Colchicine for the Prevention of Recurrent Arrhythmia After Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation: Results of a Single-Center, Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: There is evidence to suggest that colchicine reduces the risk of recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF) after catheter ablation; however, the tolerability and safety of colchicine in routine practice is unknown. METHODS: Patients undergoing catheter ablation for AF who received colchicine after ablation were matched 1:1 to patients who did not by age, sex, and renal function. Recurrent AF was compared between groups categorically at 12 months and via propensity weighted Cox proportional hazards models with and without a 3-month blanking period. RESULTS: Overall, 180 patients (n = 90 colchicine and n = 90 matched controls) were followed for a median (Q1, Q3) of 10.3 (7.0, 12.0) months. Mean age was 65.3 ± 9.1 years, 33.9% were women, mean CHA2DS2-VASc score was 2.9 ± 1.5, and 51.1% had persistent AF. Most patients (70%) received colchicine 0.6 mg daily for a median of 30 days. In the colchicine group, 55 patients (61.1%) were receiving at least one known interacting medication with colchicine. After ablation, one patient required colchicine dose reduction and four patients required discontinuation. After adjusting for covariate imbalance using propensity weighting, no significant association between colchicine use and AF recurrence was identified (adjusted hazard ratio 0.94, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.48-1.85; p = 0.853). No significant association was found between colchicine use and all-cause hospitalizations (adjusted odds ratio 0.74, 95% CI 0.28-1.96; p = 0.548). CONCLUSION: Despite the frequent presence of drug-drug interactions, a 30-day course of colchicine is well-tolerated after AF ablation; however, we did not observe any association between colchicine and lower rates of AF recurrence or hospitalization.

The role of inflammation in the pathogenesis and treatment of arrhythmias.

The pathogenesis of arrhythmias is complex and multifactorial. The role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of both atrial and ventricular arrhythmias (VA) has been explored. However, developing successful pharmacotherapy regimens based on those pathways has proven more of a challenge. This narrative review provides an overview of five common arrhythmias impacted by inflammation, including atrial fibrillation (AF), myocardial infarction, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, cardiac sarcoidosis, and QT prolongation, and the potential role for anti-inflammatory therapy in their management. We identified arrhythmias and arrhythmogenic disease states with the most evidence linking pathogenesis to inflammation and conducted comprehensive searches of United States National Library of Medicine MEDLINE® and PubMed databases. Although a variety of agents have been studied for the management of AF, primarily in an effort to reduce postoperative AF following cardiac surgery, no standard anti-inflammatory agents are used in clinical practice at this time. Although inflammation following myocardial infarction may contribute to the development of VA, there is no clear benefit with the use of anti-inflammatory agents at this time. Similarly, although inflammation is clearly linked to the development of arrhythmias in arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, data demonstrating a benefit with anti-inflammatory agents are limited. Cardiac sarcoidosis, an infiltrative disease eliciting an immune response, is primarily treated by immunosuppressive therapy and steroids, despite a lack of primary literature to support such regimens. In this case, anti-inflammatory agents are frequently used in clinical practice. The pathophysiology of arrhythmias is complex, and inflammation likely plays a role in both onset and duration, however, for most arrhythmias the role of pharmacotherapy targeting inflammation remains unclear.

A Turtle Disaster: Salmonella enteritidis Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Device Infection.

Cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) infections have high mortality and morbidity. CIED infections secondary to gram-negative pathogens are rare, and there are few data regarding their treatment. We report a case of a 60-year-old male who developed recurrent Salmonella enteritidis bacteremia leading to CIED infection and nonsusceptibility to ciprofloxacin.

Premature ventricular complexes: diagnostic and therapeutic considerations in clinical practice : A state-of-the-art review by the American College of Cardiology Electrophysiology Council.

Premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) are common arrhythmias in the clinical setting. PVCs in the structurally normal heart are usually benign, but in the presence of structural heart disease (SHD), they may indicate increased risk of sudden death. High PVC burden may induce cardiomyopathy and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction or worsen underlying cardiomyopathy. Sometimes PVCs may be a marker of underlying pathophysiologic process such as myocarditis. Identification of PVC burden is important, since cardiomyopathy and LV dysfunction can reverse after catheter ablation or pharmacological suppression. This state-of-the-art review discusses pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, how to differentiate benign and malignant PVCs, PVCs in the structurally normal heart, underlying SHD, diagnostic procedures (physical examination, electrocardiogram, ambulatory monitoring, exercise testing, echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, coronary angiography, electrophysiology study), and treatment (lifestyle modification, electrolyte imbalance, medical, and catheter ablation).

Impaired Recovery of Left Ventricular Function in Patients With Cardiomyopathy and Left Bundle Branch Block.

BACKGROUND: Patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB) often respond to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) improvement. Guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT), not CRT, is first-line therapy for patients with reduced LVEF with LBBB. However, there are little data on how patients with reduced LVEF and LBBB respond to GDMT. OBJECTIVES: This study examined patients with cardiomyopathy and sought to assess rates of LVEF improvement for patients with LBBB compared to other QRS morphologies. METHODS: Using data from the Duke Echocardiography Laboratory Database, the study identified patients with baseline electrocardiography and LVEF ≤35% who had a follow-up LVEF 3 to 6 months later. The study excluded patients with severe valve disease, a cardiac device, left ventricular assist device, or heart transplant. QRS morphology was classified as LBBB, QRS duration <120 ms (narrow QRS duration), or a wide QRS duration ≥120 ms but not LBBB. Analysis of variance testing compared mean change in LVEF among the 3 groups with adjustment for significant comorbidities and GDMT. RESULTS: There were 659 patients that met the criteria: 111 LBBB (17%), 59 wide QRS duration ≥120 ms but not LBBB (9%), and 489 narrow QRS duration (74%). Adjusted mean increase in LVEF over 3 to 6 months in the 3 groups was 2.03%, 5.28%, and 8.00%, respectively (p < 0.0001). Results were similar when adjusted for interim revascularization and myocardial infarction. Comparison of mean LVEF improvement between patients with LBBB on GDMT and those not on GDMT showed virtually no difference (3.50% vs. 3.44%). The combined endpoint of heart failure hospitalization or mortality was highest for patients with LBBB. CONCLUSIONS: LBBB is associated with a smaller degree of LVEF improvement compared with other QRS morphologies, even with GDMT. Some patients with LBBB may benefit from CRT earlier than guidelines currently recommend.

Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with increased rotor burden in patients undergoing focal impulse and rotor modification guided atrial fibrillation ablation.

Aims: To assess whether obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was associated with increased rotor burden among atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. Methods and results: We studied 33 consecutive patients who were scheduled for focal impulse and rotor modulation (FIRM) ablation at our institution to describe the mapping, ablation, and outcomes, among patients with and without OSA. Patients underwent biatrial FIRM mapping in AF with ablation of stable rotors in addition to conventional ablation lesion sets. Differences between groups were tested with student's t-tests and Fisher's exact tests, as appropriate. Survival analyses were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Twelve of the 33 (36%) patients had OSA and 8 (66%) used continuous positive airway pressure ventilation (CPAP). Obstructive sleep apnea patients had a higher body mass index (BMI) (33.6 vs. 28.8 kg/m2, P = 0.01) and were more commonly on beta blockers (67% vs. 29%, P = 0.03) but were otherwise similar regarding baseline characteristics, medication use, and prior AF treatments, including antiarrhythmic drugs and prior ablation. Focal impulse and rotor modulation mapping demonstrated increased rotor burden in the OSA patients (2.6 ± 0.9 vs. 2.0 ± 1.0, P =0.03). The increased rotor burden was more evident in the right atrium (RA) (1.0 ± 0.7 vs. 0.5 ± 0.7, P =0.04 compared with left atrium (1.7 ± 0.8 vs. 1.4 ± 0.7, P = 0.15). There was no correlation between BMI and total number of rotors (r = 0.0961, P = 0.59). Among the population of patients with OSA, CPAP therapy was associated with a lower number of RA rotors (0.8 ± 0.7 vs. 1.5 ± 0.6, P = 0.05) but no significant difference in overall rotors (P = 0.33). Conclusion: Obstructive sleep apnea patients demonstrate increased rotor prevalence, driven predominantly by an increase in RA rotors. CPAP therapy was associated with fewer RA rotors.

