Association between prophylactic angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and overall survival in Duchenne muscular dystrophy-analysis of registry data.

AIMS: To estimate the effect of prophylactic angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) on survival in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). METHODS AND RESULTS: We analysed the data from the French multicentre DMD Heart Registry (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03443115). We estimated the association between the prophylactic prescription of ACEi and event-free survival in 668 patients aged 8 to 13 years, with normal left ventricular function, using (i) a Cox model with intervention as a time-dependent covariate, (ii) a propensity-based analysis comparing ACEi treatment vs. no treatment, and (iii) a set of sensitivity analyses. The study outcomes were overall survival and hospitalizations for heart failure (HF) or acute respiratory failure. Among the 668 patients included in the DMD Heart Registry, 576 (mean age 6.1 ± 2.8 years) were eligible for this study, of whom 390 were treated with ACEi prophylactically. Death occurred in 53 patients (13.5%) who were and 60 patients (32.3%) who were not treated prophylactically with ACEi, respectively. In a Cox model with intervention as a time-dependent variable, the hazard ratio (HR) associated with ACEi treatment was 0.49 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.34-0.72] and 0.47 (95% CI 0.31-0.17) for overall mortality after adjustment for baseline variables. In the propensity-based analysis, 278 patients were included in the treatment group and 834 in the control group, with 18.5% and 30.4% 12-year estimated probability of death, respectively. ACEi were associated with a lower risk of death (HR 0.39; 95% CI 0.17-0.92) and hospitalization for HF (HR 0.16; 95% CI 0.04-0.62). All other sensitivity analyses yielded similar results. CONCLUSION: Prophylactic ACEi treatment in DMD was associated with a significantly higher overall survival and lower rates of hospitalization for HF.

Development and Validation of a New Risk Prediction Score for Life-Threatening Ventricular Tachyarrhythmias in Laminopathies.

BACKGROUND: An accurate estimation of the risk of life-threatening (LT) ventricular tachyarrhythmia (VTA) in patients with LMNA mutations is crucial to select candidates for implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation. METHODS: We included 839 adult patients with LMNA mutations, including 660 from a French nationwide registry in the development sample, and 179 from other countries, referred to 5 tertiary centers for cardiomyopathies, in the validation sample. LTVTA was defined as (1) sudden cardiac death or (2) implantable cardioverter defibrillator-treated or hemodynamically unstable VTA. The prognostic model was derived using the Fine-Gray regression model. The net reclassification was compared with current clinical practice guidelines. The results are presented as means (SD) or medians [interquartile range]. RESULTS: We included 444 patients, 40.6 (14.1) years of age, in the derivation sample and 145 patients, 38.2 (15.0) years, in the validation sample, of whom 86 (19.3%) and 34 (23.4%) experienced LTVTA over 3.6 [1.0-7.2] and 5.1 [2.0-9.3] years of follow-up, respectively. Predictors of LTVTA in the derivation sample were: male sex, nonmissense LMNA mutation, first degree and higher atrioventricular block, nonsustained ventricular tachycardia, and left ventricular ejection fraction (https://lmna-risk-vta.fr). In the derivation sample, C-index (95% CI) of the model was 0.776 (0.711-0.842), and the calibration slope 0.827. In the external validation sample, the C-index was 0.800 (0.642-0.959), and the calibration slope was 1.082 (95% CI, 0.643-1.522). A 5-year estimated risk threshold ≥7% predicted 96.2% of LTVTA and net reclassified 28.8% of patients with LTVTA in comparison with the guidelines-based approach. CONCLUSIONS: In comparison with the current standard of care, this risk prediction model for LTVTA in laminopathies significantly facilitated the choice of candidates for implantable cardioverter defibrillators. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT03058185.

Incidence and predictors of sudden death, major conduction defects and sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias in 1388 patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1.

