OBJECTIVE We explored the potential role of the endogenous NO synthase inhibitor asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA) in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH). Method and Results- We correlated plasma ADMA levels and cardiovascular indices from right heart catheterization in 57 patients with IPAH. Predictors of survival in patients with IPAH were studied. Furthermore, ...

Although dextrocardia occurs rarely, the incidence of coronary artery disease is similar to the general population. Because of unfamiliarity with performing catheterization, transradial coronary angiography has seldom been performed in a patient with dextrocardia. We successfully performed left transradial coronary angiography in a patient with a right side heart using counter-directional torqu...

A young adult who presented with congestive heart failure was found to have ruptured aneurysm of right sinus of Valsalva. The aneurysm was opening into the main pulmonary artery, which was demonstrated well by transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography and confirmed by cardiac catheterization. Aneurysm was repaired followed by aortic valve replacement.

Necrotizing arteritis limited to the pulmonary arteries has been described occasionally as a complication of mitral stenosis (Parker and Weiss, 1936), of Eisenmenger's complex (Old and Russell, 1947), and in patients dying with right heart failure of uncertain causation (McKeown, 1952). One such case in this last category, in which cardiac catheterization gave clear evidence of pulmonary hypert...

IDIOPATHIC dilatation of the pulmonary artery has been recognized as a clinical entity since 1923, when WTessler and Jaches described the first case.' Since dilatation of the pulmonary artery is frequent in many congenital as well as acquired heart lesions, differentiation of this benign anomaly from the latter group is of prime importance. With advances in knowledge of congenital heart disease...

A 61-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of orthopnea and was diagnosed with heart failure with a continuous heart murmur. A transthoracic echocardiogram revealed turbulent flow from the right coronary sinus of Valsalva to the right atrium throughout the cardiac cycle. Aortography confirmed the presence of a shunt jet from the right coronary sinus of Valsalva to the right atrium. ...

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is associated with the occurrence of cryptogenic strokes in young patients. Transesophageal echocardiography with contrast is the established standard in PFO diagnostics. We present the case of a 44-year-old female patient after ischemic stroke, in whom PFO was not detected by echocardiography; the defect was ultimately diagnosed by right heart catheterization.

Cardiac disease is the main cause of death in both forms of thalassemia; thalassemia major (TM) and thalassemia intermedia (TI). Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is one of the cardiopulmonary morbidities with high mortality that, if not treated, may trigger right-sided heart failure and premature death. PH is defined as a mean pulmonary artery pressure of ≥25 mmHg at rest or ≥30 mmHg during exercise...