Patient perspective on remote monitoring of cardiovascular implantable electronic devices: rationale and design of the REMOTE-CIED study.

BACKGROUND: Remote patient monitoring is a safe and effective alternative for the in-clinic follow-up of patients with cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs). However, evidence on the patient perspective on remote monitoring is scarce and inconsistent. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of the REMOTE-CIED study is to evaluate the influence of remote patient monitoring versus in-clinic follow-up on patient-reported outcomes. Secondary objectives are to: 1) identify subgroups of patients who may not be satisfied with remote monitoring; and 2) investigate the cost-effectiveness of remote monitoring. METHODS: The REMOTE-CIED study is an international randomised controlled study that will include 900 consecutive heart failure patients implanted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) compatible with the Boston Scientific LATITUDE® Remote Patient Management system at participating centres in five European countries. Patients will be randomised to remote monitoring or in-clinic follow-up. The In-Clinic group will visit the outpatient clinic every 3-6 months, according to standard practice. The Remote Monitoring group only visits the outpatient clinic at 12 and 24 months post-implantation, other check-ups are performed remotely. Patients are asked to complete questionnaires at five time points during the 2-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: The REMOTE-CIED study will provide insight into the patient perspective on remote monitoring in ICD patients, which could help to support patient-centred care in the future.

Long-term prognosis of patients diagnosed with Brugada syndrome: Results from the FINGER Brugada Syndrome Registry.

BACKGROUND: Brugada syndrome is characterized by ST-segment elevation in the right precordial leads and an increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Fundamental questions remain on the best strategy for assessing the real disease-associated arrhythmic risk, especially in asymptomatic patients. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognosis and risk factors of SCD in Brugada syndrome patients in the FINGER (France, Italy, Netherlands, Germany) Brugada syndrome registry. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients were recruited in 11 tertiary centers in 4 European countries. Inclusion criteria consisted of a type 1 ECG present either at baseline or after drug challenge, after exclusion of diseases that mimic Brugada syndrome. The registry included 1029 consecutive individuals (745 men; 72%) with a median age of 45 (35 to 55) years. Diagnosis was based on (1) aborted SCD (6%); (2) syncope, otherwise unexplained (30%); and (3) asymptomatic patients (64%). During a median follow-up of 31.9 (14 to 54.4) months, 51 cardiac events (5%) occurred (44 patients experienced appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator shocks, and 7 died suddenly). The cardiac event rate per year was 7.7% in patients with aborted SCD, 1.9% in patients with syncope, and 0.5% in asymptomatic patients. Symptoms and spontaneous type 1 ECG were predictors of arrhythmic events, whereas gender, familial history of SCD, inducibility of ventricular tachyarrhythmias during electrophysiological study, and the presence of an SCN5A mutation were not predictive of arrhythmic events. CONCLUSIONS: In the largest series of Brugada syndrome patients thus far, event rates in asymptomatic patients were low. Inducibility of ventricular tachyarrhythmia and family history of SCD were not predictors of cardiac events.

An original defibrillation lead implantation to avoid tricuspid prosthesis damage.

We report the case of a 67-year-old woman suffering from Ebstein's disease, who underwent three cardiac operations for bypass, tricuspid prosthesis and pacemaker implantation, and who needed an implantable cardioverter defibrillator for recurrent syncopes related to ventricular tachycardia. Because of the tricuspid prosthesis we chose to implant the defibrillation lead in the inferior vena cava. We collected satisfactory pacing and sensing data and performed a successful defibrillation test during the procedure. This configuration appears to be a safe alternative to conventional implantation in the coronary sinus, as already described in the literature for a few cases.

[Cough syncope caused by a possible Chlamydia pneumoniae pneumonia]. / Ictus laryngé au cours d'une possible pneumopathie à Chlamydia pneumoniae.

