Sex Differences and Utility of Treadmill Testing in Long-QT Syndrome.

Background Diagnosis of congenital long-QT syndrome (LQTS) is complicated by phenotypic ambiguity, with a frequent normal-to-borderline resting QT interval. A 3-step algorithm based on exercise response of the corrected QT interval (QTc) was previously developed to diagnose patients with LQTS and predict subtype. This study evaluated the 3-step algorithm in a population that is more representative of the general population with LQTS with milder phenotypes and establishes sex-specific cutoffs beyond the resting QTc. Methods and Results We identified 208 LQTS likely pathogenic or pathogenic KCNQ1 or KCNH2 variant carriers in the Canadian NLQTS (National Long-QT Syndrome) Registry and 215 unaffected controls from the HiRO (Hearts in Rhythm Organization) Registry. Exercise treadmill tests were analyzed across the 5 stages of the Bruce protocol. The predictive value of exercise ECG characteristics was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis to identify optimal cutoff values. A total of 78% of male carriers and 74% of female carriers had a resting QTc value in the normal-to-borderline range. The 4-minute recovery QTc demonstrated the best predictive value for carrier status in both sexes, with better LQTS ascertainment in female patients (area under the curve, 0.90 versus 0.82), with greater sensitivity and specificity. The optimal cutoff value for the 4-minute recovery period was 440 milliseconds for male patients and 450 milliseconds for female patients. The 1-minute recovery QTc had the best predictive value in female patients for differentiating LQTS1 versus LQTS2 (area under the curve, 0.82), and the peak exercise QTc had a marginally better predictive value in male patients for subtype with (area under the curve, 0.71). The optimal cutoff value for the 1-minute recovery period was 435 milliseconds for male patients and 455 milliseconds for femal patients. Conclusions The 3-step QT exercise algorithm is a valid tool for the diagnosis of LQTS in a general population with more frequent ambiguity in phenotype. The algorithm is a simple and reliable method for the identification and prediction of the 2 major genotypes of LQTS.

Complication rates following ventricular tachycardia ablation in ischaemic and non-ischaemic cardiomyopathies: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia (VT) is associated with potential major complications, including mortality. The risk of acute complications in patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) and non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) has not been systematically evaluated. METHODS: PubMed was searched for studies of catheter ablation of VT published between September 2009 and September 2019. Pre-specified primary outcomes were (1) rate of major acute complications, including death, and (2) mortality rate. RESULTS: A total of 7395 references were evaluated for relevance. From this, 50 studies with a total of 3833 patients undergoing 4319 VT ablation procedures fulfilled the inclusion criteria (mean age 59 years; male 82%; 2363 [62%] ICM; 1470 [38%] NICM). The overall major complication rate in ICM cohorts was 9.4% (95% CI, 8.1-10.7) and NICM cohorts was 7.1% (95% CI, 6.0-8.3). Reported complication rates were highly variable between studies (ICM I2 = 90%; NICM I2 = 89%). Vascular complications (ICM 2.5% [95% CI, 1.9-3.1]; NICM 1.2% [95% CI, 0.7-1.7]) and cerebrovascular events (ICM 0.5% [95% CI, 0.2-0.7]; NICM, 0.1% [95% CI, 0-0.2]) were significantly higher in ICM cohorts. Acute mortality rates in the ICM and NICM cohorts were low (ICM 0.9% [95% CI, 0.5-1.3]; NICM 0.6% [95% CI, 0.3-1.0]) with the majority of overall deaths (ICM 75%; NICM 80%) due to either recurrent VT or cardiogenic shock. CONCLUSION: Overall acute complication rates of VT ablation are comparable between ICM and NICM patients. However, the pattern and predictors of complications vary depending on the underlying cardiomyopathy.

PDE5 Inhibition Suppresses Ventricular Arrhythmias by Reducing SR Ca2+ Content.

[Figure: see text].

Optimising Large Animal Models of Sustained Atrial Fibrillation: Relevance of the Critical Mass Hypothesis.

