The association between hyperuricemia and atrial fibrillation recurrence after catheter ablation.

Background: Hyperuricemia (HU) has been reported to be associated with a high incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the relationship between HUA and recurrent AF after catheter ablation (CA) is unclear. Methods: Four hundred consecutive AF patients (paroxysmal/persistent AF [PAF/PsAF]: 200/200) who underwent the initial CA were retrospectively enrolled. HU was defined as serum uric acid (SUA) level >7.0 mg/dL. We measured SUA levels 1 day before (pre-CA) and 1 month after CA (post-CA). A second-generation 28 mm cryoballoon was used for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for PAF, while PVI plus linear ablation (roof and mitral isthmus lines) by radiofrequency catheter was conducted for PsAF. Results: During 57 ± 24 months of follow-up, AF recurred in 16% and 42% in PAF and PsAF patients (p < .0001). Pre-CA SUA level in PsAF was significantly higher than that in PAF (6.5 ± 1.3 vs. 5.8 ± 1.3 mg/dL, p < .001). SUA level was significantly decreased after CA in both PAF and PsAF (5.8 ± 1.3 vs. 5.6 ± 1.3 mg/dL; p < .01 and 6.5 ± 1.3 vs. 6.1 ± 1.2 mg/dL; p < .0001, respectively). The association between pre-/post-CA HU and recurrent AF was not identified in PAF, while the incidence of post-CA HU was significantly higher in patients with recurrent AF than those without in PsAF (36% vs. 15%, p < .001). In multivariable analysis, longer AF duration and the presence of post-CA HU were identified as independent predictors of AF recurrence in PsAF (OR:1.01, 95%CI:1.003-1.011, p = .0001 and OR:2.77, 95%CI:1.333-5.755, p = .007, respectively). Conclusions: SUA level was significantly higher in PsAF than PAF patients. The presence of post-CA HU was strongly related to AF recurrence in PsAF patients.

Spontaneous hemodynamic improvement after balloon pulmonary angioplasty in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension is observed within a short term after balloon pulmonary angioplasty.

Natural hemodynamic changes after balloon pulmonary artery angioplasty (BPA) in a unified state without oxygen administration in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) remains undetermined. This study aimed to clarify the delayed changes in the hemodynamics after BPA in patients with CTEPH. We analyzed 73 consecutive patients with CTEPH who underwent BPA between July 2014 and December 2022. We extracted and evaluated hemodynamic data of the right heart catheter without oxygen administration immediately before and after the first BPA; and immediately before the second BPA, as the "post-delayed changes" after BPA. BPA significantly improved the mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP, mmHg) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR, dyn-s/cm5) from 36 (32-43) mmHg and 449 (312-627) dyn-s/cm5 before the first BPA to 28 (23-32) mmHg and 275 (217-366) dyn-s/cm5 immediately after BPA, and further significantly improved the values to 23 (20-28) mmHg and 225 (175-301) dyn-s/cm5 post-delayed changes after BPA, respectively. Improvement observed on account of delayed changes was observed both with and without pulmonary hypertension drugs. The delayed changes were observed during a period of 5-180 days, which did not correlate with the changes in mPAP and PVR. Hemodynamic improvement owing to BPA was observed immediately after BPA; however, further improvement was observed as a result of delayed changes. mPAP improved by 3.4 ± 5.2 mmHg and PVR by 53 (10-99) dyn-s/cm5 as delayed improvement. mPAP and PVR showed delayed improved by approximately 10% of their values before BPA.

The relationship between the initial pH and neurological outcome in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is affected by the status of recovery of spontaneous circulation on hospital arrival.

