Relation between E/e' ratio and NT-proBNP levels in elderly patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis

Background: Symptoms in the elderly patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) and co-morbidities seem to lack in specificity. Therefore, objective parameters for increased left ventricular(LV) filling pressures are needed. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between the septal, lateral and average E/e' ratio and the value of the N-terminal pro-hormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). Methods: Two-hundred-fifty consecutive symptomatic patients (mean age 80 ± 8 years, 52 % men) with severe AS underwent transthoracic echocardiography and NT-proBNP measurement. Results: In the overall population the septal E/e' (r = 0,459, r2 = 0,21, P 2 = 0,10, P 2 = 0,18, P 2 = 0,34, P 2 = 0,14, P 2 = 0,24, P <0,0001) were all significantly better correlated to NT-proBNP. In obese patients no significant correlations were seen. Previous bypass surgery did not alter the correlations. Conclusions: In elderly patients with severe symptomatic AS there is a significant correlation between the E/e' ratio and NT-proBNP, in particular after exclusion of confounders. The correlation was best for the septal E/e' ratio and was preserved in patients with a history of bypass surgery

The coronavirus disease pandemic among adult congenital heart disease patients and the lessons learnt - results of a prospective multicenter european registry.

BACKGROUND At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, professionals in charge of particularly vulnerable populations, such as adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) patients, were confronted with difficult decision-making. We aimed to assess changes in risk stratification and outcomes of ACHD patients suffering from COVID-19 between March 2020 and April 2021. METHODS AND RESULTS Risk stratification among ACHD experts (before and after the first outcome data were available) was assessed by means of questionnaires. In addition, COVID-19 cases and the corresponding patient characteristics were recorded among participating centres. Predictors for the outcome of interest (complicated disease course) were assessed by means of multivariable logistic regression models calculated with cluster-robust standard errors. When assessing the importance of general and ACHD specific risk factors for a complicated disease course, their overall importance and the corresponding risk perception among ACHD experts decreased over time. Overall, 638 patients (n = 168 during the first wave and n = 470 during the subsequent waves) were included (median age 34 years, 52% women). Main independent predictors for a complicated disease course were male sex, increasing age, a BMI >25 kg/m2, having ≥2 comorbidities, suffering from a cyanotic heart disease or having suffered COVID-19 in the first wave vs. subsequent waves. CONCLUSIONS Apart from cyanotic heart disease, general risk factors for poor outcome in case of COVID-19 reported in the general population are equally important among ACHD patients. Risk perception among ACHD experts decreased during the course of the pandemic

Quality criteria for radiofrequency ablation techniques in Belgium

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Loiasis with pleural and peritoneal involvement.

We describe a case of atypical loiasis presenting with a chronic pleuroperitoneal effusion in a 50-year-old woman from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Effusions disappeared with conventional treatment and no recurrence was detected after 4 months of follow-up. Such cases of loiasis involving visceral sites have been unusually reported in the literature.Case ReportsJournal ArticleSCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Cavotricuspid isthmus ablation using cooled tip catheters

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Optimisation of the atrioventricular interval in cardiac stimulation: interest of Doppler study

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Low energy internal atrial cardioversion after failed external defibrillation: a case report

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Use of non fluoroscopic 3D mapping system Localisa markedly reduces fluoroscopy times and improves efficiency in type I flutter ablation

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Markedly reduced fluoroscopy times and improved efficiency in type I flutter ablation using the non-fluoroscopic 3D mapping system Localisa

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Type I flutter cooled tip ablation: a 3-year experience

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