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Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging 2020 Jun 25. Epub 2020 Jun 25.

Department of Public Health, Erasmus Medical Centre, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Aims: Screening for a high cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk followed by preventive treatment can potentially reduce coronary heart disease-related morbidity and mortality. ROBINSCA (Risk Or Benefit IN Screening for CArdiovascular disease) is a population-based randomized controlled screening trial that investigates the effectiveness of CVD screening in asymptomatic participants using the Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) model or coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring. This study describes the distributions in risk and treatment in the ROBINSCA trial. Read More

J Am Coll Cardiol 2020 Jun;75(24):3061-3074

British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

Background: Reliable methods for predicting myocardial infarction in patients with established coronary artery disease are lacking. Coronary F-sodium fluoride (F-NaF) positron emission tomography (PET) provides an assessment of atherosclerosis activity.

Objectives: This study assessed whether F-NaF PET predicts myocardial infarction and provides additional prognostic information to current methods of risk stratification. Read More

Semin Nucl Med 2020 Jul 20;50(4):357-366. Epub 2020 May 20.

Departments of Imaging, Medicine, and Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles CA.

Myocardial perfusion imaging with single photon emission computed tomography or positron emission tomography is commonly used for diagnosis and risk stratification in patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease. Current scanners often incorporate computed tomography for attenuation correction, resulting in a wealth of clinical and imaging information associated with a typical study. Novel highly efficient artificial intelligence (AI) tools have emerged, revolutionizing image analysis with direct and accurate extraction of information from cardiovascular images. Read More

Curr Cardiol Rep 2020 May 25;22(6):43. Epub 2020 May 25.

Cardiovascular Imaging Program, Departments of Radiology and Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

Purpose Of Review: The most pertinent clinical question in post-coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) patients is the assessment of the physiological significance of an anatomically identified stenosis. The clinical application of radionuclide MPI using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) versus positron emission tomography (PET) in the evaluation and management of patients with an inconclusive CCTA is reviewed using a case-based approach.

Recent Findings: Recent evidence suggests that CCTA is the most sensitive non-invasive test to exclude angiographic CAD and may be an effective first-line test especially among symptomatic low-intermediate risk patients. Read More

J Nucl Cardiol 2020 May 11. Epub 2020 May 11.

Department of Nuclear Medicine, Centre for Clinical Cardiovascular Science, Nuffield House, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Edgbaston, B15 2TH, UK.

Background: Although consensus-based guidelines support noninvasive stress testing prior to orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), the optimal screening strategy for assessment of coronary artery disease in patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) is unclear. This study sought to determine the relative predictive value of coronary risk factors, functional capacity, and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) on major adverse cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in liver transplantation candidates.

Methods: Prior to listing for transplantation, 404 consecutive ESLD patients were referred to a University hospital for cardiovascular (CV) risk stratification. Read More

Indian J Nucl Med 2020 Apr-Jun;35(2):136-142. Epub 2020 Mar 12.

Department of Radiology Nuclear Medicine /PET/CT and Cardiovascular Imaging, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabai, Saudi Arabia.

Background: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) can be visually estimated on computed tomography (CT) attenuation correction (CTAC) of positron emission tomography (PET). The visual estimation of CAC from CTAC scans performed for PET/CT is comparable to the standard CAC score scan. Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) with single-photon emission CT (SPECT) is commonly performed for risk stratification before oncologic surgery. Read More

Am J Cardiol 2020 Jul 7;126:16-22. Epub 2020 Apr 7.

Department of Cardiology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Identifying coronary artery disease (CAD) in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients improves risk stratification and defines clinical management. However, the value of screening for subclinical CAD with cardiac CT in AF patients is unknown. Between 2011 and 2015, 94 consecutive patients without known or suspected CAD (66 (57-73) years, 68% male), who were referred for AF evaluation, underwent a noncontrast-enhanced coronary calcium scan and a coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) at our center. Read More

J Nucl Cardiol 2020 Apr 27. Epub 2020 Apr 27.

Nuclear Medicine Department, Institute of Cardiology, 17 No. 702, Vedado, CP 10 400, La Habana, Cuba.

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at a very high risk of adverse cardiovascular events. In CKD patients, vascular calcification is more prevalent, appears at an earlier age, and is more severe than in the general population. CKD physiology rather than the effects of dialysis is the primary driver of microvascular disease in these patients. Read More

J Nephrol 2020 Apr 10. Epub 2020 Apr 10.

Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, 8440 112 Street, Suite 5A9-014, Edmonton, AB, T6G2B7, Canada.

Background: Vasodilator nuclear stress testing is frequently ordered for risk stratification prior to kidney transplantation. Since Rb-positron emission tomography-computed tomography can measure myocardial blood flow (MBF), the response to vasodilator stress can be verified rendering the results of the scan more reliable.

Methods: We reviewed the MBF response to dipyridamole infusion in 328 patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) prior to transplant (188 hemodialysis-HD, 120 peritoneal dialysis-PD, and 20 pre-dialysis patients-CKD5) and in 100 controls with normal kidney function. Read More

Intern Med 2020 Jun 12;59(11):1361-1371. Epub 2020 Mar 12.

Department of Cardiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Japan.

Objective There is no report on the risk stratification of major cardiac events (MCEs) with a combination of the Synergy between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) score and ischemic reduction detected with rest Tl and stress Tc-tetrofosmin myocardial perfusion single-photon-emission computed tomography (SPECT) after revascularization in Japanese patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods This was a retrospective study. The patients were followed up to confirm their prognosis for at least one year. Read More

Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging 2020 May;21(5):479-488

Department of Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands.

Aims: In patients without obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD), we examined the prognostic value of risk factors and atherosclerotic extent.

Methods And Results: Patients from the long-term CONFIRM registry without prior CAD and without obstructive (≥50%) stenosis were included. Within the groups of normal coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) (N = 1849) and non-obstructive CAD (N = 1698), the prognostic value of traditional clinical risk factors and atherosclerotic extent (segment involvement score, SIS) was assessed with Cox models. Read More

Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging 2020 Apr;21(4):363-374

Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.

Aims: There are significant sex-specific differences in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), with a higher LVEF being observed in women. We sought to assess the clinical relevance of an increased LVEF in women and men.

Methods And Results: A total of 4632 patients from the CONFIRM (COronary CT Angiography EvaluatioN For Clinical Outcomes: An InteRnational Multicenter) registry (44. Read More

JAMA Cardiol 2020 Jan 22. Epub 2020 Jan 22.

Dalio Institute of Cardiovascular Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York.

Importance: Plaque morphologic measures on coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) have been associated with future acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, the evolution of calcified coronary plaques by noninvasive imaging is not known.

Objective: To ascertain whether the increasing density in calcified coronary plaque is associated with risk for ACS. Read More

Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2020 02 26;40(2):404-411. Epub 2019 Dec 26.

From the Department of Radiology (T.Y., S.J.A., J.K.M.), Weill Cornell Medicine, NY.

Objective: F-sodium fluoride (NaF) position emission tomography (PET) activity correlates with high-risk plaque. We examined the correlation between F-NaF PET activity and extent of calcification (microcalcification and macrocalcification) in coronary arteries. Approach and Results: Eighteen ex vivo human coronary arteries were imaged with F-NaF PET/CT, and target to background ratios were analyzed from 101 plaques. Read More

J Cardiovasc Comput Tomogr 2020 May - Jun;14(3):251-257. Epub 2019 Dec 5.

Department of Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands. Electronic address:

Aims: We aimed to compare semiquantitative coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) risk scores - which score presence, extent, composition, stenosis and/or location of coronary artery disease (CAD) - and their prognostic value between patients with and without diabetes mellitus (DM). Risk scores derived from general chest-pain populations are often challenging to apply in DM patients, because of numerous confounders.

Methods: Out of a combined cohort from the Leiden University Medical Center and the CONFIRM registry with 5-year follow-up data, we performed a secondary analysis in diabetic patients with suspected CAD who were clinically referred for CCTA. Read More

Eur J Heart Fail 2020 Feb 9;22(2):181-195. Epub 2019 Dec 9.

Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.

Acute heart failure is one of the main diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in clinical practice due to a non-specific clinical manifestation and the urgent need for timely and tailored management at the same time. In this position statement, the Heart Failure Association aims to systematize the use of various imaging methods in accordance with the timeline of acute heart failure care proposed in the recent guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology. During the first hours of admission the point-of-care focused cardiac and lung ultrasound examination is an invaluable tool for rapid differential diagnosis of acute dyspnoea, which is highly feasible and relatively easy to learn. Read More

Rev Port Cardiol 2019 08 3;38(8):599-608. Epub 2019 Nov 3.

