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18,200 | Epicardial ablation in genetic cardiomyopathies: a new frontier. | Brugada syndrome (BrS) and several cardiomyopathies, including dilated cardiomyopathy, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC), and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), share common genetic mutations and are associated with an arrhythmogenic substrate (AS) and increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) due to malignant ventricular arrhythmias. We report a family in which a SCN5A mutation was found in both a father and daughter who presented with different phenotypes: the father with LVNC and the daughter with BrS, suggesting SCN5A may be important in cases of overlap between BrS and these various other cardiomyopathies and arrhythmias. Additionally, we report a family in which a MYBPC3 mutation was found in a father, daughter, and son, but they also presented with different phenotypes: the father with HCM and the daughter and son with BrS, suggesting patients with cardiomyopathies or BrS exhibiting sarcomeric mutations may have common genetic pathways that ultimately diverge into different phenotypes. Generally, prevention of SCD may involve the use of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator and/or pharmaceutical therapy. However, patients continue to experience difficulties with this treatment. Epicardial mapping together with ajmaline challenge used to identify the AS in BrS patients can be used to identify and ablate the AS in cardiomyopathy patients, thus preventing the recurrence of ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation and reducing or eliminating the need for shock or pharmacological therapy. Future studies and longer follow-up times are warranted to understand the fullest duration of the therapeutic potential of this ajmaline and map-guided ablation therapy. |
18,201 | Serum of patients with acute myocardial infarction prevents inflammation in iPSC-cardiomyocytes. | Acute myocardial infarction (MI) evokes a systemic inflammatory response and locally the degradation of the necrotic tissue, followed by scar formation. The mechanisms for containment of the infarct zone are not studied well. The study aimed to examine the response of healthy cardiomyocytes to serum of patients with myocardial infarction. Human iPSC-cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CM) generated from two healthy donors were incubated with serum of patients with MI with and without ventricular fibrillation (VF) or of healthy controls. Different cell adhesion molecules were studied by flow cytometry and immunostaining. Cellular electrophysiology was studied by patch clamp. The cell adhesion molecules CD54/ICAM-1, CD58/LFA-3 and CD321/JAM-A were expressed on iPSC-CM within the plasma membrane. Incubation with serum of MI patients reduced the levels of expression of CD54/ICAM-1 and CD321/JAM-A by 15-20%. VF serum was less effective than serum of MI patients without VF. MI serum or VF serum did not affect resting potential, action potential duration or maximum depolarization velocity. Myocardial infarction serum exerts anti-inflammatory effects on healthy cardiomyocytes without affecting their electrical activity, thus helping to contain the infarct zone and to protect healthy tissue. Ventricular fibrillation during MI drives healthy cardiomyocytes towards a pro-inflammatory phenotype. |
18,202 | Massive pulmonary embolism presenting initially as acute psychosis. | This is a case of a 68-year-old man with Parkinson's disease who was admitted in the psychiatry floor for new-onset aggressive behaviour and hallucinations. On the third day of hospitalisation, he suddenly developed dyspnoea followed by an ECG showing atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response. A few seconds later, he went into cardiac arrest; he was resuscitated after multiple rounds of Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support. A transthoracic echo showed hypokinetic and enlarged right ventricle. A CT Chest showed a saddle embolus. Patient was provided with systemic thrombolysis, which led to an improvement in his haemodynamic status. Interestingly, his psychotic symptoms also improved. In this paper, we present and review how pulmonary embolism can be associated with acute psychosis. |
18,203 | Early choice for catheter ablation reduced readmission in management of atrial fibrillation: Impact of diagnosis-to-ablation time. | The impact of delays in the treatment with radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for atrial fibrillation (AF) has not been well evaluated. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of diagnosis-to-ablation time (DAT) on the long-term clinical outcomes after AF-RFCA.</AbstractText>We enrolled 1206 consecutive patients undergoing first-time RFCA for AF. The study population was divided into 2 groups based on DAT: short (<3 years) (N = 675) and long (>3 years) (N = 531) DAT groups.</AbstractText>Mean follow-up duration was 5.0 ± 2.5 years. The 5-year event-free rates from recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmias after the first and second RFCAs were significantly higher in short DAT group than in long DAT group (60.2% versus 48.3%, log-rank P < 0.001; 83.2% versus 75.2%, log-rank P = 0.02, respectively), leading to reduced cardiovascular hospitalization in short DAT group. After adjusting baseline differences, short DAT was independently associated with lower arrhythmia recurrence rates after the first and second RFCAs (hazard ratio [HR] 0.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.60-0.86 and HR 0.72, 95%CI 0.55-0.95, respectively). There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in the event-free rates from all-cause and cardiovascular deaths, heart failure hospitalization, and ischemic stroke. However, among patients with a history of heart failure or reduced left ventricular function, the event-free rate from heart failure readmission was significantly higher in short DAT group (85.0% versus 61.0%, P = 0.004).</AbstractText>In the management of AF, early RFCA was associated with significantly lower arrhythmia recurrence compared with delayed RFCA, leading to reduced cardiovascular hospitalization, especially in heart failure patients.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
18,204 | Cryoablation for paroxysmal and persistent AF in patients with structural heart disease and preserved ejection fraction: Clinical outcomes from 1STOP, a multicenter observational project. | Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is an accepted strategy for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) and persistent AF (PerAF) ablation. Limited data are available on outcomes of cryoballoon (CB) PVI in patients with structural heart disease (SHD). The purpose is to assess the clinical efficacy of a single CB-PVI procedure in patients with PAF or PerAF who also have SHD.</AbstractText>From April 2012, 460 AF patients with concomitant SHD underwent CB-PVI and were followed prospectively in the framework of the 1STOP ClinicalService®</sup> project. Data on procedural outcomes and long-term freedom from AF recurrence were evaluated. Out of 460 subjects, 282 patients (61%) had PAF and 178 (39%) PerAF.</AbstractText>SHD patients were predominantly male (80.9%), old (62.8±8.9 years), with preserved functional capacity (New York Heart Association class >1: 39.4%), high cardioembolic risk (CHA2</sub>DS2</sub>VASc score ≥2: 69.3%), and conserved left ventricular ejection fraction (56.5±8% LVEF). Both subjects with PAF and PerAF had similar baseline clinical characteristics except for left atrial diameter (43.8±7 vs. 45.7±7mm) and area (22.9±5.2 vs. 25.1±4.4cm2</sup>), respectively. Procedure time and fluoroscopic time as well as the rate of procedural complications were not different between subjects with PAF and PerAF. After a mean follow-up of 12 months, antiarrhythmic drug therapy had dropped from 71.7% before ablation to 33.6% post-ablation (p<0.001) and the freedom from symptomatic AF recurrence was 78% for PAF and 77% for PerAF (p=0.793). Furthermore, atrial arrhythmia recurrence rate was not related to SHD.</AbstractText>In a large multicenter, real-world cohort, CB-PVI was used to treat patients with PAF and PerAF who also had SHD. The arrhythmia recurrence after a single procedure was not related to either the degree of cardiac structural remodeling or the type of AF, and the rate of AF recurrence was lower than previously reported in patients with SHD in other cohort series using focal radiofrequency catheter ablation.</AbstractText>clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01007474).</AbstractText>Copyright © 2019 Japanese College of Cardiology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
18,205 | Is Endurance Exercise Safe? The Myth of Pheidippides. | With the increase in participation in endurance events in the general population, patient concern may arise as to whether endurance exercise is safe. Acute but not chronic increases in blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and urine albumin occur in endurance exercise. Iron-deficiency anemia may be observed in female athletes. Upper respiratory illness is increased in elite athletes but decreased in intense recreational athletes. No convincing evidence of developing osteoarthritis exists. Common gastrointestinal symptoms occur and isolated reports of gastrointestinal bleeding exist. Nevi are increased and the minimal erythematous dose is decreased. Exercising in the presence of air pollution has negative pulmonary effects, but overall, benefit exists. Numerous reports pertain to the cardiovascular system. The risk of cardiac arrest increases during exercise, troponin is elevated after exercise, and a predisposition for atrial fibrillation exists. Ventricular myocardial scar formation as assessed by gadolinium enhancement on magnetic resonance imaging is inconsistently observed, and increased coronary plaque of a more stable variety is reported. Left ventricular compliance is chronically increased and no decrease in longevity is found. Although some concerns exist, endurance exercise is safe. |
18,206 | Left internal mammary artery to pulmonary artery fistula causing coronary steal syndrome: A review of literature on therapy, intervention, and management. | Coronary artery anomalies (CAA) are anatomical aberrations in the origin, structure, and course of the epicardial arteries. Literature has detailed common anomalies or fistulas formed because of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) manipulation of intrathoracic vessels. Despite the commonality of the CABG procedure, there are a few CAA and fistula findings which remain extremely rare. We present a case of left internal mammary artery to pulmonary artery fistula causing coronary steal syndrome that presented symptomatically as a malignant arrhythmia. Following a literature review of therapy, intervention, and management we recommend a team based approach when faced with this extremely rare case presentation. The goal of management should to reduce symptoms, and ischemia, by reducing or stopping flow through the fistula and out of the coronary blood supply. |
18,207 | Cardiopulmonary resuscitation: when guidelines provide no answers. | Out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is encountered on a regular basis in prehospital care. Specific guidelines exist for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Guidelines cover most related situations but cannot cover all of them. This article reports on a 71-year-old man who suffered an OHCA. Persisting gasping and recurrent ventricular fibrillation made the prehospital management difficult and imposed challenges on the whole team. The guidelines provided no answers to this specific situation. Wittingly, the emergency physician decided to abandon the standard approach. Based on this case, this article discusses the pathophysiological considerations and an approach deviating from the standard approach, which could have led to a positive patient outcome without casting doubt on the current resuscitation guidelines. |
18,208 | Comparison of Continuous Versus Interrupted Chest Compressions during CPR in a Rural Community. | Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) have interruption of manual chest compressions for airway management and breathing when performed by medical personnel trained by Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) standards. This interruption likely reduces blood flow and possibly survival. Traditional CPR (30:2 compressions to ventilations) was compared with continuous chest compressions, CCC (also termed Cardiocerebral Resuscitation, CCR) in a rural community.</AbstractText>A retrospective cohort analysis of three years of traditional CPR (June 2008 - May 2011) for OHCA was compared to three years of using CCC protocols (June 2011 - May 2014). Primary outcomes were survival at one and six months.</AbstractText>There were 58 0HCA patients in the six year study period (June 2008 - May 2014). Forty (69%) received CPR and 18 (31%) received CCC. Two (5%) survived at least one month with CPR and eight (44%) survived at least one month with CCC (p = 0.0007). After six months, 0/40 (0%) who received CPR had survived and 6/18 (33%) who received CCC survived (p = 0.0018). For the patient found in ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia (a shockable rhythm), 0/13 (0.0%) survived one month after CPR and 7/9 (78%) survived with CCC (p < 0.01). After six months 0/13 (0.0%) survived with CPR and 6/9 (67%) survived with CCC (p < 0.05).</AbstractText>For patients in a rural environment with OHCA, CCC had a more favorable outcome than traditional CPR. For the patient found in ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia, there was a profound survival benefit of CCC over CPR.</AbstractText> |
18,209 | A Very Long-term Longitudinal Study on the Evolution and Clinical Outcomes of Persistent Iatrogenic Atrial Septal Defect After Cryoballoon Ablation. | Persistent iatrogenic atrial septal defect (iASD) is a common but poorly characterized complication after cryoballoon (CB) pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) procedures. We therefore investigate its prevalence, evolution, risk factors, and clinical outcomes in a prospective longitudinal study.</AbstractText>A total of 108 patients (41 women, mean age 57 ± 11.3) underwent CB PVI for AF. Serial transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was performed 9 months and then annually until 6 years after the procedure to study the characteristics of persistent iASD.</AbstractText>Persistent iASD occurred in 33 (30.6%) patients 9 months after CB PVI. Spontaneous closure of iASD was found in 6 (22.2%) and 3 (15.8%) patients 2 and 3 years after the procedures, respectively. No spontaneous closure was observed on 4, 5, and 6-year TEE follow-up. The projected long-term persistence rate of iASD after CB PVI was therefore 20% (30.6% × 0.778 × 0.842). Using multivariate logistic regression, a higher number of cryoapplications (≥ 2 minutes) was the only independent predictor of persistent iASD 9 months after CB PVI (odds ratio [OR] 1.207; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.033-1.411, P = 0.018). Two (1.9%) patients with significantly larger iASD size than the others (long diameter 12.6 ± 0.8 vs 3.7 ± 1.5 mm, P < 0.001; short diameter 10.9 ± 0.2 vs 3 ± 1.1 mm, P < 0.001) required percutaneous closure because of exertional dyspnea and right ventricular enlargement. Over 129.7 patient-years follow-up, during which iASD persisted, there was no occurrence of neurologic events.</AbstractText>Approximately one fifth of patients undergoing CB PVI will have permanently persistent iASD. Patients with defect sizes of greater than 10 mm may need percutaneous closure due to significant left-to-right shunting.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2018 Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
18,210 | [A long-term follow-up study of cardiac resynchronization therapy for children with right ventricle-paced heart failure]. | <b>Objective:</b> To evaluate the long-term effects of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in children with right ventricle-paced heart failure. <b>Methods:</b> Five children with chronically right ventricular-paced heart failure underwent operation of upgrading to CRT in Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute between July 2009 to January 2015. The first time the patients were implanted with endocardial permanent pacemaker was (11.6±4.6) years old. The New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification, QRS duration, left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVDd), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), standard deviation of peak systolic time of left ventricular wall (TS-SD) and follow-up data were retrospectively analyzed. Comparison between pre-and post-operation was performed using paired <i>t</i> test. <b>Results:</b> CRT significantly improved the NYHA class to Ⅰ-Ⅱdegree, reduced the QRS duration ((126±9)<i>vs.</i> (182±21)ms, <i>t=-</i>7.480, <i>P=</i>0.002) and the Z-score of LVDd (2.8±1.1 <i>vs.</i> 4.7±0.9, <i>t=</i>-2.880, <i>P=</i>0.045), and increased the LVEF (43%±10% <i>vs.</i> 28%±6%, <i>t=</i>3.350, <i>P=</i>0.029). No significant difference was found regarding the TS-SD ((48±17)<i>vs.</i> (95±41)ms, <i>t=</i>-2.240, <i>P=</i>0.090) pre- and post-CRT. The longest follow-up period was 9 years. During follow-up, 1 case died of ventricular fibrillation 2 years after upgrading, and 2 cases underwent CRT replacement due to battery depletion 7.2 years and 5.8 years after upgrading, respectively. <b>Conclusion:</b> CRT could be considered for children with chronically right ventricular-paced heart failure and improve heart function significantly.</Abstract><AuthorList CompleteYN="Y"><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Liu</LastName><ForeName>T</ForeName><Initials>T</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of South China Structural Heart Disease, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510800, China.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Liang</LastName><ForeName>D P</ForeName><Initials>DP</Initials></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Zhang</LastName><ForeName>Z W</ForeName><Initials>ZW</Initials></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Wang</LastName><ForeName>S S</ForeName><Initials>SS</Initials></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Li</LastName><ForeName>Y F</ForeName><Initials>YF</Initials></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Zhong</LastName><ForeName>C Y</ForeName><Initials>CY</Initials></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Zeng</LastName><ForeName>S Y</ForeName><Initials>SY</Initials></Author></AuthorList><Language>chi</Language><PublicationTypeList><PublicationType UI="D016428">Journal Article</PublicationType></PublicationTypeList></Article><MedlineJournalInfo><Country>China</Country><MedlineTA>Zhonghua Er Ke Za Zhi</MedlineTA><NlmUniqueID>0417427</NlmUniqueID><ISSNLinking>0578-1310</ISSNLinking></MedlineJournalInfo><CitationSubset>IM</CitationSubset><MeshHeadingList><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D000293" MajorTopicYN="N">Adolescent</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D058406" MajorTopicYN="Y">Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D002648" MajorTopicYN="N">Child</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D005500" MajorTopicYN="N">Follow-Up Studies</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D006333" MajorTopicYN="Y">Heart Failure</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D006352" MajorTopicYN="N">Heart Ventricles</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D006801" MajorTopicYN="N">Humans</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D012189" MajorTopicYN="N">Retrospective Studies</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D016896" MajorTopicYN="N">Treatment Outcome</DescriptorName></MeshHeading></MeshHeadingList><OtherAbstract Type="Publisher" Language="chi"><b>目的：</b> 探讨右心室起搏导致心力衰竭的患儿升级为心脏再同步治疗（CRT）的疗效及长期随访结果。 <b>方法：</b> 2009年7月至2015年1月在广东省心血管病研究所因右心室起搏导致心力衰竭的5例患儿，予升级为CRT，患儿首次置入心内膜永久起搏器年龄为（11.6±4.6）岁，回顾性分析升级前后美国心脏病协会（NYHA）心功能分级、QRS间期、左心室舒张内径（LVDd）、左心室射血分数（LVEF）、左心室壁的收缩达峰时间标准差（TS-SD）的变化，并进行长期随访。组间比较采用配对<i>t</i>检验。 <b>结果：</b> 起搏器升级后，患儿NYHA心功能分级改善为Ⅰ~Ⅱ级，QRS间期缩短[（126±9）比（182±21）ms，<i>t=-</i>7.480，<i>P=</i>0.002]，LVDd缩小[Z值（2.8±1.1）比（4.7±0.9），<i>t=-</i>2.880，<i>P=</i>0.045]，LVEF升高[（43±10）%比（28±6）%，<i>t=</i>3.350，<i>P=</i>0.029]，差异有统计学意义，CRT有反应。升级后TS-SD下降[（48±17）比（95±41）ms，<i>t=</i>-2.240，<i>P=</i>0.090]，但差异无统计学意义，最长随访9年，随访过程中，1例患儿升级后2年因心室颤动死亡，2例分别在升级后7.2年、5.8年因起搏器电池耗竭行CRT更换。 <b>结论：</b> 右心室起搏导致心力衰竭的患儿，应尽早考虑升级CRT，升级后患儿心功能明显改善。. |
18,211 | Trastuzumab-related cardiotoxicity in patients with nonlimiting cardiac comorbidity. | Significant and symptomatic cardiac comorbidity is a contraindication to adjuvant trastuzumab in breast cancer patients. However, some patients with asymptomatic, nonlimiting cardiac comorbidity and normal baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) receive adjuvant trastuzumab in the clinical practice. We sought to describe the tolerability of trastuzumab in these patients.</AbstractText>Retrospective analysis of patients with baseline asymptomatic, nonlimiting cardiac comorbidity receiving adjuvant trastuzumab at six Institutions between July 2007 and January 2016.</AbstractText>Thirty-seven patients with HER2-positive, surgery treated breast cancer at high risk of relapse were studied. Median age was 64 years (range 36-82), median baseline LVEF 61% (range 50%-85%). Thirteen patients (35%) received trastuzumab with adjuvant anthracycline and taxane-based regimens, 19 (51%) with taxane-based, three (8%) with off-label vinorelbine and two (5%) with off-label endocrine therapy. Most frequent cardiac comorbidities were ischemic heart disease (35%), valvular disease (30%), atrial fibrillation (19%), and conduction disorders (14%). Nine patients (24.3%) experienced a cardiac event: congestive heart failure (one patient, 3%), asymptomatic LVEF reduction (six patients, 16%), and rhythm disturbances (two patients, 5%). Trastuzumab had to be discontinued either permanently (five patients, 14%) or temporarily (two patients, 5%). At the time of last follow-up visit, all patients showed LVEF within normal limits, except one who had experienced a symptomatic cardiac event (LVEF value at last follow-up 46%).</AbstractText>Caution is needed in patients with significant ongoing cardiovascular risk factors, but when adjuvant trastuzumab is deemed beneficial on breast cancer outcomes, nonlimiting cardiac comorbidity should not preclude treatment.</AbstractText>© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</CopyrightInformation> |
