Diagnosis and Management of Complex Reentrant Arrhythmias Involving the His-Purkinje System.

The His-Purkinje system is a network of bundles and fibres comprised of specialised cells that allow for coordinated, synchronous activation of the ventricles. Although the histology and physiology of the His-Purkinje system have been studied for more than a century, its role in ventricular arrhythmias has recently been discovered with the ongoing elucidation of the mechanisms leading to both benign and life-threatening arrhythmias. Studies of Purkinje-cell electrophysiology show multiple mechanisms responsible for ventricular arrhythmias, including enhanced automaticity, triggered activity and reentry. The variation in functional properties of Purkinje cells in different areas of the His-Purkinje system underlie the propensity for reentry within Purkinje fibres in structurally normal and abnormal hearts. Catheter ablation is an effective therapy in nearly all forms of reentrant arrhythmias involving Purkinje tissue. However, identifying those at risk of developing fascicular arrhythmias is not yet possible. Future research is needed to understand the precise molecular and functional changes resulting in these arrhythmias.

Electrophysiologic testing for diagnostic evaluation and risk stratification in patients with suspected cardiac sarcoidosis with preserved left and right ventricular systolic function.

INTRODUCTION: While cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) carries a risk of ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) and sudden cardiac death (SCD), risk stratification of patients with CS and preserved left ventricular/right ventricular (LV/RV) systolic function remains challenging. We sought to evaluate the role of electrophysiologic testing and programmed electrical stimulation of the ventricle (EPS) in patients with suspected CS with preserved ventricular function. METHODS: One hundred twenty consecutive patients with biopsy-proven extracardiac sarcoidosis and preserved LV/RV systolic function underwent EPS. All patients had either probable CS defined by an abnormal cardiac positron emission tomography or cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, or possible CS with normal advanced imaging but abnormal echocardiogram (ECG), SAECG, Holter, or clinical factors. Patients were followed for 4.5 ± 2.6 years for SCD and VAs. RESULTS: Seven of 120 patients (6%) had inducible ventricular tachycardia (VT) with EPS and received an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Three patients (43%) with positive EPS later had ICD therapies for VAs. Kaplan-Meier analysis stratified by EPS demonstrated a significant difference in freedom from VAs and SCD (P = 0.009), though this finding was driven entirely by patients within the cohort with probable CS (P = 0.018, n = 69). One patient with possible CS and negative EPS had unrecognized progression of the disease and unexplained death with evidence of CS at autopsy. CONCLUSIONS: EPS is useful in the risk stratification of patients with probable CS with preserved LV and RV function. A positive EPS was associated with VAs. While a negative EPS appeared to confer low risk, close follow-up is needed as EPS cannot predict fatal VAs related to new cardiac involvement or disease progression.

Cellular Physiology and Clinical Manifestations of Fascicular Arrhythmias in Normal Hearts.

Fascicular ventricular arrhythmias represent a spectrum of ventricular tachycardias dependent on the specialized conduction system. Although they are more common in structurally abnormal hearts, there is an increasing body of literature describing their role in normal hearts. In this review, the authors present data from both basic and clinical research that explore the current understanding of idiopathic fascicular ventricular arrhythmias. Evaluation of the cellular electrophysiology of the Purkinje cells shows clear evidence of enhanced automaticity and triggered activity as potential mechanisms of arrhythmias. Perhaps more importantly, heterogeneity in conduction system velocity and refractoriness of the left ventricular conduction system in animal models are in line with clinical descriptions of re-entrant fascicular arrhythmias in humans. Further advances in our understanding of the conduction system will help bridge the current gap between basic science and clinical fascicular arrhythmias.

Measured Lead Parameters and Electrogram Sensing Over Time in Patients With Cardiac Sarcoidosis and an Implanted Cardiac-Defibrillator.

