Ranolazine as a First-Choice Anti-anginal Medication for Patients With Coronary Artery Ectasia: A Case Series.

Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is characterized by the abnormal dilation of coronary arteries, resulting in disturbed or slow blood flow, which causes angina pectoris-the most prevalent symptom of CAE. To date, there is no consensus on the therapeutic management of CAE due to its rarity and the scarcity of research. We present a case series of five patients with different ethnicities, including both men and women, whose CAE was successfully managed by the administration of ranolazine. All five patients were found to have CAE by coronary angiography, which was also associated with slow blood flow. Clinically, the patients had accelerating angina. They were prescribed an initial dose of 500 mg of ranolazine twice daily, which led to the resolution of their anginal symptoms. They have been clinically and hemodynamically stable for the last several years. In light of these results, we propose that ranolazine be considered as a first-choice anti-anginal medication for patients with CAE.

Surprising Resolution of Life-Long Severe Generalized Hyperhidrosis Post-angioplasty and Stenting.

Hyperhidrosis (HH) is a condition characterized by excessive sweating beyond thermoregulation needs. HH can be primary with no known etiology or secondary, as a symptom of underlying medical disease or a side effect of certain medications. Furthermore, HH can be focal, affecting one or a few body parts, or generalized, affecting the entire body. We present the case of a 49-year-old male with a history of primary generalized HH as well as coronary artery disease whose HH symptoms surprisingly resolved following coronary angioplasty and stenting. This unprecedented outcome of the procedure points to a potential association between HH and coronary artery disease, proposing potential management of HH through cardiovascular workup. In light of this result, we suggest that patients exhibiting generalized primary HH undergo a thorough comprehensive cardiovascular workup.

The Longest Known Survival of a Patient With Bioprosthetic Aortic Valve Replacement: A 42-Year Follow-Up.

Aortic valve replacement (AVR) is a frequently performed procedure for treating aortic valvulopathy. AVR involves replacing the damaged aortic valve with either a mechanical or a bioprosthetic valve. While many factors are involved when selecting between the two options, age and patient preference are the deciding factors at this point. Mechanical valves demonstrate long-standing durability that overlaps with the accompanied bleeding risk due to lifetime anticoagulant therapy, making them a more favorable choice for younger patients. Bioprosthetic valves are preferred for older patients as they show a reduced risk of thrombogenicity. However, bioprosthetic valves have a higher incidence of structural valve degeneration (SVD) than mechanical valves. Our case report focuses on a 76-year-old patient who had undergone an AVR with a bioprosthetic valve at the age of 33, which has still not demonstrated any valve deterioration. As the longest known case of bioprosthetic durability, this patient provides useful data for designing bioprosthetic valves more resistant to structural degeneration and thereby better suited to younger patients or those at higher risk of bleeding.

Primary Cough Headache: A Case Report.

Primary cough headache (PCH) is an uncommon condition characterized by episodes of sudden onset, bilateral headaches typically lasting from a second to two hours. Headaches are notably associated with Valsalva maneuvers such as coughing or straining but not a prolonged physical exercise in the absence of intracranial abnormalities. We report an unusual presentation of PCH in a 53-year-old female suffering from episodes of severe sudden-onset headaches that lasted several hours. The headaches were initially precipitated by coughing as is typical with PCH but were unusual in the way the triggers for the episodes evolved. Headaches began occurring without any association of Valsalva maneuvers and ultimately occurred with no discernible trigger. The patient initially came to the cardiologist's office who then referred her to a neurologist for further evaluation. The neurologist initially prescribed methylprednisolone tablets, primarily to suppress the cough. Magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) of the brain, and a head CT scan were then performed to rule out possible secondary causes such as a mass, intracranial bleed, aneurysms, or other vascular anomalies. The neurologist prescribed indomethacin and topiramate four and nine days after diagnosis of PCH, respectively. After five days, the beta blocker metoprolol tartrate was prescribed as the patient's blood pressure was rising significantly in correlation to the headaches. The above treatment was effective in limiting the intensity and duration of the headaches and the symptoms resolved after four weeks. This case contributes towards the understanding of the potential evolution of PCH presenting with triggers unassociated with Valsalva maneuvers and ultimately occurring with no known trigger as well as providing an example of PCH with an unusually long duration.

Severe Bilateral Vertebral Arterial Disease Masquerading as Vertigo.

Vertebral artery stenosis (VAS), manifesting as vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI), results from the narrowing of the vertebral artery's lumen because of diverse vascular pathological processes, leading to various clinical presentations. We present the case of a 71-year-old male who experienced vertigo for almost two years and was ultimately diagnosed with severe bilateral VAS. Despite initial management for vertigo, the patient's symptoms persisted, prompting a referral to a cardiologist. Several assessments were performed, including an MRI of the brain, which ruled out acute intracerebral hemorrhage or infarction. After some visits to the cardiologist's office, the patient was referred to a neurologist who conducted a magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) of the neck, which showed an occlusion of the left vertebral artery at the origin and a patent right vertebral artery. Because of worsening symptoms of vertigo and the results of the MRA, the patient underwent invasive angiography that confirmed the occlusion of the left vertebral artery and also revealed severe stenosis of the right vertebral artery. This case report discusses an unusual presentation of VAS with vertigo as the primary symptom, emphasizing the importance of recognizing seemingly minor symptoms as manifestations of the underlying vascular pathology that requires careful evaluation. Furthermore, this case emphasizes the limitation of relying solely on noninvasive imaging for diagnosis as, in this instance, noninvasive imaging failed to detect the severe stenosis of the right vertebral artery, which was revealed by invasive angiography. Finally, this case report underscores the significance of collaboration across several disciplines, such as cardiology, neurology, and radiology, as well as endovascular medicine in diagnosing and managing atypical manifestations of complex conditions.

Resolution of Marked Bradycardia Following Angioplasty.

Bradycardia, a condition commonly managed conservatively and, subsequently, with pacemaker implantation presents a unique challenge when coexisting with coronary artery disease (CAD). This case report delves into an unusual scenario where bradycardia and its related symptoms resolved following coronary angioplasty. Our goal is to contribute valuable data to the argument for a comprehensive evaluation of bradycardic patients for underlying CAD prior to considering pacemaker implantation. This approach aims to prevent unnecessary pacemaker implantations and offers insights into the optimal management of patients presenting with both arrhythmia and CAD. The unusual resolution of bradycardia in this case underscores the importance of considering CAD as a possible underlying factor in bradycardic patients, prompting a reevaluation of conventional treatment protocols. By documenting this exceptional case, the authors advocate a more nuanced and individualized treatment strategy in the management of bradycardia, emphasizing the need to assess and address CAD as part of the diagnostic workup.