18,212 | IL-1β Plays an Important Role in Pressure Overload-Induced Atrial Fibrillation in Mice. | Hypertension is one risk for atrial fibrillation (AF) and induces cardiac inflammation. Recent evidence indicates that pressure overload-induced ventricular structural remodeling is associated with the activation of nucleotide binding-oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor P3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes, including an apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a C-terminal caspase recruitment domain (ASC). We hypothesized that NLRP3 inflammasomes are an initial sensor for danger signals in pressure overload-induced atrial remodeling, leading to AF. Transverse aortic constriction (TAC) or a sham procedure was performed in mice deficient for ASC<sup>-/-</sup> and interleukin-1β (IL-1β<sup>-/-</sup>). One week after the procedure, electrical left atrial burst pacing from the esophagus was performed for 30 s to induce AF. IL-1β, monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), and collagen 1 gene expression were also examined. The electrical burst pacing induced AF in TAC-operated wild-type (WT) (p < 0.001) and ASC<sup>-/-</sup> (p < 0.05) mice, compared to no AF in the sham-operated WT and ASC<sup>-/-</sup> mice, respectively. In contrast, the number of mice in which sustained AF was induced was similar between TAC-operated IL-1β<sup>-/-</sup> and sham-operated IL-1β<sup>-/-</sup> mice (p > 0.05). The expression of all genes tested was increased in TAC-operated WT and ASC<sup>-/-</sup> mice compared with sham-operated WT and ASC<sup>-/-</sup> mouse atria, respectively. CTGF and collagen 1, but not MCP-1, gene expressions were increased in TAC-operated IL-1β<sup>-/-</sup> mouse atria compared with sham-operated WT and IL-1β<sup>-/-</sup> mouse atria. In contrast, the IL-1β gene was not detected in either TAC-operated or sham-operated IL-1β<sup>-/-</sup> mouse atria. These results suggest that an IL-1β activation pathway, different from NLRP3 inflammasomes, plays an important role in pressure overload-induced sustained AF. |
18,213 | Echocardiographic Parameters and the Risk of Incident Atrial Fibrillation: The Suita Study. | Left atrial dimension (LAD) and other parameters of echocardiography have been reported to be associated with the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, few studies have investigated the associations between echocardiographic parameters and the risk of AF in the Asian general population, which has a low AF incidence.</AbstractText>A prospective cohort study was performed in 1,424 individuals in the Suita study with echocardiographic parameters, including LAD, and no history of AF. After echocardiography, the participants were followed using 12-lead electrocardiography and questionnaires to detect AF incidence. The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of echocardiographic parameters for AF incidence were estimated after adjustment for the risk factors of the AF risk score.</AbstractText>During the median 6.0 years of follow-up, 31 AF cases occurred. The multivariable-adjusted HR of a 1-mm increase in LAD for AF was 1.18 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08-1.28). The multivariable-adjusted HR for AF of a 1-standard-deviation increase in LAD was higher than that of left ventricular internal dimensions in diastole, left ventricular mass, ejection fraction, and percent fractional shortening, and it was the only significant factor. In 667 participants with both LAD and LA volume (LAV) measurements, LAD and LAV were independently associated with the risk of AF incidence.</AbstractText>LAD on echocardiography was an independent risk factor of incident AF in the Japanese population. LAD might be useful for identifying individuals with a high risk of AF in health check-ups of the general population.</AbstractText> |
18,214 | Predictors of Left Atrial Thrombi and Spontaneous Echocardiographic Contrast in the Acute Phase After Cardioembolic Stroke in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation. | The underlying mechanism of the residual left atrial thrombus (LAT)/spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) after the onset of cardioembolic stroke (CES) is unknown. This study aims to investigate the utility of CHADS2</sub> and CHA2</sub>DS2</sub>-VASc scores for predicting LAT/SEC, and to investigate the risk factors of residual LAT/SEC after CES onset.</AbstractText>This retrospective study included 124 patients who were admitted with the acute phase of CES at our center. The clinical, echocardiographic variables, the CHADS2</sub>/CHA2</sub>DS2</sub>-VASc scores, and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score were retrospectively assessed on admission.</AbstractText>Of 124 patients, LAT or SEC was detected in 39 patients (31.5%, 17 LAT and 38 SEC). Univariate analysis showed that the LAT/SEC group had a higher prevalence of nonparoxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF), left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy, hypertension, the rate of anticoagulation before admission, higher National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, larger left atrial diameter, and elevated E wave. In contrast, the CHADS2</sub> and CHA2</sub>DS2</sub>-VASc scores were not associated with LAT/SEC. LAT/SEC was associated with nonparoxysmal AF and LV hypertrophy on multivariate analysis. Moreover, all patients were divided into 4 groups based on the combination between non-paroxysmal AF and LV hypertrophy. The rate of LAT/SEC was the highest (87.5%) in patients with nonparoxysmal AF and LV hypertrophy.</AbstractText>Nonparoxysmal atrial fibrillation and left ventricular hypertrophy were associated with residual left atrial thrombus/spontaneous echo contrast in the acute phase after cardioembolic stroke that was independent of the CHADS2</sub> and CHA2</sub>DS2</sub>-VASc scores.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
18,215 | Catheter Ablation of Refractory Ventricular Fibrillation Storm After Myocardial Infarction. | Ventricular fibrillation (VF) storm after myocardial infarction (MI) is a life-threatening condition that necessitates multiple defibrillations. Catheter ablation is a potentially effective treatment strategy for VF storm refractory to optimal medical treatment. However, its impact on patient survival has not been verified in a large population.</AbstractText>We conducted a multicenter, retrospective observational study involving consecutive patients who underwent catheter ablation of post-MI refractory VF storm without preceding monomorphic ventricular tachycardia. The target of ablation was the Purkinje-related ventricular extrasystoles triggering VF. The primary outcome was in-hospital and long-term mortalities. Univariate logistic regression and Cox proportional-hazards analysis were used to evaluate clinical characteristics associated with in-hospital and long-term mortalities, respectively.</AbstractText>One hundred ten patients were enrolled (age, 65±11years; 92 men; left ventricular ejection fraction, 31±10%). VF storm occurred at the acute phase of MI (4.5±2.5 days after the onset of MI during the index hospitalization for MI) in 43 patients (39%), the subacute phase (>1 week) in 48 (44%), and the remote phase (>6 months) in 19 (17%). The focal triggers were found to originate from the scar border zone in 88 patients (80%). During in-hospital stay after ablation, VF storm subsided in 92 patients (84%). Overall, 30 (27%) in-hospital deaths occurred. The duration from the VF occurrence to the ablation procedure was associated with in-hospital mortality (odds ratio for each 1-day increase, 1.11 [95% CI, 1.03-1.20]; P=0.008). During follow-up after discharge from hospital, only 1 patient developed recurrent VF storm. However, 29 patients (36%) died, with a median survival time of 2.2 years (interquartile range, 1.2-5.5 years). Long-term mortality was associated with left ventricular ejection fraction <30% (hazard ratio, 2.54 [95% CI, 1.21-5.32]; P=0.014), New York Heart Association class ≥III (hazard ratio, 2.68 [95% CI, 1.16-6.19]; P=0.021), a history of atrial fibrillation (hazard ratio, 3.89 [95% CI, 1.42-10.67]; P=0.008), and chronic kidney disease (hazard ratio, 2.74 [95% CI, 1.15-6.49]; P=0.023).</AbstractText>In patients with MI presenting with focally triggered VF storm, catheter ablation of culprit triggers is lifesaving and appears to be associated with short- and long-term freedom from recurrent VF storm. Mortality over the long-term follow-up is associated with the severity of underlying cardiovascular disease and comorbidities in this specific patient population.</AbstractText> |
18,216 | Early outcomes in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. | In spite of general decline worldwide, off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery is performed in more than 60% of patients undergoing CABG in India; mainly because of shorter operative time and reduced procedure cost. However, paucity of data exists in literature about early outcomes following off-pump CABG from India.</AbstractText>We conducted a prospective observational study of 800 consecutive cases that underwent off-pump CABG (OPCAB) from August 2015 to October 2017. Primary end point of the study was the 30-day/in-hospital mortality from any cause.</AbstractText>On multivariate analysis, emergency surgery (OR 9.72; CI 1.96-48.21, p</i> value 0.005), severe left ventricular dysfunction (OR 2.28; CI 1.25-4.76, p</i> value 0.026), postoperative atrial fibrillation (OR 9.95; CI 3.12-32.01, p</i> value 0.05), and dialysis-dependent renal failure (OR 29.7, CI 10.02-87.99, p</i> value 0.006) were the factors associated with mortality. The observed mortality was 1.6%, and the expected mortality by EuroSCORE II was 2.6%. The median EuroSCORE II of expired patients was 3.03 and of entire cohort was 1.54 (p</i> value 0.001). Stroke rate was 0.9%. Deep sternal wound infection occurred in 0.9%, and 3.8% patients were readmitted to the hospital after discharge.</AbstractText>Early outcome of off-pump CABG was excellent in this study. Increased incidence of deep sternal wound infection remains a concern. Multicenter study with a larger sample size is required for a dependable evaluation of the efficacy of off-pump CABG in Indian population.</AbstractText>© Indian Association of Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgeons 2018.</CopyrightInformation> |
18,217 | Predictors of rate-adaptive pacing in patients implanted with implantable cardioverter-defibrillator and subsequent differential clinical outcomes. | Patients with severe cardiomyopathy often have chronotropic incompetence, which is predominantly managed by activating rate-adaptive pacing in patients implanted with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) capable of atrial pacing. The purpose of this study was to determine predictors of rate-adaptive pacing activation, the cumulative incidence of activation, and the association of rate-adaptive pacing activation with subsequent clinical outcomes in an ICD population.</AbstractText>The authors evaluated 228 patients implanted with an ICD between 2011 and 2015. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate predictors of rate-adaptive pacing activation. Cox proportional-hazards regression was used to examine associations of rate-adaptive pacing activation and clinical outcomes.</AbstractText>Rate-adaptive pacing was turned on in 38.5% (n = 88) of patients during follow-up. Several statistically significant predictors of rate-adaptive pacing activation were found, particularly previous atrial fibrillation (odds ratio [OR] = 8.27, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.96-23.06, p < 0.001), previous myocardial infarction (OR = 4.17, 95% CI = 1.38-12.58, p = 0.01), and non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (OR = 3.83, 95% CI = 1.22-12.00, p = 0.02). In multivariable adjusted analyses, rate-adaptive pacing activation within 30 days of implantation was not associated with the risk of device therapy for tachyarrhythmias (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.52, 95% CI = 0.71-3.28, p = 0.29), atrial fibrillation (HR = 1.42, 95% CI = 0.71-2.87, p = 0.32), HF re-admission (HR = 1.39, 95% CI = 0.80-2.43, p = 0.25), nor all-cause mortality (HR = 2.34, 95% CI = 0.80-6.84, p = 0.12).</AbstractText>During follow-up, more than one in three HF patients implanted with an ICD developed the need for rate-adaptive pacing. Atrial fibrillation, prior myocardial infarction, and non-ischemic cardiomyopathy were statistically significant baseline clinical predictors of rate-adaptive pacing activation. Rate-adaptive pacing activation was not associated with subsequent adverse clinical outcomes.</AbstractText> |
18,218 | Surgical Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With Tachycardia-Induced Cardiomyopathy. | Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cause of tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy (TIC). This study evaluated the outcomes of the Cox-Maze IV procedure in patients with TIC and significant left ventricular dysfunction.</AbstractText>Between January 2002 and January 2017, 37 consecutive patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 0.40 or less underwent stand-alone surgical ablation of AF. After dilated and ischemic cardiomyopathies were excluded, 34 of 37 patients met the criteria for the diagnosis of TIC.</AbstractText>Patients were a mean age of 56 ± 11 years, and 24 (70%) had long-standing persistent AF. The median AF duration was 72 months (interquartile range, 9 to 276 months). Seventeen patients (50%) had at least one catheter-based ablation that failed. Mean LVEF was 0.32 ± 0.08. There were 11 patients (32%) with New York Heart Association Functional Classification III/IV symptoms. There was one (3%) 30-day mortality caused by a pulmonary embolus, despite full anticoagulation. At 12 months, freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmias on or off antiarrhythmic drugs was 94% and 89%, respectively. Postoperative echocardiograms were available for 27 of 33 patients (82%). The LVEF improved to a mean of 0.55 ± 0.08 (95% confidence interval, 0.51 to 0.58; p < 0.001). Of the 11 patients with New York Heart Association Functional Classification III/IV symptoms, 8 patients were in class I/II at the last follow-up (p = 0.02).</AbstractText>Restoration of sinus rhythm with the Cox-Maze IV was associated with significant improvement in the LVEF in patients with AF and TIC. This retrospective study illustrates the efficacy of the Cox-Maze IV in this patient population both at restoring sinus rhythm and improving ventricular function. Patients with TIC and poor left ventricular function in whom other treatments have failed should be strongly considered for surgical ablation.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2019 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
18,219 | Relation of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure to Silent Cerebral Infarcts in Patients With Reduced Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction. | Heart failure (HF) is a prothrombotic state with increased rate of thromboembolic events. Magnetic resonance imaging studies demonstrated increased rate of silent cerebral infarcts (SCI) in this patient group and SCIs were shown lead to dementia, cognitive decline, and depression. We aimed to show acute decompensated phase is associated with increased rate of recent SCI in reduced ejection fraction HF patients. HF patients with sinus rhythm hospitalized for acute decompensation were studied. Neuron specific enolase (NSE), a sensitive neuronal ischemia marker, was used to detect recent SCI. Decompensated and compensated phase blood samples for NSE were collected on the day of admission and on the third day of compensation, respectively. One hundred and forty seven patients with mean age of 72 were studied. There were significantly more patients with positive NSE levels at decompensated state (29% vs 4%, p <0.001). Multivariate predictors for recent SCI were smoking, new onset atrial fibrillation, spontaneous echo contrast of left ventricle, and aneurysmatic apex. Statin use was found to be protective against NSE elevation. In conclusion, our data reveal that decompensated HF is significantly associated with increased levels of NSE suggestive for silent neuronal injury. |
18,220 | Atrial Fibrillation in Heart Failure: Left Atrial Appendage Management. | Atrial fibrillation is common in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). Due to reduced left atrial appendage (LAA) emptying velocities and increased sludge formation, a higher rate of stroke and embolism are seen with CHF. Up to 50% of CHF patients are inadequately covered for stroke protection with anticoagulation, and, even while on therapy, CHF patients are at risk for failure to clear LAA or left ventricular (LV) thrombus. Device-based LAA closure (LAAC) alternatives exist. Following intracardiac device closure, an increased rate of device-related thrombus is seen in heart failure patients, which warrants further study to optimize LAAC benefits. |
18,221 | Should His Bundle Pacing Be Preferred over Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Following Atrioventricular Junction Ablation? | Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) are associated with high morbidity and mortality, which is particularly detrimental when patients develop rapid ventricular rates (RVR). Atrioventricular junction (AVJ) ablation with pacemaker implantation has been used as a method of achieving rate control in patients with incessant AF with RVR. Right ventricular only pacing is known to be harmful in the setting of HF. His bundle pacing (HBP) and biventricular (BiV) pacing both offer durable pacing solutions that offer more physiologic activation. This review describes the benefits and drawbacks of HBP and BiV pacing in HF patients after AVJ ablation. |
18,222 | Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Should Be First-Line Therapy in Heart Failure Patients: CON. | Heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) are the epidemics of the twenty-first century. These often coexist and are the cause of major morbidity and mortality. Management of these patients has posed a significant challenge to the medical community. Guideline-directed pharmacologic therapy for heart failure is important; however, there is no clear consensus on how best to treat AF with concomitant HF. In this article, we provide an in-depth review of the management of AF in patients with HF and provide insight as to why catheter ablation should not be the first line of therapy in this population. |
18,223 | Mechanisms of Improved Mortality Following Ablation: Does Ablation Restore Beta-Blocker Benefit in Atrial Fibrillation/Heart Failure? | Observational trials have shown that atrial fibrillation ablation favorably impacts long-term outcomes in systolic heart failure. These outcomes have been confirmed by randomized prospective trials highlighting the favorable impact of ablation on left ventricular function and remodeling, risk of heart failure hospitalization, and mortality. Ablation along with established heart failure medications is new and supported conceptually by the value of restoring sinus rhythm, avoiding long-term antiarrhythmic drugs, and minimizing drug-drug interactions. Observational data suggest a potential long-term benefit of beta-blockers with ablation that becomes augmented as follow-up is extended from 1 to 5 years. |
18,224 | Does Left Ventricular Systolic Function Matter? Treating Atrial Fibrillation in HFrEF Versus HFpEF. | Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) pose international health care challenges that contribute significantly to hospitalizations, morbidity, mortality, and significant health care costs. Both AF and HF contribute to the development of each other and both are associated with a worsened prognosis when they occur together. Assessment of systolic function via transthoracic echocardiography is essential in the investigation of the AF patient. Clinical and echocardiographic assessment may classify AF patients with HF into HF with reduced ejection fraction (HF-rEF) and HF with preserved ejection fraction (HF-pEF). Such classification can assist in numerous important management decisions in AF. |
18,225 | Different influence of cardiac hemodynamics on thromboembolic events in patients with paroxysmal and non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. | Blood stasis in left atrium (LA) or LA appendage (LAA) is thought to be the main cause of thrombus formation and systemic embolism in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. Paroxysmal and non-paroxysmal AF differ significantly in various aspects. Impact of cardiac hemodynamics on systemic embolism might also differ between the 2 distinct AF entities. This study was performed to evaluate the influence of cardiac hemodynamics on systemic embolism in both paroxysmal and non-paroxysmal AF. Consecutive AF patients undergoing radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) in Korea University Medical Center Anam Hospital between June 1998 and February 2018 were analyzed. Among 2,801 patients who underwent first-time RFCA, a total of 231 patients had either previous ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack, or arterial embolism. In paroxysmal AF, LA diameter, LA volume (measured with magnetic resonance imaging), left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction, E/e', LAA flow velocity, and prevalence of spontaneous echocontrast (SEC) and dense SEC were significantly different between patients with and without thromboembolic events. However, only E/e' was different between patients with and without thromboembolic events in non-paroxysmal AF. The influence of LA diameter, LA volume, LV EF, LAA flow velocity, and dense SEC on thromboembolic events was significantly moderated by the type of AF. In conclusion, paroxysmal and non-paroxysmal AF might have a different mechanism responsible for thrombus formation and consequent embolic events. Relative contribution of hemodynamic parameters and other factors such as atrial myopathy to thromboembolic events in paroxysmal versus non-paroxysmal AF needs further evaluation. |
18,226 | Left atrial volume index and left ventricular global longitudinal strain predict new-onset atrial fibrillation in patients with transient ischemic attack. | This study aimed to investigate different echocardiographic parameters for predicting atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA). Echocardiography was performed in 110 patients (median age 65.8 years, 53% males) with TIA and no history of stroke or AF. All patients underwent monitoring with ECG and 72 h Holter-monitoring, and if no AF was found, an insertable cardiac monitor (ICM) was implanted and patients were followed for a median of 2.2 years. AF was found in 14 patients: five with Holter-monitoring and nine with ICM. AF patients had significantly larger left atrial (LA) volumes indexes compared to patients without AF (26.7 vs. 33.7 ml/m<sup>2</sup>, P = 0.03 for 2D images and 26.5 vs. 33.5 ml/m<sup>2</sup>, P = 0.0008 for 3D images). Patients with AF also had depressed LA function assessed with LA emptying fraction measured with 2D echocardiography (46.3 vs. 57.3%, P = 0.005 for patients with and without AF, respectively). Patients with AF also had depressed left ventricular (LV) function compared to patients without AF. LV ejection fraction was 55 versus 61%, P = 0.04 in patients with and without AF, respectively. LV global longitudinal strain (absolute value) was 16.7 in patients with AF compared to 21.2 in patients without AF (P = 0.001). Echocardiographic measurements of LA and LV size and function can noninvasively predict AF in patients with TIA and could potentially be used to guide AF monitoring strategy. |