The early prediction of neurological outcomes is useful for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). The initial pH was associated with neurological outcomes, but the values varied among the studies. Patients admitted to our division with OHCA of cardiac origin between January 2015 and December 2022 were retrospectively examined (N = 199). A good neurological outcome was defined as a Glasgow-Pittsburgh cerebral performance category (CPC) of 1-2 at discharge. Patients were divided according to the achievement of recovery of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) on hospital arrival, and the efficacy of pH in predicting good neurological outcomes was compared. In patients with ROSC on hospital arrival (N = 100), the initial pH values for good and poor neurological outcomes were 7.26 ± 0.14 and 7.09 ± 0.18, respectively (p < 0.001). In patients without ROSC on hospital arrival (N = 99), the initial pH values for good and poor neurological outcomes were 7.06 ± 0.23 and 6.92 ± 0.15, respectively (p = 0.007). The pH associated with good neurological outcome was much lower in patients without ROSC than in those with ROSC on hospital arrival (P = 0.003). A higher initial pH is associated with good neurological outcomes in patients with OHCA. However, the pH for a good or poor neurological outcome depends on the ROSC status on hospital arrival.

The beneficial effects of balloon pulmonary angioplasty for patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension are accompanied by increased body mass index and improved nutritional status.

Although balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) improves pulmonary hypertension and the prognosis of patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), subsequent changes in body mass index (BMI), nutritional status, and appetite have not been fully investigated. This retrospective study aimed to clarify changes in BMI, nutritional status, and appetite after BPA. Fifty-two consecutive patients with CTEPH who underwent complete revascularization with BPA between July 2014 and July 2023 and were available for follow-up were evaluated. We compared the presence or absence of increased appetite, BMI change, and nutritional status before and after BPA treatment. BPA significantly improved the mean pulmonary artery pressure from 37.4 ± 8.7 mmHg to 18.7 ± 2.8 mmHg and the partial pressure of oxygen from 61.6 ± 9.3 mmHg to 82.8 ± 9.9 mmHg (both p < 0.001). Appetite was increased in 82.7% of the patients. BMI significantly increased from 23.9 ± 3.7 kg/m2 to 24.9 ± 3.7 kg/m2 (p < 0.001). As a nutritional indicator, the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index increased from 105.3 ± 10.2 to 108.3 ± 8.3 (p < 0.001). The median Controlling Nutritional Status scores showed no significant change but the range was significantly improved from 0-9 to 0-3 (p = 0.006). In conclusion, patients with CTEPH show improved oxygenation and hemodynamics, increased BMI, and improved nutritional status following BPA. This sequence of changes may help improve patient prognosis.

A rare case of modified superior vena cava isolation by using the ultra-high-resolution mapping system.

We report a case of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after pulmonary vein isolation, which patient had AF trigger in the superior vena cava (SVC) near the sinus node (SN). The ultra-high-resolution mapping revealed that SN located within the SVC and the atrial activation from the SN to SVC propagated in both septal and lateral direction, then upward with circumventing the spontaneous conduction block identified just above and lateral SN (upper hemisphere). We successfully isolated SVC including the ectopic origin at the same level as the SN by utilizing the spontaneous conduction block line around the SN without any complication.

URAT1 is expressed in cardiomyocytes and dotinurad attenuates the development of diet-induced metabolic heart disease.

We recently reported that the selective inhibition of urate transporter-1 (URAT1), which is primarily expressed in the kidneys, ameliorates insulin resistance by attenuating hepatic steatosis and improving brown adipose tissue function in diet-induced obesity. In this study, we evaluated the effects of dotinurad, a URAT1-selective inhibitor, on the hearts of high-fat diet (HFD)-fed obese mice for 16-20 weeks and on neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs) exposed to palmitic acid. Outside the kidneys, URAT1 was also expressed in cardiomyocytes and indeed worked as a uric acid transporter. Dotinurad substantially attenuated HFD-induced cardiac fibrosis, inflammatory responses, and cardiac dysfunction. Intriguingly, among various factors related to the pathophysiology of diet-induced obesity, palmitic acid significantly increased URAT1 expression in NRCMs and subsequently induced apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses via MAPK pathway, all of which were reduced by dotinurad. These results indicate that URAT1 is a potential therapeutic target for metabolic heart disease.

