Management Of Pulmonary Vein Stenosis Following Catheter Ablation Of Atrial Fibrillation

There is limited literature available regarding PV (pulmonary vein) stenosis management. Starting from its incidence, subsequent follow up using imaging technologies to monitor the success and the way of managing different groups pose varied opinions. However, with newer technological advancements and better understanding of mechanism of the atrial fibrillation ablation, the incidence of PV stenosis secondary to catheter ablation is declining. This paper highlights the current trends and future of management of PV stenosis secondary to catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation.

Effects of dronedarone started rapidly after amiodarone discontinuation

BACKGROUND

Multiple studies have shown that amiodarone is effective in treating atrial fibrillation (AF), but is associated with a relatively high incidence of side effects; however, due to amiodarone's long elimination half-life (20-100 days), physicians may hesitate to start other drugs until it has fully cleared.

HYPOTHESIS

A rapid switch from amiodarone to dronedarone is feasible.

METHODS

EURIDIS and ADONIS were double-blind, multinational, parallel-group trials comparing the efficacy and safety of dronedarone with placebo over 12 months. This retrospective subanalysis of EURIDIS/ADONIS compared the effects of dronedarone in patients discontinuing amiodarone within 2 days before randomization ("rapid switch") with results in patients who had received no amiodarone during the 2 months preceding randomization.

RESULTS

In total, 1237 patients were enrolled ("rapid switch", n = 154; "no amiodarone", n = 1014). In both the "rapid switch" and the "no amiodarone" groups, dronedarone users had significantly lower AF recurrence than patients receiving placebo (HR = 0.64, 95% CI, 0.44-0.95; P = 0.0224 and HR = 0.79, 95% CI, 0.67-0.92; P = 0.0027, respectively). Dronedarone users had a higher incidence of bradyarrhythmic events than placebo-treated patients. A "rapid switch" from amiodarone to dronedarone was associated with a higher incidence of serious heart failure events and heart failure hospitalizations versus all other groups. Overall event rates were low and there was no significant difference in total adverse event rates or deaths between groups.

CONCLUSION

In this patient population, a switch from amiodarone to dronedarone within a 2-day time frame might be feasible in certain patient categories, but further investigation is warranted.

Tailored Telemonitoring in patients with heart failure: results from a multicentre randomized controlled trial (the TEHAF-study)

Background

Recent increasing prevalence of heart failure (HF) patients leads to an increasing burden to the health care system. Consequently, there is a need for innovative strategies to reduce HF hospitalizations.

Methods

We performed a multicentre randomized controlled trial to test the hypothesis that telemonitoring in patients with HF, by means of the Health Buddy^® system (HB), will reduce HF hospitalizations and number of contacts with caregivers as compared to care as usual (CAU) during 1 year follow-up, from October 1, 2007, through December 31, 2008.

Results

Among 382 patients—197 in the HB and 185 in the CAU-group—226 (59%) were male, mean age was 71.5 (SD 11.2), 45.5% being ≥75 years of age; 57% of the patients were in NYHA HF class 2, 40% in class 3 and 3% in class 4. Both study groups were similar for demographic and clinical characteristics. Mean time to first heart failure related hospitalization was 161 days for the intervention group and 139 days for the usual-care group; hospitalizations occurred in 18 (9.1%) compared to 25 patients (13.5%) respectively (Kaplan–Meier p=0.151, hazard ratio 0.65, CI 0.35–1.17). Combined endpoint of heart failure admission and all cause mortality was similar for both groups (Kaplan–Meier p=0.641 hazard ratio 0.89, CI 0.69–1.83). Cox regression analysis disclosed an important interaction between group assignment and heart failure duration, p=0.007, OR=0.983, CI 0.970–0.995 indicating a significant decrease in heart failure hospitalizations in the intervention group if heart failure duration was <18 months, p=0.026, hazard ratio 0.26, CI 0.07–0.94. Contacts with the heart-failure-nurse were mean 1.36 (range 0–11) in the intervention group vs. 1.74 (0–8) in the usual-care group (Mann-Whitney p<0.001). Mortality was 18 (9.1%) in the intervention-group and 12 (6.5%) in the usual-care-group (Mann–Whitney p=0.34, Cox-regression analysis p=0.82).

Conclusion

Telemonitoring tends to reduce heart failure admissions and decreases contacts with specialized nurses. If heart failure duration is <18 months heart failure admissions and readmissions are significantly reduced.

