Clinical features, socioeconomic status, management, short and long-term outcomes of patients with acute myocardial infarction: Phase I results of PEACE MENA registry.

BACKGROUND: The Program for the Evaluation and Management of Cardiac Events in the Middle East and North Africa (PEACE MENA) is a prospective registry program in Arabian countries that involves in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or acute heart failure (AHF). METHODS: This prospective, multi-center, multi-country study is the first report of the baseline characteristics and outcomes of inpatients with AMI who were enrolled during the first 14-month recruitment phase. We report the clinical characteristics, socioeconomic, educational levels, and management, in-hospital, one month and one-year outcomes. RESULTS: Between April 2019 and June 2020, 1377 patients with AMI were enrolled (79.1% males) from 16 Arabian countries. The mean age (± SD) was 58 ± 12 years. Almost half of the population had a net income < $500/month, and 40% had limited education. Nearly half of the cohort had a history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or hypercholesterolemia; 53% had STEMI, and almost half (49.7%) underwent a primary percutaneous intervention (PCI) (lowest 4.5% and highest 100%). Thrombolytics were used by 36.2%. (Lowest 6.45% and highest (90.9%). No reperfusion occurred in 13.8% of patients (lowest was 0% and highest 72.7%).Primary PCI was performed less frequently in the lower income group vs. high income group (26.3% vs. 54.7%; P<0.001). Recurrent ischemia occurred more frequently in the low-income group (10.9% vs. 7%; P = 0.018). Re-admission occurred in 9% at 1 month and 30% at 1 year, whereas 1-month mortality was 0.7% and 1-year mortality 4.7%. CONCLUSION: In the MENA region, patients with AMI present at a young age and have a high burden of cardiac risk factors. Most of the patients in the registry have a low income and low educational status. There is heterogeneity among key performance indicators of AMI management among various Arabian countries.

Postpartum dilated cardiomyopathy and antiphospholipid syndrome: A rare association revealed by a pulmonary embolism (case report).

Antiphospholipid syndrome is a rare entity that must be systematically evoked in front of recurrent miscarriages associated with venous or arterial thrombosis, its diagnosis is based on a set of clinico-biological arguments. In rare cases, it can be associated with postpartum cardiomyopathy, which is defined by a dysfunction of the left ventricle with an LVEF<45%, which may or may not be associated with a dilation of the left ventricle. This association is rare and poorly described in the literature, which makes management difficult and uncodified. In this context we report the case of a 33-year-old patient with cardiovascular risk factors such as arterial hypertension 2 previous miscarriages and repeated phlebitis, she was admitted to the emergency room for the management of acute dyspnea related to a proximal right pulmonary embolism and in whom the transthoracic echocardiography had objectivated a dilated left ventricle and an alteration of the ejection fraction of the left ventricle, the coronary angiography came back without particularity as part of the etiological work-up, a biological work-up was carried out, which came back in favor of an antiphospholipid syndrome. This case shows diagnostic difficulties and management of this disease.

The POT-PUFF Sign: A New Angiographic Indicator of Stent Malapposition During Proximal Optimization Therapy.

Acute stent malapposition poses a significant risk for adverse cardiac events following percutaneous coronary intervention. Detection of acute stent malapposition traditionally relies on intracoronary imaging techniques, such as intravascular ultrasound and optical coherence tomography, which may be limited in developing countries due to accessibility issues. A new angiographic sign called the POT-PUFF sign has been introduced as a potential alternative for detecting malapposition during coronary bifurcation procedures. Here, we present two clinical cases from a developing country where the POT-PUFF sign was employed to assess the result of proximal optimization therapy after stent implantation. The POT-PUFF sign exhibits potential as an affordable and feasible approach for assessing stent malapposition in settings with limited resources.

Clinical Features, Socioeconomic Status, Management, and Outcomes of Acute Heart Failure: PEACE MENA Registry Phase I Results.

INTRODUCTION: PEACE MENA (Program for the Evaluation and Management of Cardiac Events in the Middle East and North Africa) is a prospective registry in Arab countries for in-patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or acute heart failure (AHF). Here, we report the baseline characteristics and outcomes of in-patients with AHF who were enrolled during the first 14 months of the recruitment phase. METHODS: A prospective, multi-centre, multi-country study including patients hospitalized with AHF was conducted. Clinical characteristics, echocardiogram, BNP (B-type natriuretic peptide), socioeconomic status, management, 1-month, and 1-year outcomes are reported. RESULTS: Between April 2019 and June 2020, a total of 1258 adults with AHF from 16 Arab countries were recruited. Their mean age was 63.3 (±15) years, 56.8% were men, 65% had monthly income ≤US$ 500, and 56% had limited education. Furthermore, 55% had diabetes mellitus, 67% had hypertension; 55% had HFrEF (heart failure with reduced ejection fraction), and 19% had HFpEF (heart failure with preserved ejection fraction). At 1 year, 3.6% had a heart failure-related device (0-22%) and 7.3% used an angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor (0-43%). Mortality was 4.4% per 1 month and 11.77% per 1-year post-discharge. Compared with higher-income patients, lower-income patients had a higher 1-year total heart failure hospitalization rate (45.6 vs 29.9%, p=0.001), and the 1-year mortality difference was not statistically significant (13.2 vs 8.8%, p=0.059). CONCLUSION: Most of the patients with AHF in Arab countries had a high burden of cardiac risk factors, low income, and low education status with great heterogeneity in key performance indicators of AHF management among Arab countries.

