Changes in Right Ventricular-to-Pulmonary Artery Coupling After Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair in Secondary Mitral Regurgitation.

BACKGROUND: Preprocedural right ventricular-to-pulmonary artery (RV-PA) coupling is a major predictor of outcome in patients with secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR) undergoing transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (M-TEER). However, clinical significance of changes in RV-PA coupling after M-TEER is unknown. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in RV-PA coupling after M-TEER, their prognostic value, and predictors of improvement. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study, including patients undergoing successful M-TEER (residual mitral regurgitation ≤2+ at discharge) for SMR at 13 European centers and with complete echocardiographic data at baseline and short-term follow-up (30-180 days). RV-PA coupling was assessed with the use of echocardiography as the ratio of tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion to pulmonary artery systolic pressure (TAPSE/PASP). All-cause death was assessed at the longest available follow-up starting from the time of the echocardiographic reassessment. RESULTS: Among 501 patients included, 331 (66%) improved their TAPSE/PASP after M-TEER (responders) at short-term follow-up (median: 89 days; IQR: 43-159 days), whereas 170 (34%) did not (nonresponders). Lack of previous cardiac surgery, low postprocedural mitral mean gradient, low baseline TAPSE, high baseline PASP, and baseline tricuspid regurgitation were independently associated with TAPSE/PASP improvement after M-TEER. Compared with nonresponders, responders had lower New York Heart Association functional class and less heart failure hospitalizations at short-term follow-up. Improvement in TAPSE/PASP was independently associated with reduced risk of mortality at long-term follow-up (584 days; IQR: 191-1,243 days) (HR: 0.65 [95% CI: 0.42-0.92]; P = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with SMR, improvement in TAPSE/PASP after successful M-TEER is predicted by baseline clinical and echocardiographic variables and postprocedural mitral gradient, and is associated with a better outcome.

Evolution of tricuspid regurgitation after transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair for secondary mitral regurgitation and its impact on mortality.

AIM: To evaluate short-term changes in tricuspid regurgitation (TR) after transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (M-TEER) in secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR), their predictors and impact on mortality. METHODS AND RESULTS: This is a retrospective analysis of SMR patients undergoing successful M-TEER (post-procedural mitral regurgitation ≤2+) at 13 European centres. Among 503 patients evaluated 79 (interquartile range [IQR] 40-152) days after M-TEER, 173 (35%) showed ≥1 degree of TR improvement, 97 (19%) had worsening of TR, and 233 (46%) remained unchanged. Smaller baseline left atrial diameter and residual mitral regurgitation 0/1+ were independent predictors of TR ≤2+ after M-TEER. There was a significant association between TR changes and New York Heart Association class and pulmonary artery systolic pressure decrease at echocardiographic re-assessment. At a median follow-up of 590 (IQR 209-1103) days from short-term echocardiographic re-assessment, all-cause mortality was lower in patients with improved compared to those with unchanged/worsened TR (29.6% vs. 42.3% at 3 years; log-rank p = 0.034). Baseline TR severity was not associated with mortality, whereas TR 0/1+ and 2+ at short-term follow-up was associated with lower all-cause mortality compared to TR 3/4+ (30.6% and 35.6% vs. 55.6% at 3 years; p < 0.001). A TR ≤2+ after M-TEER was independently associated with a 42% decreased risk of mortality (p = 0.011). CONCLUSION: More than one third of patients with SMR undergoing successful M-TEER experienced an improvement in TR. Pre-procedural TR was not associated with outcome, but a TR ≤2+ at short-term follow-up was independently associated with long-term mortality. Optimal M-TEER result and a small left atrium were associated with a higher likelihood of TR ≤2+ after M-TEER.

