Electrocardiographic features of disease progression in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia.

BACKGROUND Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia (ARVC/D) is considered a progressive cardiomyopathy. However, data on the clinical features of disease progression are limited. The aim of this study was to assess 12-lead surface electrocardiographic (ECG) changes during long-term follow-up, and to compare these findings with echocardiographic data in our large cohort of patients with ARVC/D. METHODS Baseline and follow-up ECGs of 111 patients from three tertiary care centers in Switzerland were systematically analyzed with digital calipers by two blinded observers, and correlated with findings from transthoracic echocardiography. RESULTS The median follow-up was 4 years (IQR 1.9-9.2 years). ECG progression was significant for epsilon waves (baseline 14% vs. follow-up 31%, p = 0.01) and QRS duration (111 ms vs. 114 ms, p = 0.04). Six patients with repolarization abnormalities according to the 2010 Task Force Criteria at baseline did not display these criteria at follow-up, whereas in all patients with epsilon waves at baseline these depolarization abnormalities also remained at follow-up. T wave inversions in inferior leads were common (36% of patients at baseline), and were significantly associated with major repolarization abnormalities (p = 0.02), extensive echocardiographic right ventricular involvement (p = 0.04), T wave inversions in lateral precordial leads (p = 0.05), and definite ARVC/D (p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Our data supports the concept that ARVC/D is generally progressive, which can be detected by 12-lead surface ECG. Repolarization abnormalities may disappear during the course of the disease. Furthermore, the presence of T wave inversions in inferior leads is common in ARVC/D.

Ablation of ischemic ventricular tachycardia: evidence, techniques, results, and future directions

PURPOSE OF REVIEW This article summarizes current understanding of the arrhythmia substrate and effect of catheter ablation for infarct-related ventricular tachycardia, focusing on recent findings. RECENT FINDINGS Clinical studies support the use of catheter ablation earlier in the course of ischemic disease with moderate success in reducing arrhythmia recurrence and shocks from implantable defibrillators, although mortality remains unchanged. Ablation can be lifesaving for patients presenting with electrical storm. Advanced mapping systems with image integration facilitate identification of potential substrate, and several different approaches to manage hemodynamically unstable ventricular tachycardia have emerged. Novel ablation techniques that allow deeper lesion formation are in development. SUMMARY Catheter ablation is an important therapeutic option for preventing or reducing episodes of ventricular tachycardia in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy. Present technologies allow successful ablation in the majority of patients, even when the arrhythmia is hemodynamically unstable. Failure of the procedure is often because of anatomic challenges that will hopefully be addressed with technological progress.

Long Term Outcomes Following Catheter Ablation of Ventricular Tachycardia in Patients with and without Structural Heart Disease.

BACKGROUND Long-term outcomes following ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation are sparsely described. OBJECTIVES To describe long term prognosis following VT ablation in patients with no structural heart disease (no SHD), ischemic (ICM) and non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM). METHODS Consecutive patients (n=695; no SHD 98, ICM 358, NICM 239 patients) ablated for sustained VT were followed for a median of 6 years. Acute procedural parameters (complete success [non-inducibility of any VT]) and outcomes after multiple procedures were reported. RESULTS Compared with patients with no SHD or NICM, ICM patients were the oldest, had more males, lowest left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), highest drug failures, VT storms and number of inducible VTs. Complete procedure success was highest in no SHD, compared ICM and NICM patients (79%, 56%, 60% respectively, P<0.001). At 6 years, ventricular arrhythmia (VA)-free survival was highest in no SHD (77%) than ICM (54%) and NICM (38%, P<0.001) and overall survival was lowest in ICM (48%), followed by NICM (74%) and no SHD patients (100%, P<0.001). Age, LVEF, presence of SHD, acute procedural success (non-inducibility of any VT), major complications, need for non-radiofrequency ablation modalities, and VA recurrence were independently associated with all cause mortality. CONCLUSIONS Long term follow up following VT ablation shows excellent prognosis in the absence of SHD, highest VA recurrence and transplantation in NICM and highest mortality in patients with ICM. The extremely low mortality for those without SHD suggests that VT in this population is very rarely an initial presentation of a myopathic process.

