Verification of haemoglobin level to prevent worsening of prognosis in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction patients from the PURSUIT-HFpEF registry.

AIMS: Anaemia has been reported as poor predictor in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of changes in haemoglobin (Hb) from discharge to 1 year after discharge on the prognosis using a lower cut-off value of Hb than the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. METHODS AND RESULTS: First, 547 HFpEF cases were divided into two groups, Hb < 11.0 g/dL (n = 218) and Hb ≥ 11.0 g/dL (n = 329), according to Hb at discharge, and further were divided according to Hb 1 year after discharge into Hb < 11.0 g/dL (G1, n = 113), Hb ≥ 11.0 g/dL (G2, n = 105), Hb < 11.0 g/dL (G3, n = 66), and Hb ≥ 11.0 g/dL (G4, n = 263), respectively. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) was defined as composite of all-cause death and heart failure readmission after a visit 1 year after discharge. The cut-off value of Hb was analysed by the receiver operating characteristics curve that predicts MACE. We examined the incidence rate of MACE between G4 and other subgroups and verified predictors of improving or worsening anaemia and covarying factors with change in Hb. In multivariate Cox proportional hazard model, MACE was significantly higher in G3 with worsening anaemia from Hb ≥ 11.0 g/dL to <11.0 g/dL than G4 with persistently Hb ≥ 11 g/dL (adjusted hazard ratio (HR): 3.14 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.76-5.60], P < 0.001). MACE was not significantly different between G2 with improving anaemia from Hb < 11.0 g/dL to ≥ 11.0 g/dL and G4 (adjusted HR: 1.37 [95% CI, 0.68-2.75], P = 0.38). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, independent predictors of improving anaemia were male [odds ratio (OR): 0.45], chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR: 10.3), prior heart failure hospitalization (OR: 0.38), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (OR: 1.04). Independent predictors of worsening anaemia were age (OR: 1.07), body mass index (BMI) (OR: 0.86), clinical frailty scale score (OR: 1.29), Hb at discharge (OR: 0.63), and use of angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor blocker (OR: 2.76). In multivariate linear regression analysis, covarying factors with change in Hb were BMI (ß = -0.098), serum albumin (ß = 0.411), and total cholesterol (ß = 0.179). CONCLUSIONS: Change in haemoglobin after discharge using a lower cut-off value than WHO criteria has prognostic impact in patients with HFpEF.

ST-segment depression and left ventricular systolic function recovery post-atrial fibrillation ablation in heart failure.

AIMS: Catheter ablation (CA) of atrial fibrillation (AF) improves left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The impact of ST-segment depression before CA on LVEF recovery and clinical outcomes remains unknown. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between ST-segment depression during AF rhythm before CA and improvement in the LVEF and clinical outcomes in persistent atrial fibrillation (PerAF) patients with HFrEF. METHODS AND RESULTS: The present study included 122 PerAF patients (male; 98 patients, 80%, mean age: 69 [56, 76] years) from the Osaka Rosai Atrial Fibrillation ablation (ORAF) registry who had LVEF < 50% and underwent an initial ablation. The patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting within the past 1 month were not included in the enrolled patients. We assigned the patients based on the presence of ST-segment depression before CA during AF rhythm and evaluated improvement in the LVEF (LVEF ≥ 15%) 1 year after CA and the relationship between ST-segment depression and heart failure (HF) hospitalization/major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), which are defined as a composite of HF hospitalization, cardiovascular death, hospitalization due to coronary artery disease, ventricular arrhythmia requiring hospitalization and stroke. The percentage of patients with improvement in the LVEF 1 year after CA was significantly lower in the patients with ST-segment depression than those without (58.6% vs. 79.7%, P = 0.012). Multiple regression analysis showed ST-segment depression was independently and significantly associated with improvement in the LVEF 1 year after CA (HR: 0.35; 95% CI: 0.129-0.928, P = 0.035). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the patients with ST-segment depression significantly had higher risk of HF hospitalization and MACE than those without (log rank P = 0.022 and log rank P = 0.002, respectively). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis showed that ST-segment depression was independently and significantly associated with a higher risk of MACE (HR: 2.82; 95% CI: 1.210-6.584, P = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: ST-segment depression before CA during AF rhythm was useful prognostic predictor of improvement in the LVEF and clinical outcomes including HF hospitalization and MACE in PerAF patients with HFrEF.

