Emerging Pathway to a Precision Medicine Approach for Angina With Nonobstructive Coronary Arteries in Women.

Women are disproportionately affected by symptoms of angina with nonobstructive coronary arteries (ANOCA) which is associated with significant mortality and economic impact. Although distinct endotypes of ANOCA have been defined, it is underdiagnosed and is often incompletely characterized when identified. Patients are often unresponsive to traditional therapeutic options, which are typically antianginal, and the current ability to guide treatment modification by specific pathways is limited. Studies have associated specific genetic loci, transcriptomic features, and biomarkers with ANOCA. Such panomic data, in combination with known imaging and invasive diagnostic techniques, should be utilized to define more precise pathophysiologic subtypes of ANOCA in women, which will in turn help to identify targeted, effective therapies. A precision medicine-based approach to managing ANOCA incorporating these techniques in women has the potential to significantly improve their clinical care.

Evaluating AI Proficiency in Nuclear Cardiology: Large Language Models take on the Board Preparation Exam.

Background: Previous studies evaluated the ability of large language models (LLMs) in medical disciplines; however, few have focused on image analysis, and none specifically on cardiovascular imaging or nuclear cardiology. Objectives: This study assesses four LLMs - GPT-4, GPT-4 Turbo, GPT-4omni (GPT-4o) (Open AI), and Gemini (Google Inc.) - in responding to questions from the 2023 American Society of Nuclear Cardiology Board Preparation Exam, reflecting the scope of the Certification Board of Nuclear Cardiology (CBNC) examination. Methods: We used 168 questions: 141 text-only and 27 image-based, categorized into four sections mirroring the CBNC exam. Each LLM was presented with the same standardized prompt and applied to each section 30 times to account for stochasticity. Performance over six weeks was assessed for all models except GPT-4o. McNemar's test compared correct response proportions. Results: GPT-4, Gemini, GPT4-Turbo, and GPT-4o correctly answered median percentiles of 56.8% (95% confidence interval 55.4% - 58.0%), 40.5% (39.9% - 42.9%), 60.7% (59.9% - 61.3%) and 63.1% (62.5 - 64.3%) of questions, respectively. GPT4o significantly outperformed other models (p=0.007 vs. GPT-4Turbo, p<0.001 vs. GPT-4 and Gemini). GPT-4o excelled on text-only questions compared to GPT-4, Gemini, and GPT-4 Turbo (p<0.001, p<0.001, and p=0.001), while Gemini performed worse on image-based questions (p<0.001 for all). Conclusion: GPT-4o demonstrated superior performance among the four LLMs, achieving scores likely within or just outside the range required to pass a test akin to the CBNC examination. Although improvements in medical image interpretation are needed, GPT-4o shows potential to support physicians in answering text-based clinical questions.

Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction: A Guide for Clinicians.

Dysfunction of the coronary microvasculature has become increasingly recognized as an important mechanism of myocardial ischemia in patients without obstructive coronary artery disease. The causes and management of coronary microvascular dysfunction remain poorly understood and are still largely based on extrapolation of epicardial coronary artery disease data. Quantification of myocardial blood flow and flow reserve have improved diagnosis, though important questions remain. In this review, we explain current understanding of the spectrum of pathophysiology of coronary microvascular dysfunction, summarize current diagnostic techniques to assess for coronary microvascular dysfunction, and appraise the limited data on management options specifically for patients with coronary microvascular dysfunction.

Prospective validation of clinical deterioration predictive models prior to intensive care unit transfer among patients admitted to acute care cardiology wards.

Objective. Very few predictive models have been externally validated in a prospective cohort following the implementation of an artificial intelligence analytic system. This type of real-world validation is critically important due to the risk of data drift, or changes in data definitions or clinical practices over time, that could impact model performance in contemporaneous real-world cohorts. In this work, we report the model performance of a predictive analytics tool developed before COVID-19 and demonstrate model performance during the COVID-19 pandemic.Approach. The analytic system (CoMETⓇ, Nihon Kohden Digital Health Solutions LLC, Irvine, CA) was implemented in a randomized controlled trial that enrolled 10 422 patient visits in a 1:1 display-on display-off design. The CoMET scores were calculated for all patients but only displayed in the display-on arm. Only the control/display-off group is reported here because the scores could not alter care patterns.Main results.Of the 5184 visits in the display-off arm, 311 experienced clinical deterioration and care escalation, resulting in transfer to the intensive care unit, primarily due to respiratory distress. The model performance of CoMET was assessed based on areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve, which ranged from 0.725 to 0.737.Significance.The models were well-calibrated, and there were dynamic increases in the model scores in the hours preceding the clinical deterioration events. A hypothetical alerting strategy based on a rise in score and duration of the rise would have had good performance, with a positive predictive value more than 10-fold the event rate. We conclude that predictive statistical models developed five years before study initiation had good model performance despite the passage of time and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

18F-FDG PET/CT and radiolabeled leukocyte SPECT/CT imaging for the evaluation of cardiovascular infection in the multimodality context: ASNC Imaging Indications (ASNC I2) Series Expert Consensus Recommendations from ASNC, AATS, ACC, AHA, ASE, EANM, HRS, IDSA, SCCT, SNMMI, and STS.

