Cardiac Reoperation or Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement for Patients With Failed Mitral Prostheses.

BACKGROUND: Evidence is limited regarding patient outcomes comparing redo surgical mitral valve replacement (redo SMVR) vs transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) for failed prostheses. OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to compare the outcomes of redo SMVR vs TMVR in patients with failed prostheses, as well as evaluate the association between case volume and outcomes. METHODS: Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥65 years who underwent redo SMVR or TMVR for failed mitral prostheses between 2016 and 2020 were included. The primary endpoint was mid-term (up to 3 years) major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including all-cause death, heart failure rehospitalization, stroke, or reintervention. Propensity score-matched analysis was used. RESULTS: A total of 4,293 patients were included (redo SMVR: 64%; TMVR: 36%). TMVR recipients were older, with a higher comorbidity burden. In matched cohort (n = 1,317 in each group), mid-term risk of MACE was similar (adjusted HR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.80-1.04; P = 0.2). However, landmark analysis revealed a lower risk of MACE with TMVR in the first 6 months (adjusted HR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.63-0.88; P < 0.001) albeit with a higher risk beyond 6 months (adjusted HR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.04-1.58; P = 0.02). Increasing procedural volume was associated with decreased risk of mid-term MACE after redo SMVR (P = 0.001) but not after TMVR (P = 0.3). CONCLUSIONS: In this large cohort of Medicare beneficiaries with failed mitral prostheses, outcomes were similar between redo SMVR and TMVR at 3 years, with TMVR showing a lower initial risk but a higher risk of MACE after 6 months. These findings highlight the importance of striking a balance between surgical risk, anticipated longevity, and hospital expertise when selecting interventions.

Prevalence and Treatment of Arrhythmias in Patients With Transthyretin and Light-Chain Cardiac Amyloidosis.

Background: Various types of arrhythmia are observed in patients with cardiac amyloidosis, but the prevalence of arrhythmia has not been fully investigated. This study investigated the prevalence and treatment of arrhythmias in patients with cardiac amyloidosis before the introduction of new agents for amyloidosis, such as tafamidis. Methods and Results: Of 53 patients who were histologically diagnosed with cardiac amyloidosis at 10 centers in western Japan between 2009 and 2021, 43 who were diagnosed on the basis of immunohistochemical staining were evaluated in this study. Of these 43 patients, 13 had immunoglobulin light-chain (AL) amyloidosis and 30 had transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis; further, 27 had atrial tachyarrhythmia, 13 had ventricular tachyarrhythmia, and 17 had bradyarrhythmia. Atrial fibrillation (AF) was the most common arrhythmia in patients with cardiac amyloidosis (n=24; 55.8%), especially among those with ATTR amyloidosis (70.0% of ATTR vs. 23.1% of AL). Eleven (25.6%) patients were treated with a cardiac implantable device. All 3 patients with pacemakers were alive at the last follow-up (median 76.7 months; interquartile range [IQR] 4.8-146.4 months). Of the 8 patients who underwent AF ablation, there was no recurrence in 6 (75%) after a median of 39.3 months (IQR 19.8-59.3 months). Conclusions: The prevalence of various arrhythmias was high in patients with cardiac amyloidosis. AF occurred most frequently in patients with cardiac amyloidosis, especially among patients with ATTR.

Pathological and clinical effects of interleukin-6 on human myocarditis.

BACKGROUND: Numerous basic studies have shown a relationship between interleukin-6 (IL-6) and the development or severity of myocarditis. However, there has been no study in which the effect of IL-6 levels in patients with myocarditis was evaluated. METHODS: We enrolled control patients (n = 12) and consecutive patients with acute myocarditis (n = 13), including lymphocytic, eosinophilic, and giant cell myocarditis, and investigated the pathological and clinical effects of IL-6 on human myocarditis. RESULTS: The serum IL-6 level in patients with myocarditis (16.7 [9.9, 103.8] pg/mL) was significantly higher than that in the control patients (1.4 [1.0, 1.9] pg/mL) (P<0.001). Immunohistochemical analysis showed that IL-6 was expressed in infiltrating inflammatory cells of endomyocardial biopsy samples from all patients with myocarditis. Moreover, the log-transformed value of serum IL-6 level showed significant positive correlations with serum creatine kinase (CK) level, CK-MB level, peak CK level, peak CK-MB level and C-reactive protein level (all P ≤ 0.005) and a negative correlation with the left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (p = 0.014). We divided the patients with myocarditis into a low IL-6 group (9.9 [4.5, 14.2] pg/dL, n = 7) and a high IL-6 group (108.9 [51.1, 130.9] pg/dL, n = 6). The degree of infiltration of IL-6-expressing inflammatory cells in myocardial samples obtained from patients in the high IL-6 group was significantly more severe than that in samples obtained from patients in the low IL-6 group. Furthermore, patients in the high IL-6 group significantly more frequently received catecholamine therapy (P = 0.005), venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (P = 0.029), and artificial respirator support (P = 0.021) in the acute phase of myocarditis. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that there is a strong impact of IL-6 on cardiac injury and dysfunction in patients with myocarditis.

