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16,400 | Multimodality imaging evaluation of saphenous vein graft peri-stent contrast staining enlargement. | A patient with Takayasu arteritis who underwent CABG using a saphenous vein graft (SVG) experienced ventricular fibrillation due to total SVG occlusion. A drug-eluting stent was implanted; however, follow-up CAG demonstrated an advanced expansion of peri-stent contrast staining. Coronary computed tomography angiography revealed contrast media extending around the SVG. An intravascular ultrasound indicated a worsening stent malapposition and a significant positive remodeling. |
16,401 | Electrocardiographic Risk Markers for Heart Failure in Women Versus Men. | Heart failure (HF) is one of the leading causes of hospitalization in the Western world. Women have a lower HF hospitalization rate and mortality compared with men. The role of electrocardiography as a risk marker of future HF in women is not well known. We studied association of electrocardiographic (ECG) risk factors for HF hospitalization in women from a large middle-aged general population with a long-term follow-up and compared the risk profile to men. Standard 12-lead ECG markers were analyzed from 10,864 subjects (49% women), and their predictive value for HF hospitalization was analyzed. During the follow-up (30 ± 11 years), a total of 1,743 subjects had HF hospitalization; of these, 861 were women (49%). Several baseline characteristics, such as age, body mass index, blood pressure, and history of previous cardiac disease predicted the occurrence of HF both in women and men (p <0.001 for all). After adjusting for baseline variables, ECG sign of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) (p <0.001), and atrial fibrillation (p <0.001) were the only baseline ECG variables that predicted future HF in women. In men, HF was predicted by fast heart rate (p = 0.008), T wave inversions (p <0.001), abnormal Q-waves (p = 0.002), and atrial fibrillation (p <0.001). Statistically significant gender interactions in prediction of HF were observed in ECG sign of LVH, inferolateral T wave inversions, and heart rate. In conclusion, ECG sign of LVH predicts future HF in middle-aged women, and T wave inversions and elevated heart rate are associated with HF hospitalization in men. |
16,402 | Cardiovascular Complications of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy: The Cytokine Release Syndrome and Associated Arrhythmias. | In recent years, cancer treatment has evolved, and new therapies have been introduced with significant improvement in prognosis. The immunotherapies stand out owing to their efficacy and remission rate. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a part of this new era of therapies. Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy is a form of adoptive cellular therapy that uses a genetically encoded CAR in modified human T cells to target specific tumor antigens in a nonconventional, non-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) protein presentation. Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy successfully identifies tumor antigens and through activation of T cells destroys tumoral cells. It has been found to efficiently induce remission in patients who have been previously treated for B-cell malignancies and have persistent disease. As the use of this novel therapy increases, its potential side effects also have become more evident, including major complications like cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS). Cytokine release syndrome is a major systemic inflammatory process as a result of massive cytokine production by the proliferating and activated CAR T cells in which multiple interleukins and immune cells contribute to the inflammatory response. Cytokine release syndrome has been associated with cardiovascular life-threatening complications including hypotension, shock, tachycardia, arrhythmias, left ventricular dysfunction, heart failure, and cardiovascular death. Arrhythmias, among its major complications, vary from asymptomatic prolonged corrected QT interval (QTc) to supraventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, flutter, and ventricular arrhythmias like Torsade de pointes. This article focuses on the cardiovascular complications and arrhythmias associated with CRS and CAR T-cell therapy. |
16,403 | Ventricular tachyarrhythmia detection by implantable loop recording in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction: the VIP-HF study. | The primary aim of the VIP-HF study was to examine the incidence of sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VTs) in heart failure (HF) with mid-range (HFmrEF) or preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Secondary aims were to examine the incidence of non-sustained VTs, bradyarrhythmias, HF hospitalizations and mortality.</AbstractText>This was an investigator-initiated, prospective, multicentre, observational study of patients with HF and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) >40%. Patients underwent extensive phenotyping, after which an implantable loop recorder was implanted. We enrolled 113 of the planned 250 patients [mean age 73 ± 8 years, 51% women, New York Heart Association class II/III 54%/46%, median N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide 1367 (710-2452) pg/mL and mean LVEF 54 ± 6%; 75% had LVEF >50%]. Eighteen percent had non-sustained VTs and 37% had atrial fibrillation on Holter monitoring. During a median follow-up of 657 (219-748) days, the primary endpoint of sustained VT was observed in one patient. The incidence of the primary endpoint was 0.6 (95% confidence interval 0.2-3.5) per 100 person-years. The incidence of the secondary endpoint of non-sustained VT was 11.5 (7.1-18.7) per 100 person-years. Five patients developed bradyarrhythmias [3.2 (1.4-7.5) per 100 person-years], three were implanted with a pacemaker. In total, 23 patients (20%) were hospitalized for HF [16.3 (10.9-24.4) per 100 person-years]. Fourteen patients (12%) died [8.7 (5.2-14.7) per 100 person-years]; 10 due to cardiovascular causes, and four sudden deaths, one with implantable loop recorder-confirmed bradyarrhythmias as terminal event, three others undetermined.</AbstractText>Despite the lower than expected number of included patients, the incidence of sustained VTs in HFmrEF/HFpEF was low. Clinically relevant bradyarrhythmias were more often observed than expected.</AbstractText>© 2020 The Authors. European Journal of Heart Failure published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Society of Cardiology.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,404 | Prolonged Continuous Electrocardiographic Monitoring Prior to Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: The PARE Study. | This study sought to determine, using continuous electrocardiographic monitoring (CEM) pre-transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), the incidence and type of unknown pre-existing arrhythmic events (AEs) in TAVR candidates, and to evaluate the occurrence and impact of therapeutic changes secondary to the detection of AEs pre-TAVR.</AbstractText>Scarce data exist on the arrhythmic burden of TAVR candidates (pre-procedure).</AbstractText>This was a prospective study including 106 patients with severe aortic stenosis and no prior permanent pacemaker screened for TAVR. A prolonged (1 week) CEM was implanted within the 3 months pre-TAVR. Following heart team evaluation, 90 patients underwent elective TAVR.</AbstractText>New AEs were detected by CEM in 51 (48.1%) patients, leading to a treatment change in 14 of 51 (27.5%) patients. Atrial fibrillation or tachycardia was detected in 8 of 79 (10.1%) patients without known atrial fibrillation or tachycardia, and nonsustained ventricular arrhythmias were detected in 31 (29.2%) patients. Significant bradyarrhythmias were observed in 22 (20.8%) patients, leading to treatment change and permanent pacemaker in 8 of 22 (36.4%) and 4 of 22 (18.2%) patients, respectively. The detection of bradyarrhythmias increased up to 30% and 47% among those patients with pre-existing first-degree atrioventricular block and right bundle branch block, respectively. Chronic renal failure, higher valve calcification, and left ventricular dysfunction determined (or tended to determine) an increased risk of AEs pre-TAVR (p = 0.028, 0.052, and 0.069, respectively). New onset AEs post-TAVR occurred in 22.1% of patients, and CEM pre-TAVR allowed early arrhythmia diagnosis in one-third of them.</AbstractText>Prolonged CEM in TAVR candidates allowed identification of previously unknown AEs in nearly one-half of the patients, leading to prompt therapeutic measures (pre-TAVR) in about one-fourth of them. Pre-existing conduction disturbances (particularly right bundle branch block) and chronic renal failure were associated with a higher burden of AEs.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,405 | Opportunistic screening for atrial fibrillation by clinical pharmacists in UK general practice during the influenza vaccination season: A cross-sectional feasibility study. | Growing prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in the ageing population and its associated life-changing health and resource implications have led to a need to improve its early detection. Primary care is an ideal place to screen for AF; however, this is limited by shortages in general practitioner (GP) resources. Recent increases in the number of clinical pharmacists within primary care makes them ideally placed to conduct AF screening. This study aimed to determine the feasibility of GP practice-based clinical pharmacists to screen the over-65s for AF, using digital technology and pulse palpation during the influenza vaccination season.</AbstractText>Screening was conducted over two influenza vaccination seasons, 2017-2018 and 2018-2019, in four GP practices in Kent, United Kingdom. Pharmacists were trained by a cardiologist to pulse palpate, record, and interpret a single-lead ECG (SLECG). Eligible persons aged ≥65 years (y) attending an influenza vaccination clinic were offered a free heart rhythm check. Six hundred four participants were screened (median age 73 y, 42.7% male). Total prevalence of AF was 4.3%. All participants with AF qualified for anticoagulation and were more likely to be male (57.7%); be older; have an increased body mass index (BMI); and have a CHA2DS2-VASc (Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age ≥ 75 years, Diabetes, previous Stroke, Vascular disease, Age 65-74 years, Sex category) score ≥ 3. The sensitivity and specificity of clinical pharmacists diagnosing AF using pulse palpation was 76.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] 56.4-91.0) and 92.2% (95% CI 89.7-94.3), respectively. This rose to 88.5% (95% CI 69.9-97.6) and 97.2% (95% CI 95.5-98.4) with an SLECG. At follow-up, four participants (0.7%) were diagnosed with new AF and three (0.5%) were initiated on anticoagulation. Screening with SLECG also helped identify new non-AF cardiovascular diagnoses, such as left ventricular hypertrophy, in 28 participants (4.6%). The screening strategy was cost-effective in 71.8% and 64.3% of the estimates for SLECG or pulse palpation, respectively. Feedback from participants (422/604) was generally positive. Key limitations of the study were that the intervention did not reach individuals who did not attend the practice for an influenza vaccination and there was a limited representation of UK ethnic minority groups in the study cohort.</AbstractText>This study demonstrates that AF screening performed by GP practice-based pharmacists was feasible, economically viable, and positively endorsed by participants. Furthermore, diagnosis of AF by the clinical pharmacist using an SLECG was more sensitive and more specific than the use of pulse palpation alone. Future research should explore the key barriers preventing the adoption of national screening programmes.</AbstractText> |
16,406 | Crisis checklist (Code Red) for the management of cardiac arrest during minimally invasive thoracic surgery: case report. | The management of cardiac arrest during video assisted thoracic surgery is challenging. Checklist use improve the management of operating-room crises.</AbstractText>Cardiac arrest (asystole) occurred during anatomical pulmonary resection by minimally invasive surgery. Conversion to thoracotomy was decided (thoracic surgeon and anesthesiologist conjointly) to check for absence of cardiac bleeding and to start cardiac massage (4 min no-flow). After few minutes, ventricular fibrillation occurred and persisted despite shocks. Extracorporeal life support with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation allowed a return of spontaneous circulation (45 min low-flow).</AbstractText>The patient survived without central neurologic deficit due to perfect team work process using a crisis check-list (strengthened by a comprehensive simulation program with crisis resource management).</AbstractText> |
16,407 | Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in Belgium: characteristics and outcome of a real-life cohort. | Due to aging of the population and the increase of cardiovascular risk factors, heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a rising health issue. Few data exist on the phenotype of HFpEF patients in Belgium and on their prognosis.</AbstractText>We describe clinical characteristics and outcomes of Belgian HFpEF patients.</AbstractText>We prospectively enrolled 183 HFpEF patients. They underwent clinical examination, comprehensive biological analysis and echocardiography, and were followed for a combined outcome of all-cause mortality and first HF hospitalisation.</AbstractText>Belgian patients with HFpEF were old (78 ± 8 years), predominantly females (62%) with multiple comorbidities. Ninety-five per cent were hypertensive, 38% diabetic and 69% overweight. History of atrial fibrillation was present in 63% of population, chronic kidney disease in 60% and anaemia in 58%. Over 30 ± 9 months, 55 (31%) patients died, 87 (49%) were hospitalised and 111 (63%) reached the combined outcome. In multivariate Cox analysis, low body mass index (BMI), NYHA class III and IV, diabetes, poor renal function and loop diuretic intake were independent predictors of the combined outcome (p</i> < .05). BMI and renal function were also independent predictors of mortality, as were low haemoglobin, high E/e' and poor right ventricular function.</AbstractText>Belgian patients with HFpEF are elderly patients with a high burden of comorbidities. Their prognosis is poor with high rates of hospitalisation and mortality. Although obesity is a risk factor for developing HFpEF, low BMI is the strongest independent predictor of mortality in those patients.</AbstractText> |
16,408 | Novel oral anticoagulant vs. warfarin in elderly atrial fibrillation patients with normal, mid-range, and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. | Patients with concomitant atrial fibrillation (AF) and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) have poor prognosis. Outcomes of novel oral anticoagulant (NOAC) in elderly AF patients with normal, mid-range, and reduced LVEF were investigated.</AbstractText>Data were retrieved from Chang Gung Research Database during 2010-2017 for patients with AF. We excluded patients with venous thromboembolism within 6 months, total knee/hip replacement and heart valve replacement within 6 months, end-stage renal disease, stroke/systemic embolism (SE)/death within 7 days, age <65 years old, or no records of LVEF. Primary outcomes were ischaemic stroke (IS)/SE, major bleeding, and death from any cause. There was a total of 50 035 elderly AF patients retrieved. After exclusion criteria, 9615 patients with normal LVEF ≥ 50%, 737 with mid-range LVEF 41-49%, and 908 with reduced LVEF ≤ 40% were studied. At end of follow-up, patients on NOAC had significantly reduced IS/SE compared with warfarin in LVEF ≥ 50% [adjusted hazard ration (aHR) 0.80, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.71-0.89] and LVEF 41-49% (aHR 0.57, 95% CI 0.36-0.88) after adjusting for covariates, while there was no difference in LVEF ≤ 40%. Patients on NOAC had significantly reduced major bleeding in all LVEF groups. In addition, patients on NOAC had significantly reduced death compared with warfarin in LVEF ≥ 50% (aHR 0.81, 95% CI 0.67-0.98).</AbstractText>In elderly AF patients ≥65 years, using NOAC was associated with lower IS/SE compared with warfarin in normal and mid-range LVEF but not in reduced LVEF. Using NOACs was associated with lower death compared with warfarin in normal LVEF.</AbstractText>© 2020 The Authors. ESC Heart Failure published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,409 | Clinical Outcomes of Complete Left Bundle Branch Block According to Strict or Conventional Definition Criteria in Patients with Normal Left Ventricular Function. | Complete left bundle branch block (cLBBB) is associated with poor outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF) but appears to have minimal effects on cardiovascular (CV) mortality in relatively healthy adults. New criteria to define strict cLBBB have been proposed.</AbstractText>The aim of this study was to stratify the potential risk of cLBBB according to conventional or strict criteria in patients with normal ejection fraction (EF).</AbstractText>Patients with cLBBB from 2010 to 2013 who underwent baseline echocardiography within 1 year and had a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) > 50% were enrolled. A control group of patients without intraventricular conduction abnormalities matched for age and sex was included. Primary outcomes including CV mortality, HF admission, EF reduction of 40%, and total mortality were compared.</AbstractText>A total of 137 patients with cLBBB were included, of whom 118 had strict cLBBB. The mean age was 72 ± 15 years and 56.2% were men. With a median follow-up of 4.3 years, normal LVEF patients with cLBBB but without a history of atrial fibrillation had a significantly higher risk of CV mortality (p < 0.001), EF reduction to 40% (p < 0.001), and admission for HF (p < 0.001). A similar risk of CV events was noted for the patients with conventional and strict cLBBB.</AbstractText>In patients with normal EF and without a history of atrial fibrillation, the presence of cLBBB led to a greater risk of CV mortality, HF admission and EF reduction to < 40%. Strict cLBBB carries a similar risk of CV events to conventional cLBBB.</AbstractText> |
16,410 | Late Sodium Current in Atrial Cardiomyocytes Contributes to the Induced and Spontaneous Atrial Fibrillation in Rabbit Hearts. | Increased late sodium current (INa) induces long QT syndrome 3 with increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). The role of atrial late INa in the induction of AF and in the treatment of AF was determined in this study. AF parameters were measured in isolated rabbit hearts exposed to late INa enhancer and inhibitors. Late INa from isolated atrial and ventricular myocytes were measured using whole-cell patch-clamp techniques. We found that induced-AF by programmed S1S2 stimulation and spontaneous episodes of AF were recorded in hearts exposed to either low (0.1-3 nM) or high (3-10 nM) concentrations of ATX-II (n = 10). Prolongations in atrial monophasic action potential duration at 90% completion of repolarization and effective refractory period by ATX-II (0.1-15 nM) were greater in hearts paced at slow than at fast rates (n = 5-10, P < 0.05). Both endogenous and ATX-II-enhanced late INa density were greater in atrial than that in ventricular myocytes (n = 9 and 8, P < 0.05). Eleclazine and ranolazine reduced AF window and AF burden in association with the inhibition of both endogenous and enhanced atrial late INa with half maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of 1.14 and 9.78, and 0.94 and 8.31 μM, respectively. The IC50s for eleclazine and ranolazine to inhibit peak INa were 20.67 and 101.79 μM, respectively, in atrial myocytes. In conclusion, enhanced late INa in atrial myocytes increases the susceptibility for AF. Inhibition of either endogenous or enhanced late INa, with increased atrial potency of drugs is feasible for the treatment of AF. |
16,411 | Predicting ventricular tachyarrhythmia in patients with systolic heart failure based on texture features of the gray zone from contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. | Previous research showed that gray zone detected by late gadolinium enhancement cardiovascular magnetic resonance (LGE-CMR) imaging could help identify high-risk patients. In this study, we investigated whether LGE-CMR gray zone heterogeneity measured by image texture features could predict cardiovascular events in patients with heart failure (HF).</AbstractText>This is a retrospective cohort study. Patients with systolic HF undergoing CMR imaging were enrolled. Cine and LGE images were analyzed to derive left ventricular (LV) function and scar characteristics. Entropy and uniformity of gray zones were derived by texture analysis.</AbstractText>A total of 82 systolic HF patients were enrolled. After a median 1021 (25%-75% quartiles, 205-2066) days of follow-up, the entropy (0.60 ± 0.260 vs. 0.87 ± 0.28, p = 0.013) was significantly increased while the uniformity (0.68 ± 0.14 vs. 0.53±0.15, p = 0.016) was significantly decreased in patients with ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation (VT/VF). The percentage of core scar (21.9 ± 10.6 vs. 30.6 ± 10.4, p = 0.029) was higher in cardiac mortality group than survival group while the uniformity (0.55 ± 0.17 vs. 0.67 ± 0.14, p = 0.018) was lower in cardiac mortality group than survival group. A multivariate Cox regression model showed that higher percentage of gray zone area (HR = 8.805, 1.620-47.84, p = 0.045), higher entropy (>0.85) (HR = 1.391, 1.092-1.772, p = 0.024) and lower uniformity (≦0.54) (HR = 0.535, 0.340-0.842, p = 0.022) were associated with VT/VF attacks. Also, higher percentage of gray zone area (HR = 5.716, 1.379-23.68, p = 0.017), core scar zone (HR = 1.939, 1.056-3.561, p = 0.025), entropy (>0.85) (HR = 1.434, 1.076-1.911, p = 0.008) and lower uniformity (≦0.54) (HR = 0.513, 0.296-0.888, p = 0.009) were associated with cardiac mortality during follow-up.</AbstractText>Gray zone heterogeneity by texture analysis method could provide additional prognostic value to traditional LGE-CMR substrate analysis method.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Ltd.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,412 | Concomitant Mitral Regurgitation in Patients With Chronic Aortic Regurgitation. | Etiology, mechanisms, and survival of mitral regurgitation (MR) plus hemodynamically-significant chronic aortic regurgitation (AR) are mostly unknown.</AbstractText>The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence, mechanisms, etiologies, and survival impact of coexistent ≥ moderate MR in AR patients.</AbstractText>Consecutive patients with ≥ moderate-severe AR were retrospectively identified between 2004 and 2019.</AbstractText>Of 1,239 eligible patients (61 ± 18 years, 80% men), 1,072 (86%) had pure AR, and 167 (14%) had AR + MR (9% functional mitral regurgitation [FMR] [84% nonischemic] and 5% organic mitral regurgitation [OMR] [62% degenerative]). At baseline transthoracic echocardiogram, pure AR versus AR + OMR versus AR + FMR exhibited differences in age (59 ± 18, 62 ± 16, and 73 ± 14 years, respectively), female sex (18%, 27%, and 39%, respectively), symptoms (36%, 41%, and 64%, respectively), atrial fibrillation (5%, 17%, and 36%, respectively), left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (59%, 58%, and 46%, respectively), LV end-systolic dimension and volume index, ≥ moderate tricuspid regurgitation (TR) (7%, 35%, and 53%, respectively), and right ventricular systolic pressure (32 ± 11, 45 ± 15, and 50 ± 14 mm Hg, respectively), all p < 0.0001. After a median follow-up of 5.2 years (interquartile range: 2.2 to 10.0 years) and adjusting for demographics, New York Heart Association functional class, aortic valve surgery, LV ejection fraction, LV end-systolic dimension and volume index, presence of FMR was independently associated with all-cause mortality (p ≤ 0.004). Compared with pure AR, AR + MR + TR exhibited the highest adjusted risk of death (2.4-fold; p < 0.0001). When compared with expected population survival, excess mortality risks of pure AR, AR + OMR, and AR + FMR were 1.25-fold, 1.76-fold, and 2.34-fold, respectively (all p ≤ 0.02).</AbstractText>In hemodynamically significant AR, coexistent MR is not uncommon (approximately 14%) and mostly comprises FMR and less commonly OMR. As compared with pure AR, AR + MR + TR exhibit the largest mortality risk. Both AR + OMR and AR + FMR carry a survival penalty compared with the general population, but AR + FMR is associated with the largest excess mortality and represents an advanced stage within the AR clinical spectrum.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,413 | Echocardiographic evaluation of cardiac recovery after refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.<Pagination><StartPage>38</StartPage><EndPage>46</EndPage><MedlinePgn>38-46</MedlinePgn></Pagination><ELocationID EIdType="doi" ValidYN="Y">10.1016/j.resuscitation.2020.06.037</ELocationID><ELocationID EIdType="pii" ValidYN="Y">S0300-9572(20)30276-8</ELocationID><Abstract><AbstractText Label="BACKGROUND">The mechanisms and degree of myocardial recovery during treatment with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) are unclear. We performed a descriptive study to evaluate myocardial recovery and changes in parameters of myocardial loading using echocardiography.</AbstractText><AbstractText Label="METHODS">We retrospectively evaluated patients with refractory ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation out-of-hospital cardiac arrest who were treated with the Minnesota Resuscitation Consortium protocol. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), end-systolic diameter (LVESD), and fractional shortening were assessed using serial echocardiography. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare parameters over six hospitalization stages. Two-way ANOVA was used to compare these parameters between patients that survived the index hospitalization and those that died.</AbstractText><AbstractText Label="RESULTS">77 patients had >1 echocardiographic turndown evaluations. Thirty-eight patients survived to discharge and 39 patients died. Of 39 in-hospital deaths, 17 patients died before VA-ECMO decannulation and 22 patients died after VA-ECMO decannulation. Among all patients, LVEF improved from 9.7 ± 10.1% from the first echocardiogram after rewarming to 43.1 ± 13.1% after decannulation (p < 0.001) and fractional shortening ratio improved from 0.14 ± 0.12 to 0.31 ± 0.14 (p < 0.001). The LVEDD and LVESD remained stable (p = 0.36 and p = 0.12, respectively). Patients that died had a lower LVEF by an average of 6.93% (95% confidence interval: -10.0 to -3.83, p < 0.001), but other parameters were similar.