Erkennungsgüte dreier deutschsprachiger Screeninginstrumente für Depression bei hospitalisierten Patienten mit koronarer Herzerkrankung

Ziel Vergleich der Erkennungsgüte von drei Depressions-Screeninginstrumenten bei Patienten mit koronarer Herzerkrankung (KHK).

Methodik 1019 KHK-Patienten erhielten den Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9 und PHQ-2) und die Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-D) sowie ein klinisches Interview (Composite International Diagnostic Interview) als Referenzstandard.

Ergebnisse Bezüglich der Erkennungsgüte waren PHQ-9 und HADS-D dem PHQ-2 überlegen. Optimale Cut-off-Werte waren 7 (PHQ-9 und HADS-D) und 2 (PHQ-2).

Schlussfolgerung PHQ-9 und HADS-D haben eine vergleichbare Diskriminationsfähigkeit für depressive Störungen bei KHK-Patienten.

Cardiac device implantations in obese patients: Success rates and complications

BACKGROUND

Obesity is associated with increased complications and potentially worse outcomes for various cardiac interventions. This study analyzed the success rate and complication rates associated with implantation of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) in obese patients.

HYPOTHESIS

Success rates are lower and complication rates higher in obese patients.

METHODS

Consecutive patients undergoing CIED implantation between 2011 and 2015 in our hospital were included. Patients were categorized into obese and nonobese groups according to body mass index (BMI); cutoff was 30 kg/m² . Patient characteristics, complication rates, procedural duration, and fluoroscopy data were compared between the 2 groups.

RESULTS

A total of 965 patients (mean age, 69.0 ± 12.9 years; 67% male) were included. Of these, 249 (25.8%) patients were classified obese and 716 (74.2%) nonobese. Mean BMI was 34.7 ± 4.7 kg/m² vs 25.1 ± 3.0 kg/m² , respectively. There was no difference in procedural success rates between the 2 groups (97.2% vs 97.1%, respectively). Major complications were significantly lower in the obese group compared with the nonobese group (11 [4.4%] vs 62 [8.7%]; P < 0.05). Procedural duration and fluoroscopy duration were not different between the 2 groups, but the total dose-area product was significantly higher in obese patients vs nonobese patients (4012 ± 5416 cGcm² vs 2692 ± 5277 cGcm² ; P < 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

CIED implantation can be safely and effectively achieved in patients with BMI >30 kg/m² . However, total radiation dose was significantly higher in the obese group, emphasizing that efforts should be made to reduce radiation exposure in these patients.

Performance of the New BioMonitor 2-AF Insertable Cardiac Monitoring System: Can Better be Worse?

BACKGROUND

Implantable loop recorders (ILR) are valuable tools for the investigation of patients with suspected arrhythmias. The BioMonitor 2-AF is a novel insertable ILR with enhanced atrial fibrillation (AF) detection algorithm and remote monitoring capability.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this first-in-human study with the BioMonitor 2-AF was to analyze course of P-wave sensing performance and R-wave amplitude, prevalence of false and correctly sensed and classified episodes, and effectiveness of remote monitoring.

METHODS

All 19 patients who underwent ILR insertion were included in the BIOTRONIK Home Monitoring® system (BIOTRONIK GmbH, Berlin, Germany). Daily changes in P-wave and R-wave sensing were analyzed over 6 weeks. A breathing test (in- and expiration) was performed in two different body positions at baseline and during a 6-week in-house follow-up to investigate alterations of P-wave and R-wave sensing.

RESULTS

R-wave amplitude and the high P-wave visibility (94.4%) remained unchanged during the follow-up period. In most patients both an increase and decrease of R-wave amplitude, and in some cases a complete R-wave vector change (31.6%), was documented during the "breathing test." Change of body position did not alter R-wave sensing amplitude mostly. "Breathing test" and change of body position had no effect on P-wave sensing performance. In 15.8% of the patients, misclassification of episodes as AF or high ventricular rates due to P-wave oversensing occurred. No ILR-related complication occurred. Automatic transmission via BIOTRONIK Home Monitoring® was successful 100% of the time.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that the BioMonitor 2-AF is a safe and effective tool for continuous cardiac monitoring.

Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor and stability of depressive symptoms in coronary heart disease patients: A prospective study

OBJECTIVE

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) supports neurogenesis, angiogenesis, and promotes the survival of various cell types in the brain and the coronary system. Moreover, BDNF is associated with both coronary heart disease (CHD) and depression. The current study aims to investigate whether serum BDNF levels are associated with the course of depressive symptoms in CHD patients.

METHODS

At baseline, N=225 CHD patients were enrolled while hospitalized. Of these, N=190 (84%) could be followed up 6 months later. Depressive symptoms were assessed both at baseline and at the 6-months follow-up using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Serum BDNF concentrations were measured using fluorometric Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA).

RESULTS

Logistic regression models showed that lower BDNF levels were associated with persistent depressive symptoms, even after adjustment for age, sex, smoking and potential medical confounders. The incidence of depressive symptoms was not related to lower BDNF levels. However, somatic comorbidity (as measured by the Charlson Comorbidity Index) was significantly associated with the incidence of depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest a role of BDNF in the link between CHD and depressive symptoms. Particularly, low serum BDNF levels could be considered as a valuable biomarker for the persistence of depressive symptoms among depressed CHD patients.