We report the case of a 61-year-old man who presented with coughing fits followed by sinus pauses and syncope. Cardiac and neurological diagnostic work-up was negative and the patient was considered to have cough syncope. As this occurred within the context of febrile pneumonia, an infectious disease was suspected but diagnostic work-up only revealed an increase of antibodies against Chlamydia pneumoniae. The responsibility of this agent is discussed. Clinical recovery was obtained with the prescription of antitussive medication.

[Long QT syndrome: an underestimated cause of sudden infant death]. / Le syndrome du QT long congénital : une cause sous-estimée de la mort subite inexpliquée du nourrisson.

Congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS) is an inherited arrhythmia that can be sporadic or familial. It predisposes to sudden cardiac death by ventricular fibrillation, which can occur at any age, particularly in neonates. Recent postmortem molecular screening surveys have shown that 10 to 12% of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) cases were potentially related to congenital long QT syndrome. Current SIDS etiological surveys fail to diagnose LQTS. Specific questioning and electrocardiographic screening of first-degree relatives could greatly facilitate LQTS diagnosis. We propose adding these to screening modalities after a SIDS incident. Neonatal electrocardiographic screening could allow early identification of LQTS and adapted treatment and follow-up.

Heart rate differences between symptomatic and asymptomatic Brugada syndrome patients at night.

OBJECTIVE: Ventricular arrhythmias in Brugada syndrome (BS) mainly occur at rest, especially during nighttime, suggesting that parasympathetic activity at night may play an important role in the arrhythmogenesis of the disease. This study examined and compared the autonomic function of symptomatic and asymptomatic BS patients overnight. APPROACH: We analyzed various heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate complexity (HRC) markers in a clinical series including 87 BS patients, where 23 were symptomatic. MAIN RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found in markers MIRR, SDNN, SDANN, [Formula: see text] and SampEn, suggesting that symptomatic patients may be related to lower heart rate variability and complexity values, as well as to greater circadian fluctuations overnight. SIGNIFICANCE: The results provide further evidence for the role of autonomic imbalance in the pathophysiology of BS, highlighting the relevance of nighttime analysis to the unmasking of significant ANS changes. Based on these outcomes, the role of HRV and HRC assessment at night could be a step forward towards the understanding of BS and the risk for the occurrence of symptoms in these patients, with a potential future impact on therapeutic strategies.

[Beta-blocker prescription and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]. / Prescription des bêtabloquants et bronchopneumopathie chronique obstructive.

The beta-blocker (BB) prescription remains insufficient despite guidelines, especially, for chronic heart failure. Patients suffering chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are particularly less treated by BB. The level of evidence for BB prescription is however especially high and as we will focus on, the level of evidence for the safety of BB in the COPD context is convincing enough. We, thus, propose to review the existing literature in regard to this prescription of BB in the chronic heart failure, in the coronary artery disease and for high blood pressure in COPD patients. We then propose our approach to improve the level of prescription of BB in COPD patient really justifying this prescription in cardiology.

[Ischemic mitral regurgitation: contributions of exercise echocardiography and new therapeutic perspectives]. / Insuffisance mitrale ischémique: apport de l'échocardiographie d'effort et nouvelles perspectives thérapeutiques.

The ischemic mitral regurgitation is defined by a left ventricular muscle disease affecting the function of normal mitral valve leaflets. This kind of mitral regurgitation is founded in about 20% of the ischemic cardiomyopathy and is attributed to the remodelling of the left ventricular shape. Its development is associated to a significantly worse prognosis. Frequently this ischemic mitral regurgitation will be associated to episode of acute heart failure decompensation. Its diagnosis is sometimes challenging as the degree of regurgitation might be extremely variable and affected by loading conditions. Echocardiography and especially exercise stress echocardiography has been demonstrated as an extremely powerful tool for its diagnosis and the prognostic evaluation. Its treatment should include the pharmacological treatment of the chonic heart failure and we are still waiting data in regard to the prognostic role of surgical mitral valvuloplastie. Works are still ongoing.

Heart rate complexity analysis in Brugada syndrome during physical stress testing.

