The association between pulse wave analysis, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity and peripheral arterial disease in patients with ischemic heart disease.

INTRODUCTION: Functional changes in peripheral arterial disease (PAD) could play a role in higher cardiovascular risk in these patients. METHODS: 123 patients who underwent elective coronary angiography were included. Ankle-brachial index (ABI) was measured and arterial stiffness parameters were derived with applanation tonometry. RESULTS: 6 patients (4.9%) had a previously known PAD (Rutherford grade I). Mean ABI was 1.04 ± 0.12, mean subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR) 166.6 ± 32.7% and mean carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) 10.3 ± 2.4 m/s. Most of the patients (n = 81, 65.9%) had coronary artery disease (CAD). There was no difference in ABI among different degrees of CAD. Patients with zero- and three-vessel CAD had significantly lower values of SEVR, compared to patients with one- and two-vessel CAD (159.5 ± 32.9%/158.1 ± 31.5% vs 181.0 ± 35.2%/166.8 ± 27.8%; p = 0.048). No significant difference was observed in cfPWV values. Spearman's correlation test showed an important correlation between ABI and SEVR (r = 0.196; p = 0.037) and between ABI and cfPWV (r = - 0.320; p ≤ 0.001). Multiple regression analysis confirmed an association between cfPWV and ABI (ß = - 0.210; p = 0.003), cfPWV and mean arterial pressure (ß = 0.064; p < 0.001), cfPWV and age (ß = 0.113; p < 0.001) and between cfPWV and body mass index (BMI (ß = - 0.195; p = 0.028), but not with arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus or smoking status. SEVR was not statistically significantly associated with ABI using the same multiple regression model. CONCLUSION: Reduced ABI was associated with increased cfPWV, but not with advanced CAD or decreased SEVR.

Cystatin C and arterial stiffness in patients without chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: Cystatin C (cysC) is freely filtered in the glomeruli, and its serum concentration is independent of muscle mass, diet, gender, or age. In patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), cysC is associated with advanced atherosclerosis and increased arterial stiffness. The purpose of this study was to define possible associations between arterial stiffness parameters and cysC in patients without CKD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 111 non-CKD patients. Basic demographic and laboratory data were recorded. Arterial stiffness was measured by applanation tonometry (sphygmocor, Australia). RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 64.3 ± 9.4 years, 65.8% were men. Most common co-morbidities were arterial hypertension (AH) (n = 86, 77.5%), hyperlipidemia (n = 64, 57.7%), and diabetes mellitus (DM) (n = 22; 19.8%). Mean creatinine was 77.7 ± 13.8 µmol/L (range 49 - 108), estimated GFR 81.3 ± 9.4 mL/min/1.73m2 (range 62 - 90), and cysC 0.94 ± 0.18 mg/L (range 0.67 - 1.63). Mean carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) was 10.1 ± 2.4 m/s (range 6.2 - 16.8), subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR) 165.7 ± 36.1% (range 92 - 299), ejection duration (ED) 33.8 ± 4.4 ms (range 22 - 46), and pulse pressure (PP) 46.6 ± 14.8 mmHg (range 17 - 94). A statistically significant association was found between cysC and cfPWV (r = 0.472, p < 0.001), SEVR (r = -0.316, p < 0.001), ED (r = 0.217, p = 0.025), and pulse pressure (PP) (r = 0.241, p = 0.012). Multiple regression analysis between arterial stiffness parameters and cysC, age, male gender, AH, DM, hyperlipidemia, and eGFR confirmed a statistically significant and independent association between cysC and cfPWV (ß = 0.220, p = 0.038), between cysC and SEVR (ß = -0.278, p = 0.017), and between cysC and ED (ß = 0.241, p = 0.045). CONCLUSION: Elevated cysC is associated with increased cfPWV, increased ED, and decreased SEVR.

Acute kidney injury in patients with myocardial infarction undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention using radial versus femoral access.

