Novel Strategies In Ischemic Heart Disease

Overview of Coronary Artery Disease Part 1

Introduction Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major cause of death and disability in developed countries. Although CAD mortality rates have declined over the past four decades in the United States (and elsewhere), CAD remains responsible for about one-third of all deaths in individuals over age 35 [1,2]. It has been estimated that nearly one-half […]

Overview of Coronary Artery Disease Part 2

TIMI Risk Score All-Cause Mortality, New or Recurrent Ml, or Severe Recurrent Ischemia Requiring Urgent Revascularization Through 14 d After Randomization. % scheme that enables a clinician to categorize a patient’s risk of risk of death and ischemic events at the critical initial evaluation. A promising clinical application of this score is identification of a […]

Cardiac Biomarkers (Diagnostics of Ischemic Heart Disease) Part 1

Introduction 1950′s: Clinical reports that transaminases released from dying myocytes could be detected via laboratory testing, aiding in the diagnosis of myocardial infarction. The race to define clinical markers to aid in the diagnosis, prognosis, and risk stratification of patients with potential cardiovascular disease begins. Initial serum markers included AST, LDH, total CK and a-hydroxybutyrate. […]

Cardiac Biomarkers (Diagnostics of Ischemic Heart Disease) Part 2

Cardiac Troponins Cardiac Troponins (cTn) control the calcium-mediated interaction of actin and myosin. It exists in three isoforms: troponin C, troponin I and troponin T. Troponin C exists in all muscle tissues. cTnI is however, completely specific for the heart. cTnT released in small amounts by skeletal muscles, though clinical assays do not detect skeletal […]

Cardiac Biomarkers (Diagnostics of Ischemic Heart Disease) Part 3

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) MMP are endogenous zinc dependent endopeptidases required for structural integrity of extracellular matrix of myocardium. TIMP (Tissue Inhibitors of Metalloproteinases) regulates MMP. MMPs may degrade myocardial ECM leading to the development of LV dilatation and heart failure and their inhibition in experimental models of AMI has been associated with reduced LV dilatation […]

Inflammatory Biomarkers in Ischemic Heart Disease (Diagnostics of Ischemic Heart Disease) Part 1

Introduction Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is one of the main groups within the class of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and IHD is the most common single cause of morbidity and mortality in the Western world (Gaziano et al., 2006). According to the American Heart Association Statistics Committee one in three individuals has one or more forms […]

Inflammatory Biomarkers in Ischemic Heart Disease (Diagnostics of Ischemic Heart Disease) Part 2

Possible links between hsCRP and IHD Inflammation clearly plays a clinically significant role in the development of CVD. Consequently, as a marker of inflammation, hsCRP has been studied extensively in patients with CVD. The predictive value of hsCRP has been widely investigated but the results are contradictive. More than 20 large prospective trials have shown […]

Measurement of Myocardial Contractility in the Ischemic Heart -A Disease Immanent Uncertainty (Diagnostics of Ischemic Heart Disease) Part 1

Introduction The present compilation of scientific publications deals with the evaluation of a parameter of myocardial contractility (E’es); the parameter can be exclusively measured using ultrasound, i.e. noninvasive and can be used for a load-independent quantification of myocardial contractility. The standard procedure for measuring left ventricular (LV) contractility is by use of a conductance catheter […]

Measurement of Myocardial Contractility in the Ischemic Heart -A Disease Immanent Uncertainty (Diagnostics of Ischemic Heart Disease) Part 2

Modification of contractility through dobutamine and esmolol Dobutamine has the effect of an a1-, 31- and 32-agonist, while 31 stimulation of the heart is the most immediate effect. The main effects of dobutamine result from this, i.e. the increase of contractility of the myocardial cells and a dosage-dependent marked increase in heart rate. This leads […]

Measurement of Myocardial Contractility in the Ischemic Heart -A Disease Immanent Uncertainty (Diagnostics of Ischemic Heart Disease) Part 3

Dobutamine induces ineffective work in regional ischaemic myocardium: An experimental strain rate imaging study This study is to answer the question as to whether the results of the previous study can also be reflected by parameters of regional contractility. In an animal experiment, 11 Gottinger minipigs were studied in a closed chest preparation. We advanced […]

← Previous Entries