Electrocardiographic assessments and cardiac events after fingolimod first dose - a comprehensive monitoring study

Background

First dose observation for cardiac effects is required for fingolimod, but recommendations on the extent vary. This study aims to assess cardiac safety of fingolimod first dose. Individual bradyarrhythmic episodes were evaluated to assess the relevance of continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring.

Methods

START is an ongoing open-label, multi-center study. At the time of analysis 3951 patients were enrolled. The primary endpoints are the incidence of bradycardia (heart rate < 45 bpm) and second-/third-degree AV blocks during treatment initiation. The relevance of Holter was assessed by matching ECG findings with the occurrence of clinical symptoms as well as by rigorous analysis of AV blocks with regard to the duration of pauses and the minimal heart rate recorded during AV block.

Results

Thirty-one patients (0.8%) developed bradycardia (<45 bpm), 62 patients (1.6%) had second-degree Mobitz I and/or 2:1 AV blocks with a lowest reading (i.e. mean of ten consecutive beats) of 35 bpm and the longest pause lasting for 2.6 s. No Mobitz II or third-degree AV blocks were observed. Only one patient complained about mild chest discomfort and fatigue. After 1 week, there was no second-/third-degree AV block.

Conclusions

Continuous Holter ECG monitoring in this large real-life cohort revealed that bradycardia and AV conduction abnormalities were rare, transient and benign. No further unexpected abnormalities were detected. The data presented here give an indication that continuous Holter ECG monitoring does not add clinically relevant value to patients’ safety.

Trial registration

NCT01585298; registered April 23, 2012.

A Rare Case of Single Coronary Artery with Atherosclerotic Lesions Arising from the Right Sinus of Valsalva

Context:

Congenital coronary anomalies, including anomalous origin, distribution, intercoronary communications, and coronary fistulae occur at a rate of approximately 1% in the general population and are the most incidental findings.

Case Report:

A 49-year-old male patient presented to the emergency department with exercise-induced dyspnea and atypical angina pectoris. Coronary angiography (CAG) and contrast-enhanced 320-slice multidetector cardiac computed tomography with subsequent three-dimensional reconstructions revealed a single coronary artery (SCA) arising from the right sinus of Valsalva with a proximal branch giving rise to the left anterior descending coronary artery. The left anterior descending coronary artery shows severe atherosclerotic lesions and it is occluded afterwards. Adenosine stress perfusion cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a stress myocardial ischemia at the anterior wall without signs of fibrosis, scar, or necrosis.

Conclusion:

We present an extremely rare case of a SCA, with the solitary vessel arising from the right sinus of Valsalva. In our patient's case, the atherosclerotic lesions and occlusion in the branch supplying the anterior wall were considered eligible for neither percutaneous intervention nor bypass graft surgery.

Where There's Smoke, There's Fire? Significance of Atrial Fibrillation in Young Patients

BACKGROUND

Atrial fibrillation (AF), a disease of the elderly, occasionally occurs at younger age. Pathophysiology of AF in younger patients is diverse, including channelopathies and cardiomyopathies. Data on the significance and complications of AF in young patients are scarce.

HYPOTHESIS

Atrial fibrillation is the first manifestation of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in young patients.

METHODS

From 11 888 patients in a university hospital database, patients age ≤35 years were identified. A composite of stroke/transient ischemic attack, thromboembolic events, major bleeding, and death was the primary endpoint. Stroke/transient ischemic attack, thromboembolic events, major bleeding, death, AF during follow-up, diagnosis of arrhythmia other than AF, and new diagnosis of any CVD were secondary endpoints. Endpoints were compared between patients with and without comorbidities.

RESULTS

We identified 124 patients (29.1± 5 years). Of those, 84 were followed over 48.4 ± 39.8 months. Comorbidities were present in 40.5%. Incidence of the primary endpoint was not different between the groups. Arrhythmias other than AF were more common in patients without comorbidities (36% vs 14.7%; P = 0.032). A supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) was found in 57.1% of patients who underwent electrophysiological testing and was treated with catheter ablation. None of those patients had AF during follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Atrial fibrillation occurs in young patients with and without structural heart disease. Young AF patients without comorbidities rarely develop CVD during the first years after diagnosis. Yet, an SVT is found in a high proportion of young AF patients; AF may be first manifestation of SVT. Therefore, young patients should undergo further evaluation for SVT.

The Lewis Lead for Detection of Ventriculoatrial Conduction Type

BACKGROUND

Identification of a possible ventriculoatrial (VA) dissociation in wide QRS complex tachycardias is one of the most reliable criteria for differentiation of tachycardia origin. The Lewis lead has been proposed for detection of atrial activity during ventricular tachycardias.

HYPOTHESIS

A modified Lewis-lead-ECG will be superior to the standard-lead ECG for detection of ventriculoatrial conduction during ventricular tachycardia.

