Treatment patterns in anticoagulant therapy in patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation in Belgium: results from the GARFIELD-AF registry.

Background: AF, anticoagulation, NOACs, changing patterns of prescription. Methods: We describe baseline data and treatment patterns of patients recruited in Belgium in the Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF). Recruitment began when novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) were introduced and provides a unique picture of changing treatment patterns over time. 1713 patients with a new (≤6 weeks duration) diagnosis of non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) and at least one investigator-defined stroke risk factor were recruited between May 2012 and August 2016, and will be prospectively followed for at least 2 years. Results: Overall, anticoagulant use in Belgium was higher than in the rest of Europe: 80.1% of patients received an anticoagulant ± antiplatelet (AP) therapy (14.5% on vitamin K antagonists; 65.6% on NOAC), 10.7% AP therapy and 9.3% no antithrombotic therapy. Over time, we observed an increase in anticoagulant use and a decrease in AP use for stroke prevention. NOAC use in Belgium was the highest of Europe at the study start, with many countries catching up later. In high stroke risk patients (CHA2DS2-VASc ≥2), anticoagulants were used in 84.3%, leaving 15.7% unprotected. In low risk patients (CHA2DS2-VASc 0-1) anticoagulants were overused (58.7%). Factor Xa inhibitors were used more frequently than direct thrombin inhibitors. Conclusion: Guideline adherence on stroke prevention was higher in Belgium than in the rest of Europe, and increased over time. NOAC use in Belgium was the highest of Europe at the study start, with many countries catching up later. Possible reasons are discussed. Clinical Trial Registration: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT01090362.

Cardiac platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome induced by a low-volume state.

We present the case of a 85-year-old patient admitted with palpitations and dyspnea. When assuming a recumbent position, we noticed a significant improvement in dyspnea, as well as a rise in arterial oxygen saturation. This is a typical presentation of platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome (POS). The diagnosis was confirmed by serial analyses of the arterial oxygen saturation in different positions. In our patient, POS was caused by a cardiac right-left shunt through a patent foramen ovale, facilitated by an atrial septal aneurysm, a dilated aortic root and a large Eustachian valve. A low-volume state, caused by diarrhea and worsened by administration of diuretics in the emergency room, triggered the POS to become clinically apparent. We also noticed a rise in arterial oxygen saturation when the patient was in a hypertensive state. This has never been described before and underlines the influence of hemodynamic changes on the right-left shunt that underlies POS.

Left ventricular sensing and pacing for sensing difficulties in internal cardioverter defibrillator therapy for arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a disease where therapy with an internal cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is frequently indicated, but the use of these devices is often challenged because of sensing dysfunction with low right ventricular sensing amplitude. We present the case of an ARVC patient in whom ICD sensing difficulties were overcome by the implantation of a coronary sinus lead for pacing and sensing.

Long-term safety, tolerability and efficacy of combination therapy with aliskiren and amlodipine in patients with hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: Most patients with hypertension require antihypertensive combination therapy to achieve BP control. This study investigated the safety and efficacy of the direct renin inhibitor aliskiren combined with the calcium channel blocker amlodipine. METHODS: Overall, 556 patients with hypertension (msDBP > or =95-<110 mmHg) received open-label aliskiren/amlodipine 150/5 mg for 2 weeks, followed by forced titration to aliskiren/amlodipine 300/10 mg for 52 weeks. Add-on hydrochlorothiazide (HCT) was permitted from week 10 to achieve BP control (<140/90 mmHg). The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the long-term safety and tolerability of aliskiren/amlodipine combination therapy; the BP-lowering efficacy of the combination was also assessed (week 54 endpoint; last observation carried forward). TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT00402103. RESULTS: In total, 452 patients completed 54 weeks' treatment with aliskiren/amlodipine 300/10 mg, with or without add-on HCT. The most frequently reported adverse events (AEs) were peripheral edema, upper respiratory tract infection, headache and bronchitis. Peripheral edema (the most common AE), occurred in 22.7% of treated patients, and was generally mild or moderate in intensity and transient in nature. Few patients exhibited laboratory abnormalities. Aliskiren/amlodipine combination therapy provided a mean BP reduction from baseline to week 54 of 24.2/15.5 mmHg; 74.3% of patients achieved BP control. In the subgroup of patients with stage 2 hypertension (baseline msSBP > or =160 mmHg and/or msDBP > or =100 mmHg), the mean BP reduction at week 54 was 29.1/17.1 mmHg, and 67.0% of patients achieved BP control. CONCLUSION: In this open-label study, aliskiren/amlodipine 300/10 mg combination therapy, with or without add-on HCT, effectively reduced BP, particularly in patients with stage 2 hypertension. The most common AE was peripheral edema, consistent with the known AE profile of high-dose (10 mg) amlodipine. Further studies comparing the aliskiren/amlodipine combination with the component monotherapies and other antihypertensive combinations are warranted.

Persistent ductus arteriosus in the adult: clinical features and experience with percutaneous closure.

Persistent ductus arteriosus in the adult carries a risk for becoming symptomatic with dyspnoea or palpitations, developing infective endarteritis, and finally for developing pulmonary hypertension with ensuing heart failure morbidity and mortality. Surgical closure is considered more and more to be outdated as first choice treatment since percutaneous closure is a safe and effective alternative. Only the Eisenmenger syndrome remains a clear contra-indication for closure, whether surgical or interventional. We report on our own experience in nine patients with persistent ductus arteriosus including eight cases who underwent percutaneous closure and one patient with Eisenmenger syndrome. In addition, our experience with clinical features and therapeutic modalities is related to the literature.