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JACC. Cardiovascular Interventions Jun 2024Right ventricular impairment is common among patients undergoing transcatheter edge-to-edge repair for secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR). Adherence to... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
BACKGROUND
Right ventricular impairment is common among patients undergoing transcatheter edge-to-edge repair for secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR). Adherence to guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) for heart failure is poor in these patients.
OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of GDMT on long-term survival in this patient cohort.
METHODS
Within the EuroSMR (European Registry of Transcatheter Repair for Secondary Mitral Regurgitation) international registry, we selected patients with SMR and right ventricular impairment (tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion ≤17 mm and/or echocardiographic right ventricular-to-pulmonary artery coupling <0.40 mm/mm Hg). Titrated guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) was defined as a coprescription of 3 drug classes with at least one-half of the target dose at the latest follow-up. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality at 6 years.
RESULTS
Among 1,213 patients with SMR and right ventricular impairment, 852 had complete data on medical therapy. The 123 patients who were on GDMT showed a significantly higher long-term survival vs the 729 patients not on GDMT (61.8% vs 36.0%; P < 0.00001). Propensity score-matched analysis confirmed a significant association between GDMT and higher survival (61.0% vs 43.1%; P = 0.018). GDMT was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality (HR: 0.61; 95% CI: 0.39-0.93; P = 0.02 for patients on GDMT vs those not on GDMT). Its association with better outcomes was confirmed among all subgroups analyzed.
CONCLUSIONS
In patients with right ventricular impairment undergoing transcatheter edge-to-edge repair for SMR, titration of GDMT to at least one-half of the target dose is associated with a 40% lower risk of all-cause death up to 6 years and should be pursued independent of comorbidities.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; Mitral Valve Insufficiency; Registries; Aged; Treatment Outcome; Time Factors; Ventricular Dysfunction, Right; Ventricular Function, Right; Risk Factors; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Guideline Adherence; Cardiac Catheterization; Cardiovascular Agents; Europe; Aged, 80 and over; Risk Assessment; Echocardiography, Transesophageal; Mitral Valve; Middle Aged; Recovery of Function
PubMed: 38925749
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcin.2024.04.025 -
Heart Rhythm Jun 2024
PubMed: 38925334
DOI: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2024.06.030 -
Echocardiography (Mount Kisco, N.Y.) Jun 2024The noninvasive right ventricular pressure-strain loop (PSL) represents a novel method for the quantitative assessment of right ventricular myocardial function. Given...
Quantitative evaluation of right ventricular myocardial function changes in patients with atrial septal defect before and after occlusion by noninvasive right ventricular pressure-strain loop.
OBJECTIVE
The noninvasive right ventricular pressure-strain loop (PSL) represents a novel method for the quantitative assessment of right ventricular myocardial function. Given that atrial septal defect (ASD) is a prevalent congenital heart anomaly associated with right ventricular volume overload, this study aimed to quantitatively assess the myocardial function of the right ventricle in ASD patients pre- and post-occlusion by noninvasive right ventricular PSL.
METHODS
This study included 36 patients diagnosed with secundum ASD group and 30 healthy adults (control group). We compared conventional right ventricular echocardiographic parameters, right ventricular strain, and myocardial work in the ASD group before occlusion, two days post-occlusion, and three months post-occlusion, with those in the control group.
RESULTS
Prior to and two days following occlusion, the ASD group exhibited higher right ventricular global work index (RVGWI), right ventricular global wasted work (RVGWW), and right ventricular global constructive work (RVGCW) compared to the control group (P < .05). Within the ASD group, post-occlusion, RVGWI, RVGCW, and RVGWW values were significantly reduced compared to pre-occlusion values (P < .001). Furthermore, RVGWI and RVGCW showed a significant decrease three months after occlusion compared to two days post-occlusion (P < .05). Multivariate regression analysis identified ASD diameter and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) as independent predictors of RVGWI (β = .405, P < .001; β = 2.307, P = .037) and RVGCW(β = .350, P<.001; β = 1.967, P = .023).
