Clinical application of free-breathing 3D whole heart late gadolinium enhancement cardiovascular magnetic resonance with high isotropic spatial resolution using Compressed SENSE.

BACKGROUND: Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) represents the gold standard for assessment of myocardial viability. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical potential of Compressed SENSE (factor 5) accelerated free-breathing three-dimensional (3D) whole heart LGE with high isotropic spatial resolution (1.4 mm3 acquired voxel size) compared to standard breath-hold LGE imaging. METHODS: This was a retrospective, single-center study of 70 consecutive patients (45.8 ± 18.1 years, 27 females; February-November 2019), who were referred for assessment of left ventricular myocardial viability and received free-breathing and breath-hold LGE sequences at 1.5 T in clinical routine. Two radiologists independently evaluated global and segmental LGE in terms of localization and transmural extent. Readers scored scans regarding image quality (IQ), artifacts, and diagnostic confidence (DC) using 5-point scales (1 non-diagnostic-5 excellent/none). Effects of heart rate and body mass index (BMI) on IQ, artifacts, and DC were evaluated with ordinal logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Global LGE (n = 33) was identical for both techniques. Using free-breathing LGE (average scan time: 04:33 ± 01:17 min), readers detected more hyperenhanced lesions (28.2% vs. 23.5%, P < .05) compared to breath-hold LGE (05:15 ± 01:23 min, P = .0104), pronounced at subepicardial localization and for 1-50% of transmural extent. For free-breathing LGE, readers graded scans with good/excellent IQ in 80.0%, with low-impact/no artifacts in 78.6%, and with good/high DC in 82.1% of cases. Elevated BMI was associated with increased artifacts (P = .0012) and decreased IQ (P = .0237). Increased heart rate negatively influenced artifacts (P = .0013) and DC (P = .0479) whereas IQ (P = .3025) was unimpaired. CONCLUSIONS: In a clinical setting, free-breathing Compressed SENSE accelerated 3D high isotropic spatial resolution whole heart LGE provides good to excellent image quality in 80% of scans independent of heart rate while enabling improved depiction of small and particularly non-ischemic hyperenhanced lesions in a shorter scan time than standard breath-hold LGE.

Multiparametric Monitoring of Disease Progression in Contemporary Patients with Wild-Type Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy Initiating Tafamidis Treatment.

BACKGROUND: Recently, a disease modifying therapy has become available for transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM). A validated monitoring concept of treatment is lacking, but a current expert consensus recommends three clinical domains (clinical, biomarker and ECG/imaging) assessed by several measurable features to define disease progression. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data of wild-type ATTR-CM patients initiating tafamidis therapy assessed within our local routine protocol at baseline and 6-months follow-up with respect to the frequency of values beyond the proposed thresholds defining disease progression. Additionally, associations of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) tomography with clinical domains were examined within a subgroup. RESULTS: Sixty-two ATTR-CM patients were included (88.7% male, mean age 79 years). In total, 16.1% of patients had progress in the clinical and functional domain, 33.9% in the biomarker domain and 43.5% in the imaging/electrocardiography (ECG) domain, with the latter driven by deterioration of the diastolic dysfunction grade and global longitudinal strain. In total, 35.5% of patients showed progress in none, 35.5% in one, 29.0% in two and no patient in three domains, the latter indicating overall disease progression. A subgroup analysis of twenty-two patients with available baseline and follow-up CMR data revealed an increase in CMR-based extracellular volume by more than 5% in 18.2% of patients, with no significant correlation with progress in one of the clinical domains. CONCLUSIONS: We provide first frequency estimates of the markers of disease progression according to a recent expert consensus statement, which might help refine the multiparametric monitoring concept in patients with ATTR-CM.

Right ventricular dysfunction and impaired right ventricular-pulmonary arterial coupling in paradoxical low-flow, low-gradient aortic stenosis.

