Patient Perceptions of Exertion and Dyspnea With Interleukin-1 Blockade in Patients With Recently Decompensated Systolic Heart Failure.

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) blockade is an anti-inflammatory treatment that may affect exercise capacity in heart failure (HF). We evaluated patient-reported perceptions of exertion and dyspnea at submaximal exercise during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial of IL-1 blockade in patients with systolic HF (REDHART [Recently Decompensated Heart Failure Anakinra Response Trial]). Patients underwent maximal CPET at baseline, 2, 4, and 12 weeks and rated their perceived level of exertion (RPE, on a scale from 6 to 20) and dyspnea on exertion (DOE, on a scale from 0 to 10) every 3 minutes throughout exercise. Patients also answered 2 questionnaires to assess HF-related quality of life: the Duke Activity Status Index and the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire. From baseline to the 12-week follow-up, IL-1 blockade significantly reduced RPE and DOE at 3- and 6-minutes during CPET without changing values for heart rate, oxygen consumption, and cardiac workload at 3- and 6-minutes. Linear regression identified 6-minute RPE to be a strong independent predictor of both physical symptoms (Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire; ß = 0.474, p = 0.002) and perceived exercise capacity (Duke Activity Status Index; ß = -0.443, p = 0.008). In conclusion, patient perceptions of exertion and dyspnea at submaximal exercise may be valuable surrogates for quality of life and markers of response to IL-1 blockade in patients with HF.

Retrospective Study of 573 Patients with Heart Failure Evaluated for Coronary Artery Disease at Toulouse University Center, France.

BACKGROUND Heart failure (HF) most commonly occurs due to ischemic heart disease from stenotic coronary artery disease (CAD). HF is classified into 3 groups based on the percentage of the ejection fraction (EF): reduced (HFrEF), mid-range (HFmrEF), and preserved (HFpEF). This retrospective study included 573 patients who presented with HF based on the evaluation of EF and were evaluated for CAD by coronary angiography before undergoing coronary angioplasty at a single center in Toulouse, France. MATERIAL AND METHODS This retrospective observational study included patients recently diagnosed with HF or acute decompensation of chronic HF and referred for coronary angiography at Toulouse University Hospital between January 2019 and May 2020. RESULTS Significant CAD was found in 55.8%, 55%, and 55% of the whole population, HFpEF, and HFrEF groups, respectively. Older age, male sex, and diabetes mellitus were the main risk factors for ischemic HF. Except for age and sex, patients with ischemic HFpEF were comparable to those with non-ischemic HFpEF, unlike the ischemic HFrEF group, which had more common cardiovascular risk factors than the non-ischemic HFrEF group. The ischemic HFpEF group had an older age and higher rate of dyslipidemia than the ischemic HFrEF group. CONCLUSIONS At our center, CAD was diagnosed in more than half of patients who presented with heart failure with preserved or reduced EF. Older age and male sex were the common risk factors in patients with HFpEF and HFrEF.

Elevated Serum Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 Is Relevant to Heart Failure Patients with Reduced Ejection Fraction.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the roles of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) in heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction and its association with Heart Failure with reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF). METHODS: The level of FGF21 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 199 subjects enrolled in this study, including 128 subjects with HFrEF and 71 control subjects. The mean follow-up time was 13.36 months. The left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) percentage were evaluated by the 2D echocardiography. Serum brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) was measured in the routine clinical laboratory. RESULTS: The serum FGF21 level was evidently higher in patients with HFrEF than in the control group (228.72 ± 24.04 vs. 171.60 ± 12.98, p < 0.001). After 1 year of follow-up, 61 patients (47.66%) with heart failure were readmitted to the hospital, including 8 deaths (13.11%). The AUC of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for the predictive value of FGF21 for prognosis was 0.964. Kaplan-Meier analysis results showed that there were significant differences in the 1-year mortality and heart failure readmission events between the grouped subjects. A poor prognosis was correlated with the serum level of FGF21, BNP, LVEDD, and LVEF, which was confirmed by the univariate Cox analysis. CONCLUSION: FGF21 was independently associated with an increased risk of mortality and readmission HFrEF patients. Therefore, FGF21 has the potential to be a biomarker for the progression of HFrEF in patients.

O-ring-induced transverse aortic constriction (OTAC) is a new simple method to develop cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure in mice.

Suture-based transverse aortic constriction (TAC) in mice is one of the most frequently used experimental models for cardiac pressure overload-induced heart failure. However, the incidence of heart failure in the conventional TAC depends on the operator's skill. To optimize and simplify this method, we proposed O-ring-induced transverse aortic constriction (OTAC) in mice. C57BL/6J mice were subjected to OTAC, in which an o-ring was applied to the transverse aorta (between the brachiocephalic artery and the left common carotid artery) and tied with a triple knot. We used different inner diameters of o-rings were 0.50 and 0.45 mm. Pressure overload by OTAC promoted left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy. OTAC also increased lung weight, indicating severe pulmonary congestion. Echocardiographic findings revealed that both OTAC groups developed LV hypertrophy within one week after the procedure and gradually reduced LV fractional shortening. In addition, significant elevations in gene expression related to heart failure, LV hypertrophy, and LV fibrosis were observed in the LV of OTAC mice. We demonstrated the OTAC method, which is a simple and effective cardiac pressure overload method in mice. This method will efficiently help us understand heart failure (HF) mechanisms with reduced LV ejection fraction (HFrEF) and cardiac hypertrophy.

Outcomes of Patients With Diabetes Versus Patients Without Diabetes Hospitalized With Acute Heart Failure.

The objective is to define the clinical echocardiographic characteristics and cardiovascular outcome in patients with acute heart failure (HF) with versus without diabetes mellitus (DM). Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and echocardiographic data were collected in Olmsted County adults hospitalized for acute HF between 2005 and 2008. Analyses were performed for mortality and acute HF hospitalization outcomes stratified by diabetic status, systolic function, and diastolic function. There were 912 subjects who met inclusion criteria, and mean age was 79 (SD 13.1) years with 53% women. Prevalence of DM was 42% in the study population, and those with DM had worse diastolic function and increased mortality and HF rehospitalization. Among those with DM and acute HF, reduced left ventricular ejection fraction and worse diastolic function conferred increased HF rehospitalization (p = 0.010 and p = 0.022, respectively). In conclusion, DM is common in those hospitalized for acute HF and is associated with worse long-term clinical outcomes. The subgroup of DM with acute HF and left ventricular systolic dysfunction or diastolic dysfunction had worse HF rehospitalization outcomes.

The vasculature: a therapeutic target in heart failure?

It is well established that the vasculature plays a crucial role in maintaining oxygen and nutrients supply to the heart. Increasing evidence further suggests that the microcirculation has additional roles in supporting a healthy microenvironment. Heart failure is well known to be associated with changes and functional impairment of the microvasculature. The specific ablation of protective signals in endothelial cells in experimental models is sufficient to induce heart failure. Therefore, restoring a healthy endothelium and microcirculation may be a valuable therapeutic strategy to treat heart failure. This review article will summarize the current understanding of the vascular contribution to heart failure with reduced or preserved ejection fraction. Novel therapeutic approaches including next generation pro-angiogenic therapies and non-coding RNA therapeutics, as well as the targeting of metabolites or metabolic signalling, vascular inflammation and senescence will be discussed.

Diastolic and systolic left ventricular dysfunction and mortality in chronic kidney disease patients on haemodialysis.

AIMS: Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) and LV systolic dysfunction (LVSD) are prevalent in CKD, but their prognostic relevance is debatable. We intent to verify whether LVDD and LVSD are independently predictive of all-cause mortality and if they have comparable or different effects on outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted of the echocardiographic data of 1285 haemodialysis patients followed up until death or transplantation. LVDD was classified into 4 grades of severity. Endpoint was all-cause mortality. RESULTS: During a follow-up of 30 months, 419/1285 (33%) patients died, 224 (53%) due to CV events. LVDD occurred in 75% of patients, grade 1 DD was the prevalent diastolic abnormality, and pseudonormal pattern was the predominant form of moderate-severe DD. Moderate-severe LVDD (HR 1.379, CI% 1.074-1.770) and LVSD (HR 1.814, CI% 1.265-2.576) independently predicted death; a graded, progressive association was found between LVDD categories and the risk of death; and the impact of isolated severe-moderate LVDD on the risk of death was comparable to that exercised by isolated compromised LV systolic function. CONCLUSION: Moderate-severe LVDD and LVSD were independently associated with a higher probability of death and had a similar impact on survival. A progressive association was observed between LVDD grades and mortality.

Cost-effectiveness evaluation of add-on dapagliflozin for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction from perspective of healthcare systems in Asia-Pacific region.

BACKGROUND: With emerging evidence on the efficacy of adding dapagliflozin to standard care for patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), this study assessed the cost-effectiveness of add-on dapagliflozin to standard care versus standard care alone for HFrEF from the perspective of healthcare systems in the Asia-Pacific region. METHODS: A Markov model was applied to project the outcomes of treatment in terms of lifetime medical cost and quality-adjusted life-years. The transition probabilities between health states in the model were obtained from the Dapagliflozin in Patients with Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction trial. Country-specific costs and utilities were extracted for modeling. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio against a country-specific willingness-to-pay threshold was applied to determine the cost-effectiveness of treatment. A series of sensitivity analyses were performed to ensure the robustness of the study results. Costs are presented in 2020 United States dollars. RESULTS: The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios for add-on dapagliflozin versus standard care alone were $5277, $9980, $12,305, $16,705, and $23,227 per quality-adjusted life-year gained in Korea, Australia, Taiwan, Japan, and Singapore, respectively. When using add-on dapagliflozin to standard care versus standard care alone, ~ 100% of simulations were cost-effective at a willingness-to-pay threshold of one gross domestic product per capita of the given Asia-Pacific country; however, the probability of being cost-effective for using add-on dapagliflozin decreased when the time horizon for simulation was restricted to 18 months and when the cardiovascular mortality for the two treatments (43.8% and 33.0%, respectively) was assumed to be the same. The cost-effectiveness results were most sensitive to cardiovascular mortality of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Adding dapagliflozin to standard care is cost-effective for HFrEF in healthcare systems in the Asia-Pacific region, which supports the rational use of dapagliflozin for HFrEF in this region.

Acute Hemodynamic Effects and Tolerability of Phosphodiesterase-1 Inhibition With ITI-214 in Human Systolic Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: PDE1 (phosphodiesterase type 1) hydrolyzes cyclic adenosine and guanosine monophosphate. ITI-214 is a highly selective PDE1 inhibitor that induces arterial vasodilation and positive inotropy in larger mammals. Here, we assessed pharmacokinetics, hemodynamics, and tolerability of single-dose ITI-214 in humans with stable heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. METHODS: Patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction were randomized 3:1 to 10, 30, or 90 mg ITI-214 single oral dose or placebo (n=9/group). Vital signs and electrocardiography were monitored predose to 5 hours postdose and transthoracic echoDoppler cardiography predose and 2-hours postdose. RESULTS: Patient age averaged 54 years; 42% female, and 60% Black. Mean systolic blood pressure decreased 3 to 8 mm Hg (P<0.001) and heart rate increased 5 to 9 bpm (P≤0.001 for 10, 30 mg doses, RM-ANCOVA). After 4 hours, neither blood pressure or heart rate significantly differed among cohorts (supine or standing). ITI-214 increased mean left ventricular power index, a relatively load-insensitive inotropic index, by 0.143 Watts/mL2·104 (P=0.03, a +41% rise; 5-71 CI) and cardiac output by 0.83 L/min (P=0.002, +31%, 13-49 CI) both at the 30 mg dose. Systemic vascular resistance declined with 30 mg (-564 dynes·s/cm-5, P<0.001) and 90 mg (-370, P=0.016). Diastolic changes were minimal, and no parameters were significantly altered with placebo. ITI-214 was well-tolerated. Five patients had mild-moderate hypotension or orthostatic hypotension recorded adverse events. There were no significant changes in arrhythmia outcome and no serious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Single-dose ITI-214 is well-tolerated and confers inodilator effects in humans with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Further investigations of its therapeutic utility are warranted. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT03387215.

