Myocardial remodelling and tissue characterisation by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in endurance athletes

Our purpose was to evaluate by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) the presence of diffuse as well as focal MF in a series of high-performance veteran endurance athletes. Thirty-four veteran healthy male endurance athletes, still being in regular training, with more than 10 years of training underwent a CMR. A cardiopulmonary exercise test was also performed to assess their maximal physical performance. The control group consisted in 12 non-trained normal individuals. We found an increase in both, right and left ventricular (LV) volumes in the athlete's group when compared with controls. There was no increase in indexed LV myocardial mass despite of a significantly increased maximal myocardial wall thickness in comparison to controls. Native T1 values and extracellular volume (ECV) were normal in all cases. We did not find differences in native T1 values and ECV between both groups. In three athletes (9%), non-ischaemic late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) was observed. We did not find a correlation between total training volume and presence of LGE or with the ECV value. Our results show that the majority of veteran endurance athletes present with myocardial remodelling without MF as a physiological adaptive phenomenon. In the only three athletes with focal MF, the LGE pattern observed suggests an intercurrent event not related with the remodelling phenomenon

Pericardial and myocardial involvement after SARS-CoV-2 infection: a cross-sectional descriptive study in healthcare workers

[ES] Introducción y objetivos Las secuelas cardiacas tras la infección por SARS-CoV-2 todavía están poco documentadas. Se realizó un estudio transversal en trabajadores sanitarios para estudiar la prevalencia de afección pericárdica y miocárdica tras la infección por SARS-CoV-2. Métodos Se estudió a 139 trabajadores sanitarios con infección previa confirmada por SARS-CoV-2. Los participantes se sometieron a evaluación clínica, electrocardiograma, laboratorio, incluido el perfil de células inmunitarias, y resonancia magnética cardiaca (RMC). El diagnóstico clínico de pericarditis se realizó ante la presencia de los criterios clásicos y el diagnóstico clínico de miocarditis ante la presencia de al menos 2 criterios de RMC. Resultados La mediana de edad fue de 52 (41–57) años, el 71,9% eran mujeres, y el 16,5% había sido hospitalizado previamente por neumonía por COVID-19. En la evaluación (10,4 [9,3–11,0] semanas después de los síntomas de infección), todos los participantes presentaban estabilidad hemodinámica. El 41,7% presentaba dolor torácico, disnea o palpitaciones; el 49,6%, alteraciones electrocardiográficas; el 7,9%, elevación de NT-proBNP; el 0,7%, elevación de troponina; y el 60,4%, alteraciones en la RMC. Un total de 30,9% de participantes cumplieron los criterios clínicos establecidos de pericarditis o miocarditis: pericarditis aislada en el 5,8%, miopericarditis en el 7,9% y miocarditis aislada en el 17,3%. La mayoría de los participantes (73,2%) mostraron recuentos de células inmunitarias alterados en sangre; en particular diminución de eosinófilos (27,3%; p < 0,001) y aumento del número de células T citotóxicas (17,3%; p < 0,001). La sospecha clínica de pericarditis se asoció (p < 0,005) particularmente con un elevado número de células T citotóxicas y recuento de eosinófilos disminuidos; mientras que los participantes con sospecha clínica de miopericarditis o miocarditis tenían recuentos de neutrófilos, células natural killer y células plasmáticas más bajos (p < 0,05). Conclusiones La afección pericárdica y miocárdica con estabilidad hemodinámica es frecuente después de la infección por SARS-CoV-2 y se asocia con perfiles de células inmunitarias específicas.[EN] Introduction and objectives The cardiac sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection are still poorly documented. We conducted a cross-sectional study in healthcare workers to report evidence of pericardial and myocardial involvement after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods We studied 139 healthcare workers with confirmed past SARS-CoV-2 infection. Participants underwent clinical assessment, electrocardiography, and laboratory tests, including immune cell profiling and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). Clinically suspected pericarditis was diagnosed when classic criteria were present and clinically suspected myocarditis was based on the combination of at least 2 CMR criteria. Results Median age was 52 (41-57) years, 71.9% were women, and 16.5% were previously hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia. On examination (10.4 [9.3-11.0] weeks after infection-like symptoms), participants showed hemodynamic stability. Chest pain, dyspnea or palpitations were present in 41.7% participants, electrocardiographic abnormalities in 49.6%, NT-proBNP elevation in 7.9%, troponin in 0.7%, and CMR abnormalities in 60.4%. A total of 30.9% participants met criteria for either pericarditis and/or myocarditis: isolated pericarditis was diagnosed in 5.8%, myopericarditis in 7.9%, and isolated myocarditis in 17.3%. Most participants (73.2%) showed altered immune cell counts in blood, particularly decreased eosinophil (27.3%; P < .001) and increased cytotoxic T cell numbers (17.3%; P < .001). Clinically suspected pericarditis was associated (P < .005) with particularly elevated cytotoxic T cells and decreased eosinophil counts, while participants diagnosed with clinically suspected myopericarditis or myocarditis had lower (P < .05) neutrophil counts, natural killer-cells, and plasma cells. Conclusions Pericardial and myocardial involvement with clinical stability are frequent after SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with specific immune cell profiles.Este estudio contó con el apoyo de CIBERCV (CB16/11/00374) y CIBERONC (CB16/12/00400) y la subvención COV20/00386 del Instituto de Salud Carlos III y FEDER, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Madrid, España, y por GRS COVID 26/A/20 de la Gerencia Regional de Salud, Junta de Castilla y León, España.Peer reviewe

Afección pericárdica y miocárdica tras infección por SARS-CoV-2: estudio descriptivo transversal en trabajadores sanitarios

[EN] Introduction and objectives The cardiac sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection are still poorly documented. We conducted a cross-sectional study in healthcare workers to report evidence of pericardial and myocardial involvement after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods We studied 139 healthcare workers with confirmed past SARS-CoV-2 infection. Participants underwent clinical assessment, electrocardiography, and laboratory tests, including immune cell profiling and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). Clinically suspected pericarditis was diagnosed when classic criteria were present and clinically suspected myocarditis was based on the combination of at least 2 CMR criteria. Results Median age was 52 (41-57) years, 71.9% were women, and 16.5% were previously hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia. On examination (10.4 [9.3-11.0] weeks after infection-like symptoms), participants showed hemodynamic stability. Chest pain, dyspnea or palpitations were present in 41.7% participants, electrocardiographic abnormalities in 49.6%, NT-proBNP elevation in 7.9%, troponin in 0.7%, and CMR abnormalities in 60.4%. A total of 30.9% participants met criteria for either pericarditis and/or myocarditis: isolated pericarditis was diagnosed in 5.8%, myopericarditis in 7.9%, and isolated myocarditis in 17.3%. Most participants (73.2%) showed altered immune cell counts in blood, particularly decreased eosinophil (27.3%; P < .001) and increased cytotoxic T cell numbers (17.3%; P < .001). Clinically suspected pericarditis was associated (P < .005) with particularly elevated cytotoxic T cells and decreased eosinophil counts, while participants diagnosed with clinically suspected myopericarditis or myocarditis had lower (P < .05) neutrophil counts, natural killer-cells, and plasma cells. Conclusions Pericardial and myocardial involvement with clinical stability are frequent after SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with specific immune cell profiles.[ES] Introducción y objetivos Las secuelas cardiacas tras la infección por SARS-CoV-2 todavía están poco documentadas. Se realizó un estudio transversal en trabajadores sanitarios para estudiar la prevalencia de afección pericárdica y miocárdica tras la infección por SARS-CoV-2. Métodos Se estudió a 139 trabajadores sanitarios con infección previa confirmada por SARS-CoV-2. Los participantes se sometieron a evaluación clínica, electrocardiograma, laboratorio, incluido el perfil de células inmunitarias, y resonancia magnética cardiaca (RMC). El diagnóstico clínico de pericarditis se realizó ante la presencia de los criterios clásicos y el diagnóstico clínico de miocarditis ante la presencia de al menos 2 criterios de RMC. Resultados La mediana de edad fue de 52 (41–57) años, el 71,9% eran mujeres, y el 16.5% había sido hospitalizado previamente por neumonía por COVID-19. En la evaluación (10,4 [9,3–11,0] semanas después de los síntomas de infección), todos los participantes presentaban estabilidad hemodinámica. El 41,7% presentaba dolor torácico, disnea o palpitaciones; el 49,6%, alteraciones electrocardiográficas; el 7,9%, elevación de NT-proBNP; el 0,7%, elevación de troponina; y el 60,4%, alteraciones en la RMC. Un total de 30,9% de participantes cumplieron los criterios clínicos establecidos de pericarditis o miocarditis: pericarditis aislada en el 5,8%, miopericarditis en el 7,9% y miocarditis aislada en el 17,3%. La mayoría de los participantes (73,2%) mostraron recuentos de células inmunitarias alterados en sangre; en particular diminución de eosinófilos (27,3%; p < 0,001) y aumento del número de células T citotóxicas (17,3%; p < 0,001). La sospecha clínica de pericarditis se asoció (p < 0,005) particularmente con un elevado número de células T citotóxicas y recuento de eosinófilos disminuidos; mientras que los participantes con sospecha clínica de miopericarditis o miocarditis tenían recuentos de neutrófilos, células natural killer y células plasmáticas más bajos (p < 0,05). Conclusiones La afección pericárdica y miocárdica con estabilidad hemodinámica es frecuente después de la infección por SARS-CoV-2 y se asocia con perfiles de células inmunitarias específicas.This study was supported by CIBERCV (CB16/11/00374), CIBERONC (CB16/12/00400) and the COV20/00386 grant from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III and FEDER, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Madrid, Spain, and by GRS COVID 26/A/20 from the Gerencia Regional de Salud, Junta de Castilla y León, Spain.Peer reviewe

Myocardial remodelling and tissue characterisation by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in endurance athletes

Our purpose was to evaluate by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) the presence of diffuse as well as focal MF in a series of high-performance veteran endurance athletes. Thirty-four veteran healthy male endurance athletes, still being in regular training, with more than 10 years of training underwent a CMR. A cardiopulmonary exercise test was also performed to assess their maximal physical performance. The control group consisted in 12 non-trained normal individuals. We found an increase in both, right and left ventricular (LV) volumes in the athlete's group when compared with controls. There was no increase in indexed LV myocardial mass despite of a significantly increased maximal myocardial wall thickness in comparison to controls. Native T1 values and extracellular volume (ECV) were normal in all cases. We did not find differences in native T1 values and ECV between both groups. In three athletes (9%), non-ischaemic late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) was observed. We did not find a correlation between total training volume and presence of LGE or with the ECV value. Our results show that the majority of veteran endurance athletes present with myocardial remodelling without MF as a physiological adaptive phenomenon. In the only three athletes with focal MF, the LGE pattern observed suggests an intercurrent event not related with the remodelling phenomenon

Pericarditis and myocarditis long after SARS-CoV-2 infection: a cross-sectional descriptive study in health-care workers

Background: Cardiac sequelae of past SARS-CoV-2 infection are still poorly documented. We conducted a cross-sectional study in health-care workers to report evidence of pericarditis and myocarditis after SARS-CoV-2 infection.Methods We studied 139 health-care workers with confirmed past SARS-CoV-2 infection (103 diagnosed by RT-PCR and 36 by serology). Participants underwent clinical assessment, electrocardiography, laboratory tests including immune cell profiling and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging. Pericarditis was diagnosed when classical criteria were present, and the diagnosis of myocarditis was based on the updated CMR Lake-Louise-Criteria.Results: Median age was 52 years (IQR 41-57), 100 (72%) were women, and 23 (16%) were previously hospitalized for Covid-19 pneumonia. At examination (10.4 [9.3-11.0] weeks after infection-like symptoms), all participants presented hemodynamic stability. Chest pain, dyspnoea or palpitations were observed in 58 (42%) participants; electrocardiographic abnormalities in 69 (50%); NT-pro-BNP was elevated in 11 (8%); troponin in 1 (1%); and CMR abnormalities in 104 (75%). Isolated pericarditis was diagnosed in 4 (3%) participants, myopericarditis in 15 (11%) and isolated myocarditis in 36 (26%). Participants diagnosed by RT-PCR were more likely to still present symptoms than participants diagnosed by serology (73 [71%] vs 18 [50%]; p=0.027); nonetheless, the prevalence of pericarditis or myocarditis was high in both groups (44 [43%] vs 11 [31%]; p=0.238). Most participants (101 [73%]) showed altered immune cell counts in blood, particularly decreased eosinophil (37 [27%]; p<0.001) and increased CD4-CD8-/loT alpha beta-cell numbers (24 [17%]; p<0.001). Pericarditis was associated with elevated CD4-CD8-/loT alpha beta-cell numbers (p=0.011), while participants diagnosed with myopericarditis or myocarditis had lower (p<0.05) plasmacytoid dendritic cell, NK-cell and plasma cell counts and lower anti-SARS-CoV-2-IgG antibody levels (p=0.027).Conclusions: Pericarditis and myocarditis with clinical stability are frequent long after SARS-CoV-2 infection, even in presently asymptomatic subjects. These observations will probably apply to the general population infected and may indicate that cardiac sequelae might occur late in association with an altered (delayed) innate and adaptative immune response.This study was supported by CIBERCV (CB16/11/00374), CIBERONC (CB16/12/00400) and the COV20/00386 grant from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III and FEDER, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion, Madrid, Spain.N

Analysis of Outcomes in Ischemic vs Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation A Report From the GARFIELD-AF Registry

IMPORTANCE Congestive heart failure (CHF) is commonly associated with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF), and their combination may affect treatment strategies and outcomes