H2FPEF and HFA-PEFF scores performance and the additional value of cardiac structure and function in patients with atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: The H2FPEF and the HFA-PEFF scores have become useful tools to diagnose heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Their accuracy in patients with a history of atrial fibrillation (AF) is less known. This study evaluates the association of these scores with invasive left atrial pressure (LAP) and the additional value of cardiac measures. METHODS: This is a multicenter observational prospective study involving patients undergoing ablation of AF. Patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 40%, congenital cardiopathy, any severe cardiac valve disease and prosthetic valves were excluded. Elevated filling pressure was defined as a mean LAP ≥15 mmHg. RESULTS: A total of 135 patients were enrolled in the study (mean age 65.2 ± 9.1 years, 32% female, mean LVEF 56.9 ± 7.9%). Patients with H2FPEF ≥ 6 or HFA-PEFF ≥5 had higher values of NTproBNP and more impaired cardiac function. However, neither H2FPEF nor HFA-PEFF score showed a meaningful association with elevated mean LAP (respectively, OR 1.05 [95%CI 0.83-1.34] p = 0.64, and OR 1.09 [95%CI: 0.86-1.39] p = 0.45). The addition of LA indexed minimal volume (LAVi min) improved the ability of the scores (baseline C-statistic 0.51 [95%CI 0.41-0.61] for the H2FPEF score and 0.53 [95%CI 0.43-0.64] for the HFA-PEFF score) to diagnose elevated filling pressure (H2FPEF + LAVi min: C-statistic 0.70 [95%CI 0.60-0.80], p-value = 0.005; HFA-PEFF + LAVi min: C-statistic 0.70 [95%CI 0.60-0.80], p-value = 0.02). CONCLUSION: In a cohort of patients with a history of AF, the use of the available diagnostic scores did not predict elevated mean LAP. The integration of LAVi min improved the ability to correctly identify elevated filling pressure.

Determinants of invasive left atrial pressure in patients with atrial fibrillation.

AIMS: Estimation of left ventricular (LV) filling pressures in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is challenging due to lack of reliable parameters. This study investigates the association between cardiac structure and function and invasive mean left atrial pressure (LAP). METHODS AND RESULTS: This is a multi-center prospective study enrolling patients undergoing transcatheter ablation for AF. The invasive measurement of LAP was performed at the time of the procedure while the echocardiography within the previous 24 hours. A mean LAP ≥ 15 mmHg was considered as increased. Overall, 101 patients were included (mean age 65.8 ± 8.5 years, 68% male, mean LV ejection fraction 56.6 ± 8.0%). No significant differences regarding clinical characteristics were detected between the group of patients with normal (n=47) or increased LAP (n=54). The latter showed lower values of LV global longitudinal strain, larger left atrial volumes (LAV) and worse right ventricular (RV) function. After multivariable adjustment, higher E/e' ratio (p=0.041) and minimal LAV index (LAVI min) (p=0.031), lower peak atrial longitudinal strain (PALS) (p=0.030) and RV free wall strain (p=0.037), but not maximal LAV index (LAVI max) (p=0.137), were significantly associated with mean LAP. The associations were not modified by cardiac rhythm. Overall, LAVI min showed the best diagnostic accuracy to predict elevated LAP (AUC 0.703). CONCLUSION: LA structure and function assessment well correlates with mean LAP in patients with AF. These measures may be used in the assessment of filling pressure in these patients.

