ABSTRACT
We aimed to assess fibrosis with liver stiffness measurement long-term after sustained virological response of chronic hepatitis C and to identify risk factors associated with persisting fibrosis. In this cross-sectional study, patients with chronic hepatitis C and pretreatment advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis treated successfully at Karolinska University Hospital with an interferon-containing regimen underwent liver stiffness measurement with FibroScan. The impact of potential risk factors for persisting fibrosis was estimated. We included 269 patients with a median follow-up time of 7.7 years (range 0-20), 84 with a follow-up time of ≥10 years. Patients with pretreatment cirrhosis had a significantly higher median liver stiffness level (8.5 kPa 95% CI 7-9.1) at follow-up, than patients with advanced fibrosis (6 kPa 95% CI 5.5-6.4). A majority improved their fibrosis stage after sustained virological response, but 24% had persisting advanced fibrosis with a liver stiffness level of ≥ 9.5 kPa. Among patients with pretreatment cirrhosis, the proportion with persisting advanced fibrosis diminished with longer follow-up time, from 48% after <5 years to 21% after >10 years. The main risk factors for persisting advanced fibrosis were pretreatment cirrhosis, high age and body mass index. In conclusion, fibrosis improves substantially during long-term follow-up after sustained virological response in hepatitis C patients with pretreatment advanced liver fibrosis. Lifestyle intervention to decrease weight in obese persons and treatment before establishment of cirrhosis should therefore be recommended to avoid persistence of advanced fibrosis after virological cure.
Subject(s)
Age Factors , Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use , Body Mass Index , Hepatitis C, Chronic/complications , Hepatitis C, Chronic/drug therapy , Liver Cirrhosis/epidemiology , Sustained Virologic Response , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Cross-Sectional Studies , Elasticity Imaging Techniques , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Risk Factors , Treatment Outcome , Young AdultABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: It has not so far been elucidated whether the autonomic nervous system plays a role in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation relapse after electrical cardioversion. METHODS: In 40 consecutive patients with atrial fibrillation (22 males, 18 females, mean age 60 +/- 2 years) submitted to successful electrical cardioversion (external in 26 and low-energy internal in 14) we evaluated the heart rate variability (24-hour Holter recording) immediately after restoration of sinus rhythm in order to assess the cardiac sympatho-vagal drive. RESULTS: Patients with atrial fibrillation relapse within the first week of electrical cardioversion were characterized by a significantly higher low/high frequency ratio. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the heterogeneity of the studied population (concerning both the therapy and etiology of atrial fibrillation), our data strongly suggest that the evaluation of the low/high frequency ratio by means of power spectral analysis immediately after electrical cardioversion is a useful tool for the identification of those patients who are prone to atrial fibrillation recurrence. Our conclusions are supported by the finding of high positive and negative predictive values for the low/high frequency ratio both in the 24-hour period and during daytime.
Subject(s)
Atrial Fibrillation/therapy , Electric Countershock , Heart Rate/physiology , Aged , Amiodarone/therapeutic use , Atrial Fibrillation/epidemiology , Circadian Rhythm/physiology , Electrocardiography, Ambulatory , Female , Heart Rate/drug effects , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Observer Variation , Predictive Value of Tests , Propafenone/therapeutic use , Recurrence , Sensitivity and Specificity , Time Factors , Vasodilator Agents/therapeutic use , Verapamil/therapeutic useABSTRACT
Interatrial septum pacing (IASP) reduces interatrial conduction time and consequently may interfere with atrioventricular delay (AVD) optimization. We studied 14 patients with an implanted BEST Living system device able to measure peak endocardial acceleration (PEA) signal. The aims of our study were to compare the (1) optimal AVD (OAVD) in right atrial appendage pacing (RAAP) and IASP, and (2) OAVD derived by the PEA signal versus OAVD derived by Echo/Doppler evaluation of the left ventricular filling time (LVFT) and cardiac output (CO). Measurements were performed in DDD VDD modes Eight patients (group A) had RAAP and six patients (group B) had IASP. In group A, OAVD measured by LVFT, CO, and PEA was 185 +/- 23 ms, 177 +/- 19 ms, and 192 +/- 23 ms in DDD and 147 +/- 19 ms, 135 +/- 27 ms, and 146 +/- 20 ms in VDD, respectively. OAVD measured by LVFT, CO, and PEA was significantly longer in DDD mode than in VDD (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.001). In group B, OAVD measured by LVFT, CO, and PEA was 116 +/- 19 ms, 113 +/- 10 ms, and 130 +/- 30 ms in DDD and 106 +/- 16 ms, 96 +/- 15 ms, and 108 +/- 26 ms in VDD, respectively. No statistical differences were observed between DDD and VDD. Significant correlations between OAVDs PEA derived and OAVDs LVFT and CO derived were observed (r = 0.71, r = 0.69, respectively). When new techniques of atrial stimulation, as IASP, are used an OAVD shorter and similar in VDD and DDD has to be considered. The BEST Living system could provide a valid method to ensure, in every moment, the exact required OAVD to maximize atrial contribution to CO.