18,227 | Safety, Side Effects and Relative Efficacy of Medications for Rhythm Control of Atrial Fibrillation in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. | In patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC), atrial fibrillation (AF) is common, often poorly tolerated and difficult to treat. Limited data exists regarding safety or efficacy of drug therapy for AF rhythm control in HC patients. We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with HC followed >6 months, treated with amiodarone, sotalol, dofetilide, or disopyramide for rhythm control of non-postoperative AF. The duration followed on each medication, reasons for discontinuing, and incidences of adverse events were recorded. Confounding factors including maximum ventricular septal thickness, age, left ventricular ejection fraction, and gender were assessed. Ninety-eight patients had 130 drug treatments (defined as a continuous time on 1 drug); 23 patients were treated with >1 medication. The probability of remaining on a single antiarrhythmic drug at 1 year was 62% and at 3 was 42%. Maximum ventricular septal thickness (hazard ratio 1.05, p = 0.03) and presence of resting outflow gradient (hazard ratio 2.50, p = 0.002) were associated with discontinuation of therapy. Patients treated with amiodarone or sotalol had no serious safety events suggesting that these medications may be reasonably safe. Amiodarone was least likely to be discontinued for inefficacy (8.5%), but likely to be discontinued for side effects (19%). The probability of remaining on sotalol was 74% at 1 year and 50.0% at 3 and it was only discontinued for side effects in 2%. A small number of patients were treated with disopyramide and dofetilide. In conclusion, our data suggest that amiodarone and sotalol are likely safe, and that sotalol may be particularly attractive given its low rate of side effects and low rate of discontinuation. |
18,228 | Outcomes of Acute Conduction Abnormalities Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation With a Balloon Expandable Valve and Predictors of Delayed Conduction System Abnormalities in Follow-up. | Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an acceptable treatment for severe aortic stenosis in high or intermediate risk patients. Conduction abnormalities are a known complication of TAVI. Most abnormalities occur perioperatively but can develop later. The predictors of delayed conduction abnormalities are unknown. Patients who underwent TAVI at our institution were reviewed. Patients with a pre-existing pacemaker were excluded. Baseline, in-hospital, and 30-day follow-up ECGs were reviewed. Patient and procedural characteristics were analyzed to look for predictors of acute and delayed abnormalities. Ninety-eight patients were included. All valves implanted were balloon expandable, most commonly SAPIEN S3 (78%). Thirty-seven (37.7%) patients developed abnormalities before discharge. Of these patients, 20 (57.1%) had complete resolution at 30-day follow-up. No patients with new conduction abnormalities during hospitalization had additional abnormalities at 30-day follow-up. Five (5.1%) patients developed new conduction abnormalities following discharge. Overall, 22 (22.4%) patients had conduction abnormalities at 30-day follow-up which were not present at baseline. Predilatation (p = 0.003), higher ratios of balloon (p = 0.03) or valve (p = 0.05) size to left ventricular outflow tract, and previous myocardial infarction (p = 0.034) were predictive of acute conduction abnormalities. Baseline right bundle branch block (p = 0.002), longer baseline (p <0.001) and discharge (p = 0.004) QRS duration, moderate, or severe aortic insufficiency (p = 0.002) and atrial fibrillation (p = 0.031) were predictors of new conduction abnormalities after discharge. In conclusion, most new in-hospital conduction abnormalities resolve by 30-day follow-up. In-hospital conduction abnormalities are related to technical aspects of TAVI while delayed conduction abnormalities are related to baseline conduction system disease. |
18,229 | Complications of Congenital Hernia in Pregnancy: A Case Report. | Congenital hernias, frequently misdiagnosed during pregnancy, are potentially fatal and require prompt repair. A pregnant woman with medical history of repaired congenital hernia was admitted with misdiagnosis of preeclampsia. Physical examination and chest x-ray revealed a Bochdalek hernia. Transitory stabilization prompted surgeons to postpone hernia repair, but an urgent thoracotomy was required to relieve a subsequent bowel obstruction that was complicated by an intrathoracic colonic perforation. Emergent cesarean delivery was required with a good maternal and fetal outcome. A multidisciplinary team was present in the operating room. All monitoring catheters were placed in advance in the intensive care unit. During recovery, the patient experienced ventricular fibrillation, presumed to be a manifestation of takotsubo syndrome, which responded favorably to cardiopulmonary resuscitation. |
18,230 | Intravenous antazoline, a first-generation antihistaminic drug with antiarrhythmic properties, is a suitable agent for pharmacological cardioversion of atrial fibrillation induced during pulmonary vein isolation due to the lack of influence on atrio-venous conduction and high clinical effectiveness (AntaEP Study). | Antazoline is a first-generation antihistaminic drug used primarily in eye drop formulations. When administered intravenously, antazoline displays antiarrhythmic properties resulting in a rapid conversion of recent-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) to sinus rhythm (SR). The aim of the study was to assess the influence of antazoline on atrio-venous conduction and other electrophysiological parameters in patients undergoing AF ablation.</AbstractText>An experimental prospective study. Patients scheduled for the first-time AF ablation, in SR and not on amiodarone were enrolled. Atrio-venous conduction assessment and invasive electrophysiological study (EPS) were performed before and after intravenous administration of 250 mg of antazoline. In case of AF induction during EPS, antazoline was administered until conversion to SR or a cumulative dose of 300 mg.</AbstractText>We enrolled 14 patients: 13 (93%) men, mean age 63.4 (59.9-66.8) years, mean CHA2</sub> DS2</sub> -VASc score 1.6 (1.0-2.2). Antazoline was administered in a mean dose 257.1 (246.7-267.6) mg. Pulmonary vein potentials and atrial capture during pulmonary vein stimulation were present before and after the administration of antazoline. Wenckebach point and atrial conduction times did not change significantly, but atrio-ventricular node effective refractory period improved-324.7 (275.9-373.5) ms vs 284.3 (256.2-312.4) ms, P = 0.02. Antazoline was effective in all 5 (100%) cases of AF induction during EPS. There were no serious adverse events.</AbstractText>Due to the lack of influence on atrio-venous conduction and high clinical effectiveness, antazoline may be suitable for pharmacological cardioversion of AF occurring during AF ablation.</AbstractText>© 2019 The British Pharmacological Society.</CopyrightInformation> |
18,231 | Atrial functional tricuspid regurgitation: An underappreciated cause of secondary tricuspid regurgitation. | Secondary tricuspid regurgitation (TR) caused by right ventricular enlargement in the setting of left heart disease/pulmonary hypertension has been well described. In contrast, that associated with right atrial enlargement-atrial functional TR (AF-TR)-remains largely underappreciated. AF-TR most often occurs in the setting of lone atrial fibrillation, although it is also seen in its absence (idiopathic AF-TR). Several recent studies have found that the prevalence, hemodynamic significance, and prognosis of AF-TR are not inconsequential, suggesting increased physician awareness of this novel clinical entity is warranted. This article discusses the pathogenesis, echocardiographic findings, and treatment of this underappreciated cause of secondary TR. |
18,232 | The Atrial Phenotype of the Inherited Primary Arrhythmia Syndromes. | Over the past two decades, our understanding of inherited primary arrhythmia syndromes has been enriched by studies that have aimed to define the clinical characteristics and the genetic, cellular and molecular features predisposing patients to an enhanced risk of ventricular arrhythmias. In contrast, very little is known about the causative role of inherited cardiac channelopathies on atrial conduction abnormalities possibly leading to different atrial tachyarrhythmias. The diagnostic and therapeutic management of patients with an inherited cardiac channelopathy presenting with atrial arrhythmias remains highly challenging and is in urgent need of improvement. This review will assess the current knowledge on atrial electrical abnormalities affecting patients with different forms of inherited primary arrhythmia syndromes, including long and short QT syndromes, early repolarisation syndrome, catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and Brugada syndrome. |
18,233 | Brugada Syndrome: Progress in Diagnosis and Management. | Brugada syndrome (BrS) represents an inherited disorder associated with risk of sudden cardiac death due to VF in patients without structural heart disease. Currently, BrS is diagnosed by typical cove-shaped ST-segment elevation >2 mm in >1 RV precordial lead V1, V2 occurring spontaneously or after a sodium-channel blocker provocation test without any further evidence of malignant arrhythmias. An ICD should always be implanted in symptomatic BrS patients to prevent sudden death, despite high rates of complications with these devices. In asymptomatic people, an electrophysiological study should be performed to evaluate the need for an ICD. The recent discovery of a functional substrate has revolutionised our approach to the pathophysiology and management of BrS. Promising new therapeutic options have emerged in the last 3 years. Ajmaline is able to determine the extension of the substrate by prolonging the duration and fragmentation of abnormal epicardial electrograms. Substrate ablation results in the disappearance of both coved-type ECG and ventricular tachycardia/VF inducibility. These findings are clinically relevant, suggesting that epicardial ablation guided by ajmaline infusion may be an effective therapeutic option in BrS, potentially removing the need for ICD implantation. |
18,234 | Atrial Fibrillation and Dementia: Exploring the Association, Defining Risks and Improving Outcomes. | AF is strongly associated with a spectrum of cranial injuries including stroke and dementia. Dementia risk is seen in patients with and without a prior stroke and includes idiopathic forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease. The initiation, use and efficacy of anticoagulation have been shown in multiple observational trials to have an impact on dementia risk. Cerebral hypoperfusion during AF can result in cognitive decline and patients with cranial atherosclerosis may have unique susceptibility. Therapies to carefully control the ventricular rate and catheter ablation have been shown in observational trials to lower dementia risk. There is a need for further research in multiple areas and the observational trials will require prospective trials confirmation. Recent guidelines for AF have advocated the initiation of effective anticoagulation, the treatment of associated disease conditions that may influence the progression of AF and catheter ablation, with long-term management of risk factors to lower risk of dementia. |
18,235 | Factors Associated With High-Voltage Impedance and Subcutaneous Implantable Defibrillator Ventricular Fibrillation Conversion Success. | The ability to predict defibrillation efficacy at the time of subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation without the need to induce ventricular fibrillation might eliminate the need for defibrillation testing. The purpose of this study was to determine the association of high-voltage impedance and system implant position on ventricular fibrillation conversion success with a submaximal 65-J shock.</AbstractText>In the subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator IDE study (Investigational Device Exemption), a successful conversion test required 2 consecutive ventricular fibrillation conversions at 65 J in either shock vector. Chest radiographs were obtained after implantation. Patients with imaging and impedance data were included. Suboptimal device position was defined as an inferior electrode or pulse generator or electrode coil depth >3 mm anterior to the sternum. Absence of suboptimal positional parameters was defined as appropriate position. Conversion success rate was calculated among all 65-J tests.</AbstractText>Of 314 patients who underwent subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation, 282 patients were included in this analysis. There were 637 inductions to test defibrillation at 65 J. Sixty-two conversion failures (9.7%) occurred in 42 (14.9%) patients. Lower body mass index and lower shock impedance were associated with higher conversion success rate, whereas white race was associated with lower conversion success rate. Suboptimal position was more common in obese patients. Inferior electrode and greater distance between the lead and sternum were associated with a higher impedance. When appropriate system position was achieved, conversion failure was not associated with high body mass index.</AbstractText>Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator shock efficacy is associated with system position and high-voltage system impedance. A high impedance is associated with inferiorly placed pulse generator and electrode system, inadequate coil depth, and a lower rate of defibrillator success.</AbstractText>URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT01064076.</AbstractText> |
18,236 | Circulating primary bile acid is correlated with structural remodeling in atrial fibrillation. | Circulating primary bile acid was involved in the regulation of cardiac ionic channel currents and ventricular myocyte apoptosis, but it was unknown whether or not it played a role in structural remodeling of AF. This study was aimed to testify the hypothesis that elevated chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) concentration correlated with left atrial low voltage area (LVA) and could induce apoptosis of atrial myocytes in AF.</AbstractText>Serum concentrations of 12 types of bile acids were determined in patients with paroxysmal (n = 21), persistent AF (n = 20), and type A pre-excitation and paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) (n = 19) and were correlated with LVA in AF, which was obtained by electroanatomical mapping during ablation. Additionally, the impact of CDCA incubation on apoptosis of mouse atrial myocytes was evaluated. Serum levels of CDCA and cholic acid were significantly higher in AF than in PSVT. CDCA serum concentration was significantly higher in persistent AF than in paroxysmal AF. CDCA serum level was positively correlated with the size (r = 0.78, P < 0.05) and proportion of LVA (r = 0.89, P < 0.05) in AF patients. CDCA (75 μM, 100 μM) promoted atrial myocyte apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner.</AbstractText>The higher circulating level of CDCA in AF than in PSVT, positive correlation of CDCA with LVA in AF, and incubation dose-dependent increase of mouse atrial myocyte apoptosis indicated that CDCA might play a significant role in the progress of structural remodeling of AF.</AbstractText> |
18,237 | Anti-arrhythmic drug therapy in implantable cardioverter-defibrillator recipients. | Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) have revolutionized the primary and secondary prevention of patients with ventricular arrhythmias. However, the adverse effects of appropriate or inappropriate shocks may require the adjunctive use of anti-arrhythmic drugs (AADs). Beta blockers are the cornerstone of pharmacological primary and secondary prevention of ventricular arrhythmias. In addition to their established efficacy at reducing the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias, beta-blockers are safe with few side effects. Amiodarone is superior to beta blockers and sotalol for the prevention of ventricular arrhythmia recurrence. However, long-term amiodarone use is associated with significant side effects that limit its utility. Sotalol and mexiletine are the main alternatives to amiodarone with a better side effect profile though they are less efficacious at preventing ventricular arrhythmia recurrence. Dofetilide, azimilide and ranolazine are emerging as therapeutic options for secondary prevention; more studies are needed to assess efficacy and safety in comparison to currently used agents. Beta blockers and amiodarone are the mainstay of therapy in patients experiencing electrical storm; their use reduces the frequency of ventricular arrhythmias and ICD intervention as well as affording time until catheter ablation can be considered. |
18,238 | Association of central blood pressure with left atrial structural and functional abnormalities in hypertensive patients: Implications for atrial fibrillation prevention. | Functional and structural abnormalities of the left atrium have been demonstrated to be clinically and prognostically significant in a range of cardiovascular disorders, increasing the risk of atrial fibrillation. Among the potential contributors to these aberrations, central arterial factors remain insufficiently defined. Accordingly, we sought to investigate the determinants of left atrium abnormalities in hypertension, with special focus on central haemodynamics.</AbstractText>In this retrospective, cross-sectional study, 263 patients (age 63.8 ± 8.0 years) with uncomplicated hypertension underwent echocardiography including left atrium strain (LAS) and volume analysis, and central haemodynamics assessment using radial tonometry.</AbstractText>Patients were grouped depending on LAS and left atrium volume index (LAVI), using externally validated cutpoints (34.1% for LAS and 34 ml/m2</sup> for LAVI). The subset with lower LAS (n</i> = 124) demonstrated higher central (cPP) and brachial pulse pressure (bPP), ventricular- arterial coupling, left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and LAVI, and lower global left ventricular longitudinal strain and early diastolic tissue velocity (e'). Patients with higher LAVI (n</i> = 119) presented higher systolic blood pressure, cPP, bPP, central augmentation pressure, LVMI and E/e' ratio and lower LAS. In multivariable analysis, cPP was independently associated with both LAS (β</i> = -0.22; p</i> = 0.002) and LAVI (β</i> = 0.21; p</i> = 0.003). No independent associations with left atrium parameters were shown for bPP.</AbstractText>Higher cPP is detrimentally associated with left atrium structural and functional characteristics, thus providing a possible pathophysiological link with the development of substrate for atrial fibrillation. Prophylaxis of atrial fibrillation might be another argument for consideration in the treatment strategy in hypertension targeted measures addressing central blood pressure.</AbstractText> |
18,239 | [Przezskórne zamknięcie ubytku w przegrodzie międzyprzedsionkowej: wpływ na prawy przedsionek, dyspersję załamka P i zaburzenia rytmu serca w obserwacji średnioterminowej]. | The size of the right atrium (RA) reduces after transcatheter closure of the atrial septal defect (ASD). Inverse structural and electrical remodeling is observed.</AbstractText>The aim of study was to analyze the parameters predisposing to the lack of normalization of enlarged RA after transcatheter closure of ASD during 6-month follow-up.</AbstractText>A prospective study included 56 consecutive adult patients (12 men) aged from 23 to 76 years (49.8±13.3 years) with ASD, in whom transcatheter ASD closure was performed. Each patient was assessed before and 6 months after the treatment using standard 12-lead resting electrocardiogram (ECG), 24-hour Holter monitoring and echocardiography.</AbstractText>Before the procedure in 37 patients with ASD enlarged RA was observed, while after transcatheter ASD closure in 24 patients normalization of enlarged RA was noted. Patients in whom 6 months after the procedure there was no normalization of the enlarged RA were older, characterized by higher right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP), pulmonary to systemic blood flow ratio (Qp/Qs), larger size of the occluder, interatrial septal defect, longer fluoroscopy time and lower left ventricular ejection fraction. P-wave dispersion (Pdysp) was found to be a destimulant i.e. increased Pdysp (>67 ms, P<0.000) decreased the chance of RA normalization after procedure. On the other hand, minimum P-wave duration (Pmin) was a stimulant, therefore, increased Pmin (>72ms, P<0.000) increased the chance of RA normalization. A significant association was found between the reduction of supraventricular extrasystolic beats and RA area normalization (P<0.001), and there was no association between the incidence of atrial fibrillation episodes and RA area normalization.</AbstractText>Evaluation of the duration of the P-wave and its dispersion may help to assess the prognosis of the right atrium size normalization in the mid-term follow-up after transcatheter closure of ASD. There is a significant relationship between normalization of the right atrium size and reduction of supraventricular extrasystolic beats.</AbstractText>© 2019 MEDPRESS.</CopyrightInformation> |
18,240 | NT -pro BNP as a Mediator of the Racial Difference in Incident Atrial Fibrillation and Heart Failure. | Background Blacks harbor more cardiovascular risk factors than whites, but experience less atrial fibrillation ( AF ). Conversely, whites may have a lower risk of heart failure ( CHF ). N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide ( NT -pro BNP) levels are higher in whites, predict incident AF , and have diuretic effects in the setting of increased ventricular diastolic pressures, potentially providing a unifying explanation for these racial differences. Methods and Results We used data from the CHS (Cardiovascular Health Study) to determine the degree to which baseline NT -pro BNP levels mediate the relationships between race and incident AF and CHF by comparing beta estimates between models with and without NT -pro BNP . The ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) study was used to assess reproducibility. Among 4731 CHS (770 black) and 12 418 ARIC (3091 black) participants, there were 1277 and 1253 incident AF events, respectively. Whites had higher baseline NT -pro BNP ( CHS : 40% higher than blacks; 95% CI , 29-53; ARIC : 39% higher; 95% CI , 33-46) and had a greater risk of incident AF compared with blacks ( CHS : adjusted hazard ratio, 1.60; 95% CI , 1.31-1.93; ARIC : hazard ratio, 1.93; 95% CI , 1.57-2.27). NT -pro BNP levels explained a significant proportion of the racial difference in AF risk ( CHS : 36.2%; 95% CI , 23.2-69.2%; ARIC : 24.6%; 95% CI , 14.8-39.6%). Contrary to our hypothesis, given an increased risk of CHF among whites in CHS (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.20; 95% CI , 1.05-1.47) and the absence of a significant association between race and CHF in ARIC (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.07; 95% CI , 0.94-1.23), CHF -related mediation analyses were not performed. Conclusions A substantial portion of the relationship between race and AF was statistically explained by baseline NT -pro BNP levels. No consistent relationship between race and CHF was observed. |
