Relationship between right atrial pressure and the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score in patients with advanced heart failure.

Background: This study aims to investigate the association between right atrial pressure and the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score and to evaluate the ability of this scoring system to accurately predict the value of right atrial pressure. Methods: Between April 2016 and November 2018, a total of 137 patients (118 males, 19 females; median age: 49 years; range, 40 to 54 years) with advanced heart failure who were candidates for left ventricular assist device implantation or heart transplantation were retrospectively analyzed. We developed a formula calculated by using the biochemical and cardiac catheterization parameters of the patients. Results: There was a strong correlation between the right atrial pressure and the scores (r=0.510, p<0.001). The estimated right atrial pressure was calculated as "2 + (0.92 x Model for End-Stage Liver Disease Score)" (unstandardized coefficient 0.920, t value 7.674, p<0.001). The Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score was found to be an independent predictor of high right atrial pressure (odds ratio=1.491, 95% confidence interval: 1.244-1.786, p<0.001). The calculated area under the curve was 0.789 (95% confidence interval: 0.710-0.867, p<0.001) and the cut-off value of the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score in the prediction of high right atrial pressure was 10.5 with 75% sensitivity and 73% specificity. Conclusion: We define a method to calculate right atrial pressure obtained by using the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score without the need for cardiac catheterization during the hospitalization and follow-up period of patients with advanced heart failure.

Prognostic Impact of Nutritional Indices in Candidates for Heart Transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: No study has thus far evaluated the association of controlling nutritional status (CO NUT) score and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) with prognosis in candidates listed for heart transplantation (HT). Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the impact of these nutritional indices on prognosis in these candidates. METHODS: In this retrospective study, a total of 195 candidates for HT were included. Over a median follow-up period of 503.5 days, the patients were grouped as survivors (n=121) and non-survivors (n = 74). Malnutrition was defined as CONUT score ≥2 (CONUT-defined malnu trition) and PNI ≤38 (PNI-defined malnutrition). RESULTS: The CONUT-defined malnutrition was observed in 19.8% and 39.2% of the survivors and non-survivors (P = .003), and the PNI-defined malnutrition was observed in 7.4% and 16.2% of the survivors and non-survivors (P = .032). The univariate analysis revealed that the CONUT score from 0 to 2 (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.41, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11-1.79, P =.004) and PNI from 45.5 to 54.5 (HR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.64-0.95, P = .001), the CONUT-defined malnutrition (HR: 2.48, 95% CI: 1.55-3.97, P < .001) and the PNI-defined malnutrition (HR: 1.97, 95% CI: 1.01-3.86, P = .04) were associated with mortality. In the multivariate adjusted models, the CO NUT-defined malnutrition was an independent predictor of mortality, whereas the PNI-defined malnutrition was not a predictor of mortality (HR: 1.92, 95% CI: 1.12-3.27, P = .001 and HR: 1.64, 95% CI: 0.80-3.40, P = .18). The log-rank test revealed that the CONUT-defined malnutri tion and the PNI-defined malnutrition were associated with decrease in survival rate. CONCLUSION: Although both the CONUT score and the PNI score were associated with prognosis in candidates for HT, the CONUT score was superior to the PNI score in predicting mortality.

Prognostic Importance of Pulmonary Artery Pulsatility Index and Right Ventricular Stroke Work Index in End-Stage Heart Failure Patients.

