Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Related Stress Cardiomyopathy: Differential Diagnosis and Key Role of Cardiac Imaging.

A 76-year-old man with stage IV urothelial carcinoma who was receiving atezolizumab presented with dyspnea, elevated cardiac biomarkers, new negative T waves, and left ventricular apical akinesia. Coronary angiography results were normal. Immune checkpoint inhibitor-related myocarditis was suspected, and high-dose corticosteroid treatment was started. Cardiac magnetic resonance showed apical edema, suggesting stress cardiomyopathy. (Level of Difficulty: Beginner.).

ESC Congress 2022 Imaging Highlights.

Cardiac imaging is an ever-evolving area, with imaging parameters and application in constant re-evaluation. This was reflected in many imaging debates and by the increased number of scientific contributions at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in 2022. While clinical trials tried to answer clinical questions related to the performance of different imaging modalities, many high-quality presentations focused on new imaging biomarkers in different scenarios, such as heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, valvular heart disease or long COVID. This highlights the need for the translation of cardiac imaging technology from research interests towards established measures of clinical practice.

Cardiac Imaging Biomarkers in Chronic Kidney Disease.

Uremic cardiomyopathy (UC), the peculiar cardiac remodeling secondary to the systemic effects of renal dysfunction, is characterized by left ventricular (LV) diffuse fibrosis with hypertrophy (LVH) and stiffness and the development of heart failure and increased rates of cardiovascular mortality. Several imaging modalities can be used to obtain a non-invasive assessment of UC by different imaging biomarkers, which is the focus of the present review. Echocardiography has been largely employed in recent decades, especially for the determination of LVH by 2-dimensional imaging and diastolic dysfunction by pulsed-wave and tissue Doppler, where it retains a robust prognostic value; more recent techniques include parametric assessment of cardiac deformation by speckle tracking echocardiography and the use of 3D-imaging. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging allows a more accurate assessment of cardiac dimensions, including the right heart, and deformation by feature-tracking imaging; however, the most evident added value of CMR remains tissue characterization. T1 mapping demonstrated diffuse fibrosis in CKD patients, increasing with the worsening of renal disease and evident even in early stages of the disease, with few, but emerging, prognostic data. Some studies using T2 mapping highlighted the presence of subtle, diffuse myocardial edema. Finally, computed tomography, though rarely used to specifically assess UC, might provide incidental findings carrying prognostic relevance, including information on cardiac and vascular calcification. In summary, non-invasive cardiovascular imaging provides a wealth of imaging biomarkers for the characterization and risk-stratification of UC; integrating results from different imaging techniques can aid a better understanding of the physiopathology of UC and improve the clinical management of patients with CKD.

COVID-19 myocarditis and prospective heart failure burden.

Introduction: COVID-19 is causing considerable morbidity and mortality worldwide. Serious respiratory complications aside, the heart is also frequently involved. The mechanisms and the extent of the myocardial injury, along with the short and long-term cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in COVID-19 survivors remain unclear. Areas covered: myocardial injury has been found in a considerable proportion of hospitalized COVID-19 patients and is associated with a worse prognosis. The late onset of CV complications with myocarditis-like changes revealed by CMR has been reported in COVID-19 survivors. Previous observational studies on viral myocarditis provide evidence of a significant incomplete recovery with residual dysfunction and remodeling of left ventricle. Incomplete recovery is thought to be the result of persistent myocardial inflammation due to a post-viral autoimmune response. Considering the significant inflammatory nature of COVID-19, COVID-19 survivors may be at risk of developing persistent residual myocardial injury, the sequelae of which are unclear. Expert commentary: COVID-19 is an emerging threat for the heart. The extent of CV injury, along with the short and long-term sequelae, requires further investigation. The early detection of residual myocardial changes in COVID-19 survivors is of utmost importance in order to identify those patients at risk of CV complication development.

Comparison of Noninvasive Cardiac Test Strategies for Newly Diagnosed Chagas Disease in a Non-Endemic Zone.

