Extracorporeal Photopheresis Enhances the Frequency and Function of Highly Suppressive FoxP3+ Treg Subsets in Heart Transplanted Individuals.

BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) has emerged as a prophylactic and therapeutic immunomodulatory option for managing acute rejection in heart transplants (HTx). The underlying mechanisms through which ECP exerts its immunomodulatory effects remain under investigation. Regulatory T cells (Treg) are a heterogeneous subset of immune lymphocytes that ensure the maintenance of tissue homeostasis, avoiding graft rejection. The transcription factor forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3) is an essential molecular marker of Treg, acting as a "master regulator" of their genesis, stability, and functions. No study has investigated whether ECP impacts FoxP3 expression and its highly suppressive variants containing the exon 2 (FoxP3-E2), particularly in HTx. METHODS: In the current study, we recruited 14 HTx participants who had undergone ECP therapy. We explored the effect of in vivo ECP on CD4+FoxP3+ Treg frequency and in vitro suppressive function in 8 HTx participants before (T0) and after 3 (T1), 6 (T2), and 12 (T3) mo of treatment. As a control group, we included 4 HTx individuals who had not undergone ECP therapy. RESULTS: We found that ECP increases the frequency of CD4+FoxP3+ Treg subset with highly suppressive phenotype, including CD4+FoxP3-E2+ Treg. At functional levels, we observed that ECP treatment in HTx individuals effectively improves Treg suppressive ability in controlling the proliferation of autologous conventional CD4+ T lymphocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings collectively suggest that ECP exerts its immunomodulatory effects in HTx individuals by positively impacting the frequency and regulatory function of the FoxP3+ Treg compartment.

Challenge of concomitant thymoma resection and myocardial revascularization: A Case Report.

Myocardial revascularization in patients presenting with an anterior mediastinal mass poses considerable challenges. In this report, we outline two cases involving patients with anterior mediastinal masses who underwent surgical resection alongside concurrent myocardial revascularization. One patient underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery, while the other was treated by percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stent placement. Both patients fully recovered from the relative procedures and were discharged within two weeks post-surgery, ultimately diagnosed with thymoma. The concomitant intervention offered the advantage of promptly addressing both conditions, and it was performed safely through a collaborative multidisciplinary effort.

Open aortic arch repair without circulatory arrest by frozen elephant trunk in Ishimaru zone 0.

BACKGROUND: Open arch surgery is technically demanding for the surgeon and surgically and biologically invasive for the patient, requiring a variably long period of hypothermic circulatory arrest. CASE PRESENTATION: Here we present a case of an elderly patient with chronic renal failure and multiple splanchnic artery disease successfully treated for a rupturing pseudoaneurysm of the aortic arch with a technique that we developed for particularly frail patients. The procedure includes: triple supra-aortic vessel perfusion; distal thoracic aorta antegrade perfusion; balloon endo-clamping of the descending aorta; and anastomosis of an off-the-shelf hybrid arch prosthesis in Ishimaru zone 0. These maneuvers allowed to maintain an extracorporeal circulation in the phase of distal anastomosis, instead of a period of circulatory arrest, employing just mild hypothermia: technical details are depicted and discussed also in comparison with other methods proposed in the literature. CONCLUSIONS: Being able to take advantage of both open surgery advancements and endovascular methods is the key to cardiovascular surgery success today in front of complex pathologies of the aorta: increasing safety and reducing invasiveness of therapeutic options may progressively extend surgical candidacy to the frailest patients.

Role of HLA matching and donor specific antibody development in long-term survival, acute rejection and cardiac allograft vasculopathy.

Although there are different data supporting benefits of HLA matching in kidney transplantation, its role in heart transplantation is still unclear. HLA mismatch (MM) between donor and recipient can lead to the development of donor-specific antibodies (DSA) which produces negative events on the outcome of heart transplantation. Moreover, DSAs are involved in the development of antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) and are associated with an increase in cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV). In this study it is analyzed retrospectively the influence of HLA matching and anti-HLA antibodies on overall survival, AMR and CAV in heart transplantation. For this retrospective study are recruited heart transplanted patients at the Cardiac Transplantation Centre of Naples between 2000 and 2019. Among the 155 heart transplant patients, the mean number of HLA-A, B, -DR MM (0 to 6) between donor and recipient was 4.5 ± 1.1. The results show a negative association between MM HLA-DR and survival (p = 0.01). Comparison of patients with 0-1 MM at each locus to all others with 2 MM, for both HLA class I and class II, has not showed significant differences in the development of CAV. Our analysis detected DSA in 38.1% of patients. The production of de novo DSA reveals that there is not an influence on survival (p = 0.72) and/or AMR (p = 0.39). Instead, there is an association between the production of DSA class II and the probability of CAV development (p = 0.03). Mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) values were significantly higher in CAV-positive patients that CAV-negative patients (p = 0.02). Prospective studies are needed to evaluate HLA class II matching as an additional parameter for heart allocation, especially considering the increment of waiting list time.

