Clinical Utility of Baseline Brain Natriuretic Peptide Levels on Health Status Outcomes after Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation in Individuals without Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Catheter ablation (CA) benefits atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with heart failure (HF). Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), a marker of left-ventricular pressure load, may serve as a potential surrogate for predicting quality of life (QOL) in a broader range of patients. METHODS: Within the multicenter KiCS-AF registry, 491 AF patients underwent CA without clinical HF (e.g., documented history of HF, left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 40%, or BNP levels ≥ 100 pg/mL). Participants, aged 61 ± 10 years, were categorized by baseline BNP quartiles. Atrial Fibrillation Effect on QualiTy-of-Life (AFEQT) questionnaire assessments were assessed at baseline and 1 year. RESULTS: A lower baseline BNP correlated with reduced AFEQT scores. Post CA, all groups showed significant AFEQT score improvements. The lower-BNP group displayed notable enhancements (18.2 ± 1.2, 15.0 ± 1.1, 12.6 ± 1.2, 13.6 ± 1.2, p < 0.005), especially in symptom and treatment concern areas. Even those with normal BNP levels (≤18.4 pg/mL) exhibited significant QOL improvements. Comparing paroxysmal AF (PAF) and non-PAF groups, the PAF group, especially with higher BNP levels, showed greater AFEQT score improvements. CONCLUSIONS: This study establishes BNP as a predictive marker for QOL enhancement in non-HF patients undergoing CA for AF. BNP levels represent AF stages, with individuals in earlier stages, especially within normal BNP levels, experiencing greater QOL improvements.

The complement C3-complement factor D-C3a receptor signalling axis regulates cardiac remodelling in right ventricular failure.

Failure of the right ventricle plays a critical role in any type of heart failure. However, the mechanism remains unclear, and there is no specific therapy. Here, we show that the right ventricle predominantly expresses alternative complement pathway-related genes, including Cfd and C3aR1. Complement 3 (C3)-knockout attenuates right ventricular dysfunction and fibrosis in a mouse model of right ventricular failure. C3a is produced from C3 by the C3 convertase complex, which includes the essential component complement factor D (Cfd). Cfd-knockout mice also show attenuation of right ventricular failure. Moreover, the plasma concentration of CFD correlates with the severity of right ventricular failure in patients with chronic right ventricular failure. A C3a receptor (C3aR) antagonist dramatically improves right ventricular dysfunction in mice. In summary, we demonstrate the crucial role of the C3-Cfd-C3aR axis in right ventricular failure and highlight potential therapeutic targets for right ventricular failure.

Electrical Isolation of the Marshall Bundle by Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation: In Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to isolate arrhythmogenic Marshall bundles (MBs) by radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation. BACKGROUND: The vein of Marshall (VOM) is surrounded by a muscular bundle called the MB. The MB is 1 of the arrhythmogenic sources of atrial fibrillation (AF) and electrically connects to either the left atrial (LA) myocardium or coronary sinus (CS) musculature. By eliminating such electric connections using RF catheter ablation, the MB might be electrically isolated. METHODS: This retrospective study included 20 patients (64 ± 10 years old, 5 women) who underwent an MB isolation for nonparoxysmal AF. After pulmonary vein isolation, we performed venography of the VOM and inserted a 2-F electrode catheter into the VOM. RF applications were delivered to eliminate the MB electrograms from both the LA and CS when the MB was considered arrhythmogenic. RESULTS: MB isolation was achieved in 14 patients (70%). Of them, complete or partial MB isolation was accomplished in 7 patients (35%) each. The average number of RF applications in the LA (35 W, 30 s) and CS (25 W, 30 s) was 15 ± 14 and 4 ± 3, respectively. No severe adverse events were observed. During a follow-up of 23 ± 11 months, 18 patients (90%) maintained sinus rhythm. CONCLUSIONS: RF applications targeting recordings from an electrode catheter in the VOM were feasible, and the MB could be electrically isolated. Elimination of the MB potentials would be a clear endpoint for patients with an arrhythmogenic MB.

The Durability of Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Using an Oesophageal Temperature Cut-Off of 38°C.

