Abstract Background Contemporary diagnosis of ACS and risk stratification are essential for appropriate management and reduction of mortality and recurrent ischemic events, in the acute phase of disease and after hospitalization. The Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction recommends the detection of troponin levels above the 99th percentile. Objectives To evaluate the occurrence of early death and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in patients without elevation of troponin (0.034 ng/mL and

Abstract Background Reduction of LDL-cholesterol (LDL-c) levels is the cornerstone in risk reduction, but many high-risk patients are not achieving the recommended lipid goals, even in high-income countries. Objective To evaluate whether patients seen in the city of Curitiba public health system are reaching LDL-c goals after an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods This retrospective cohort explored the data of patients admitted with AMI between 2008 and 2015 in public hospitals from the city of Curitiba. In order to evaluate […]

Abstract Background: The impact of risk factors (RF) on morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD) for most Portuguese-speaking countries (PSC) is little known. Objectives: We aimed to analyze the morbidity and mortality from CVD attributable to RF and its variation, from 1990 to 2019, in PSC, based on estimates from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 study. Methods: We evaluated changes in cardiovascular RF, mortality rates and age-standardized disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) between 1990 and 2019. The correlation […]

Abstract Background It is uncertain whether myocardial fluorodeoxyglucose uptake occurs solely due to physiological features or if it represents a metabolic disarrangement under chemotherapy. Objective To investigate the chemotherapy effects on the heart of patients with lymphoma by positron emission tomography associated with computed tomography scans (PET/CT) with 2-deoxy-2[18F] fluoro-D-glucose (18F-FDG PET/CT) before, during and/or after chemotherapy. Methods Seventy patients with lymphoma submitted to18F-FDG PET/CT were retrospectively analyzed. The level of significance was 5%.18F-FDG cardiac uptake was assessed by three […]

Abstract Background Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a rare and complex disease with poor prognosis, which requires lifelong treatment. Objective To describe 3-year follow-up real-life data on treatment with soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators (Riociguat) of patients with PH, measuring current risk assessment parameters. Methods This study retrospectively collected clinical and epidemiological data of patients with PH of group 1 (pulmonary arterial hypertension) and group 4 (chronic thromboembolic PH). Non-invasive and invasive parameters corresponding to the risk assessment were analyzed at baseline […]

Abstract Background Adequate treatment of arterial hypertension and achieving arterial hypertension goals in are important in reducing cardiovascular outcomes. Objectives To describe angiotensin receptor blockers in monotherapy or double combination therapy and the rate of arterial hypertension control. Methods This cross-sectional study evaluated patients who were using angiotensin receptor blockers between 2017 and 2020. Those using three or more antihypertensive drugs were excluded. The analyzed variables included sex, age, body mass index, valid home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) measurements, casual […]

Abstract Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a worldwide adopted procedure with rapidly evolving practices. Regional and temporal variations are expected to be found. Objective: To compare TAVR practice in Latin America with that around the world and to assess its changes in Latin America from 2015 to 2020. Methods: A survey was applied to global TAVR centers between March and September 2015, and again to Latin-American centers between July 2019 and January 2020. The survey consisted of questions […]

Abstract Background Three-dimensional echocardiography (3D ECHO) allows the generation of a volume-time curve representative of changes in the left ventricular (LV) volume throughout the entire cardiac cycle. Objective This study aims to demonstrate the hemodynamic adaptations present in Chagas cardiomyopathy (CC) by means of the volume and flow measurements obtained by the volume-time curve by 3D ECHO. Methods Twenty patients with CC and 15 healthy subjects were prospectively enrolled in a cross-sectional design study. 3D ECHO was performed in all […]

Abstract Background: Liver dysfunction is a postulated variable for poor prognosis in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Objective: This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of the albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score, a relatively new model for evaluating liver function, in patients with idiopathic DCM. Methods: A total of 1025 patients with idiopathic DCM were retrospectively included and divided into three groups based on ALBI scores: grade 1 (≤ −2.60, n = 113), grade 2 (−2.60 to −1.39, n = 835), and grade […]

Abstract Background The New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification is the most commonly used classification system for heart failure (HF), whereas cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is the gold standard for functional status evaluation in HF. Objective This study aimed to analyze correlation and concordance between NYHA classes and CPET variables. Methods HF patients with clinical indication for CPET and ejection fraction (EF) < 50% were selected. Correlation (Spearman coefficient) and concordance (kappa) between NYHA classification and CPET-based classifications were [...]

Abstract Background: The use of the coronary artery calcium score to aid cardiovascular risk stratification may be a more cost-effective tool than the conventional strategy. Objectives: Evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of the use of the calcium score in therapeutic guidance for primary cardiovascular prevention. Methods: A microsimulation model to assess the clinical and economic consequences of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, comparing the prevention strategy using the calcium score and the conventional strategy. Results: The results obtained demonstrated a better cost-effectiveness of […]

Abstract Atherosclerosis is the most common cause of cardiovascular disease globally, associated with a high incidence of clinical events. Accumulating evidence has elucidated that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as a novel class of transcripts with critical roles in the pathophysiological processes of atherosclerosis. In this review, we summarize the recent progress of lncRNAs in the development of atherosclerosis. We mainly describe the diverse regulatory mechanisms of lncRNAs at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. This study may provide helpful insights about […]

Introduction The novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) caused by “Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2” (SARS-CoV-2) became a global pandemic. Although respiratory involvement is the predominant presentation, current evidence has shown that COVID-19 is a multisystemic disease with coagulopathy and thromboembolic complications. Increased production of tissue factor and thrombin reduced fibrinolysis due to hyperinflammation are the proposed mechanisms of COVID-19 induced thrombosis. We present a case of a COVID-19 infected patient with thrombosis of the mechanical mitral valve. […]

Introduction Coxiella burnetii infective endocarditis (IE) represents a rarely reported zoonosis in Brazil. It is estimated that Coxiella burnetii is responsible for up to 5% of all IE cases worldwide. The disease affects mostly valvulopathy patients and immunocompromised subjects. Different from the classical acute and sub-acute endocarditis, the clinical picture is frustrating, and, because this is an obligate intracellular microorganism, hemocultures (HMC) are predominantly negative, which makes the clinical suspicion more difficult. […]

Introduction Scientific evidence shows that the regular practice of physical exercise (PE) is beneficial for various organs and systems of the human body, mainly for the heart and cardiovascular system. In both systems, aerobic and strength PE promote physiological cardiac hypertrophy, respectively eccentric and concentric, improving myocardial function. In addition to the benefits for the heart, PE impacts blood vessels through shear stress and alters long-term vascular function, improving endothelial cell and smooth muscle cell function, generating arterial remodeling and […]

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations. The cardiovascular system has relevant clinical importance among the affected organs because it is associated with higher mortality in these patients. The heart can be affected in any structure, and lupus myocarditis is a major diagnostic challenge in clinical practice. Non-invasive tests such as electrocardiograms and echocardiograms are not sensitive or specific enough for this diagnosis. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is the preferred imaging […]

In the “Joint Guideline on Venous Thromboembolism – 2022”, with doi number: , published in the journal Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia, 118(4): 797-857, the following corrections were made: Included the institution Hospital DF Star, Rede D’Or, Brasília, DF – Brazil, for the author Simone Nascimento dos Santos. […]