Predictive value of late gadolinium enhancement cardiovascular magnetic resonance in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation: dual-centre validation of a standardized method.

Aims: With recurrence rates up to 50% after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in persistent atrial fibrillation (AF), predictive tools to improve patient selection are needed. Patient selection based on left atrial late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) has been proposed previously (UTAH-classification). However, this approach has not been widely established, in part owed to the lack of standardization of the LGE quantification method. We have recently established a standardized LGE-CMR method enabling reproducible LGE-quantification. Here, the ability of this method to predict outcome after PVI was evaluated. Methods and results: This dual-centre study (n = 219) consists of a prospective derivation cohort (n = 37, all persistent AF) and an external validation cohort (n = 182; 66 persistent, 116 paroxysmal AF). All patients received an LGE-CMR prior to first-time PVI-only ablation. LGE was quantified based on the signal-intensity-ratio relative to the blood pool, applying a uniform LGE-defining threshold of >1.2.  In patients with persistent AF in the derivation cohort, left atrial LGE-extent above a cut-off value of 12% was found to best predict relevant low-voltage substrate (≥2 cm two with <0.5 mV during sinus rhythm) and arrhythmia-free survival 12 months post-PVI. When applied to the external validation cohort, this cut-off value was also predictive of arrhythmia-free survival for both, the total cohort and the subgroup with persistent AF (LGE < 12%: 80% and 76%; LGE > 12%: 55% and 44%; P = 0.007 and P = 0.029, respectively). Conclusion: This dual-centre study established and validated a standardized, reproducible LGE-CMR method discriminating PVI responders from non-responders, which may improve choice of therapeutic approach or ablation strategy for patients with persistent AF.

Non-invasive assessment of pulmonary vein isolation durability using late gadolinium enhancement magnetic resonance imaging.

AIMS: Electrical reconnection of pulmonary veins (PVs) is considered an important determinant of recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF) after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). To date, AF recurrences almost automatically trigger invasive repeat procedures, required to assess PVI durability. With recent technical advances, it is becoming increasingly common to find all PVs isolated in those repeat procedures. Thus, as ablation of extra-PV targets has failed to show benefit in randomized trials, more and more often these highly invasive procedures are performed only to rule out PV reconnection. Here we aim to define the ability of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE)-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to rule out PV reconnection non-invasively. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study is based on a prospective registry in which all patients receive an LGE-MRI after AF ablation. Included were all patients that-after an initial PVI and post-ablation LGE-MRI-underwent an invasive repeat procedure, which served as a reference to determine the predictive value of non-invasive lesion assessment by LGE-MRI.: 152 patients and 304 PV pairs were analysed. LGE-MRI predicted electrical PV reconnection with high sensitivity (98.9%) but rather low specificity (55.6%). Of note, LGE lesions without discontinuation ruled out reconnection of the respective PV pair with a negative predictive value of 96.9%, and patients with complete LGE lesion sets encircling all PVs were highly unlikely to show any PV reconnection (negative predictive value: 94.4%). CONCLUSION: LGE-MRI has the potential to guide selection of appropriate candidates and planning of the ablation strategy for repeat procedures and may help to identify patients that will not benefit from a redo-procedure if no ablation of extra-PV targets is intended.

El índice leucoglucémico es un predictor de mortalidad por todas las causas al año en pacientes cubanos con infarto agudo de miocardio con elevación del segmento ST / The leucoglycaemic index is a predictor of one-year all-cause mortality in Cuban patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction

RESUMEN Introducción: El índice leucoglucémico (ILG) ha sido propuesto como marcador pronóstico de muerte en pacientes con infarto agudo de miocardio; sin embargo, no existe evidencia sobre su valor pronóstico al año. Objetivos: El objetivo del estudio fue determinar el valor pronóstico del ILG en la mortalidad al año de pacientes cubanos con infarto agudo de miocardio con elevación del segmento ST. Método: Los datos fueron obtenidos de las historias clínicas y el objetivo primario fue la muerte por todas las causas al año. El ILG se calculó con los valores al ingreso. Para el análisis se dividieron los pacientes en terciles de ILG, se construyeron curvas de características operativas del receptor y de supervivencia de Kaplan-Meier. Para el análisis multivariable se utilizó la regresión de Cox. Resultados: Se analizaron 344 pacientes (mediana de edad, 68 años; el 65,7% masculino; un 25,6% diabéticos). La mortalidad fue de 25,6% y fue significativamente mayor en el tercil superior (55,7%; p<0,0001). Los pacientes fallecidos presentaron una mediana de ILG significativamente mayor que los sobrevivientes (2,18 y 1,34, respectivamente; p<0,0001). El área bajo la curva del ILG fue de 0,715 y el punto de corte: 2,2. Un valor de ILG mayor de 2,2 se asoció a una supervivencia significativamente menor (177 vs. 309 días; p<0,0001) y fue un predictor independiente de mortalidad (HR=3,56; IC 95%, 2,09-6,07; p<0,0001). Conclusiones: El índice leucoglucémico es buen predictor de mortalidad al año, por todas las causas, en pacientes con infarto agudo de miocardio con elevación del segmento ST.

