Use of cardiac imaging in chronic coronary syndromes: the EURECA Imaging registry.

BACKGROUND: The prospective, multicentre EURECA registry assessed the use of imaging and adoption of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Guidelines (GL) in patients with chronic coronary syndromes (CCS). METHODS: Between May 2019 and March 2020, 5156 patients were recruited in 73 centres from 24 ESC member countries. The adoption of GL recommendations was evaluated according to clinical presentation and pre-test probability (PTP) of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). RESULTS: The mean age of the population was 64 ± 11 years, 60% of patients were males, 42% had PTP >15%, 27% had previous CAD, and ejection fraction was <50% in 5%. Exercise ECG was performed in 32% of patients, stress imaging as the first choice in 40%, and computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) in 22%. Invasive coronary angiography (ICA) was the first or downstream test in 17% and 11%, respectively. Obstructive CAD was documented in 24% of patients, inducible ischaemia in 19%, and 13% of patients underwent revascularization. In 44% of patients, the overall diagnostic process did not adopt the GL. In these patients, referral to stress imaging (21% vs. 58%; P < 0.001) or CTCA (17% vs. 30%; P < 0.001) was less frequent, while exercise ECG (43% vs. 22%; P < 0.001) and ICA (48% vs. 15%; P < 0.001) were more frequently performed. The adoption of GL was associated with fewer ICA, higher proportion of diagnosis of obstructive CAD (60% vs. 39%, P < 0.001) and revascularization (54% vs. 37%, P < 0.001), higher quality of life, fewer additional testing, and longer times to late revascularization. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with CCS, current clinical practice does not adopt GL recommendations on the use of diagnostic tests in a significant proportion of patients. When the diagnostic approach adopts GL recommendations, invasive procedures are less frequently used and the diagnostic yield and therapeutic utility are superior.

Speckle tracking echocardiography in primary mitral regurgitation: should we reconsider the time for intervention?

Thanks to the improvement in mitral regurgitation (MR) diagnostic and therapeutic management, with the introduction of minimally invasive techniques which have considerably reduced the individual surgical risk, the optimization of the timing for MR "open" or percutaneous surgical treatment has become a main concern which has highly raised scientific interest. In fact, the current indications for intervention in MR, especially in asymptomatic patients, rely on echocardiographic criteria with high severity cut-offs that are fulfilled only when not only mitral valve apparatus but also the cardiac chambers' structure and function are severely impaired, which results in poor benefits for post-operative clinical outcome. This led to the need of new indices to redefine the optimal surgical timing in these patients. Speckle tracking echocardiography provides early markers of cardiac dysfunction due to subtle myocardial impairment; therefore, it could offer pivotal information in this setting. In fact, left ventricular and left atrial strains have already shown evidence about their usefulness in recognizing MR impact not only on symptoms and quality of life but also on cardiovascular events and new-onset atrial fibrillation in these patients. Moreover, right ventricular strain could be used to identify those patients with advanced cardiac damage and different grades of right ventricular dysfunction, which entails higher risks for cardiac surgery that could overweigh surgical benefits. This review aims to describe the importance of reconsidering the timing of intervention in MR and to analyze the potential additive value of speckle tracking echocardiography in this clinical setting.

Surgery and outcome of infective endocarditis in octogenarians: prospective data from the ESC EORP EURO-ENDO registry.

PURPOSE: High mortality and a limited performance of valvular surgery are typical features of infective endocarditis (IE) in octogenarians, even though surgical treatment is a major determinant of a successful outcome in IE. METHODS: Data from the prospective multicentre ESC EORP EURO-ENDO registry were used to assess the prognostic role of valvular surgery depending on age. RESULTS: As compared to < 80 yo patients, ≥ 80 yo had lower rates of theoretical indication for valvular surgery (49.1% vs. 60.3%, p < 0.001), of surgery performed (37.0% vs. 75.5%, p < 0.001), and a higher in-hospital (25.9% vs. 15.8%, p < 0.001) and 1-year mortality (41.3% vs. 22.2%, p < 0.001). By multivariable analysis, age per se was not predictive of 1-year mortality, but lack of surgical procedures when indicated was strongly predictive (HR 2.98 [2.43-3.66]). By propensity analysis, 304 ≥ 80 yo were matched to 608 < 80 yo patients. Propensity analysis confirmed the lower rate of indication for valvular surgery (51.3% vs. 57.2%, p = 0.031) and of surgery performed (35.3% vs. 68.4%, p < 0.0001) in ≥ 80 yo. Overall mortality remained higher in ≥ 80 yo (in-hospital: HR 1.50[1.06-2.13], p = 0.0210; 1-yr: HR 1.58[1.21-2.05], p = 0.0006), but was not different from that of < 80 yo among those who had surgery (in-hospital: 19.7% vs. 20.0%, p = 0.4236; 1-year: 27.3% vs. 25.5%, p = 0.7176). CONCLUSION: Although mortality rates are consistently higher in ≥ 80 yo patients than in < 80 yo patients in the general population, mortality of surgery in ≥ 80 yo is similar to < 80 yo after matching patients. These results confirm the importance of a better recognition of surgical indication and of an increased performance of surgery in ≥ 80 yo patients.

