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Frontiers in Surgery 2022Septal myectomy (SM) has been the gold standard therapy for most patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). Endocardial radiofrequency ablation of...
BACKGROUND
Septal myectomy (SM) has been the gold standard therapy for most patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). Endocardial radiofrequency ablation of septal hypertrophy (ERASH) is a novel treatment for septal reduction. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety between two treatment strategies.
METHODS
We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases to identify relevant studies published up to March 2021. Random-effect models were used to calculate standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for resting left ventricular outflow tract gradient (LVOTG) and septal thickness.
RESULTS
Twenty-five studies are included in this review, eighteen studies for SM and seven studies for ERASH. During follow-up, there were significant reductions of the mean resting LVOTG in adults (SM groups: SMD = -3.03, 95% CI [-3.62 to -2.44]; ERASH groups: SMD = -1.95, 95% CI [-2.45 to -1.45]) and children (SM groups: SMD = -2.67, 95% CI [-3.21 to -2.12]; ERASH groups: SMD= -2.37, 95% CI [-3.02 to -1.73]) after the septal reduction therapies. For adults, SM groups contributed to more obvious reduction than ERASH groups in interventricular septal thickness (SM groups: SMD = -1.82, 95% CI [-2.29 to -1.34]; ERASH groups: SMD = -0.43, 95% CI [-1.00 to 0.13]). The improvement of the New York Heart Association class was similar in the two groups (SM groups: 46.4%; ERASH groups: 46.7%). The periprocedural mortality in SM and ERASH were 1.1 and 1.8%, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
This systematic review suggests that SM is superior to ERASH in the treatment of HOCM. But for the patients who are at risk for open cardiac surgeries or prefer a less invasive approach, ERASH might be an optional approach.
PubMed: 35558385
DOI: 10.3389/fsurg.2022.859205 -
European Journal of Heart Failure Dec 2022An algorithm for non-invasive diagnosis of amyloid transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA) and novel disease-modifying therapies have prompted an active search for... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
AIMS
An algorithm for non-invasive diagnosis of amyloid transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA) and novel disease-modifying therapies have prompted an active search for CA. We examined the prevalence of CA in different settings based on literature data.
METHODS AND RESULTS
We performed a systematic search for screening studies on CA, focusing on the prevalence, sex and age distribution in different clinical settings. The prevalence of CA in different settings was as follows: bone scintigraphy for non-cardiac reasons (n = 5 studies), 1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0%-1%); heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (n = 6), 12% (95% CI 6%-20%); heart failure with reduced or mildly reduced ejection fraction (n = 2), 10% (95% CI 6%-15%); conduction disorders warranting pacemaker implantation (n = 1), 2% (95% CI 0%-4%); surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome (n = 3), 7% (95% CI 5%-10%); hypertrophic cardiomyopathy phenotype (n = 2), 7% (95% CI 5%-9%); severe aortic stenosis (n = 7), 8% (95% CI 5%-13%); autopsy series of 'unselected' elderly individuals (n = 4), 21% (95% CI 7%-39%). The average age of CA patients in the different settings ranged from 74 to 90 years, and the percentage of men from 50% to 100%. Many patients had ATTR-CA, but the average percentage of patients with amyloid light-chain (AL) CA was up to 18%.
CONCLUSIONS
Searching for CA in specific settings allows to identify a relatively high number of cases who may be eligible for treatment if the diagnosis is unequivocal. ATTR-CA accounts for many cases of CA across the different settings, but AL-CA is not infrequent. Median age at diagnosis falls in the eighth or ninth decades, and many patients diagnosed with CA are women.
Topics: Female; Male; Humans; Heart Failure; Amyloidosis; Amyloid; Phenotype; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left; Cardiomyopathies
PubMed: 35509173
DOI: 10.1002/ejhf.2532 -
European Respiratory Review : An... Jun 2022Intermittent hypoxia (IH) is considered to be a major contributor to obstructive sleep apnoea-related cardiovascular consequences. The present meta-analysis aimed to... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
AIM
Intermittent hypoxia (IH) is considered to be a major contributor to obstructive sleep apnoea-related cardiovascular consequences. The present meta-analysis aimed to assess the effects of IH on cardiac remodelling, function and infarct size after myocardial ischaemia across different rodent species and IH severities.