BACKGROUND: Large animal models play an important role in our understanding of the pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation (AF). Our aim was to determine whether prospectively collected baseline variables could predict the development of sustained AF in sheep, thereby reducing the number of animals required in future studies. Our hypothesis was that the relationship between atrial dimensions, refractory periods and conduction velocity (otherwise known as the critical mass hypothesis) could be used for the first time to predict the development of sustained AF. METHODS: Healthy adult Welsh mountain sheep underwent a baseline electrophysiology study followed by implantation of a neurostimulator connected via an endocardial pacing lead to the right atrial appendage. The device was programmed to deliver intermittent 50 Hz bursts of 30 s duration over an 8-week period whilst sheep were monitored for AF. RESULTS: Eighteen sheep completed the protocol, of which 28% developed sustained AF. Logistic regression analysis showed only fibrillation number (calculated using the critical mass hypothesis as the left atrial diameter divided by the product of atrial conduction velocity and effective refractory period) was associated with an increased likelihood of developing sustained AF (Ln Odds Ratio 26.1 [95% confidence intervals 0.2-52.0] p = 0.048). A receiver-operator characteristic curve showed this could be used to predict which sheep developed sustained AF (C-statistic 0.82 [95% confidence intervals 0.59-1.04] p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: The critical mass hypothesis can be used to predict sustained AF in a tachypaced ovine model. These findings can be used to optimise the design of future studies involving large animals.

Epidemiology of cardiac implantable electronic device infections: incidence and risk factors.

Cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) infection is a potentially devastating complication of CIED procedures, causing significant morbidity and mortality for patients. Of all CIED complications, infection has the greatest impact on mortality, requirement for re-intervention and additional hospital treatment days. Based on large prospective studies, the infection rate at 12-months after a CIED procedure is approximately 1%. The risk of CIED infection may be related to several factors which should be considered with regards to risk minimization. These include technical factors, patient factors, and periprocedural factors. Technical factors include the number of leads and size of generator, the absolute number of interventions which have been performed for the patient, and the operative approach. Patient factors include various non-modifiable underlying comorbidities and potentially modifiable transient conditions. Procedural factors include both peri-operative and post-operative factors. The contemporary PADIT score, derived from a large cohort of CIED patients, is useful for the prediction of infection risk. In this review, we summarize the key information regarding epidemiology, incidence and risk factors for CIED infection.

Altered atrial cytosolic calcium handling contributes to the development of postoperative atrial fibrillation.

AIMS: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a commonly occurring arrhythmia after cardiac surgery (postoperative AF, poAF) and is associated with poorer outcomes. Considering that reduced atrial contractile function is a predictor of poAF and that Ca2+ plays an important role in both excitation-contraction coupling and atrial arrhythmogenesis, this study aims to test whether alterations of intracellular Ca2+ handling contribute to impaired atrial contractility and to the arrhythmogenic substrate predisposing patients to poAF. METHODS AND RESULTS: Right atrial appendages were obtained from patients in sinus rhythm undergoing open-heart surgery. Cardiomyocytes were investigated by simultaneous measurement of [Ca2+]i and action potentials (APs, patch-clamp). Patients were followed-up for 6 days to identify those with and without poAF. Speckle-tracking analysis of preoperative echocardiography revealed reduced left atrial contraction strain in poAF patients. At the time of surgery, cellular Ca2+ transients (CaTs) and the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ content were smaller in the poAF group. CaT decay was slower in poAF, but the decay of caffeine-induced Ca2+ transients was unaltered, suggesting preserved sodium-calcium exchanger function. In agreement, western blots revealed reduced SERCA2a expression in poAF patients but unaltered phospholamban expression/phosphorylation. Computational modelling indicated that reduced SERCA activity promotes occurrence of CaT and AP alternans. Indeed, alternans of CaT and AP occurred more often and at lower stimulation frequencies in atrial myocytes from poAF patients. Resting membrane potential and AP duration were comparable between both groups at various pacing frequencies (0.25-8 Hz). CONCLUSIONS: Biochemical, functional, and modelling data implicate reduced SERCA-mediated Ca2+ reuptake into the SR as a major contributor to impaired preoperative atrial contractile function and to the pre-existing arrhythmogenic substrate in patients developing poAF.

Relationship between sodium channel function and clinical phenotype in SCN5A variants associated with Brugada syndrome.

