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E E van der Wall

Publications and source records attributed to E E van der Wall.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Non-invasive anatomical and functional imaging for the detection of coronary artery disease.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is still an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the Western world. The gold standard for assessing significant coronary artery stenosis is invasive coronary angiography. Several disadvantages of the technique in combination with the fact that a substantial number of patients referred for conventional angiography appear free from significant stenosis have led to the pursuit of non-invasive imaging modalities for the diagnosis of CAD. The traditional modalities for this purpose are gated single-photon emission computed tomography, position emission tomography, (contrast) stress echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), and these techniques can be characterized as functional imaging techniques as they detect ischaemia. Although the presence of a flow-limiting stenosis can be adequately ruled out with these techniques, atherosclerosis cannot be visualized with functional techniques. For this purpose, non-invasive coronary angiography techniques (computed tomography and CMR) are currently under development. The purpose of this review is to provide the reader an overview of the currently used imaging modalities to detect CAD.

Coronary Artery Disease↗
PubMed2006

Interleukin 10: a new risk marker for the development of restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention.

Genetic factors appear to be important in the process of restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), as well as in inflammation, a pivotal factor in restenosis. An important mediator in the inflammatory response is interleukin (IL)-10. Our aim was to study whether genetic variants in IL-10 predispose to the risk of restenosis. The GENetic DEterminants of Restenosis (GENDER) study included 3104 patients treated with successful PCI. Target vessel revascularization (TVR) was chosen as primary end point. Genotyping of the -2849G/A, -1082G/A, -592C/A and +4259A/G polymorphisms of the IL-10 gene was performed by MassArray platform. After adjusting for clinical variables, three polymorphisms significantly increased the risk of restenosis (-2849AA: relative risk (RR), 1.7, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.2-2.5; -1082AA: RR, 1.4, 95% CI, 1.1-1.8 and +4259GG: RR, 2.0, 95% CI, 1.4-2.8). To further exclude possible involvement of neighboring genes due to LD in the IL-10 locus, additional polymorphisms were genotyped. The results reveal that association of the IL-10 gene with restenosis is independent of flanking genes. Our findings demonstrate that IL-10 is associated with restenosis and therefore support the hypothesis that anti-inflammatory genes also may be involved in developing restenosis. Furthermore, they may provide a new targeting gene for drug-eluting stents.

3' Untranslated Regions↗
PubMed2006

[Women and cardiovascular disease].

More women die of cardiovascular disease than men; in women, cardiovascular mortality is 1.5 times greater than cancer mortality. The pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease has female-specific aspects such as fragile coronary arteries and microvascular ischaemia. Women with acute coronary syndromes are more likely to present with atypical symptoms such as dyspnoea, nausea or fatigue. With regard to diagnostic tests in women, exercise ECG can be difficult to interpret and a normal coronary angiogram does not exclude coronary heart disease. Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy may be considered for high-risk women who are clinically suspected of having coronary heart disease and have a normal or inconclusive exercise ECG and angiogram. Women are less likely to be treated according to guidelines than men, and their prognosis after a myocardial infarction or a coronary intervention is worse. Female-specific aspects such as gestational hypertension and diabetes allow for early detection and treatment of women at risk for cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗
PubMed2006

Assessment of left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction with 16-slice multi-slice computed tomography; comparison with 2D-echocardiography.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) has emerged as a rapidly expanding modality for non-invasive assessment of coronary artery disease. Simultaneously, left ventricular (LV) function can be evaluated although this is not yet a routine component of an MSCT examination. Accordingly, the purpose of the present study was to validate assessment of LV function with MSCT using 2D-echocardiography in a large cohort of patients. METHODS: In 70 patients (57 male, 13 female), 16-slice MSCT was performed (Toshiba Aquilion 16, Japan) followed by retrospective analysis of global LV function. For these measurements, 2D-echocardiography served as the standard of reference. RESULTS: For LV volumes, excellent correlations for both end-diastolic volume (EDV) (r=0.97) and end-systolic volume (ESV) (r=0.98) were obtained by linear regression analysis. At Bland-Altman analysis, mean differences (+/-standard deviations) of -1.4 ml+/-11.3 ml and -3.0 ml+/-7.7 ml were observed between MSCT and 2D-echocardiography for LV EDV and LV ESV respectively. As a result, LV EF was slightly overestimated with MSCT (1.7%+/-4.9%, P<0.05). Correlation between the two techniques was excellent (r=0.91). CONCLUSION: In a large cohort of patients, an excellent correlation was observed between 16-slice MSCT and 2D-echocardiography in the evaluation of LV volumes and EF. The addition of LV function analysis to the anatomical MSCT data may potentially enhance the diagnostic and prognostic value of the technique.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

