Impact of chronic kidney disease on clinical outcomes in patients with Stage B progressive aortic regurgitation (mild to moderate and moderate grades).

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a significant comorbidity in patients with heart failure and valvular heart disease. Renal impairment is not well evaluated in the patients with Stage B progressive aortic regurgitation (AR) (mild to moderate and moderate grades in this study), for estimating outcome. HYPOTHESIS: We sought to investigate the prognostic factor, especially CKD, in the patients with progressive AR. METHODS: We enrolled 262 patients with Stage B progressive AR and preserved left ventricular systolic function (ejection fraction ≥ 50%). Based on the presence of CKD, the patients were divided into CKD (n = 70) and non-CKD (n = 192) groups, which CKD was defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 . The primary outcome was major adverse cardiac events (MACEs), including cardiac death, myocardial infarction, hospitalization for heart failure, and aortic valve replacement. RESULTS: The median follow-up duration was 41.5 (interquartile range: 16.2-71.7) months. Between groups, the CKD patients were older; they had a higher pulse pressure and higher incidence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, cerebrovascular accident, and atrial fibrillation. Compared to the non-CKD group, the CKD group had lower e' velocity (4.36 ± 2.21 vs. 5.20 ± 2.30 cm/s, p = .009), higher right ventricular systolic pressure (38.02 ± 15.79 vs. 33.86 ± 11.77 mmHg, p = .047). The CKD group was associated with increased risk of MACEs (41.4% vs. 22.4%; unadjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 1.78, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11-2.85, p = .017). In multivariate Cox regression analyses, the risk of MACEs was significantly different between groups (adjusted HR: 1.71, 95% CI: 1.11-2.62, p = .015); furthermore, the risk of hospitalization for heart failure (10.0% vs. 2.6%; adjusted HR: 2.30, 95% CI: 1.16-4.55, p = .017) was significantly higher in the CKD group than in the non-CKD group. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with Stage B progressive AR, CKD is an independent prognostic factor for clinical outcomes (composite clinical outcome, hospitalization for heart failure).

Clinical impact of guideline-based practice and patients' adherence in uncontrolled hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Chronic diseases like hypertension need comprehensive lifetime management. This study assessed clinical and patient-reported outcomes and compared them by treatment patterns and adherence at 6 months among uncontrolled hypertensive patients in Korea. METHODS: This prospective, observational study was conducted at 16 major hospitals where uncontrolled hypertensive patients receiving anti-hypertension medications (systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg) were enrolled during 2015 to 2016 and studied for the following 6 months. A review of medical records was performed to collect data on treatment patterns to determine the presence of guideline-based practice (GBP). GBP was defined as: (1) maximize first medication before adding second or (2) add second medication before reaching maximum dose of first medication. Patient self-administered questionnaires were utilized to examine medication adherence, treatment satisfaction and quality of life (QoL). RESULTS: A total of 600 patients were included in the study. Overall, 23% of patients were treated based on GBP at 3 months, and the GBP rate increased to 61.4% at 6 months. At baseline and 6 months, 36.7 and 49.2% of patients, respectively, were medication adherent. The proportion of blood pressure-controlled patients reached 65.5% at 6 months. A higher blood pressure control rate was present in patients who were on GBP and also showed adherence than those on GBP, but not adherent, or non-GBP patients (76.8% vs. 70.9% vs. 54.2%, P < 0.001). The same outcomes were found for treatment satisfaction and QoL (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the importance of physicians' compliance with GBP and patients' adherence to hypertensive medications. GBP compliance and medication adherence should be taken into account when setting therapeutic strategies for better outcomes in uncontrolled hypertensive patients.

Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome with intracardiac atypical linear-shaped and floating thrombus presenting as embolic cerebral infarction.