Impact of 12-Month Angioscopic Thrombi and Yellow Plaque After Drug-Eluting Stent Implantation.

BACKGROUND: Coronary angioscopy (CAS) has 2 unique abilities: direct visualization of thrombi and plaque color. However, in the recent drug-eluting stent (DES) era, serial CAS findings after DES implantation have not been fully elucidated. We investigated the impact of CAS findings after implantation of a polymer-free biolimus A9-coated stent (PF-BCS) or durable polymer everolimus-eluting stent (DP-EES).Methods and Results: We investigated serial CAS and optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings at 1 and 12 months in 99 patients who underwent PF-BCS or DP-EES implantation. We evaluated factors correlated with angioscopic thrombi and yellow plaque, and the clinical impact of both thrombi and yellow plaque at 12 months (BTY). The BTY group included 17 (22%) patients. The incidence and grade of thrombi and yellow plaque decreased from 1 to 12 months. Although no patients had newly appearing thrombi at 12 months, 2 DP-EES patients had newly appearing yellow plaque at 12 months. Multivariable analysis revealed HbA1c, minimum stent area, and adequate strut coverage were significant factors correlated with 12-month angioscopic thrombi, and DP-EESs were significantly correlated with 12-month yellow plaque. However, BTY was not correlated with clinical events. CONCLUSIONS: The management of diabetes, stent area, and adequate stent coverage are important for intrastent thrombogenicity and polymer-free stents are useful for stabilizing plaque vulnerability.

Impact of residual induction number of non-pulmonary vein foci on the 2-year outcomes in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Residual non-pulmonary vein (PV) foci are significantly associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). However, we previously reported among patients with non-PV foci induced only once, none experienced AF recurrence. Thus, we aimed to investigate the correlation between the residual induction number of non-PV foci and ablation outcome in paroxysmal AF patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: We investigated 55 paroxysmal AF patients with residual non-PV foci after PVI and ablation of non-PV-foci. Study patients were classified into the residual one-time induction of non-PV foci (residual OTI-nPVF) group (n = 23) and residual repeatedly induced non-PV foci (residual RI-nPVF) group (n = 32). Furthermore, the residual RI-nPVF group was divided into the low inducibility group (n = 10) and high inducibility group (n = 22) according to the presence or absence of non-PV foci provoked by two sets of drug induction tests (non-PV foci inducibility). In addition, the latter was divided into the ablation group (n = 14) or observation group (n = 8). The 2-year AF recurrence-free rate in the residual RI-nPVF group was significantly lower compared to the residual OTI-nPVF group (53% vs. 90%, p = 0.018). There was no significant difference of the 2-year AF recurrence-free rates in the inducibility of non-PV foci (p = 0.913) and the presence or absence of ablation (p = 0.812) in the residual RI-nPVF group. CONCLUSIONS: Among paroxysmal AF patients, the presence of residual RI-nPVF was associated with higher AF recurrence compared to residual OTI-nPVF. Furthermore, within residual RI-nPVF subgroup, non-PV foci inducibility or ablation of some residual RI-nPVF did not affect ablation outcome.

Clinical Impact of Perfusion Balloon for ST-Segment Elevated Myocardial Infarction: RYUSEI Study.

Drug-eluting stents have significantly contributed to reducing mortality in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions (STEMIs), but slow-flow/no-reflow phenomenon (SFNR) and in-stent restenosis are still clinical problems. In contrast, perfusion balloons (PBs) can compress thrombi and ruptured plaque for long inflation without ischemia and can be used as a delivery device for infusion of nitroprusside to distal risk area during ballooning. We conducted a Reduction of risk bY perfUsion balloon for ST-segment Elevated myocardial Infarction (RYUSEI) study to evaluate whether PBs before stenting are more effective than conventional stenting for STEMIs. We divided consecutive patients with STEMIs who underwent optical coherence tomography (OCT)-guided percutaneous coronary intervention into PB group who were treated with PBs (Ryusei; Kaneka Medix Corporation, Osaka, Japan) before stenting and the conventional percutaneous coronary intervention (CP) group. We compared clinical results including SFNR, OCT findings, and clinical events between the 2 groups. We finally analyzed 34 patients in PB group and 90 in CP group. After propensity score-matching, PB and CP groups consisted of 23 patients, respectively. In the propensity score-matched cohort, SFNR and maximum protrusion area detected by OCT were significantly lower (p = 0.047 and p = 0.019), and thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow grade 3 was higher (p = 0.022) in the PB group than CP group. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a significantly better clinical outcome in PB group than CP group (p = 0.038). In conclusion, the RYUSEI study revealed a pre-stent lesion modification in addition to nitroprusside infusion using PB is useful to achieve better clinical courses in STEMI patients.