Decisional Considerations in Left Ventricular Assist Device for Destination Therapy

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Washington, 2016-06

Eosinophilic heart: Marked left ventricular wall thickening and myocardial dysfunction improving with corticosteroid therapy

We report a case of a 34-year-old male with acute severe heart failure associated with marked concentric left ventricular wall thickening and biopsy evidence of eosinophilic myocardial infiltrate. This appears to be an unusual description of this degree of concentric myocardial thickening in eosinophilic myocarditis coupled with Doppler tissue echocardiography. Following high-dose corticosteroid treatment, wall thickness, systolic and diastolic left ventricular function normalized and the patient experienced a dramatic clinical improvement. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Volume 20, May 2003).

Alterations of left ventricular myocardial characteristics associated with obesity

Background-Obesity is associated with heart failure, but an effect of weight, independent of comorbidities, on cardiac structure and function is not well established. We sought whether body mass index (BMI) and insulin levels were associated with subclinical myocardial disturbances. Methods and Results-Transthoracic echocardiography, myocardial Doppler-derived systolic (sm) and early diastolic velocity ( em), strain and strain rate imaging and tissue characterization with cyclic variation (CVIB), and calibrated integrated backscatter (cIB) were obtained in 109 overweight or obese subjects and 33 referents (BMI35) and the referent patients (P

Effects of revascularisation and contractile reserve on left ventricular remodelling in patients with impaired left ventricular function

Objective: We sought to define the influence of revascularisation and contractile reserve on left ventricular (LV) remodelling in patients with LV dysfunction after myocardial infarction. Revascularisation of viable myocardium is associated with improved regional function, but the effect on remodelling is undefined. Methods: We studied 70 patients with coronary artery disease and LV dysfunction, 31 of whom underwent revascularisation. A standard dobutamine stress echocardiogram (DbE) was carried out. All patients underwent standard medical treatment; the decision to revascularise was made clinically, independent of this study. LV volumes and ejection fraction were measured by 3D echocardiography at baseline and after an average of 40 weeks. Results: There was no significant difference in baseline ejection fraction or volumes between patients who underwent revascularisation and the remainder. Compared to medically treated patients, revascularised patients had significant improvements in ejection fraction and end-systolic volume in follow-up. The impact of baseline variables on remodelling was assessed by dividing patients into tertiles of LV ejection fraction and volumes. Revascularised patients in the lowest tertile of ejection fraction at baseline (<38%) had a significant improvement in end-systolic volume and ejection fraction, larger than obtained in medically treated patients with low ejection fraction. Revascularised patients with an ejection fraction >38% did not show significant improvement in volumes compared to baseline. Revascularised patients in the largest tertiles of end-systolic (>88 ml) or end-diastolic volume (>149 ml) at baseline had a significant improvement in end-systolic volume. Conclusion: Remodeling appears to occur independent of the presence of regional contractile reserve but does correlate with the volume response to low-dose dobutamine. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Left ventricular dyssynchrony predicts response and prognosis after cardiac resynchronization therapy

OBJECTIVES This study was designed to predict the response and prognosis after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in patients with end-stage heart failure (HF). BACKGROUND Cardiac resynchronization therapy improves HF symptoms, exercise capacity, and left ventricular (LV) function. Because not all patients respond, preimplantation identification of responders is needed. In the present study, response to CRT was predicted by the presence of LV dyssynchrony assessed by tissue Doppler imaging. Moreover, the prognostic value of LV dyssynchrony in patients undergoing CRT was assessed. METHODS Eighty-five patients with end-stage HF, QRS duration >120 ins, and left bundle-branch block were evaluated by tissue Doppler imaging before CRT. At baseline and six months follow-up, New York Heart Association functional class, quality of life and 6-min walking distance, LV volumes, and LV ejection fraction were determined. Events (death, hospitalization for decompensated HF) were obtained during one-year follow-up. RESULTS Responders (74%) and nonresponders (26%) had comparable baseline characteristics, except for a larger dyssynchrony in responders (87 +/- 49 ms vs. 35 +/- 20 ms, p < 0.01). Receiver-operator characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that an optimal cutoff value of 65 ms for LV dyssynchrony yielded a sensitivity and specificity of 80% to predict clinical improvement and of 92% to predict LV reverse remodeling. Patients with dyssynchrony :65 ms had an excellent prognosis (6% event rate) after CRT as compared with a 50% event rate in patients with dyssynchrony <65 ins (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Patients with LV dyssynchrony greater than or equal to65 ms respond to CRT and have an excellent prognosis after CRT. (C) 2004 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation.