Secondary Prevention and Extreme Cardiovascular Risk Evaluation (SEVERE-1), Focus on Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors: The Study Protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Despite significant improvement in secondary CardioVascular (CV) preventive strategies, some acute and chronic coronary syndrome (ACS and CCS) patients will suffer recurrent events (also called "extreme CV risk"). Recently new biochemical markers, such as uric acid (UA), lipoprotein A [Lp(a)] and several markers of inflammation, have been described to be associated with CV events recurrence. The SEcondary preVention and Extreme cardiovascular Risk Evaluation (SEVERE-1) study will accurately characterize extreme CV risk patients enrolled in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs. AIM:  Our aims will be to describe the prevalence of extreme CV risk and its association with newly described biochemical CV risk factors. AIM: Our aims will be to describe the prevalence of extreme CV risk and its association with newly described biochemical CV risk factors. METHODS: We will prospectively enrol 730 ACS/CCS patients at the beginning of a CR program. Extreme CV risk will be retrospectively defined as the presence of a previous (within 2 years) CV events in the patients' clinical history. UA, Lp(a) and inflammatory markers (interleukin-6 and -18, tumor necrosis factor alpha, C-reactive protein, calprotectin and osteoprotegerin) will be assessed in ACS/CCS patients with extreme CV risk and compared with those without extreme CV risk but also with two control groups: 1180 hypertensives and 765 healthy subjects. The association between these biomarkers and extreme CV risk will be assessed with a multivariable model and two scoring systems will be created for an accurate identification of extreme CV risk patients. The first one will use only clinical variables while the second one will introduce the biochemical markers. Finally, by exome sequencing we will both evaluate polygenic risk score ability to predict recurrent events and perform mendellian randomization analysis on CV biomarkers. CONCLUSIONS: Our study proposal was granted by the European Union PNRR M6/C2 call. With this study we will give definitive data on extreme CV risk prevalence rising attention on this condition and leading cardiologist to do a better diagnosis and to carry out a more intensive treatment optimization that will finally leads to a reduction of future ACS recurrence. This will be even more important for cardiologists working in CR that is a very important place for CV risk definition and therapies refinement.

Bi-Caval Valve Implantation to Palliate Symptoms in a Case of Massive Tricuspid Regurgitation.

Severe tricuspid regurgitation is associated with the occurrence of right failure and increased morbidity and mortality. Transcatheter heterotopic bi-caval valve implantation might offer symptom relief in these patients that are often at prohibitive surgical risk.

Prevalence and Rate of Resolution of Left Atrial Thrombus in Patients with Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation: A Two-Center Retrospective Real-World Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Thromboembolic events due to left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombosis are the main complication of non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Although anticoagulants are effective in patients with NVAF, a minimal residual thromboembolic risk persists. Little is known about the prevalence of LAA thrombus and the rate of resolution after the recommended period of anticoagulation therapy, including vitamin K antagonists (VKA), heparin, and non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs). METHODS AND RESULTS: We aimed to study the prevalence of LAA thrombus in an unselected cohort of patients undergoing transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE), and the determinants of LAA thrombus resolution. We retrospectively analyzed 8888 consecutive TEEs performed over five years in two high-volume centers and included all patients with LAA thrombus. A total of 265 patients (3%) had an LAA thrombus. Among these, 97% presented with AF. Fifty-eight percent of patients were on anticoagulants at least three weeks before the diagnosis. After the LAA thrombus diagnosis, VKAs were prescribed in 52%, heparin in 18.5%, and NOAC in 27% of patients. Among the 183 patients with repeat TEE, performed at (25-75th) 39 days (21-84), 67% showed resolution of the LAA thrombus. Although the rate of thrombus resolution was higher in patients treated with NOACs (NOACs 71%, VKA 66%, Heparin 60%) the difference between anticoagulants was statistically non-significant (VKA, OR 0.9, p = 0.83; NOAC, OR 1.23, p = 0.42; heparin, OR 0.69, p = 0.35). Thus, NOACs were demonstrated to be at least as effective as other anticoagulants in the rate of LAA thrombus resolution. Upon multivariate-adjusted analysis, higher LAA emptying velocities were the only predictor of thrombus resolution. In conclusion, the majority of patients were already on anticoagulants. NOACs could be at least as effective as other anticoagulants, yielding an LAA thrombus resolution in two-thirds of patients. This may have clinical relevance, especially in patients undergoing cardioversion or catheter ablation.

Primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma and pregnancy: a challenging clinical scenario.

A 26-weeks pregnant woman presented with progressively worsening dyspnoea and poor general conditions. Using low-dose radiation multi-imaging techniques and thoracic biopsy a primary mediastinal large B cell was diagnosed. A multidisciplinary approach identified the correct hemodynamic management, the best therapeutic strategy and the timing for delivery.

Prevalence of hypertension mediated organ damage in subjects with high-normal blood pressure without known hypertension as well as cardiovascular and kidney disease.

Purpose of our study was to assess the prevalence of hypertension mediated organ damage (HMOD) in healthy subjects with high-normal Blood Pressure (BP) comparing them with subjects with BP values that are considered normal (<130/85 mmHg) or indicative of hypertension (≥140/90 mmHg). Seven hundred fifty-five otherwise healthy subjects were included. HMOD was evaluated as pulse wave velocity (PWV), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque. When subjects were classified according to BP levels we found that the high-normal BP group showed intermediate values of PWV and higher values of IMT. This corresponds to intermediate prevalence of arterial stiffness, while there were no differences for increased IMT or carotid plaque. No subjects showed left ventricular hypertrophy. At multivariable analysis, the odds of having arterial stiffness or carotid HMOD in the high-normal group resulted not different to the normal group. In conclusion, in our otherwise healthy population, high-normal BP values were not related to aortic, carotid or cardiac HMOD.

Uric acid in chronic coronary syndromes: Relationship with coronary artery disease severity and left ventricular diastolic parameter.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Uric Acid (UA) has been related to the development of Cardio-Vascular (CV) events in patients affected by Chronic Coronary Syndromes (CCS). Among various hypothesis, two arise: UA may negatively act on coronary artery determining a higher degree of atherosclerotic disease, and/or on heart determining a higher prevalence of diastolic dysfunction. Both the above hypothesized effects are object of our investigation. METHODS AND RESULTS: 231 patients who were admitted to the cardiological department of the Niguarda Hospital (Milan, Italy) for CCS from January 2017 to June 2018 were enrolled. Coronary atherosclerotic burden was evaluated from coronary angiography as the number and type of involved vessels, as well as with both Gensini and Syntax scores. All subjects underwent a complete echocardiogram. At unadjusted and adjusted/multivariable analysis, UA levels were not significantly associated with variables analysed from the coronary angiography (number and type of vessels involved, neither the Gensini and Syntax scores) as well as with echocardiographic parameters regarding systolic and diastolic function. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the main finding of our work is the absence of a role for UA in determining coronary arteries disease as well as LV diastolic dysfunction in CCS subjects. Taking together the results of previous studies with ours, we hypothesize that UA could act on heart (both on coronary arteries and on LV function) in an early phase of the disease, whereas while in the advanced stages other factors (previous myocardial infarction, previous myocardial revascularization and so on) may overshadow its effects.

Metabolic syndrome is related to vascular structural alterations but not to functional ones both in hypertensives and healthy subjects.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Metabolic Syndrome (MS) has been related to an impairment in arterial structural and functional properties with heterogeneous results. In this paper we focused on the effects of MS on arterial carotid-femoral PWV and common carotid IMT in two different populations, one of hypertensive patients and one of healthy controls. METHODS AND RESULTS: We enrolled 816 consecutive HT and 536 healthy controls. Vascular structural (IMT) and functional (PWV) properties were evaluated. NCEP-ATP-III criteria were used for diagnosis of MS. MS was diagnosed in 26.9% and 6.9% in hypertensive and control subjects, respectively. PWV was similar in controls with and without MS (7.7 ± 1.9 vs 7.6 ± 1.1 m/s, p = 0.69), while IMT was higher in controls with than those without MS (0.64 ± 0.18 vs 0.57 ± 0.13 mm, p = 0.02). Hypertensives with MS were older (57.9 ± 12.2 vs 52.7 ± 14.1 years, p < 0.001) and showed higher PWV (9.0 ± 2.3 vs 8.4 ± 2.1 m/s, p = 0.001) and IMT (0.72 ± 0.22 vs 0.65 ± 0.17 mm, p < 0.001) than those without MS, however at the age-adjusted analysis only the difference in IMT was confirmed (p = 0.007). Regression models showed that MS was an independent determinant of IMT in both controls (ß = 0.08, p = 0.03) and hypertensives (ß = 0.08, p = 0.01), but not of PWV either in controls (ß = 0.006, p = 0.886 and ß = 0.04, p = 0.19, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: the main finding of our work is that MS is a significant determinant of IMT while this is not the case for PWV. This result have been confirmed both in hypertensive subjects and in healthy controls.