CONCLUSIONS
The noninvasive right ventricular PSL effectively demonstrates the alterations in right ventricular myocardial function in ASD patients, pre- and post-occlusion. The metrics of right ventricular myocardial work (RVMW) offer a novel indicator for evaluating right ventricular myocardial function in these patients. Moreover, ASD diameter and PASP emerge as independent determinants of RVGWI and RVGCW.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial; Adult; Heart Ventricles; Echocardiography; Ventricular Function, Right; Ventricular Dysfunction, Right; Ventricular Pressure; Reproducibility of Results
PubMed: 38924593
DOI: 10.1111/echo.15868 -
Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine :... Jun 2024Although the fetal sphericity index (SI) and fractional shortening (FS) of 24 transverse segments have been previously reported after the 20th gestational week, there...
BACKGROUND
Although the fetal sphericity index (SI) and fractional shortening (FS) of 24 transverse segments have been previously reported after the 20th gestational week, there have been no reports during the first and early second trimester.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to clarify the SI and FS of 24 transverse segments in normal fetuses before the 20th gestational week.
METHODS
A total of 101 normal fetuses aged between 12 and 20 gestational weeks were examined. The displacement of the ventricular endocardium during the cardiac cycle was computed using speckle-tracking software (GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, WI). We analyzed the length of 24 end-diastolic lateral segments and the end-diastolic basal (seg1-6)- middle (Seg7-15)-apical (Seg16-24) distribution from the base to the apex of each ventricle, according to the method described by DeVore et al. The SI and FS were computed for each of the 24 segments by dividing the mid-basal-apical length by the transverse size.
RESULTS
The SI for each segment was independent of the gestational age. The SI of the right ventricle was significantly lower than that of the left ventricle for segments 1-14, suggesting that the right ventricle was more spherical than the left ventricle in the basal segment only. The FS of the right ventricle was significantly lower than that of the left ventricle in segments 1 to 2 and 13 to 24.
CONCLUSION
The morphology of the ventricles before 20 weeks of gestation differs from that between 20 and 40 weeks of gestation. This difference may be related to myocardial densification or performance.
PubMed: 38923585
DOI: 10.1002/jum.16516 -
Journal of Cardiovascular Development... May 2024The congenital Gerbode defect is defined as an abnormal communication between the left ventricle and the right atrium. This review aimed to summarize existing evidence,... (Review)
Review
The congenital Gerbode defect is defined as an abnormal communication between the left ventricle and the right atrium. This review aimed to summarize existing evidence, shed light on the clinical implications, and identify knowledge gaps. The systematic literature search was conducted in the PubMed and Google Scholar medical databases using specifically selected keywords. The inclusion of each publication was assessed according to predefined eligibility criteria based on the PICOM (Population, Phenomenon of Interest, Context, Methodology) schema. Titles and abstracts were screened independently by two authors. Available full-text versions of included publications were reviewed and relevant information was extracted. A total of 78 reports were included. The compilation of all congenital Gerbode defect cases described in the literature revealed a variety of clinical presentations comprising dyspnea, palpitations, growth retardation, and asymptomatology. A suitable multimodal diagnostic approach for newborns consists of auscultation, TTE, and optionally TEE and MRI. Because of its rarity, diversity of findings, unknown pathophysiology, and similarity to more common cardiac diseases, the diagnostic challenge remains significant. To prevent untreated long-term sequelae, early individualized treatment is recommended. Surgical defect closure is preferred to device closure for evidence reasons, although major developments are currently taking place. In conclusion, the congenital Gerbode defect provides a diagnostic challenge for pediatricians to allow early diagnosis and intervention in order to improve patients' quality of life.
PubMed: 38921666
DOI: 10.3390/jcdd11060166 -
Stroke Jun 2024Periventricular white matter hyperintensities (PVWMHs) in cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) have been reported posterior predominant using semiautomated segmentation...