Clinical presentations leading to arrhythmogenic left ventricular cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVES: To describe a cohort of patients with arrhythmogenic left ventricular cardiomyopathy (ALVC), focusing on the spectrum of the clinical presentations. METHODS: Patients were retrospectively evaluated between January 2012 and June 2020. Diagnosis was based on (1) ≥3 contiguous segments with subepicardial/midwall late gadolinium enhancement in the left ventricle (LV) at cardiac magnetic resonance plus a likely pathogenic/pathogenic arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (AC) associated genetic mutation and/or familial history of AC and/or red flags for ALVC (ie, negative T waves in V4-6/aVL, low voltages in limb leads, right bundle branch block like ventricular tachycardia) or (2) pathology examination of explanted hearts or autoptic cases suffering sudden cardiac death (SCD). Significant right ventricular involvement was an exclusion criterion. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients (63% males, age 45 years (31-53)) composed the study cohort. Twenty-one (41%) had normal echocardiogram, 13 (25%) a hypokinetic non-dilated cardiomyopathy (HNDC) and 17 (33%) a dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Of 47 tested patients, 29 (62%) were carriers of a pathogenic/likely pathogenic DNA variant. Clinical contexts leading to diagnosis were SCD in 3 (6%), ventricular arrhythmias in 15 (29%), chest pain in 8 (15%), heart failure in 6 (12%) and familial screening in 20 (38%). Thirty patients (57%) had previously received a diagnosis other than ALVC with a diagnostic delay of 6 years (IQR 1-7). CONCLUSIONS: ALVC is hidden in different clinical scenarios with a phenotypic spectrum ranging from normal LV to HNDC and DCM. Ventricular arrhythmias, chest pain, heart failure and SCD are the main clinical presentations, being familial screening essential for the affected relatives' identification.

Standard ECG for differential diagnosis between Anderson-Fabry disease and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the role of the ECG in the differential diagnosis between Anderson-Fabry disease (AFD) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). METHODS: In this multicentre retrospective study, 111 AFD patients with left ventricular hypertrophy were compared with 111 patients with HCM, matched for sex, age and maximal wall thickness by propensity score. Independent ECG predictors of AFD were identified by multivariate analysis, and a multiparametric ECG score-based algorithm for differential diagnosis was developed. RESULTS: Short PR interval, prolonged QRS duration, right bundle branch block (RBBB), R in augmented vector left (aVL) ≥1.1 mV and inferior ST depression independently predicted AFD diagnosis. A point-by-point ECG score was then derived with the following diagnostic performances: c-statistic 0.80 (95% CI 0.74 to 0.86) for discrimination, the Hosmel-Lemeshow χ2 6.14 (p=0.189) for calibration, sensitivity 69%, specificity 84%, positive predictive value 82% and negative predictive value 72%. After bootstrap resampling, the mean optimism was 0.025, and the internal validated c-statistic for the score was 0.78. CONCLUSIONS: Standard ECG can help to differentiate AFD from HCM while investigating unexplained left ventricular hypertrophy. Short PR interval, prolonged QRS duration, RBBB, R in aVL ≥1.1 mV and inferior ST depression independently predicted AFD. Their systematic evaluation and the integration in a multiparametric ECG score can support AFD diagnosis.

Impact on clinical outcomes of right ventricular response to percutaneous correction of secondary mitral regurgitation.

AIMS: In patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR), impaired right ventricular function (RVF) may negatively influence the prognosis. Percutaneous mitral valve repair (pMVR) can promote the recovery of RVF. We sought to characterize the response of the right ventricle to pMVR in HFrEF with SMR and to assess the association between improved RVF after pMVR and outcomes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Overall, 221 patients with HFrEF and SMR ≥3+ successfully treated with pMVR in four tertiary care centres for heart failure were included. Improved RVF was defined as Δ right ventricular fractional area change (ΔRVFAC) ≥5% at early follow-up (median time 4 months). The primary endpoint was a composite of death/heart transplantation (D/HT). Mean age was 69 ± 11 years, mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 31 ± 8% and mean RVFAC was 34 ± 9%. ΔRVFAC ≥5% occurred in 88 patients (40%) and was independent of the measures of left ventricular reverse remodelling. During a median follow-up of 29 months (interquartile range 12-46), 81 patients (37%) reached the primary endpoint. After adjustment for other significant covariates, ΔRVFAC ≥5% was significantly associated with lower risk of D/HT (hazard ratio 0.52, 95% confidence interval 0.29-0.94, P = 0.030). In the secondary outcome analysis exploring the risk of heart failure hospitalizations, ΔRVFAC ≥5% confirmed the prognostic association with the endpoint. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with HFrEF and SMR, about 40% of patients improved RVF after pMVR. RVF improvement was associated with better long-term survival free from HT and lower risk of heart failure hospitalization.

Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair in Cardiogenic Shock and Mitral Regurgitation: A Patient-Level, Multicenter Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVr) in patients with cardiogenic shock and significant mitral regurgitation (MR). BACKGROUND: Patients in cardiogenic shock with severe MR have a poor prognosis in the setting of conventional medical therapy. Because of its favorable safety profile, TMVr is being increasingly used as an acute therapy in this population, though its efficacy remains unknown. METHODS: A multicenter, collaborative, patient-level analysis was conducted. Patients with cardiogenic shock and moderate to severe (3+) or severe (4+) MR who were not surgical candidates were treated with TMVr. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included 90-day mortality, heart failure (HF) hospitalization, and the combined event rate of 90-day mortality and HF hospitalization following dichotomization by TMVr device success. RESULTS: Between January 2011 and February 2019, 141 patients across 14 institutions met the inclusion criteria. In-hospital mortality occurred in 22 patients (15.6%), at 90 days in 38 patients (29.5%), and at one year in 55 patients (42.6%). Median length of hospital stay following TMVr was 10 days (interquartile range: 6 to 20 days). HF hospitalization occurred in 26 patients (18.4%) at a median of 73 days (interquartile range: 26 to 546 days). When stratified by TMVr procedural results, successful TMVr reduced rates of in-hospital mortality (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.36; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.13 to 0.98; p = 0.04), 90-day mortality (HR: 0.36; 95% CI: 0.16 to 0.78; p = 0.01), and the composite of 90-day mortality and HF hospitalization (HR: 0.41; 95% CI: 0.19 to 0.90; p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: TMVr may improve short- and intermediate-term mortality in high-risk patients with cardiogenic shock and moderate to severe MR. Randomized studies are needed to definitively establish MR as a therapeutic target in patients with cardiogenic shock.

Modifications of medical treatment and outcome after percutaneous correction of secondary mitral regurgitation.

AIMS: The optimization of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) in reduced ejection fraction heart failure (HFrEF) is associated with improved survival and can reduce the severity of secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR). Highest tolerated doses should be achieved before percutaneous mitral valve repair (pMVR) and drugs titration further pursued after procedure. The degree of GDMT titration in patients with HFrEF and SMR treated with pMVR remains unexplored. We sought to evaluate the adherence to GDMT in HFrEF in patients undergoing pMVR and to explore the association between changes in GDMT post-pMVR and prognosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: We included all the patients with HFrEF and SMR ≥ 3 + treated with pMVR between 2012 and 2019 and with available follow-up. GDMT, comprehensive of dosages, was systematically recorded. The study endpoint was a composite of death and heart transplantation. Among 133 patients successfully treated, 121 were included (67 ± 12 years old, 77% male patients). Treatment rates of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers/angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor (ACEIs/ARBs/ARNI), beta-blockers, and mineralcorticoid receptor antagonist at baseline and follow-up were 73% and 79%, 85% and 84%, 70% and 70%, respectively. At baseline, 33% and 32% of patients were using >50% of the target dose of ACEI/ARB/ARNI and beta-blockers. At follow-up (median time 4 months), 33% of patients unchanged, 34% uptitrated, and 33% of patients downtitrated GDMT. Downtitration of GDMT was independently associated with higher risk of death/heart transplantation (hazard ratio: 2.542, 95%confidence interval: 1.377-4.694, P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Guideline-directed medical therapy is frequently underdosed in HFrEF patients with SMR undergoing pMVR. Downtitration of medications after procedure is associated with poor prognosis.