</AbstractText><AbstractText Label="CONCLUSION">Refractory cardiac arrest patients treated with VA-ECMO experience significant recovery of ventricular function during treatment. We postulate that this primarily occurs via reduction of LV preload.</AbstractText><CopyrightInformation>Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.</CopyrightInformation></Abstract><AuthorList CompleteYN="Y"><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Kalra</LastName><ForeName>Rajat</ForeName><Initials>R</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Cardiovascular Division, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States; Center for Resuscitation Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Bartos</LastName><ForeName>Jason A</ForeName><Initials>JA</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Cardiovascular Division, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States; Center for Resuscitation Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Kosmopoulos</LastName><ForeName>Marinos</ForeName><Initials>M</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Cardiovascular Division, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States; Center for Resuscitation Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Carlson</LastName><ForeName>Claire</ForeName><Initials>C</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Cardiovascular Division, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States; Center for Resuscitation Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>John</LastName><ForeName>Ranjit</ForeName><Initials>R</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Shaffer</LastName><ForeName>Andrew</ForeName><Initials>A</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Martin</LastName><ForeName>Cindy</ForeName><Initials>C</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Cardiovascular Division, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Raveendran</LastName><ForeName>Ganesh</ForeName><Initials>G</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Cardiovascular Division, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States; Center for Resuscitation Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Yannopoulos</LastName><ForeName>Demetris</ForeName><Initials>D</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Cardiovascular Division, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States; Center for Resuscitation Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA. Electronic address: yanno001@umn.edu.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author></AuthorList><Language>eng</Language><PublicationTypeList><PublicationType UI="D016428">Journal Article</PublicationType><PublicationType UI="D013485">Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't</PublicationType></PublicationTypeList><ArticleDate DateType="Electronic"><Year>2020</Year><Month>07</Month><Day>13</Day></ArticleDate></Article><MedlineJournalInfo><Country>Ireland</Country><MedlineTA>Resuscitation</MedlineTA><NlmUniqueID>0332173</NlmUniqueID><ISSNLinking>0300-9572</ISSNLinking></MedlineJournalInfo><CitationSubset>IM</CitationSubset><MeshHeadingList><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D004452" MajorTopicYN="N">Echocardiography</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D006801" MajorTopicYN="N">Humans</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D008910" MajorTopicYN="N" Type="Geographic">Minnesota</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D058687" MajorTopicYN="Y">Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest</DescriptorName><QualifierName UI="Q000000981" MajorTopicYN="N">diagnostic imaging</QualifierName><QualifierName UI="Q000628" MajorTopicYN="N">therapy</QualifierName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D012189" MajorTopicYN="N">Retrospective Studies</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D013318" MajorTopicYN="N">Stroke Volume</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D016277" MajorTopicYN="N">Ventricular Function, Left</DescriptorName></MeshHeading></MeshHeadingList><KeywordList Owner="NOTNLM"><Keyword MajorTopicYN="N">Cardiac arrest</Keyword><Keyword MajorTopicYN="N">Echocardiography</Keyword><Keyword MajorTopicYN="N">Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)</Keyword><Keyword MajorTopicYN="N">Ventricular mechanics</Keyword></KeywordList></MedlineCitation><PubmedData><History><PubMedPubDate PubStatus="received"><Year>2020</Year><Month>4</Month><Day>5</Day></PubMedPubDate><PubMedPubDate PubStatus="revised"><Year>2020</Year><Month>6</Month><Day>17</Day></PubMedPubDate><PubMedPubDate PubStatus="accepted"><Year>2020</Year><Month>6</Month><Day>23</Day></PubMedPubDate><PubMedPubDate PubStatus="pubmed"><Year>2020</Year><Month>7</Month><Day>17</Day><Hour>6</Hour><Minute>0</Minute></PubMedPubDate><PubMedPubDate PubStatus="medline"><Year>2021</Year><Month>6</Month><Day>22</Day><Hour>6</Hour><Minute>0</Minute></PubMedPubDate><PubMedPubDate PubStatus="entrez"><Year>2020</Year><Month>7</Month><Day>17</Day><Hour>6</Hour><Minute>0</Minute></PubMedPubDate></History><PublicationStatus>ppublish</PublicationStatus><ArticleIdList><ArticleId IdType="pubmed">32673734</ArticleId><ArticleId IdType="doi">10.1016/j.resuscitation.2020.06.037</ArticleId><ArticleId IdType="pii">S0300-9572(20)30276-8</ArticleId></ArticleIdList></PubmedData></PubmedArticle><PubmedArticle><MedlineCitation Status="MEDLINE" Owner="NLM" IndexingMethod="Automated"><PMID Version="1">32672691</PMID><DateCompleted><Year>2020</Year><Month>09</Month><Day>17</Day></DateCompleted><DateRevised><Year>2020</Year><Month>09</Month><Day>17</Day></DateRevised><Article PubModel="Print"><Journal><ISSN IssnType="Print">1512-0112</ISSN><JournalIssue CitedMedium="Internet"><Issue>302</Issue><PubDate><Year>2020</Year><Month>May</Month></PubDate></JournalIssue><Title>Georgian medical news</Title><ISOAbbreviation>Georgian Med News</ISOAbbreviation></Journal>[HIGH-DENSITY MAPPING OF ATYPICAL ATRIAL FLUTTER USING A PENTARAY]. | This article describes clinical cases with complex cardiac arrhythmias after previous interventions. The aim of this article is to provide the first experience of using the PentaRay high-density mapping catheter in Kazakhstan (Biosense Webster, California, USA). Two clinical cases with the presence of several types of cardiac arrhythmias in each patient are described. The article describes two clinical cases with multiple atrial arrhythmias after previously performed interventional procedures on the left atrium. Both patients underwent radiofrequency isolation of the pulmonary veins, which was performed to treat atrial fibrillation, but was unsuccessful. An additional radiofrequency ablation in the atria was performed to treat continuously recurrent atrial arrhythmias. Patients were 56 and 70 years old. In the first case, atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia occurred after previous severe myocarditis. In the second case, the primary occurrence of atrial fibrillation is associated with age-related atrial myocardial fibrosis and the presence of concomitant pathology such as arterial hypertension. In both cases, Carto3 navigation system (Biosense Webster, California, USA) and PentaRay high-density mapping catheter were used. A distinctive feature of the PentaRay high-density mapping catheter is the presence of 20 electrodes, which are located on five branches while the ThermoCool SmartTouch standard ablation-mapping catheter has only four mapping electrodes. In this regard, the advantage of the PentaRay high-density mapping catheter is the ability to quickly, accurately, safely create a map of target arrhythmia in any part of the heart. In this article a PentaRay high-density mapping catheter is used to map atrial arrhythmias. Thus, at least three mechanisms of the development of atrial arrhythmias were revealed in each patient, including the presence of fractionated electrograms. The CLOSE protocol was used to perform radiofrequency ablation, which is more effective and avoid complications. |
16,414 | [Smart decisions in rhythmology : What should we know? What should be do? What do we still have to learn?]. | Heart rhythm disorders are one of the most common cardiac problems in Germany. Every year, about 95,000 ablation procedures, 42,000 implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) and 102,000 pacemaker implantations are performed with the annual numbers continuing to increase. Besides technological innovations in the field of therapeutic devices (e.g., ablation tools), there are fundamental changes in the diagnostic workup for arrhythmias since smartwatches and wearable devices are increasingly available on the market. In this article, an overview on the latest developments in the field of invasive electrophysiology and rhythmology is provided. The following are explained: why electrocardiograms (ECGs) from smartwatches/wearables are usually of good quality and can be used for screening or confirmation of a diagnosis; why we should consider re-establishment of sinus rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation or limited left ventricular function; to what extent investigator and center experience influence patient safety; how we can induce a physiological contraction pattern in about 70% of AV block patients by direct stimulation of the specific conduction system, why the benefit of an implantable ICD is questionable in nonischemic cardiomyopathy and ejection fraction (EF) <35 %; and finally, why cardiomyopathies induced by ventricular extrasystoles (VES) are so difficult to predict. |
16,415 | Stellate Ganglion Blockade and Left Cardiac Sympathetic Denervation With Left Stellate Ganglionectomy in a Patient With Refractory Electrical Storm: A Case Report. | Electrical storm (ES) is classified as at least three episodes of ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) in any 24-hour period. Stellate ganglion blockade and left stellate ganglionectomy have shown benefit in terminating ES. A 64-year-old white male with a past medical history of atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease requiring previous cardiac bypass surgery in 1997, and coronary artery stents in 2003 presented with syncope and refractory ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation. He eventually underwent both an ultrasound-guided left stellate ganglion block and left cardiac sympathetic denervation with left stellate ganglionectomy. In the setting of refractory ES, the left stellate ganglion block followed by left stellate ganglionectomy can be a lifesaving intervention. |
16,416 | Disrupting the Electrical Circuit: New Onset Atrial Fibrillation in a Patient With Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). | In December 2019, an outbreak of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, China was attributed to a novel coronavirus that was eventually recognized as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Currently identified as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), it has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization given its rapid global transmission. Various cardiovascular complications have been reported, including heart failure, myocarditis, acute coronary syndrome and arrhythmias, both atrial and ventricular. Regarding arrhythmias, onset from time of infection is variable but usually ranges from several days to a week. We hereby present a case of a COVID-19 positive patient presenting with new onset atrial fibrillation. |
16,417 | Effect of serum γ-glutamyltranferase and albumin levels on the response to cardiac resynchronization therapy in the elderly. | Several liver function tests have been identified as predictors of hospitalization for heart failure (HF) and death in patients with chronic HF. The relationship between serum γ-glutamyltranferase (GGT) and albumin (SA) levels with the response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has not been reliably determined. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of liver function tests on the results of CRT in the elderly.</AbstractText>Baseline GGT and SA were assessed before CRT device implantation in the elderly (> 70-year-old) patients. The endpoints were: (1) CRT response defined as > 5% left ventricular ejection fraction improvement and no hospitalization for HF or cardiovascular death; (2) hospitalizations; and (3) mortality.</AbstractText>Eighty of 138 (58%) included patients were responders at nine months. Compared to responders, the SA levels were not significantly different (35.1 ± 5.4 vs.</i> 33.6 ± 5.5 g/L, P</i> = 0.103); but the GGT levels, higher (81.6 ± 69.3 vs.</i> 54.7 ± 49.6 U/L, P</i> = 0.013) in non-responders to CRT. GGT level was independently associated with non-response to CRT (P</i> < 0.001, OR = 0.17; 95% CI: 0.08-0.38, P</i> < 0.001). GGT cut-off value ≥ 55 U/L was highly predictive of non-response [AUC = 0.65, 64% Sensitivity, 69% Specificity (95% CI: 0.56-0.74)]. GGT ≥ 55 U/L was also associated with higher risk of hospitalization for atrial fibrillation (AF) (95% vs.</i> 83%, P</i> = 0.024). Both SA and GGT had no impact on overall (P</i> = 0.220, P</i> = 0.723) mortality.</AbstractText>Higher level of GGT is an independent predictor of non-response to CRT in patients over age 70 years and is associated with higher risk of hospitalization for AF. Baseline serum levels of albumin and GGT and have no impact on mortality in elderly patients undergoing CRT.</AbstractText>Institute of Geriatric Cardiology.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,418 | Doppler-Derived Intrarenal Venous Flow Mirrors Right-Sided Heart Hemodynamics in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease. | Interruption in Doppler intrarenal venous flow (IRVF) has been used in assessing renal congestion and in the prediction of prognosis of cardiovascular diseases. However, there is a paucity of pathophysiological knowledge, so we aimed to clarify the determinants of IRVF interruption.Methods and Results:Intrarenal Doppler studies were performed within 24 h before right-side catheterization studies. The interruption in IRVF in 73 patients was divided into a continuous pattern, and 4 discontinuous types based on the timing of interruption. Type 1, with an interruption in early systole, was associated with a-wave elevation of right atrial pressure (RAP). Type 2, with an interruption in early diastole, was associated with v-wave elevation, tricuspid regurgitation (TR), and right ventricular dysfunction. Both Type 1 and 2 were observed even in the normal range of mean RAP. Type 3, with an interruption throughout systole, was observed in advanced right heart failure patients with markedly elevated RAP, particularly elevated x-descend and atrial fibrillation. Finally, Type 4, with limited flow at systole, was observed in 2 of the patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.</AbstractText>IRVF interruption was closely related to RAP elevation at each specific point of the cardiac cycle rather than to mean RAP levels, suggesting that the characteristics of IRVF mirror right-sided heart hemodynamics, not mean RAP.</AbstractText> |
16,419 | Evaluation of left ventricular function in patients with acute ischaemic stroke using cine cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging. | Heart failure (HF) is frequent in patients with acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) and associated with higher morbidity and mortality. Assessment of cardiac function in AIS patients using cardiovascular MRI (CMR) may help to detect HF. We report the rate of systolic and diastolic dysfunction in a cohort of patients with AIS using CMR and compare cine real-time (CRT) sequences with the reference of segmented cine steady-state free precession sequences.</AbstractText>Patients with AIS without known atrial fibrillation were prospectively enrolled in the HEart and BRain Interfaces in Acute Ischemic Stroke (HEBRAS) study (NCT02142413) and underwent CMR at 3 Tesla within 7 days after AIS. Validity of CRT sequences was determined in 50 patients. A total of 229 patients were included in the analysis (mean age 66 years; 35% women; HF 2%). Evaluation of cardiac function was successful in 172 (75%) patients. Median time from stroke onset to CMR was 82 h (interquartile range 56-111) and 54 h (interquartile range 31-78) from cerebral MRI to CMR. Systolic dysfunction was observed in 43 (25%) and diastolic dysfunction in 102 (59%) patients. Diagnostic yield was similar using CRT or segmented cine imaging (no significant difference in left ventricular ejection fraction, myocardial mass, time to peak filling rate, and peak filling rate ratio E/A). Intraobserver and interobserver agreement was high (κ = 0.78-1.0 for all modalities).</AbstractText>Cardiovascular MRI at 3 Tesla is an appropriate method for the evaluation of cardiac function in a selected cohort of patients with AIS. Systolic and diastolic dysfunction is frequent in these patients. CRT imaging allows reliable assessment of systolic and diastolic function.</AbstractText>© 2020 The Authors. ESC Heart Failure published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,420 | Thawing Rate Predicts Acute Pulmonary Vein Isolation after Second-Generation Cryoballoon Ablation. | To evaluate whether thawing rate could be a novel predictor of acute pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) and explore the predictive value of thawing rate as a factor ensuring long-term PVI (vagus reflex).</AbstractText>A total of 151 patients who underwent cryoballoon ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) were enrolled in this retrospective study between January 2017 and June 2018. The thawing rate was calculated using the thawing phase of the cryoablation curve. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the predictive value of the thawing rate for acute PVI and vagus reflex.</AbstractText>ROC curve analyses revealed that the interval thawing rate at 15°C (ITR15) was the most valuable predictor of PVI, with the highest area under curve (AUC) value of the ROC curve. The best cut-off value of ITR15 for PVI was ≤2.14°C/S and its sensitivity and specificity were 88.62% and 67.18%, respectively. In addition, the ITR15 of the successful PVI group after cryoballoon ablation was significantly slower than the failed PVI group. ITR15 was a predictor of vagus reflex and the occurrence of vagus reflex group had a slower ITR15 compared to the non-occurrence group.</AbstractText>Thawing rate was a novel predictor of acute PVI and the ITR15 was the most valuable predictor of acute PVI. In addition, ITR15 was a predictive factor ensuring long-term PVI (vagus reflex). Our study showed that thawing rate may serve in the early identification of useless cryoballoon ablation.</AbstractText> |
16,421 | Novel rate control strategy with landiolol in patients with cardiac dysfunction and atrial fibrillation. | While patients with acute heart failure often have tachycardia with atrial fibrillation, there have been no established medical tools that control tachycardia safely and definitely. Digoxin has been recommended as a first choice in the former guidelines, but it takes time to affect and has a risk of adverse events particularly for those with chronic kidney disease. Landiolol is a recently innovated ultra-short-acting beta-blocker with 251-fold β1/β2 selectivity, which was originally indicated only to control peri-operative supra-ventricular tachyarrhythmia by 2013 in Japan. We aimed to review how to use landiolol in patients with cardiac dysfunction and tachycardia due to atrial fibrillation. We reviewed recently conducted randomized control trials using landiolol, recently updated guidelines, as well as current practical use of landiolol. Japan landiolol vs. Digoxin (J-Land) study demonstrated that landiolol was more effective to control tachycardia than digoxin in atrial fibrillation patients with left ventricular dysfunction in 2013. Given the result, the revised Japanese heart failure guideline recommends landiolol for rate control during atrial fibrillation in acute heart failure patients as Class IIa with evidence level B. Currently in Japan, landiolol is used for rate control, even in patients with advanced heart failure receiving continuous infusion of inotropes. The clinical use of landiolol in patients with cardiac dysfunction and tachycardia due to atrial fibrillation is increasing. Further studies are warranted to investigate the implication of faster and safer rate control using landiolol. |
16,422 | Applicability of computed tomography preoperative assessment of the LAA in LV summit ablations. | Ventricular arrhythmias originating from the left ventricular summit (LVS) may present with challenges for catheter ablation. Recently, the left atrial appendage (LAA) became a new vantage point for mapping and ablating arrhythmias from that region, but data of possible usefulness is limited.</AbstractText>From September to December 2019, we retrospectively analyzed 48 consecutive patient hearts (20 male; mean age 57.9y ± 11.56) undergoing diagnostic coronary vessel imaging in 64 dual-source computer tomography angiography (CTA). Distances from the LAA to the LVS, LAA shape type, and coronary arteries in the LVS region were measured. Also, we compared the true LVS area from CTA with a calculated formula derived from LVS definition.</AbstractText>The mean LVS area calculated from the formula was 291.58 mm2</sup> (± 115.5) while the true area calculated from CT was 263.33 mm2</sup> (± 99.49) (p = 0.44). The mean inaccessible area was 133.42 mm2</sup> (± 72.89), accessible 95.67 mm2</sup> (± 72.77). The mean LAA coverage over LVS was 196.08 mm2</sup>-which is approximately 75% of LVS size in general. The most common LAA shape was chicken wing (50%); windsock has the highest accessible area coverage on average (80.23%), followed by chicken wing (59.88%), broccoli (47.72%), and cactus (46.98%). The mean distance from LAA to the surface was 5.14 mm (1.5 to 10 mm) and was not correlated with BMI. LAA has a 98% coverage over the point of transition between the great cardiac vein and anterior interventricular vein.</AbstractText>Angio-CT assessment of the LAA over the LVS structures may be helpful in decision making before an ablation procedure. LAA appears to be a promising mapping approach in LVS arrhythmias.</AbstractText>© 2020. The Author(s).</CopyrightInformation> |
16,423 | Occlusion of left main coronary artery presenting with ventricular fibrillation in teenagers: an unrecognised cause of sudden death? | In young patients with unexplained ventricular fibrillation, coronary occlusion may be missed by echocardiogram and misinterpreted by CT. We report two patients presenting with ventricular fibrillation and initially negative workup, later identified to have occlusion of left main coronary artery. We demonstrate the importance of angiography to rule out coronary occlusion in patients with unexplained ventricular fibrillation. |
16,424 | Real-world performance of the atrial fibrillation monitor in patients with a subcutaneous ICD. | The third-generation subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) (EMBLEM™ A219, Boston Scientific) contains a new diagnostic tool to detect atrial fibrillation (AF) in S-ICD patients, without the use of an intracardiac lead. This is the first study to evaluate the performance of the S-ICD AF monitor (AFM).</AbstractText>The AFM algorithm analyzes a subcutaneous signal for the presence of AF, similar to the signals collected by implantable and wearable diagnostic devices. The AFM algorithm combines heart rate (HR) scatter analysis with an HR histogram. The algorithm was tested against publicly available electrocardiogram databases (simulated performance). Real-world performance of the algorithm was evaluated by using the S-ICD LATITUDE remote monitoring (RM) database.</AbstractText>The simulated performance of the AFM algorithm resulted in a sensitivity of 95.0%, specificity of 100.0%, and positive predictive value (PPV) of 100.0%. To evaluate the real-world performance of the AFM, 7744 S-ICD devices were followed for up to 30 months by RM, whereof 99.5% had the AFM enabled. A total of 387 AF episodes were randomly chosen for adjudication, resulting in a PPV of 67.7%. The main cause of misclassification was atrial and ventricular ectopy.</AbstractText>The AFM exhibited a very high sensitivity and specificity in a simulated setting, designed to maximize PPV in order to minimize the clinical burden of reviewing falsely detected AF events. The real-world performance of the AFM, enabled in 99.5% of S-ICD patients, is a PPV of 67.7%.</AbstractText>© 2020 The Authors. Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,425 | Differences in 30-day complications and 1-year mortality by sex in patients with a first STEMI managed by the Codi IAM network between 2010 and 2016. | ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) emergency care networks aim to increase reperfusion rates and reduce ischemic times. The influence of sex on prognosis is still being debated. Our objective was to analyze prognosis according to sex after a first STEMI.</AbstractText>This multicenter cohort study enrolled first STEMI patients from 2010 to 2016 to determine the influence of sex after adjustment for revascularization delays, age, and comorbidities. End points were 30-day mortality, the 30-day composite of mortality, ventricular fibrillation, pulmonary edema, or cardiogenic shock, and 1-year all-cause mortality.</AbstractText>From 2010 to 2016, 14 690 patients were included; 24% were women. The median [interquartile range] time from electrocardiogram to artery opening decreased throughout the study period in both sexes (119 minutes [85-160] vs 109 minutes [80-153] in 2010, 102 minutes [81-133] vs 96 minutes [74-124] in 2016, both P=.001). The rates of primary PCI within 120 minutes increased in the same period (50.4% vs 57.9% and 67.1% vs 72.1%, respectively; both P=.001). After adjustment for confounders, female sex was not associated with 30-day complications (OR, 1.06; 95%CI, 0.91-1.22). However, female 30-day survivors had a lower adjusted 1-year mortality than their male counterparts (HR,0.76; 95%CI, 0.61-0.95).</AbstractText>Compared with men, women with a first STEMI had similar 30-day mortality and complication rates but significantly lower 1-year mortality after adjustment for age and severity.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020 Sociedad Española de Cardiología. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,426 | Stereotactic Cardiac Radiation to Control Ventricular Tachycardia and Fibrillation Storm in a Patient with Apical Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy at Burnout Stage: Case Report. | Stereotactic cardiac radiation for ablation (radioablation) of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia was recently introduced into clinical practice. A 76-year-old male patient with apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy at burnout stage, who received defibrillator implantation for the secondary prevention of sudden arrhythmic death, was admitted for repeated defibrillator therapy. Radiofrequency catheter ablation was unsuccessful due to the induction of ventricular fibrillation (VF) and hemodynamically unstable sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT). However, intracardiac activation mapping for the induced VT revealed the earliest ventricular activation at the apical aneurysm. Radioablation was performed to control VT and VF storm refractory to antiarrhythmic drug therapy. A total of 24 Gray was radiated, divided into three fractions around the apical aneurysm. The onset of electrical modulation was instantaneous and the antiarrhythmic effect was maintained for at least 6 months without significant radiation toxicities. This case suggests that radioablation may be considered as a rescue therapy for VT and VF storm refractory to other treatment modalities. |
