Impact of revascularization in patients with post-infarction left ventricular aneurysm and ventricular tachyarrhythmia.

BACKGROUND: Ventricular arrhythmia is a leading cause of cardiac death among patients with post-infarction left ventricular aneurysm (PI-LVA). The effect of coronary revascularization in PI-LVA patients with ventricular tachyarrhythmia remains unknown. This study aims to investigate the impact of revascularization therapy on clinical outcomes in these patients. METHODS: A total of 238 PI-LVA patients were enrolled, and 59 patients were presented with sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF). Patients were classified into 4 groups by treatment strategies (medical or revascularization) and the presence of VT/VF: group 1 (n = 57): VT/VF- and revascularization-; group 2 (n = 122): VT/VF- and revascularization+; group 3 (n = 34): VT/VF+ and revascularization+; and group 4 (n = 25): VT/VF+ and revascularization-. The clinical outcomes were compared, and the primary endpoint was cardiac death or heart transplantation. RESULTS: Patients were followed up for 45 ± 16 months, and 41 patients (17.2%) reached the primary endpoint. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that in VT/VF- patients, revascularization associated with higher cardiac survival compared with medical therapy (log-rank p = .002), but in VT/VF+ patients, revascularization did not predict better cardiac outcome (log-rank p = .901). Cox regression analysis revealed PET-EF (HR 4.41, 95% CI: 1.72-11.36, p = .002) and moderate/severe mitral regurgitation (HR 2.32, 95% CI: 1.02-5.30, p = .046) as independent predictors of adverse cardiac outcome in patients with VT/VF. CONCLUSION: PI-LVA patients with VT/VF are at high risk of adverse cardiac outcome, and coronary revascularization does not mitigate this risk, although revascularization was associated with higher cardiac survival in PI-LVA patients without VT/VF.

Big endothelin-1 as a clinical marker for ventricular tachyarrhythmias in patients with post-infarction left ventricular aneurysm.

OBJECTIVE: Ventricular tachyarrhythmia is the leading cause of death in post-infarction patients. Big endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent vasoconstrictor peptide and plays a role in ventricular tachyarrhythmia development. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the serum concentration of big ET-1 and ventricular tachyarrhythmia in post-infarction left ventricular aneurysm (PI-LVA) patients. METHODS: A total of 222 consecutive PI-LVA patients who had received medical therapy were enrolled in the study. There were 43 (19%) patients who had ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation (VT/VF) at the time of admission. The clinical characteristics were observed and the plasma big ET-1 level was measured. Associations between big ET-1 and the presence of VT/VF were assessed. Patients were followed up to check for outcomes related to cardiovascular mortality, VT/VF attack, and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: The median concentration of big ET-1 was 0.635 pg/mL. Patients with big ET-1 concentrations above the median were more likely to have higher risk clinical features. There was a positive correlation between the level of big ET-1 with VT/VF attack (r=0.354, p<0.001). In the multiple logistic regression analysis, big ET-1 (OR=4.06, 95% CI: 1.77-9.28, p<0.001) appeared as an independent predictive factor for the presence of VT/VF. Multiple Cox regression analysis suggested that big ET-1 concentration was independently predictive of VT/VF attack (OR=2.5, 95% CI 1.4-4.5, p<0.001). NT-proBNP and left ventricular ejection fraction of ≤35% were demonstrated to be independently predictive of cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality. CONCLUSION: Increased big ET-1 concentration in PI-LVA patients is a valuable independent predictor for the prevalence of ventricular tachyarrhythmias and VT/VF attacks during follow-up after PI-LVA treatment.

Prevalence and prognosis of ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation in patients with post-infarction left ventricular aneurysm: Analysis of 575 cases.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the prevalence of ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation (VT/VF) in Post-infarction left ventricular aneurysm (PI-LVA) patients and analyze clinical outcomes in patients presenting with VT/VF. METHODS: 575 PI-LVA patients were enrolled and investigated by logistic regression analysis. Patients with VT/VF were followed up, the composite primary endpoint was cardiac death and appropriate ICD/external shocks. RESULTS: The incidence of sustained VT/VF was 11%. Logistical regression analysis showed male gender, enlarged LV end diastolic diameter (LVEDD) and higher NYHA class were correlated with VT/VF development. During follow up of 46 ±â€¯15 months, 19 out of 62(31%) patients reached study end point. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that enlarged LVEDD and moderate/severe mitral regurgitation (MR) were independently predictive of clinical outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Male gender, enlarged LVEDD and higher NYHA class associated with risk of sustained VT/VF in PI-LVA patients. Among VT/VF positive patients, enlarged LVEDD and moderate/severe MR independently predicted poor clinical prognosis.