Left Ventricular Dimension after Mitral Valve Surgery in Rheumatic Mitral Stenosis: The Impact of Myocardial Fibrosis.

Background: Patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS) experience changes in left ventricular (LV) dimensions after mitral valve surgery. We sought to investigate changes in LV dimensional parameters after mitral valve surgery and find out whether the same changes occurred in different extents of myocardial fibrosis. Methods: This prospective observational study comprised 43 patients with rheumatic MS planned for mitral valve surgery between October 2017 and April 2018 in National Cardiovascular Center Harapan Kita (NCCHK) Jakarta. All the patients underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging based on the late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) protocol for myocardial fibrosis assessment prior to surgery. The patients were classified according to the estimated fibrosis volume considered to influence hemodynamic performance (myocardial fibrosis <5% and myocardial fibrosis ≥5%). Serial transthoracic echocardiographic examinations before and after surgery were performed to detect changes in LV dimensional parameters. Results: This study consisted of 31 (72.1%) women and 12 (27.9%) men at a mean age of 46±9 years. The LGE protocol revealed myocardial fibrosis of less than 5% in 32 (74.4%) patients. A significant increase was detected in the LV end-diastolic diameter postoperatively, specifically in the patients with myocardial fibrosis of less than 5% (44.0±4.8 mm vs 46.6±5.6 mm; P value=0.027). A similar significant increase was not found in the other group (45.0±6.6 mm vs 46.7±6.9 mm; P value=0.256). Other changes in echocardiographic parameters showed similar patterns in both groups. Conclusion: Our patients with rheumatic MS who had myocardial fibrosis of less than 5% demonstrated better improvements in terms of increased preload. Myocardial fibrosis of less than 5% is associated with more favorable improvements in LV geometry.

Prognostic Value of Late Gadolinium Enhancement in Postoperative Morbidity following Mitral Valve Surgery in Rheumatic Mitral Stenosis.

Myocardial fibrosis in rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS) is caused by chronic inflammatory process. Its occurrence may lead to hemodynamic problems, especially after cardiac surgery. Myocardial fibrosis predicts worse morbidity after cardiac surgery, notably in coronary heart disease and aortic valve abnormalities. However, this issue has not been explored yet among patients with rheumatic MS. The aim of the study was to investigate prognostic impact of myocardial fibrosis to postoperative morbidity after mitral valve surgery in patients with rheumatic MS. This is a prospectively enrolled observational study of 47 consecutive rheumatic MS patients. All patients had preoperative evaluation with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) including late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) protocol for left ventricular myocardial fibrosis assessment prior to mitral valve surgery. All patients were followed during hospitalization period. Postoperative morbidities were defined as stroke, renal failure, and prolonged mechanical ventilation. This study involved 33 women (70.2%) and 14 men (29.8%) with a mean age of 46 ± 10 years. Preoperative myocardial fibrosis was identified in 43 patients (91.5%). Estimated fibrosis volume ranged from 0% to 12.8% (median 2.8%). Postoperative morbidities occurred in 11 patients (23.4%). Significant mean difference of myocardial fibrosis volume was observed between patients with and without morbidity after mitral valve surgery (5.97 ± 4.16% and 3.12 ± 2.62%, p = 0.04). This significant association was allegedly influenced by different postoperative hemodynamic changes between the two groups. More extensive myocardial fibrosis is associated with postoperative morbiditiy after mitral valve surgery in patients with rheumatic MS.

Association between late gadolinium enhancement and global longitudinal strain in patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis.

The correlation between the extent of myocardial fibrosis and subclinical left ventricle (LV) systolic dysfunction in rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS) has not been widely studied. We sought to evaluate the correlation between the extent of LV myocardial fibrosis quantified by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and global longitudinal strain (GLS) by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) in patients with rheumatic MS. We prospectively evaluated 36 consecutive rheumatic MS patients who were planning to undergo mitral valve surgery. Then we evaluate the correlation between the extent of LV myocardial fibrosis quantified by LGE CMR and the systolic LV function by GLS using STE. Thirty-six patients with mean age of 45.7 ± 9.9 years old, showed mean LGE was 4.9 ± 2.7%. The mean LV ejection fraction (EF) measured by CMR was 50 ± 10.8%, and the mean LV GLS was 13.5 ± 3.9%. There was a moderate correlation between GLS and LGE (r - 0.432, p = 0.009). There were no correlations between GLS with mitral valve area (MVA) with r 0.149, p = 0.385, mean mitral valve gradient (MVG) with r -0.078, p = 0.653, and LVEF (r 0.299, p = 0.076). There was a moderate correlation between LGE and GLS in patients with rheumatic MS.

Progenitor Hematopoietic Cells Implantation Improves Functional Capacity of End Stage Coronary Artery Disease Patients with Advanced Heart Failure.

Background. Proangiogenic Hematopoietic Cells (PHC) which comprise diverse mixture of cell types are able to secrete proangiogenic factors and interesting candidate for cell therapy. The aim of this study was to seek for benefit in implantation of PHC on functional improvement in end stage coronary artery disease patients with advanced heart failure. Methods. Patients with symptomatic heart failure despite guideline directed medical therapy and LVEF less than 35% were included. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated, cultivated for 5 days, and then harvested. Flow cytometry and cell surface markers were used to characterize PHC. The PHC were delivered retrogradely via sinus coronarius. Echocardiography, myocardial perfusion, and clinical and functional data were analyzed up to 1-year observation. Results. Of 30 patients (56.4 ± 7.40 yo) preimplant NT proBNP level is 5124.5 ± 4682.50 pmol/L. Harvested cells characterized with CD133, CD34, CD45, and KDR showed 0.87 ± 0.41, 0.63 ± 0.66, 99.00 ± 2.60, and 3.22 ± 3.79%, respectively. LVEF was improved (22 ± 5.68 versus 26.8 ± 7.93, p < 0.001) during short and long term observation. Myocardial perfusion significantly improved 6 months after treatment. NYHA Class and six-minute walk test are improved during short term and long term follow-up. Conclusion. Expanded peripheral blood PHC implantation using retrograde delivery approach improved LV systolic function, myocardial perfusion, and functional capacity.