Atrial flutter and embolic risk: The relationship between atrial flutter cycle length and left atrial appendage function.

BACKGROUND: The potential for thromboembolism in atrial flutter (AFL) is different from atrial fibrillation. AFL cycle length (AFL-CL) may be related to reduced left atrial appendage (LAA) function. Very rapid AFL-CL can lead to mechanical and electrophysiological disorders that contribute to lower LAA emptying velocity (LAEV). The aim of this study is to relate atrial flutter cycle length with LAEV and its role in thrombogenesis. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of patients with atrial flutter AFL who underwent transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) before catheter ablation or electric cardioversion. AFL-CL in milliseconds was measured with a 12-lead EKG or in intracardiac records. RESULTS: We included 123 patients. There was correlation between AFL-CL and LAEV (r = 0.34; p = 0.003) in typical AFL. Cycle length, LA size and atypical flutter were predictors of low LAEV on multivariate analysis. An index multiplying atrial rate (bpm) during the arrhythmia versus left atrial size(mm) >11,728 was associated with spontaneous echogenic contrast and/or left atrial thrombus on TEE (C-statistic = 0.71; CI95%0.60-0.81). CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant relationship between the AFL-CL and LAEV. The LAEV was affected by the LA size, the type of atrial flutter and the AFL-CL. A new index, relating the atrial rate with the left atrial size, was able to identify a higher occurrence of spontaneous echogenic contrast and/or left atrial thrombus.

Quality control of B-lines analysis in stress Echo 2020.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness trial "Stress echo (SE) 2020" evaluates novel applications of SE in and beyond coronary artery disease. The core protocol also includes 4-site simplified scan of B-lines by lung ultrasound, useful to assess pulmonary congestion. PURPOSE: To provide web-based upstream quality control and harmonization of B-lines reading criteria. METHODS: 60 readers (all previously accredited for regional wall motion, 53 B-lines naive) from 52 centers of 16 countries of SE 2020 network read a set of 20 lung ultrasound video-clips selected by the Pisa lab serving as reference standard, after taking an obligatory web-based learning 2-h module ( http://se2020.altervista.org ). Each test clip was scored for B-lines from 0 (black lung, A-lines, no B-lines) to 10 (white lung, coalescing B-lines). The diagnostic gold standard was the concordant assessment of two experienced readers of the Pisa lab. The answer of the reader was considered correct if concordant with reference standard reading ±1 (for instance, reference standard reading of 5 B-lines; correct answer 4, 5, or 6). The a priori determined pass threshold was 18/20 (≥ 90%) with R value (intra-class correlation coefficient) between reference standard and recruiting center) > 0.90. Inter-observer agreement was assessed with intra-class correlation coefficient statistics. RESULTS: All 60 readers were successfully accredited: 26 (43%) on first, 24 (40%) on second, and 10 (17%) on third attempt. The average diagnostic accuracy of the 60 accredited readers was 95%, with R value of 0.95 compared to reference standard reading. The 53 B-lines naive scored similarly to the 7 B-lines expert on first attempt (90 versus 95%, p = NS). Compared to the step-1 of quality control for regional wall motion abnormalities, the mean reading time per attempt was shorter (17 ± 3 vs 29 ± 12 min, p < .01), the first attempt success rate was higher (43 vs 28%, p < 0.01), and the drop-out of readers smaller (0 vs 28%, p < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Web-based learning is highly effective for teaching and harmonizing B-lines reading. Echocardiographers without previous experience with B-lines learn quickly.