Symptoms such as ventricular arrhythmias in Brugada syndrome (BS) typically occur at rest, especially during sleep, suggesting that the autonomic nervous system (ANS) function may be relevant in the arrhythmogenesis of the disease. The aim of this work was to assess the ANS response captured by nonlinear heart rate variability (HRV) measures in 69 patients diagnosed with BS, who underwent a standardized physical stress test. Heart rate complexity (HRC) was evaluated by the power-law scaling analysis (ß slope) during rest, exercise, recovery and rest post-recovery, in order to discriminate between symptomatic and asymptomatic BS patients. Symptomatic patients showed a significant reduction in HRC in comparison to asymptomatic subjects, after exertion (p = 0.015); during the whole recovery period (p = 0.023), and in particular within the passive recovery phase (p = 0.025), as well as during rest post-recovery (p = 0.022). Based on these results, symptoms could be associated with a lower ANS complexity during the stress test stages where parasympathetic activity is predominant. Therefore, the proposed HRV indicators could be of help in the risk stratification of asymptomatic patients.

[Tamponade due to Porphyromonas gingivalis]. / Tamponnade a Porphyromonas gingivalis.

A 45 year old man, 10 weeks after angioplasty and endoprosthesis insertion for myocardial infarction, developed tamponade in an infectious context. RNA 16S investigation, using the universal amplification method with ribotyping, detected Porphyromonas gingivalis (a strict anaerobic bacillus associated with peridontitis) in the pericardial fluid. This appears to be the first description of such a clinical scenario, and suggests 5 aetio-pathological mechanisms: fissure syndrome, malignant tamponade, post-infarction pericardial syndrome, endoprosthesis infection and infectious tamponade. We also describe the ribotyping method, which by amplifying DNA coding for RNA 16S allows identification of an increasing number of micro-organisms implicated in infectious pathology.

[Impact of the aetiology of cardiac failure on the correlations between electrical and mechanical asynchrony of the ventricle]. / Influence de l'étiologie de l'insuffisance cardiaque sur la corrélation entre asynchronismes électrique et mécanique dans le ventricule.

Cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) is indicated in refractory cardiac failure with electrical asynchrony defined by QRS complexes > or =120 ms duration. The search for mechanical asynchrony is proposed for better selection of patients for CRT. Ischaemic and non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy do not necessarily show the same form of asynchrony. The authors studied the differences in correlation between electrical and mechanical asynchrony in these two patient populations. Fifty patients (34 dilated non-ischaemic and 16 ischaemic cardiomyopathy) in NYHA Classes III and IV, LVEF < 35%, consecutively implanted for CRT in 2004, were included. The trans-thoracic echocardiography, the ECG and clinical parameters (NYHA, 6 minute walk test, VO2 max) were compared. A non-significant improvement of the correlation between the aortic pre-ejection time and QRS duration was observed in the non-ischaemic group (r = 0.78, p< 0.0001) compared with the ischaemic cardiomyopathy group ( r = 0.56, p = 0.019). Similarly, intraventricular asynchrony seemed to be correlated with the duration of QRS in the non-ischaemic group (r = 0.65, p < 0.0001) unlike the ischaemic cardiomyopathy group (ns). Sub-group analysis of patients with QRS durations < 150 ms and > or =150 ms showed an electromechanical correlation irrespective of the QRS duration in the non-ischaemic group but this was only observed with the aortic pre-ejection time with QRS > or =150 ms in the ischaemic group. The authors conclude that there is a significant correlation between electrical and mechanical asynchrony in patients with non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy. This correlation only applies to intraventricular asynchrony with QRS durations > or =150 ms in the ischaemic group. A decision for CRT requires echocardiographic evaluation in ischaemic cardiomyopathy.

[Implantable cardioverter defibrillators in pediatric patients: results in a series of 33 cases]. / Le défibrillateur automatique implantable chez l'enfant et l'adolescent: indications, complications et résultats à propos d'une étude multicentrique française de 33 cas.

