Disturbed atrial metabolism, shear stress, and cardiac load contribute to atrial fibrillation after ablation: AXAFA biomolecule study

Scientific Data

Publisher Correction: High resolution optical mapping of cardiac electrophysiology in pre-clinical models - PMC Back to Top Skip to main content NIH NLM Logo Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation Search PMC Full-Text Archive Search in PMC Advanced Search User Guide Journal List Sci Data v.11; 2024 PMC10796748 Other Formats PDF (618K) Actions Cite Collections Share Permalink Copy RESOURCES Similar articles Cited by other articles Links to NCBI Databases Journal List Sci Data v.11; 2024 PMC10796748 As a library, NLM provides access to scientific literature. Inclusion in an NLM database does not imply endorsement of, or agreement with, the contents by NLM or the National Institutes of Health. Learn more: PMC Disclaimer | PMC Copyright Notice Logo of sdata Sci Data. 2024; 11: 93. Published online 2024 Jan 18. doi: 10.1038/s41597-024-02941-w …

Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance

Background: The left atrial volume (LAV) is a crucial cardiac parameter in several clinical settings such as in atrial fibrillation or heart failure for the assessment of diastolic dysfunction and cardiac risk. Currently available LAV reference values were defined by 2d transthoracic echocardiography (2d-TTE). However, LAV measurements are routine part of CMR protocols, though data on the interchangeability of LAV values between CMR and 2d-TTE remain scarce.Methods: We performed CMR (3 T scanner MAGNETOM™ Skyra, Siemens Healthineers, Erlangen, Germany) and 2d-TTE in 2126 participants of the Hamburg City Health Study (HCHS), a population-based cohort study of the middle-aged population in Hamburg. LAV was assessed in TTE from the 4-and 2-chamber view by the method of disk summation. In CMR, LAV was also measured in cine images from the 2-and 4-chamber orientation, employing the …

Biomedicines

Desmoglein-2 mutations are detected in 5–10% of patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC). Endurance training accelerates the development of the ARVC phenotype, leading to earlier arrhythmic events. Homozygous Dsg2 mutant mice develop a severe ARVC-like phenotype. The phenotype of heterozygous mutant (Dsg2mt/wt) or haploinsufficient (Dsg20/wt) mice is still not well understood. To assess the effects of age and endurance swim training, we studied cardiac morphology and function in sedentary one-year-old Dsg2mt/wt and Dsg20/wt mice and in young Dsg2mt/wt mice exposed to endurance swim training. Cardiac structure was only occasionally affected in aged Dsg20/wt and Dsg2mt/wt mice manifesting as small fibrotic foci and displacement of Connexin 43. Endurance swim training increased the right ventricular (RV) diameter and decreased RV function in Dsg2mt/wt mice but not in wild types. Dsg2mt/wt hearts showed increased ventricular activation times and pacing-induced ventricular arrhythmia without obvious fibrosis or inflammation. Preload-reducing therapy during training prevented RV enlargement and alleviated the electrophysiological phenotype. Taken together, endurance swim training induced features of ARVC in young adult Dsg2mt/wt mice. Prolonged ventricular activation times in the hearts of trained Dsg2mt/wt mice are therefore a potential mechanism for increased arrhythmia risk. Preload-reducing therapy prevented training-induced ARVC phenotype pointing to beneficial treatment options in human patients.

Europace

Aims Recent trial data demonstrate beneficial effects of active rhythm management in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and support the concept that a low arrhythmia burden is associated with a low risk of AF-related complications. The aim of this document is to summarize the key outcomes of the 9th AFNET/EHRA Consensus Conference of the Atrial Fibrillation NETwork (AFNET) and the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA). Methods and results Eighty-three international experts met in Münster for 2 days in September 2023. Key findings are as follows: (i) Active rhythm management should be part of the default initial treatment for all suitable patients with AF. (ii) Patients with device-detected AF have a low burden of AF and a low risk of stroke. Anticoagulation prevents some strokes and also increases major but non-lethal bleeding. (iii) More research is needed to …

Biomedicines

Desmoglein-2 mutations are detected in 5–10% of patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC). Endurance training accelerates the development of the ARVC phenotype, leading to earlier arrhythmic events. Homozygous Dsg2 mutant mice develop a severe ARVC-like phenotype. The phenotype of heterozygous mutant (Dsg2mt/wt) or haploinsufficient (Dsg20/wt) mice is still not well understood. To assess the effects of age and endurance swim training, we studied cardiac morphology and function in sedentary one-year-old Dsg2mt/wt and Dsg20/wt mice and in young Dsg2mt/wt mice exposed to endurance swim training. Cardiac structure was only occasionally affected in aged Dsg20/wt and Dsg2mt/wt mice manifesting as small fibrotic foci and displacement of Connexin 43. Endurance swim training increased the right ventricular (RV) diameter and decreased RV function in Dsg2mt/wt mice but not in wild types. Dsg2mt/wt hearts showed increased ventricular activation times and pacing-induced ventricular arrhythmia without obvious fibrosis or inflammation. Preload-reducing therapy during training prevented RV enlargement and alleviated the electrophysiological phenotype. Taken together, endurance swim training induced features of ARVC in young adult Dsg2mt/wt mice. Prolonged ventricular activation times in the hearts of trained Dsg2mt/wt mice are therefore a potential mechanism for increased arrhythmia risk. Preload-reducing therapy prevented training-induced ARVC phenotype pointing to beneficial treatment options in human patients.

Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine

Introduction Fabry's disease is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by reduced activity of α-galactosidase A (GAL), leading to premature death on account of renal, cardiac, and vascular organ failure. Accumulation of the GAL substrate globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) in endothelial and smooth muscle cells is associated with early vascular cell damage, suggesting endothelial dysfunction as a driver of cardiorenal organ failure. Here, we studied the vascular expression of the key angiogenic factors, VEGFα and its antagonist angiostatin, in Fabry α-GAL-Tg/KO mice and determined circulating VEGFα and angiostatin serum levels in patients with Fabry’s disease and healthy controls. Methods Cryopreserved aortic vessels from six α-GAL-Tg/KO and six wild-type (WT) mice were obtained and VEGFα and angiostatin levels were determined by performing Western blot analysis. VEGFα expression was visualized by an immunohistochemical staining of paraffin aortic rings. In addition, VEGFα and angiostatin serum levels were measured by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 48 patients with genetically verified Fabry's disease (50% male) and 22 healthy controls and correlated with disease severity markers such as lyso-Gb3, albuminuria, NTproBNP, high-sensitive troponin T (hsTNT), and myocardial wall thickness. Results It was found that there was a significant increase in VEGFα protein expression (1.66 ± 0.35 vs. 0.62 ± 0.16, p = 0.0009) and a decrease in angiostatin expression (0.024 ± 0.007 vs. 0.053 ± 0.02, p = 0.038) in aortic lysates from α-GAL-Tg/KO compared with that from WT mice. Immunohistochemical …

European Heart Journal: Acute Cardiovascular Care

Aims Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy (VA-ECMO) restores circulation and tissue oxygenation in cardiogenic shock (CS) patients, but can also lead to complications. This study aimed to quantify VA-ECMO complications and analyse their association with overall survival as well as favourable neurological outcome (cerebral performance categories 1 + 2). Methods and results All-comer patients with CS treated with VA-ECMO were retrospectively enrolled from 16 centres in four countries (2005–2019). Neurological, bleeding, and ischaemic adverse events (AEs) were considered. From these, typical VA-ECMO complications were identified and analysed separately as device-related complications. n = 501. Overall, 118 were women (24%), median age was 56.0 years, median lactate was 8.1 mmol/L. Acute myocardial infarction caused CS in 289 …

Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine

Introduction Fabry's disease is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by reduced activity of α-galactosidase A (GAL), leading to premature death on account of renal, cardiac, and vascular organ failure. Accumulation of the GAL substrate globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) in endothelial and smooth muscle cells is associated with early vascular cell damage, suggesting endothelial dysfunction as a driver of cardiorenal organ failure. Here, we studied the vascular expression of the key angiogenic factors, VEGFα and its antagonist angiostatin, in Fabry α-GAL-Tg/KO mice and determined circulating VEGFα and angiostatin serum levels in patients with Fabry’s disease and healthy controls. Methods Cryopreserved aortic vessels from six α-GAL-Tg/KO and six wild-type (WT) mice were obtained and VEGFα and angiostatin levels were determined by performing Western blot analysis. VEGFα expression was visualized by an immunohistochemical staining of paraffin aortic rings. In addition, VEGFα and angiostatin serum levels were measured by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 48 patients with genetically verified Fabry's disease (50% male) and 22 healthy controls and correlated with disease severity markers such as lyso-Gb3, albuminuria, NTproBNP, high-sensitive troponin T (hsTNT), and myocardial wall thickness. Results It was found that there was a significant increase in VEGFα protein expression (1.66 ± 0.35 vs. 0.62 ± 0.16, p = 0.0009) and a decrease in angiostatin expression (0.024 ± 0.007 vs. 0.053 ± 0.02, p = 0.038) in aortic lysates from α-GAL-Tg/KO compared with that from WT mice. Immunohistochemical …

Heart Rhythm

BackgroundPulsed-field ablation (PFA) is a nonthermal energy source for ablation of cardiac arrhythmias. This study investigated the prospective outcomes of a novel PFA generator in conjunction with a commercially available, contact force-sensing, focal ablation catheter.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility, safety, and lesion characteristics of point-by-point PFA in consecutive patients undergoing repeat ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF).MethodsThe study involved reisolation of pulmonary veins (PVs) with electrical reconnection and the creation of an anterior line (AL) in patients with anterior substrate or durable pulmonary vein isolation (PVI).ResultsIn 24 patients (46% female; mean age 67 ± 10 years; 67% persistent AF), successful reisolation of 27 of 27 reconnected PVs (100%) was performed. In 19 patients, AL ablation was performed, with bidirectional block in 16 (84%), median …

Nature Cardiovascular Research

Viral myocarditis is characterized by infiltration of mononuclear cells essential for virus elimination. GPR15 has been identified as a homing receptor for regulatory T cells in inflammatory intestine diseases, but its role in inflammatory heart diseases is still elusive. Here we show that GPR15 deficiency impairs coxsackievirus B3 elimination, leading to adverse cardiac remodeling and dysfunction. Delayed recruitment of regulatory T cells in GPR15-deficient mice was accompanied by prolonged persistence of cytotoxic and regulatory T cells. In addition, RNA sequencing revealed prolonged inflammatory response and altered chemotaxis in knockout mice. In line, we identified GPR15 and its ligand GPR15L as an important chemokine receptor–ligand pair for the recruitment of regulatory and cytotoxic T cells. In summary, the insufficient virus elimination might be caused by a delayed recruitment of T cells as well as …

Cardiovascular Research

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) and concomitant cardiometabolic disease processes interact and combine to lead to adverse events such as stroke, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and cardiovascular death. Circulating biomolecules provide quantifiable proxies for cardiometabolic disease processes. Their role in defining subphenotypes of AF is not known. Methods and results This prespecified analysis of the EAST-AFNET4 biomolecule study assigned patients to clusters using polytomous variable latent class analysis (poLCA) based on baseline concentrations of thirteen precisely-quantified biomolecules potentially reflecting ageing, cardiac fibrosis, metabolic dysfunction, oxidative stress, cardiac load, endothelial dysfunction, and inflammation. In each cluster, rates of cardiovascular death, stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure or acute coronary syndrome, the primary …

