The electroanatomical remodelling of the left atrium is related to CHADS2/CHA2DS2VASc score and events of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND: Although atrial fibrillation (AF) increases the risk of stroke, its relationship with atrial remodelling has not yet been studied. We hypothesized that the degree of electroanatomical remodelling of the left atrium (LA) is related to CHADS₂/CHA₂DS₂VASc score and events of stroke. METHODS AND RESULTS: We compared CHADS₂/CHA₂DS₂VASc score (0, 1, ≥ 2) or events of stroke with mean and regional LA volume [by three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography images] or LA endocardial voltage (by 3D-electroanatomical map) in 348 patients who underwent catheter ablation of AF (78.4% male, 55.4 ± 11.0 years old, paroxysmal AF:persistent AF = 215:133). We graded LA volume index as Grade 1 (< 48.3 mL/m²; n= 80), grade 2 (48.3-63.0 mL/m², n= 82), grade 3 (63.0-99.0 mL/m²; n= 94), and grade 4 (≥ 99.0 mL/m²; n= 92). Results (i) The percentage volume of anterior portion of LA enlarged at the early stage of LA remodelling (Grade 1 vs. grade 2, P= 0.006) and the voltage of posterior venous LA was significantly reduced with the degree of LA remodelling (P= 0.001). (ii) Mean LA volume/body surface area (BSA), especially anterior portion of LA, was greater in patients with high CHADS₂/CHA₂DS₂VASc score (P= 0.002). Mean LA voltage was significantly lower in patients with high CHA₂DS₂VASc score than low score (P= 0.007). (iii) In patients who experience stroke (n= 22), LA volume/BSA, especially anterior LA, was greater (P= 0.012), and LA endocardial voltage was lower (P= 0.039) than those without stroke. CONCLUSION: Electroanatomical remodelling of LA, estimated by LA volume and endocardial voltage, has significant relationship with the risk scores or events of stroke in patients with non-valvular AF.ope

Does additional linear ablation after circumferential pulmonary vein isolation improve clinical outcome in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation? Prospective randomised study.

OBJECTIVE: Circumferential pulmonary vein isolation (CPVI) has been considered the cornerstone of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, it is unclear whether linear ablation in addition to CPVI improves clinical outcome. DESIGN: Prospective randomised study to compare the efficacy of CPVI and CPVI with additional linear ablation in patients with paroxysmal AF (PAF). SETTING: University hospital. PATIENTS: This study enrolled 156 patients (male 76.3%, 55.8±11.5 years old (mean±SD)) who underwent RFCA for PAF. INTERVENTIONS: CPVI (n=52), CPVI+roof line (CPVI+RL; n=52) and CPVI+RL+posterior inferior line (CPVI+PostBox; n=52). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Procedure time, ablation time and clinical outcome. RESULTS: (1) The CPVI group showed shorter total procedure time (180.4±39.5 min vs 189.6±29.0 min and 201.7±51.7 min, respectively (mean±SD); p=0.035) and ablation time (4085.5±1384.1 s vs 5253.5±1010.9 s and 5495.0±1316.0 s, respectively; p<0.001) than the CPVI+RL and CPVI+PostBox groups. (2) During 15.6±5.0 months of follow-up, the recurrence rates 3 months after RFCA were 11.5% in CPVI, 21.2% in CPVI+RL and 19.2% in CPVI+PostBox (p=0.440). (3) The achievement rate of CPVI was 100.0%, and bidirectional block rate was 80.8% in CPVI+RL and 59.6% in CPVI+PostBox. The clinical recurrence rates with or without achieving bidirectional block were not significantly different from each other (p=0.386). CONCLUSION: In patients with PAF, linear ablation in addition to CPVI did not improve clinical outcome, regardless of bidirectional block achievement, while it prolonged the total procedure and ablation time.ope

Male pseudohermaphroditism presented with sudden cardiac arrest

Torsades de pointes is a life-threatening arrhythmia associated with a number of causes, but is very rare among endocrinologic disorders. We report a case of male pseudohermaphroditism with hyperaldosteronism due to a 17α-hydroxylase deficiency presented with sudden cardiac arrest.ope

Atrial Tachycardia Originating from the Aortomitral Junction

Atrial tachycardia (AT) originating from the aortomitral junction is a very rare and challenging disease. Its arrhythmic characteristics have not been described in detail compared with the descriptions of the arrhythmic characteristics of AT originating from the other locations. Only a few case reports have documented successful ablation of this type of AT using transaortic or transseptal approaches. We describe a case with AT that was resistant to right-sided ablation near the His bundle failed and transaortic ablation at the aortomitral junction successfully eliminated.ope

Listeria monocytogenes Bacteremia in a Patient with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