[Intramyocardial injection of autologous bone-marrow stem cells in a 74-year-old man with untreatable angina pectoris and demonstrated myocardial ischaemia].

For a 74-year-old man with angina pectoris and demonstrated myocardial ischaemia, optimal medical treatment was insufficient. He was ineligible for coronary revascularization. To improve myocardial perfusion, autologous bone-marrow stem cells were injected into the ischaemic myocardium. During the months following the injection, the frequency of angina attacks decreased and myocardial perfusion and cardiac function improved.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

[Cardiovascular nuclear medicine 1976/'06: 30 years representation in clinical cardiology].

Over the past 30 years, cardiovascular nuclear medicine has become an important diagnostic tool in patients with known and suspected coronary artery disease. Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy is indicated in: patients with suspected coronary artery disease and an intermediate likelihood of disease to detect myocardial ischemia, patients with a sustained myocardial infarction to assess myocardial viability, patients following revascularization for risk stratification, and coronary patients to assess prognosis. Gated SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging offers the potential of assessing left ventricular function and myocardial perfusion simultaneously. Information on left ventricular function and volumes significantly improves the diagnostic accuracy of myocardial perfusion imaging. The gated SPECT technique is a valuable tool for risk stratification because it offers the potential of assessing left ventricular function and volumes, which are both important prognostic parameters.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗
PubMed2006

Comprehensive cardiac assessment with multislice computed tomography: evaluation of left ventricular function and perfusion in addition to coronary anatomy in patients with previous myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a comprehensive multislice computed tomography (MSCT) protocol in patients with previous infarction, including assessment of coronary artery stenoses, left ventricular (LV) function and perfusion. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 16-slice MSCT was performed in 21 patients with previous infarction; from the MSCT data, coronary artery stenoses, (regional and global) LV function and perfusion were assessed. Invasive coronary angiography and gated single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) served as the reference standards for coronary artery stenoses and LV function/perfusion, respectively. RESULTS: 236 of 241 (98%) coronary artery segments were interpretable on MSCT. The sensitivity and specificity for detection of stenoses were 91% and 97%. Pearson's correlation showed excellent agreement for assessment of LV ejection fraction between MSCT and SPECT (49 (13)% v 53 (12)%, respectively, r = 0.85). Agreement for assessment of regional wall motion was excellent (92%, kappa = 0.77). In 68 of 73 (93%) segments, MSCT correctly identified a perfusion defect as compared with SPECT, whereas the absence of perfusion defects was correctly detected in 277 of 284 (98%) segments. CONCLUSIONS: MSCT permits accurate, non-invasive assessment of coronary artery stenoses, LV function and perfusion in patients with previous infarction. All parameters can be assessed from a single dataset.

Coronary Angiography↗
PubMed2006

Uncontrolled acromegaly is associated with progressive mitral valvular regurgitation.

