Background Patients with hypertension complicated by acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have a poor prognosis. Identification of powerful predictors of recurring cardiovascular events (RCEs) is very important. This study sought to evaluate the predictive value of three-dimensional (3D) strain parameters for RCEs in patients with hypertension complicated by AMI. Methods We successfully followed up 62 patients with hypertension and AMI. Participants underwent three-dimensional echocardiography before, one week after, and one month after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Left ventricular (LV) structural function parameters and three-dimensional strain parameters (3-dimensional global longitudinal strain (3D-GLS), 3-dimensional global circumferential strain (3D-GCS), 3-dimensional global radial strain (3D-GRS), and 3-dimensional global area strain (3D-GAS)) were acquired. We used a Cox model to determine the relationships between these parameters and RCEs. Results During follow-up (41.27±20.45 months), 20 patients (32.8%) had RCEs, which were independently predicted one month after PCI by 3D-GLS (HR: 1.481, 95%CI: 1.202-1.824) and 3D-GAS (HR: 1.254, 95%CI: 1.093-1.440). The optimal 3D-GLS and 3D-GAS cutoffs for predicting cardiac events were >-12.5% [area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) 0.736, 95%CI 0.611-0.862, P=0.003)] and >20.5% (AUC 0.685, 95%CI 0.551-0.818, P=0.020), respectively. Using logistic regression analysis, we constructed joint predictor=(3D-GLS)+(3D-GAS)×0.303/0.558, and its cutoff point was -22.36% (AUC 0.829, 95%CI 0.722-0.937, P<0.001). Conclusions 3D-GLS and 3D-GAS assessed one month after PCI can predict RCEs in patients with hypertension complicated by AMI. Additionally, the predicted value of (3D-GLS)+ (3D-GAS)×0.303/0.558 was higher than the predicted value of either parameter alone.

Background A lower systolic blood pressure (SBP) target reduces major cardiovascular events and mortality from any cause in geriatric hypertension. However, the effect of different SBP targets on left ventricular (LV) function remains unclear. This study aimed to determine changes in LV strain in older hypertensive patients after 1 year of different SBP goals, and to evaluate its effects on LV function in this population. Methods We studied 313 hypertensive adults aged 60 years or older after 1 year of the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial. They were divided into the intensive group (target SBP: 110–130 mmHg) and the standard group (target SBP: 130–150 mmHg). All participants underwent echocardiography within 1 week after enrollment and 1 year after participating in the study. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) of the LV (endocardial, middle, and epicardial layer: GLS-end, GLS-mid, and GLS-epi, respectively) and improvement of GLS at 1 year (ΔGLS-end, ΔGLS-mid, and ΔGLS-epi) were measured. Results At 1 year, GLS-end in the intensive group was decreased compared with that before the trial (−23.78%±3.10% vs −22.58%±3.11%, P<0.05). The ΔGLS-end and ΔGLS-mid in the intensive group were higher than those in the standard group (both P<0.05). Moreover, SBP at 1 year and an angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist were independent factors that affected ΔGLS-end. Conclusions These trial results suggest that a lower SBP target is beneficial for LV myocardial function of older hypertensive patients at 1 year.

Primary cardiac hemangioendothelioma is a very rare low-grade malignancy. We present a case of a 41-year-old female patient with a huge primary cardiac hemangioendothelioma that arose from the right ventricle was recurred after being removed, and the diagnostic images given by echocardiography.

Cardiac cavernous hemangiomas are rare primary tumors of the heart. Echocardiography can determine their size, morphology, location, and mobility, and the compression caused by them. We here present a case of a 41-year-old woman with atypical chest discomfort of 2 months duration and display her echocardiographic images. Final postoperative histopathological examination of the surgical specimen confirmed cavernous hemangioma of the right ventricle. In this rare case, we have described the echocardiographic features of a cavernous hemangioma involving the right ventricle.