Combining Stress Speckle Tracking with High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein in Diagnosis of Coronary Artery Disease.

Introduction: CAD (coronary artery disease) is a leading cause of death and disability in developed nations. Exercise testing is recommended as a first-line diagnostic test for patients with stable angina pectoris. In addition to myocardial strain, high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) can predict the presence of significant coronary artery disease. Aim of work: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the utility of 2D-speckle tracking at rest and under stress along with hs-CRP for detection of CAD in patients who were referred to the chest pain unit with stable or low risk unstable angina pectoris. Methods: A total of 108 individuals met the inclusion criteria and gave their written consent to participate in this study. Coronary angiography was performed within 48 h after admission to the chest pain unit. Myocardial strain was recorded at rest and during dobutamine administration. Results: Global longitudinal strain at stress appeared to be moderately correlated with the presence of significant coronary artery disease (CAD); r = 0.41, p < 0.0001. A moderate correlation was also found between global longitudinal strain at stress and the severity of coronary occlusion; r = 0.62, p < 0.0001. With a cut-off value of −19.1, global longitudinal strain under stress had a sensitivity of 74.1% and a specificity of 76.7% for detecting significant CAD. Hs-CRP was significantly higher in patients with manifested CAD. Conclusion: Evaluation of longitudinal strain parameters at rest and under stress may predict coronary artery disease in patients with stable angina pectoris. A measurable Hs-CRP is a potential marker of coronary stenosis. Strain data could assist in diagnosing CAD severity.

Impact of Left Ventricular Function and Heart Failure Symptoms on Outcomes Post Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation in Heart Failure: CASTLE-AF Trial.

BACKGROUND: Recent data demonstrate promising effects on left ventricular dysfunction and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) improvement following ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with heart failure. We sought to study the relationship between LVEF, New York Heart Association class on presentation, and the end points of mortality and heart failure admissions in the CASTLE-AF study (Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation With Heart Failure) population. Furthermore, predictors for LVEF improvement were examined. METHODS: The CASTLE-AF patients with coexisting heart failure and AF (n=363) were randomized in a multicenter prospective controlled fashion to ablation (n=179) versus pharmacological therapy (n=184). Left ventricular function and New York Heart Association class were assessed at baseline (after randomization) and at each follow-up visit. RESULTS: In the ablation arm, a significantly higher number of patients experienced an improvement in their LVEF to >35% at the end of the study (odds ratio, 2.17; P<0.001). Compared with the pharmacological therapy arm, both ablation patient groups with severe (<20%) or moderate/severe (≥20% and <35%) baseline LVEF had a significantly lower number of composite end points (hazard ratio [HR], 0.60; P=0.006), all-cause mortality (HR, 0.54; P=0.019), and cardiovascular hospitalizations (HR, 0.66; P=0.017). In the ablation group, New York Heart Association I/II patients at the time of treatment had the strongest improvement in clinical outcomes (primary end point: HR, 0.43; P<0.001; mortality: HR, 0.30; P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with pharmacological treatment, AF ablation was associated with a significant improvement in LVEF, independent from the severity of left ventricular dysfunction. AF ablation should be performed at early stages of the patient's heart failure symptoms.

Twelve-month follow-up of left atrial appendage occlusion with Amplatzer Amulet.

BACKGROUND: The Amplatzer Amulet (St. Jude Medical, Minneapolis, MN, USA) is a second gen-eration Amplatzer device for left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion (LAAO) for stroke prophylaxis in patients with atrial fibrillation. This research sought to assess the clinical performance of the Amplatzer Amulet device and in follow up for 12 months. METHODS: In this single-center registry patients with atrial fibrillation and contraindication to oral anticoagulation underwent LAAO with the Amplatzer Amulet device. Follow-up was performed before discharge, by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) after 6 weeks and telephone interview after 3, 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: Between October 2014 and August 2015 50 patients (76.1 ± 8.3 years; 30 male) were en-rolled. Procedural success was achieved in 49 (98%) patients. Major periprocedural adverse events were observed in 4 (8%) of patients: 1 device embolization, 2 pericardial effusions requiring pericardiocente-sis and 1 prolonged hospital stay due to retropharyngeal hematoma from the TEE probe. Follow-up TEE was available in 38 of 50 patients showing complete LAA sealing in all. 2 device-related thrombi were also documented. At 12-month follow-up 7 patients had died unrelated to the device. Ischemic stroke occurred in 3 patients. According to neurological examination two were classified as microangiopathic and not cardio-embolic. The other one could not be classified. Bleeding complications (5 minor, 3 major) were documented in 8 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Although minimizing procedure-related complications remains challenging, LAAO with the Amplatzer Amulet device showed high procedural success and excellent LAA sealing. (Cardiol J 2017; 24, 2: 131-138).

Percutaneous left atrial appendage closure with a novel self-modelizing device: a pre-clinical feasibility study.

The aim of the study is to evaluate the feasibility and safety of a new left atrial appendage (LAA) occluder. Twelve pigs were included. In 2 pigs the implantation process failed due to pericardial tamponade in 1 pig and device embolization in the other pig. The placement of the devices was controlled via TEE and fluoroscopy. After 6 weeks of implantation the hearts were explanted. The devices were found to be easy to deploy and showed a very good adaptation to the LAA tissue. Eight out of 10 pigs had full closure of the LAA directly after implantation. After six weeks, due to the self-modelizing properties of the device, all pigs had a full closure of the LAA. The macroscopic evaluation of the explanted hearts showed that all devices were securely integrated in LAA tissues. There was one case of mild pericarditis but no macroscopic signs of inflammation on the device surrounding endocardium. The explantation revealed that device loops had penetrated the LAA tissue in three pigs. However, no signs of bleeding, pericardial effusion, or other damage to the LAA wall could be detected and the pigs were in good condition with normal weight gain and no clinical symptoms. The Occlutech® LAA occluder achieved complete closure of the LAA in all pigs, and remained in the LAA, with benign healing and no evidence of new thrombus or damage to surrounding structures. Moreover, the uncompromised survival of all implanted pigs demonstrates the feasibility and safety of the device.