Radio-frequency ablation as primary management of well-tolerated sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia in patients with structural heart disease and left ventricular ejection fraction over 30%.

AIMS: Patients with well-tolerated sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (SMVT) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) over 30% may benefit from a primary strategy of VT ablation without immediate need for a 'back-up' implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). METHODS AND RESULTS: One hundred and sixty-six patients with structural heart disease (SHD), LVEF over 30%, and well-tolerated SMVT (no syncope) underwent primary radiofrequency ablation without ICD implantation at eight European centres. There were 139 men (84%) with mean age 62 ± 15 years and mean LVEF of 50 ± 10%. Fifty-five percent had ischaemic heart disease, 19% non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy, and 12% arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. Three hundred seventy-eight similar patients were implanted with an ICD during the same period and serve as a control group. All-cause mortality was 12% (20 patients) over a mean follow-up of 32 ± 27 months. Eight patients (40%) died from non-cardiovascular causes, 8 (40%) died from non-arrhythmic cardiovascular causes, and 4 (20%) died suddenly (SD) (2.4% of the population). All-cause mortality in the control group was 12%. Twenty-seven patients (16%) had a non-fatal recurrence at a median time of 5 months, while 20 patients (12%) required an ICD, of whom 4 died (20%). CONCLUSION: Patients with well-tolerated SMVT, SHD, and LVEF > 30% undergoing primary VT ablation without a back-up ICD had a very low rate of arrhythmic death and recurrences were generally non-fatal. These data would support a randomized clinical trial comparing this approach with others incorporating implantation of an ICD as a primary strategy

Percutaneous left atrial appendage closure improves left atrial mechanical function through Frank-Starling mechanism.

peer reviewedBACKGROUND: Modifications in left atrial (LA) flow velocities after left atrial appendage (LAA) exclusion have been shown in animal and ex vivo models. In a substudy of PROTECT AF (Percutaneous Closure of the Left Atrial Appendage Versus Warfarin Therapy for Prevention of Stroke in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation), an objective improvement in quality of life was observed after LAA closure. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of LAA closure on LA transport function. METHODS: Comprehensive transthoracic echocardiography evaluation (2-dimensional [2D]/3-dimensional [3D], 2D speckle tracking) was prospectively performed before and after LAA closure (at discharge and 45 days after procedure) in 33 patients. RESULTS: LAA closure was associated with a significant improvement in LA reservoir function at discharge and 45 days after the procedure with (1) increased maximum LA volume index, (2) increased 2D-LA reservoir volume and expansion index, and (3) increased 2D speckle tracking-derived peak atrial longitudinal strain (PALS) (27.9 ± 14 and 26 ± 12.6 vs 21.7 ± 10.7%, P <.0001). LAA closure was also associated with a significant improvement in LA contractile function with (1) increased LA ejection fraction and (2) increased speckle tracking-derived peak atrial contraction strain (PACS) in sinus rhythm patients (19.1 ± 6.8 and 18.1 ± 5.4 vs 14.4 ± 6.4%, P = .0006). Conversely, the slope of the relation between PACS and PALS remained unchanged (0.5 ± 0.27 and 0.53 ± 0.3 vs 0.5 ± 0.25, P = .99), thus arguing for an improvement in LA contractile function secondary to a Frank-Starling effect rather than a modification in its intrinsic contractility. CONCLUSION: LAA closure was associated with an improvement in LA mechanical function. These changes appeared to be related to a modification in loading conditions, that is, a Frank-Starling effect

[supervised off-label prescribing of methylphenidate in adult adhd]