BACKGROUND: A lower cut-off of the oesophageal temperature (ET) during catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) should be safer, but its durability may become in question. We evaluated an ET cut-off of 38°C with an output of 25W on the posterior wall. METHODS: In 636 consecutive patients (age: 60±10years, male: 542, paroxysmal AF: 405, CHADS2 score: 0.7±0.9), an ET probe was utilised in 303 patients (259 pulmonary vein isolations [PVIs] and 44 simultaneous isolations of the posterior wall and all PVs box isolations [BOXIs]). When the ET increased to >38°C, the radiofrequency delivery was switched off and the ablation point was tagged as an "EsoTag" by the CARTO™ system (Biosense Webster, Irvine, CA, USA). We analysed the characteristics of the ablation lesions at the EsoTags with respect to the dormant conduction, gaps in the redo-session, and ablation outcome. RESULTS: EsoTags were identified in 94.6% of the left PVIs and all BOXIs, and dormant conduction at the EsoTags was identified in 12.0% and 6.8%, respectively. In 10,796 ablation points, the ablation at the EsoTags that were associated with dormant conduction had a significantly shorter duration, smaller force-time integral, and smaller Δimpedance. The duration of an ET of >38°C was significantly and positively correlated with the body mass index and negatively with the left atrial appendage flow velocity. During the redo-sessions in a 10.5±6.0months of follow-up (PVI: 14.7%, BOXI: 11.4%), reconnections at the EsoTags with dormant conduction were observed only in two patients after the PVI. The AF survival rate did not significantly differ in the presence of dormant conduction at the EsoTags (83.1% vs. 75.0%, p=0.696). There were no patients hospitalised for gastroparesis. CONCLUSIONS: Atrial fibrillation ablation utilising an oesophageal temperature cut-off of 38°C might be safe and durable.

Asymptomatic Cerebral Infarction During Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: Comparing Uninterrupted Rivaroxaban and Warfarin (ASCERTAIN).

OBJECTIVES: This randomized study compared uninterrupted rivaroxaban therapy with warfarin therapy as prophylaxis against catheter ablation (CA)-induced asymptomatic cerebral infarction (ACI) and identified the risk factors of rivaroxaban. BACKGROUND: The reported incidence of ACI during CA for atrial fibrillation (AF) remains at 10% to 30%, and periprocedural oral anticoagulation could affect this incidence. METHODS: Patients with nonvalvular AF undergoing radiofrequency CA were randomly assigned to receive either uninterrupted rivaroxaban or warfarin as periprocedural anticoagulation therapy. CA was performed after at least 1 month of adequate anticoagulation. Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed within 2 weeks before and 1 day after CA to detect ACI. RESULTS: A total 132 patients were enrolled; 127 (median: 60.0 years of age; 83.5% males; 64.6% incidence of paroxysmal AF) complied with the study protocol and were analyzed; 64 patients received rivaroxaban, and 63 patients received warfarin. The rates of CA-induced ACI in the rivaroxaban group (15.6% [10 of 64 patients]) were similar to those in the warfarin group (15.9% [10 of 63 patients]; p = 1.000). No thromboembolic events developed; no differences in major or nonmajor bleeding rates were observed between the 2 drug groups (3.1% vs. 1.6%, respectively, or 18.8% vs. 19.0%, respectively). Multiple regression analysis indicated that the presence of deep and subcortical white matter hyperintensity (p = 0.002; odds ratio [OR]: 5.323) and the frequency of cardioversions (p = 0.016; OR: 1.250) were associated with the incidence of ACI. CONCLUSIONS: No notable differences were found between the incidence of CA-induced ACI in the rivaroxaban group and that in the warfarin group in this randomized study.

Prevalence and clinical characteristics of obstructive- and central-dominant sleep apnea in candidates of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in Japan.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to study the prevalence and types of sleep apnea (SA) as well as their clinical characteristics in atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation candidates in Japan. METHODS: Before catheter ablation, 197 consecutive AF patients (age: 60 ±â€¯9 years, body mass index; 25.0 ±â€¯3.0) were evaluated with portable polygraphy. We compared the clinical characteristics, according to the severity of SA as well as its types, as defined by the presence of obstruction and the mixed vs. central apnea indices. RESULTS: The mean apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was 17.7 ±â€¯11.9, with 135 AF patients having an AHI ≥10 (68.5%). Patients with an AHI ≥10 had a significantly higher body mass index, plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level, prevalence of hypertension, and larger left atrial size. Among patients with an AHI ≥10, the incidence of obstructive-dominant SA was 60.9% and that of central-dominant SA was 7.6%. The prevalence of hypertension was significantly higher in obstructive-dominant SA patients (obstructive vs. central: 48.3% vs. 20.0%, P = 0.038). The obstructive apnea index correlated with plasma BNP level and age, but the central and mixed apnea indices did not. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of SA was common in AF ablation candidates, even without an obesity epidemic, and the SA type was predominantly obstructive. Portable polygraphy was useful for detecting undiagnosed SA patients in AF ablation candidates.

Real-world monitoring of direct oral anticoagulants in clinic and hospitalization settings.