Effects of Bisoprolol Transdermal Patches for Prevention of Perioperative Myocardial Injury in High-Risk Patients Undergoing Non-Cardiac Surgery　- Multicenter Randomized Controlled Study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of transdermal ß-blocker patches, which offer stable blood concentration and easy availability during operation, for prevention of perioperative myocardial injury (PMI) in high-risk patients.Methods and Results:In this randomized controlled trial, patients aged >60 years with hypertension and high revised cardiac risk index (≥2) undergoing non-cardiac surgery were randomly assigned to a bisoprolol patch or control group. Primary efficacy outcome was incidence of PMI, defined as postoperative high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) >0.014ng/mL and relative hs-cTnT change ≥20%. Secondary efficacy outcomes were number of cardiovascular events and 30-day mortality. From November 2014 to February 2019, 240 patients from 5 hospitals were enrolled in this study. The incidence of PMI was 35.7% in the bisoprolol patch group and 44.5% in the control group (P=0.18). Incidence of major adverse cardiac events including non-critical myocardial infarction, strokes, decompensated heart failure and tachyarrhythmia was similar between the 2 groups. Tachyarrhythmia tended to be higher in the control group. There were no significant differences in safety outcomes including significant hypotension and bradycardia requiring any treatment between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Bisoprolol patches do not influence the incidence of PMI and cardiovascular events in high-risk patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery, but perioperative use of these patches is safe.

Surgical Correction of Adult Unrepaired Tetralogy of Fallot to Facilitate Stage IIIA Uterine Cancer Treatment.

Unrepaired tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) in adults may compound cancer treatment difficulties, while strategies for adult unrepaired TOF combined with malignant neoplasms are scarce. Here, we report a case of adult unrepaired TOF with uterine cancer. A hybrid surgical strategy minimized invasiveness and the patient survived both cancer resection and adjuvant radiochemotherapy. The patient remains asymptomatic at 12 months of follow-up with no recurrence of malignancy or its markers.

Eclipsed mitral regurgitation successfully treated with a combination of surgical and pharmacological therapies: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Eclipsed mitral regurgitation (MR), which is characterized by a transient and reversible massive functional MR, usually causes recurrent episodes of acute pulmonary oedema in patients with a preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. The pathophysiological mechanism and optimal treatment of eclipsed MR are not yet fully understood. CASE SUMMARY: A 72-year-old woman was hospitalized with cardiogenic shock and takotsubo cardiomyopathy. After hospitalization worsening dyspnoea again appeared, and urgent transthoracic echocardiography revealed severe MR, which spontaneously resolved in a few minutes. At this point, eclipsed MR was detected for the first time. Diagnostic examination revealed that the eclipsed MR was caused by a left ventricular afterload increase. Ultimately, the patient began medical therapy and underwent mitral valve replacement. The subsequent clinical course was favourable. DISCUSSION: This case illustrates the importance of early intervention for eclipsed MR. A combination of surgical and pharmacological therapies can serve as one treatment option for an eclipsed MR.

Shanghai Score System for Diagnosis of Brugada Syndrome: Validation of the Score System and System and Reclassification of the Patients.

OBJECTIVES: The principal objective was to perform an initial test of the Shanghai Brugada Scoring System. Diagnosis of probable and/or definite Brugada syndrome (BrS), possible BrS, and nondiagnostic outcomes were assigned scores of ≥3.5, 2 to 3, and <2 points, respectively. The proposed score system was based on the available published reports and on weighted coefficients derived from limited datasets, with the understanding that these recommendations would need to undergo continuing validation. BACKGROUND: The 2016 HRS/EHRA/APHRS/SOLAECE J-Wave Syndrome Consensus Report proposed a scoring system for diagnosis of BrS that takes into account electrocardiographic recordings, genetic results, clinical characteristics, and family history. METHODS: The patient population consisted of 393 patients evaluated at our hospital for BrS (271 asymptomatic, 99 with syncope, and 23 with ventricular fibrillation [VF]) between 1996 and 2016. Subjects were classified into 4 groups: group A with a score of ≤3.0 points (n = 45); group B with a score of 3.5 points (n = 186); group C with a score of 4.0 to 5.0 points (n = 81); and group D with a score of ≥5.5 points (n = 81). RESULTS: A total of 348 (88%) patients had probable and/or definite BrS, and 81 (20%) had a score ≥5.5. During a follow-up of 97.3 months (range: 39.7 to 142.1 months), 43 patients experienced VF. Significant differences were seen among the 4 groups (p = 0.01). A malignant arrhythmic event did not occur in any patient with possible or nondiagnostic BrS. CONCLUSIONS: This study provided validation for the use of the Shanghai Score System for the diagnosis and risk stratification of patients with BrS.

