Impact of Hyperkalemia in Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction: A Retrospective Study.

(1) Background: Hyperkalemia is a common finding in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), though its prognostic significance is controversial. There is no consensus on optimal potassium levels in these patients. The primary endpoint of this study was to determine the 5-year incidence of hyperkalemia in a cohort of patients with HFrEF. Secondary endpoints were to determine predictors of hyperkalemia and its impact on overall 5-year mortality; (2) Methods: retrospective, longitudinal, single-center observational study of patients with HFrEF followed-up in a specialized unit between 2011 and 2019. Hyperkalemia was considered as potassium concentration > 5.5 mEq/L; (3) Results: Hyperkalemia was observed in 170 (16.8%) of the 1013 patients. The 5-year hyperkalemia-free survival rate was 82.1%. Hyperkalemia was more frequent at the beginning of follow-up. Factors associated with hyperkalemia in the multivariate analysis were baseline potassium (HR 3.13, 95%CI 2.15-4.60; p < 0.001), creatinine clearance (HR 0.99, 95%CI 0.98-0.99; p = 0.013), right ventricular function (HR 0.95, 95%CI 0.91-0.99; p = 0.016) and diabetes mellitus (HR 1.40, 95%CI 1.01-1.96; p = 0.047). The overall survival rate at 5 years was 76.4%. Normal-high potassium levels (5-5.5 mEq/L) were inversely associated with mortality (HR 0.60, 95%CI 0.38-0.94; p = 0.025); (4) Conclusions: Hyperkalemia is a common finding in patients with HFrEF with an impact on the optimization of neurohormonal treatment. In our retrospective study, potassium levels in the normal-high range seem to be safe and are not associated with increased mortality.

Description of a different quantification method for amyloid burden (DPDload) and validation of SPECT/CT in cardiac amyloidosis.

BACKGROUND: Bone tracers such as 99mTc-DPD have shown high sensitivity and specificity in the non-invasive diagnosis of transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA). This study aims to validate SPECT/CT and assess the usefulness of uptake quantification (DPDload) in the myocardial tissue as potential information on the amyloid burden. METHODS: In a retrospective analysis of 46 patients with suspected CA, 23 cases with ATTR-CA had two quantification methods conducted to estimate amyloid burden (DPDload) through planar scintigraphic scans and a SPECT/CT. RESULTS: SPECT/CT significantly provided an added value in the patient's diagnosis with CA (P<.05). The estimation of the amyloid burden substantiated that the most affected wall of the LV is the interventricular septum in most cases and the existence of a significant relationship between the Perugini score uptake and the DPDload. CONCLUSIONS: We validate the need for SPECT/CT to complement planar imaging in diagnosing ATTR-CA. For its part, quantifying the amyloid load continues to be a complex area of research. It requires further studies with a larger number of patients to validate a standardized method of amyloid load quantification, both for diagnosis and treatment monitoring.

Enhanced quantitative method for the diagnosis of grade 1 cardiac amyloidosis in 99mTc-DPD scintigraphy.

The lack of a standardized cut-off value in the quantitative method and an inter-observer disagreement in the evaluation of the semiquantitative score in 99mTc-DPD scintigraphy leaves several patients with cardiac amyloidosis (CA) undiagnosed (grade 1 and H/CL: 1-1.49). This study aims to increase diagnostic productivity of 99mTc-DPD scintigraphy in CA. This is a retrospective study of 170 patients with suspicion of CA. A total of 81 (47.6%) were classified as transthyretin CA (TTR-CA) and 9 (5.3%) as light-chain CA (LC-CA) applying the visual score. An enhanced quantitative method and cut-off point were attempted to reclassify inconclusive patients and reduce inter-observer variability. Applying the proposed quantitative method, of the 19 patients with grade 1 uptake, 2 became grade 0 (none-CA), 2 were reclassified as grade 3 (TTR-CA), and 2 were regrouped as grade 2 (1 TTR-CA and 1 LC-CA). Adjusting the quantitative method's cut-off value to 1.3, four patients previously inconclusive were reclassified as TTR-CA, the diagnosis was confirmed in 3 and rejected in 1. When a 1.3 threshold is compared to 1.5, the sensitivity increases to 94% without reducing its specificity. The quantitative method improves the visual interpretation, reclassifying doubtful cases. The optimization of the cut-off value from 1.5 to 1.3 reclassifies a higher percentage of patients as TTR-CA with a higher sensitivity without reducing its specificity.