Myocardial Perfusion SPECT Utility in Predicting Cardiovascular Events Among Indonesian Diabetic Patients.

BACKGROUND: Indonesia has the fourth largest number of diabetes patients after India, China and the USA. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common cause of death in diabetic patients. Early detection and risk stratification is important for optimal management. Abnormal myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) is an early manifestation in the ischemic cascade. Previous studies have demonstrated the use of MPI to accurately diagnose obstructive CAD and predict adverse cardiac events. This study evaluated whether MPI predicts adverse cardiac event in an Indonesian diabetic population. METHOD: The study was undertaken in a consecutive cohort of patients with suspected or known CAD fulfilling entry criteria. All had adenosine stress MPI. The end point was a major adverse cardiac event (MACE) defined as cardiac death or nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI). RESULTS: Inclusion and exclusion criteria were satisfied by 300 patients with a mean follow-up of 26.7 ± 8.8 months. The incidence of MACEs was 18.3% among diabetic patients, versus 9% in the non-diabetic population (p < 0.001). A multivariable Cox proportional hazard model demonstratedin dependent predictors for a MACE as abnormal MPI [HR: 9.30 (3.01 - 28.72), p < 0.001], post stress left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤30% [HR:2.72 (1.21 - 6.15), p = 0.016] and the patients diabetic status [HR:2.28 (1.04 - 5.01), p = 0.04]. The Kaplan Meier event free survival curve constructed for the different subgroups based on the patients' diabetic status and MPI findings demonstrated that diabetic patients with an abnormal MPI had the worst event free survival (log rank p value < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In an Indonesian population with suspected or known CAD abnormal adenosine stress MPI is an independent and potent predictor for adverse cardiovascular events and provides incremental prognostic value in cardiovascular risk stratification of patients with diabetes.

Abnormal lipoprotein(a) levels predict coronary artery calcification in Southeast Asians but not in Caucasians: use of noninvasive imaging for evaluation of an emerging risk factor.

Subclinical atherosclerosis can be quantified by coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring. Due to its high specificity for atherosclerosis, CAC is an excellent phenotypic tool for the evaluation of emerging risk markers. Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is atherogenic due to the presence of apoB and may be thrombogenic through its apo(a) component. Lp(a) has been linked to cardiovascular events in Caucasians; however, its link to atherosclerosis in various ethnicities remains unclear. We evaluated the ability of Lp(a) mass to predict subclinical atherosclerosis in Southeast Asians and Caucasians, as measured by CAC. Traditional lipid measurements, Lp(a) measurements, and CAC by 64-slice multidetector computed tomography was performed in 103 consecutive patients in the USA and in 104 consecutive patients in Jakarta, Indonesia. Proportion of positive CAC and median CAC in Southeast Asians and in Caucasians was 61.5% and 63.1%, and 23.5 (interquartile range, 0-270) and 13 (interquartile range, 0-388), respectively. Significantly higher proportion of Southeast Asians had elevated Lp(a) levels, compared to Caucasians (51.0% vs. 29.2%; p = 0.005). In Southeast Asians, Lp(a) remained an independent predictor of CAC with an odds ratio of 4.97 (95% confidence interval, 1.56-15.88; p < 0.0001), but not in Caucasians. Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed an improvement in area under the curve from 0.81 to 0.86 (p = 0.05) when including Lp(a) in the predictive model in Southeast Asians. This translated to 7% of Southeast Asians reclassified to correct CAC status. Lp(a) measurements may have a role in risk stratification of Southeast Asians. Ethnic variation should be taken into account when considering the use of Lp(a) measurements in risk assessment.

Improved myocardial perfusion in stable angina pectoris by oral lumbrokinase: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: A novel antithrombotic agent, lumbrokinase, was evaluated in this pilot study for its efficacy in the treatment of symptomatic stable angina. DESIGN: This was a single-armed cohort study. SETTINGS: The study was conducted at the National Cardiovascular Center, Harapan Kita, Jakarta, Indonesia. SUBJECTS: The study comprised 10 patients who had coronary artery disease and stable angina and who consented to the trial. INTERVENTION: Patients were treated with oral lumbrokinase for 30 consecutive days in addition to their standard medical therapy. OUTCOME MEASURES: Stress technetium-99m sestamibi myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) was performed before and at the conclusion of the active treatment period. The degree and extent of inducible ischemia observed on the myocardial perfusion images were evaluated using the previously validated semiquantitative indices (Summed Stress Score and Summed Difference Score). RESULTS: Following active treatment, the mean Summed Stress Score and Summed Difference Score deceased by 39% and 37%, respectively. The anginal symptom was ameliorated in 6 of 10 patients. No adverse reaction including major or minor bleeding was observed. CONCLUSIONS: This paper represents the first description of the use of oral lumbrokinase in the treatment of chronic coronary artery disease with objective assessment using MPI. Oral lumbrokinase improves regional myocardial perfusion in patients with stable angina.