18,241 | Prevalence of extra-appendage thrombosis in non-valvular atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter in patients undergoing cardioversion: a large transoesophageal echo study. | The aim of our study was to evaluate the prevalence of left atrial cavity and appendage thrombosis in patients undergoing cardioversion for non-valvular atrial tachyarrhythmias. In persistent atrial tachyarrhythmias, 90% of thromboses are reported to be located inside the left atrial appendage. This prevalence refers to old studies and meta-analysis in a mixed population of valvular and non-valvular atrial fibrillation. Left atrial cavity thrombosis in non-valvular atrial fibrillation has not been investigated recently in large-scale studies.</AbstractText>A total of 1,420 consecutive adult patients with paroxysmal or persistent atrial tachyarrhythmias, candidates to cardioversion, who opted for a transoesophageal echocardiography-guided strategy, were enrolled in the study. Mitral stenosis, rheumatic valve disease and mechanical prostheses were excluded. In total there were 91 thrombi in 87 patients with a prevalence of 6.13% (87/1,420). Patients with left atrial thrombosis had predisposing clinical and echo characteristics (heart failure, lower ventricular function and higher atrial volume). Except for one case in which the thrombus was located in the left atrial cavity (0.07%), and three in the right appendage, all thromboses were detected in the left atrial appendage.</AbstractText>Extra-appendage thrombosis is a very rare finding in non-valvular persistent and paroxysmal atrial tachyarrhythmias and, when present, a left appendage thrombus is usually concomitant.</AbstractText> |
18,242 | Algorithm-based reduction of inappropriate defibrillator shock: Results of the Inappropriate Shock Reduction wIth PARAD+ Rhythm DiScrimination-Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Study. | Inappropriate shocks (IS) continue to have a major negative impact on patients implanted with defibrillators.</AbstractText>The purpose of this study was to assess IS reduction with the PARAD+ discrimination algorithm in a general population implanted for primary or secondary prevention.</AbstractText>ISIS-ICD (Inappropriate Shock Reduction wIth PARAD+ Rhythm DiScrimination-Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator) was a 2-year international, interventional study in patients implanted with a dual implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) or triple-chamber defibrillator (cardiac resynchronization therapy-defibrillator [CRT-D]) featuring PARAD+. IS (shocks not delivered for ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation) were independently adjudicated. The primary endpoint was percentage of IS-free patients at 24 months. Primary and worst-case analyses of annual incidence rates of patients with ≥1 IS, overall and per defibrillator type, were conducted.</AbstractText>In total, 1013 patients (80.7% male; age 67.1 ± 11.4 years; 68%/30%/2% primary/secondary/other indication) were enrolled and followed for a median of 552 days (interquartile range 354; 725). Of 993 analyzed patients programmed with PARAD+, 14 had ≥1 IS, corresponding to a percentage free from IS of 98.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 96.8%- 98.9%). Annual incidence rates (per 100 person-years) of patients with IS were 1.0 (95% CI 0.59-1.69) and 2.1 (95% CI 1.46-3.02) in the primary and worst-case analyses, respectively. In ICD patients, rates were 1.2 (95% CI 0.68-2.23) and 2.3 (95% CI 1.47-3.53), and in CRT-D patients 0.59 (95% CI 0.19-1.83) and 1.8 (95% CI 0.93-3.44) per 100 person-years.</AbstractText>The annual rate of defibrillator patients with IS using the enhanced PARAD+ discrimination algorithm alone ranged from 1.0 to 2.1 per 100 person-years in a general population implanted for primary or secondary prevention.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
18,243 | Recent understanding of clinical sequencing and gene-based risk stratification in inherited primary arrhythmia syndrome. | Inherited primary arrhythmia syndromes (IPAS) may result in ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation by some genetic disorders, leading to sudden cardiac death. IPAS are also called "channelopathies" since many of these are caused by an abnormality in myocardial ion channels. Congenital long-QT syndrome (LQTS) is the most well documented IPAS, which may be seen in 0.1% of the general population. More than 15 disease-causing genes have been identified in almost 70% of LQTS patients and genetic testing is well applied to not only clinical diagnosis but also risk stratification and gene-based therapeutic strategy for each person with LQTS. Thus, in LQTS, gene-based personalized medicine can be realized. Unlike the LQTS, genetic testing for the Brugada syndrome (BrS) is still controversial since only 20% of patients can be identified with the causing gene mutations, most of which are in SCN5A. Furthermore, even in the SCN5A mutation-positive carriers, their phenotypes are not completely consistent with BrS, but may cause other IPAS including LQTS, cardiac conduction defect, sick sinus syndrome, and dilated cardiomyopathy. On the other hand, a recent Japanese BrS registry demonstrated that the pore-region mutations in SCN5A are significantly associated with a risk of lethal cardiac events. Furthermore, a genome-wide association study revealed that a common variant in SCN10A or HEY2 in addition to SCN5A is associated with BrS, thus, BrS may not be a monogenic Mendelian disease but probably an oligogenic disease. The purpose of this review is to describe the basic genetic and pathophysiological findings of the IPAS, particularly LQTS and Brugada syndrome, and to outline a rational approach to genetic testing, management, and family screening. |
18,244 | Atrial Fibrillation and Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging Abnormalities. | Background and Purpose- Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with dementia independent of clinical stroke. The mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. In a community-based cohort, the ARIC study (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities), we evaluated (1) the longitudinal association of incident AF and (2) the cross-sectional association of prevalent AF with brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities. Methods- The longitudinal analysis included 963 participants (mean age, 73±4.4 years; 62% women; 51% black) without prevalent stroke or AF who underwent a brain MRI in 1993 to 1995 and a second MRI in 2004 to 2006 (mean, 10.6±0.8 years). Outcomes included subclinical cerebral infarctions, sulcal size, ventricular size, and, for the cross-sectional analysis, white matter hyperintensity volume and total brain volume. Results- In the longitudinal analysis, 29 (3.0%) participants developed AF after the first brain MRI. Those who developed AF had higher odds of increase in subclinical cerebral infarctions (odds ratio [OR], 3.08; 95% CI, 1.39-6.83), worsening sulcal grade (OR, 3.56; 95% CI, 1.04-12.2), and worsening ventricular grade (OR, 9.34; 95% CI, 1.24-70.2). In cross-sectional analysis, of 969 participants, 35 (3.6%) had prevalent AF at the time of the 2004 to 2006 MRI scan. Those with AF had greater odds of higher sulcal (OR, 3.9; 95% CI, 1.7-9.1) and ventricular grade (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.0-5.7) after multivariable adjustment and no difference in white matter hyperintensity or total brain volume. Conclusions- AF is independently associated with increase in subclinical cerebral infarction and worsening sulcal and ventricular grade-morphological changes associated with aging and dementia. More research is needed to define the mechanisms underlying AF-related neurodegeneration. |
18,245 | Beyond Advanced Cardiac Life Support: Dual-sequential Defibrillation for Refractory Ventricular Fibrillation after Witnessed Cardiac Arrest in the Emergency Department. | Refractory ventricular fibrillation is a rare condition seen in both in-hospital and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. A 56-year-old male was identified to have refractory ventricular fibrillation after an in-hospital cardiac arrest with multiple unsuccessful standard defibrillation attempts that was converted with dual-sequential defibrillation (DSD) to normal sinus rhythm. Advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) is the most widely used algorithmic treatment approach for various cardiopulmonary emergencies but has yet to provide recommendations for the treatment of refractory ventricular fibrillation. DSD may be a viable treatment strategy for refractory ventricular fibrillation when ACLS recommendations are ineffective. |
18,246 | Biventricular takotsubo cardiomyopathy with asymmetrical wall motion abnormality between left and right ventricle: a report of new case and literature review. | Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is characterized by transient wall motion abnormalities most commonly involving the left ventricle (LV). Although biventricular TC had been considered uncommon condition, recently biventricular TC has been reported as a new variant observed in 19-42% of all TC presentations. Since biventricular TC has a poor prognosis as compared with isolated TC, it is important to distinguish between isolated LV TC and biventricular TC. We present a case of 70-year-old female with dyspnea persisting for 2 days. Electrocardiogram showed symmetrical T-wave inversion in leads V2-V4. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) revealed diffuse hypo-kinesis except for the apical inferior LV and LV ejection fraction of 32%. Hyper-kinesis of the right ventricular (RV) basal segment and dys-kinesis of the RV apical segment. 2 weeks after admission, coronary angiography showed no evidence of significant stenosis. LV ejection fraction improved to 51% and wall motion abnormalities of the RV basal and apical segments were ameliorated to normo-kinesis. Electrocardiogram revealed symmetrical and deepened T-wave inversion in leads V2-V3. The presence of a transient abnormality in biventricular wall motion beyond a single coronary artery perfusion territory with new electrocardiographic change met the diagnostic criteria of definite TC defined by Mayo Clinic criteria. 4 weeks after admission, no recurrence of wall motion abnormalities in both ventricles were found and T-wave inversion ameliorated. To our knowledge, this is the first report of biventricular TC with asymmetrical abnormities of wall motion between LV and RV. |
18,247 | Low Left Atrial Strain Is Associated With Adverse Outcomes in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Patients. | Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) and left atrial (LA) structural remodeling are common in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients, who are also at risk for adverse cardiovascular outcomes.</AbstractText>We assessed whether PAF and/or LA remodeling was associated with adverse outcomes in HCM.</AbstractText>We retrospectively studied 45 HCM patients with PAF (PAF group) and 59 HCM patients without atrial fibrillation (AF; no-AF group). LA/left ventricular (LV) function and mechanics were assessed by echocardiography. Patients were followed for development of the composite endpoint comprising heart failure, stroke, and death.</AbstractText>Clinical/demographic characteristics, degree of LV hypertrophy, and E/e' were similar in the two groups The PAF group had significantly higher LA volume, but lower LA ejection fraction (LAEF), LA contractile, and reservoir strain/strain rate than the no-AF group. During follow-up, 27 patients developed the composite endpoint. Incidence of the composite endpoint was similar in the two groups. Absolute values of 23.8% for reservoir strain and 10.2% for conduit strain were the best cutoffs for the composite endpoint, using receiver operating characteristic analysis. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed lower event-free survival in patients with reservoir strain ≤23.8% or conduit strain ≤10.2%. Univariate Cox analysis revealed an association between female sex, LAEF, LA reservoir/conduit strain, and LV global longitudinal strain with the composite endpoint. The association between LA reservoir/conduit strain and the composite endpoint persisted after controlling for age, sex, LAEF, and LV global longitudinal strain.</AbstractText>In this pilot HCM patient study, PAF was associated with a greater degree of LA myopathy, and low LA reservoir and conduit strain were associated with higher risk for adverse cardiovascular outcomes.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2019 American Society of Echocardiography. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
18,248 | Clinical case of successful management of acute myocardial infarction during pregnancy. | Introduction: There have recently been increasingly frequent reports of myocardial infarction (MI) in pregnancy and in the postpartum period. Pertinent and timely treatment affect maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality.</AbstractText>Clinical case: We are reporting about a 42 years old woman at the 19th week of gestation, with complains of chest pain with irradiation into the left arm, and shortness of breath. It was known from the history of present illness, that at the time of the event ventricular fibrillation was recorded and resuscitation measures with cardioversion were performed. Subsequently, after an additional examination in the hospital, a diagnosis of MI has been determined. Coronary angiography with cardiac ventriculography (CVG) has been performed and stenosis of left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) and right coronary artery (RCA) detected. A revascularization with the insertion of the bare-metal stent system has performed and double antiplatelet therapy prescribed. At 37 weeks of gestation, the patient gave birth to a healthy child by caesarean section.</AbstractText>Conclusions: This clinical case illustrates the importance of minimizing the time to hospitalization of a pregnant woman with a MI to a specialized center for timely and complete diagnostic measures, which, in turn, allow to properly choose the tactics of patient management. Timely revascularization and properly selected anticoagulation are the key factors of the successful management in this category of patients.</AbstractText> |
18,249 | Safety and efficacy of anti-tachycardia pacing in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy implanted with an ICD. | In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients implanted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), clinical outcomes of antitachycardia pacing (ATP) have been poorly explored. In a retrospective analysis of a cohort of consecutive HCM patients implanted with an ICD, we aimed to assess the efficacy, safety, and clinical value of ATP.</AbstractText>The cohort of HCM patients implanted with a transvenous ICD and followed in our center was assessed for device intervention from implantation to last clinical follow-up.</AbstractText>Overall 77 patients (45 males; mean age: 46 ± 16 years) were analyzed. After 67 ± 41 months, 24 patients had 49 ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (VT/VF) appropriately treated (5.8% per year). Among 39 monomorphic VTs, ATP was effective in 27 (success rate: 69%). Mean time from VT onset to ATP delivery was 9.1 ± 4.9 s. The only clinical variable improving ATP success was use of beta-blockers (81% vs 50%; P = .04). Out of 12 ineffectively treated VTs, one was immediately shocked, four self-terminated after 18 ± 12 s, and seven (18%) were accelerated to a new VT. ATP was also delivered for 27 of 42 inappropriately detected episodes and induced two de novo VTs (7%). In the per patient analysis, 14 out 77 (18%) patients had one or more appropriate and effective ATP (3.4% per year), and only six (8%; 1.4% per year) received more than one ATP.</AbstractText>ATP is moderately effective for the treatment of monomorphic VTs in HCM patients. However, the rate of appropriate ATP therapies is low, ATP is often prematurely delivered, and ATP-induced arrhythmia degeneration is of concern.</AbstractText>© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</CopyrightInformation> |
18,250 | Feasibility of entirely subcutaneous ICD™ systems in patients with coronary artery disease. | The subcutaneous ICD (S-ICD™) is an important advance in device therapy for the prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Although current guidelines recommend S-ICD™ use, long-term data are still limited, especially in subgroups. Among several cardiac diseases that prone to SCD, coronary artery disease (CAD) carries several peculiarities that may hamper S-ICD™ therapy in this cohort. CAD can lead to an ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) with a reduced left-ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and bundle branch blocks, which can be difficult for ICD sensing and discrimination of arrhythmia. CAD is mainly driven by risk factors such as diabetes mellitus, which put these patients at an elevated risk for infectious complications of cardiac devices. Furthermore, in ICM myocardial scars are frequent and are a potential substrate for ventricular tachycardia, which may be accessible for antitachycardia pacing. At the moment, it remains unclear if there is a value of S-ICD™ therapy in this subgroup. Therefore, this study analysed patients with CAD.</AbstractText>All S-ICD™ patients with CAD as the main indication for ICD implantation (n = 45 patients) in our large-scaled single-center S-ICD™ registry (n = 249 patients) were included in this study. Baseline characteristics, appropriate and inappropriate shocks, and complications were documented in a mean follow-up of 22.5 ± 8.3 months.</AbstractText>Primary prevention of SCD was the indication for implantation of an S-ICD™ in 28 patients (62%). Of all 45 patients with an overall mean age of 58.1 ± 11.4 years, 40 were male (88%). The mean LVEF was 37.7 ± 12.6%. Three episodes of ventricular arrhythmia (one monomorphic, one polymorphic, one ventricular fibrillation) were adequately terminated in three patients (7%). In only one patient, oversensing resulting in an inappropriate shock was observed, which could be managed by changing the sensing vector. 15 of the examined 45 patients previously had a transvenous ICD, which was explanted due to system-related infections. In only two patients, S-ICD™ was changed to transvenous ICD because of the need of antibradycardia stimulation. There were no S-ICD™ system-related infections.</AbstractText>The S-ICD™ seems to be a valuable option for the prevention of SCD in CAD patients. Patients with systemic infections of a transvenous ICD and, therefore, a need for an alternative might benefit from the absence of intracardiac leads as the S-ICD™ is safe and works flawlessly in these patients. Inadequate shock delivery was very rare, while every episode of ventricular arrhythmia was terminated by the first shock.</AbstractText> |
18,251 | Challenge and Impact of Quinidine Access in Sudden Death Syndromes: A National Experience. | This study sought to determine the nature of quinidine use and accessibility in a national network of inherited arrhythmia clinics.</AbstractText>Quinidine is an antiarrhythmic medication that has been shown to be beneficial in select patients with Brugada syndrome, early repolarization syndrome, and idiopathic ventricular fibrillation. Because of the low prevalence of these conditions and restricted access to quinidine through a single regulatory process, quinidine use is rare in Canada.</AbstractText>Subjects prescribed quinidine were identified through the Hearts in Rhythm Organization that connects the network of inherited arrhythmia clinics across Canada. Cases were retrospectively reviewed for patient characteristics, indications for quinidine use, rate of recurrent ventricular arrhythmia, and issues with quinidine accessibility.</AbstractText>In a population of 36 million, 46 patients are currently prescribed quinidine (0.0000013%, age 48.1 ± 16.1 years, 25 are male). Brugada syndrome, early repolarization syndrome, and idiopathic ventricular fibrillation constituted a diagnosis in 13 subjects (28%), 6 (13%), and 21 (46%), respectively. Overall, 37 subjects (81%) had cardiac arrest as an index event. After initial presentation, subjects experienced 7.47 ± 12.3 implantable cardioverter-defibrillator shocks prior to quinidine use over 34.3 ± 45.9 months, versus 0.86 ± 1.69 implantable cardioverter-defibrillator shocks in 43.8 ± 41.8 months while on quinidine (risk ratio: 8.7, p < 0.001). Twenty-two patients access quinidine through routes external to Health Canada's Special Access Program.</AbstractText>Quinidine use is rare in Canada, but it is associated with a reduction in recurrent ventricular arrhythmias in patients with Brugada syndrome, early repolarization syndrome, and idiopathic ventricular fibrillation, with minimal toxicity necessitating discontinuation. Drug interruption is associated with frequent breakthrough events. Access to quinidine is important to deliver this potentially lifesaving therapy.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2019 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
