Clonal Hematopoiesis of Indeterminate Potential in Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension: A Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is multifactorial and growing evidence has indicated that hematological disorders are involved. Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) has recently been associated with an increased risk of both hematological malignancies and cardiovascular diseases. However, the prevalence and clinical relevance of CHIP in patients with CTEPH remains unclear. METHODS: Using stepwise calling on next-generation sequencing data from 499 patients with CTEPH referred to 3 centers between October 2006 and December 2021, CHIP mutations were identified. We associated CHIP with all-cause mortality in patients with CTEPH. To provide insights into potential mechanisms, the associations between CHIP and inflammatory markers were also determined. RESULTS: In total, 47 (9.4%) patients with CTEPH carried at least 1 CHIP mutation at a variant allele frequency of ≥2%. The most common mutations were in DNMT3A, TET2, RUNX1, and ASXL1. During follow-up (mean, 55 months), deaths occurred in 22 (46.8%) and 104 (23.0%) patients in the CHIP and non-CHIP groups, respectively (P<0.001, log-rank test). The association of CHIP with mortality remained robust in the fully adjusted model (hazard ratio, 2.190 [95% CI, 1.257-3.816]; P=0.006). Moreover, patients with CHIP mutations showed higher circulating interleukin-1ß and interleukin-6 and lower interleukin-4 and IgG galactosylation levels. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to show that CHIP mutations occurred in 9.4% of patients with CTEPH are associated with a severe inflammatory state and confer a poorer prognosis in long-term follow-up.

Percutaneous transluminal pulmonary angioplasty for Takayasu arteritis-associated pulmonary hypertension: A single-arm meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy and safety of percutaneous transluminal pulmonary angioplasty (PTPA) for Takayasu arteritis-associated pulmonary hypertension (TA-PH) remain unclear. OBJECTIVES: To examine the efficacy and safety of PTPA in TA-PH. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials Library were searched from inception to August 18, 2022, for articles investigating the efficacy and safety of PTPA for TA-PH. The primary efficacy outcomes were pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) changes from baseline to re-evaluation and 6-minute walking distance (6MWD). The safety outcome was procedure-related complications. RESULTS: Five articles comprising 104 patients with TA-PH who underwent PTPA were included. The scores of article quality, as assessed using the methodological index for nonrandomized studies tool, were high, ranging from 13 to 15 points. The pooled treatment effects of PVR (weighted mean difference [WMD]: -4.8 WU; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -6.0 to -3.5 WU; I2 = 0.0%), 6MWD (WMD: 101.9 m; 95% CI: 60.3-143.6 m; I2 = 70.4%) significantly improved. Procedure-related complications, which predominantly present as pulmonary artery injury and pulmonary injury, occurred in 32.0% of the included patients. Periprocedural death occurred in one patient (1.0%, 1/100). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with TA-PH could benefit from PTPA in terms of hemodynamics and exercise tolerance, at the expense of procedure-related complications. PTPA should be encouraged to enhance the treatment response in TA-PH. These findings need to be confirmed by further studies, ideally, randomized controlled trials. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42022354087.

Prognostic Value of Preoperative Assessment of Left Ventricular Function in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Background: Patients may experience a decline in cardiac function even after successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). It is apparent that the assessment of left ventricular (LV) function before PCI is often overlooked. The purpose of this review is to explore the significance of LV function assessment before PCI by comparing the differences in short- and long-term PCI outcomes between patients with different LV ejection fraction (LVEF) stratified preoperatively. Methods: PubMed and Scopus were searched to identify potential studies from January 1, 2001 through January 1, 2022. Results: A total of 969,868 participants in 33 studies at different stratifications of baseline LVEF were included in this review and their PCI outcomes were stratified for analysis. The hazard ratio of all-cause mortality within 30 days, one year and greater than 1 year after PCI between patients with abnormal and normal LVEF were 2.96 [95% CI, 2.2, 3.98], 3.14 [95% CI, 1.64, 6.01] and 3.08 [95% CI, 2.6, 3.64]; moderately impaired LV function versus normal were 2.32 [95% CI, 1.85, 2.91], 2.04 [95% CI, 1.37, 3.03], 1.93 [95% CI, 1.54, 2.44]; poor LV function versus normal were 4.84 [95% CI, 3.83, 6.1], 4.48 [95% CI, 1.37, 14.68], 6.59 [95% CI, 4.23, 10.27]. Conclusions: A moderate or severe reduction in patients' LVEF may have a serious impact on PCI prognosis. We strongly advocate for adequate assessment of LVEF before PCI as this will assist in choosing the optimal revascularization and postoperative treatment, thereby reducing short- and long-term mortality.