Knowledge of the multi-organ involvement in hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is important for the diagnosis and care of patients with this condition, even in cases with atypical presentation. This report aims to describe cerebral embolic infarction and intracardiac atypical linear-shaped thrombus in a patient with idiopathic HES and to discuss the approach of appropriate diagnosis and timely interventional management. A 55-year-old man presented with general weakness, including left-sided weakness, mild cognitive dysfunction, and mild exertional dyspnea for about 2 weeks. Initial magnetic resonance imaging for evaluating the brain showed multifocal acute to subacute infarction of both cerebral hemispheres and both cerebellums. Laboratory findings revealed leukocytosis (25,620 cells/mm3) and eosinophilia (54.9%). To evaluate the intracardiac embolic source, the patient underwent echocardiography, and a 1.5 cm linear thread-like and mobile mass was detected. Consequently, the patient was diagnosed with idiopathic HES. After bone marrow biopsy, corticosteroid and hydroxyurea were administered to control the eosinophilia. This case indicates that HES can present as a floating intracardiac atypical linear-shaped thrombus attached to the left ventricle. After appropriate diagnostic approaches, proper treatment could be given for the patient. .

Automated Algorithm Using Pre-Intervention Fractional Flow Reserve Pullback Curve to Predict Post-Intervention Physiological Results.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to develop an automated algorithm using pre-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) fractional flow reserve (FFR) pullback recordings to predict post-PCI physiological results in the pre-PCI phase. BACKGROUND: Both FFR and percent FFR increase measured after PCI showed incremental prognostic implications. However, there is no current method to predict post-PCI physiological results using physiological assessment in the pre-PCI phase. METHODS: An automated algorithm that analyzes instantaneous FFR gradient per unit time (dFFR(t)/dt) was developed from the derivation cohort (n = 30). Using dFFR(t)/dt, the pattern of atherosclerotic disease in each patient was classified into 3 groups (major, mixed, and minor FFR gradient groups) in both the internal validation cohort with constant pullback method (n = 234) and the external validation cohort with nonstandardized pullback methods (n = 252). All patients in the validation cohorts underwent PCI on the basis of pre-PCI FFR ≤0.80. Suboptimal post-PCI physiological results were defined as both post-PCI FFR <0.84 and percent FFR increase ≤15%. From the derivation cohort, cutoffs of dFFR(t)/dt for major and minor FFR gradient were 0.035/s and 0.015/s, respectively. RESULTS: In validation cohorts, dFFR(t)/dt showed significant correlations with percent FFR increase (R = 0.801; p < 0.001) and post-PCI FFR (R = 0.099; p = 0.029). In both the internal and external validation cohorts, the major FFR gradient group showed significantly higher post-PCI FFR and percent FFR increase compared with those in the mixed or minor FFR gradient groups (all p values <0.001). The proportions of suboptimal post-PCI physiological results were significantly different among 3 groups (10.4% vs. 25.8% vs. 45.7% for the major, mixed, and minor FFR gradient groups, respectively; p < 0.001) in validation cohorts. Absence of major FFR gradient lesion (odds ratio: 2.435, 95% [CI]: 1.252 to 4.734; p = 0.009) and presence of minor FFR gradient lesion (odds ratio: 2.756, 95% confidence interval: 1.629 to 4.664; p < 0.001) were independent predictors for suboptimal post-PCI physiological results. CONCLUSIONS: The automated algorithm analyzing pre-PCI pullback curve was able to predict post-PCI physiological results. The incidence of suboptimal post-PCI physiological results was significantly different according to algorithm-based classifications in the pre-PCI physiological assessment. (Automated Algorithm Detecting Physiologic Major Stenosis and Its Relationship with Post-PCI Clinical Outcomes [Algorithm-PCI]; NCT04304677).

