Impact of SARS-Cov-2 infection in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: results of an international multicentre registry.

AIMS: To describe the natural history of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) compared with a control group and to identify predictors of adverse events. METHODS AND RESULTS: Three hundred and five patients [age 56.6 ± 16.9 years old, 191 (62.6%) male patients] with HCM and SARS-Cov-2 infection were enrolled. The control group consisted of 91 131 infected individuals. Endpoints were (i) SARS-CoV-2 related mortality and (ii) severe clinical course [death or intensive care unit (ICU) admission]. New onset of atrial fibrillation, ventricular arrhythmias, shock, stroke, and cardiac arrest were also recorded. Sixty-nine (22.9%) HCM patients were hospitalized for non-ICU level care, and 21 (7.0%) required ICU care. Seventeen (5.6%) died: eight (2.6%) of respiratory failure, four (1.3%) of heart failure, two (0.7%) suddenly, and three (1.0%) due to other SARS-CoV-2-related complications. Covariates associated with mortality in the multivariable were age {odds ratio (OR) per 10 year increase 2.25 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.12-4.51], P = 0.0229}, baseline New York Heart Association class [OR per one-unit increase 4.01 (95%CI: 1.75-9.20), P = 0.0011], presence of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction [OR 5.59 (95%CI: 1.16-26.92), P = 0.0317], and left ventricular systolic impairment [OR 7.72 (95%CI: 1.20-49.79), P = 0.0316]. Controlling for age and sex and comparing HCM patients with a community-based SARS-CoV-2 cohort, the presence of HCM was associated with a borderline significant increased risk of mortality OR 1.70 (95%CI: 0.98-2.91, P = 0.0600). CONCLUSIONS: Over one-fourth of HCM patients infected with SARS-Cov-2 required hospitalization, including 6% in an ICU setting. Age and cardiac features related to HCM, including baseline functional class, left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, and systolic impairment, conveyed increased risk of mortality.

Validación de la utilidad de los parámetros de deformación miocárdica para excluir el rechazo agudo tras el trasplante cardiaco: un estudio multicéntrico / Validation of the usefulness of 2-dimensional strain parameters to exclude acute rejection after heart transplantation: a multicenter study

Introducción y objetivos Algunos estudios indican que los parámetros de strain por speckle-tracking pueden ser una alternativa no invasiva a la biopsia endomiocárdica para excluir el rechazo celular agudo (RCA) moderado o grave (≥ 2R) tras el trasplante cardiaco (TxC). En una cohorte inicial, unos puntos de corte del 15,5% para el strain longitudinal global del ventrículo izquierdo (SLGVI) y el 17% para el strain de pared libre del ventrículo derecho mostraron un valor predictivo negativo del 100% para excluir RCA ≥ 2R. Nuestro objetivo es analizar la utilidad del strain y validar estos puntos de corte en una cohorte multicéntrica prospectiva externa.MétodosEstudio multicéntrico y prospectivo que incluyó a pacientes con seguimiento el primer año tras el TC. Se compararon los resultados de biopsias electivas con ecocardiogramas realizados el mismo día.ResultadosSe incluyó a 99 pacientes y 501 pares de biopsias-ecocardiogramas. El RCA ≥ 2R en las biopsias fue del 7,4%. El SLGVI y el strain longitudinal de pared libre del ventrículo derecho fueron menores durante los RCA ≥ 2R en el análisis univariante. En el análisis multivariante, el SLGVI se asoció de manera independiente con el RCA ≥ 2R. Los puntos de corte originales mostraron un valor predictivo negativo del 94,3% el RCA ≥ 2R.ConclusionesEste estudio mantiene un alto valor predictivo negativo para excluir RCA ≥ 2R tras el TxC y el SLGVI se asoció de manera independiente con el RCA ≥ 2R. El strain y, principalmente, el SLGVI pueden ser de utilidad en el diagnóstico y el tratamiento no invasivo del RCA. (AU)

Introduction and objectives Two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography has emerged as a promising alternative to endomyocardial biopsy to rule out acute cellular rejection after orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) in single center studies. In an original cohort, 15.5% and 17% of cutoff points for left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) and free-wall right ventricular longitudinal strain, respectively, achieved 100% negative predictive value to exclude moderate or severe acute cellular rejection (ACR ≥ 2R). Our objective was to demonstrate the usefulness of speckle-tracking and validate these cutoff points in an external cohort.MethodsA prospective, multicenter study that included patients who were monitored during their first year after OHT was conducted. Echocardiographic studies analyzed by local investigators were compared with simultaneous paired endomyocardial biopsies samples.ResultsA total of 501 endomyocardial biopsy-echocardiographic studies were included in 99 patients. ACR≥2R was present in 7.4% of samples. LVGLS and free-wall right ventricular longitudinal strain were significantly reduced during ACR≥2R on univariate analysis. On multivariate analysis, LVGLS was independently associated with the presence of ACR≥2R. The original cutoff points demonstrated a negative predictive value of 94.3% to exclude ACR≥2R.ConclusionsThis study maintained a strong negative predictive value to exclude ACR≥2R after OHT and LVGLS was independently associated with the presence of ACR≥2R. We propose the use of speckle-tracking, especially LVGLS, as part of the noninvasive diagnosis and management of ACR. (AU)

Validation of the usefulness of 2-dimensional strain parameters to exclude acute rejection after heart transplantation: a multicenter study.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography has emerged as a promising alternative to endomyocardial biopsy to rule out acute cellular rejection after orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) in single center studies. In an original cohort, 15.5% and 17% of cutoff points for left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) and free-wall right ventricular longitudinal strain, respectively, achieved 100% negative predictive value to exclude moderate or severe acute cellular rejection (ACR ≥ 2R). Our objective was to demonstrate the usefulness of speckle-tracking and validate these cutoff points in an external cohort. METHODS: A prospective, multicenter study that included patients who were monitored during their first year after OHT was conducted. Echocardiographic studies analyzed by local investigators were compared with simultaneous paired endomyocardial biopsies samples. RESULTS: A total of 501 endomyocardial biopsy-echocardiographic studies were included in 99 patients. ACR≥2R was present in 7.4% of samples. LVGLS and free-wall right ventricular longitudinal strain were significantly reduced during ACR≥2R on univariate analysis. On multivariate analysis, LVGLS was independently associated with the presence of ACR≥2R. The original cutoff points demonstrated a negative predictive value of 94.3% to exclude ACR≥2R. CONCLUSIONS: This study maintained a strong negative predictive value to exclude ACR≥2R after OHT and LVGLS was independently associated with the presence of ACR≥2R. We propose the use of speckle-tracking, especially LVGLS, as part of the noninvasive diagnosis and management of ACR.

Acute eosinophilic pneumonia as a complication of influenza A (H1N1) pulmonary infection.

Acute eosinophilic pneumonia (AEP) is a rare disease characterized by its acute onset and a clinical presentation simulating a bacterial pneumonia. Although it can be idiopathic, it has been described related to drugs, toxic agents and infections, mostly parasitic. We describe the case of influenza A (H1N1) severe pneumonia complicated by an acute eosinophilic pneumonia. Patient presented with respiratory failure and diffuse ground-glass opacities at chest-computed tomography. Clinical suspicion for this complication and bronchoalveolar lavage with cellular count analysis is crucial.