Thoracic radiotherapy as a risk factor for heart ischemia in subjects treated with chest irradiation and chemotherapy and without classic cardiovascular RISK factors.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Radiation Induced Heart Disease (RIHD) represents a late effect of chest irradiation, contributing in increasing mortality rate in oncological patients by affecting pericardium, myocardium, valvs and coronaries. Currently, regarding the risk of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), a cardiological screening involving exercise stress electrocardiography after 5-10 years from radiotherapy is advised. We sought to determine the rate of ischemia at exercise stress electrocardiography in a population of patients without cardiovascular risk factors who sustained radiotherapy, using a cohort of patients presenting with at least one cardiovascular risk factor as control group. DESIGN AND METHODS: A population of 115 patients who sustained chest irradiation (and associated chemotherapy), presenting without classic cardiovascular risk factors or typical symptoms suggesting CAD, was evaluated with exercise stress electrocardiography. 135 patients with at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease candidate to stress testing for primary prevention or for atypical symptoms served as control group. RESULTS: The cohort of irradiated patients without classical cardiovascular risk factors is younger (48.7 ± 10.1 vs 60.5 ± 10.8 years, p < 0.001) and presents a lower percentage of males when compared with the control group. In this latter group 25.9% of subjects has diabetes, 62.9% dyslipidaemia, 67.4% hypertension and 19.2% actively smoke. Despite this important differences regarding classic cardiovascular risk factors, no significant differences were found in the number of positive exercise stress electrocardiography (10.4 vs 5.9%, p = ns). CONCLUSIONS: Chest irradiation represents a strong cardiovascular risk factor. In fact, prevalence of positive ECG-stress test is not different (nor higher and nor lower) in irradiated subjects without cardiovascular risk and not irradiated patients with classic cardiovascular risk.

[Clinical and diagnostic key points of left ventricular hypertrophy in adults: insights from the ANMCO Lombardy experience]. / I punti chiave nell'approccio clinico e diagnostico dell'ipertrofia ventricolare sinistra nell'adulto. Spunti dall'esperienza di ANMCO Lombardia.

Left ventricular hypertrophy is a common complication of different diseases. Among these, cardiac involvement of amyloidosis or Anderson-Fabry disease are often unrecognized. Early diagnosis is therefore crucial because new therapies can impact the progression of these diseases. Different specific signs unmasked by clinical, laboratory, and non-invasive diagnostic tests such as echocardiography or cardiac magnetic resonance could guide clinicians towards an appropriate diagnosis. The aim of this review is to underline the major diagnostic clues of different forms of left ventricular hypertrophy in adult patients, guiding clinicians towards a more appropriate diagnosis.

[ANMCO/SICI-GISE/SIC/SIECVI/SIRM Consensus document: Appropriateness of multimodality imaging in cardiovascular disease]. / Documento di consenso ANMCO/SICI-GISE/SIC/SIECVI/SIRM: Appropriatezza dell'imaging multimodale nelle patologie cardiovascolari.