This document on cardiovascular infection, including infective endocarditis, is the first in the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology Imaging Indications (ASNC I2) series to assess the role of radionuclide imaging in the multimodality context for the evaluation of complex systemic diseases with multi-societal involvement including pertinent disciplines. A rigorous modified Delphi approach was used to determine consensus clinical indications, diagnostic criteria, and an algorithmic approach to diagnosis of cardiovascular infection including infective endocarditis. Cardiovascular infection incidence is increasing and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Current strategies based on clinical criteria and an initial echocardiographic imaging approach are effective but often insufficient in complicated cardiovascular infection. Radionuclide imaging with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (CT) and single photon emission computed tomography/CT leukocyte scintigraphy can enhance the evaluation of suspected cardiovascular infection by increasing diagnostic accuracy, identifying extracardiac involvement, and assessing cardiac implanted device pockets, leads, and all portions of ventricular assist devices. This advanced imaging can aid in key medical and surgical considerations. Consensus diagnostic features include focal/multi-focal or diffuse heterogenous intense 18F-FDG uptake on valvular and prosthetic material, perivalvular areas, device pockets and leads, and ventricular assist device hardware persisting on non-attenuation corrected images. There are numerous clinical indications with a larger role in prosthetic valves, and cardiac devices particularly with possible infective endocarditis or in the setting of prior equivocal or non-diagnostic imaging. Illustrative cases incorporating these consensus recommendations provide additional clarification. Future research is necessary to refine application of these advanced imaging tools for surgical planning, to identify treatment response, and more.

18F-FDG PET/CT and Radiolabeled Leukocyte SPECT/CT Imaging for the Evaluation of Cardiovascular Infection in the Multimodality Context: ASNC Imaging Indications (ASNC I2) Series Expert Consensus Recommendations From ASNC, AATS, ACC, AHA, ASE, EANM, HRS, IDSA, SCCT, SNMMI, and STS.

This document on cardiovascular infection, including infective endocarditis, is the first in the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology Imaging Indications (ASNC I2) series to assess the role of radionuclide imaging in the multimodality context for the evaluation of complex systemic diseases with multisocietal involvement including pertinent disciplines. A rigorous modified Delphi approach was used to determine consensus clinical indications, diagnostic criteria, and an algorithmic approach to diagnosis of cardiovascular infection including infective endocarditis. Cardiovascular infection incidence is increasing and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Current strategies based on clinical criteria and an initial echocardiographic imaging approach are effective but often insufficient in complicated cardiovascular infection. Radionuclide imaging with fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (CT) and single photon emission computed tomography/CT leukocyte scintigraphy can enhance the evaluation of suspected cardiovascular infection by increasing diagnostic accuracy, identifying extracardiac involvement, and assessing cardiac implanted device pockets, leads, and all portions of ventricular assist devices. This advanced imaging can aid in key medical and surgical considerations. Consensus diagnostic features include focal/multifocal or diffuse heterogenous intense 18F-FDG uptake on valvular and prosthetic material, perivalvular areas, device pockets and leads, and ventricular assist device hardware persisting on non-attenuation corrected images. There are numerous clinical indications with a larger role in prosthetic valves, and cardiac devices particularly with possible infective endocarditis or in the setting of prior equivocal or non-diagnostic imaging. Illustrative cases incorporating these consensus recommendations provide additional clarification. Future research is necessary to refine application of these advanced imaging tools for surgical planning, to identify treatment response, and more.

18F-FDG PET/CT and radiolabeled leukocyte SPECT/CT imaging for the evaluation of cardiovascular infection in the multimodality context: ASNC Imaging Indications (ASNC I2) Series Expert Consensus Recommendations from ASNC, AATS, ACC, AHA, ASE, EANM, HRS, IDSA, SCCT, SNMMI, and STS.

