OBJECTIVES This study examined the contribution of symptom-to-reperfusion time, collateral flow, and antegrade flow in the infarct-related artery on myocardial salvage using a combined angiographic-cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) method. BACKGROUND The myocardium supplied by an acutely occluded artery defines the anatomical area at risk for infarction. This area can be determined independent...

AIMS The distribution of myocardial strain values can be visualized by colour-coded strain images. We examined for the first time if this strain-mapping function can be used to study the extent of prior myocardial infarction. METHODS AND RESULTS Echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging with delayed contrast enhancement were performed in 26 patients with chronic myocardial infar...

We present gadolinium-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) in Tako-Tsubo-like left ventricular dysfunction showing the findings in acute phase and in follow-up. Gadolinium-enhanced CMRI allows to distinguish between myocardial infarction and other myocardial alterations, e.g., myocarditis. CMRI may thus permit to non-invasively identify patients with Tako-Tsubo syndrome by ruling ...

Background The presens of myocardial scar tissue as a potential arrhythmogen substrate may influence the treatment of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Delayed enhancement MRI (DE-MRI) allows accurate detection and visualization of myocardial scar tissue. We thought to detect myocardial scar tissue in patients with CAD and preserved left ventricular (LV) function without regional wal...

AIMS We explored the role of microcirculation integrity following the chronic occlusion of an infarct-related artery to assess the behaviour of collateral circulation during and after reperfusion by coronary angioplasty METHODS AND RESULTS Eighteen patients with a proximally occluded left anterior descending artery and firm evidence of intercoronary collateral circulation were studied with se...

The diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis, particularly when there is no overt systemic involvement, is frequently delayed because of its varied manifestations. Focal left ventricular wall motion abnormalities were recognised in five patients with sarcoidosis. Three patients showed abnormal regional wall motion in the basal portion of the ventricular septum and free wall with sparing of the apex. Th...