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Rahola JT, Mattila SM, Kiviniemi AM, Ukkola OH, Tulppo MP, Junttila MJ, Huikuri HV, Kenttä TV, Perkiömäki JS. Prognostic significance of beat-to-beat variability of spatial heterogeneity of repolarization analyzed from a 5-minute resting electrocardiogram in coronary artery disease. Heart Rhythm 2024; 21:1093-1099. [PMID: 38597856 DOI: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2024.02.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Data on the prognostic significance of temporal variability of spatial heterogeneity of electrocardiographic repolarization in coronary artery disease (CAD) are limited. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of temporal variability of T-wave morphology analyzed from a 5-minute resting electrocardiogram in CAD. METHODS The standard deviation (SD) of T-wave morphology dispersion (TMD-SD) and the SD of total cosine R-to-T were analyzed on a beat-to-beat basis from a 5-minute period of the standard resting 12-lead electrocardiogram obtained before the clinical stress test in 1702 patients with angiographically verified CAD and well-preserved left ventricular function. RESULTS During an average of 8.7 ± 2.2 years of follow-up, 60 patients experienced sudden cardiac death/arrest (SCD/SCA) (3.5%), 69 patients nonsudden cardiac death (NSCD) (4.1%), and 161 patients noncardiac death (9.5%). TMD-SD was significantly higher in patients who experienced SCD/SCA than in other patients (1.72 ± 2.00 vs 1.12 ± 1.75; P = .01) and higher in patients who succumbed to NSCD than in other patients (1.57 ± 1.74 vs 1.12 ± 1.76; P = .04), but it did not differ significantly between patients who experienced noncardiac death and those without such an event (1.16 ± 1.42 vs 1.14 ± 1.79; P = .86). In the Cox multivariable hazards model, TMD-SD retained its significant association with the risk of SCD/SCA (hazard ratio 1.119; 95% confidence interval 1.015-1.233; P = .024) but not with the risk of NSCD (hazard ratio 1.089; 95% confidence interval 0.983-1.206; P = .103). CONCLUSION TMD-SD is independently associated with the long-term risk of SCD/SCA in patients with CAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janne T Rahola
- Research Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Severi M Mattila
- Research Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Antti M Kiviniemi
- Research Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Olavi H Ukkola
- Research Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Mikko P Tulppo
- Research Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - M Juhani Junttila
- Research Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Heikki V Huikuri
- Research Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Tuomas V Kenttä
- Research Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Juha S Perkiömäki
- Research Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
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Lauretti C, Antonio GL, Fernandes AE, Stocco FG, Girardi ACC, Verrier RL, Caramelli B. Empagliflozin's role in reducing ventricular repolarization heterogeneity: insights into cardiovascular mortality decline from the EMPATHY-HEART trial. Cardiovasc Diabetol 2024; 23:221. [PMID: 38926835 PMCID: PMC11210164 DOI: 10.1186/s12933-024-02311-1] [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: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) and sudden cardiac death (SCD) is significantly higher in individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) than in the general population. Strategies for the prevention of fatal arrhythmias are often insufficient, highlighting the need for additional non-invasive diagnostic tools. The T-wave heterogeneity (TWH) index measures variations in ventricular repolarization and has emerged as a promising predictor for severe ventricular arrhythmias. Although the EMPA-REG trial reported reduced cardiovascular mortality with empagliflozin, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigates the potential of empagliflozin in mitigating cardiac electrical instability in patients with T2DM and coronary heart disease (CHD) by examining changes in TWH. METHODS Participants were adult outpatients with T2DM and CHD who exhibited TWH > 80 µV at baseline. They received a 25 mg daily dose of empagliflozin and were evaluated clinically including electrocardiogram (ECG) measurements at baseline and after 4 weeks. TWH was computed from leads V4, V5, and V6 using a validated technique. The primary study outcome was a significant (p < 0.05) change in TWH following empagliflozin administration. RESULTS An initial review of 6,000 medical records pinpointed 800 patients for TWH evaluation. Of these, 412 exhibited TWH above 80 µV, with 97 completing clinical assessments and 90 meeting the criteria for high cardiovascular risk enrollment. Empagliflozin adherence exceeded 80%, resulting in notable reductions in blood pressure without affecting heart rate. Side effects were generally mild, with 13.3% experiencing Level 1 hypoglycemia, alongside infrequent urinary and genital infections. The treatment consistently reduced mean TWH from 116 to 103 µV (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS The EMPATHY-HEART trial preliminarily suggests that empagliflozin decreases heterogeneity in ventricular repolarization among patients with T2DM and CHD. This reduction in TWH may provide insight into the mechanism behind the decreased cardiovascular mortality observed in previous trials, potentially offering a therapeutic pathway to mitigate the risk of severe arrhythmias in this population. TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT: 04117763.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristiane Lauretti