Celivarone for maintenance of sinus rhythm and conversion of atrial fibrillation/flutter

INTRODUCTION

Celivarone, a new noniodinated benzofuran derivative pharmacologically related to dronedarone and amiodarone, has been shown to have antiarrhythmic properties at a molecular level. The purpose of the 2 trials presented here (MAIA and CORYFEE) was to assess celivarone efficacy in the maintenance of sinus rhythm postcardioversion and for the conversion of atrial fibrillation (AF)/atrial flutter (AFL).

METHODS AND RESULTS

In the MAIA trial, 673 patients with AF/AFL recently converted to sinus rhythm were randomly assigned to receive 50, 100, 200, or 300 mg once-daily dosing of celivarone; 200 mg daily of amiodarone preceded by a loading dose of 600 mg for 10 days; or placebo. At 3 months' follow up, no significant difference was observed in time to AF/AFL relapse among the various celivarone groups and placebo. However, fewer symptomatic AF/AFL recurrences were observed in the lower-dose celivarone groups (26.6% for celivarone 50 mg [P = 0.022] and 25.2% for celivarone 100 mg [P = 0.018] vs 40.5% for placebo at 90 days). Fewer adverse events were observed with the use of celivarone and placebo than amiodarone. In the CORYFEE study, 150 patients with AF/AFL were randomly assigned to once-daily celivarone dosing of 300 or 600 mg, or placebo, for a 2-day treatment period. There was no significant difference in the rate of spontaneous conversion to sinus rhythm between the treatment and control groups.

CONCLUSIONS

In these studies, celivarone does not appear to be efficacious in the maintenance of sinus rhythm in AF/AFL patients or for the conversion of AF/AFL patients. 

Physician stated atrial fibrillation management in light of treatment guidelines: data from an international, observational prospective survey

BACKGROUND

The Registry on Cardiac Rhythm Disorders Assessing the Control of Atrial Fibrillation (RecordAF) study is the first worldwide, prospective, survey of real-life management of atrial fibrillation (AF) in recently diagnosed patients (n = 5604) with a 1-year follow-up.

HYPOTHESIS

Surveys of AF management have identified a divergence between guidelines and clinical practice, and an overinterpretation of guidelines in low-risk patients.

METHODS

: Physicians' theoretical approaches to rhythm and rate control were investigated using a pre-study questionnaire.

RESULTS

One cardiologist, from each of the 583 sites in 6 regions, completed a questionnaire on their practice and management of AF patients. In AF patients with structural heart disease (SHD), amiodarone was the most frequent choice of first-line rhythm control agents in all regions. Amiodarone or sotalol tended to be the preferred second-line rhythm control agents, 1 exception being Central/South America. beta-Blockers were the first-line rate control agents for patients with AF and SHD in all regions, and calcium channel blockers and cardiac glycosides were the most common second-line rate control treatments in all regions, except Asia. In lone AF patients, propafenone (30.6%), flecainide (24.1%), and amiodarone (21.7%) were the most common global choices of first-line rhythm control, and amiodarone or sotalol were the preferred second-line rhythm control agents, 1 exception being Central/South America.

CONCLUSIONS

These results highlight points of divergence from the American College of Cardiology (ACC)/ American Heart Association (AHA)/European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines for the management of AF in terms of first-line drug selection in patients with associated SHD or coronary artery disease.

Electropathological Substrate of Longstanding Persistent Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With Structural Heart Disease

Background—

During persistent atrial fibrillation (AF), waves with a focal spread of activation are frequently observed. The origin of these waves and their relevance for the persistence of AF are unknown.

Methods and Results—

In 24 patients with longstanding persistent AF and structural heart disease, high-density mapping of the right and left atria was performed during cardiac surgery. In a reference group of 25 patients, AF was induced by rapid pacing. For data analysis, a mapping algorithm was developed that separated the fibrillatory process into its individual wavelets and identified waves with a focal origin. During persistent AF, the incidence of focal fibrillation waves in the right atrium was almost 4-fold higher than during acute AF (median, 0.46 versus 0.12 per cycle per 1 cm 2 (25th to 75th percentile, 0.40 to 0.77 and 0.01 to 0.27; P <0.0001). They were widely distributed over both atria and were recorded at 46±18 of all electrodes. A large majority (90.5) occurred as single events. Repetitive focal activity (>3) happened in only 0.8. The coupling interval was not more than 11 ms shorter than the average AF cycle length ( P =0.04), and they were not preceded by a long interval. Unipolar electrograms at the site of origin showed small but clear R waves. These data favor epicardial breakthrough rather than a cellular focal mechanism as the underlying mechanism. Often, conduction from a site of epicardial breakthrough was blocked in 1 or more directions. This generated separate multiple wave fronts propagating in different directions over the epicardium.