UNLABELLED: Implantable defibrillator is the recognized treatment of sudden cardiac death. Miniaturization of the devices allows implantation in children. METHODS: This multicentric retrospective study analyzed data of 33 children aged 18 years and less who were implanted from 1990 to 2005. RESULTS: Age of patients are 10 to 18 years, 20 patients were implanted after a resuscitation of sudden death, 10 after a syncope, 2 after a ventricular tachycardia and 1 in a prophylactic way. Tachycardias on primary electrical disease are most frequent (46%). Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy accounts for 22%, DAVD for 14%, congenital cardiopathies for 12%. Seventeen patients received appropriate shocks and 14 patients had inappropriate shocks. There were two unexplained deaths. Five leads fractures and two device infections were noted. CONCLUSION: Implantable defibrillator is an effective treatment for children high-risk of sudden death. Occurrence of inappropriate shocks due to sinusal tachycardia, infections and leads fractures are frequent.

[Pilot study of a strategy combining coronary angioplasty with valvular and/or coronary surgery on the same day]. / Etude pilote d'une stratégie combinée associant une angioplastle coronaire a une chirurgie valvulaire et/ou coronaire le même jour.

A strategy combining percutaneous coronary angioplasty followed by valvular and/or coronary surgery was recently proposed as an alternative to the classical surgical only approach. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and the results of such a combined strategy with the two procedures performed the same day. The population comprised 34 patients including 17 with valvular disease and revascularisable coronary lesions (15 symptomatic severe aortic stenoses and two acute mitral insufficiencies) plus 17 multitrunk coronary patients without valvular disease but with an indication for revascularisation. Angioplasty was performed several hours prior to surgery and a loading dose of 300mg clopidogrel was administered immediately postoperatively; all patients were on aspirin before the procedure. The average age was 67 +/- 11 years, NYHA class 2.3 +/- 0.7, angina 73%, LVEF 58 +/- 10%. Single coronary artery disease was present in 26%, two vessel disease in 35% and three vessel disease in 39%. The success rate for angioplasty plus stent was 98%. 60 stents were active. Bypasses were exclusively arterial (left or right internal mammary arteries). We observed 4 in-hospital deaths, one of which was due to an infarct and three due to extra-cardiac causes (1 non-cardiogenic acute respiratory distress syndrome, 1 respiratory tract infection and 1 pyelonephritis). Further surgery was necessary in 4 cases: for haemorrhage and one episode of digestive tract haemorrhage. There were no additional deaths, coronary events nor haemorrhage at the end of an average follow-up of 15 +/- 6 months. The results of this combined strategy are encouraging in this population and merit further evaluation in a prospective study.

Prognostic value of left atrial reservoir function in patients with severe aortic stenosis: a 2D speckle-tracking echocardiographic study.

AIMS: The aim of this article is to assess the left atrial (LA) reservoir function in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) and to evaluate its impact on the recurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs). METHODS AND RESULTS: About 128 patients (mean age 79 ± 9 years) with severe AS were included in the study. Global peak LA strain (PLAS) measured by two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) during left ventricular (LV) systole represented the LA reservoir function. Overall death, hospitalization for cardiac cause, and worsening heart failure were defined as MACEs. With respect to the values observed in a control group of 20 healthy patients, PLAS resulted significantly reduced in AS. According to the multivariate linear regression analysis, LV global longitudinal strain, mitral E/e' ratio, and systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (sPAP) were the best correlates to PLAS. During follow-up, the predefined MACEs occurred in 39 patients. According to the multivariate Cox regression analysis, a PLAS <21% was a significant predictor of MACEs [hazard ratio (HR) 2.88, P = 0.04], as was coronary artery disease (HR 2.68, P = 0.004) and the New York Heart Association functional class (HR 2.08, P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: In patients with severe AS, a global PLAS <21% is an independent predictor of prognosis. Given the combined influence of LV diastolic and systolic function and of LA performance on sPAP, the decline of PLAS might be considered a marker of global myocardial impairment in AS. Further studies are needed to confirm the critical role of LA relaxation in prognosis and to validate its relevance in routine clinical practice.

