Antiarrhythmic Drug Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequently encountered arrhythmia. Prevalence increases with advancing age and so as its associated comorbidities, like heart failure. Choice of pharmacologic therapy depends on whether the goal of treatment is maintaining sinus rhythm or tolerating AF with adequate control of ventricular rates. Antiarrhythmic therapy and conversion of AF into sinus rhythm comes with the side effect profile, and we should select best antiarrhythmic therapy, individualized to the patient. New antiarrhythmic drugs are being tested in clinical trials. Drugs that target remodeling and inflammation are being tested for their use as prevention of AF or as upstream therapy.

Predictors of Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction After Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement in Severe Mitral Annular Calcification: An Analysis of the Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement in Mitral Annular Calcification Global Registry.

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Vascular complications of transcatheter aortic valve replacement: A concise literature review.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a relatively newer therapeutic modality which offers a promising alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement for patients with prohibitive, high and intermediate surgical risk. The increasing trend to pursue TAVR in these patients has also led to growing awareness of the associated potential vascular complications. The significant impact of these complications on eventual clinical outcome and mortality makes prompt recognition and timely management a critical factor in TAVR patients. We hereby present a concise review with emphasis on diverse vascular complications associated with TAVR and their effective management to improve overall clinical outcomes.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy: Pathophysiology and role of cardiac biomarkers in differential diagnosis.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is characterized by reversible ventricular dysfunction, not limited to the distribution of an epicardial coronary artery. A disease primarily afflicting post-menopausal women, it is frequently mistaken for acute anterior wall myocardial infarction. Alternatively called Stress Cardiomyopathy, physical or emotional triggers are identified in only three fourths of TC patients. Long considered a benign condition, recent findings suggest poor short term prognosis similar to acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Despite the widely recognized pathophysiological role of catecholamine excess, its diagnostic role is uncertain. TC is suspected based on typical wall motion abnormalities in ventriculogram or echocardiogram. Several additional electrocardiographic, laboratory and imaging parameters have been studied with the goal of clinical diagnosis of TC. While several clinical clues differentiate it from ACS, a clinical diagnosis is often elusive leading to avoidable cardiac catheterizations. Natriuretic peptides (NPs), a family of peptide hormones released primarily in response to myocardial stretch, play a significant role in pathophysiology, diagnosis as well as treatment of congestive heart failure. TC with its prominent ventricular dysfunction is associated with a significant elevation of NPs. NPs are elevated in ACS as well but the degree of elevation is typically lesser than in TC. Markers of myocardial injury such as troponin are usually elevated to a higher degree in ACS than in TC. This differential elevation of NPs and markers of myocardial injury may play a role in early clinical recognition of TC.

External Compression of Epicardial Coronary Arteries with Partial Calcific Pericarditis.

Calcific pericarditis (CP) is a rare disease which results from long-standing pericardial inflammation. Pericardial calcification may completely or partially encase the ventricles, resulting in impaired diastolic filling. We present a case of a 53-year-old male who was incidentally found to have annular CP resulting in external compression of a large territory diagonal branch (D1) reaching the apex with likely chronically occluded left anterior descending artery with collateral circulation from the right coronary artery with hemodynamic compromise on coronary angiography. This was emergently treated with a drug-eluting stent with improved D1 flow and entailed the importance of percutaneous coronary intervention as a viable option in cases of CP resulting in acute hemodynamic compromise.

Ventricular fibrillation with intracoronary adenosine during fractional flow reserve assessment.

Fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurement provides useful hemodynamic assessment of intermediate coronary stenoses affecting long term outcomes. While the gold standard remains intravenous adenosine, intracoronary (IC) bolus administration of adenosine is routinely used in clinical practice because of its ease of use and lower dose providing comparative hyperemia with the most common side effect being a transient atrioventricular block. A 62year old male underwent left heart catheterization after ruling in for non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Presenting electrocardiogram (ECG) showed an old left bundle branch block and T-wave inversions in lateral leads (QTc 494ms) with no significant electrolyte abnormalities. Coronary angiography revealed an intermediate lesion in mid left anterior descending coronary artery. FFR assessment with IC adenosine (24µg/mL of normal saline) was performed inducing ventricular fibrillation (VF). He was successfully defibrillated with a single 200J shock and no further arrhythmias were noticed during rest of his hospital stay.

AParadigm Shift: The New Novel Oral Anticoagulation Agents.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia and represents one-third of the arrhythmia-related hospital admissions in the developed countries. Embolic strokes associated with AF are more severe and disabling. Thromboembolic stroke prevention is a major goal in treatment of AF and Warfarin has successfully served this purpose for many years. Drug-drug interaction and regular monitoring with Warfarin pose a significant challenge where health care system has limited resources; and lack of a well-structured health system, hinders regular International Normalized Ratio (INR) monitoring. Novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) have opened up a new exciting chapter in the field of anticoagulation in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). This review discussed the landmark trials that led to the development of NOACs and explored the potentials of these new agents with simultaneous comparison of Warfarin.

