Global left ventricular longitudinal strain is associated with decreased melatonin levels in patients with acute myocardial infarction: a two-dimensional speckle tracking study.

Low circulating melatonin levels predict poor outcome in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). In the present study, we investigated whether a relationship between myocardial deformation in parameters measured by echocardiography and circulating melatonin level exists. We prospectively included 112 patients with STEMI who performed echocardiography and simultaneous measurement of serum melatonin, during the light period within 72 h of admission. We found a negative correlation between circulating melatonin levels and global longitudinal strain (p = 0.006, r = -0.33). In conclusion, melatonin levels have a correlation with two-dimensional speckle tracking in patients with STEMI.

Usefulness of serum neopterin levels in acute decompensated heart failure to predict renal dysfunction.

CONTEXT: Neopterin serum concentration increases in the presence of renal dysfunction. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the relationship between admission serum neopterin levels and worsening renal function (WRF) in patients with heart failure (HF). METHODS: We prospectively measured serum neopterin levels in patients with HF and the patients were subdivided into two groups: with and without WRF during hospital admission. RESULTS: Logistic regression analysis showed that high serum neopterin levels at admission were associated with a greater likelihood of developing WRF. CONCLUSIONS: Patients admitted to hospital with HF, elevated serum neopterin levels are associated with an increased risk of developing WRF.

Decreased level of melatonin in serum predicts left ventricular remodelling after acute myocardial infarction.

As experimental studies suggest that melatonin is cardioprotective after myocardial infarction (MI), this study sought to investigate the relationships between circulating levels of melatonin and left ventricular (LV) remodelling in patients after acute MI. This prospective study included 161 patients (age 61±3yr; 78% men) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention who were assessed echocardiographically at hospital discharge (day 3-7) and at 12 months. LV remodelling was defined as >20% increase in LV end-diastolic volume at 12-month follow-up compared with baseline. Serum melatonin concentrations were measured at admission, during the light period. Twenty-four patients showed LV remodelling, and 137 had no evidence of LV remodelling. Patients with LV remodelling had lower levels of melatonin at study entry [9.96 (8.28-11.03) versus 16.74 (13.77-19.59) pg/mL, respectively; P <0.0001]. Multivariate analysis showed that melatonin levels (OR=2.10, CI 95% 1.547-2.870, P<0.001) were an independent predictor of LV remodelling at 12-month follow-up. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed an area under the curve of 0.959 (CI 95% 0.93-0.98; P<0.0001). To our knowledge, this is the first study to show the relationship between melatonin and LV remodelling during the chronic phase post-MI.

Impact of operators experience on peri-procedural outcomes with Watchman FLX: Insights from the FLX-SPA registry.

BACKGROUND: The Watchman FLX is a device upgrade of the Watchman 2.5 that incorporates several design enhancements intended to simplify left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) and improve procedural outcomes. This study compares peri-procedural results of LAAO with Watchman FLX (Boston Scientific, Marlborough, Massachusetts) in centers with varying degrees of experience with the Watchman 2.5 and Watchman FLX. METHODS: Prospective, multicenter, "real-world" registry including consecutive patients undergoing LAAO with the Watchman FLX at 26 Spanish sites (FLX-SPA registry). Implanting centers were classified according to the center's prior experience with the Watchman 2.5. A further division of centers according to whether or not they had performed ≤ 10 or > 10Watchman FLX implants was prespecified at the beginning of the study. Procedural outcomes of institutions stratified according to their experience with the Watchman 2.5 and FLX devices were compared. RESULTS: 359 patients [mean age 75.5 (SD8.1), CHA2DS2-VASc 4.4 (SD1.4), HAS-BLED 3.8(SD0.9)] were included. Global success rate was 98.6%, successful LAAO with the first selected device size was achieved in 95.5% patients and the device was implanted at first attempt in 78.6% cases. There were only 9(2.5%) major peri-procedural complications. No differences in efficacy or safety results according to the centers previous experience with Watchman 2.5 and procedural volume with Watchman FLX existed. CONCLUSIONS: The Watchman FLX attains high procedural success rates with complete LAA sealing in unselected, real-world patients, along with a low incidence of peri-procedural complications, regardless of operators experience with its previous device iteration or the number of Watchman FLX devices implanted.

Comparison of MOLLI, shMOLLLI, and SASHA in discrimination between health and disease and relationship with histologically derived collagen volume fraction.

