Atrial fibrillation in patients with sick sinus syndrome: the association with PQ-interval and percentage of ventricular pacing.

AIMS: In the recently published DANPACE trial, incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) was significantly higher with single-lead atrial (AAIR) pacing than with dual-chamber (DDDR) pacing. The present analysis aimed to evaluate the importance of baseline PQ-interval and percentage of ventricular pacing (VP) on AF. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analysed data on AF during follow-up in 1415 patients included in the DANPACE trial. In a subgroup of 650 patients with DDDR pacemaker, we studied whether %VP, baseline PQ-interval, and programmed atrio-ventricular interval (AVI) was associated with AF burden measured as time in mode-switch (MS) detected by the pacemaker. In the entire DANPACE study population, the incidence of AF was significantly higher in patients with baseline PQ-interval >180 ms (P< 0.001). Among 650 patients with DDDR pacemaker, telemetry data were available for 1.337 ± 786 days, %VP was 66 ± 33%, AF was detected at planned follow-up in 160 patients (24.6%), MS occurred in 422 patients (64.9%), and AF burden was marginally higher with baseline PQ-interval >180 ms (P= 0.028). No significant association was detected between %VP and %MS (Spearman's ρ 0.056, P= 0.154). %MS was not different between minimal-paced programmed AVI ≤ 100 and >100 ms (median value), respectively (P= 0.60). CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicates that a longer baseline PQ-interval is associated with an increased risk of AF in patients with sick sinus syndrome. Atrial fibrillation burden is not associated with the percentage of VP or the length of the programmed AVI.

Heart failure in patients with sick sinus syndrome treated with single lead atrial or dual-chamber pacing: no association with pacing mode or right ventricular pacing site.

AIMS: Previous studies indicate that ventricular pacing may precipitate heart failure (HF). We investigated occurrence of HF during long-term follow-up among patients with sick sinus syndrome (SSS) randomized to AAIR or DDDR pacing. Furthermore, we investigated effects of percentage of ventricular pacing (%VP) and pacing site in the ventricle. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analysed data from 1415 patients randomized to AAIR (n = 707) or DDDR pacing (n = 708). Ventricular pacing leads were recorded as located in either an apical or a non-apical position. The %VP and HF hospitalizations were recorded during follow-up. Patients were classified with new HF, if in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class IV or if presence of ≥2 of: oedema; dyspnoea; NYHA functional class III. Mean follow-up was 5.4 ± 2.4 years. Heart failure hospitalizations did not differ between groups. In the AAIR group, 170 of the 707 (26%) patients developed HF vs. 169 of the 708 (26%) patients in the DDDR group, hazard rate ratio (HR) 1.00, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.79-1.22, P = 0.87. In DDDR patients, 146 of the 512 patients (29%) with ventricular leads in an apical position developed HF vs. 28 of the 161 patients (17%) with the leads in a non-apical position, HR 0.67, CI 0.45-1.00, P = 0.05. After adjustments this difference was non-significant. The incidence of HF was not associated with %VP (P = 0.57). CONCLUSION: In patients with SSS, HF was not associated with pacing mode, %VP, or ventricular lead localization. This suggests that DDDR pacing is safe in patients with SSS without precipitating HF.

A comparison of single-lead atrial pacing with dual-chamber pacing in sick sinus syndrome.

AIMS: In patients with sick sinus syndrome, bradycardia can be treated with a single-lead pacemaker or a dual-chamber pacemaker. Previous trials have revealed that pacing modes preserving atrio-ventricular synchrony are superior to single-lead ventricular pacing, but it remains unclear if there is any difference between single-lead atrial pacing (AAIR) and dual-chamber pacing (DDDR). METHODS AND RESULTS: We randomly assigned 1415 patients referred for first pacemaker implantation to AAIR (n = 707) or DDDR (n = 708) pacing and followed them for a mean of 5.4 ± 2.6 years. The primary outcome was death from any cause. Secondary outcomes included paroxysmal and chronic atrial fibrillation, stroke, heart failure, and need for pacemaker reoperation. In the AAIR group, 209 patients (29.6%) died during follow-up vs. 193 patients (27.3%) in the DDDR group, hazard ratio (HR) 1.06, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.88-1.29, P = 0.53. Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation was observed in 201 patients (28.4%) in the AAIR group vs. 163 patients (23.0%) in the DDDR group, HR 1.27, 95% CI 1.03-1.56, P = 0.024. A total of 240 patients underwent one or more pacemaker reoperations during follow-up, 156 (22.1%) in the AAIR group vs. 84 (11.9%) in the DDDR group (HR 1.99, 95% CI 1.53-2.59, P < 0.001). The incidence of chronic atrial fibrillation, stroke, and heart failure did not differ between treatment groups. CONCLUSION: In patients with sick sinus syndrome, there is no statistically significant difference in death from any cause between AAIR pacing and DDDR pacing. AAIR pacing is associated with a higher incidence of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and a two-fold increased risk of pacemaker reoperation. These findings support the routine use of DDDR pacing in these patients. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00236158.

Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is a mitochondrial condition that gradually affects the central vision. In the current case report, we present 2 relatives with LHON due to a pathogenic variant within ND1 with a clinical phenotype resembling hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, including a short PQ-interval and hypertrophy on electrocardiogram as well as severe hypertrophy of the left ventricle on echocardiography. These findings highlight the importance of offering routine cardiac investigation to patients with LHON and their relatives carrying the ND1 variant to hopefully improve correct diagnosis and clinical management of LHON patients.

La neuropathie optique héréditaire de Leber (NOHL) est une maladie mitochondriale qui affecte graduellement la vision centrale. Dans l'observation clinique actuelle, nous présentons deux proches atteints de la NOHL due à un variant pathogène dans le ND1 associé à un phénotype clinique qui ressemble à une cardiomyopathie hypertrophique, notamment en raison d'un intervalle PQ court et d'une hypertrophie à l'électrocardiogramme, et d'une hypertrophie grave du ventricule gauche à l'échocardiographie. Ces conclusions illustrent l'importance de proposer des examens cardiaques systématiques aux patients atteints de NOHL et à leurs proches porteurs du variant ND1 pour, espérons-le, améliorer les diagnostics justes et la prise en charge clinique des patients atteints de la NOHL.

Revascularization compared to medical treatment in patients with silent vs. symptomatic residual ischemia after thrombolyzed myocardial infarction--the DANAMI study.

AIMS: The aim was to compare the effect of revascularization to conservative treatment in patients with residual silent and with residual symptomatic ischemia following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The study was a subanalysis of the DANAMI (DANish AMI) randomized study of invasive vs. conservative treatment in patients with inducible ischemia after thrombolysis in AMI. METHODS AND RESULTS: One thousand and eight patients were randomized to invasive or conservative treatment, stratified by the type of ischemia: silent, i.e. ST depression during an exercise test prior to discharge in 56%, or symptomatic, i.e. chest pain occurring either spontaneously during admission or during the exercise test, with or without ST changes, in 44%. Compared to a conservative strategy, invasive treatment reduced the incidence of nonfatal reinfarction, after in median 2.4 years, in both symptomatic patients (13.3-7.2%, p < 0.006) and patients with silent ischemia (10.1 vs. 5.7%, p < 0.05), and of admissions with unstable angina in symptomatic (44.5-27.6%, p < 0.0001) and silent ischemia (21.6-13.3%, p < 0.0006). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to conservative strategy, invasive treatment reduces the risk of nonfatal reinfarction and hospital admissions for unstable angina in thrombolyzed post-AMI patients with silent as well as symptomatic exercise-induced ischemia.

Coronary collaterals during single-vessel coronary angioplasty: effects of nitroglycerin.

BACKGROUND: Although the protective role of collaterals in coronary artery disease (CAD) is well known, the influence of drugs on collateral function remains controversial. HYPOTHESIS: We aimed to investigate prospectively the prevalence of spontaneously visible and recruitable coronary collaterals in consecutive patients with single-vessel CAD and the effect of systemic administration of nitroglycerin on these types of collaterals during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). METHODS: Ipsi- and contralateral coronary artery contrast injections were performed before and during PTCA. Simultaneously with balloon occlusion, we measured coronary artery occlusion pressure via the balloon catheter. All measurements were repeated after administration of 0.5 mg of nitroglycerin intravenously. RESULTS: Of 101 consecutive patients, 24% had spontaneously visible and 30% had recruitable collaterals. Contralateral collaterals were five times more frequent than ipsilateral collaterals. Presence of collaterals was highly associated with the degree of coronary stenosis. Coronary occlusion pressure was higher in patients with than in those without collaterals. Collaterals prevented pain and ischemia during PTCA, and in this respect spontaneously visible collaterals were more effective than recruitable collaterals. There was no effect of systemic administration of nitroglycerin on appearance or occlusion pressure of coronary collaterals. CONCLUSION: Coronary collaterals were found in more than half of patients with single-vessel CAD, as the prevalence of recruitable collaterals was slightly higher than that of spontaneously visible collaterals. Nitroglycerin did neither recruit nor augment coronary collaterals.

Thermodynamic stability and denaturation kinetics of a benign natural transthyretin mutant identified in a Danish kindred.

The disease phenotype of transthyretin (TTR) is dramatically influenced by single point mutations in the TTR gene. Herein, we report on a novel mutation D99N (Asp99Asn) in TTR found in a Danish kindred. None of the family members carrying this mutation have so far shown any clinical signs of amyloidosis. One carrier found compound heterozygous for TTR D99N and L111M (Leu111Met) associated with cardiac amyloid is asymptomatic (42 years). Disease severity can often be linked to both the kinetics of fibril formation and the degree of destabilisation of the native state. In this study, we show that the thermodynamic stability and rate of tetramer dissociation of the variant TTR D99N is unchanged or slightly more stable than wild type (WT) TTR. Furthermore, the in vitro fibrillation kinetics of the variant reveals an unchanged or slightly suppressed tendency to form fibrils compared to WT. Thus, the in vitro experiments support the lack of clinical symptoms observed so far for the TTR D99N carriers. In line with this, studies on kinetic stability and fibrillation kinetics reveal indistinguishable stability of TTR heterotetramers D99N/L111M compared to the heterotetramers WT/L111M. In conclusion, TTR D99N is predicted to be a non-pathogenic benign mutation with WT properties.