The identification of a pathogenic SCN5A variant confers an increased risk of conduction defects and ventricular arrhythmias (VA) in Brugada syndrome (BrS). However, specific aspects of sodium channel function that influence clinical phenotype have not been defined. A systematic literature search identified SCN5A variants associated with BrS. Sodium current (INa ) functional parameters (peak current, decay, steady-state activation and inactivation, and recovery from inactivation) and clinical features (conduction abnormalities [CA], spontaneous VA or family history of sudden cardiac death [SCD], and spontaneous BrS electrocardiogram [ECG]) were extracted. A total of 561 SCN5A variants associated with BrS were identified, for which data on channel function and clinical phenotype were available in 142. In the primary analysis, no relationship was found between any aspect of channel function and CA, VA/SCD, or spontaneous BrS ECG pattern. Sensitivity analyses including only variants graded pathogenic or likely pathogenic suggested that reduction in peak current and positive shift in steady-state activation were weakly associated with CA and VA/SCD, although sensitivity and specificity remained low. The relationship between in vitro assessment of channel function and BrS clinical phenotype is weak. The assessment of channel function does not enhance risk stratification. Caution is needed when extrapolating functional testing to the likelihood of variant pathogenicity.

Chronic vagal nerve stimulation has no effect on tachycardia-induced heart failure progression or excitation-contraction coupling.

Autonomic dysregulation plays a key role in the development and progression of heart failure (HF). Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) may be a promising therapeutic approach. However, the outcomes from clinical trials evaluating VNS in HF have been mixed, and the mechanisms underlying this treatment remain poorly understood. Intermittent high-frequency VNS (pulse width 300 µs, 30 Hz stimulation, 30 s on, and 300 s off) was used in healthy sheep and sheep in which established HF had been induced by 4 weeks rapid ventricular pacing to assess (a) the effects of VNS on intrinsic cardiac vagal tone, (b) whether VNS delays the progression of established HF, and (c) whether high-frequency VNS affects the regulation of cardiomyocyte calcium handling in health and disease. VNS had no effect on resting heart rate or intrinsic vagal tone in the healthy heart. Although fewer VNS-treated animals showed subjective signs of heart failure at 6 weeks, overall VNS did not slow the progression of clinical or echocardiographic signs of HF. Chronic VNS did not affect left ventricular cardiomyocyte calcium handling in healthy sheep. Rapid ventricular pacing decreased the L-type calcium current and calcium transient amplitude, but chronic VNS did not rescue dysfunctional calcium handling. Overall, high-frequency VNS did not prevent progression of established HF or influence cellular excitation-contraction coupling. However, a different model of HF or selection of different stimulation parameters may have yielded different results. These results highlight the need for greater insight into VNS dosing and parameter selection and a deeper understanding of its physiological effects.

Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibition improves contractile function and restores transverse tubule loss and catecholamine responsiveness in heart failure.

Heart failure (HF) is characterized by poor survival, a loss of catecholamine reserve and cellular structural remodeling in the form of disorganization and loss of the transverse tubule network. Indeed, survival rates for HF are worse than many common cancers and have not improved over time. Tadalafil is a clinically relevant drug that blocks phosphodiesterase 5 with high specificity and is used to treat erectile dysfunction. Using a sheep model of advanced HF, we show that tadalafil treatment improves contractile function, reverses transverse tubule loss, restores calcium transient amplitude and the heart's response to catecholamines. Accompanying these effects, tadalafil treatment normalized BNP mRNA and prevented development of subjective signs of HF. These effects were independent of changes in myocardial cGMP content and were associated with upregulation of both monomeric and dimerized forms of protein kinase G and of the cGMP hydrolyzing phosphodiesterases 2 and 3. We propose that the molecular switch for the loss of transverse tubules in HF and their restoration following tadalafil treatment involves the BAR domain protein Amphiphysin II (BIN1) and the restoration of catecholamine sensitivity is through reductions in G-protein receptor kinase 2, protein phosphatase 1 and protein phosphatase 2 A abundance following phosphodiesterase 5 inhibition.

Early experience of thoracoscopic vs. catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation.

AIMS: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) ablation has been advocated as a treatment option for non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) in recent guidelines. Real-life data on its safety and efficacy during a centre's early experience are sparse. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty patients (28 persistent/longstanding persistent AF) underwent standalone VATS ablation for AF by an experienced thoracoscopic surgeon, with the first 20 cases proctored by external surgeons. Procedural and follow-up outcomes were collected prospectively, and compared with 90 propensity-matched patients undergoing contemporaneous catheter ablation (CA). Six (20.0%) patients undergoing VATS ablation experienced ≥1 major complication (death n = 1, stroke n = 2, conversion to sternotomy n = 3, and phrenic nerve injury n = 2). This was significantly higher than the 1.1% major complication rate (tamponade requiring drainage n = 1) seen with CA (P < 0.001). Twelve-month single procedure arrhythmia-free survival rates without antiarrhythmic drugs were 56% in the VATS and 57% in the CA cohorts (P = 0.22), and 78% and 80%, respectively given an additional CA and antiarrhythmic drugs (P = 0.32). CONCLUSION: During a centre's early experience, VATS ablation may have similar success rates to those from an established CA service, but carry a greater risk of major complications. Those embarking on a programme of VATS AF ablation should be aware that complication and success rates may differ from those reported by selected high-volume centres.

