Causes of insufficient anticoagulation in Chinese patients with non-valvlar atrial fibrillation / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the factors responsible for the insufficient application of oral anticoagulation (OAC) in Chinese patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The research is a single center registration study in a tertiary referral hospital in Beijing. The general characteristics, history of atrial fibrillation, comorbidities and anticoagulation treatment were obtained from all patients.Factors affecting the oral Walfarin use were evaluated by univariable and multivariable regression analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>OAC therapy with Walfarin was applied on Only 214(39.4%) out of 576 consecutive patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. The OAC rate was 30.3% among non-ablation patients. Patients with persistent atrial fibrillation, diabetes, chronic heart failure, history of ischemic stroke/TIA and higher CHA2DS2-VASc score were more likely prescribed with Walfarin. Multivariable regression analysis showed that persistent fibrillation, history of chronic heart failure, ischemic stroke/TIA and non-coronary heart disease predicted the treatment with Walfarin.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>OAC use is extremely low in Chinese patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. More efforts are warranted to improve OAC use in these patients.</p>

Value of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging for the diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the clinical features and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) characteristics of patients with endomyocardial biopsy (EMB)-proven cardiac amyloidosis (CA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>EMB proven CA patients underwent CMR examination from September 2006 to December 2010 were included. The findings of clinical manifestation, electrocardiogram, echocardiography and CMR were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the 18 patients with EMB verified CA, 5 patients underwent CMR. All 5 patients had heart failure symptoms and electrocardiogram was abnormal. Echocardiogram showed concentric left ventricular hypertrophy, granular appearance of the myocardium, left atrial enlargement and moderate to severe left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. CMR revealed increased thickness of the left ventricular wall (especially at the inter-ventricular septum), enlarged bilateral auricle, restricted left ventricular filling with normal or mild to moderate reduced systolic function. Pleural and pericardial effusions were observed in 2 patients. Abnormal late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) was detected in all 5 patients. CMR revealed different patterns of LGE. Left ventricular global subendocardial delayed gadolinium enhancement or transmural delayed gadolinium enhancement were found, and patients also showed line-, granular- or patchy-like enhancement. The degree and range of LGE paralleled the disease course and were consistent with electrocardiogram changes.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>As a noninvasive diagnostic tool, CMR is valuable in the diagnosis of CA. For patients with clinical suspicion of CA, CMR could be a helpful diagnostic tool, especially in the hospitals where EMB is not available.</p>