Publications by authors named "Emanuele Monda"

Anderson-Fabry disease is a panethnic, rare disease caused by α-galactosidase A deficiency, with subsequent systemic intracellular accumulation of glycosphingolipids. Confined as a nephrological disease for many decades, the widespread use of multimodality imaging techniques over the last 20 years (like cardiac magnetic resonance) has allowed to highlight the frequent and heterogeneous cardiovascular involvement, with important impact on therapeutic strategies and prognosis. However, many grey zones and knowledge gaps remain, both in diagnostic and management approaches.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Cardiomyopathies are inherited cardiac disorders characterized by increased risk of heart failure and life-threatening arrhythmias leading to sudden cardiac death. The comprehension of the genetic foundation and the accessibility of genetic testing have significantly enhanced the identification of patients harbouring mutations linked to cardiomyopathy, even in the absence of a distinct phenotype, facilitating early diagnosis. However, the diagnosis at a young age carries the intrinsic problem of the possible disease transmission.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background And Aims: Cardiomyopathies are a heterogeneous group of genetic disorders requiring specialised, multidisciplinary management to optimize patient outcomes. A critical aspect of care is the transition of paediatric patients to adult services, which varies significantly across healthcare systems.This study assessed current practices in care transition and multidisciplinary management of inherited and rare cardiomyopathies across specialised European centres within the European Reference Network for Rare and Low Prevalence Complex Diseases of the Heart (ERN GUARD-Heart) network.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Our study assessed the time to diagnosis of rare diseases (RDs) in Campania and whether there are determinants of diagnostic delay (DD). Demographic characteristics, date of first medical contact and diagnosis, disease macro-groups, and area of residence of patients were recorded. DD was calculated as the time elapsed (in years) from the onset of symptoms to the RD diagnosis date.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: to provide the epidemiological framework of those affected by rare diseases resident in the Campania Region (Southern Italy), using the data entered in the Campania Region Rare Disease Registry, acquiring information potentially useful for regional planning.

Design: observational retrospective cohort study on patients with rare diseases included in the Regione Campania Rare Disease Registry from 01.01.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The term cardiomyopathy is used to describe a large family of complex heart muscle disorders of diverse aetiology and pathophysiology. For decades, the management of individual cardiomyopathy subtypes has focused primarily on the management of symptoms and the prevention of disease-related complications, such as heart failure and sudden cardiac death. Treatment of progressive myocardial dysfunction has relied on conventional evidence-based heart failure therapies, with variable success.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Approximately two-thirds of patients suffering from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy present with an obstructive (HOCM) physiology. For years, medical therapy has been limited to beta blockers, verapamil and/or disopyramide. Recently, a novel class of drugs, the allosteric inhibitors of the cardiac-specific myosin head adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), have been demonstrated to be effective in relieving the dynamic obstruction and related clinical condition.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Fabry disease can be classified in 4 stages based on the extent of cardiac damage assessed with echocardiography. This staging is strongly associated with prognosis, with a doubled risk increase of cardiovascular events for each stage progression. The aims of the present study were to investigate the evolution of cardiac damage using this staging system during midterm follow-up and to identify predictors of stage worsening.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The NAXCARE (NAXos disease and Cardiocutaneous Assessment and Registry for Evaluation) is a global initiative designed to collect, store, and analyze clinical outcomes data on patients with Naxos disease and related cardiocutaneous syndromes (CCS). This registry aims to fill the gaps in clinical knowledge, enhance treatment approaches, and improve patient outcomes by systematically documenting disease progression, genetic profiles, and patient care pathways. The following methodology outlines the registry's design, data collection protocols, management, security measures, and anticipated contributions to research and clinical practice.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Aims: Electrocardiogram (ECG) analysis plays a central role in Anderson-Fabry disease (AFD) diagnosis and management. This study aimed to assess ECG evolution during follow-up in relation to specific treatment and disease progression.

Methods: Retrospective study of a multicentric cohort of AFD patients with ≥2 ECG and echocardiographic data.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Systemic light chain (AL) amyloidosis stems from abnormal production of amyloidogenic immunoglobulin light chains by plasma cells or B-cell disorders. It can present locally or systemically, with systemic forms posing significant mortality risks, especially if cardiac involvement is present. Delayed diagnosis due to nonspecific symptoms leads to progressive organ dysfunction.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background And Aims: The European Society of Cardiology guidelines recommend a systematic search for diagnostic clues or 'red flags' (RFs) in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) to better tailor disease management. To date, the prevalence and clinical significance of RF associated with HCM phenotypes in different clinical settings are unknown.

Methods: The study cohort comprised 818 patients with a clinical diagnosis of HCM [479 (62%) males, mean age 49 ± 21 years] referred to four European centres.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Naxos disease is a rare autosomal recessive condition combining arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, woolly hair, and palmoplantar keratoderma. The first identified causative variant was in the gene encoding the desmosomal protein plakoglobin. Naxos disease exhibits fibro-fatty myocardial replacement with immunohistological abnormalities in cardiac protein and signaling pathways, highlighting the role of inflammation and potential anti-inflammatory treatments.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is linked to serious cardiovascular issues, and identifying its cause is important for treatment; this systematic review explores how AI can help in diagnosing LVH and its causes from imaging data.
  • A thorough search was conducted utilizing multiple databases, leading to the inclusion of 30 studies which mainly focused on echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR), with a smaller number on cardiac computed tomography (CT).
  • The review found that AI methods, especially deep learning and convolutional neural networks, showed good diagnostic performance, with the highest accuracy in identifying the causes of LVH rather than just detecting it; more real-life validation studies and cost-effectiveness assessments are recommended.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

: Pulmonary arterial elastance (Ea) is a helpful parameter to predict the risk of acute postoperative right ventricular failure (RVF) after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. A new method for calculating Ea, obtained by the ratio between transpulmonary gradient and stroke volume (Ea), has been proposed as a more accurate measure than the Ea obtained as the ratio between pulmonary artery systolic pressure and stroke volume (Ea). However, the role of Ea in predicting acute RVF post-LVAD implantation remains unclear.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a condition characterized by thickening of the heart's left ventricle walls, affecting 1 in 200-500 people, with 60% of cases being hereditary.
  • The review discusses various treatments for HCM, including medications (like beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers) and surgical options, along with the importance of personalized patient care in improving outcomes.
  • Future treatments, such as new drugs and gene therapies, are also highlighted, emphasizing the significance of tailoring management strategies to individual patient needs and preferences.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Aims: To assess the presence and the extent of an "aortic remodeling" in elite athletes.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of literature were conducted for studies (1981-2024) reporting echocardiographic aortic diameters of elite athletes compared to non-athlete healthy controls. Among the 5,494 studies retrieved, 21 (9,464 elite athletes vs.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The journal retracts the article, titled "Left Ventricular Non-Compaction in Children: Aetiology and Diagnostic Criteria" [...

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of Fabry disease (FD) on retinal microvasculature using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), arterial stiffness, and the resistive index (RI) of the central retinal artery (CRA) in early disease stages. Twenty-nine genetically confirmed FD patients and twenty-six healthy controls were enrolled. Vessel density (VD) values of the superficial, deep, and choriocapillaris plexuses (SCP, DCP, and CC) were measured via OCTA.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF