The COVID-19 pandemic has strained health care resources around the world causing many institutions to curtail or stop elective procedures. This has resulted in the inability to care for patients valvular and structural heart disease (SHD) in a timely fashion potentially placing these patients at increased risk for adverse cardiovascular complications including congestive heart failure and death. The

The relative contribution of loading conditions at different ages across the full adult lifespan to decreases in left ventricular (LV) diastolic function is unclear. Using central arterial pressure and aortic velocity and diameter measurements in the outflow tract, we determined the contribution of systemic vascular resistance, compression wave pressures (characteristic impedance [Zc]×aortic flow [Q]

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is often seen in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA), and the prevalence of LVH is reportedly higher among patients with PA than patients with essential hypertension. However, the correlation between aldosterone levels and LVH is undefined, and how aldosterone affects LVH in patients with PA remains unclear. We, therefore, retrospectively assessed a large PA

Preeclampsia is a common pregnancy complication, affecting 2% to 8% of pregnancies worldwide, and is an important cause of both maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Importantly, although aspirin and calcium are able to prevent preeclampsia in some women, there is no cure apart from delivery of the placenta and fetus, often necessitating iatrogenic preterm birth. Preclinical models of preeclampsia

OBJECTIVES This study assessed the impact of right-atrial (RA) pacing on left-atrial (LA) physiology and clinical outcome. BACKGROUND Data for the effects of RA pacing on LA synchronicity, function, and structure after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) are scarce. METHODS The effect of RA pacing on LA function, morphology, and synchronicity was assessed in a prospective imaging cohort of heart

Interest in atrial function continues to increase as it relates to cardiovascular outcomes in a variety of diseases ([1][1]). Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) can have dramatic but variable effects in heart failure patients with reduced left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction and electric

OBJECTIVES This study aimed to investigate the accuracy of a broad range of echocardiographic variables to develop multiparametric scores to diagnose CA in patients with proven light chain (AL) amyloidosis or those with increased heart wall thickness who had amyloid was suspected. We also aimed to further characterize the structural and functional changes associated with amyloid infiltration. BACKGROUND

Until recently, cardiac amyloidosis (CA) has been an often unrecognized and underappreciated cause of heart failure. Moreover, when the diagnosis has been made, it often has been made late and generally has been associated with very poor clinical outcomes. Over the last decade, however, substantial

OBJECTIVES This study sought to determine if combining the Seattle Heart Failure Model (SHFM-D) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) provides complementary prognostic data for patients with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) defibrillators. BACKGROUND The SHFM-D is among the most widely used risk stratification models for overall survival in patients with heart failure and implantable cardiov

With the tremendous progress of modern heart failure (HF) treatments, the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) caused by ventricular arrhythmias is decreasing, particularly in subsets of patients such as those with nonischemic cardiomyopathy ([1][1]). Therefore, there is increasing equipoise regarding

OBJECTIVES The goal of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of global longitudinal strain (GLS) derived from cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) feature-tracking in a large multicenter population of patients with preserved ejection fraction. BACKGROUND Ejection fraction is the principal parameter used clinically to assess cardiac mechanics and provides prognostic information. However, significant

For decades, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) by echocardiography has been the cornerstone of systolic function assessment. It is probably the single most reported imaging parameter in cardiology and is implemented as gatekeeper for clinical decisions in numerous guidelines, including in

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the temporal and observer variability of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)-measured native T1, T2, and extracellular volume fraction (ECV) and serum biomarkers for the detection of cancer-therapeutics-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD). BACKGROUND Biomarkers and serial quantitative CMR tissue characterization may help identify early

Cardiac toxicity from antineoplastic drugs is an important limiting factor of cancer therapy ([1][1]). Anthracyclines have long been known to cause cardiac dysfunction and heart failure, and the risk increases when used in combination with trastuzumab, a monoclonal antibody against human epidermal

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of stress myocardial blood flow ratio (SFR), a novel parameter derived from stress dynamic computed tomographic perfusion (CTP), for the detection of hemodynamically significant coronary stenosis. BACKGROUND A comprehensive cardiac computed tomographic protocol combining coronary computed tomographic angiography (CTA) and CTP

The introduction of fractional flow reserve (FFR) through the results of several randomized trials has led to a paradigm shift away from a revascularization strategy guided by anatomy alone to one that bridges the anatomy with the physiology [(1,2)][1]. Two commonly used techniques to assess

Objectives The aim of this study was to validate the feasibility of a novel structural and computational fluid dynamics–based fractional flow reserve (FFR) algorithm for coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA), using alternative boundary conditions to detect lesion-specific ischemia. Background A new model of computed tomographic (CT) FFR relying on boundary conditions derived from structural

In the past decade, coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) has transitioned from a modality that assesses anatomical stenosis alone to 1 that accurately evaluates both anatomy and function in the 1 scan. The most convenient established method is CT-derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR),

Objectives This study was designed to compare head-to-head fractional flow reserve (FFR) derived from coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) (FFRCT) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) stress perfusion imaging for prediction of standard-of-care–guided coronary revascularization in patients with stable chest pain and obstructive coronary artery disease by coronary CTA. Background FFRCT is a

Despite decades of research, the diagnostic work-up of patients with stable chest pain that is thought to be due to coronary artery disease (CAD) remains a challenge. In clinical practice, a variety of noninvasive imaging modalities such as perfusion echocardiography, single-photon emission computed

OBJECTIVES This study determined whether in vivo positron emission tomography (PET) of arterial inflammation (18F-fluorodeoxyglucose [18F-FDG]) or microcalcification (18F-sodium fluoride [18F-NaF]) could predict restenosis following PTA. BACKGROUND Restenosis following lower limb percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) is common, unpredictable, and challenging to treat. Currently, it is impossible