BACKGROUND: Right ventricular (RV) failure is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with left ventricular (LV) end-stage heart failure (ESHF). Pulmonary artery pulsatility index (PAPi) and RV stroke work index (RVSWI) are invasive parameters related to RV function. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic impact of PAPi and RVSWI in these patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, 416 patients with ESHF were included. The adverse cardiac event (ACE) was defined as LV assist device implantation, urgent heart transplantation, or cardiac mortality. There were 218 ACE cases and 198 non-ACE cases over a median follow-up of 503.50 days. Patients with ACE had lower PAPi and similar RVSWI compared to those without ACE (3.1 ± 1.9 vs. 3.7 ± 2.3, p = 0.003 and 7.3 ± 4.9 vs. 6.9 ± 4.4, p = 0.422, respectively). According to the results of multivariate analysis, while PAPi (from 2 to 5.65) was associated with ACE, RVSWI (from 3.62 to 9.75) was not associated with ACE (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.75, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.55-0.95], p = 0.031; HR: 0.79, 95% CI: [0.58-1.09], p = 0.081, respectively). Survival analysis revealed that PAPi ≤2.56 was associated with a higher ACE risk compared to PAPi >2.56 (HR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.11-1.92, p = 0.006). PAPi ≤2.56 could predict ACE with 56.7% sensitivity and 51.3% specificity at 1 year. Furthermore, the association between RVSWI and ACE was nonlinear (J-curve pattern). Low and high values seem to be associated with higher ACE risk compared to intermediate values. CONCLUSION: The low PAPi was an independent risk for ACE and it had a linear association with it. However, RVSWI seems to be have a nonlinear association with ACE (J-curve pattern).

Effect of Group 2 Pulmonary Hypertension Subgroups on Outcomes: Impact of the Updated Definition of Pulmonary Hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a common complication of end-stage heart failure (ESHF) and associated with increased mortality. The definition of PH has recently been changed from a mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PAPm) ≥25 mmHg to a PAPm >20 mmHg. Since this change, there are no data evaluating group 2 PH subgroups on outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of updated group 2 PH subgroups on outcomes, as well as to evaluate the clinical, echocardiographic, and haemodynamic characteristics of subgroups, and determine predictors of PH in patients with ESHF. METHOD: A total of 416 patients with ESHF with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤25% were divided into three groups. Pulmonary hypertension was defined as PAPm >20 mmHg. Primary outcome was defined as left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation, urgent heart transplantation (HT), or death. Secondary outcome was defined as LVAD implantation and HT. RESULTS: Over a median follow-up of 503.5 days, combined pre- and postcapillary PH (Cpc-PH) displayed greater risk of primary outcome than those with isolated postcapillary (Ipc-PH) (hazard ratio [HR], 1.57; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.29-1.91; p<0.001) and those with no PH (HR, 2.47; 95% CI, 1.68-3.63; p<0.001). Patients with Ipc-PH demonstrated greater risk than those with no PH (HR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.57-1.90; p<0.001). Likelihood ratios of updated PH criteria and old PH criteria (PAPm ≥25 mmHg) in identifying primary outcome were 75.6 (R2=0.179) and 72.09 (R2=0.164). Patients with PAPm 21-24 mmHg had a higher primary outcome than those with PAPm ≤20 mmHg. Severe mitral regurgitation, LVEF, grade 3 diastolic dysfunction, diabetes, and cardiac output were predictors of PH. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary hypertension increases the risk of LVAD, urgent HT, or death, and Cpc-PH further increases risk in patients with ESHF. Compared to the previous definition, a new PH definition better discriminates death, going to urgent HT, or LVAD implantation for PH subgroups.

Ischaemic versus non-ischaemic: how does heart failure aetiology affect pulmonary arterial capacitance and pulmonary artery pulsatility index in end-stage heart failure?

BACKGROUND: The aetiology of heart failure may have different effects on right ventricular (RV) function, pulmonary pressures and RV afterload. Pulmonary arterial capacitance (PAC) and pulmonary artery pulsatility index (PAPi) are novel haemodynamic indices used in determining RV afterload and RV function, respectively. We aimed to investigate whether there was a difference in PAC and PAPi between ischaemic cardiomyopathy (ICMP) and non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy (NICMP) in patients with end-stage heart failure. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 215 subjects undergoing evaluation for heart transplantation or left ventricular (LV) assist device were classified into two groups: ICMP (n = 101) and NICMP (n = 114). The patients with LV ejection fraction ≤ 25% were included in the study. ICMP group had lower PAC and higher PAPi values compared to NICMP group [1.25 (0.82-1.86) vs. 1.58 (1.02-2.21), p = 0.002 and 3.4 (2.2-5.0) vs. 2.5 (1.7-4.0); p = 0.007]. Pulmonary vascular resistance, pulmonary artery systolic and mean pressure were higher in ICMP group compared to NICMP group [3.5 ± 1.8 vs. 2.9 ± 2.3, p = 0.004; 59.0 (42.0-73.0) vs. 46.0 (37.0-59.0), p < 0.001, 35.0 (27.0-46.0) vs. 31.0 (23.0-39.0), p = 0.002]. The patients with ICMP had higher tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion and less RV dilatation. ICMP was an independent risk factor for pulmonary hypertension (OR: 4.02, 95% CI: 1.13-14.24, p = 0.031). CONCLUSION: ICMP was associated with lower PAC and higher PAPi. These results indicated that an ischaemic aetiology is associated with higher RV afterload and better RV function in the end-stage heart failure.