Persistent left superior vena cava: Case report.

Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is a rare anomaly of the systemic venous circulation. We report the case of a 22-year-old female that had history of multiple repair surgeries for her esophageal atresia, as well as a right lobectomy for bronchiectasis 15 years prior. She was admitted to the surgical ward for complete resection of the right lung. A trans-thoracic echocardiography was performed as part of the pre-surgical work-up and it revealed a dilated coronary sinus which led us to suspect the presence of a PLSVC. The latter was confirmed by a simple "Bubble study" and confirmed by CT angiogram. We will discuss throughout this paper, the clinical and radiological features, as well as the embryology of this anomaly, so that the knowledge of the existence of this anatomical variant, especially if surgery or catheterization is at reach of the medical team, may lead to avoid serious complications.

Intermittent obstruction of the left coronary artery ostia by a congenital supravalvular aortic membrane in an adult.

Left main coronary artery obstruction due to a congenital supra-aortic membrane is a rare anomaly, but it can have serious consequences, including significant myocardial ischemia that may result in impaired ventricular function or even sudden death. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment of this condition are crucial for improving patient outcomes. We present, in this report, a patient with intermittent obstruction of the left coronary arteries caused by a congenital ostial membrane diagnosed in adulthood that resulted in myocardial ischemia.

An unusual cause of pacemaker malfunction: A case report of an association of twiddler and reel syndrome.

Introduction and importance: Lead dislodgement syndromes (Twiddler, Ratchet or Reel syndromes) are rare causes of cardiac stimulation device malfunction that can occur most commonly early after device implantation. Each one of them associated with a unique pattern of lead coiling and dysfunction. Our clinical case reports an unusual association and shed the light on the available diagnostic modalities. Case presentation: A 62-year-old woman who was referred to our hospital for a symptomatic high degree AV block, she underwent dual chamber pacemaker implantation. She experienced 3 weeks following implantation a rhythmic twitching of the right arm without syncope. The device interrogation revealed an increase in both leads pacing impedance and chest X-ray showed leads had pulled out of the heart and were tangling and wrapped repeatedly around the pulse generator. Revision procedure was performed to reposition the leads. Clinical discussion: Recognizing this complication early can prevent life threatening complication and is then of the utmost importance. Twiddler's syndrome is due to rotation of the device along its long axis. Reel syndrome is produced by device rotation along the transverse axis. In most cases, lead replacement or reposition is needed. Preventive measures such as patient education and use of a smaller pocket will reduce the risk of developing the syndrome. Conclusion: Our case highlights the available diagnostic modalities for early detection of twiddler's syndrome. The unique nature of this case increases the importance of considering device lead dislodgement as the cause for patients presenting with extra-cardiac symptoms.

Sustained ventricular arrhythmia and sinus node dysfunction revealing a cardiac amyloidosis: A case report.

Introduction and importance: Amyloidosis is an infiltrative multisystem disease due to extracellular deposition of fibrils in tissues and organs. Cardiac involvement can result in progressive heart failure, conduction abnormalities and arrhythmias and is associated with a poor prognosis. Atrial arrhythmias and non-sustained ventricular arrhythmias are the most common arrhythmias in cardiac amyloidosis. However, the association of sinus node dysfunction and sustained ventricular arrhythmia is quite exceptional. Case presentation: A 59-year-old male patient was admitted with a gradually worsening dyspnea with a lipothymic discomfort. Upon emergency department, an initial electrocardiogram revealed a severe bradycardia related to a sinus node dysfunction. A transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging showed features suspicious for cardiac amyloidosis. The diagnosis of AL cardiac amyloidosis with multiple myeloma was confirmed based on histological evidence. During hospitalization, the patient presented a sustained unstable ventricular tachycardia which has been converted by electrical cardioversion. He was treated with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) for secondary prevention with one episode of appropriate therapy. Unfortunately, the patient died few weeks later. Clinical discussion: The AL subtype of cardiac amyloidosis is associated with higher rates of arrhythmias, especially VT. The management of arrhythmias in cardiac amyloidosis is complex and remains challenging given the lack of evidence. ICD was not associated with longer survival; these findings underscore the importance of careful patient selection for ICD. Conclusion: As prognosis improves with the advances made in the medical treatment of cardiac amyloidosis, further studies are required to guide the management of all types of arrhythmias in cardiac amyloidosis.