Myocardial sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 expression and cardiac remodelling in patients with severe aortic stenosis: The BIO-AS study.

AIM: Cardiac remodelling plays a major role in the prognosis of patients with aortic stenosis (AS) and could impact the benefits of aortic valve replacement. Our study aimed to evaluate the expression of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) gene and protein in patients with severe AS stratified in high gradient (HG) and low flow-low gradient (LF-LG) AS and its association with cardiac functional impairments. METHODS AND RESULTS: Gene expression and protein levels of main biomarkers of cardiac fibrosis (galectin-3, sST2, serpin-4, procollagen type I amino-terminal peptide, procollagen type I carboxy-terminal propeptide, collagen, transforming growth factor [TGF]-ß), inflammation (growth differentiation factor-15, interleukin-6, nuclear factor-κB [NF-κB]), oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase 1 [SOD1] and 2 [SOD2]), and cardiac metabolism (sodium-hydrogen exchanger, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor [PPAR]-α, PPAR-γ, glucose transporter 1 [GLUT1] and 4 [GLUT4]) were evaluated in blood samples and heart biopsies of 45 patients with AS. Our study showed SGLT2 gene and protein hyper-expression in patients with LF-LG AS, compared to controls and HG AS (p < 0.05). These differences remained significant even after adjusting for age, gender, body mass index, history of diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, and coronary artery disease. SGLT2 gene expression was positively correlated with: (i) TGF-ß (r = 0.72, p < 0.001) and collagen (r = 0.73, p < 0.001) as markers of fibrosis; (ii) NF-κB (r = 0.36, p < 0.01) and myocardial interleukin-6 (r = 0.68, p < 0.001) as markers of inflammation: (iii) SOD2 (r = -0.38, p < 0.006) as a marker of oxidative stress; (iv) GLUT4 (r = 0.33, p < 0.02) and PPAR-α (r = 0.36, p < 0.01) as markers of cardiac metabolism. CONCLUSION: In patients with LF-LG AS, SGLT2 gene and protein were hyper-expressed in cardiomyocytes and associated with myocardial fibrosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress.

[Choosing a tailored prosthetic valve in cardiac surgery: what is the current role of mechanical prostheses?] / Il ruolo delle protesi valvolari meccaniche oggi. Dalla letteratura alla situazione italiana.

The choice of the mechanical/biological heart valve prosthesis is a topic currently debated in the light of the transcatheter prosthetic models and the results obtained/expected with the new biological valve models. Consequently, it seems that increasingly younger patients would be indicated for an implantation of a biological prosthesis. This is also in order to improve the quality of life of patients who want to avoid oral anticoagulant therapy. On the other hand, the guidelines for the treatment of heart valve disease assign a central role to the use of mechanical valve prostheses, particularly for certain patient subsets and age groups. This means that mechanical prostheses are still widely used worldwide, especially in non-European or North American regions. The cardiac surgery community therefore seems to be very interested in biological prostheses and transcatheter implants and scarcely interested in mechanical prostheses, including possible strategies for self-management of anticoagulant therapy. Recently, the Italian Society of Cardiac Surgery promoted a survey among its members to stimulate interest in the cardiac surgery community. This review article aims to summarize the most current results recorded with the use of mechanical prostheses and possible strategies, especially for the management of oral anticoagulant therapy, which can improve the patient's quality of life.

Mechanical heart valves and oral anticoagulation: a survey of the Italian Society of Cardiac Surgery.

