Effects of eprosartan on diastolic function and neurohormones in patients with hypertension and diastolic dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of an angiotensin receptor blocker(ARB)-based regimen versus a non-ARB based regimen on diastolic function and neurohormones in patients with hypertension and diastolic dysfunction. METHODS: 97 patients with a systolic blood pressure (SBP) > or =140 mmHg, a left ventricular ejection fraction >0.50, and echocardiographic evidence of diastolic dysfunction were randomly assignment to open-label treatment with eprosartan (with other anti-hypertensives; n = 47) or other anti-hypertensives alone (n = 50). Echocardiography, including tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), and neurohormones were done at baseline and after 6 months. RESULTS: Mean age was 65 (+/-10) years and 64% was female. During 6 months of treatment, SBP decreased from 157 +/- 16 to 145 +/- 18 mmHg in the eprosartan group and from 158 +/- 17 to 141 +/- 18 mmHg in the control group (both p < 0.001; p = ns between groups). Diastolic function was unaffected in both groups and there was no correlation between changes in SBP and changes in mean TDI (r = -0.06; p = 0.58). Aldosterone levels decreased in the eprosartan group, but other neurohormones remained largely unchanged. Change in SBP was however related to the change in NT-proBNP (r = 0.26; p = 0.019). CONCLUSION: Lowering blood pressure, either with eprosartan or other anti-hypertensives in hypertensive patients with diastolic dysfunction did not change diastolic function after 6 months of treatment, but was associated with a decrease of NT-proBNP.

Increased incidence of infective endocarditis after the 2009 European Society of Cardiology guideline update: a nationwide study in the Netherlands.

Aims: After the introduction of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of infective endocarditis (IE) in 2009, prophylaxis for patients at risk became less strict. We hypothesize that there will be a rise in IE after the introduction of the guideline update. Methods and Results: We performed a nationwide retrospective trend study using segmented regression analysis of the interrupted time series. The patient data were obtained via the national healthcare insurance database, which collects all the diagnoses nationwide. We compared the data before and after the introduction of the 2009 ESC guideline. Between 2005 and 2011, a total of 5213 patients were hospitalized with IE in the Netherlands. During this period, there was a significant increase in IE from 30.2 new cases per 1 000 000 in 2005 to 62.9 cases per 1 000 000 in 2011 (P < 0.001). In 2009, the incidence of IE increased significantly above the projected historical trend (rate ratio: 1.327, 95% CI: 1.205-1.462; P < 0.001). This coincides with the introduction of the 2009 ESC guideline. After the introduction of the ESC guideline, the streptococci-positive cultures increased significantly in the following years 2010-11 from 31.1 to 53.2% (P = 0.0031). Conclusion: This observational study shows that there has been a steady increase in the IE incidence between 2005 and 2011. After the introduction of the 2009 ESC guidelines, the incidence increased more than expected from previous historical trends. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in streptococci-related IE cases.

Efficacy and safety of percutaneous treatment of iatrogenic femoral artery pseudoaneurysm by biodegradable collagen injection.

UNLABELLED: OBJECTIVES; The goal of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of femoral artery pseudoaneurysm (FAP) closure by collagen injection. BACKGROUND; The FAP is an infrequent but troublesome complication after percutaneous transfemoral catheter procedures. If ultrasound-guided compression repair (UGCR) fails, vascular surgery is indicated. We have developed a less invasive method to close FAPs percutaneously by injecting collagen and, thus, inducing clotting within the aneurysm. METHODS: Via a 9F needle or 11F sheath, a biodegradable adhesive bovine collagen is injected percutaneously into the FAP, guided by angiography from the contralateral site. RESULTS: From 1993 to 2000, compression and UGCR had failed to obliterate 110 FAPs. These patients have been treated by collagen injection. Mean age of the patients was 65.6 +/- 10.2 years (range: 32 to 85 years), and 50% were women. Immediate closure of the FAP was achieved in 107/110 patients (97.3%) without any complication or adverse effect. In one patient the collagen could not be applied due to unfavorable anatomy. One patient needed a second session of collagen injection. In one patient too much collagen was inserted, which resulted in external compression of the artery, and surgical intervention was required. The overall success rate was 108/110 (98%, 95% confidence interval: 93.5% to 99.8%). Among the patients with successful procedures, there were no recurrences during six months follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The percutaneous treatment of iatrogenic FAP, by injection with collagen, is an effective and safe strategy. This method provides an excellent therapeutic alternative to the traditional surgical management.