AIMS: Paradoxical low-flow, low-gradient aortic stenosis (pLFLG AS) may represent a diagnostic challenge, and its pathophysiology is complex. While left ventricular (LV) systolic function is preserved, right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) and consecutive LV underfilling may contribute to low-flow and reduced stroke volume index, and to adverse outcomes following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential role of RVD in pLFLG AS, and to assess the impact of pre-procedural RVD on clinical outcomes after TAVI in patients with pLFLG AS. METHODS AND RESULTS: Out of 2739 native AS patients, who received TAVI at the University of Cologne Heart Center between March 2013 and June 2021, 114 patients displayed pLFLG AS and were included in this study. Right ventricular (RV) function was assessed by transthoracic echocardiography, and a fractional area change (FAC) ≤35% and/or a tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) <18 mm determined RVD. In addition, the TAPSE/systolic pulmonary artery pressure ratio (TAPSE/sPAP) was monitored as a measure of RV-pulmonary arterial (PA) coupling. An impaired FAC and TAPSE was present in 21.9% and 45.6% of patients, respectively, identifying RVD in 50.0%. RVD (p = 0.016), reduced FAC (p = 0.049), reduced TAPSE (p = 0.035) and impaired RV-PA coupling (TAPSE/sPAP ratio <0.31 mm/mmHg; p = 0.009) were associated with significantly higher all-cause mortality compared to patients with normal RV function. After adjustment for sex, age, body mass index, EuroSCORE II, previous myocardial infarction and mitral regurgitation, independent predictors for all-cause mortality were FAC, sPAP, TAPSE/sPAP ratio, right atrial area, RV diameter and tricuspid regurgitation. CONCLUSIONS: Adverse RV remodelling, RVD and impaired RV-PA coupling provide an explanation for low-flow and reduced stroke volume index in a subset of patients with pLFLG AS, and are associated with excess mortality after TAVI.

Epidemiology of cardiac amyloidosis in Germany: a retrospective analysis from 2009 to 2018.

BACKGROUND: Improved imaging modalities contributed to increasing awareness of cardiac amyloidosis. Contemporary data on frequency trends in Germany are lacking. METHODS: In a retrospective study using health claims data of a German statutory health insurance, patients with diagnostic codes of amyloidosis and concomitant heart failure between 2009 and 2018 were identified. RESULTS: Prevalence increased from 15.5 to 47.6 per 100,000 person-years, and incidence increased from 4.8 to 11.6 per 100,000 person-years, with a continuous steepening in the slope of incidence trend. In patients with amyloidosis and heart failure age and proportion of men significantly increased, whereas the frequency of myeloma and nephrotic syndrome significantly decreased over time. Median (IQR) survival time after first diagnosis was 2.5 years (0.5-6 years), with a 9% (95% CI 2-15%, p = 0.008) reduced risk of death in the second compared to the first 5 years of observation. In the 2 years prior and 1 year after diagnosis, mean total health care costs were 6568 €, 11,872 € and 21,955 € per person and year. CONCLUSION: The rise in cardiac amyloidosis has continuously accelerated in the last decade. Considering the adverse outcome and high health care burden, further effort should be put on early detection of the disease to implement available treatment.

Acute kidney injury following percutaneous edge-to-edge vs. minimally invasive surgical mitral valve repair: incidence, predictors and prognostic value.

AIMS: This study sought to determine the incidence and identify predictors of acute kidney injury (AKI) following percutaneous edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (PMVR) and compare the risk of AKI between PMVR and surgical mitral valve repair (SMVR). METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed a single-centre analysis of 378 patients receiving treatment for mitral regurgitation (196 consecutive patients undergoing PMVR and 182 patients undergoing SMVR). The incidence of AKI (any stage according to KDIGO) following PMVR was 17.9%. Intervention duration (OR 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00-1.02) and peripheral vascular disease (OR 7.69, 95% CI: 3.25-18.17) predicted AKI after PMVR. Patients suffering from AKI after PMVR demonstrated poorer survival (median followup 428 days). SMVR patients were significantly younger, had fewer comorbidities and better renal function at baseline. Nevertheless, AKI occurred numerically more often after SMVR than PMVR (25.8% vs. 17.9%, p=0.060), and a multivariable regression model adjusting for differences between both groups confirmed a significantly lower risk for AKI following PMVR (OR 0.22, 95% CI: 0.11-0.44, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These data show a significant incidence of AKI after PMVR that must be taken into account in periprocedural care. Nevertheless, our data suggest that SMVR carries an even higher risk of AKI, which should be considered when a decision has to be made between the two therapies.

