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Background Patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) have high risk for sudden cardiac death (SCD) and may benefit from implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs). However, the risk for ICD-related complications is also high in this population. Therefore, there is an unmet need for accurate risk stratification tools to identify patients with CKD at risk for ventricular arrhythmias (VAs), who may benefit from ICD implantation. The aim of this hypothesis-generating study was to investigate the association between left ventricular (LV) mechanical dispersion and LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) measured using two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography and VA and SCD in patients with CKD. Methods Patients with CKD stages 3b to 5 (estimated glomerular filtration rate 2 or on dialysis) were included and were divided into two groups according to the occurrence of VA or SCD during follow-up. LV mechanical dispersion, as a measure of the temporal heterogeneity of the LV deformation, was measured as the SD of time to peak longitudinal strain of 17 LV segments. The ability of LV mechanical dispersion, LV ejection fraction, and LV GLS to discriminate patients with VA or SCD during follow-up was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Results Of 250 patients (66% men; mean age, 61 ± 14 years), 16 (6%) experienced VA or SCD during a median follow-up duration of 28 months (interquartile range, 16–53 months). Using receiver operating characteristic curve analyses, LV GLS (area under the curve = 0.79; 95% CI, 0.68–0.89) and LV mechanical dispersion (area under the curve = 0.71; 95% CI, 0.61–0.82) showed modest discrimination to identify patients at risk for VA or SCD. In contrast, LV ejection fraction showed poor discrimination (area under the curve = 0.60; 95% CI, 0.41–0.78). Conclusions LV mechanical dispersion along with LV GLS may be an additional valuable risk marker of VA and SCD in predialysis and dialysis patients.

Aims Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have an excess of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, with heart failure (HF) being particularly frequent. Reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) defines left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction and is associated with poor prognosis. However, CKD patients may have HF symptoms with preserved LVEF. In this subgroup of patients, two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography can detect LV systolic dysfunction by analysing LV myocardial deformation. The present study evaluated the prevalence of impaired LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) in CKD patients with preserved LVEF and its prognostic consequences. Methods and results Overall, 200 pre-dialysis and dialysis patients (65% men, mean age 60 ± 14 years) with CKD stage 3b–5 and preserved LVEF (≥50%) were evaluated. Left ventricular systolic dysfunction despite preserved LVEF was defined by LV GLS ≤15.2% (cut-off value derived from two standard deviations below the mean value of individuals without structural heart disease). Impaired LV GLS (≤15.2%) despite preserved LVEF was observed in 32% of patients. During a median follow-up of 33 months (interquartile range 17–62 months), 47% of patients underwent renal transplantation, 9% were admitted with HF, and 28% died. Patients with LV GLS ≤15.2% showed significantly worse cumulative event-free survival rates of the combined endpoint of HF hospitalization and all-cause mortality compared to patients with LV GLS >15.2% (log-rank P = 0.018). Conclusion The prevalence of impaired LV GLS despite preserved LVEF in pre-dialysis and dialysis patients is relatively high. Patients with preserved LVEF but impaired LV GLS have an increased risk of HF hospitalization and all-cause mortality.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a worldwide growing epidemic associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS) is a measure of LV systolic function associated with prognosis in the general population. However, little is known about the association between LV GLS and survival in patients with CKD. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prognostic implications of LV GLS in predialysis and dialysis patients specifically. LV GLS was measured in a retrospective cohort of predialysis and dialysis patients (CKD stage 3b to 5) who underwent clinically indicated echocardiography between 2004 and 2015. Patients were divided into 4 groups according to quartiles of LV GLS: first quartile (LV GLS ≤10.6%, worst function), second quartile (LV GLS 10.7% to 15.1%), third quartile (LV GLS 15.2% to 17.8%), and fourth quartile (LV GLS ≥17.9%, best function). The primary end point was all-cause mortality. Of 304 patients (62 ± 14 years, 66% male), 65% were in predialysis and 35% in dialysis. During a median follow-up of 29 months (interquartile range 16 to 58 months), 34% of patients underwent renal transplantation and 36% died. Patients with LV GLS ≤10.6% showed significantly worse prognosis compared with the other groups (log-rank test, p

Background: Left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS) as a measure of LV systolic function has been associated with prognosis in the general population. The prognostic impact of LV GLS in patients with stage 4 and 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains unexplored. We investigate the

Percutaneous catheter ablation is now a well-established, efficient and effective treatment strategy for recurrent, symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF). Major complications though occur in up to 5.9% of procedures. New complications still continue to emerge. Delayed tamponade is only recently recognized as a major complication after ablation. We present a 68-year-old female patient who develops cardiac tamponade requiring pericardiocentesis 12 days after AF ablation. Subsequently, the tamponade triggers a Dressler syndrome with repetitive pleural effusions only adequately responsive to corticosteroids.

A myomectomy was performed in a 35-year-old woman, and microscopic examination of the resulting specimen revealed an atypical myoma. Due to the rarity of this diagnosis, it is difficult to give clinical guidance for these patients, especially when they are considering pregnancy in the future. We advised 6 monthly vaginal ultrasound and did not advise against pregnancy. At 18 months there are no signs of recurrence, although the patient is not yet pregnant.