The Carpentier-Edwards Classic and Physio mitral annuloplasty rings: a randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinical and echocardiographic outcomes for the semi-flexible Carpentier-Edwards Physio and the rigid Classic mitral annuloplasty ring. METHODS: Ninety-six patients were randomized for either a Classic (n = 53) or a Physio (n = 43) ring from October 1995 through July 1997. Mean follow-up was 5.1 years (range .1-6.6). We included standard patient characteristics at baseline and during follow-up. Analyses were adjusted for age and gender, and for factors that differed across groups at baseline. In 2002, echocardiography was performed in 74% of the survivors. RESULTS: We found a 16% difference in mortality: 14% in the Physio group (n = 6) and 30% in the Classic group (n = 16) (adjusted P = .41). Life table analysis shows that the absolute risk of death after 30 months is lower in the Physio group. Intra-operative repair failure occurred in 3 patients (6%) of the Classic group, and in 4 (9%) of the Physio group, resulting in mitral valve replacement. Late failure occurred in 1 patient (2%) in the Classic group, and in 4 (9%) in the Physio group. At follow-up, left ventricular function did not differ across groups (ejection fraction 45% and 48% (adjusted P = .65)). The combined NYHA class III-IV had improved for the Classic group in 42% and for the Physio group in 34%. CONCLUSION: Although the 16% difference in mortality did not reach statistical significance, it is considered clinically important. No differences in morbidity, valve function, and left ventricular function were found. Further research to explain the difference in mortality is required.

Percutaneous transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects: initial single-centre experience and follow-up results. Initial experience with three-dimensional echocardiography.

OBJECTIVE: Registry to report our single-centre experience in closing defects of the atrial septum. METHODS: Between 1996 and 2001, transcatheter device closure of significant atrial septal defects was performed in 32 adults (mean age 45.1 years, range from 15 to 76 years), using different device types. Six patients had a patent foramen ovale (PFO) and 26 patients had a secundum atrial septal defect (ASD II). Defects were selected by means of two-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography (2D TOE). For 12 defects additional three-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography (3D TOE) was performed. RESULTS: Mean balloon-stretched diameter was 19.3 mm (range from 11 to 24 mm). A device was successfully placed in all PFO patients (100%) without complications at follow-up. Successful immediate device placement occurred in 24 out of 26 ASD patients. Two immediate placement failures, 1 device embolisation and 1 device non-fixation, occurred and required urgent surgery. There was 1 patient with pericardial effusion after the intervention, requiring pericardiocentesis. Three late placement failures occurred: 2 device embolisations and 1 device dislocation. Clinical success after 3 to 6 months follow-up, defined as the absence of shunt or small shunt, was achieved in all 6 PFO patients and in 21 out of 23 ASD patients (1 device embolisation, requiring surgery, occurred before follow-up was completed). Two patients with significant shunt, 1 late device dislocation and 1 late device embolisation, underwent elective surgery. For patient selection, 3D TOE proved useful in the evaluation of large and/or complex defects. CONCLUSION: Transcatheter device closure of carefully selected atrial septal defects is an alternative to surgery. Although the results are promising, surgical back-up is often needed.

Spectral pulsed tissue Doppler imaging in diastole: a tool to increase our insight in and assessment of diastolic relaxation of the left ventricle.

BACKGROUND: Conventional Doppler echocardiography offers an indirect assessment of left ventricular (LV) diastolic function, hampered by preload dependency. Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) is a tool to study diastolic function in a more direct and less preload-dependent manner. METHODS: The Medline database has been searched for literature on TDI for the analysis of diastolic function. A secondary search reviewed the relevant references related to TDI or diastolic function in general. RESULTS: TDI measures myocardial velocities with a high temporal and velocity resolution but lacks spatial information. In particular, the velocity of early diastolic wall motion (E(m)) and its timing are promising indices of local myocardial relaxation. E(m) at the mitral annulus offers fair estimates of ventricular relaxation, relatively independent of preload and systolic function. Combined with early transmitral flow velocity (E), detection of pseudo-normalized filling patterns and estimation of filling pressures are enhanced by E/E(m). CONCLUSION: TDI has an emerging role in the study and assessment of diastolic function. However, TDI-derived information needs to be integrated with other echocardiographic data because single diagnostic accuracy remains unsatisfactory.

Tolerability of carvedilol and ACE-Inhibition in mild heart failure. Results of CARMEN (Carvedilol ACE-Inhibitor Remodelling Mild CHF EvaluatioN).