Effect of preoperative low serum albumin on postoperative complications and early mortality in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) are mostly elderly patients with substantial comorbidities. Established risk scores are not validated for TAVR and collectives with elderly patients making periprocedural risk stratification difficult. Serum albumin is known to be an indicator for malnutrition and frailty and is simple to measure, independent of physician's bias. Using serum albumin as a preoperative marker for postoperative complications might help estimating morbidity and mortality of these patients. METHODS: A total of 457 patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis undergoing TAVR at our institution in a period from January 2014 to December 2015 were included in this retrospective study. Baseline characteristics as well as preoperative laboratory parameters were registered. Postoperative morbidity and 30-day mortality were analyzed as primary end points. Enrolled patients with preoperative low serum albumin (<3.5 g/dL) were compared with those revealing normal serum albumin (≥3.5 g/dL). RESULTS: Among 457 patients, 51 (11%) presented pre-procedural low serum albumin and 406 (89%) had normal serum albumin. Patients' mean age was 81±6 years and 50% of them were male. Postoperative complications such as requirement of blood transfusions (63% versus 33%, P<0.001), infection (53% versus 24%, P<0.001), acute kidney injury (41% versus 19%, P=0.001) and 30-day mortality (10% versus 3%, P=0.045) showed significant differences between preoperative low and normal albumin groups. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative low serum albumin might be an indicator for higher morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing TAVR.

Focus on the surgical approach to transcatheter aortic valve implantation: Complications, outcome, and preoperative risk adjustment.

OBJECTIVE: Perioperative complications in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation remain a major issue affecting outcome. Because preoperative risk adjustment remains challenging and a valid scoring system is missing, we sought to determine the incidence of peri- and postprocedural complications of transapical (TA) or transaortic (TAO) access to define the influence of specific complications on early safety, 30-day mortality, and 1-year survival. Furthermore, we aimed to develop a risk-stratification model to allow an estimation of the perioperative risk and the 1-year survival rate, based on the individual preoperative condition of each patient. METHODS: We performed an outcome analysis of 230 consecutive patients who underwent aortic valve implantation via transapical or transaortic access between 2008 and 2012, with regard to Valve Academic Research Consortium II criteria, including univariate and multivariable regression analysis, to develop a risk-stratification model. RESULTS: Thirty-day mortality was 12.7%. Estimated 1-year survival was 0.69 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.631-0.757), and 3-year survival was 0.554 (95% CI, 0.474-0.634). Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed a significant influence on 30-day mortality in case of life-threatening bleeding (16.1-fold), abdominal complications (8.5-fold), and acute kidney injury (3.2-fold). Pacemaker implantation (odds ratio, 1.55; 95% CI, 0.42-5.81; P = .512) was not a significant predictor. Concerning use of intraprocedural hemodynamic bridging therapy via cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), Cox regression analysis revealed no significant survival difference after 1 year. A preoperative risk-stratification model for 1-year survival revealed that a logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation score >20%, preoperative existing coronary artery disease, and prior myocardial infarction appeared to be significant predictors for diminished survival. CONCLUSIONS: Concerning intraprocedural complications, CPB support for hemodynamic stabilization is a safe treatment option. Therefore, the heart team approach with CPB standby represents a life-saving option. Attention should also be drawn to specialized and individual postoperative care, because nonprocedure-specific complications clearly affect postoperative short- and long-term outcome. In addition, the risk-stratification model might facilitate preoperative decision making.