Appropriate Selection of Substrate Ablation for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Using Intraprocedural Assessment.

BACKGROUND: It has not been fully elucidated which patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (PerAF) should undergo substrate ablation plus pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). This study aimed to identify PerAF patients who required substrate ablation using intraprocedural assessment of the baseline rhythm and the origin of atrial fibrillation (AF) triggers.Methods and Results: This was a post hoc subanalysis using extended data of the EARNEST-PVI trial, a prospective multicenter randomized trial comparing PVI-alone and PVI-plus (i.e., PVI with added catheter ablation) arms. We divided 492 patients into 4 groups according to baseline rhythm and the location of AF triggers before PVI: Group A (n=22), sinus rhythm with pulmonary vein (PV)-specific AF triggers (defined as reproducible AF initiation from PVs only); Group B (n=211), AF with PV-specific AF triggers; Group C (n=94), sinus rhythm with no PV-specific AF trigger; Group D (n=165), AF with no PV-specific AF trigger. Among the 4 groups, only in Group D (AF at baseline and no PV-specific AF triggers) was arrhythmia-free survival significantly lower in the PVI-alone than PVI-plus arm (P=0.032; hazard ratio 1.68; 95% confidence interval 1.04-2.70). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with sinus rhythm or PV-specific AF triggers did not receive any benefit from substrate ablation, whereas patients with AF and no PV-specific AF trigger benefited from substrate ablation.

Successful catheter ablation of atrial tachycardia initiated with orthodromic capture of superior vena cava potentials.

A case of successful catheter ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and atrial tachycardia is reported. After pulmonary vein isolation, atrial tachycardia was induced by the use of isoproterenol and burst pacing from the catheter in the right atrium. An attempt was made to create a three-dimensional (3D) map of the atrial tachycardia, but the atrial tachycardia was terminated in the middle of the mapping. The 3D map was insufficient but indicated that the superior vena cava was involved in the circuit. When the intracardiac electrograms were reviewed, it was found that the atrial tachycardia was initiated with orthodromic capture of superior vena cava potentials and it was considered that the atrial tachycardia involved the superior vena cava-right atrium junction. Accordingly, superior vena cava isolation was performed. After that, atrial fibrillation and atrial tachycardias were not induced by the use of isoproterenol and burst pacing. In this case, an intracardiac electrogram at the time of induction of the tachycardia was helpful for understanding the circuit of the tachycardia.

Changes in QRS morphology during antidromic atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia.

We report a case of a 44-year-old male who underwent an electrophysiological study for symptomatic supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) with wide QRS complex. The SVT was diagnosed as an antidromic atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT) via antegrade conduction of left-sided accessory pathway (AP). However, the QRS morphology changed during the SVT, and then the SVT was terminated spontaneously. The mapping of AP was performed during sinus rhythm, and the radiofrequency application successfully eliminated the AP, which rendered tachycardias non-inducible. This was a rare case of antidromic AVRT during which the QRS morphology changed.

Relationship of interleukin-16 with different phenogroups in acute heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