INTRODUCTION: Recent cross-sectional studies have documented an association between acromegaly and regurgitant valvular heart disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the change in prevalence of valvular heart disease in relation to the clinical activity, because the natural history of valvular changes in acromegaly is unknown. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Valvular regurgitation was assessed in 37 acromegalic patients (18 patients with active disease, and 19 with controlled disease) by conventional two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography before and after an interval of 1.9 years (range 1.5-3.0 years). RESULTS: At baseline, valvular regurgitation (mitral and aortic sites combined) was present in 46% of the patients and increased to 67% at follow-up (P=0.008). Mitral regurgitation increased significantly from 32% to 60% (P=0.002), but no change was noted for the aortic valve (27% vs. 31%, NS). In patients with active disease, valvular regurgitation increased significantly from 56% at baseline to 88% at follow-up (P=0.031) due to a significant increase of mitral regurgitation from 39% to 78% at follow-up (P=0.016). In contrast, no increase in valvular regurgitation was found in patients with controlled disease. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of mitral, but not aortic, valvular regurgitation increased in patients with active acromegaly during follow-up. Patients with acromegaly require adequate cardiac evaluation and follow-up to establish the extent and progression of valvular involvement.

Acromegaly↗
PubMed2006

[Screening of asymptomatic individuals for coronary disease using CT-calcium measurement in the coronary arteries].

Coronary calcification is a specific marker for coronary atherosclerosis. It is therefore reasonable to assume that the risk ofcardiac events can be assessed by the quantification of the extent of coronary calcium. Until now, the predictive value of coronary calcium and its advantage over conventional risk factors has not been proven by any of the available prospective cohort studies. It is particularly likely that assessment of coronary atherosclerosis will help in the decision to initiate or discard a specific therapy in patients with an intermediate risk for cardiac events. Recently it has been suggested that the Framingham risk score (FRS) be replaced by a score corrected by assessing the amount of coronary calcium, which can be obtained by multislice spiral computed tomography (MSCT). To this end, the Commission Law Population Investigation has approved a study proposal to evaluate the effects of coronary-calcium screening in 4000 asymptomatic individuals with an intermediate likelihood of coronary artery disease. Based on the amount of calcium (calcium score > 100) obtained by MSCT, different treatment strategies will be initiated over a period of 5 years. Hard endpoints will be myocardial infarction, stroke and mortality due to cardiovascular disease.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed2006

Diagnostic and prognostic value of non-invasive imaging in known or suspected coronary artery disease.

The role of non-invasive imaging techniques in the evaluation of patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease (CAD) has increased exponentially over the past decade. The traditionally available imaging modalities, including nuclear imaging, stress echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), have relied on detection of CAD by visualisation of its functional consequences (i.e. ischaemia). However, extensive research is being invested in the development of non-invasive anatomical imaging using computed tomography or MRI to allow detection of (significant) atherosclerosis, eventually at a preclinical stage. In addition to establishing the presence of or excluding CAD, identification of patients at high risk for cardiac events is of paramount importance to determine post-test management, and the majority of non-invasive imaging tests can also be used for this purpose. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the available non-invasive imaging modalities and their merits for the diagnostic and prognostic work-up in patients with suspected or known CAD.

Coronary Artery Disease↗
PubMed2006

Common variants of multiple genes that control reverse cholesterol transport together explain only a minor part of the variation of HDL cholesterol levels.

It is assumed that the combined effects of multiple common genetic variants explain a large part of variation of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) plasma levels, but little evidence exists to corroborate this assumption. It was our objective to study the contribution of multiple common genetic variants of HDL-C-related genes to variation of HDL-C plasma levels. A well-characterized cohort of 546 Caucasian men with documented coronary artery disease was genotyped for common functional variants in genes that control reverse cholesterol transport: ATP-binding cassette transporter A1, apolipoprotein A-I and apolipoprotein-E, cholesteryl ester transfer protein, hepatic lipase, lecithin : cholesterol-acyl transferase, lipoprotein lipase, and scavenger receptor class B type 1. Multivariate linear regression showed that these variants, in conjunction, explain 12.4% (95% confidence interval: 6.9-17.9%) of variation in HDL-C plasma levels. When the covariates smoking and body mass index were taken into account, the explained variation increased to 15.3% (9.4-21.2%), and when 10 two-way interactions were incorporated, this percentage rose to 25.2% (18.9-31.5%). This study supports the hypothesis that multiple, mildly penetrant, but highly prevalent genetic variants explain part of the variation of HDL-C plasma levels, albeit to a very modest extent. Multiple environmental and genetic influences on HDL-C plasma levels still have to be elucidated.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1↗