Beyond Gout: Colchicine Use in the Cardiovascular Patient.

Colchicine is one of the oldest medications still in use today and is commonly used for the treatment of gout and familial Mediterranean fever. Its anti-inflammatory properties have raised the question of its utility in managing several cardiovascular diseases, including postoperative atrial fibrillation and pericarditis. This article will review the evidence for colchicine in these conditions and provide recommendations for use.

Intermittent nondaily dosing strategies in patients with previous statin-induced myopathy.

OBJECTIVE: To review the safety and efficacy of alternative intermittent statin dosing regimens in patients with previous intolerance due to myopathy. DATA SOURCES: Literature was accessed through MEDLINE (1946 -December 2012) and EMBASE (1966-December 2012) using relevant MeSH and Emtree search terms, including statins, HMG Co-A reductase inhibitors, simvastatin, atorvastatin, lovastatin, fluvastatin, pravastatin, pitavastatin, rosuvastatin, myopathy, and myalgias. Web of Science (1955-December 2012) and the aforementioned databases were additionally searched using combinations of the following text words: statin intolerance, alternate dosing, nondaily dosing, weekly dosing, statin-induced myopathy, and intermittent statin dosing. References of identified articles were reviewed for additional citations. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: All identified English-language peer-reviewed publications were evaluated. Articles (excluding meeting abstracts) specifically addressing nondaily statin use in patients with previous statin-induced myopathy were reviewed. DATA SYNTHESIS: Although statins have achieved significant reductions in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, as many as 10% of patients prescribed these therapies experience myopathies. Intermittent statin regimens ranging from every-other-day to once-weekly dosing have emerged in an attempt to maintain efficacy while moderating the incidence of adverse effects. The results reported in 10 publications investigating varying regimens with atorvastatin and/or rosuvastatin revealed that at least 70% of patients were able to tolerate an intermittent dosing strategy without a recurrence of previous treatment-limiting adverse effects. Although the degree of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol-lowering varied appreciably among studies (12-38%), the addition of a nondaily statin regimen facilitated attainment of National Cholesterol Education Program goals for some. CONCLUSIONS: Although areas of uncertainty remain, intermittent dosing (particularly with rosuvastatin and atorvastatin) in previously intolerant patients is a useful strategy to capitalize on the benefits of this therapy. Larger scale randomized trials are necessary to more clearly define the role of this strategy and the optimal choice of regimen.

Management of dofetilide overdose in a patient with known cocaine abuse.

Dofetilide, a class III antiarrhythmic agent, is prescribed for conversion to and maintenance of normal sinus rhythm in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. Most antiarrhythmics have significant toxicities such as torsade de pointes, and patients should be closely monitored while receiving antiarrhythmic therapy. However, we know of no reports concerning management of intentional overdose of dofetilide that have been published. We report the case of a 33-year-old man who was treated for ingestion of approximately 5 mg of dofetilide as a suicide attempt. In addition, he had a known history of cocaine abuse. He came to the emergency department approximately 45 minutes after the ingestion; examination revealed a QTc interval of approximately 570 msec. He was treated with activated charcoal and sorbitol by nasogastric tube and received aggressive supplementation with potassium and magnesium. The patient was monitored by telemetry for several days and responded well. Cardiac toxicity is the utmost concern when treating dofetilide overdose. The mainstay of treatment focuses on supportive care and prevention of drug absorption. Ventricular dysrhythmias or torsade de pointes should be treated according to advanced cardiac life support guidelines.