Fulminant Myocarditis Temporally Associated with COVID-19 Vaccination.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccines have been related to rare cases of acute myocarditis, occurring between 1 in 10,000 and 1 in 100,000 individuals, approximately. Incidence of COVID-19 vaccine-associated myocarditis varies with age, sex, and type of vaccine. Although most patients with acute myocarditis temporally associated with COVID-19 vaccines have an uneventful course, a small subpopulation presents with cardiogenic shock (termed fulminant myocarditis [FM]). This review explored the prevalence, clinical presentation, management, and prognosis of COVID-19 vaccine-associated acute myocarditis, specifically focusing on FM and comparing patients with fulminant versus non-fulminant myocarditis. RECENT FINDINGS: Cases of FM represent about 2-4% (0 to 7.5%) of COVID-19 vaccine-associated acute myocarditis cases, and mortality is around 1%, ranging between 0 and 4.4%. First, we identified 40 cases of FM up to February 2023 with sufficient granular data from case reports and case series of COVID-19 vaccine-associated acute myocarditis that occurred within 30 days from the last vaccine injection. This population was compared with 294 cases of non-fulminant acute myocarditis identified in the literature during a similar time. Patients with FM were older (48 vs. 27 years), had a larger proportion of women (58% vs. 9%), and mainly occurred after the first shot compared with non-fulminant cases (58% vs. 16%). The reported mortality was 27% (11 out of 40), in line with non-vaccine-associated fulminant myocarditis. These data were in agreement with 36 cases of FM from a large Korean registry. Herein, we reviewed the clinical features, imaging results, and histological findings of COVID-19 vaccine-associated fulminant myocarditis. In conclusion, COVID-19 vaccine-associated FM differs from non-fulminant forms, suggesting potential specific mechanisms in these rare and severe forms. Mortality in vaccine-associated FM remains high, in line with other forms of FM.

Prevalence, Characteristics, and Outcomes of COVID-19-Associated Acute Myocarditis.

BACKGROUND: Acute myocarditis (AM) is thought to be a rare cardiovascular complication of COVID-19, although minimal data are available beyond case reports. We aim to report the prevalence, baseline characteristics, in-hospital management, and outcomes for patients with COVID-19-associated AM on the basis of a retrospective cohort from 23 hospitals in the United States and Europe. METHODS: A total of 112 patients with suspected AM from 56 963 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 were evaluated between February 1, 2020, and April 30, 2021. Inclusion criteria were hospitalization for COVID-19 and a diagnosis of AM on the basis of endomyocardial biopsy or increased troponin level plus typical signs of AM on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. We identified 97 patients with possible AM, and among them, 54 patients with definite/probable AM supported by endomyocardial biopsy in 17 (31.5%) patients or magnetic resonance imaging in 50 (92.6%). We analyzed patient characteristics, treatments, and outcomes among all COVID-19-associated AM. RESULTS: AM prevalence among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 was 2.4 per 1000 hospitalizations considering definite/probable and 4.1 per 1000 considering also possible AM. The median age of definite/probable cases was 38 years, and 38.9% were female. On admission, chest pain and dyspnea were the most frequent symptoms (55.5% and 53.7%, respectively). Thirty-one cases (57.4%) occurred in the absence of COVID-19-associated pneumonia. Twenty-one (38.9%) had a fulminant presentation requiring inotropic support or temporary mechanical circulatory support. The composite of in-hospital mortality or temporary mechanical circulatory support occurred in 20.4%. At 120 days, estimated mortality was 6.6%, 15.1% in patients with associated pneumonia versus 0% in patients without pneumonia (P=0.044). During hospitalization, left ventricular ejection fraction, assessed by echocardiography, improved from a median of 40% on admission to 55% at discharge (n=47; P<0.0001) similarly in patients with or without pneumonia. Corticosteroids were frequently administered (55.5%). CONCLUSIONS: AM occurrence is estimated between 2.4 and 4.1 out of 1000 patients hospitalized for COVID-19. The majority of AM occurs in the absence of pneumonia and is often complicated by hemodynamic instability. AM is a rare complication in patients hospitalized for COVID-19, with an outcome that differs on the basis of the presence of concomitant pneumonia.

Advanced heart failure: from definitions to therapeutic options.

Advanced heart failure (AHF) represents an ominous stage of heart failure (HF), where the expected prognosis remains poor regardless of the improvement in medical knowledge. In this review, we summarize the definition, prognosis, physiopathology, and clinical/therapeutic management of the disease, focusing on the fast and timely referral of the patient to the AHF facilities. We provide an insight of the diagnostic and therapeutic 'work up' performed in an Italian AHF hub, implying a deep phenotypical patients characterization in order to evaluate candidacy to the therapeutic gold standards as heart transplantation (HTx) and left ventricular assist device (LVAD).