Systematic re-evaluation of SCN5A variants associated with Brugada syndrome.

BACKGROUND: A large number of SCN5A variants have been reported to underlie Brugada syndrome (BrS). However, the evidence supporting individual variants is highly heterogeneous. OBJECTIVE: We systematically re-evaluated all SCN5A variants reported in BrS using the 2015 American college of medical genetics and genomics and the association for molecular pathology (ACMG-AMP) guidelines. METHODS: A PubMed/Embase search was performed to identify all reported SCN5A variants in BrS. Standardized bioinformatic re-analysis (SIFT, PolyPhen, Mutation Taster, Mutation assessor, FATHMM, GERP, PhyloP, and SiPhy) and re-evaluation of frequency in the gnomAD database were performed. Fourteen ACMG-AMP rules were deemed applicable for SCN5A variant analysis. RESULTS: Four hundred and eighty unique SCN5A variants were identified, the majority of which 425 (88%) were coding variants. One hundred and fifty-six of 425 (37%) variants were classified as pathogenic/likely pathogenic. Two hundred and fifty-eight (60%) were classified as variants of uncertain significance, while a further 11 (3%) were classified as benign/likely benign. When considering the subset of variants that were considered "null" variants separately, 95% fulfilled criteria for pathogenicity/likely pathogenicity. In contrast, only 17% of missense variants fulfilled criteria for pathogenicity/likely pathogenicity. Importantly, however, only 25% of missense variants had available functional data, which was a major score driver for pathogenic classification. CONCLUSION: Based on contemporary ACMG-AMP guidelines, only a minority of SCN5A variants implicated in BrS fulfill the criteria for pathogenicity or likely pathogenicity.

Increased Vulnerability to Atrial Fibrillation Is Associated With Increased Susceptibility to Alternans in Old Sheep.

Background Atrial fibrillation ( AF ) is common in the elderly, but rare in the young; however, the changes that occur with age that promote AF are not fully understood. Action potential ( AP ) alternans may be involved in the initiation of AF . Using a translationally relevant model, we investigated whether age-associated atrial vulnerability to AF was associated with susceptibility to AP alternans. Methods and Results AF was induced in conscious young and old sheep using 50 Hz burst pacing. Old sheep were more vulnerable to AF . Monophasic and cellular AP s were recorded from the right atrium in vivo and from myocytes isolated from the left and right atrial appendages. AP alternans occurred at lower stimulation frequencies in old sheep than young in vivo (old, 3.0±0.1 Hz; young, 3.3±0.1 Hz; P<0.05) and in isolated myocytes (old, 1.6±0.1 Hz; young, 2.0±0.1 Hz; P<0.05). Simultaneous recordings of [Ca2+]i and membrane potential in myocytes showed that alternans of AP s and [Ca2+]i often occurred together. However, at low stimulation rates [Ca2+]i alternans could occur without AP alternans, whereas at high stimulation rates AP alternans could still be observed despite disabling Ca2+ cycling using thapsigargin. Conclusions We have shown, for the first time in a large mammalian model, that aging is associated with increased duration of AF and susceptibility to AP alternans. We suggest that instabilities in Ca2+ handling initiate alternans at low stimulation rates, but that AP restitution alone can sustain alternans at higher rates.

Calcium in the Pathophysiology of Atrial Fibrillation and Heart Failure.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is commonly associated with heart failure. A bidirectional relationship exists between the two-AF exacerbates heart failure causing a significant increase in heart failure symptoms, admissions to hospital and cardiovascular death, while pathological remodeling of the atria as a result of heart failure increases the risk of AF. A comprehensive understanding of the pathophysiology of AF is essential if we are to break this vicious circle. In this review, the latest evidence will be presented showing a fundamental role for calcium in both the induction and maintenance of AF. After outlining atrial electrophysiology and calcium handling, the role of calcium-dependent afterdepolarizations and atrial repolarization alternans in triggering AF will be considered. The atrial response to rapid stimulation will be discussed, including the short-term protection from calcium overload in the form of calcium signaling silencing and the eventual progression to diastolic calcium leak causing afterdepolarizations and the development of an electrical substrate that perpetuates AF. The role of calcium in the bidirectional relationship between heart failure and AF will then be covered. The effects of heart failure on atrial calcium handling that promote AF will be reviewed, including effects on both atrial myocytes and the pulmonary veins, before the aspects of AF which exacerbate heart failure are discussed. Finally, the limitations of human and animal studies will be explored allowing contextualization of what are sometimes discordant results.

