Impact of the New Heart Allocation System on the Medium-Term Outcomes in Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

The introduction of the new heart allocation system in the United States in 2018 resulted in an increase in the number of heart transplants (HT) performed among patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). However, whether that affected medium-term post-HT outcomes in this group of patients remains unknown. We conducted an analysis of the United Network for Organ Sharing Transplant Database, including adults with HCM who underwent heart transplantation between 2015 and 2021. Patients were divided into two equal-duration eras: Era 1 (October 17, 2015, to October 17, 2018) and Era 2 (October 18, 2018, to October 18, 2021). In the studied period, 444 patients with HCM underwent HT: 204 in Era 1 and 240 in Era 2. In Era 2, the waitlist time was shorter, transplant rates were higher, patients were less frequently supported with inotropes but more often with an IABP, ischemic time was longer, and donor-to-recipient distance larger. Pre- and post-transplant functional status was comparable across the two eras, while the pre-HT employment rate was higher in the new system. The 3 year survival was unchanged across eras. In the new allocation system, despite more frequent mechanical circulatory support (MCS) use and increased ischemic time, the medium-term outcomes of patients with HCM remained favorable.

Long-term post-transplantation outcomes in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Single-center 35-year experience.

BACKGROUND: Heart transplantation (HT) is the only option for most patients with end-stage heart failure and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) who fail medical therapy. Data on the long-term outcomes post-transplant in HCM individuals remain scarce. METHODS: We analyzed data of 319 adult patients who underwent HT between 1984 and 2019. Patients were followed for cardiac allograft rejection, cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV), death, or re-transplantation. RESULTS: Outcomes of 24 patients with HCM, 160 with ischemic, and 135 with dilated cardiomyopathy were compared. During a mean follow-up of 11.6 ± 7.2 (max 27.8), 16.7 ± 8.2 (max 32.7), and 16.1 ± 9.7 (max 34.6) years after HT in hypertrophic, ischemic, and dilated cardiomyopathy groups, respectively: 10-year survival rate was 67%, 62%, 69%, respectively (p = .04). Post-transplantation, HCM individuals more often than the other two studied groups required prolonged inotropic support (37%, 12%, 17%, respectively, p = .02), temporary mechanical circulatory support (45%, 13%, 14%, respectively, p < .01), and renal replacement therapy immediately post-HT (55%, 19%, 24%, respectively, p < .01). No significant inter-group differences were noted in the 10-year freedom from acute allograft rejection (38%, 46%, 43%, respectively, p = .38) or 10-year freedom from CAV (88%, 78%, 81%, respectively, p = .57). CONCLUSIONS: The long-term post-transplant prognosis of adult patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is favorable despite more challenging immediate post-HT course.

Residual damage in previously instrumented radial arteries.

Pre-procedural radial artery ultrasound may reduce both vascular access time and total procedure time in patients who previously had radial artery procedures. Many radial arteries that were previously instrumented appear to have chronic changes that may make them unfavorable for future use. Attention to best practice for radial artery catheterization and measurements of long-term radial artery damage may be important metrics for sustainable, long-term use of transradial access.