Intra-aortic Balloon Pump for Acute-on-Chronic Heart Failure Complicated by Cardiogenic Shock.

The intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) is widely implanted as temporary mechanical circulatory support for cardiogenic shock (CS). However, its use is declining following the results of the IABP-SHOCK II trial, which failed to show a clinical benefit of the IABP in acute coronary syndrome (ACS)-related CS. Acute-on-chronic heart failure has become an increasingly recognized, distinct cause of CS (HF-CS). The pathophysiology of HF-CS differs from that of ACS-CS because it typically represents the progression from a state of congestion (with relatively preserved cardiac output) to a low-output state with hypoperfusion. The IABP is a volume-displacement pump that promotes forward flow from a high-capacitance reservoir to low-capacitance vessels, improving peripheral perfusion and decreasing left ventricular afterload in the setting of high filling pressures. The IABP can improve ventricular-vascular coupling and, therefore, myocardial energetics. Additionally, many patients with HF-CS are candidates for cardiac replacement therapies (left ventricular assist device or heart transplantation) and, therefore, may benefit from a bridge strategy that stabilizes the hemodynamics and end-organ function in preparation for more durable therapies. Notably, the new United Network for Organ Sharing donor heart allocation system has recently prioritized patients on IABP support. This review describes the role of IABP in the treatment of HF-CS. It also briefly discusses new strategies for vascular access as well as fully implantable versions for longer duration of support.

Scenarios in precision medicine: proteomics in heart failure.

Proteomics in heart failure (HF) is aimed to study and identify proteins involved in the pathophysiology of this clinical syndrome. Proteins have a role as diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic markers. This review will unravel the developments and impact of proteomics in HF, focusing on its role in the diagnosis, prognosis and definition of new HF therapies. Proteomics promises to change our approach to HF in the near future, accepting the need for precision medicine, tailored on the characteristics of the single patient.

Ankle-Brachial Index Is a Predictor of In-Hospital Functional Status but Not of Complications in Hospitalized Elderly Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Atherosclerosis causes a chronic reduction of vascularization with consequent impairment of the performance of organs, like the brain or muscles, which determines the functional and cognitive decline of the elderly and their ability to respond to acute stressful condition. Therefore, our aim was to evaluate if ankle brachial index (ABI) could effectively be a determinant of in-hospital functional status and complications in elderly hospitalized patients. METHODS: This is a monocentric cross-sectional study of 189 patients aged 65 years or older. The study was undertaken at the Internal Medicine ward of Niguarda Hospital in Milan. ABI (BOSO ABY-System 100) and in-hospital status (activities of daily living, ADL and instrumental activities of daily living, IADL) were collected on the second day of hospitalization. Complications (falls and delirium episodes) were also recorded during the whole hospitalization period. RESULTS: The average age of patients was 79.3 ± 6.9 years. Among outcomes, only ADL (r = 0.192, p = 0.007) and IADL score (r = 0.200, p = 0.005) showed significant correlation with ABI. Moreover, during the subsequent logistic regression, ABI remained among the statistically significant determinants of both scores (ß = 0.231, p = 0.013 and ß = 0.314, p = 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The main result of our study is the finding of ABI as a significant determinant of acute in-hospital functional impairment (evaluated as ADL and IADL scores). The continuous exposure of the brain and muscles to the reduced perfusions induced by vascular atherosclerosis, probably determined the reduced ability to respond to stressful conditions.

Association between uric acid and pulse wave velocity in hypertensive patients and in the general population: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: The association between serum uric acid (SUA) and pulse wave velocity (PWV), has been extensively evaluated but with some discrepancies in results. A further limitation refers to the fact that only few data were analyzed taking into account the possible effects of gender. The purpose of this study was to estimate the association between SUA and arterial stiffness in general population and hypertensive patients, as a whole population and as divided by gender, by pooling results from existing studies.Materials and methods: Carotid-femoral and brachial-ankle PWV (cf- and ba-PWV) have been analyzed separately and subgroup analyses by gender are reported. Among 692 potentially relevant works, 24 articles were analyzed.Results: Seven studies referred to cf-PWV in the general population with an overall positive association at adjusted analysis for both males and females (beta regression coefficient (ß): 0.07; 95%CI: 0.03; 0.11 and ß: 0.06; 95%CI: 0.03; 0.09, respectively). Twelve studies referred to ba-PWV in the general population with the finding of a positive association at adjusted analysis for females (ß: 0.04; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.01;0.07), but not for males (ß: 0.13; 95%CI: -0.09; 0.34). In hypertensive patients only four studies evaluated cf-PWV and one ba-PWV with only one study (with cf-PWV) finding positive association.Conclusion: The association between SUA and cf-PWV resulted significant in general population in both males and females while it was only significant for female regarding ba-PWV. Furthermore, the few available studies found no significant relationship between SUA and both cf- and ba-PWV in hypertensive subjects.