16,427 | Initial Experience Using the Radiofrequency Needle Visualization on the Electroanatomical Mapping System for Transseptal Puncture. | Transseptal puncture (TSP) is a routine access route in patients with left-sided ablation substrates and is performed safely on fluoroscopy (+/- echocardiographic guidance). We report on our experience using a radiofrequency (RF) needle in an unselected group of patients to demonstrate safety and usefulness of direct tip visualization on the 3D electroanatomical mapping (EAM) system with specific emphasis on total radiation exposure.</AbstractText>We retrospectively reviewed 42 consecutive left-sided ablation procedures with TSP performed using an RF needle guided by fluoroscopy and/or EAM visualization by a single operator. The procedures included atrial fibrillation (n</i> = 33), atrial tachycardia (n</i> = 8), and ventricular tachycardia (n</i> = 1) ablations. Fourteen of 41 patients had congenital heart disease, including 9 patients with previous septal closure. Twenty-two patients had at least one previous TSP. All TSPs were performed successfully and without complications. The overall median fluoroscopy time amounted to 3.2 min and median exposure of 199.5 µ</i>Gy ∗</i></sup> m2</sup>. In a subgroup of patients (n</i> = 27), the RF needle was visualized on the EAM system: median radiation time was 0.88 (interquartile range: 0-3.4) min and median exposure 33.5 [0-324.8] µ</i>Gy ∗</i></sup> m2</sup>.</AbstractText>TSP using an RF needle is an effective technique, also in congenital patients with artificial patch material and in normal patients with multiple previous TSPs. Moreover, the RF needle tip visualization on EAM allows a low (or even zero) fluoroscopy approach.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020 Silvia Guarguagli et al.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,428 | Contributing factors to early recurrence of ventricular fibrillation during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: An observational retrospective study. | In out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), external electric shock (EES) is recommended for treating ventricular fibrillation (VF). Refibrillation commonly occurs within one minute post-shock. We aimed to investigate refibrillation times and identifyclinical and electrical factors associated with them.</AbstractText>This retrospective observational study, based on the Paris Fire Brigade database, included non-traumatic OHCA over 18 years of age who received at least one shock with an AED from Basic Life Support (BLS) rescuers and from which we randomly selected a sample to measure the refibrillation-times. Without prior reference to it in the literature, we classified the refibrillation-time into two modalities according to whether it was above or below the median-time. We performed multiple regression analysis to assess associations between refibrillation-time and potential explanatory factors.</AbstractText>Among 13,181 patients who experienced OHCA from January 2010 to January 2014, we analysed AED data from 215 patients (590 shocks), 82.1% males, median age 61[IQR: 52-75] years. Most of them occurred at home (57%), were witnessed (87%), and were shockable (88.8%). A median of 5[4-7] EES/patients were delivered. The median-time from shock to refibrillation was 25[13-44] s. Multivariate analysis showed that a shorter post-shock hands-off time favoured earlier refibrillation (p = 0.034), as well as older age (p = 0.002) (Fig. 2, Supplementary table).</AbstractText>In non-traumatic OHCA, most refibrillations occurred within 45-s post-shock. Age and post-shock hands-off time were the two contributing factors to time to refibrillation.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,429 | T<sub>1</sub> Mapping Tissue Heterogeneity Provides Improved Risk Stratification for ICDs Without Needing Gadolinium in Patients With Dilated Cardiomyopathy. | This study sought to determine whether myocardial tissue heterogeneity scanned by native T1</sub> mapping could improve risk stratification in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NICM) evaluated for primary prevention by ICD.</AbstractText>The benefit of insertable cardiac-defibrillator (ICD) as primary prevention ICD in patients with NICM remains to be fully clarified.</AbstractText>A total of 115 NICM candidates for primary prevention and 55 healthy controls with similar distributions of age and sex were prospectively enrolled. Imaging was performed at 1.5-T using a protocol that included cine magnetic resonance for left ventricular function, late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) for focal scarring, and 5-slice native T1</sub> mapping for diffuse fibrosis and heterogeneity. The last method was assessed by mean absolute deviation of the segmental pixel-SD from the average pixel-SD (Mad-SD). The primary endpoint was a composite of appropriate ICD therapy and sudden cardiac death.</AbstractText>During a median follow-up of 24 months, 13 patients (11%) experienced the primary endpoint. Dichotomized Mad-SD >0.24 provided a comparable outcome to the presence of LGE for the primary endpoint (annual event rate: 9.8% vs. 10.9%). The integration of Mad-SD to global native T1</sub> showed excellent arrhythmic event-free survival (annual event rate: 0%), and high sensitivity of 85% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 55% to 98%) and moderate specificity of 72% (95% CI: 62% to 80%), with a C-statistic of 0.76 (95% CI: 0.64 to 0.87), which was comparable to the presence, location, or extent of LGE in its ability to predict arrhythmic events.</AbstractText>Combined myocardium tissue heterogeneity and interstitial fibrosis assessment by native T1</sub> mapping is an important predictor of ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation and provides additive risk stratification for primary prevention ICD in NICM patients without the need for gadolinium contrast.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,430 | Long-term risk of heart failure and mortality following mitral valve surgery in patients with and without right ventricular pacemaker. | Patients undergoing mitral valve surgery are at risk of developing postoperative conduction blocks and have a high incidence of heart failure (HF). Mitral valve surgery often results in reduced left ventricular systolic ejection fraction following surgery and the imposition of dyssynchrony with right ventricular (RV) pacing may further compromise stroke volume. Our aim was to investigate the risks of HF and mortality in patients with vs without RV pacemaker placement (PPM) after mitral valve surgery.</AbstractText>Using Danish nationwide databases, we identified all patients undergoing mitral valve repair or replacement surgery between 1997 and 2017, who were free from HF at baseline. The association of PPM implanted within 30 days following surgery with long-term risks of HF and mortality was investigated by multivariable Cox regression models.</AbstractText>Of 4072 patients (33% female), 248 (6%) had a PPM implanted at 30-day postsurgery. Patients with PPM were older (68 vs 63 years), had a higher prevalence of concomitant aortic valve surgery (15% vs 11%), ischemic heart disease (13% vs 8%), and atrial fibrillation (19% vs 12%), compared with patients without PPM. Over a median follow-up of 5 years, 68 (27%) vs 825 (22%) patients with vs without PPM developed HF and 74 (30%) vs 1018 (27%) died. In multivariable-adjusted models, the hazard ratios associated with PPM were 1.00 (0.78-1.30), P = .93 for HF, and .96 (0.76-1.21), P = .72 for mortality.</AbstractText>Postoperative implantation of a permanent RV pacemaker does not alter the long-term risks of HF and mortality following mitral valve surgery.</AbstractText>© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,431 | Coronary artery thromboembolism: Unexpected presentation of left atrial myxoma covered with thrombus. | Cardiac myxomas are benign primer cardiac tumors of the heart. They can be fatal with a thromboembolic presentation. Myocardial infarction is one of these unusual thromboembolic presentations. We report a patient who presented with cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation related to myocardial infarction. After successful resuscitation, coronary angiography and transthoracic echocardiography were performed. A left atrial mass was observed and interpreted as a possible cause of coronary embolism leading to myocardial infarction. After surgical excision, the pathological examination confirmed myxoma, which was the essential cause of the tendency to arterial embolism. |
16,432 | Late tricuspid regurgitation and right ventricular remodeling after tricuspid annuloplasty. | The aim of the present retrospective study was to evaluate the influence of preoperative right ventricular (RV) and tricuspid valve (TV) remodeling on the fate of tricuspid annuloplasty (TA) and right ventricle.</AbstractText>From May 2009 to December 2015, 423 patients who had undergone TA for functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR) were included in the study. Residual and recurrent TR were defined as moderate or more TR at discharge and follow-up, respectively. RV remodeling was defined as RV dysfunction and/or dilation.</AbstractText>Residual TR after TA was recorded in 54 patients (13%). Five-year freedom from TR recurrence was 81% ± 3% in patients without residual TR and 41 ± 8 in patients with residual TR (P < .001). In patients without residual TR, the following risk factors for recurrent TR and late RV remodeling were identified: preoperative systolic pulmonary artery pressure, preoperative RV remodeling, severe preoperative TR or less than severe TR but with TV apparatus remodeling, and etiology of mitral regurgitation. Cox analysis with time-dependent variables confirmed TR recurrence (hazard ratio [HR]: 3.1) and late RV remodeling (HR: 6.5) as risk factors for lower survival. No protective effect of either flexible band or rigid ring TA compared with DeVega procedure was found. Similarly, preoperative atrial fibrillation and pacemaker dependency, late failure of mitral valve surgery did not affect the fate of TR.</AbstractText>Prophylactic TA should be encouraged among surgeons. TA at the time of left-sided valve surgery should take into consideration not only annular size, but also tethering severity and RV remodeling.</AbstractText>© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,433 | Characteristics and Prognosis of Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation and Significant Valvular Heart Disease Referred for Electrical Cardioversion. | Valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) is defined as AF in the presence of mitral stenosis or mechanical valve prosthesis. However, there are patients with AF who have significant native valvular heart disease (VHD) others than mitral stenosis that are classified as nonvalvular AF. The characteristics and prognostic implications of these entities have not been extensively studied. Of 1,885 AF patients referred for electrical cardioversion (64 ± 13years, 71% male), 171 (9.1%) had valvular AF (any grade of mitral stenosis or mechanical/biological valve prostheses) and 1,714 patients were identified as nonvalvular AF, of whom 329 (17.5%) had significant left-sided VHD. Patients with nonvalvular AF but with significant left-sided VHD were older, more frequently women and had more co-morbidities compared with the other groups. Furthermore, nonvalvular AF patients with significant left-sided VHD showed the worst left ventricular systolic function and largest left atrial volumes. During a median follow-up of 64 months (interquartile range: 33 to 96 months), 488 patients presented with the combined endpoint of all-cause mortality, heart failure hospitalization, and ischemic stroke. Patients with nonvalvular AF and with significant left-sided VHD had more events of heart failure whereas patients with valvular AF had higher all-cause mortality events. There were no differences in ischemic stroke events. Type of AF was not associated with outcomes after correcting for echocardiographic variables. In conclusion, the frequency of AF patients with significant VHD is relatively high. The consequences of VHD and AF on cardiac structure and function are more important determinants of adverse outcome than the type of AF. |
16,434 | Usefulness of Neuromuscular Co-morbidity, Left Bundle Branch Block, and Atrial Fibrillation to Predict the Long-Term Prognosis of Left Ventricular Hypertrabeculation/Noncompaction. | The prognosis of patients with left ventricular hypertrabeculation/noncompaction (LVHT) is assessed controversially. LVHT is associated with other cardiac abnormalities and with neuromuscular disorders (NMD). Aim of the study was to assess cardiac and neurological findings as predictors of mortality rate in adult LVHT-patients. Included were patients with LVHT diagnosed between 1995 and 2019 in 1 echocardiographic laboratory. Patients underwent a baseline cardiologic examination and were invited for a neurological investigation. In January 2020, their survival status was assessed. End points were death or heart transplantation. LVHT was diagnosed by echocardiography in 310 patients (93 female, aged 53 ± 18 years) with a prevalence of 0.4%/year. A neurologic investigation was performed in 205 patients (67%). A specific NMD was found in 33 (16%), NMD of unknown etiology in 123 (60%) and the neurological investigation was normal in 49 (24%) patients. During follow-up of 84 ± 71 months, 59 patients received electronic devices, 105 patients died, and 6 underwent heart transplantation. The mortality was 4.7%/year, the rate of heart transplantation/death 5%/year. By multivariate analysis, the following parameters were identified to elevate the risk of mortality/heart transplantation: increased age (p = 0.005), inpatient (p = 0.001), presence of a specific NMD (p = 0.0312) or NMD of unknown etiology (p = 0.0365), atrial fibrillation (p = 0.0000), ventricular premature complexes (p = 0.0053), exertional dyspnea (p = 0.0023), left bundle branch block (p = 0.0201), and LVHT of the posterior wall (p = 0.0158). In conclusion, LVHT patients should be systematically investigated neurologically since neurological co-morbidity has a prognostic impact. |
16,435 | Rhythm Control of Atrial Fibrillation in Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction. | Atrial fibrillation and heart failure frequently co-exist with an increasing prevalence of atrial fibrillation as ejection fraction decreases. Atrial fibrillation is associated with increased mortality in patients with heart failure. This article will review rhythm and rate control options, ultimately supporting rhythm control via endocardial ablation.</AbstractText>Randomized trials of a rhythm control strategy in patients with reduced ejection fraction heart failure have shown significant improvements in ejection fraction, oxygen consumption and also a significant reduction in mortality. The treatment of atrial fibrillation in patients with reduced ejection fraction heart failure should include an early rhythm control strategy via endocardial ablation.</AbstractText> |
16,436 | The First Case of Impella RP Use in Acute Right Ventricular Failure From Air Embolism. | Air embolism can cause the following catastrophic complications that must be avoided: cardiogenic shock (from right heart failure), obstructive shock, myocardial infarction, stroke, RVOT obstructions, and pulmonary embolism. Currently there is a paucity of data on Impella RP use in rare causes of acute right ventricle (RV) failure, especially if caused by air embolism.</AbstractText>We report a case of a patient with acute RV failure due to air embolism who recovered from temporary use of Impella RP.</AbstractText>This case highlights the utility of right-sided mechanical support (MCS) devices for acute RV failure.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,437 | Clinical Features and Natural History of PRKAG2 Variant Cardiac Glycogenosis. | PRKAG2 gene variants cause a syndrome characterized by cardiomyopathy, conduction disease, and ventricular pre-excitation. Only a small number of cases have been reported to date, and the natural history of the disease is poorly understood.</AbstractText>The aim of this study was to describe phenotype and natural history of PRKAG2 variants in a large multicenter European cohort.</AbstractText>Clinical, electrocardiographic, and echocardiographic data from 90 subjects with PRKAG2 variants (53% men; median age 33 years; interquartile range [IQR]: 15 to 50 years) recruited from 27 centers were retrospectively studied.</AbstractText>At first evaluation, 93% of patients were in New York Heart Association functional class I or II. Maximum left ventricular wall thickness was 18 ± 8 mm, and left ventricular ejection fraction was 61 ± 12%. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) was present in 60 subjects (67%) at baseline. Thirty patients (33%) had ventricular pre-excitation or had undergone accessory pathway ablation; 17 (19%) had pacemakers (median age at implantation 36 years; IQR: 27 to 46 years), and 16 (18%) had atrial fibrillation (median age 43 years; IQR: 31 to 54 years). After a median follow-up period of 6 years (IQR: 2.3 to 13.9 years), 71% of subjects had LVH, 29% had AF, 21% required de novo pacemakers (median age at implantation 37 years; IQR: 29 to 48 years), 14% required admission for heart failure, 8% experienced sudden cardiac death or equivalent, 4% required heart transplantation, and 13% died.</AbstractText>PRKAG2 syndrome is a progressive cardiomyopathy characterized by high rates of atrial fibrillation, conduction disease, advanced heart failure, and life-threatening arrhythmias. Classical features of pre-excitation and severe LVH are not uniformly present, and diagnosis should be considered in patients with LVH who develop atrial fibrillation or require permanent pacemakers at a young age.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020 American College of Cardiology Foundation. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,438 | Quantification of left atrial wall motion in healthy horses using two-dimensional speckle tracking. | The mechanical function of the left atrium (LA) plays a pivotal role in modulation of left ventricular filling. Assessment of LA function might be a clinically useful prognostic tool for horses with mitral regurgitation or atrial fibrillation. However, the most accurate, reliable, and clinically useful methods to assess LA myocardial function are yet to be determined. The objective of this study was to describe the methods for quantification of LA wall motion using two-dimensional speckle tracking (2DST) echocardiography in healthy Warmblood horses to quantify measurement variability, to calculate reference intervals for 2DST variables, and to investigate their relationship to sex, age, body weight, and heart rate.</AbstractText><AbstractText Label="ANIMALS, MATERIALS, AND METHODS" NlmCategory="METHODS">Twenty-six healthy Warmblood horses were included. 2DST analyses of LA wall motion were performed on digitally stored cine-loop recordings of a standardized right-parasternal four-chamber view focusing on the LA. Longitudinal strain, longitudinal strain rate, and time to peak LA contraction were measured to characterize LA contractile, reservoir, and conduit function. Intraobserver and interobserver measurement variability was quantified, and reference intervals were calculated.</AbstractText>The coefficient of variation for intraobserver and interobserver measurement variability ranged between 2.0-11.1% and 5.1-15.4%, respectively, for global strain, strain rate, and time to peak LA contraction. Reference intervals for healthy Warmblood horses were reported.</AbstractText>This study shows that 2DST is a feasible and reliable method to quantify LA wall motion throughout the cardiac cycle in healthy Warmblood horses. Further studies are required to establish the clinical value of 2DST for assessment of LA function.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,439 | Temporal patterns and short-term progression of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: data from RACE V. | Atrial fibrillation (AF) often starts as a paroxysmal self-terminating arrhythmia. Limited information is available on AF patterns and episode duration of paroxysmal AF. In paroxysmal AF patients, we longitudinally studied the temporal AF patterns, the association with clinical characteristics, and prevalence of AF progression.</AbstractText>In this interim analysis of the Reappraisal of AF: Interaction Between HyperCoagulability, Electrical Remodelling, and Vascular Destabilisation in the Progression of AF (RACE V) registry, 202 patients with paroxysmal AF were followed with continuous rhythm monitoring (implantable loop recorder or pacemaker) for 6 months. Mean age was 64 ± 9 years, 42% were women. Atrial fibrillation history was 2.1 (0.5-4.4) years, CHA2DS2-VASc 1.9 ± 1.3, 101 (50%) had hypertension, 69 (34%) heart failure. One-third had no AF during follow-up. Patients with long episodes (>12 hours) were often men with more comorbidities (heart failure, coronary artery disease, higher left ventricular mass). Patients with higher AF burden (>2.5%) were older with more comorbidities (worse renal function, higher calcium score, thicker intima media thickness). In 179 (89%) patients, 1-year rhythm follow-up was available. On a quarterly basis, average daily AF burden increased from 3.2% to 3.8%, 5.2%, and 6.1%. Compared to the first 6 months, 111 (62%) patients remained stable during the second 6 months, 39 (22%) showed progression to longer AF episodes, 8 (3%) developed persistent AF, and 29 (16%) patients showed AF regression.</AbstractText>In paroxysmal AF, temporal patterns differ suggesting that paroxysmal AF is not one entity. Atrial fibrillation burden is low and determined by number of comorbidities. Atrial fibrillation progression occurred in a substantial number.</AbstractText>Clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT02726698.</AbstractText>© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,440 | Heart Failure in Atrial Fibrillation　- An Update on Clinical and Echocardiographic Implications. | Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia in adults and has unfavorable consequences such as stroke, heart failure (HF), and death. HF is the most common adverse event following AF and the leading cause of death. Therefore, identifying the association between AF and HF is important to establish risk stratification for HF in AF. Recent studies suggested that left atrial and ventricular fibrosis is an important link between AF and HF, and the prognostic impact may differ with respect to HF subtype, stratified with left ventricular ejection fraction (EF). Mortality risk in patients with concurrent AF and HF with reduced EF (HFrEF) appears slightly higher compared with those with concurrent AF and HF with preserved EF (HFpEF). On the other hand, the prognostic impact of HF in AF is similar between HFrEF and HFpEF. Further, left atrial size, as well as left atrial and left ventricular functional assessment, are reported to be useful for the prediction of HF in AF, incremental to the conventional risk factors. In this review, we focus on the epidemiological, pathophysiological, and prognostic associations between AF and HF, and review the clinical and echocardiographic predictors for HF in AF. |
16,441 | Prognostic Significance of the Mitral L-Wave in Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. | A mitral L-wave indicates advanced diastolic dysfunction with elevated left ventricular filling pressure. Previous studies have reported that the presence of a mitral L-wave is associated with a poor prognosis in patients with heart failure. However, whether the L-wave can predict adverse events in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC) is still unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of a mitral L-wave in patients with HC, and the prognosis of patients with or without an L-wave. We analyzed 445 patients with HC. The end points of this study were HC-related death, such as sudden death or potentially lethal arrhythmic events, heart failure-related death, and stroke-related death. A mitral L-wave was defined as a distinct mid-diastolic flow velocity after the E wave with a peak velocity >20 cm/s. The prevalence of an L-wave was 32.4% in patients with HC. Patients with an L-wave were significantly younger, more likely to be women, had higher New York Heart Association functional class, and had a higher prevalence of atrial fibrillation than did patients without an L-wave. Patients with an L-wave had a significantly higher incidence of HC-related death compared with those without an L-wave (log-rank, p < 0.001). The L-wave was an independent determinant of HC-related death in multivariate analysis adjusted for imbalanced baseline variables (adjusted hazard ratio 2.38; 95% confidence interval 1.42 to 4.01; p = 0.001). In conclusion, the presence of a mitral L-wave may be associated with adverse outcome in patients with HC. |