Faculdade de Medicina, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.

Non-invasive assessment of ischemic heart disease remains a challenging task, even with a large armory of diagnostic modalities. Positron emission tomography (PET) is an advanced radionuclide technique that has been available for decades. Originally used as a research tool that contributed to advances in the understanding of cardiovascular pathophysiology, it is now becoming established in clinical practice and is increasingly used in the diagnosis and risk stratification of patients with ischemic heart disease. Read More

Eur Heart J Acute Cardiovasc Care 2020 Feb 24;9(1):23-29. Epub 2019 Oct 24.

Department of Cardiology, Erasmus Medical Centre, The Netherlands.

Aims: Coronary computed tomography angiography is increasingly employed in the emergency department for suspected acute coronary syndrome patients. The HEART score has been proposed for initial risk stratification in these patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic value and efficiency of the HEART score before coronary computed tomography angiography. Read More

J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2019 Dec 9;28(12):104400. Epub 2019 Oct 9.

Department of Neurology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.

Background And Objectives: Ischemic stroke (IS) and coronary artery disease (CAD) share common risk factors and one may be the harbinger of the other. We aimed to study prevalence of symptomatic and asymptomatic CAD in a cohort of consecutive patients with IS and assess its relationship with intracranial and extracranial large artery cerebrovascular disease (LAD).

Methods: All consecutive eligible IS and Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) patients were recruited into the study. Read More

Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging 2020 Jan;21(1):36-46

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita-15, Nishi-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Japan.

Aims: Myocardial perfusion imaging without and with quantitative myocardial blood flow (MBF) and myocardial flow reserve (MFR) plays an important role in the diagnosis and risk stratification of patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). We aimed to quantify the effects of coronary revascularization on regional stress MBF and MFR and to determine whether the presence of subendocardial infarction was associated with these changes.

Methods And Results: Forty-seven patients with stable CAD were prospectively enrolled. Read More

Eur Heart J 2020 Jan;41(3):359-367

Dalio Institute of Cardiovascular Imaging, Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA.

Aims: Symptom-based pretest probability scores that estimate the likelihood of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) in stable chest pain have moderate accuracy. We sought to develop a machine learning (ML) model, utilizing clinical factors and the coronary artery calcium score (CACS), to predict the presence of obstructive CAD on coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA).

Methods And Results: The study screened 35 281 participants enrolled in the CONFIRM registry, who underwent ≥64 detector row CCTA evaluation because of either suspected or previously established CAD. Read More

Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging 2019 10;20(10):1075-1093

Department of Cardiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Carol Davila"- Euroecolab, Emergency Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases "Prof. Dr. C. C. Iliescu", Sos. Fundeni 258, Sector 2, Bucharest, Romania.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is defined by the presence of left ventricular or biventricular dilatation and systolic dysfunction in the absence of abnormal loading conditions or coronary artery disease sufficient to explain these changes. This is a heterogeneous disease frequently having a genetic background. Imaging is important for the diagnosis, the prognostic assessment and for guiding therapy. Read More

Intern Med 2019 Dec 31;58(23):3351-3359. Epub 2019 Jul 31.

Department of Cardiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Japan.

Objective We aimed to stratify the risk of major cardiovascular (MCV) events in Japanese patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) who had normal single-photon emission computed tomographic myocardial perfusion imaging (SPECT MPI) findings and to compare the risk by generation. Methods This was a retrospective study. The composite endpoint was the occurrence of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, or non-fatal stroke. Read More

J Cardiovasc Comput Tomogr 2019 Sep - Oct;13(5):242-247. Epub 2019 Jul 17.

BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Electronic address:

Despite decades of research and major innovations in technology, cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death globally. Our understanding of major cardiovascular events and their prevention is centred around the atherosclerotic plaque and the processes that ultimately lead to acute plaque rupture. Recent advances in hybrid imaging technology allow the combination of high spatial resolution and anatomical detail with molecular assessments of disease activity. Read More

Am Heart J 2019 09 1;215:114-128. Epub 2019 May 1.