Prognostic Implications of Post-Intervention Resting Pd/Pa and Fractional Flow Reserve in Patients With Stent Implantation.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to investigate the prognostic implications of post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) nonhyperemic pressure ratios compared with that of post-PCI fractional flow reserve (FFR). BACKGROUND: FFR measured after PCI has been shown to possess prognostic implications. However, the prognostic value of post-PCI nonhyperemic pressure ratios has not yet been clarified. METHODS: A total of 588 patients who underwent PCI with available both post-PCI FFR and resting distal coronary pressure-to-aortic pressure ratio (Pd/Pa) were analyzed. Post-PCI FFR and Pd/Pa were measured after successful angiographic stent implantation. The primary outcome was target vessel failure (TVF) up to 2 years, defined as a composite of cardiac death, target vessel-related myocardial infarction, and clinically driven target vessel revascularization. Prognosis of patients according to post-PCI Pd/Pa was compared with that of post-PCI FFR. RESULTS: Despite angiographically successful PCI, 18.5% had post-PCI FFR ≤0.80 and 36.9% showed post-PCI Pd/Pa ≤0.92. In post-PCI Pd/Pa >0.92 group, 93.8% of patients showed post-PCI FFR >0.80. Conversely, 60.4% of patients showed post-PCI FFR >0.80 in post-PCI Pd/Pa ≤0.92 group. Although there was significant difference in TVF according to post-PCI FFR (≤0.80 vs. >0.80: 10.3% vs. 2.5%; p < 0.001) and Pd/Pa (≤0.92 vs. >0.92: 6.2% vs. 2.5%; p = 0.029), the reclassification ability of model for TVF was increased only with post-PCI FFR (net reclassification index 0.627; p = 0.003; integrated discrimination index 0.019; p = 0.015), but not with post-PCI Pd/Pa, compared with model including clinical factors. Compared with patients with post-PCI Pd/Pa >0.92, patients with post-PCI Pd/Pa ≤0.92 and FFR ≤0.80 had significantly higher risk of TVF (10.4% vs. 2.5%; adjusted hazard ratio: 4.204; 95% confidence interval: 1.521 to 11.618; p = 0.006); however, those with post-PCI Pd/Pa ≤0.92 but FFR >0.80 showed similar risk of TVF (3.5% vs. 2.5%; adjusted hazard ratio: 1.327; 95% confidence interval: 0.398 to 4.428; p = 0.645). CONCLUSIONS: Over one-half of the patients with abnormal post-PCI Pd/Pa ≤0.92 showed post-PCI FFR >0.80. Compared with post-PCI FFR, post-PCI Pd/Pa showed limited reclassification ability for the occurrence of TVF. Among patients with abnormal post-PCI Pd/Pa, only patients with positive post-PCI FFR showed significantly higher risk of TVF than did those with post-PCI Pd/Pa >0.92. (Prognostic Perspective of Invasive Hyperemic and Non-Hyperemic Physiologic Indices Measured After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention [PERSPECTIVEPCI]; NCT04265443).

Role of Post-Stent Physiological Assessment in a Risk Prediction Model After Coronary Stent Implantation.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to develop a risk model incorporating clinical, angiographic, and physiological parameters to predict future clinical events after drug-eluting stent implantation. BACKGROUND: Prognostic factors after coronary stenting have not been comprehensively investigated. METHODS: A risk model to predict target vessel failure (TVF) at 2 years was developed from 2,200 patients who underwent second-generation drug-eluting stent implantation and post-stent fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurement. TVF was defined as a composite of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction, and clinically driven target vessel revascularization. A random survival forest model with automatic feature selection by minimal depth analysis was used for risk model development. RESULTS: During 2 years of follow-up, the cumulative incidence of TVF was 5.9%. From clinical, angiographic, and physiological parameters, 6 variables were selected for the risk model in order of importance within the model as follows: total stent length, post-stent FFR, age, post-stent percentage diameter stenosis, reference vessel diameter, and diabetes mellitus. Harrell's C index of the random survival forest model was 0.72 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.62 to 0.82). This risk model showed better prediction ability than models with clinical risk factors alone (Harrell's C index = 0.55; 95% CI: 0.41 to 0.59; p for comparison = 0.005) and with clinical risk factors and angiographic parameters (Harrell's C index = 0.65; 95% CI: 0.52 to 0.77; p for comparison = 0.045). When the patients were divided into 2 groups according to the median of total stent length (30 mm), post-stent FFR and total stent length showed the highest variable importance in the short- and long-stent groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A risk model incorporating clinical, angiographic, and physiological predictors can help predict the risk for TVF at 2 years after coronary stenting. Total stent length and post-stent FFR were the most important predictors. (International Post PCI FFR Registry; NCT04012281).