Cardiovascular Impact of Eating Disorders in Adults: A Single Center Experience and Literature Review.

Eating disorders have multiple medical sequelae, including potentially life-threatening cardiovascular complications. This article describes our cardiology practice experience of treating adults with eating disorders in the outpatient setting and documents baseline cardiac findings in this complex patient population. We describe our findings in patients across the spectrum of eating disorders; past studies have generally focused on anorexia only. This article also includes a review of the current literature on cardiovascular complications associated with disordered eating.

Antiarrhythmic drug therapy for atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequently encountered arrhythmia. Prevalence increases with advancing age and so as its associated comorbidities, like heart failure. Choice of pharmacologic therapy depends on whether the goal of treatment is maintaining sinus rhythm or tolerating AF with adequate control of ventricular rates. Antiarrhythmic therapy and conversion of AF into sinus rhythm comes with the side effect profile, and we should select best antiarrhythmic therapy, individualized to the patient. New antiarrhythmic drugs are being tested in clinical trials. Drugs that target remodeling and inflammation are being tested for their use as prevention of AF or as upstream therapy.

Recurrent right ventricular cardiac myxoma in a patient with Carney complex: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Carney complex is a multiple neoplasia syndrome involving cardiac, endocrine, neural and cutaneous tumors with a variety of pigmented skin lesions. It has an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance. Approximately 7% of cardiac myxomas are related to the Carney complex. Myxomas that occur as part of the Carney complex affect both sexes with equal frequency. Cardiac myxomas with Carney complex are reported mostly in the left side of the heart and are less common on the right side. As per our review, this is the first reported case of Carney complex with right ventricle cardiac myxoma. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a rare case of recurrent cardiac myxoma in a patient later diagnosed to have Carney complex. A 46-year-old Caucasian man with a history of thyroid hyperplasia came to out-patient cardiology department with new onset atrial fibrillation. A transthoracic echocardiogram revealed a right ventricular mass attached to his interventricular septum, which was later seen on a transesophageal echocardiogram and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. He underwent resection of the ventricular mass which on pathology revealed myxoma. He later developed skin lesions, pituitary adenoma and Sertoli cell tumor suggesting Carney complex. Two years later he developed a new mass within his right atrium which was later resected. CONCLUSIONS: Carney complex is a rare autosomal dominant disease with variable penetrance. Since it involves multiple organs, patients diagnosed with Carney complex should undergo serial endocrine workup, neural assessments, echocardiograms and testicular ultrasounds. Of the total number of cases of Carney complex, 65% are linked to PRKAR1A gene mutation. It is important for clinicians to be cognizant of a link between cardiac myxoma and Carney complex. The use of multi-imaging modalities allows better delineation of the mass before planned resection. Carney complex-related cardiac myxoma comprises 7% of all cardiac myxomas. Right ventricular cardiac myxomas are rare. This case report is the first to describe right ventricular myxoma with Carney complex.

The relationship between left ventricular ejection fraction and mortality in patients with acute heart failure: insights from the ASCEND-HF Trial.

AIM: Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality but the relationship between LVEF and outcomes is unclear. We explored the association between LVEF and 30 and 180 day mortality in 7007 ADHF patients enrolled in the Acute Studies of Nesiritide in Decompensated Heart Failure (ASCEND-HF) trial. METHODS AND RESULTS: We explored the association between LVEF and 30 and 180 day mortality in 7007 ADHF patients enrolled in the Acute Studies of Nesiritide in Decompensated Heart Failure (ASCEND-HF) trial. LVEF was analysed both as a continuous variable and according to three categories: < 40% (LowEF), 40-50% [intermediate EF (IntEF)], and > 50% [preserved ejection fraction (PresEF)]. Of the patients in the trial, 4474 (78.7%) had LowEF, 674 (11.9%) had IntEF, and 539 (9.5%) had PresEF. The unadjusted 30 and 180 day mortality was similar for LowEF (3.7%, 12.3%), IntEF (3.4%, 13.1%), and PresEF (4.3%, 14.1%), respectively (P > 0.05). After multivariable adjustment, the hazard ratio (HR) for 180 day mortality remained similar for the LowEF [HR 0.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.75-1.24; P = 0.77] and IntEF (0.91, 95% CI 0.66-1.3; P = 0.58) compared to PresEF patients. By contrast, when LVEF was evaluated as a continuous measure, it exhibited a U-shaped pattern with mortality. After matching for age and sex, the mortality risk attributed to LVEF was attenuated, as the LVEF increased as a continuous variable over 35%. However, in patients with EF < 35%, the mortality risk continue to increase as the LVEF declined. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with ADHF, the unadjusted mortality rates are similar across LVEF strata. However, after accounting for key patient variables, the mortality risk increases as EF falls below 35%. These data will be useful in planning future studies of ADHF. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: www.clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT00475852.

