Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is a stress-induced cardiomyopathy that occurs primarily in postmenopausal women. It mimics clinical picture of acute coronary syndrome with nonobstructive coronary arteries and a characteristic transient left (or bi-) ventricular apical ballooning at angiography. The exact pathogenesis of TCM is not well recognized. Hereby we present an unusual case of TCM that presents with signs and symptoms of acute pericarditis and was also found to have a coexisting coronary muscle bridge on coronary angiography. We discuss the impact of these associations in better understanding of the pathogenesis of TCM.

To compare the burden of statin therapy according to the Third Adult Treatment Panel (ATP-III) and the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines the Survey of Risk Factors of Non-Communicable Disease (SuRFNCD)−2011of Iran was used. A survey analysis associated with sex and age categorization was run. Of total 3496 persons (1322 men) aged 40–70 years, based on the ACC/AHA guidelines, about 46.5% were eligible to receive moderate- to high-intensity statin therapy. Based on the ATP-III guidelines, 17.0% were considered as needing statin drugs. Among adults aged <60 years, the proportion of those who were eligible for statin therapy was higher (38.3%) according to the ACC/AHA guidelines compared to the ATP-III guidelines (15.2%), a difference more prominent in adults aged ≥60 years (85.2% versus 25.0%). Agreement between the two guidelines was low (kappa: 0.32). Compared to the ATP-III guidelines, the ACC/AHA guidelines increase the number of adults eligible for statin therapy in an Iraninan population from 2.5 million to 7.0 million people according to the 2011 census, specifically in those aged ≥ 60 years, a finding in agreement with those of studies from different countries.

Background: Finding patients at risk of developing contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) is important because of its associated complications. In the present study, the contribution of different variables, such as the presence of metabolic syndrome (MetS), the volume creatinine clearance (V/CrCl) ratio, the iodine-dose (I-dose)/CrCl ratio, or hypertension, to CI-AKI was evaluated. Methods: A total of 255 patients undergoing elective coronary angiography with or without intervention were enrolled and divided into a MetS and a control group. All patients were assessed for the development of CI-AKI after the procedures. Results: CI-AKI occurred in 39.23% (51 of 130) of the MetS patients and 14.4% (18 of 125) of the control group (p < 0.001). The multivariable regression model showed that male sex and the use of statins decreased the risk of CI-AKI, and high triglyceride levels, I-dose/CrCl > 0.52, MetS, CrCl ≤60 mL/min, and age ≥70 years increased the risk of CI-AKI, independent of confounding factors. The difference in the mean V/CrCl ratio was statistically significant between patients who developed CI-AKI and those who did not show renal impairment (2.36 ± 1.35 vs. 1.43 ± 0.89, respectively; p < 0.001). The ROC curve analysis of I-dose/CrCl determined the best cutoff value for patients with and those without MetS as 0.51 and 0.63, with a sensitivity value of 68 and 72% and a specificity value of 73 and 74%, respectively. Conclusions: We showed that MetS is a strong risk factor for CI-AKI in nondiabetic patients undergoing elective coronary interventions; and the I-dose/CrCl ratio is a strong predictor of CI-AKI in these patients. We suggest that clinicians identify MetS patients and calculate their I-dose/CrCl ratio before coronary interventions.

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is a necrotizing vasculitis. The etiology of the disease is not completely known. In this report, we describe a 47-year-old male who presented with ongoing dyspnea. He is a known case of GPA for 3 years based on skin biopsy and positive antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody. The electrocardiogram showed changes suggestive for myocarditis. A transthoracic and trans esophageal echocardiogram revealed left ventricular systolic dysfunction, thickened left atrial and ventricular wall and vegetation on mitral valve. Blood cultures were negative. Myocarditis and nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE) were diagnosed. As far as we know, NBTE is a rare manifestation of GPA and its presentation with myocarditis is not reported to date. This case indicates the uncommon manifestations of GPA and notifies the importance of performing echocardiography in order to prevent life threatening cardiac complications of the disease.