AIMS: To describe the incidence and identify predictors of sudden death (SD), major conduction defects and sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VTA) in myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). METHODS AND RESULTS: We retrospectively enrolled 1388 adults with DM1 referred to six French medical centres between January 2000 and October 2013. We confirmed their vital status, classified all deaths, and determined the incidence of major conduction defects requiring permanent pacing and sustained VTA. We searched for predictors of overall survival, SD, major conduction defects, and sustained VTA by Cox regression analysis. Over a median 10-year follow-up, 253 (18.2%) patients died, 39 (3.6%) suddenly. Analysis of the cardiac rhythm at the time of the 39 SD revealed sustained VTA in 9, asystole in 5, complete atrioventricular block in 1 and electromechanical dissociation in two patients. Non-cardiac causes were identified in the five patients with SD who underwent autopsies. Major conduction defects developed in 143 (19.3%) and sustained VTA in 26 (2.3%) patients. By Cox regression analysis, age, family history of SD and left bundle branch block were independent predictors of SD, while age, male sex, electrocardiographic conduction abnormalities, syncope, and atrial fibrillation were independent predictors of major conduction defects; non-sustained VTA was the only predictor of sustained VTA. CONCLUSIONS: SD was a frequent mode of death in DM1, with multiple mechanisms involved. Major conduction defects were by far more frequent than sustained VTA, whose only independent predictor was a personal history of non-sustained VTA. ClinicalTrials.gov no: NCT01136330.

Long-term cardiac prognosis and risk stratification in 260 adults presenting with mitochondrial diseases.

AIMS: The aim of this study is to assess the long-term cardiac prognosis of adults with mitochondrial diseases. METHODS AND RESULTS: Between January 2000 and May 2014, we retrospectively included in this study 260 consecutive patients (60% women) ≥18 years (interquartile range 31-54), with genetically proven mitochondrial diseases, including 109 with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) single large-scale deletions, 64 with the m.3243A>G mutation in MT-TL1, 51 with other mtDNA point mutations, and 36 patients with nuclear gene mutations. Cardiac involvement was present at baseline in 81 patients (30%). Single and multiple variable analyses were performed in search of predictors of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs), and hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Over a median follow-up of 7 years (3.6-11.7), 27 patients (10%) suffered a MACE, defined as sudden death, death due to heart failure (HF), resuscitated cardiac arrest, third-degree atrioventricular block, sinus node dysfunction, cardiac transplantation, or hospitalization for management of HF. Patients with single large-scale mtDNA deletions or m.3243A>G mutations had the highest incidence of MACE. By multiple variable analysis, intraventricular conduction block (HR = 16.9; 95% CI: 7.2-39.4), diabetes (HR = 7.0; 95% CI: 2.9-16.7), premature ventricular complexes (HR = 3.6; 95% CI: 1.4-9.2), and left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy (HR = 2.5; 95% CI: 1.1-5.8) were independent predictors of MACEs. In patients with zero, one, and two or more risk factors, the incidences of MACE were 1.7, 15 and 42%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Patients with mitochondrial diseases are at high risk of MACE, independently predicted by intraventricular conduction block, diabetes, ventricular prematurity, and LV hypertrophy.

Prognosis of Right Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction in Patients With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Background Chronic respiratory failure and heart involvement may occur in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. We aimed to assess the prognostic value of the right ventricular (RV) systolic dysfunction in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Methods and Results We studied 90 genetically proven patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy from 2010 to 2019, to obtain respiratory function and Doppler echocardiographic RV systolic function. Prognostic value was assessed in terms of death and cardiac events. The median age was 27.5 years, and median forced vital capacity was at 10% of the predicted value: 83 patients (92%) were on home mechanical ventilation. An RV systolic dysfunction was found in 46 patients (51%). In patients without RV dysfunction at inclusion, a left ventricular systolic dysfunction at inclusion was associated with a higher risk of developing RV dysfunction during follow-up with an odds ratio of 4.5 (P=0.03). RV systolic dysfunction was significantly associated with cardiac events, mainly acute heart failure (62%) and cardiogenic shock (23%). In a multivariable Cox model, the adjusted hazard ratio was 4.96 (95% CI [1.09-22.6]; P=0.04). In terms of death, we found a significant difference between patients with RV dysfunction versus patients without RV dysfunction in the Kaplan-Meier curves (log-rank P=0.045). Conclusions RV systolic dysfunction is frequently present in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and is associated with increased risk of cardiac events, irrespective of left ventricular dysfunction and mechanical ventilation. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.org; unique identifier: NCT02501083.

Electrophysiological study with prophylactic pacing and survival in adults with myotonic dystrophy and conduction system disease.

CONTEXT: Up to one-third of patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 die suddenly. Thus far, no intervention has effectively prevented sudden death. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether an invasive strategy based on systematic electrophysiological studies and prophylactic permanent pacing is associated with longer survival in patients presenting with myotonic dystrophy type 1 and major infranodal conduction delays than a noninvasive strategy. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: A retrospective study, the DM1 Heart Registry included 914 consecutive patients older than 18 years with genetically confirmed myotonic dystrophy type 1 who were admitted to the Neurological Unit of the Myology Institute of Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, a teaching medical center in Paris, France, between January 2000 and December 2009. INTERVENTIONS: Among 486 patients whose electrocardiogram showed a PR interval greater than 200 milliseconds, a QRS duration greater than 100 milliseconds, or both, the outcome of 341 (70.2%) who underwent an invasive strategy was compared with 145 (29.8%) who underwent a noninvasive strategy. A propensity score risk adjustment and propensity-based matching analysis was used to account for selection biases. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Rates of overall survival (main outcome measure) and sudden death, respiratory death, and other deaths (secondary outcome measures). RESULTS: Over a median follow-up of 7.4 years (range, 0-9.9 years), 50 patients died in the invasive strategy group and 30 died in the noninvasive strategy group (hazard ratio [HR], 0.74 [95 CI, 0.47-1.16]; P = .19), corresponding to an overall 9-year survival of 74.4% (95% CI, 69.2%-79.9%). Regardless of the technique used to adjust for between-group differences in baseline characteristics, the invasive strategy was associated with a longer survival, with adjusted HRs ranging from 0.47 (95% CI, 0.26-0.84; P = .01) for a covariate-adjusted analysis of propensity-matched data to 0.61 (95% CI, 0.38-0.99; P = .047) for an analysis adjusted for propensity score quintiles. The survival difference was largely attributable to a lower incidence of sudden death, which occurred in 10 patients in the invasive strategy group and in 16 patients in the noninvasive strategy group, with HRs ranging from 0.24 (95% CI, 0.10-0.56; P = .001) for an analysis adjusted for propensity score quintiles and covariates to 0.28 (95% CI, 0.13-0.61; P = .001) for an unadjusted analysis of propensity-matched data. CONCLUSION: Among patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1, an invasive strategy was associated with a higher rate of 9-year survival than a noninvasive strategy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01136330.

Cardiac Outcomes in Adults With Mitochondrial Diseases.

BACKGROUND: Patients with mitochondrial diseases are at risk of heart failure (HF) and arrhythmic major adverse cardiac events (MACE). OBJECTIVES: We developed prediction models to estimate the risk of HF and arrhythmic MACE in this population. METHODS: We determined the incidence and searched for predictors of HF and arrhythmic MACE using Cox regression in 600 adult patients from a multicenter registry with genetically confirmed mitochondrial diseases. RESULTS: Over a median follow-up time of 6.67 years, 29 patients (4.9%) reached the HF endpoint, including 19 hospitalizations for nonterminal HF, 2 cardiac transplantations, and 8 deaths from HF. Thirty others (5.1%) reached the arrhythmic MACE, including 21 with third-degree or type II second-degree atrioventricular blocks, 4 with sinus node dysfunction, and 5 sudden cardiac deaths. Predictors of HF were the m.3243A>G variant (HR: 4.3; 95% CI: 1.8-10.1), conduction defects (HR: 3.0; 95% CI: 1.3-6.9), left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy (HR: 2.6; 95% CI: 1.1-5.8), LV ejection fraction <50% (HR: 10.2; 95% CI: 4.6-22.3), and premature ventricular beats (HR: 4.1; 95% CI: 1.7-9.9). Independent predictors for arrhythmia were single, large-scale mtDNA deletions (HR: 4.3; 95% CI: 1.7-10.4), conduction defects (HR: 6.8; 95% CI: 3.0-15.4), and LV ejection fraction <50% (HR: 2.7; 95% CI: 1.1-7.1). C-indexes of the Cox regression models were 0.91 (95% CI: 0.88-0.95) and 0.80 (95% CI: 0.70-0.90) for the HF and arrhythmic MACE, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We developed the first prediction models for HF and arrhythmic MACE in patients with mitochondrial diseases using genetic variant type and simple cardiac assessments.

Cardiac assessment of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy 2I patients: an echography, Holter ECG and magnetic resonance imaging study.

Mutations in the FKRP gene may be associated with cardiac involvement. The aim of our study was to assess myocardial involvement in patients with LGMD2I, using physical examination, echocardiography, resting and 24-h ambulatory electrocardiogram and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, with particular attention to the detection of myocardial morphologic abnormalities. Patients were compared to matched controls. Twenty-three patients were enrolled (men 10--women 13; 32.3+/-9.5 years). Twenty-two had the C826A gene mutation (homozygous 12, heterozygous 10). Nine patients had severe muscle alterations, 10 had milder muscle involvement and 4 had isolated exertional myoglobinuria. When compared to controls, LGMD2I patients had reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (50.8+/-13.9 versus 66.6+/-3.8%, p<0.0001). Sixty percent of patients had reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, including 8% with severe reduced left ventricular ejection fraction <30%. None had significant arrhythmia. Gene mutation and the severity of the muscle disease were not predictive of cardiac involvement. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging displayed a high prevalence of myocardial functional abnormalities, fatty replacement and fibrosis, among the 13 patients investigated. Reduced contractility and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging morphological abnormalities are highly prevalent in LGMD2I patients suggesting that all patients should be referred for cardiac evaluation.

Left ventricular non-compaction in a patient with myotonic dystrophy type 2.

Cardiac involvement is frequent in myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2) with dilated cardiomyopathy and severe arrhythmias having been reported. Left ventricular non-compaction is a cardiomyopathy often associated with neuromuscular disorders. We report the case of a 61-year-old man with DM2 treated for 5 years for a suspected dilated cardiomyopathy. Echocardiography showed left ventricular non-compaction typical pattern, with prominent apical trabeculations and intertrabecular spaces perfused from ventricular cavity. MRI confirmed the diagnosis. Physicians should be aware of the risk of severe cardiac complications in DM2 patients. Left ventricular non-compaction diagnosis is often overlooked. Neurological examination should be performed in all patients with left ventricular non-compaction.

Development and Validation of a New Scoring System to Predict Survival in Patients With Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1.

Importance: Life expectancy is greatly shortened in patients presenting with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), the most common neuromuscular disease. A reliable prediction of survival in patients with DM1 is critically important to plan personalized health supervision. Objective: To develop and validate a prognostic score to predict 10-year survival in patients with DM1. Design, Setting, and Participants: In this longitudinal cohort study, between January 2000 and November 2014, we enrolled 1296 adults referred to 4 tertiary neuromuscular centers in France for management of genetically proven DM1, including 1066 patients in the derivation cohort and 230 in the validation cohort. Data were analyzed from December 2016 to March 2017. Main Outcomes and Measures: Factors associated with survival by multiple variable Cox modeling, including 95% confidence intervals, and development of a predictive score validated internally and externally. Mean values are reported with their standard deviations. Results: Of the 1296 included patients, 670 (51.7%) were women, and the mean (SD) age was 39.8 (13.7) years. Among the 1066 patients (82.3%) in the derivation cohort, 241 (22.6%) died over a median (interquartile range) follow-up of 11.7 (7.7-14.3) years. Age, diabetes, need for support when walking, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, first-degree atrioventricular block, bundle-branch block, and lung vital capacity were associated with death. Simplified score points were attributed to each predictor, and adding these points yielded scores between 0 and 20, with 0 indicating the lowest and 20 the highest risk of death. The 10-year survival rate was 96.6% (95% CI, 94.4-98.9) in the group with 0 to 4 points, 92.2% (95% CI, 88.8-95.6) in the group with 5 to 7 points, 80.7% (95% CI, 75.4-86.1) in the group with 8 to 10 points, 57.9% (95% CI, 49.2-66.6) in the group with 11 to 13 points, and 19.4% (95% CI, 8.6-30.1) in the group with 14 points or more. In 230 patients (17.7%) included in the validation cohort, the 10-year survival rates for the groups with 0 to 4, 5 to 7, 8 to 10, 11 to 13, and 14 points or more were 99.3% (95% CI, 95.0-100), 80.6% (95% CI, 67.1-96.7), 79.3% (95% CI, 66.2-95.1), 43.2% (95% CI, 28.2-66.1), and 21.6% (95% CI, 10.0-46.8), respectively. The calibration curves did not deviate from the reference line. The C index was 0.753 (95% CI, 0.722-0.785) in the derivation cohort and 0.806 (95% CI, 0.758-0.855) in the validation cohort. Conclusions and Relevance: The DM1 prognostic score is associated with long-term survival.

Perindopril preventive treatment on mortality in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: 10 years' follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), an X-linked disorder due to lack of dystrophin, is associated with muscle weakness and myocardial dysfunction. Although preliminary data support the efficacy of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors on left ventricular (LV) function, our aim was to examine the long-term impact of a preventive treatment with perindopril on mortality in children with DMD. METHODS: Patients with DMD between the ages of 9.5 and 13 years presenting with normal LV ejection fraction were included in this prospective study. They were randomly assigned for 3 years to perindopril, 2 to 4 mg (group 1), or placebo (group 2) in a double-blind protocol, followed by open-label treatment with perindopril for up to 10 years. Survival rate at 10 years in each group is reported. RESULTS: There were 28 patients assigned to group 1 and 29 to group 2. Baseline characteristics were similar in both groups. At the end of the 10 years' follow-up period, survival status was available for all included patients: 26 (92.9%) of 28 patients in group 1 were alive at 10 years versus 19 (65.5%) of 29 in group 2 (P = .02). Kaplan-Meier cumulative survival was significantly lower in group 2 than in group 1 (P = .013). CONCLUSION: Early initiation of treatment with perindopril is associated with a lower mortality in patients with DMD with normal LV ejection fraction at study entry.

Risk for Complications after Pacemaker or Cardioverter Defibrillator Implantations in Patients with Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1.

BACKGROUND: Pacemakers (PM) and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) may be indicated for sudden death prevention in myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), however the risk of complications after the placement of these devices is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To compare the rate of device-related complications between PM and ICD implantations in patients with DM1. METHODS: Among 914 patients with DM1 included in the DM1 Heart Registry between January 2000 and January 2010, we retrospectively selected 23 patients who were implanted with an ICD and matched them to 46 controls with a PM on age, gender, and year of device placement. RESULTS: Over a 6 years follow-up period, we observed device-related complications in 9 ICD recipients (inappropriate shocks in 5, lead dysfunction in 5, infection in 2) and in 3 PM recipients (lead dysfunction in 3). Patients with an ICD had, compared to those with a PM, higher rates of complications (39.1% vs. 6.5%, p = 0.0006) and more frequent complications requiring hospitalisation and/or re-intervention (respectively 30.4% and 21.7% vs. 0%). CONCLUSION: Our study shows a higher risk of device-related complications after the implantation of an ICD than for a PM in patients presenting with DM1.

Association Between Mutation Size and Cardiac Involvement in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1: An Analysis of the DM1-Heart Registry.

BACKGROUND: In myotonic dystrophy type 1, the association between mutation size (CTG expansion) and the severity of cardiac involvement is controversial. METHODS AND RESULTS: We selected 855 patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (women, 51%; median age, 37 years), with genetic testing performed at the moment of their initial cardiac evaluation, out of 1014 patients included in the Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1-Heart Registry between January 2000 and December 2015. We studied the association between CTG expansion size and other baseline characteristics and (1) cardiac involvement at baseline and (2) the incidence of death, sudden death, and other cardiac adverse events. At initial presentation, the median CTG expansion size was 530 (interquartile range, 300-830). In multivariate analysis, larger expansions were associated with the presence at baseline of conduction defects on the ECG and left ventricular systolic dysfunction. In a median 11.5 years of follow-up period, 210 patients died (25%), including 32 suddenly (4%). Supraventricular arrhythmias developed over lifetime in 166 patients (19%), sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias in 17 (2%), and permanent pacemakers were implanted in 181 (21%). In Cox regression analyses, larger CTG expansions were significantly associated with (1) total death, sudden death, and pacemaker implantation in a model, including CTG expansion size, age, sex, diabetes mellitus, and (2) all end points except sudden death in a model including all baseline characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: The size of the CTG expansion in the blood of myotonic dystrophy type 1 patients is associated with total and sudden deaths, conduction defects, left ventricular dysfunction, and supraventricular arrhythmias. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique Identifier: NCT01136330.

