Changes in neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios in postcardiac arrest patients treated with targeted temperature management.

OBJECTIVE: The prognostic value of changes in neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios (NLR) in cardiac arrest survivors receiving targeted temperature management (TTM) is unknown. The current study investigated NLR in postcardiac arrest (PCA) patients undergoing TTM. METHODS: This retrospective single-center study included 95 patients (59 males, age: 55.0±17.0 years) with in-hospital and out-of-hospital cardiac arrests who underwent TTM for PCA syndrome within 6 h of cardiac arrest. Hypothermia was maintained for 24 h at a target temperature of 33°C. NLR was calculated as the absolute neutrophil count divided by the absolute lymphocyte count. RESULTS: Of the 95 patients, 59 (62%) died during hospital stay. Fewer vasopressors were used in patients who survived. Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest was more frequent in decedents (p=0.005). Length of stay in the hospital and intensive care unit were significantly longer in patients who survived (p=0.0001 and p=0.001, respectively). NLR on admission and during rewarming did not differ between survivors and decedents. NLR during cooling was significantly higher in decedents (p=0.014). Delta NLR cut-off of 13.5 best separated survivors and decedents (AUC=0.68, 95% CI: 0.57-0.79, p=0.003 with a sensitivity and specificity of 64% and 67%, respectively). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, larger increase in NLR was significantly associated with decreased survival (OR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.94-0.99, p=0.008). CONCLUSION: Changes in NLR are an independent determinant of survival in patients with return of spontaneous circulation PCA treated with TTM. An NLR change can be used to predict survival in these patients.

Effect of circadian variability in frequency of premature ventricular complexes on left ventricular function.

BACKGROUND: Frequent idiopathic premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) can result in a reversible form of cardiomyopathy. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of variability in PVC frequency throughout the day on PVC-induced cardiomyopathy. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 107 consecutive patients (58 men [54%]; mean age 49.7 ± 15.0 years; left ventricular ejection fraction 50.4% ± 11.4%) referred for ablation of frequent PVCs. All patients underwent 24-hour Holter monitoring before the ablation procedure. The circadian variation in PVC burden was determined and correlated with the presence or absence of cardiomyopathy. RESULTS: A total of 43 patients (40%) had cardiomyopathy. Patients with cardiomyopathy had an ejection fraction of 38.4% ± 6.9%, a higher PVC burden (28.5% ± 11.5% vs 19.5% ± 10.5%; P = .0001), less variability in circadian PVC distribution (coefficient of variation hourly: 31.5% ± 21% vs 59.8% ± 32.4%; P = .0001), and more frequent interpolated PVCs (20 patients [47%] vs 15 patients [23%]; P = 0.022), and were more frequently asymptomatic than patients without cardiomyopathy (56% vs 19%; P = .0001). In multivariate analysis, consistency in PVC burden throughout the day was an independent predictor of PVC-induced cardiomyopathy (odds ratio 16.3; 95% confidence interval 1.7-155.3; p = 0.015). CONCLUSION: In patients with frequent PVCs, consistency in hourly PVC frequency throughout the day is an independent predictor of PVC-induced cardiomyopathy.

Occult obstructive sleep apnea and clinical outcomes of radiofrequency catheter ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF) after successful cardioversion can be predicted by obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) diagnosed by polysomnography. However, it is not known whether the validated STOP-BANG questionnaire can predict AF recurrence after radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Our objective is to determine the prevalence of unrecognized OSA in patients with AF and its relation to freedom from AF after RFA. METHODS: Validated surveys were administered to 247 consecutive AF patients following radiofrequency ablation from January to October 2011. OSA status was assessed at baseline RFA. Clinical follow up occurred at 3-6 month intervals. RESULTS: OSA had been previously diagnosed in 94/247 (38%). Among 153 patients without prior diagnosis of OSA, 121 (79%) had high risk STOP-BANG scores for OSA. Probability of maintaining sinus rhythm after RFA was similar among patients with known OSA (66/94, 70%) and high risk OSA scores (95/124, 77%) and higher than among patients with low risk OSA scores (29/32, 91%, P=0.03). Among patients without prior OSA, a high risk STOP-BANG score did predict recurrent AF (OR = 3.7, 95 % CI 1.4-11.4, P = 0.0005). Multivariate analysis showed a higher risk of atrial arrhythmia recurrence for non-paroxysmal AF patients (OR = 3.1, ± 95 % CI 1.4-7.1, P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of AF patients undergoing RFA have high risk OSA scores, suggesting that OSA is vastly underdiagnosed in this population. STOP-BANG independently predicted recurrent AF in patients without a prior diagnosis of OSA.