Circulation

BACKGROUND SGLT2 (sodium-glucose cotransporter 2) inhibitors (SGLT2i) can protect the kidneys and heart, but the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. METHODS To gain insights on primary effects of SGLT2i that are not confounded by pathophysiologic processes or are secondary to improvement by SGLT2i, we performed an in-depth proteomics, phosphoproteomics, and metabolomics analysis by integrating signatures from multiple metabolic organs and body fluids after 1 week of SGLT2i treatment of nondiabetic as well as diabetic mice with early and uncomplicated hyperglycemia. RESULTS Kidneys of nondiabetic mice reacted most strongly to SGLT2i in terms of proteomic reconfiguration, including evidence for less early proximal tubule glucotoxicity and a broad downregulation of the apical uptake transport machinery (including sodium, glucose, urate, purine bases, and amino acids …

Atrial fibrillation is one of the most common cardiac arrhythmias and is a major cause of ischaemic stroke. Recent findings indicate the importance of atrial fibrillation burden (device-detected, subclinical, or paroxysmal and persistent or permanent) and whether atrial fibrillation was known before stroke onset or diagnosed after stroke for the risk of recurrence. Secondary prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation and stroke aims to reduce the risk of recurrent ischaemic stroke. Findings from randomised controlled trials assessing the optimal timing to introduce direct oral anticoagulant therapy after a stroke show that early start (ie, within 48 h for minor to moderate strokes and within 4–5 days for large strokes) seems safe and could reduce the risk of early recurrence. Other promising developments regarding early rhythm control, left atrial appendage occlusion, and novel factor XI inhibitor oral anticoagulants suggest …

European Heart Journal

Background Direct, non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (DOACs/NOACs) have become the first-choice therapy for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) at risk of stroke. Data on long-term effectiveness and safety of NOACs are scarce and not available from randomised clinical trials. Purpose We analysed 4-year outcome data in 13,632 European patients with AF treated with the NOAC, edoxaban. Methods This is the first report of the four-year follow-up information collected in the ETNA-AF-Europe (NCT02944019) study. It is a prospective registry, conducted in 825 centres enrolling edoxaban-treated patients in 10 European countries. Design and follow-up were agreed with the European Medicines Agency as part of the post-approval safety assessment of edoxaban. Key efficacy and safety outcomes were adjudicated …

European Heart Journal-Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy

The incidence and prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) are increasing in parallel with global ageing and increase in patients with cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, obesity, and diabetes. Although the physiological mechanisms responsible for the development of AF are multifactorial, inflammation (including continuous low-grade inflammation associated with ageing), vascular pathology, and cardiac structural and electrical remodelling are key contributors. 1 New strategies for the primary prevention of AF such as targeting inflammatory and vascular pathways are required to slow down the rapid increase in global prevalence and the burden of associated disability-adjusted life years. 1 Aspirin could be considered for primary AF prevention given its anti-inflammatory and vascular protection properties in addition to its antithrombotic activity. 2 However, investigators have not tested whether low-dose …

European Heart Journal

Background and Aims Patients with long atrial high-rate episodes (AHREs) ≥24 h and stroke risk factors are often treated with anticoagulation for stroke prevention. Anticoagulation has never been compared with no anticoagulation in these patients. Methods This secondary pre-specified analysis of the Non-vitamin K antagonist Oral anticoagulants in patients with Atrial High-rate episodes (NOAH-AFNET 6) trial examined interactions between AHRE duration at baseline and anticoagulation with edoxaban compared with placebo in patients with AHRE and stroke risk factors. The primary efficacy outcome was a composite of stroke, systemic embolism, or cardiovascular death. The safety outcome was a composite of major bleeding and death. Key secondary outcomes were components of these outcomes and electrocardiogram (ECG)-diagnosed atrial fibrillation …

