Exercise-Induced Reduction in Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction in the Absence of Coronary Artery Disease: Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes.

Background: During exercise stress echocardiography (ESE), there are patients with normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) who paradoxically develop reduced LVEF during exercise despite absence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and a significant hypertensive response. This study sought to describe the clinical features and outcomes of this population.

Methods: Among ESEs performed between 2003 and 2022, patients without CAD by angiogram within 90 days of ESE and resting LVEF ≥50% with a ≥5% LVEF decrease during ESE were included.

An intervention strategy to improve genetic testing for dilated cardiomyopathy in a heart failure clinic.

Purpose: Despite its clinical implications in screening and therapy, genetic testing in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is underused. This study evaluated implementing a practice intervention in a heart failure clinic to automate and streamline the process of genetic testing.

Methods: Eligible patients with DCM were compared for frequency of pretest genetic education and testing during pre- and postintervention periods.

Serum trough levels of infliximab are not associated with peripheral arthralgia activity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Infliximab is an efficacious therapy for inflammatory bowel disease and may play a role in management of some extraintestinal manifestations. While higher trough levels of infliximab are associated with higher rates of disease remission, the association between trough levels of infliximab and arthralgia activity characterised as an extraintestinal manifestation has yet to be defined.

Objective: We aimed to assess the association between serum trough levels of infliximab and peripheral arthralgia activity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Rare TBX4 Variant Causing Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension With Small Patella Syndrome in an Adult Man.

Small patella syndrome presents with small or absent patellae and may result in pulmonary arterial hypertension, typically in children. A pathogenic canonical splice site variant, c.1021+1G>A in the T-box transcription factor 4 () gene, currently not included in commercial gene panel, was detected in an adult with pulmonary arterial hypertension and absent patellae.

Improving Outcomes in Cardiovascular Diseases: A Review on Vorapaxar.

Antiplatelet agents are the standard of practice in the management of atherosclerosis and acute coronary syndrome. In contrast to the available antiplatelet agents, vorapaxar represents a novel mechanism of action. It is an antagonist of the platelet protease-activated receptor-1 and inhibits thrombin-induced and thrombin receptor agonist peptide-induced platelet aggregation.

Heart Failure Trial Update-Analysis of Recent Data.

The prevalence of heart failure (HF) continues to increase, and its economic effect is significant in the United States and globally. During the past 2 years, a number of high-quality clinical trials were published with the aim of addressing different stages of the disease process and improving outcomes for patients with preserved and depressed ejection fraction (EF). In this review, data from these trials are summarized and critically appraised.