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a progressive atherosclerotic disease of the lower limbs that is estimated to affect approximately 8.5 million Americans older than 40 years [(1)][1] and >200 million people worldwide [(2,3)][2]. Claudication is the main symptom of PAD and occurs when the supply

Objectives This study sought to examine the utility of multimodality intravascular imaging and of the endothelial shear stress (ESS) distribution to predict atherosclerotic evolution. Background There is robust evidence that intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-derived plaque characteristics and ESS distribution can predict, with however limited accuracy, atherosclerotic evolution; nevertheless, it is yet

Exposure to atherosclerotic risk factors, with ongoing inflammation and oxidative stress and the resulting imbalance between endothelial injury and repair, results in atherosclerosis. However, the devastating clinical manifestations of coronary atherosclerosis, including plaque rupture and plaque

Abnormalities in the cardiac sympathetic nervous system have been documented in various heart diseases and have been directly implicated in their pathogenesis and disease progression. Noninvasive techniques using single-photon-emitting radiotracers for planar scintigraphy and single-photon emission computed tomography, and positron-emitting tracers for positron emissions tomography, have been used

Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Atherosclerosis imaging has traditionally focused on detection of obstructive luminal stenoses or measurements of plaque burden. However, with advances in imaging technology it has now become possible to noninvasively interrogate plaque composition and disease activity, thereby differentiating stable from unstable

An increasing number of patients transition to advanced-stage heart failure refractory to medical therapy. Left ventricular assist systems (LVAS) provide a bridge to candidates awaiting heart transplantation and extended device durability allows permanent implantation referred to as destination therapy. Noninvasive imaging plays a pivotal role in the optimal management of patients implanted with durable

The diagnosis of infective endocarditis (IE) relies on clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is the imaging mainstay of diagnosing IE. The spleen is commonly involved in IE as a target for septic emboli and inflammation, which are minor clinical

Increased left ventricular (LV) myocardial extracellular volume fraction (ECVF) measured by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is now a recognized consequence of anthracycline chemotherapy ([1][1],[2][2]). It remains unknown, however, whether elevated ECVF may be attributable to an expansion of the LV

Left ventricular mechanical dispersion (LVMD), the variability in the timing of segmental peak negative longitudinal strains, is associated with ventricular arrhythmias in patients with decreased left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction and may be useful in risk-stratifying patients with pathological

A recent analysis of 241,303 cases with data linkage to long-term outcomes captured by the unique National Echocardiography Database of Australia (NEDA) confirmed that when left untreated, severe aortic stenosis (AS) may be fatal ([1][1]). Both surgical and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (

Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH), an autosomal dominant genetic disorder affecting nearly 1 in 250 individuals, is a major cause of premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) ([1][1]). In the absence of treatment, patients with HeFH manifest a nearly 20-fold higher

Subclinical myocardial dysfunction detected by global longitudinal strain (GLS) is often present in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) despite normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ([1][1]), but its prognostic value remains unclear in patients with symptomatic severe AS treated

Coronary artery calcium (CAC) is a potent marker of subclinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) and an independent predictor of future cardiovascular events ([1][1]). For these reasons, the 2018 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) Cholesterol Guidelines

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem inflammatory disorder characterized by noncaseating granulomata. Cardiac involvement contributes to life-threatening consequences. The diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is usually made on the basis of clinical and imaging features including 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (

We read with great interest the paper by van Rosendael et al. ([1][1]) on the use of a calculated risk score to discriminate between patients at high or low risk for cardiac events. According to their data, their scoring system compared favorably to that of the Coronary Artery Disease-Reporting and

We thank Dr. Gatti and colleagues ([1][1]) for their interest in our paper, and we appreciate their comments. Recently, the use of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) for the noninvasive detection of coronary artery disease has become a clinical routine. Initially, CCTA relied on

Ensuring cardiac imaging practitioners can produce accurate and clinically relevant reports is a core requirement of any cardiovascular imaging training program. We read with interest the paper by Chow et al. ([1][1]) which highlights the fact that current mandatory minimums may be insufficient to

We agree with the comments of Dr. Moss and colleagues ([1][1]) regarding the need for greater understanding of the factors that govern high-quality cardiovascular (CV) imaging training. As an initial step, frequent objective assessments of trainees are needed. This allows for monitoring and

![Figure][1] ![Figure][1] For many decades, the cardiovascular imaging community prioritized detection of high-risk, or vulnerable, coronary plaques, the proximate cause of the majority of acute myocardial infarctions. Multiple consensus groups identified associative and causative

The cardiac sodium channel NaV1.5, encoded by the SCN5A gene, is responsible for the fast upstroke of the action potential. Mutations in SCN5A may cause sodium channel dysfunction by decreasing peak sodium current, which slows conduction and facilitates reentry-based arrhythmias, and by enhancing late sodium current, which prolongs the action potential and sets the stage for early afterdepolarization

Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) is a life-threatening cardiac disease caused by mutations in predominantly desmosomal genes that lead to instability and dysfunction of the intercalated disc. ACM is characterized by progressive replacement of cardiomyocytes by fibrofatty tissue, ultimately resulting in ventricular dilatation, cardiac dysfunction and heart failure but mostly dominated by the occurrence

AimsTo establish pre-clinical proof of concept that sustained subcutaneous delivery of the secretome of human cardiac stem cells (CSCs) can be achieved in vivo to produce significant cardioreparative outcomes in the setting of myocardial infarction. Methods and ResultsRats were subjected to permanent ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery and randomized to receive subcutaneous implantation