Aortic valvar atresia with a normal-sized left ventricle in an adolescent.

Atresia of the aortic valve is usually associated with hypoplasia of the mitral valve and the left ventricle. In very rare cases, a ventricular septal defect may be associated with aortic atresia, when left ventricle and mitral valve are normal-sized, due to the presence of an outflow for the left ventricle through the ventricular septal defect. We present the multi-modality imaging findings of an adolescent girl who presented with breathlessness and was later found to have aortic valvar atresia with a normal-sized left ventricle.

Association of Novel Hematological Indices with Severity of Coronary Artery Disease using SYNTAX Score in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Recent evidence suggests that systemic inflammation not only plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Acute Coronary Syndrome but also correlates with disease severity. Monocyte-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (MHR), Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), and Monocyte-Lymphocyte Ratio (MLR) are novel systemic inflammation markers used for predicting the burden of coronary artery disease (CAD) based on SYNTAX Score. This single-center, cross-sectional, observational study compared the association of these novel hematological indices with CAD severity using the SYNTAX Score in ACS patients and aimed to determine the best predictor of the severity of CAD. METHODS: A total of 403 consecutive patients with ACS who underwent coronary angiography were enrolled. On the basis of the SYNTAX Score, patients were divided into three groups: Low: <22, Moderate 22 - 32 and High ≥ 32. MHR, MLR, and NLR were calculated and correlated with SYNTAX Score. RESULTS: All three indices: MHR (r=0.511; p <0.001), MLR (r=0.373; p <0.001), and NLR (r=0.292; p =0.001) showed significant correlation with SYNTAX Score. The MHR ROC was significantly higher than that of MLR (difference between area: 0.158; 95% CI: 0.079-0.259) and NLR (difference between area: 0.279; 95% CI: 0.172-0.419) for the SYNTAX Score. Analysis showed a strong correlation between these indices with SYNTAX Score >22 compared to low scores <22 and that these also related to the LAD as an infarct artery. Multiple regression analysis showed that diabetes mellitus, eGFR, Infarct-related artery left anterior descending (IRALAD), MHR, MLR, and NLR were predictors of the severity of CAD in ACS patients based on SYNTAX Score. CONCLUSION: In ACS patients MHR, MLR, and NLR showed significant correlation with SYNTAX score >22 which may be indicative of severity of disease. MHR is a better predictor of the severity of CAD than MLR and NLR in ACS patients.

The diagnostic accuracy of two-dimensional strain imaging echocardiography to detect the severity of coronary artery disease in non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Strain imaging by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography can detect severe coronary artery disease (CAD). This study aims to assess the diagnostic accuracy of various strain parameters in patients with non-ST segment acute coronary syndrome to detect the angiographic severity of CAD and also to compare among them. METHODS: This hospital-based observational study was conducted on 178 patients with NSTEACS and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction who presented in emergency or outdoor from July 2021 to December 2022. We excluded patients with prior coronary revascularization, heart failure, arrhythmia, more than trivial valvular heart disease, or poor acoustic window. Global longitudinal strain (GLS), peak systolic strain (SS), post systolic index (PSI), and systolic strain rate (SR) were calculated by speckle tracking with automated function imaging. Coronary angiography was done in all patients, and the syntax score was calculated. RESULTS: The strain parameters showed a significant correlation with the syntax score. There was a statistically significant difference in strain parameters between patients with left main (LM) or triple vessel disease (TVD) and others. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that GLS had a better diagnostic accuracy for detecting LM or TVD than other strain parameters. GLS with a cut-off value of -11.2% had a sensitivity of 85.7% and specificity of 53.5% for detecting LM or TVD. CONCLUSION: Strain imaging can be a helpful bedside adjunct to conventional investigations for detecting severe CAD in patients with NSTEACS.

Coronary bronchial fistula - A rare incidental finding.

Coronary fistulas are unusual finding in coronary angiography (CAG) with coronary bronchial fistula (CBF) being a rarer one. Here, we represent a case of CBF which was diagnosed incidentally on CAG. These anomalous connections can be percutaneously treated.

Idiopathic Isolated Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy: A Rare Case Report.

Idiopathic isolated right ventricular cardiomyopathy is an extremely rare cause of right ventricular failure. Here, we report a case of 65-year-old male presented with chief complaints of dyspnea, fatigue, and bilateral pedal edema for the last 6 months. On clinical evaluation, grade II/III pansystolic murmur was present in left parasternal area. Investigations and imaging revealed dilated right atrium and ventricle with normal pulmonary artery pressure without any etiology. Magnetic resonance imaging ruled out other common causes of right ventricular cardiomyopathy; thus, the patient was diagnosed as a case of idiopathic isolated right ventricular cardiomyopathy that is a diagnosis of exclusion.

Study of the Association of Epicardial Adiposity with Albuminuria in Patients with Essential Hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), a type of visceral adipose tissue, has been found to be a cardiometabolic risk factor contributing to cardiovascular disease. Albuminuria, a marker of endothelial dysfunction is also associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of echocardiographic epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness and albuminuria in hypertensive patients. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To compare EAT between essential hypertensive patients with normal UACR (<30) and albuminuria (UACR>30). METHODS: 100 essential hypertensive patients were included into the study. Age, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, hemoglobin, random blood sugar, creatinine, albumin was evaluated. Spot urine sample was collected for the assessment urine albumin creatinine ratio (UACR). Patients were divided into two groups according to UACR; Group A included UACR <30 mg/g; and Group B included UACR > 30mg/g. Thereafter, all subjects underwent transthoracic echocardiography to measure EAT thickness, left ventricular mass (LVM), left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and ejection fraction (EF). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Epidemiological, demographic, clinical, laboratory, radiological, and treatment data were collected and analyzed. The primary composite end-point was admission to an intensive care unit (ICU), the use of mechanical ventilation or death. Patients were categorized as severe pneumonia and non-severe pneumonia at time of admission and outcome data was compared. RESULTS: The mean EAT was found to be significantly higher in patients with significant albumin excretion (UACR>30 mg/g) as compared to group A (6.65 ± 1.944 mm vs. 3.64 ± 1.13 mm, respectively, p<0.001). Upon correlation analysis, EAT was found to be positively correlated with age (r = 0.749, p < 0.001), serum creatinine (r = 0.244, p = 0.014), LVM (r = 0.691, p = 0.001) and LVMI (r = 0.677, p = 0.001) and negatively correlated with EF (r = -0.599, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Epicardial adipose tissue thickness can serve as a high-risk marker to stratify essential hypertensive patients.