Incomplete recovery of mechanical and endocrine left atrial functions one month after electrical cardioversion for persistent atrial fibrillation: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Restoration of the mechanical and endocrine functions of the left atrium remains controversial after electrical cardioversion treatment for persistent atrial fibrillation. The objective of the prospective study was to describe the recovery of the endocrine and mechanical functions of the left atrium. METHODS: Evaluation of left atrium recovery after electrical cardioversion by the new speckle-tracking echocardiography technique and proANP measurement. RESULTS: Twenty patients suffering from persistent atrial fibrillation with no alteration of left ventricular ejection fraction were prospectively evaluated at baseline and then one month later by echocardiography, measuring left atrial volume and left atrial deformation (MPALS), as well as the proANP and BNP concentrations. One month after cardioversion 10 patients remained in sinus rhythm and 10 showed recurrent atrial fibrillation. No significant differences between the two groups in terms of clinical, echocardiographic and endocrine parameters were observed at baseline evaluation. We observed a significant reduction of left atrial volume only in the sinus group, whereas restoration of the left atrial deformation was only partial (18%) in that group. By contrast, we registered no significant changes in ANP concentration at one month in either the sinus or the atrial fibrillation groups. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that restoration of left atrium mechanical function is only partial one month after treatment of persistent atrial fibrillation by electrical cardioversion, whereas a significant reduction of left atrial volume was noted, explaining the remaining high level of ANP in the sinus group.

Interventricular delay measurement using equilibrium radionuclide angiography before resynchronization therapy should be performed outside the area of segmental wall motion abnormalities.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to demonstrate that only mechanical dyssynchrony outside the area of segmental wall motion abnormalities (WMA) can be reduced by cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). METHODS AND RESULTS: Included in the study were 28 consecutive patients with nonischaemic cardiomyopathy selected for CRT. Equilibrium radionuclide angiography (ERNA) was carried out before and after implantation of a multisite pacemaker. Patients were separated into two groups depending on the presence or absence of segmental WMA. RESULTS: A reduction in QRS duration was observed in all patients after CRT. The interventricular delay (IVD) decreased significantly after CRT only in patients without WMA (homogeneous contraction, HG group; IVD 44 ± 11.4° vs. 17 ± 3.1°, p = 0.04). In contrast, no significant decrease was observed in patients with WMA (WMA group; IVD 51 ± 6° vs. 38 ± 6°, p NS). However, when dyssynchrony was considered outside the WMA area, a significant reduction in IVD was obtained, in the same range as in the HG group (IVD 32 ± 3° vs. 19 ± 3°, p = 0.04). In 9 of 15 patients (60%) with a reduction in IVD after CRT, the left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) increased by about +10%. In contrast, in 13 of 13 patients (100%) with no reduction in IVD, no modification of LVEF was obtained. In the presence of segmental WMA without significant delays outside the WMA area, no reduction in IVD was observed and LVEF did not increase (IVD 34 ± 5° before CRT vs. 37 ± 7° after CRT; LVEF 19 ± 4% before CRT vs. 22 ± 3% after CRT, p NS). CONCLUSION: ERNA can be used to predict good mechanical resychronization (decrease in IVD) in patients after pacing. IVD has to be determined excluding the area of WMA in order to select patients who will show an increase in their left ventricle function after CRT.

A young patient with Danon disease receives two ICD shocks: why?

We report the case of an 18-year-old man with Danon disease, a genetic disorder inclunding a severe hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with very broad QRS, who had an implantable cardioverter defibrillator for primary prevention. Nine months after implantation, he received two inappropriate shocks due to R-wave double counting during sinus tachycardia. We discuss how to avoid such inappropriate therapy.

Reduced Rivaroxaban Dose Versus Dual Antiplatelet Therapy After Left Atrial Appendage Closure: ADRIFT a Randomized Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) exposes to the risk of device thrombosis in patients with atrial fibrillation who frequently have a contraindication to full anticoagulation. Thereby, dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is usually preferred. No randomized study has evaluated nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant after LAAC, and we decided to evaluate the efficacy and safety of reduced doses of rivaroxaban after LAAC. METHODS: ADRIFT (Assessment of Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Versus Rivaroxaban in Atrial Fibrillation Patients Treated With Left Atrial Appendage Closure) is a multicenter, phase IIb study, which randomized 105 patients after successful LAAC to either rivaroxaban 10 mg (R10, n=37), rivaroxaban 15 mg (R15, n=35), or DAPT with aspirin 75 mg and clopidogrel 75 mg (n=33). The primary end point was thrombin generation (prothrombin fragments 1+2) measured 2 to 4 hours after drug intake, 10 days after treatment initiation. Thrombin-antithrombin complex, D-dimers, rivaroxaban concentrations were also measured at 10 days and 3 months. Clinical end points were evaluated at 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: The primary end point was reduced with R10 (179 pmol/L [interquartile range (IQR), 129-273], P<0.0001) and R15 (163 pmol/L [IQR, 112-231], P<0.0001) as compared with DAPT (322 pmol/L [IQR, 218-528]). We observed no significant reduction of the primary end point between R10 and R15 while rivaroxaban concentrations increased significantly from 184 ng/mL (IQR, 127-290) with R10 to 274 ng/mL (IQR, 192-377) with R15, P<0.0001. Thrombin-antithrombin complex and D-dimers were numerically lower with both rivaroxaban doses than with DAPT. These findings were all confirmed at 3 months. The clinical end points were not different between groups. A device thrombosis was noted in 2 patients assigned to DAPT. CONCLUSIONS: Thrombin generation measured after LAAC was lower in patients treated by reduced rivaroxaban doses than DAPT, supporting an alternative to the antithrombotic regimens currently used after LAAC and deserves further evaluation in larger studies. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT03273322.