Effect of perindopril on the onset and progression of left ventricular dysfunction in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this research was to examine the effects of perindopril on cardiac function in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). BACKGROUND: Duchenne muscular dystrophy, an inherited X-linked disease, is characterized by progressive muscle weakness and myocardial involvement. METHODS: In phase I, 57 children with DMD and a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) >55% (mean 65.0 +/- 5.4%), 9.5 to 13 years of age (mean 10.7 +/- 1.2 years), were enrolled in a three-year multicenter, randomized, double-blind trial of perindopril, 2 to 4 mg/day (group 1), versus placebo (group 2). In phase II, all patients received open-label perindopril for 24 more months; LVEF was measured at 0, 36, and 60 months. RESULTS: Phase I was completed by 56 (27 in group 1 and 29 in group 2) and phase II by 51 patients (24 in group 1 and 27 in group 2). There was no difference in baseline characteristics between the treatment groups. At the end of phase I, mean LVEF was 60.7 +/- 7.6% in group 1 versus 64.4 +/- 9.8% in group 2, and was <45% in a single patient in each group (p = NS). At 60 months, LVEF was 58.6 +/- 8.1% in group 1 versus 56.0 +/- 15.5% in group 2 (p = NS). A single patient had an LVEF <45% in group 1 versus eight patients in group 2 (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Early treatment with perindopril delayed the onset and progression of prominent left ventricle dysfunction in children with DMD.

Atrial flutter in myotonic dystrophy type 1: Patient characteristics and clinical outcome.

The prevalence and the incidence of atrial flutter in patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) and the most appropriate strategies for its management are unknown. We retrospectively included in the DM1 Heart Registry 929 adult patients with DM1 admitted to our Institutions between January 2000 and September 2013. We selected patients presenting with atrial flutter and analysed data relative to the occurrence of arterial thromboembolism, severe bradyarrhythmias and atrial flutter recurrences. Atrial flutter was present in 79 of the 929 patients included in our Registry, representing a 8.5% prevalence. Patients with atrial flutter were older, had a higher muscular disability rating scale score and had higher prevalence of other cardiac manifestations of DM1. Sixty patients presented with a first episode of atrial flutter, representing a 4.6% incidence. Severe bradyarrhythmias requiring permanent pacing were present in 4 patients (6.7%). Over a 53 ± 28 months mean follow-up duration, 2 patients (3.3%) had ischaemic stroke and 12 (20%) had atrial flutter recurrences. Patients who underwent radiofrequency ablation were more frequently free of atrial flutter recurrence than other patients (95 vs. 61%; HR = 0.17; P = 0.04). Atrial flutter is a common manifestation of DM1, potentially complicated by arterial thromboembolism or severe bradyarrhythmias. Radiofrequency catheter ablation is associated with a lower risk for recurrences.

Non Random Distribution of DMD Deletion Breakpoints and Implication of Double Strand Breaks Repair and Replication Error Repair Mechanisms.

BACKGROUND: Dystrophinopathies are mostly caused by copy number variations, especially deletions, in the dystrophin gene (DMD). Despite the large size of the gene, deletions do not occur randomly but mainly in two hot spots, the main one involving exons 45 to 55. The underlying mechanisms are complex and implicate two main mechanisms: Non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) and micro-homology mediated replication-dependent recombination (MMRDR). OBJECTIVE: Our goals were to assess the distribution of intronic breakpoints (BPs) in the genomic sequence of the main hot spot of deletions within DMD gene and to search for specific sequences at or near to BPs that might promote BP occurrence or be associated with DNA break repair. METHODS: Using comparative genomic hybridization microarray, 57 deletions within the intron 44 to 55 region were mapped. Moreover, 21 junction fragments were sequenced to search for specific sequences. RESULTS: Non-randomly distributed BPs were found in introns 44, 47, 48, 49 and 53 and 50% of BPs clustered within genomic regions of less than 700bp. Repeated elements (REs), known to promote gene rearrangement via several mechanisms, were present in the vicinity of 90% of clustered BPs and less frequently (72%) close to scattered BPs, illustrating the important role of such elements in the occurrence of DMD deletions. Palindromic and TTTAAA sequences, which also promote DNA instability, were identified at fragment junctions in 20% and 5% of cases, respectively. Micro-homologies (76%) and insertions or deletions of small sequences were frequently found at BP junctions. CONCLUSIONS: Our results illustrate, in a large series of patients, the important role of RE and other genomic features in DNA breaks, and the involvement of different mechanisms in DMD gene deletions: Mainly replication error repair mechanisms, but also NHEJ and potentially aberrant firing of replication origins. A combination of these mechanisms may also be possible.

Laminin α2 Deficiency-Related Muscular Dystrophy Mimicking Emery-Dreifuss and Collagen VI related Diseases.