OBJECTIVES: The study sought to characterize the performance of implanted leads among a cohort of patients with cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) and implantable cardiac-defibrillators (ICDs). BACKGROUND: An ICD is indicated for some patients with CS for the prevention of sudden cardiac death. CS can lead to myocardial inflammation and scar that may interfere with lead performance. METHODS: We performed a case-control study within the cohort of patients at the University of Colorado Hospital with CS and an ICD (n = 48) compared with randomly selected controls (n = 117) who had other indications for an ICD. We compared the measured lead parameters at the time of routine interrogation to assess the differences between groups over time. The mean duration of follow-up was 51 months. Survival analysis was performed by the method of Kaplan and Meier and by Cox proportional hazards regression. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in measured lead impedance, capture thresholds, or sensed electrograms at implantation between the CS and control groups. There were no significant differences between the mean parameters between groups over the follow-up period. However, patients with CS have a high incidence of significant (>50%) drop in measured electrograms (16 of 46 [33%] CS patients vs. 4 of 117 [3.4%] controls; hazard ratio: 10.49, 95% confidence interval: 3.47 to 31.67). As a result of alterations in lead parameters, 2 patients (4.3%) required lead revision, and 6 patients (13%) required ICD testing to ensure adequate detection of induced ventricular fibrillation. CONCLUSIONS: Reductions over time in ICD sensing of P- and/or R-wave electrograms are common in patients with CS. Although further investigation is needed to determine the mechanism of these changes, these findings suggest that patients with CS who have an ICD should be closely monitored for clinically relevant changes in P- and R-wave amplitudes.

Diagnosis and ablation of multiform fascicular tachycardia.

INTRODUCTION: Fascicular tachycardia (FT) is an uncommon cause of monomorphic sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT). We describe 6 cases of FT with multiform QRS morphologies. METHODS AND RESULTS: Six of 823 consecutive VT cases were retrospectively analyzed and found attributable to FT with multiform QRS patterns, with 3 cases exhibiting narrow QRS VT as well. All underwent electrophysiology study including fascicular potential mapping, entrainment pacing, and electroanatomic mapping. The first 3 cases describe similar multiform VT patterns with successful ablation in the upper mid septum. Initially, a right bundle branch block (RBBB) VT with superior axis was induced. Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) targeting the left posterior fascicle (LPF) resulted in a second VT with RBBB inferior axis. RFCA in the upper septum just apical to the LBB potential abolished VT in all cases. Cases 4 and 5 showed RBBB VT with alternating fascicular block compatible with upper septal dependent VT, resulting in bundle branch reentrant VT (BBRT) after ablation of LPF and left anterior fascicle (LAF). Finally, Cases 5 and 6 demonstrated spontaneous shift in QRS morphology during VT, implicating participation of a third fascicle. In Case 6, successful ablation was achieved over the proximal LAF, likely representing insertion of the auxiliary fascicle near the proximal LAF. CONCLUSIONS: Multiform FTs show a reentrant mechanism using multiple fascicular branches. We hypothesize that retrograde conduction over the septal fascicle produces alternate fascicular patterns as well as narrow VT forms. Ablation of the respective fascicle was successful in abolishing FT but does not preclude development of BBRT unless septal fascicle is targeted and ablated.

Long-term electrical survival analysis of Riata and Riata ST silicone leads: National Veterans Affairs experience.

BACKGROUND: A medical device advisory issued by St Jude Medical in November 2011 estimated 0.63% all-cause abrasion rate on their Riata and Riata ST silicone high-voltage lead families (Riata/ST), leading to Food and Drug Administration class I recall. We performed an independent comparative, long-term electrical survival analysis of Riata/ST and 3 other high-voltage lead families in a large national cohort of patients. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate long-term electrical survival of Riata/ST leads relative to other commonly evaluated high-voltage leads. METHODS: Failure rates of Riata/ST, Sprint Quattro Secure (Quattro), Sprint Fidelis (Fidelis), and Endotak Reliance G/SG (Endotak) leads from the Veterans Administration's National Cardiac Device Surveillance Center database, consisting of 24,145 patients with remote transmissions since 2003, were analyzed. Survival Probabilities were determined with Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and compared using the log-rank test. RESULTS: Of 1,403 Riata/ST, 6,091 Quattro, 5,073 Fidelis, and 2,401 Endotak leads identified, 5-year survival probability of Riata/ST leads (97.5%) was significantly lower than that of Quattro (99.3%) and Endotak (99.4%) leads (P <.0001) but higher than that of Fidelis leads (89.6%) (P <.0001). Riata ST leads showed a 5-year survival of 95.5% (95% confidence interval 92.4-97.4) compared to 98.4% (95% confidence interval 97.1-99.1) in Riata leads (P = .003). CONCLUSIONS: There is decreased survival probability of Riata/ST leads compared to other contemporary high-voltage leads, with decreased survival of Riata ST silicone compared to Riata lead series. Careful long-term follow-up should be maintained in patients with Riata/ST leads in order to prevent inappropriate shocks or failed device interventions. Our results were determined in advance of Food and Drug Administration class I recall, which suggested that large-scale remote monitoring may be an effective tool for continued implantable cardioverter-defibrillator system surveillance.

QTc prolongation and family history of sudden death in a patient with desmin cardiomyopathy.

