Episódios de Alta Frequência Atrial e sua Associação com Eventos Isquêmicos Cerebrais em Pacientes Chagásicos / Atrial High-Rate Episodes and Their Association with Cerebral Ischemic Events in Chagasic Patients

Resumo Fundamento Episódios de alta frequência atrial (EAFAs) estão associados a um risco elevado de eventos isquêmicos cerebrais, porém não existem estudos relacionados com a presença de EAFAs e eventos isquêmicos cerebrais em pacientes chagásicos. Objetivo Investigar a associação entre a presença de EAFAs ≥ 6 minutos e eventos isquêmicos cerebrais em pacientes chagásicos. Métodos Estudo de coorte com pacientes chagásicos, portadores de dispositivos cardíacos eletrônicos implantáveis (DCEIs), acompanhados no ambulatório de arritmias de um hospital universitário, na cidade de Salvador/BA, entre maio de 2016 e junho de 2017. Pacientes com diagnóstico de flutter atrial/fibrilação atrial, com DCEI unicameral e em uso de anticoagulação oral foram excluídos. Foram considerados EAFAs com frequência atrial ≥ 190 batimentos por minuto e duração ≥ 6 minutos (min), e os eventos isquêmicos cerebrais foram identificados por meio de tomografia computadorizada (TC) de crânio. Resultados Os 67 participantes da pesquisa (67,2% do sexo feminino, com idade média de 63,6 ± 9,2 anos) foram acompanhados por 98 ± 28,8 dias e 11,9% dos pacientes apresentaram EAFAs ≥ 6 minutos. A TC de crânio evidenciou eventos isquêmicos cerebrais silenciosos em 16,4% dos pacientes, sendo que, destes, 63,6% haviam apresentado os EAFAs ≥ 6 minutos na análise dos DCEIs. A idade avançada (OR 1,12 [IC 95% 1,03-1,21; p=0,009) e a presença de EAFAs ≥ 6 minutos (OR 96,2 [IC 95% 9,4-987,4; p<0,001]) foram preditores independentes para eventos isquêmicos. Conclusão EAFAs detectados por DCEIs estavam associados à presença de eventos isquêmicos cerebrais silenciosos em pacientes chagásicos. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2020; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0)

Abstract Background Atrial high-rate episodes (AHREs) are associated with an increased risk of cerebral ischemic events; however, there are no studies related to the presence of AHREs and cerebral ischemic events in Chagasic patients. Objective To investigate the association between the presence of AHREs ≥ 6 minutes and cerebral ischemic events in Chagasic patients. Methods Cohort study with Chagasic patients with implantable electronic cardiac devices (IECDs), followed at the Arrhythmia Outpatient Clinic of a University Hospital, in the city of Salvador, state of Bahia, Brazil, between May 2016 and June 2017.. Patients diagnosed with atrial flutter / atrial fibrillation, with unicameral IECD and using oral anticoagulation were excluded. AHREs with atrial frequency ≥ 190 beats per minute and duration ≥ 6 minutes (min) were considered, and cerebral ischemic events were identified by computed tomography (CT) of the skull. Results The 67 research participants (67.2% females, mean age 63.6 ± 9.2 years) were followed for 98 ± 28.8 days and 11.9% of the patients had AHREs ≥ 6 min. Skull CT showed silent cerebral ischemic events in 16.4% of the patients, 63.6% of whom had AHREs ≥ 6 min in the analysis of IECDs. Advanced age [OR 1.12 (95% CI 1.03-1.21; p=0.009] and the presence of AHREs ≥ 6 minutes [OR 96.2 (95% CI 9.4-987.4; p <0.001)] were independent predictors for ischemic events. Conclusion AHREs detected by IECDs were associated with the presence of silent cerebral ischemic events in Chagasic patients. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2020; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0)

Molecular Imaging in the Diagnosis of Infectious Endocarditis - the Role of PET and SPECT

Abstract 18-fluorine-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) and singlephoton emission computed tomography (SPECT) using radiolabeled white blood cells (WBC) are non-invasive techniques widely used in the diagnosis of infections, like endocarditis. The aim of our paper was to provide a systematic review of the published data on the use of 18F-FDG PET/CT and SPECT in infective endocarditis (IE). A comprehensive literature search of the PubMed/ MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase and Cochrane library databases was conducted to find relevant published articles about the diagnostic performance of SPECT using WBC and 18F-FDG PET/CT in the diagnosis of infectious endocarditis. Twenty papers were included, with a total of 1,154 patients (166 studies with WBC SPECT and 988 with 18F-FDG PET/CT). From the analyses of the studies, the following results were obtained: both SPECT and PET/CT had good diagnostic accuracy in the study of endocarditis. 18F-FDG PET/CT had good specificity (85.8%) and lower sensitivity (68%), with high heterogeneity among the studies; WBC SPECT/ CT had an overall sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 98%. Specific preparations for PET/CT can affect the diagnostic accuracy of the test. Both 18F-FDG PET/CT and WBC SPECT are useful for the diagnosis of IE, and WBC SPECT appears to be slightly more specific than 18F-FDG PET/CT. A specific diet could influence the diagnostic performance of PET/CT.