Left atrial dysfunction detected by speckle tracking in patients with systemic sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac involvement is a relevant clinical finding in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and is associated with poor prognosis. Left atrial (LA) remodeling and/or dysfunction can be an early sign of diastolic dysfunction. Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) is a novel and promising tool for detecting very early changes in LA myocardial performance. AIM: To assess whether STE strain parameters may detect early alterations in LA function in SSc patients. METHODS: Forty-two SSc patients (Group 1, age 50 ± 14 years, 95% females) without clinical evidence for cardiac involvement and 42 age- and gender-matched control subjects (Group 2, age 49 ± 13 years, 95% females) were evaluated with comprehensive 2D and Doppler echocardiography, including tissue Doppler imaging analysis. Positive peak left atrial longitudinal strain (ϵ pos peak), second positive left atrial longitudinal strain (sec ϵ pos peak), and negative left atrial longitudinal strain (ϵ neg peak) were measured using a 12-segment model for the LA, by commercially available semi-automated 2D speckle-tracking software (EchoPac PC version 108.1.4, GE Healthcare, Horten, Norway). RESULTS: All SSc patients had a normal left ventricular ejection fraction (63.1 ± 4%). SSc patients did not differ from controls in E/A (Group 1 = 1.1 ± 0.4 vs Group 2 = 1.3 ± 0.4, p = .14) or pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (Group 1 = 24.1 ± 8 mmHg vs Group 2 = 21 ± 7 mmHg, p = .17). SSc patients did not show significantly different indexed LA volumes (Group 1 = 24.9 ± 5.3 ml/m2 vs Group 2 = 24.7 ± 4.4 ml/m2, p = .8), whereas E/e' ratio was significantly higher in SSc (Group 1 = 7.6 ± 2.4 vs Group 2 = 6.5 ± 1.7, p<0.05), although still within normal values. LA strain values were significantly different between the two groups (ϵ pos peak Group 1 = 31.3 ± 4.2% vs Group 2 = 35.0 ± 7.6%, p < .01, sec ϵ pos peak Group 1 = 18.4 ± 4 vs Group 2 = 21.4 ± 7.6, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography is a sensitive tool to assess impairment of LA mechanics, which is detectable in absence of changes in LA size and volume, and may represent an early sign of cardiac involvement in patients with SSc.

Performance of the SHARPEN Score and the Charlson Comorbidity Index for In-Hospital and Post-Discharge Mortality Prediction in Infective Endocarditis. / Desempenho do Escore SHARPEN e do Índice de Comorbidade de Charlson para Predição de Mortalidade durante a Internação Hospitalar e após a Alta na Endocardite Infecciosa.

BACKGROUND: Central Illustration : Performance of the SHARPEN Score and the Charlson Comorbidity Index for In-Hospital and Post-Discharge Mortality Prediction in Infective Endocarditis. BACKGROUND: SHARPEN was the first dedicated score for in-hospital mortality prediction in infective endocarditis (IE) regardless of cardiac surgery. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the ability of the SHARPEN score to predict in-hospital and post-discharge mortality and compare it with that of the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI). METHODS: Retrospective cohort study including definite IE (Duke modified criteria) admissions from 2000 to 2016. The area under the ROC curve (AUC-ROC) was calculated to assess predictive ability. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression was performed. P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: We studied 179 hospital admissions. In-hospital mortality was 22.3%; 68 (38.0%) had cardiac surgery. Median (interquartile range, IQR) SHARPEN and CCI scores were 9(7-11) and 3(2-6), respectively. SHARPEN had better in-hospital mortality prediction than CCI in non-operated patients (AUC-ROC 0.77 vs. 0.62, p = 0.003); there was no difference in overall (p = 0.26) and in operated patients (p = 0.41). SHARPEN > 10 at admission was associated with decreased in-hospital survival in the overall (HR 3.87; p < 0.001), in non-operated (HR 3.46; p = 0.006) and operated (HR 6.86; p < 0.001) patients. CCI > 3 at admission was associated with worse in-hospital survival in the overall (HR 3.0; p = 0.002), and in operated patients (HR 5.57; p = 0.005), but not in non-operated patients (HR 2.13; p = 0.119). Post-discharge survival was worse in patients with SHARPEN > 10 (HR 3.11; p < 0.001) and CCI > 3 (HR 2.63; p < 0.001) at admission; however, there was no difference in predictive ability between these groups. CONCLUSION: SHARPEN was superior to CCI in predicting in-hospital mortality in non-operated patients. There was no difference between the scores regarding post-discharge mortality.

The role of three-dimensional echocardiography in interventricular mass evaluation.