We report a 43-year old woman of Listeria monocytogenes bacteremia associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). She had been treated with glucocorticoid pulse therapies and a cyclophosphamide pulse therapy for relapsed lupus nephritis class IV. After the immunosuppressive treatment, she complained of fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Diffuse edematous thickening of bowel wall was seen on abdominal CT scan and Listeria monocytogenes was identified on blood culture study. After antibiotic therapy that lasted for more than 4 weeks, her presenting symptoms were resolved and no more Listeria monocytogenes was identified on follow-up culture studies. Infection with Listeria monocytogenes, a rare food-borne illness, can be life-threatening with high fatality rates and is known to occur more frequently in immunocompromised patients, including those receiving high-dose glucocorticoid or immunosuppressive therapy for collagen vascular disease. In Korea, a case of Listeria meningitis was reported, but a case of bacteremia caused by Listeria monocytogenes enteritis has never been reported in SLE patients. Thus, we report a case of Listeria monocytogenes bacteremia that occurred due to food poisoning after aggressive immunosuppressive treatment in a patient with SLE.ope

Characteristics of pulmonary vein enlargement in non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients with stroke.

PURPOSE: The association between pulmonary vein (PV) dilatation and stroke in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) patients remains unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined the left atrium (LA) and PV in control (n=138) and non-valvular AF patients without (AF group, n=138) and with non-hemorrhagic stroke (AF with stroke group, n=138) using computed tomography. RESULTS: The LA, LA appendage (LAA), and all PVs were larger in the AF than control patients. The orifice areas of the LAA (5.6±2.2 cm² vs. 4.7±1.7 cm², p<0.001), left superior PV (3.8±1.5 cm² vs. 3.4±1.2 cm², p=0.019), and inferior PV (2.3±1.0 cm² vs. 1.8±0.7 cm², p<0.001) were larger in the AF with stroke than in the AF only group. However, right PVs were not different between the two groups. In a multivariate analysis, the orifice areas of the left superior PV [odds ratio (OR) 1.25, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03-1.51, p=0.02], left inferior PV (OR 1.97, 95% CI 1.41-2.75, p<0.001), and LAA (OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.13-1.50, p<0.001) were independent predictors of stroke. CONCLUSION: Compared to the right PVs, the left PVs and LAA exhibited more significant enlargement in patients with AF and stroke than in patients with AF only. This finding suggests that the remodeling of left-sided LA structures might be related to stroke.ope

Early repolarization and myocardial scar predict poorest prognosis in patients with coronary artery disease.

PURPOSE: Recent studies show positive association of early repolarization (ER) with the risk of life-threatening arrhythmias in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). This study was to investigate the relationships of ER with myocardial scarring and prognosis in patients with CAD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of 570 consecutive CAD patients, patients with and without ER were assigned to ER group (n=139) and no ER group (n=431), respectively. Myocardial scar was evaluated using cardiac single-photon emission computed tomography. RESULTS: ER group had previous history of myocardial infarction (33% vs. 15%, p<0.001) and lower left ventricular ejection fraction (57±13% vs. 62±13%, p<0.001) more frequently than no-ER group. While 74 (53%) patients in ER group had myocardial scar, only 121 (28%) patients had in no-ER group (p<0.001). During follow up, 9 (7%) and 4 (0.9%) patients had cardiac events in ER and no-ER group, respectively (p=0.001). All patients with cardiac events had ER in inferior leads and horizontal/descending ST-segment. Patients with both ER in inferior leads and horizontal/descending ST variant and scar had an increased adjusted hazard ratio of cardiac events (hazard ratio 16.0; 95% confidence interval: 4.1 to 55.8; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: ER in inferior leads with a horizontal/descending ST variant was associated with increased risk of cardiac events. These findings suggest that ER in patients with CAD may be related to myocardial scar rather than pure ion channel problem.ope

Multiple Cavitary Pulmonary Metastases from Cholangiocarcinoma

Because a cavitary pulmonary metastasis is rare, it may not be readily identified. However, various types of cancers can metastasize to the lung in the form of cavities. We report a case of a multiple cavitary metastases to the lung from a cholangiocarcinoma in a 60-year-old man. He complained of generalized weakness and a poor oral intake for 2 months. The plain chest radiography and the chest computed tomography showed multiple small thick-walled cavities and nodules the both lungs. A bronchoscopic examination revealed a focal irregularly elevated surface of the mucosa at the orifice of the superior segment of the right lower lobe and the biopsy demonstrated an infiltrative metastatic adenocarcinoma. The abdomen-pelvis computed tomography showed an ill-marginated and irregularly low-dense area in the right lobe of the liver and a diffuse dilatation of the peripheral intrahepatic bile ducts. The esophagogastroscopy and colonoscopy showed no abnormal findings. It was concluded that the cholangiocarcinoma of the liver metastasized to the lung in the form of cavities. Thereafter, the patient underwent six cycles of the systemic chemotherapy with gemcitabine and cisplatin, and the follow-up imaging studies showed a partial response.ope