Primary pericardial mesothelioma unique case and literature review.

A 72-year-old woman, on warfarin therapy and with a remote history of breast cancer and radiation treatment, presented with a 10-day history of nausea, dyspnea, dry cough, and dizziness. An electrocardiogram showed new-onset atrial fibrillation. Computed tomography of the chest revealed multiple pulmonary emboli and a pericardial effusion. Echocardiography showed a pericardial effusion with tamponade characteristics. The patient's condition deteriorated, and a pericardiectomy was performed. Histologic evaluation confirmed primary pericardial mesothelioma. She underwent palliative treatment and died 3 months after discharge from the hospital. We discuss the patient's case and the nature of primary pericardial mesothelioma, a rare oncologic entity.

Recurrent takotsubo cardiomyopathy in the setting of transient neurological symptoms: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: First described in Japan, takotsubo cardiomyopathy is increasingly becoming recognized worldwide as a cause of sudden and reversible diminished left ventricular function characterized by left apical ballooning and hyperkinesis of the basal segments, often with symptoms mimicking a myocardial infarction. Associated with physical or emotional stress, its exact pathogenesis has not been established, though evidence supports a neurohumoral etiology. Additionally, recurrence of this condition is rare. In this report, we present a rare case of recurrent takotsubo cardiomyopathy in a post-menopausal woman who presented with transient neurological complaints on both occasions. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a rare case of a 76-year-old Caucasian woman with no history of congestive heart failure who presented to our emergency department twice with transient neurological complaints. On the first occasion, she was found to have transient aphasia which resolved within 24 hours, yet during that period she also developed symptoms of congestive heart failure and was noted to have a new, significantly depressed ejection fraction with apical akinesis and possible apical thrombus. One month after her presentation a repeat echocardiogram revealed complete resolution of all wall motion abnormalities and a return to baseline status. Seven months later she presented with ataxia, was diagnosed with vertebrobasilar insufficiency, and again developed symptoms and echocardiography findings similar to those of her first presentation. Once again, at her one-month follow-up examination, all wall motion abnormalities had completely resolved and her ejection fraction had returned to normal. CONCLUSION: Though the exact etiology of takotsubo cardiomyopathy is unclear, a neurohumoral mechanism has been proposed. Recurrence of this disorder is rare, though it has been reported in patients with structural brain abnormalities. This report is the first to describe recurrent takotsubo cardiomyopathy in a patient with transient neurological symptoms. In our patient, as expected in patients with this condition, complete resolution of all left ventricular abnormalities occurred within a short period of time. It is important for clinicians to be aware of this increasingly recognized syndrome, including its association with recurrence, especially in the clinical setting of neurologic dysfunction.

Factors influencing in-hospital length of stay and mortality in cancer patients suffering from febrile neutropenia.

INTRODUCTION: Febrile neutropenia (FN) is a major complication of chemotherapy, costly in terms of morbidity, mortality and associated financial expenditure. The present study was conducted with the goal of highlighting FN as a serious problem in Pakistan, with the longer term objective of improved cancer survival, reduction in length of stay (LOS) in hospital, morbidity, mortality and costs in our existing developing country scenario. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on patients, > or =18 years, admitted with FN as a consequence of chemotherapy at a referral hospital in Karachi from 1st September 2006 to 30th April 2007. RESULTS: A total of 80 patients [43 (53.8%) males and 37 (46.2%) females] were selected. The mean age was 47.4 (SD +/-16.6; range 18-79) years. Sixty eight patients (86%) were < or = 65 years, 50% were < or = 50 years. Overall, inhospital mortality was 11%; 4% for patients on granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) prophylaxis as against 20% for those without. The cause of death was either pneumonia or septic shock. Mean LOS was 7.53 (SD +/-3.8; range 2-17) days. Hematological malignancies, older age, severity of dehydration, pneumonia and culture positivity were significantly associated with LOS and death. Those above 50 years of age were 1.5 times as likely to be hospitalized longer and > three times as likely to die. Bacteremia conferred a 5-fold and pneumonia an 8-fold increase in the risk of death. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that age, vital instability, dehydration, high creatinine, culture positivity and hematological malignancies are high risk factors in chemotherapy induced FN. Identification of FN risk factors with poor outcomes may help in devising protocols for modified dosage or including GCFs initially. This may help reduce the cost of cancer care as well as mortality and morbidity. Prospective studies of FN in multiple centers in Pakistan may be beneficial in evaluating these risk factors further.