International audienceOBJECTIVE: Off-label prescription is a common practice in psychiatry, raising health and economic concerns. Collegial consultation could allow a framed prescription of treatments that are not authorized in specific indications. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity in adult populations (ADHD) is a striking example of a pathology where off-label prescription is frequent. First considered to be a childhood disorder, the awareness of this condition in adults is increasing, leading to the development of new clinical practices and treatments. However, the adult ADHD diagnosis and its management are still emerging in France despite a high prevalence. Treatment of adult ADHD relies on methylphenidate prescription, but the initiation of this drug is not authorized in adult populations. Methylphenidate is a central nervous system stimulant that is structurally close to amphetamine and acts as a norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor. Due to these pharmacological properties, neuropsychiatric and cardiovascular side-effects could occur. Furthermore, its addictive potential has led France to classify it as a psychoactive drug, dispensed via secured prescription. The first prescription and the one-year follow-up are restricted to neurologists, paediatrics, psychiatrists and sleep disorders specialists at hospital. The objective of this article is to propose a multidisciplinary framework for the off-label prescription of methylphenidate in adult ADHD.METHODS: The Multidisciplinary Advice Consultation for Exceptional Addiction Treatments (Consultation d'Avis Multidisciplinaire de Traitements d'Exception en Addictologie CAMTEA) was first set up in Lille for the prescription of baclofen in alcohol dependence and was then extended to topiramate in binge eating disorder. This procedure has been adapted to the particularities of ADHD in adult populations, the differential diagnosis (bipolar disorder, depressive disorder, anxious disorder, personality disorder, substance use disorder) and the co-morbidities requiring a full psychiatric and neuropsychological assessment. Moreover, a particular attention has been paid to the monitoring of neuropsychiatric, cardiovascular and misuse risk because of the potential side-effects of methylphenidate.RESULTS: The proposed prescription framework is structured into several specialized consultations. A first psychiatric evaluation aims to diagnose adult ADHD, using the French version of the Diagnostisch Interview Voor ADHD 2.0 questionnaire (DIVA 2.0), and to assess the quality of life impact with the Weiss Functional Inventory Rating Scale (WIFRS). It also searches for the presence of differential diagnosis or co-morbidities. The second appointment consists of a pharmacological evaluation that aims to search for contraindications and potential drug interaction. A neuropsychological evaluation based on standardized tests (Weschler Adulte Intelligence Scale [WAIS IV], Conner's Continuous Performance Test 3 [CPT] and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personnality Inventory [MMPI]) is also required to evaluate neurocognitive disabilities and personality features. Once the parameters of the different assessments have been collected, the synthesis is presented during a multidisciplinary meeting in order to assess the risk-benefit ratio for each patient. Several specialties are involved in this multidisciplinary meeting: psychiatry, addictology, general medicine, addictovigilance, pharmacovigilance and neuropsychology. One strategy among three possibilities can be decided: (1) contraindication to treatment with methylphenidate, (2) attention deficit disorder that does not require medication management, and (3) indication of treatment with methylphenidate with the choice of the pharmacological form (immediate or prolonged release). A biological check-up and an electrocardiogram are carried out systematically before any treatment. If the decision is made to initiate treatment, it is started at the lowest dosage and followed by a titration phase. A weekly follow-up is carried out during the titration phase in order to assess treatment efficacy and safety. After treatment stabilization, the general practitioner can carry out the renewal, and the patient will be reassessed within the framework of the multidisciplinary consultation every 3 months.CONCLUSIONS: When an off-label prescription is being considered, it must comply with the basic rules of good clinical practice, and the benefit/risk ratio should be constantly reassessed. The proposed multidisciplinary framework, adapted to the characteristics of adult ADHD and the pharmacological properties of methylphenidate, appears to be an interesting strategy to meet the requirements of the good clinical practice. The complementary assessments carried out and the collegial framework allow enhancing the patient's follow-up and minimize the drug risk, particularly in the psychiatric, addictive and cardiovascular adverse events. Finally, this framework could also help the monitoring of other off-label treatments for ADHD, such as atomoxetine or guanfacine.ObjectifLa prescription hors autorisation de mise sur le marché (AMM) est une pratique fréquente en psychiatrie, soulevant des préoccupations sanitaires et économiques. Les dispositifs collégiaux de prescription permettent d’accompagner la prescription de traitements n’ayant pas l’AMM dans l’indication concernée. L’objectif de cet article est de présenter un accompagnement multidisciplinaire de la prescription du méthylphénidate dans le trouble déficitaire de l’attention avec ou sans hyperactivité (TDAH) chez l’adulte, pathologie pour laquelle aucun traitement ne dispose d’AMM en initiation à l’heure actuelle.MéthodesLe dispositif de consultation d’avis multidisciplinaire de traitements d’exception en addictologie (CAMTEA), initialement mis en place à Lille pour la prescription de baclofène dans l’alcoolo-dépendance, a été adapté aux particularités du TDAH de l’adulte et de ses nombreuses comorbidités. Compte tenu des propriétés pharmacologiques du méthylphénidate, une attention particulière a été portée à la surveillance des effets indésirables neuropsychiatriques, cardiovasculaires et au risque de mésusage.RésultatsLe cadre de prescription proposé est structuré en consultations spécialisées (psychiatrique, pharmacologique, neuropsychologique) et en réunions de concertation pluridisciplinaire, afin de discuter de la balance bénéfice/risque pour chaque patient. Un bilan biologique et un électrocardiogramme avec avis cardiologique sont réalisés de manière systématique avant toute initiation de traitement. Un suivi hebdomadaire pendant la titration puis trimestriel est également réalisé.ConclusionLe dispositif présenté propose un accompagnement concerté et multidisciplinaire de l’utilisation hors AMM de méthylphénidate dans le TDAH de l’adulte, permettant ainsi une prescription individualisée en fonction des données scientifiques actuelles

European survey on efficacy and safety of duty-cycled radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation

Duty-cycled radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been used for atrial fibrillation (AF) for around 5 years, but large-scale data are scarce. The purpose of this survey was to report the outcome of the technique. A survey was conducted among 20 centres from seven European countries including 2748 patients (2128 with paroxysmal and 620 with persistent AF). In paroxysmal AF an overall success rate of 82 [median 80, interquartile range (IQR) 7490], a first procedure success rate of 72 [median 74 (IQR 5983)], and a success of antiarrhythmic medication of 59 [median 60 (IQR 3972)] was reported. In persistent AF, success rates were significantly lower with 70 [median 74 (IQR 6092)]; P 0.05) as well as the first procedure success rate of 58 [median 55 (IQR 4781)]; P 0.001). The overall success rate was similar among higher and lower volume centres and were not dependent on the duration of experience with duty-cycled RFA (r 0.08, P 0.72). Complications were observed in 108 (3.9) patients, including 31 (1.1) with symptomatic transient ischaemic attack or stroke, which had the same incidence in paroxysmal and persistent AF (1.1 vs. 1.1) and was unrelated to the case load (r 0.24, P 0.15), bridging anticoagulation to low molecular heparin, routine administration of heparin over the long sheath, whether a transoesophageal echocardiogram was performed in every patient or not and average procedure times. Duty-cycled RFA has a self-reported success and complication rate similar to conventional RFA. After technical modifications a prospective registry with controlled data monitoring should be conducted to assess outcom