Heart Failure Management through Telehealth: Expanding Care and Connecting Hearts.

Heart failure (HF) is a leading cause of morbidity worldwide, imposing a significant burden on deaths, hospitalizations, and health costs. Anticipating patients' deterioration is a cornerstone of HF treatment: preventing congestion and end organ damage while titrating HF therapies is the aim of the majority of clinical trials. Anyway, real-life medicine struggles with resource optimization, often reducing the chances of providing a patient-tailored follow-up. Telehealth holds the potential to drive substantial qualitative improvement in clinical practice through the development of patient-centered care, facilitating resource optimization, leading to decreased outpatient visits, hospitalizations, and lengths of hospital stays. Different technologies are rising to offer the best possible care to many subsets of patients, facing any stage of HF, and challenging extreme scenarios such as heart transplantation and ventricular assist devices. This article aims to thoroughly examine the potential advantages and obstacles presented by both existing and emerging telehealth technologies, including artificial intelligence.

Charting the Unseen: How Non-Invasive Imaging Could Redefine Cardiovascular Prevention.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain a major global health challenge, leading to significant morbidity and mortality while straining healthcare systems. Despite progress in medical treatments for CVDs, their increasing prevalence calls for a shift towards more effective prevention strategies. Traditional preventive approaches have centered around lifestyle changes, risk factors management, and medication. However, the integration of imaging methods offers a novel dimension in early disease detection, risk assessment, and ongoing monitoring of at-risk individuals. Imaging techniques such as supra-aortic trunks ultrasound, echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance, and coronary computed tomography angiography have broadened our understanding of the anatomical and functional aspects of cardiovascular health. These techniques enable personalized prevention strategies by providing detailed insights into the cardiac and vascular states, significantly enhancing our ability to combat the progression of CVDs. This review focuses on amalgamating current findings, technological innovations, and the impact of integrating advanced imaging modalities into cardiovascular risk prevention, aiming to offer a comprehensive perspective on their potential to transform preventive cardiology.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated myocarditis: from pathophysiology to rechallenge of therapy - a narrative review.

Even if immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized the landscape of cancer therapy, their use may be complicated by immune-related adverse events. Among these, myocarditis is the most severe complication. The clinical suspicion often arises after clinical symptoms onset and increase in cardiac biomarkers or electrocardiographic manifestations. Echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging are recommended for each patient. However, since they may be misleadingly normal, endomyocardial biopsy remains the gold standard for establishing the diagnosis. Until now, treatment has been based on glucocorticoids even if increasing interest has risen in other immunosuppressive agents. Although myocarditis currently imposes immunotherapy discontinuation, case reports have suggested a safety rechallenge in low-grade myocarditis paving the way for further studies to respond to this unmet clinical need.

Intravenous continuous home inotropic therapy in advanced heart failure: Insights from an observational retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION: Intravenous inotropic support represents an important therapeutic option in advanced heart failure (HF) as bridge to heart transplantation, bridge to mechanical circulatory support, bridge to candidacy or as palliative therapy. Nevertheless, evidence regarding risks and benefits of its use is lacking. METHODS: we conducted a retrospective single center study, analysing the effect of inotropic therapies in an outpatient cohort, evaluating the burden of hospitalizations, the improvement in quality of life, the incidence of adverse events and the evolution of organ damage. RESULTS: twenty-seven patients with advanced HF were treated in our Day Hospital service from 2014 to 2021. Nine patients were treated as bridge to heart transplant while eighteen as palliation. Comparing data regarding the year before and after the beginning of inotropic infusion, we observed a reduction of hospitalization (46 vs 25, p<0,001), an improvement of natriuretic peptides, renal and hepatic function since the first month (p<0,001) and a better quality of life in 53% of the population treated. Two hospitalizations for arrhythmias and seven hospitalizations for catheter-related complications were registered. CONCLUSIONS: in a selected population of advanced HF patients, continuous home inotropic infusion were able to reduce hospitalizations, improving end organ damage and quality of life. We provide a practical guidance on starting and maintaining home inotropic infusion while monitoring a challenging group of patients.

Covid and Cardiovascular Diseases: Direct and Indirect Damages and Future Perspective.