AIMS: Interleukin-16 (IL-16) has been reported to mediate left ventricular myocardial fibrosis and stiffening in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). We sought to elucidate whether IL-16 has a distinct impact on pathophysiology and prognosis across different subphenotypes of acute HFpEF. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analysed 211 patients enrolled in a prospective multicentre registry of acute decompensated HFpEF for whom serum IL-16 levels after stabilization were available (53% female, median age 81 [interquartile range 75-85] years). We divided this sub-cohort into four phenogroups using our established clustering algorithm. The study endpoint was all-cause death. Patients were subclassified into phenogroup 1 ('rhythm trouble' [n = 69]), phenogroup 2 ('ventricular-arterial uncoupling' [n = 49]), phenogroup 3 ('low output and systemic congestion' [n = 41]), and phenogroup 4 ('systemic failure' [n = 52]). After a median follow-up of 640 days, 38 patients had died. Among the four phenogroups, phenogroup 2 had the highest IL-16 level. The IL-16 level showed significant associations with indices of cardiac hypertrophy, diastolic dysfunction, and congestion only in phenogroup 2. Furthermore, the IL-16 level had a significant predictive value for all-cause death only in phenogroup 2 (C-statistic 0.750, 95% confidence interval 0.606-0.863, P = 0.017), while there was no association between the IL-16 level and the endpoint in the other phenogroups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that the serum IL-16 level had a significant association with indices that reflect the pathophysiology and prognosis of HFpEF in a specific phenogroup in acute HFpEF.

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, erythrocyte, and platelet in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

AIMS: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), anaemia and low platelets have been associated with worse clinical outcomes in heart failure patients. We investigated the relationship between the combination of these three components and clinical outcome in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). METHODS AND RESULTS: We examined the data of 1021 patients with HFpEF hospitalized with acute decompensated heart failure (HF) from the PURSUIT-HFpEF registry, a prospective, multicenter observational study. The enrolled patients were classified into four groups by an LEP (LDL-C, Erythrocyte, and Platelet) score of 0 to 3 points, with 1 point each for LDL-C, erythrocyte and platelet values less than the cut-off values as calculated by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The endpoint, a composite of all-cause death and HF readmission, was evaluated among the four groups. Median follow-up duration was 579 [300, 978] days. Risk of the composite endpoint significantly differed among the four groups (P < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the groups with an LEP score of 2 had higher risk of the composite endpoint than those with an LEP score of 0 or 1 (P < 0.001, and P = 0.013, respectively), while those with an LEP score of 3 had higher risk than those with an LEP score of 0, 1 or 2 (P < 0.001, P < 0.001 and P = 0.020, respectively). Cox proportional hazards analysis showed that an LEP score of 3 was significantly associated with the composite endpoint (P = 0.030). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that risk of the composite of all-cause death and HF readmission was significantly higher in low LDL values (less than the cut-off values as calculated by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis) patients with statin use than in those without statin use (log rank P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: LEP score, which comprehensively reflects extra-cardiac co-morbidities, is significantly associated with clinical outcomes in HFpEF patients.

Comparison of Postprocedural P-Wave Vector Magnitude on 12-Lead Electrocardiogram Between Cryoballoon and Radiofrequency Ablation.

Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) causes changes in P-wave parameters. However, the difference in changes in P-wave parameters including P-wave vector magnitude (Pvm) between radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) and cryoballoon ablation (CBA) remains unknown. Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) patients who underwent only PVI were enrolled. Pvm was calculated by the square root of the sum of the squared P-wave amplitude in leads II and V6 and one-half of the P-wave amplitude in V2. The patients were divided into 2 groups: RFCA and CBA. ΔPvm was calculated as ΔPvm (mV) = (Pvm at pre-PVI)-(Pvm at post-PVI). The following factors were evaluated: (1) differences in the ΔPvm between the 2 groups, (2) relation between late arrhythmia recurrence and ΔPvm in RFCA and CBA groups, and (3) the impact of relevant factors on ΔPvm. The study population included a total of 426 patients with PAF (RFCA, 167 patients; CBA, 259 patients). ΔPvm was significantly larger in CBA than in RFCA (p <0.001). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed late arrhythmia recurrence was significantly higher in patients with low ΔPvm (<0.019 mV) than high ΔPvm (≥0.019 mV) in RFCA (Log-rank p <0.001), and low ΔPvm (<0.033 mV) than high ΔPvm (≥0.033 mV) in CBA (Log-rank p <0.001). Multiple regression analysis showed that CBA and heart rate change were independently and significantly associated with ΔPvm (p <0.001 and p <0.001, respectively). In conclusion, ΔPvm was significantly larger in CBA than RFCA during procedure. Low ΔPvm had a higher risk of late arrhythmia recurrence in RFCA and CBA.

Duration of atrial fibrillation persistence: Implications for recurrence risk after catheter ablation and efficacy of additional substrate ablation.

