Search

Echocardiographic assessment of the athlete's heart remains challenging because of a phenotypic overlap between reactive physiological adaptation and pathological remodelling. The lower range of normal values of left ventricle systolic ejection fraction (LVEF) and global longitudinal strain (GLS) in athletes makes it difficult to differentiate changes related to adaptive remodelling or indicative of early cardiomyopathy. This study sought to identify echocardiographic phenotype of endurance athletes using 2D speckle tracking imaging with a multi-layer approach and to define predictive factors of subtle LV systolic dysfunction. Healthy male athletes who underwent a pre-participation medical evaluation at the University Hospital of Nancy between 2013 and 2020 were included. Clinical and echocardiographic data were compared with healthy men from the STANISLAS cohort. Subtle LV dysfunction was defined as a GLS < 17.5%. A total of 191 athletes and 161 control subjects were studied. Athletes demonstrated lower LVEF (57.9% vs. 62.6%; P < 0.01) and lower GLS (17.8% vs. 21.1%; P < 0.01). No significant differences were found between athletes with and without subtle LV dysfunction regarding clinical characteristics, structural echocardiographic features, and exercise capacity. Athletes with subtle LV dysfunction exhibited a lower endocardial GLS (18.8% vs. 22.7%; P < 0.02), a lower epicardial GLS (14.0% vs. 16.6%; P < 0.01) and a greater endocardial/epicardial GLS ratio (1.36 vs. 1.32; P < 0.01). No significant difference was found regarding mechanical dispersion (P = 0.46). The endurance athlete's heart is characterized by a specific myocardial deformation pattern with a greater endocardial/epicardial GLS ratio. Subtle LV dysfunction seems mainly driven by a decreased epicardial GLS and not related to exercise capacity, structural remodelling or mechanical dispersion (Fig. 1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is not always perceived as a serious health threat, but is the most common sustained arrhythmia, with a major impact on morbidity, mortality, and patient quality of life (QoL). A survey was undertaken to examine the level of understanding, perception, and attitudes of the cardiovascular risks associated with AF.Methods and Results: The AF AWARE group (an international coalition of organizations with an interest in AF) conducted an international quantitative survey in 11 countries in 2009, to investigate patients' (n = 825) and cardiologists' (n = 810) perceptions of AF, preferences for communicating information on AF and burden of AF. Both patients and physicians considered AF life-threatening (55 and 43%, respectively). Physicians were more concerned about the risk of stroke and hospitalizations than patients, whereas patients were most concerned about death risk. One in four patients felt unable to explain AF and >33% were worried or fearful about their disease. Many physicians (51%) wanted more patient information with >60% viewing available information as poor/difficult to find. Hospital specialists and GPs were identified as key information sources for patients. Most patients (83%) reported symptoms, yet 75% claimed to be satisfied with AF therapies. Atrial fibrillation patients, often with associated diseases, made an average of nine visits per year to their doctors, who consider AF difficult and time consuming to manage. Patients and physicians rated the QoL impact of AF as moderate to high.Conclusions: A comprehensive international patient and professional information and support programme on AF is needed to improve management and consequently health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anatomical guided atrial fibrillation (AF) catheter ablation relies on the assumption that the left atrium reconstruction anatomy (LARA) using a 3D mapping system precisely matches the patient's CT scan anatomy (real anatomy). This study investigates whether this postulation is accurate using CT scan image integration.Patients and Methods: Thirty consecutive patients (23 men, mean age = 51.9 +/- 9.9 years) with symptomatic drug-refractory paroxysmal (n = 21) or persistent (n = 9) AF underwent a circumferential, 2 x 2, pulmonary vein (PV) radiofrequency (RF) ablation using the CARTOMERGE system. Left atrium (LA) anatomy was first reconstructed and RF design lines drawn on this LARA. After a CT-scan image of the LA was integrated into the 3D system, RF lesions were deployed 10 +/- 5 mm outside the PV ostia (PVO) onto the CT-scan LA surface. The match between the actual RF lines and the RF design lines was analyzed off-line after catheter withdrawal.Results: Circumferential RF design lines were divided into four segments encircling both the right and left PVs. Design segments matched the actual RF segments in a proportion varying from 23% up to 83%. A mean of 2.8 +/- 1.6 segments per patient were inaccurately designed that extended