16,442 | Optimal paramedic numbers in resuscitation of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: A randomized controlled study in a simulation setting. | The effect of paramedic crew size in the resuscitation of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remains inconclusive. We hypothesised that teams with a larger crew size have better resuscitation performance including chest compression fraction (CCF), advanced life support (ALS), and teamwork performance than those with a smaller crew size.</AbstractText>We conducted a randomized controlled study in a simulation setting. A total of 140 paramedics from New Taipei City were obtained by stratified sampling and were randomly allocated to 35 teams with crew sizes of 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 (i.e. 7 teams in every paramedic crew size). A scenario involving an OHCA patient who experienced ventricular fibrillation and was attached to a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) machine was simulated. The primary outcome was the overall CCF; the secondary outcomes were the CCF in manual CPR periods, time from the first dose of epinephrine until the accomplishment of intubation, and teamwork performance. Tasks affecting the hands-off time during CPR were also analysed.</AbstractText>In all 35 teams with crew sizes of 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, the overall CCFs were 65.1%, 64.4%, 70.7%, 72.8%, and 71.5%, respectively (P = 0.148). Teams with a crew size of 5 (58.4%, 61.8%, 68.9%, 72.4%, and 68.7%, P<0.05) had higher CCF in manual CPR periods and better team dynamics. Time to the first dose of epinephrine was significantly shorter in teams with 4 paramedics, while time to completion of intubation was shortest in teams with 6 paramedics. Troubleshooting of M-CPR machine decreased the hands-off time during resuscitation (39 s), with teams comprising 2 paramedics having the longest hands-off time (63s).</AbstractText>Larger paramedic crew size (≧4 paramedics) did not significantly increase the overall CCF in OHCA resuscitation but showed higher CCF in manual CPR period before the setup of the CPR machine. A crew size of ≧4 paramedics can also shorten the time of ALS interventions, while teams with 5 paramedics will have the best teamwork performance. Paramedic teams with a smaller crew size should focus more on the quality of manual CPR, teamwork, and training how to troubleshoot a M-CPR machine.</AbstractText> |
16,443 | Children and young adults treated with transvenous and subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillators: a 22-year single-center experience and new perspectives. | Over the last several years the evolution of transvenous implantable cardioverter‑defibrillator (T‑ICD) system and the introduction of subcutaneous ICD (S‑ICD) have contributed to the development of the sudden cardiac death (SCD) prevention in clinical practice.</AbstractText>To report our clinical experience with ICD therapy in children and young adults during the twenty‑ ‑two years of the follow‑up.</AbstractText>We reviewed the database of ICD recipients choosing 80 consecutive patients (pts) implanted at the age of 6-21 in 1996-2018. We analyzed the rate of appropriate (AT) and inappropriate therapies (IT), mortality, complications and new treatment options.</AbstractText>A total of 21/80 patients (26.25%) received ≥1 AT for ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation (anti‑tachycardia pacing or shock) and 25/80 patients (31.25%) had one or multiple IT (P = 0.47). Nine patients (11%) had both AT and IT interventions. During follow‑up, 2 (2.5%) cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) systems, and 8 (10%) S‑ICDs were implanted, 3 heart transplantations were performed, and 1 severe tricuspid valve regurgitation occurred. A total of 6/80 patients (7.5%) died. All deaths occurred in the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy group.</AbstractText>The mortality rate was 6/80 (7.5%) in the twenty‑two‑year follow‑up. The rate of AT vs. IT was almost equal and remained steady in the long observation period. Severe TR might be a serious clinical problem in some patients. Entirely S‑ICD for SCD prevention is a feasible and safe therapy in young recipients.</AbstractText> |
16,444 | Late I<sub>Na</sub> Blocker GS967 Supresses Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia in a Transgenic Rabbit Model of Long QT Type 2. | Long QT syndrome has been associated with sudden cardiac death likely caused by early afterdepolarizations (EADs) and polymorphic ventricular tachycardias (PVTs). Suppressing the late sodium current (INaL</sub>) may counterbalance the reduced repolarization reserve in long QT syndrome and prevent EADs and PVTs.</AbstractText>We tested the effects of the selective INaL</sub> blocker GS967 on PVT induction in a transgenic rabbit model of long QT syndrome type 2 using intact heart optical mapping, cellular electrophysiology and confocal Ca2+</sup> imaging, and computer modeling.</AbstractText>GS967 reduced ventricular fibrillation induction under a rapid pacing protocol (n=7/14 hearts in control versus 1/14 hearts at 100 nmol/L) without altering action potential duration or restitution and dispersion. GS967 suppressed PVT incidences by reducing Ca2+</sup>-mediated EADs and focal activity during isoproterenol perfusion (at 30 nmol/L, n=7/12 and 100 nmol/L n=8/12 hearts without EADs and PVTs). Confocal Ca2+</sup> imaging of long QT syndrome type 2 myocytes revealed that GS967 shortened Ca2+</sup> transient duration via accelerating Na+</sup>/Ca2+</sup> exchanger (INCX</sub>)-mediated Ca2+</sup> efflux from cytosol, thereby reducing EADs. Computer modeling revealed that INaL</sub> potentiates EADs in the long QT syndrome type 2 setting through (1) providing additional depolarizing currents during action potential plateau phase, (2) increasing intracellular Na+</sup> (Nai</sub>) that decreases the depolarizing INCX</sub> thereby suppressing the action potential plateau and delaying the activation of slowly activating delayed rectifier K+</sup> channels (IKs</sub>), suggesting important roles of INaL</sub> in regulating Nai</sub>.</AbstractText>Selective INaL</sub> blockade by GS967 prevents EADs and abolishes PVT in long QT syndrome type 2 rabbits by counterbalancing the reduced repolarization reserve and normalizing Nai</sub>. Graphic Abstract: A graphic abstract is available for this article.</AbstractText> |
16,445 | The role of echocardiography in the embolic stroke of undetermined source. | : Echocardiography plays an important role both in the diagnosis and the treatment/prevention of embolic stroke of undetermined source and should be performed as soon as possible for preventing ischemic stroke recurrencies, which occur more frequently during the first week after the first ischemic event. Early identification of the cause of a transient ischemic attack or stroke is indeed a primary goal for the neurologist in the Stroke Unit and requires specific diagnostic strategies. Echocardiography, together with other diagnostic tools such as carotid and transcranial ultrasounds, provides this information promptly. In particular, echocardiography might be able to detect the main sources of the embolic stroke, such as atrial fibrillation, ventricular akinesia, aortic atheroma plaques and/or cardiac shunts. The present review discusses the importance and the practical role of echocardiography as a crucial diagnostic tool for detecting the main source of emboli in the setting of the acute stroke. |
16,446 | The diagnostic yield of implantable loop recorders stratified by indication: "real-world" use in a large academic hospital. | To report on the clinical utility of implantable loop recorders (ILRs) in a large academic hospital setting over a 4-year period.</AbstractText>Retrospective study (2013-2016) of patients receiving ILRs for any indication including syncope, cryptogenic stroke (CrS), atrial fibrillation (AF) burden, palpitations, ventricular arrhythmias (VA), and other. Remote checks, symptomatic transmissions, and in-person checks were reviewed. Time to diagnosis was documented.</AbstractText>A total of 263 patients (54% male, mean age 63 ± 15 years, mean follow-up 601 (range 9-1714) days) received ILRs for 324 indications; multiple indications were noted in 53/263 (20.2%) patients. ILR indications were 126 (39%) syncope, 81 (25%) CrS, 46 (14%) AF, 37 (11%) palpitations, 10 (3%) VA, and 24 (7%) other. Diagnostic yield for each indication was compared to the overall yield for all other indications. Three indications showed a significantly higher yield: AF (65% vs. 22%, p < 0.002), palpitations (60% vs. 24%, p < 0.001), and VA (70% vs. 28%, p < 0.004). For all other indications, there were no significant differences. Syncope had nearly half the diagnostic yield of previously published trials (28% vs. 43-56%). We observed a fourfold increase in ILR implant rate over the study duration.</AbstractText>In a "real-world" academic hospital setting, the diagnostic rate of ILRs was highest for AF, palpitations, and VA; however, these high yield indications comprised only 29% of all indications. The diagnostic yield for the commonest indication (syncope) was approximately half that reported in the previously published trials. With increasing implantation rates, additional studies are required to refine guideline-based indications for ILR implantation to improve diagnostic yield.</AbstractText>© 2020. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,447 | Characterization of troponin I levels post synchronized direct current cardioversion of atrial arrhythmias in patients with and without cardiomyopathy. | Cardiac-specific markers of myocardial injury, such as troponin I (TnI), are often elevated following procedures that stimulate the myocardium. This study aimed to determine the effect of synchronized direct current (DC) cardioversion of atrial arrhythmias on myocardial injury 6-h post-procedure, as measured by cardiac TnI in patients with and without cardiomyopathy.</AbstractText>Seventy-three individuals (59 M:14 F) participated in this study. Inclusion criteria were subjects 18 and older undergoing DC cardioversion for an atrial arrhythmia, including elective and non-elective admissions. Exclusion criteria included MI or CABG within the past month, cardioversion for a ventricular arrhythmia, or recent shock by implantable internal cardioverter defibrillator. Patients underwent standard DC cardioversion procedure with blood work (TnI and CRP) prior to and 6-h post-cardioversion. Primary outcome was change in TnI. Secondary outcomes included changes in CRP, correlation of TnI with cumulative energy and LVM, and a sub-group analysis in patients with cardiomyopathy.</AbstractText>There was no significant change in TnI following cardioversion (20.4 ± 7.9 vs. 17.5 ± 6.5 ng/L, F(1,72) = 2.651, p = 0.108). When stratified by cardiomyopathy status, there was a statistically significant reduction in TnI following cardioversion in the non-cardiomyopathy group (6.7 ± 3.7 ng/L vs. 6.2 ± 3.2 ng/L, F(1,58) = 6.481, p = 0.014) and a clinically significant reduction in the cardiomyopathy group (74.4 ± 136.7 ng/L vs. 54.6 ± 104.3 ng/L, F(1,13) = 3.676, p = 0.07). There was no significant relationship between change in TnI and cumulative energy or LVM (r = 0.137, p = 0.306 and r = 0.125, p = 0.412 respectively).</AbstractText>Synchronized DC cardioversion of an atrial arrhythmia did not cause myocardial injury 6-h post-cardioversion. Sub-group analysis suggests that cardioversion of patients with cardiomyopathy may result in normalization of TnI levels.</AbstractText> |
16,448 | Weight Reduction for Obesity-Induced Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction. | Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction mainly affects the elderly. The obesity phenotype of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction reflects the coexistence of two highly prevalent conditions in the elderly. Obesity may also lead to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in middle-aged persons, especially in African American women.</AbstractText>Obesity is twice as common in middle-aged than in elderly persons with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Obese middle-aged persons with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction are less likely to be Caucasian and to have atrial fibrillation or chronic kidney disease as comorbidities than elderly patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Obesity-associated low-grade systemic inflammation may induce/heighten inflammatory activation of the coronary microvascular endothelium, leading to cardiomyocyte hypertrophy/ stiffness, myocardial fibrosis, and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. Both substantial weight reduction with bariatric surgery and lesser levels of weight reduction with caloric restriction are promising therapeutic approaches to obesity-induced heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.</AbstractText> |
16,449 | Mechanism of spontaneous initiation of ventricular fibrillation in patients with implantable defibrillators. | To improve the mechanistic understanding of spontaneous initiation of ventricular fibrillation (VF), we characterized the patterns of premature ventricular complex (PVC) preceding spontaneous VF in primary and secondary implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) recipients.</AbstractText>A single-center, cross-sectional analysis of 1209 patients with primary and secondary prevention ICD identified 190 patients who received ICD therapy (firing or antitachycardia pacing) for VF or monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (MMVT). Initiation was quantified by the coupling interval (CI), the cycle length immediately preceding the CI (CL(-1)), the CI corrected by CL(-1) using Fridericia's formula (CIc), and the prematurity index (PI). In both VF (n = 44; 23%) and MMVT (n = 134; 71%), the most common pattern of initiation was late-coupled PVC, followed by the short-long-short pattern. The parameters such as pre-initiation median CL, CL(-1), CI, and PI were not significantly different between VF and MMVT for any patterns. At least some events (45% of VF and 63% of MMVT) had extremely long CIs beyond the QTc cut-off estimated from the CL(-1), suggestive of initiation by a train of multiple PVCs or nonsustained VT instead of a single PVC.</AbstractText>Some spontaneous VF events in ICD recipients appear to be initiated by a train of multiple PVC or nonsustained VT rather than a single PVC. This finding indicates that patterns of a single PVC are not an important determinant of VF initiation and thus account for conflicting results in previous studies.</AbstractText>© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,450 | Elevated plasma phenylalanine predicts mortality in critical patients with heart failure. | Previous studies found a relationship between elevated phenylalanine levels and poor cardiovascular outcomes. Potential strategies are available to manipulate phenylalanine metabolism. This study investigated whether increased phenylalanine predicted mortality in critical patients with either acute heart failure (HF) or acute on chronic HF, and its correlation with inflammation and immune cytokines.</AbstractText>This study recruited 152 subjects, including 115 patients with HF admitted for critical conditions and 37 normal controls. We measured left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), plasma concentrations of phenylalanine, C-reactive protein, albumin, pre-albumin, transferrin, and pro-inflammatory and immune cytokines. Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA), and maximal vasoactive-inotropic scores (VISmax</sub> ) were calculated. Patients were followed up until death or a maximum of 1 year. The primary endpoint was all-cause death. Of the 115 patients, 37 (32.2%) were admitted owing to acute HF, and 78 (67.8%) were admitted owing to acute on chronic HF; 64 (55.7%) had ST elevation/non-ST elevation myocardial infarction. An LVEF measured during the hospitalization of <40%, 40-50%, and ≥50% was noted in 51 (44.3%), 15 (13.1%), and 49 (42.6%) patients, respectively. During 1 year follow-up, 51 (44.3%) patients died. Death was associated with higher APACHE II, SOFA, and VISmax</sub> scores; higher levels of C-reactive protein and phenylalanine; higher incidence of atrial fibrillation and use of inotropic agents; lower cholesterol, albumin, pre-albumin, and transferrin levels; and significant changes in pro-inflammatory and immune cytokines. Phenylalanine levels demonstrated an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.80 for mortality, with an optimal cut-off value set at 112 μM. Phenylalanine ≥ 112 μM was associated with a higher mortality rate than was phenylalanine < 112 μM (80.5% vs. 24.3%, P < 0.001) [hazard ratio = 5.07 (2.83-9.05), P < 0.001]. The Kaplan-Meier curves revealed that phenylalanine ≥ 112 μM was associated with a lower accumulative survival rate (log rank = 36.9, P < 0.001). Higher phenylalanine levels were correlated with higher APACHE II and SOFA scores, higher C-reactive protein levels and incidence of using inotropic agents, and changes in cytokines suggestive of immunosuppression, but lower levels of pre-albumin and transferrin. Further multivariable analysis showed that phenylalanine ≥ 112 μM predicted death over 1 year independently of age, APACHE II and SOFA scores, atrial fibrillation, C-reactive protein, cholesterol, pre-albumin, transferrin, and interleukin-8 and interleukin-10.</AbstractText>Elevated phenylalanine levels predicted mortality in critical patients, phenotypically predominantly presenting with HF, independently of traditional prognostic factors and cytokines associated with inflammation and immunity.</AbstractText>© 2020 The Authors. ESC Heart Failure published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,451 | Is heart failure misdiagnosed in hospitalized patients with preserved ejection fraction? From the European Society of Cardiology - Heart Failure Association EURObservational Research Programme Heart Failure Long-Term Registry. | In hospitalized patients with a clinical diagnosis of acute heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), the aims of this study were (i) to assess the proportion meeting the 2016 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) HFpEF criteria and (ii) to compare patients with restrictive/pseudonormal mitral inflow pattern (MIP) vs. patients with MIP other than restrictive/pseudonormal.</AbstractText>We included hospitalized participants of the ESC-Heart Failure Association (HFA) EURObservational Research Programme (EORP) HF Long-Term Registry who had echocardiogram with ejection fraction (EF) ≥ 50% during index hospitalization. As no data on e', E/e' and left ventricular (LV) mass index were gathered in the registry, the 2016 ESC HFpEF definition was modified as follows: elevated B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) (≥100 pg/mL for acute HF) and/or N-terminal pro-BNP (≥300 pg/mL) and at least one of the echocardiographic criteria: (i) presence of LV hypertrophy (yes/no), (ii) left atrial volume index (LAVI) of >34 mL/m2</sup> ), or (iii) restrictive/pseudonormal MIP. Next, all patients were divided into four groups: (i) patients with restrictive/pseudonormal MIP on echocardiography [i.e. with presumably elevated left atrial (LA) pressure], (ii) patients with MIP other than restrictive/pseudonormal (i.e. with presumably normal LA pressure), (iii) atrial fibrillation (AF) group, and (iv) 'grey area' (no consistent description of MIP despite no report of AF). Of 6365 hospitalized patients, 1848 (29%) had EF ≥ 50%. Natriuretic peptides were assessed in 28%, LV hypertrophy in 92%, LAVI in 13%, and MIP in 67%. The 2016 ESC HFpEF criteria could be assessed in 27% of the 1848 patients and, if assessed, were met in 52%. Of the 1848 patients, 19% had restrictive/pseudonormal MIP, 43% had MIP other than restrictive/pseudonormal, 18% had AF and 20% were grey area. There were no differences in long-term all-cause or cardiovascular mortality, or all-cause hospitalizations or HF rehospitalizations between the four groups. Despite fewer non-cardiac comorbidities reported at baseline, patients with MIP other than restrictive/pseudonormal (i.e. with presumably normal LA pressure) had more non-cardiovascular (14.0 vs. 6.7 per 100 patient-years, P < 0.001) and cardiovascular non-HF (13.2 vs. 8.0 per 100 patient-years, P = 0.016) hospitalizations in long-term follow-up than patients with restrictive/pseudonormal MIP.</AbstractText>Acute HFpEF diagnosis could be assessed (based on the 2016 ESC criteria) in only a quarter of patients and confirmed in half of these. When assessed, only one in three patients had restrictive/pseudonormal MIP suggestive of elevated LA pressure. Patients with MIP other than restrictive/pseudonormal (suggestive of normal LA pressure) could have been misdiagnosed with acute HFpEF or had echocardiography performed after normalization of LA pressure. They were more often hospitalized for non-HF reasons during follow-up. Symptoms suggestive of acute HFpEF may in some patients represent non-HF comorbidities.</AbstractText>© 2020 The Authors. ESC Heart Failure published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,452 | Do ICD diagnostics predict failure of ventricular tachycardia response to antitachycardia pacing and need for shock? | Among heart failure patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (MMVT) failing antitachycardia pacing (ATP) and terminated by shock renders higher mortality as compared to MMVT terminated by ATP only. It is unknown if the higher mortality in ATP failure reflects decompensated heart failure.</AbstractText>It was the purpose of the present study to determine if ICD heart failure diagnostics can predict the failure of ATP and the need to shock to terminate MMVT.</AbstractText>This was a single-center retrospective review of 103 consecutive patients with Medtronic ICDs who had MMVT and received ICD therapy. Heart failure diagnostics preceding each MMVT event were reviewed including atrial fibrillation burden, patient activity, night heart rate, heart rate variability, Optivol®</sup> fluid index, and MMVT heart rate.</AbstractText>A total of 452 MMVT events were analyzed, of which 23% required shock. Compared to MMVT that responded to ATP, MMVT that failed ATP and required shock had significantly faster heart rates and higher atrial fibrillation burden. Patient activity, night heart rate, heart rate variability, and OptiVol®</sup> fluid index were similar between ATP responsive MMVT events and those that failed ATP. In a multivariate analysis adjusting for baseline characteristics, higher atrial fibrillation burden and lower patient activity were associated with ATP failure and shock termination.</AbstractText>Device diagnostics associated with decompensated heart failure identified MMVT events that failed ATP and necessitated shock.</AbstractText>© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,453 | The left atrial appendage morphology and gender differences by multi-detector computed tomography in an Egyptian population. | The left atrial appendage (LAA) is the main source of thromboembolism in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. Unique LAA morphologies have been associated with the risk of thromboembolism. This study investigates the LAA anatomy in the Egyptian population using cardiac multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT).</AbstractText>We included 252 consecutive patients presenting for coronary computed tomography angiography in 2 tertiary centers in Egypt in the period from January to July 2017. Patients with atrial fibrillation, valvular affection, or left ventricular dysfunction were excluded. Two and three-dimensional cardiac MDCT images were assessed for LAA morphology, volume, length, and orifice position. The distribution of LAA morphologies was windsock (32.5%), chicken wing (25.4%), cauliflower (22.6%), and cactus (19.4%). Differences in the LAA dimensions in the 4 morphological variants were described. Females were less likely to have a chicken wing LAA morphology compared to males (7.9% vs 34.7%, p value < 0.01), and had a larger LAA volume, smaller LAA length, and a higher prevalence of high LAA orifice position.</AbstractText>The most common LAA morphology in our study population is windsock, which may represent the Egyptian population or patients in sinus rhythm. Females were less likely to have a chicken wing LAA morphology, and had a larger LAA volume, smaller length, and higher incidence of high orifice position. Clinical correlation into the translation of these differences into thromboembolic risk is required.</AbstractText> |
16,454 | Anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery: a rare cause of an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in an adult-a case report. | Anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare congenital disorder resulting in ischaemia and myocardial infarction which can act as a potential substrate for life-threatening arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death.</AbstractText>A 19-year-old man was admitted to the hospital after successful resuscitation from an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) due to ventricular fibrillation occurring during jogging. In the diagnostic work-up of the OHCA, computed tomography identified an ALCAPA. The patient was referred to our tertiary hospital for surgical correction. Direct reimplantation of the left coronary artery in the aorta was performed. During follow-up, 24-h electrocardiogram revealed short episodes of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT). The magnetic resonance imaging at initial admission showed focal wall thinning and transmural late gadolinium enhancement consistent with a previous anterolateral myocardial infarction. Therefore, the aetiology of the OHCA could be due to a scar-related mechanism and not necessarily due to a reversible cause and an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) was considered indicated. Given the young age and the lower complication rates, a subcutaneous device was preferred over a transvenous ICD. However, as a subcutaneous ICD (S-ICD) lacks the possibility of anti-tachycardia pacing, programmed electrical stimulation (PES) was performed to test for inducibility of monomorphic, re-entrant VT. After a negative PES, an S-ICD was implanted.</AbstractText>ALCAPA is a potential cause of OHCA in young patients. Some of these patients keep an irreversible substrate for ventricular arrhythmias despite full surgical revascularization and might be candidates for (subcutaneous) ICD implantation.</AbstractText>© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,455 | Multivessel Coronary Artery Fistula Presenting as Coronary Steal Syndrome Leading to Cardiac Arrest. | The coronary steal phenomenon refers to myocardial ischemia caused by the diversion of blood away from normal myocardial circulation. A coronary artery fistula (CAF) is an abnormality of the coronary anatomy characterized by the aberrant termination of a coronary artery or its branches into cardiac chambers or great vessels. Although CAFs are often thought to be asymptomatic, fistulas that diverge a significant amount of blood flow and decrease the normal perfusion of myocardial tissue can cause ischemia and can present with acute coronary syndrome. We describe a unique case of a 70-year-old woman with no coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing ventricular fibrillation and sudden cardiac arrest from myocardial ischemia secondary to coronary steal brought on by multivessel CAFs. This case was unique in that fistulas originating from the left anterior descending and from the circumflex artery draining into the left heart chambers are the least frequently observed. To our knowledge, only two other reports in the literature, demonstrating sudden cardiac arrest in patients with left anterior descending to left ventricle fistulas with no CAD, exist. The case presented, along with the literature reviewed, demonstrates that CAFs may be an important part of the differential diagnosis of symptoms of chest pain and myocardial ischemia, particularly in middle-aged adults with no history of coronary artery disease or related comorbidities. |