BACKGROUND: Laminin α2 deficient congenital muscular dystrophy, caused by mutations in the LAMA2 gene, is characterized by early muscle weakness associated with abnormal white matter signal on cerebral MRI. OBJECTIVE: To report on 4 patients with LAMA2 gene mutations whose original clinical features complicated the diagnosis strategy. METHODS: Clinical, electrophysiological, muscle imaging and histopathological data were retrospectively collected from all patients. DNA samples were analysed by next-generation sequencing or direct gene sequencing. Laminin α2 was analysed by western-blot and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The four patients achieved independent walking. All had proximal muscle weakness with scapular winging and prominent joint contractures without peripheral neuropathy. During follow-up, two patients suffered from refractory epilepsy associated with brain leukoencephalopathy in one, polymicrogyria and lissencephaly without white matter changes in the other. In two patients, the distribution of fatty infiltration resembles that of collagen-VI related myopathies. Dilated cardiomyopathy contstartabstractwith conduction defects, suggestive of Emery-Dreifuss myopathy, emerged in two of them within the 4th decade. Molecular diagnosis remained elusive for many years. Finally, targeted capture-DNA sequencing unveiled the involvement of the LAMA2 gene in two families, and led us to further identify LAMA2 mutations in the remaining family using Sanger sequencing. CONCLUSIONS: This report extends the clinical and radiological features of partial Laminin α2 deficiency since patients showed atypical manifestations including dilated cardiomyopathy with conduction defects in 2, epilepsy in 2, one of whom also had sole cortical brain abnormalities. Importantly, clinical findings and muscle imaging initially pointed to collagen-VI related disorders and Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy.

High risk of severe cardiac adverse events in patients with mitochondrial m.3243A>G mutation.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the long-term incidence of cardiac life-threatening complications and death in patients with the m.3243A>G mutation, and to identify cardiac prognostic factors. METHODS: We retrospectively included patients carrying the m.3243A>G mutation who were admitted to the Neuromuscular Disease Clinic of Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital between January 1992 and December 2010. We collected information relative to their yearly neurologic and cardiac investigations, their mutation load in blood, urine, and muscle at initial admission, and the occurrence of cardiac life-threatening adverse events and death during follow-up. RESULTS: Forty-one patients (median age = 47 years [36-55 years], men = 13) were included, of whom 38 had clinical manifestations of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) and 3 were asymptomatic. One patient had a personal history of cardiac transplantation. Cardiac investigations displayed left ventricular hypertrophy, left ventricular dysfunction, or both abnormalities in 18 patients, along with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome in 7, conduction system disease in 4, and atrial fibrillation in 1. Over a median 5-year (3-9 years) follow-up period, 11 patients died, including 3 due to heart failure; 7 had life-threatening adverse events, including 6 hospitalizations for severe heart failure and 1 resuscitated cardiac arrest. By multivariate analysis, left ventricular hypertrophy was the only parameter independently associated with occurrence of cardiac adverse events. CONCLUSION: Patients with the m.3243A>G mutation have a high incidence of cardiac death and life-threatening adverse events. Left ventricular hypertrophy was the only parameter independently associated with occurrence of these events.

Brugada syndrome and abnormal splicing of SCN5A in myotonic dystrophy type 1.

BACKGROUND: In patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), the mechanisms underlying sudden cardiac death, which occurs in up to 1/3 of patients, are unclear. AIMS: To study the potential role of Brugada syndrome in ventricular tachyarrhythmias and sudden death in DM1 patients. METHODS: We screened 914 adult patients included in the DM1 Heart Registry during 2000-2009 for the presence of type 1 Brugada pattern on electrocardiogram (ECG). We also performed direct sequencing of SCN5A in patients with Brugada pattern. Further, we analysed SCN5A splicing on ventricular myocardial specimens harvested during cardiac transplantation in a 45-year-old patient with DM1 and three controls with inherited dilated cardiomyopathy. RESULTS: A type 1 Brugada pattern was present on the ECG of seven of 914 patients (0.8%), including five with a history of sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmia or sudden death, who fulfilled the criteria for Brugada syndrome. SCN5A sequencing was normal in all patients. Ventricular myocardial specimen analysis displayed abnormal splicing of SCN5A exon 6, characterized by over-expression of the 'neonatal' isoform, called exon 6A, in the patient with DM1, but not from the controls. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest a potential implication of Brugada syndrome in sudden death in DM1, which may be related to missplicing of SCN5A. Our findings provide a new insight into the pathophysiology of heart disease in DM1.