Differences in cardiac phenotype and natural history of laminopathies with and without neuromuscular onset.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate differences in cardiac manifestations of patients affected by laminopathy, according to the presence or absence of neuromuscular involvement at presentation. METHODS: We prospectively analyzed 40 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of laminopathy followed at a single centre between 1998 and 2017. Additionally, reports of clinical evaluations and tests prior to referral at our centre were retrospectively evaluated. RESULTS: Clinical onset was cardiac in 26 cases and neuromuscular in 14. Patients with neuromuscular presentation experienced first symptoms earlier in life (11 vs 39 years; p <  0.0001) and developed atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF) and required pacemaker implantation at a younger age (28 vs 41 years [p = 0.013] and 30 vs 44 years [p = 0.086] respectively), despite a similar overall prevalence of AF (57% vs 65%; p = 0.735) and atrio-ventricular (A-V) block (50% vs 65%; p = 0.500). Those with a neuromuscular presentation developed a cardiomyopathy less frequently (43% vs 73%; p = 0.089) and had a lower rate of sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias (7% vs 23%; p = 0.387). In patients with neuromuscular onset rhythm disturbances occurred usually before evidence of cardiomyopathy. Despite these differences, the need for heart transplantation and median age at intervention were similar in the two groups (29% vs 23% [p = 0.717] and 43 vs 46 years [p = 0.593] respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with laminopathy, the type of disease onset was a marker for a different natural history. Specifically, patients with neuromuscular presentation had an earlier cardiac involvement, characterized by a linear and progressive evolution from rhythm disorders (AF and/or A-V block) to cardiomyopathy.

Predicting device failure after percutaneous repair of functional mitral regurgitation in advanced heart failure: Implications for patient selection.

BACKGROUND: Patients with heart failure (HF) and severe symptomatic functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) may benefit from MitraClip implantation. With increasing numbers of patients being treated the success of procedure becomes a key issue. We sought to investigate the pre-procedural predictors of device failure in patients with advanced HF treated with MitraClip. METHODS: From April 2012 to November 2016, 76 patients with poor functional class (NYHA class III-IV) and severe left ventricular (LV) remodeling underwent MitraClip implantation at University Hospitals of Trieste and Bologna (Italy). Device failure was assessed according to MVARC criteria. Patients were subsequently followed to additionally assess the patient success after 12months. RESULTS: Mean age was 67±12years, the mean Log-EuroSCORE was 23.4±16.5%, and the mean LV end-diastolic volume index and ejection fraction (EF) were 112±33ml/m2 and 30.6±8.9%, respectively. At short-term evaluation, device failure was observed in 22 (29%) patients. Univariate predictors of device failure were LVEF, LV and left atrial volumes and anteroposterior mitral annulus diameter. Annulus dimension (OR 1.153, 95% CI 1.002-1.327, p=0.043) and LV end-diastolic volume (OR 1.024, 95% CI 1.000-1.049, p=0.049) were the only variables independently associated with the risk of device failure at the multivariate model. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-procedural anteroposterior mitral annulus diameter accurately predicted the risk of device failure after MitraClip in the setting of advanced HF. Its assessment might aid the selection of the best candidates to percutaneous correction of FMR.

Antithrombotic Management during Percutaneous Mitral Valve Repair with the Mitraclip System in a Patient with Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia.

Interventional cardiology procedures require full anticoagulation to prevent thrombus formation on catheters and devices with potential development of embolic complications. Bivalirudin, a short half-life direct thrombin inhibitor, has been largely used during percutaneous coronary interventions and represents the preferred alternative to heparin in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). However, few data are available about intraprocedural use of bivalirudin during transcatheter structural heart disease interventions. Activated clotting time (ACT) monitoring during bivalirudin infusion presents some limitations and it is not mandatory. We report a case of bivalirudin use in a patient with type-2 HIT during percutaneous mitral valve repair with the Mitraclip system (Abbott, Abbott Park, Illinois, United States). Despite use of standard bivalirudin dose (0.75 mg/kg bolus and 1.4 mg/kg/min infusion-reduced infusion rate was motivated by a glomerular filtration rate of 37 mL/min), the patient developed a large thrombus on the second clip during its orientation toward the mitral orifice. ACT was measured at that time and was suboptimal (240 seconds). The case was successfully managed with clip and thrombus retrieval, adjunctive 0.3 mg/kg bivalirudin bolus and increased infusion rate, and clip repositioning with ACT monitoring. This report makes the case for mandatory ACT checking and drug titration during high-risk catheter-based structural heart disease interventions, even when thromboprophylaxis is performed with bivalirudin. Additional coagulation tests may be useful to monitor bivalirudin response in similar cases.