Effect of non-dipper pattern on echocardiographic myocardial work parameters in normotensive individuals.

BACKGROUND: It is known that non-dipper pattern (NDP) is associated with adverse outcomes in hypertensive patients. However, there is insufficient data on the outcome of NDP in normotensive individuals. Using myocardial work (MW) analysis, as a new echocardiographic examination method, this study aimed to determine the early myocardial effects of NDP in normotensive individuals. METHODS: This study included 70 normotensive individuals who were followed by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). The subjects were divided into two groups according to dipper pattern (DP) and NDP. Conventional, strain, and MW findings were compared between the groups by making echocardiographic evaluations. RESULTS: The demographic characteristics, laboratory parameters, and measurements of cardiac chambers, and left ventricular (LV) walls were similar between the groups. There was no statistical difference between the groups in terms of LV 3-2-4 chambers strains and global longitudinal strain (GLS) values. LVMW parameters, global work index (GWI), and global constrictive work (GCW) were not statistically different between groups (2012 ± 127, 2069 ± 137, p = 0.16; 2327 ± 173, 2418 ± 296, p = 0.18, respectively). However, global waste work (GWW) and global work efficiency (GWE) parameters were different between the groups (144 ± 63.9, 104 ± 24.8, p < 0.001; 93.2 ± 3.17, 95.4 ± 1.28, p < 0.001, respectively). In regression analysis, GWW was independently associated with NDP. GWW model showed better results with higher likelihood chi-square and R2 values than GLS model in discriminating the predictable capability for NDP status. CONCLUSION: The results of MW analysis in this study showed that GWW values were higher and the GWE values were lower in normotensive individuals with NDP.

The association of left ventricular end-diastolic pressure with global longitudinal strain and scintigraphic infarct size in ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) is an independent predictor for prognosis in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. We aimed to investigate the relationship of admission LVEDP measured after a successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) with scintigraphic infarct size (IS) and global longitudinal strain (GLS), a strong predictor of IS, in STEMI patients. A total of 62 consecutive patients with STEMI were enrolled in the study. LVEDP measurements were performed after pPCI in patients who had TIMI-3 flow. Echocardiography was performed 24 h after pPCI and repeated 3 months later. GLS was calculated as an average peak strain from the 3 apical projections. IS was evaluated at the third month by technetium 99m sestamibi. The mean age was 56 ± 8 years in the study population. The mean LVEDP was found 19.4 ± 4.4 mmHg. Median IS was 4% (0-11.7 IQR).The mean GLS at the 24th hour and the third month were found to be - 15.4 ± 2.8 and - 16.7 ± 2.5 respectively. There was a moderate negative correlation between LVEDP and GLS (24th-hour p < 0.001 r = - 0.485 and third-month p < 0.001 r = - 0.489). LVEDP had a moderate positive correlation with scintigraphic IS (p < 0.001 r = 0.545). In the multivariable model, we found that LVEDP was significantly associated with scintigraphic IS (ß coefficient = 0.570, p = 0.008) but was not associated with the 24th hour (ß coefficient = 0.092, p = 0.171) and third month GLS (ß coefficient = 0.037, p = 0.531). This study demonstrated that there was a statistically significant relationship between LVEDP and scintigraphic IS, and IS was increased with high LVEDP values. However, there was not a relationship between LVEDP and GLS.

Comparison of 30-Day MACE between Immediate versus Staged Complete Revascularization in Acute Myocardial Infarction with Multivessel Disease, and the Effect of Coronary Lesion Complexity.