A young patient underwent a screening electrocardiogram (EKG) that suggested apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Serial investigation with echocardiography showed a well-defined hyperechogenic mass involving the interventricular septal. To better define the lesion extension three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography was done and it demonstrated a mass invading the septal myocardium, involving the major part of the muscular portion. The findings were highly suggestive of a cardiac fibroma. A cardiac magetic resonance image (MRI) was also compatible with this diagnosis. In our case, 3D echo showed a high accuracy, proving to be a useful tool to determine the anatomy of the lesion, complementary to MRI, guiding best management strategy.

A new view of an unusual pacemaker complication: role of three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography.

Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) produced by endocavitary leads (EL) from permanent pacemakers and implantable cardiac defibrillators is a well-known complication of this procedure. The EL may damage or interfere with tricuspid valve function causing mechanical interference of the valve leaflets leading to incomplete valve closure. It is important to recognize this mechanical complication because it could be corrected by repositioning the lead. In this case report we demonstrate how three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography permits to obtaining an en face view, which allows simultaneous visualization of the 3 moving leaflets during the cardiac cycle, their attachment to the tricuspid annulus and the pattern of leaflet coaptation. Thus, we propose three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography as the tool of choice to evaluate TR related to EL, to evaluate the necessity of repositioning the lead if severe regurgitation or tricuspid valve malfunction are demonstrated.

Preoperative TAVR Planning: How to Do It.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a well-established treatment option for patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) whose procedural efficacy and safety have been continuously improving. Appropriate preprocedural planning, including aortic valve annulus measurements, transcatheter heart valve choice, and possible procedural complication anticipation is mandatory to a successful procedure. The gold standard for preoperative planning is still to perform a multi-detector computed angiotomography (MDCT), which provides all the information required. Nonetheless, 3D echocardiography and magnet resonance imaging (MRI) are great alternatives for some patients. In this article, we provide an updated comprehensive review, focusing on preoperative TAVR planning and the standard steps required to do it properly.

Clinical profile and outcome of recurrent infective endocarditis.

AIMS: Purpose of this study is to compare the clinical course and outcome of patients with recurrent versus first-episode infective endocarditis (IE). METHODS: Patients with recurrent and first-episode IE enrolled in the EUROpean ENDOcarditis (EURO-ENDO) registry including 156 centres were identified and compared using propensity score matching. Recurrent IE was classified as relapse when IE occurred ≤6 months after a previous episode or reinfection when IE occurred >6 months after the prior episode. RESULTS: 3106 patients were enrolled: 2839 (91.4%) patients with first-episode IE (mean age 59.4 (±18.1); 68.3% male) and 267 (8.6%) patients with recurrent IE (mean age 58.1 (±17.7); 74.9% male). Among patients with recurrent IE, 13.2% were intravenous drug users (IVDUs), 66.4% had a repaired or replaced valve with the tricuspid valve being more frequently involved compared with patients with first-episode IE (20.3% vs 14.1%; p=0.012). In patients with a first episode of IE, the aortic valve was more frequently involved (45.6% vs 39.5%; p=0.061). Recurrent relapse and reinfection were 20.6% and 79.4%, respectively. Staphylococcus aureus was the microorganism most frequently observed in both groups (p=0.207). There were no differences in in-hospital and post-hospitalisation mortality between recurrent and first-episode IE. In patients with recurrent IE, in-hospital mortality was higher in IVDU patients. Independent predictors of poorer in-hospital and 1-year outcome, including the occurrence of cardiogenic and septic shock, valvular disease severity and failure to undertake surgery when indicated, were similar for recurrent and first-episode IE. CONCLUSIONS: In-hospital and 1-year mortality was similar in patients with recurrent and first-episode IE who shared similar predictors of poor outcome.

Left atrial strain determinants and clinical features according to the heart failure stages. New insight from EACVI MASCOT registry.