Diagnostic Agreement of Quantitative Flow Ratio With Fractional Flow Reserve and Instantaneous Wave-Free Ratio.

Background Quantitative flow ratio ( QFR ) has a high diagnostic accuracy in assessing functional stenoses relevance, as judged by fractional flow reserve ( FFR ). However, its diagnostic performance has not been thoroughly evaluated using instantaneous wave-free ratio ( iFR ) or coronary flow reserve as the reference standard. This study sought to evaluate the diagnostic performance of QFR using other reference standards beyond FFR . Methods and Results We analyzed 182 patients (253 vessels) with stable ischemic heart disease and 82 patients (105 nonculprit vessels) with acute myocardial infarction in whom coronary stenoses were assessed with FFR , iFR, and coronary flow reserve. Contrast QFR analysis of interrogated vessels was performed in blinded fashion by a core laboratory, and its diagnostic performance was evaluated with respect to the other invasive physiological indices. Mean percentage diameter stenosis, FFR , iFR , coronary flow reserve, and QFR were 53.1±19.0%, 0.80±0.13, 0.88±0.12, 3.14±1.30, and 0.81±0.14, respectively. QFR showed higher correlation ( r=0.863 with FFR versus 0.740 with iFR , P<0.001), diagnostic accuracy (90.8% versus 81.3%, P<0.001), and discriminant function (area under the curve=0.953 versus 0.880, P<0.001) when FFR was used as a reference standard than when iFR was used as the reference standard. However, when coronary flow reserve was used as an independent reference standard, FFR , iFR , and QFR showed modest discriminant function (area under the curve=0.682, 0.765, and 0.677, respectively) and there were no significant differences in diagnostic accuracy among FFR , iFR , and QFR (65.4%, 70.6%, and 64.9%; all P values in pairwise comparisons >0.05, overall comparison P=0.061). Conclusions QFR has a high correlation and agreement with respect to both FFR and iFR , although it is better when FFR is used as the comparator. As a pressure-derived index not depending on wire or adenosine, QFR might be a promising tool for improving the adoption rate of physiology-based revascularization in clinical practice.

Prevotella brain abscess in a healthy young patient with a patent foramen ovale.

Brain abscesses are frequently caused by poly-microbial conditions. Comparatively, brain abscesses caused by Prevotella species are very rare. Right-to-left cardiac shunting due to a patent foramen ovale may predispose patients to infection. We report an isolated Prevotella brain abscess that occurred in a healthy, young, male patient with a patent foramen ovale. The patient did not have a clinically obvious odontogenic source of infection, and no other distant extracranial infectious sources were observed. The patient was successfully treated with stereotactic aspiration and antibiotics.

Clinical Relevance of Poststent Fractional Flow Reserve After Drug-Eluting Stent Implantation.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic value of poststent fractional flow reserve (FFR) has not been clearly defined in patients with drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. This study sought to evaluate the association between FFR and clinical outcomes after DES implantation with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) assistance. METHODS: A total of 115 lesions (107 patients) with FFR measurement after IVUS-assisted DES implantation were enrolled. Poststent angiographic and IVUS parameters were compared with FFR values. Clinical outcomes were assessed by target vessel failure (TVF), defined as a composite of target vessel revascularization, death, or non-fatal myocardial infarction attributed to the target vessel. RESULTS: Mean poststent FFR was 0.92 ± 0.04. Minimal stent area by IVUS had a positive correlation with poststent FFR (r = 0.36; P<.01). Poststent FFR ≥0.89 was a physiologic cut-off value for 1-year TVF-free survival. The best cut-off value of minimal stent area to define poststent FFR ≥0.89 was >5.4 mm² (sensitivity, 63.2%; specificity, 90.0%). At 3-year follow-up, lesions with poststent FFR ≥0.89 had a better TVF-free survival rate than those with poststent FFR <0.89 (89.3% vs 61.1%, P =.03). CONCLUSION: Poststent FFR can be a useful predictor for long-term clinical outcomes after DES implantation and relevant to IVUS minimal stent area.

Clinical implications of T-wave inversion in an asymptomatic population undergoing annual medical screening (from the Korean Air Forces Electrocardiogram Screening).

This study aimed to determine prevalence, differentiate underlying causes, and identify the benign group in subjects with asymptomatic T-wave inversion (TWI). We retrospectively read 12-lead electrocardiograms from 3,929 consecutive asymptomatic men in the air force (3,929 participants, mean age 39.3 ± 8.7 years) who underwent medical screening at the Aerospace Medical Center, Korea, from September 2010 to August 2012. TWIs other than in right precordial leads (V1 and V2) were present in 23 men (0.6%). All subjects with persistent TWI for 1 year (n = 18) underwent additional study, with the exception of 1 patient who refused further evaluation. Of 17 subjects with investigated persistent TWI, 8 (47.1%) had an apically displaced papillary muscle, 5 (29.4%) exhibited idiopathic TWI, 3 (17.6%) had apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and 1 (5.9%) had Maron type 2 hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with dynamic left ventricular outflow obstruction. The depth of TWI was significantly shallow in the benign group (idiopathic TWI, 1.6 ± 0.5 mm) compared with potentially nonbenign group (the others; 5.5 ± 3.3 mm, p = 0.021). Lateral lead TWI was significantly correlated with potentially nonbenign group (46% vs 0%, p = 0.049). In conclusion, asymptomatic TWI is not rare (0.6%), even in a healthy population such as Korean Air Force society, and at least 29.4% of subjects with TWI are considered to belong to the benign group that does not require aggressive evaluation and criteria of TWI ≤2 mm other than lateral leads without co-morbidity could help to distinguish the benign group from the potentially nonbenign group.

Diagnostic value of coronary CT angiography in comparison with invasive coronary angiography and intravascular ultrasound in patients with intermediate coronary artery stenosis: results from the prospective multicentre FIGURE-OUT (Functional Imaging criteria for GUiding REview of invasive coronary angiOgraphy, intravascular Ultrasound, and coronary computed Tomographic angiography) study.

AIMS: The anatomical criteria for the diagnosis of ischaemia referenced by fractional flow reserve (FFR) from non-invasive coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA), invasive coronary angiography (ICA), and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) have not been evaluated contemporarily in a large-scale study. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of CCTA compared with ICA and IVUS in patients with intermediate coronary stenosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: CCTA, ICA, IVUS, and FFR were performed in 181 coronary lesions with intermediate severity. Minimal lumen diameter (MLD) and per cent diameter stenosis (%DS) were determined by CCTA and ICA, whereas minimal lumen area (MLA) was determined by CCTA and IVUS. Inducible ischaemia was defined by FFR ≤ 0.80. Diagnostic performances from non-invasive and invasive methods were compared. FFR ≤ 0.80 was observed in 49 (27.1%) lesions. CCTA MLD was smaller than ICA MLD (1.3 ± 0.5 vs. 1.5 ± 0.4 mm, P < 0.001), CCTA %DS was higher than ICA %DS (54.0 ± 14.0 vs. 50.3 ± 12.8%, P < 0.001), and CCTA MLA was smaller than IVUS MLA (2.2 ± 1.2 vs. 3.2 ± 1.2 mm(2), P < 0.001). This trend was consistent irrespective of lesion location, lesion severity, and plaque characteristics. For the determination of ischaemia, diagnostic performance of CCTA %DS was lower than ICA %DS [area under the curve (AUC) 0.657 vs. 0.765, P = 0.04], and that of CCTA MLA was lower than IVUS MLA (AUC 0.712 vs. 0.801, P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Anatomical criteria for the diagnosis of ischaemia-producing coronary stenosis differ by non-invasive and invasive methods. Compared with invasive methods, CCTA presents overestimation in assessing lesion severity and lower diagnostic performance in assessing ischaemia.

Familial occurrence of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia in a mother and her son.

Atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT), caused by a reentry circuit involving fast and slow atrioventricular nodal pathways, is one of the most common types of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardias. While familial Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome has been well recognized, familial AVNRT has been rarely reported. We report a familial occurrence of AVNRT in a mother and her son, who were symptomatic and successfully treated with radiofrequency catheter ablation of slow pathway.

Clinical significance of induced atrial tachycardia after termination of longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation using a stepwise approach.

INTRODUCTION: The utility of inducibility test of atrial tachycardia (AT) in patients with longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation (AF; LPAF) is unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the significance of induced AT and the impact of their ablation on the clinical outcome. METHODS: In 194 patients with LPAF (>1 year) who underwent catheter ablation (pulmonary vein isolation with substrate ablation), an inducibility test was performed after AF termination. RESULTS: AT was induced in 108 (56%) patients (induced AT group); neither AT nor AF was inducible in 37 (19%, noninduction group). During 39 ± 21 months, AT recurred in 30 patients (28%), AF in 19 (17%), and no arrhythmia in 56 (52%) among induced AT group, although there was a recurrence of AT in 9 (24%, P = 0.68), AF in 6 (16%, P = 0.85), and no arrhythmia in 22 (60%, P = 0.42) among noninduction group (P = NS). Note that 10 patients with repeated ablation in induced AT group revealed 8 different and 2 similar recurrent ATs compared to the induced ATs at first session. The mean cycle length of induced AT that terminated by ablation (271 ± 64 ms) was longer than that without (249 ± 58 ms, P < 0.05). In induced AT group, AT recurrence rate in patients who achieved AT termination by ablation was lower than those without termination (5% vs 36%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: ATs that are inducible after LPAF termination do not necessarily become clinical AT. However, patients who achieved noninducibility of AT by ablating slower cycle length of AT had better outcomes.

Late-onset postpneumonectomy empyema presenting as right-sided heart failure: extrinsic right atrial compression.

Although it is rare, the right atrium can be encroached on by abnormal mediastinal structures, including aortic aneurysms, carcinomas, hepatic cysts and diaphragmatic paralysis. Extrinsic compression of the right atrium causes significant hemodynamic compromise and can lead to fatal outcomes. We describe the case of a 66-year old man with a past history of pulmonary tuberculosis that had undergone right pneumonectomy 40 years previously. He then presented with signs and symptoms of right-sided heart failure. These new signs and symptoms were recognized to be secondary to extrinsic compression of the right atrium, which was due to late-onset postpneumonectomy empyema, and the signs and symptoms were successfully relieved by performing open drainage of the empyema.

Development of a coronary aneurysm at a sirolimus-eluting stent-implanted lesion in a patient with churg-strauss syndrome.

A coronary aneurysm (CA) can occur in sirolimus-eluting stent (SES)-implanted coronary lesions. Although several possible mechanisms have been suggested, the precise pathogenesis of a CA in SES-implanted lesions is still unknown. We report a patient with Churg-Strauss syndrome who underwent successful percutaneous coronary intervention with SES and then experienced a CA in an SES-implanted coronary lesion. We describe the CA characteristics through the use of coronary angiography, coronary 64-multidetector computed tomography, and intravascular ultrasound and discuss the etiological factors for the CA in this patient.

Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in patients with chronic lung disease.

BACKGROUND: Chronic lung disease (CLD) is one of the important underlying diseases of atrial fibrillation (AF). The outcomes after radiofrequency catheter ablation of AF in patients with CLD have not yet been reported. We investigated the electroanatomic alterations in pulmonary veins (PVs) in CLD patients with AF and assessed their effect on the outcomes of radiofrequency catheter ablation of AF. METHOD AND RESULTS: We assessed 15 patients who had CLD and underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation of AF. CLD included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a tuberculosis-destroyed lung, and interstitial lung disease. For controls, we selected 60 sex-, age-, and procedure era-matched non-CLD patients who received radiofrequency catheter ablation for AF (4 controls for each CLD patient). Eight patients had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 6 had a tuberculosis-destroyed lung, and 1 had interstitial lung disease. PV morphology in the affected lung was altered significantly, ie, obliteration, pulling of the PVs toward the destroyed lung, or compensatory bulging of the PV antrum. These alterations were related to arrhythmogenicity in 6 (40%) of 15 patients with CLD. Non-PV foci were more common in the CLD group (4/15, 26.7%) than in the control group (3/60, 5.0%; P=0.025). All non-PV foci were located in the right atrium. The AF recurrence rate in the CLD group (26.7%, 4/15) was similar to that in the control group (18.3%, 11/60; P=0.45). CONCLUSIONS: Significant alteration of PV anatomy was related to arrhythmogenicity, and non-PV foci from the right atrium were commonly observed in the CLD group. Radiofrequency catheter ablation can be performed safely for AF in CLD patients with a comparable success rate to that in patients with normal lungs.

Clinical significance of early recurrences of atrial tachycardia after atrial fibrillation ablation.

BACKGROUND: atrial tachycardia (AT) commonly recurs within 3 months after radiofrequency catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, it remains unclear whether early recurrence of atrial tachycardia (ERAT) predicts late recurrence of AF or AT. METHODS: of 352 consecutive patients who underwent circumferential pulmonary vein isolation with or without linear ablation(s) for AF, 56 patients (15.9%) with ERAT were identified by retrospective analysis. ERAT was defined as early relapse of AT within a 3-month blanking period after ablation. RESULTS: during 21.7 ± 12.5 months, the rate of late recurrence was higher in patients with ERAT (41.1%) compared with those without ERAT (11.8%, P < 0.001). In a multivariable model, positive inducibility of AF or AT immediately after ablation (65.2% vs 36.4%, P = 0.046; odd ratio, 3.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.0-14.6) and the number of patients who underwent cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) ablation (73.9% vs 42.4%, P = 0.042; odd ratio, 4.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-19.5) were significantly related to late recurrence in the ERAT group. The duration of ablation (174.3 ± 62.3 vs 114.7 ± 39.5 minutes, P = 0.046) and the procedure time (329.3 ± 83.4 vs 279.2 ± 79.7 minutes, P = 0.027) were significantly longer in patients with late recurrence than in those without late recurrence following ERAT. CONCLUSIONS: the late recurrence rate is higher in the patients with ERAT compared with those without ERAT following AF ablation, and is more often noted in the patients who underwent CTI ablation and had a prolonged procedure time. Furthermore, inducibility of AF or AT immediately after ablation independently predicts late recurrence in patients with ERAT.

Role of residual potentials inside circumferential pulmonary veins ablation lines in the recurrence of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Residual gaps due to incomplete ablation lines are known to be the most common cause of recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF) after catheter ablation. We hypothesized that any residual potentials at the junction of the left atrium and pulmonary vein (PV), inside the circumferential PV ablation (CPVA) lines, would contribute to the recurrence of AF or post-AF ablation atrial flutter (AFL); therefore, the elimination of these potentials increases AF-/AFL-free survival rates. METHODS AND RESULTS: One hundred and two patients with paroxysmal AF (PAF) were enrolled and prospectively randomized to a group with ablation of residual potentials as add-on therapy to CPVA + PV electrical isolation (PVI) (group 1, n = 49), or a group without ablation of the residual potentials (group 2, n = 53). Post-CPVA residual potentials, inside the ablation lines, were identified by contact bipolar electrode mapping catheter and a detailed 3-dimensional voltage map. Twenty-three patients in group 1 and 18 patients in group 2 had post-CPVA residual potentials (46.9% vs 34.0%, P = 0.182). The AF-/AFL-free survival rate during follow-up of 23.3 ± 7.9 months was not different in comparisons between the 2 groups (P = 0.818), and 79.6% and 81.1% of the patients in groups 1 and 2 maintained a sinus rhythm (P = 0.845), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Residual potentials inside CPVA were commonly found in the patients with PAF after CPVA + PVI. Further ablation of residual potentials did not increase the efficacy of catheter ablation in patients with PAF.