Inhibitory action of B-type natriuretic peptide on adrenocorticotropic hormone in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

In addition to the classical actions of hemodynamic regulation, natriuretic peptides (NPs) interact with various neurohumoral factors that are deeply involved in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases. However, their effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is activated under acute high-stress conditions in acute coronary syndrome (ACS), remain largely unknown. We investigated the impact of plasma B-type NP (BNP) on plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-cortisol levels during the acute phase of ACS ischemic attacks. The study population included 436 consecutive patients with ACS for whom data were collected during emergency cardiac catheterization. Among them, biochemical data after acute-phase treatment were available in 320 cases, defined as the ACS-remission phase (ACS-rem). Multiple regression analyses revealed that plasma BNP levels were significantly negatively associated with plasma ACTH levels only during ACS attacks (P < 0.001), but not in ACS-rem, whereas plasma BNP levels were not significantly associated with plasma cortisol levels at any point. Accordingly, covariance structure analyses were performed to clarify the direct contribution of BNP to ACTH by excluding other confounding factors, confirming that BNP level was negatively correlated with ACTH level only during ACS attacks (ß = -0.152, P = 0.002), whereas BNP did not significantly affect ACTH in ACS-rem. In conclusion, despite the lack of a significant direct association with cortisol levels, BNP negatively regulated ACTH levels during the acute phase of an ACS attack in which the HPA axis ought to be activated. NP may alleviate the acute stress response induced by severe ischemic attacks in patients with ACS.NEW & NOTEWORTHY BNP negatively regulates ACTH during a severe ischemic attack of ACS in which hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis ought to be activated, indicating an important role of natriuretic peptides as a mechanism of adaptation to acute critical stress conditions in humans.

Time-dependent changes in P2Y12 reaction unit values for predicting the different types of cardiovascular events in patients with ischemic heart disease.

Several studies have investigated the association between P2Y12 reaction unit (PRU) value and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in patients with ischemic heart disease, but there is no well-established consensus on the utility of PRU value. Furthermore, the optimal PRU cut-off value varied with studies. One reason may be that the endpoints and observation periods differed, depending on the study. This study aimed to investigate the optimal cut-off and predictive ability of the PRU value for predicting cardiovascular events, while considering different endpoints and observation periods. We surveyed a total of 338 patients receiving P2Y12 inhibitors and measured PRU during cardiac catheterization. Using time-dependent receiver operating characteristic analysis, we evaluated the cut-off and area under curve (AUC) of the PRU value for two MACEs (MACE ①: composite of death, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, and cerebral infarction; MACE ②: composite of MACE ① and target vessel revascularization) at 6, 12, 24 and 36 months after cardiac catheterization. MACE ① occurred in 18 cases and MACE ② in 32 cases. The PRU cut-off values at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months were 257, 238, 217, and 216, respectively, for MACE ① and 250, 238, 209, and 204, respectively, for MACE ②. The AUCs at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months were 0.753, 0.832, 0.718, and 0.717, respectively, for MACE ① and 0.724, 0.722, 0.664, and 0.682, respectively, for MACE ②. The optimal cut-off and predictive ability of PRU values for cardiovascular events varied depending on different endpoints and duration of the observation periods. A relatively high PRU value is effective for short-term event suppression, but a low value is required for long-term event suppression.