Diastolic Dysfunction Is a Risk of Perioperative Myocardial Injury Assessed by High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin T in Elderly Patients Undergoing Non-Cardiac Surgery.

BACKGROUND: High-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) is useful for detecting myocardial injury and is expected to become a prognostic marker in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. The aim of this pilot study evaluating the efficacy of ß-blocker therapy in a perioperative setting (MAMACARI study) was to assess perioperative myocardial injury (PMI) in elderly patients with preserved ejection fraction (EF) undergoing non-cardiac surgery.Methods and Results:In this prospective observational cohort study of 151 consecutive patients with preserved EF and aged >60 years who underwent non-cardiac surgery, serum levels of hs-cTnT were measured before and on postoperative days 1 and 3 after surgery. PMI was defined as postoperative hs-cTnT >0.014 ng/mL and relative hs-cTnT change ≥20%. A total of 36 (23.8%) of the patients were diagnosed as having PMI. The incidence of a composite of cardiovascular events within 30 days after surgery, including myocardial infarction, stroke, worsening heart failure, atrial fibrillation and pulmonary embolism, was significantly higher in patients with PMI than in patients without PMI (odds ratio (OR) 9.25, P<0.001, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.65-32.3). Multivariate analysis revealed that left ventricular diastolic dysfunction defined by echocardiography was independently associated with PMI (OR: 3.029, 95% CI: 1.341-6.84, P=0.008). CONCLUSIONS: PMI is frequently observed in elderly patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. Diastolic dysfunction is an independent predictor of PMI.

Relationship between arrhythmogenesis and disease activity in cardiac sarcoidosis.

BACKGROUND: In patients with cardiac sarcoidosis, ventricular arrhythmias and/or conduction disturbances are frequently observed and sometimes fatal. However, few reports on disease activity and arrhythmic events in cardiac sarcoidosis are available. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between disease activity and arrhythmic events in cardiac sarcoidosis and the effect of corticosteroid therapy. METHODS: The study population consisted of 15 cardiac sarcoidosis patients with new-onset symptomatic arrhythmia, including eight patients admitted once for complete atrioventricular block (CAVB), five patients admitted once for sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT), and two patients admitted twice for two arrhythmic events (one for CAVB and the other for sustained VT). Disease activity was evaluated by gallium-67 citrate (Ga) scintigraphy. All patients with positive Ga uptake were treated with corticosteroids, and arrhythmic events were evaluated by repeat Holter recordings. RESULTS: Positive uptake of Ga was observed in 8 (80%) of the 10 CAVB events and in 1 (14%) of the 7 sustained VT events (80% vs 14%, P = .02). Corticosteroids abolished myocardial Ga uptake in all nine patients with positive Ga uptake. After corticosteroid therapy was started, AV conduction improved in 5 of 9 CAVB patients (including 8 patients with new-onset CAVB and one patient with history of CAVB). However, ventricular arrhythmias were not improved after corticosteroid therapy. CONCLUSION: In cardiac sarcoidosis patients, CAVB develops mainly during the active phase of the disease. Early treatment with corticosteroids might improve AV conduction disturbance. However, sustained VT is not closely linked with disease activity and frequently develops in the advanced stage of disease.

Elevated levels of oxidative DNA damage in serum and myocardium of patients with heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic heart failure. The present study investigated whether the levels of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), a marker of oxidative DNA damage, were elevated in the serum and myocardium of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and furthermore whether carvedilol, a vasodilating beta-blocker with antioxidant activity, could reduce the levels. METHODS AND RESULTS: Serum levels of 8-OHdG were measured by enzyme immunoassay in 56 patients with DCM and in 20 control subjects. DCM patients had significantly elevated serum levels of 8-OHdG compared with control subjects. Endomyocardial biopsy samples obtained from 12 DCM patients and 5 control subjects with normal cardiac function were studied immunohistochemically for the expression of 8-OHdG. Positive 8-OHdG staining was found in the nuclei of cardiomyocytes from DCM patients but not in those from control subjects. After treatment with carvedilol, the serum levels of 8-OHdG in DCM patients significantly decreased by 19%, together with amelioration of heart failure. CONCLUSIONS: Levels of 8-OHdG are elevated in the serum and myocardium of patients with heart failure. Treatment with carvedilol might be effective for decreasing the oxidative DNA damage.