16,456 | Incidence, characteristics, and outcomes of pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in nursery schools and kindergartens in Japan. | A better understanding of the epidemiology of pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) occurring in nursery schools and kindergartens is indispensable to establish an evidence-based strategy for prevention and improved outcomes. This study aimed to describe the incidence, characteristics, and outcomes of pediatric OHCAs that occurred in certified nursery schools and kindergartens.</AbstractText>Stop and Prevent cardIac aRrest, Injury, and Trauma in Schools (SPIRITS) is a study to construct and analyze a nationwide registry of pediatric OHCAs occurring in school settings in Japan. Using data from the SPIRITS registry, we assessed the incidence, characteristics, and outcomes of pediatric OHCAs that occurred in certified nursery schools/kindergartens between April 2008 and December 2016.</AbstractText>During the study period, 37 OHCA patients (31 in certified nursery schools and 6 in kindergartens) were confirmed. The overall incidence rate was 0.13 per 100,000 children per year. Among 37 patients, 57% (21/37) had an OHCA while napping and 35% (13/37) experienced OHCA that was witnessed by bystanders. Although public-access automated external defibrillator pads were applied by bystanders in 24% (9/37) of cases, only 1 patient actually received defibrillation. Overall, the proportion of 1-month survival with favorable neurological outcomes after OHCA was 19% (7/37). Among those with OHCA of non-medical origins, 60% (3/5) of patients experienced arrest caused by suffocation, 60% (3/5) by drowning, and 100% (1/1) by head injury. In contrast, no patient had 1-month favorable neurological outcomes among those with OHCA of medical origins such as presumed cardiac origin (0/17), sudden infant death syndrome (0/6), acute viral myocarditis (0/1), respiratory disease (0/1), and ventricular fibrillation (0/1).</AbstractText>In this population, the majority of pediatric OHCAs occurring in certified nursery schools/kindergartens had non-ventricular fibrillation rhythm, and their outcomes after OHCA of medical origin were poor.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Ltd.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,457 | Postoperative supraventricular tachycardia and polymorphic ventricular tachycardia due to a novel SCN5A variant: a case report of a rare comorbidity that is difficult to diagnose. | Loss-of-function mutations of human cardiac sodium channel gene SCN5A induce a wide range of arrhythmic disorders. Mutation carriers with co-existing conditions such as congenital heart diseases and histories of cardiac surgeries, could develop complex arrhythmic events that are difficult to diagnose.</AbstractText>A 41-year-old Japanese male with a history of a surgical closure of an ASD presented impairment of consciousness by wide QRS tachycardia. Because the patient's baseline ECG in sinus rhythm showed similar QRS axis with right bundle brunch block morphology, we suspected supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). During hospitalization, the patient developed polymorphic ventricular tachycardia that was induced by bradycardia. In an electrophysiological study, the SVT was identified as right atrial incisional tachycardia circulating around the scar in the right atrium. The genetic analysis revealed a heterozygous SCN5A c.4037-4038 del TC, p. L1346HfsX38 variant. We diagnosed this patient as having progressive cardiac conduction disorder (PCCD) and polymorphic VT caused by the mutation. Incisional tachycardia with wide QRS morphology was a by-standing comorbidity related to the history of cardiac surgery which could miss lead the diagnosis. The patient's SVT was eliminated by radiofrequency catheter ablation. An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) was implanted for the secondary prevention of polymorphic VT. Cardiac pace-making therapy by the ICD to avoid bradycardia effectively suppressed the patient's arrhythmic events.</AbstractText>We treated a patient with a sodium channel gene variant. Co-existing SVT originated by a scar in the right atrium made the diagnosis extremely difficult. A multilateral diagnostic approach using an ECG analysis, an electrophysiological study, and genetic screening enabled effective combination therapy comprised of catheter ablation and an ICD.</AbstractText> |
16,458 | Subclinical Hypothyroidism Affects the Long-Term Outcomes of Patients Who Undergo Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery but Not Heart Valve Surgery. | The aim of this study was to determine the associations between subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and long-term cardiovascular outcomes after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or heart valve surgery (HVS).</AbstractText>We retrospectively reviewed and compared all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and cardiovascular events in 461 patients who underwent CABG and 104 patients who underwent HVS.</AbstractText>During a mean±standard deviation follow-up duration of 7.6±3.8 years, there were 187 all-cause deaths, 97 cardiovascular deaths, 127 major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), 11 myocardial infarctions, one unstable angina, 70 strokes, 30 hospitalizations due to heart failure, 101 atrial fibrillation, and 33 coronary revascularizations. The incidence of all-cause mortality after CABG was significantly higher in patients with SCH (n=36, 55.4%) than in euthyroid patients (n=120, 30.3%), with a hazard ratio of 1.70 (95% confidence interval, 1.10 to 2.63; P=0.018) after adjustment for age, sex, current smoking status, body mass index, underlying diseases, left ventricular dysfunction, and emergency operation. Interestingly, low total triiodothyronine (T3) levels in euthyroid patients who underwent CABG were significantly associated with increased risks of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and MACE, but those associations were not observed in HVS patients. Both free thyroxine and thyroid-stimulating hormone levels in euthyroid patients were not related with any cardiovascular outcomes in either the CABG or HVS group.</AbstractText>SCH or low total T3 might be associated with a poor prognosis after CABG, but not after HVS, implying that preoperative thyroid hormonal status may be important in ischemic heart disease patients.</AbstractText> |
16,459 | High-intensity endurance training is associated with left atrial fibrosis. | Endurance athletes are at higher risk for developing atrial fibrillation as compared to the general population. The exact mechanism to explain this observation is incompletely understood. Our study aimed to determine whether degree of left atrial fibrosis detected by late gadolinium-enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (LGE-MRI) differed between Masters athletes and non-athlete controls.</AbstractText>We recruited 20 endurance healthy Masters athletes and 20 healthy control subjects who underwent cardiac MRI. Healthy controls were recruited during screening colonoscopies and Masters athletes were recruited through word of mouth and at competitions. The two groups were age and gender matched. None of the participants were known to have an arrhythmia. Fibrosis, as measured by late gadolinium-enhancement, was measured in each participant by blinded readers. The degree of left atrial fibrosis was compared between the two groups. All participants were recruited from the Salt Lake City region and scanned at the University of Utah healthcare complex.</AbstractText>Left ventricular function was normal in all study participants. Left atrial volumes were significantly larger in the athletes (74.2 ml ± 14.4) as compared to the healthy control subjects (60.8 mL ± 21.4) (P = .02). Mean left atrial fibrosis score, reported as a percentage of the LA, was 15.5% ± 5.9 in the athlete cohort compared to 9.6% ± 4.9 in the controls (P = .002).</AbstractText>To our knowledge this is the first study that describes, characterizes and specifically quantifies fibrotic changes within the left atrium of highly trained endurance athletes. Increased atrial fibrosis seen in this population may be an early indicator for endurance athletes at risk of developing atrial arrhythmias.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,460 | Assessing the impact of a combination of sofosbuvir and daclatasvir treatment for hepatitis C virus infection on heart rate, rhythm and heart rate variability using 24-hour ECG monitoring. | Direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) cure patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Concerns have arisen the occurrence of significant bradyarrhythmias during treatment with DAAs. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a DAA combination for the treatment of HCV infection on heart rate, rhythm, and heart rate variability (HRV) using 24-h ECG monitoring.</AbstractText>A prospective randomized study of 50 treatment-naïve patients with HCV infection treated with a combination of sofosbuvir 400 mg daily and daclatasvir 60 mg daily for 12 weeks. Surface ECG and 24-h ECG monitoring were performed at baseline and after completion of therapy to assess PR interval, corrected QT interval (QTc), minimum heart rate (HR), maximum HR, average HR, HRV time-domain and frequency-domain measures, significant pauses, tachycardias, bradycardias, premature atrial contractions (PACs), and premature ventricular contraction (PVCs). No differences were detected in all examined parameters between baseline and after completion of treatment. PR interval was 154 ± 25.95 vs 151.4 ± 23.82 ms, respectively (p = 0.124). QTc interval was 397.34 ± 29.38 vs 395.04 ± 30.23 ms, respectively (p = 0.403). No differences were detected for minimum HR, maximum HR, average HR, HRV time-domain and frequency-domain measures, the occurrence of significant pauses, sinus tachycardia episodes, sinus bradycardia episodes, PACs, and PVCs. No episodes of bradyarrhythmias, syncope, and atrial fibrillation, supraventricular, or ventricular tachycardias were reported or detected.</AbstractText>In non-cardiac patients receiving no cardioactive medications, the combination of sofosbuvir and daclatasvir for the treatment of HCV infection has no effect on HR, rhythm, conductivity, or HRV. No symptomatic bradycardias, tachycardias, or syncope were reported or detected using 24-h ECG monitoring.</AbstractText> |
16,461 | Eleutheroside B, a selective late sodium current inhibitor, suppresses atrial fibrillation induced by sea anemone toxin II in rabbit hearts. | Eleutheroside B (EB) is the main active constituent derived from the Chinese herb Acanthopanax senticosus (AS) that has been reported to possess cardioprotective effects. In this study we investigated the effects of EB on cardiac electrophysiology and its suppression on atrial fibrillation (AF). Whole-cell recording was conducted in isolated rabbit atrial myocytes. The intracellular calcium ([Ca<sup>2+</sup>]<sub>i</sub>) concentration was measured using calcium indicator Fura-2/AM fluorescence. Monophasic action potential (MAP) and electrocardiogram (ECG) synchronous recordings were conducted in Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts using ECG signal sampling and analysis system. We showed that EB dose-dependently inhibited late sodium current (I<sub>NaL</sub>), transient sodium current (I<sub>NaT</sub>), and sea anemone toxin II (ATX II)-increased I<sub>NaL</sub> with IC<sub>50</sub> values of 167, 1582, and 181 μM, respectively. On the other hand, EB (800 μM) did not affect L-type calcium current (I<sub>CaL</sub>), inward rectifier potassium channel current (I<sub>K</sub>), and action potential duration (APD). Furthermore, EB (300 μM) markedly decreased ATX II-prolonged the APD at 90% repolarization (APD<sub>90</sub>) and eliminated ATX II-induced early afterdepolarizations (EADs), delayed afterdepolarizations (DADs), and triggered activities (TAs). Moreover, EB (200 μM) significantly suppressed ATX II-induced Na<sup>+</sup>-dependent [Ca<sup>2+</sup>]<sub>i</sub> overload in atrial myocytes. In the Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts, application of EB (200 μM) or TTX (2 μM) substantially decreased ATX II-induced incidences of atrial fibrillation (AF), ventricular fibrillation (VF), and heart death. These results suggest that augmented I<sub>NaL</sub> alone is sufficient to induce AF, and EB exerts anti-AF actions mainly via blocking I<sub>NaL</sub>, which put forward the basis of pharmacology for new clinical application of EB. |
16,462 | [RyR2 mutation-linked arrhythmogenic diseases and its therapeutic strategies]. | The type 2 ryanodine receptor (RyR2) is a sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca<sup>2+</sup> release channel that plays a central role in cardiac excitation-contraction coupling. Abnormal activity of the RyR2 is linked to abnormal Ca<sup>2+</sup> signaling in cardiac cells, which often results in cardiac arrhythmias. For example, amino acid mutations in RyR2 have been reported to cause various types of arrhythmias, including catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT), idiopathic ventricular fibrillation, and left ventricular non-compaction. At present, the total number of disease-associated RyR2 mutations exceeds 300. In addition, in chronic heart failure, modification of RyR2 by phosphorylation, oxidation or S-nitrosylation may cause abnormal channel activity. Arrhythmogenic mechanisms of these various disorders are not yet fully understood. We have recently established a method to quantitatively evaluate the effects of various arrhythmogenic mutations and modifications on RyR2 channels by using HEK293 expression system. We found that arrhythmogenic mutations in RyR2 are classified into two groups: gain-of-function and loss-of-function of the channel. Since they are indistinguishable in clinical diagnosis, our analysis is very useful for diagnosis and choice of treatment strategies for RyR2-linked arrhythmogenic diseases. This review describes the current advances and issues of research on RyR2 mutation-related arrhythmogenic disorders. |
16,463 | Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement for Aortic Stenosis in Dialysis Patients　- Analysis of Japan Cardiovascular Surgery Database. | Perioperative risk during surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) is reportedly high in dialysis patients. We aimed to determine the postoperative mortality and morbidity and identify the perioperative risk factors of mortality during SAVR in dialysis-dependent patients.Methods and Results:From the Japan Adult Cardiovascular Surgery Database, we compared 2,875 dialysis-dependent patients with 18,839 non-dialysis patients who all underwent SAVR between January 2013 and December 2016. The operative mortality was 8.7% vs. 2.0% in the dialysis and non-dialysis groups, respectively. Multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis for operative mortality revealed 8 independent risk factors including age (odds ratio [OR]=1.2), concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting (OR=1.5), peripheral arterial disease (OR=1.9), atrial fibrillation (OR=2.5), New York Heart Association class IV (OR=2.5), liver dysfunction (OR=5.8), reduced left ventricular function (OR=1.4), and history of previous cardiac surgery (OR=2.1). In addition, 8 postoperative predictors of operative mortality were identified including bleeding deep sternal infection (OR=3.4), prolonged ventilation (OR=5.4) and gastrointestinal complications (OR=10.3).</AbstractText>Compared with non-dialysis patients, SAVR in dialysis patients was associated with high rates of mortality and morbidity. An appropriate surgical strategy and careful perioperative assessment and management for prevention of infection, and respiratory and gastrointestinal complications might contribute to improved clinical outcomes after SAVR in these patients.</AbstractText> |
16,464 | Gender Disparities in Clinical Outcome After Alcohol Septal Ablation for Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy in the Chinese Han Population: A Cohort Study. | Sex differences in the long-term prognosis of symptomatic hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) patients undergoing alcohol septal ablation (ASA) remain unclear, especially in the Chinese Han population.</AbstractText>This cohort study included 320 HOCM Chinese Han patients who underwent ASA because of symptomatic left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction. Patients were grouped according to sex: females (mean±standard deviation age [SD] 50.7±6.8 years) and males (mean±SD age 52.6±7.3 years). Individuals were followed over the long term.</AbstractText>Pre-procedure, women had more symptoms (New York Heart Association [NYHA] class III-IV 67.3% vs 56.3%, p=0.03), more atrial fibrillation (23.5% vs 14.6%, p=0.047) than men. Transient complete atrioventricular block after ASA was more common in woman than in men (34.0 vs 23.4%; p=0.048). Residual LVOT gradient, post-procedural residual left ventricular wall thickness, NYHA functional class, and adverse arrhythmic events were comparable between the two groups. The 10-year survival rate (77% vs 89%, p=0.037) and the annual adverse arrhythmic event rate (1.3% vs 0.4%, p<0.01) following ASA were significantly worse in women compared with men. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a significantly lower survival in women compared with men (p=0.023). In multivariable modelling, female sex remained independently associated with higher all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 1.12; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-1.27; p=0.03) when adjusted for age, NYHA class III-IV symptoms, and other cardiovascular comorbidities.</AbstractText>Female patients with HOCM undergoing ASA tended to have more severe symptoms and adverse arrhythmic events. The 10-year survival rate after ASA was significantly worse in women compared with men with HOCM. Sex may need to be considered as an important factor in the clinical management of patients with symptomatic HOCM.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020 Australian and New Zealand Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons (ANZSCTS) and the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,465 | Effect of voluntary breathing exercises on stable coronary artery disease in heart rate variability and rate-pressure product: a study protocol for a single-blind, prospective, randomized controlled trial. | At present, China has more than 11 million patients with stable coronary heart disease and this is becoming a major public health problem. The pathological changes of coronary heart disease can lead to dysfunction of the cardiac autonomic nervous system, which increases the risk of complications such as malignant arrhythmia (ventricular flutter, ventricular fibrillation, etc.), heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and rate-pressure product (RPP), which is highly correlated with myocardial oxygen consumption and indirectly reflects myocardial blood supply and oxygen consumption. Although the guidelines recommend that such patients take drugs to reduce heart rate and myocardial oxygen consumption, the clinical control of heart rate is still not ideal. Thus, in this trial, we will use voluntary breathing exercises as the strategy of exercise rehabilitation for patients with stable coronary artery disease (SCAD), in order to increase the vagus nerve activity and/or reduce the sympathetic nervous activity, help maintain or rebuild the balance of plant nerve system, improve the time-domain index of heart rate variability, reduce the burden on the heart, and relieve patients' anxiety and other negative emotions.</AbstractText>This is a 6-month single-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial that will be conducted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University. A total of 140 patients who fill out the Informed Consent Form are registered and randomized 1:1 into the Voluntary Breathing Exercises (VBE)-based clinical trial monitoring group (n = 70) or the Routine follow-up group (n = 70). The VBE-based clinical trial monitoring group is given VBE training on the basis of conventional treatment and health education, while the control group received conventional health education and follow-up. The primary outcomes will be measured heart rate variability and RPP. Secondary outcomes will include changes in Self-rating Anxiety Scale, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, weight, and body mass index.</AbstractText>This trial will carry out scientific respiratory exercise for patients with SCAD, which belongs to the category of active secondary prevention for patients, and changes from remedial to pre-protective. VBE is easy to operate and is not limited by time and place. It is important and meaningful to carry out VBE for patients with SCAD. This study will provide considerable evidence for further large-scale trials and alternative strategies for the rehabilitation nursing of patients with SCAD.</AbstractText>Chinese Clinical Trials Registry, 1900024043 . Registered on 23 June 2019.</AbstractText> |
16,466 | Atrial functional mitral regurgitation: mechanisms and surgical implications. | The term atrial functional mitral regurgitation refers to a newly recognized disease entity in which mitral regurgitation occurs secondary to left atrial disease, without left ventricular dilatation and intrinsic mitral valve disease, typically in the setting of long-standing atrial fibrillation. Recent evidence suggests that atrial functional mitral regurgitation is associated with increased risk of death and heart failure re-hospitalization. The etiology, pathophysiology, and mechanism of atrial functional mitral regurgitation is not completely understood but they should not be regarded as the same as for the conventional type of functional mitral regurgitation secondary to left ventricular dilatation and dysfunction. Mitral annular dilatation, atriogenic leaflet distortion, insufficient leaflet remodeling, and subtle left ventricular dysfunction may play a role in the pathogenesis of atrial functional mitral regurgitation. The therapeutic and surgical considerations of atrial functional mitral regurgitation are different from those of ventricular functional mitral regurgitation. In this review, we assess current evidence regarding this new disease entity and propose a new surgical approach based on up-to-date understanding and experience of this condition. |
16,467 | Outcomes and predictors of cardiac events in medically treated patients with atrial functional mitral regurgitation. | Little is known about the outcomes and predictors of adverse cardiac events in medically treated patients with atrial functional mitral regurgitation (FMR).</AbstractText>We screened 1405 consecutive patients with grade ≥ 3+ mitral regurgitation (MR) detected by echocardiography. After excluding patients with previous or early (within 3 months from diagnosis) mitral valve surgery, congenital heart disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, severe aortic valve disease, or unknown etiology, the study population consisted of 319 patients with primary MR, 395 patients with FMR with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, and 184 patients with atrial FMR. Atrial FMR was defined as FMR in patients without LV wall motion abnormality or dilatation.</AbstractText>The cumulative incidence of the composite of cardiac death and heart failure hospitalization at 3 years was 10.5% in primary MR, 37.5% in FMR with LV dysfunction, and 14.0% in atrial FMR (p < .001). In atrial FMR patients, LV end-diastolic volume index (hazard ratio [HR] 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-1.10), severe MR (grade 4+) (HR 2.73, 95% CI 1.21-6.12), being symptomatic (NYHA ≥ 2) (HR 2.82, 95% CI 1.15-6.92), and having ≥1 comorbidities (HR 3.96, 95% CI 1.74-9.00) were independently associated with an increased risk for adverse cardiac events by a multivariable Cox regression analysis.</AbstractText>Outcomes of medically treated patients with atrial FMR were better than those of FMR with LV dysfunction, but worse than those of primary MR. In atrial FMR patients, LV dilatation, severe MR, being symptomatic, and the presence of comorbidities were independently associated with an increased risk for adverse cardiac events.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,468 | Combined amiodarone and digitalis therapy before heart transplantation is associated with increased post-transplant mortality. | Amiodarone and digitalis are frequently used drugs in patients with heart failure. Both have separately been linked to reduced post-transplant survival, but their combined impact on mortality after HTX remains uncertain. This study investigated the effects of combined amiodarone and digitalis use before HTX on post-transplant outcomes.</AbstractText>This registry study analysed 600 patients receiving HTX at Heidelberg Heart Center between 1989 and 2016. Patients were stratified by amiodarone and digitalis use before HTX. Analysis included patient characteristics, medication, echocardiographic features, heart rates, permanent pacemaker implantation, atrial fibrillation, and post-transplant survival including causes of death. One hundred eighteen patients received amiodarone before HTX (19.7%), hereof 67 patients with digitalis (56.8%) and 51 patients without digitalis before HTX (43.2%). Patients with and without amiodarone before HTX showed a similar 1 year post-transplant survival (72.0% vs. 78.4%, P = 0.11), but patients with combined amiodarone and digitalis before HTX had a worse 1 year post-transplant survival (64.2%, P = 0.01), along with a higher percentage of death due to transplant failure (P = 0.03). Echocardiographic analysis of these patients showed a higher percentage of an enlarged right ventricle (P = 0.02), left atrium (P = 0.02), left ventricle (P = 0.03), and a higher rate of reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (P = 0.03). Multivariate analysis indicated combined amiodarone and digitalis use before HTX as a significant risk factor for 1 year mortality after HTX (hazard ratio: 1.69; 95% confidence interval: 1.02-2.77; P = 0.04).</AbstractText>Combined pre-transplant amiodarone and digitalis therapy is associated with increased post-transplant mortality.</AbstractText>© 2020 The Authors. ESC Heart Failure published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,469 | Myotonic dystrophy type 1 and high ventricular vulnerability at the electrophysiological evaluation: ICD yes or not? | A significant number of sudden death (SD) is observed in myotonic dystrophy (DM1) despite pacemaker implantation and some consider the ICD to be the preferential device in patients with conduction disease. According to the latest guidelines, prophylactic ICD implantation in patients with neuromuscular disorder should follow the same recommendations of non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy, being reasonable when pacing is needed. We here report a case of DM1 patient who underwent ICD implantation even in the absence of conduction disturbances on ECG and ventricular dysfunction/fibrosis at cardiac magnetic resonance. The occurrence of syncope, non-sustained ventricular tachycardias at 24-Holter ECG monitoring and a family history of SD resulted associated with ventricular fibrillation inducibility at electrophysiological study, favouring ICD implantation. On our advice, DM1 patient with this association of SD risk factors should be targeted for ICD implantation. |