Circulation Reports

Background: This study reports prescribing patterns and the 1-year effectiveness and safety of edoxaban in an Asian cohort of Edoxaban Treatment in routiNe clinical prActice (ETNA)-Atrial Fibrillation (AF) patients.Methods and Results: The Global ETNA-AF program integrates prospective, observational, noninterventional regional studies, collecting data on characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients with AF receiving edoxaban for stroke prevention. Baseline characteristics, medical history, and 1-year clinical event rates were assessed in patients from South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Thailand. Clinically relevant events assessed at 12 months included all-cause death, cardiovascular death, ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, systemic embolic events (SEEs), bleeding, and net clinical outcome (NCO). Overall, 3,359 patients treated with edoxaban 60 or 30 mg once daily completed 1-year follow-up; 70.9% of patients received recommended dosing according to local labels. Baseline mean±standard deviation age was 71.7±9.6 years, CHA 2 DS 2-VASc score was 3.1±1.5, and modified HAS-BLED score was 2.3±1.1. Mean age and sex were similar across countries/regions. The 1-year event rate for all-cause death was 1.8%; major bleeding, 1.3%; ischemic stroke, 1.1%; cardiovascular mortality, 0.7%; hemorrhagic stroke, 0.3%; SEEs, 0%; and NCO, 4.1%; with differences observed between countries/regions and dosing groups.Conclusions: Most Asian patients with AF were prescribed recommended edoxaban dosing in routine care settings. At 1-year follow-up, this analysis supports the effectiveness and safety of edoxaban in these patients.

Clinical Research in Cardiology

BackgroundInfective endocarditis (IE) is characterized by high morbidity and mortality rates, despite recent improvements in diagnostics and treatment. We aimed to investigate incidence, clinical characteristics, and in-hospital mortality in a large-scale nationwide cohort.MethodsUsing data from the German Federal Bureau of Statistics, all IE cases in Germany between 2007 and 2019 were analyzed. Logistic regression models were fitted to assess associations between clinical factors and in-hospital mortality.ResultsIn total, 86,469 patients were hospitalized with IE between 2007 and 2019. The mean age was 66.5 ± 14.7 years and 31.8% (n = 27,534/86,469) were female. Cardiovascular (CV) comorbidities were common. The incidence of IE in the German population increased from 6.3/100,000 to 10.2/100,000 between 2007 and 2019. Staphylococcus (n = 17,673/86,469; 20.4%) and streptococcus (n = 17 …

Europace

The Brugada Syndrome (BrS) is an inherited arrhythmogenic condition that can 4 predispose to fatal ventricular tachyarrhythmias, and has also been associated with 5 ventricular standstill and heart block 1–3. Current guidelines recommend that BrS 6 can be diagnosed in the presence of an unprovoked spontaneous type 1 pattern 7 (spT1) in leads V1 or V2 on the surface ECG positioned at the sternal margins at 8 the fourth intercostal space, or at the third or second intercostal spaces (the “high 9 precordial leads”-HPL). The type 1 pattern is characterised by coved ST segment 10 elevation≥ 2 mV and a negative T wave, and may be concealed and only induced 11 (diT1) after provocative drug testing with intravenous sodium channel blockers 12 (SCB). In this case, a diagnosis of ‘concealed’BrS may be corroborated by 13 previous aborted cardiac arrest (aCA), arrhythmic syncope or nocturnal agonal 14 respiration, and/or a family history of BrS or of juvenile sudden death (SD) with a 15 negative autopsy and circumstance suspicious for BrS 4. Several clinical and ECG 16 parameters have been proposed to identify subjects at risk of experiencing life-17 threatening arrhythmias during follow-up 5–7; a spT1 pattern at presentation has 18 consistently been associated with increased risk, whereas a diT1 confers a better 19

Europace

Aims Recent trial data demonstrate beneficial effects of active rhythm management in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and support the concept that a low arrhythmia burden is associated with a low risk of AF-related complications. The aim of this document is to summarize the key outcomes of the 9th AFNET/EHRA Consensus Conference of the Atrial Fibrillation NETwork (AFNET) and the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA). Methods and results Eighty-three international experts met in Münster for 2 days in September 2023. Key findings are as follows: (i) Active rhythm management should be part of the default initial treatment for all suitable patients with AF. (ii) Patients with device-detected AF have a low burden of AF and a low risk of stroke. Anticoagulation prevents some strokes and also increases major but non-lethal bleeding. (iii) More research is needed to …