- Interdisciplinary Medicine Unit in Cardiology, Heart Institute of the Clinical Hospital of the Medical School of the University of Sao Paulo, Av. Dr. Enéas Carvalho de Aguiar, 44- Anexo II, Sao Paulo, 05403000, SP, Brazil
| | - Graziella L Antonio
- Interdisciplinary Medicine Unit in Cardiology, Heart Institute of the Clinical Hospital of the Medical School of the University of Sao Paulo, Av. Dr. Enéas Carvalho de Aguiar, 44- Anexo II, Sao Paulo, 05403000, SP, Brazil
| | - Ariana E Fernandes
- Interdisciplinary Medicine Unit in Cardiology, Heart Institute of the Clinical Hospital of the Medical School of the University of Sao Paulo, Av. Dr. Enéas Carvalho de Aguiar, 44- Anexo II, Sao Paulo, 05403000, SP, Brazil
| | - Fernando G Stocco
- Interdisciplinary Medicine Unit in Cardiology, Heart Institute of the Clinical Hospital of the Medical School of the University of Sao Paulo, Av. Dr. Enéas Carvalho de Aguiar, 44- Anexo II, Sao Paulo, 05403000, SP, Brazil
| | - Adriana C C Girardi
- Medical School Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology , Heart Institute of the Clinical Hospital University of Sao Paulo , Sao Paulo, 05403000, Brazil, SP
| | - Richard L Verrier
- Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, 02215, United States of America
| | - Bruno Caramelli
- Interdisciplinary Medicine Unit in Cardiology, Heart Institute of the Clinical Hospital of the Medical School of the University of Sao Paulo, Av. Dr. Enéas Carvalho de Aguiar, 44- Anexo II, Sao Paulo, 05403000, SP, Brazil.
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3
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Salazar Serrano G, Dias de Oliveira A, Miotto R, Lin K, Loureiro Fialho G. Aborted sudden cardiac death in a young patient with epilepsy and the Gorlin Goltz syndrome. Epilepsy Behav Rep 2024; 26:100667. [PMID: 38699063 PMCID: PMC11063993 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebr.2024.100667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is one of the most common chronical neurological conditions affecting over 50 million people worldwide. In addition to the stigma and discrimination, individuals with epilepsy suffer from a nearly three-fold increased risk of premature death compared to the general population. Although these premature deaths occur due to multiple causes, sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) still challenges neurologists and clinicians dealing with individuals with epilepsy. Recently, an increased interest in cardiac outcomes related to acute seizures and chronic epilepsy resulted in the groundbreaking development of the "epileptic heart" concept, and sudden cardiac death in individuals with epilepsy, which is 4.5 times as frequent as SUDEP according to some observational data, has gained more attention. As we gather information and learn about possible comorbidities and consequences of seizures and/or chronic epilepsy, we present a clinical case of a young patient with an unusual association of epilepsy, the Gorlin Goltz syndrome, and a cardiac fibroma with Wolf-Parkinson-White (WPW), who had multiple aborted cardiac arrests. Diagnostic challenges and multiple possible causes of sudden cardiac death in this single patient report are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme Salazar Serrano
- Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital (HU), Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | | | - Ramsés Miotto
- Cardiology Division, Department of Internal Medicine, HU, UFSC, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Katia Lin
- Center for Applied Neuroscience, HU, UFSC, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
- Neurology Division, Department of Internal Medicine, HU, UFSC, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
- Post-Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, UFSC, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
- Center for Epilepsy Surgery of Santa Catarina (CEPESC), HU, UFSC, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Loureiro Fialho
- Cardiology Division, Department of Internal Medicine, HU, UFSC, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
- Center for Applied Neuroscience, HU, UFSC, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