BACKGROUND: Data on radial access (RA) as an independent risk factor for acute kidney injury (AKI) in myocardial infarction (MI) patients are conflicting. Our aim was to assess how RA influences the incidence of AKI in MI patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: Data from 3842 MI patients undergoing PCI at our institution from January 2011 to December 2016, of which 35.8% were performed radially, were retrospectively analyzed. A propensity-matched analysis was performed to adjust for differences in the baseline characteristics between the RA and femoral access (FA) groups. The effect of RA on the incidence of AKI was observed. RESULTS: In the unmatched cohort, AKI occurred less often in the RA group [77 (5.6%) patients in the RA group compared to 250 (10.1%) patients in the FA group; p = 0.001]. After propensity-matched adjustment, the incidence of AKI was similar in the two groups. After adjustment for potential confounders, RA was not identified as an independent predictive factor for AKI in either the unmatched or the propensity-matched cohort. Bleeding, heart failure, age ≥ 70 years, renal dysfunction, and the contrast volume/GFR ratio predicted AKI in both cohorts. Additionally, diabetes, contrast volume, and hypertension were predictive of AKI in the unmatched cohort. CONCLUSION: The access site was not independently associated with the incidence of AKI in patients with MI in both a non-matched and a propensity-matched cohort. Our study result suggests that the lower incidence of AKI in patients treated with RA in an unmatched cohort might be substantially influenced by confounding factors, especially bleeding.

Tissue Doppler imaging is a sensitive echocardiographic technique to detect subclinical systolic and diastolic dysfunction of both ventricles in type 1 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Subclinical left (LV) and right ventricular (RV) dysfunction has been demonstrated in type 2 diabetes mellitus and evidence indicates impaired LV diastolic function in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) as well. The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) in assessment of global LV and RV function in T1DM patients. METHODS: A detailed two-dimensional, pulsed wave Doppler and pulsed wave TDI analysis was performed in 53 normotensive middle-aged T1DM patients and compared to healthy controls. RESULTS: In T1DM patients TDI analysis revealed reduced mean mitral septal and lateral E' velocities as well as reduced mean tricuspid E˙t velocity compared to healthy controls (E'sept 8.89 ± 1.89 cm/s vs. 11.50 ± 2.41 cm/s, p < 0.001; E'lat 12.29 ± 2.58 cm/s vs.15.30 ± 2.95 cm/s, p < 0,001; E't 13.56 ± 2.91 cm/s vs. 15.60 ± 2.99 cm/s, p = 0.001). Mean ratios E/E'sept, E/E'lat and E/E't were significantly higher in diabetics with cutoff value of 7.4 for E/E'sept and 3.4 for E/E't, differentiating diabetics with LV and RV diastolic impairement from matched healthy controls (sensitivity 76.5 %, specificity 73.8 % for E/E'sept and sensitivity 72.1 %, specificity 66.7 % for E/E't). Myocardial acceleration during isovolumetric contraction (IVA) measured at the septal mitral (LV IVA) and lateral tricuspid annulus (RV IVA) was the only parameter indicating reduced contractility of both ventricles in diabetics compared to controls (LV IVA 230.70 ± 61.26 cm/s(2) vs. 283.32 ± 59.74 cm/s(2), p < 0,001; RV IVA 275.48 ± 68.08 cm/s(2) vs. 316.86 ± 80.95 cm/s(2), p = 0.011). LV IVA had better diagnostic accuracy than RV IVA to predict early contractile impairement in T1DM patients (area under the curve 0.758, p < 0.001 for LV IVA and 0.648, p = 0.017 for RV IVA). CONCLUSIONS: TDI is essential to detect subclinical diastolic deterioration of both ventricles in T1DM patients. TDI-derived IVA might be useful to assess early systolic alterations of both ventricles in T1DM patients.

Gender Related Survival Differences in ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients Treated with Primary PCI.