In the latest European guidelines for the management of valvular heart disease, mechanical valve prostheses maintain a strategic role, particularly for certain patient subsets and age groups. Despite the high number of devices implanted in clinical practice, particularly in non-European and North American regions, current scientific literature and debate seem to suggest a limited use of mechanical heart valves. The cardiac surgery community seems to be highly interested in biological and transcatheter valve prostheses but less interested in mechanical heart valves, including possible strategies for self-management of anticoagulation therapy. In this respect, the Italian Society of Cardiac Surgery (SICCH), in particular the Italian Group of Research for Outcome in Cardiac Surgery (GIROC), has promoted a survey among its members to stimulate the interest in this topic and express their opinion on this issue that, due to the prevalence of the affected population and the new treatment options for improving patients' quality of life, should be more appraised and debated in the cardiac surgery community. The recorded results, obtained on the answers to 111 questionnaires, seem to divide the specialists into 'pros' and 'contras' on a useful tool for the entire cardiac surgery community. For this reason, SICCH proposes in conclusion to declare its unified and institutional opinion on this topic.

Non-A Non-B Acute Aortic Dissection: Is There Some Confusion in the Radiologist's Mind?

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to define and determine the rate of acute non-A-non-B aortic dissections, and to evaluate CT angiography findings and possible complications, as well as to discuss management strategies and currently available therapy. Non-A non-B type of aortic dissection is still a grey area in the radiologist's mind, such that it is not entirely clear what should be reported and completed in terms of this disease. METHODS: A retrospective single-center study including 36 pre-treatment CT angiograms of consecutive patients (mean age: 61 years) between January 2012 and December 2022 with aortic dissection involving the aortic arch with/without the thoracic descending/abdominal aorta (type non-A non-B). RESULTS: According to the dissection anatomy, we identified three modalities of spontaneous acute non-A-non-B anatomical configurations. Configuration 1 (n = 25) with descending-entry tear and retrograde arch extension (DTA entry). Configuration 2 (n = 4) with Arch entry tear and isolated arch involvement (Arch alone). Configuration 3 (n = 7) with Arch entry and anterograde descending (±abdominal) aorta involvement (Arch entry). CT angiogram findings, management, and treatment options are described. CONCLUSIONS: Acute non-A non-B dissection represents an infrequent occurrence of aortic arch dissection (with or without involvement of the descending aorta) that does not extend to the ascending aorta. The complete understanding of its natural progression, distinct CT angiography subtypes, optimal management, and treatment strategies remains incomplete. Within our series, patients frequently exhibit a complex clinical course, often necessitating a more assertive approach to treatment compared to type B dissections.

An Unusual Case of a Double Tricuspid and Mitral Valves Infective Endocarditis Complicated by Multiple Septic Embolisms Secondary to an Atrial Septal Defect: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Multivalvular endocarditis (MVE) is an uncommon infection that mostly involves mitral and aortic valves, and it is related to a higher risk of congestive heart failure and a higher mortality. We described a case of a bilateral MVE and performed a review of the literature on similar clinical cases. We reported an unusual case of a 68-year-old male patient with a tricuspid and mitral infective endocarditis due to a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus complicated by multiple right- and left-sided septic embolization (lungs, brain, spleen, L2-L3 vertebral bones) due to an unknown atrial septal defect identified and repaired during cardiac surgery. Despite the severity of the clinical case, the patient experienced a good clinical outcome also thanks to a multidisciplinary approach. We identified 21 case reports describing bilateral MVE. A multidisciplinary approach is essential in the management of valve diseases to improve the prognosis of patients, especially in bilateral MVE.

How to Select Patients for Left Ventricular Assist Devices? A Guide for Clinical Practice.

In recent years, a significant improvement in left ventricular assist device (LVAD) technology has occurred, and the continuous-flow devices currently used can last more than 10 years in a patient. Current studies report that the 5-year survival rate after LVAD implantation approaches that after a heart transplant. However, the outcome is influenced by the correct selection of the patients, as well as the choice of the optimal time for implantation. This review summarizes the indications, the red flags for prompt initiation of LVAD evaluation, and the principles for appropriate patient screening.

The ABC of Heart Transplantation-Part 1: Indication, Eligibility, Donor Selection, and Surgical Technique.

Cardiac transplantation represents the gold standard of treatment for selected patients with advanced heart failure who have poor functional capacity and prognosis despite guideline-directed medical therapy and device-based therapy. Proper patient selection and appropriate referral of patients to centers for the treatment of advanced heart failure are the first but decisive steps for screening patients eligible for cardiac transplantation. The eligibility and the decision to list for cardiac transplantation, even for patients with relative contraindications, are based on a multidisciplinary evaluation of a transplant team. This review will discuss the practical indications, the process of patient eligibility for cardiac transplantation, the principle of donor selection, as well as the surgical technique.

Prognostic Implication of Preoperative Anemia in Redo Cardiac Surgery: A Single-Center Propensity-Matched Analysis.

Preoperative anemia has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality after cardiac surgery, but little is known about its prognostic value in the setting of redo procedure. A retrospective, observational cohort study of prospectively collected data was undertaken on 409 consecutive patients referred for redo cardiac procedures between January 2011 and December 2020. The EuroSCORE II calculated an average mortality risk of 25.7 ± 15.4%. Selection bias was assessed with the propensity-adjustment method. The prevalence of preoperative anemia was 41%. In unmatched analysis, significant differences between the anemic and nonanemic groups emerged in the risk for postoperative stroke (0.6% vs. 4.4%, p = 0.023), postoperative renal dysfunction (29.7% vs. 15.6%, p = 0.001), a need for prolonged ventilation (18.1% vs. 7.2%, p = 0.002), and high-dosage inotropes (53.1% vs. 32.9%, p < 0.001) along with both length of ICU and hospital stay (8.2 ± 15.9 vs. 4.3 ± 5.4 days, p = 0.003 and 18.8 ± 17.4 vs. 14.9 ± 11.1, p = 0.012). After propensity matching (145 pairs), preoperative anemia was still significantly associated with postoperative renal dysfunction, stroke, and the need for high-dosage inotrope cardiac morbidity. Preoperative anemia is significantly associated with acute kidney injury, stroke, and the need for high-dosage inotropes in patients referred for redo procedures.

Impact of Surgeon Experience and Centre Volume on Outcome After Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: Results From the European Multicenter Study on Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (E-CABG) Registry.

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of surgeon experience and centre volume on early operative outcomes in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery. METHOD: Of 7,352 patients in the European Multicenter Study on Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (E-CABG) registry, 1,549 underwent OPCAB and were included in the present analysis. Using adjusted regression analysis, we compared major early adverse events after procedures performed by experienced OPCAB surgeons (i.e., ≥20 cases per year; n=1,201) to those performed by non-OPCAB surgeons (n=348). Furthermore, the same end points were compared between procedures performed by OPCAB surgeons in high OPCAB volume centres (off-pump technique used in >50% of cases; n=894) and low OPCAB volume centres (n=307). RESULTS: In the experienced OPCAB surgeon group, we observed shorter procedure times (ß -43.858, 95% confidence interval [CI] -53.322 to -34.393; p<0.001), a lower rate of conversion to cardiopulmonary bypass (odds ratio [OR] 0.284, 95% CI 0.147-0.551; p<0.001), a lower rate of prolonged inotrope or vasoconstrictor use (OR 0.492, 95% CI 0.371-0.653; p<0.001), a lower rate of early postprocedural percutaneous coronary interventions (OR 0.335, 95% CI 0.169-0.663; p=0.002), and lower 30-day mortality (OR 0.423, 95% CI 0.194-0.924; p=0.031). In high OPCAB volume centres, we found a lower rate of prolonged inotrope use (OR 0.584, 95% CI 0.419-0.814; p=0.002), a lower rate of postprocedural acute kidney injury (OR 0.382, 95% CI 0.198-0.738; p=0.004), shorter duration of intensive care unit (ß -1.752, 95% CI -2.240 to -1.264; p<0.001) and hospital (ß -1.967; 95% CI -2.717 to -1.216; p<0.001) stays, and lower 30-day mortality (OR 0.316, 95% CI 0.114-0.881; p=0.028). CONCLUSIONS: Surgeon experience and centre volume may play an important role on the early outcomes after OPCAB surgery.

Acute type A aortic dissection in bicuspid versus tricuspid aortic valve patients: focus on geometrical features of the aorta.