Recurrence of PVCs in patients with PVC-induced cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: The natural history of premature ventricular complex (PVC)-induced cardiomyopathy is incompletely understood. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess long term follow-up data in patients who underwent successful PVC ablation for PVC-induced cardiomyopathy. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 60 patients (17 women; mean age 52.5 ± 16.8 years; ejection fraction [EF] 37.3 ± 8.5%, median 40%, interquartile range [IQR] 15) with PVC-induced cardiomyopathy who underwent successful ablation of their predominant PVCs between 2005 and 2012. Patients were followed up for a mean of 23.6 ± 17.2 months. EF improved to 57.2 ± 4.7% (median 55%, IQR 5; P = .0001) within 9.6 ± 8.4 months of the ablation procedure. During follow-up, 10 of 60 patients (16.7%) had recurrent frequent PVCs and 50 patients (83.3%) did not. Patients underwent repeat assessment of EF and PVC burden. RESULTS: During follow-up of 23.6 ± 17.2 months, 10 patients had recurrent frequent PVCs, with an increase of their PVC burden from 1.4 ± 0.9% (median 1.05%, IQR 1.59) after the initial ablation to 27.2 ± 8.8% (median 26.0%, IQR 18.2; P = .018). Their EF decreased from 55.7 ± 3.4% (median 55%, IQR 5.8) after the initial ablation to 40.2 ± 5.1% (median 40%, IQR 15; P = .005). In the remaining patients with PVC-induced cardiomyopathy, EF and PVC burden remained unchanged during follow-up. Patients with PVC recurrence had a higher number of pleomorphic PVC morphologies during initial presentation (4.7 ± 2.2 vs 2.5 ± 2.8, P = .002). CONCLUSION: Recurrence of frequent PVCs in patients with a history of PVC cardiomyopathy can result in recurrence of cardiomyopathy. Follow-up in patients with PVC-induced cardiomyopathy is important, especially if patients were asymptomatic from the PVCs and have pleomorphic PVCs.

Infrequent intraprocedural premature ventricular complexes: implications for ablation outcome.

BACKGROUND: Frequent premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) can be eliminated with an ablation procedure. Ablation success rates have been reported to be in the 80% range. Reasons for failure of ablation have not been described in detail. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the paucity of PVCs at the beginning of the ablation procedure affects the outcome. METHODS: Catheter ablation was attempted in a consecutive series of 194 patients (age: 50 ± 14 years, 91 male, ejection fraction: 56.4 ± 8.4%) with frequent idiopathic PVCs. Based on receiver operator characteristics (ROC) analysis, patients were divided into 2 groups: Patients with frequent PVCs (≥32 PVCs within the first 30 minutes of the procedure: n = 135 [70%]); and patients with infrequent PVCs (<32 PVCs within the first 30 minutes of the procedure: n = 59 [30%]). Procedural outcomes were compared at 3 months postablation. A successful ablation was defined as a ≥80% reduction in the PVC burden compared to baseline. RESULTS: A successful procedure was performed in 148 patients (76%) resulting in a decrease in the PVC burden from 19.1 ± 13.6% to 0.38 ± 0.98%(P < 0.0001). Patients with frequent intraprocedural PVCs had a higher success rate than patients with infrequent intraprocedural PVCs (85% vs. 56%, P = 0.0001). Administration of sedation was no different in the 2 groups. The paucity of PVCs was independent of the site of origin in predicting procedural failure (OR: 6.9, 95% CI: 3.0-16.2 P = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Paucity of PVCs at the beginning of an ablation procedure is associated with a lower ablation success rate independent of the site of origin.

Predictors of outcome after catheter ablation of premature ventricular complexes.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess how well acute procedural outcomes predict the clinical outcome of catheter ablation of premature ventricular complexes (PVCs). METHODS: A consecutive series of 50 patients (28 women, age: 51 ± 13 years) with frequent PVCs was referred for PVC ablation. Acute failure was defined as inability to eliminate the predominant PVC or recurrence of the predominant PVC within 12 hours. The PVC burden was reassessed 3 months after the ablation procedure. A successful procedure was defined as reduction of the PVC burden at 3 months by ≥80% of the initial burden. RESULTS: The procedure was acutely effective in 37 patients (74%) and at 3 months in 40 patients (80%). The presence or absence of the predominant PVC in the 12 hours postablation had the highest accuracy for outcome at 3 months (accuracy: 90%). From among the 13/50 patients (26%) with evidence of acute failure, 4 had a PVC reduction of ≥80% at 3 months and 10 had a PVC reduction of >50% resulting in symptomatic improvement at 3 months. CONCLUSION: The presence or absence of the predominant PVC within 12 hours postablation best correlated with the 3-month-efficacy data. Recurrence of the predominant PVC shortly after ablation did not indicate a procedural failure and the necessity for a repeat procedure. The majority of these patients had a significant, clinically meaningful reduction in their PVC burden. Acute predictors for procedural outcome at 3 months have a high positive but rather low negative predictive value.

A shift in the balance of regulatory T and T helper 17 cells in rheumatic heart disease.

BACKGROUND: Autoimmunity plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of rheumatic heart disease (RHD); however, cellular mechanisms of autoimmune response are unclear. Whereas T helper 17 (TH17) and regulatory T cells (Treg) cells share a common differentiation pathway, they play opposite roles in the immune tolerance and autoimmune diseases. Although high TH17/Treg ratio has been shown in several autoimmune diseases, no data are available in RHD. This study investigated the balance between TH17 and Treg in rheumatic mitral valve disease (MVD). METHODS: Forty patients with rheumatic MVD and 23 control subjects were enrolled into the study. All subjects underwent clinical, electrocardiographic, and echocardiographic evaluation. The percentages of circulating TH17 and Treg cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. Serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and cytokines were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: As compared with control subjects, rheumatic MVD patients showed significant increase in peripheral TH17 percentage, high serum levels of TH17-related cytokine interleukin 17A, and an obvious decrease in the percentage of Treg cells. T helper 17/Treg ratio was significantly high in rheumatic MVD patients compared with control subjects (P = 0.0001). Serum concentrations of hs-CRP in rheumatic MVD group were higher than those of the control subjects, and hs-CRP levels correlated with the TH17/Treg ratio (r = 0.71, P = 0.0001). Serum levels of transforming growth factor ß1 were increased in rheumatic MVD group compared with those of the control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that high TH17/Treg ratio exists inrheumatic MVD. This imbalance may play a role in the pathogenesis, and TH17/Treg balance may be a promising therapeutic approach in RHD.