BACKGROUND
Periventricular white matter hyperintensities (PVWMHs) in cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) have been reported posterior predominant using semiautomated segmentation method and logarithmic transformation. We aimed to compare PVWMH extent and posterior/anterior distribution between patients with CAA and patients with hypertensive arteriopathy with radiological tools available in daily practice.
METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed confluent PVWMH directly adjacent to lateral ventricles on axial FLAIR (fluid-attenuated inversion recovery) from 108 patients with CAA and 99 patients with hypertensive arteriopathy presenting with hemorrhage-related symptoms consecutively recruited in our stroke database (Nîmes University Hospital, France) between January 2015 and March 2022. For each of the left (L), right (R), anterior (A), and posterior (P) horns of lateral ventricles, the maximal distance between the outer PVWMH border and ventricle border was measured. The sum of anterior left PVWMH and anterior right PVWMH, and posterior left PVWMH and posterior right PVWMH resulted in anterior and posterior extent, respectively.
RESULTS
Compared with hypertensive arteriopathy, patients with CAA were older (median, 77 versus 71; =0.0010) and less frequently male (46% versus 64%; =0.012) and had less frequent hypertension (45% versus 63%; =0.013) and more chronic hemorrhages (<0.0001). CAA showed slightly more extensive anterior right PVWMH (median, 6.50 versus 5.90 mm; =0.034), far more extensive (all <0.0001) posterior left PVWMH (median, 13.95 versus 6.95 mm), posterior right PVWMH (median, 14.15 versus 5.45 mm), posterior (median, 27.95 versus 13.00 mm), and total (median, 39.60 versus 24.65 mm) PVWMH, and higher posterior/anterior ratios (median, 1.82 versus 1.01). Age-/sex-adjusted model predicting CAA incorporating total PVWMH extent and posterior/anterior ratios for the given score (-4.3683+0.0268×PVWMH-T+0.3749×posterior/anterior PVWMH ratio+0.0394×age+0.3046 when female) showed highest area under the curve (0.76 [0.70-0.83]), with a 72% [62.50-80.99] sensitivity and 76% [67.18-84.12] specificity. Values above the optimal threshold of 0.22 for the score showed a crude relative risk of 2.75 (2.26-2.37; <0.0001).
CONCLUSIONS
Severe posterior PVWMH and high posterior/anterior PVWMH ratio assessed by radiological tools used in daily practice are associated with probable CAA versus hypertensive arteriopathy.
REGISTRATION
URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT05486897.
PubMed: 38920025
DOI: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.123.046379 -
Pediatric Cardiology Jun 2024The clinical course of residual ventricular septal defects after congenital heart disease repair is not completely elucidated in the medical literature. This study...
The clinical course of residual ventricular septal defects after congenital heart disease repair is not completely elucidated in the medical literature. This study assessed the incidence, size, and clinical course of residual defects.This single-center retrospective study included 132 patients who survived after ventricular septal defect patch closure (n = 107) and intracardiac repair of double-outlet right ventricle (n = 16) and tetralogy of Fallot (n = 9). Residual defect was evaluated on transthoracic echocardiogram upon hospital discharge and at outpatient clinic visits.The median age at surgery was 1.2 (0.3-13.9) years. In total, 45 (34.1%) patients presented with residual defects upon hospital discharge. The residual defects were within 2 mm (n = 27), 2-3 mm (n = 15), and > 3 mm (n = 3), and the median size was 1.5 (0.5-3.8) mm. There was no late mortality during a median follow-up of 5.4 years. Among 42 residual defects measuring < 3 mm upon hospital discharge, 37 (82.2%) spontaneously closed. Further, five defects decreased in size (1.8 ± 0.6 mm upon hospital discharge vs1.2 ± 0.8 mm at the latest visits, p = 0.15). However, the size of three residual defects measuring > 3 mm upon hospital discharge increased, and two patients required re-surgery for residual defect.Significant residual defect requiring reoperation was rare. In most cases, residual defects measuring < 3 mm upon hospital discharge spontaneously closed within 5 years, and the size of the other defects decreased.