Pulmonary Vein Stenosis After Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation Using a Cryoballoon, Hot Balloon, or Laser Balloon.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) after PV isolation (PVI) for atrial fibrillation (AF) is a severe complication that requires angioplasty. This study aimed to compare the reduction of the cross-sectional PV area (PVA) and the incidence of PVS after cryoballoon (CB)-PVI, hot balloon (HB)-PVI, or laser balloon (LB)-PVI.Methods and Results: A total of 320 patients who underwent an initial catheter ablation procedure for AF using a CB, HB, or LB in 2 hospitals were included. They underwent contrast-enhanced multidetector CT before and 3 months after the procedure. In all 4 PVs, the reduction in PVA was more significant in the LB group than in the CB or HB groups, respectively. Moderate (50-75%) and severe (>75%) PVS were observed in 5.3% and 0.5% of the PVs, respectively. Although moderate PVS was more frequently observed in the LB group than in the CB or HB groups (8.2%, 3.8%, and 5.0%; P=0.03), the incidence of severe PVS was similar in the LB, CB, and HB groups (0.3%, 0.5%, and 1.0%; P=0.46). Symptomatic PVS requiring intervention occurred in 1 (0.3%) patient. CONCLUSIONS: Although the reduction in cross-sectional PVA and the incidence of moderate PVS after LB-PVI was more significant than after CB-PVI or HB-PVI, it rarely led to severe PVS. Symptomatic PVS requiring intervention was rare after the balloon ablation of AF.

Natriuretic Peptides: Role in the Diagnosis and Management of Heart Failure: A Scientific Statement From the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology, Heart Failure Society of America and Japanese Heart Failure Society.

Natriuretic peptides, brain (B-type) natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) are globally and most often used for the diagnosis of heart failure (HF). In addition, they can have an important complementary role in the risk stratification of its prognosis. Since the development of angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitors (ARNIs), the use of natriuretic peptides as therapeutic agents has grown in importance. The present document is the result of the Trilateral Cooperation Project among the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology, the Heart Failure Society of America and the Japanese Heart Failure Society. It represents an expert consensus that aims to provide a comprehensive, up-to-date perspective on natriuretic peptides in the diagnosis and management of HF, with a focus on the following main issues: (1) history and basic research: discovery, production and cardiovascular protection; (2) diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers: acute HF, chronic HF, inclusion/endpoint in clinical trials, and natriuretic peptides-guided therapy; (3) therapeutic use: nesiritide (BNP), carperitide (ANP) and ARNIs; and (4) gaps in knowledge and future directions.

Natriuretic peptides: role in the diagnosis and management of heart failure: a scientific statement from the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology, Heart Failure Society of America and Japanese Heart Failure Society.

Natriuretic peptides, brain (B-type) natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) are globally and most often used for the diagnosis of heart failure (HF). In addition, they can have an important complementary role in the risk stratification of its prognosis. Since the development of angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (ARNIs), the use of natriuretic peptides as therapeutic agents has grown in importance. The present document is the result of the Trilateral Cooperation Project among the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology, the Heart Failure Society of America and the Japanese Heart Failure Society. It represents an expert consensus that aims to provide a comprehensive, up-to-date perspective on natriuretic peptides in the diagnosis and management of HF, with a focus on the following main issues: (1) history and basic research: discovery, production and cardiovascular protection; (2) diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers: acute HF, chronic HF, inclusion/endpoint in clinical trials, and natriuretic peptide-guided therapy; (3) therapeutic use: nesiritide (BNP), carperitide (ANP) and ARNIs; and (4) gaps in knowledge and future directions.

Effects of angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor on insulin resistance in patients with heart failure.