18,252 | [Comparison on CMR characteristics and clinical prognosis between hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients with and without left ventricular apical aneurysms]. | <b>Objective:</b> To compare the imaging characteristics and long-term prognosis in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HCM) patients with or without left ventricular apical aneurysm(LVAA). <b>Methods:</b> Retrospectively analyzed the clinical data from 18 patients diagnosed as HCM complicating with LVAA(HCM-LVAA group), hospitalized and underwent cardiac magentic resonance (CMR) examination in Fuwai Hospital between December 2012 and December 2016. Eighteen age and gender matched patients with HCM diagnosed by CMR served as control(HCM group). Outpatient and in-hospital clinical data as well as follow up results were compared. The major adverse cardiovascular events were defined as malignant arrhythmia events (including sudden cardiac death, ventricular flutter/ventricular fibrillation) and heart failure events (including heart transplantation, progressive heart failure). <b>Results:</b> Compared with HCM group, patients in HCM-LVAA group had a more positive family history of HCM(<i>P</i>=0.04), higher incidence of ST-T segment changes and abnormal Q wave in electrocardiograms (both <i>P<</i>0.01), the CMR derived left ventricular end-diastolic transverse diameter and end-diastolic volume index were also significantly higher (both <i>P<</i>0.05), and delayed enhancement was more significant ((25.26±10.60)% vs. (15.78±7.33)%, <i>t=</i>3.12, <i>P</i>=0.004) in HCM-LVAA group. Moreover, the left ventricular ejection fraction ((54.4±10.6)% vs. (67.5±7.6)%, <i>t=</i>-4.28, <i>P<</i>0.000 1) and the thickness of the apical wall ((3.11±1.05) mm vs. (5.46±1.94) mm, <i>t=</i>-4.49, <i>P<</i>0.000 1) were significantly lower in HCM-LVAA group than in HCM group. The mean follow-up duration was (3.46±1.64) years, 4 patients in HCM-LVAA group (22.2%) developed 4 cardiovascular events, including 1 sudden cardiac death, 3 progressive heart failures. One patient in HCM group developed progressive heart failure. <b>Conclusion:</b> The prognosis of the HCM complicating with LVAA patients is worse than that of HCM patients without LVAA, and the amount of late gadolinium enhancement is higher than that of HCM patients without LVAA.</Abstract><AuthorList CompleteYN="Y"><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Song</LastName><ForeName>Y Y</ForeName><Initials>YY</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Department of Magnetic Resonance, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100037, China.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Lu</LastName><ForeName>M J</ForeName><Initials>MJ</Initials></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Li</LastName><ForeName>L</ForeName><Initials>L</Initials></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Cui</LastName><ForeName>C</ForeName><Initials>C</Initials></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Cheng</LastName><ForeName>H B</ForeName><Initials>HB</Initials></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Chen</LastName><ForeName>X Y</ForeName><Initials>XY</Initials></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Yin</LastName><ForeName>G</ForeName><Initials>G</Initials></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Zhao</LastName><ForeName>S H</ForeName><Initials>SH</Initials></Author></AuthorList><Language>chi</Language><GrantList CompleteYN="Y"><Grant><GrantID>81620108015</GrantID><Agency>National Natural Science Foundation of China</Agency><Country/></Grant><Grant><GrantID>Z161100000516110</GrantID><Agency>Capital Characteristic and Clinical Application Research Fund from the Beijing Municipal Commission of Science and Technology</Agency><Country/></Grant></GrantList><PublicationTypeList><PublicationType UI="D016428">Journal Article</PublicationType></PublicationTypeList></Article><MedlineJournalInfo><Country>China</Country><MedlineTA>Zhonghua Xin Xue Guan Bing Za Zhi</MedlineTA><NlmUniqueID>7910682</NlmUniqueID><ISSNLinking>0253-3758</ISSNLinking></MedlineJournalInfo><ChemicalList><Chemical><RegistryNumber>0</RegistryNumber><NameOfSubstance UI="D003287">Contrast Media</NameOfSubstance></Chemical><Chemical><RegistryNumber>AU0V1LM3JT</RegistryNumber><NameOfSubstance UI="D005682">Gadolinium</NameOfSubstance></Chemical></ChemicalList><CitationSubset>IM</CitationSubset><MeshHeadingList><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D002312" MajorTopicYN="Y">Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic</DescriptorName><QualifierName UI="Q000000981" MajorTopicYN="N">diagnostic imaging</QualifierName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D003287" MajorTopicYN="N">Contrast Media</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D005682" MajorTopicYN="N">Gadolinium</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D006801" MajorTopicYN="N">Humans</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D011379" MajorTopicYN="N">Prognosis</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D012189" MajorTopicYN="N">Retrospective Studies</DescriptorName></MeshHeading></MeshHeadingList><OtherAbstract Type="Publisher" Language="chi"><b>目的：</b> 探讨肥厚型心肌病（HCM）伴左心室心尖部室壁瘤患者的心脏磁共振（CMR）成像特征及临床预后。 <b>方法：</b> 回顾性分析2012年12月至2016年12月于阜外医院接受CMR扫描的HCM患者共2 028例，其中18例患者诊断为HCM伴左心室心尖部室壁瘤作为HCM伴左心室心尖部室壁瘤组，按照年龄、性别匹配18例单纯HCM患者作为单纯HCM组。分别收集两组患者的临床资料及CMR成像结果，并对入选患者进行门诊或电话随访，记录其主要不良心血管事件的发生情况。主要不良心血管事件定义为恶性心律失常事件[包括心脏性猝死、心室扑动/颤动）及心力衰竭事件（包括心脏移植、进展性心力衰竭）。 <b>结果：</b> HCM伴左心室心尖部室壁瘤组患者有明显家族史的比例较单纯HCM组高[55.6%（10/18）比22.2%（4/18），<i>P</i>=0.04]，心电图示ST-T改变和异常Q波的比例亦均较单纯HCM组高（<i>P</i>均<0.01）。HCM伴左心室心尖部室壁瘤组患者CMR测得的左心室舒张末期横径及舒张末期容积指数均较单纯HCM组高（<i>P</i>均<0.05），延迟强化的量亦显著大于单纯HCM组[（25.26±10.60）%比（15.78±7.33）%，<i>t=</i>3.12，<i>P</i>=0.004]，而其左心室射血分数和心尖室壁厚度则均较单纯HCM组小[分别为（54.4±10.6）%比（67.5±7.6）%，<i>t=</i>-4.28，<i>P<</i>0.000 1及（3.11±1.05）mm比（5.46±1.94）mm，<i>t=</i>-4.49，<i>P<</i>0.000 1]。随访时间为（3.46±1.64）年，HCM伴左心室心尖部室壁瘤组18例患者中出现4次主要不良心血管事件，包括1次心脏性猝死和3次进展性心力衰竭，而单纯HCM组18例患者中仅出现1次进展性心力衰竭。 <b>结论：</b> HCM伴左心室心尖部室壁瘤患者延迟强化量明显增多且临床预后较差。. |
18,253 | Comparable survival in ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathy secondary to ventricular tachyarrhythmias and aborted cardiac arrest. | The study sought to assess the impact of ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICMP) and nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICMP) on secondary survival in patients presenting with ventricular tachyarrhythmias and aborted sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).</AbstractText>Data regarding the outcome of patients with ICMP or NICMP presenting with ventricular tachyarrhythmias or aborted SCA is limited.</AbstractText>A large retrospective registry was used including all consecutive patients presenting with ventricular tachycardia (VT), ventricular fibrillation (VF), or aborted SCA on admission from 2002 to 2016. ICMP and NICMP were compared applying univariable correlation models and propensity score matching for evaluation of the primary prognostic end point defined as long-term all-cause mortality at 2.5 years. Secondary end points were all-cause mortality at 30 days, at index hospitalization, and after discharge; the composite end point of recurrent ventricular tachyarrhythmias, cardiac death at 24 h, and appropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy; and finally, rehospitalization related to ventricular tachyarrhythmias.</AbstractText>A total of 276 matched patients were included. The rates of VT and VF were similar in both groups (VT: 75 vs. 73%; VF: 23 vs. 22%). At 2.5 years, no differences were found regarding the primary end point of all-cause mortality in both patients with ICMP and NICMP (mortality rate: 33 vs. 32%; log-rank P=0.898). Similar survival was present irrespective of the presence of acute myocardial infarction, underlying ventricular tachyarhythmia (VT/VF), left ventricular dysfunction, and an activated ICD. Furthermore, no significant differences could be seen regarding secondary end points of all-cause mortality at 30 days, at index hospitalization, and after discharge; the composite end point of recurrent ventricular tachyarrhythmias, cardiac death at 24 h, and appropriate ICD interrogation; and finally rehospitalization related to ventricular tachyarrhythmias.</AbstractText>Both ICMP and NICMP reveal comparable secondary survival after episodes of ventricular tachyarrhythmias or SCA on admission.</AbstractText> |
18,254 | Automated External Defibrillator Shock Advisement Discordance Among Multiple Electrocardiographic Rhythms and Devices: A Preliminary Report. | <b>Background:</b> The early use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) can save lives by correcting lethal ventricular arrhythmias with minimal operator intervention. AED shock advisements also play a role in termination of resuscitation strategies. AED function is dependent on the accuracy of their shock advisement algorithms, which may differ between manufacturers. We sought to compare the shock advisement performance characteristics of several AEDs. <b>Methods:</b> We conducted a prospective, laboratory-based simulation study evaluating five commercially available AEDs from Cardiac Science, Defibtech, Medtronic, Philips, and Zoll. Shock advisement performance was evaluated for eight ECG rhythms {ventricular fibrillation (VF), ventricular tachycardia (VT), toursades de pointes (TdP), sinus rhythm (SR), atrial fibrillation (AF), atrial flutter (AFL), idioventricular rhythm (IDV), and asystole} that were generated using the SimMan Classic Manikin and the LLEAP Simulator software (Laerdal Medical Inc., Norway). We recorded shock advisement decisions for each of the ECG rhythms three times per device. Shock advisements were coded as discordant if a shock was advised for a non-shockable rhythm or not advised for a shockable rhythm. <b>Results:</b> We analyzed 330 rhythm trials in total (66 per device), finding 28 (8.5%) discordant shock advisements overall. Discordance ranged from 6% to 11% among the five AED models. VF rhythm variants were the most frequent (43%) source of discordant advisements. No shocks were advised for any of the sinus rhythms, AFL, AF with QRS > 40, IDV, or asystole. <b>Conclusions:</b> Discordant shock advisements were observed for each AED and varied between manufacturers, most often involving VF. There may be implications for termination of resuscitation decision making. |
18,255 | Rationale and design of the DIGIT-HF trial (DIGitoxin to Improve ouTcomes in patients with advanced chronic Heart Failure): a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. | Despite recent advances in the treatment of chronic heart failure (HF), mortality and hospitalizations still remain high. Additional therapies to improve mortality and morbidity are urgently needed. The efficacy of cardiac glycosides - although regularly used for HF treatment - remains unclear. DIGIT-HF was designed to demonstrate that digitoxin on top of standard of care treatment improves mortality and morbidity in patients with HF and a reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).</AbstractText>Patients with chronic HF, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class III-IV and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 40%, or patients in NYHA functional class II and LVEF ≤ 30% are randomized 1:1 in a double-blind fashion to treatment with digitoxin (target serum concentration 8-18 ng/mL) or matching placebo. Randomization is stratified by centre, sex, NYHA functional class (II, III, or IV), atrial fibrillation, and treatment with cardiac glycosides at baseline. A total of 2190 eligible patients will be included in this clinical trial (1095 per group). All patients receive standard of care treatment recommended by expert guidelines upon discretion of the treating physician. The primary outcome is a composite of all-cause mortality or hospital admission for worsening HF (whatever occurs first). Key secondary endpoints are all-cause mortality, hospital admission for worsening HF, and recurrent hospital admission for worsening HF.</AbstractText>The DIGIT-HF trial will provide important evidence, whether the cardiac glycoside digitoxin reduces the risk for all-cause mortality and/or hospital admission for worsening HF in patients with advanced chronic HFrEF on top of standard of care treatment.</AbstractText>© 2019 The Authors. European Journal of Heart Failure published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Society of Cardiology.</CopyrightInformation> |
18,256 | Patients With Refractory Out-of-Cardiac Arrest and Sustained Ventricular Fibrillation as Candidates for Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation　- Prospective Multi-Center Observational Study. | We investigated whether patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and sustained ventricular fibrillation/pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VF/pVT) or conversion to pulseless electrical activity/asystole (PEA/asystole) benefit more from extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR). Methods and Results: We analyzed data from the Study of Advanced Life Support for Ventricular Fibrillation with Extracorporeal Circulation in Japan, which was a prospective, multicenter, observational study with 22 institutions in the ECPR group and 17 institutions in the conventional CPR (CCPR) group. Patients were divided into 4 groups by cardiac rhythm and CPR group. The primary endpoint was favorable neurological outcome, defined as Cerebral Performance Category 1 or 2 at 6 months. A total of 407 patients had refractory OHCA with VF/pVT on initial electrocardiogram. The proportion of ECPR patients with favorable neurological outcome was significantly higher in the sustained VF/pVT group than in the conversion to PEA/asystole group (20%, 25/126 vs. 3%, 4/122, P<0.001). Stratifying by cardiac rhythm, on multivariable mixed logistic regression analysis an ECPR strategy significantly increased the proportion of patients with favorable neurological outcome at 6 months in the patients with sustained VF/pVT (OR, 7.35; 95% CI: 1.58-34.09), but these associations were not observed in patients with conversion to PEA/asystole.</AbstractText>OHCA patients with sustained VF/pVT may be the most promising ECPR candidates (UMIN000001403).</AbstractText> |
18,257 | Rates of Cardiac Rhythm Abnormalities in Patients with CKD and Diabetes. | Cardiac arrhythmias increase mortality and morbidity in CKD. We evaluated the rates of subclinical arrhythmias in a population with type 2 diabetes and patients with moderate to severe CKD who were not on dialysis.</AbstractText><AbstractText Label="DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS & MEASUREMENTS">This is a prospective observational study, using continuous ambulatory cardiac monitors to determine the rate of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, as well as conduction abnormalities in this group.</AbstractText>A total of 38 patients (34% women), with mean eGFR of 38±13 ml/min per 1.73 m2</sup>, underwent ambulatory cardiac monitoring for 11.2±3.9 days. The overall mean rate of any cardiac arrhythmia was 88.8 (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 27.1 to 184.6) episodes per person-year (PY). A history of cardiovascular disease was associated with a higher rate of detected arrhythmia (rate ratio, 5.87; 95% CI, 1.37 to 25.21; P</i><0.001). The most common arrhythmia was atrial fibrillation, which was observed in two participants with known atrial fibrillation and was a new diagnosis in four patients (11%), none of whom experienced symptoms. Overall, atrial fibrillation episodes occurred at a rate of 37.6 (95% CI, 2.4 to 112.3) per PY. Conduction abnormalities were found in eight patients (21%), a rate of 26.5 (95% CI, 4.2 to 65.5) per PY. Rates of ventricular arrhythmias were low (14.5 per PY; 95% CI, 4.3 to 32.0) and driven by premature ventricular contractions.</AbstractText>Cardiac rhythm abnormalities are common in patients with diabetes with moderate to severe CKD not requiring dialysis. Rates of atrial fibrillation are high and episodes are asymptomatic. Future studies are needed to determine the role of screening and upstream therapy of cardiac arrhythmias in this group.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2019 by the American Society of Nephrology.</CopyrightInformation> |
18,258 | Long-term follow-up of adult patients with congenital heart disease and an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. | Sudden cardiac death is common in the adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) population. Knowledge and experience about the use of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) in ACHD patients is very limited. We aimed to characterize a cohort of patients with ACHD and ICDs.</AbstractText>Thirty consecutive ACHD patients submitted to an ICD implantation in a single tertiary center were evaluated. Data on baseline clinical features, heart defect, indication for ICD, type of device, appropriate therapies, ICD-related complication, and mortality during follow-up were collected.</AbstractText>Of the 30 patients, 56.7% received appropriate therapies due to ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF). The rate of inappropriate therapies and device-related complications was 33.3%. Secondary prevention and primary prevention patients with class I indications for ICD had more appropriate therapies than complication, but this relationship was reversed for patients with class II indications. Remote monitoring played an important role in diagnosing new atrial arrhythmias before scheduled visits in 46.2% of patients, leading to a change in medication. VT/VF episodes were associated with a composite of death, cardiac transplantation, and hospital admission (OR 13.0; 95% CI: 2.1-81.5).</AbstractText>ICDs are not only useful in preventing SCD, but also have a major role in diagnosing atrial tachyarrhythmias ahead of scheduled visits. Although improvements in ICD technology might reduce complications and inappropriate therapies, adequate selection of candidates for primary prevention still remains difficult because of the lack of clear indications.</AbstractText>© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</CopyrightInformation> |
18,259 | Heart failure progression and mortality in atrial fibrillation patients with preserved or reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. | Atrial fibrillation (AF) worsens cardiovascular (CV) outcomes of heart failure (HF) and vice versa. The impact of rate or rhythm control strategies on HF progression and survival remains unclear.</AbstractText>We examined the risk of HF progression in AF patients (pts) with a prior HF event and minimal or no HF burden (NYHA class 0 or 1). They were stratified into HF with a preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (≥ 40%, pEF) or reduced EF (< 40%, rEF). HF subgroups from the Rate and Rhythm arm were compared for the primary outcome of worsening HF or death (WHFD), total mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and cardiovascular hospitalizations.</AbstractText>Four hundred ninety-two AF pts (HFpEF = 349, HFrEF = 143) were analyzed. Baseline characteristics were generally comparable in the Rate and Rhythm arms of the two subgroups. Over a median follow-up of 4 years, HF recurred and worsened in 66.6% and 41.2% of pts by ≥ 1 and ≥ 2 NYHA classes, respectively. HF progression by even 1 NYHA class increased the mortality risk in HFpEF (hazard ratio (HR) 2.06; 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.25-3.4; p = 0.004) and HFrEF (HR 1.9; 95% CI 0.99-3.66; p = 0.054). Cardiovascular hospitalization (CVH) increased in HFpEF (HR 3.67; 95% CI 2.56, 5.25; p < 0.0001) and HFrEF (HR 2.8; 95% CI 1.53-5.14; p = 0.0009). HF progression by 2 or more NYHA classes or death was significantly worse in pts with HFrEF with the Rate control strategy compared with the Rhythm control (HR 1.62; 95% CI 1.03-2.53; p = 0.036) but similar in pts with HFpEF (HR 0.88; 95% CI 0.64-1.21; p = 0.440).The time to first AF recurrence was longer in the Rhythm arms of both HF subgroups as compared with Rate (Figure, p < 0.05).</AbstractText>(1) HF progression in AF pts with a prior HF event confers significant mortality and CVH risk in both HFrEF and HFpEF populations. (2) HF progression is more pronounced with a Rate control strategy in AF pts with HFrEF, but is comparable to Rhythm control in AF pts with HFpEF. (3) A Rhythm control strategy may be desirable to reduce HF progression in pts with HFrEF and AF. Prospective clinical trials appear warranted to examine HF progression by treatment strategy in HFpEF and HFrEF populations with AF.</AbstractText> |
18,260 | Characteristics and Outcomes in Patients With Electrical Storm. | Electrical storm (ES) is a life-threatening condition with diverse clinical presentation, caused by recurrent malignant ventricular arrhythmia--≥3 episodes of ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation within 24hours and is associated with high mortality. The aim of this study was analysis of clinical profile, treatment, and prognosis of patients with ES admitted to a high-volume cardiovascular center. We present results of a single-center, retrospective, ongoing observational registry enrolling consecutive patients presenting with ES admitted between 2006 and 2017. Clinical history, results of diagnostic investigations, and treatment were collected for all patients. Follow-up data were collected from hospital documentation, outpatient clinic, remote monitoring systems, and from data gathered from national health services. Registry enrolled 101 consecutive patients admitted with ES. Two-thirds of patients had ischemic cardiomyopathy. Mean left ventricle ejection fraction was 26%. In 56.4% of the patients coronary angiogram was performed and in 20.8% cases percutaneous coronary intervention was needed. 18.8% of the patients underwent VT ablation. 12-month mortality from first ES in our population was 21.8%. NYHA class III and IV, raised N-terminal fragment of prohormone B-type Natriuretic Peptide and creatinine levels, and lower hemoglobin levels were independent predictors of death. In conclusion, most patients admitted with ES have ischemic cardiomyopathy. Over 1/3 of the population had significant narrowing of at least one coronary artery with ES masking ischemia and underwent percutaneous coronary intervention. Nearly 1/5 of the patients were treated with VT ablation. 12-month mortality was high and exceeded 1/4 of patients with ES. |
18,261 | Radiofrequency ablation lesion assessment using optical coherence tomography - a proof-of-concept study. | Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA) is an effective treatment for atrial fibrillation. However, ablation lesions are usually only assessed functionally. The immediate effect of RFA on the tissue is not directly visualized. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an imaging technique that uses light to capture high-resolution images with histology-like quality. Therefore, it might be used for high-precision imaging of ablation lesions.</AbstractText>Radiofrequency ablation lesions (n = 25) were produced on the freshly excised left and right ventricular porcine endocardium. A Thermocool ST SF NAV ablation catheter (Biosense Webster Inc) and an EP-Shuttle ablation generator (Stockert GmbH) were used to produce ablation lesions with powers from 10 to 40 W (energies ranging from 100 Ws to 900 Ws). After ablation, the tissue was imaged with a swept source OCT system (at a wavelength of 1300 nm). Subsequently, the ablation lesions underwent the histological analysis. The ablation lesions could be visualized by OCT in all 17 samples with ablation powers ≥20 W, meanwhile, no lesion could be observed in the other eight samples with lower power (10 W). Lesion depths and lesion radiuses, as assessed by OCT, correlated well with those observed on the subsequent histological analysis (Spearman's r = 0.94, P < 0.001 and r = 0.84, P < 0.001). In addition, successful three-dimensional reconstructions of ablation lesions were performed.</AbstractText>OCT can provide a visual high-resolution assessment of ablation lesions.</AbstractText>© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</CopyrightInformation> |
18,262 | EHRA White Paper: knowledge gaps in arrhythmia management-status 2019. | Clinicians accept that there are many unknowns when we make diagnostic and therapeutic decisions. Acceptance of uncertainty is essential for the pursuit of the profession: bedside decisions must often be made on the basis of incomplete evidence. Over the years, physicians sometimes even do not realize anymore which the fundamental gaps in our knowledge are. As clinical scientists, however, we have to halt and consider what we do not know yet, and how we can move forward addressing those unknowns. The European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) believes that scanning the field of arrhythmia / cardiac electrophysiology to identify knowledge gaps which are not yet the subject of organized research, should be undertaken on a regular basis. Such a review (White Paper) should concentrate on research which is feasible, realistic, and clinically relevant, and should not deal with futuristic aspirations. It fits with the EHRA mission that these White Papers should be shared on a global basis in order to foster collaborative and needed research which will ultimately lead to better care for our patients. The present EHRA White Paper summarizes knowledge gaps in the management of atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia/sudden death and heart failure. |
