Treatment with neurohormonal inhibitors and prognostic outcome in pulmonary arterial hypertension with risk factors for left heart disease

BACKGROUND Despite major advances in pharmacologic treatment,patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension(PAH)still have a considerably reduced life expectancy.In this context,chronic hyperactivity of the neurohormonal axis has been shown to be detrimental in PAH,thus providing novel insights on the role of neurohormonal blockade as a potential therapeutic target.AIM To evaluate the application and prognostic effect of neurohormonal inhibitors(NEUi)in a single-center sample of patients with idiopathic PAH and risk factors for left heart disease.METHODS We analyzed data retrospectively collected from our register of right heart catheterizations performed consecutively from January 1,2005 to October 31,2018.Patients on beta-blocker,angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor,angiotensin receptor blocker or mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist at the time of right heart catheterization were classified as NEUi users and compared to NEUi nonrecipients.RESULTS Complete data were available for 57 PAH subjects:27 of those(47.4%)were taking at least one NEUi at the time of right heart catheterization and were compared with the remaining 36 NEUi non-recipients.NEUi users were older and had a higher cardiovascular risk profile compared to non-recipients.Additionally,NEUi non-users had a higher probability of dying during the course of follow-up than NEUi recipients(56.7%vs 25.9%,log-rank P=0.020).CONCLUSION The above data highlighted a subgroup of patients with PAH and comorbidities for left heart disease in which NEUi use has shown to be associated with improved survival.Future prospective studies are needed to identify the most appropriate therapeutic strategies in this subset population.

Surgical Closure of Isolated Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Cenhosoa Antananarivo

Introduction: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a congenital heart disease whose seriousness lies in the risk of pulmonary hypertension, congestive heart failure and death. The aim of this study was to describe the surgical closure of an isolated patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) performed in Soavinandriana Teaching Hospital. Methods: This was a retrospective and descriptive study, during thirteen-years-period (January 2004 to December 2016), performed at Cardiac surgery unit of Soavinandriana Teaching Hospital, including all children underwent surgical closures of an isolated PDA. Demographic data, birth weight, clinical signs, diagnostic imaging, time between diagnosis and surgery and hospital left stays were analyzed. Results: A total of eighty-six children were recorded, including 21 males (24.42%) and 65 females (75.58%), giving sex ratio of 30%. The average age was 33.91 months. Children were born with a low birth weight in 12.79% of cases. PDA was symptomatic in 81.39%. The most circumstances of discovery were recurrent lung infections (31.40%), dyspnea (24.41%) and failure to thrive (19.76%). Echocardiography showed left ventricular dilatation (63.95%), pulmonary hypertension (73.25%). The ductus was large in 97.67% and the mean diameter was 5 mm. Chest X-ray showed cardiomegaly (97.67%) and increased pulmonary vascularity (86.04%). Mean delay of surgical procedures after diagnosis was 15.16 months. Surgical procedures consisted left posterolateral thoracotomy with a section and suture after clamping the ductus. Earlier postoperatives courses were simple in all children. The mean duration of hospitalization was 8.93 days. Conclusion: PDA was most common large (97%) and symptomatic (81%) in our study. Surgical closure of an isolated PAD was the only surgical procedure of congenital heart cardiopathy available in Antananarivo.

Clinical characteristics and prognostic impact of atrial fibrillation in patients with chronic heart failure