Increased ratio of sST2/LVMI predicted cardiovascular mortality and heart failure rehospitalization in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction patients: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Inflammation is one of the principal triggering mechanisms for left ventricular fibrosis and remodeling in heart failure, leading to adverse clinical outcomes. Soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2), a member of the interleukin-1 receptor family, is assumed to play a significant role in the fibrotic response to inflammation. Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) is a parameter of the prefibrotic inflammatory phase of heart failure preceding remodeling. The present study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of the sST2/LVMI ratio in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study. A total of 45 consecutive patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, treated between September 2015 and December 2016, were enrolled. The sST2/LVMI ratio was measured at baseline. The primary endpoint was a composite of cardiovascular mortality and readmission for heart failure. The prognostic impact of the sST2/LVMI ratio was evaluated using a multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model. RESULTS: Forty-five patients were enrolled in this study. Their average age was 48 ± 14 years, and approximately 20% of them were men. Patients were followed for 9 months, during which the primary outcome occurred in 15 patients. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that patients with a high sST2/LVMI ratio (≥ 0.39) had shorter event-free survival than those with intermediate (between 0.39 and 0.24) and low ratios (< 0.24) (log-rank, P = 0.022). The fully adjusted multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that the sST2/LVMI ratio was positively associated with the composite outcome in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction after adjusting for confounders (hazard ratio 1.64, 95% confidence interval 1.06 to 2.54). By subgroup analysis, a stronger association was found with age between 40 and 55 years, systolic blood pressure < 115 or ≥ 129 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure < 74 mmHg, hematocrit < 44.5%, and interventricular septum thickness ≥ 8.5 mm. CONCLUSION: In patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, the relationship between the sST2/LVMI ratio and the composite outcome was linear. A higher baseline ratio of sST2/LVMI was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality and heart failure rehospitalization in the short-term follow-up.

Safety and Efficacy of the Combination of Sacubitril/Valsartan and SGLT2i in HFrEF Patients (SECSI Registry).

ABSTRACT: Recent studies have proven benefit of SGLT2i drugs in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), but their safety when combined with angiotensin-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) has not been established. The Safety and Efficacy of the Combination of Sacubitril/Valsartan and SGLT2i in HFrEF Patients registry was conducted to address this issue. SECSI registry is a consecutive, observational, retrospective, multicentre study conducted in 3 Heart Failure Units in Spain. It included 144 HFrEF patients who were treated with ARNI and iSGLT2. Data were collected at baseline, month 2, and month 6. The primary endpoint was the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), after the initiation of ARNI and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i). Secondary endpoints included potassium levels and functional class (New York Heart Association class). There were 3 prespecified subgroup analyses: Elderly patients (≥70 years), patients with chronic kidney disease (KDIGO classification G3), and the sequence of drug initiation. Mean age was 69.9 ± 10.1 years, and 110 (76.4%) were men. Left ventricular ejection fraction was 32 ± 7.8%, and most patients were symptomatic [123 (87.2%) New York Heart Association II/III/IV]. eGFR decreased at month 2 and this trend was maintained at month 6 [eGFR baseline 68.5 ± 17.3, month 2 62 ± 19.7 and month 6 64.7 ± 8.6 mL/min/1.73 m2 (P < 0.01 for both)]. In prespecified analysis, elder patients and those who simultaneously initiate both treatments showed the steeper decrease in eGFR. To conclude, co-administration of SGLT2i and ARNI in routine care in HFrEF patients produced a slight decrease in eGFR at 6 months of follow-up. This decrease was especially significant in elder patients and those who initiate both drugs simultaneously.

Role of Guideline Directed Medical Therapy Doses and Optimization in Patients Hospitalized With Decompensated Systolic Heart Failure.