The complexity of cardiovascular diseases has led to an extensive use of technological instruments and the development of multimodality imaging. This extensive use of different cardiovascular imaging tests in the same patient has increased costs and waiting times.The concept of appropriateness has changed over time. Appropriateness criteria address the need for specific cardiovascular imaging tests in well-defined clinical scenarios, and define the kind of cardiovascular imaging that is appropriated for each clinical scenario in different stages of the disease. The concept of appropriateness criteria has replaced the old idea of appropriate use criteria and reflects the increasing effort of the international Scientific Societies to create and review in a critical way the management of diagnostic tests used by clinicians.The aim of this Italian consensus document is to address the use of multimodality imaging in the diagnosis and management of the major cardiovascular clinical scenarios, taking into consideration not only the international guidelines and scientific documents already published, but also the reality of Italian laws as well as the various professional profiles involved in patient management and availability of technological diagnostic instruments.

[Role of multimodality imaging in the clinical evaluation of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy]. / Valutazione clinica della cardiomiopatia ipertrofica: ruolo dell'imaging multimodale.

Sarcomeric hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common cardiovascular genetic disease. Clinical evaluation and comprehensive echocardiography are crucial for the diagnosis and early evaluation of the hypertrophic phenotype, but multimodality imaging approach is often required to better define diagnosis and differential diagnosis from phenocopies. This review aims to assess the role of multimodality imaging and, in particular, advanced echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance in relation to differential diagnosis and preclinical diagnosis, identification of different phenotypes, and assessment of disease progression and risk of sudden cardiac death. A multimodality imaging approach is also crucial for the selection of patients amenable to surgical or percutaneous septal myectomy and for guiding both procedures.

Sequencing of NOTCH1 gene in an Italian population with bicuspid aortic valve: Preliminary results from the GISSI OUTLIERS VAR study.

BACKGROUND: Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) formation is genetically determined, with reduced penetrance and variable expressivity. NOTCH1 is a proven candidate gene and its mutations have been found in familial and sporadic cases of BAV. METHODS: 66 BAV patients from the GISSI VAR study were genotyped for the NOTCH1 gene. RESULTS: We identified 63 variants, in heterozygous and homozygous states. Fifty-two are common polymorphisms present in almost all patients. Eleven variants are new and never yet reported: two are non-synonymous substitutions, Gly540Asp in exon 10 and Glu851Gln in exon 16; one is in the 3'UTR region and seven in introns, one corresponds to a T allele insertion in intron 27. We selected four statistically noteworthy and seven new variants identified in six BAV patients and correlated them with clinical and demographic variables and with imaging and histological parameters. Preliminary data show that four were BAV patients with isolated stenosis in patients over 60 aged. These variants may correlate with a later need for surgery for the presence of stenosis and not aortic valve regurgitation or ascending aortic aneurysm. CONCLUSIONS: Completing the genotyping of 62 BAV patients we found 11 new variants in the NOTCH1 gene never yet reported. These findings confirm that the identification of new, clinically remarkable biomarkers for BAV requires a deeper genetic understanding of the NOTCH1 gene variants, which could be targeted by future diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Could two-dimensional radial strain be considered as a novel tool to identify pre-clinical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy mutation carriers?

Treatment of overt form of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is often unsuccessful. Efforts are focused on a possible early identification in order to prevent or delaying the development of hypertrophy. Our aim was to find an echocardiographic marker able to distinguish mutation carriers without left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) from healthy subjects. We evaluated 28 patients, members of eight families. Three types of mutation were recognized: MYBPC3 (five families), MYH7 (two families) and TNNT2 (one family). According to genetic (G) and phenotypic (Ph) features, patients were divided in three groups: Group A (10 patients), mutation carriers with LVH (G+/Ph+); Group B (9 patients), mutation carriers without LVH (G+/Ph-); Group C (9 patients), healthy subjects (G-/Ph-). Echocardiography examination was performed acquiring standard 2D, DTI and 2D-strain imaging. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) and global radial strain (GRS) at basal and mid-level were measured. GRS was significantly different between group B and C at basal level (32.18% ± 9.6 vs. 44.59% ± 12.67 respectively; p-value < 0.0001). In basal posterior and basal inferior segments this difference was particularly evident. ROC curves showed for both the involved segments good AUCs (0.931 and 0.861 for basal posterior and inferior GRS respectively) with the best predictive cut-off for basal posterior GRS at 43.65%, while it was 38.4% for basal inferior GRS. Conversely, GLS values were similar in the three group. 2D longitudinal strain is a valid technique to study HCM. Radial strain and particularly basal posterior and inferior segmental reduction could be able to identify mutation carriers in a pre-clinical phase of disease.

Pulse wave velocity progression over a medium-term follow-up in hypertensives: Focus on uric acid.

The role of uric acid (UA) on the arterial stiffness progression has been evaluated only in three studies. Our aim was to evaluate its role as a possible determinant of the pulse wave velocity (PWV) progression over a 3.7 ± 0.5 years follow-up period in hypertensive patients. Specific sex analysis was done due to the well-known sex interaction with UA levels. We enrolled 422 consecutive hypertensive outpatients. At baseline anamnestic, blood pressure (BP) and laboratory data as well as PWV were assessed. PWV was performed again at follow-up examination. Hyperuricemia was defined as a UA > 6 mg/dL for women and > 7 mg/dL for men. Baseline age was 53.2 ± 13 years, 58% were males, systolic and diastolic BP (SBP/DBP) 141.7 ± 17.7/86.8 ± 10.8 mm Hg, UA 5.2 ± 1.4 mg/dL, and PWV 8.5 ± 1.9 m/s. At follow-up, despite better BP values (-8.5 ± 24.6 for SBP and -7.5 ± 15.4 for DBP), PWV increases to 9.1 ± 2.3 m/s (P < 0.001) with mean ΔPWV of+ 0.5 ± 2.2 m/s. A total of 61 patients were hyperuricemic (14.4%), and they present higher PWV baseline (9.0 ± 2.5 vs 8.5 ± 1.8 m/s, P = 0.03) without significant differences in ΔPWV. Hyperuricemic female (6.2%, 11 patients) presents higher baseline PWV without significant differences in ΔPWV. No differences were found in arterial stiffness in hyperuricemic males (20.4%, 50 patients). UA showed association with baseline and ΔPWV in the whole population but it loses statistical significance at the linear regression model. Same figures were also for sex analysis. Our findings provide evidence that baseline UA levels are not determinants of PWV progression over a median follow-up of 3.8 years' in hypertensive patients.

Update on the Organizational Aspects of Echocardiography in Italy (From Operator Training to the Report: 2007-2019): A Consensus Document by the "Società Italiana di Ecocardiografia e CardioVascular Imaging" Accreditation Area and Board 2017-2019.

In 2007, Società Italiana di Ecocardiografia e CardioVascular Imaging (SIECVI) already SIEC, published the document on the organization of echocardiography in Italy. In the years following the technological evolution, cultural and health factors have changed "the way, we do echo" as a tool for the different clinical pathways. The SIECVI Accreditation Area and Board 2017-2019 considered necessary to review and update the document in the light of innovation in the application of ultrasound for the heart disease assessment. In the document, we have considered the role of SIECVI in multimodal imaging, the need of training and certification of operators, the quality of echo machines, the accreditation of laboratories, the compilation of the report and its responsibility, and the presence of the sonographers in the EchoLab.

Clinical imaging in patients with fever and suspected endocarditis.

Echocardiography remains the cornerstone of the diagnostic of anatomic lesions and consequences on cardiac function caused by infective endocarditis (IE). There is now evidence that other imaging techniques are useful in reducing the number of non-conclusive diagnoses, in particular when IE is suspected on prosthetic material or devices. Besides diagnosis, cardiac imaging strongly contributes to prognostic assessment, indications for early surgery and patient follow-up. It is required a specific expertise for implementing and interpreting all imaging techniques and the complexity of decision-making highlights the need for a multidisciplinary management of difficult cases in specialized endocarditis teams.