BACKGROUND: Management guidelines for heart failure recommend ACE-I and beta-blockers. The perception of difficult up-titration might have added to the slow uptake of beta-blockers despite their mortality and morbidity benefits. AIMS: CARMEN offered a possibility to study safety and tolerability of enalapril against carvedilol and their combination. METHODS: Five hundred and seventy-two patients were blindly up-titrated on carvedilol (target 25 mg bid) and/or enalapril (target 10 mg bid), and continued for 18 months. In the combination arm, carvedilol was up-titrated before enalapril. RESULTS: There was no group related difference in adverse events during up-titration. Withdrawal rates were 31, 30 and 30%, and serious adverse events 28, 29 and 34% in the combination, carvedilol and enalapril arms. Mortality was similar in all groups (all-cause N=14, 14 and 14; cardiovascular N=9, 13 and 14). All-cause and cardiovascular hospitalizations occurred in 26, 27 and 32%, and in 12, 16 and 22% in the combination, carvedilol and enalapril arms, respectively. CONCLUSION: The safety profile was similar in all treatment arms. In contrast to common perception, there was no difference in tolerability between the ACE-I and carvedilol. This result is even more remarkable as the high prestudy use of ACE-I (65%) might have introduced a bias by selecting ACE-I tolerant patients, who were only switched from their former ACE-I to enalapril.

The effect of maze operations on atrial volume.

BACKGROUND: Unmodified maze III operations show long-term eradication of atrial fibrillation (AF) in more than 85% of patients with or without structural heart disease. The effect of this procedure on atrial volumes is not known. METHODS: Two patient populations were studied: (1) patients undergoing unmodified maze III operations combined with surgical structural heart disease, mostly mitral valve operations (group A; n = 32); and (2) patients with only AF selected for unmodified maze III operations (group B; n = 32). In groups A and B, transthoracic Doppler echocardiographic studies were prospectively made preoperatively, and at 3 and 12 months postoperatively. Left and right atrial dimensions and volumes and atrial contractions were determined and compared with base line patient characteristics and 12 months arrhythmia outcomes. RESULTS: One year postoperatively all patients were alive. In groups A and B, 92% were free of AF and other atrial arrhythmias. A significant reduction of left atrial volume at 1 year postoperatively was apparent in group A, whereas the left atrial volume did not change significantly in group B. The reduction observed in group A was not related to postoperative age, type or duration of AF, or late atrial arrhythmia outcome. In both groups the right atrial volume remained unchanged at 12 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: The unmodified maze III operation does not affect atrial volume in patients without structural heart disease. In patients with structural heart disease, the mitral valve operation contributes to the reduction of left atrial volume and dimension by improving the hemodynamic condition.

Additional value of three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography for patients with mitral valve stenosis undergoing balloon valvuloplasty.

The objective of this study was to validate the additional value of 3-dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for patients with mitral valve stenosis undergoing percutaneous mitral balloon valvotomy (PTMV). Therefore, in a series of 21 patients with severe mitral valve stenosis selected for PTMV, 3D TEE was performed before and after PTMV. The mitral valve area was assessed by planimetry pre- and post-PTMV; the mitral valve volume was assessed and attention was paid to the amount of fusion of the commissures. These results were compared with findings by 2-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography using pressure half-time method for assessment of mitral valve area, and were analyzed for the prediction of successful outcome. Pre-PTMV the mitral valve area assessed by 3D TEE was 1.0 +/- 0.3 cm(2) vs 1.2 +/- 0.4 cm(2) assessed by 2-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (P =.03) and post-PTMV it was 1.8 +/- 0.5 cm(2) vs 1.9 +/- 0.6 cm(2) (not significant), respectively. The mitral valve volume could be assessed by 3D TEE (mean 2.4 +/- 2.5 cm(3)) and was inversely correlated to a successful PTMV procedure (P <.001). The 3D TEE method enabled a better description of the mitral valvular anatomy, especially post-PTMV. We conclude that 3D TEE will have additional value over 2-dimensional echocardiography in this group of patients, for selection of patients pre-PTMV, and for analyzing pathology of the mitral valve afterward.