METHODS AND RESULTS
Relevant articles from PubMed, Embase and Web of Science were screened. We performed a random effect meta-analysis to assess the effect of IH on myocardium in rodents by using standardised mean difference (SMD). Studies using rodents exposed to IH and outcomes related to cardiac remodelling, contractile function and response to myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion were included. 5217 articles were screened and 92 were included, demonstrating that IH exposure induced cardiac remodelling, characterised by cardiomyocyte hypertrophy (cross-sectional area: SMD=2.90, CI (0.82-4.98), I=94.2%), left ventricular (LV) dilation (LV diameter: SMD=0.64, CI (0.18-1.10), I=88.04%), interstitial fibrosis (SMD=5.37, CI (3.22-7.53), I=94.8) and apoptosis (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labelling: SMD=6.70, CI (2.96-10.44), I=95.9). These structural changes were accompanied by a decrease in LV ejection fraction (SMD=-1.82, CI (-2.52--1.12), I=94.22%). Importantly, most of the utilised IH protocols mimicked extremely severe hypoxic disease. Concerning infarct size, meta-regression analyses highlighted an ambivalent role of IH, depending on its severity. Indeed, IH exposure with inspiratory oxygen fraction ( ) <7% was associated with an increase in infarct size, whereas a reduced infarct size was reported for levels above 10%. Heterogeneity between studies, small study effect and poor reporting of methods in included articles limited the robustness of the meta-analysis findings.
CONCLUSION
This meta-analysis demonstrated that severe IH systematically induces cardiac remodelling and contractile dysfunction in rodents, which might trigger or aggravate chronic heart failure. Interestingly, this meta-analysis showed that, depending on stimulus severity, IH exhibits both protective and aggravating effects on infarct size after experimental ischaemia-reperfusion procedures.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Hypoxia; Infarction; Myocardium; Rodentia; Ventricular Remodeling
PubMed: 35418489
DOI: 10.1183/16000617.0269-2021 -
Frontiers in Medicine 2022Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) has been recently recognized as a condition frequently associated with aortic stenosis (AS). The aim of this study was to evaluate: the main...
BACKGROUND
Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) has been recently recognized as a condition frequently associated with aortic stenosis (AS). The aim of this study was to evaluate: the main characteristics of patients with AS with and without CA, the impact of CA on patients with AS mortality, and the effect of different treatment strategies on outcomes of patients with AS with concomitant CA.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A detailed search related to CA in patients with AS and outcomes was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Seventeen studies enrolling 1,988 subjects (1,658 AS alone and 330 AS with CA) were included in the qualitative and quantitative analysis of main patients with AS characteristics with and without CA, difference in mortality, and treatment strategy.
RESULTS
The prevalence of CA resulted in a mean of 15.4% and it was even higher in patients with AS over 80 years old (18.2%). Patients with the dual diagnosis were more often males, had lower body mass index (BMI), were more prone to have low flow, low gradient with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction AS phenotype, had higher E/A and E/e', and greater interventricular septum hypertrophy. Lower Sokolow-Lyon index, higher QRS duration, higher prevalence of right bundle branch block, higher levels of -terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, and high-sensitivity troponin T were significantly associated with CA in patients with AS. Higher overall mortality in the 178 patients with AS + CA in comparison to 1,220 patients with AS alone was observed [odds ratio (OR) 2.25, = 0.004]. Meta-regression analysis showed that younger age and diabetes were associated with overall mortality in patients with CS with CA (-value -3.0, = 0.003 and -value 2.5, = 0.013, respectively). Finally, patients who underwent surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) or transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) had a similar overall mortality risk, but lower than medication-treated only patients.
CONCLUSION
Results from our meta-analysis suggest that several specific clinical, electrocardiographic, and echocardiographic features can be considered "red flags" of CA in patients with AS. CA negatively affects the outcome of patients with AS. Patients with concomitant CA and AS benefit from SAVR or TAVI.
PubMed: 35355593
DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.858281 -
Journal of the American Heart... Apr 2022Background Pulmonary arterial end-diastolic forward flow (EDFF) following repaired tetralogy of Fallot has been thought to represent right ventricular (RV) restrictive... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Background Pulmonary arterial end-diastolic forward flow (EDFF) following repaired tetralogy of Fallot has been thought to represent right ventricular (RV) restrictive physiology, but is not fully understood. This systematic review and meta-analysis sought to clarify its physiological and clinical correlates, and to define a framework for understanding EDFF and RV restrictive physiology. Methods and Results PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and reference lists of relevant articles were searched for observational studies published before March 2021. Random-effects meta-analysis was performed to identify factors associated with EDFF. Forty-two individual studies published between 1995 and 2021, including a total of 2651 participants (1132 with EDFF; 1519 with no EDFF), met eligibility criteria. The pooled estimated prevalence of EDFF among patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot was 46.5% (95% CI, 41.6%-51.3%). Among patients with EDFF, the use of a transannular patch was significantly more common, and their stay in the intensive care unit was longer. EDFF was associated with greater RV indexed volumes and mass, as well as smaller E-wave velocity at the tricuspid valve. Finally, pulmonary regurgitation fraction was greater in patients with EDFF, and moderate to severe pulmonary regurgitation was more common in this population. Conclusions EDFF is associated with dilated, hypertrophied RVs and longstanding pulmonary regurgitation. Although several studies have defined RV restrictive physiology as the presence of EDFF, our study found no clear indicators of poor RV compliance in patients with EDFF, suggesting that EDFF may have multiple causes and might not be the precise equivalent of RV restrictive physiology.
Topics: Diastole; Humans; Pulmonary Valve Insufficiency; Tetralogy of Fallot; Tricuspid Valve; Ventricular Dysfunction, Right; Ventricular Function, Right
PubMed: 35301867
DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.121.024036 -
Journal of the American College of... Feb 2022Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a relatively common often inherited global heart disease, with complex phenotypic and genetic expression and natural history,...
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a relatively common often inherited global heart disease, with complex phenotypic and genetic expression and natural history, affecting both genders and many races and cultures. Prevalence is 1:200-1:500, largely based on the disease phenotype with imaging, inferring that 750,000 Americans may be affected by HCM. However, cross-sectional data show that only a fraction are clinically diagnosed, suggesting under-recognition, with most clinicians exposed to small segments of the broad disease spectrum. Highly effective HCM management strategies have emerged, altering clinical course and substantially lowering mortality and morbidity rates. These advances underscore the importance of reliable HCM diagnosis with echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance. Family screening with noninvasive imaging will identify relatives with the HCM phenotype, while genetic analysis recognizes preclinical sarcomere gene carriers without left ventricular hypertrophy, but with the potential to transmit disease. Comprehensive initial patient evaluations are important for reliable diagnosis, accurate portrayal of HCM and family history, risk stratification, and distinguishing obstructive versus nonobstructive forms.
Topics: Cardiac Imaging Techniques; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic; Humans
PubMed: 35086660
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2021.12.002 -
International Journal of Medical... 2022Fabry disease is an inherited lysosomal storage disease affecting multiple organs with complications, including cardiomyopathy such as left ventricular hypertrophy... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Fabry disease is an inherited lysosomal storage disease affecting multiple organs with complications, including cardiomyopathy such as left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) has been the main treatment for Fabry patients since 2001. However, the indications of ERT are not clearly defined. We performed a meta-analysis according to previous studies to review the benefit of ERT for LVH improvement in Fabry patients. We performed a literature search from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and PubMed database without restriction of years for systematic review purposes. We performed a systematic review of clinical cohort studies and trials using a pooled analysis of proportions. We calculated the pooled proportions and the confidence intervals (CI) for left ventricular mass index (LVMI) for both ERT treatment and ERT treatment-naïve groups. The results for before ERT treatment and after ERT treatment are also investigated. A total of 5 cohort studies and 2 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), involving a total of 552 participants (267 on ERT treatment versus 285 on naïve treatment), met the inclusion criteria. The pooled proportions analysis showed that the difference in means of LVMI between the ERT treatment group and the ERT treatment-naïve group was -0.149 [95% CI: -0.431, 0.132]. Effect differences favored the ERT treatment group over the ERT treatment-naïve group ( = 0.034). Another analysis included 3 cohort studies and 1 RCT with 442 participants (228 on before ERT and 214 on 4 years after ERT). The pooled proportions analysis showed that the difference in means of LVMI between the before ERT treatment group and the after ERT treatment group was -0.448 [95% CI: -0.787, -0.108]. It favored the 4 years after ERT group over the before ERT group ( = 0.037). Based on the currently available data, our meta-analysis showed that there are beneficial effects on LVH improvement with ERT in Fabry disease patients. It is better to start ERT as soon as we have diagnoses in female carriers and atypically affected males. Further research is needed to investigate the role of ERT in LVH improvement.
Topics: Enzyme Replacement Therapy; Fabry Disease; Female; Humans; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular; Male
PubMed: 34975306
DOI: 10.7150/ijms.66448 -
Heart & Lung : the Journal of Critical... 2022Studies on risk factors of sudden cardiac death (CD) or CD in children with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are lacking. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Studies on risk factors of sudden cardiac death (CD) or CD in children with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are lacking.
OBJECTIVES
To assess factors associated with the risk of sudden CD or CD in HCM children.
METHODS
Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases were searched.
RESULTS
The results indicated that children with previous adverse cardiac events during childhood and with a history of syncope had an increased risk of sudden CD or CD. Non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) in HCM children was associated with sudden CD or CD. Children with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) were at higher risk of sudden CD or CD. And left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction was a potential risk factor for sudden CD in children with HCM (all P<0.05).
CONCLUSION
Optimal care and appropriate monitoring is necessary for HCM children with higher risk of sudden CD or CD.
Topics: Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic; Child; Death, Sudden, Cardiac; Humans; Risk Factors
PubMed: 34837725
DOI: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2021.11.006 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Nov 2021Resistant hypertension is highly prevalent among the general hypertensive population and the clinical management of this condition remains problematic. Different... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Resistant hypertension is highly prevalent among the general hypertensive population and the clinical management of this condition remains problematic. Different approaches, including a more intensified antihypertensive therapy, lifestyle modifications or both, have largely failed to improve patients' outcomes and to reduce cardiovascular and renal risk. As renal sympathetic hyperactivity is a major driver of resistant hypertension, in the last decade renal sympathetic ablation (renal denervation) has been proposed as a possible therapeutic alternative to treat this condition.
OBJECTIVES
We sought to evaluate the short- and long-term effects of renal denervation in individuals with resistant hypertension on clinical end points, including fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events, all-cause mortality, hospital admissions, quality of life, blood pressure control, left ventricular hypertrophy, cardiovascular and metabolic profile and kidney function, as well as the potential adverse events related to the procedure.
SEARCH METHODS
For this updated review, the Cochrane Hypertension Information Specialist searched the following databases for randomised controlled trials up to 3 November 2020: Cochrane Hypertension's Specialised Register, CENTRAL (2020, Issue 11), Ovid MEDLINE, and Ovid Embase. The World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (via CENTRAL) and the US National Institutes of Health Ongoing Trials Register ClinicalTrials.gov were searched for ongoing trials. We also contacted authors of relevant papers regarding further published and unpublished work. The searches had no language restrictions.
SELECTION CRITERIA
We considered randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that compared renal denervation to standard therapy or sham procedure to treat resistant hypertension, without language restriction.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two authors independently extracted data and assessed study risk of bias. We summarised treatment effects on available clinical outcomes and adverse events using random-effects meta-analyses. We assessed heterogeneity in estimated treatment effects using Chi² and I² statistics. We calculated summary treatment estimates as a mean difference (MD) or standardised mean difference (SMD) for continuous outcomes, and a risk ratio (RR) for dichotomous outcomes, together with their 95% confidence intervals (CI). Certainty of evidence has been assessed using the GRADE approach.