Targeting miR-423-5p Reverses Exercise Training-Induced HCN4 Channel Remodeling and Sinus Bradycardia.

RATIONALE: Downregulation of the pacemaking ion channel, HCN4 (hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide gated channel 4), and the corresponding ionic current, If, underlies exercise training-induced sinus bradycardia in rodents. If this occurs in humans, it could explain the increased incidence of bradyarrhythmias in veteran athletes, and it will be important to understand the underlying processes. OBJECTIVE: To test the role of HCN4 in the training-induced bradycardia in human athletes and investigate the role of microRNAs (miRs) in the repression of HCN4. METHODS AND RESULTS: As in rodents, the intrinsic heart rate was significantly lower in human athletes than in nonathletes, and in all subjects, the rate-lowering effect of the HCN selective blocker, ivabradine, was significantly correlated with the intrinsic heart rate, consistent with HCN repression in athletes. Next-generation sequencing and quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction showed remodeling of miRs in the sinus node of swim-trained mice. Computational predictions highlighted a prominent role for miR-423-5p. Interaction between miR-423-5p and HCN4 was confirmed by a dose-dependent reduction in HCN4 3'-untranslated region luciferase reporter activity on cotransfection with precursor miR-423-5p (abolished by mutation of predicted recognition elements). Knockdown of miR-423-5p with anti-miR-423-5p reversed training-induced bradycardia via rescue of HCN4 and If. Further experiments showed that in the sinus node of swim-trained mice, upregulation of miR-423-5p (intronic miR) and its host gene, NSRP1, is driven by an upregulation of the transcription factor Nkx2.5. CONCLUSIONS: HCN remodeling likely occurs in human athletes, as well as in rodent models. miR-423-5p contributes to training-induced bradycardia by targeting HCN4. This work presents the first evidence of miR control of HCN4 and heart rate. miR-423-5p could be a therapeutic target for pathological sinus node dysfunction in veteran athletes.

Increased Ca buffering underpins remodelling of Ca2+ handling in old sheep atrial myocytes.

KEY POINTS: Ageing is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and arrhythmias, with the most common arrhythmia being found in the atria of the heart. Little is known about how the normal atria of the heart remodel with age and thus why dysfunction might occur. We report alterations to the atrial systolic Ca2+ transient that have implications for the function of the atrial in the elderly. We describe a novel mechanism by which increased Ca buffering can account for changes to systolic Ca2+ in the old atria. The present study helps us to understand how the processes regulating atrial contraction are remodelled during ageing and provides a basis for future work aiming to understand why dysfunction develops. ABSTRACT: Many cardiovascular diseases, including those affecting the atria, are associated with advancing age. Arrhythmias, including those in the atria, can arise as a result of electrical remodelling or alterations in Ca2+ homeostasis. In the atria, age-associated changes in the action potential have been documented. However, little is known about remodelling of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis in the healthy aged atria. Using single atrial myocytes from young and old Welsh Mountain sheep, we show the free Ca2+ transient amplitude and rate of decay of systolic Ca2+ decrease with age, whereas sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca content increases. An increase in intracellular Ca buffering explains both the decrease in Ca2+ transient amplitude and decay kinetics in the absence of any change in sarcoendoplasmic reticulum calcium transport ATPase function. Ageing maintained the integrated Ca2+ influx via ICa-L but decreased peak ICa-L . Decreased peak ICa-L was found to be responsible for the age-associated increase in SR Ca content but not the decrease in Ca2+ transient amplitude. Instead, decreased peak ICa-L offsets increased SR load such that Ca2+ release from the SR was maintained during ageing. The results of the present study highlight a novel mechanism by which increased Ca buffering decreases systolic Ca2+ in old atria. Furthermore, for the first time, we have shown that SR Ca content is increased in old atrial myocytes.