a mean of 3.8 +/- 2.3mm inside the adjacent PV or 6.7 +/- 1.8mm inside the left atrial appendage (LAA). Seven patients (23%) had four or more segments incorrectly designed.Conclusions: Our study reveals the inaccuracy of 3D anatomic guided RF ablation with respect to the LA anatomical structures that could be possibly improved when combined with CT-scan image integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Assessment of a bidirectional conduction block within the cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) is critical during radiofrequency (RF) atrial flutter (AF) ablation. We investigated the use of bipolar atrial electrogram (BAE) morphology as an additional criterion identifying CTI block and tested it against two recognized criteria: differential pacing and reversal of the right atrial depolarization sequence during coronary sinus (CS) pacing. Methods and results An RF ablation procedure was performed during 600 ms CS pacing in 100 consecutive patients with a common AF. BAE recorded along the CTI were continuously monitored. CTI conduction block was achieved by RF ablation in all patients and a clear change in BAE polarity in the Electrogram recorded by the dipoles located on the CTI and immediately lateral to the intended line of block (RS to QR pattern) associated with a confirmed CTI conduction block was observed in all cases. BAE morphology changes predicted bidirectional CTI conduction blocks with a 100% positive and a 100% negative predictive value. At a mean follow-up of 33±11 months, there was a 5% AF recurrence rate. Conclusions Our study suggests that morphological changes in BAE recorded at sites lateral and adjacent to the target line of block may be used as a unique and robust criterion to validate CTI conduction block during AF ablation procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Aims Cavotricuspid isthmus conduction (CIC) is closely associated with the maintenance and recurrence of common atrial flutter (AFL). This study systematically sought to assess the prevalence and characteristics of acute CIC recovery during AFL ablation and to define its predictors and its relationship with the results of long-term follow-up. Methods and Results A total of 124 consecutive patients (105 men, 19 women, mean age 58±11 years) who underwent successful AFL ablation were included. The procedure endpoint was defined as complete bi-directional CIC block. During an observation period of 30 min, the incidence of CIC restoration was 34·7% in patients and 39·8% in applications. It increased with increasing block time and decreased over time during the observation period. Block time in successful burns followed by persistent block was shorter than in those followed by CIC resumption (12±6 vs 33±12 s, P< 0·0001). A negative correlation between block time and resumption time was found (r=−0·57, P< 0·001). Patients with permanent pacemakers had a higher incidence of acute CIC resumption than those without pacemakers (5/7 vs 29/117, P=0·007). The AFL recurrence rate was 4·8% during a mean follow-up period of 21±8 months. Our results suggest that acute CIC resumption may be a potential risk for clinical AFL recurrence during long-term follow-up. Conclusions Acute CIC resumption in common AFL ablation varies in terms of incidence and time course. Block time has a predictive value for acute CIC recovery. Observation time can be shortened if block time is short. With longer block time, it is essential to observe for a longer period in order to minimize CIC resumption. Copyright 2002 The European Society of Cardiology. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The European Society of Cardiology has convened a Task Force on Sudden Cardiac Death in order to provide a comprehensive, educational document on this important topic. The main document has been published in the European Heart Journal in August 2001[1].The Task Force has now summarized the most important clinical issues on sudden cardiac death and provided tables with recommendations for risk stratification and for prophylaxis of sudden cardiac death.The present recommendations are specifically intended to encourage the development and revision of national guidelines on prevention of sudden cardiac death.The common challenge for cardiologists, physicians of other medical specialties and health professionals throughout Europe is to realize the potential for sudden cardiac death prevention and to contribute to public health efforts to reduce its burden. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: In patients with congestive heart failure (CHF), clinical trials have demonstrated the benefit of a number of drugs on morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless so far, there is no published controlled study of long-term antithrombotic therapy in patients with CHF. The aim of this work was to identify the relationship between cardiovascular drug use, especially antithrombotic therapy, and survival of CHF patients in current clinical practice, using an observational, population-based database.Methods: The EPICAL study (Epidémiologie de l'Insuffisance Cardiaque Avancée en Lorraine) has identified prospectively all patients with severe CHF in the community of Lorraine. Inclusion criteria were age 20-80 years in 1994, at least one hospitalisation for cardiac decompensation, NYHA III/IV HF, ventricular ejection fraction < or =30% or cardiothoracic index > or =60% and arterial hypotension or peripheral and/or pulmonary oedema. A total of 417 consecutive patients surviving at hospital discharge were included in the database. The average follow-up period was 5 years. Univariate Cox models were used to test the relationship of baseline biological and clinical factors to survival. Cardiovascular drug prescriptions were tested in a multivariate Cox model adjusted by other known predictive factors.Results: Duration of disease >1 year, renal failure, serum sodium > or =138 mmol/l, old age, serious comorbidity, previous decompensation, high doses of furosemide and vasodilators use were independently associated with poor prognosis at 1 and 5 years. Oral anticoagulants, aspirin, lipid lowering drugs and beta-blockers use were associated with better survival. There was no interaction between aspirin and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor use on survival.Conclusion: Antithrombotic therapy was associated with a better long-term survival in our study population of severe CHF. These results together with other previously published circumstantial evidence urge for a prospective, controlled and randomised trial specifically designed to evaluate optimal oral anticoagulants and aspirin in patients with congestive heart failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Atrioventricular synchronous pacing exerts beneficial effects, including reduction of left ventricular outflow tract gradients, in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. The Pacing in Cardiomyopathy study was initiated to explore the effects of pacing in a double-blind randomized crossover fashion. The aims were to ascertain the beneficial effects of pacing in a controlled study and to rule out a placebo effect by pacing. This paper deals with the outcome of pacing on quality of life during 1 year of follow-up.Methods Quality of life was evaluated with the Karolinska questionnaire, validated for patients paced for bradyarrhythmias and ischaemic heart disease. Drug-refractory patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy were recruited for the study and after a temporary pacing procedure implanted with permanent pacemakers. Patients were randomized to two study arms defining the sequence of pacemaker programming. In one arm the pacemaker was inactive, in the other active. After 3 months the pacemaker was reprogrammed to the alternate mode and a further 3 months followed. After this period subsequent pacemaker programming corresponded to the mode preferred by the patient. A last assessment was made 1 year after baseline examinations.Results Eighty patients completed the first crossover period and 75 completed the full 1 year of follow-up. Active pacing induced significant quality of life improvements, in the order of 9–44%, regardless of programming sequence. Discontinuation of pacing after a first active period resulted in the return of symptoms. Fourteen patients requested early reprogramming after having been programmed to inactive pacing after a first period of active pacing. Seventy-six patients preferred active pacing after the crossover period. A further 6 months of pacing induced progressive improvement in symptoms already favourably influenced.Conclusion Atrioventricular synchronous pacing has a profound beneficial effect on most domains of quality of life in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy refractory to drug treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Atrial fibrillation, a commonly encountered arrhythmia, has in recent years, been the subject of increased interest and intensive clinical research. There is also increasing awareness that atrial fibrillation is a major cause of embolic events which in 75% of cases are complicated by cerebrovascular accidents[1,2]. Atrial fibrillation is often associated with heart disease but a significant proportion of patients (about 30%) have no detectable heart disease[3]. Symptoms, occasionally disabling, haemo-dynamic impairment and a decrease in life expectancy are among the untoward effects of atrial fibrillation, resulting in an important morbidity, mortality and an increased cost for the health care provider[4].The Working Group of Arrhythmias of the European Society of Cardiology created a Study Group on Atrial Fibrillation in order to establish recommen-dations for the better management of this arrhythmia and to promote multicentre studies. The purpose of this paper is to briefly outline the state of our knowledge on the clinical presentation, the causes, the mechanisms and therapeutic approaches currently available and to propose recommendations for management. Although atrial flutter can coexist with atrial fibrillation, it is considered a different arrhythmia and will not be covered in the present paper. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: DDD pacing has been advocated as an effective treatment for drug refractory obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This study reports the outcome of pacing in 56 patients with refractory symptoms referred to four tertiary centres.Methods: Core data on symptoms, drug burden, and left ventricular outflow tract gradient were recorded. Patients underwent a temporary pacing study with optimisation of the atrioventricular (AV) delay for greatest gradient reduction without haemodynamic compromise. Patients were assessed after implantation in terms of changes in symptoms, drug load, and outflow tract gradient.Results: 56 patients underwent pacing assessment. The mean (SD) left ventricular outflow tract gradient before pacing was 78 (31) mm Hg. At temporary study the mean (SD) left ventricular outflow tract gradient was 38 (24) mm Hg with a median (range) optimised sensed AV delay of 65 (25-125) ms. Fifty three patients were implanted and followed up for a mean (SD) of 11 (11) months. The median (range) programmed sensed AV delay was 60 (31-200) ms. Left ventricular outflow tract gradient at follow up was 36 (25) mm Hg. Forty four patients had improved functional class. Although a correlation (r = 0.69) was shown between acute and chronic left ventricular outflow tract gradient reduction, there was no correlation between magnitude of gradient reduction and functional improvement, and no appreciable change in pharmacological burden.Conclusion: This series confirms symptomatic improvement after DDD pacing in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. There remains, however, a discrepancy between perceived symptomatic benefit and modest objective improvement. Furthermore, the optimal outcome has been achieved only with continued pharmacological treatment. Current methods of temporary evaluation do not predict functional outcome which seems to be independent of the magnitude of gradient reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of isoprenaline on the induction of supraventricular tachycardia by programmed stimulation were studied in 67 patients to see whether they correlated with spontaneous catecholamine mediated symptoms during exercise testing and Holter monitoring. Thirty seven control patients (group 1) did not have spontaneous arrhythmias either during exercise testing or Holter monitoring. Thirty patients (group 2) had documented exercise or stress related supraventricular tachycardias--that is paroxysmal junctional tachycardia (24) or atrial arrhythmia (6). Programmed electrical stimulation was performed before and during the infusion of isoprenaline. No group 1 patient developed sustained supraventricular tachycardia during isoprenaline infusion. In 21 patients with paroxysmal junctional tachycardia and all the patients with atrial arrhythmias electrical stimulation during isoprenaline infusion produced the same tachycardia that had been seen during exercise testing and Holter monitoring. Changes in electrophysiological variables and the concentrations of serum potassium were not associated with the induction of supraventricular tachycardia by isoprenaline. Infusion of isoprenaline safely facilitated the induction of supraventricular tachycardia by programmed stimulation in patients who had spontaneously occurring catecholamine mediated symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The 10 year outcome of patients with single vessel coronary artery disease who underwent coronary angiography more than 10 years before and who would have been potential candidates for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty had it been available then is reported. Long term follow up data were obtained in 96 (91 men, five women; mean age 48 years) of 105 consecutive patients with single vessel coronary artery disease (greater than 70% stenosis), judged suitable for coronary angioplasty. Fifty patients had coronary bypass surgery within six months of catheterisation (surgical group) and 46 were treated medically (medical group). At entry to the study more patients in the surgical group had unstable angina, but fewer had a previous history of myocardial infarction. Ten year survival was 91% and remained excellent in all the subsets analysed. Moreover, the quality of life of these patients was good. Over the 10 year follow up, 16 (36%) of the patients treated medically and 13 (26%) in the surgical group were admitted to hospital because of cardiovascular events (including late coronary surgery in four of the patients treated medically). Lastly, 54/69 (78%) of the patients who were employed before catheterisation resumed work and 29 (42%) were still employed 10 years later. Although these data must be interpreted with care because of the limitations inherent in all retrospective studies, it appears that the long term results of conventional medical or surgical treatment are excellent in patients with single vessel coronary artery disease in whom percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty is now an option. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Penticainide is a new class I antiarrhythmic agent. Its electrophysiological effects and pharmacokinetic properties were studied in 28 patients undergoing endocavitary exploration for paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (10 cases), WPW syndrome involving an accessory pathway (5 cases), and unexplained dizziness (13 cases). Increasing doses of penticainide were infused in the first 18 patients (0.12 up to 3.5 mg kg). The next ten patients received 4 mg kg over a 30 minute period. Penticainide shortened the sinus cycle length and increased the transnodal conduction time. The ventricular conduction time tended to increase. Atrial functional refractory period increased when atrioventricular nodal and ventricular refractory periods remained unchanged. In patients with previous supraventricular tachycardials all triggered arrhythmias were prevented with dosages higher than 2 mg kg and related blood levels higher than 3 mg l. A dose-dependency of plasma and renal clearance was documented. Average C values after 4 mg kg was 7.37 ± 1.28 mg l. No adverse events occurred during the trial and penticainide proved to be well tolerated. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Introduction: Le stress mental est considéré comme un facteur de risque des maladies cardiovasculaires. Le stress mental est associé avec une stimulation sympathique. L’insuffisance cardiaque est caractérisée par une activation du système sympathique et par une augmentation des cytokines pro-inflammatoires. L’IL1-β est une cytokine pro-inflammatoire, mais elle est aussi rélarguée lors l’exposition a un stress mental. L’activité de cette cytokine peut être modifiée par des polymorphismes sur le cluster IL-1. Cette étude examine l’hypothèse que un stress mental conduit à une augmentation des marqueurs inflammatoires chez les patients avec une dysfonction systolique ventriculaire gauche (DSVG), et que cette augmentation est associée aux polymorphismes des cytokines. Méthodes: 5 polymorphismes étudiés : IL1A -889, IL1β-511, ILRN VTRN, TNFA -308 and IL6 -174 en 570 patients, 77.5 % hommes, âge moyenne 66 ans, 42.1 % avec une DSVG. Le model « stress mental » était l’examen coronarographique (T1). Trois temps de IL-1β étaient mesurés en basal (T0 et T2) et un en période de stress (T1). IL-1β était mésurée dans la salive. Résultats: En période basale les concentrations de l’IL-1 étaient significativement inférieures que en T1 p<0.0001. Chez les patients avec une DSVG, le niveau de l’IL-1β était inférieur p=0.0310. En plus, la concentration en IL-1β diminue en fonction de la classe fonctionnelle NYHA. Concernant les polymorphismes, la forme mutée de l’IL1β-511 était associé d’une part, à la presence d’une DSVG OR 2.0 (95 % CI 1.2-3.3) P=0.0112, et d’autre part à une diminution en la concentration de l’IL-1β. Conclusion: Notre étude montre une association du polymorphisme IL1β-511 dans la réponse au stress mental en patients avec un DSVG. La présence de ce polymorphisme peut aider à identifier les patients à haut risque de développer une insuffisance cardiaque en conditions du stress mental. Display Omitted [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Patients with heart failure and ventricular conduction disturbance benefit haemodynamically from cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), but reduced mortality with CRT has not been demonstrated. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) reduced sudden death, which accounts for more than 50% of heart failure mortality. This review focuses on data from trials on ICD and CRT treatment in heart failure patients. The design of one study — the Pacing in Cardiomyopathies, a European Study (PACMAN) — is presented. Current recruitment in this trial indicates that 30% of patients receiving CRT require ICD backup. Ongoing larger trials will determine the true benefit of ICD and CRT in heart failure patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We report the case of a patient who was admitted for acute coronary syndrom associated with fever originating from urinary tract. Coronary arteriography revealed a huge coronary aneurysm which ruptured a short time after diagnosis. After surgery, it was proven to be mycotic aneurysm related to Escherichia Coli sepsis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]