Acute hemodynamic effects of biventricular DDD pacing in patients with end-stage heart failure.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the potential acute benefit of multisite cardiac pacing with optimized atrioventricular synchrony and simultaneous biventricular pacing in patients with drug-refractory congestive heart failure (CHF). BACKGROUND: Prognosis and quality of life in severe CHF are poor. Various nonpharmacological therapies have been evaluated but are restricted in their effectiveness and applications. In the early 1990s, dual chamber pacing (DDD) pacing was proposed as primary treatment of refractory CHF but results were controversial. Recently, tests to evaluate the effect of simultaneous pacing of both ventricles have elicited a significant improvement of cardiac performance. METHODS: Acute hemodynamic study was conducted in 18 patients with severe CHF (New York Heart Association class III and IV) and major intraventricular conduction block (IVCB) (QRS duration = 170+/-37 ms). Using a Swan-Ganz catheter, pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) and cardiac index (CI) were measured in different pacing configurations: atrial pacing (AAI) mode, used as reference, single-site right ventricular DDD pacing and biventricular pacing with the right ventricular lead placed either at the apex or at the outflow tract. RESULTS: The CI was significantly increased by biventricular pacing in comparison with AAI or right ventricular (RV). DDD pacing (2.7+/-0.7 vs. 2+/-0.5 and 2.4+/-0.6 l/min/m2, p < 0.001). The PCWP also decreased significantly during biventricular pacing, compared with AAI (22+/-8 vs. 27+/-9 mm Hg; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This acute hemodynamic study demonstrated that biventricular DDD pacing may significantly improve cardiac performance in patients with IVCB and with severe heart failure, in comparison with intrinsic conduction and single-site RV DDD pacing.

Optimal right ventricular pacing site in chronically implanted patients: a prospective randomized crossover comparison of apical and outflow tract pacing.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the long-term functional and hemodynamic effects of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) pacing by comparison with right ventricular apical (RVA) pacing. BACKGROUND: Acute studies have suggested that RVOT pacing could significantly improve cardiac performance in comparison with RVA pacing but no data are available in chronically implanted patients. METHODS: Sixteen patients with chronic atrial tachyarrhythmia and complete AV block were included. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was > or =40% in ten and <40% in six. Patients were implanted with a standard DDDR pacemaker connected to two ventricular leads. A screw-in lead was placed at the RVOT and connected to the atrial port. A second lead was positioned at the RVA and connected to the ventricular port. Right ventricular outflow tract and RVA pacing was achieved by programming either the AAIR or the VVIR mode respectively. Four months later patients were randomized so as to undergo either RVOT or RVA pacing for three months according to a blind crossover protocol. Apart from the pacing mode, programming remained unchanged throughout the study. At the end of each period, NYHA class, LVEF, exercise time and maximal oxygen uptake were assessed. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed between the two modes for all the parameters analyzed. These identical results were observed in all patients globally, in patients with LVEF > or =40% as in those with LVEF <40%. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limits of this study, no symptomatic improvement or hemodynamic benefit was noted after three months of RVOT pacing, by comparison with RVA pacing.

[Factor VIII hyperactivity: an arterio-venous thrombogenic factor. Case report]. / Hyperactivité du facteur VIII: un facteur thrombogène artério-veineux. A propos d'un cas.

Thrombosis is the principal mechanism in vascular pathology, whether cerebral, coronary or peripheral. During the initial stages of infarction, coagulation contributes to vascular occlusion, the haemostatic factors playing a determining role in the development of atherothrombotic lesions. An increase in a coagulation protein, besides any lowering of anticoagulation protein levels, is a risk factor for thrombosis. Among these pro-coagulant factors, the pro-thrombogenic action of factor VIII has without doubt been studied the least. We report the case of a 62 year old patient with a personal and family history of many previous thrombotic episodes, both arterial and venous, in whom factor VIII hyperactivity was discovered after a myocardial infarction. This case underlines the association of the factor VIII complex with thrombosis, and its clinical repercussions, especially the incidence of coronary pathology.