BACKGROUND: Color M-mode doppler echocardiography has been suggested as a new noninvasive technique for assessing left ventricular diastolic function. The present study was performed to define the feasibility and value of color M-mode echocardiography for the assessment of left ventricular diastolic function in patients with acute coronary syndrome. METHODS: Thirty six patients with acute myocardial infarcion and twenty three patients with unstable angina were included (M/F=41/18, 61+/-12.2 years). Doppler study was performed using ATL HDI-3000 within 24 hours after the attack. In color M-mode study, ROP was measured with 'Front wave method' and 'Baseline shift method'. The patients were grouped into three groups based on E/A ratio and deceleration time (DT) in transmitral flow and S/D ratio in pulmonary venous flow; Group I=Normal pattern (E/A>1, S/D>1, DT>140 ms), Group II=Impaired relaxation pattern (E/A<1, DT>140 ms) and Group III=Pseudonormal/Restrictive pattern (E/A>1.5, S/D<1, with or without DT< or =140 ms). RESULT: Twenty two, thirty four, and three patients were assigned to Group I, II, III, respectively. The ROP could be measured with 'Front wave method' in 50 patients (84.7%), but with 'Baseline shift method' only in 19 patients (32.2%). ROP with 'Front wave method' was 65+/-25.7, 61+/-35.6, 71+/-35.2 cm/sec in Group I, II, III, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the value of ROP between group I and II (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The ROP seems not to reflect the diastolic function in acute coronary syndrome, although it is measurable with the 'Front wave method' in most cases. The measurement of the ROP with 'Baseline shift method' is not feasible in the patients with acute coronary syndrome.
Acute Coronary Syndrome* ; Angina, Unstable ; Deceleration ; Echocardiography* ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Humans ; Relaxation

Variant angina is more common in Asian people, including Koreans. Variant angina has a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations, from intermittent non-exertional pain to syncope and sudden cardiac death. Complete atrioventricular block is a major cause of syncope in patients with variant angina. The complete atrioventricular block related to variant angina is usually transient and easily terminated immediately after the restoration of coronary blood flow. We experienced a case of variant angina combined with prolonged complete atrioventricular block. The complete atrioventricular block persisted after the restoration of coronary blood flow, but normal sinus rhythm was restored spontaneously 5 days later. Here, we report this rare case
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Atrioventricular Block ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Humans ; Syncope

Stress-induced cardiomyopathy, known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, is a newly described clinical entity characterized by transient left ventricular apical ballooning and left ventricular apical dyskinesis, with no significant stenosis on the coronary angiogram. We describe a patient who had transient cardiomyopathy with akinesia of the basal portions of the left ventricle and hyperkinesia of the apex. This is the first case of stress-induced cardiomyopathy with an "inverted Takotsubo" contractile pattern triggered by emotional stress in Korea. The cause of stress-induced cardiomyopathy is unclear, but catecholamines probably play a role in this syndrome. This entity could provide clues to the pathophysiology underlying stress-induced cardiomyopathy.
Cardiomyopathies ; Catecholamines ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Hyperkinesis ; Korea ; Stress, Psychological ; Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy

Stress-induced cardiomyopathy is a disease characterized by acute transient left ventricular dysfunction following exposure to stressful situations. We encountered an 80-year-old woman with complete atrioventricular block and normal LV systolic function. After permanent pacemaker implantation, electrocardiogram showed inverted T-waves in precordial leads. Follow-up echocardiographic findings indicated dyskinesia of the apical wall. Final diagnosis was stress-induced cardiomyopathy associated with a physically stressful condition (i.e., pacemaker implantation).
Aged, 80 and over ; Atrioventricular Block ; Cardiomyopathies ; Dyskinesias ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an uncommon cause of acute coronary syndrome which may be related to lethal condition. Although several modalities including medical therapy have been suggested, agreement on optimal treatment has not yet been determined. We describe a case of SCAD which was presented as ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, and treated successfully with medical treatment. Coronary angiography, intravascular ultrasound and multi-detector computed tomography showed the serial changes of this disease entity.
Acute Coronary Syndrome ; Angiography ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Myocardial Infarction ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is a rare disease that is characterized by sharp pain in the posterior pharynx, tonsils, and larynx, triggered by swallowing. Glossopharyngeal neuralgia can trigger bradycardia or asystole, which can induce life-threatening cardiac syncope. A 55-year-old male was admitted with severe paroxysmal pain in his left jaw and ear, followed by asystole and syncope. We report a patient with cardiac syncope associated with glossopharyngeal neuralgia treated with a permanent pacemaker.
Bradycardia ; Deglutition ; Ear ; Glossopharyngeal Nerve Diseases ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Jaw ; Larynx ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Palatine Tonsil ; Pharynx ; Rare Diseases ; Syncope

