CardiovascularCorner

I’m a Drug, used in both Torsades de Pointes and Eclampsia. Who am I?

Annotated Chest X-ray: Vertebral Levels and Rib Landmarks from C6 to L2 📸: @radiologistpage

A 27-year-old woman with frequent migraine attacks wants preventive therapy. She is sexually active and may become pregnant in the future. Which preventive medication is generally preferred? A. Topiramate B. Propranolol C. Sodium valproate D. Ergotamine

Cardiac Cysticercosis: A Parasitic Infectious Disease Cardiac cysticercosis is a rare parasitic infection that is usually asymptomatic. It occurs when a person ingests the eggs (not the larvae) of Taenia solium, the pork tapeworm, through food or water contaminated with human feces. After ingestion, the eggs hatch in the intestine, penetrate the intestinal wall, and enter the bloodstream. They can then spread to various tissues, including the muscles, brain, eyes, and heart. Within 60-90 days, they develop into larval cysts called cysticerci. When the larvae eventually die, they may trigger a strong inflammatory immune response, which can lead to significant illness depending on the location and number of cysts. MRI and CT scans are commonly used to diagnose cysticercosis. Symptomatic patients are typically treated with antiparasitic medications such as albendazole or praziquantel, often along with corticosteroids to reduce inflammation. Surgery may be required in selected cases when medical therapy is ineffective or when complications arise. 🚨 Note: Humans acquire cysticercosis by ingesting T. solium eggs, not by eating undercooked pork. Eating undercooked pork containing larval cysts causes taeniasis (intestinal tapeworm infection), not cysticercosis. This distinction is important.

Understanding Angiographic Views Every angiographic image is named according to the path of the X-ray beam and the position of the image intensifier (II)/detector. 🟨 AP (Anterior–Posterior): The X-ray beam travels posterior ➡️ anterior, with the detector directly above the patient. 🟥 Lateral: Side view of the patient. ⬜ RAO (Right Anterior Oblique): The detector is on the patient's right. Think of the right shoulder turned toward the detector. ⬛ LAO (Left Anterior Oblique): The detector is on the patient's left. Think of the left shoulder turned toward the detector. 🟩 Cranial view: The detector is tilted toward the patient's head, angling the beam headward. 🟪 Caudal view: The detector is tilted toward the patient's feet, angling the beam footward. 💡 Easy memory trick: RAO = Right shoulder forward LAO = Left shoulder forward Cranial = Head Caudal = Feet Mastering these projections is essential for accurately visualizing coronary arteries, reducing vessel overlap, and guiding safe catheter-based procedures.

A patient is taking an ACE inhibitor and a calcium channel blocker, but BP remains above target. What should be added? A. Spironolactone B. Alpha-blocker C. Thiazide-like diuretic D. Loop diuretic

Which drug class is first-line for preventing episodes of Prinzmetal angina? A. Beta-blockers B. Calcium channel blockers C. Digoxin D. Adenosine

Impressive animation of the cardiac cycle = Rhythm of life😍

1. What is the name of the wave marked by the arrow? 2. What is the most likely associated condition

Treatment of Essential Hypertension (Adults) Step 1 ◻️ Age <55 years: Start an ACE inhibitor (ACEi) or ARB (ARB if ACEi is not tolerated). ◻️ Age ≥55 years or Black African/Black Caribbean ethnicity: Start a calcium channel blocker (CCB). Step 2 ◼️ACEi/ARB + CCB ◼️ If a CCB is not tolerated, use a thiazide-like diuretic instead. Step 3 ◻️ ACEi/ARB + CCB + thiazide-like diuretic Step 4 (Resistant Hypertension) ◻️ If serum potassium is ≤4.5 mmol/L: Add low-dose spironolactone. ◻️ If serum potassium is >4.5 mmol/L: Consider an alpha-blocker or beta-blocker, or seek specialist advice. Key point: Use either an ACE inhibitor or an ARB, never both together. Reference: NICE Guideline NG136: Hypertension in adults: diagnosis and management (updated February 2026).

Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA): Treatment Start prednisolone 40-60 mg/day (≈0.75–1 mg/kg) immediately. Do not delay treatment while awaiting biopsy or imaging. Continue for 2–4 weeks, or until symptoms and inflammatory markers improve. Taper gradually: ◼️ Reduce by 10 mg every 2 weeks to 20 mg/day. ◼️ Reduce by 2.5 mg every 2-4 weeks to 10 mg/day. ◼️ Reduce by 1 mg every 1-2 months if no relapse occurs. If there is threatened or established visual loss, give IV methylprednisolone 500-1000 mg/day for 3 days, then switch to oral glucocorticoids. Consider tocilizumab as a glucocorticoid-sparing agent in relapsing disease or in patients at high risk of glucocorticoid toxicity. References: 2021 ACR/Vasculitis Foundation Guideline, 2018 EULAR Recommendations.

Which condition should never be missed in an older adult with a new headache and jaw claudication?

@docakx 😨👍

@TrackYourHeart It gives a scary emoji appearance.

🚨😱😱😱 This is a patient with D-TGA and had an atrial switch repair. The RV is the systemic ventricle, hence severe RV hypertrophy and D shaped septum. Moderator band is also severely hypertrophied giving RV a double chamber appearance

@DrNovinoTailor Correct ✅

@TrackYourHeart Temporal arteritis

@Chiragrx07 Absolutely. Jaw claudication is one of the most specific clinical features of giant cell arteritis.

@TrackYourHeart Giant cell arteritis (Temporal arteritis) New headache + jaw claudication in an older adult is giant cell arteritis until proven otherwise. Start high-dose corticosteroids immediately to prevent irreversible vision loss.

wow😨😨😨

Which medication remains the cornerstone of treatment for scleroderma renal crisis? A. Beta-blocker B. ACE inhibitor C. Calcium channel blocker D. Nitrate

Inside the Human Heart in 3D

💡 Delighted to share our latest publication in @JACCJournals, JACC Case Reports: Beyond Cardiac Function | Cross-Organ Recovery After Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Replacement With Diuretic and Antiviral Discontinuation. This case reminds us that the success of structural heart interventions may be measured not only by procedural outcomes, but also by meaningful improvements in multiorgan health, quality of life, reduced medication burden, and patient recovery. Grateful to my co-authors and the multidisciplinary Heart Team who cared for this patient. #JACCCaseReports #Cardiology #CardiacSurgery #StructuralHeart #TricuspidValve #TTVR 🔗 jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.…