16,470 | Bradyarrhythmia secondary to vagus nerve stimulator 7 years after placement. | We present a case of a 38-year-old man with a previous medical history of asthma and refractory epilepsy requiring vagal nerve stimulator (VNS) placement 7 years prior to the presentation who was found to be in atrial fibrillation with a rapid ventricular response during a preoperative evaluation, which prompted transoesophageal echocardiography and subsequent cardioversion. In preparation for cardioversion, the VNS was turned off and the patient was cardioverted to normal sinus rhythm. Following cardioversion, the VNS was activated again. During recovery, the patient was experiencing several episodes of first-degree and second-degree Mobitz type-II atrioventricular (AV) block. In response, the VNS was deactivated indefinitely. On interrogation of a loop recorder 2 weeks after discharge, the patient did not have any further evidence of AV conduction delay. |
16,471 | Meta-Analysis of 26 638 Individuals Identifies Two Genetic Loci Associated With Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction. | Left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) is an indicator of cardiac function, usually assessed in individuals with heart failure and other cardiac conditions. Although family studies indicate that EF has an important genetic component with heritability estimates up to 0.61, to date only 6 EF-associated loci have been reported.</AbstractText>Here, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of EF in 26 638 adults from the Genetic Epidemiology Research on Adult Health and Aging and the UK Biobank cohorts.</AbstractText>A meta-analysis combining results from Genetic Epidemiology Research on Adult Health and Aging and UK Biobank identified a novel locus: TMEM40</i> on chromosome 3p25 (rs11719526; β=0.47 and P</i>=3.10×10-8</sup>) that replicated in Biobank Japan and confirmed recent findings implicating the BAG3</i> locus on chromosome 10q26 in EF variation, with the strongest association observed for rs17617337 (β=-0.83 and P</i>=8.24×10-17</sup>). Although the minor allele frequencies of TMEM40</i> rs11719526 were generally common (between 0.13 and 0.44) in different ethnic groups, BAG3</i> rs17617337 was rare (minor allele frequencies<0.05) in Asian and African ancestry populations. These associations were slightly attenuated, after considering antecedent cardiac conditions (ie, heart failure/cardiomyopathy, hypertension, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, valvular disease, and revascularization procedures). This suggests that the effects of the lead variants at TMEM40</i> or BAG3</i> on EF are largely independent of these conditions.</AbstractText>In this large and multiethnic study, we identified 2 loci, TMEM40</i> and BAG3</i>, associated with EF at a genome-wide significance level. Identifying and understanding the genetic determinants of EF is important to better understand the pathophysiology of this strong correlate of cardiac outcomes and to help target the development of future therapies.</AbstractText> |
16,472 | Digoxin Initiation and Outcomes in Patients with Heart Failure (HFrEF and HFpEF) and Atrial Fibrillation. | Digoxin reduces the risk of heart failure hospitalization but has no effect on mortality in patients with heart failure without atrial fibrillation in the randomized controlled trial setting. Observational studies of digoxin use in patients with atrial fibrillation have suggested a higher risk for poor outcomes. Less is known about this association in patients with heart failure and atrial fibrillation, the examination of which was the objective of the current study.</AbstractText>We conducted an observational propensity score-matched study of predischarge digoxin initiation in 1768 hospitalized patients with heart failure and atrial fibrillation in the Medicare-linked Organized Program to Initiate Lifesaving Treatment in Hospitalized Patients with Heart Failure (OPTIMIZE-HF) registry, balanced on 56 baseline characteristics (mean age, 79 years; 55% women; 7% African American). Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for outcomes were estimated for the 884 patients initiated on digoxin compared with 884 not initiated on digoxin.</AbstractText>HRs (95% CIs) for 30-day, 2-year, and 4-year all-cause mortality were 0.80 (0.55-1.18; P = .261), 0.94 (0.87-1.16; P = .936), and 1.01 (0.90-1.14; P = .729), respectively. Respective HRs (95% CIs) for heart failure readmission were 0.67 (0.49-0.92; P = .014), 0.81 (0.69-0.94; P = .005), and 0.85 (0.74-0.97; P = .022), and those for all-cause readmission were 0.78 (0.64-0.96; P = .016), 0.90 (0.81-1.00; P = .057), and 0.91 (0.83-1.01; P = .603). These associations were homogeneous between patients with left ventricular ejection fraction ≤45% vs >45%.</AbstractText>Among hospitalized older patients with heart failure (HFrEF and HFpEF) and atrial fibrillation, initiation of digoxin was associated with a lower risk of heart failure readmission but had no association with mortality.</AbstractText>Published by Elsevier Inc.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,473 | Large animals as models of atrial fibrillation. | In clinical practice, atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia in humans and it may lead to numerous complications, including central nervous system embolism. The electrical activity of the heart in AF is rapid and chaotic, while the atrioventricular conduction leads to irregular ventricular contraction. Consequently, the stroke volume is reduced, which may lead to symptoms of heart failure. Heart failure is one of the causes of AF as well. Numerous in vivo and in vitro models are used to study the pathophysiology of AF. Animal models play a key role in understanding the mechanisms of arrhythmias as well as in developing treatment regimens. The models of AF include large animals (goats, sheep, pigs, dogs) as well as small laboratory animals. This study reviews the large animal models of AF, which enhance our understanding of numerous mechanisms responsible for the development of AF, but we must be aware that the pathomechanism of AF in humans is complex and is affected by numerous factors, including environmental and congenital ones. |
16,474 | Predicting Left Atrial Appendage Thrombus from Left Atrial Volume and Confirmation by Computed Tomography with Delayed Enhancement. | Assessing thromboembolic risk is crucial for proper management of patients with atrial fibrillation. Left atrial volume is a promising predictor of cardiac thrombosis. To determine whether left atrial volume can predict left atrial appendage thrombus in patients with atrial fibrillation, we conducted a prospective study of 73 patients. Left atrial and ventricular volumes were evaluated by cardiac computed tomography with retrospective electrocardiographic gating and then indexed to body surface area. Left atrial appendage thrombus was confirmed or excluded by cardiac computed tomography with delayed enhancement. Seven patients (9.6%) had left atrial appendage thrombus; 66 (90.4%) did not. Those with thrombus had a significantly higher mean left atrial end-systolic volume index (139 ± 55 vs 101 ± 35 mL/m2; P =0.0097) and mean left atrial end-diastolic volume index (122 ± 45 vs 84 ± 34 mL/m2; P =0.0077). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, left atrial end-systolic volume index (per 10 mL/m2 increase) was significantly associated with left atrial appendage thrombus (odds ratio [OR]=1.24; 95% CI, 1.03-1.50; P =0.02); so too was the left atrial end-diastolic volume index (per 10 mL/m2 increase) (OR=1.29; 95% CI, 1.05-1.60; P =0.02). These findings suggest that increased left atrial volume increases the risk of left atrial appendage thrombus. Therefore, patients with atrial fibrillation and an enlarged left atrium should be considered for cardiac computed tomography with delayed enhancement to confirm whether thrombus is present. |
16,475 | Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin is a predictor of complications in the early phase of ST-elevation myocardial infarction. | Aim To evaluate a correlation of serum level of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) to the risk of the occurrence of complications in patients with the early phase of ST-segment elevation myocardical infarction (STEMI) treated with fibrinolytic therapy prior to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods A total of 54 patients with the diagnosis of STEMI treated with fibrinolytic therapy (alteplase) prior to PCI were included. Patients were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Clinic for Heart, Blood Vessel and Rheumatic Diseases in the period January to March 2018. All patients underwent coronary angiography and PCI within the maximum of 48 hours delay after fibrinolysis, according to the hemodynamic and electrical stability and PCI availability. Blood samples were taken immediately after admission prior to fibrinolytic administration. Patients were divided into two groups according to NGAL values (less or more than 134.05 ng/mL). Results Higher values of NGAL have effect on a higher mean systolic and diastolic pressure (p=0.001 and p=0.003, respectively). Patients with higher NGAL values also have higher values of brain natriuretic peptide (p=0.0001) and highly sensitive troponin I (p=0.002). In that group relative risk (RR) for lethal outcome was 6.4 times significantly higher (p=0.002), for the development of heart failure 2.88 times (p=0.0002), for post-myocardial infarction angina pectoris 2.24 times (p=0.0158), and for ventricular rhythm disturbances (ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation) 1.96 times higher (p=0.0108). Conclusion Increased NGAL value is related to an unfavourable outcome of patients in the early phase of STEMI treated with fibrinolytic therapy prior to PCI. |
16,476 | Comparison of the Effect of Atrial Fibrillation Detection Algorithms in Patients With Cryptogenic Stroke Using Implantable Loop Recorders.<Pagination><StartPage>25</StartPage><EndPage>29</EndPage><MedlinePgn>25-29</MedlinePgn></Pagination><ELocationID EIdType="doi" ValidYN="Y">10.1016/j.amjcard.2020.05.027</ELocationID><ELocationID EIdType="pii" ValidYN="Y">S0002-9149(20)30536-1</ELocationID><Abstract><AbstractText>Occult atrial fibrillation (AF) can be the underlying cause for cryptogenic stroke (CS). Implantable loop recorders (ILRs) have become an important tool for long-term arrhythmia monitoring in CS patients. Office-based ILR implantation by nonelectrophysiologist physicians is increasingly common. To report the real world diagnostic yield and accuracy of remote ILR monitoring in high risk CS patients, we retrospectively analyzed 145 consecutive patients with CS who underwent ILR implantation between October 2014 and October 2018 at New York University Langone Health. A certified device technician and an electrophysiologist adjudicated all transmissions. The yield and accuracy of Reveal LINQ Intra Cardiac Monitor (ICM), a fourth generation device, was compared to that of TruRhythm Detection algorithm (fifth generation device). AF was diagnosed in 17 patients (12%) over a mean follow-up of 28 ± 12 months. The median time to diagnosis was 7.4 ± 21.3 months. A total of 1,637 remote transmissions (scheduled- and auto-triggered alerts: 756; patient-triggered: 881) were adjudicated. The positive predictive value for AF episodes in the scheduled interrogations increased from 4% in the Reveal LINQ ICM to 16% in the TruRhythm LINQ. Of 881 patient-triggered transmissions, none were found to be true positive. In the Reveal LINQ ICM, for scheduled transmissions, primary causes of false positive (FP) were atrial ventricular premature complexes (80%). In the TruRhythm LINQ, for scheduled transmissions, primary cause of FP were T-wave over-sensing (87%). In conclusion, the real world diagnostic yield of ILR for patients with CS remains suboptimal, with at least 84% of AF alerts being FP. Patient-riggered events did not correlate with arrhythmia and the necessity of patient triggering in this population should be questioned. Expert interpretation of recordings is critical to assure accurate diagnosis.</AbstractText><CopyrightInformation>Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation></Abstract><AuthorList CompleteYN="Y"><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Chorin</LastName><ForeName>Ehud</ForeName><Initials>E</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Lenon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Cardiac Electrophysiology, NYU Langone Health, New York city, New York.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Peterson</LastName><ForeName>Connor</ForeName><Initials>C</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Lenon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Cardiac Electrophysiology, NYU Langone Health, New York city, New York.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Kogan</LastName><ForeName>Edward</ForeName><Initials>E</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Lenon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Cardiac Electrophysiology, NYU Langone Health, New York city, New York.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Barbhaiya</LastName><ForeName>Chirag</ForeName><Initials>C</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Lenon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Cardiac Electrophysiology, NYU Langone Health, New York city, New York.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Aizer</LastName><ForeName>Anthony</ForeName><Initials>A</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Lenon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Cardiac Electrophysiology, NYU Langone Health, New York city, New York.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Holmes</LastName><ForeName>Douglas</ForeName><Initials>D</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Lenon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Cardiac Electrophysiology, NYU Langone Health, New York city, New York.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Bernstein</LastName><ForeName>Scott</ForeName><Initials>S</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Lenon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Cardiac Electrophysiology, NYU Langone Health, New York city, New York.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Schole</LastName><ForeName>Michael</ForeName><Initials>M</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Lenon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Cardiac Electrophysiology, NYU Langone Health, New York city, New York.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Duraiswami</LastName><ForeName>Harish</ForeName><Initials>H</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Lenon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Cardiac Electrophysiology, NYU Langone Health, New York city, New York.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Spinelli</LastName><ForeName>Michael</ForeName><Initials>M</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Lenon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Cardiac Electrophysiology, NYU Langone Health, New York city, New York.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Park</LastName><ForeName>David</ForeName><Initials>D</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Lenon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Cardiac Electrophysiology, NYU Langone Health, New York city, New York.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Chinitz</LastName><ForeName>Larry</ForeName><Initials>L</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Lenon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Cardiac Electrophysiology, NYU Langone Health, New York city, New York.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Jankelson</LastName><ForeName>Lior</ForeName><Initials>L</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Lenon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Cardiac Electrophysiology, NYU Langone Health, New York city, New York. Electronic address: lior.jankelson@nyumc.org.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author></AuthorList><Language>eng</Language><PublicationTypeList><PublicationType UI="D003160">Comparative Study</PublicationType><PublicationType UI="D016428">Journal Article</PublicationType></PublicationTypeList><ArticleDate DateType="Electronic"><Year>2020</Year><Month>05</Month><Day>23</Day></ArticleDate></Article><MedlineJournalInfo><Country>United States</Country><MedlineTA>Am J Cardiol</MedlineTA><NlmUniqueID>0207277</NlmUniqueID><ISSNLinking>0002-9149</ISSNLinking></MedlineJournalInfo><CitationSubset>IM</CitationSubset><MeshHeadingList><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D000368" MajorTopicYN="N">Aged</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D000369" MajorTopicYN="N">Aged, 80 and over</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D000465" MajorTopicYN="Y">Algorithms</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D001281" MajorTopicYN="N">Atrial Fibrillation</DescriptorName><QualifierName UI="Q000150" MajorTopicYN="N">complications</QualifierName><QualifierName UI="Q000175" MajorTopicYN="Y">diagnosis</QualifierName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D015716" MajorTopicYN="N">Electrocardiography, Ambulatory</DescriptorName><QualifierName UI="Q000295" MajorTopicYN="N">instrumentation</QualifierName><QualifierName UI="Q000379" MajorTopicYN="Y">methods</QualifierName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D005260" MajorTopicYN="N">Female</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D006801" MajorTopicYN="N">Humans</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D008297" MajorTopicYN="N">Male</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D008875" MajorTopicYN="N">Middle Aged</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D019736" MajorTopicYN="Y">Prostheses and Implants</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D012189" MajorTopicYN="N">Retrospective Studies</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D020521" MajorTopicYN="N">Stroke</DescriptorName><QualifierName UI="Q000209" MajorTopicYN="Y">etiology</QualifierName></MeshHeading></MeshHeadingList></MedlineCitation><PubmedData><History><PubMedPubDate PubStatus="received"><Year>2020</Year><Month>4</Month><Day>8</Day></PubMedPubDate><PubMedPubDate PubStatus="revised"><Year>2020</Year><Month>5</Month><Day>14</Day></PubMedPubDate><PubMedPubDate PubStatus="accepted"><Year>2020</Year><Month>5</Month><Day>18</Day></PubMedPubDate><PubMedPubDate PubStatus="pubmed"><Year>2020</Year><Month>7</Month><Day>1</Day><Hour>6</Hour><Minute>0</Minute></PubMedPubDate><PubMedPubDate PubStatus="medline"><Year>2020</Year><Month>11</Month><Day>11</Day><Hour>6</Hour><Minute>0</Minute></PubMedPubDate><PubMedPubDate PubStatus="entrez"><Year>2020</Year><Month>7</Month><Day>1</Day><Hour>6</Hour><Minute>0</Minute></PubMedPubDate></History><PublicationStatus>ppublish</PublicationStatus><ArticleIdList><ArticleId IdType="pubmed">32600783</ArticleId><ArticleId IdType="doi">10.1016/j.amjcard.2020.05.027</ArticleId><ArticleId IdType="pii">S0002-9149(20)30536-1</ArticleId></ArticleIdList></PubmedData></PubmedArticle><PubmedArticle><MedlineCitation Status="Publisher" Owner="NLM"><PMID Version="1">32600490</PMID><DateRevised><Year>2020</Year><Month>06</Month><Day>30</Day></DateRevised><Article PubModel="Print-Electronic"><Journal><ISSN IssnType="Electronic">1471-6348</ISSN><JournalIssue CitedMedium="Internet"><PubDate><Year>2020</Year><Month>Jun</Month><Day>30</Day></PubDate></JournalIssue><Title>International journal of technology assessment in health care</Title><ISOAbbreviation>Int J Technol Assess Health Care</ISOAbbreviation></Journal>Effectiveness, efficacy, and safety of wearable cardioverter-defibrillators in the treatment of sudden cardiac arrest - Results from a health technology assessment. | Occult atrial fibrillation (AF) can be the underlying cause for cryptogenic stroke (CS). Implantable loop recorders (ILRs) have become an important tool for long-term arrhythmia monitoring in CS patients. Office-based ILR implantation by nonelectrophysiologist physicians is increasingly common. To report the real world diagnostic yield and accuracy of remote ILR monitoring in high risk CS patients, we retrospectively analyzed 145 consecutive patients with CS who underwent ILR implantation between October 2014 and October 2018 at New York University Langone Health. A certified device technician and an electrophysiologist adjudicated all transmissions. The yield and accuracy of Reveal LINQ Intra Cardiac Monitor (ICM), a fourth generation device, was compared to that of TruRhythm Detection algorithm (fifth generation device). AF was diagnosed in 17 patients (12%) over a mean follow-up of 28 ± 12 months. The median time to diagnosis was 7.4 ± 21.3 months. A total of 1,637 remote transmissions (scheduled- and auto-triggered alerts: 756; patient-triggered: 881) were adjudicated. The positive predictive value for AF episodes in the scheduled interrogations increased from 4% in the Reveal LINQ ICM to 16% in the TruRhythm LINQ. Of 881 patient-triggered transmissions, none were found to be true positive. In the Reveal LINQ ICM, for scheduled transmissions, primary causes of false positive (FP) were atrial ventricular premature complexes (80%). In the TruRhythm LINQ, for scheduled transmissions, primary cause of FP were T-wave over-sensing (87%). In conclusion, the real world diagnostic yield of ILR for patients with CS remains suboptimal, with at least 84% of AF alerts being FP. Patient-riggered events did not correlate with arrhythmia and the necessity of patient triggering in this population should be questioned. Expert interpretation of recordings is critical to assure accurate diagnosis.<CopyrightInformation>Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation></Abstract><AuthorList CompleteYN="Y"><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Chorin</LastName><ForeName>Ehud</ForeName><Initials>E</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Lenon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Cardiac Electrophysiology, NYU Langone Health, New York city, New York.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Peterson</LastName><ForeName>Connor</ForeName><Initials>C</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Lenon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Cardiac Electrophysiology, NYU Langone Health, New York city, New York.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Kogan</LastName><ForeName>Edward</ForeName><Initials>E</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Lenon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Cardiac Electrophysiology, NYU Langone Health, New York city, New York.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Barbhaiya</LastName><ForeName>Chirag</ForeName><Initials>C</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Lenon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Cardiac Electrophysiology, NYU Langone Health, New York city, New York.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Aizer</LastName><ForeName>Anthony</ForeName><Initials>A</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Lenon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Cardiac Electrophysiology, NYU Langone Health, New York city, New York.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Holmes</LastName><ForeName>Douglas</ForeName><Initials>D</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Lenon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Cardiac Electrophysiology, NYU Langone Health, New York city, New York.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Bernstein</LastName><ForeName>Scott</ForeName><Initials>S</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Lenon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Cardiac Electrophysiology, NYU Langone Health, New York city, New York.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Schole</LastName><ForeName>Michael</ForeName><Initials>M</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Lenon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Cardiac Electrophysiology, NYU Langone Health, New York city, New York.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Duraiswami</LastName><ForeName>Harish</ForeName><Initials>H</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Lenon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Cardiac Electrophysiology, NYU Langone Health, New York city, New York.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Spinelli</LastName><ForeName>Michael</ForeName><Initials>M</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Lenon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Cardiac Electrophysiology, NYU Langone Health, New York city, New York.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Park</LastName><ForeName>David</ForeName><Initials>D</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Lenon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Cardiac Electrophysiology, NYU Langone Health, New York city, New York.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Chinitz</LastName><ForeName>Larry</ForeName><Initials>L</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Lenon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Cardiac Electrophysiology, NYU Langone Health, New York city, New York.