18,263 | Management of asymptomatic arrhythmias: a European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) consensus document, endorsed by the Heart Failure Association (HFA), Heart Rhythm Society (HRS), Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society (APHRS), Cardiac Arrhythmia Society of Southern Africa (CASSA), and Latin America Heart Rhythm Society (LAHRS). | Asymptomatic arrhythmias are frequently encountered in clinical practice. Although studies specifically dedicated to these asymptomatic arrhythmias are lacking, many arrhythmias still require proper diagnostic and prognostic evaluation and treatment to avoid severe consequences, such as stroke or systemic emboli, heart failure, or sudden cardiac death. The present document reviews the evidence, where available, and attempts to reach a consensus, where evidence is insufficient or conflicting. |
18,264 | Epoxyeicosatrienoic Acid-Based Therapy Attenuates the Progression of Postischemic Heart Failure in Normotensive Sprague-Dawley but Not in Hypertensive <i>Ren-2</i> Transgenic Rats. | Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) and their analogs have been identified as potent antihypertensive compounds with cardio- and renoprotective actions. Here, we examined the effect of EET-A, an orally active EET analog, and <i>c</i>-AUCB, an inhibitor of the EETs degrading enzyme soluble epoxide hydrolase, on the progression of post-myocardial infarction (MI) heart failure (HF) in normotensive Hannover Sprague-Dawley (HanSD) and in heterozygous <i>Ren-2</i> transgenic rats (TGR) with angiotensin II-dependent hypertension. Adult male rats (12 weeks old) were subjected to 60-min left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery occlusion or sham (non-MI) operation. Animals were treated with EET-A and <i>c</i>-AUCB (10 and 1 mg/kg/day, respectively) in drinking water, given alone or combined for 5 weeks starting 24 h after MI induction. Left ventricle (LV) function and geometry were assessed by echocardiography before MI and during the progression of HF. At the end of the study, LV function was determined by catheterization and tissue samples were collected. Ischemic mortality due to the incidence of sustained ventricular fibrillation was significantly higher in TGR than in HanSD rats (35.4 and 17.7%, respectively). MI-induced HF markedly increased LV end-diastolic pressure (P<sub>ed</sub>) and reduced fractional shortening (FS) and the peak rate of pressure development [+(dP/dt)<sub>max</sub>] in untreated HanSD compared to sham (non-MI) group [P<sub>ed</sub>: 30.5 ± 3.3 vs. 9.7 ± 1.3 mmHg; FS: 11.1 ± 1.0 vs. 40.8 ± 0.5%; +(dP/dt)<sub>max</sub>: 3890 ± 291 vs. 5947 ± 309 mmHg/s]. EET-A and <i>c</i>-AUCB, given alone, tended to improve LV function parameters in HanSD rats. Their combination amplified the cardioprotective effect of single therapy and reached significant differences compared to untreated HanSD controls [P<sub>ed</sub>: 19.4 ± 2.2 mmHg; FS: 14.9 ± 1.0%; +(dP/dt)<sub>max</sub>: 5278 ± 255 mmHg/s]. In TGR, MI resulted in the impairment of LV function like HanSD rats. All treatments reduced the increased level of albuminuria in TGR compared to untreated MI group, but neither single nor combined EET-based therapy improved LV function. Our results indicate that EET-based therapy attenuates the progression of post-MI HF in HanSD, but not in TGR, even though they exhibited renoprotective action in TGR hypertensive rats. |
18,265 | Suspected hyponatremia-induced Brugada phenocopy. | Brugada syndrome is a genetic condition that predisposes to an increased risk of ventricular fibrillation and sudden cardiac death in a structurally normal heart. The Brugada type 1 electrocardiogram (ECG) pattern may occur independently of the actual syndrome, and this clinical phenomenon is often referred to as Brugada phenocopy. There are several other factors which have been known to induce this electrocardiographic pattern, and currently, there is a paucity of literature with respect to the pattern that is observed in patients with electrolyte disturbances, specifically hyponatremia. This case report highlights a suspected hyponatremia-induced Brugada type 1 ECG pattern, which subsequently normalized following resolution of the electrolyte derangement. |
18,266 | Permanent cardiac pacing for patients with iatrogenic or potentially reversible bradyarrhythmia. | In iatrogenic or potentially reversible bradyarrhythmia, drug discontinuation or metabolic correction is recommended before permanent cardiac pacemaker (PM) implantation. These patients often have conduction system disease and there are few data on recurrence or the need for a permanent PM.</AbstractText>To analyze the need for PM implantation in patients with iatrogenic bradyarrhythmia or bradyarrhythmia associated with other potentially reversible causes.</AbstractText>We assessed consecutive symptomatic patients admitted to the emergency department with a primary diagnosis of bradyarrhythmia (atrioventricular [AV] node disease - complete or second-degree AV block (AVB) [CAVB: 2nd-degree AVB - 2:1], sinus bradycardia [SB] and atrial fibrillation [AF] with slow ventricular response [SVR]) in the context of iatrogenic causes or metabolic abnormalities. We determined the percentage of patients who required PM implantation.</AbstractText>We studied 153 patients (47% male) admitted for iatrogenic or potentially reversible bradyarrhythmia. Diagnoses were SB 16%, CAVB 63%, second-degree AVB 12%, and AF with SVR 10%. Eighty-five percent of patients were under negative chronotropic therapy, 3% had hyperkalemia and 12% had a combined etiology. After correction of the cause, 55% of patients (n=84) needed a PM. In these patients the most common type of bradyarrhythmia was CAVB, in 77% (n=65) patients.</AbstractText>In a high percentage of patients with bradyarrhythmia associated with a potentially reversible cause, the arrhythmia recurs or does not resolve during follow-up. Patients with AV node disease constitute a subgroup with a higher risk of recurrence who require greater vigilance during follow-up and should be considered for PM implantation after the first episode.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2019 Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
18,267 | Potassium channel blocking 1,2-bis(aryl)ethane-1,2-diamines active as antiarrhythmic agents. | Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major cause of stroke, heart failure, sudden death and cardiovascular morbidity. The Kv1.5 potassium channel conducts the IKur current and has been demonstrated to be predominantly expressed in atrial versus ventricular tissue. Blockade of Kv1.5 has been proven to be an effective approach to restoring and maintaining sinus rhythm in preclinical models of AF. In the clinical setting, however, the therapeutic value of this approach remains an open question. Herein, we present synthesis and optimization of a novel series of 1,2-bis(aryl)ethane-1,2-diamines with selectivity for Kv1.5 over other potassium ion channels. The effective refractory period in the right atrium (RAERP) in a rabbit PD model was investigated for a selection of potent and selective compounds with balanced DMPK properties. The most advanced compound (10) showed nanomolar potency in blocking Kv1.5 in human atrial myocytes and based on the PD data, the estimated dose to man is 700 mg/day. As previously reported, 10 efficiently converted AF to sinus rhythm in a dog disease model. |
18,268 | Prevalence and Significance of an Early Repolarization Electrocardiographic Pattern and Its Mechanistic Insight Based on Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients With Acute Myocarditis. | An early repolarization electrocardiographic (ER-ECG) pattern is caused by various pathophysiological conditions and is reported to be a predictor of life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias. However, little evidence has been reported on the prevalence and significance of the ER-ECG pattern in acute myocarditis. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and significance of the ER-ECG pattern and its mechanistic insight based on the cardiac magnetic resonance findings in patients with acute myocarditis.</AbstractText>Thirty patients (23 men; 39.2±19.1 years) with a diagnosis of acute myocarditis by a clinical presentation between March 2011 and April 2018 were retrospectively evaluated. The patients were divided into 2 groups depending on the presence of an ER-ECG pattern on admission.</AbstractText>Nine cases had an ER-ECG pattern, which was defined as terminal QRS notching or slurring with an amplitude of >0.1 mV in at least 2 inferior or lateral leads (early repolarization [ER] group), whereas the remaining 21 cases had broad ST-segment elevation or pathological Q waves (non-ER group). The cardiac troponin T level was significantly higher in the non-ER group than ER group (3.2±4.3 versus 0.9±1.2 ng/mL; P=0.036). The ECG changes returned to baseline along with the normalization of the cardiac biomarkers. Nine of the 21 non-ER group patients, but none of the 9 ER group patients, developed a fulminant course and lethal ventricular tachyarrhythmias. T2-weighted cardiac magnetic resonance showed high-intensity signals over the entire transmural left ventricle in the non-ER group, whereas they were localized to the left ventricular epicardium in the ER group.</AbstractText>The ER-ECG pattern in acute myocarditis was transient and reversible and was not associated with a worse prognosis. Inflammation/swelling localized to the left ventricular epicardium because of acute myocarditis might provide a mechanistic insight into the ER-ECG pattern.</AbstractText> |
18,269 | Conduction in the right and left ventricle is differentially regulated by protein kinases and phosphatases: implications for arrhythmogenesis. | The "stress" kinases cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), phosphorylate the Na<sup>+</sup> channel Nav1.5 subunit to regulate its function. However, how the channel regulation translates to ventricular conduction is poorly understood. We hypothesized that the stress kinases positively and differentially regulate conduction in the right (RV) and the left (LV) ventricles. We applied the CaMKII blocker KN93 (2.75 μM), PKA blocker H89 (10 μM), and broad-acting phosphatase blocker calyculin (30 nM) in rabbit hearts paced at a cycle length (CL) of 150-8,000 ms. We used optical mapping to determine the distribution of local conduction delays (inverse of conduction velocity). Control hearts exhibited constant and uniform conduction at all tested CLs. Calyculin (15-min perfusion) accelerated conduction, with greater effect in the RV (by 15.3%) than in the LV (by 4.1%; <i>P</i> < 0.05). In contrast, both KN93 and H89 slowed down conduction in a chamber-, time-, and CL-dependent manner, with the strongest effect in the RV outflow tract (RVOT). Combined KN93 and H89 synergistically promoted conduction slowing in the RV (KN93: 24.7%; H89: 29.9%; and KN93 + H89: 114.2%; <i>P</i> = 0.0016) but not the LV. The progressive depression of RV conduction led to conduction block and reentrant arrhythmias. Protein expression levels of both the CaMKII-δ isoform and the PKA catalytic subunit were higher in the RVOT than in the apical LV (<i>P</i> < 0.05). Thus normal RV conduction requires a proper balance between kinase and phosphatase activity. Dysregulation of this balance due to pharmacological interventions or disease is potentially proarrhythmic. <b>NEW & NOTEWORTHY</b> We show that uniform ventricular conduction requires a precise physiological balance of the activities of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), PKA, and phosphatases, which involves region-specific expression of CaMKII and PKA. Inhibiting CaMKII and/or PKA activity elicits nonuniform conduction depression, with the right ventricle becoming vulnerable to the development of conduction disturbances and ventricular fibrillation/ventricular tachycardia. |
18,270 | Edoxaban suppresses the progression of atrial fibrosis and atrial fibrillation in a canine congestive heart failure model. | Coagulation factor Xa activates the protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) and causes tissue fibrosis; however, the effects of Xa inhibitor edoxaban on atrial fibrosis and atrial fibrillation (AF) have not been investigated. We examined the effect of edoxaban on the progression of atrial fibrosis in a canine congestive heart failure (CHF) model. Beagle dogs were assigned to sham, placebo, and edoxaban groups (n = 6/group). Dogs of the placebo or edoxaban groups received 19 days of medication with daily oral placebo or edoxaban, respectively, followed by 14 days of ventricular tachypacing. Dogs of the sham group had no medication or pacing. Ventricular tachypacing prolonged AF duration in dogs of the placebo group (159 ± 41 s, p < 0.01 vs. sham); however, this effect was suppressed by edoxaban treatment. Compared with the sham group, tachypacing alone also significantly increased the atrial fibrotic area (2.9 ± 0.1% vs. 7.8 ± 0.4%, p < 0.01), PAR2 expression (1.0 ± 0.1 vs. 1.8 ± 0.3, p < 0.05), and atrial fibronectin expression (1.0 ± 0.2 vs. 2.0 ± 0.2, p < 0.01). These responses were suppressed by edoxaban treatment (area 5.9 ± 0.4%, p < 0.01; PAR2 1.1 ± 0.1, p < 0.05; fibronectin 1.2 ± 0.2, p < 0.05 vs. placebo). Edoxaban showed suppressive effects on atrial remodeling, AF progression, and excessive expressions of PAR2 and fibronectin in a canine CHF model. The suppression of the Xa/PAR2 pathway might be a potential pharmacological target of edoxaban. |
18,271 | Effect of Catheter Ablation vs Antiarrhythmic Medication on Quality of Life in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: The CAPTAF Randomized Clinical Trial. | Quality of life is not a standard primary outcome in ablation trials, even though symptoms drive the indication.</AbstractText>To assess quality of life with catheter ablation vs antiarrhythmic medication at 12 months in patients with atrial fibrillation.</AbstractText><AbstractText Label="DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS">Randomized clinical trial at 4 university hospitals in Sweden and 1 in Finland of 155 patients aged 30-70 years with more than 6 months of atrial fibrillation and treatment failure with 1 antiarrhythmic drug or β-blocker, with 4-year follow-up. Study dates were July 2008-September 2017. Major exclusions were ejection fraction <35%, left atrial diameter >60 mm, ventricular pacing dependency, and previous ablation.</AbstractText>Pulmonary vein isolation ablation (n = 79) or previously untested antiarrhythmic drugs (n = 76).</AbstractText>Primary outcome was the General Health subscale score (Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey) at baseline and 12 months, assessed unblinded (range, 0 [worst] to 100 [best]). There were 26 secondary outcomes, including atrial fibrillation burden (% of time) from baseline to 12 months, measured by implantable cardiac monitors. The first 3 months were excluded from rhythm analysis.</AbstractText>Among 155 randomized patients (mean age, 56.1 years; 22.6% women), 97% completed the trial. Of 79 patients randomized to receive ablation, 75 underwent ablation, including 2 who crossed over to medication and 14 who underwent repeated ablation procedures. Of 76 patients randomized to receive antiarrhythmic medication, 74 received it, including 8 who crossed over to ablation and 43 for whom the first drug used failed. General Health score increased from 61.8 to 73.9 points in the ablation group vs 62.7 to 65.4 points in the medication group (between-group difference, 8.9 points; 95% CI, 3.1-14.7; P = .003). Of 26 secondary end points, 5 were analyzed; 2 were null and 2 were statistically significant, including decrease in atrial fibrillation burden (from 24.9% to 5.5% in the ablation group vs 23.3% to 11.5% in the medication group; difference -6.8% [95% CI, -12.9% to -0.7%]; P = .03). Of the Health Survey subscales, 5 of 7 improved significantly. Most common adverse events were urosepsis (5.1%) in the ablation group and atrial tachycardia (3.9%) in the medication group.</AbstractText>Among patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation despite use of antiarrhythmic medication, the improvement in quality of life at 12 months was greater for those treated with catheter ablation compared with antiarrhythmic medication. Although the study was limited by absence of blinding, catheter ablation may offer an advantage for quality of life.</AbstractText>clinicaltrialsregister.eu Identifier: 2008-001384-11.</AbstractText> |
18,272 | Left Ventricular Thrombus After Primary PCI for ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: 1-Year Clinical Outcomes. | Left ventricular thrombus formation is a complication of acute myocardial infarction. However, the incidence and risk of systemic thromboembolism in the era of primary angioplasty for ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is unclear. This study aims to determine clinical outcomes in patients with STEMI treated with primary angioplasty and left ventricular thrombus at 1 year.</AbstractText>Patients who underwent primary angioplasty for STEMI and had a transthoracic echocardiogram were recruited. The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause mortality, stroke, and systemic thromboembolism at 1 year. For the primary endpoint, the difference between the presence and absence of left ventricular thrombus was compared using a logistic regression, adjusting for minimization variables including age, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and previous stroke.</AbstractText>Of 2608 patients who underwent primary angioplasty for STEMI, 1645 (63%) patients had a transthoracic echocardiogram performed during the index hospital admission. Forty patients (2.4%) had evidence of left ventricular thrombus on transthoracic echocardiography. Patients with left ventricular thrombus were more likely to develop atrial fibrillation in the immediate postinfarction period (6 [15%] vs 87 [5.4%], P = 0.025). At 1 year, the primary endpoint occurred in 4 (10%) patients with left ventricular thrombus and 146 (9.1%) who did not (logistic regression hazard ratio 0.79, 95% confidence interval 0.23-2.70).</AbstractText>In the contemporary era of mechanical reperfusion for STEMI, echocardiographic detection of left ventricular thrombus was observed in <3% patients. The presence of left ventricular thrombus was not associated with an increased risk of systemic thromboembolism.</AbstractText>Crown Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
18,273 | Cardiac Arrhythmias in Horses. | Arrhythmias are common in horses. Sinus arrhythmia and first- and second-degree atrioventricular block are frequently found physiologic arrhythmias, but should immediately disappear after stress or exercise. Atrial premature depolarizations are usually not associated with poor performance, but are a potential trigger for atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation results in an abnormal ventricular response during exercise and poses a risk for collapse in some horses. This arrhythmia can usually be treated by quinidine sulfate or transvenous electrical cardioversion. Ventricular premature depolarizations, especially when associated with structural heart disease, may be a risk factor for ventricular tachycardia or even ventricular fibrillation. |
18,274 | Risk factors of atrial fibrillation occurring after radical surgery of esophageal carcinoma. | Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common complication after radical surgery of esophageal cancer. The aim of this study was to explore AF risk factors after radical surgery of esophageal carcinoma.</AbstractText>The data of 335 patients with esophageal cancer who were admitted in our hospital from January 2014 to August 2016 for the first time were retrospectively analyzed. We retrieved the papers in some data banks using the search terms including English and Chinese search terms, and obtained 13 factors which were mentioned in more than 6 papers. The 13 factors including age, gender, history of smoking, history of hypertension, history of peripheral vascular disease, history of cardiac stents or angina pectoris, preoperative pulmonary infection, preoperative brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level, preoperative left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, operative method, lesion location, intraoperative blood transfusion, adhesion between lymph nodes and pericardium, underwent univariate and multivariate analyses.</AbstractText>Of the 335 patients with esophageal cancer, 48 had AF within one week after operation. Univariate analysis indicated that the age (OR: 4.89; CI: 2.53-9.47, P: 0.000), gender (OR: 2.26; CI: 1.17-4.37, P: 0.013), history of peripheral vascular disease (OR: 2.29; CI: 1.06-4.92, P: 0.030), history of cardiac stents or angina pectoris (OR: 27.30; CI: 12.44-59.91, P: 0.000), preoperative BNP level (OR: 27.13; CI: 10.97-67.06, P: 0.000), preoperative left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (OR: 2.22; CI: 1.19-4.14, P: 0.012), operative method (OR: 2.09; CI: 1.002-4.380, P: 0.046), intraoperative blood transfusion (OR: 20.24; CI: 8.39-48.82, P: 0.000), and adhesion between lymph nodes and pericardium were risk factors (OR: 2.05; CI: 1.08-3.87, P: 0.024). Furthermore, multivariate analysis displayed that advanced age (OR: 5.044; CI: 1.748-14.554, P: 0.003), male (OR: 6.161; CI: 2.143-17.715, P: 0.001), history of cardiac stents or angina pectoris (OR: 48.813; CI: 13.674-174.246, P: 0.000), preoperative BNP > 100 (OR: 41.515; CI: 9.380-183.732, P: 0.000), open surgery (OR: 3.357; CI: 1.026-10.983, P: 0.045), intraoperative blood transfusion (OR: 58.404; CI: 10.777-316.509, P: 0.000), and adhesion between lymph nodes and pericardium (OR: 3.954; CI: 1.364-11.459, P: 0.011) were risk factors which could increase the incidence of postoperative AF.</AbstractText>We should pay attention to the above risk factors in order to reduce the incidence of postoperative AF.</AbstractText> |