BACKGROUND: Data about gender as an independent risk factor for death in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients is still contrasting. Aim was to assess how gender influences in-hospital and long-term all-cause mortality in STEMI patients with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in our region. METHODS: We analysed data from 2069 STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI in our institution from January 2009-December 2014, of whom 28.9% were women. In-hospital and long-term mortality were observed in women and men. The effect of gender on in-hospital mortality was assessed by binary logistic regression modelling and by Cox regression analysis for long-term mortality. RESULTS: Women were older (68.3±61.8 vs 61.8±12.0 years; p<0.0001), with a higher prevalence of diabetes (13.7% vs 9.9%; p=0.013) and tend to be more frequently admitted in cardiogenic shock (8.4% vs 6.3%; p =0.085). They were less frequently treated with bivalirudin (15.9% vs 20.3%; p=0.022). In-hospital mortality was higher among women (14.2% vs 7.8%; p<0.0001). After adjustment, age (adjusted OR: 1.05; 95% CI: 1.03 to 1.08; p < 0.001) and cardiogenic shock at admission (adjusted OR: 24.56; 95% CI: 11.98 to 50.35; p < 0.001), but not sex (adjusted OR: 1.47; 95% CI: 0.80 to 2.71) were identified as prognostic factors of in-hospital mortality. During the median follow-up of 27 months (25th, 75th percentile: 9, 48) the mortality rate (23.6% vs 15.1%; p<0.0001) was significantly higher in women. The multivariate adjusted Cox regression model identified age (HR 1.05; 95% CI 1.04-1.07; p<0.0001), cardiogenic shock at admission (HR 6.09; 95% CI 3.78-9.81; p<0.0001), hypertension (HR 1.49; 95% CI 1.02-2.18; p<0.046), but not sex (HR 1.04; 95% CI 0.74-1.47) as independent prognostic factors of follow-up mortality. CONCLUSION: Older age and worse clinical presentation rather than gender may explain the higher mortality rate in women with STEMI undergoing primary PCI.

Left Atrial Volume Index Predicts Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence after Catheter Ablation Only in Obese Patients-Brief Report.

BACKGROUND: It has been shown that obesity and a higher body mass index (BMI) are associated with a higher recurrence rate of atrial fibrillation (AF) after successful catheter ablation (CA). The same has been proven for the left atrial volume index (LAVI). It has also been shown that there is a correlation between LAVI and BMI. However, whether the LAVI's prognostic impact on AF recurrence is BMI-independent remains unclear. METHODS: We prospectively included 62 patients with paroxysmal AF who were referred to our institution for CA. All patients underwent radiofrequency CA with standard pulmonary veins isolation. Transthoracic 2-D echocardiography was performed one day after CA to obtain standard measures of cardiac function and morphology. Recurrence was defined as documented AF within 6 months of the follow-up period. Patients were also instructed to visit our outpatient clinic earlier in case of symptoms suggesting AF recurrence. RESULTS: We observed AF recurrence in 27% of patients after 6 months. The mean BMI in our cohort was 29.65 ± 5.08 kg/cm2 and the mean LAVI was 38.04 ± 11.38 mL/m2. We further divided patients into two groups according to BMI. Even though the LAVI was similar in both groups, we found it to be a significant predictor of AF recurrence only in obese patients (BMI ≥ 30) and not in the non-obese group (BMI < 30). There was also no significant difference in AF recurrence between both cohorts. The significance of the LAVI as an AF recurrence predictor in the obesity group was also confirmed in a multivariate model. CONCLUSIONS: According to our results, the LAVI tends to be a significant predictor of AF recurrence after successful catheter ablation in obese patients, but not in normal-weight or overweight patients. This would suggest different mechanisms of AF in non-obese patients in comparison to obese patients. Further studies are needed in this regard.

Changes in left ventricular filling in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Former studies showed possible interrelationship between altered ventricular filling patterns and atrial fibrillation (AF). HYPOTHESIS: Long term persistent AF has a negative impact on left ventricular filling in patients with preserved ejection fraction of left ventricle. METHODS: Our study was designed as a prospective case control study. We included 40 patients with persistent AF and preserved ejection fraction after successful electrical cardioversion and 43 control patients. Persistent AF was defined as AF lasting more than 4 weeks. Cardiac ultrasound was performed in all patients 24 hours after the procedure. Appropriate mitral flow and tissue Doppler velocities as well as standard echocardiographic measurements were obtained. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between both groups' parameters regarding age, sex, commorbidities or drug therapy. Analysis of mitral flow velocities showed significant increase of E value in AF group (0.96±0.27 vs.0.70±0.14; p = 0.001). Tissue Doppler measurements didn't reveal any differences in early diastolic movement, however there was a statistically significant difference in E/Em values of both groups, respectively (12.0±4.0 vs. 9.0±2.1; p= 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our study shows that in patients with preserved systolic function and persistent AF shortly after cardioversion diastolic ventricular filling patterns are altered mainly due to increased left atrial pressure and not due to impaired diastolic relaxation of left ventricle. Further studies are needed in order to define the interplay between diminished atrial function and impaired ventricular filling.

