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Prof. Kevin Vernooy Director HVC

Prof. Kevin Vernooy Director HVC

30 April 2024

Prof. Kevin Vernooy will become the medical director of the Heart+Vascular Center (HVC) at Maastricht UMC+.

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Professorship Julie Staals

Professorship Julie Staals

22 April 2024

Dr Julie Staals (Dept. of Neurology) has been appointed as professor 'Neurovascular disease' as of 1 April 2024.

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Carim Maastricht
Carim Maastricht

Martijn Smulders

Post doc

Dr Martijn Smulders obtained his medical degree at Maastricht University in 2010. After this he started his PhD trajectory focusing on cardiac MRI and CT in patients with suspected myocardial infarction. In 2020, he succesfully defended his thesis entitled: “Diagnostic evaluation of chest pain – The role of non-invasive cardiac imaging.” In 2016 he started his training in cardiology. Since 2022, he has been working as a cardiologist at Maastricht UMC+ with a focus on cardiovascular imaging (cardiac MRI, CT, transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography).

His research is primarily focused on the role of cardiovascular CT and MRI in patients with chest pain, coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction. In addition, he investigates the ability of cardiac CT and MRI to assess the presence, extent and clinical consequences of myocardial fibrosis.

Carim martijn dscf7091 kopie

Department of Cardiology
P. Debyelaan 25, 6229 HX Maastricht 
PO Box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht
T: +31(0)43 387 70 93