SARS-CoV-2 infection determines a disease that predominantly affects lungs. However the cytokines storms, determined by the huge immune response to the infection, could affect also other organs and apparatus such as heart and vessels. Beyond the acute inflammation itself also hypercoagulative status has been linked to SARSCoV-2 infection and this surely relates to the increase seen in prevalence of pulmonary embolism and myocardial infarction. A number of cardiac abnormalities and pathologies have been observed, with special attention to cardiac arrhythmias and myocardial involvement. Furthermore, indirect damages determined by the reduction in acute and chronic cardiovascular care, results in a strong mortality and morbidity outcomes in cardiological patients. In this review we will summarise current knowledge on both direct and indirect cardiovascular damages determined by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemia.

Determinants of Functional Improvement After Cardiac Rehabilitation in Acute Coronary Syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is an effective tool for secondary prevention after acute coronary syndrome (ACS). AIM: Aim of our study was to find the significant determinants of exercise capacity (evaluated with the six-minute walking test-6-MWT) and functional improvement in patients undergoing CR after an ACS. METHODS: The study group included 298 patients (mean age 61.6 ± 10.2 years; males 80.2%) who, after ACS, were enrolled in CR program at Niguarda Hospital in Milan from 2015 to 2018. For all patients, we collected anamnestic, clinical and instrumental cardiological data. All patients performed a 6-MWT at the beginning (6-MWT-1) and at the end (6-MWT-2) of CR program. Δ meters were used to represent functional improvement. RESULTS: Multiple linear regression models were carried out for 6-MWT-1, 6-MWT-2, Δ meters and % Δ meters. Standardized regression coefficients showed that age (ß = - 0.237; p < 0.001), BMI (ß = - 0.116; p = 0.006) and heart rate (ß = - 0.082; p = 0.040) were determinants of exercise capacity (6MWT-1 and 2), whereas age (ß = -.231; p = 0.004), sex (ß = - 0.187; p = 0.008) and BMI (ß = - 0.164; p = 0.022) were determinants of functional improvement (Δ meters). CONCLUSIONS: Our data showed that functional improvement after CR in ACS patients is mainly related to non-cardiological variables. Instead it is related to intrinsic factors, both modifiable (BMI) and non-modifiable (age, sex).

Thoracic radiotherapy as a risk factor for heart ischemia in subjects treated with chest irradiation and chemotherapy and without classic cardiovascular RISK factors.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Radiation Induced Heart Disease (RIHD) represents a late effect of chest irradiation, contributing in increasing mortality rate in oncological patients by affecting pericardium, myocardium, valvs and coronaries. Currently, regarding the risk of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), a cardiological screening involving exercise stress electrocardiography after 5-10 years from radiotherapy is advised. We sought to determine the rate of ischemia at exercise stress electrocardiography in a population of patients without cardiovascular risk factors who sustained radiotherapy, using a cohort of patients presenting with at least one cardiovascular risk factor as control group. DESIGN AND METHODS: A population of 115 patients who sustained chest irradiation (and associated chemotherapy), presenting without classic cardiovascular risk factors or typical symptoms suggesting CAD, was evaluated with exercise stress electrocardiography. 135 patients with at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease candidate to stress testing for primary prevention or for atypical symptoms served as control group. RESULTS: The cohort of irradiated patients without classical cardiovascular risk factors is younger (48.7 ± 10.1 vs 60.5 ± 10.8 years, p < 0.001) and presents a lower percentage of males when compared with the control group. In this latter group 25.9% of subjects has diabetes, 62.9% dyslipidaemia, 67.4% hypertension and 19.2% actively smoke. Despite this important differences regarding classic cardiovascular risk factors, no significant differences were found in the number of positive exercise stress electrocardiography (10.4 vs 5.9%, p = ns). CONCLUSIONS: Chest irradiation represents a strong cardiovascular risk factor. In fact, prevalence of positive ECG-stress test is not different (nor higher and nor lower) in irradiated subjects without cardiovascular risk and not irradiated patients with classic cardiovascular risk.

Vascular Aging and Disease of the Large Vessels: Role of Inflammation.

Structural and functional arterial properties commonly impair with aging process. These effects on vasculature could act at many levels from microcirculation to large vessels. Above normal aging process classic cardio-vascular risk factors (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, etc.) accelerate the physiological process leading to premature structural and functional alterations that has also been termed early vascular aging. Target organ damage evaluation could be clinically important since these alterations precede by many years' cardiovascular events and so their assessment can predict the onset of more serious and costly events giving the opportunity to prevent CV events by earlier therapeutic intervention. This review will focus on large artery functional properties and particularly on the role of inflammation on the aortic stiffening process.