MAIN RESULTS
We found 15 eligible studies (1416 participants). In four studies, renal denervation was compared to sham procedure; in the remaining studies, renal denervation was tested against standard or intensified antihypertensive therapy. Most studies had unclear or high risk of bias for allocation concealment and blinding. When compared to control, there was low-certainty evidence that renal denervation had little or no effect on the risk of myocardial infarction (4 studies, 742 participants; RR 1.31, 95% CI 0.45 to 3.84), ischaemic stroke (5 studies, 892 participants; RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.33 to 2.95), unstable angina (3 studies, 270 participants; RR 0.51, 95% CI 0.09 to 2.89) or hospitalisation (3 studies, 743 participants; RR 1.24, 95% CI 0.50 to 3.11). Based on moderate-certainty evidence, renal denervation may reduce 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) systolic BP (9 studies, 1045 participants; MD -5.29 mmHg, 95% CI -10.46 to -0.13), ABPM diastolic BP (8 studies, 1004 participants; MD -3.75 mmHg, 95% CI -7.10 to -0.39) and office diastolic BP (8 studies, 1049 participants; MD -4.61 mmHg, 95% CI -8.23 to -0.99). Conversely, this procedure had little or no effect on office systolic BP (10 studies, 1090 participants; MD -5.92 mmHg, 95% CI -12.94 to 1.10). Moderate-certainty evidence suggested that renal denervation may not reduce serum creatinine (5 studies, 721 participants, MD 0.03 mg/dL, 95% CI -0.06 to 0.13) and may not increase the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) or creatinine clearance (6 studies, 822 participants; MD -2.56 mL/min, 95% CI -7.53 to 2.42). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: In patients with resistant hypertension, there is low-certainty evidence that renal denervation does not improve major cardiovascular outomes and renal function. Conversely, moderate-certainty evidence exists that it may improve 24h ABPM and diastolic office-measured BP. Future trials measuring patient-centred instead of surrogate outcomes, with longer follow-up periods, larger sample size and more standardised procedural methods are necessary to clarify the utility of this procedure in this population.
Topics: Antihypertensive Agents; Blood Pressure; Denervation; Humans; Hypertension; Kidney
PubMed: 34806762
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD011499.pub3 -
Annals of Palliative Medicine Oct 2021Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy predicts worse cardiac outcomes. Blood pressure lowering is associated with the reduction of LV hypertrophy. This study evaluated the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy predicts worse cardiac outcomes. Blood pressure lowering is associated with the reduction of LV hypertrophy. This study evaluated the effect of a calcium channel blocker, amlodipine, on LV hypertrophy in patients with hypertension.
METHODS
Studies were identified by conducting a literature survey in electronic databases, and study selection was carried out according to precise eligibility criteria. Meta-analyses of mean change between the follow-up and baseline values of systolic/diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP) and LV hypertrophy indices were performed. Meta-regression analyses were performed to examine the factors affecting changes in these indices.
RESULTS
Twenty-three studies [involving 737 patients; age 56.4 years, 95% confidence interval (CI): 53.5-59.2; females 34%, 95% CI: 25-44%; body mass index 26.4 kg/m2, 95% CI: 24.6-28.1] were included. Amlodipine treatment led to a significant reduction in SBP (-24.9 mmHg; 95% CI: -28.3 to -21.6; P<0.0001) and DBP (-14.8; 95% CI: -16.4 to -13.3; P<0.0001), without affecting the heart rate. Amlodipine treatment also significantly reduced the LV mass index. The mean difference (MD) between the follow-up and baseline LV mass index was -12.9; 95% CI: -15.4 to -10.4 (P<0.001). This decrease in LV mass index was positively associated with the follow-up duration [meta-regression coefficient (MC): 0.392; 95% CI: 0.050-0.733; P=0.026] and baseline LV mass index (MC: 0.139; 95% CI: 0.007-0.271; P=0.040). Amlodipine treatment significantly reduced the LV posterior wall thickness, which was also positively associated with the follow-up duration. There was no significant decrease in the LV end-diastolic diameter following amlodipine treatment.
DISCUSSION
Amlodipine treatment in patients with hypertension significantly reduced the LV mass index and LV posterior wall thickness, without notably affecting the LV end-diastolic diameter. Since many of the included studies were non-randomized, open-label, or lacking appropriate comparability, we therefore performed pooled analyses of the changes from baseline, and a comparative account could not be carried out.
Topics: Amlodipine; Blood Pressure; Calcium Channel Blockers; Female; Humans; Hypertension; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular; Middle Aged
PubMed: 34763438
DOI: 10.21037/apm-21-2455