  • 2024
    • Aydeniz, E., Weberndorfer, V., Brandts, L., Smulders, M. W., van Herpt, T. T. W., Martens, B., Vernooy, K., Linz, D., van der Horst, I. C. C., Wildberger, J. E., van Bussel, B. C. T., Driessen, R. G. H., & Mihl, C. (2024). Pericardial Fat Is Associated With Less Severe Multiorgan Failure Over Time in Patients With Coronavirus Disease-19: The Maastricht Intensive Care COVID Cohort. Journal of Thoracic Imaging, 39(3), W32-W39. https://doi.org/10.1097/RTI.0000000000000732
  • 2023
    • Nies, H. M. J. M., Vromen, T., Mihl, C., Bekkers, S. C. A. M., Rasoul, S., Holtackers, R. J., & Smulders, M. W. (2023). A case report of a myocardial ischaemic attack: a novel hyperenhancement pattern on cardiac magnetic resonance in focal ischaemic injury. European Heart Journal - Case Reports, 7(2), Article ytac496. https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjcr/ytac496
  • 2022
    • Demirkiran, A., van der Hoeven, N. W., Janssens, G. N., Lemkes, J. S., Everaars, H., van de Ven, P. M., van Pouderoijen, N., van Cauteren, Y. J. M., van Leeuwen, M. A. H., Nap, A., Teunissen, P. F., Hopman, L. H. G. A., Bekkers, S. C. A. M., Smulders, M. W., van Royen, N., van Rossum, A. C., Robbers, L. F. H. J., & Nijveldt, R. (2022). Left ventricular function, strain, and infarct characteristics in patients with transient ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction compared to ST-segment and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions. European Heart Journal Cardiovascular Imaging, 23(6), 836-845. https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjci/jeab114
  • 2021
    • van Cauteren, Y. J. M., Smulders, M. W., Theunissen, R. A. L. J., Gerretsen, S. C., Adriaans, B. P., Bijvoet, G. P., Mingels, A. M. A., van Kuijk, S. M. J., Schalla, S., Crijns, H. J. G. M., Kim, R. J., Wildberger, J. E., Heijman, J., & Bekkers, S. C. A. M. (2021). Cardiovascular magnetic resonance accurately detects obstructive coronary artery disease in suspected non-ST elevation myocardial infarction: a sub-analysis of the CARMENTA Trial. Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance, 23(1), Article 40. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12968-021-00723-6
    • Smulders, M. W., Van Assche, L. M. R., Bekkers, S. C. A. M., Nijveldt, R., Beijnink, C. W. H., Kim, H. W., Hayes, B., Parker, M. A., Kaolawanich, Y., Judd, R. M., & Kim, R. J. (2021). Epicardial Surface Area of Infarction: A Stable Surrogate of Microvascular Obstruction in Acute Myocardial Infarction. Circulation-Cardiovascular Imaging, 14(2), Article 010918. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.120.010918
  • 2020
    • Vranken, N. P. A., Pustjens, T. F. S., Kolkman, E., Hermanides, R. S., Bekkers, S. C. A. M., Smulders, M. W., van Cauteren, Y. J. M., Heijman, J., Rasoul, S., Ottervanger, J. P., & van't Hof, A. W. J. (2020). MINOCA: The caveat of absence of coronary obstruction in myocardial infarction. IJC Heart & Vasculature, 29, Article 100572. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcha.2020.100572
    • van Doorn, W. P. T. M., Vroemen, W. H. M., Smulders, M. W., van Suijlen, J. D., van Cauteren, Y. J. M., Bekkers, S. C. A. M., Bekers, O., & Meex, S. J. R. (2020). High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin I and T Kinetics after Non-ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction. Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine, 5(1), 239-241. https://doi.org/10.1373/jalm.2019.029785
  • 2019
    • Smulders, M. W., Kietselaer, B. L. J. H., Wildberger, J. E., Dagnelie, P. C., Brunner-La Rocca, H.-P., Mingels, A. M. A., van Cauteren, Y. J. M., Theunissen, R. A. L. J., Post, M. J., Schalla, S., van Kuijk, S. M. J., Das, M., Kim, R. J., Crijns, H. J. G. M., & Bekkers, S. C. A. M. (2019). Initial Imaging-Guided Strategy Versus Routine Care in Patients With Non-ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 74(20), 2466-2477. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2019.09.027
    • Heitner, J. F., Senthilkumar, A., Harrison, J. K., Klem, I., Sketch, M. H., Ivanov, A., Hamo, C., Van Assche, L., White, J., Washam, J., Patel, M. R., Bekkers, S. C. A. M., Smulders, M. W., Sacchi, T. J., & Kim, R. J. (2019). Identifying the Infarct-Related Artery in Patients With Non–ST-Segment–Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Insights From Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Circulation-Cardiovascular Interventions, 12(5), e007305. Article 007305. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCINTERVENTIONS.118.007305
    • van Mourik, M. J. W., Zaar, D. V. J., Smulders, M. W., Heijman, J., Lumens, J., Dokter, J. E., Passos, V. L., Schalla, S., Knackstedt, C., Schummers, G., Gjesdal, O., Edvardsen, T., & Bekkers, S. C. A. M. (2019). Adding Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography to Visual Assessment of Systolic Wall Motion Abnormalities Improves the Detection of Myocardial Infarction. Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography, 32(1), 65-73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.echo.2018.09.007
  • 2018
    • Amier, R. P., Smulders, M. W., van der Flier, W. M., Bekkers, S. C. A. M., Zweerink, A., Allaart, C. P., Demirkiran, A., Roos, S. T., Teunissen, P. F. A., Appelman, Y., van Royen, N., Kim, R. J., van Rossum, A. C., & Nijveldt, R. (2018). Long-Term Prognostic Implications of Previous Silent Myocardial Infarction in Patients Presenting With Acute Myocardial Infarction. JACC-Cardiovascular Imaging, 11(12), 1773-1781. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcmg.2018.02.009
    • van der Weg, K., Kuijt, W. J., Bekkers, S. C. A. M., Tijssen, J. G. P., Green, C. L., Smulders, M. W., Lemmert, M. E., Krucoff, M. W., & Gorgels, A. P. M. (2018). Bursts of reperfusion arrhythmias occur independently of area at risk size and are the first marker of reperfusion injury. International Journal of Cardiology, 271, 240-246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2018.05.083
    • Smulders, M. W., Bekkers, S. C. A. M., van Cauteren, Y. J. M., Liefhebber, A., Vermeer, J. R., Vervuurt, J., van Dieijen-Visser, M. P., Mingels, A. M. A., Rocca, H.-P. B.-L., Dagnelie, P. C., Wildberger, J. E., Crijns, H. J. G. M., & Kietselaer, B. L. J. H. (2018). Risk stratification and role for additional diagnostic testing in patients with acute chest pain and normal high-sensitivity cardiac troponin levels. PLOS ONE, 13(9), Article e0203506. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0203506
    • Smulders, M., Bekkers, B., VAN Cauteren, Y., Liefhebber, A., Vermeer, J. R., Vervuurt, J., van Dieijen - Visser, M. P., Mingels, A., Brunner-La Rocca, H., Dagnelie, P., Wildberger, J., Crijns, H., & Kietselaer, B. (2018). Acute pijn op de borst zonder afwijkend troponine: Is aanvullende niet-invasieve diagnostiek zinvol?Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde, 162, 1-7. Article D3568. https://www.ntvg.nl/system/files/publications/d3568.pdf
  • 2017
    • van der Poel, M., van Gelder, M., Abdul Hamid, M. A., Smulders, M., & de Coninck, A. (2017). Central Nervous System Localisation of Multiple Myeloma. Annals of Hematology & Oncology, 4(11), Article 1180. http://austinpublishinggroup.com/hematology/fulltext/hematology-v4-id1180.php
    • Smulders, M. W., Jaarsma, C., Nelemans, P. J., Bekkers, S. C. A. M., Bucerius, J., Leiner, T., Crijns, H. J. G. M., Wildberger, J. E., & Schalla, S. (2017). Comparison of the prognostic value of negative non-invasive cardiac investigations in patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease-ameta-analysis. European Heart Journal Cardiovascular Imaging, 18(9), 980-987. https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjci/jex014
    • Amier, R. P., Tijssen, R. Y. G., Teunissen, P. F. A., Fernandez-Jimenez, R., Pizarro, G., Garcia-Lunar, I., Bastante, T., van de Ven, P. M., Beek, A. M., Smulders, M. W., Bekkers, S. C. A. M., van Royen, N., Ibanez, B., & Nijveldt, R. (2017). Predictors of Intramyocardial Hemorrhage After Reperfused ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction. Journal of the American Heart Association, 6(8), Article e005651. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.117.005651
    • Hakimzadeh, N., Elias, J., Wijntjens, G. W. M., Theunissen, R., van Weert, A., Smulders, M. W., van den Akker, N., Moerland, P. D., Verberne, H. J., Hoebers, L. P., Henriques, J. P. S., van der Laan, A. M., Ilhan, M., Post, M., Bekkers, S. C. A. M., & Piek, J. J. (2017). Monocytic microRNA profile associated with coronary collateral artery function in chronic total occlusion patients. Scientific Reports, 7, Article 1532. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-01695-3
    • Uyen Chau Nguyen, N. V., Mafi-Rad, M., Aben, J.-P., Smulders, M. W., Engels, E. B., van Stipdonk, A. M. W., Luermans, J. G. L. M., Bekkers, S. C. A. M., Prinzen, F. W., & Vernooy, K. (2017). A novel approach for left ventricular lead placement in cardiac resynchronization therapy: Intraprocedural integration of coronary venous electroanatomic mapping with delayed enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Heart Rhythm, 14(1), 110-119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrthm.2016.09.015
  • 2016
    • Smulders, M. W., Kietselaer, B. L. J. H., Schalla, S., Bucerius, J., Jaarsma, C., van Dieijen-Visser, M. P., Mingels, A. M. A., Brunner-La Rocca, H., Post, M., Das, M., Crijns, H. J. G. M., Wildberger, J. E., & Bekkers, B. (2016). Acute chest pain in the high-sensitivity cardiac troponin era: A changing role for noninvasive imaging?American Heart Journal, 177, 102-111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ahj.2016.03.025
    • Hassell, M. E. C. J., Delewi, R., Lexis, C. P. H., Smulders, M. W., Hirsch, A., Wagner, G., Bekkers, S. C. A. M., van der Horst, I. C. C., Zijlstra, F., van Rossum, A. C., Piek, J. J., van der Harst, P., & Nijveldt, R. (2016). The relationship between terminal QRS distortion on initial ECG and final infarct size at 4 months in conventional ST- segment elevation myocardial infarct patients. Journal of Electrocardiology, 49(3), 292-299. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelectrocard.2016.03.009
  • 2015
    • Smulders, M. W., Bekkers, S. C. A. M., Kim, H. W., Van Assche, L. M. R., Parker, M. A., & Kim, R. J. (2015). Performance of CMR Methods for Differentiating Acute From Chronic MI. JACC-Cardiovascular Imaging, 8(6), 669-679. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcmg.2014.12.030
  • 2014
  • 2013
    • Jaarsma, C., Bekkers, B., Haidari, Z., Smulders, M. W., Nelemans, P. J., Gorgels, A. P., Crijns, H. J., Wildberger, J. E., & Schalla, S. (2013). Comparison of Different Electrocardiographic Scoring Systems for Detection of any Previous Myocardial Infarction as Assessed With Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging. American Journal of Cardiology, 112(8), 1069-1074. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjcard.2013.05.048
    • Jaarsma, C., Schalla, S., Cheriex, E. C., Smulders, M. W., van Dongen, I., Nelemans, P. J., Gorgels, A. P. M., Wildberger, J. E., Crijns, H. J. G. M., & Bekkers, B. (2013). Incremental value of cardiovascular magnetic resonance over echocardiography in the detection of acute and chronic myocardial infarction. Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance, 15, Article 5. https://doi.org/10.1186/1532-429X-15-5
    • Korver, F. W. J., Hassell, M., Smulders, M. W., Bekkers, S. C. A. M., & Gorgels, A. P. M. (2013). Correlating both Aldrich and Hellemond score with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging endocardial surface area calculations in the estimation of the area at risk. Electrocardiography scores A and endocardial surface area calculations: Do they conelate?Journal of Electrocardiology, 46(3), 229-234. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelectrocard.2013.02.012
  • 2012
    • Versteylen, M. O., Bekkers, S. C. A. M., Smulders, M. W., Winkens, B., Mihl, C., Winkens, M. H. M., Leiner, T., Waltenberger, J. L., Kim, R. J., & Gorgels, A. P. M. (2012). Performance of angiographic, electrocardiographic and MRI methods to assess the area at risk in acute myocardial infarction. Heart, 98(2), 109-115. https://doi.org/10.1136/heartjnl-2011-300185
  • 2010
    • Bekkers, S. C. A. M., Smulders, M. W., Passos, V. L., Leiner, T., Waltenberger, J., Gorgels, A. P. M., & Schalla, S. (2010). Clinical implications of microvascular obstruction and intramyocardial haemorrhage in acute myocardial infarction using cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging. European Radiology, 20(11), 2572-2578. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-010-1849-9
    • Weijs, B., Smulders, M. W., & Alzand, B. S. N. (2010). Semi-final masked hypertension. Netherlands Journal of Medicine, 68(10), 328-328.
Overview