Incidence and Predictors of Late Secondary Tricuspid Regurgitation after Mitral Valve Replacement

Background: Severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) may develop later after mitral valve replacement(MVR) in the absence of prosthetic mitral valve(MV) dysfunction and other causes of left heart failure. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and predictors of severe TR late after MVR for rheumatic MV disease. Method: From 309 patients who underwent MVR between 1995 and 1997 at Yonsei Cardiovascular Hospital, we selected 193 patients(M:F=52:141; mean age 48.5±11.3) who underwent MVR for rheumatic valvular disease [concomitant TAP (Tricuspid annuloplasty) group: 56, No TAP group: 137]. The mean follow up duration was 83.2± 26.4 months. Primary end point was time to clinical events, such as death, reoperation for tricuspid valve, admission due to right heart failure and the development of severe TR without left side heart failure. Patients were classified into 3 groups based on the degree of TR at the time of MVR: Group I; patients with coexisting mild TR (Grade 0, trivial), Group II; mild to moderate TR (Grade I-II), Group III; severe TR (Grade III-IV). Result: Twenty-one patients(10.9%) developed clinical events[Group I: 2/78(2.6%), Group II: 8/76(10.5%), Group III: 11/33(28.2%)]. Event free survival rate was different during the follow-up period between groups. By Cox regression analysis, initial severe TR (Hazard Ratio: 5.2, 95%CI 2.2-12.3), old age (Hazard Ratio: 4.3, 95%CI 1.4-12.8), and TAP (Hazard Ratio: 4.3, 95%CI 1.8-10.5) were the risk factors for the development of late severe TR. Conclusion: The incidence of severe TR or right heart failure in the absence of prosthetic MV dysfunction was 10.9% in MVR patients. Despite of successful TAP, the severity of TR at the time of MVR was the most important factor for prediction of late severe TR. It can be suggested that initial TR grade and RV function rather than TAP, is the important factor for the recurrence of severe TR after MV surgery.ope

4q25 와 ZFHX3 단일염기 다형성은 심방세동 환자에서 좌심방의 전기해부학적인 특성 및 고주파 전극도자절제술의 예후와 연관성이 있다.

Dept. of Medicine/박사Background: Previous studies have demonstrated an association between several single nucleotide polymorphisms and atrial fibrillation (AF). We hypothesized that phenotypes of AF patients were associated with common AF susceptibility alleles.Methods: A total of 659 consecutive patients (57±9 years, 76% male) with paroxysmal (68%) or persistent (32%) AF who underwent catheter ablation and 659 age, sex-matched controls were genotyped for the common AF susceptibility alleles (rs2200733 and rs6843082 at 4q25, rs2106261 at ZFHX3, and rs13376333 at KCNN3). Phenotypes of AF patients including electroanatomical characteristics of left atrium and recurrence after ablation were compared.Results: rs2200733, rs6843082, and rs2106261 genotype distributions were significantly different between the patient and control group (all p<0.001). In contrast, the frequency of rs13376333 genotype was not significantly different between two groups. The rs2200733 variant allele carriers have higher E’ (6.9±2.2 vs. 7.7±2.4 cm/s, p=0.028) and larger left atrium volume (113.5±29.2 vs. 128.5±40.7 mL, p=0.020) than non-variant type. The risk allele of rs2200733 was associated with longer PR interval (185.9±32.6 vs. 174.8±21.9 ms, p=0.018), longer duration of negative P-wave terminal force (57.3±24.3 vs. 48.8±23.9 ms, p=0.018), and higher amplitude of negative P-wave terminal force in Lead V1 (0.07±0.04 vs. 0.05±0.04 mV, p=0.015) on electrocardiography. During 18.8±8.5 months follow-up, rs2106261 at ZFHX3 variant allele carriers had significantly higher recurrence rate than non-variant (Log Rank p=0.017). When the patients were assigned to three groups according to the number of variant alleles (Group A: no variant; n=15, Group B: 1 variant; n=158, Group C: 2 variants; n=439), incremental prognostic value according to the number of variant allele was demonstrated (Log Rank p=0.015). The multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that persistent AF (OR 1.677, 95% CI 1.176-2.381, p=0.004) and the number of variants (OR 1.552, 95% CI 1.099-2.222, p=0.015) were independent predictors for recurrence of AF.Conclusion: This study showed the common AF susceptibility alleles at 4q25 and ZFHX3 are associated with electroanatomical characteristics of left atrium and clinical outcomes of catheter ablation in Korean patients with AF. These findings imply that gene variants may have a potential role for risk stratification of ablation therapy and post-ablation management.ope