the coronary arteries are confirmation of this disease. With the development of coronary pathology in young people, when conducting a diagnostic search, it is necessary to remember about the Kawasaki syndrome.

ROLE OF CORONARY COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY (CCTA) IN SPONTANEOUS CORONARY ARTERY DISSECTION (SCAD)

Abstract Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) is a rare but insidious cause of myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death especially in those who lacks of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Although the most appropriate management of patients with SCAD is not clearly defined, it‘s essential to make an early diagnosis in order to follow a conservative approach. Nowadays, the role of Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA) is consolidated in the study of atherosclerotic coronary pathology but its contribution in the diagnosis and follow–up of patients with SCAD does not apperar to be defined. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively investigate the diagnostic performance of CCTA and its role in the follow–up of patients with diagnosis of SCAD. We examined 307 patients admitted to emergency department for acute chest pain and an ECG diagnosis of STEMI from March 2021 to July 2023. 1 patient was diagnosed with type 2 SCAD on invasive coronary angiography (ICA) and 2 patients received a suspected diagnosis of SCAD at ICA and CCTA examination was performed to confirm the suspicion. CCTA examination showed the acute presence of Intramural hematoma (IMH) of the wall of left anterior descending artery (LAD) in 2 patients, confirming the angiographic suspect of SCAD type 2. All 3 patients were treated with conservatie therapy and subsequentely underwent CCTA of follow–up. The examination performed respectively 3 months, 45 days and 1 month after the acute event demonstrated the complete resolution of IMH in all patients and the patency of the vessel lumens. CCTA seems to be a feasible and effective imaging modality to detect the main findings of SCAD. It may play a crucial role in the management of patients with acute chest pain at low–intermediate risk of ACS in order to reduce the number of misdiagnoses. Furthermore, CCTA could facilitate follow–up of patients with diagnosis of SCAD given the high recurrency rate of this pathology. However, further large prospective studies are needed to clarify the role of CCTA in the diagnosis and in the follow–up of SCAD.

Evaluation of the Patients with Recurrent Angina After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the most common causes of recurrent angina after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and our treatment approaches applied in these patients. We included all patients who underwent CABG, with or without percutaneous coronary intervention after CABG, at our hospital from September 2013 to December 2019. Patients were divided into two groups according to the time of onset of anginal pain after CABG. Forty-five patients (58.16 ± 8.78 years) had recurrent angina in the first postoperative year after CABG and were specified as group I (early recurrence). Group II (late recurrence) comprised 82 patients (58.05 ± 8.95 years) with angina after the first year of CABG. The mean preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction was 53.22 ± 8.87% in group I, and 54.7 ± 8.58% in group II (P=0.38). No significant difference was registered between groups I and II regarding preoperative angiographic findings (P>0.05). Failed grafts were found in 27.7% (n=28/101) of the grafts in group I as compared to 26.8% (n=51/190) in group II (P>0.05). Twenty-four (53.3%) patients were treated medically in group I, compared with 54 (65.8%) patients in group II (P=0.098). There was a need for intervention in 46.6% (n=21) of group I patients, and in 34.1% (n=28) of group II patients. Recurrent angina is a complaint that should not be neglected because most of the patients with recurrent angina are diagnosed with either native coronary or graft pathology in coronary angiography performed.

Use of Virtual Reality and 3D Models in Contemporary Practice of Cardiology.

To provide an overview of the impact of virtual and augmented reality in contemporary cardiovascular medical practice. The utilization of virtual and augmented reality has emerged as an innovative technique in various cardiovascular subspecialties, including interventional adult, pediatric, and adult congenital as well as structural heart disease and heart failure. In particular, electrophysiology has proven valuable for both diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. The incorporation of 3D reconstruction modeling has significantly enhanced our understanding of patient anatomy and morphology, thereby improving diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes. The interactive modeling of cardiac structure and function within the virtual realm plays a pivotal role in comprehending complex congenital, structural, and coronary pathology. This, in turn, contributes to safer interventions and surgical procedures. Noteworthy applications include septal defect device closure, transcatheter valvular interventions, and left atrial occlusion device implantation. The implementation of virtual reality has been shown to yield cost savings in healthcare, reduce procedure time, minimize radiation exposure, lower intravenous contrast usage, and decrease the extent of anesthesia required. These benefits collectively result in a more efficient and effective approach to patient care.

