Background The echolucency of the carotid intima-media is related to increased cardiovascular risk factor levels, morbidity, and mortality. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of statins…
Since 1986, ultrasound-based measurement of the carotid artery wall intima-media complex has evolved from a simple pathologic observation to a tool for evaluating responses to cholesterol-lowering therapies and a clinical…
Background Cardioversion (CV) and radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA) are often used to restore sinus rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). These procedures are associated with a risk for stroke….
Background Some experts have suggested that patients with exaggerated blood pressure responses during exercise echocardiography are more likely to have abnormal exercise echocardiographic findings and less likely to have angiographically…
Background Successful mitral valve surgical repair, decreasing volume overload, has been shown to provide reverse left ventricular (LV) and/or left atrial remodeling in most patients. Percutaneous mitral valve repair with…
Background Iron-mediated cardiomyopathy is the leading cause of death in patients with thalassemia major (TM). The identification of subclinical cardiac involvement in the early phases of the disease is important…
Background Few data are available on cardiac morphology and function in children with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). Such patients represent a unique clinical model to assess the effect of pure…
Background The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) on left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and diastolic function in patients with severe aortic…
Background The systemic right ventricle in palliated hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) has relatively reduced longitudinal compared with circumferential deformation, a pattern of contraction more akin to the normal left…
Background Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is characterized by a two-layered myocardium consisting of a noncompacted inner and a compacted outer layer. The ratio of the thicknesses of these two layers…
