Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator in patients with inherited arrhythmia syndromes: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The potential benefit of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy in individuals with inherited arrhythmia syndromes is well known. However, it is not deprived of morbidity, in the form of inappropriate therapies and other ICD-related complications. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this systematic review is to estimate the rate of appropriate and inappropriate therapy, as well as other ICD-related complications, in individuals with inherited arrhythmia syndromes. METHODS: A systematic review was performed, regarding appropriate and inappropriate therapy, and other ICD-related complications, in individuals with inherited arrhythmia syndromes (Brugada Syndrome, Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia, Early Repolarization Syndrome, Long QT Syndrome and Short QT syndrome). Studies were identified by searching published papers in PubMed and Embase up to August 23rd, 2022. RESULTS: From data gathered of 36 studies, with a total of 2750 individuals, during a mean follow-up time of 69 months, appropriate therapies occurred in 21% of the individuals and inappropriate therapies in 20% of the individuals. Concerning the other ICD-related complications, 456 complications were observed, amongst 2084 individuals (22%), with the most frequent being lead malfunction (46%), followed by infectious complications (13%). CONCLUSIONS: ICD-related complications are not uncommon, especially when one considers the exposure time of young individuals. The incidence of inappropriate therapies was 20%, although lower rates were reported in recent publications. S-ICD is an effective alternative to transvenous ICD for sudden death prevention. The decision to implant an ICD should be individualized, taking into account the risk profile of each patient, as well as the possibility of complications.

Infective endocarditis: Epidemiology and prognosis.

INTRODUCTION: Infective endocarditis (IE) is associated with high morbidity and mortality, despite advances in diagnosis and treatment. OBJECTIVE: To assess changes in the epidemiological profile of IE, to perform a time-trend analysis and to define short-term and long-term prognostic predictors of IE. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 173 patients admitted with a diagnosis of IE to a Portuguese level II Hospital between January 1998 and December 2013. The patients were divided into two groups according to the period of occurrence of the IE episode (1998-2007 vs. 2008-2013). The clinical event studied was the occurrence of death or the need for urgent surgery during hospitalization, and death in the follow-up period. Independent predictors of short-term and long-term prognosis were identified. RESULTS: In the first portion of the study, IE occurred in younger individuals, often drug addicts, users of intravenous drugs and with gastrointestinal disease, human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis B infection. In the second portion of the study, IE occurred more frequently in individuals of an older age with concomitant cardiovascular disease; enterococcus was isolated more frequently. The independent predictors of in-hospital death or need for urgent valve surgery were septic shock and the occurrence of peri-annular complications. The independent predictors of long-term mortality were age, chronic kidney disease and IE due to multidrug-resistant microorganisms. CONCLUSION: Differences were found in the epidemiological profile of IE during the study period. Referral for valve surgery increased slightly, but mortality remained high.

Prognostic impact of iron deficiency in acute coronary syndromes.

BACKGROUND: Iron deficiency (IDef) is a prevalent condition in patients with heart disease and in those with heart failure (HF). Evidence has shown that this deficit is associated with worse prognosis. Data in literature are scarce on the prognostic impact of IDef in acute coronary syndromes (ACS), which is the main objective of this study. METHODS: Observational, retrospective study which included 817 patients admitted for ACS. Two groups were defined according to the presence (n=298) or absence of IDef (n=519) on admission. The clinical event under study was the occurrence of death or severe HF in the long term. Independent predictors of prognosis were determined with logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Thirty-six percent of patients had IDef. There was higher mortality (p=0.004), higher incidence of HF (p=0.011) during follow-up and a higher rate of hospital readmissions (p=0.048) in this group. IDef was an independent predictor of death or severe HF in follow-up, along with anemia, left ventricular dysfunction, renal dysfunction and the absence of revascularization. IDef also enabled us to further stratify the prognosis of patients without anemia based on the occurrence of death or severe HF and those with lower Killip classes (≤2) based on the occurrence of death. CONCLUSION: IDef was an independent predictor of death or severe HF in patients admitted with ACS and enabled additional stratification for those without anemia on admission and in those with Killip classes ≤2.

Brain functional connectivity is altered in patients with Takotsubo Syndrome.

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is an acute, reversible cardiomyopathy. The central autonomic nervous system (ANS) is believed to play a role in this disease. The aim of the present study was to investigate the patterns of brain functional connectivity in a sample of patients who had experienced a previous episode of TTS. Brain functional connectivity, both at rest and in response to the stressful stimulus of topical cold stimulation, was explored using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), network-based statistics (NBS) and graph theory analysis (GTA) in a population consisting of eight patients with a previous episode of TTS and eight sex- and age-matched controls. At rest, a network characterized by increased connectivity in the TTS group compared to controls and comprising elements of the central ANS was identified. GTA revealed increased local efficiency, clustering and strength in regions of the bilateral hippocampus in subjects with a previous episode of TTS. When stressed by local exposure to cold, the TTS group differed significantly from both a pre-stress baseline interval and from the control group, showing increased connectivity in a network that included the left amygdala and the right insula. Based on the results, patients with TTS display a reorganization of cortical and subcortical networks, including areas associated with the emotional response and autonomic regulation. The findings tend to support the hypothesis that a deregulation of autonomic control at the central level plays a significant role in this syndrome.

Modified shock index: A bedside clinical index for risk assessment of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction at presentation.

INTRODUCTION: Prompt identification of higher-risk patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is crucial to pursue a more aggressive approach. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess whether the modified shock index (MSI), the ratio of heart rate to mean arterial pressure, could predict six-month mortality among patients admitted with STEMI. METHODS: A retrospective observational cohort study was performed in a single center including 1158 patients diagnosed with STEMI, without cardiogenic shock on admission, between July 2009 and December 2014. They were divided into two groups: group 1 - patients with MSI<0.93 (72%); group 2 - patients with MSI≥0.93 (28%). The primary endpoint was six-month all-cause mortality. RESULTS: MSI≥0.93 identified patients who were more likely to have signs of heart failure (p=0.002), anemia (p<0.001), renal insufficiency (p=0.014) and left ventricular systolic dysfunction (p=0.045). They more often required inotropic support (p<0.001), intra-aortic balloon pump (p<0.001) and mechanical ventilation (p<0.001). Regarding in-hospital adverse events, they had a higher prevalence of malignant arrhythmias (p=0.01) and mechanical complications (p=0.027). MSI≥0.93 was an independent predictor of overall six-month mortality (adjusted HR 2.00, 95% CI 1.20-3.34, p=0.008). CONCLUSION: MSI was shown to be a valuable bedside tool which can rapidly identify high-risk STEMI patients at presentation.

Multivessel vs. culprit-only revascularization in patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes and multivessel coronary disease. / Revascularização multivaso versus revascularização da artéria culprit em pacientes com síndrome coronária aguda sem supradesnivelamento do segmento ST e doença coronária multivaso.

INTRODUCTION: There have been no prospective randomized trials that enable the best strategy and timing to be determined for revascularization in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) and multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD). OBJECTIVES: To compare short- and long-term adverse events following multivessel vs. culprit-only revascularization in patients with NSTE-ACS and multivessel CAD. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study that included all patients diagnosed with NSTE-ACS and multivessel CAD who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) between January 2010 and June 2013 (n=232). After exclusion of patients with previous coronary artery bypass grafting (n=30), a multivessel revascularization strategy was adopted in 35.1% of patients (n=71); in the others (n=131, 64.9%), only the culprit artery was revascularized. After propensity score matching (PSM), two groups of 66 patients were obtained, matched according to revascularization strategy. RESULTS: During follow-up (1543±545 days), after PSM, patients undergoing multivessel revascularization had lower rates of reinfarction (4.5% vs. 16.7%; log-rank p=0.018), unplanned revascularization (6.1% vs. 16.7%; log-rank p=0.048), unplanned PCI (3.0% vs. 13.6%; log-rank p=0.023) and the combined endpoint of death, reinfarction and unplanned revascularization (16.7 vs. 31.8%; log-rank p=0.046). CONCLUSIONS: In real-world patients presenting with NSTE-ACS and multivessel CAD, a multivessel revascularization strategy was associated with lower rates of reinfarction, unplanned revascularization and unplanned PCI, as well as a reduction in the combined endpoint of death, reinfarction and unplanned revascularization.

Isolated right ventricular infarction: a diagnostic challenge.

A 73-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency room due to sudden-onset dyspnoea, altered mental status and haemodynamic instability. ECG showed a junctional rhythm, T-wave inversion in I, aVL and V2-V6 (present in a previous ECG), and no ST/T changes in the right precordial leads. Transthoracic echocardiography, however, revealed a severe depression of global systolic function of right ventricle with akinesia of free wall and a normal left ventricular function. Coronary angiography showed an occlusion of the proximal segment of the right coronary artery, which was treated with balloon angioplasty, and a chronic lesion of the anterior descending artery. The patient had a good recovery and was discharged on the 14th day. Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (stress and rest) was performed a month later, showing a fixed perfusion defect in the apex and anterior wall (medium-apical), with no signs of ischaemia.

Impact of atrial fibrillation type during acute coronary syndromes: Clinical features and prognosis.

INTRODUCTION: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is widely recognized as an adverse prognostic factor during acute myocardial infarction, although the impact of AF type - new-onset (nAF) or pre-existing (pAF) - is still controversial. OBJECTIVES: To identify the clinical differences and prognosis of nAF and pAF during acute coronary syndromes (ACS). METHODS: We performed a retrospective observational cohort study including 1373 consecutive patients (mean age 64 years, 77.3% male) admitted to a single center over a three-year period, with a six-month follow-up. RESULTS: AF rhythm was identified in 14.5% patients, of whom 71.4% presented nAF and 28.6% pAF. When AF types were compared, patients with nAF more frequently presented with ST-elevation ACS (p=0.003). Patients with pAF, in turn, were older (p=0.032), had greater left atrial diameter (p=0.001) and were less likely to have significant coronary lesions (p=0.034). Regarding therapeutic strategy, nAF patients were more often treated by rhythm control during hospital stay (p<0.001) and were less often anticoagulated at discharge (p=0.001). Compared with the population without AF, nAF was a predictor of death during hospital stay in univariate (p<0.001) and multivariate analysis (OR 2.67, p=0.047), but pAF was not. During follow-up, pAF was associated with higher mortality (p=0.014), while nAF patients presented only a trend towards worse prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: AF during the acute phase of ACS appears to have a negative prognostic impact only in patients with nAF and not in those with pAF.

Syncope in a febrile state: A case report of Brugada syndrome.

In 1992, Brugada and Brugada first described a new entity, which became known as Brugada syndrome, that is associated with a high risk of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death in patients without structural heart disease. This syndrome is characterized by a distinct electrocardiographic phenotype, type 1 Brugada pattern, consisting of a coved ST-segment elevation (≥0.2 mV) followed by a negative T wave in more than one right precordial lead. This pattern is dynamic, and can be spontaneous or concealed, but is unmasked under certain circumstances, like febrile states. The authors report a case in which the diagnosis of Brugada syndrome was made in the course of etiologic investigation of recurrent syncope in a febrile state.

Pheochromocytoma diagnosed after anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation ablation procedure: a giant in disguise.

Pheochromocytoma is a rare catecholamine-producing tumor, discovered incidentally in 50% of cases. We present the case of a 44-year-old male with a history of paroxysmal palpitations. Baseline ECG, transthoracic echocardiogram and ECG stress test showed no relevant alterations. Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation was detected on 24-hour Holter ECG. After antiarrhythmic therapy, the patient remained symptomatic, and was accordingly referred for electrophysiological study and atrial fibrillation ablation. Anticoagulation was initiated before the procedure. After ablation and still anticoagulated, he complained of hematospermia. The abdominal and pelvic imaging study showed a 10-cm left adrenal mass, predominantly cystic, compatible with pheochromocytoma, which was confirmed after biochemical tests (increased urine metanephrines and plasma catecholamines). Metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy scanning confirmed localized disease in the adrenal gland, excluding other uptake foci. Following appropriate preoperative management, surgical resection of the giant mass was performed successfully and without complications.

Mesalamine-induced myocarditis following diagnosis of Crohn's disease: a case report.

Mesalamine is a common treatment for Crohn's disease, and can be rarely associated with myocarditis through a mechanism of drug hypersensitivity. We present the case of a 19-year-old male who developed chest pain two weeks after beginning mesalamine therapy. The electrocardiogram showed slight ST-segment elevation with upward concavity in the inferolateral leads; blood tests demonstrated elevated troponin I and the echocardiogram revealed moderately depressed left ventricular systolic function with global hypocontractility. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the diagnosis of myocarditis, revealing multiple areas of subepicardial fibrosis. The onset of symptoms after mesalamine, and improvement of chest pain, cardiac biomarkers and left ventricular systolic function after discontinuing the drug, suggest that our patient suffered from a rare drug-hypersensitivity reaction to mesalamine.