The effect and safety of the antithrombotic therapies in patients with atrial fibrillation and CHADS score 1.

BACKGROUND: The revised ACC/AHA/ESC 2006 guideline recommends either aspirin or warfarin for the prevention of ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) in CHADS(2) score 1. We hypothesized that warfarin is superior to aspirin therapy for the prevention of stroke without increasing bleeding complication in AF patients with CHADS(2) score 1. METHODS AND RESULTS: Among 1,502 patients (mean 62.4 +/- 13.8 years old, male 65.4%) who were treated for nonvalvular AF without previous stroke, the number of patients with CHADS(2) score 1 was 422 (62.9 +/- 10.7 years old, male 290 [68.7%]) and their antithrombotic therapies were as follows: warfarin (n = 143), aspirin (n = 124), other antiplatelet (n = 45), and no antithrombosis (none: n = 110). We reviewed the incidences of ischemic stroke, mortality, and bleeding complications during the follow-up period. Results were: (1) during 22.3 +/- 17.8 months of follow-up, the incidence of ischemic stroke was significantly lower in warfarin (6 patients, 4.2%, mean international normalized ratio [INR] 2.0 +/- 0.5 IU) than in aspirin (16 patients, 12.9%, P = 0.008) than none (23 patients, 20.9%, P < 0.001) without differences in all-cause mortality. (2) The incidence of major bleeding (decrease in hemoglobin >or=2 g/dL, requiring hospitalization or red blood cell transfusion >or=2 pints) was not different between warfarin (2.1%) and aspirin (0.8%, P = NS), but minor bleeding was more common in warfarin (10.5%) than in aspirin (2.4%, P = 0.007). CONCLUSION: In AF patients with CHADS(2) score 1, warfarin was better to prevent ischemic stroke than aspirin without increasing the incidence of major bleeding complications. However, the incidence of minor bleeding was higher in the warfarin group than the aspirin group.

Safety and convenience of continuous warfarin strategy during the periprocedural period in patients who underwent catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the efficiency and convenience of a continuous warfarinization (CW) strategy during the periprocedural period of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) of atrial fibrillation (AF) in comparison with the classic strategy of switching to heparin (SH). METHODS AND RESULTS: We compared CW (n = 49) and SH (n = 55, 3 days before RFCA) in 104 patients who underwent RFCA of AF (77 males, 55 +/- 12 years old, paroxysmal AF: persistent AF = 63:41). During the procedure, the activated clotting time (ACT) was maintained between 350 and 400 seconds, and a requirement of H, postablation INR, and periprocedural complications were compared. Results were as follows: (1) in the CW group, the preprocedural INR (1.85 +/- 0.61 vs 1.05 +/- 0.12, P < 0.001) and the proportions of INR > 2.0 after RFCA (1st postprocedure day 61.2% vs 5.5%, P < 0.001; 2nd postprocedure day 83.3% vs 21.8%, P < 0.005) were higher, and the heparin requirement was lower (2012 +/- 998 U/30 minutes vs 2921 +/- 795 U/30 minutes, P < 0.001) than in the SH group. (2) The incidences of hemorrhagic complications (18.2% vs 18.4%, P = NS) or the major bleeding rates (reduced hemoglobin >or= 4 g/dL, requiring blood transfusion; 3.6% vs 12.2%, P = NS) were not significantly different in the CW group than in the SH group. CONCLUSION: The periprocedural CW strategy maintains a more stable INR immediately after AF ablation without increasing hemorrhagic complications compared with the classic strategy of SH. Simple CW can replace SH in an experienced laboratory with a low risk of hemopericardium during AF ablation.