Should PRECISE-DAPT be included for long-term prognostic stratification of diabetic patients with NSTEACS?

AIMS: There are insufficient data regarding risk scores validation in patients with diabetes mellitus and non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS). We performed a diabetes mellitus-specific analysis of cardiovascular outcomes after NSTEACS. We tested the predictive power of the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) and PREdicting bleeding Complications In patients undergoing Stent implantation and subsEquent Dual Anti-Platelet Therapy (PRECISE-DAPT) scores. METHODS: This work is a retrospective analysis that included 7,415 consecutive NSTEACS patients from two Spanish Universitarian hospitals between the years 2003 and 2017. The area under the ROC curve among with and without diabetes mellitus patients was calculated, to evaluate the predictive power of both scores.  RESULTS: Among the study participants, 2124 patients (28.0%) were diabetic. The median follow-up was 54,3 months (IQR 24,7-80,0 months). Diabetic patients were more women (30.5% vs. 25.7%) and older (70.0 ± 10.8 vs. 65.3 ± 13.2 years old); they had higher GRACE (146 ± 36 vs. 137 ± 36), PRECISE-DAPT (15 ± 7 vs. 18 ± 9) at admission. Early invasive coronary angiography (≤ 24 h after admission) was performed more frequently in non-diabetic. We tested the predictive power of the GRACE and PRECISE-DAPT risk scores among diabetic and non-diabetic. PRECISE-DAPT risk score showed a good predictive power for all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality and MACE in diabetic admitted with NSTEACS, without differences compared to non-diabetic. CONCLUSIONS: PRECISE-DAPT risk score has an appropriate predictive power in diabetic patients admitted with NSTEACS compared to non-diabetic NSTEACS. However, GRACE would be predictive worse in diabetic during long-term follow-up in a large contemporary registry.

Prognostic benefit from an early invasive strategy in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS): evaluation of the new risk stratification in the NSTEACS European guidelines.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of our work is to evaluate the prognostic benefit of an early invasive strategy in patients with high-risk NSTACS according to the recommendations of the 2020 clinical practice guidelines during long-term follow-up. METHODS: This retrospective observational study included 6454 consecutive NSTEACS patients. We analyze the effects of early coronary angiography (< 24 h) in patients with: (a) GRACE risk score > 140 and (b) patients with "established NSTEMI" (non ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction defined by an increase in troponins) or dynamic ST-T-segment changes with a GRACE risk score < 140. RESULTS: From 2003 to 2017, 6454 patients with "new high-risk NSTEACS" were admitted, and 6031 (93.45%) of these underwent coronary angiography. After inverse probability of treatment weighting, the long-term cumulative probability of being free of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality and MACE differed significantly due to an early coronary intervention in patients with NSTEACS and GRACE > 140 [HR 0.62 (IC 95% 0.57-0.67), HR 0.62 (IC 95% 0.56-0.68), HR 0.57 (IC 95% 0.53-0.61), respectively]. In patients with NSTEACS and GRACE < 140 with established NSTEMI or ST/T-segment changes, the benefit of the early invasive strategy is only observed in the reduction of MACE [HR 0.62 (IC 95% 0.56-0.68)], but not for total mortality [HR 0.96 (IC 95% 0.78-1.2)] and cardiovascular mortality [HR 0.96 (IC 95% 0.75-1.24)]. CONCLUSIONS: An early invasive management is associated with reduced all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality and MACE in NSTEACS with high GRACE risk score. However, this benefit is less evident in the subgroup of patients with a GRACE score < 140 with established NSTEMI or ST/T-segment changes.