Department of Cardiology, Hospital Unit West, Gl. Landevej 61, Herning, Denmark. Electronic address:

Background: Coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) is the preferred primary diagnostic modality when examining patients with low to intermediate pre-test probability of coronary artery disease (CAD). Only 20-30% of these have potentially obstructive CAD. Because of the relatively poor positive predictive value of coronary CTA, unnecessary invasive coronary angiographies (ICAs) are conducted with the costs and risks associated with the procedure. Read More

J Nucl Cardiol 2019 12 8;26(6):2048-2054. Epub 2019 Jul 8.

Nuclear Medicine and Diagnostic Imaging Section, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region as well as worldwide. Lifestyle, nutritional habits and the upsurge of obesity have contributed to the increase in the prevalence of CVDs in the region. The role of nuclear cardiology in the management of patients with CVDs is well established. Read More

Curr Cardiol Rep 2019 05 18;21(7):57. Epub 2019 May 18.

Department of Cardiology, Cook County Health, Stroger Hospital of Cook County, 1901 W Harrison Street, Suite 3620, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.

Purpose Of Review: Radionuclide myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) continues to be the most reliable modality for diagnosis of hemodynamically significant coronary artery disease (CAD). The application of radionuclide MPI using single photon emission computed tomography (SEPCT) and positron emission tomography (PET) for CAD is reviewed, with emphasis on diagnosis and risk stratification.

Recent Findings: Contemporary studies have reported the diagnostic and prognostic value of novel imaging protocols, employing stress-first or stress-only approach. Read More

Prog Cardiovasc Dis 2019 May - Jun;62(3):205-211. Epub 2019 May 2.

Department of Cardiology, Heart Lung Center, Leiden University Medical Center. Electronic address:

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) accounts for one fifth of global deaths, and occurs when a trigger (e.g. myocardial ischemia, premature ventricular contraction) interacts with an arrhythmic substrate (e. Read More

Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging 2020 Feb;21(2):210-221

Cardiology Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Paseo Vall d'Hebron 119-129, Barcelona 08035, Spain.

Aims: To create a risk score for cardiac events (CE) according to clinical, exercise, and gated SPECT variables.

Methods And Results: We analysed 5707 consecutive patients; 3181 patients (age 64.2 ± 11 years, male 59. Read More

World J Nucl Med 2019 Apr-Jun;18(2):149-153

Department of Radiology Nuclear Medicine and Cardiovascular Imaging, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

There have been little and conflicting data regarding the relationship between coronary artery calcification score (CACS) and myocardial ischemia on positron emission tomography myocardial perfusion imaging (PET MPI). The aims of this study were to investigate the relationship between myocardial ischemia on PET MPI and CACS, the frequency and severity of CACS in patients with normal PET MPI, and to determine the optimal CACS cutoff point for abnormal PET. This retrospective study included 363 patients who underwent same-setting stress PET perfusion imaging and CACS scan because of clinically suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). Read More

J Cardiovasc Comput Tomogr 2020 Jan - Feb;14(1):12-17. Epub 2019 Mar 28.

Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for Prevention of Heart Disease, Baltimore, MD, United States; Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, United States. Electronic address:

Background: The Coronary Artery Calcium Data and Reporting System (CAC-DRS), which takes into account the Agatston score category (A) and the number of calcified vessels (N) has not yet been validated in terms of its prognostic significance.

Methods: We included 54,678 patients from the CAC Consortium, a large retrospective clinical cohort of asymptomatic individuals free of baseline cardiovascular disease (CVD). CAC-DRS groups were derived from routine, cardiac-gated CAC scans. Read More

Clin Chim Acta 2019 Aug 27;495:43-53. Epub 2019 Mar 27.

Cancer Gene Therapy Research Center, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran; Zanjan Metabolic Diseases Research Center, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran. Electronic address:

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is one of the most dangerous types of coronary heart disease (CHD) and contributes to significant mortality and morbidity worldwide. Outcomes in these patients remain a challenge despite improvements in diagnosis and treatment. Risk stratification continues to be problematic and the identification of novel predictors is crucial for improved outcomes. Read More

Cardiovasc Diagn Ther 2019 Feb;9(1):35-42

King Faisal Heart Institute, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Background: N-ammonia positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) is being increasingly used as a non-invasive imaging modality for evaluating patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease (CAD), but information about the diagnostic accuracy of PET-MPI is sparse. Objectives: Our objective was to determine the accuracy of N-ammonia PET-CT myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) for detecting CAD.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 383 patients with suspected CAD who underwent rest-stress N- ammonia PET-CT MPI. Read More

Pediatr Cardiol 2019 Jun 9;40(5):901-908. Epub 2019 Mar 9.