Intramural coronary artery and myocardial pathology in captive tigers (Panthera tigris) and African lions (Panthera leo).

There is limited published data regarding cardiovascular disease in nondomestic felid populations. To address this knowledge gap, necropsy cases of tigers and lions with representative myocardial samples submitted to a diagnostic laboratory were histologically assessed with hematoxylin and eosin and Sirius red stains. A total of 32 submissions (15 tigers, 17 lions) were identified in a 4-year period. All tigers and lions had some degree of coronary artery lesions in the left ventricle and/or interventricular septum. Major findings included moderate to marked arteriosclerosis in 8 tigers (53%) and 4 lions (24%) and moderate to marked perivascular fibrosis in 10 tigers (67%) and 9 lions (53%). Moreover, 10 tigers (67%) and 8 lions (47%) had coronary artery lesions with variable degrees of perivascular cardiomyocyte degeneration and/or loss. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing coronary artery pathology in captive tigers and lions.

Shifting perspectives in coronary involvement of polyarteritis nodosa: case of 3-vessel occlusion treated with 4-vessel CABG and review of literature

BackgroundPolyarteritis Nodosa (PAN) is a systemic vasculitis (SV) historically thought to spare the coronary arteries. Coronary angiography and contemporary imaging reveal coronary stenosis and dilation, which are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Coronary arteries in PAN are burdened with accelerated atherosclerosis from generalized inflammation adding to an inherent arteritic process. Traditional atherosclerotic risk factors fail to approximate risk. Few reports document coronary pathology and optimal therapy has been guarded.MethodsDatabase publication query of English literature from 1990–2022.ResultsSeverity of coronary involvement eludes laboratory monitoring, but coronary disease associates with several clinical symptoms. Framingham risk factors inadequately approximate disease burden. Separating atherosclerosis from arteritis requires advanced angiographic methods. Therapy includes anticoagulation, immunosuppression and revascularization. PCI has been the mainstay, though stenting is confounded by vagarious alteration in luminal diameter and reports of neointimization soon after placement.ConclusionsWhen graft selection avoids the vascular territory of SV’s, CABG offers definitive therapy. We have contributed report of a novel CABG configuration in addition to reviewing, updating and discussing the literature. Accumulating evidence suggests discrete clinical symptoms warrant suspicion for coronary involvement.

Значение лучевых методов в диагностике ишемической болезни сердца у конкретного пациента

Purpose: Demonstrate a clinical observation in which to establish a diagnosis it was necessary to use eight methods for diagnosing coronary pathology, four of which are radiation. Material and methods: To establish a diagnosis in a cardiac patient with suspected coronary heart disease (CHD), post-infarction cardiosclerosis, echocardiography (ECG), Holter monitoring (HM), bicycle ergometry (VE), X-ray computed tomography (X-ray computed tomography) to determine calcification of the coronary arteries, single-photon selective computer tomography (SPECT), magnetic resonance computed tomography (MRI), positron emission computed tomography (PET), coronary angiography (CAG). Results: The sequential use of eight diagnostic methods, four from radiation, was established when observing cardiosclerosis with coronary heart disease, cardiosclerosis in the 4, 5, 10, and 11 segments of the heart, complicated by a left ventricular aneurysm in the lower and lateral walls with minor ischemia at the height of physical activity. The need to use SPECT/CT in the complex diagnosis of coronary heart disease consists of using hybrid tomography and sequentially performing two studies in one diagnostic procedure (X-ray computed tomography and SPECT with 99m Tc-technetril) it seems possible to obtain 26 study indicators (with X-ray computed tomography – 4 indicators assessing calcification of the coronary arteries, with SPECT – 11 indicators of perfusion and 11 indicators of myocardial function). Conclusion: A clinical observation of the diagnosis of coronary artery disease with post-infarction cardiosclerosis and left ventricular aneurysm was demonstrated in which eight diagnostic technologies were used (ECG, CM, VE, CT, SPECT, MRI, PET, and CAG), four of which relate to radiation diagnostics (X-ray CT, SPECT, PET, and KAG). A feature of sequential hybrid tomography (X-ray CT and SPECT with 99mTc-technitrile) is that this technology allows you to obtain 26 research indicators.