AIMS: Although the haemodynamic effects of angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) on patients with heart failure have been demonstrated, the effect on glucose metabolism has not been fully elucidated. We retrospectively investigated the effect of ARNI on abnormal glucose metabolism in patients with stable chronic heart failure using an additional structural equation model (SEM) analysis. METHODS: We analysed 34 patients who regularly visited to the outpatient department of our institute with heart failure from October 2021 and July 2022 and who were taking angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). Seventeen patients switched from ACE inhibitors or ARBs to an ARNI (ARNI group), and the other 17 patients continued treatment with ACE inhibitors or ARBs (control group). RESULTS: At baseline, although the ARNI group included fewer patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in comparison with the control group (P = 0.004), patients with heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction, and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction were mostly biased towards the ARNI group (although not statistically significant). The baseline insulin resistance in the ARNI group was already significantly higher in comparison with the control group [fasting blood insulin, 9.7 (7.4, 11.6) vs. 7.8 (5.2, 9.2) µU/mL, P = 0.033; homoeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), 3.10 (1.95, 4.19) vs. 2.02 (1.56, 2.42), P = 0.014]. Three months later, the fasting blood insulin and the HOMA-IR levels were both found to have decreased in comparison with the baseline values [baseline to 3 months: insulin, 9.7 (7.4, 11.6) to 7.3 (4.6, 9.4) µU/mL, P < 0.001; HOMA-IR, 3.10 (1.95, 4.19) to 1.96 (1.23, 3.09), P < 0.001]. An additional SEM analysis demonstrated that the initiation of ARNI had caused a reduction in the fasting blood insulin and the HOMA-IR levels at 3 months independently of the baseline fasting blood insulin and HOMA-IR levels, respectively. Similarly, the initiation of ARNI resulted in a significant reduction in serum uric acid levels (6.28 ± 0.35 to 5.80 ± 0.30 mg/dL, P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, even in a short period of only 3 months, the administration of ARNI improved insulin resistance and consequently reduced the serum uric acid levels in patients with stable chronic heart failure. Although the ARNI group already had high insulin resistance at baseline, an additional SEM analysis revealed that the decreased insulin resistance was truly due to the effect of ARNI.

Investigation of the small-balloon technique as a method for retrieving dislodged stents.

The small-balloon technique used to retrieve a dislodged coronary stent is less studied. We investigated the small-balloon technique to study the capture force and retrieval rate of dislodged proximal or distal stents. We developed a retrieval model for stent dislodgement and performed bench tests to compare proximal and distal capture. We evaluated capture force by capture site in a fixed stent dislodgement model and capture force and retrieval rate by capture site using a retrieval model of stent dislodgement. Three-dimensional (3D)-micro-computed tomography (CT) was used to scan the captured conditions of the distal (DC) and proximal (PC) groups. Stent, balloon shaft, and guiding catheter (GC) diameters were measured. Retrieval areas within GC were calculated and compared. The force was significantly lower in the PC group than in the DC group (p < 0.01). Successful retrieval was achieved in 100% and 84.8% in the PC and DC groups, respectively. The force required to retrieve the dislodged stent was significantly lower in the PC group than that in the DC group (p < 0.01). The force was significantly lower in the successful cases in the DC group than in the unsuccessful cases (p < 0.01). The retrievable areas in the PC and DC groups were 67.5% and 32.7%, respectively, as calculated from the values measured from the 3D-CT images. The success rate of PC was higher than that of DC using the small-balloon technique. The smaller proximal stent gap in the PC method facilitated the retrieval of the dislodgement stent.

Right-to-left shunt via iatrogenic atrial septal defect requiring emergency surgical repair following cryoballoon atrial fibrillation ablation in a patient with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.

An 81-year-old woman with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy underwent catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter. Hypoxemia refractory to the administration of oxygen was seen after transseptal puncture. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed right to left shunt via an iatrogenic atrial septal defect (IASD) that was increased by tricuspid regurgitation flow. Her hypoxemia improved after IASD occlusion with the inflation of a venogram balloon catheter. Emergent surgical IASD closure was successfully performed. IASD after transseptal puncture for atrial fibrillation ablation infrequently causes severe complications that require emergent repair. Learning objective: Some cases requiring iatrogenic atrial septal defect (IASD) closure after atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation have been reported. We describe the case of an arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy patient with right to left shunt via an IASD which required emergent surgical repair after AF ablation. Right to left shunt after trans-septal puncture is rare, however it can be an emergent life-threatening complication. IASD occlusion with venogram balloon catheter is helpful for the diagnosis and the short-term solution.