Percutaneous Pulmonary Angioplasty for Patients With Takayasu Arteritis and Pulmonary Hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous transluminal pulmonary angioplasty (PTPA) is a treatment modality for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, but whether it can be applied to Takayasu arteritis-associated pulmonary hypertension (TA-PH), another chronic obstructive pulmonary vascular disease, remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to investigate the efficacy and safety of PTPA for TA-PH. METHODS: Between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2019, a total of 50 patients with TA-PH who completed the PTPA procedure (the PTPA group) and 21 patients who refused the PTPA procedure (the non-PTPA group) were prospectively enrolled in this cohort study. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. The safety outcomes included PTPA procedure-related complications. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics and medical therapies were similar between the PTPA group and the non-PTPA group. During a mean follow-up time of 37 ± 14 months, deaths occurred in 3 patients (6.0%) in the PTPA group and 6 patients (28.6%) in the non-PTPA group, contributing to the 3-year survival rate of 93.7% in the PTPA group and 76.2% in the non-PTPA group (P = 0.0096 for log-rank test). The Cox regression model showed that PTPA was associated with a significantly reduced hazard of all-cause mortality in TA-PH patients (HR: 0.18; 95% CI: 0.05-0.73; P = 0.017). No periprocedural death occurred. Severe complications requiring noninvasive positive pressure ventilation occurred in only 1 of 150 total sessions (0.7%). CONCLUSIONS: PTPA tended to be associated with a reduced risk of all-cause mortality with acceptable safety profiles and seemed to be a promising therapeutic option for TA-PH patients.

Clinical Outcomes of Myocardial Bridging versus No Myocardial Bridging in Patients with Apical Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and clinical effects of myocardial bridging (MB) in patients with apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (AHCM). METHODS: Angiograms from 212 AHCM patients were reviewed to identify MB. The patients were classified into 2 groups: AHCM with and AHCM without MB. We reviewed patient records on cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, symptoms, CV events, and CV mortality. RESULTS: In all, 60 patients with MB and 100 without MB were included. Rates of angina (61.7 vs. 40%; p = 0.008), mimicking non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (15 vs. 3%, p = 0.013), and Canadian Cardiovascular Society class III/IV angina (18.3 vs. 4%; p = 0.003) were higher in patients with MB than in those without. Mean follow-up periods (65.5 ± 50.5 vs. 64.4 ± 43.6 months, p = 0.378) and CV mortality (3.3 vs. 1%; p = 0.652) were similar in the 2 groups. Kaplan-Meier estimates demonstrated that CV event-free survival rates were lower in patients with MB than in those without (71.7 vs. 88%; p = 0.022). MB, late gadolinium enhancement, and female sex were independent risk factors for CV events in a multivariate Cox regression analysis adjusted for other risk factors. CONCLUSION: More serious symptoms and a higher risk of CV events were observed in AHCM patients with MB than in those without MB. CV mortality was similar in these 2 groups.

Procedural complication and long term outcomes after alcohol septal ablation in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: data from China.

Data on procedural complications and long term survival after alcohol septal ablation (ASA) in Chinese patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HOCM) are lacking. We aimed to investigate long-term survival of HOCM patients after ASA and compared to the non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(NOHCM). A total of 233 patients with HOCM and a peak pressure gradient of ≥50 mm Hg at rest or with provocation were consecutively enrolled from Fuwai Hospital in China between 2000 and 2012. Another 297 patients without left ventricular outflow tract obstruction were regarded as control group. Periprocedural mortality of ASA were low (0.89%). Periprocedural lethal ventricular arrhythmia occurred in 9 patients (4.0%). Alcohol volume (RR 1.44, 95% CI: 1.03-2.03, P = 0.034) and age ≤40 years old (RR 4.63, 95% CI: 1.07-20.0, P = 0.040) were independent predictors for periprocedural lethal ventricular arrhythmia. The 10- year overall survival was 94.6% in the ASA group, similar with 92.9% in the NOHCM group (P = 0.930). In conclusion, periprocedural mortality and complications were rare in ASA. Long term survival after ASA were satisfactory and comparable to NOHCM. Patients under 40 years old should be more cautious undergoing ASA, for these patients were more likely to endure lethal ventricular arrhythmia during periprocedural period of ASA.