Electrocardiographic Predictors of Heart Failure With Reduced Versus Preserved Ejection Fraction: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Several markers detected on the routine 12-lead ECG are associated with future heart failure events. We examined whether these markers are able to separate the risk of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) from heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). METHODS AND RESULTS: We analyzed data of 6664 participants (53% female; mean age 62±10 years) from MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) who were free of cardiovascular disease at baseline (2000-2002). A competing risks analysis was used to compare the association of several baseline ECG predictors with HFrEF and HFpEF detected during a median follow-up of 12.1 years. A total of 127 HFrEF and 117 HFpEF events were detected during follow-up. In a multivariable adjusted model, prolonged QRS duration, delayed intrinsicoid deflection, left-axis deviation, right-axis deviation, prolonged QT interval, abnormal QRS-T axis, left ventricular hypertrophy, ST/T-wave abnormalities, and left bundle-branch block were associated with HFrEF. In contrast, higher resting heart rate, abnormal P-wave axis, and abnormal QRS-T axis were associated with HFpEF. The risk of HFrEF versus HFpEF was significantly differently for delayed intrinsicoid deflection (hazard ratio: 4.90 [95% confidence interval (CI), 2.77-8.68] versus 0.94 [95% CI, 0.29-2.97]; comparison P=0.013), prolonged QT interval (hazard ratio: 2.39 [95% CI, 1.55-3.68] versus 0.52 [95% CI, 0.23-1.19]; comparison P<0.001), and ST/T-wave abnormalities (hazard ratio: 2.47 [95% CI, 1.69-3.62] versus 1.13 [95% CI, 0.72-1.77]; comparison P=0.0093). CONCLUSIONS: Markers of ventricular repolarization and delayed ventricular activation are able to distinguish between the future risk of HFrEF and HFpEF. These findings suggest a role for ECG markers in the personalized risk assessment of heart failure subtypes.

Burden of Cardiac Arrhythmias in Patients With Anthracycline-Related Cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of arrhythmias and device (internal cardiac defibrillator/cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator) therapies in patients with a diagnosis of cardiomyopathy and anthracycline exposure. BACKGROUND: The burden of arrhythmias in adult cancer survivors with anthracycline-related cardiomyopathy has not been studied, but might have important implications for clinical management and outcomes. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of all patients with left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) who underwent internal cardiac defibrillator/cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator implantation at the Mayo Clinic from 1990 to 2012. Ninety-five patients were cancer survivors (on average, 5 years), 23 of which had anthracycline-related cardiomyopathy (CA-ACM) and 72 of which had non-anthracycline-related cardiomyopathy (CA-NACM). A second control group of 68 noncancer patients with ischemic heart disease-related LVD or dilated cardiomyopathy (ischemic heart disease [IHD]/DCM) was age- and gender-matched to patients with CA-ACM. All patients were followed for arrhythmias and appropriate ICD therapies, total mortality, heart transplantation, and left ventricular ejection fraction. RESULTS: More than 5.5 ± 3.0 years after device implantation, nonsustained ventricular tachycardia was the most common arrhythmia in patients with CA-ACM followed by atrial fibrillation and sustained ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation (73.9%, 56.6%, and 30.4%, respectively), which was not significantly different from CA-NACM and IHD/DCM. The 5-year rate of ICD therapies was 19.9% in the CA-ACM group versus 22.1% in the CA-NACM group and 32.6% in the IHD/DCM group (p = NS for both). Device therapy-free, heart transplantation-free, and/or overall survival as well as cardiac function dynamics over time were not different in patients with CA-ACM than in patients with CA-NACM and IHD/DCM. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that the burden of arrhythmia in patients with anthracycline-related cardiomyopathy is not different from cancer and non-cancer patients with IHD-related LVD or DCM.

Association of Soluble CD40 Ligand With Duration of Atrial Fibrillation and With Intensity of Spontaneous Echocardiographic Contrast.