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is a rare disease that is characterized by sharp pain in the posterior pharynx, tonsils, and larynx, triggered by swallowing. Glossopharyngeal neuralgia can trigger bradycardia or asystole, which can induce life-threatening cardiac syncope. A 55-year-old male was admitted with severe paroxysmal pain in his left jaw and ear, followed by asystole and syncope. We report a patient with cardiac syncope associated with glossopharyngeal neuralgia treated with a permanent pacemaker.
Bradycardia ; Deglutition ; Ear ; Glossopharyngeal Nerve Diseases ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Jaw ; Larynx ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Palatine Tonsil ; Pharynx ; Rare Diseases ; Syncope

Stress-induced cardiomyopathy is a disease characterized by acute transient left ventricular dysfunction following exposure to stressful situations. We encountered an 80-year-old woman with complete atrioventricular block and normal LV systolic function. After permanent pacemaker implantation, electrocardiogram showed inverted T-waves in precordial leads. Follow-up echocardiographic findings indicated dyskinesia of the apical wall. Final diagnosis was stress-induced cardiomyopathy associated with a physically stressful condition (i.e., pacemaker implantation).
Aged, 80 and over ; Atrioventricular Block ; Cardiomyopathies ; Dyskinesias ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In patients with coronary artery stents, the cost of clopidogrel has been cited as a factor in the premature discontinuation of therapy. Thus, the introduction of lower-cost generic clopidogrel may increase patient compliance. However, platelet inhibition by generic clopidogrel has not been compared to the original clopidogrel formulation in patients with coronary artery stents. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 20 patients receiving chronic therapy with the original clopidogrel bisulfate (Plavix(R)). After assessing patient compliance with Plavix(R), maintenance therapy was switched to generic clopidogrel bisulfate (Plavitor(R)). Platelet reactivity was assessed at baseline and 30-day after the switch using conventional aggregometry and the VerifyNow P2Y12 assay. RESULTS: All patients completed maintenance therapy with Plavitor(R). Before and after switching therapy maximal (36.5 +/- 7.9% vs. 39.8 +/- 16.2%, p = 0.280) and late platelet aggregation (23.5 +/- 10.9% vs. 29.1 +/- 18.3%, p = 0.156) with 5 micromol/L adenosine diphosphate (ADP) stimulus did not differ. Likewise, 20 micromol/L ADP-induced platelet aggregation and P2Y12 reaction unit in patients on Plavitor(R) therapy was comparable to that in patients on Plavix(R) therapy. However, Bland-Altman analysis showed wide limits of agreement between measured platelet reactivity on Plavix(R) vs. Plavitor(R) therapies. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients on Plavix(R) maintenance therapy with coronary stents, replacement with Plavitor(R) shows a comparable inhibition of ADP-induced platelet aggregation. However, due to poor inter-therapy agreement, between two regimens, physicians may be cautious when introducing generic clopidogrel bisulfate.
Aged ; Angioplasty, Transluminal, Percutaneous Coronary ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Coronary Artery Disease/*drug therapy/therapy ; *Drug-Eluting Stents ; Drugs, Generic/*administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patient Compliance ; Platelet Aggregation/drug effects ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors/*administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Prospective Studies ; Receptors, Purinergic P2/metabolism ; Ticlopidine/administration & dosage/adverse effects/*analogs & derivatives

Purpose: Data are limited on the long-term efficacy and safety of drug-coated balloon (DCB) treatment in comparison to drugeluting stent (DES) for de novo coronary lesions. We investigated the long-term clinical outcomes of DCB treatment in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for de novo coronary lesions. Materials and Methods: A total of 103 patients scheduled for elective PCI for de novo non-small coronary lesions (≥2.5 mm) who were successfully treated with DCB alone were retrospectively compared with 103 propensity-matched patients treated with second-generation DES from the PTRG-DES registry (n=13160). All patients were followed for 5 years. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events [MACE; cardiac death, myocardial infarction, stroke, target lesion thrombosis, target vessel revascularization (TVR), and major bleeding] at 5 years. Results: At 5-year clinical follow-up, Kaplan-Meier estimates of the rate of MACE were significantly lower in the DCB group [2.9% vs. 10.7%; hazard ratio (HR): 0.26; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.07–0.96; log-rank p=0.027]. There was a significantly lower incidence of TVR in the DCB group (1.0% vs. 7.8%; HR: 0.12; 95% CI: 0.01–0.98; long-rank p=0.015), and there was major bleeding only in the DES group (0.0% vs. 1.9%; log-rank p=0.156). Conclusion At 5-year follow-up, DCB treatment was significantly associated with reduced incidences of MACE and TVR, compared with DES implantation, for de novo coronary lesions.