Lipoprotein(a) As a Risk Factor in a Cohort of Hospitalised Cardiovascular Patients: A Retrospective Clinical Routine Data Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) is a well-recognised risk factor for ischemic heart disease (IHD) and calcific aortic valve stenosis (AVS). METHODS: A retrospective observational study of Lp(a) levels (mg/dL) in patients hospitalised for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in our clinical routine was performed. The Lp(a)-associated risk of hospitalisation for IHD, AVS, and concomitant IHD/AVS versus other non-ischemic CVDs (oCVD group) was assessed by means of logistic regression. RESULTS: In total of 11,767 adult patients, the association with Lp(a) was strongest in the IHD/AVS group (eß = 1.010, p < 0.001), followed by the IHD (eß = 1.008, p < 0.001) and AVS group (eß = 1.004, p < 0.001). With increasing Lp(a) levels, the risk of IHD hospitalisation was higher compared with oCVD in women across all ages and in men aged ≤75 years. The risk of AVS hospitalisation was higher only in women aged ≤75 years (eß = 1.010 in age < 60 years, eß = 1.005 in age 60-75 years, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The Lp(a)-associated risk was highest for concomitant IHD/AVS hospitalisations. The differential impact of sex and age was most pronounced in the AVS group with an increased risk only in women aged ≤75 years.

Regional differences in physicians' behavior and factors influencing the intensity of PCSK9 inhibitor therapy with alirocumab: a subanalysis of the ODYSSEY APPRISE study.

Background: Despite better accessibility of the effective lipid-lowering therapies, only about 20% of patients at very high cardiovascular risk achieve the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goals. There is a large disparity between European countries with worse results observed for the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) patients. One of the main reasons for this ineffectiveness is therapeutic inertia related to the limited access to appropriate therapy and suitable dosage intensity. Thus, we aimed to compare the differences in physicians' therapeutic decisions on alirocumab dose selection, and factors affecting these in CEE countries vs. other countries included in the ODYSSEY APPRISE study. Methods: ODYSSEY APPRISE was a prospective, single-arm, phase 3b open-label (≥12 weeks to ≤30 months) study with alirocumab. Patients received 75 or 150 mg of alirocumab every 2 weeks, with dose adjustment during the study based on physician's judgment. The CEE group in the study included Czechia, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia, which we compared with the other nine European countries (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland) plus Canada. Results: A total of 921 patients on alirocumab were involved [modified intention-to-treat (mITT) analysis], including 114 (12.4%) subjects from CEE countries. Therapy in CEE vs. other countries was numerically more frequently started with lower alirocumab dose (75 mg) at the first visit (74.6 vs. 68%, p = 0.16). Since week 36, the higher dose was predominantly used in CEE patients (150 mg dose in 51.6% patients), which was maintained by the end of the study. Altogether, alirocumab dose was significantly more often increased by CEE physicians (54.1 vs. 39.9%, p = 0.013). Therefore, more patients achieved LDL-C goal at the end of the study (<55 mg/dl/1.4 mmol/L and 50% reduction of LDL-C: 32.5% vs. 28.8%). The only factor significantly influencing the decision on dose of alirocumab was LDL-C level for both countries' groups (CEE: 199.2 vs. 175.3 mg/dl; p = 0.019; other: 205.9 vs. 171.6 mg/dl; p < 0.001, for 150 and 75 mg of alirocumab, respectively) which was also confirmed in multivariable analysis (OR = 1.10; 95% CI: 1.07-1.13). Conclusions: Despite larger unmet needs and regional disparities in LDL-C targets achievement in CEE countries, more physicians in this region tend to use the higher dose of alirocumab, they are more prone to increase the dose, which is associated with a higher proportion of patients reaching LDL-C goals. The only factor that significantly influences decision whether to increase or decrease the dose of alirocumab is LDL-C level.