OBJECTIVES: The authors tested the hypothesis that the inflammatory response of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) is associated with elevated soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L). BACKGROUND: NVAF is generally believed to be an inflammatory disease process. sCD40L represents a sensitive in vivo indicator of platelet activation and may serve as an "inflammatory and thrombotic thermometer." METHODS: Plasma sCD40L was measured using enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay in 109 NVAF cases (60.9 ± 15 years of age; 26% women) and 48 normal sinus rhythm (NSR) controls (62.3 ± 15 years of age; 44% women). Patients were separated by arrhythmia duration of <1 month (n = 21), 1 to 12 months (n = 18), and >12 months (n = 70). RESULTS: Median sCD40L level was significantly higher in NVAF cases than in NSR controls (321 pg/ml vs. 238 pg/ml, respectively; p = 0.029). This difference was driven by higher levels in patients with NVAF duration for <1 month (552 pg/ml) and 1 to 12 months (328 pg/ml). NVAF patients with arrhythmia duration for over 1 year had sCD40L levels not significantly different from those of NSR controls. An sCD40L concentration of 552 pg/ml distinguished NVAF patients with dysrhythmia duration of <1 month (area under the curve [AUC] of 0.72; p = 0.0010) or duration for ≤12 months (AUC: 0.69; p = 0.0003) from NSR controls. Circulating sCD40L levels were also significantly higher among patients with mild spontaneous echocardiogram contrast (SEC) (p = 0.0378) and those with moderate SEC (p = 0.007) compared with NSR controls. CONCLUSIONS: sCD40L levels are significantly higher in NVAF patients than in NSR controls but only for up to 1 year after development of dysrhythmia. An sCD40L concentration of 552 pg/ml can help to assess development or recurrence of asymptomatic NVAF.

The association between thromboembolic complications and blood group in patients with atrial fibrillation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether blood type affects the risk of thromboembolic complications in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The Mayo Clinic electronic medical record was searched (between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2010) to identify all patients with AF with blood group assessment. Records were analyzed for stroke, transient ischemic attack, left atrium appendage thrombus, cerebral or peripheral embolism, and hemorrhagic stroke. All events were adjusted for Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age >75 Years, Diabetes mellitus, and Stroke/transient ischemic attack score. RESULTS: Of the 47,816 patients with AF, 14,462 had blood group type available (40% women; mean age, 73±12 years). These included 12,363 patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) (40% women; mean age, 73±12 years) and 2099 patients with valvular AF (41% women, mean age, 73±12 years). Within patients with NVAF, the rate of peripheral embolization was significantly lower in those with blood type O (2.0%) than in those with other blood types (3.0%; odds ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.52-0.84; P<.001). Neither cerebral thromboembolic (8.1% for "O" vs 8.2% for "non-O" blood group for NVAF and 7.29% vs 7.76% for valvular AF) nor cerebral hemorrhage (2.0% each group) events rates differed by blood group. CONCLUSION: Blood group O may be protective against peripheral cardioembolic complications of NVAF, which may relate, in part, to reduced circulating von Willebrand factor levels. Cerebral thromboembolic event rates did not differ by blood group.

The impact of gender and left atrial blood stasis on adiponectin levels in non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a risk factor for non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. Adiponectin, a unique biomarker of adipose tissue, has antiinflammatory, insulin-sensitizing, and antiatherogenic properties and is known to be higher in women. The relationship between adiponectin, gender, and thromboembolic risk in atrial fibrillation however is unknown. METHODS: The relationship between gender, adiponectin levels, and echocardiographic measures of blood stagnation and left atrial appendage thrombus (LAAT) was assessed in 209 patients with NVAF (55 women and 154 men; mean age 63 ± 14 years) compared to 70 normal sinus rhythm controls (29 women and 41 men; mean age 64 ± 14 years). Total adiponectin was measured by solid-phase ELISA. Demographic and clinical variables of CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc were collected, and spontaneous echocardiographic contrast (SEC), left atrial appendage emptying velocity (LAAEV) and left atrium volume index (LAVI) were measured prospectively. RESULTS: Elevated adiponectin was associated with advanced cardiovascular pathology and permanent arrhythmia but only in men with NVAF. In NVAF men, a step-wise increase in adiponectin levels was noted relative to increasing intensity of SEC and decreasing LAAEV. Adiponectin level >16657 ng/ml predicted LAAT (OR: 3.66; 95% Cl: 1.21-11.48; p=0.022) after adjustment for CHADS2 score in men but not in women with NVAF. CONCLUSIONS: There is a direct correlation between elevated adiponectin level and the degree of left atrial blood stasis in men but not in women with NVAF. High adiponectin levels can be used as an important variable in the prediction of LAAT.