BACKGROUND: The monitoring of the effects of direct oral anticoagulants may be beneficial during emergencies and adverse events. We aimed to explore direct oral anticoagulant monitoring in "real-world" settings, in which monitoring methods are limited and loading time can be estimated based on only patient reports. METHODS: In 164 patients, plasma anti-Xa activity was assessed using a STA®-Liquid Anti-Xa reagent (Diagnostica Stago, Asnieres, France), and prothrombin time was measured using HemosIL® RecombiPlasTin 2G (Instrumentation Laboratory, Bedford, MA, USA). The loading time was calculated according to the previous dosing time reported by the patient. In the clinic setting, rivaroxaban and apixaban were administered to 103 patients with atrial fibrillation and a blood sample was tested once during a clinic visit. In the hospitalization setting, edoxaban was administered to 61 patients undergoing arthroplasty for prophylaxis of a venous thrombosis and blood samples were tested 3 and 18 h after the last intake. RESULTS: Plasma Xa activity in the clinical setting ranged widely (rivaroxaban: 1.1-424.4 ng/mL, apixaban: 15.4-469.2 ng/mL) during the 11.7 ± 7.0 h following the previous dose. The values varied over a wide range (up to a factor of 2) at the same loading time, especially around the peak period. The plasma anti-Xa activity of rivaroxaban and apixaban showed linear correlations with prothrombin time (R2 = 0.828 and 0.717, respectively). Edoxaban administration prolonged the prothrombin time by only 1.6 ± 1.1 s from the trough to the peak, to a degree that was negatively correlated with age, but not with plasma creatinine level, creatinine clearance, or body mass index. CONCLUSION: In real-world settings, plasma anti-Xa monitoring should be interpreted considering the wide variations in data, reflecting the variability in patient-reported loading time and interpatient variability.

Mitral isthmus ablation using a circular mapping catheter positioned in the left atrial appendage as a reference for conduction block.

BACKGROUND: For perimitral atrial flutter (PMFL) developing after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF), to create a complete conduction block at the mitral isthmus (MI) is mandatory to terminate it, however, it is still challenging. METHODS: This study consisted of 80 patients (74 male, 61 ± 8.1 years) undergoing MI ablation. After a circular mapping catheter was positioned at the neck of the left atrial appendage (LAA), the MI ablation was performed on the MI line just below the LAA neck targeting the earliest activation recording site of the LAA catheter during pacing from the coronary sinus (CS). When ablation during CS pacing was not successful, an RF delivery during LAA pacing was applied targeting the earliest activation site just below the MI line. If the endocardial approach failed, an RF application inside the CS was attempted. RESULTS: With the endocardial approach, acute success was achieved in 51/80 patients (64%). Additional epicardial ablation from the CS was performed in 26/29 (90%) endocardially unsuccessful patients and conduction block at the MI was achieved in 21/26 (81%). Overall, complete conduction block at the MI was achieved in 72/80 patients (90%). At a mean follow-up of 16 ± 6 months, 20 patients (25%) had recurrence of atrial arrhythmias (AT: 12, AF: 8), and 10 (AT: 7, AF : 3) underwent a second procedure in which an LMI block line was completed in 3 (33%). PMFL was diagnosed in 6 out of 7 AT patients. No complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Creating linear lesions just beneath the neck of the LAA was highly successful under the guidance of a circular mapping catheter in the LAA using a steerable sheath. An RF application from the CS was needed in less than half of the cases.

Epigenetic barrier against the propagation of fluctuating gene expression in embryonic stem cells.

The expression of pluripotency genes fluctuates in a population of embryonic stem (ES) cells and the fluctuations in the expression of some pluripotency genes correlate. However, no correlation in the fluctuation of Pou5f1, Zfp42, and Nanog expression was observed in ES cells. Correlation between Pou5f1 and Zfp42 fluctuations was demonstrated in ES cells containing a knockout in the NuRD component Mbd3. ES cells containing a triple knockout in the DNA methyltransferases Dnmt1, Dnmt3a, and Dnmt3b showed correlation between the fluctuation of Pou5f1, Zfp42, and Nanog gene expression. We suggest that an epigenetic barrier is key to preventing the propagation of fluctuating pluripotency gene expression in ES cells.

Emerin plays a crucial role in nuclear invagination and in the nuclear calcium transient.