Conclusions—

Focal fibrillation waves are due to epicardial breakthrough of waves propagating in deeper layers of the atrial wall. In patients with longstanding AF, the frequency of epicardial breakthroughs was 4 times higher than during acute AF. Because they provide a constant source of independent fibrillation waves originating over the entire epicardial surface, they offer an adequate explanation for the high persistence of AF in patients with structural heart disease.

Prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation: the role of new antiarrhythmic and antithrombotic drugs

BACKGROUND

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia. It is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality and morbidity, including stroke.

RESULTS

Rate or rhythm control and prevention of thromboembolism with oral anticoagulants are the main management objectives for patients with AF. Until recently, rhythm control studies did not show prevention of cardiovascular complications. However, dronedarone, a novel antiarrhythmic drug, has been shown to decrease stroke risk by 34% (p = 0.027). In addition, the Randomized Evaluation of Long-Term Anticoagulant Therapy trial showed significant stroke reductions with the anticoagulant dabigatran 150 mg b.i.d. compared with adjusted-dose warfarin (the results for dabigatran 110 mg b.i.d. were similar to warfarin).

CONCLUSIONS

Novel antithrombotic agents and antiarrhythmic agents with cardiovascular prophylactic properties may enhance the management of stroke risk in patients with AF.

The impact of new and emerging clinical data on treatment strategies for atrial fibrillation

INTRODUCTION

The Atrial Fibrillation (AF) Exchange Group, an international multidisciplinary group concerned with the management of AF, was convened to review recent advances in the field and the potential impact on treatment strategies.

METHODS

Issues discussed included epidemiology and the impact of the rising incidence of AF on health care systems, developments in pharmacological and surgical interventions in the management of arrhythmias and thromboprophylaxis, the potential to affect treatment strategies, and barriers to implementing them.

RESULTS

The incidence of AF and the associated burden on health care systems are increasing with aging populations, prevalence of comorbidities and more effective treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Advances in available medical treatments, in particular dronedarone and dabigatran, with other products in development, offer the possibility of changes in treatment paradigms and a greater emphasis on reducing hospitalizations and improvement in long-term outcomes instead of a symptom/safety-driven approach in which the priority is symptom suppression without provoking drug toxicity. Developments in catheter ablation techniques may mean that, in experienced centers, ablation may be offered as first-line treatment in selected patient populations. Barriers to optimal treatment include underdiagnosis, lack of recognition as a serious condition and as a risk factor for stroke, limited access to care, inadequate implementation of guidelines, and poor adherence to treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The focus of the management of AF may be changing as a consequence of new treatments based on the outcome improvements they offer. However, the benefits will not be fully realized if guidelines and guidance are not observed in routine clinical practice.

The symptomatology of post-stroke depression: comparison of stroke and myocardial infarction patients

BACKGROUND

Depression is a frequent problem in stroke patients but, all too often, the problem goes unrecognized. How depression-like symptoms in post-stroke depression (PSD) should be interpreted is still subject to debate. If PSD has a distinct symptom profile of depression accompanying other chronic vascular somatic conditions then this could imply that PSD is a specific disease entity.

OBJECTIVE

To study whether depressed stroke patients exhibit other signs and symptoms than patients suffering from depression after myocardial infarction (MI).

METHODS

Depressive signs and symptoms were measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. The results of 190 stroke patients were compared with the results of 198 MI patients every 3 months during the first year after the event.

RESULTS

Depressed stroke patients exhibited more loss of interest, psychomotor retardation, and gastro-intestinal complaints as compared to depressed MI patients. However, in multivariate analyses including both depressed and non-depressed stroke and MI patients, no specific symptom profile was found to differentiate between the two depressive syndromes by looking at the modifying effect of stroke vs MI on the occurrence of specific symptoms in depression.

CONCLUSION

Although in their clinical presentation, depressed stroke patients exhibit a symptom profile different from depressed MI patients, this is not due to differences in the depressive syndrome in these two patient groups but it reflects differences between stroke and MI patients in general.