[Superinfection of Libman-Sacks endocarditis in a lupus patient: a case report]. / Surinfection d'une endocardite de Libman-Sacks chez une patiente lupique: rapport de cas.

Libman-Sacks endocarditis is an uncommon cardiac manifestation of lupus, characterized by noninfective heart valve vegetations. Most patients are asymptomatic. However, clinical manifestations of acute forms can mimic infectious endocarditis and complicate both differential diagnosis and treatment. We here report the case of a 28-year-old female patient with lupus erythematosus followed up from 2018. She had signs and symptoms supporting the diagnosis of infective endocarditis. Assessments allowed for the diagnosis of superinfection Libman-Sacks endocarditis. The patient died despite the combination of bi-antibiotic therapy and corticosteroids.

Correction: Acute Myocardial Infarction and Acute Heart Failure in the Middle East and North Africa: Study Design and Pilot Phase Study Results from the PEACE MENA Registry.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236292.].

[Percutaneous dilation of mitral stenosis in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension during pregnancy]. / Dilatation mitrale percutanée des rétrécissements mitraux en hypertention pulmonaire importante au cours de la grossesse.

Rheumatic mitral stenosis is the most common organic valvular heart disease in developing countries. These patients are at risk of decompensation during pregnancy. We here describe our experience with percutaneous dilation of mitral stenosis in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension during pregnancy. Percutaneous balloon mitral valve commissurotomy was performed in two hundred and twenty-three pregnant women between January 2009 and December 2015. Forty-three (19%) of these patients had severe pulmonary hypertension (SPAP > 70 mmHg). All pregnant women in our study had very severe symptomatic rheumatic mitral stenosis despite well-performed medical treatment. All patients had clinical improvement after percutaneous balloon mitral valve commissurotomy. The severity of mitral insufficiency progressed by one grade in two patients. One patient had tamponade with favorable outcome after a pericardial puncture. No abortion occurred after the procedure and two preterm deliveries were reported. Patients with severe rheumatic mitral stenosis during pregnancy should receive multidisciplinary care involving an obstetrician, anesthetist and cardiologist. Percutaneous balloon mitral valve commissurotomy is currently the standard treatment for rheumatic mitral stenosis during pregnancy.

Acute myocardial infarction and acute heart failure in the Middle East and North Africa: Study design and pilot phase study results from the PEACE MENA registry.

BACKGROUND: This pilot study describes the overall design and results of the Program for the Evaluation and Management of the Cardiac Events registry for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region. METHODS: This prospective, multi-center, multi-country study included patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and/or acute heart failure (AHF). We evaluated the clinical characteristics, socioeconomic and educational levels, management, in-hospital outcomes, and 30-day mortality rate of patients that were admitted to one tertiary-care center in each of 14 Arab countries in the MENA region. RESULTS: Between 22 April and 28 August 2018, 543 AMI and 381AHF patients were enrolled from 14 Arab countries (mean age, 57±12 years, 82.5% men). Over half of the patients in both study groups had low incomes with limited health care coverage, and limited education. Nearly half of the cohort had a history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or hypercholesterolemia. Among patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarctions, 56.4% received primary percutaneous interventions, 24% received thrombolysis, and 19.5% received no acute reperfusion therapy. The main causes of AHF were ischemic heart diseases (55%) and primary valvular heart diseases (15%). The in-hospital and 30-day mortality rates were 2.0% and 3.5%, respectively, for AMI, and 5.4% and 7.0%, respectively, for AHF. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study revealed a high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with AMI and AHF in Arab countries, and low levels of socioeconomic and educational status. Future phases of the study will improve our understanding of the impact that these factors have on the management and outcomes of cardiac events in these patient populations.

Aneurysm of the Pulmonary Artery in Fallot's Tetralogy.

INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary artery aneurysms are a rare entity. Etiologies of these findings are multiple, but they are exceptionally associated with Fallot's Tetralogy. In this study, we present an unusual case of an important aneurysm of the left pulmonary artery associated with Fallot's Tetralogy disease. CASE PRESENTATION: A 30-year-old woman has been admitted for dyspnea and cyanosis. The data which had been obtained from echocardiography, cardiac catheterization, and angio-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suggested the existence of an important aneurysm of the left pulmonary artery associated with a regular Fallot's disease with a pulmonic stenosis. We have noticed the presence of a small restrictive patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Therefore, the patient was referred to surgical correction. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary artery aneurysms associated with Fallot's Tetralogy are rarely reported. The natural history of these rare arterial aneurysms has to be clarified.