Association of Myocardial Infarction with CDKN2B Antisense RNA 1 (CDKN2B-AS1) rs1333049 Polymorphism in Slovenian Subjects with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

BACKGROUND: We examined the role of rs1333049 polymorphism of the CDKN2B Antisense RNA 1 (CDKN2B-AS1) on the prevalence of myocardial infarction (MI) in Slovenian subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: A total of 1071 subjects with T2DM were enrolled in this retrospective cross-sectional case-control study. Of the subjects, 334 had a history of recent MI, and 737 subjects in the control group had no clinical signs of coronary artery disease (CAD). With logistic regression, we performed a genetic analysis of rs1333049 polymorphism in all subjects. RESULTS: The C allele of rs1333049 polymorphism was statistically more frequent in MI subjects (p = 0.05). Subjects with CC genotype had a higher prevalence of MI than the control group in the co-dominant (AOR 1.50, CI 1.02-2.21, p = 0.04) and recessive (AOR 1.38, CI 1.09-1.89, p = 0.04) genetic model. CONCLUSIONS: According to our study, the C allele and CC genotype of rs1333049 polymorphism of CDKN2B-AS1 are possible markers of MI in T2DM subjects in the Slovenian population.

Mitral Annular Plane Systolic Excursion (MAPSE) as a Predictor of Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence in Patients after Pulmonary Vein Isolation.

Introduction: Catheter ablation (CA) with pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) has become widely used in the past years for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). Mitral annular plane systolic excursion (MAPSE) is the parameter that measures left ventricular longitudinal function, and it appears to be a good early marker of LV dysfunction. It is practically independent of poor image quality. The aim of our study was to analyse the role of echocardiographic variables, especially MAPSE in predicting the outcome of CA in patients with AF. Materials and Methods: We prospectively included 40 patients with paroxysmal and persistent AF that were referred for CA. All patients underwent radiofrequency CA with PVI. Standard transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography was conducted one day after CA. Demographic data and the patients' characteristics were noted. The endpoint of our study was to estimate the AF recurrence rate diagnosed by ECG within 6 months of the follow-up period. Results: 40 patients, mainly male (67.5%) with an average age of 61.43 ± 8.96 years were included in our study. The majority of patients had paroxysmal AF prior to ablation (77.5%). The AF recurrence rate was 20% after 6 months of follow-up. Lateral MAPSE in the AF-free group was greater than those who relapsed (1.57 ± 0.24 vs. 1.31 ± 0.25; p = 0.012). Patients who remained AF-free after a 6-month follow-up period had a significantly smaller left ventricular volume index (LAVI) than those who relapsed (34.29 ± 6.91 ml/m2 vs. 42.90 ± 8.43 ml/m2; p = 0.05). We found a significant reverse relationship between LAVI and MAPSE (p = 0.020). Conclusion: MAPSE and LAVI present risk factors for AF recurrence, specifically reduced MAPSE and larger LAVI, are related to AF recurrence after CA. In the future, MAPSE could play a significant role when predicting the CA outcome in patients with AF.

Lipoprotein(a) in Cardiovascular Diseases: Insight From a Bibliometric Study.

Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a complex polymorphic lipoprotein comprised of a low-density lipoprotein particle with one molecule of apolipoprotein B100 and an additional apolipoprotein(a) connected through a disulfide bond. The serum concentration is mostly genetically determined and only modestly influenced by diet and other lifestyle modifications. In recent years it has garnered increasing attention due to its causal role in pre-mature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and calcific aortic valve stenosis, while novel effective therapeutic options are emerging [apolipoprotein(a) antisense oligonucleotides and ribonucleic acid interference therapy]. Bibliometric descriptive analysis and mapping of the research literature were made using Scopus built-in services. We focused on the distribution of documents, literature production dynamics, most prolific source titles, institutions, and countries. Additionally, we identified historical and influential papers using Reference Publication Year Spectrography (RPYS) and the CRExplorer software. An analysis of author keywords showed that Lp(a) was most intensively studied regarding inflammation, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular risk assessment, treatment options, and hormonal changes in post-menopausal women. The results provide a comprehensive view of the current Lp(a)-related literature with a specific interest in its role in calcific aortic valve stenosis and potential emerging pharmacological interventions. It will help the reader understand broader aspects of Lp(a) research and its translation into clinical practice.

Lipoprotein(a) and inflammation in patients with atrial fibrillation after electrical cardioversion.