Despite significant advances in evidence-based treatments for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), the use of guideline directed medical therapy (GDMT) at recommended doses remains suboptimal. We examine the usage and modification of inpatient GDMT and its effect on outcomes in patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of acute on chronic HFrEF between 2013 and 2018. Overall use and modification of GDMT, which included heart failure appropriate beta-blockers (BB), renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (RASi) and aldosterone blockers (MRA) during the hospitalization were collected. Target dosages were based on guideline recommendations. Primary endpoints included 30-day hospitalization-free survival and 1-year survival. Among 1,655 patients, discharge use of BB, RASi, and MRA was 73.4%, 55.9% and 13.8%, respectively. Upon discharge, ≥50% target dose of BB, RASi, and MRA was used in 25.3%, 15.6%, and 13.7%, respectively. In multivariable analyses, there was a statistically significant improvement in 1-year survival and 30-day hospitalization-free survival in patients discharged on increasing number of medication classes optimized at ≥50% target dose (per extra medication, HR 0.74, 0.64-0.86, p <0.001, and HR 0.73, 0.62-0.86, p = 0.0002), respectively. Initiation and/or uptitration of BB and RASi was associated with improved 30-day hospitalization-free survival and 1-year survival, (HR 0.73 (0.57-0.92), p = 0.0087; HR 0.62 (0.46-0.82), p <0.001) for BB and (HR 0.77 (0.62-0.95), p <0.001; HR 0.62 (0.48-0.80), p <0.001) for RASi, respectively. In conclusion, inpatient optimization of GDMT in acute HFrEF is feasible and associated with improved 30-day hospitalization-free survival and 1-year survival.

Usefulness of Global Longitudinal Strain to Predict Heart Failure Progression in Patients With Nonobstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

While predicting prognosis to anticipate adverse disease course has long been an aspiration in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC), reliable markers of progressive and unrelenting heart failure symptoms in the absence of obstruction are not well characterized. We sought to evaluate markers of systolic function, including the role of global longitudinal strain (GLS), to identify nonobstructive HC patients at risk for future heart failure. A cohort of 296 consecutive nonobstructive HC patients (42 ± 18years; 75% male) with NYHA class I/II symptoms and preserved systolic function at study entry (EF: 65 ± 6%), were followed for progressive heart failure symptoms (increase in ≥ 1 NYHA functional class) and/or development of systolic dysfunction (EF < 50%). Over median follow-up of 4 ± 3 years, 35 study patients (10%) experienced new heart failure events, including 31 with progressive symptoms and 4 who developed systolic dysfunction. Abnormal GLS < 16% was associated with a 5-fold increase in risk for heart failure compared to GLS > 18% (p < 0.001). GLS remained an independent predictor of heart failure even after adjustment for other relevant disease variables including EF (OR 1.23, p = 0.005). However, notably, when GLS and EF were combined, the prediction of heart failure for individual patients was enhanced (net reclassification improvement 0.55; p = 0.002). Together, GLS < 16% and EF 50% to 59% were associated with a 12.5-fold greater risk for heart failure versus patients with GLS > 18% and EF ≥ 60%, who were at the lowest risk. In conclusion, in nonobstructive HC with no or mild symptoms and preserved EF, abnormal GLS is a strong independent predictor for subsequent development of progressive heart failure symptoms and/or systolic dysfunction. Furthermore, the greatest power in predicting outcome in nonobstructive HC is achieved by combining GLS with EF to identify HC patients at the highest risk for heart failure progression and systolic dysfunction.

Effect of Canagliflozin Compared With Sitagliptin on Serum Lipids in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction: A Post-Hoc Analysis of the CANA-HF Study.

ABSTRACT: The sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors have demonstrated favorable effects on cardiovascular and renal disease; however, they may also increase low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). There are limited data directly comparing the effects of sodium glucose co-transporter 2inhibitors on serum lipids to other antihyperglycemic therapies. In this post-hoc analysis of the CANA-HF trial, we sought to compare the effects of canagliflozin to sitagliptin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The CANA-HF trial was a prospective, randomized controlled study that compared the effects of canagliflozin 100 mg daily to sitagliptin 100 mg daily on cardiorespiratory fitness in patients with HFrEF and T2DM. Of the 36 patients enrolled in CANA-HF, 35 patients had both baseline and 12-weeks serum lipids obtained via venipuncture. The change in LDL-C from baseline to 12 weeks was 5 (-12.5 to 19.5) mg/dL versus -8 (-19 to -1) mg/dL (P = 0.82) and triglyceride levels was -4 (-26 to 9) mg/dL and -10.5 (-50 to 29.3) mg/dL (P = 0.52) for canagliflozin and sitagliptin, respectively. No significant differences were found between canagliflozin and sitagliptin for total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol or non-HDL-C (P > 0.5 for all). These data suggest that compared with sitagliptin, canagliflozin may not increase LDL-C in patients with T2DM and HFrEF.

Impact of Insulin Treatment on the Effect of Eplerenone: Insights From the EMPHASIS-HF Trial.