Percutaneous mitral valve repair: The last chance for symptoms improvement in advanced refractory chronic heart failure?

BACKGROUND: The role of percutaneous mitral valve repair (PMVR) in patients with end-stage heart failure (HF) and functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) is unclear. METHODS: Seventy-five consecutive patients with FMR grade≥3+ and severe HF symptoms despite optimal medical therapy and resynchronization therapy underwent PMVR with the MitraClip system (Abbott, Abbott Park, IL, USA) at 3 centers. Clinical evaluation, echocardiography and pro-BNP measurement were performed at baseline and at 6-month. RESULTS: Mean age was 67±11years, logistic EuroSCORE=23±18%, left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) 30±9%. In 6 patients (8%) PMVR was performed as a bridge to heart transplant; many patients were dependent from iv diuretics and/or inotropes. Rate of serious adverse in-hospital events was 1.3% (1 patient who died after conversion to cardiac surgery). Sixty-three patients (84%) were discharged with MR≤2+. At 6-month, 4 patients died (5%), 80% had MR≤2+ and 75% were in New York Heart Association class ≤II. Median pro-BNP decreased from 4395pg/ml to 2594pg/ml (p=0.04). There were no significant changes in LV end-diastolic volume (222±75ml vs. 217±79, p=0.19), end-systolic volume (LVESV, 154±66ml vs. 156±69, p=0.54) and LVEF (30±9% vs. 30±12%, p=0.86). Significant reverse remodeling (reduction of LVESV≥10%) was observed in 25%, without apparent association with baseline characteristics. The number of hospitalizations for HF in comparison with the 6months before PMVR were reduced from 1.1±0.8 to 0.3±0.6 (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In extreme risk HF patients with FMR, PMVR improved symptoms and reduced re-hospitalization and pro-BNP levels at 6months, despite the lack of LV reverse remodeling.

Balloon aortic valvuloplasty as a bridge-to-decision in high risk patients with aortic stenosis: a new paradigm for the heart team decision making.

BACKGROUND: Whilst the majority of the patients with severe aortic stenosis can be directly addressed to surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) or transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), in some instances additional information may be needed to complete the diagnostic workout. We evaluated the role of balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) as a bridge-to-decision (BTD) in selected high-risk patients. METHODS: Between 2007 and 2012, the heart team in our Institution required BTD BAV in 202 patients. Very low left ventricular ejection fraction, mitral regurgitation grade ≥ 3, frailty, hemodynamic instability, serious comorbidity, or a combination of these factors were the main drivers for this strategy. We evaluated how BAV influenced the final treatment strategy in the whole patient group and in each specific subgroup. RESULTS: Mean logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) was 23.5% ± 15.3%, age 81 ± 7 years. In-hospital mortality was 4.5%, cerebrovascular accident 1% and overall vascular complications 4% (0.5% major; 3.5% minor). Of the 193 patients with BTD BAV who survived and received a second heart team evaluation, 72.6% were finally deemed eligible for definitive treatment (25.4% for AVR; 47.2% for TAVI): 96.7% of patients with left ventricular ejection fraction recovery; 70.5% of patients with mitral regurgitation reduction; 75.7% of patients who underwent BAV in clinical hemodynamic instability; 69.2% of frail patients and 68% of patients who presented serious comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS: Balloon aortic valvuloplasty can be considered as bridge-to-decision in high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis who cannot be immediate candidates for definitive transcatheter or surgical treatment.

