Epidemiological characteristics, management, and outcomes of atrial fibrillation in TUNISIA: Results from the National Tunisian Registry of Atrial Fibrillation (NATURE-AF).

BACKGROUND: Contemporary registries on atrial fibrillation (AF) are scare in North African countries. HYPOTHESIS: In the context of the epidemiological transition, prevalence of valvular AF in Tunisia has decreased and the quality of management is still suboptimal. METHODS: NATURE-AF is a prospective Tunisian registry, involving consecutive patients with AF from March 1, 2017 to May 31, 2017, with a one-year follow-up period. All the patients with an Electrocardiogram-documented AF, confirmed in the year prior to enrolment were eligible. The epidemiological characteristics and outcomes were described. RESULTS: A total of 915 patients were included in this study, with a mean age of 64.3 ± 22 years and a male/female sex ratio of 0.93. Valvular AF was identified in 22.4% of the patients. The mean CHA2 DS2 VASC score in nonvalvular AF was 2.4 ± 1.6. Monotherapy with antiplatelet agents was prescribed for 13.8% of the patients. However, 21.7% of the subjects did not receive any antithrombotic agent. Oral anticoagulants were prescribed for half of the patients with a low embolic risk score. In 341 patients, the mean time in therapeutic range was 48.87 ± 28.69%. Amiodarone was the most common antiarrhythmic agent used (52.6%). During a 12-month follow-up period, 15 patients (1.64%) had thromboembolism, 53 patients (5.8%) had major hemorrhage, and 52 patients (5.7%) died. CONCLUSIONS: NATURE-AF has provided systematic collection of contemporary data regarding the epidemiological and clinical characteristics as well as the management of AF by cardiologists in Tunisia. Valvular AF is still prevalent and the quality of anticoagulation was suboptimal.

[Predictive factors of significant coronary stenosis in women. Review of 230 patients]. / Les facteurs predictifs d'une atteinte coronaire significative chez la femme. Etude de 230 patientes.

To evaluate the predictive factors of significant coronary stenosis in women, we have studied retrospectively data from 230 women explored by coronary angiography. The population has been divided in 2 groups: one (G1) without significant coronary lesions; the second (G2) having at least one significant coronary stenosis (> 50%). The prevalence of the significant disease was 54.3%. Coronary risk factors associated with a significant disease were : age > 55 years, diabetes mellitus, menopause, high lipid levels, and the association of at least 3 risk factors. Typical angina and history of myocardial infarction were significantly more prevalent in the G2 as like as Q necrosis wave, ST segment modifications percritically and premature ventricular beats. A regional abnormal wall motion at rest echocardiography was independently associated with significant coronary artery lesions (OR = 7.35). Using these data we have established a score of prediction of significant disease in women. This score aided to classify our female patients into different levels of risk and to better indicate subsequent explorations. Thus. with a good evaluation of the clinical and at rest data in women, we could obtain a more accurate degree of suspicion of a significant coronary artery disease before the indication of a coronary angiography.

Evaluation of left bundle branch block as a reversible cause of non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy with severe heart failure. A new concept of left ventricular dyssynchrony-induced cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine if amelioration of left bundle branch block (LBBB)-induced contraction disturbances achieved by left ventricular (LV)-based pacing could result in sustained reversal of severe LV dysfunction in certain patients with chronic heart failure due to non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy. BACKGROUND: It has been shown that LBBB induces asynchronous contraction of LV. However, whether such a functional contraction disturbance, if present for an extended period of time, could account for a dilated cardiomyopathy remains unknown. METHODS: The study population comprised 29 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, sinus rhythm, LBBB and severe heart failure (14 patients in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III and 15 in class IV). Patients were followed prospectively after resynchronization therapy. LV function was considered to be normalized when ejection fraction (EF) was >50% at 1 year. RESULTS: Five among the 29 patients (17%: group 1) demonstrated both complete normalization of LV function following resynchronization therapy (EF: from 19+/-6 to 55+/-3%, P = 0.001) and clinical improvement (mean NYHA class: 3.4+/-0.5 to 1.8+/-0.4, P = 0.02; 6-min walk distance: 300+/-136 to 444+/-75 m, P = 0.12; peak VO2: 11.9+/-4 to 15.8+/-2 ml/min/kg, p = 0.03). Among the remaining 24 patients (83%: group 2) EF improved but did not normalize (from 21+/-8 to 23+/-11%, ns). Baseline clinical features could not predict which patients would exhibit the reversal of LV dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: Normalization of LV function 1 year after resynchronization therapy in a small but important number of patients suggests that long-standing LBBB may be a newly identified reversible cause of cardiomyopathy.

[Acute myocardial infarction with normal coronary angiography: a 46-cases descriptive study]. / Infarctus du myocarde sur coronaires angiographiquement saines: etude descriptive de 46 cas.

This a retrospective study on 46 patients conducted over a 9-year period. These patients had an acute myocardial infarctus (AMI) confirmed wilth changes on the electrocardiogram and raised cardiac enzymes. However, the subsequent coronary angiography showed normal in all these patients. The purpose of our study is to assess epidemiologic, clinical, pronostic and therapeutic features of AMI with angiographically normal coronary arteries and compare the results obtained with those of AMI with coronary artery disease. AMI with angiographically normal coronary arteries is a first coronary event in young patients (mean age 47.7 years) having few coronary risk factors (54.3% have only one risk factor) mainly smoking (73.9%). The anterior location is prevalent. The patients with AMI and angiographically normal coronary arteries have a better prognosis than those with coronary artery stenosis. Indeed, their left ventricular function is unaltered (mean ejection fraction 48.7%). Hypokinesis is the most frequent abnormality of wall motion noticed. The patients' post infarction course is bengin when the coronary arteries are angiographically normal. The incidence of hemodynamic complications and ischemic recurrences are lower than in AMI with coronary stenosis. The choice treatment remains fibrinolysis.

[The type III aortic dissection. Diagnosis, outcome, contribution of the endovascular therapies to their management--a case report]. / La dissection aortique chronique du type III. Aspects diagnostiques, évolutifs et apport des techniques endovasculaires dans le traitement--a propos d'une observation.

The dissection of the descending aorta is a serious affection regarding to its mortality and its complications. It becomes chronic after the 14th day following the first signs of dissection. The authors report the case of a 55 years old patient who has presented a type III dissection diagnosed at the chronic period. The persistance of the pain has indicated the implantation of a stent at the intimal tear. This new endovascular treatement of the aorta diseases is a promising and less invasive alternative to the surgical treatement. It may reduce the morbidity and the mortality of this pathology but it needs an accurate and performant imaging techniques.

[non-Q wave myocardial infarction: study of 31 cases]. / Infarctus sans onde Q: etude descriptive de 31 cas.

The frequency of non-Q wave myocardial infarction is permanently increasing. In this retrospective study, we have tried to establish the clinical features, the prognosis and the therapeutic possibilities in this entity. We have studied the clinical history, the physical examination data, the results of the different explorations and the short and long term general course in 31 patients with a non Q wave myocardial infarction. The main feature of this acute coronary syndrome is the preservation of the myocardial function (normal in 64% of the patients). Concerning the angiographic finding, we note a high prevalence of severe coronary damages particularly of the stenosis of the left main coronary artery (13.5%); but also an important proportion of normal coronary angiographies (20%). In addition to the known factors associated with a poor prognosis in coronary artery disease, we insist on the severity of the initial depression of the ST-segment. The prognosis of the non Q wave myocardial infarction is better at the initial phase than that of the "transmural infarction". However, it becomes similar or worse at the long term general course. The important progress in the prognosis markers and in the anti-thrombotic and interventional therapies may maintain at the long term course the good initial prognosis.

[Aortic stenosis: interest in echocardiography with dobutamine]. / Retrecissement aortique: interet de l'echocardiographie sous dobutamine.

The stress echocardiography with dobutamine confirms her increasing value for the patients with severe aortic stenosis and left ventricular dysfunction in a diagnosis concept by selecting the true severe stenoses and revealing stenoses overestimated by the low fow, and especially prognosis by means of the stratification of the operatory risk and the search for a contractile reserve which represent the guarantee of a survival per and postoperatoire satisfactory. As regards asymptomatic aortic stenosis the times of intervention are in reevaluation, the compliance valvulaire represent reliable means which needs confirmation for a prophylactic indication for surgery.

[Indications for the implantable cardiac defibrillator]. / Les indications du defibrillateur automatique implantable.

The indications of the implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) have enlarged over the time. This has been facilitated by the technological progress which permit the device to be more effective and its implantation to be more simple. So, the implantation rate has increased all over the world but especially in the United States. The ICD was initially proposed in case of recurrent cardiac arrests due to ventricular fibrillation. Later, indications have enlarged. They concern at the present time not only the secondary but also the primary prevention of the sudden cardiac death. Indications in secondary prevention are based on the results of randomized studies which have clearly demonstrated the superiority of the device if compared to the antiarrhythmic drugs. The first indication of the ICD in the primary prevention has been defined by the MADIT study. Since, other studies have tried to define high risk population in whom a prophylactic implantation of an ICD should be justified. However, other clinical trials are still necessary to precise the indications of the ICD in some disease states (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, long QT syndrome, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, Brugada syndrome) which can be complicated by arrhythmic sudden death. Indeed, indications in these diseases are still based on small studies and in the opinion of experts.