BACKGROUND: Patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and insulin-treated diabetes have a high risk of cardiovascular complications. Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists may mitigate this risk. We aim to explore the effect of eplerenone on cardiovascular outcomes and all-cause mortality in HFrEF patients with diabetes, including those treated with insulin in the EMPHASIS-HF trial (Eplerenone in Patients with Systolic Heart Failure and Mild Symptoms). METHODS: The primary outcome was the composite of heart failure hospitalization or cardiovascular death. Cox models with treatment-by-diabetes subgroup interaction terms were used. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 21 (10-33) months. Of the 2737 patients included, 623 (23%) had non-insulin-treated diabetes, 236 (9%) had insulin-treated diabetes and 1878 did not have diabetes. Patients with insulin-treated diabetes were younger, more often women, with higher body mass index, waist circumference, more frequent ischemic heart failure cause, impaired kidney function, and longer diabetes duration. Compared with patients without diabetes, those with insulin-treated diabetes had a 2-fold higher risk of having a primary outcome event. The hazard ratio (95% CI) for the effect of eplerenone, compared with placebo, on the primary outcome was 0.31 (0.19-0.50) in insulin-treated diabetes, 0.69 (0.50-0.93) in non-insulin-treated diabetes, and 0.72 (0.58-0.88) in patients without diabetes; interaction P=0.007. The annualized number needed-to-treat-to-benefit with regards to the primary outcome was 3 (95% CI, 3-4) in patients with insulin-treated diabetes, 16 (13-19) in patients with diabetes not receiving insulin, and 26 (24-28) in patients without diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with insulin-treated diabetes experienced a greater benefit from eplerenone than those with diabetes not treated with insulin and people without diabetes. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT00232180.

Neutrophil degranulation biomarkers characterize restrictive echocardiographic pattern with diastolic dysfunction in patients with diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the potential association between neutrophil degranulation and patterns of myocardial dysfunction in a cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). BACKGROUND: Two distinct phenotypes of diabetic cardiomyopathy have been described: a restrictive phenotype with diastolic dysfunction (restrictive/DD) and a dilative phenotype with systolic dysfunction (dilative/SD). However, the underlying determinants of these two patterns are not yet recognized. METHODS: In this single-centre, observational, cross-sectional study, 492 patients were recruited. Ultrasonographic measurements were performed by two experienced sonographers, blinded to the clinical data of the participants. Serum biomarkers of neutrophil degranulation were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent sandwich assay (ELISA). RESULTS: After adjustment for confounders, resistin, myeloperoxidase, matrix metalloproteinase 8 and matrix metalloproteinase 9/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 complex were positively associated with the restrictive/DD pattern compared with the normal pattern. Similarly, MPO was positively associated with the dilative/SD pattern compared with the normal pattern, and resistin was negatively associated with the dilative/SD pattern compared with the restrictive/DD pattern. CONCLUSIONS: Neutrophil degranulation is associated with the restrictive/DD echocardiographic pattern in patients with T2DM, but not with the normal pattern and dilative/SD patterns. Neutrophils could have a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of myocardial dysfunction, and particularly diastolic dysfunction, in patients with T2DM.

Novel Estimation of Left Ventricular Filling Pressure Using 3-D Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography: Assessment in a Decompensated Systolic Heart Failure Model.

E/e' allows for the non-invasive estimation of left ventricular (LV) filling pressure; however, Doppler malalignment can make the estimation unreliable, especially in dilated systolic failing hearts. The ratio of peak early diastolic filling rate to peak early diastolic global strain rate (FRe/SRe), which is a parameter derived from 3-D speckle-tracking echocardiography to estimate filling pressure, may be better applied in dilated systolic failing hearts because it can be obtained without the Doppler method. We investigated whether FRe/SRe could provide a better estimation of filling pressure than E/e' in 23 dogs with decompensated systolic heart failure induced by microembolization. FRe/SRe had better correlation coefficients with LV end-diastolic pressure (0.75-0.90) than did E/e' (0.40). The diagnostic accuracy of FRe/SRe in distinguishing elevated filling pressure was significantly higher than that of E/e'. This study indicates that FRe/SRe may provide a better estimation of LV filling pressure than E/e' in dilated systolic failing hearts.