Added-value of molecular imaging in myocardial metastasis of an ileal neuroendocrine tumour treated with peptide receptor radionuclide therapy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Neuroendocrine tumours (NET) conform a rare type of neoplasm, mostly located in the gastrointestinal tract. They are slow-growing tumours, so at the time of the diagnosis, most patients present with metastatic lesions, mainly in the liver. The myocardium is a rare and important organ for metastasis, in which 68Ga-Dotatate positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) shows a high diagnostic sensitivity for its detection, contrary to carcinoid valve disease, where anatomic imaging plays a key role, especially the echocardiogram. CASE SUMMARY: A 60-year-old man diagnosed with metastatic progressive ileal NET, who underwent a 68Ga-Dotatate PET/CT prior 177Lu-Dotatate therapy, showed a metastatic lesion in the left ventricle that was undetected in previous studies, such as an Octreoscan® and CT. A transthoracic echocardiogram was performed revealing the existence of a second cardiac lesion, a tricuspid valve carcinoid disease. A cardiac magnetic resonance showed no late gadolinium enhancement. DISCUSSION: The 68Ga-Dotatate PET/CT is currently considered the gold standard for assessment and follow-up of NET, including those with rare sites of metastasis such as cardiac infiltration. In this case, it stimulated the persue of possible cardiac involvement, detecting the coexistence of two types of lesions (cardiac metastasis and carcinoid valve disease). Of these, carcinoid valvulopathy develops in 50% of NET cases, while cardiac metastasis (CM) is less frequent (only 5%).

Cutaneous Polymer-Coating Embolism After Endovascular Procedures: Report of Two Cases and a Literature Review.

ABSTRACT: Different hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymers are used as lubricious coatings to reduce vascular traumas in minimally invasive percutaneous procedures. Although they are usually very safe, there is still a risk of serious complications in patients undergoing such procedures, mostly derived from the devices' coating detachment and systemic embolization. The lungs are the most common organ involved, followed by the central nervous system. Yet, cutaneous embolization is unusual, and only 19 cases are available in the literature. Most commonly, they present as asymptomatic retiform purpura on the lower legs, which tends to involve spontaneously. Correct clinical diagnosis is not suspected in most cases, being cholesterol emboly or vasculitis the preferred options. Time interval since surgical procedure and appearance of lesions vary widely but they generally start in the first few days. Histopathological identification of the embolus as bluish, amorphous intraluminal material in dermal vessels is diagnostic, but vasculitic signs are not present. We report 2 cases of skin lesions as the main manifestation of polymer embolization after endovascular surgical procedures. In both cases, biopsy allowed identification of embolized foreign material and lesions resolved without specific treatment.

Sex-related differences in long-term mortality and heart failure in a contemporary cohort of patients with NSTEACS. The cardiochus-HSUJ registry.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: There is insufficient data regarding sex-related prognostic differences in patients with a non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS). We performed a sex-specific analysis of cardiovascular outcomes after NSTEACS using a large contemporary cohort of patients from two tertiary hospitals. METHODS: This work is a retrospective analysis from a prospective registry, that included 5,686 consecutive NSTEACS patients from two Spanish University hospitals between the years 2005 and 2017. We performed a propensity score matching to obtain a well-balanced subset of individuals with the same clinical characteristics, resulting in 3,120 patients. Cox regression models performed survival analyses once the proportional risk test was verified. RESULTS: Among the study participants, 1,572 patients (27.6%) were women. The mean follow-up was 60.0 months (standard deviation of 32 months). Women had a higher risk of cardiovascular mortality compared with men (OR (Odds ratio) 1.27, CI (confidence interval) 95% 1.08-1.49), heart failure (HF) hospitalization (OR 1.39, CI 95% 1.18-1.63) and risk of all-cause mortality (OR 1.10, CI 95% 1.08-1.49). After a propensity score matching, female gender was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of total mortality (OR 0.77, CI 95% 0.65-0.90) with a similar risk of cardiovascular mortality (OR 0.86, CI 0.71-1.03) and HF hospitalization (OR 0.92, CI 95% 0.68-1.23). After baseline adjustment, the risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality was lower in women, whereas the risk of HF remained similar among sexes. CONCLUSIONS: In a contemporary cohort of patients with NSTEACS, women are at similar risk of developing early and late HF admissions, and have better survival compared with men, with a lower risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality. The implementation of NSTEACS guideline recommendations in women, including early revascularization, seems to be accompanied by improved early and long-term prognosis.