This document on cardiovascular infection, including infective endocarditis, is the first in the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology Imaging Indications (ASNC I2) series to assess the role of radionuclide imaging in the multimodality context for the evaluation of complex systemic diseases with multi-societal involvement including pertinent disciplines. A rigorous modified Delphi approach was used to determine consensus clinical indications, diagnostic criteria, and an algorithmic approach to diagnosis of cardiovascular infection including infective endocarditis. Cardiovascular infection incidence is increasing and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Current strategies based on clinical criteria and an initial echocardiographic imaging approach are effective but often insufficient in complicated cardiovascular infection. Radionuclide imaging with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and single photon emission computed tomography/CT leukocyte scintigraphy can enhance the evaluation of suspected cardiovascular infection by increasing diagnostic accuracy, identifying extracardiac involvement, and assessing cardiac implanted device pockets, leads, and all portions of ventricular assist devices. This advanced imaging can aid in key medical and surgical considerations. Consensus diagnostic features include focal/multi-focal or diffuse heterogenous intense 18F-FDG uptake on valvular and prosthetic material, perivalvular areas, device pockets and leads, and ventricular assist device hardware persisting on non-attenuation corrected images. There are numerous clinical indications with a larger role in prosthetic valves, and cardiac devices particularly with possible infective endocarditis or in the setting of prior equivocal or non-diagnostic imaging. Illustrative cases incorporating these consensus recommendations provide additional clarification. Future research is necessary to refine application of these advanced imaging tools for surgical planning, to identify treatment response, and more.

18F-FDG PET/CT and radiolabeled leukocyte SPECT/CT imaging for the evaluation of cardiovascular infection in the multimodality context: ASNC Imaging Indications (ASNC I2) Series Expert Consensus Recommendations from ASNC, AATS, ACC, AHA, ASE, EANM, HRS, IDSA, SCCT, SNMMI, and STS.

This document on cardiovascular infection, including infective endocarditis, is the first in the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology Imaging Indications (ASNC I2) series to assess the role of radionuclide imaging in the multimodality context for the evaluation of complex systemic diseases with multi-societal involvement including pertinent disciplines. A rigorous modified Delphi approach was used to determine consensus clinical indications, diagnostic criteria, and an algorithmic approach to diagnosis of cardiovascular infection including infective endocarditis. Cardiovascular infection incidence is increasing and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Current strategies based on clinical criteria and an initial echocardiographic imaging approach are effective but often insufficient in complicated cardiovascular infection. Radionuclide imaging with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (CT) and single photon emission computed tomography/CT leukocyte scintigraphy can enhance the evaluation of suspected cardiovascular infection by increasing diagnostic accuracy, identifying extracardiac involvement, and assessing cardiac implanted device pockets, leads, and all portions of ventricular assist devices. This advanced imaging can aid in key medical and surgical considerations. Consensus diagnostic features include focal/multi-focal or diffuse heterogenous intense 18F-FDG uptake on valvular and prosthetic material, perivalvular areas, device pockets and leads, and ventricular assist device hardware persisting on non-attenuation corrected images. There are numerous clinical indications with a larger role in prosthetic valves, and cardiac devices particularly with possible infective endocarditis or in the setting of prior equivocal or non-diagnostic imaging. Illustrative cases incorporating these consensus recommendations provide additional clarification. Future research is necessary to refine application of these advanced imaging tools for surgical planning, to identify treatment response, and more.

Total-Body PET/CT Applications in Cardiovascular Diseases: A Perspective Document of the SNMMI Cardiovascular Council.

Digital PET/CT systems with a long axial field of view have become available and are emerging as the current state of the art. These new camera systems provide wider anatomic coverage, leading to major increases in system sensitivity. Preliminary results have demonstrated improvements in image quality and quantification, as well as substantial advantages in tracer kinetic modeling from dynamic imaging. These systems also potentially allow for low-dose examinations and major reductions in acquisition time. Thereby, they hold great promise to improve PET-based interrogation of cardiac physiology and biology. Additionally, the whole-body coverage enables simultaneous assessment of multiple organs and the large vascular structures of the body, opening new opportunities for imaging systemic mechanisms, disorders, or treatments and their interactions with the cardiovascular system as a whole. The aim of this perspective document is to debate the potential applications, challenges, opportunities, and remaining challenges of applying PET/CT with a long axial field of view to the field of cardiovascular disease.

Beyond prediction: Off-target uses of artificial intelligence-based predictive analytics in a learning health system.

Introduction: Artificial-intelligence (AI)-based predictive analytics provide new opportunities to leverage rich sources of continuous data to improve patient care through early warning of the risk of clinical deterioration and improved situational awareness.Part of the success of predictive analytic implementation relies on integration of the analytic within complex clinical workflows. Pharmaceutical interventions have off-target uses where a drug indication has not been formally studied for a different indication but has potential for clinical benefit. An analog has not been described in the context of AI-based predictive analytics, that is, when a predictive analytic has been trained on one outcome of interest but is used for additional applications in clinical practice. Methods: In this manuscript we present three clinical vignettes describing off-target use of AI-based predictive analytics that evolved organically through real-world practice. Results: Off-target uses included:real-time feedback about treatment effectiveness, indication of readiness to discharge, and indication of the acuity of a hospital unit. Conclusion: Such practice fits well with the learning health system goals to continuously integrate data and experience to provide.

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Chronic Chest Pain-High Probability of Coronary Artery Disease: 2021 Update.

Management of patients with chronic chest pain in the setting of high probability of coronary artery disease (CAD) relies heavily on imaging for determining or excluding presence and severity of myocardial ischemia, hibernation, scarring, and/or the presence, site, and severity of obstructive coronary lesions, as well as course of management and long-term prognosis. In patients with no known ischemic heart disease, imaging is valuable in determining and documenting the presence, extent, and severity of obstructive coronary narrowing and presence of myocardial ischemia. In patients with known ischemic heart disease, imaging findings are important in determining the management of patients with chronic myocardial ischemia and can serve as a decision-making tool for medical therapy, angioplasty, stenting, or surgery. This document summarizes the recent growing body of evidence on various imaging tests and makes recommendations for imaging based on the available data and expert opinion. This document is focused on epicardial CAD and does not discuss the microvascular disease as the cause for CAD. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.

Cardiovascular Imaging for Ischemic Heart Disease in Women: Time for a Paradigm Shift.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death among men and women. Women have a unique phenotype of ischemic heart disease with less calcified lesions, more nonobstructive plaques, and a higher prevalence of microvascular disease compared with men, which may explain in part why current risk models to detect obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) may not work as well in women. This paper summarizes the sex differences in the functional and anatomical assessment of CAD in women presenting with stable chest pain and provides an approach for using multimodality imaging for the evaluation of suspected ischemic heart disease in women in accordance to the recently published American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guidelines for the evaluation and diagnosis of chest pain. A paradigm shift in the approach to imaging ischemic heart disease women is needed including updated risk models, a more profound understanding of CAD in women where nonobstructive disease is more prevalent, and algorithms focused on the evaluation of ischemia with nonobstructive CAD and myocardial infarction with nonobstructive CAD.

Temporal Trends in Diagnostic Testing Patterns for Wild-Type Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy in the Medicare Fee-for-Service Population.

Wild-type transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTRwt-CM) is frequently misdiagnosed or diagnosed late in the disease course. ATTRwt-CM can be diagnosed invasively through tissue biopsy, but current diagnostic recommendations indicate technetium-99m pyrophosphate (99mTc-PYP) bone scintigraphy is an acceptable noninvasive alternative. The relative use of these confirmatory diagnostic tests in routine clinical practice is unknown. A retrospective observational study assessed temporal trends in biopsy and 99mTc-PYP scintigraphy and differences in patient characteristics using in/outpatient claims data from the US Medicare fee-for-service database. Claims prevalence for biopsy alone (≥1 claim for cardiac/extracardiac biopsy), imaging alone (≥1 claim for 99mTc-PYP scintigraphy), and both tests and patient demographic, geographic, and clinical characteristics were examined. Of patients (n = 1226) receiving an ATTRwt-CM diagnostic code, 29%, 47%, and 24% were diagnosed by biopsy alone, 99mTc-PYP scintigraphy alone, and both tests, respectively. Patients with claims for 99mTc-PYP scintigraphy alone were older than those with claims for biopsy alone (79.9 vs 76.5; p <0.001). Fewer patients in the southern United States and more patients in the northeastern United States had claims for 99mTc-PYP scintigraphy alone than biopsy alone (p <0.001). There was a temporal trend toward more claims for 99mTc-PYP scintigraphy alone (odds ratio 1.21; p <0.001) and both tests (odds ratio 1.10; p = 0.008) versus biopsy alone. From 2017 to 2019, claims increased for 99mTc-PYP scintigraphy alone. In conclusion, these data suggest a growing preference for the noninvasive imaging technique, which has high sensitivity/specificity, usability, and accessibility and may help facilitate earlier disease diagnosis. United States regional differences in the use of 99mTc-PYP scintigraphy highlight the need for education initiatives.