ABSTRACT Introduction: The leuko-glycaemic index has been proposed as a prognostic marker of death in patients with acute myocardial infarction, but there is uncertainty surrounding its prognostic value to predict one-year mortality. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of leuko-glycaemic index for one-year mortality in Cuban patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Methods: The data were obtained from the medical records and all cause one-year deaths was the primary endpoint. The leuko-glycaemic index was calculated from measurements at admission. The patients were divided into leuko-glycaemic index tertiles to be evaluated. Receiver operating characteristics and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were performed. Cox regression model was used for all multivariable analysis. Results: Three hundred and forty-four patients were assessed (median age, 68 years; 65.7% males; 25.6% diabetic). The mortality rate was 25.6%, being significantly higher in the upper tertile (55.7%, p<0.0001). The deceased patients presented a median of leuko-glycaemic index significantly higher than the survivors (2.18 and 1.34 respectively, p<0.0001). The area under the curve for leuko-glycaemic index was 0.715 and its cut-off value was 2.2. Any leuko-glycaemic index value higher than 2.2 was associated with significantly lower survival (177 vs. 309 days, p<0.0001) and it was an independent predictor of mortality (HR=3.56, CI 95%, 2.09-6.07, p<0.0001). Conclusions: The leuko-glycaemic index is a good predictor for all cause one-year mortality in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Factores pronósticos de mortalidad intrahospitalaria en pacientes con infarto agudo del miocardio con elevación del segmento ST. Hospital Arnaldo Milián Castro. Villa Clara, Cuba. 2015 / Prognostic factors of hospital mortality in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction. Hospital Arnaldo Milián Castro. Villa Clara, Cuba. 2015

RESUMEN Introducción: Establecer los factores relacionados con el incremento de la mortalidad en pacientes con infarto agudo del miocardio contribuye a diferenciar su seguimiento y facilita la elección de conductas específicas que determinan mejor evolución. Objetivo: Identificar los factores pronósticos de mortalidad intrahospitalaria en pacientes con infarto agudo del miocardio con elevación del segmento ST. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio analítico de tipo casos y controles en pacientes admitidos con infarto agudo del miocardio con elevación del segmento ST en el Hospital Arnaldo Milián Castro durante el 2015. El grupo caso quedó conformado por todos los pacientes fallecidos (n=15) y el grupo control por pacientes vivos (n=60). Se evaluaron durante el ingreso variables epidemiológicas, hemodinámicas y de laboratorio y se realizó regresión logística binaria para identificar los factores pronósticos. Resultados: La media de la edad (74.13±7.80), glicemia (14.2±10.3) e índice leucoglicémico (3.097±2.666) fueron significativamente mayores en el grupo caso. Las complicaciones eléctricas (OR:2.00; IC:1.767 a 20.369) y hemodinámicas (OR:2.00; IC:1.398 a 2.860) predominaron en los pacientes fallecidos. El análisis multivariado identificó como predictores de mortalidad a la creatinina (OR:1.013; IC:1.010 a 1.027), el tratamiento de reperfusión coronaria (OR:0.206; IC:0.049 a 0.868) y el Killip-Kimball>I (OR:8.311; IC:1.511 a 45.720). Conclusiones: Los niveles séricos de creatinina, el tratamiento de reperfusión coronaria y la clasificación Killip-Kimball>I constituyeron factores pronósticos de mortalidad intrahospitalaria en pacientes villaclareños con infarto agudo del miocardio con elevación del segmento ST. Su identificación temprana podría indicar qué pacientes necesitan un seguimiento más estrecho durante su estadía hospitalaria para mejorar su pronóstico. MÉD.UIS. 2017;30(3):67-72.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Establishing the adequate prognosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction contributes to differentiate their follow-up and facilitates when deciding which specific conduct will determine the best result in its course. Objective: To identify prognostic factors of hospital mortality in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction. Methods: It was performed a case-control analytic study in patients admitted with ST elevation myocardial infarction in "Arnaldo Milián Castro" hospital during 2015. The case group was integrated by deceased patients (n=15) and the control group by living patients (n=60). During admission, demographic, hemodynamic and laboratory variables were evaluated, and a binary logistic regression was made to identify the predicting factors. Results: Medium age (74.13±7.80), glycemia (14.2±10.3) and Leuko-glycemic index (3.097±2.666) were significantly higher in the case group. Electrical (OR:2.00; CI:1.767 to 20.369) and hemodynamic complications (OR:2.00; CI:1.398 a 2.860) predominated in deceased patients. Multivariate analysis identified serum creatinine (OR:1.013; CI:1.010 to 1.027), coronary reperfusion therapy (OR:0.206; CI:0.049 to 0.868) and Killip-Kimball classification (OR:8.311; CI:1.511 to 45.720) as prognostic factors of mortality. Conclusions: The serum creatinine levels, coronary reperfusion therapy and Killip-Kimball classification constituted the prognostic factors of hospital mortality for patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction. An early identification of those factors could indicate that patients need a closer follow-up during admission to improve their prognosis. MÉD. UIS. 2017;30(3):67-72.