Europace

Introduction Traditional AF recurrence after catheter ablation is reported as a binary outcome. However, a paradigm shift towards a more granular definition, considering arrhythmic or symptomatic burden, is emerging. Hypothesis We hypothesize that ablation reduces AF burden independently of conventional recurrence status in persistent AF patients, correlating with symptom burden reduction. Methods 98 patients with persistent AF from the DECAAFII trial with pre-ablation follow-up were included. Patients recorded daily single-lead ECG strips, defining AF burden as the proportion of AF days among total submitted ECG days. The primary outcome was atrial arrhythmia recurrence. The Atrial Fibrillation Severity Scale (AFSS) was administered pre-ablation and at 12-months post-ablation. Results At follow-up, 69 patients had atrial …

Europace

Background and Aims There are few data on the feasibility of population screening for paroxysmal AF using hand-held ECG devices outside a specialist setting or in people over the age of 75. We investigated the feasibility of screening when conducted without face-to-face contact (‘remote’) or via in-person appointments in primary care, and explored impact of age on screening outcomes. Methods People aged ≥65 years from 13 general practices in England participated in screening during 2019-20. This involved attending a practice nurse appointment (10 practices) or receiving an ECG device by post (3 practices). Participants were asked to use a handheld ECG for 1-4 weeks. Screening outcomes included: uptake, quality of ECGs, AF detection rates, and uptake of anticoagulation if AF was detected. Results Screening was carried out by 2,141 (87.5%) of …

Europace

Aims Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with arrhythmias and cardiovascular mortality. Arrhythmogenesis in MetS results from atrial structural and electrical remodelling. The small-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (SK) currents modulate atrial repolarization and may influence atrial arrhythmogenicity. This study investigated the regulation of SK current perturbed by a high-fat diet (HFD) to mimic MetS. Methods and results Thirty mice were divided into two groups that were fed with normal chow (CTL) and HFD for 4 months. Electrocardiography and echocardiography were used to detect cardiac electrical and structure remodelling. Atrial action potential duration (APD) and calcium transient duration (CaTD) were measured by optical mapping of Langendorff-perfused mice hearts. Atrial fibrillation (AF) inducibility and duration were assessed by burst pacing. Whole-cell patch …

Europace

Background and aims Women have been historically underrepresented in implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) trials. No data on sex differences regarding subcutaneous-ICDs (S-ICD) carriers have been described. Aim of our study was to investigate sex-related differences among unselected S-ICD recipients. Methods Consecutive patients enrolled in the multicenter, international i-SUSI registry were analyzed. Comparisons between sexes were performed using a 1:1 propensity matching adjusted analysis for age, body mass index (BMI), left ventricular function and substrate. The primary outcome was the rate of appropriate shocks during follow-up. Inappropriate shocks and other device-related complications were deemed secondary outcomes. Results A total of 1698 patients were extracted from the iSUSI registry; 399 (23.5%) were females. After …

Europace

Structured Abstract Background and Aims Atrial fibrillation (AF) recurs in about one third of patients after catheter ablation (CA), mostly in the first year. Little is known about the electrophysiological findings and the effect of re-ablation in very late AF recurrences after more than one year. The aim of this study was to determine the characteristics and outcomes of the first repeat CA after very late recurrence of AF after index CA. Methods We analysed patients from a prospective Swiss registry that underwent a first repeat ablation procedure. Patients were stratified depending on the time to recurrence after index procedure: early recurrence (ER) for recurrences within the first year and late recurrence (LR) if the recurrence was later. The primary endpoint was freedom from AF in the first year after repeat ablation. Results Out of 1864 patients included in the registry …

Europace

Aims Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may influence management and prognosis of atrial fibrillation (AF), but this relationship has been scarcely explored in contemporary global cohorts. We aimed to investigate the association between AF and COPD, in relation to treatment patterns and major outcomes. Methods and results From the prospective, global GLORIA-AF registry, we analysed factors associated with COPD diagnosis, as well as treatment patterns and risk of major outcomes in relation to COPD. The primary outcome was the composite of all-cause death and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). A total of 36 263 patients (mean age 70.1 ± 10.5 years, 45.2% females) were included; 2,261 (6.2%) had COPD. The prevalence of COPD was lower in Asia and higher in North America. Age, female sex, smoking, body mass index, and cardiovascular …

Europace

* Corresponding author. Tel:+ 44 191 241 8615; fax:+ 44 191 241 8666. E-mail address: gavin. richardson@ ncl. ac. uk

Europace

Background and Aims High-power-short-duration (HPSD) ablation is an effective treatment for atrial fibrillation but poses risks of thermal injuries to the oesophagus and vagus nerve. This study investigates incidence and predictors of thermal injuries, employing machine learning. Methods A prospective observational study was conducted at Leipzig Heart Centre, Germany, excluding patients with multiple prior ablations. All patients received Ablation Index guided HPSD ablation and subsequent oesophagogastroduodenoscopy. A machine learning algorithm categorized ablation points by atrial location and analysed ablation data, including Ablation Index, focusing on the posterior wall. The study is registered in clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05709756). Results Between February 2021, and August 2023, 238 patients were enrolled, of whom 18 (7.6%; 9 oesophagus …

Europace

Background and Aims There are few data on the feasibility of population screening for paroxysmal AF using hand-held ECG devices outside a specialist setting or in people over the age of 75. We investigated the feasibility of screening when conducted without face-to-face contact (‘remote’) or via in-person appointments in primary care, and explored impact of age on screening outcomes. Methods People aged ≥65 years from 13 general practices in England participated in screening during 2019-20. This involved attending a practice nurse appointment (10 practices) or receiving an ECG device by post (3 practices). Participants were asked to use a handheld ECG for 1-4 weeks. Screening outcomes included: uptake, quality of ECGs, AF detection rates, and uptake of anticoagulation if AF was detected. Results Screening was carried out by 2,141 (87.5%) of …

Europace

Aims Guidelines recommend opportunistic screening for atrial fibrillation (AF), using a 30 s single-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) recorded by a wearable device. Since many patients have paroxysmal AF, identification of patients at high risk presenting with sinus rhythm (SR) may increase the yield of subsequent long-term cardiac monitoring. The aim is to evaluate an AI-algorithm trained on 10 s single-lead ECG with or without risk factors to predict AF. Methods and results This retrospective study used 13 479 ECGs from AF patients in SR around the time of diagnosis and 53 916 age- and sex-matched control ECGs, augmented with 17 risk factors extracted from electronic health records. AI models were trained and compared using 1- or 12-lead ECGs, with or without risk factors. Model bias was evaluated by age- and sex-stratification of results. Random forest models identified …

Europace

Aims Catheter ablation (CA) of ventricular tachycardia (VT) has become an important tool to improve clinical outcomes in patients with appropriate transvenous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) shocks. The aim of our analysis was to test whether VT ablation (VTA) impacts long-term clinical outcomes even in subcutaneous ICD (S-ICD) carriers. Methods and results International Subcutaneous Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (iSUSI) registry patients who experienced either an ICD shock or a hospitalization for monomorphic VT were included in this analysis. Based on an eventual VTA after the index event, patients were divided into VTA+ vs. VTA− cohorts. Primary outcome of the study was the occurrence of a combination of device-related appropriate shocks, monomorphic VTs, and cardiovascular mortality. Secondary outcomes were addressed individually. Among …

Europace

Aims Identifying heart failure (HF) patients who will benefit from cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) remains challenging. We evaluated whether virtual pacing in a digital twin (DT) of the patient’s heart could be used to predict the degree of left ventricular (LV) reverse remodelling post-CRT. Methods and results Forty-five HF patients with wide QRS complex (≥130 ms) and reduced LV ejection fraction (≤35%) receiving CRT were retrospectively enrolled. Echocardiography was performed before (baseline) and 6 months after CRT implantation to obtain LV volumes and 18-segment longitudinal strain. A previously developed algorithm was used to generate 45 DTs by personalizing the CircAdapt model to each patient’s baseline measurements. From each DT, baseline septal-to-lateral myocardial work difference (MWLW-S,DT) and maximum rate of LV systolic pressure rise …

