Effectiveness of the systemic immune inflammation index to predict atrial fibrillation recurrence after cryoablation.

Background: We aimed to investigate the predictive role of systemic immune inflammation index (SII) on atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence following cryoballoon-based AF ablation. Materials & methods: A total of 370 consecutive patients with symptomatic AF who underwent cryoablation were enrolled. The patients were divided into two groups according to recurrence development. Results: During the follow-up period of 25.0 ± 6.7 months, recurrence was observed in 77 patients (20.8%). Receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated that using a cutoff level of 532, SII had a sensitivity of 71% and specificity of 68%. In the multivariate Cox model, high SII was a significant predictor of the recurrence. Conclusion: This study showed that higher SII level is an independent predictor of AF recurrence.

The other side of the medallion in heart failure: Reverse metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Lower levels of cardiovascular risk factors are associated with an increase in mortality in H.F. To explain this paradox, the term reverse metabolic syndrome (RMetS) has recently been proposed. We suggest defining these patients with lower levels of three risk factors can be combined under the heading "RMetS." We aimed to investigate the effect of MetS and RMetS on hemodynamic parameters and prognosis in patients with H.F. and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). METHODS AND RESULTS: We included 304 patients who were performed right heart catheterization and followed up for a median of 16 (0-48) months. We first grouped patients according to the presence of MetS or not, then we added the RMetS category and stratified patients into three groups as MetS, RMetS, and metabolic healthy. Compared with not MetS group, Pulmonary arterial pressures and VO2 were higher in MetS group. In the second step, LVEF, CI, VO2I, O2 delivery, and LVSWI were lowest in RMetS, pulmonary artery pressures were higher in MetS group. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, being in RMetS group was associated with 2.4 times and 1.8 times increased risk for composite end point (CEP) and all-cause mortality, respectively. In Kaplan Meier analysis, RMetS had the highest all-cause mortality and CEP. CONCLUSIONS: We determined that RMetS patients had the worst prognosis with unfavorable hemodynamic profile. Hence, a better understanding of the pathophysiology of RMetS may help refine the treatment targets of CV risk factors, may yield new interventions targeting catabolic syndrome.

Evaluation of endothelial dysfunction with flow-mediated dilatation after transradial coronary angiography.

Objective Transradial coronary angiography (TRCA) may lead to endothelial dysfunction. Therefore, this study investigated the TRCA-related endothelial dysfunction and its relation to operator experience, the number of punctures and procedure duration. Methods and results A total of 57 patients (42 males and 17 females) who underwent TRCA were included in this single-centre study. Nine months after the procedure, all patients underwent radial artery B-mode ultrasound imaging, and flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and nitroglycerin-mediated dilatation (NMD) techniques were employed. The non-intervened right radial artery was accepted as control. The percentage change in diameter after FMD was significantly greater in the right radial artery compared to the left radial artery (right 13.6% vs left 10.1%, P = 0.041). The percentage change in diameter after NMD was similar in both right and left radial arteries (right 23.8% vs left 23.4%, P = 0.932). According to the puncture numbers, the percentage change was significantly lower in the intervened artery among patients with more than one puncture (13.3% vs 7.8%, P = 0.005). According to the operator experience, the percentage change in the intervened artery was significantly higher in patients in whom the procedure was performed by experienced operators (13.7% vs 7.6%, P = 0.002). The procedure duration also showed a negative correlation with the percentage change in the intervened artery (r = -0.349, P = 0.008). Conclusions TRCA may lead to endothelial dysfunction represented by FMD. Moreover, higher puncture numbers for sheath insertion, longer procedure durations and less experience in radial interventions may have adverse effects on the endothelial function.

Red cell distribution width as a predictor of left atrial spontaneous echo contrast in echocardiography.

Red cell distribution width (RDW) represents the heterogeneity of red blood cells (anisocytosis). Spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) is thought to be a manifestation of red cell aggregation and it has been linked to the development of thromboemboli. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between RDW levels and the presence of left atrial SEC (LASEC). One-hundred and 72 patients who underwent transesophageal echocardiography for various indications were enrolled in the study. All patients were categorized into 2 groups according to the presence of LASEC and into 4 groups according to the severity of LASEC. The baseline clinical characteristics, echocardiographic measurements, and laboratory findings, including RDW, were compared between the groups. The RDW (%) level was higher in the LASEC group (14.95 ±â€Š1.32) compared with the non-LASEC group (12.20 ±â€Š1.45; P = 0.0001). When the relationship between RDW and SEC was evaluated according to the increasing grade of SEC, a significant positive correlation was found (r = 0.645, P < 0.0001). In the ROC analysis, an RDW level >13.8% had 70% sensitivity and 89.2% specificity in predicting LASEC (area under the curve = 0.834, P < 0.0001, 95% CI 0.656-0.773). In multivariate analysis, RDW levels >13.8% and the presence of atrial fibrillation were independently associated with LASEC (odds ratio [OR] 1.697; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.198-2.085; P = 0.001 and OR 1.586; 95% CI 1.195-2.098; P = 0.003, respectively]. Elevated RDW value is associated with the presence and the severity of SEC. RDW may be a useful marker and independent predictor for the presence of SEC.