Exclusion of Intra-Atrial Thrombus Diagnosis Using D-Dimer Assay Before Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation.

OBJECTIVES: This study hypothesized that the association of D-dimer blood level and several clinical items in a new risk score could predict the absence of atrial thrombus. BACKGROUND: Symptomatic and drug resistant atrial fibrillation (AF) can be treated by catheter ablation. The procedure-related risk of thromboembolism is limited by the pre-operative use of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) to detect atrial thrombi. METHODS: Patients admitted for catheter ablation of AF (n = 2,494) were prospectively included in a multicenter study. TEE was systematically performed before the procedure to search for atrial thrombus (primary endpoint). D-dimer level, CHADS2 score, left ventricular ejection fraction, pre-operative anticoagulation regimen, and medical history were collected. A logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with the presence of atrial thrombus (hypertension, history of stroke, heart failure, D-dimer level >270 ng/ml). These factors were aggregated in a new score called atrial thrombus exclusion (ATE). RESULTS: The incidence of atrial thrombus was 1.92%. CHADS2 score and D-dimer level were significantly associated with atrial thrombus (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0001, respectively). A zero CHADS2 score failed to exclude all atrial thrombi (5 false negatives; sensitivity: 89.58%, specificity: 52.2%). No false negative was found with a zero ATE score, which had a specificity of 37% and a higher sensitivity (100%) than the CHADS2 score (p < 0.031) to predict the absence of intra-atrial thrombi on TEE. Conversely, the positive predictive value was poor, and the ATE score should not be used to conclude a positive diagnosis of thrombus. CONCLUSIONS: An ATE score of zero was strongly associated with the absence of atrial thrombus. This new score could be useful to rule out a diagnosis of atrial thrombus before catheter ablation of AF.

Nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy: results of noninvasive and invasive evaluation in 310 patients and clinical significance of bundle branch block.

BACKGROUND: The survival of patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM) at III and IV stages of New York Heart Association (NYHA) is decreased in those with a bundle branch block (BBB) compared to those without BBB. Less is known on the prognosis of patients at earlier stages of NYHA and who had a left BBB (LBBB) or right BBB (RBBB). We sought to evaluate the prevalence and the clinical significance of LBBB or RBBB in patients with IDCM and classes I and II of NYHA. METHODS: Clinical data, noninvasive, and invasive studies were consecutively collected in 310 patients, with IDCM, followed up to 4.8+/-3.7 years. RESULTS: Seventy-six patients (25%) had LBBB, 21 (7%) had RBBB, and 212 had no BBB. Patients with BBB were older than other patients (P < 0.009). Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was lower in LBBB than in RBBB and other patients (P < 0.05). Syncope was more frequent in BBB than in absence (P < 0.05). Incidence of spontaneous ventricular tachycardia (VT) and atrial fibrillation, VT induction, total cardiac events, and sudden death were similar in the presence or absence of BBB. Deaths by heart failure and heart transplantations tended to be more frequent in BBB than in absence. CONCLUSIONS: LBBB was present in 25% of patients with IDCM; RBBB was rare. Patients with BBB were older and had more frequent syncope than patients without BBB; LVEF was lower in LBBB than in RBBB or in absence of BBB. BBB did not increase the risk of spontaneous VT, VT induction, or sudden death, and tended to increase deaths by heart failure and the indications of heart transplantation.

Practical management of concomitant acute heart failure and worsening renal function in the emergency department.

Worsening renal function (i.e. any increase in creatinine or decrease in the estimated glomerular filtration rate) is common in patients admitted for acute heart failure in the emergency department. Although worsening renal function (WRF) has been associated with the occurrence of dismal outcomes, this only appears to be the case when associated with clinical deterioration. However, if the clinical status of the patient is improving, a certain increase in serum creatinine may be acceptable. This WRF, which is not associated with clinical deterioration or adverse outcomes (e.g. during treatment up-titration), has been referred to as 'pseudo-WRF' and should not detract clinicians from targeting 'guideline-recommended' therapies. This is an important message for emergency physicians to pursue diuretics as long as signs of pulmonary congestion persist to improve the clinical status of the patient. In the present review, we aim to provide clinicians in acute settings with an integrative and comprehensive approach to cardiorenal interactions in acute heart failure.

Antiarrhythmic effect of statin therapy and atrial fibrillation a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVES: To improve the evaluation of the possible antiarrhythmic effect of statins, we performed a meta-analysis of randomized trials with statins on the end point of incidence or recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF). BACKGROUND: The use of statins had been suggested to protect against AF in some clinical observational and experimental studies but has remained inadequately explored. METHODS: A systematic review of controlled trials with statins was performed. Eligible studies had to have been randomized controlled parallel-design human trials with use of statins that collected data on incidence or recurrence of AF. RESULTS: Six studies with 3,557 patients in sinus rhythm were included in the analysis. Three studies investigated the use of statins in patients with a history of paroxysmal AF (n = 1) or persistent AF undergoing electrical cardioversion (n = 2), and 3 investigated the use of statins in primary prevention of AF in patients undergoing cardiac surgery or after acute coronary syndrome. Incidence or recurrence of AF occurred in 386 patients. Overall, the use of statins was significantly associated with a decreased risk of AF compared with control (odds ratio [OR] 0.39, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.18 to 0.85, p = 0.02). Benefit of statin therapy seemed more marked in secondary prevention of AF (OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.10 to 1.03, p = 0.06) than for new-onset or postoperative AF (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.27 to 1.37, p = 0.23). CONCLUSIONS: Use of statins was significantly associated with a decreased risk of incidence or recurrence of AF in patients in sinus rhythm with a history of previous AF or undergoing cardiac surgery or after acute coronary syndrome.