METHODS

Forty-seven patients underwent electrophysiological study, stimulated with a fixed cycle length of 400 ms in the ventricle. During stimulation, a standard-lead ECG and a modified Lewis-lead ECG were recorded. Simultaneously, VA conduction was documented by intracardiac electrograms. Surface ECGs were presented to 6 blinded examiners for VA conduction assessment.

RESULTS

Type of VA conduction was correctly diagnosed in significantly more ECGs in the Lewis-lead ECG group (mean, 35.0 [75%]) than in the standard-lead ECG group (mean, 29.2 [62%]; P = 0.045). Ventriculoatrial dissociation also was significantly more often correctly diagnosed in the Lewis-lead ECG group (mean, 17.7 [71%]) than in the standard-lead ECG group (mean, 12.7 [49%]; P = 0.014). Interobserver agreement was moderate in both groups (κ = 0.45 and κ = 0.49, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with standard-lead ECG, modified Lewis-lead ECG is associated with significantly improved detection of VA conduction type during fast ventricular pacing and thus may help improve ECG diagnosis.

Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients with an Implantable Loop Recorder

BACKGROUND

Implantable loop recorders (ILRs) allow continuous cardiac monitoring for 3-6 years and are a valuable tool for the investigation of syncopal episodes, palpitations, and atrial fibrillations as well as risk stratification after myocardial infarction. Although magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with ILRs has been shown to be safe, the impact of ILRs on cardiac MRI image quality has not been investigated yet. Thus, we tested the diagnostic value of cardiac MRI in patients with various types of ILRs.

METHODS

Two patients with an ILR and a clinical indication to assess myocardial burden of scarring and fibrosis or stress-induced myocardial ischemia underwent cardiac MRI. Device interrogation was performed prior to, immediately after, and 3 months after cardiac MRI.

RESULTS

The post-MRI follow-ups revealed no change in programmed ILR parameters, sensing fidelity, and battery parameters. However, ILRs caused significant, uninterpretable hyperintensity artifacts in cardiac MRI.

CONCLUSIONS

Further clinical studies are warranted to investigate whether modified MRI techniques are helpful to eliminate imaging artifacts.

[Mapping and ablation of a mechanically blocked concealed accessory pathway under repeated adenosine bolus infusions]

During mapping and catheter ablation of an accessory pathway, a mechanically induced conduction block can occur. Adenosine is used to detect dormant conduction of incomplete ablation lesions. Presented in this article is the case of a patient with a left-sided accessory pathway, which was mechanically blocked during the mapping procedure and could only be successfully ablated after repeated adenosine bolus infusions, which resulted in intermittent restitution of conduction via the accessory pathway.

Enhanced suicidal erythrocyte death in acute cardiac failure

BACKGROUND

A common complication of acute cardiac failure (AHF) is anaemia, which negatively influences the clinical outcome. Causes of anaemia include enhanced eryptosis, a suicidal erythrocyte death characterized by cell shrinkage and cell membrane scrambling with phosphatidylserine translocation. Signalling triggering eryptosis include oxidative stress, increase of cytosolic Ca(2+) -activity ([Ca(2+) ]i ) and ceramide. The present study explored whether AHF is associated with accelerated eryptosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Erythrocytes were drawn from healthy volunteers (n = 10) and patients hospitalized for AHF (n = 22). Phosphatidylserine exposure was estimated from annexin-V-binding, cell volume from forward scatter, [Ca(2+) ]i from Fluo3-fluorescence, ceramide abundance utilizing specific antibodies and reactive oxygen species (ROS) abundance from 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA) fluorescence, as determined by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

In AHF-patients, haemoglobin concentration (11·5 ± 0·5 g/dL), and haematocrit (35·6 ± 1·2%) were significantly lower than haemoglobin concentration (14·1 ± 0·4 g/dL), and haematocrit (40·1 ± 1·0%) in healthy volunteers, even though reticulocyte number was significantly higher in AHF patients (2·3 ± 0·3%) than in healthy volunteers (1·1 ± 0·2%). The percentage of erythrocytes exposing phosphatidylserine was significantly higher in AHF patients (1·8 ± 0·1%) than in healthy volunteers (1·2 ± 0·2%). The forward scatter was significantly lower and the ROS abundance significantly larger in AHF patients than in healthy volunteers. In erythrocytes drawn from healthy volunteers, phosphatidylserine and ROS abundance was increased to significantly higher values following a 24 h treatment with plasma from AHF patients than with plasma from healthy volunteers.

CONCLUSION

AHF leads to anaemia despite increased reticulocyte number and at least partially due to enhanced eryptosis. Underlying mechanisms include oxidative stress imposed by a plasma borne component.

Near-Fatal ICD Lead Dysfunction with Implications for ICD Testing

A 31-year-old male patient with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) experienced ventricular fibrillation. After resuscitation, no communication between the device and an ICD programmer was possible. The ICD was explanted, no signs of destruction were visible, and the ICD leads revealed normal values. A new ICD was implanted, interrogation values were stable. However, immediately after defibrillation testing the connection between programmer and ICD was interrupted and could not be established again. The device showed burn marks and a hole in the can. Analysis revealed an isolation defect of the ICD lead, which was not detectable with standard interrogation.