OBJECTIVES: This retrospective observational study aimed to assess the geometrical features, including diameters, length and angulation, of the ascending aorta with bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valve and to identify imaging markers potentially predicting whether aortopathy is likely to evolve chronically or to complicate with acute type A dissection. METHODS: Angio-computed-tomography scans of 354 patients (from 3 centres) with non-dilated (n = 97), aneurysmal (n = 100) or dissected aorta (n = 157) were reviewed. Diameters were measured at root, sinotubular junction, ascending, brachio-cephalic trunk origin; centreline lengths of the root and tubular tract and ascending-arch angle (between the ascending tubular tract axis and the proximal arch axis) were also measured. For 12 dissection patients, pre-dissection scans were available to investigate predisposing aortic geometry. Statistical analysis included: tricuspid versus bicuspid comparisons in each subgroup; univariate and multivariate analyses of the predictors of ascending-arch angle narrowing; and estimation of diagnostic accuracy of the angle parameter. RESULTS: Diameters and lengths were similar between aneurysms and dissections, whereas dissections showed a significant ascending-arch angle narrowing (117 ± 13° in tricuspid, 115 ± 14° in bicuspid) compared to non-dilated and aneurysmal aortas (all P < 0.001). The best angle cut-off to discriminate dissection patients was 131° (96% sensitivity). In patients with a pre-dissection scan, Asc-Arch narrowing was already present before dissection. In non-dissected aortas over-angulation was predicted by root phenotype dilatation both in bicuspid and tricuspid patients. Bicuspid patients with non-dilated aorta showed elongated root (P = 0.027), a feature significantly correlated with Asc-Arch angle narrowing (P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: The ascending-arch angle is promising as a risk marker for dissection to be used along with diameter. Its narrowing seems to be associated with elongation of the root, a feature that bicuspid patients can show even without significant dilatation. Root phenotype aortopathy may be at higher risk also with tricuspid aortic valve.

Long-Term Outcome of Infective Endocarditis Involving Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices: Impact of Comorbidities and Lead Extraction.

(1) Background: Management of cardiac implantable electronic device-related infective endocarditis (CIED-IE) hinges on complete hardware removal. We assessed whether long-term prognosis is affected by device removal, considering baseline patient comorbid conditions; (2) Methods: A total of 125 consecutive patients hospitalized for CIED-IE were included in this retrospective analysis. Outcomes were in-hospital, one-year, and long-term mortality. There were 109 patients who underwent device removal, 91 by transvenous lead extraction (TLE) and 18 by open heart surgery (OHS); (3) Results: TLE translated into lower hospital mortality (4.4% vs. 22.5% with OHS; p = 0.03). Septic pulmonary embolism was the only independent predictor of in-hospital mortality (OR:7.38 [1.49-36.6], p = 0.013). One-year mortality was in contrast independently associated to tricuspid valve involvement (p = 0.01) and Charlson comorbidity index (CCI, p = 0.039), but not the hardware removal modality. After a median follow-up of 41 months, mortality rose to 24%, and was significantly influenced only by CCI. Specifically, patients with a higher CCI who were also treated with TLE showed a survival rate not significantly different from those managed with medical therapy only; (4) Conclusions: In CIED-IE, TLE is the strategy of choice for hardware removal, improving early outcomes. Long-term benefits of TLE are lessened by comorbidities. In cases of CIED-IE with high CCI, a more conservative approach might be an option.

Late Myocardial Infarction and Repeat Revascularization after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Patients with Prior Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the risk of late mortality and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebral events after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with prior percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: A total of 2948 patients undergoing isolated CABGs were included in a prospective multicenter registry. Outcomes were adjusted for multiple covariates in logistic regression, Cox proportional hazards analysis and competing risk analysis. RESULTS: In all, 2619 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria of this analysis. Of them, 2199 (79.1%) had no history of PCI and 420 (20.9%) had a prior PCI. An adjusted analysis showed that a single prior PCI and multiple prior PCIs did not increase the risk of 30-day and 5-year mortality. Patients with multiple prior PCIs had a significantly higher risk of 5-year myocardial infarction (SHR 2.566, 95%CI 1.379-4.312) and repeat revascularization (SHR 1.774, 95%CI 1.140-2.763). Similarly, 30-day and 5-year mortality were not significantly increased in patients with prior PCI treatment of single or multiple vessels. Patients with multiple vessels treated with PCI had a significantly higher risk of 5-year myocardial infarction (SHR 2.640, 95%CI 1.497-4.658), repeat revascularization (SHR 1.648, 95%CI 1.029-2.638) and stroke (SHR 2.215, 95%CI 1.056-4.646) at 5-year. The risk for repeat revascularization was also increased with a prior single vessel PCI, but not for other outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients undergoing CABGs, multiple prior PCIs seem to increase the risk of late myocardial infarction and the need for repeat revascularization, but not the risk of mortality.

Glycated ACE2 reduces anti-remodeling effects of renin-angiotensin system inhibition in human diabetic hearts.