BACKGROUND: Recently few studies tried to confirm the association between AF and lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)), however the results remained conflicted. In present study we evaluated the possible interaction between Lp(a), inflammatory state and echocardiographic characteristics in patients after successful electrical cardioversion (EC) of persistent AF. We also tried to investigate the role of Lp(a) as a possible prognostic factor for AF recurrence after successful EC. RESULTS: Data of 79 patients admitted due to planned EC was analyzed. After successful procedure patients were monitored for 2 years. For analytical purposes patients were divided in two groups according to AF recurrence. There was no significant difference between Lp(a) levels in both groups. We also didn't find any positive correlation between Lp(a) and CRP levels, as well as between Lp(a) levels and left atrium diameter. For logistic and survival analysis optimal cut-off value of Lp(a)≥0.32 (upper quartile) was used. In logistic regression model with AF recurrence as dependent variable Lp(a) didn't show any statistically significant association with AF recurrence. Survival analysis showed slightly higher AF recurrence rate in group with higher Lp(a) levels but not to the level of statistical significance (log rank test, p=0.62). CONCLUSIONS: We weren't able to confirm the association between Lp(a) levels and AF recurrence, inflammation and left atrium diameter in patients after successful EC of persistent AF. Further studies are needed to elucidate the role of Lp(a) in this clinical setting.

Optimal timing of electrical cardioversion in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have tried to propose risk factors for atrial fibrillation recurrence after a successful pharmacological or electrical cardioversion. Regarding the duration of atrial fibrillation before electrical cardioversion, only limited data exist. The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of atrial fibrillation duration on long-term sinus rhythm maintenance in patients after successful electrical cardioversion of persistent atrial fibrillation. MATERIAL/METHODS: Three hundred one patients after successful electrical cardioversion were included in the analysis. The patients were followed for 2 years. Electrocardiogram showing atrial fibrillation was considered the study endpoint. RESULTS: After mean observational time of 377±311 days, atrial fibrillation occurred in 168 patients (61.5%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed the duration of atrial fibrillation was the only predictor of atrial fibrillation recurrence (OR 1.06; CI 1.00-1.11; P=.036), while amiodarone appeared to protect against atrial fibrillation recurrence OR 0.26; CI 0.07-0.95; P=.041). A Cox proportional hazards multivariate model predicted atrial fibrillation recurrence rate of atrial fibrillation ≥10 months (OR 1.87, CI 1.26 to 2.76, P=.002) and treatment with amiodarone (OR 0.55, CI 0.40-0.76, P=.000). CONCLUSIONS: Atrial fibrillation duration before electric cardioversion is a significant predictor of atrial fibrillation recurrence rate after successful restoration of sinus rhythm. Further studies are needed to clarify the implications of atrial fibrillation duration on sinus rhythm persistence after a successful cardioversion.

Statins and amiodarone improve freedom from recurrence of atrial fibrillation after successful cardioversion.

BACKGROUND: Amiodarone is effective in preventing atrial fibrillation (AF). Recently, the possible antiarrhythmic effects of statins have been revealed. We hypothesized that statins added to amiodarone may reduce the recurrence rate of AF after successful electrical cardioversion (EC). MATERIAL/METHODS: The retrospective analysis included 198 consecutive patients (63+/-10 years; 56% men) with persistent AF (lasting at least one month, average 5.8+/-7.6 months) who underwent successful EC. All patients were put on long-time treatment with amiodarone according to standard protocol prior to EC; 50 patients (25%) also received statin therapy. AF recurrence was recorded in the following two years. RESULTS: Recurrence of AF occurred less frequently in patients receiving statins and amiodarone than in those receiving amiodarone only (24 (48.0%) vs. 95 (64.1%) patients). The mean AF-free period was significantly prolonged in the statin-amiodarone group (513+/-38 days vs. 374+/-25 days, log rank test P<0.02). Cox univariate analysis showed that treatment with statins and the duration of AF before EC were significant predictors for AF recurrence. After adjustment for other potential confounders, statin therapy proved to be a statistically significant predictor of sinus rhythm maintenance (adjusted OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.93, P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that adding statins to amiodarone significantly decreases the recurrence rate of AF after successful EC in patients with persistent AF. Our findings urge for prospective randomized studies to be performed in order to confirm these results and elucidate the role of statins in AF prevention.