Chagas disease is an emerging infectious disease in Europe and other non-endemic areas, mainly owing to migration from endemic areas. We aimed at investigating the value of advanced echocardiography (ECHO) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in patients newly diagnosed with Chagas disease to compare findings with those of electrocardiogram (ECG) and conventional ECHO and thus detecting cardiac abnormalities. We included consecutive patients with newly diagnosed Chagas disease and registered cardiac test results (ECG, ECHO, and CMR). We divided ECHO parameters into three tiers: 1) left ventricular ejection fraction, regional wall motion abnormality, and left ventricular diastolic dimension (ECHO-1); 2) other common ECHO parameters (ECHO-2); and 3) global longitudinal strain (GLS) (ECHO-3). Cardiac magnetic resonance included global and segmental biventricular function, the presence of myocardial fibrosis, and edema. The study comprised 100 patients from South America. The mean age was 43.9 ± 0.9 years, and 66% were women. Mean time living in Spain was 9.7 ± 0.5 years. The ECG revealed ≥ 2 abnormal findings in 47% of patients. ECHO-1 was abnormal in 22% of patients, ECHO-2 in 52%, and GLS in 16%. Cardiac magnetic resonance was abnormal in 50% of cases, and in 3% of these, ECHO was normal. When ECG and conventional ECHO were taken together, abnormalities were detected in 83% of patients. This value increased to 86% and 92% for GLS and CMR, respectively. These findings suggest that ECG and conventional ECHO should be used routinely as standard cardiac tests for newly diagnosed cases of Chagas disease. The value of advanced ECHO techniques and CMR is low.

Does the right ventricle experiment morphologic and functional changes similarly to the left ventricle during pregnancy?

OBJECTIVE: Morphological and functional right ventricular (RV) changes during normal pregnancy remain poorly characterized. Similar to left ventricle, RV load and function are expected to change, and establishing reference values for RV during a healthy pregnancy is critical for the evaluation of pregnancy-related heart disease. The aim of the study was to describe RV adaptation in a prospective cohort. METHODS: Serial echocardiographic examinations were performed in second trimester (24 ± 2 weeks), third (32 ± 2 week) trimester, and postpartum (>3 months after delivery). Nulliparous women were evaluated as control group. RV linear dimensions, areas, and function were assessed and compared. RESULTS: Forty-three pregnant women were evaluated and compared with nineteen nulliparous women as control. Function parameters decreased along gestation. RV fractional area fell from second to third trimester (52.01 ± 0.92 vs 48.73 ± 0.97, P < .05), as well as tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (2.62 ± 0.05 vs 2.41 ± 0.05, P < .05); however, RV longitudinal strain (L) decreased earlier, showing main changes from second trimester (26.17 ± 0.86 vs 22.71 ± 0.57, P < .003, control vs second trimester). S'-wave velocity followed a different pattern without changes during pregnancy. RV diameters significantly increased during pregnancy: basal (3.65 ± 0.06 vs 3.90 ± 0.06, P < .05), mid- (2.70 ± 0.06 vs 3.00 ± 0.07, P < .05), longitudinal (6.90 ± 0.09 vs 7.32 ± 0.11, P < .05), and right ventricle outflow tract proximal diameter (3.20 ± 0.06 vs 3.44 ± 0.06, P < .05). RV areas also suffered early variation during pregnancy. In postpartum evaluation, all these changes were reversed. CONCLUSION: During pregnancy, RV experiments important variations. RV size increases, and its function decreases. Changes in LS were earlier compared with other function measures.

CMR imaging biosignature of cardiac involvement due to cancer-related treatment by T1 and T2 mapping.

BACKGROUND: Cancer-related treatment is associated with development of heart failure and poor outcome in cancer-survivors. T1 and T2 mapping by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) may detect myocardial injury due to cancer-related treatment. METHODS: Patients receiving cancer-related treatment regimes underwent screening of cardiac involvement with CMR, either within 3 months (early Tx) or >12 months (late Tx) post-treatment. T1 and T2 mapping, cardiac function, strain, ischaemia-testing, scar-imaging and serological cardiac biomarkers were obtained. RESULTS: Compared to age/gender matched controls (n = 57), patients (n = 115, age (yrs): median(IQR) 48(28-60), females, n = 60(52%) had reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LV-EF) and strain, and higher native T1 and T2. The early Tx group (n = 52) had significantly higher native T1, T2 and troponin levels compared to the late Tx group, indicating myocardial inflammation and oedema (p < 0.01). On the contrary, late Tx patients showed raised native T1, increased LV-end-systolic volumes, reduced LV-EF and deformation, and elevated NT-proBNP, suggesting myocardial fibrosis and remodelling (p < 0.05). Prospective validation of these results in an independent cohort of patients with similar treatment regimens (n = 25) and longitudinal assessments revealed high concordance of CMR imaging signatures of early and late cardiac involvement. CONCLUSIONS: Native T1 and T2 mapping can be valuable in detecting and monitoring of cardiac involvement with cancer-related treatment, providing distinct biosignatures of early inflammatory involvement (raised native T1 and T2) and interstitial fibrosis and remodelling (raised native T1 but not T2), respectively. Our findings may provide an algorithm allowing to identify susceptible myocardium to potentially guide cardio-protective treatment measures.

Cardio-Onco-Hematología en la práctica clínica. Documento de consenso y recomendaciones / Cardio-Onco-Hematology in clinical practice. Position paper and recommendations

Los avances en la detección precoz y el tratamiento del cáncer han reducido de manera significativa la mortalidad de los pacientes. Sin embargo, mejorar el pronóstico no es solo curar el tumor, sino prevenir, diagnosticar y tratar eficazmente las complicaciones derivadas de las terapias onco-hematológicas. La toxicidad cardiovascular es un problema ampliamente reconocido con múltiples esquemas terapéuticos; sin embargo, la evidencia científica en el manejo de las complicaciones cardiovasculares de pacientes onco-hematológicos es escasa, pues sistemáticamente se ha excluido de los ensayos clínicos a estos enfermos y las recomendaciones actuales están basadas en consensos de expertos. Es imprescindible crear equipos multidisciplinarios locales para optimizar los resultados en salud de los supervivientes al cáncer. Una preocupación excesiva por la aparición de toxicidad cardiovascular puede impedir terapias potencialmente curativas, mientras que la subestimación de este riesgo compromete el pronóstico vital a largo plazo. El objetivo de este documento, elaborado en colaboración con la Sociedad Española de Cardiología, la Sociedad Española de Oncología Médica, la Sociedad Española de Oncología Radioterápica y la Sociedad Española de Hematología, es actualizar los conocimientos aplicables a la práctica clínica diaria de la cardio-onco-hematología y promover el desarrollo de equipos multidisciplinarios locales que mejoren la salud cardiovascular de los pacientes con cáncer (AU)

Improvements in early detection and treatment have markedly reduced cancer-related mortality. However survival not only depends on effectively cure cancer, but prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer-related complications is also needed. Cardiovascular toxicity is a widespread problem across many classes of therapeutic schemes, however scientific evidence in the management of cardiovascular complications of onco-hematological patients is scarce, as these patients have been systematically excluded from clinical trials and current recommendations are based on expert consensus. Multidisciplinary teams are mandatory to decrease morbidity and mortality from both cardiotoxicity and cancer itself. An excessive concern for the occurrence of cardiovascular toxicity, can avoid potentially curative therapies, while underestimating this risk, increases long-term mortality of cancer survivors. The objective of this consensus document, developed in collaboration of the Spanish Society of Cardiology, the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology, the Spanish Society of Radiation Oncology and the Spanish Society of Hematology, is to update the necessary concepts and expertise on cardio-onco-hematology that enable its application in daily clinical practice and to promote the development of local multidisciplinary teams, to improve the cardiovascular health of patients with cancer (AU)

Cardio-Onco-Hematology in Clinical Practice. Position Paper and Recommendations.