Effect of a nurse-coordinated prevention programme on cardiovascular risk after an acute coronary syndrome: main results of the RESPONSE randomised trial.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the impact of a practical, hospital-based nurse-coordinated prevention programme on cardiovascular risk, integrated into the routine clinical care of patients discharged after an acute coronary syndrome, as compared with usual care only. DESIGN: RESPONSE (Randomised Evaluation of Secondary Prevention by Outpatient Nurse SpEcialists) was a randomised clinical trial. SETTING: Multicentre trial in secondary and tertiary healthcare settings. PARTICIPANTS: 754 patients admitted for acute coronary syndrome. INTERVENTION: A nurse-coordinated prevention programme, consisting of four outpatient nurse clinic visits, focusing on healthy lifestyles, biometric risk factors and medication adherence, in addition to usual care. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome was 10-year cardiovascular mortality risk as estimated by Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation at 12 months follow-up. Secondary outcomes included Framingham Coronary Risk Score at 12 months, in addition to changes in individual risk factors. Risk factor control was classified as 'poor' if 0 to 3 factors were on target, 'fair' if 4 to 6 factors were on target, and 'good' if 7 to 9 were on target. RESULTS: The mean Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation at 12 months was 4.4 per cent (SD 4.5) in the intervention group and 5.4 per cent (SD 6.2) in the control group (p=0.021), representing a 17.4% relative risk reduction. At 12 months, risk factor control classified as 'good' was achieved in 35% of patients in the intervention group compared with 25% in the control group (p=0.003). Attendance to the nurse-coordinated prevention programme was 92%. In the intervention group, 86 rehospitalisations were observed against 132 in the control group (relative risk reduction 34.8%, p=0.023). CONCLUSIONS: The nurse-coordinated hospital-based prevention programme in addition to usual care is a practical, yet effective method for reduction of cardiovascular risk in patients with coronary disease. Our data suggest that the counselling component of the programme may lead to a reduction in hospital readmissions. TRIAL REGISTRATION TRIALREGISTERNL IDENTIFIER: TC1290.

Percutaneous edge-to-edge mitral valve repair in high-surgical-risk patients: do we hit the target?

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to assess the feasibility and safety of percutaneous edge-to-edge mitral valve (MV) repair in patients with an unacceptably high operative risk. BACKGROUND: MV repair for mitral regurgitation (MR) can be accomplished by use of a clip that approximates the free edges of the mitral leaflets. METHODS: All patients were declined for surgery because of a high logistic EuroSCORE (>20%) or the presence of other specific surgical risk factors. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed before and 6 months after the procedure. Differences in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, quality of life (QoL) using the Minnesota questionnaire, and 6-min walk test (6-MWT) distances were reported. RESULTS: Fifty-five procedures were performed in 52 patients (69.2% male, age 73.2 ± 10.1 years, logistic EuroSCORE 27.1 ± 17.0%). In 3 patients, partial clip detachment occurred; a second clip was placed successfully. One patient experienced cardiac tamponade. Two patients developed inguinal bleeding, of whom 1 needed surgery. Six patients (11.5%) died during 6-month follow-up (5 patients as a result of progressive heart failure and 1 noncardiac death). The MR grade before repair was ≥3 in 100%; after 6 months, a reduction in MR grade to ≤2 was present in 79% of the patients. Left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic diameter, LV ejection fraction, and systolic pulmonary artery pressure improved significantly. Accompanied improvements in NYHA functional class, QoL index, 6-MWT distances, and log N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide were observed. CONCLUSIONS: In a high-risk population, MR reduction can be achieved by percutaneous edge-to-edge valve repair, resulting in LV remodeling with improvement of functional capacity after 6 months.

Myocardial perforation by a guidewire crossing a stenotic aortic valve during cardiac catheterization.

Myocardial perforation by a guidewire after retrograde crossing of a stenotic aortic valve during cardiac catheterization is rare. We present a patient with calcific aortic stenosis who suffered this potentially life-threatening complication and in whom conservative treatment was successful. Early recognition of this complication is important for the operator performing cardiac catheterizations in patients with calcific aortic stenosis.

Advanced glycation end-products, anti-hypertensive treatment and diastolic function in patients with hypertension and diastolic dysfunction.

AIMS: To investigate the relationship between advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) and diastolic function and the response to blood pressure treatment in patients with hypertension and diastolic dysfunction. METHODS AND RESULTS: Data were analysed from 97 patients (aged 65 +/- 10 years, 36% male) who were randomly assigned to 6 months open-label treatment with either eprosartan on top of other anti-hypertensive drugs (n = 47) or other anti-hypertensive drugs alone (n = 50). Tissue AGE accumulation was measured using a validated skin-autofluorescence (skin-AF) reader (n = 26). Plasma N(epsilon)-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML), N(epsilon)-(carboxyethyl)lysine (CEL), and pentosidine were measured by LC-MS/MS and HPLC. Diastolic function was assessed using echocardiography. Blood pressure was reduced from 157/91 to 145/84 mmHg (P < 0.001) in the eprosartan group and from 158/91 to 141/83 mmHg (P < 0.001) in the control group. No effect of eprosartan was found on AGE levels. In patients with baseline skin-AF < median, E/A ratio (P = 0.04) and the mean peak early-diastolic filling velocity (E') improved (P = 0.001). In contrast, in patients with skin-AF levels > median, E/A ratio (P = 0.84) and mean E' (P = 0.32) remained unchanged. CONCLUSION: Although eprosartan did not decrease levels of AGEs, patients with lower skin-AF at baseline showed a larger improvement in diastolic function in response to either anti-hypertensive treatment compared with patients with higher skin-AF.