BACKGROUND: The optimal duration of atrial fibrillation (AF) persistence for predicting poor outcomes after catheter ablation of long-standing AF (LsAF) and the best ablation strategy for these patients remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the impact of the duration of AF persistence on outcomes after catheter ablation of AF. METHODS: We analyzed the Efficacy of Pulmonary Vein Isolation Alone in Patients with Persistent Atrial Fibrillation (EARNEST-PVI) trial data comparing pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) alone (PVI-alone) with additional linear ablation or defragmentation (PVI-plus) in persistent AF (PerAF). Patients who received catheter ablation by contact force-sensing catheter were enrolled in the study. In patients with LsAF, the optimal cutoff duration of AF persistence was evaluated. With use of the threshold, patients with LsAF were divided into 2 groups and compared with PerAF <1 year for arrhythmia-free survival after a 3-month blanking period. RESULTS: The optimal cutoff duration was 2.4 years. Of 458 patients, arrhythmia-free survival rates for LsAF 1-2.4 years were comparable to those of PerAF (hazard ratio [HR], 1.01; 95% CI, 0.67-1.52). However, LsAF >2.4 years had a higher recurrence risk than PerAF (HR, 2.22; 95% CI, 1.42-3.47). In LsAF >2.4 years, the PVI-plus strategy showed advantages over the PVI-alone strategy (HR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.14-0.89). However, the interaction effect between LsAF 1-2.4 years and LsAF >2.4 years did not reach statistical significance (P = .116). CONCLUSION: Whereas LsAF 1-2.4 years has similar outcomes to those of PerAF, LsAF >2.4 years was linked to higher arrhythmia recurrence risks. For LsAF >2.4 years, the PVI-plus strategy showed a potential to be superior to the PVI-alone strategy.

Impact of left ventricular inflow-outflow angle on heart failure readmission post-transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Heart failure (HF) readmission post-transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is common; however, its anatomical predictors remain unclear. This study identified a small systolic left ventricular inflow-outflow (LVIO) angle, evaluated using computed tomography, as a potential anatomical predictor associated with HF readmission post-TAVI. Patients with a small systolic LVIO angle may require close follow-up post-TAVI.

Predictors of 30-day survival after emergent percutaneous coronary intervention following ventricular tachyarrhythmias complicating acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Little has been reported on the predictors of 30-day survival after emergent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) following life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias associated with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: We analyzed 55 consecutive patients who underwent an emergent PCI after ventricular fibrillation (VF) or pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VT) complicating AMI between September 2014 and March 2023 in our hospital. These patients were categorized into two groups: survival group (S group) who survived >30 days after the emergent PCI and death group (D group) who died by 30 days after the emergent PCI. We compared the patient characteristics, coronary angiographic findings, and PCI procedures between the two groups. RESULTS: S group consisted of 40 patients. In the univariate analysis, absence of diabetes mellitus, presence of immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), low arterial lactate, and single-vessel coronary artery disease (CAD) were associated with 30-day survival after the emergent PCI (P = 0.048, P < 0.001, P = 0.009, and P = 0.003, respectively). In the multivariate analysis, presence of immediate CPR and single-vessel CAD were independently associated with 30-day survival after the emergent PCI (P = 0.023 and P = 0.032, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Immediate CPR and single-vessel CAD were significant predictors of 30-day survival after the emergent PCI following VF or pulseless VT complicating AMI. Absence of diabetes mellitus and low arterial lactate were associated with 30-day survival in the univariate analysis.

The WATCH-DM risk score estimates clinical outcomes in type 2 diabetic patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

