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Hagendorff A, Stöbe S, Helfen A, Knebel F, Altiok E, Beckmann S, Bekfani T, Binder T, Ewers A, Hamadanchi A, Ten Freyhaus H, Groscheck T, Haghi D, Knierim J, Kruck S, Lenk K, Merke N, Pfeiffer D, Dorta ER, Ruf T, Sinning C, Wunderlich NC, Brandt R, Ewen S. Echocardiographic assessment of atrial, ventricular, and valvular function in patients with atrial fibrillation-an expert proposal by the german working group of cardiovascular ultrasound. Clin Res Cardiol 2025; 114:4-24. [PMID: 39186180 PMCID: PMC11772422 DOI: 10.1007/s00392-024-02491-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024]
Abstract
Echocardiography in patients with atrial fibrillation is challenging due to the varying heart rate. Thus, the topic of this expert proposal focuses on an obvious gap in the current recommendations about diagnosis and treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF)-the peculiarities and difficulties of echocardiographic imaging. The assessment of systolic and diastolic function-especially in combination with valvular heart diseases-by echocardiography can basically be done by averaging the results of echocardiographic measurements of the respective parameters or by the index beat approach, which uses a representative cardiac cycle for measurement. Therefore, a distinction must be made between the functionally relevant status, which is characterized by the averaging method, and the best possible hemodynamic status, which is achieved with the most optimal left ventricular (LV) filling according to the index beat method with longer previous RR intervals. This proposal focuses on left atrial and left ventricular function and deliberately excludes problems of echocardiography when assessing left atrial appendage in terms of its complexity. Echocardiography of the left atrial appendage is therefore reserved for its own expert proposal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Hagendorff
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Leipzig AöR, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Stephan Stöbe
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Leipzig AöR, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Andreas Helfen
- Department of Kardiologie, Katholische St. Paulus Gesellschaft, St. Marien Hospital Lünen, Lünen, Germany
| | - Fabian Knebel
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Cardiology, Sana Klinikum Lichtenberg, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ertunc Altiok
- Department of Cardiology, Angiology, and Intensive Medicine, University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Stephan Beckmann
- Privatpraxis Kardiologie, Beckmann Ehlers Und Partner, Berlin-Grunewald, Germany
| | - Tarek Bekfani
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, University Hospital Magdeburg AöR, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Binder
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospital AKH Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Aydan Ewers
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Germany
| | - Ali Hamadanchi
- Department of Cardiology, University of Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Henrik Ten Freyhaus
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Cardiology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Thomas Groscheck
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, University Hospital Magdeburg AöR, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Dariush Haghi
- Kardiologische Praxisklinik Ludwigshafen-Akademische Lehrpraxis of the University of Mannheim, Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Jan Knierim
- Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Paulinenkrankenhaus Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sebastian Kruck
- Praxis Für Kardiologie Cardio Centrum Ludwigsburg, Ludwigsburg, Germany
| | - Karsten Lenk
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Leipzig AöR, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Nicolas Merke
- Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Deutsches Herzzentrum Charité Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Elena Romero Dorta
- Department of Cardiology, Angiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Deutsches Herzzentrum Charité Berlin, University of Berlin, Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tobias Ruf
- Department of Cardiology, Center of Cardiology, Heart Valve Center, University Medical Center Mainz, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Christoph Sinning
- Department of Cardiology, German Centre of Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Roland Brandt
- Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Klinik GmbH, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Sebastian Ewen
- Department of Cardiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Schwarzwald-Baar Klinik, Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany
- University Heart Center Freiburg • Bad Krozingen, Freiburg, Germany
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Gać P, Jaworski A, Grajnert F, Kicman K, Trejtowicz-Sutor A, Witkowski K, Poręba M, Poręba R. Aortic Valve Calcium Score: Applications in Clinical Practice and Scientific Research-A Narrative Review. J Clin Med 2024; 13:4064. [PMID: 39064103 PMCID: PMC11277735 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13144064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2024] [Revised: 06/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In this narrative review, we investigate the essential role played by the computed tomography Aortic Valve Calcium Score (AVCS) in the cardiovascular diagnostic landscape, with a special focus on its implications for clinical practice and scientific research. Calcific aortic valve stenosis is the most prevalent type of aortic stenosis (AS) in industrialized countries, and due to the aging population, its prevalence is increasing. While transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) remains the gold standard, AVCS stands out as an essential complementary tool in evaluating patients with AS. The advantage of AVCS is its independence from flow; this allows for a more precise evaluation of patients with discordant findings in TTE. Further clinical applications of AVCS include in the assessment of patients before transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), as it helps in predicting outcomes and provides prognostic information post-TAVR. Additionally, we describe different AVCS thresholds regarding gender and the anatomical variations of the aortic valve. Finally, we discuss various scientific studies where AVCS was applied. As AVCS has some limitations, due to the pathophysiologies of AS extending beyond calcification and gender differences, scientists strive to validate contrast-enhanced AVCS. Furthermore, research on developing radiation-free methods of measuring calcium content is ongoing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paweł Gać
- Centre of Diagnostic Imaging, 4th Military Hospital, Rudolfa Weigla 5, 50-981 Wrocław, Poland; (P.G.); (A.T.-S.); (K.W.)
- Department of Population Health, Division of Environmental Health and Occupational Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, J. Mikulicza-Radeckiego 7, 50-345 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Arkadiusz Jaworski
- Healthcare Team “County Hospital” in Sochaczew, Batalionow Chlopskich 3/7, 96-500 Sochaczew, Poland
| | - Filip Grajnert
- 4th Military Hospital, Rudolfa Weigla 5, 50-981 Wrocław, Poland;
| | - Katarzyna Kicman
- Healthcare Team “County Hospital” in Sochaczew, Batalionow Chlopskich 3/7, 96-500 Sochaczew, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Trejtowicz-Sutor
- Centre of Diagnostic Imaging, 4th Military Hospital, Rudolfa Weigla 5, 50-981 Wrocław, Poland; (P.G.); (A.T.-S.); (K.W.)
| | - Konrad Witkowski
- Centre of Diagnostic Imaging, 4th Military Hospital, Rudolfa Weigla 5, 50-981 Wrocław, Poland; (P.G.); (A.T.-S.); (K.W.)
| | - Małgorzata Poręba
- Department of Paralympic Sports, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences, Witelona 25a, 51-617 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Rafał Poręba
- Department of Internal and Occupational Diseases, Hypertension and Clinical Oncology, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 213, 50-556 Wrocław, Poland;
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Sen J, Wang WYS, Ng ACT. The Unraveling Complexity: Atrial Fibrillation's Influence on Severe Aortic Stenosis. Am J Cardiol 2024; 215:72-73. [PMID: 38160918 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2023.12.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Sen
- Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queensland, Australia; Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Cardiometabolic Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, the University of Queensland, Melbourne, Australia
| | - William Y S Wang
- Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queensland, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, the University of Queensland, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Arnold C T Ng
- Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queensland, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, the University of Queensland, Melbourne, Australia.
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