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Jankelson</LastName><ForeName>Lior</ForeName><Initials>L</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Lenon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Cardiac Electrophysiology, NYU Langone Health, New York city, New York. Electronic address: lior.jankelson@nyumc.org.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author></AuthorList><Language>eng</Language><PublicationTypeList><PublicationType UI="D003160">Comparative Study</PublicationType><PublicationType UI="D016428">Journal Article</PublicationType></PublicationTypeList><ArticleDate DateType="Electronic"><Year>2020</Year><Month>05</Month><Day>23</Day></ArticleDate></Article><MedlineJournalInfo><Country>United States</Country><MedlineTA>Am J Cardiol</MedlineTA><NlmUniqueID>0207277</NlmUniqueID><ISSNLinking>0002-9149</ISSNLinking></MedlineJournalInfo><CitationSubset>IM</CitationSubset><MeshHeadingList><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D000368" MajorTopicYN="N">Aged</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D000369" MajorTopicYN="N">Aged, 80 and over</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D000465" MajorTopicYN="Y">Algorithms</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D001281" MajorTopicYN="N">Atrial Fibrillation</DescriptorName><QualifierName UI="Q000150" MajorTopicYN="N">complications</QualifierName><QualifierName UI="Q000175" MajorTopicYN="Y">diagnosis</QualifierName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D015716" MajorTopicYN="N">Electrocardiography, Ambulatory</DescriptorName><QualifierName UI="Q000295" MajorTopicYN="N">instrumentation</QualifierName><QualifierName UI="Q000379" MajorTopicYN="Y">methods</QualifierName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D005260" MajorTopicYN="N">Female</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D006801" MajorTopicYN="N">Humans</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D008297" MajorTopicYN="N">Male</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D008875" MajorTopicYN="N">Middle Aged</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D019736" MajorTopicYN="Y">Prostheses and Implants</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D012189" MajorTopicYN="N">Retrospective Studies</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D020521" MajorTopicYN="N">Stroke</DescriptorName><QualifierName UI="Q000209" MajorTopicYN="Y">etiology</QualifierName></MeshHeading></MeshHeadingList></MedlineCitation><PubmedData><History><PubMedPubDate PubStatus="received"><Year>2020</Year><Month>4</Month><Day>8</Day></PubMedPubDate><PubMedPubDate PubStatus="revised"><Year>2020</Year><Month>5</Month><Day>14</Day></PubMedPubDate><PubMedPubDate PubStatus="accepted"><Year>2020</Year><Month>5</Month><Day>18</Day></PubMedPubDate><PubMedPubDate PubStatus="pubmed"><Year>2020</Year><Month>7</Month><Day>1</Day><Hour>6</Hour><Minute>0</Minute></PubMedPubDate><PubMedPubDate PubStatus="medline"><Year>2020</Year><Month>11</Month><Day>11</Day><Hour>6</Hour><Minute>0</Minute></PubMedPubDate><PubMedPubDate PubStatus="entrez"><Year>2020</Year><Month>7</Month><Day>1</Day><Hour>6</Hour><Minute>0</Minute></PubMedPubDate></History><PublicationStatus>ppublish</PublicationStatus><ArticleIdList><ArticleId IdType="pubmed">32600783</ArticleId><ArticleId IdType="doi">10.1016/j.amjcard.2020.05.027</ArticleId><ArticleId IdType="pii">S0002-9149(20)30536-1</ArticleId></ArticleIdList></PubmedData></PubmedArticle><PubmedArticle><MedlineCitation Status="Publisher" Owner="NLM"><PMID Version="1">32600490</PMID><DateRevised><Year>2020</Year><Month>06</Month><Day>30</Day></DateRevised><Article PubModel="Print-Electronic"><Journal><ISSN IssnType="Electronic">1471-6348</ISSN><JournalIssue CitedMedium="Internet"><PubDate><Year>2020</Year><Month>Jun</Month><Day>30</Day></PubDate></JournalIssue><Title>International journal of technology assessment in health care</Title><ISOAbbreviation>Int J Technol Assess Health Care</ISOAbbreviation></Journal><ArticleTitle>Effectiveness, efficacy, and safety of wearable cardioverter-defibrillators in the treatment of sudden cardiac arrest - Results from a health technology assessment.</ArticleTitle><Pagination><StartPage>1</StartPage><EndPage>9</EndPage><MedlinePgn>1-9</MedlinePgn></Pagination><ELocationID EIdType="doi" ValidYN="Y">10.1017/S0266462320000379</ELocationID><Abstract><AbstractText Label="OBJECTIVES" NlmCategory="OBJECTIVE">To assess the effectiveness, efficacy, and safety of a wearable cardioverter-defibrillator (WCD) in adult persons with high risk for sudden cardiac arrest and for which an implantable cardioverter is currently not applicable.<AbstractText Label="METHODS" NlmCategory="METHODS">We performed a systematic literature search in Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, and CRD-databases. Study selection was performed by two reviewers independently. Data were presented quantitatively; due to heterogeneity of studies no meta-analysis was performed.<AbstractText Label="RESULTS" NlmCategory="RESULTS">One randomized-controlled trial (RCT), one non-randomized comparative trial, and forty-four non-comparative trials were included. The RCT reported an overall mortality of 3.1 percent in the WCD group versus 4.9 percent in controls (relative risk [RR]: .64; 95 percent confidence interval [CI], .43-.98, p = .04), but no significant effect on arrhythmia-related mortality. The RR for arrhythmia-related mortality amounted to .67 (95 percent CI, .37-1.21, p = .18) as assessed in the RCT. Appropriate shocks were observed in 1.3 percent of patients in both comparative studies, and inappropriate shocks in .6 percent of patients in the RCT. Termination of ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) was successful in 75 to 100 percent of appropriate shocks in all studies. Adverse events assessed in the RCT showed a lower incidence of shortness of breath (38.8 percent vs. 45.3 percent; p = .004), higher incidence of rash at any location (15.3 percent vs. 7.1 percent; p < .001), and higher incidence of itching at any location (17.2 percent vs. 6.4 percent; p < .001) for WCD.<AbstractText Label="CONCLUSIONS" NlmCategory="CONCLUSIONS">Available evidence demonstrates that the WCD detects and terminates VT/VF events reliably and shows a high rate of appropriate shocks in mixed patient populations. Data of large registries confirm that the WCD is a safe intervention. |
16,477 | [Impact of endothelial dysfunction on the course of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction and its correction by remote ischemic preconditioning]. | Цель исследования - оценить влияние отдаленного ишемического прекондиционирования (ОИПК) на частоту развития эндотелиальной дисфункции (ЭД) и ее влияние на госпитальный прогноз у больных острым инфарктом миокарда с подъемом сегмента ST (ОИМпST). Материалы и методы. Авторы провели одноцентровое открытое проспективное исследование, в которое включено 173 пациента с ОИМпST, которым проводилось первичное чрескожное коронарное вмешательство (ЧКВ) в первые 24 ч от появления симптомов. Перед проведением ЧКВ пациентов рандомизировали в две группы. В I группе (n=86) во время подготовки к ЧКВ пациентам проводили процедуру ОИПК путем циклического раздувания манжеты тонометра до 200 мм рт. ст. и сдувания на плече пациента, создавая, таким образом, кратковременные эпизоды контролируемой ишемии/реперфузии тканей руки (4 цикла ишемии/реперфузии по 5/5 мин соответственно). Во II группе (n=87), которая являлась контрольной, стандартное первичное ЧКВ проводилось без предшествующего ОИПК. Оценка функциональной активности эндотелия проводилась на 2-7-е сутки от начала развития заболевания посредством теста эндотелийзависимой вазодилатации (ЭЗВД) плечевой артерии. Конечными точками в исследовании были наличие ЭД, госпитальная летальность, жизнеугрожающие аритмии (фибрилляция желудочков и желудочковая тахикардия спустя 24 ч от поступления), достоверный тромбоз стента, клинические признаки недостаточности кровообращения, а также комбинированная конечная точка, состоявшая из всех вышеперечисленных признаков. Результаты. Значение медианы показателя ЭЗВД плечевой артерии при поступлении достоверно не отличалось между исследуемыми группами. Оценка ЭЗВД плечевой артерии на 2-7-е сутки после ЧКВ показала, что среди пациентов, которым проводилось ОИПК, отмечался достоверно меньший процент пациентов с ЭД, чем у пациентов с ОИМпST, которым перед ЧКВ ОИПК не выполнялось (43,1% против 75,8% соответственно, р=0,0001). Выявлено достоверное снижение количества случаев сердечной недостаточности и комбинированной конечной точки в группе пациентов без ЭД в сравнении с пациентами с ЭД: 0% против 9,3% (n=7; p=0,023) и 3,8% (n=2) против 16% (n=12; p=0,032) соответственно. При оценке влияния ОИПК на госпитальный прогноз авторы также выявили достоверное снижение количества случаев сердечной недостаточности и тенденцию к снижению комбинированной конечной точки в группе пациентов, которым проводилось ОИПК, в сравнении с контрольной группой: 1,5% (n=1) против 9,7% (n=6; p=0,045) и 6,2% (n=4) против 16,1% (n=10; p=0,073) соответственно. Заключение. Проведение ОИПК перед первичным ЧКВ достоверно уменьшает частоту встречаемости ЭД у пациентов с ОИМпST на 2-7-е сутки заболевания. Наличие ЭД у пациентов с ОИМпST ассоциировано с достоверным увеличением частоты встречаемости сердечной недостаточности и комбинированной конечной точки в госпитальный период. ОИПК достоверно уменьшает частоту развития сердечной недостаточности у пациентов с ОИМпST в госпитальный период. |
16,478 | Paroxysmal Ventricular Standstill: A Rare Cardiac Manifestation of Syncope. | BACKGROUND Transient abrupt loss of consciousness due to sudden but pronounced decrease in cardiac output caused by a change in heart rate and rhythm is termed Stokes-Adams disease. Causes of Stokes-Adams syndrome are 1) transition from normal rhythm to high grade block, 2) slowing of idioventricular rhythm in the course of complete heart block, and 3) abnormal ventricular rhythm such as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. Paroxysmal ventricular standstill is one of the rarest causes of Stokes-Adams attack. It is well documented that some patients with a diagnosis of epilepsy actually have a cardiac cause for their convulsions. Brevity of these episodes sometimes makes diagnosis difficult. CASE REPORT We present a case of 40-year-old builder who was normally fit and healthy who developed paroxysmal ventricular standstill. He presented to the Emergency Department with multiple episodes of seizure-like activity. Blood tests which included antibody screen were normal except for hypophosphatemia. Computed tomography head scan was normal. He was commenced on intravenous phenytoin infusion which did not abort his seizure-like episodes. Eventually, ventricular standstill was recorded on cardiac monitoring. The seizure-like episodes were determined to be Stokes-Adams attacks. He underwent transcutaneous pacing and then transvenous pacing with eventual permanent pacemaker insertion. He did not have further episodes at yearly follow-up. CONCLUSIONS This case serves as a reminder of the diagnostic dilemma between syncope and seizures. Misdiagnosing cardiac dysrhythmia for epilepsy could lead to adverse consequences for the patient. It is incumbent upon the emergency physician to perform cardiac monitoring on all patients who present with syncope or convulsion in order that dysrhythmia is observed during such episode. |
16,479 | Idiopathic Ventricular Fibrillation: Diagnosis, Ablation of Triggers, Gaps in Knowledge, and Future Directions. | Idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (IVF) is a diagnosis of exclusion made when no underlying cause is identified in a cardiac arrest survivor. Although the frequency of this diagnosis has declined over time due to advances in diagnostic techniques, it remains a substantial cause of sudden cardiac arrest. Further, IVF tends to recur. This article reviews the criteria for diagnosis, patient characteristics, the two primary arrhythmic phenotypes-short-coupled variant of torsades de pointes and recurrent paroxysmal IVF-and the electrophysiologic features, treatment, and ablation of premature ventricular complexes that can trigger IVF. |
16,480 | Prehospital Double Defibrillation for Refractory Ventricular Fibrillation: A Scoping Review Protocol. | Double defibrillation (DD) has been proposed as an alternative treatment for patients with refractory ventricular fibrillation/pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VF/pVT) out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) nonresponsive to the best current standard of care. Treatment results are promising, but the efficacy and safety of the procedure remain unclear. Currently, there is a paucity of evidence in the literature on DD suggesting the optimal strategy for treating this challenging patient population. Thus, we aim to perform a scoping review to explore the current literature addressing resuscitative parameters, survival rates, and neurological outcomes in refractory VF/pVT OHCA patients treated with DD as well as to identify gaps in the literature that may require further research. Here, we discuss the anticipated study protocol. |
16,481 | Upstream Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation Prevention: The Role of Sacubitril/Valsartan. | The therapy or prevention of atrial fibrillation (AF) is defined as upstream therapy when conducted with the use of drugs, e.g., angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), angiotensin receptor antagonists, statins, and omega-3 fatty acids, not included in the classes of antiarrhythmic drugs recognized by the Vaughan Williams classification. In our review, we illustrate the rational bases of upstream AF therapy, which encompasses drugs having the property to reduce hemodynamic congestion and cardiac overload, as in the case of ACEIs or angiotensin receptor blockers, as well as drugs able to prevent atrial fibrosis or reduce oxidative stress, such as statins or omega-3 fatty acids, respectively. In this review, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted with the abovementioned drugs are examined. Really, these RCTs have generated mixed results. In the context of the prevention and therapy of AF, our experience is then presented, relating to a patient with heart failure and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, with a history of relapsing episodes of paroxysmal AF. In this patient, administration of sacubitril/valsartan at appropriate doses allowed recovery of the sinus rhythm. Therefore this case testifies how the upstream therapy of AF might have good results when conducted with sacubitril/valsartan. Thus, RCTs with adequate statistical power are warranted in order to confirm the preliminary encouraging result of our case report, and validate a useful role of sacubitril/valsartan as an upstream therapy of AF. |
16,482 | Angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitior (thiorphan/irbesartan) decreased ischemia-reperfusion induced ventricular arrhythmias in rat; in vivo study. | Ventricular arrhythmias are considered as a major risk of sudden cardiac death. This study was designed to investigate the potential effects of angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor; thiorphan/irbesartan (TH/IRB) combination therapy on myocardial ischemic-reperfusion (I/R)-induced arrhythmia. Fifty male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups; (I, II): Sham, I/R both received DMSO intraperitoneally before the procedure. (III, IV, V): TH/IRB + IR (0.1/5 mg/kg, 0.1/10 mg/kg and 0.1/15 mg/kg). The drugs were injected intraperitoneally 15 min before I/R induction. Electrocardiograms changes, mean arterial blood pressure, incidence of ventricular tachycardia (VT), incidence of ventricular fibrillation (VF) and arrhythmia score were assessed. Cardiac levels of creatinine kinase-MB (CK-MB), Malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), endothelin-1 (ET-1), ATP content, and Na<sup>+</sup>/K<sup>+</sup>-ATPase pump activity were measured. TH (0.1 mg/kg) in combination with IRB (5, 10 and 15 mg/kg) produced significant decrease in QTc interval duration, ST height, incidence of VT and VF, duration of VT + VF, and arrhythmia score compared to I/R group. All treated groups showed significant decrease in the cardiac levels of: CK-MB, MDA and ET-1 and significant increase in SOD, ATP content, and Na<sup>+</sup>/K<sup>+</sup>-ATPase pump activity compared to I/R. TH/IRB + IR (0.1/10 mg/kg) group produced significant decrease in CK-MB, MDA and ET-1 and a significant increase in SOD, ATP content, and Na<sup>+</sup>/K<sup>+</sup>-ATPase pump activity compared to other treated groups. In conclusion, angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor (thiorphan/irbesartan) decreased arrhythmia score and decreased cardiac damage. These could be explained in part by its ability to decrease oxidative stress and ET-1, increase ATP, and Na<sup>+</sup>/K<sup>+</sup>-ATPase pump activity in this rat model of I/R-induced arrhythmia. |
16,483 | Sarcopenia, sarcopenic overweight/obesity and risk of cardiovascular disease and cardiac arrhythmia: A cross-sectional study. | Sarcopenia is an age-dependent skeletal muscle disorder that is common in patients with heart failure. The current study aimed to investigate the associations of sarcopenia with carotid atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease and cardiac arrhythmia in a middle-aged and elderly population without clinical heart failure.</AbstractText>A total of 2432 participants (992 men and 1440 women) from Shanghai Changfeng Study were included for analysis. The degree of sarcopenia was measured using height-adjusted appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM/height2</sup>). Carotid plaques were detected by carotid artery ultrasonography, and myocardial ischemia, infarction and cardiac arrhythmia were diagnosed based on electrocardiogram, past history and clinical manifestations.</AbstractText>Sarcopenia was associated with higher prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis (26.4% vs 20.4%, P = 0.027), myocardial infarction (4.0% vs 1.1%, P = 0.001), and premature ventricular contraction (4.0% vs 2.0%, P = 0.034) in the participants with normal body weight, and higher prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis (45.0% vs 31.2%, P = 0.016), myocardial infarction (10.0% vs 4.3%, P = 0.020) and atrial fibrillation (7.5% vs 1.3%, P < 0.001) in those with overweight/obese status. After adjustment for age, gender, cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, menopausal status in women and other metabolic and inflammatory confounding factors, sarcopenia was independently associated with the risk of myocardial infarction in the whole population, and the risk of atrial fibrillation in the overweight/obese participants (all P < 0.05). Compared with nonsarcopenic lean participants, the risk of myocardial infarction was gradually increased in sarcopenic lean (OR 3.08 [1.28-7.45], P = 0.012) and sarcopenic overweight/obese participants (OR 4.07 [1.31-12.62], P = 0.015). For the atrial fibrillation, the participants with either sarcopenia or overweight/obesity alone showed no higher risk. However, concomitant sarcopenia and overweight/obesity was associated with approximately 5-fold risk of atrial fibrillation (OR 5.68 [1.34-24.12], P = 0.019) after multiple adjustment.</AbstractText>Sarcopenia is associated with myocardial infarction and atrial fibrillation in middle-aged and elderly adults without clinical heart failure.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,484 | Keeping the Finger on the Pulse: Cardiac Arrhythmias in Hand Surgery Using Local Anesthesia with Adrenaline. | The wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) technique in hand surgery is gaining popularity. The authors aimed to prospectively analyze the frequency and type of arrhythmias in patients undergoing hand surgery under local anesthesia and to examine whether the addition of adrenaline affects their incidence.</AbstractText>Adult patients undergoing hand surgery under local anesthesia were randomized into two groups: group 1, local anesthesia with lidocaine and tourniquet; and group 2, local anesthesia with lidocaine and adrenaline (WALANT). Patients with a history of arrhythmias were excluded. Patients were connected to Holter electrocardiographic monitoring before surgery and up until discharge. The records were blindly compared between the groups regarding types of arrhythmias, and frequency and timing relative to injection and tourniquet inflation.</AbstractText>One hundred two patients were included between August of 2018 and August of 2019 (age, 59.7 ± 13.6 years; 71 percent women; 51 in each group). No major arrhythmia (ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, atrial fibrillation) or arrhythmia-related symptoms were recorded for either group. Minor arrhythmias (including atrial premature beats, ventricular premature beats, and atrial tachycardia) were recorded in 68 patients (66.6 percent), with no statistical difference between the groups. There were three patients with minor arrhythmias during inflation of the tourniquet. Patients in the adrenaline group had 2 percent sinus tachycardia during injection and 4 percent asymptomatic bradyarrhythmias. These findings do not require any further treatment.</AbstractText>The authors' results show that hand operations using WALANT technique in patients with no history of arrhythmia are safe and are not arrhythmogenic; therefore, there is no need for routine perioperative continuous electrocardiographic monitoring.</AbstractText><AbstractText Label="CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE">Therapeutic, II.</AbstractText> |
16,485 | In-hospital and long-term outcomes among patients with spontaneous coronary artery dissection presenting with ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation. | Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an important cause of myocardial infarction (MI) in young to middle-age women. Ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation (VT/VF) may complicate acute SCAD presentations, and the long-term outcomes are unknown.</AbstractText>The purpose of this study was to report the outcomes of SCAD patients presenting with VT/VF.</AbstractText>We analyzed our prospective Canadian SCAD registries for patients presenting with VT/VF during index hospitalization. Long-term outcomes including VT/VF and cardiac arrest were collected. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed to identify predictors of VT/VF at follow-up.</AbstractText>Among 1056 consecutive SCAD patients, 84 (8.0%) presented with VT/VF, and 8 underwent implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) insertion. Patients with VT/VF during index hospitalization were younger (49.3 vs 52.0 years; P = .019) and were more likely to have ST-elevation MI, lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and left main dissection (all P <.001). Initial VT/VF was associated with in-hospital events, including recurrent MI, unplanned revascularization, heart failure, ICD insertion, and in-hospital death (all P <.05). At mean follow-up of 4.8 ± 3.3 years, 8 patients suffered VT/VF (time to event 5.2 ± 6.2 years); 5 of 8 patients had VT/VF on initial SCAD presentation, and 1 of 8 had undergone ICD insertion. Predictors of VT/VF during follow-up included LVEF <50%, LVEF <35%, peripartum SCAD, unplanned revascularization, repeat MI, heart failure, and initial VT/VF. Multivariable analysis showed initial VT/VF (odds ratio [OR] 9.5; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.0-44; P = .004) and LVEF <50% (OR 12.9; 95% CI 1.5-111; P = .019) were independent predictors of VT/VF at follow-up.</AbstractText>SCAD patients presenting with VT/VF were at greater risk for in-hospital events and recurrent VF/VT at follow-up. Both VT/VF and LVEF <50% were independent predictors of subsequent VT/VF.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,486 | Signature signal strategy: Electrogram-based ventricular tachycardia mapping. | Multiple decades of work have recognized complexities of substrates responsible for ventricular tachycardia (VT). There is sufficient evidence that 3 critical components of a re-entrant VT circuit, namely, region of slow conduction, zone of unidirectional block, and exit site, are located in spatial vicinity to each other in the ventricular scar. Each of these components expresses characteristic electrograms in sinus rhythm, at initiation of VT, and during VT, respectively. Despite this, abnormal electrograms are widely targeted without appreciation of these signature electrograms during contemporary VT ablation. Our aim is to stimulate physiology-based VT mapping and a targeted ablation of VT. In this article, we focus on these 3 underappreciated aspects of the physiology of ischemic scar-related VT circuits that have practical applications during a VT ablation procedure. We explore the anatomic and functional elements underlying these distinctive bipolar electrograms, specifically the contribution of tissue branching, conduction restitution, and wave curvature to the substrate, as they pertain to initiation and maintenance of VT. We propose a VT ablation approach based on these 3 electrogram features that can be a potential practical means to recognize critical elements of a VT circuit and target ablation. |
16,487 | Establishment of a swine model of traumatic cardiac arrest induced by haemorrhage and ventricular fibrillation. | To establish and evaluate a swine model of traumatic cardiac arrest (TCA) induced by haemorrhage and ventricular fibrillation.</AbstractText>Thirteen male pigs were divided into a sham group (n</i> = 5) and TCA group (n</i> = 8). Animals in the sham-operated group underwent intubation and monitoring but not haemorrhage and resuscitation, while animals in the TCA group underwent 40% blood volume haemorrhage over 20 min followed by 5 min of ventricular fibrillation and 5 min of cardiopulmonary resuscitation with fluid resuscitation.</AbstractText>Restoration of spontaneous circulation was achieved in seven of eight animals in the TCA group. After resuscitation, the heart rate was significantly increased while the mean arterial pressure and ejection fraction were significantly decreased in the TCA group. The TCA group had significant cardiac and neurological injuries post-resuscitation and had higher serum creatinine and blood lactic acid levels and lower PaO2</sub> than the sham group. Animals in the TCA group also exhibited significantly higher apoptotic indices and caspase-3 protein levels in the heart, brain and kidney than the sham group.</AbstractText>Animals in this swine model of TCA exhibited high rates of successful resuscitation, significant vital organ injury and prolonged survival. The model is suitable for use in further TCA research.</AbstractText> |