The coexistence of heart failure is frequent and associated with higher mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and its management is a critical issue. The WATCH-DM risk score is a tool to predict heart failure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We investigated whether it could estimate outcomes in T2DM patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The WATCH-DM risk score was calculated in 418 patients with T2DM hospitalized for HFpEF (male 49.5%, age 80 ± 9 years, HbA1c 6.8 ± 1.0%), and they were divided into the "average or lower" (≤ 10 points), "high" (11-13 points) and "very high" (≥ 14 points) risk groups. We followed patients to observe all-cause death for 386 days (median). We compared the area under the curve (AUC) of the WATCH-DM score for predicting 1-year mortality with that of the Meta-Analysis Global Group in Chronic Heart Failure (MAGGIC) score and of the Barcelona Bio-Heart Failure Risk (BCN Bio-HF). Among the study patients, 108 patients (25.8%) had average or lower risk scores, 147 patients (35.2%) had high risk scores, and 163 patients (39.0%) had very high risk scores. The Cox proportional hazard model selected the WATCH-DM score as an independent predictor of all-cause death (HR per unit 1.10, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.19), and the "average or lower" risk group had lower mortality than the other groups (p = 0.047 by log-rank test). The AUC of the WATCH-DM for 1-year mortality was 0.64 (95% CI 0.45 to 0.74), which was not different from that of the MAGGIC score (0.72, 95% CI 0.63 to 0.80, p = 0.08) or that of BCN Bio-HF (0.70, 0.61 to 0.80, p = 0.25). The WATCH-DM risk score can estimate prognosis in T2DM patients with HFpEF and can identify patients at higher risk of mortality.

Difference between antegrade and retrograde orbital atherectomy system debulking using an artificial pulsatile heart model.

BACKGROUND: Debulking devices are necessary to treat severe calcified lesions. OAS has a unique characteristic that the burr moves forward and backward. There are few studies reporting the differences of ablation style between only-antegrade and only-retrograde OAS. AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the difference of ablation style between only-antegrade and only-retrograde orbital atherectomy system (OAS) using an artificial pulsatile heart model (HEARTROID system®) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: The calcified lesion model was inserted into the mid of left anterior descending in the HEARTROID®. Only-antegrade and only-retrograde ablation of OAS were conducted for each five lesions. Pre-OCT, OCT after low speed debulking and OCT after high speed debulking were conducted. The width and the depth of debulked area, the debulked area and the direction of debulked area were investigated. RESULTS: In all of 210 cross-sections, 91 debulked cross sections were chosen for analysis. Only-antegrade group had 47 debulked cross-sections, and only-retrograde group 44 cross-sections. In the evaluation of OCT after high speed debulking, the debulked area (0.76 mm2 [0.58-0.91] vs. 0.53 mm2 [0.36-0.68], p < 0.001) and the depth of debulked area (0.76 mm [0.58-0.91] vs. 0.53 mm [0.36-0.68], p < 0.001) were significantly higher in only-antegrade group compared to only-retrograde group. The debulked bias and the width of debulked area are not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to only-retrograde debulking, only-antegrade debulking acquired larger debulked area because of larger cutting depth, although the debulked bias and the width of debulked area were comparable between the two groups.

Pathophysiological insights into machine learning-based subphenotypes of acute heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

OBJECTIVE: The heterogeneous pathophysiology of the diverse heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) phenotypes needs to be examined. We aim to assess differences in the biomarkers among the phenotypes of HFpEF and investigate its multifactorial pathophysiology. METHODS: This study is a retrospective analysis of the PURSUIT-HFpEF Study (N=1231), an ongoing, prospective, multicentre observational study of acute decompensated HFpEF. In this registry, there is a predefined subcohort in which we perform multibiomarker tests (N=212). We applied the previously established machine learning-based clustering model to the subcohort with biomarker measurements to classify them into four phenotypes: phenotype 1 (n=69), phenotype 2 (n=49), phenotype 3 (n=41) and phenotype 4 (n=53). Biomarker characteristics in each phenotype were evaluated. RESULTS: Phenotype 1 presented the lowest value of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), high-sensitive C reactive protein, tumour necrosis factor-α, growth differentiation factor (GDF)-15, troponin T and cystatin C, whereas phenotype 2, which is characterised by hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy, showed the highest value of these markers. Phenotype 3 showed the second highest value of GDF-15 and cystatin C. Phenotype 4 presented a low NT-proBNP value and a relatively high GDF-15. CONCLUSIONS: Distinctive characteristics of biomarkers in HFpEF phenotypes would indicate differential underlying mechanisms to be elucidated. The contribution of inflammation to the pathogenesis varied considerably among different HFpEF phenotypes. Systemic inflammation substantially contributes to the pathophysiology of the classic HFpEF phenotype with cardiac hypertrophy. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: UMIN-CTR ID: UMIN000021831.