Comparison of outcome and complications using different types of devices for percutaneous closure of a secundum atrial septal defect in adults: a single-center experience.

The objective of this study was to find differences in outcome and complications using three different types of devices for percutaneous atrial septal defect (ASD) closure in adults. Percutaneous closure of a secundum-type ASD is increasingly performed in adult patients. All adult patients who underwent a percutaneous closure of a secundum-type ASD in our center between November 1996 and November 2004 were included. Failure was defined as dislocation or embolization of the device, which required surgical intervention. Periprocedural and mid-term complications were registered. Sixty-five patients, mean age 45.7+/-18.1 years (18 men, 47 women), underwent a percutaneous closure of an ASD with an ASDOS in 3, an Amplatzer in 36, and a Cardioseal/Starflex closure device in 26 patients. During an overall median follow-up of 1.2 years (range, 0.1-6.7 years), the failure occurred in four patients, all Cardioseal/Starflex (P=0.04). Within the Cardioseal/Starflex subgroup, the ASD and device diameters were significantly higher in those patients in whom the primary endpoint occurred compared to the others, 18.8+/-3.8 vs. 13.0+/-3.8 mm for ASD diameter (P=0.01) and 40 (range, 40-43) vs. 33 mm (range, 20-40) for device diameter (P=0.008). Overall complications were transient arrhythmias in 15.4%, pericardial effusion in 1.5%, and transient ischemic attack in 1.5%. Complete closure 6 months after the procedure occurred in 79.6%, without difference between the devices. Percutaneous ASD closure seems to be a relatively safe and effective procedure. However, using the larger Cardioseal/Starflex devices for closure seems to be related to a higher rate of device dislocation and embolization.

Traumatic aorto-right ventricular fistula with aortic insufficiency.

We present a case of a traumatic aorto-right ventricular fistula coexistent with aortic insufficiency due to perforation of the left coronary leaflet, which is a lesion rarely described in the literature. We compare our experience with reports from the literature.

The benefits of early combination treatment of carvedilol and an ACE-inhibitor in mild heart failure and left ventricular systolic dysfunction. The carvedilol and ACE-inhibitor remodelling mild heart failure evaluation trial (CARMEN).

AIMS: Heart failure (HF) treatment guidelines of the ESC recommend ACE-inhibitors (ACE-I) as first-line treatment and beta-blockers added if patients remain symptomatic. CARMEN explored the need for combined treatment for remodelling and order of introduction by comparing the ACE-I enalapril against carvedilol and their combination. METHODS: In a parallel-group, 3-arm study of 18 months duration, 572 mild heart failure patients were randomly assigned to carvedilol (N = 191), enalapril (N = 190) or their combination (N = 191). In the latter, carvedilol was up-titrated before enalapril. Left ventricular (LV) remodelling was assessed by transthoracic echocardiography (biplane, modified Simpson) at baseline and after 6, 12 and 18 months of maintenance therapy. Primary comparisons considered the change in LV end-systolic volume index (LVESVI) from baseline to month 18 between the combination and enalapril, and between carvedilol and enalapril. RESULTS: In the first primary comparison, LVESVI was reduced by 5.4 ml/m2 (p = 0.0015) in favour of combination therapy compared to enalapril. The second primary comparison tended to favour carvedilol to enalapril (NS). In the within treatment arm analyses, carvedilol significantly reduced LVESVI by 2.8 ml/m2 (p = 0.018) compared to baseline, whereas enalapril did not. LVESVI decreased by 6.3 ml/m2 (p = 0.0001) with combination therapy. All three arms showed similar safety profiles and withdrawal rates. CONCLUSION: CARMEN is the first study to demonstrate that early combination of ACE-I and carvedilol reverses LV remodelling in patients with mild to moderate HF and LV systolic dysfunction. The results of the CARMEN study support a therapeutic strategy in which the institution of beta-blockade should not be delayed.