Few studies analyzed left atrial (LA) peak atrial longitudinal strain (PALS) determinants, particularly across heart failure (HF) stages. We aimed to analyze the pathophysiological and clinical PALS correlates in a large multicentric prospective study. This is a multicenter prospective observational study enrolling 745 patients with HF stages. Data included PALS and left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS). Exclusion criteria were: valvular prosthesis; atrial fibrillation; cardiac transplantation; poor acoustic window. Median global PALS was 17% [24-32]. 29% of patients were in HF-stage 0/A, 35% in stage-B, and 36% in stage-C. Together with age, the echocardiographic determinants of PALS were LA volume and LV-GLS (overall model R2 = 0.50, p < 0.0001). LV-GLS had the strongest association with PALS at multivariable analysis (beta: -3.60 ± 0.20, p < 0.0001). Among HF stages, LV-GLS remained the most important PALS predictor (p < 0.0001) whereas age was only associated with PALS in lower HF-stage 0/A or B (R = - 0.26 p < 0.0001, R = - 0.23 p = 0.0001). LA volume increased its association to PALS moving from stage 0/A (R = - 0.11; P = 0.1) to C (R = - 0.42; P < 0.0001). PALS was the single most potent echocardiographic parameter in predicting the HF stage (AUC for B vs. 0/A 0.81, and AUC vs. 0/A for C 0.76). PALS remained independently associated with HF stages after adjusting for ejection fraction, E/e' ratio, and mitral regurgitation grade (p < 0.0001). Although influenced by LV-GLS and LA size across HF stages, PALS is incrementally and independently associated with clinical status. LA function may reflect a substantial part of the hemodynamic consequences of ventricular dysfunction.

Survival of Patients with Acute Heart Failure and Mid-range Ejection Fraction in a Developing Country - A Cohort Study in South Brazil. / Sobrevida de Pacientes com Insuficiência Cardíaca Aguda e Fração de Ejeção Intermediária em um País em Desenvolvimento ­ Estudo de Coorte no Sul do Brasil.

BACKGROUND: Heart Failure with mid-range Ejection Fraction (HFmEF) was recently described by European and Brazilian guidelines on Heart Failure (HF). The ejection fraction (EF) is an important parameter to guide therapy and prognosis. Studies have shown conflicting results without representative data from developing countries. OBJECTIVE: To analyze and compare survival rate in patients with HFmEF, HF patients with reduced EF (HFrEF), and HF patients with preserved EF (HFpEF), and to evaluate the clinical characteristics of these patients. METHODS: A cohort study that included adult patients with acute HF admitted through the emergency department to a tertiary hospital, reference in cardiology, in south Brazil from 2009 to 2011. The sample was divided into three groups according to EF: reduced, mid-range and preserved. A Kaplan-Meier curve was analyzed according to the EF, and a logistic regression analysis was done. Statistical significance was established as p < 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 380 patients were analyzed. Most patients had HFpEF (51%), followed by patients with HFrEF (32%) and HFmEF (17%). Patients with HFmEF showed intermediate characteristics related to age, blood pressure and ventricular diameters, and most patients were of ischemic etiology. Median follow-up time was 4.0 years. There was no statistical difference in overall survival or cardiovascular mortality (p=.0031) between the EF groups (reduced EF: 40.5% mortality; mid-range EF 39.7% and preserved EF 26%). Hospital mortality was 7.6%. CONCLUSION: There was no difference in overall survival rate between the EF groups. Patients with HFmEF showed higher mortality from cardiovascular diseases in comparison with HFpEF patients. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2021; 116(1):14-23).

FUNDAMENTO: A insuficiência cardíaca (IC) com fração de ejeção na faixa média ou intermediária (ICFEI) (em inglês, "mid-range ejection fraction) foi recentemente descrita em diretrizes europeia e brasileira recentes sobre o manejo da insuficiência cardíaca (IC). A fração de ejeção (FE) é um parâmetro importante para direcionar terapia e prognóstico. Estudos têm mostrado resultados conflitantes sem dados representativos de países em desenvolvimento. OBJETIVO: Analisar e comparar a taxa de sobrevida em pacientes com ICFEI com pacientes com IC e FE reduzida (ICFEr), e pacientes com IC e FE preservada, e avaliar as características clínicas desses pacientes. MÉTODOS: Estudo coorte que incluiu pacientes com IC aguda admitidos no departamento de emergência de um hospital terciário, referência em cardiologia, localizado no sul do Brasil, entre 2009 e 2011. A amostra foi dividida em três grupos de acordo com a FE: reduzida, intermediária e preservada. Curva de Kaplan-Meier foi analisada de acordo com a FE, e uma análise de regressão logística foi realizada. A significância estatística foi estabelecida em p<0,05. RESULTADOS: Um total de 380 pacientes foram analisados. A maioria dos pacientes apresentaram ICFEp (515), seguido de ICFEr (32%) e ICFEI (17%). Os pacientes com ICFEI apresentaram características intermediárias em relação à idade, pressão arterial, e diâmetros ventriculares, e a maioria era de etiologia isquêmica. O período mediano de acompanhamento foi de 4 anos. Não se observou diferença na sobrevida geral ou na mortalidade cardiovascular (p=0,03) entre os grupos de FE (FE reduzida: mortalidade de 40,5%; FE intermediária: 39,7%, e FE preservada 26%). A mortalidade hospitalar foi 7,6%. CONCLUSÃO: Não houve diferença na taxa de sobrevida entre os grupos de FE diferentes. Os pacientes com ICFEI apresentaram maior mortalidade por doenças cardiovasculares em comparação a pacientes com ICFEp. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2021; 116(1):14-23).

Two and Three-Dimensional Echocardiography in Primary Mitral Regurgitation: Practical Hints to Optimize the Surgical Planning.

Primary mitral regurgitation (MR) is the second most common valvular disease, characterized by a high burden in terms of quality of life, morbidity, and mortality. Surgical treatment is considered the best therapeutic strategy for patients with severe MR, especially if they are symptomatic. However, pre-operative echocardiographic evaluation is an essential step not only for surgical candidate selection but also to avoid post-operative complications. Therefore, a strong collaboration between cardiologists and cardiac surgeons is fundamental in this setting. A meticulous pre-operative echocardiographic exam, both with transthoracic or transesophageal echocardiography, followed by a precise report containing anatomical information and parameters should always be performed to optimize surgical planning. Moreover, intraoperative transesophageal evaluation is often required by cardiac surgeons as it may offer additive important information with different hemodynamic conditions. Three-dimensional echocardiography has recently gained higher consideration and availability for the evaluation of MR, providing more insights into mitral valve geometry and MR mechanism. This review paper aims to realize a practical overview on the main use of basic and advanced echocardiography in MR surgical planning and to provide a precise checklist with reference parameters to follow when performing pre-operative echocardiographic exam, in order to aid cardiologists to provide a complete echocardiographic evaluation for MR operation planning from clinical and surgical point-of-view.

Relation of Mitral Annulus and Left Atrial Dysfunction to the Severity of Functional Mitral Regurgitation in Patients with Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

METHODS: 56 patients (58 ± 17 years, 42 men) with DCM and FMR and 52 controls, prospectively enrolled, underwent 3DTTE dedicated for mitral valve (MV), LA, and left ventricle (LV) quantitative analysis. RESULTS: Patients with FMR vs. controls presented increased MA size and sphericity during the entire systole, whereas MA fractional area change (MAFAC) and MA displacement were decreased (15 ± 5 vs. 28 ± 5%; and 5 ± 3 vs. 10 ± 2 mm, p < 0.001). In patients with moderate/severe FMR, MA diameters correlated with PISA radius, EROA, and regurgitant volume (Rvol), as also did the MA area (with PISA radius, EROA, and Rvol: r = 0.48, r = 0.58, and r = 0.47, p < 0.05). MAFAC correlated inversely with EROA and Rvol (r = -0.32 and r = -0.35, p < 0.05), with both active and total LA emptying fractions and with LV ejection fraction as well. In a stepwise multivariate regression model, decreased MAFAC and increased LA volume independently predicted patients with severe FMR. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with DCM and FMR have MA geometry remodeling and contractile dysfunction, correlated with the severity of FMR. MA contractile dysfunction correlated with both LA and left LV pumps dysfunctions and predicted patients with severe FMR. Our results provide new insights that might help with better selection of patients for MV transcatheter procedures.

Lung Ultrasound and Pulmonary Congestion During Stress Echocardiography.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the functional and prognostic correlates of B-lines during stress echocardiography (SE). BACKGROUND: B-profile detected by lung ultrasound (LUS) is a sign of pulmonary congestion during SE. METHODS: The authors prospectively performed transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and LUS in 2,145 patients referred for exercise (n = 1,012), vasodilator (n = 1,054), or dobutamine (n = 79) SE in 11 certified centers. B-lines were evaluated in a 4-site simplified scan (each site scored from 0: A-lines to 10: white lung for coalescing B-lines). During stress the following were also analyzed: stress-induced new regional wall motion abnormalities in 2 contiguous segments; reduced left ventricular contractile reserve (peak/rest based on force, ≤2.0 for exercise and dobutamine, ≤1.1 for vasodilators); and abnormal coronary flow velocity reserve ≤2.0, assessed by pulsed-wave Doppler sampling in left anterior descending coronary artery and abnormal heart rate reserve (peak/rest heart rate) ≤1.80 for exercise and dobutamine (≤1.22 for vasodilators). All patients completed follow-up. RESULTS: According to B-lines at peak stress patients were divided into 4 different groups: group I, absence of stress B-lines (score: 0 to 1; n = 1,389; 64.7%); group II, mild B-lines (score: 2 to 4; n = 428; 20%); group III, moderate B-lines (score: 5 to 9; n = 209; 9.7%) and group IV, severe B-lines (score: ≥10; n = 119; 5.4%). During median follow-up of 15.2 months (interquartile range: 12 to 20 months) there were 38 deaths and 28 nonfatal myocardial infarctions in 64 patients. At multivariable analysis, severe stress B-lines (hazard ratio [HR]: 3.544; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.466 to 8.687; p = 0.006), abnormal heart rate reserve (HR: 2.276; 95% CI: 1.215 to 4.262; p = 0.010), abnormal coronary flow velocity reserve (HR: 2.178; 95% CI: 1.059 to 4.479; p = 0.034), and age (HR: 1.031; 95% CI: 1.002 to 1.062; p = 0.037) were independent predictors of death and nonfatal myocardial infarction. CONCLUSIONS: Severe stress B-lines predict death and nonfatal myocardial infarction. (Stress Echo 2020-The International Stress Echo Study [SE2020]; NCT03049995).

Multicentric Atrial Strain COmparison between Two Different Modalities: MASCOT HIT Study.

Two methods are currently available for left atrial (LA) strain measurement by speckle tracking echocardiography, with two different reference timings for starting the analysis: QRS (QRS-LASr) and P wave (P-LASr). The aim of MASCOT HIT study was to define which of the two was more reproducible, more feasible, and less time consuming. In 26 expert centers, LA strain was analyzed by two different echocardiographers (young vs senior) in a blinded fashion. The study population included: healthy subjects, patients with arterial hypertension or aortic stenosis (LA pressure overload, group 2) and patients with mitral regurgitation or heart failure (LA volume-pressure overload, group 3). Difference between the inter-correlation coefficient (ICC) by the two echocardiographers using the two techniques, feasibility and analysis time of both methods were analyzed. A total of 938 subjects were included: 309 controls, 333 patients in group 2, and 296 patients in group 3. The ICC was comparable between QRS-LASr (0.93) and P-LASr (0.90). The young echocardiographers calculated QRS-LASr in 90% of cases, the expert ones in 95%. The feasibility of P-LASr was 85% by young echocardiographers and 88% by senior ones. QRS-LASr young median time was 110 s (interquartile range, IR, 78-149) vs senior 110 s (IR 78-155); for P-LASr, 120 s (IR 80-165) and 120 s (IR 90-161), respectively. LA strain was feasible in the majority of patients with similar reproducibility for both methods. QRS complex guaranteed a slightly higher feasibility and a lower time wasting compared to the use of P wave as the reference.

Intervendor Consistency and Accuracy of Left Ventricular Volume Measurements Using Three-Dimensional Echocardiography.

BACKGROUND: Intervendor consistency of left ventricular (LV) volume measurements using three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (3DTTE) has never been reported. Accordingly, we designed a prospective study to (1) compare head-to-head the accuracy of three three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) systems in measuring LV volumes and ejection fraction (EF) against cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR); (2) assess the intervendor variability of LV volumes and EF; and (3) compare the accuracy of fully automated versus semiautomated (i.e., manually corrected) methods of LV endocardial delineation against CMR. METHODS: We studied 92 patients (64% males, 52 years [95% CI, 20-83]) with a wide range of end-diastolic volumes (from 87 to 446 mL) and EFs (from 16% to 77%) using three different 3DE platforms (iE33; Vivid E9; Acuson SC2000) during the same echo study. CMR was performed within 3 ± 5 hours from the 3DE study in 35 patients. RESULTS: LV volumes provided by the three 3DE systems correlated with CMR volumes: end-diastolic volume (iE33: R2 = 0.93; E9: R2 = 0.94; SC2000: R2 = 0.94), end-systolic volume (iE33: R2 = 0.93; E9: R2 = 0.95; SC2000: R2 = 0.94), and EF (iE33: R2 = 0.79; E9: R2 = 0.80; SC2000: R2 = 0.77). In the 92 patients studied, LV volumes and EFs measured with the three systems were similar. Use of fully automated endocardial border detection algorithms significantly underestimated LV volumes, and the degree of underestimation was higher with larger LV volumes. CONCLUSIONS: LV volumes and EFs measured with the three 3DE systems are consistent. Fully automated algorithms underestimated LV volumes. Our findings may help in the clinical interpretation of LV parameters obtained using different 3DE systems and encourage the clinical use of 3DTTE.