This case report describes a pregnant female patient who presented with new-onset congestive heart failure symptoms and prolonged QTc, with strong family history of sudden death. Endomyocardial biopsy and genetic testing revealed myocardial desmin accumulation and a previously described mutation in the DES (desmin) gene, as well as variants in two LQT genes, SCN5A and KCNH2. The case highlights the phenotypic variability for a particular desmin genotype, and the possible interaction of desminopathy with LQT variants not independently associated with large differences in current properties or QT prolongation from wild type.

PRR5 encodes a conserved proline-rich protein predominant in kidney: analysis of genomic organization, expression, and mutation status in breast and colorectal carcinomas.

Loss of heterozygosity on chromosome 22q13.31 is a frequent event during human breast and colorectal carcinogenesis. Herein we characterize a novel gene at chromosome 22q13.31 designated PRR5. Alternative promoter usage and splicing converge to generate five PRR5 transcript variants with maximum mRNA expression in kidney. In vitro transcription/translation demonstrated that the five variants generate three protein isoforms differing in their N-terminal length. Mutational analysis of PRR5 in human breast and colorectal tumors did not reveal somatic mutations. However, mRNA expression analyses revealed PRR5 overexpression in a majority of colorectal tumors but substantial downregulation of PRR5 expression in a subset of breast tumors and reduced expression in two breast cancer cell lines. Treatment with trichostatin A increased PRR5 mRNA levels in BT549 and MDA-MB-231 cells, whereas 5'-aza-2'-deoxycytidine induced expression in MDA-MB-231 cells only. Thus, PRR5 may represent a potential candidate tumor suppressor gene in breast cancer.

Beta-parvin inhibits integrin-linked kinase signaling and is downregulated in breast cancer.

We analysed breast tumors and breast cancer cell lines for the expression of beta-parvin (ParvB), an adaptor protein that binds to the integrin-linked kinase (ILK). Quantitative RT-PCR indicated that ParvB mRNA was downregulated, by at least 60%, in four of nine breast tumors, relative to patient-matched normal mammary gland tissue. We also found that ParvB protein levels were reduced by > or =90% in five of seven advanced tumors, relative to matched normal breast tissue. Conversely, ILK protein and kinase activity levels were elevated in these tumors, suggesting that downregulation of ParvB stimulates ILK signaling. Western blot analyses indicated very low levels of ParvB protein in MDA-MB-231 and MCF7 breast cancer cells, facilitating functional studies of the effects of ParvB on ILK signaling. Expression of ParvB in MDA-MB-231 and MCF7 cells increased cell adhesion to collagen. ParvB inhibited ILK kinase activity, anchorage-independent cell growth and in vitro matrigel invasion by MDA-MB-231 cells. EGF-induced phosphorylation of two ILK targets, PKB (Ser473) and glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (Ser9), was also inhibited by ParvB. These results indicated that ParvB inhibits ILK signaling downstream of receptor tyrosine kinases. Our results suggest that loss of ParvB expression is a novel mechanism for upregulating ILK activity in tumors.

ARHGAP8 is a novel member of the RHOGAP family related to ARHGAP1/CDC42GAP/p50RHOGAP: mutation and expression analyses in colorectal and breast cancers.

The RHO family of small GTPases has multiple functions, including regulation of cytoskeletal organization, cell cycle progression and cell migration, among others. The key members of this family are RHO, RAC and CDC42. Active GTP-bound RHO proteins are down-regulated by RHO GTPase-activating proteins (RHOGAPs). Herein, we describe the identification, characterization and mutational analysis of a novel RHOGAP designated as ARHGAP8, which is located within a critical region of loss-of-heterozygosity on chromosome 22q13.31 in breast and colorectal carcinomas. ARHGAP8 shares an identical genomic organization with ARHGAP1/CDC42GAP/p50RHOGAP and the corresponding proteins share the same functional domains that distinguish them from other ARHGAP members. These domains include the C-terminal RHOGAP domain, a central SH3-binding motif, and an N-terminal BNIP-2/CDC42GAP homology (BCH)/Sec14p-like domain. Three alternatively spliced ARHGAP8 transcripts were expressed in normal mammary gland and colon, which differed in the size of the BCH/Sec14p-like domain only. PCR-SSCP analyses revealed a total of six germline missense variants in individuals with colorectal or breast cancer; however, somatic mutations were not identified. Surprisingly, ARHGAP8 expression was up-regulated in the majority of primary colorectal tumors analyzed. Taken together, ARHGAP8 encodes a novel RHOGAP with unique functional domains that is highly homologous to ARHGAP1/CDC42GAP/p50RHOGAP.