Early revascularization and long-term mortality in high-risk patients with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction. The CARDIOCHUS-HUSJ registry.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: This study sought to analyze the association of early coronary angiography with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS) using a large contemporary cohort of patients with NSTEACS from 2 Spanish tertiary hospitals. METHODS: This retrospective observational study included 5673 consecutive NSTEACS patients from 2 Spanish hospitals between 2005 and 2016. We performed propensity score matching to obtain a well-balanced subset of patients with the same probability of undergoing an early strategy, resulting in 3780 patients. Survival analyses were performed by Cox regression models once proportional risk test were verified. RESULTS: Among the study participants, only 2087 patients (40.9%) underwent early invasive coronary angiography. The median follow-up was 59.0 months [interquartile range, 25.0-80.0 months]. All-cause mortality was 19.0%, cardiovascular mortality was 12.8%, and 51.1% patients experienced at least 1 major cardiovascular adverse event in the follow-up. After propensity score matching, the early strategy was associated with significantly lower mortality (hazard ratio: 0.79; 95% confidence interval 0.62-0.98) in high-risk NSTEACS patients. The darly strategy showed a nonsignificant inverse tendency in patients with GRACE score <140. CONCLUSIONS: In high-risk (GRACE score≥ 140) NSTEACS patients in a contemporary real-world registry, early coronary angiography (first 24hours after hospital admission) may be associated with reduced all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality at long-term follow-up.

Advantages and limitations of 18-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography in the diagnosis of infective endocarditis.

INTRODUCTION: The early diagnosis of infective endocarditis (IE) is a medical challenge and a multidisciplinary approach is essential to improve its frequently fatal prognosis. Our goal was to evaluate the usefulness of [18F]2-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) in the diagnosis of this disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively assessed 43 patients (five female and 38 male) with clinical suspicion of IE between 2014 and 2017. All patients underwent transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and an 18F-FDG PET scan, and the results were compared. A positive PET finding was defined as increased FDG uptake on cardiac valves or intracardiac devices. RESULTS: Out of 43 patients with suspected IE, the diagnosis was confirmed in 30 cases (79.7%). 18F-FDG PET was positive in 24 patients, with 19 showing FDG uptake on cardiac valves (two native and 17 prosthetic) and five on cardiac devices, being concordant with echocardiographic findings in 11 cases. 18F-FDG PET sensitivity was 80%, specificity 92%, positive predictive value (PPV) 96% and negative predictive value (NPV) 66%. Echocardiography presented sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of 36%, 84%, 84% and 36%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: 18F-FDG PET proved to be a sensitive technique with a high diagnostic value in patients with prosthetic valves and intracardiac devices and suspected IE. Its utility decreased dramatically in patients with suspected IE on native valves, in which TEE presented higher sensitivity and thus better diagnostic value.

Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries: A comprehensive review and future research directions.

Acute coronary syndromes constitute a variety of myocardial injury presentations that include a subset of patients presenting with myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA). This acute coronary syndrome differs from type 1 myocardial infarction (MI) regarding patient characteristics, presentation, physiopathology, management, treatment, and prognosis. Two-thirds of MINOCA subjects present ST-segment elevation; MINOCA patients are younger, are more often female and tend to have fewer cardiovascular risk factors. Moreover, MINOCA is a working diagnosis, and defining the aetiologic mechanism is relevant because it affects patient care and prognosis. In the absence of relevant coronary artery disease, myocardial ischaemia might be triggered by an acute event in epicardial coronary arteries, coronary microcirculation, or both. Epicardial causes of MINOCA include coronary plaque disruption, coronary dissection, and coronary spasm. Microvascular MINOCA mechanisms involve microvascular coronary spasm, takotsubo syndrome (TTS), myocarditis, and coronary thromboembolism. Coronary angiography with non-significant coronary stenosis and left ventriculography are first-line tests in the differential study of MINOCA patients. The diagnostic arsenal includes invasive and non-invasive techniques. Medical history and echocardiography can help indicate vasospasm or thrombosis, if one finite coronary territory is affected, or specify TTS if apical ballooning is present. Intravascular ultrasound, optical coherence tomography, and provocative testing are encouraged. Cardiac magnetic resonance is a cornerstone in myocarditis diagnosis. MINOCA is not a benign diagnosis, and its polymorphic forms differ in prognosis. MINOCA care varies across centres, and future multi-centre clinical trials with standardized criteria may have a positive impact on defining optimal cardiovascular care for MINOCA patients.