AIM To assess the prevalence, clinical characteristics and independent prognostic impact of atrial fibrillation(AF) in chronic heart failure(CHF) patients, and the potential protective effect of disease-modifying medications, particularly beta-blockers(BB). METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the charts of patients referred to our center since January 2004, and collected all clinical information available at their first visit. We assessed mortality to the end of June 2015. We compared patients with and without AF, and assessed the association between AF and all-cause mortality by multivariate Cox regression and Kaplan-Meyer analysis, particularly accounting for ongoing treatment with BB.RESULTS A total of 903 patients were evaluated(mean age 68 ± 12 years, 73% male). Prevalence of AF was 19%, ranging from 10% to 28% in patients ≤ 60 and ≥ 77 years, respectively. Besides the older age, patients with AF had more symptoms(New York Heart Association II-III 60% vs 44%), lower prevalence of dyslipidemia(23% vs 37%), coronary artery disease(28% vs 52%) and left bundle branch block(9% vs 16%). On the contrary, they more frequently presented with an idiopathic etiology(50% vs 24%), a history of valve surgery(13% vs 4%) and received overall more devices implantation(31% vs 21%). The use of disease-modifying medications(i.e., BB and ACE inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers) was lower in patients with AF(72% vs 80% and 71% vs 79%, respectively), who on the contrary were more frequently treated with symptomatic and antiarrhythmic drugs including diuretics(87% vs 69%) and digoxin(51% vs 11%). At a mean follow-up of about 5 years, all-cause mortality was significantly higher in patients with AF as compared to those in sinus rhythm(SR)(45% vs 34%, P value < 0.05 for all previous comparisons). However, in a multivariate analysis including the main significant predictors of allcause mortality, the univariate relationship between AF and death(HR = 1.49, 95%CI: 1.15-1.92) became not statistically significant(HR = 0.98, 95%CI: 0.73-1.32). Nonetheless, patients with AF not receiving BB treatment were found to have the worst prognosis, followed by patients with SR not receiving BB therapy and patients with AF receiving BB therapy, who both had similarly worse survival when compared to patients with SR receiving BB therapy.CONCLUSION AF was highly prevalent and associated with older age, worse clinical presentation and underutilization of disease-modifying medications such as BB in a population of elderly patients with CHF. AF had no independent impact on mortality, but the underutilization of BB in this group of patients was associated to a worse long-term prognosis.

Is Takotsubo cardiomyopathy still looking for its own nosological identity?

Despite several efforts to provide a proper nosological framework for Takotsubo cardiomyopathy(TCM),this remains an unresolved matter in clinical practice.Several clinical,pathophysiologic and histologic findings support the conceivable hypothesis that TCM could be defined as a unique pathologic entity,rather than a distinct subset of myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries.Further investigations are needed in order to define TCM with the most appropriate disease taxonomy.

Prevalence and prognostic value of cardiac troponin in elderly patients hospitalized for COVID-19

BACKGROUND Increases in cardiac troponin(cTn)in coronavirus disease 2019(COVID19)have been associated with worse prognosis.Nonetheless,data about the significance of cTn in elderly subjects with COVID19 are lacking.METHODS From a registry of consecutive patients with COVID19 admitted to a hub hospital in Italy from 25/02/2020 to 03/07/2020,we selected those≥60 yearold and with cTnI measured within three days from the molecular diagnosis of SARSCoV2 infection.When available,a second cTnI value within 48 h was also extracted.The relationship between increased cTnI and allcause inhospital mortality was evaluated by a Cox regression model and restricted cubic spline functions with three knots.RESULTS Of 343 included patients(median age:75.0(68.0−83.0)years,34.7%men),88(25.7%)had cTnI above the upperreference limit(0.046μg/L).Patients with increased cTnI had more comorbidities,greater impaired respiratory exchange and higher inflammatory markers on admission than those with normal cTnI.Furthermore,they died more(73.9%vs.37.3%,P<0.001)over 15(6−25)days of hospitalization.The association of elevated cTnI with mortality was confirmed by the adjusted Cox regression model(HR=1.61,95%CI:1.06−2.52,P=0.039)and was linear until 0.3μg/L,with a subsequent plateau.Of 191(55.7%)patients with a second cTnI measurement,49(25.7%)had an increasing trend,which was not associated with mortality(univariate HR=1.39,95%CI:0.87−2.22,P=0.265).CONCLUSIONS In elderly COVID19 patients,an initial increase in cTn is common and predicts a higher risk of death.Serial cTn testing may not confer additional prognostic information.