SARS-CoV-2 Infection Precipitating VT Storm in Patients With Cardiac Sarcoidosis.

The authors describe 3 patients presenting with cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) flare and ventricular tachycardia (VT) storm following infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of COVID-19. COVID-19-related cardiac manifestations can vary and include arrythmias, myocarditis, and exacerbation of underlying cardiovascular disease. The exact mechanism of myocardial involvement is not clear but may include abnormal host immune response and direct myocardial injury, thereby predisposing to enhanced arrhythmic risk. Arrhythmias account for 20% of COVID-19-related complications with ventricular arrythmias occurring in 5.9% of cases. Further studies are needed to better understand mechanisms underlying the intersection between COVID-19 infection and inflammatory cardiomyopathies.

Atrial Tachyarrhythmias Among Patients With Left Ventricular Assist Devices: Prevalence, Clinical Outcomes, and Impact of Rhythm Control Strategies.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to describe the burden of atrial fibrillation (AF)/atrial flutter (AFL) in patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) and to evaluate the impact of rhythm control strategies. BACKGROUND: AF and AFL among patients with LVADs are poorly characterized. METHODS: Retrospective multivariable survival analysis of all LVAD recipients at the Cleveland Clinic from January 1, 2004 to June 30, 2016 examining the association of death, thromboembolism, and major bleeding with AF/AFL and exposure to rhythm control measures. RESULTS: Among 418 patients (median age: 58 [interquartile range: 50 to 67] years, 80% male) with median follow-up of 445 (interquartile range: 165 to 936) days, AF (n = 287 of 418, 69%) and AFL (n = 61 of 418, 15%) were highly prevalent. Patients with AF/AFL (n = 302 of 418, 72%) and without AF/AFL (n = 116 of 418, 28%) had similar mortality (39% vs. 38%; p = 0.88) and major bleeding (46% vs. 49%; p = 0.53); AF/AFL patients had fewer thromboembolic events (13% vs. 23%; p < 0.01). Paroxysmal or persistent AF/AFL was present in 238 patients (57%), and rhythm control exposure (n = 166, 70%) was not associated with decreased mortality (39% vs. 43%; p = 0.57), thromboembolism (13% vs. 17%; p = 0.41), or bleeding (49% vs. 39%; p = 0.16). In the multivariable survival analysis only prior valve surgery (hazard ratio: 2.0; 95% confidence interval: 1.3 to 3.0; p = 0.002) was associated with increased hazard; AF/AFL had no association with risk of death, thromboembolism, or bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: Though highly prevalent among LVAD patients, AF/AFL was not associated with increased mortality, thromboembolism, or bleeding, and among paroxysmal/persistent AF patients, rhythm control measures were not associated with improved outcomes.