Usefulness of Electrocardiographic Patterns at Presentation to Predict Long-term Risk of Cardiac Death in Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

The objective of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) patterns in a large multicenter cohort of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; 1,004 consecutive patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and a recorded standard ECG (64% men, mean age 50 ± 16 years) were evaluated at 4 Italian centers. The study end points were sudden cardiac death (SCD) or surrogates, including appropriate implanted cardiac defibrillator discharge and resuscitated cardiac arrest and major cardiovascular events (including SCD or surrogates and death due to heart failure, cardioembolic stroke, or heart transplantation). Prevalence of baseline electrocardiographic characteristics was: normal ECG 4%, ST-segment depression 56%, pseudonecrosis waves 33%, "pseudo-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)" pattern 17%, QRS duration ≥120 ms 17%, giant inverted T waves 6%, and low QRS voltages 3%. During a mean follow-up of 7.4 ± 6.8 years, 77 patients experienced SCD or surrogates and 154 patients experienced major cardiovascular events. Independent predictors of SCD or surrogates were unexplained syncope (hazard ratio [HR] 2.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4 to 4.5, p = 0.003), left ventricular ejection fraction <50% (HR 3.5, 95% CI 1.9 to 6.7, p = 0.0001), nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (HR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.6, p = 0.027), pseudo-STEMI pattern (HR 2.3, 95% CI 1.4 to 3.8, p = 0.001), QRS duration ≥120 ms (HR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1 to 3.0, p = 0.033), and low QRS voltages (HR 2.3, 95% CI 1.01 to 5.1, p = 0.048). Independent predictors of major cardiovascular events were age (HR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.03, p = 0.0001), LV ejection fraction <50% (HR 3.73, 95% CI 2.39 to 5.83, p = 0.0001), pseudo-STEMI pattern (HR 1.66, 95% CI 1.13 to 2.45, p = 0.010), QRS duration ≥120 ms (HR 1.69, 95% CI 1.16 to 2.47, p = 0.007), and prolonged QTc interval (HR 1.68, 95% CI 1.21 to 2.34, p = 0.002). In conclusion, a detailed qualitative and quantitative electrocardiographic analyses provide independent predictors of prognosis that could be integrated with the available score systems to improve the power of the current model.

Risk of Adverse Cardiac and Bleeding Events Following Cardiac and Noncardiac Surgery in Patients With Coronary Stent: How Important Is the Interplay Between Stent Type and Time From Stenting to Surgery?

BACKGROUND: Epidemiology and consequences of surgery in patients with coronary stents are not clearly defined, as well as the impact of different stent types in relationship with timing of surgery. METHODS AND RESULTS: Among 39 362 patients with previous coronary stenting enrolled in a multicenter prospective registry and followed for 5 years, 13 128 patients underwent 17 226 surgical procedures. The cumulative incidence of surgery at 30 days, 6 months, 1 year, and 5 years was 3.6%, 9.4%, 14.3%, and 40.0%, respectively, and of cardiac and noncardiac surgery was 0.8%, 2.1%, 2.6%, and 4.0% and 1.3%, 5.1%, 9.1%, and 31.7%, respectively. We assessed the incidence and the predictors of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and serious bleeding event within 30 days from surgery. Cardiac death occurred in 438 patients (2.5%), myocardial infarction in 256 (1.5%), and serious bleeding event in 1099 (6.4%). Surgery increased 1.58× the risk of cardiac death during follow-up. Along with other risk factors, the interplay between stent type and time from percutaneous coronary intervention to surgery was independently associated with cardiac death/myocardial infarction. In comparison with bare-metal stent implanted >12 months before surgery, old-generation drug-eluting stent was associated with higher risk of events at any time point. Conversely, new-generation drug-eluting stent showed similar safety as bare-metal stent >12 months and between 6 and 12 months and appeared trendly safer between 0 and 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery is frequent in patients with coronary stents and carries a considerable risk of ischemic and bleeding events. Ischemic risk is inversely related with time from percutaneous coronary intervention to surgery and is influenced by stent type.

Repeated Aortic Balloon Valvuloplasty in Elderly Patients With Aortic Stenosis Who Are Not Candidates for Definitive Treatment.