Alteration of the nuclear Ca2+ transient is an early event in cardiac remodeling. Regulation of the nuclear Ca2+ transient is partly independent of the cytosolic Ca2+ transient in cardiomyocytes. One nuclear membrane protein, emerin, is encoded by EMD, and an EMD mutation causes Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD). It remains unclear whether emerin is involved in nuclear Ca2+ homeostasis. The aim of this study is to elucidate the role of emerin in rat cardiomyocytes by means of hypertrophic stimuli and in EDMD induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell-derived cardiomyocytes in terms of nuclear structure and the Ca2+ transient. The cardiac hypertrophic stimuli increased the nuclear area, decreased nuclear invagination, and increased the half-decay time of the nuclear Ca2+ transient in cardiomyocytes. Emd knockdown cardiomyocytes showed similar properties after hypertrophic stimuli. The EDMD-iPS cell-derived cardiomyocytes showed increased nuclear area, decreased nuclear invagination, and increased half-decay time of the nuclear Ca2+ transient. An autopsied heart from a patient with EDMD also showed increased nuclear area and decreased nuclear invagination. These data suggest that Emerin plays a crucial role in nuclear structure and in the nuclear Ca2+ transient. Thus, emerin and the nuclear Ca2+ transient are possible therapeutic targets in heart failure and EDMD.

A cost-utility analysis for catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in combination with warfarin and dabigatran based on the CHADS2 score in Japan.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to clarify the cost-effectiveness of an expensive combination therapy for atrial fibrillation (AF) using both catheter ablation and dabigatran compared with warfarin at each CHADS2 score for patients in Japan. METHODS: A Markov model was constructed to analyze costs and quality-adjusted life years associated with AF therapeutic options with a time horizon of 10 years. The target population was 60-year-old patients with paroxysmal AF. The indication for anticoagulation was determined according to the Japanese guideline. Anticoagulation-related data were derived from the RE-LY study and the AF recurrence rate was set at 2.7% per month during the first 12 months and at 0.40% per month afterwards. Stroke risk was determined according to AF recurrence, anticoagulation, and CHADS2 score. The risks for stroke recurrence and stroke death were also considered. Costs were calculated from the healthcare payer's perspective, and only direct medical costs were included. RESULTS: Warfarin was the most preferred option for patients with a CHADS2 score of 0 from a health economics aspect. Ablation under warfarin was preferred for a CHADS2 score of 1-3, while ablation under dabigatran was preferred for a CHADS2 score ≥4. The quality of life score for AF had the largest impact on the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios in the analysis between the anticoagulation arm and the anticoagulation+ablation arm for a CHADS2 score of 2. Within the range of the Japanese willingness-to-pay threshold (¥5,000,000), the ablation+warfarin arm became the best option with its probability of 81.7% for a CHADS2 score of 2; the dabigatran+ablation arm was the most preferred option with its probability of 56.1% for a CHADS2 score of 4. CONCLUSIONS: Ablation under dabigatran therapy is an expensive therapeutic option, but it might benefit patients with a low quality of life and a high CHADS2 score.

Assessment of atrial fibrillation ablation outcomes with clinic ECG, monthly 24-h Holter ECG, and twice-daily telemonitoring ECG.

Differences in the methodologies for evaluating atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation outcomes should be evaluated. In the present study, we compared the AF ablation outcomes among periodic clinic electrocardiography (ECG), 24-h Holter ECG, and telemonitoring ECG to evaluate the differences among these methods. In addition, we evaluated the AF-free survival rate for each method with different durations of the blanking period. A total of 30 AF patients were followed up for 6 months after initial catheter ablation, with clinic ECG on every clinic visit, monthly 24-h Holter ECG, and telemonitoring ECG twice daily and upon symptoms. AF relapse was defined as AF or atrial tachycardia detected with any of the methods. Two patients dropped out of the study, and 28 patients were followed up for 8.8 ± 2.7 months. Patients underwent 3.6 ± 0.8 clinic ECG, 5.1 ± 0.8 Holter ECG, and 273 ± 68 telemonitoring ECG examinations. During the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth months of follow-up, Holter ECG detected relapses in 11.1, 8.3, 11.5, 15.4, 4.2, and 4.8 % of patients and telemonitoring ECG detected relapses in 32.1, 25.0, 25.0, 17.9, 28.6, and 17.9 % of patients, respectively. When no duration was set for the blanking period, the AF-free survival rate was significantly lower with telemonitoring ECG (46.4 %) than with Holter ECG (78.6 %, P = 0.013) or clinic ECG (85.7 %, P = 0.002). In addition, when the duration of the blanking period was set to 3 months, the AF-free survival rate was significantly lower with telemonitoring ECG than with clinic ECG (92.9 vs. 71.4 %, P = 0.041). The AF ablation outcomes with twice-daily telemonitoring ECG might differ from those with clinic ECG when the duration of the blanking period is 0-3 months. A follow-up based solely on clinic ECG might underestimate AF recurrence.