Europace

Electrical storm (ES) is a state of electrical instability, manifesting as recurrent ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) over a short period of time (three or more episodes of sustained VA within 24 h, separated by at least 5 min, requiring termination by an intervention). The clinical presentation can vary, but ES is usually a cardiac emergency. Electrical storm mainly affects patients with structural or primary electrical heart disease, often with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). Management of ES requires a multi-faceted approach and the involvement of multi-disciplinary teams, but despite advanced treatment and often invasive procedures, it is associated with high morbidity and mortality. With an ageing population, longer survival of heart failure patients, and an increasing number of patients with ICD, the incidence of ES is expected to increase. This European Heart Rhythm Association clinical consensus …

Europace

Aims Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is a well-established strategy for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). Despite randomized controlled trials and real-world data showing the promise of pulsed-field ablation (PFA) for this treatment, long-term efficacy and safety data demonstrating single-procedure outcomes off antiarrhythmic drugs remain limited. The aim of the FARA-Freedom Study was to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of PFA using the pentaspline catheter for PAF. Methods and results FARA-Freedom, a prospective, non-randomized, multicentre study, enrolled patients with PAF undergoing de novo PVI with PFA, who were followed for 12 months with weekly transtelephonic monitoring and a 72-h Holter ECG at 6 and 12 months. The primary safety endpoint was a composite of device- or procedure-related serious adverse events out to 7 days post …

Europace

We read with great interest the article by Xie et al. regarding the results of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation in patients with heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). 1 In their study, based on a large cohort of patients with HFpEF, they showed that the ablation strategy significantly reduced the primary composite endpoint of all-cause death or rehospitalization for worsening HF compared with no ablation. Saksena et al. stated that AF is associated with HF progression in early symptomatic HFpEF and pump failure death in advanced HFpEF. Thus, the authors concluded that AF may adversely impact HFpEF due to its association with HF progression and mortality. 2 Previous studies and subgroup analyses have also demonstrated the benefit of the ablation therapy in patients with HFpEF and AF. Yamauchi et al. stated that the ablation therapy is a very suitable method for restoring sinus rhythm and thus …

Europace

Aims Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with arrhythmias and cardiovascular mortality. Arrhythmogenesis in MetS results from atrial structural and electrical remodelling. The small-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (SK) currents modulate atrial repolarization and may influence atrial arrhythmogenicity. This study investigated the regulation of SK current perturbed by a high-fat diet (HFD) to mimic MetS. Methods and results Thirty mice were divided into two groups that were fed with normal chow (CTL) and HFD for 4 months. Electrocardiography and echocardiography were used to detect cardiac electrical and structure remodelling. Atrial action potential duration (APD) and calcium transient duration (CaTD) were measured by optical mapping of Langendorff-perfused mice hearts. Atrial fibrillation (AF) inducibility and duration were assessed by burst pacing. Whole-cell patch …

Europace

Aims Conduction abnormalities post-transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) are common. Post-TAVI PR prolongation was mainly studied as an adjunct to new-onset bundle branch block. The net effect of isolated PR prolongation (IPRP) without post-TAVI QRS changes is not well known. The aim of this study was to define the incidence and clinical significance of post-TAVI IPRP. Methods and results A total of 1108 consecutive TAVI patients were reviewed. Patients with IPRP were compared with patients without post-TAVI electrocardiogram (ECG) changes. Clinical outcomes included permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) and overall mortality. A total of 146 patients with IPRP were compared with 290 patients without post-TAVI ECG changes. At 1 year follow-up, 4 (2.7%) and 7 (2.4%) patients underwent PPI (P = 0.838) and 10 (6.8%) and 25 (8.6%) died (P = 0.521 …

Europace

The DF-4 defibrillator standard has been rapidly adopted due to its convenience at implantation. There are however tradeoffs compared to the traditional DF-1 standard which are underappreciated. This viewpoint outlines the advantages and limitations of current defibrillator lead standards which should be kept in mind, as they impact the options which are available to deal with issues which may arise.