Improvements in early detection and treatment have markedly reduced cancer-related mortality. However survival not only depends on effectively cure cancer, but prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer-related complications is also needed. Cardiovascular toxicity is a widespread problem across many classes of therapeutic schemes, however scientific evidence in the management of cardiovascular complications of onco-hematological patients is scarce, as these patients have been systematically excluded from clinical trials and current recommendations are based on expert consensus. Multidisciplinary teams are mandatory to decrease morbidity and mortality from both cardiotoxicity and cancer itself. An excessive concern for the occurrence of cardiovascular toxicity, can avoid potentially curative therapies, while underestimating this risk, increases long-term mortality of cancer survivors. The objective of this consensus document, developed in collaboration of the Spanish Society of Cardiology, the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology, the Spanish Society of Radiation Oncology and the Spanish Society of Hematology, is to update the necessary concepts and expertise on cardio-onco-hematology that enable its application in daily clinical practice and to promote the development of local multidisciplinary teams, to improve the cardiovascular health of patients with cancer.

Utilidad de la tomografía computarizada con multidetectores en la endocarditis infecciosa / Multidetector computed tomography usefulness in infective endocarditis

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Resonancia magnética cardiovascular en la práctica cardiológica: una guía concisa para la adquisición de imágenes y la interpretación clínica / Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance in Cardiology Practice: A Concise Guide to Image Acquisition and Clinical Interpretation

La resonancia magnética cardiovascular está adquiriendo un papel cada vez más relevante en la práctica clínica habitual en cardiología. Se trata de una modalidad de diagnóstico por imagen versátil que permite una evaluación exacta, amplia y profunda de la función y la estructura cardiacas y que aporta información sobre cuestiones clínicas relevantes, en enfermedades como la cardiopatía isquémica, las miocardiopatías no isquémicas y la insuficiencia cardiaca, a la vez que permite indicaciones especiales, como la evaluación y/o cuantificación de la sobrecarga de hierro o la infiltración miocárdica. La creciente evidencia que respalda el papel de la resonancia magnética cardiovascular, junto con la difusión del conocimiento y la pericia en su uso fuera de los centros expertos, ha permitido un mayor acceso de los pacientes a esta técnica y la obtención de una experiencia clínica más amplia. En esta revisión se refleja la situación de la resonancia magnética cardiovascular en la práctica clínica moderna relacionando la adquisición y el posprocesado de las imágenes con una descripción efectiva de su significado clínico (AU)

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance plays an increasingly important role in routine cardiology clinical practice. It is a versatile imaging modality that allows highly accurate, broad and in-depth assessment of cardiac function and structure and provides information on pertinent clinical questions in diseases such as ischemic heart disease, nonischemic cardiomyopathies, and heart failure, as well as allowing unique indications, such as the assessment and quantification of myocardial iron overload or infiltration. Increasing evidence for the role of cardiovascular magnetic resonance, together with the spread of knowledge and skill outside expert centers, has afforded greater access for patients and wider clinical experience. This review provides a snapshot of cardiovascular magnetic resonance in modern clinical practice by linking image acquisition and postprocessing with effective delivery of the clinical meaning (AU)

Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance in Cardiology Practice: A Concise Guide to Image Acquisition and Clinical Interpretation.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance plays an increasingly important role in routine cardiology clinical practice. It is a versatile imaging modality that allows highly accurate, broad and in-depth assessment of cardiac function and structure and provides information on pertinent clinical questions in diseases such as ischemic heart disease, nonischemic cardiomyopathies, and heart failure, as well as allowing unique indications, such as the assessment and quantification of myocardial iron overload or infiltration. Increasing evidence for the role of cardiovascular magnetic resonance, together with the spread of knowledge and skill outside expert centers, has afforded greater access for patients and wider clinical experience. This review provides a snapshot of cardiovascular magnetic resonance in modern clinical practice by linking image acquisition and postprocessing with effective delivery of the clinical meaning.