Nemours Cardiac Center, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, 1600 Rockland Rd, Wilmington, DE, 19803, USA.

The incidence of late coronary complications is reported around 8% after arterial switch operation (ASO) for d-transposition of the great arteries, but the affected patients are usually asymptomatic. Exercise stress test (EST) and myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) are common non-invasive modalities to screen for silent myocardial ischemia, but their diagnostic reliability in children after ASO is unclear. We retrospectively reviewed asymptomatic patients following ASO with EST, MPI, and coronary imaging studies (CIS) and examined the reliability of each test in identifying abnormal coronary lesions responsible for myocardial ischemia. Read More

Am J Cardiol 2019 05 10;123(9):1435-1442. Epub 2019 Feb 10.

Dalio Institute of Cardiovascular Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York. Electronic address:

The prognostic performance of coronary artery calcium score (CACS) for predicting adverse outcomes in patients with decreased renal function remains unclear. We aimed to examine whether CACS improves risk stratification by demonstrating incremental value beyond a traditional risk score according to renal function status. 9,563 individuals without known coronary artery disease were enrolled. Read More

Curr Cardiol Rep 2019 02 28;21(3):11. Epub 2019 Feb 28.

Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

Purpose Of Review: The aim of this review is to provide an update on quantification of myocardial blood flow (MBF) with positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. Technical and clinical aspects of flow quantification with PET are reviewed.

Recent Findings: The diagnostic and prognostic values of myocardial flow quantification have been established in numerous studies and in various populations. Read More

J Nucl Med 2019 Mar 7;60(3):407-409. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Cardiovascular Imaging Section, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Heart and Vascular Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.

J Nucl Cardiol 2020 Jun 25;27(3):952-961. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

Cardiology Department, Royal Perth Hospital, 197 Wellington St, Perth, WA, 6000, Australia.

Introduction: 18F-Sodium Fluoride Positron Emission Tomography (18F-NaF PET) is a novel molecular imaging modality with promise for use as a risk stratification tool in cardiovascular disease. There are limitations in the analysis of small and rapidly moving coronary arteries using traditional PET technology. We aimed to validate the use of a motion correction algorithm (eMoco) on coronary 18F-NaF PET outcome parameters. Read More

JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 2019 10 16;12(10):1987-1997. Epub 2019 Jan 16.

Department of Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands. Electronic address:

Objectives: This study was designed to assess the prognostic value of a new comprehensive coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) score compared with the stenosis severity component of the Coronary Artery Disease-Reporting and Data System (CAD-RADS).

Background: Current risk assessment with coronary CTA is mainly focused on maximal stenosis severity. Integration of plaque extent, location, and composition in a comprehensive model may improve risk stratification. Read More

BMC Med 2019 01 7;17(1). Epub 2019 Jan 7.

Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.

Background: Risk stratification and management of acute myocardial infarction patients continue to be challenging despite considerable efforts made in the last decades by many clinicians and researchers. The aim of this study was to investigate the metabolomic fingerprint of acute myocardial infarction using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy on patient serum samples and to evaluate the possible role of metabolomics in the prognostic stratification of acute myocardial infarction patients.

Methods: In total, 978 acute myocardial infarction patients were enrolled in this study; of these, 146 died and 832 survived during 2 years of follow-up after the acute myocardial infarction. Read More

EBioMedicine 2019 Jan 23;39:109-117. Epub 2018 Dec 23.

Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Electronic address:

Background: Risk stratification is crucial to improve tailored therapy in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). This study investigated the ability of targeted proteomics to predict presence of high-risk plaque or absence of coronary atherosclerosis in patients with suspected CAD, defined by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA).

Methods: Patients with suspected CAD (n = 203) underwent CCTA. Read More

Eur Heart J 2019 05;40(18):1426-1435

Department of Cardiology, Bispebjerg Frederiksberg University Hospital, Bispebjerg Bakke 23, DK-2400 Copenhagen, Denmark.

Aims: We hypothesized that the modified Diamond-Forrester (D-F) prediction model overestimates probability of coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of this study was to update the prediction model based on pre-test information and assess the model's performance in predicting prognosis in an unselected, contemporary population suspected of angina.

Methods And Results: We included 3903 consecutive patients free of CAD and heart failure and suspected of angina, who were referred to a single centre for assessment in 2012-15. Read More

Semin Nephrol 2018 11;38(6):582-599

Division of Nephrology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California.

Patients with advanced chronic kidney disease have an enormous burden of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, but, paradoxically, their representation in randomized trials for the evaluation and management of coronary artery disease has been limited. Clinicians therefore are faced with the conundrum of synergizing evidence from observational studies, expert opinion, and extrapolation from the general population to provide care to this complex and clinically distinct patient population. In this review, we address clinical risk stratification of patients with chronic kidney disease and end-stage kidney disease using traditional cardiovascular risk factors, noninvasive functional and structural cardiac imaging, invasive coronary angiography, and cardiovascular biomarkers. Read More

J Cardiovasc Comput Tomogr 2018 Nov - Dec;12(6):451-466. Epub 2018 Oct 23.

Weill Cornell Medicine, USA.

This expert consensus statement from the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) provides an evidence synthesis on the use of computed tomography (CT) imaging for diagnosis and risk stratification of coronary artery disease in women. From large patient and population cohorts of asymptomatic women, detection of any coronary artery calcium that identifies females with a 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk of >7.5% may more effectively triage women who may benefit from pharmacologic therapy. Read More

Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 2019 Mar 17;35(3):569-577. Epub 2018 Oct 17.

Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.

The heart failure epidemic continues to rise with coronary artery disease as one of its main causes. Novel concepts for risk stratification to guide the referring cardiologist towards revascularization procedures are of significant value. Myocardial perfusion imaging using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) agents has demonstrated high accuracy for the detection of clinically relevant stenoses. Read More

Curr Cardiovasc Imaging Rep 2018 Jan 19;11(1). Epub 2018 Jan 19.

Departments of Imaging, Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center; Los Angeles, CA.

Purpose Of Review: The use of quantitative analysis in single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) has become an integral part of current clinical practice and plays a crucial role in the detection and risk stratification of coronary artery disease. Emerging technologies, new protocols, and new quantification methods have had a significant impact on the diagnostic performance and prognostic value of nuclear cardiology imaging, while reducing the need for clinician oversight. In this review, we aim to describe recent advances in automation and quantitative analysis in nuclear cardiology. Read More

Clin Radiol 2018 12 27;73(12):1059.e17-1059.e26. Epub 2018 Sep 27.

School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, UK. Electronic address:

Aim: To determine whether heterogeneity of cardiac scar, as assessed by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) texture analysis, may provide insight into better risk stratification for patients with previous myocardial infarction (MI).

Materials And Methods: Patients with previous MI (n=76) were followed for a median of 371.5 days after late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) CMR. Read More

J Cardiovasc Magn Reson 2018 09 24;20(1):68. Epub 2018 Sep 24.

University Heart Center Hamburg, Department of General and Interventional Cardiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.

Background: The purpose of this work is to describe the objectives and design of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging in the single center, prospective, population-based Hamburg City Health study (HCHS). The HCHS aims at improving risk stratification for coronary artery disease (CAD), atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF).

Methods: The HCHS will finally include 45,000 inhabitants of the city of Hamburg (Germany) between 45 and 74 years who undergo an extensive cardiovascular evaluation and collection of biomaterials. Read More

J Formos Med Assoc 2019 Mar 19;118(3):721-729. Epub 2018 Sep 19.

Cardiovascular Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Pharmacology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.

Background: Some personality types are associated with cardiovascular (CV) diseases and may be related to clinical outcomes in coronary artery disease (CAD). This study investigates the association between type D personality and clinical outcomes in stable CAD patients in an Asian cohort.

Methods: Stable CAD patients were enrolled and prospectively followed up for at least 1 year in Taiwan. Read More

J Nucl Cardiol 2019 12 20;26(6):2007-2012. Epub 2018 Sep 20.

Nuclear Medicine Department, Royal Brompton & Harefield Trust, London, UK.

Background: Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) with Rb PET/CT is increasingly utilized in the evaluation of coronary artery disease with high diagnostic accuracy. Various softwares for data processing have been developed over the years with conflicting data regarding their reproducibility. In this study, we compared the quantitative results of myocardial perfusion and exam classification from three different softwares. Read More