16,488 | Correlation Between Arrhythmia and the Prognosis in Children With EFE/LVNC/DCM. | <b>Aim:</b> To explore the correlation between different phenotypes of arrhythmia and the prognosis in children with EFE/LVNC/DCM. <b>Methods:</b> A total of 167 children with cardiomyopathy diagnosed and treated in Shengjing Hospital between January 2010 and May 2019 were evaluated. After patient screening, 31 patients with endomyocardial fibroelastosis (EFE), left ventricular non-compaction, or dilated cardiomyopathy with significant arrhythmias were selected. In addition, 42 children with primary EFE were selected to evaluate the prognosis with or without arrhythmia. Follow-up was undertaken 0, 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after treatment. <b>Results:</b> We revealed the outcomes for five types of cardiomyopathy: EFE patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome B and supraventricular tachycardia, intraventricular block and complete left bundle branch block recovered slower than EFE patients with atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation, even slower than EFE with ventricular tachycardia. The average recovering time for LVEF and LVED in EFE patients without arrythmia was 10 months after diagnosis, while 76.9% (3/13 cases) of those with significant arrythmia hadn't recovered until 24 months after diagnosis. Three of patients died at 6, 7, and 6 and half years after diagnosis. <b>Conclusion:</b> The long-term prognosis in children with cardiomyopathy is associated with the type of arrhythmia and time of intervention. The prognosis of EFE patients with arrhythmia is worse than EFE patients without arrhythmia. Patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome B, especially a significantly widen QRS complex, carry a poor prognosis if radiofrequency ablation is not undertaken. CLBBB patients have similar poor prognosis if proper pacemaker is not implanted timely. |
16,489 | Death, discharge and arrhythmias among patients with COVID-19 and cardiac injury. | Cardiac injury is common in severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and is associated with poor outcomes. We aimed to study predictors of in-hospital death, characteristics of arrhythmias and the effects of QT-prolonging therapy in patients with cardiac injury.</AbstractText>We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving patients with severe COVID-19 who were admitted to Tongji Hospital in Wuhan, China, between Jan. 29 and Mar. 8, 2020. Among patients who had cardiac injury, which we defined as an elevated level of cardiac troponin I (cTnI), we identified demographic and clinical characteristics associated with mortality and need for invasive ventilation.</AbstractText>Among 1284 patients with severe COVID-19, 1159 had a cTnI level measured on admission to hospital, of whom 170 (14.7%) had results that showed cardiac injury. We found that mortality was markedly higher in patients with cardiac injury (71.2% v. 6.6%, p</i> < 0.001). We determined that initial cTnI (per 10-fold increase, hazard ratio [HR] 1.32, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06-1.66) and peak cTnI level during illness (per 10-fold increase, HR 1.70, 95% CI 1.38-2.10) were associated with poor survival. Peak cTnI was also associated with the need for invasive ventilation (odds ratio 3.02, 95% CI 1.92-4.98). We found arrhythmias in 44 of the 170 patients with cardiac injury (25.9%), including 6 patients with ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, all of whom died. We determined that patients who received QT-prolonging drugs had longer QTc intervals than those who did not receive them (difference in medians, 45 ms, p</i> = 0.01), but such treatment was not independently associated with mortality (HR 1.04, 95% CI 0.69-1.57).</AbstractText>We found that in patients with COVID-19 and cardiac injury, initial and peak cTnI levels were associated with poor survival, and peak cTnI was a predictor of need for invasive ventilation. Patients with COVID-19 warrant assessment for cardiac injury and monitoring, especially if therapy that can prolong repolarization is started.</AbstractText>Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, No. ChiCTR2000031301.</AbstractText>© 2020 Joule Inc. or its licensors.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,490 | Electrocardiographic features of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. | . The electrocardiographic (ECG) changes which may occur during hospitalization for COVID-19 have not yet been comprehensively assessed.</AbstractText>. We examined 50 patients admitted to hospital with proven COVID-19 pneumonia. At entry, all patients underwent a detailed clinical examination, 12-lead ECG, laboratory tests and arterial blood gas test. ECG was also recorded at discharge and in case of worsening clinical conditions.</AbstractText>. Mean age of patients was 64 years and 72% were men. At baseline, 30% of patients had ST-T abnormalities, and 33% had left ventricular hypertrophy. During hospitalization, 26% of patients developed new ECG abnormalities which included atrial fibrillation, ST-T changes, tachy-brady syndrome, and changes consistent with acute pericarditis. One patient was transferred to intensive care unit for massive pulmonary embolism with right bundle branch block, and another for non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction. Patients free of ECG changes during hospitalization were more likely to be treated with antiretrovirals (68% vs 15%, p = 0.001) and hydroxychloroquine (89% vs 62%, p = 0.026) versus those who developed ECG abnormalities after admission. Most measurable ECG features at discharge did not show significant changes from baseline (all p>0.05) except for a slightly decrease in Cornell voltages (13±6 vs 11±5 mm; p = 0.0001) and a modest increase in the PR interval. The majority (54%) of patients with ECG abnormalities had 2 prior consecutive negative nasopharyngeal swabs. ECG abnormalities were first detected after an average of about 30 days from symptoms' onset (range 12-51 days).</AbstractText>. ECG abnormalities during hospitalization for COVID-19 pneumonia reflect a wide spectrum of cardiovascular complications, exhibit a late onset, do not progress in parallel with pulmonary abnormalities and may occur after negative nasopharyngeal swabs.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020 European Federation of Internal Medicine. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,491 | On-treatment HDL cholesterol predicts incident atrial fibrillation in hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy. | <b>Purpose</b>: Hypertensive patients are at increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). Although low baseline high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol has been associated with a higher risk of AF, this has not been verified in recent population-based studies. Whether changing levels of HDL over time are more strongly related to the risk of new AF in hypertensive patients has not been examined.<b>Material and methods</b>: Incident AF was examined in relation to baseline and on-treatment HDL levels in 8267 hypertensive patients with no history of AF, in sinus rhythm on their baseline electrocardiogram, randomly assigned to losartan- or atenolol-based treatment. HDL levels at baseline and each year of testing were categorised into quartiles according to baseline HDL levels.<b>Results</b>: During 4.7 ± 1.10 years of follow-up, 645 patients (7.8%) developed new AF. In univariate Cox analyses, compared with the highest quartile of HDL levels (>1.78 mmol/l), patients with on-treatment HDL in the lowest quartile (≤ 1.21 mmol/l) had a 53% greater risk of new AF. Patients with on-treatment HDL in the second and third quartiles had intermediate increased risks of AF. Baseline HDL in the lowest quartile was not a significant predictor of new AF (hazard ratio (HR): 1.14, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.90-1.43). In multivariable Cox analyses adjusting for multiple baseline and time-varying covariates, the lowest quartile of on-treatment HDL remained associated with a nearly 54% increased risk of new AF (HR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.16-2.05) whereas a baseline HDL≤ ⩽1.21 mmol/l was not predictive of new AF (HR: 1.01, 95% CI: 0.78-1.31).<b>Conclusion</b>: Lower on-treatment HDL is strongly associated with risk of new AF. These findings suggest that serial assessment of HDL can estimate AF risk better than baseline HDL in hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy. Future studies may investigate whether therapies that increase HDL can lower risk of developing AF.<u>Clinical Trials Registration</u>: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00338260?order=1. |
16,492 | Supraventricular tachycardia in 23 cats; comparison with 21 cats with atrial fibrillation (2004-2014). | Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) has not been well described in cats. The aim of this study was to describe the signalment, clinical findings, and outcome for cats with SVT versus cats with atrial fibrillation (AF).</AbstractText>Forty-four client owned cats are included in the study. 23 cats with SVT and 21 with AF.</AbstractText>This is a retrospective study. Clinical characteristics were compared between groups using a two-sample t-test or Mann-Whitney U test. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were generated to assess for impact of rhythm diagnosis, presence of ventricular arrhythmia, left atrial diameter, heart rate and congestive heart failure (CHF) status on cardiac death. Differences in survival between groups were compared using Mantel-Cox logrank comparison of Kaplan-Meier survival curves.</AbstractText>Cats with supraventricular arrhythmias most commonly presented with respiratory distress (10 of 44 cats). Cats with AF had a slower median heart rate (220 [range: 180-260 beats per minute (bpm)] compared with cats with SVT (300 [range: 150-380] bpm, p < 0.001). All cats with AF had structural heart disease, whereas 4 cats with SVT had no structural abnormalities. Left atrial diameter was significantly larger in cats with AF (23.7 (16.2-40.1) mm compared with 19.1 (12.8-31.4) mm in SVT cats; p = 0.02). Median survival was 58 days (1-780) in cats with AF and 259 days (2-2295) in cats with SVT (p = 0.1). Cats with signs of CHF had a shorter survival time (p = 0.001).</AbstractText>Most cats with AF or SVT have advanced structural heart disease. Some cats with SVT had structurally normal hearts, suggesting that SVT in cats is not always a consequence of atrial enlargement.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,493 | COVID-19 and cardiac arrhythmias. | Early studies suggest that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with a high incidence of cardiac arrhythmias. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection may cause injury to cardiac myocytes and increase arrhythmia risk.</AbstractText>The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk of cardiac arrest and arrhythmias including incident atrial fibrillation (AF), bradyarrhythmias, and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) in a large urban population hospitalized for COVID-19. We also evaluated correlations between the presence of these arrhythmias and mortality.</AbstractText>We reviewed the characteristics of all patients with COVID-19 admitted to our center over a 9-week period. Throughout hospitalization, we evaluated the incidence of cardiac arrests, arrhythmias, and inpatient mortality. We also used logistic regression to evaluate age, sex, race, body mass index, prevalent cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and intensive care unit (ICU) status as potential risk factors for each arrhythmia.</AbstractText>Among 700 patients (mean age 50 ± 18 years; 45% men; 71% African American; 11% received ICU care), there were 9 cardiac arrests, 25 incident AF events, 9 clinically significant bradyarrhythmias, and 10 NSVTs. All cardiac arrests occurred in patients admitted to the ICU. In addition, admission to the ICU was associated with incident AF (odds ratio [OR] 4.68; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.66-13.18) and NSVT (OR 8.92; 95% CI 1.73-46.06) after multivariable adjustment. Also, age and incident AF (OR 1.05; 95% CI 1.02-1.09) and prevalent heart failure and bradyarrhythmias (OR 9.75; 95% CI 1.95-48.65) were independently associated. Only cardiac arrests were associated with acute in-hospital mortality.</AbstractText>Cardiac arrests and arrhythmias are likely the consequence of systemic illness and not solely the direct effects of COVID-19 infection.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,494 | Outcomes of incident atrial fibrillation in heart failure with preserved or reduced ejection fraction: A community-based study. | The best management strategy for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) with heart failure (HF) and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is unknown.</AbstractText>This cohort study was conducted in Olmsted County, Minnesota, with resources of the Rochester Epidemiology Project. Patients with incident AF occurring between 2000 and 2014 with a prior or concurrent HF were included. Patients with LVEF ≥ 50% were designated as HF and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and those with LVEF < 50% were designated as HF and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Rhythm control in the first year after AF diagnosis was defined as prescriptions for an antiarrhythmic drug, catheter ablation, or maze procedure. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. The secondary endpoints were cardiovascular death, cardiovascular hospitalization, and stroke or transient ischemic attack. Of 859 patients (age, 77.2 ± 12.1 years; 49.2%, female), 447 had HFpEF-AF, and 412 had HFrEF-AF. There was no difference in all-cause mortality (10-year mortality, 83% vs 79%; p = .54) or secondary endpoints between the HFpEF-AF and HFrEF-AF, respectively. Compared with the rate control strategy, rhythm control in HFpEF-AF patients (n = 40, 15.9%) offered no survival benefits (adjusted HR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.42-1.16; p = .16), whereas rhythm control in HFrEF-AF patients (n = 52, 22.5%) decrease cardiovascular mortality (HR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.17-0.86; p = .02).</AbstractText>Patients with HFpEF-AF and HFrEF-AF had similar poor prognoses. Rhythm control strategy was seldom adopted in community care in patients with HF and AF. A rhythm control strategy may provide survival benefit for patients with HFrEF-AF and the benefit of rhythm control in patients with HFpEF-AF warrants further study.</AbstractText>© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,495 | CHA2DS2-VASc and ATRIA Scores and Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction. | Heart failure (HF) patients have high risks of thromboembolic events regardless of the category of left ventricular ejection fraction. We sought to assess whether the CHA2DS2-VASc (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥ 75 years, diabetes mellitus, stroke, vascular disease, age 65-74 years, and female sex) and ATRIA (anticoagulation and risk factors in atrial fibrillation) scores could predict clinical outcomes in HF patients with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).</AbstractText>We performed a retrospective analysis in a multicenter, America-based population of 1766 HFpEF patients who were stratified according to their baseline CHA2DS2-VASc or ATRIA scores. The CHA2DS2-VASc and ATRIA scores were analyzed as a continuous or categorical variable. The outcomes were stroke, all-cause death, cardiovascular death, any hospitalization, and HF hospitalization.</AbstractText>When score was considered as a continuous variable, each point increase in CHA2DS2-VASc was associated with increased risks of stroke (hazard ratio (HR) 1.22, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.06-1.41, C-index = 0.62), HF hospitalization (HR 1.08, 95% CI = 1.01-1.17, C-index = 0.59), and any hospitalization (HR 1.06, 95% CI = 1.01-1.11, C-index = 0.57) whereas each point increase in ATRIA was associated with increased risks of stroke (HR 1.11, 95% CI = 1.01-1.21, C-index = 0.62), all-cause death (HR 1.09, 95% CI = 1.05-1.14, C-index = 0.61), cardiovascular death (HR 1.08, 95% CI = 1.02-1.14, C-index = 0.59), HF hospitalization (HR 1.07, 95% CI = 1.03-1.12, C-index = 0.58), and any hospitalization (HR 1.04, 95% CI = 1.01-1.06, C-index = 0.57). When score was regarded as a categorical variable, compared with controls, CHA2DS2-VASc ≥ 4 was associated with increased risks of stroke and hospitalization whereas ATRIA ≥ 8 was associated with increased risks of stroke, death, and hospitalization.</AbstractText>The CHA2DS2-VASc and ATRIA scores are associated with risks of adverse outcomes in HFpEF patients. However, the predictive abilities of CHA2DS2-VASc and ATRIA are modest, and their clinical utility in HFpEF remains to be determined.</AbstractText>https://clinicaltrials.gov . Identifier: NCT00094302.</AbstractText> |
16,496 | The impact of continuous positive airway pressure on cardiac arrhythmias in patients with sleep apnea. | Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can lead to cardiac complications: brady and tachyarrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the gold standard for the treatment of OSA. The present study aims to demonstrate the efficiency of CPAP in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias in patients with OSA. The study also recorded the frequency of arrhythmias in patients with untreated OSA and assessed the association between the severity of OSA and the occurrence of arrhythmias.</AbstractText>This is a prospective cohort study. Ninety-three patients with OSA were included, aged 60 (58-64) years, with female/male sex ratio of 1:4. They were subjected simultaneously to home respiratory polygraphy examination and Holter electrocardiogram monitoring, in two different stages: at diagnosis and at the 3-month checkup after CPAP treatment. The presence of supraventricular and ventricular arrythmias was noted. Respiratory parameter values were also recorded.</AbstractText>Statistically significant decrease in the occurrence of supraventricular (P</i> < 0.001) and ventricular extrasystoles (P</i> < 0.001), atrial fibrillation (AF) (P</i> = 0.03), nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) (P</i> = 0.03), and sinus pauses (P</i> < 0.001) was observed 3 months after treatment with CPAP, compared with baseline. The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was correlated with the ventricular extrasystoles (r</i> = 0.273; P</i> = 0.008). The ejection fraction of the left ventricle was inversely correlated with the episodes of NSVT (r</i> = -0.425; P</i> < 0.001). AF was associated with the longest apnea (r</i> = 0.215; P</i> = 0.04). Cardiac activity pauses were correlated with AHI (r</i> = 0.320; P</i> = 0.002), longest apnea (r</i> = 0.345; P</i> = 0.01), and oxygen desaturation index (r</i> = 0.325; P</i> = 0.04).</AbstractText>The prevalence of cardiac arrhythmias in patients with OSA was reduced after 3 months of CPAP therapy. Cardiac arrhythmias were correlated with the severity of OSA.</AbstractText>Copyright: © 2020 Journal of Research in Medical Sciences.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,497 | Antiarrhythmic Effects of Melatonin and Omega-3 Are Linked with Protection of Myocardial Cx43 Topology and Suppression of Fibrosis in Catecholamine Stressed Normotensive and Hypertensive Rats. | Cardiac β-adrenergic overstimulation results in oxidative stress, hypertrophy, ischemia, lesion, and fibrosis rendering the heart vulnerable to malignant arrhythmias. We aimed to explore the anti-arrhythmic efficacy of the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory compounds, melatonin, and omega-3, and their mechanisms of actions in normotensive and hypertensive rats exposed to isoproterenol (ISO) induced β-adrenergic overdrive. Eight-month-old, male SHR, and Wistar rats were injected during 7 days with ISO (cumulative dose, 118 mg/kg). ISO rats were either untreated or concomitantly treated with melatonin (10 mg/kg/day) or omega-3 (Omacor, 1.68 g/kg/day) until 60 days of ISO withdrawal and compared to non-ISO controls. Findings showed that both melatonin and omega-3 increased threshold current to induce ventricular fibrillation (VF) in ISO rats regardless of the strain. Prolonged treatment with these compounds resulted in significant suppression of ISO-induced extracellular matrix alterations, as indicated by reduced areas of diffuse fibrosis and decline of hydroxyproline, collagen-1, SMAD2/3, and TGF-β1 protein levels. Importantly, the highly pro-arrhythmic ISO-induced disordered cardiomyocyte distribution of electrical coupling protein, connexin-43 (Cx43), and its remodeling (lateralization) were significantly attenuated by melatonin and omega-3 in Wistar as well as SHR hearts. In parallel, both compounds prevented the post-ISO-related increase in Cx43 variant phosphorylated at serine 368 along with PKCε, which are known to modulate Cx43 remodeling. Melatonin and omega-3 increased SOD1 or SOD2 protein levels in ISO-exposed rats of both strains. Altogether, the results indicate that anti-arrhythmic effects of melatonin and omega-3 might be attributed to the protection of myocardial Cx43 topology and suppression of fibrosis in the setting of oxidative stress induced by catecholamine overdrive in normotensive and hypertensive rats. |
16,498 | Atrial fibrillation ablation in heart failure patients: improved systolic function after cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation. | Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) are the most common cardiac diseases and often coexist leading to increased mortality and morbidity compared with AF patients without HF. As shown previously, AF ablation using radio frequency (RF) in HF patients leads to a reduction of AF burden, an increase of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and consequently to reduced hospitalization and mortality. Previous AF ablation studies on HF patients have been liberal about additional targets beyond pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). Thus, the aim of this study was to assess systematically the impact of a straightforward PVI-only strategy on LVEF, NYHA functional class, and cardiovascular hospitalization rate in HF patients.</AbstractText>Out of 414 consecutive patients undergoing PVI, only with the cryoballoon 113 patients with reduced LVEF [mean: 38.4 ± 10.8%, reduced ejection fraction (rEF) group] and 301 patients with normal LVEF (>55%) at baseline were identified [normal ejection fraction (nEF) group]. Remarkably, even though freedom from arrhythmia recurrence after 1 year was significantly lower in the rEF group (64.9%) compared with the nEF group (71.2%, P = 0.036), mean LVEF improved from 38.4 ± 10.8% to 52.5 ± 17.2% (P < 0.001) after cryoballoon ablation in the rEF group. Accordingly, HF-related symptoms as well as hospitalization rate declined significantly in the rEF group during follow-up compared with baseline.</AbstractText>The results of the present study suggest that catheter ablation restricted to a straightforward PVI-only strategy using the cryoballoon leads to improved left ventricular ejection fraction as well as improvement of NYHA functional class and increased freedom from cardiovascular rehospitalization.</AbstractText>© 2020 The Authors. ESC Heart Failure published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,499 | Fibroblast growth factor 23: a biomarker of fibrosis and prognosis in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. | Besides regulating calcium-phosphate metabolism, fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) has been associated with incident heart failure (HF) and left ventricular hypertrophy. However, data about FGF-23 in HF and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remain limited. The aim of this study was to assess the association between FGF-23 levels, clinical and imaging characteristics, particularly diffuse myocardial fibrosis, and prognosis in HFpEF patients.</AbstractText>We prospectively included 143 consecutive HFpEF patients (78 ± 8 years, 61% female patients) and 31 controls of similar age and gender (75 ± 6 years, 61% female patients). All subjects underwent a complete two-dimensional echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance with extracellular volume (ECV) assessment by T1 mapping. FGF-23 was measured at baseline. Among the patients, differences in clinical and imaging characteristics across tertiles of FGF-23 levels were analysed with a trend test across the ordered groups. Patients were followed over time for a primary endpoint of all-cause mortality and first HF hospitalization and a secondary endpoint of all-cause mortality. Median FGF-23 was significantly higher in HFpEF patients compared with controls of similar age and gender (247 [115; 548] RU/mL vs. 61 [51; 68] RU/mL, P < 0.001). Among HFpEF patients, higher FGF-23 levels were associated with female sex, higher incidence of atrial fibrillation, lower haemoglobin, worse renal function, and higher N terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide levels (P for trend < 0.05 for all). Regarding imaging characteristics, patients with higher FGF-23 levels had greater left atrial volumes, worse right ventricular systolic function, and more fibrosis estimated by ECV (P for trend < 0.05 for all). FGF-23 was moderately correlated with ECV (r = 0.46, P < 0.001). Over a mean follow-up of 30 ± 8 months, 43 patients (31%) died and 69 patients (49%) were hospitalized for HF. A total of 87 patients (62%) reached the primary composite endpoint of all-cause mortality and/or first HF hospitalization. In multivariate Cox regression analysis for the primary endpoint, FGF-23 (HR: 3.44 [2.01; 5.90], P < 0.001) and E wave velocities (HR: 1.01 [1.00; 1.02], P = 0.034) were independent predictors of the primary composite endpoint. In multivariate Cox regression analysis for the secondary endpoint, ferritin (HR: 1.02 [1.01; 1.03], P < 0.001), FGF-23 (HR: 2.85 [1.26; 6.44], P = 0.012), and ECV (HR: 1.26 [1.03; 1.23], P = 0.008) were independent predictors of all-cause mortality.</AbstractText>Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) levels were significantly higher in HFpEF patients compared with controls of similar age and gender. FGF-23 was correlated with fibrosis evaluated by ECV. High levels of FGF-23 were significantly associated with signs of disease severity such as worse renal function, larger left atrial volumes, and right ventricular dysfunction. Moreover, FGF-23 was a strong predictor of poor outcome (mortality and first HF hospitalization).</AbstractText>© 2020 The Authors. ESC Heart Failure published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.</CopyrightInformation> |
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