Predictors of early cardiac changes in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus: An echocardiography-based study.

In patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) imaging studies have demonstrated an increased prevalence of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and increased left ventricular mass (LVM) unrelated to arterial hypertension and ischemic heart disease. The aim of our study was to identify potential predictors of early subclinical changes in cardiac chamber size and function in such patients. Sixty-one middle-aged asymptomatic normotensive patients with T1DM were included in the study. Conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography was performed and fasting serum levels of glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), lipids, and creatinine were measured. We found moderate bivariate correlations of body mass index (BMI) with left atrial volume (r = 0.47, p < 0.01), LVM (r = 0.42, p < 0.01), left ventricular relative wall thickness (r = 0.32, p = 0.01), and all observed parameters of diastolic function of both ventricles. The five-year average value of HbA1c weakly correlated with the Doppler index of left ventricular filling pressure E/e´sept (r = 0.27, p = 0.04). We found no significant association of diabetes duration, five-year trend of HbA1c, serum lipids, and glomerular filtration rate with cardiac structure and function. After adjusting for other parameters, BMI remained significantly associated with left atrial volume, LVM as well as with the transmitral Doppler ratio E/A. In our study, BMI was the only observed parameter significantly associated with subclinical structural and functional cardiac changes in the asymptomatic middle-aged patients with T1DM.

Influence of the Quantity of Aortic Valve Calcium on the Agreement Between Automated 3-Dimensional Transesophageal Echocardiography and Multidetector Row Computed Tomography for Aortic Annulus Sizing.

Accurate aortic annulus sizing is key for selection of appropriate transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) prosthesis size. The present study compared novel automated 3-dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) software and multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT) for aortic annulus sizing and investigated the influence of the quantity of aortic valve calcium (AVC) on the selection of TAVI prosthesis size. A total of 83 patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing TAVI were evaluated. Maximal and minimal aortic annulus diameter, perimeter, and area were measured. AVC was assessed with computed tomography. The low and high AVC burden groups were defined according to the median AVC score. Overall, 3D TEE measurements slightly underestimated the aortic annulus dimensions as compared with MDCT (mean differences between maximum, minimum diameter, perimeter, and area: -1.7 mm, 0.5 mm, -2.7 mm, and -13 mm2, respectively). The agreement between 3D TEE and MDCT on aortic annulus dimensions was superior among patients with low AVC burden (<3,025 arbitrary units) compared with patients with high AVC burden (≥3,025 arbitrary units). The interobserver variability was excellent for both methods. 3D TEE and MDCT led to the same prosthesis size selection in 88%, 95%, and 81% of patients in the total population, the low, and the high AVC burden group, respectively. In conclusion, the novel automated 3D TEE imaging software allows accurate and highly reproducible measurements of the aortic annulus dimensions and shows excellent agreement with MDCT to determine the TAVI prosthesis size, particularly in patients with low AVC burden.

Non-invasive measuring of the acceleration of contraction of the left ventricle with the Doppler echocardiography.

BACKGROUND: Echocardiographically measured ejection fraction (EF) of the left ventricle (LV) is the most useful standard of the LV systolic function. Its limitations are poor delineation of the LV endocardium, pronounced regional disorders of contractility, dyssynchrony of the LV and in particular significant mitral regurgitation. The aim of this research is to evaluate the advantage of Doppler indices of left ventricular function such as index of acceleration of contraction of the LV (AccLV) over EF in patients with heart failure. METHODS: We performed a prospective observational study. We included 45 patients with known chronic heart failure and 76 healthy subjects. We performed standard echocardiographic measurements. AccLV was calculated by the following formula: AccLV = Vmax LVOT/dt × EDV [cm/s(2) ml]. Vmax LVOT represents the maximum velocity during ejection in the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT), dt stands for the interval from the beginning of the LV contraction to the achieved Vmax LVOT, EDV represents end-diastolic volume of the LV. RESULTS: Between patients and healthy subjects we observed statistically significant differences in mean EF values (65.4 ± 6.7 % vs. 38.6 ± 18.0 %; p < 0.001) and of AccLV (12.1 ± 2.88 cm/s(2)ml vs. 4.4 ± 2.1 cm/s(2)ml; p < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed higher area under the curve values for AccLV in comparison to EF (0.996 vs. 0.897). In the patient group we observed more important correlation between AccLV index and the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classes (r = - 0.657; p < 0.001), than between EF and the NYHA classes (r = - 0.539; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We could distinguish with higher accuracy between healthy subjects and patients with heart failure LV by calculated AccLV in comparison to EF. AccLV values correlated with NYHA functional classes in patients with heart failure better than EF values.