PubMed: 38916670
DOI: 10.1007/s00246-024-03542-5 -
Cureus May 2024A 25-year-old male with no prior medical history presented with a one-month history of nausea, weight loss, and dyspnea that progressed to syncope. The initial...
A 25-year-old male with no prior medical history presented with a one-month history of nausea, weight loss, and dyspnea that progressed to syncope. The initial echocardiogram showed a dilated right ventricle with signs of systolic failure. The patient was admitted for suspected pulmonary embolism, but chest computed tomography (CT) revealed interstitial pneumonia. A transthoracic echocardiogram on day 6 of admission diagnosed cor triatriatum sinister (CTS), severe pulmonary hypertension, chronic cor pulmonale, and reduced right ventricular function. The patient was managed conservatively in the intensive care unit (ICU) without the need for mechanical ventilation and discharged after clinical improvement. This case highlights the importance of the early diagnosis of rare congenital heart defects such as cor triatriatum sinister, which can present with nonspecific symptoms and rapidly progress to right heart failure.
PubMed: 38916021
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.61039 -
BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... Jun 2024The cardiac neural crest is critical for the normal development of the heart, as its surgical ablation in the chick recapitulates common human congenital heart defects...
The cardiac neural crest is critical for the normal development of the heart, as its surgical ablation in the chick recapitulates common human congenital heart defects such as 'Common Arterial Trunk' and 'Double Outlet Right Ventricle' (DORV). While left-right asymmetry is known to be important for heart development, little is known about potential asymmetric differences between right and left cardiac neural folds with respect to heart development. Here, through surgical ablation of either left or right cardiac neural crest, we reveal that right ablation results in more varied and more severe heart defects. Embryos with Common Arterial Trunk and with missing arteries occur only in right-ablated embryos; moreover, embryos with DORV and with misalignment of the arteries were more prevalent following right versus left cardiac crest ablation. In addition, overall survival of right-ablated embryos was lower than left-ablated embryos, with embryos dying earlier in development. Together, these data implicate different functions for left versus right cardiac neural crest in heart development.
PubMed: 38915725
DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.10.598133 -
The Egyptian Heart Journal : (EHJ) :... Jun 2024Cardiovascular diseases are leading causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Cardiac involvement in SLE can often go...
Three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography for evaluation of ventricular function in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: relationship between duration of lupus erythematosus and left ventricular dysfunction by using global longitudinal strain.
BACKGROUND
Cardiovascular diseases are leading causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Cardiac involvement in SLE can often go undetected. Three-dimensional (3D) speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) is a noninvasive imaging technique that can assess the function of the heart's ventricles in an accurate and reproducible way. This makes it an attractive option for detecting early signs of heart disease in SLE patients. By identifying these subclinical cardiac abnormalities, 3D-STE may help reduce the negative impact of cardiovascular diseases in SLE population. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the left ventricular (LV) function between patients with SLE compared to age- and gender-matched controls using two-dimensional (2D) and 3D-STE.
RESULTS
The current study found no significant differences in left ventricle ejection fraction, left ventricle end-diastolic volume, left ventricle end-systolic volume, left ventricle end-diastolic mass, and left ventricle end-systolic mass between the two groups. However, the SLE group exhibited a significantly lower LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) compared to the control group according to all types of echocardiographic assessments, including 3D and 2D long-axis strain, apical 2-chamber, and apical 4-chamber assessments (all P values < 0.05). Furthermore, a good inter-rater reliability and intra-rater reliability were observed regarding the LVGLS measurement with 3D-STE. Additionally, the study identified a significant correlation between LVGLS and SLE duration (r (50) = 0.46, P < 0.001). The use of prednisolone and nephrology disorders was also found to impact LVGLS measurements.
CONCLUSIONS
Despite a normal LVEF in patients with SLE, LVGLS measurements indicated that LV systolic dysfunction was observed more frequently in SLE patients compared to their healthy counterparts. Therefore, advanced 3D-STE techniques may be useful in identifying subtle abnormalities in LV function in SLE patients.
PubMed: 38914877
DOI: 10.1186/s43044-024-00511-4