Hydroxychloroquine Myocardial Toxicity in a Patient with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Hydroxychloroquine is an antimalarial drug used in many rheumatologic and systemic diseases. Although considered by clinicians to be relatively safe, serious side effects have been documented (retinotoxicity, neuromyotoxicity and cardiotoxicity). We present the case of a 41-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who presented at our institution with acute heart failure after taking hydroxychloroquine for a period of 3 months. An endomyocardial biopsy ruled out myocarditis related to systemic lupus erythematosus but demonstrated pathological changes related to hydroxychloroquine toxicity. It is exceptional to observe such cardiac toxicity after such a low cumulative dose (16 grams). The potential severity and reversibility of this complication underscores the importance of a high level of suspicion and timely diagnosis

Utilidad clínica del estudio genético en pacientes con miocardiopatía dilatada

[Abstract] Introduction and objectives: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the most frequent cause of heart transplantation. The prevalence of familial disease can reach 50%. Our objective was to describe the genetic basis of DCM in a cohort with a high proportion of transplanted patients. Methods: We included patients with DCM and genetic testing performed using next-generation sequencing (NGS) that included at least 80 genes. Clinical data, family history and genetic results were retrospectively analysed. When possible, assessment of first-degree relatives was carried out. Results: Eighty-seven DCM patients and 308 relatives from 70 families were evaluated. Clinical prevalence of familial disease was 37% (32 patients). Forty-four percent of patients (38 patients) had required heart transplantation. A relevant variant was found in 43 patients (49%), 25 patients (29%) carried variants of unknown significance and in 19 patients (22%) the study was negative. Most genetic variants were found in sarcomeric genes and the yield of genetic testing was higher in patients with familial DCM. Conclusions: The yield of genetic testing in our DCM cohort was high, reaching 69% in familial cases. Mutational spectrum was heterogeneous and the identification of the specific aetiology of the disease often provided prognostic information.[Resumen] Introducción y objetivos. La miocardiopatía dilatada (MCD) es la causa más frecuente de trasplante cardiaco. Se considera que es familiar hasta en el 50% de los casos. Nuestro objetivo es describir los resultados genéticos obtenidos en una cohorte de pacientes con MCD, de los cuales una elevada proporción había acabado en trasplante cardiaco. Métodos. Se incluyeron pacientes con MCD a los que se realizó next-generation sequencing (NGS, «secuenciación de nueva generación») de al menos 80 genes relacionados con la enfermedad. Se analizaron retrospectivamente los datos clínicos de los pacientes, la historia familiar y los resultados del estudio genético. En los casos en los que fue posible, se realizó una evaluación de sus familiares de primer grado. Resultados. Fueron evaluados 87 pacientes con MCD y 308 familiares de 70 familias distintas. La prevalencia clínica de enfermedad familiar fue del 37% (32 pacientes) y el 44% (38 pacientes) habían precisado un trasplante cardiaco. En 43 pacientes (49%) se encontró al menos una variante relevante, en 25 pacientes (29%) se identificaron variantes de significado incierto y en 19 pacientes (22%) el estudio fue negativo. La mayoría de las mutaciones se encontraron en genes sarcoméricos y la rentabilidad del estudio fue mayor en los pacientes con MCD familiar. Conclusiones. El estudio genético NGS en nuestra población de pacientes con MCD tuvo una elevada rentabilidad, alcanzando el 69% en los casos familiares. El espectro mutacional fue heterogéneo y con frecuencia la identificación de la etiología específica de la enfermedad aportó información pronóstica

Dilated cardiomyopathy due to BLC2-associated athanogene 3 (BAG3) mutations

Background The BAG3 (BLC2-associated athanogene 3) gene codes for an antiapoptotic protein located on the sarcomere Z-disc. Mutations in BAG3 are associated with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), but only a small number of cases have been reported to date, and the natural history of BAG3 cardiomyopathy is poorly understood. Objectives This study sought to describe the phenotype and prognosis of BAG3 mutations in a large multicenter DCM cohort. Methods The study cohort comprised 129 individuals with a BAG3 mutation (62% males, 35.1 ± 15.0 years of age) followed at 18 European centers. Localization of BAG3 in cardiac tissue was analyzed in patients with truncating BAG3 mutations using immunohistochemistry. Results At first evaluation, 57.4% of patients had DCM. After a median follow-up of 38 months (interquartile range: 7 to 95 months), 68.4% of patients had DCM and 26.1% who were initially phenotype-negative developed DCM. Disease penetrance in individuals >40 years of age was 80% at last evaluation, and there was a trend towards an earlier onset of DCM in men (age 34.6 ± 13.2 years vs. 40.7 ± 12.2 years; p = 0.053). The incidence of adverse cardiac events (death, left ventricular assist device, heart transplantation, and sustained ventricular arrhythmia) was 5.1% per year among individuals with DCM. Male sex, decreased left ventricular ejection fraction. and increased left ventricular end-diastolic diameter were associated with adverse cardiac events. Myocardial tissue from patients with a BAG3 mutation showed myofibril disarray and a relocation of BAG3 protein in the sarcomeric Z-disc. Conclusions DCM caused by mutations in BAG3 is characterized by high penetrance in carriers >40 years of age and a high risk of progressive heart failure. Male sex, decreased left ventricular ejection fraction, and enlarged left ventricular end-diastolic diameter are associated with adverse outcomes in patients with BAG3 mutations

The Cardiomyopathy Registry of the EURObservational Research Programme of the European Society of Cardiology: Baseline data and contemporary management of adult patients with cardiomyopathies

AIMS: The Cardiomyopathy Registry of the EURObservational Research Programme is a prospective, observational, and multinational registry of consecutive patients with four cardiomyopathy subtypes: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), and restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM). We report the baseline characteristics and management of adults enrolled in the registry. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 3208 patients were enrolled by 69 centres in 18 countries [HCM (n\u2009=\u20091739); DCM (n\u2009=\u20091260); ARVC (n\u2009=\u2009143); and RCM (n\u2009=\u200966)]. Differences between cardiomyopathy subtypes (P\u2009<\u20090.001) were observed for age at diagnosis, history of familial disease, history of sustained ventricular arrhythmia, use of magnetic resonance imaging or genetic testing, and implantation of defibrillators. When compared with probands, relatives had a lower age at diagnosis (P\u2009<\u20090.001), but a similar rate of symptoms and defibrillators. When compared with the Long-Term phase, patients of the Pilot phase (enrolled in more expert centres) had a more frequent rate of familial disease (P\u2009<\u20090.001), were more frequently diagnosed with a rare underlying disease (P\u2009<\u20090.001), and more frequently implanted with a defibrillator (P\u2009=\u20090.023). Comparing four geographical areas, patients from Southern Europe had a familial disease more frequently (P\u2009<\u20090.001), were more frequently diagnosed in the context of a family screening (P\u2009<\u20090.001), and more frequently diagnosed with a rare underlying disease (P\u2009<\u20090.001). CONCLUSION: By providing contemporary observational data on characteristics and management of patients with cardiomyopathies, the registry provides a platform for the evaluation of guideline implementation. Potential gaps with existing recommendations are discussed as well as some suggestions for improvement of health care provision in Europe