Long-term survival after acute myocardial infarction in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is associated with poor prognosis. It has been reported that there is no difference in in-hospital mortality after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) between patients with and without HCM. However, whether there is a difference in long-term survival after AMI between patients with and without HCM remains unclear. HYPOTHESIS: Long-term survival after AMI is worse in patients with vs without HCM. METHODS: The clinical profiles of 91 consecutive patients with HCM and AMI (HCM group) and 91 sex- and age-matched patients with AMI without HCM (non-HCM group) were analyzed. The study endpoint was all-cause mortality. RESULTS: During a follow-up period of 4.9 ± 3.6 years, all-cause mortality occurred in 25 patients (27.5%) in the HCM group and 13 patients (14.3%) in the non-HCM group. The survival of the HCM group was inferior to that of the non-HCM group (log-rank P = 0.039). During the first year of follow-up, 3 deaths (3.3%) occurred in the HCM group and 7 deaths (7.7%) occurred in the non-HCM group (log-rank P = 0.177). Among patients who survived beyond the first year of follow-up (172 patients), the annual mortality rates were 6.3% (95% confidence interval: 4.0%-9.3%) in the HCM group and 1.6% (95% confidence interval: 0.6%-3.5%) in the non-HCM group (log-rank P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: AMI patients with HCM exhibited worse long-term survival than did AMI patients without HCM.

Effectiveness of Alcohol Septal Ablation Versus Transaortic Extended Myectomy in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy with Midventricular Obstruction.

OBJECTIVES: Investigate the effectiveness of alcohol septal ablation (ASA) and transaortic extended myectomy (TEM) in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) with midventricular obstruction (MVO). BACKGROUND: MVO is less common than subaortic obstruction. Data on the effectiveness of ASA and TEM in MVO are lacking. METHODS: The clinical profiles of 22 patients undergoing ASA and 37 patients undergoing TEM were compared. No patient had apical aneurysm, abnormal chordae, mitral valve replacement or repair. RESULTS: Baseline midventricular pressure gradient and symptoms were comparable between the ASA and TEM groups. During follow-up, both groups demonstrated substantial reduction in pressure gradient (the ASA group: 79.7 ± 21.2 mm Hg to 43.7 ± 28.9 mm Hg, P < 0.001; the TEM group: 69.0 ± 23.9 mm Hg to 15.0 ± 16.9 mm Hg, P < 0.001). The reduction in pressure gradient was greater (78.9 ± 18.6% vs. 46.4 ± 33.4%, P < 0.001) and the residual pressure gradient was lower after TEM versus ASA (P < 0.001). Patients with New York Heart Association class III/IV dyspnea decreased from 59.1 to 18.2% (P = 0.022) in the ASA group and from 56.8 to 5.6% (P < 0.001) in the TEM group. Patients with Canadian Cardiovascular Society class III/IV angina decreased from 40.9 to 9.1% (P = 0.016) in the ASA group and from 32.4 to 0% (P < 0.001) in the TEM group. CONCLUSIONS: While ASA and TEM both improve gradients and symptoms, TEM may provide a more reliable reduction in gradients compared to ASA.

Effectiveness of Alcohol Septal Ablation in Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy With Versus Without Extreme Septal Hypertrophy.

AIMS: Data on the effectiveness of alcohol septal ablation (ASA) in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and extreme septal hypertrophy (ESH) are lacking. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of ASA in patients with vs without ESH. METHODS: Clinical profiles of 17 patients with ESH and 256 patients without ESH were compared. RESULTS: Baseline pressure gradient and limiting symptoms were comparable between patients with and without ESH. At median 1.1 years of follow-up after ASA, pressure gradient was 48.5 ± 40.4 mm Hg in the ESH group and 40.9 ± 35.2 mm Hg in the non-ESH (N-ESH) group (P=.33). Patients with New York Heart Association class III/IV represented 5.9% of the ESH group and 16.9% of the N-ESH group (P=.39). Patients with Canadian Cardiovascular Society class III/IV represented 5.9% of the ESH group and 10.2% of the N-ESH group (P=.87). CONCLUSION: The effectiveness of ASA seems comparable between patients with and without ESH.

Incidence of ischemic stroke and systemic embolism in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, CHA2DS2-VASc score of ≤1 and without anticoagulant therapy.

Data on the risk of ischemic stroke and systemic embolism (iSSE) events in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), a CHA2DS2-VASc score of ≤1, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), and without anticoagulant therapy are still lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of iSSE events in these patients. We consecutively screened medical records of patients with HCM and NVAF referred to Fuwai Hospital between January 1994 and March 2014. The primary end point was iSSE events, defined as a composite of ischemic stroke and systemic embolism. Follow-up was carried out to ascertain end point status. Medical records of 522 patients with NVAF and HCM were screened. A total of 108 patients (20.7 %) with a CHA2DS2-VASc score of ≤1 and without anticoagulant therapy were enrolled and constituted our study population. After a median follow-up of 2.4 years (range 0.6-14.1 years; 376.2 patient-years), ischemic stroke occurred in 2 patients, resulting in death of 1 patient in the first year and paralysis of the other patient in the fourth year. No other iSSE events occurred. The incidence of iSSE was 0.9 % [95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.0-5.0 %] in the first year, and 0.5 % per 100 patient-years (95 % CI 0.1-1.9 %). The risk of iSSE events seems low in patients with NVAF, a CHA2DS2-VASc score of ≤1, HCM, and without anticoagulant therapy. Multicenter studies with sizeable study populations are needed to validate the risk of iSSE events in these patients.