Aims: To determine the bioequivalence of several T1 mapping sequences in myocardial characterization of diffuse myocardial fibrosis. Methods and results: We performed an intra-individual sequence comparison of three types of T1 mapping sequences [MOdified Look-Locker Inversion recovery (MOLLI), Shortened MOdified Look-Locker Inversion recovery ((sh)MOLLI), and SAturation recovery single-SHot Acquisition (SASHA)]. We employed two model diseases of diffuse interstitial fibrosis [patients with non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDCM), n = 32] and aortic stenosis [(AS), n = 25)]. Twenty-six healthy individuals served as controls. Relationship with collagen volume fraction (CVF) was assessed using endomyocardial biopsies (EMB) intraoperatively in 12 AS patients. T2 mapping (GraSE) was also performed. Myocardial native T1 with MOLLI and shMOLLI showed, firstly, an excellent discriminatory accuracy between health and disease [area under the curves (P-value): 0.94 (0.88-0.99); 0.87 (0.79-0.94); 0.61 (0.49-0.72)], secondly, relationship between histological CVF [native T1 MOLLI vs. shMOLLI vs. SASHA: r = 0.582 (P = 0.027), r = 0.524 (P = 0.046), r = 0.443 (P = 0.150)], and thirdly, with native T2 [r = 0.628(P < 0.001), r = 0.459 (P = 0.003), r = 0.211 (P = 0.083)]. The respective relationships for extracellular volume fraction with CVF [r = 0.489 (P = 0.044), r = 0.417 (0.071), r = 0.353 (P = 0.287)] were significant for MOLLI, but not other sequences. In AS patients, native T2 was significantly higher compared to controls, and associated with levels of C-reactive protein and troponin. Conclusion: T1 mapping sequences differ in their bioequivalence for discrimination between health and disease as well as associations with diffuse myocardial fibrosis.

Echogenic mobile images in intraprocedural three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiographic monitoring during percutaneous aortic valve implantation: Incidence, characteristics and clinical implications.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate the incidence and clinical relevance of the presence of mobile echogenic images (MEI) during transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for monitoring of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). METHODS: Consecutive patients referred to our center for transfemoral or transapical TAVI were included. The procedure was monitored by three-dimensional (3D) TEE and images were analyzed by two independent experts. In-hospital follow-up was carried out and correlated with imaging findings. RESULTS: A total of 104 patients were included. MEI were visualized in 11 patients during the procedure (11%) and in over 50% of cases were identified as thrombi, however no differences in periprocedural stroke were found in follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Visualization of MEI during 3D TEE monitoring of TAVI is relatively common (11%) and in over 50% of cases they are identified as thrombi. The clinical implications of this finding are uncertain, as despite their frequency, the incidence of clinical stroke in this patient population was no higher. 3D TEE is a useful tool for diagnosis of MEI and can alert the operator to their presence.

T1-Mapping and Outcome in Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy: All-Cause Mortality and Heart Failure.

OBJECTIVES: The study sought to examine prognostic relevance of T1 mapping parameters (based on a T1 mapping method) in nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDCM) and compare them with conventional markers of adverse outcome. BACKGROUND: NIDCM is a recognized cause of poor clinical outcome. NIDCM is characterized by intrinsic myocardial remodeling due to complex pathophysiological processes affecting myocardium diffusely. Lack of accurate and noninvasive characterization of diffuse myocardial disease limits recognition of early cardiomyopathy and effective clinical management in NIDCM. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) supports detection of diffuse myocardial disease by T1 mapping. METHODS: This is a prospective observational multicenter longitudinal study in 637 consecutive patients with dilated NIDCM (mean age 50 years [interquartile range: 37 to 76 years]; 395 males [62%]) undergoing CMR with T1 mapping and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) at 1.5-T and 3.0-T. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. A composite of heart failure (HF) mortality and hospitalization was a secondary endpoint. RESULTS: During a median follow-up period of 22 months (interquartile range: 19 to 25 months), we observed a total of 28 deaths (22 cardiac) and 68 composite HF events. T1 mapping indices (native T1 and extracellular volume fraction), as well as the presence and extent of LGE, were predictive of all-cause mortality and HF endpoint (p < 0.001 for all). In multivariable analyses, native T1 was the sole independent predictor of all-cause and HF composite endpoints (hazard ratio: 1.1; 95% confidence interval: 1.06 to 1.15; hazard ratio: 1.1; 95% confidence interval: 1.05 to 1.1; p < 0.001 for both), followed by the models including the extent of LGE and right ventricular ejection fraction, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Noninvasive measures of diffuse myocardial disease by T1 mapping are significantly predictive of all-cause mortality and HF events in NIDCM. We provide a basis for a novel algorithm of risk stratification in NIDCM using a complementary assessment of diffuse and regional disease by T1 mapping and LGE, respectively.

