Importance of genetic study in elderly patients with transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis. / Relevancia del estudio genético de la amiloidosis cardíaca por transtiretina en el anciano.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Cardiac transthyretin amyloidosis (CA-ATTR) is a prevalent disease with age. Genetic study is recommended, even in eldest patients. We aim to analyze the prevalence of hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRv) in elderly patients (≥75years) with CA-ATTR and its implications. PATIENTS AND METHODOLOGY: Retrospective observational study of the cohort of elderly patients with CA-ATTR diagnosed according to the international recommended protocol. We analyze the results of sequencing TTR gene, the differential characteristics and their clinical implications. RESULTS: Between 2016 and 2022, 130 elderly patients (89% cohort) were diagnosed with CA-ATTR (85% male). In 8 of the 123 patients with a genetic study, a pathogenic variant in TTR was identified (6.5%), initiating specific treatment in 4 subjects (50%). The family study identified another case and 6 asymptomatic carriers. There were no significant differences between baseline characteristics or in clinical events. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of ATTRv in elderly patients with CA-ATTR was 6.5% without observing differential characteristics that allow guiding a selective indication of genetic analysis.

Invasive management of significant tricuspid regurgitation in clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is a prevalent condition inside valvular heart disease (VHD) with relevant prognosis implications. However, concordance between real management in clinical practice and invasive treatment recommendations of European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines is unknown. METHODS: A substudy of ESC VHD II survey was performed to evaluate the real treatment of TR compared to the clinical ESC guidelines recommendations published in 2012, 2017 and 2021 was performed. TR cases with surgical indication were divided in 3 groups: 1: severe isolated TR without previous left VHD; 2: moderate/severe TR and concomitant severe left VHD; 3: severe TR plus previous left VHD surgery. RESULTS: Of 902 patients assessed, 123 had significant TR. Fifty (41%) cases demonstrated ESC guidelines 2012-2017 Class I or IIa recommendations for invasive treatment: 9(18%) of group 1, 37(74%) of group 2 and 4(8%) of group 3. Surgery was performed in 24 patients (48%); 1 in group 1(4%), 22 in group 2(92%) and 1 in group 3(4%). Overall concordance was 48% (group 1: 11%; group 2: 59%; group 3: 25%). Regarding the 2021 ESC guidelines only one patient changed groups with an overall concordance of 47% (group 1: 10%; group 2: 59%; group 3: 25%). CONCLUSION: Concordance between 2012, 2017 and 2021 ESC guidelines recommendations and clinical practice for TR surgical intervention is low, especially in those without concomitant severe left VHD. These results suggest the need to improve further guideline implementation and alternative treatments, such as percutaneous, which could resolve potential discrepancies in those clinical scenarios.

Date of Admission during COVID-19 Pandemic Impacted Patient Outcomes in Addition to the Higher Efficacy of Tocilizumab Plus High-Dose Corticosteroid Therapy Compared to Tocilizumab Alone.

BACKGROUND: The evidence for the efficacy of glucocorticoids combined with tocilizumab (TCZ) in COVID-19 comes from observational studies or subgroup analysis. Our aim was to compare outcomes between hospitalized COVID-19 patients who received high-dose corticosteroid pulse therapy and TCZ and those who received TCZ. METHODS: A retrospective single-center study was performed on consecutive hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 between 1 March and 23 April 2020. Patients treated with either TCZ (400-600 mg, one to two doses) and methylprednisolone pulses (MPD-TCZ group) or TCZ alone were analyzed for the occurrence of a combined endpoint of death and need for invasive mechanical ventilation during admission. The independence of both treatment groups was tested using machine learning classifiers, and relevant variables that were potentially different between the groups were measured through a mean decrease accuracy algorithm. RESULTS: An earlier date of admission was significantly associated with worse outcomes regardless of treatment type. Twenty patients died (27.0%) in the TCZ group, and 33 (44.6%) died or required intubation (n = 74), whereas in the MPD-TCZ group, 15 (11.0%) patients died and 29 (21.3%) patients reached the combined endpoint (n = 136; p = 0.006 and p < 0.001, respectively). Machine learning methodology using a random forest classifier confirmed significant differences between the treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: MPD and TCZ improved outcomes (death and invasive mechanical ventilation) among hospitalized COVID-19 patients, but confounding variables such as the date of admission during the COVID-19 pandemic should be considered in observational studies.

Tricuspid regurgitation severity after atrial septal defect closure or pulmonic valve replacement.

OBJECTIVES: Cardiac surgery or catheter interventions are nowadays commonly performed to reduce volume loading of the right ventricle in adults with congenital heart disease. However, little is known, on the effect of such procedures on pre-existing tricuspid regurgitation (TR). We assessed the potential reduction in the severity of TR after atrial septal defect (ASD) closure and pulmonic valve replacement (PVR). METHODS: Demographics, clinical and echocardiographic characteristics of consecutive patients undergoing ASD closure or PVR between 2005 and 2014 at a single centre who had at least mild preoperative TR were collected and analysed. RESULTS: Overall, 162 patients (mean age at intervention 41.6±16.1 years, 38.3% male) were included: 101 after ASD closure (61 transcatheter vs 40 surgical) and 61 after PVR (3 transcatheter vs 58 surgical). Only 11.1% received concomitant tricuspid valve surgery (repair). There was significant reduction in the severity of TR in the overall population, from 38 (23.5%) patients having moderate or severe TR preoperatively to only 11 (6.8%) and 20 (12.3%) at 6 months and 12 months of follow-up, respectively (McNemar p<0.0001). There was a significant reduction in tricuspid valve annular diameter (p<0.0001), coaptation distance (p<0.0001) and systolic tenting area (p<0.0001). The reduction in TR was also observed in patients who did not have concomitant tricuspid valve (TV) repair (from 15.3% to 6.9% and 11.8% at 6 and 12 months, respectively, p<0.0001). On multivariable logistic regression including all univariable predictors of residual TR at 12 months, only RA area remained in the model (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.37, p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: ASD closure and PVR are associated with a significant reduction in tricuspid regurgitation, even among patients who do not undergo concomitant tricuspid valve surgery.

Quercetin, a Promising Clinical Candidate for The Prevention of Contrast-Induced Nephropathy.

Iodinated contrast media (CM) are the leading cause of acute renal failure of toxic origin. Between 21% and 50% of patients that receive them develop contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). All prophylactic measures used so far have failed to provide effective prevention. Since oxidative stress is involved in the damage, a possible preventive strategy could be the administration of antioxidant substances, such as quercetin. This compound has shown renoprotective effects in experimental studies. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether quercetin may be helpful in preventing CIN in patients undergoing coronary catheterization. A clinical phase II study was conducted. Patients were distributed in two groups, namely, CM (patients who only received contrast media) and CM+Q (patients who were pretreated with quercetin orally for 3-5 days). Results showed less incidence of CIN in the CM+Q group, possibly due to glomerular protection, evidenced by a lower increase in serum creatinine and albuminuria; and a lower decrease in the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Furthermore, in this group, the relative risk of developing CIN observed in patients that received a high dose of contrast media was inferior. In conclusion, this is the first study that demonstrates that quercetin is a promising safe candidate in preventing CIN.

Safety and efficacy of cryoablation vs. radiofrequency ablation of septal accessory pathways: systematic review of the literature and meta-analyses.

Aims: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of septal accessory pathways (APs) is associated with a significant rate of first procedure failures and complications. Cryoablation is an alternative energy source but there are no studies comparing both ablation techniques. We aimed to systematically review the literature and compare the efficacy and safety of cryoablation vs. RFA of septal APs. Methods and results: We conducted two separate meta-analysis of cryoablation and RFA of septal APs and calculated the global estimates of the efficacy and safety. Sixty-four articles were included: 38 articles reporting RFA and 27 articles reporting cryoablation procedures. Additionally, we included the previously non-published cryoablation registry of septal APs performed at our institution. Overall, 4244 septal APs constitute our study population, 3495 in the RFA cohort and 749 in the cryoablation cohort. Acute procedural success rate of cryoablation was 86.0% (95% CI 81.6-89.4%) and RFA 89.0% (95% CI 86.8-91.0%). Recurrence rate of cryoablation was 18.1% (95% CI 14.8-21.8%) and RFA 9.9% (95% CI 8.2-12.0%). Long-term success rate after multiple ablation procedures of cryoablation was 75.9% (95% CI 68.2-82.3%) and RFA 88.4% (95% CI 84.7-91.3%). There were no reported cases of persistent atrioventricular block (AVB) with cryoablation and 2.7% (95% CI 2.2-3.4%) with RFA. Conclusion: Studies of RFA for treatment of septal APs report higher efficacy rates than do studies using cryoablation, but a significantly higher rate of AVB.

Percutaneous closure of iatrogenic femoral arteriovenous fistula using a covered coronary stent.

We present the case of a patient with a high-output fistula between the right superficial femoral artery and femoral vein after left atrial appendage closure successfully treated with a PK-Papyrus covered coronary stent using a 6F guiding catheter. To the best of our knowledge this is the first time a PK-Papyrus coronary stent has been used in this setting.

Consensus document for the use of the Polypill in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. / Documento de consenso del uso clínico de la Polypill en la prevención secundaria del riesgo cardiovascular.

Cardiovascular disease is a chronic disorder which is usually already at an advanced stage when the first symptoms develop. The fact that the initial clinical presentation can be lethal or highly incapacitating emphasizes the need for primary and secondary prevention. It is estimated that the ratio of patients with good adherence to secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease is low and also decreases gradually over time. The Polypill for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease is the first fixed-dose combination therapy of salicylic acid, atorvastatin and ramipril approved in Spain. The purpose of this consensus document was to define and recommend, through the evidence available in the literature and clinical expert opinion, the impact of treatment adherence in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease and the use of the Polypill in daily clinical practice as part of a global strategy including adjustments in patient lifestyle. A RAND/UCLA methodology based on scientific evidence, as well as the collective judgment and clinical expertise of an expert panel was used for this assessment. As a result, a final report of recommendations on the impact of the lack of adherence to treatment of secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease and the effect of using a Polypill in adherence of patients was produced. The recommendations included in this document have been addressed to all those specialists, cardiologists, internists and primary care physicians with competence in prescribing and monitoring patients with high and very high cardiovascular risks.

[Long-term changes in left ventricular function following intracoronary stem cell transplantation for acute myocardial infarction]. / Evolución a largo plazo de la función ventricular tras la terapia celular intracoronaria en el infarto agudo de miocardio.

Controversy surrounds the long-term effects of intracoronary bone marrow stem cell transplantation after ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEAMI). We report on the long-term changes in left ventricular function observed in 29 patients with STEAMI who were treated using this technique. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was performed at baseline, 6 months after transplantation, and long-term follow-up (median 27 months, interquartile range 24-35 months). The left ventricular ejection fraction had improved significantly by 6 months (from 47.6 ± 8.9% to 52.7 ± 11.6%; P = .001) and this improvement was maintained long-term, at 52.4 ± 11.8% (P = .01 vs. baseline and P = .999 vs. 6 months). There was no significant change from baseline in end-diastolic or end-systolic ventricular volume. Our findings indicate the improvement in injection fraction occurs soon after stem cell transplantation, within the first 6 months, and remains unchanged at long-term follow-up.

Plasma cystatin C for prediction of 1-year cardiac events in Mediterranean patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of renal function (RF) is important for management of patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). Cystatin C, a sensitive marker of RF, appears to be also a marker of cardiovascular risk. Little is known regarding its predictive role in NSTE-ACS patients. METHODS: We assessed 525 patients taking part in the "Systemic Inflammation Evaluation in patients with NSTE-ACS" (SIESTA) study. Patients were subdivided in quartiles according to cystatin C plasma concentrations (mg/L), i.e., Q1<0.81; Q2=0.81-0.92; Q3=0.93-1.10; Q4>or=1.11. Glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was estimated using the modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) equation. The study end-point was the composite of cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction and unstable angina at 1-year follow up. RESULTS: Few patients (0.8%) had severely impaired RF (MDRD<30ml/min/1.73m(2)). 157 patients reached (30%) the study end-point. Patients in Q3 and Q4 showed a higher cumulative probability of cardiac events compared to patients in the lowest quartile. On multivariable analysis, patients in Q3 and Q4 had an increased incidence of cardiac events (adjusted HR=1.57 95%CI 1.04-2.49; p=0.036). Patients with TIMI risk score >or=3 or in-hospital heart failure were also at higher risk for acute cardiac events. Conventional markers of RF, i.e., serum creatinine and eGRF, were not predictors for the study end-point. CONCLUSIONS: Increased levels of cystatin C were an independent predictor of cardiac events at 1-year follow up in this contemporary series of Mediterranean patients with NSTE-ACS.