AIMS: A sizable group of patients with symptomatic aortic stenosis can undergo neither surgical aortic valve replacement nor transcatheter aortic valve implantation. The aim of this study was to assess the potential role of repeated balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) in these patients. METHODS: Within our local prospective BAV registry, we retrospectively selected 105 patients who underwent ≥2 BAV procedures between 2005 and 2012 because of persisting contraindications to definitive treatment after first BAV. In-hospital outcome and incidence of adverse events at 1, 2, and 3 years were assessed. Mean age was 84 ± 6 years, mean logistic EuroSCORE was 23.6 ± 13.4%. RESULTS: No intraprocedural deaths occurred. In-hospital events for the 224 BAV procedures were: myocardial infarction, 4%; stroke, 0.9%; vascular complications, 8% (1.8% major); and bleedings, 5.9% (life threatening, 0.9%; major, 1.8%). Acute aortic regurgitation occurred in 6 cases and was always resolved during procedures. Median follow-up was 785 days. Second BAVs showed fewer vascular complications (P<.001) and bleedings (P<.001). Bleedings (odds ratio [OR], 6.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.58-29.88) and vascular complications (OR, 4.8; 95% CI, 1.19-19.31) occurring after the first procedure were independent predictors for subsequent adverse events. All-cause mortality at 1, 2, and 3 years was 15.2%, 41.3%, and 57.2%. Hospital readmission for heart failure was 40.7% at 1-year follow-up, 61.7% at 2-year follow-up, and 77.6% at 3-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: BAV is associated with poor long-term clinical outcome. However, when no other therapeutic options are feasible, a strategy of repeated palliative BAV appears to be safe and is potentially associated with improved clinical outcomes.

[Gender effect on cardiomyopathy]. / "Effetto donna" nelle cardiomiopatie.

The role of a gender effect (that means differences in clinical manifestations, access to therapies and response to treatments according to gender) in cardiomyopathies remains a matter of debate. Although recent studies have evaluated the differences in the clinical features and prognosis between the two sexes, many issues remain to be elucidated. At present, the only sex-specific condition that affects females is peripartum cardiomyopathy. Recent evidence suggests a pathogenetic role of a prolactin derivative, and ongoing clinical trials are investigating the possibility of targeted therapies using prolactin secretion inhibitors, such as bromocriptine and carbegoline. Although women were considered so far only carriers of X-linked diseases (Anderson-Fabry disease, Danon disease, Hunter syndrome and dystrophinopathies), clinical experience showed a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations in females due to random X chromosome inactivation. Conversely, in mitochondrial diseases (with matrilineal inheritance), cardiomyopathies may occur in the context of clinical multisystemic involvement without significant gender-related differences. Autosomal inherited cardiomyopathies also show different phenotypes and prognostic impact according to gender. The hypothesis of a premenopausal protective role of female hormones towards myocardial involvement has been raised by recent data on transtiretin-related amyloidosis and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Preexisting cardiomyopathies may affect pregnancy, labor and delivery in women, since all these conditions are associated with important hemodynamic changes. Women with low-risk hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (asymptomatic and without left ventricular outflow tract gradient) usually can tolerate pregnancy. Conversely, women who are symptomatic before pregnancy or have severe hypertrophy with important outflow tract gradient are at higher risk and should be referred to a tertiary center to be evaluated on a case by case basis. Pregnancy in women with dilated cardiomyopathy and significant left ventricular systolic dysfunction represents a high-risk condition. In addition, information on the clinical course and potential complications in pregnant women with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy or restrictive cardiomyopathy is limited to individual reports.

Heart transplantation in infants with idiopathic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Whereas it is well known that idiopathic HCM can present in newborns and infants, little information is available on HT in this very young age group. We report a series of 17 infants with idiopathic HCM, including two neonates with rapidly progressive severe HF for whom HT was necessary. When HF manifests in a newborn/infant with idiopathic HCM and extreme cavity size reduction, the possibility of a rapidly progressive clinical course should be anticipated and HT may become the only available therapeutic solution.