Survival after alcohol septal ablation versus conservative therapy in obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: The impact of alcohol septal ablation (ASA) on the survival of patients with drug-refractory obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) remains unresolved. The aim of this study was to compare survival after ASA vs. conservative therapy. METHODS: We studied a consecutive cohort of 274 patients with severe drug-refractory obstructive HCM, 229 in ASA group and 45 in conservative group. The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause mortality and aborted cardiac arrest. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 4.3 years, primary endpoint occurred in 13 (5.7%) patients in the ASA group, and 8 (17.8%) patients in the conservative group. The 5- and 10-year survival free from primary endpoint of the ASA group (94.5% and 93.0%, respectively) was significantly better than that of the conservative group (78.3% and 72.2%, respectively, log-rank p = 0.009). Independent determinants of primary endpoint were ASA therapy (hazard ratio [HR] 0.22; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.08-0.60; p = 0.003) and maximal septal thickness (HR 1.14; 95% CI 1.03-1.27; p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with severe drug-refractory obstructive HCM, survival after ASA is favorable and better than that of conservative therapy. ASA seems to improve survival.

Clinical characteristics and prognosis of 60 patients with midventricular obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Midventricular obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (MVOHCM) is a rare form of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Knowledge regarding the diagnosis, morbidity and cardiovascular mortality is limited. In this study, we aimed to describe the long-term outcomes of patients with MVOHCM followed in a tertiary referral centre.Methods A retrospective study of 60 patients with MVOHCM diagnosed at FuWai Hospital was performed. Clinical features, mortality and cardiovascular morbidity were analysed. RESULTS: The 60 patients with MVOHCM represented 2.9% of all the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy cases (n = 2068). At diagnosis, the mean age was 40.2 ±â€Š15.0 years. During 7.1 ±â€Š6.3 years of follow-up after diagnosis, the cardiovascular mortality was 15.0%. The probability of survival at 10 years was 77.0 ±â€Š8.0%. The following two predictors of cardiovascular mortality were identified: severe ventricular septal hypertrophy at least 30  mm (hazard ratio, 3.19; P = 0.031) and unexplained syncope (hazard ratio, 4.59; P = 0.002) at baseline. Thirty patients (50.0%) had one or more morbid events, and the most frequent was nonsustained ventricular tachycardia. Apical aneurysm formation was identified in 20% of patients, and the patients with apical aneurysms were more inclined to experience nonsustained ventricular tachycardia than patients without apical aneurysm (58.3 vs. 16.7%; P = 0.003). Peak pressure gradient at least 70  mm Hg (hazard ratio, 3.00; P = 0.01) at baseline was identified as the only predictor of apical aneurysm. CONCLUSION: In Chinese patients, MVOHCM is associated with an unfavourable prognosis of cardiovascular mortality. One-half of these patients experience major cardiovascular events, and 20% develop an apical aneurysm, which significantly increases arrhythmia events. These data warrant measures to ensure the early recognition of MVOHCM followed by appropriate therapeutic interventions.

Comparison of the prevalence, clinical features, and long-term outcomes of midventricular hypertrophy vs apical phenotype in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies on the association between the distribution of left ventricle hypertrophy and the clinical features of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) have yielded unclear results. The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in the prevalence, clinical features, management strategies, and long-term outcomes between patients with midventricular hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (MVHOCM) and patients with apical HCM (ApHCM). METHODS: A retrospective study of 60 patients with MVHOCM and 263 patients with ApHCM identified in a consecutive single-centre cohort consisting of 2068 patients with HCM was performed. The prevalence, clinical features, and natural history of the patients in these 2 groups were compared. RESULTS: Compared with ApHCM patients, patients with MVHOCM tended to be much younger and more symptomatic during their initial evaluation. Over a mean follow-up of 7 years, the probability of cardiovascular mortality and that of morbidity was significantly greater in MVHOCM patients compared with ApHCM patients (log-rank, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that, compared with ApHCM, MVHOCM represents an uncommon presentation of the clinical spectrum of HCM that is characterized by progressive clinical deterioration leading to increased cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Our results also underscore the importance of the timely recognition of MVHOCM for the prediction of prognosis and the early consideration of appropriate management strategies.