BACKGROUND: High glycated-hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels correlated with an elevated risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes despite renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibition in type-2 diabetic (T2DM) patients with reduced ejection fraction. Using the routine biopsies of non-T2DM heart transplanted (HTX) in T2DM recipients, we evaluated whether the diabetic milieu modulates glycosylated ACE2 (GlycACE2) levels in cardiomyocytes, known to be affected by non-enzymatic glycosylation, and the relationship with glycemic control. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the possible effects of GlycACE2 on the anti-remodeling pathways of the RAS inhibitors by evaluating the levels of Angiotensin (Ang) 1-9, Ang 1-7, and Mas receptor (MasR), Nuclear-factor of activated T-cells (NFAT), and fibrosis in human hearts. METHODS: We evaluated 197 first HTX recipients (107 non-T2DM, 90 T2DM). All patients were treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) at hospital discharge. Patients underwent clinical evaluation (metabolic status, echocardiography, coronary CT-angiography, and endomyocardial biopsies). Biopsies were used to evaluate ACE2, GlycACE2, Ang 1-9, Ang 1-7, MasR, NAFT, and fibrosis. RESULTS: GlycACE2 was higher in T2DM compared tonon-T2DM cardiomyocytes. Moreover, reduced expressions of Ang 1-9, Ang 1-7, and MasR were observed, suggesting impaired effects of RAS-inhibition in diabetic hearts. Accordingly, biopsies from T2DM recipients showed higher fibrosis than those from non-T2DM recipients. Notably, the expression of GlycACE2 in heart biopsies was strongly dependent on glycemic control, as reflected by the correlation between mean plasma HbA1c, evaluated quarterly during the 12-month follow-up, and GlycACE2 expression. CONCLUSION: Poor glycemic control, favoring GlycACE2, may attenuate the cardioprotective effects of RAS-inhibition. However, the achievement of tight glycemic control normalizes the anti-remodeling effects of RAS-inhibition. TRIAL REGISTRATION: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ NCT03546062.

Dissecting the correlates of N-terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide in acute infective endocarditis.

PURPOSE: To explore the prognostic value and the correlates of NT-proBNP in patients with acute infective endocarditis, a life-threatening disease, with an often unpredictable outcome given by the lack of reliable prognostic parameters. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 337 patients admitted to our centre between January 1, 2006 and September 30, 2020 with available NT-proBNP level at admission. Our analyses were performed considering NT-proBNP as both a categorical variable, using the median value as the cut-off level, and numerical variable. Study end points were in-hospital mortality, cardiac surgery and 1 year survival. RESULTS: NT-proBNP was an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality (OR 14.9 [95%C.I. 2.46-90.9]; P = .003). Levels below 2926 pg/mL were highly predictive of a favorable in-hospital outcome (negative predictive value 96.6%). Patients with higher NT-proBNP levels showed a significantly lower survival rate at 1 year follow-up (log-rank P = .005). NT-proBNP was strongly associated with chronic kidney disease (P < .001) and significantly higher in patients with prior chronic heart failure (P = .001). NT-proBNP was tightly related to staphylococcal IE (P = .001) as well as with higher CRP and hs-troponin I (P = 0.023, P < .001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our results confirm the remarkable prognostic role of NT-proBNP in patients with IE and provide novel evidences of its multifaceted correlates in this unique clinical setting. Our data strongly support the incorporation of NT-proBNP into the current diagnostic work-up of IE.

Prognostic value of SARS-CoV-2 on patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze Italian Cardiac Surgery experience during the pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) identifying risk factors for overall mortality according to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) status. METHODS: From February 20 to May 31, 2020, 1354 consecutive adult patients underwent cardiac surgery at 22 Italian Centers; 589 (43.5%), patients came from the red zone. Based on COVID-19 status, 1306 (96.5%) were negative to SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-N), and 48 (3.5%) were positive to SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-P); among the COVID-P 11 (22.9%) and 37 (77.1%) become positive, before and after surgery, respectively. Surgical procedures were as follows: 396 (29.2%) isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), 714 (52.7%) isolated non-CABG procedures, 207 (15.3%) two associate procedures, and three or more procedures in 37 (2.7%). Heart failure was significantly predominant in group COVID-N (10.4% vs. 2.5%, p = .01). RESULTS: Overall in-hospital mortality was 1.6% (22 cases), being significantly higher in COVID-P group (10 cases, 20.8% vs. 12, 0.9%, p < .001). Multivariable analysis identified COVID-P condition as a predictor of in-hospital mortality together with emergency status. In the COVID-P subgroup, the multivariable analysis identified increasing age and low oxygen saturation at admission as risk factors for in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSION: As expected, SARS-CoV-2 infection, either before or soon after cardiac surgery significantly increases in-hospital mortality. Moreover, among COVID-19-positive patients, older age and poor oxygenation upon admission seem to be associated with worse outcomes.