Background and objective: In patients with acute myocardial infarction and multivessel disease, the timing of intervention to non-culprit lesions is still a matter of debate, especially in patients without shock. This study aimed to compare the effect of multivessel intervention, performed at index percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (MVI-I) or index hospitalization (MVI-S), on the 30-day results of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and to investigate the effect of coronary lesion complexity assessed by the Syntax (Sx) score on the timing of multivessel intervention. Materials and methods: We enrolled 180 patients with MVI-I, and 425 patients with MVI-S. The major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) for this study were identified as mortality, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, acute heart failure, ischemia driven revascularization, major bleeding, and acute renal failure developed within 30 days. Results: The unadjusted MACE rates at 30 days were 11.2% and 5% among those who underwent MVI-I and MVI-S, respectively (OR 3.02; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.51⁻6.02; p=0.002). Associations were statistically significant after adjusting for covariates in the penalized multivariable model (adjusted OR 2.06; 95%CI 1.02⁻4.18; p=0.043), propensity score adjusted multivariable model (adjusted OR 2.46; 95%CI 1.19⁻5.07; p=0.015), and IPW (adjusted OR 2.11; 95%CI 1.28⁻3.47; p=0.041). We found that the Syntax score of lesions did not affect the results. Conclusion: MVI-S was associated with a lower incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events within 30 days after discharge.

A five-year, single-centre experience on ultrasound-assisted, catheter-directed thrombolysis in patients with pulmonary embolism at high risk and intermediate to high risk.

AIMS: In this single-centre study, we aimed to evaluate the short- and long-term efficacy and safety outcomes of ultrasound-assisted thrombolysis (USAT) performed in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) at intermediate to high risk and high risk (IHR, HR). METHODS AND RESULTS: The study group comprised 141 retrospectively evaluated patients with PE who underwent USAT. Tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) dosage was 36.1±15.3 mg, and infusion duration was 24.5±8.1 hours. USAT was associated with improvements in echocardiographic measures of right ventricle systolic function, pulmonary arterial (PA) obstruction score, right to left ventricle diameter ratio (RV/LV), right to left atrial diameter ratio and PA pressures, irrespective of the risk (p<0.0001 for all). In-hospital mortality, major and minor bleeding rates were 5.7%, 7.8% and 11.3%, respectively. Follow-up data (median 752 days) were available in all patients. Absolute and % changes in RV/LV and % changes in PA mean pressure were significantly higher in patients younger than 65 years compared with older patients, whereas bleeding, 30-day and long-term mortality were not related to age, t-PA dosage or infusion duration. HR versus IHR increased 30-day mortality. CONCLUSIONS: USAT was associated with improvements in thrombolysis and stabilisation of haemodynamics along with relatively low rates of complications in patients with PE, regardless of the risk status. However, HR still confers a higher short-term mortality. Increasing the t-PA dosage and prolongation of infusion may not offer benefit in USAT treatments.

Evaluation of the congenital supravalvular aortic stenosis by different imaging modalities.

A 36-year-old female was admitted to hospital exhibiting chest pain, dyspnea, and a heart murmur on the right upper sternal border, radiating to both carotid arteries. The blood pressure of the patient's right arm exceeded the pressure in the left by 25 mm Hg (Coanda effect). In spite of laboratory results that did not fall outside the expected range, the left ventricle was revealed to be hypertrophic following electrocardiography. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a severe supravalvular aortic stenosis (SVAS) with a peak Doppler velocity of 6.04 cm/s and an estimated mean pressure gradient of 89 mm Hg, with moderate aortic and mitral regurgitation. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CCT) indicated a partial hourglass-shaped narrowing of the ascending aorta. Lesions associated with supravalvular stenosis of the pulmonary artery, patent ductus arteriosus, and aortic coarctation were ruled out by the CCT. Congenital SVAS is a rare heart condition, and three anatomically distinct forms have been described. The most common type is the "hourglass," which produces a marked thickening and disorganization of the aortic tissue, producing a constricting annular ridge at the superior margin of the sinuses of Valsalva.