Patients with a hypertensive response to exercise have impaired systolic function without diastolic dysfunction or left ventricular hypertrophy

OBJECTIVES We sought to determine if a hypertensive response to exercise (HRE) is associated with myocardial changes consistent with early hypertensive heart disease. BACKGROUND An HRE predicts the development of chronic hypertension (HT) and may reflect a preclinical stage of HT. METHODS Patients with a normal left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction and a negative stress test were recruited into three matched groups: 41 patients (age 56 +/- 10 years) with HRE (210/105 mm Hg in men; > 190/105 in women), comprising 22 patients with (HT+) and 19 without resting hypertension (HT-); and 17 matched control subjects without HRE. Long-axis function was determined by measurement of the strain rate (SR), peak systolic strain, and cyclic variation (CV) of integrated backscatter in three apical views. RESULTS An HRE was not associated with significant differences in LV mass index. Exercise performance and diastolic function were reduced in HRE(HT+) patients, but similar in HRE(HT-) patients and controls. Systolic dysfunction (peak systolic strain, SR, and CV) was significantly reduced in HRE patients (p < 0.001 for all). These reductions were equally apparent in patients with and without a history of resting HT (p = NS) and were independent of LV mass index and blood pressure (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS An HRE is associated with subtle systolic dysfunction, even in the absence of resting HT. These changes occur before the development of LV hypertrophy or detectable diastolic dysfunction and likely represent early hypertensive heart disease. (C) 2004 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation.

Prediction of subclinicial left ventricular dysfunction with strain rate imaging in patients with asymptomatic severe mitral regurgitation

This study sought the ability of strain rate imaging to detect subclinical left ventricular dysfunction, as evidenced by reduced contractile reserve (CR) in 32 asymptomatic patients with isolated severe mitral regurgitation. Compared with CR- patients (n = 10), CR+ patients (n = 22) had significantly higher end-systolic strain and peak systolic strain rate, but these parameters were not significantly different between CR+ patients and matched normal controls. (C) 2004 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.

Reproducibility and accuracy of echocardiographic measurements of left ventricular parameters using real-time three-dimensional echocardiography

OBJECTIVES We sought to determine whether assessment of left ventricular (LV) function with real-time (RT) three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) could reduce the variation of sequential LV measurements and provide greater accuracy than two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE). BACKGROUND Real-time 3DE has become feasible as a standard clinical tool, but its accuracy for LV assessment has not been validated. METHODS Unselected patients (n = 50; 41 men; age, 64 +/- 8 years) presenting for evaluation of LV function were studied with 2DE and RT-3DE. Test-retest variation was performed by a complete restudy by a separate sonographer within 1 h without alteration of hemodynamics or therapy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images were obtained during a breath-hold, and measurements were made off-line. RESULTS The test-retest variation showed similar measurements for volumes but wider scatter of LV mass measurements with M-mode and 2DE than 3DE. The average MRI end-diastolic volume was 172 +/- 53 ml; LV volumes were underestimated by 2DE (mean difference, -54 +/- 33; p < 0.01) but only slightly by RT-3DE (-4 +/- 29; p = 0.31). Similarly, end-systolic volume by MRI (91 +/- 53 ml) was underestimated by 2DE (mean difference, -28 +/- 28; p < 0.01) and by RT-3DE (mean difference, -3 +/- 18; p = 0.23). Ejection fraction by MRI was similar by 2DE (p = 0.76) and RT-3DE (p = 0.74). Left ventricular mass (183 +/- 50 g) was overestimated by M-mode (mean difference, 68 +/- 86 g; p < 0.01) and 2DE (16 +/- 57; p = 0.04) but not RT-3DE (0 +/- 38 g; p = 0.94). There was good inter- and intra-observer correlation between RT-3DE by two sonographers for volumes, ejection fraction, and mass. CONCLUSIONS Real-time 3DE is a feasible approach to reduce test-retest variation of LV volume, ejection fraction, and mass measurements in follow-up LV assessment in daily practice. (C) 2004 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation.