Head to head comparisons of two modalities of perfusion adenosine stress echocardiography with simultaneous SPECT

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Real-time perfusion (RTP) contrast echocardiography can be used during adenosine stress echocardiography (ASE) to evaluate myocardial ischemia. We compared two different types of RTP power modulation techniques, angiomode (AM) and high-resolution grayscale (HR), with ^99mTc-tetrofosmin single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) for the detection of myocardial ischemia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease (CAD), admitted to SPECT, were prospectively invited to participate. Patients underwent RTP imaging (SONOS 5500) using AM and HR during Sonovue^®infusion, before and throughout the adenosine stress, also used for SPECT. Analysis of myocardial perfusion and wall motion by RTP-ASE were done for AM and HR at different time points, blinded to one another and to SPECT. Each segment was attributed to one of the three main coronary vessel areas of interest.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In 50 patients, 150 coronary areas were analyzed by SPECT and RTP-ASE AM and HR. SPECT showed evidence of ischemia in 13 out of 50 patients. There was no significant difference between AM and HR in detecting ischemia (p = 0.08). The agreement for AM and HR, compared to SPECT, was 93% and 96%, with Kappa values of 0.67 and 0.75, respectively (p < 0.001).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>There was no significant difference between AM and HR in correctly detecting myocardial ischemia as judged by SPECT. This suggests that different types of RTP modalities give comparable data during RTP-ASE in patients with known or suspected CAD.</p

Quantitative detection of myocardial ischaemia by stress echocardiography; a comparison with SPECT

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Aims</p> <p>Real-time perfusion (RTP) adenosine stress echocardiography (ASE) can be used to visually evaluate myocardial ischaemia. The RTP power modulation technique angio-mode (AM), provides images for off-line perfusion quantification using Qontrast^®software, generating values of peak signal intensity (A), myocardial blood flow velocity (β) and myocardial blood flow (Axβ). By comparing rest and stress values, their respective reserve values (A-r, β-r, Axβ-r) are generated. We evaluated myocardial ischaemia by RTP-ASE Qontrast^®quantification, compared to visual perfusion evaluation with ^99mTc-tetrofosmin single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).</p> <p>Methods and Results</p> <p>Patients admitted to SPECT underwent RTP-ASE (SONOS 5500) using AM during Sonovue^®infusion, before and throughout adenosine stress, also used for SPECT. Visual myocardial perfusion and wall motion analysis, and Qontrast^®quantification, were blindly compared to one another and to SPECT, at different time points off-line.</p> <p>We analyzed 201 coronary territories (left anterior descendent [LAD], left circumflex [LCx] and right coronary [RCA] artery territories) in 67 patients. SPECT showed ischaemia in 18 patients and 19 territories. Receiver operator characteristics and kappa values showed significant agreement with SPECT only for β-r and Axβ-r in all segments: area under the curve 0.678 and 0.665; P < 0.001 and < 0.01, respectively. The closest agreements were seen in the LAD territory: kappa 0.442 for both β-r and Axβ-r; P < 0.01. Visual evaluation of ischaemia showed good agreement with SPECT: accuracy 93%; kappa 0.67; P < 0.001; without non-interpretable territories.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In this agreement study with SPECT, RTP-ASE Qontrast^®quantification of myocardial ischaemia was less accurate and less feasible than visual evaluation and needs further development to be clinically useful.</p

Differences in cardiovascular risk profile between electrocardiographic hypertrophy versus strain in asymptomatic patients with aortic stenosis (from SEAS data)

Electrocardiograms are routinely obtained in clinical follow-up of patients with asymptomatic aortic stenosis (AS). The association with aortic valve, left ventricular (LV) response to long-term pressure load, and clinical covariates is unclear and the clinical value is thus uncertain. Data from clinical examination, electrocardiogram, and echocardiogram in 1,563 patients in the Simvastatin and Ezetimibe in Aortic Stenosis (SEAS) study were used. Electrocardiograms were Minnesota coded for arrhythmias and atrioventricular and intraventricular blocks; LV hypertrophy was assessed by Sokolow-Lyon voltage and Cornell voltage duration criteria; and strain by T-wave inversion and ST-segment depression. Degree of AS severity was evaluated by echocardiography as peak aortic jet velocity and LV mass was indexed by body surface area. After adjustment for age, gender, LV mass index, heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, blood glucose, digoxin, antiarrhythmic drugs, drugs acting on the renin angiotensin system, diuretics, beta blockers and calcium receptor blockers; peak aortic jet velocity was significantly greater in patients with electrocardiographic strain (mean difference 0.13 m/s, p <0.001) and LV hypertrophy by Sokolow-Lyon voltage criteria (mean difference 0.12 m/s, p = 0.004). After similar adjustment, LV mass index was significantly greater in patients with electrocardiographic strain (mean difference 14.8 g/cm(2), p <0.001) and LV hypertrophy by Sokolow-Lyon voltage criteria and Cornell voltage duration criteria (mean differences 8.8 and 17.8 g/cm(2), respectively, p <0.001 for the 2 comparisons). In multiple comparisons patients with electrocardiographic strain had increased peak aortic jet velocity, blood glucose, and uric acid, whereas patients with LV hypertrophy by Sokolow-Lyon voltage criteria were younger and patients with LV hypertrophy by Cornell voltage duration criteria more often were women. In conclusion, electrocardiographic criteria for LV hypertrophy and strain are independently associated with peak aortic jet velocity and LV mass index. Moreover, clinical covariates differ significantly between patients with electrocardiographic strain and those with LV hypertrophy by Sokolow-Lyon voltage criteria and Cornell voltage duration criteria. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. (Am J Cardiol 2011;108:541-547

Impact of QRS Duration and Morphology on the Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death in Asymptomatic Patients With Aortic Stenosis The SEAS (Simvastatin and Ezetimibe in Aortic Stenosis) Study

ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to examine the predictive value of QRS duration and morphology during watchful waiting in asymptomatic patients with aortic stenosis (AS).BackgroundQRS duration and morphology are associated with poor prognosis in many different populations, but the predictive value, particularly of the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD), in asymptomatic patients with AS has not been well studied.MethodsData were obtained in asymptomatic AS patients randomized to simvastatin/ezetimibe combination versus placebo in the SEAS (Simvastatin and Ezetimibe in Aortic Stenosis) study. The impact of QRS duration, evaluated as a categorical variable of <85 ms versus 85 to 99 ms and ≥100 ms (excluding bundle branch block [BBB]) and QRS morphology in those with BBB, on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality was assessed by adjusting for clinical and echocardiographic covariates.ResultsQRS data were available in 1,542 patients who were followed for a mean of 4.3 ± 0.8 years (6,631 patient-years of follow-up). There were 68 cardiovascular deaths (4.6%), including 27 SCDs (1.8%). QRS duration was <85 ms in 900 patients (58.4%), 85 to 99 ms in 396 (25.7%), ≥100 ms in those without BBB in 144 (9.3%), and 102 (6.6%) in those with BBB. In multivariable analyses, those with QRS duration ≥100 ms had, compared with those with QRS duration <85 ms, a 5-fold higher risk of SCD (95% confidence interval: 1.8 to 13.7, p = 0.002) and a 2.5-fold higher risk of cardiovascular death (95% confidence interval: 1.2 to 5.1, p = 0.01).ConclusionsQRS duration and morphology in asymptomatic patients with AS are independently associated with a poor prognosis, particularly the risk of SCD. (Simvastatin Ezetimibe in Aortic Stenosis [SEAS]; NCT00092677

Myocardial structure and function by echocardiography in relation to glucometabolic status in elderly subjects from 2 population-based cohorts : a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction has been associated with impaired glucometabolic status. However, studies of older subjects are lacking. We examined associations between echocardiographic indices of LV diastolic function and LV mass index (LVMI) and glucometabolic status among middle-aged and elderly subjects free from heart disease, hypothesizing that the associations would be comparative to younger cohorts.METHODS: We examined the Age Gene/Environment Susceptibility Reykjavik Study (Iceland; n = 607, 76 +/- 6 years) and the Malmö Preventive Project Re-Examination Study (MPP-RES) cohorts (Sweden; n = 1,519, 67 +/- 6 years), evaluating associations with multivariable regression analysis.RESULTS: In the Age Gene/Environment Susceptibility Reykjavik Study, LVMI was positively correlated with glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (P = .001). Otherwise, echocardiographic variables were not associated with glucometabolic status. In the MPP-RES, LVMI increased with increasing glucometabolic disturbance among both older (70-80 years) and middle-aged (57-69 years) subjects. Among older subjects, HbA1c was positively correlated with 2 variables reflecting LV diastolic function: late transmitral peak flow velocity (A) (P = .001) and early transmitral peak flow velocity (E)/early diastolic peak tissue velocity (Em) (P = .046). In middle-aged MPP-RES subjects, increasing glucometabolic disturbance was correlated with increasing late diastolic peak tissue velocity (Am) (P = .002) and, after age adjustment, with increasing A (P = .001) and decreasing Em/Am (P = .009). With age adjustment, Am and A were positively correlated with fasting glucose and HbA1c.CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to our hypothesis, in 2 independent cohorts of older individuals, associations between glucometabolic status and LV diastolic function were generally weak. These contrast with previous reports, as well as with observations among middle-aged subjects in the present study. Changes in LV diastolic function may be more age-related than associated with glucose metabolism in older subjects

Observed and predicted reduction of ischemic cardiovascular events in the Simvastatin and Ezetimibe in Aortic Stenosis trial

In the Simvastatin and Ezetimibe in Aortic Stenosis (SEAS) trial, combined ezetimibe (10 mg) and simvastatin (40 mg) decreased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels by 50% and ischemic cardiovascular event (ICE) risk by 22% compared to placebo. A larger decrease in ICE risk might have been expected for the degree of lipid-lowering observed. This analysis investigated relations between changes in lipoprotein components (LCs), and ICE risk decrease in the SEAS trial in all patients, by severity of aortic stenosis (AS), and compared to results of other clinical trials. A total of 1,570 patients with baseline aortic jet velocity (JV) data, baseline and 1-year low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B, and no ICEs during the first year were included in the analysis. Relations between on-treatment measurements of 1-year LCs and time-to-ICE occurrence were assessed in all patients and in JV tertiles (3.3 m/s). Observed and predicted ICE risk decreases were compared by Cox model. Decreases in LCs after 1 year of ezetimibe plus simvastatin were associated with decreased ICE-risk in all patients and in the 2 lower JV tertiles (p <0.05 to <0.001) but not in tertile 3. In JV tertiles 1 and 2, ICE risk decreased by 47% and 36%, respectively, was reasonably well predicted by all LCs, and was consistent with findings from meta-regression analyses in other populations. In conclusion, the degree of lipid lowering by ezetimibe plus simvastatin may predict the extent of ICE risk decrease in patients with mild AS, but ICE risk prediction in patients with more severe AS is confounded by AS-associated cardiovascular events and a shorter interval of exposure to lipid lowering. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier Inc. (Am J Cardiol 2010;105:1802-1808

Clinical Implications of Electrocardiographic Left Ventricular Strain and Hypertrophy in Asymptomatic Patients With Aortic Stenosis The Simvastatin and Ezetimibe in Aortic Stenosis Study

Background-The prognostic impact of ECG left ventricular strain and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in asymptomatic aortic stenosis is not well described. Methods and Results-Data were obtained in asymptomatic patients randomized to simvastatin/ezetimibe combination versus placebo in the Simvastatin and Ezetimibe in Aortic Stenosis (SEAS) study. Primary end point was the first of myocardial infarction, nonhemorrhagic stroke, heart failure, aortic valve replacement, or cardiovascular death. The predictive value of ECG left ventricular strain (defined as T-wave inversion in leads V(4) through V(6)) and LVH, assessed by Sokolow-Lyon voltage criteria (R(V5-6) +/- S(V1) >= 35 mV) and Cornell voltage-duration criteria {[RaVL + S(V3) + (6 mV in women)] x QRS duration >= 2440 mV.ms}, was evaluated by adjustment for other prognostic covariates. A total of 1533 patients were followed for 4.3 +/- 0.8 years (6592 patient-years of follow-up), and 627 cardiovascular events occurred. ECG strain was present in 340 patients (23.6%), with LVH by Sokolow-Lyon voltage in 260 (17.1%) and by Cornell voltage-duration product in 220 (14.6%). In multivariable analyses, ECG left ventricular strain was associated with 3.1-fold higher risk of in-study myocardial infarction (95% confidence interval, 1.4-6.8; P = 0.004). Similarly, ECG LVH by both criteria predicted, compared with no ECG LVH, 5.8-fold higher risk of heart failure (95% confidence interval, 2.0 -16.8), 2.0-fold higher risk of aortic valve replacement (95% confidence interval, 1.3-3.1; both P = 0.001), and 2.5-fold higher risk of a combined end point of myocardial infarction, heart failure, or cardiovascular death (95% confidence interval, 1.3-4.9; P = 0.008). Conclusions-ECG left ventricular strain and LVH were independently predictive of poor prognosis in patients with asymptomatic aortic stenosis

A risk score for predicting mortality in patients with asymptomatic mild to moderate aortic stenosis

Background Prognostic information for asymptomatic patients with aortic stenosis (AS) from prospective studies is scarce and there is no risk score available to assess mortality. Objectives To develop an easily calculable score, from which clinicians could stratify patients into high and lower risk of mortality, using data from the Simvastatin and Ezetimibe in Aortic Stenosis (SEAS) study. Method A search for significant prognostic factors (p < 0.01) among SEAS patients was made by a combined judgemental and statistical elimination procedure to derive a set of three factors (age, gender and smoking) that were forced into the model, and four additional factors captured by the data: left-ventricular mass index, bilirubin, heart rate and natural logarithm of C reactive protein. Calibration was done by comparing observed with calculated number of deaths by tenths of calculated risk using coefficients from the simvastatin + ezetimibe group on placebo group patients. Results Discrimination was good with ROC area of 0.76 for all patients. Estimated probabilities of death were categorised into thirds. An optimised split point of estimated 5-year risk was about 15% (close to the upper 14% tertile split point), with risk 4 times as high in the upper compared to the two lower thirds. The SEAS score performed better than another established high risk score developed for other purposes. Conclusion A new seven factor model for risk stratification of patients with mild to moderate asymptomatic AS identified a high risk group for total mortality with good discrimination properties. Trial registration number ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT 00092677