Drug-eluting stent thrombosis in the treatment of chronic total coronary occlusions: incidence, presentation and related factors. Data from the CIBELES trial.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence of drug-eluting stent thrombosis (sirolimus or everolimus) in patients with chronic total coronary occlusions (CTO) and to determine its clinical implications and related factors. METHODS: Data from the 12-month follow-up of the 207 patients included in the CIBELES trial with CTO were analyzed. RESULTS: Stent thrombosis occurred in three patients, two definite and one probable (overall thrombosis rate: 1.4%). However, there were no cases of death or Q-wave myocardial infarction. In univariate analysis, patients with a higher incidence of stent thrombosis were those in whom the target vessel was the left anterior descending, who had single-vessel disease, were assigned to treatment with sirolimus-eluting stents, and those with smaller minimum luminal diameter immediately after the procedure. In multivariate analysis, the only independent predictor of stent thrombosis was minimal luminal diameter immediately after the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of drug-eluting stent thrombosis in patients with CTO is relatively low (1.4%). The only independent predictor of stent thrombosis in this context was minimal luminal diameter after the procedure and the clinical presentation was in all cases relatively benign.

Native T1 in discrimination of acute and convalescent stages in patients with clinical diagnosis of myocarditis: a proposed diagnostic algorithm using CMR.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated whether T1 mapping by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) reflects the clinical evolution of disease in myocarditis and supports its diagnosis independently of the disease stages. BACKGROUND: Acute viral myocarditis is characterized by a range of intracellular changes due to viral replication and extracellular spill of debris within days of viral infection. Convalescence may be characterized by a chronic low-grade inflammation leading to ventricular remodelling, but also a complete resolution of myocardial changes. METHODS: Patients with clinical diagnosis of viral myocarditis (N = 165) underwent routine clinical CMR protocol (1.5- and 3.0-T) for assessment of cardiac function and structure, and tissue characterization with T2-weighted imaging and late gadolinium enhancement. T1 mapping was obtained in a mid-ventricular short-axis slice before and >20 min after administration of 0.2 mmol/kg of gadobutrol. RESULTS: Compared with control subjects (n = 40), T1 indexes were increased in patients with myocarditis. Patients with acute symptoms (n = 61) had higher values of T1 indexes compared with patients in clinical convalescence (n = 67). Native T1 is an independent discriminator between health and disease, as well as a discriminator between acute and convalescent stage of the disease. Native T1- was superior to T2-weighted imaging and late gadolinium enhancement with high diagnostic accuracy and positive and negative predictive values. Using pre-defined cutoff values for normal ranges, we demonstrated that acute myocarditis can be independently identified by native T1 of >5 SD above the mean of normal range, whereas convalescence is best defined by either abnormal native T1 (>2 SD) or presence of late gadolinium enhancement. We prospectively tested a new diagnostic algorithm in an independent dataset of patients with clinical diagnosis of myocarditis and achieved similar diagnostic performance. CONCLUSIONS: The new diagnostic algorithm using native T1 can reliably discriminate between health and disease and determine the clinical disease stage in patients with a clinical diagnosis of myocarditis.

T1 Mapping in Discrimination of Hypertrophic Phenotypes: Hypertensive Heart Disease and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Findings From the International T1 Multicenter Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Study.