Deterioration of renal function at stent implantation can predict long-term outcome after stent thrombosis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to examine the possible influence of minor deterioration of the renal function after stent implantation not fulfilling the criteria for acute kidney injury on long-term outcomes after stent thrombosis (ST). BACKGROUND: Decreased renal function (DRF) is associated with an increased risk for worse outcome after percutaneous coronary intervention. There is no data if the deterioration of renal function after stent implantation influences the prognosis after ST. If so patients with a higher risk for worse outcome after ST could be identified already at the time of stent implantation. METHODS: Data from 4824 consecutive patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention in our center was recorded from March 2004 to April 2010. We excluded patients with acute kidney injury at stent implantation and 86 of them with ST without acute kidney injury at stent implantation were involved in the study. They were prospectively followed until December 2012 for 50.2 ± 28.1 months. Only patients with definite ST were included in the study. The Academic Research Consortium definition of ST was used. Data on death, myocardial infarction, and repeated percutaneous or operative revascularization after ST were ascertained from the hospital database, by phone or with clinical examinations. The outcomes after definite ST were compared in patients with and without deterioration of renal function after stent implantation (DRFafterSI). RESULTS: During the observational period patients with DRFafterSI had a higher mortality rate after ST than patients without DRFafterSI (35.1 vs. 10.3 %; p <0.019). The incidence of major adverse cardiac events (major adverse coronary event (MACE)-death, myocardial infarction, repeated revascularization) rate after ST was similar in both groups (66.1 % with DRFafterSI vs. 55.2 % without DRFafterSI). The prevalence of myocardial infarction was also similar in both groups (31.6 vs. 34.5 %) as was the revascularizations rate (43.9 vs. 48.3 %). Death was predicted by DRFafterSI (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 3.96; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.11 to 14.10; p <0.034) and age > 75 years (adjusted HR 2.85: 95 % CI 1.12-7.30; p = 0.029). We could not find any predictor for MACE. CONCLUSIONS: Even more subtle DRFafterSI (not fulfilling the criteria for acute kidney injury) at stent implantation were associated with higher long-term mortality after ST. Especially at risk were patients older than 75 years at stent implantation. DRFafterSI and age more than 75 years pointed out the group of patients with a high risk for death after ST already at the time of stent implantation. The best treatment option for preventing ST in these patients is still to be determined. Until then, we must pay a special attention to proper patients' preparation and hydration to avoid DRFafterSI.

The current role of statin therapy in the treatment of atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia and one of the major causes of morbidity and hospitalization. It is an important risk factor for thromboembolic complications and cerebrovascular disease. In AF, extensive electrical and structural remodeling of atrial tissue takes place with the main underlying mechanisms being inflammation and fibrosis. In recent years it has been shown, that beside conventional antiarrhythmic therapies, modalities aiming at reversal of atrial tissue derangement could be of some benefit in the treatment of AF. In this respect, the main focus was oriented towards drugs such as angiotensin convertase (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), polyunsaturated fatty acids and statins. Data about the potential beneficial role of statins for AF treatment is continuously growing. It is now evident that statins act on AF mainly through their pleiotropic and not their lipid lowering properties. Several retrospective trials have shown that statins exert antiarrhythmic effects in patients with AF, while data from prospective studies are still conflicting. Thus, the definitive confirmation and explanation of statin's role in AF treatment is still missing. Herein, the current patophysiological concepts providing rationale for the use of statins in AF treatment as well as up-to-date data from retrospective and prospective clinical studies are reviewed and discussed. Particular attention is paid to various clinical settings such as primary prevention, secondary prevention (post-cardioversion) and postoperative setting. We also present our own data regarding the role of statins in prevention of the recurrence of AF after successful cardioversion.