Desempenho do Escore SHARPEN e do Índice de Comorbidade de Charlson para Predição de Mortalidade durante a Internação Hospitalar e após a Alta na Endocardite Infecciosa / Performance of the SHARPEN Score and the Charlson Comorbidity Index for In-Hospital and Post-Discharge Mortality Prediction in Infective Endocarditis

Resumo Fundamento O SHARPEN foi o primeiro escore desenvolvido especificamente para a predição de mortalidade hospitalar em pacientes com endocardite infecciosa (EI), independentemente da realização de cirurgia cardíaca. Objetivos Analisar a capacidade do escore SHARPEN na predição de mortalidade hospitalar e mortalidade após a alta e compará-la à do Índice de Comorbidade de Charlson (ICC). Métodos Estudo retrospectivo do tipo coorte incluindo internações por EI (segundo os critérios de Duke modificados) entre 2000 e 2016. A área sob a curva ROC (AUC-ROC) foi calculada para avaliar a capacidade preditiva. Curvas de Kaplan-Meier e regressão de Cox foram realizadas. Um valor de p < 0,05 foi considerado estatisticamente significativo. Resultados Estudamos 179 internações hospitalares. A mortalidade hospitalar foi 22,3%; 68 (38,0%) foram submetidos à cirurgia cardíaca. Os escores SHARPEN e ICC (mediana e intervalo interquartil) foram, respectivamente, 9(7-11) e 3(2-6). O escore SHARPEN mostrou melhor predição de mortalidade hospitalar em comparação ao ICC nos pacientes não operados (AUC-ROC 0,77 vs. 0,62, p = 0,003); não foi observada diferença no grupo total (p=0,26) ou nos pacientes operados (p=0,41). Escore SHARPEN >10 na admissão foi associado a uma menor sobrevida hospitalar no grupo total (HR 3,87; p < 0,001), nos pacientes não operados (HR 3,46; p = 0,006) e de pacientes operados (HR 6,86; p < 0,001) patients. ICC > 3 na admissão foi associada a pior sobrevida hospitalar nos grupos total (HR 3,0; p = 0,002), de pacientes operados (HR 5,57; p = 0,005), mas não nos pacientes não operados (HR 2,13; p = 0,119). A sobrevida após a alta foi pior nos pacientes com SHARPEN > 10 (HR 3,11; p < 0,001) e ICC > 3 (HR 2,63; p < 0,001) na internação; contudo, não houve diferença na capacidade preditiva entre esses grupos. Conclusão O SHARPEN escore foi superior ao ICC na predição de mortalidade hospitalar nos pacientes não operados. Não houve diferença entre os escores quanto à mortalidade após a alta.

Abstract Background SHARPEN was the first dedicated score for in-hospital mortality prediction in infective endocarditis (IE) regardless of cardiac surgery. Objectives To analyze the ability of the SHARPEN score to predict in-hospital and post-discharge mortality and compare it with that of the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI). Methods Retrospective cohort study including definite IE (Duke modified criteria) admissions from 2000 to 2016. The area under the ROC curve (AUC-ROC) was calculated to assess predictive ability. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression was performed. P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results We studied 179 hospital admissions. In-hospital mortality was 22.3%; 68 (38.0%) had cardiac surgery. Median (interquartile range, IQR) SHARPEN and CCI scores were 9(7-11) and 3(2-6), respectively. SHARPEN had better in-hospital mortality prediction than CCI in non-operated patients (AUC-ROC 0.77 vs. 0.62, p = 0.003); there was no difference in overall (p = 0.26) and in operated patients (p = 0.41). SHARPEN > 10 at admission was associated with decreased in-hospital survival in the overall (HR 3.87; p < 0.001), in non-operated (HR 3.46; p = 0.006) and operated (HR 6.86; p < 0.001) patients. CCI > 3 at admission was associated with worse in-hospital survival in the overall (HR 3.0; p = 0.002), and in operated patients (HR 5.57; p = 0.005), but not in non-operated patients (HR 2.13; p = 0.119). Post-discharge survival was worse in patients with SHARPEN > 10 (HR 3.11; p < 0.001) and CCI > 3 (HR 2.63; p < 0.001) at admission; however, there was no difference in predictive ability between these groups. Conclusion SHARPEN was superior to CCI in predicting in-hospital mortality in non-operated patients. There was no difference between the scores regarding post-discharge mortality.