BACKGROUND: The differential diagnosis of left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy remains challenging in clinical practice, in particular, between hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and increased LV wall thickness because of systemic hypertension. Diffuse myocardial disease is a characteristic feature in HCM, and an early manifestation of sarcomere-gene mutations in subexpressed family members (G+P- subjects). This study aimed to investigate whether detecting diffuse myocardial disease by T1 mapping can discriminate between HCM versus hypertensive heart disease as well as to detect genetically driven interstitial changes in the G+P- subjects. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients with diagnoses of HCM or hypertension (HCM, n=95; hypertension, n=69) and G+P- subjects (n=23) underwent a clinical cardiovascular magnetic resonance protocol (3 tesla) for cardiac volumes, function, and scar imaging. T1 mapping was performed before and >20 minutes after administration of 0.2 mmol/kg of gadobutrol. Native T1 and extracellular volume fraction were significantly higher in HCM compared with patients with hypertension (P<0.0001), including in subgroup comparisons of HCM subjects without evidence of late gadolinium enhancement, as well as of hypertensive patients LV wall thickness of >15 mm (P<0.0001). Compared with controls, native T1 was significantly higher in G+P- subjects (P<0.0001) and 65% of G+P- subjects had a native T1 value >2 SD above the mean of the normal range. Native T1 was an independent discriminator between HCM and hypertension, over and above extracellular volume fraction, LV wall thickness and indexed LV mass. Native T1 was also useful in separating G+P- subjects from controls. CONCLUSIONS: Native T1 may be applied to discriminate between HCM and hypertensive heart disease and detect early changes in G+P- subjects.

Immediate and mid-term clinical course after percutaneous closure of paravalvular leakage.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Percutaneous closure of paravalvular leakage is an alternative to surgery in high-risk patients, but its use has been limited by a lack of specific devices. More appropriate devices-like the Amplatzer Vascular Plug III-have recently been developed, but information about their efficacy and safety is still scarce. The objective of the present study was to assess the mid-term results of paravalvular leakage closure with this device. METHODS: We analyzed the clinical and echocardiographic course both in-hospital and mid-term (13 [9] months) in a series of 20 consecutive patients (age, 68 years; logistic EuroSCORE, 29) with paravalvular leakage and attempted percutaneous closure. RESULTS: Closure was attempted for 23 leaks (17 mitral and 6 aortic) during 22 procedures in 20 patients. Implantation was successful in 87% of the leaks and the procedure was successful in 83%-with success being defined as a reduction in regurgitation of ≥ 1 degree. Survival at 1 year was 64.7% and survival free of the composite event of death/surgery was 58.8%. The degree of residual regurgitation was not associated with mortality but was associated with functional status. Survivors showed significant improvement in functional class. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous closure of leakage with the Amplatzer Vascular Plug III is safe and efficient in the mid-term. However, mortality among high-risk patients is high independently of the degree of residual regurgitation, indicating that these procedures are performed when heart disease has reached an advanced stage.

Coronary vessel wall contrast enhancement imaging as a potential direct marker of coronary involvement: integration of findings from CAD and SLE patients.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the feasibility of visual and quantitative assessment of coronary vessel wall contrast enhancement (CE) for detection of symptomatic atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD) and subclinical coronary vasculitis in autoimmune inflammatory disease (systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE]), as well as the association with aortic stiffness, an established marker of risk. BACKGROUND: Coronary CE by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is a novel noninvasive approach to visualize gadolinium contrast uptake within the coronary artery vessel wall. METHODS: A total of 75 subjects (CAD: n = 25; SLE: n = 27; control: n = 23) underwent CMR imaging using a 3-T clinical scanner. Coronary arteries were visualized by a T2-prepared steady state free precession technique. Coronary wall CE was visualized using inversion-recovery T1 weighted gradient echo sequence 40 min after administration of 0.2 mmol/kg gadobutrol. Proximal coronary segments were visually examined for distribution of CE and quantified for contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and total CE area. RESULTS: Coronary CE was prevalent in patients (93%, n = 42) with a diffuse pattern for SLE and a patchy/regional distribution in CAD patients. Compared with control subjects, CNR values and total CE area in patients with CAD and SLE were significantly higher (mean CNR: 3.9 ± 2.5 vs. 6.9 ± 2.5 vs. 6.8 ± 2.0, respectively; p < 0.001; total CE area: median 0.8 [interquartile range (IQR): 0.6 to 1.2] vs. 3.2 [IQR: 2.6 to 4.0] vs. 3.3 [IQR: 1.9 to 4.5], respectively; p < 0.001). Both measures were positively associated with aortic stiffness (CNR: r = 0.61, p < 0.01; total CE area: 0.36, p = 0.03), hypercholesterolemia (r = 0.68, p < 0.001; r = 0.61, p < 0.001) and hypertension (r = 0.40, p < 0.01; r = 0.32, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate that quantification of coronary CE by CNR and total CE area is feasible for detection of subclinical and clinical uptake of gadolinium within the coronary vessel wall. Coronary vessel wall CE may become an instrumental novel direct marker of vessel wall injury and remodeling in subpopulations at risk.