18,275 | Regional Variation in RBM20 Causes a Highly Penetrant Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy. | Background Variants in the cardiomyocyte-specific RNA splicing factor RBM20 have been linked to familial cardiomyopathy, but the causative genetic architecture and clinical consequences of this disease are incompletely defined. Methods and Results To define the genetic architecture of RBM20 cardiomyopathy, we first established a database of RBM20 variants associated with cardiomyopathy and compared these to variants observed in the general population with respect to their location in the RBM20 coding transcript. We identified 2 regions significantly enriched for cardiomyopathy-associated variants in exons 9 and 11. We then assembled a registry of 74 patients with RBM20 variants from 8 institutions across the world (44 index cases and 30 from cascade testing). This RBM20 patient registry revealed highly prevalent family history of sudden cardiac death (51%) and cardiomyopathy (72%) among index cases and a high prevalence of composite arrhythmias (including atrial fibrillation, nonsustained ventricular tachycardia, implantable cardiac defibrillator discharge, and sudden cardiac arrest, 43%). Patients harboring variants in cardiomyopathy-enriched regions identified by our variant database analysis were enriched for these findings. Further, these characteristics were more prevalent in the RBM20 registry than in large cohorts of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and TTNtv cardiomyopathy and not significantly different from a cohort of patients with LMNA-associated cardiomyopathy. Conclusions Our data establish RBM20 cardiomyopathy as a highly penetrant and arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. These findings underline the importance of arrhythmia surveillance and family screening in this disease and represent the first step in defining the genetic architecture of RBM20 disease causality on a population level. |
18,276 | Pathogenic RBM20-Variants Are Associated With a Severe Disease Expression in Male Patients With Dilated Cardiomyopathy. | Background As pathogenic variants in the gene for RBM20 appear with a frequency of 6% among Danish patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), it was the aim to investigate the associated disease expression in affected families. Methods and Results Clinical investigations were routinely performed in DCM index-patients and their relatives. In addition, ≥76 recognized and likely DCM-genes were investigated. DNA-sequence-variants within RBM20 were considered suitable for genetic testing when they fulfilled the criteria of (1) being pathogenic according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics-classification, (2) appeared with an allele frequency of <1:10.000, and (3) segregated with DCM in ≥7 affected individuals. A total of 80 individuals from 15 families carried 5 different pathogenic RBM20-variants considered suitable for genetic testing. The penetrance was 66% (53/80) and age-dependent. Males were both significantly younger and had lower ejection fraction at diagnosis than females (age, 29±11 versus 48±12 years; P<0.01; ejection fraction, 29±13% versus 38±9%; P<0.01). Furthermore, 11 of 31 affected males needed a cardiac transplant while none of 22 affected females required this treatment ( P<0.001). Thirty percent of RBM20-carriers with DCM died suddenly or experienced severe ventricular arrhythmias although no adverse events were identified among healthy RBM20-carriers with a normal cardiac investigation. The event-free survival of male RBM20-carriers was significantly shorter compared with female carriers ( P<0.001). Conclusions The disease expression associated with pathogenic RBM20-variants was severe especially in males. The findings of the current study suggested that close clinical follow-up of RBM20-carriers is important which may ensure early detection of disease development and thereby improve management. |
18,277 | Clinical features of heart failure with mid-range and preserved ejection fraction in octogenarians: Results of a multicentre, observational study. | To compare real-world characteristics and management of individuals aged 80 and older with heart failure (HF) and mid-range ejection fraction (HFmrEF) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) derived from a large cohort of survey and to compare them with those younger than 80 from the same survey.</AbstractText>This is an observational, multicentre and cross-sectional study conducted in Turkey (NCT03026114). Consecutive 1065 (mean age of 67.1 ± 10.6 years) patients admitted to the cardiology outpatient units with HFmrEF and HFpEF were included.</AbstractText>Participants aged 80 and older (n = 123, 11.5%) were more likely to be female (66.7% vs 52.5%, P = 0.003), had a higher prevalence of atrial fibrillation (49.6% vs 34%, P = 0.001), and anaemia (46.3% vs 33.4%, P = 0.005) than those who were younger than 80. N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide levels were higher in those aged 80 and older than in those younger than 80 (1037 vs 550 pg/ml, P < 0.001). The prescription rates of HF medications (including in ACE-Is/ARBs, β-blockers, MRAs, digoxin, ivabradine and diuretics) were similar (P > 0.05) in both groups. Octogenarians did not significantly differ from younger patients in the prevalence of HFmrEF (24.4% vs 22.9%) and HFpEF (75.6% vs 77.1%). Coronary artery disease was associated with HFmrEF (P < 0.05), whereas atrial fibrillation was associated with HFpEF (P < 0.05) in octogenarians.</AbstractText>This study revealed that nearly 12% of the individuals with HFmrEF and HFpEF in this real-world sample were aged 80 and older. Participants aged 80 and older are more likely to be female and have more comorbidities than those who were younger than 80. However, HF medication profiles were similar in both groups. This study also showed that associated factors with HFmrEF and HFpEF were differ in octogenarians.</AbstractText>© 2019 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.</CopyrightInformation> |
18,278 | Phase-controlled intermittent intratracheal insufflation of oxygen during chest compression-active decompression mCPR improves coronary perfusion pressure over continuous insufflation. | It has previously been shown that continuous intratracheal insufflation of oxygen (CIO) is superior to intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) regarding gas exchange and haemodynamics. The purpose of this study was to investigate gas exchange and haemodynamics with a new technique of phase-controlled intermittent insufflation of oxygen (PIIO) compared to CIO.</AbstractText>Twenty (20) pigs were used, stratified into two groups (CIO, PIIO), with 10 animals each. Upon induction of ventricular fibrillation, standard ventilator support was replaced by either of CIO or PIIO ventilation. Chest compressions were delivered by the LUCAS I mCPR device. Following 20 min of CPR in normothermia, defibrillation was attempted.</AbstractText>Return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) occurrence was not significantly higher (P < 0.16) in the PIIO (9/10) than in the CIO (6/10) group. During the decompression phase the PIIO group showed significant increases in mean (P < 0.01), maximal (P < 0.02) and end-decompression (P < 0.01) coronary perfusion pressure (CPP), compared to the CIO group. PIIO resulted in increased compression phase aortic pressure (P < 0.03). Intratracheal pressure was 5-30 cmH2</sub>O within both groups during mCPR, with a significantly lower (P < 0.02) mean for the PIIO group. Arterial and venous blood gas analysis showed comparable results between the groups, when taking base line values into account. An exception was that PIIO resulted in significantly higher (P < 0.05) oxygen partial pressure during mCPR, and lower (P < 0.05) arterial lactate following ROSC.</AbstractText>PIIO results in significantly higher CPP and compression phase aortic pressure during mCPR in a porcine population. Further studies are needed to validate these findings in humans. Study protocol conforming with ethic approval M174-15, issued by the Malmö/Lunds regionala djurförsöksetiska nämnd (REB).</AbstractText>Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
18,279 | Paced QRS morphology predicts incident left ventricular systolic dysfunction and atrial fibrillation. | The prognostic significance of paced QRS complex morphology on surface ECG remains unclear. This study aimed to assess long-term outcomes associated with variations in the paced QRS complex.</AbstractText>Adult patients who underwent dual-chamber pacemaker implantation with 20% or more ventricular pacing and a 12-lead ECG showing a paced complex were included. The paced QRS was analyzed in leads I and aVL. Long-term clinical and echocardiographic outcomes were compared at 5 years.</AbstractText>The study included 844 patients (43.1% female; age 75.0 ± 12.1). Patients with a longer paced QRS (pQRS) duration in lead I had a lower rate of atrial fibrillation (HR 0.80; p = 0.03) and higher rate of systolic dysfunction (HR 1.17; p < 0.001). Total pacing complex (TPC) duration was linked to higher rates of ICD implantation (HR 1.18; p = 0.04) and systolic dysfunction (HR 1.22, p < 0.001). Longer paced intrinsicoid deflection (pID) was associated with less atrial fibrillation (HR 0.75; p = 0.01), more systolic dysfunction (HR 1.17; p < 0.001), ICD implantation (HR 1.23; p = 0.04), and CRT upgrade (HR 1.23; p = 0.03). Exceeding thresholds for TPC, pQRS, and pID of 170, 146, and 112 ms in lead I, respectively, was associated with a substantial increase in systolic dysfunction over 5 years (p < 0.001).</AbstractText>Longer durations of all tested parameters in lead I were associated with increased rates of left ventricular systolic dysfunction. ICD implantation and CRT upgrade were also linked to increased TPC and pID durations. Paradoxically, patients with longer pID and pQRS had less incident atrial fibrillation.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2019 Indian Heart Rhythm Society. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
18,280 | Prognostic Importance of Defibrillator-Appropriate Shocks and Antitachycardia Pacing in Patients With Mild Heart Failure. | Background Patients with heart failure and an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator ( ICD ) for primary prevention are at increased mortality risk after receiving shock therapy. We sought to determine the prognostic significance of ICD therapies, both shock and antitachycardia pacing, delivered for different ventricular arrhythmia ( VA ) rates. Methods and Results We evaluated mortality risk among 1790 ICD -implanted patients from MADIT -CRT (Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial With Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy). For the first analysis, patients were divided into mutually exclusive groups by the rate of treated VA only: slow VA (<200 beats per minute) and fast VA (≥200 beats per minute or ventricular fibrillation). In a secondary analysis, both the type of ICD therapy and VA rate were used. The reference group was always patients who had no ICD therapy. ICD therapy for fast VA was associated with increased mortality risk (hazard ratio [ HR] , 2.27; 95% CI , 1.48-3.48; P<0.001). However, mortality risk after ICD therapy for slow VA was similar to the risk related to no ICD therapy ( HR , 1.45; 95% CI , 0.86-2.44; P=0.162). Consistently, shocks ( HR , 2.96; 95% CI , 1.91-4.60; P<0.001) and antitachycardia pacing ( HR , 2.22; 95% CI , 0.96-5.14; P=0.063) for fast VA were both associated with increased mortality risk. Shocks and antitachycardia pacing for slow VA were not significantly associated with increased mortality risk ( HR , 1.43 [95% CI , 0.52-3.92; P=0.489]; and HR , 1.43 [95% CI, 0.80-2.56; P=0.232], respectively). Conclusions In patients with mild heart failure receiving ICD for primary prevention, mortality is associated with the rate of underlying VA rather than the type of therapy. These findings suggest that fast VA is a marker for increased mortality rather than shock therapy directly contributing to increased risk. Clinical Trial Registration URL : http://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT 00180271. |
18,281 | A Review of Commonly Prescribed Antiarrhythmics: Primer for Primary Care Providers, a Case Based Approach. | The incidence of atrial fibrillation has been steadily increasing as our average population continues to age. In addition, many patients with structural heart disease are on antiarrhythmic drugs for prevention of ventricular tachycardia. General practitioners have a large role in co-management of patients with cardiac disease. The general understanding of common antiarrhythmic drugs and underlying mechanism is pivotal to safely prescribe and follow up of patients as they have potent side effects and drug interactions that needs careful consideration. The decision of which antiarrhythmic medication to use should be personalized, as each patient has a variety of co-morbid conditions that may affect the selection of which drug therapy. The ideal use of antiarrhythmic drugs should focus on understanding the basic pharmacology of the medication. This manuscript is not meant to be an in-depth overview of antiarrhythmic therapy, but rather a review of the commonly used antiarrhythmic drugs to assist primary care practitioners on when to consider antiarrhythmic drugs best suited for their patients. Class I and class III antiarrhythmic drugs will be the focus in this manuscript. |
18,282 | [Combined percutaneous procedure of mitral valve repair with the edge-to-edge technique and left atrial appendage occlusion]. | Percutaneous mitral valve repair (MVR) using MitraClip system has been shown to be effective in patients with severe symptomatic mitral regurgitation deemed at high surgical risk. Atrial fibrillation is frequently observed in this setting, and the presence of a contraindication to oral anticoagulation is also very common in these patients. In this context, percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) may be a valid alternative in reducing the thromboembolic risk. Since there is a large overlap between these two populations and the two procedures share some common steps, a combined approach of percutaneous MVR using the MitraClip system and LAAO may be considered a suitable strategy for patients with serious contraindications to both cardiac surgery and chronic antithrombotic therapy. Here we report the case of a patient affected by severe functional mitral regurgitation, secondary to post-infarction ventricular dilation, symptomatic for heart failure despite optimal medical therapy and cardiac resynchronization, and by atrial fibrillation with a contraindication for systemic anticoagulation due to high bleeding risk. Therefore, it was decided to perform a combined transcatheter procedure of MVR and LAAO. |
18,283 | Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists in Primary Aldosteronism. | Primary aldosteronism is the most common causes of secondary hypertension. Patients suffering from this clinical syndrome have an increased cardiovascular risk and target organ damage. Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists are the optimal pharmaceutical option for the management of such patients.</AbstractText>The study aimed to assess the effects of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist in the treatment of patients with primary aldosteronism.</AbstractText>We conducted an in-depth review of the literature and comprehensive identification of the clinical studies investigating the efficacy of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists in individuals with primary aldosteronism.</AbstractText>Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists result in significant improvement in blood pressure and serum potassium level among patients with primary aldosteronism. Moreover, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists reverse left ventricular hypertrophy, albuminuria, and carotid intima-media thickness. However, a high risk for atrial fibrillation remains among subject with primary aldosteronism in such agents.</AbstractText>Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists are recommended as the first-line treatment in patients with bilateral primary aldosteronism. In patients with unilateral aldosterone-producing adenoma, adrenalectomy should be preferred. However, existing data presents significant limitations and is rather inconclusive. Future randomized control trials are required in order to illustrate the field.</AbstractText>Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.</CopyrightInformation> |
18,284 | Amiodarone for prevention of atrial fibrillation following esophagectomy. | Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common complication after esophagectomy and is associated with symptoms, hemodynamic instability, prolonged hospital stay, and an increased incidence of mortality. Our objective was to determine the efficacy and safety of intravenous amiodarone for prophylaxis of postesophagectomy AF.</AbstractText>In this retrospective cohort study, 309 patients who underwent esophagectomy formed the initial cohort. Following propensity score-matching, 110 patients who received prophylactic amiodarone 43.75 mg/hour via continuous intravenous infusion over 96 hours (total dose, 4200 mg) were matched to a control group of patients who did not undergo amiodarone prophylaxis (n = 110). The propensity score was obtained using a multivariate logistic regression model with amiodarone as the variable and the following covariates: age, sex, surgical approach, history of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiation, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure, cardiovascular disease, alcohol use (>7 drinks/week), preadmission β-blockers discontinued during hospitalization, preoperative use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers, preoperative use of corticosteroids, postoperative use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers, postoperative use of corticosteroids, postoperative use of statins, and preoperative Charlson comorbidity index.</AbstractText>The incidence of AF requiring treatment due to rapid ventricular rate and symptoms was lower in the amiodarone group (17 out of 110 [15.5%] vs 32 out of 110 [29.1%]; odds ratio, 0.45; 95% confidence interval, 0.23-0.86; P = .015). There were no significant differences between the groups in median postoperative length of hospital stay, incidence of pulmonary complications, or mortality. The incidences of hypotension requiring treatment (42.7% vs 21.8%; P = .001), bradycardia (8.2% vs 0.0%; P = .002), and corrected QT interval prolongation (10.9% vs 0.0%; P ≤ .0001) were significantly higher in the amiodarone group.</AbstractText>Prophylactic intravenous amiodarone is associated with a reduction in the incidence of AF following esophagectomy, but is not associated with shorter postoperative length of hospital stay. Intravenous amiodarone for prophylaxis of postesophagectomy AF is associated with hypotension, bradycardia, and corrected QT interval prolongation.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2019 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
18,285 | A case of refractory ventricular fibrillation successfully treated with low-dose esmolol. | Current advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) guidelines for the management of ventricular fibrillation (VF) and pulseless ventricular tachycardia is defibrillation. However, refractory VF, which is defined as VF that persists despite three defibrillation attempts, is challenging for all ACLS providers; the best resuscitation strategy for patients that persist in refractory VF remains unclear. We report on a 51-year-old man who presented to the emergency department with chest pain and subsequently went into witnessed VF cardiac arrest. Despite standard ACLS management consisting of high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation, serial epinephrine and serial defibrillation, the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) was unable to be achieved. Double sequential defibrillation (DSD) was attempted multiple times unsuccessfully. After administration of low-dose esmolol, he immediately achieved ROSC. DSD and β-blockade are increasingly recognised in the literature and practice for refractory VF. However, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of refractory VF that responded to low-dose esmolol β-blockade. |
18,286 | The quality of ECG data acquisition, and diagnostic performance of a novel adhesive patch for ambulatory cardiac rhythm monitoring in arrhythmia detection. | Short and long ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring with different systems is a widely used method to detect cardiac arrhythmias. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel monitoring device on cardiac arrhythmia detection.</AbstractText>We used two different protocols to evaluate device performance. For the first one, 36 healthy subjects were enrolled. The standard 12‑lead, 24-h Holter monitoring and the novel single lead electrocardiogram (ECG) Patch Monitor (EPM) device (BeyondCare®, Rooti Labs Ltd., Taipei, Taiwan) were simultaneously applied to all subjects for 24 h. The quality of ECG data acquisition of novel system was compared to that of standard Holter. The second phase included 73 patients that were referred from our outpatient arrhythmia clinic for evaluation of their symptoms relevant to the cardiac arrhythmias. Advanced algorithms, statistical methods (cross-correlation method, Pearson's correlation coefficient, Bland-Altman plots) were used to process and verify the acquired data.</AbstractText>The overall average beat per minute correlation between BeyondCare® and standard 12‑lead Holter was found 98% in 33 healthy subjects. The mean percentage of invalid measurements in BeyondCare® was 1.6% while the Holter's was 1.7%. In the second protocol of the study, prospective data from 67 patients who were referred for evaluation of their symptoms relevant to cardiac arrhythmias, showed that the mean BeyondCare® wear time was 4.7 ± 0.5 days out of five total days per protocol. The mean analyzable wear time was 93.6%. The water-resistant design enabled 73.5% of the participants to take a shower. 7.3% of participants had minor skin irritations related to the electrodes. Among the patients with detected arrhythmia (40.2% of all patients), 29.6% had their first arrhythmia after the initial two days period. A clinically significant pause was detected in one patient, ventricular tachycardia was detected in four patients, and supraventricular tachycardia was detected in 15 patients. Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation was identified in seven patients. Three of them had their first episodes after the second day of monitoring.</AbstractText>BeyondCare® Patch was well-tolerated and allowed prolonged time periods for continuous ECG monitoring, may result in an improvement in clinical accuracy and detection of arrhythmias by cloud-based artificial intelligence operating system.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
18,287 | Predictive value of interatrial block for atrial fibrillation in elderly subjects enrolled in the PREDICTOR study. | The principal aims of this prospective multicentre study were to relate the presence of interatrial block (IAB) with a late occurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) and to demonstrate the independence of the IAB effect on risk of AF from structural cardiac alterations.</AbstractText>This prospective study was the follow-up of subjects included in the PREDICTOR cross-sectional population-based study. Subjects were divided into groups according to IAB status. Socio-demographic and health characteristic were collected during enrolment in the PREDICTOR along with ECGs, echocardiograms and NT-proBNP dosages. Follow up was performed on administrative data. The mean time of follow up was 6.6 years.</AbstractText>1626 subjects were included in the analysis. Four hundred-fifteen subjects out of 1626 (25.5%) had IAB. The survival analysis suggests an association between IAB alone and AF (HR = 1.50, p = 0.058) and, in normal-weight subjects, IAB strongly predicted AF indicating more than triple the risk (HR = 3.05; p = 0.002 95% CI: 1.51-6.18). The association seems to be independent of possible confounders such as history of IHD, left ventricular hypertrophy, CHA2DS2-VASc, left atrial dimension, or NT-proBNP dosage.</AbstractText>Our analysis suggests that IAB is an electric condition that can increase the risk of AF independently of any structural cardiac alterations, at least in normal-weight subjects.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
18,288 | ALDH2 rs671 polymorphism and the risk of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in patients with cardiovascular diseases. | Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) rs671 polymorphism is an established genetic risk of hypertension, diabetes, and coronary heart diseases in Asian population. Previous experimental data showed ALDH2 regulated inflammation, a potential mechanism of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). However, clinically, the association between ALDH2 polymorphism and incidence of HFpEF remains unknown. In this prospective cross-sectional study, ALDH2 genotyping was performed in 613 consecutive patients enrolled with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including hypertension, coronary heart diseases, and/or diabetes mellitus, with normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). HFpEF was diagnosed according to symptoms and/or signs of dyspnea, fatigue or ankle swelling, N-terminal pro-B-Type natriuretic peptide (NT pro-BNP ≥ 280 pg/mL), LVEF ≥ 50%, and at least one additional criterion: left atrial enlargement (left atrial diameter > 40 mm), diastolic dysfunction (E/E' ≥ 13 or E'/A' < 1) or concurrently with atrial fibrillation. Finally, of 613 patients with CVD, 379 patients (61.8%) were assigned to the wild-type ALDH2*1/*1 group and 234 patients (38.2%) to the mutation-type ALDH2*2 group according to genotyping results. Sixty-nine patients (11.3%) were diagnosed with HFpEF. In ALDH2*2 group, the occurrence of HFpEF was higher (15.4% vs. 8.7%, p = 0.011) than that in ALDH2*1/*1 group. Leukocyte count, the indicator of systemic inflammation, was significantly higher (6.9 ± 2.4 × 10<sup>9</sup>/L vs. 6.5 ± 1.9 × 10<sup>9</sup>/L, p = 0.010) in ALDH2*2 group compared to ALDH2*1/*1 group. In conclusion, ALDH2*2 variant is associated with the risk of HFpEF in patients with CVD. Increased systemic inflammation probably involved in this disease process. |
18,289 | Higher ventricular rate during atrial fibrillation relates to increased cerebral hypoperfusions and hypertensive events. | Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with cognitive impairment/dementia, independently of clinical cerebrovascular events (stroke/TIA). One of the plausible mechanisms is the occurrence of AF-induced transient critical hemodynamic events; however, it is presently unknown, if ventricular response rate during AF may impact on cerebral hemodynamics. AF was simulated at different ventricular rates (50, 70, 90, 110, 130 bpm) by two coupled lumped parameter validated models (systemic and cerebral circulation), and compared to corresponding control normal sinus rhythm simulations (NSR). Hemodynamic outcomes and occurrence of critical events (hypoperfusions and hypertensive events) were assessed along the internal carotid artery-middle cerebral artery pathway up to the capillary-venous bed. At the distal cerebral circle level (downstream middle cerebral artery), increasing ventricular rates lead to a reduced heart rate-related dampening of hemodynamic signals compared to NSR (p = 0.003 and 0.002 for flow rate and pressure, respectively). This response causes a significant progressive increase in critical events in the distal cerebral circle (p < 0.001) as ventricular rate increases during AF. On the other side, at the lowest ventricular response rates (HR 50 bpm), at the systemic-proximal cerebral circle level (up to middle cerebral artery) hypoperfusions (p < 0.001) occur more commonly, compared to faster AF simulations. This computational study suggests that higher ventricular rates relate to a progressive increase in critical cerebral hemodynamic events (hypoperfusions and hypertensive events) at the distal cerebral circle. Thus, a rate control strategy aiming to around 60 bpm could be beneficial in terms on cognitive outcomes in patients with permanent AF. |
18,290 | Morphologic Types of Tricuspid Regurgitation: Characteristics and Prognostic Implications. | Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is classified according to different morphologic types based on the underlying mechanisms: primary, secondary, and isolated TR. Primary TR is caused by an anatomical abnormality of the tricuspid valve apparatus. Secondary TR is caused by dilation of the tricuspid valve annulus, related to right ventricular (RV), or right atrial remodeling and increased RV pressures (often secondary to left-sided heart disease). Isolated TR can exist in patients without increased RV pressures and is frequently associated with atrial fibrillation. Two-dimensional echocardiography plays a pivotal role in the assessment of the etiology and severity of TR. Views from 3-dimensional techniques have significantly increased the understanding of the pathophysiology of each morphologic type of TR (leaflet damage, annular dilation, and distinct patterns of right-heart remodeling). The following review will describe the etiology, anatomical and functional characteristics, and outcomes of each morphologic type of TR, and furthermore addresses challenging pitfalls in the referral for tricuspid valve intervention. |
18,291 | Characteristics, Outcomes, and Treatment of Heart Failure With Improved Ejection Fraction. | Background Many patients with heart failure ( HF ) with reduced ejection fraction ( HF r EF ) experience improvement or recovery of left ventricular ejection fraction ( LVEF ). Data on clinical characteristics, outcomes, and medical therapy in patients with HF with improved ejection fraction (HFiEF) are scarce. Methods and Results Of 5625 consecutive patients hospitalized for acute HF in the KorAHF (Registry [Prospective Cohort] for Heart Failure in Korea) study, 5103 patients had baseline echocardiography and 2302 patients had follow-up echocardiography at 12 months. HF phenotypes were defined as persistent HF r EF ( LVEF ≤40% at baseline and at 1-year follow-up), HF i EF ( LVEF ≤40% at baseline and improved up to 40% at 1-year follow-up), HF with midrange ejection fraction (LVEF between 40% and <50%), and HF with preserved ejection fraction ( LVEF ≥50%). The primary outcome was 4-year all-cause mortality from the time of HF i EF diagnosis. Among 1509 HF r EF patients who had echocardiography 1 year after index hospitalization, 720 (31.3%) were diagnosed as having HF i EF . Younger age, female sex, de novo HF , hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and β-blocker use were positive predictors and diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease were negative predictors of HF i EF . During 4-year follow-up, patients with HF i EF showed lower mortality than those with persistent HF r EF in univariate, multivariate, and propensity-score-matched analyses. β-Blockers, but not renin-angiotensin system inhibitors or mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, were associated with a reduced all-cause mortality risk (hazard ratio: 0.59; 95% CI , 0.40-0.87; P=0.007). Benefits for outcome seemed similar among patients receiving low- or high-dose β-blockers (log-rank, P=0.304). Conclusions HF i EF is a distinct HF phenotype with better clinical outcomes than other phenotypes. The use of β-blockers may be beneficial for these patients. Clinical Trial Registration URL : https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT01389843. |
18,292 | Arrhythmogenic Ventricular Cardiomyopathy Associated With Fibromuscular Dysplasia of Ostial Right Main Coronary Artery. | In this article, we report the autopsy findings of a 23-year-old woman, who was found unconscious at home by her relatives. During the transportation to the hospital, the woman was handed over to the ambulance personnel, who were the first to provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation. In the hospital, after an hour-lasting asystole, the heart activity was restored. Prolonged cardiac arrest led to hypoxic brain injury, which resulted in a persistent coma. Examinations carried out during hospitalization detected hypokinetic interventricular septum, frequent ventricular extrasystoles and ventricular fibrillation. The patient died within 35 hours of admission to the hospital. Gross findings of the heart included a noticeable increase of the adipose tissue in the right ventricular wall, where histologically focal myocardial atrophy with focal transmural lipomatosis reaching endocardium were detected. Death was attributed to arrhythmogenic ventricular cardiomyopathy. Pathogenic variants in JUP gene and KCNH2 gene confirmed the diagnosis. Other finding of note was fibromuscular dysplasia of ostial right main coronary artery causing a significant luminal narrowing. |
18,293 | Second-degree interatrial block: A case series. | Advanced interatrial block (IAB) (P-wave ≥120 ms and biphasic P-wave in leads II, III and aVF) is a prevalent ECG pattern frequently associated with supraventricular arrhythmias and stroke, especially in patients with structural heart disease. Intermittent IAB is a much more poorly defined electrocardiographic entity with uncertain clinical significance. In this case series, we review and analyze eight cases of second degree intermittent IAB. In six cases, there is normalization of advanced IAB after a premature supraventricular or ventricular contraction, suggesting a functional block that temporarily recovers post extra-systolic pause. Recognition of intermittent IAB (second degree) may help further characterize the prognostic and clinical implications of this ECG pattern. |
18,294 | Papillary muscle ventricular arrhythmias in patients with arrhythmic mitral valve prolapse: Electrophysiologic substrate and catheter ablation outcomes. | Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a common valve condition and has been associated with sudden cardiac death. Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) from the papillary muscles (PMs) may play a role as triggers for ventricular fibrillation (VF) in these patients.</AbstractText>To characterize the electrophysiological substrate and outcomes of catheter ablation in patients with MVP and PM PVCs.</AbstractText>Of 597 patients undergoing ablation of ventricular arrhythmias during the period 2012-2015, we identified 25 patients with MVP and PVCs mapped to the PMs (64% female). PVC-triggered VF was the presentation in 4 patients and a fifth patient died suddenly during follow-up. The left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) was 50.5% ± 11.8% and PVC burden was 24.4% ± 13.1%. A cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was performed in nine cases and areas of late gadolinium enhancement were found in four of them. A detailed LV voltage map was performed in 11 patients, three of which exhibited bipolar voltage abnormalities. Complete PVC elimination was achieved in 19 (76%) patients and a significant reduction in PVC burden was observed in two (8%). In patients in which the ablation was successful, the PVC burden decreased from 20.4% ± 10.8% to 6.3% ± 9.5% (P = 0.001). In 5/6 patients with depressed LVEF and successful ablation, the LV function improved postablation. No significant differences were identified between patients with and without VF.</AbstractText>PM PVCs are a source of VF in patients with MVP and can induce PVC-mediated cardiomyopathy that reverses after PVC suppression. Catheter ablation is highly successful with more than 80% PVC elimination or burden reduction.</AbstractText>© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</CopyrightInformation> |
18,295 | Characteristics and Prognosis of Patients With Moderate Aortic Stenosis and Preserved Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction. | Background Moderate aortic stenosis ( MAS ) has not been extensively studied and characterized, as no published study has been specifically devoted to this condition. Methods and Results We aimed to describe the characteristics of patients with MAS and to evaluate their long-term survival compared with that of the general population. This study included 508 patients (mean±SD age, 75±11 years) with MAS (aortic valve area between 1 and 1.5 cm<sup>2</sup>; mean±SD aortic valve area, 1.2±0.15 cm<sup>2</sup>) and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. Patients were mostly (86.4%) asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic, 78.3% had hypertension, 36.2% were diabetics, and 48.3% had dyslipidemia. Each patient with MAS was matched for the average survival (per year) of all patients of the same age and same sex from our region (Somme department, north of France). During follow-up (median 47 months), 113 patients (22.2%) underwent aortic valve replacement for severe AS. The mean±SD time between inclusion and surgery was 37±22 months. During follow-up, 255 patients (50.2%) died. The 6-year survival of patients with MAS was lower than the expected survival (53±2% versus 65%). In multivariate analysis, age (hazard ratio, 1.04 [95% CI, 1.02-1.05]; P<0.001), prior atrial fibrillation (hazard ratio, 1.35 [95% CI, 1.05-1.73]; P=0.019), and Charlson comorbidity index (hazard ratio, 1.11 [95% CI, 1.05-1.18]; P=0.002) were associated with increased mortality. Aortic valve replacement was associated with better survival (hazard ratio, 0.38 [95% CI, 0.27-0.54]; P<0.001). Conclusions The results of this study show that patients with MAS present many cardiovascular risk factors, a high rate of surgery during follow-up, and increased mortality compared with the general population mainly related to associated comorbidities. Patients with MAS should, therefore, be managed for their cardiovascular risk factors and comorbidities. They require close follow-up, especially when the aortic valve area is close to 1 cm<sup>2</sup>, as aortic valve replacement performed when patients transition to severe AS and develop indications for surgery during follow-up is associated with better survival. |
18,296 | Update in Electrical Storm Therapy. | Electrical storm (ES) is a major life-threatening event, which announces a possible negative outcome and poor prognosis and poses challenging questions concerning etiology and management.</AbstractText>A literature search was conducted through MEDLINE and EMBASE (past 30 years until the end of September 2018) using the following search terms: ES, ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, ablation, and implantable defibrillator. Clinicaltrials.gov was also consulted for studies that are ongoing or completed. Additional articles were identified through bibliographical citations.</AbstractText>There is no homogeneous attitude, and therapeutic strategies vary widely.</AbstractText>The aim of this review is to define the concept of ES, to review the incidence and prognostic implications, and to describe the most common strategies of therapeutic advances and trends. The management strategy should be decided after an accurate risk stratification is done in initial evaluation according to hemodynamic tolerability and presence of triggers and comorbidities. General care should be provided in an intensive cardiovascular care unit. The cornerstone of acute medical therapy used in ES is mainly represented by amiodarone and beta-blockers. Deep sedation and mechanical ventilation should provide comfort for treatment administration. First-choice drugs are benzodiazepines and short-acting analgesics. General care may also include thoracic epidural anesthesia to modulate neuroaxial efferents to the heart and to decrease sympathetic hyperactivity. We include a special focus on ablation as a reliable tool to target the mechanism of arrhythmia, finally building an up-to-date standardization.</AbstractText>ES management needs a complex assessment and interpretation of a critical situation in a life-threatening condition. Optimal implantable cardioverter-defibrillator-reprogramming, antiarrhythmic drug therapy and sedation are in first-line approach. Catheter ablation is the elective therapy and plays a central key role in the treatment of ES if possible in combination with hemodynamic support.</AbstractText> |
18,297 | The Effect of Vitamin C on Clinical Outcome in Critically Ill Patients: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. | The effects of vitamin C administration on clinical outcome in critically ill patients remain controversial.</AbstractText>Online databases were searched up to October 1, 2018.</AbstractText>We included randomized controlled trials on the use of vitamin C (any regimen) in adult critically ill patients versus placebo or no therapy.</AbstractText>Risk ratio for dichotomous outcome and standardized mean difference for continuous outcome with 95% CI were calculated using random-effects model meta-analysis.</AbstractText>Forty-four randomized studies, 16 performed in ICU setting (2,857 patients) and 28 in cardiac surgery (3,598 patients), published between 1995 and 2018, were included in the analysis. In ICU patients, vitamin C administration was not associated with a difference in mortality (risk ratio, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.74-1.10; p = 0.31), acute kidney injury, ICU or hospital length of stay compared with control. In cardiac surgery, vitamin C was associated to a reduction in postoperative atrial fibrillation (risk ratio, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.52-0.78; p < 0.0001), ICU stay (standardized mean difference, -0.28 d; 95% CI, -0.43 to -0.13 d; p = 0.0003), and hospital stay (standardized mean difference, -0.30 d; 95% CI, -0.49 to -0.10 d; p = 0.002). Furthermore, no differences in postoperative mortality, acute kidney injury, stroke, and ventricular arrhythmia were found.</AbstractText>In a mixed population of ICU patients, vitamin C administration is associated with no significant effect on survival, length of ICU or hospital stay. In cardiac surgery, beneficial effects on postoperative atrial fibrillation, ICU or hospital length of stay remain unclear. However, the quality and quantity of evidence is still insufficient to draw firm conclusions, not supporting neither discouraging the systematic administration of vitamin C in these populations. Vitamin C remains an attractive intervention for future investigations aimed to improve clinical outcome.</AbstractText> |
18,298 | Meta-Analysis of Risk Stratification of SCN5A With Brugada Syndrome: Is SCN5A Always a Marker of Low Risk? | <b>Background:</b> <i>SCN5A</i> with Brugada syndrome (BrS) is not commonly considered as an independent risk marker for subsequent cardiac events. However, the risk of <i>SCN5A</i> combined with other clinical characteristics has not been fully investigated. <b>Objectives:</b> The aim of this study is to investigate and evaluate risk stratification and related risk factors of <i>SCN5A</i> in BrS. <b>Methods:</b> The databases of PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wanfang Data were searched for related studies published from January 2002 to May 2018 followed by meta-analysis. The BrS patients who underwent <i>SCN5A</i> gene tests were included. The prognosis and risk stratification of <i>SCN5A</i> combined with symptoms and asymptoms diagnosis in BrS, electrophysiology study (EPS) were then investigated and evaluated. Outcomes were defined as ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (VT/VF), sudden cardiac death (SCD). <b>Results:</b> Eleven suitable studies involving 1892 BrS patients who underwent <i>SCN5A</i> gene tests were identified. <i>SCN5A</i> (+) was not considered to be a significant predictor of future cardiac events (95% CI: 0.89-2.11; <i>P</i> = 0.15; <i>I</i> <sup>2</sup> = 0%). However, <i>SCN5A</i> (+) patients with symptoms at diagnosis revealed a higher prevalence of future VT/VF, SCD compared to <i>SCN5A</i> (-) patients with symptoms at diagnosis. (95% CI: 1.06-3.70; <i>P</i> = 0.03 <i>I</i> <sup>2</sup> = 0%) Among asymptomatic patients, the risk did not significantly differ between <i>SCN5A</i> (+) patients and <i>SCN5A</i> (-) patients. (95% CI: 0.51-4.72; <i>P</i> = 0.45 <i>I</i> <sup>2</sup> = 0 %). In an investigation involving patients in EPS (-) BrS electrocardiogram (ECG), the risk of <i>SCN5A</i> (+) is higher than that of <i>SCN5A</i> (-) (<i>P</i> < 0.001). <b>Conclusions:</b> In BrS patients with symptoms at diagnosis or EPS (-), the meta-analysis suggests that <i>SCN5A</i> (+) are at a higher risk of arrhythmic events than <i>SCN5A</i> (-). |
18,299 | Value of capnography to predict defibrillation success in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. | Unsuccessful defibrillation shocks adversely affect survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Ventricular fibrillation (VF) waveform analysis is the tool-of-choice for the non-invasive prediction of shock success, but surrogate markers of perfusion like end-tidal CO2</sub> (EtCO2</sub>) could improve the prediction. The aim of this study was to evaluate EtCO2</sub> as predictor of shock success, both individually and in combination with VF-waveform analysis.</AbstractText>In total 514 shocks from 214 OHCA patients (75 first shocks) were analysed. For each shock three predictors of defibrillation success were automatically calculated from the device files: two VF-waveform features, amplitude spectrum area (AMSA) and fuzzy entropy (FuzzyEn), and the median EtCO2</sub> (MEtCO2</sub>) in the minute before the shock. Sensitivity, specificity, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and area under the curve (AUC) were calculated, for each predictor individually and for the combination of MEtCO2</sub> and VF-waveform predictors. Separate analyses were done for first shocks and all shocks.</AbstractText>MEtCO2</sub> in first shocks was significantly higher for successful than for unsuccessful shocks (31mmHg/25mmHg, p<0.05), but differences were not significant for all shocks (32mmHg/29mmHg, p>0.05). MEtCO2</sub> predicted shock success with an AUC of 0.66 for first shocks, but was not a predictor for all shocks (AUC 0.54). AMSA and FuzzyEn presented AUCs of 0.76 and 0.77 for first shocks, and 0.75 and 0.75 for all shocks. For first shocks, adding MEtCO2</sub> improved the AUC of AMSA and FuzzyEn to 0.79 and 0.83, respectively.</AbstractText>MEtCO2</sub> predicted defibrillation success only for first shocks. Adding MEtCO2</sub> to VF-waveform analysis in first shocks improved prediction of shock success. VF-waveform features and MEtCO2</sub> were automatically calculated from the device files, so these methods could be introduced in current defibrillators adding only new software.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
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