- Post-Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, UFSC, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
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Schwartz PJ, Cerea P. A paradigm change in sudden cardiac death risk prediction: 'static' goes out, 'dynamic' comes in. Eur Heart J 2024; 45:820-822. [PMID: 38320251 DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehae051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Schwartz
- Center for Cardiac Arrhythmias of Genetic Origin and Laboratory of Cardiovascular Genetics, Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Via Pier Lombardo, 22, 20135 Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Cerea
- Center for Cardiac Arrhythmias of Genetic Origin and Laboratory of Cardiovascular Genetics, Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Via Pier Lombardo, 22, 20135 Milan, Italy
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Verrier RL, Pang TD, Schachter SC. Long-term risk for atrial and ventricular arrhythmias: a cardinal manifestation of 'the epileptic heart'. Eur Heart J 2023; 44:3383-3385. [PMID: 37608403 DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehad524] [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] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Richard L Verrier
- Departments of Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215-3908, USA
| | - Trudy D Pang
- Departments of Neurology, Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston MA 02215-3908, USA
| | - Steven C Schachter
- Departments of Neurology, Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston MA 02215-3908, USA
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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Duca ȘT, Roca M, Costache AD, Chetran A, Afrăsânie I, Miftode RȘ, Tudorancea I, Matei I, Ciorap RG, Mitu O, Bădescu MC, Iliescu-Halitchi D, Halițchi-Iliescu CO, Mitu F, Lionte C, Costache II. T-Wave Analysis on the 24 h Holter ECG Monitoring as a Predictive Assessment of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Myocardial Infarction: A Literature Review and Future Perspectives. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13051155. [PMID: 37240799 DOI: 10.3390/life13051155] [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: 03/05/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Myocardial ischemia is a pathophysiological state characterized by inadequate perfusion of the myocardium, resulting in an imbalance between myocardial oxygen demand and supply. It is most commonly caused by coronary artery disease, in which atherosclerotic plaques lead to luminal narrowing and reduced blood flow to the heart. Myocardial ischemia can manifest as angina pectoris or silent myocardial ischemia and can progress to myocardial infarction or heart failure if left untreated. Diagnosis of myocardial ischemia typically involves a combination of clinical evaluation, electrocardiography and imaging studies. Electrocardiographic parameters, as assessed by 24 h Holter ECG monitoring, can predict the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with myocardial ischemia, independent of other risk factors. The T-waves in patients with myocardial ischemia have prognostic value for predicting major adverse cardiovascular events, and their electrophysiological heterogeneity can be visualized using various techniques. Combining the electrocardiographic findings with the assessment of myocardial substrate may offer a better picture of the factors that can contribute to cardiovascular death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ștefania-Teodora Duca
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa", 700115 Iasi, Romania
- Department of Cardiology, "St. Spiridon" Emergency County Hospital, 700111 Iasi, Romania
| | - Mihai Roca
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa", 700115 Iasi, Romania
- Department of Cardiovascular Rehabilitation, Clinical Rehabilitation Hospital, 700661 Iasi, Romania
| | - Alexandru-Dan Costache
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa", 700115 Iasi, Romania
- Department of Cardiovascular Rehabilitation, Clinical Rehabilitation Hospital, 700661 Iasi, Romania
| | - Adriana Chetran
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa", 700115 Iasi, Romania
- Department of Cardiology, "St. Spiridon" Emergency County Hospital, 700111 Iasi, Romania
| | - Irina Afrăsânie
- Department of Cardiology, "St. Spiridon" Emergency County Hospital, 700111 Iasi, Romania
| | - Radu-Ștefan Miftode
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa", 700115 Iasi, Romania
- Department of Cardiology, "St. Spiridon" Emergency County Hospital, 700111 Iasi, Romania
| | - Ionuț Tudorancea
- Department of Cardiology, "St. Spiridon" Emergency County Hospital, 700111 Iasi, Romania
- Department of Morpho-Functional Science II-Physiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa", 700115 Iasi, Romania
| | - Iulian Matei
- Department of Cardiology, "St. Spiridon" Emergency County Hospital, 700111 Iasi, Romania
| | - Radu-George Ciorap
- Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medical Bioengineering, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa", 700145 Iasi, Romania
| | - Ovidiu Mitu
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa", 700115 Iasi, Romania
- Department of Cardiology, "St. Spiridon" Emergency County Hospital, 700111 Iasi, Romania
| | - Minerva Codruța Bădescu
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa", 700115 Iasi, Romania
- Department of III Internal Medicine Clinic, "St. Spiridon" Emergency County Hospital, 700111 Iasi, Romania
| | - Dan Iliescu-Halitchi
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa", 700115 Iasi, Romania
- Department of Cardiology, Arcadia Hospital, 700620 Iasi, Romania
| | - Codruța-Olimpiada Halițchi-Iliescu
- Department of Mother and Child Medicine-Pediatrics, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa", 700115 Iasi, Romania
- Department of Pedriatics, Arcadia Hospital, 700620 Iasi, Romania
| | - Florin Mitu
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa", 700115 Iasi, Romania
- Department of Cardiovascular Rehabilitation, Clinical Rehabilitation Hospital, 700661 Iasi, Romania
| | - Cătălina Lionte
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa", 700145 Iasi, Romania
- Department of Cardiology, Helicomed Hospital, 700115 Iasi, Romania
| | - Irina-Iuliana Costache
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa", 700115 Iasi, Romania
- Department of Cardiology, "St. Spiridon" Emergency County Hospital, 700111 Iasi, Romania
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Fialho GL, Nearing BD, Waks JW, Maher TR, Clarke JR, Shepherd A, D'Avila A, Verrier RL. Reduction in atrial and ventricular electrical heterogeneity following pulmonary vein isolation in patients with atrial fibrillation. J Interv Card Electrophysiol 2023:10.1007/s10840-023-01543-7. [PMID: 37074510 DOI: 10.1007/s10840-023-01543-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) modulates the intrinsic cardiac autonomic nervous system and reduces atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence. METHODS In this retrospective analysis, we investigated the impact of PVI on ECG interlead P-wave, R-wave, and T-wave heterogeneity (PWH, RWH, TWH) in 45 patients in sinus rhythm undergoing clinically indicated PVI for AF. We measured PWH as a marker of atrial electrical dispersion and AF susceptibility and RWH and TWH as markers of ventricular arrhythmia risk along with standard ECG measures. RESULTS PVI acutely (16 ± 8.9 h) reduced PWH by 20.7% (from 31 ± 1.9 to 25 ± 1.6 µV, p < 0.001) and TWH by 27% (from 111 ± 7.8 to 81 ± 6.5 µV, p < 0.001). RWH was unchanged after PVI (p = 0.068). In a subgroup of 20 patients with longer follow-up (mean = 47 ± 3.7 days after PVI), PWH remained low (25 ± 1.7 µV, p = 0.01), but TWH partially returned to the pre-ablation level (to 93 ± 10.2, p = 0.16). In three individuals with early recurrence of atrial arrhythmia in the first 3 months after ablation, PWH increased acutely by 8.5%, while in patients without early recurrence, PWH decreased acutely by 22.3% (p = 0.048). PWH was superior to other contemporary P-wave metrics including P-wave axis, dispersion, and duration in predicting early AF recurrence. CONCLUSION The rapid time course of decreased PWH and TWH after PVI suggests a beneficial influence likely mediated via ablation of the intrinsic cardiac nervous system. Acute responses of PWH and TWH to PVI suggest a favorable dual effect on atrial and ventricular electrical stability and could be used to track individual patients' electrical heterogeneity profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme L Fialho
- Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, Brazil
- Departments of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Bruce D Nearing
- Departments of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Jonathan W Waks
- Departments of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Timothy R Maher
- Departments of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - John-Ross Clarke
- Departments of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Alyssa Shepherd
- Departments of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Andre D'Avila
- Departments of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Richard L Verrier
- Departments of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
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8
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Kumar HU, Nearing BD, Mittal S, Premchand RK, Libbus I, DiCarlo LA, Amurthur B, KenKnight BH, Anand IS, Verrier RL. Autonomic regulation therapy in chronic heart failure with preserved/mildly reduced ejection fraction: ANTHEM-HFpEF study results. Int J Cardiol 2023; 381:37-44. [PMID: 36934987 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2023.03.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autonomic regulation therapy (ART) utilizing cervical vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) appeared to be safe and to improve autonomic tone, symptoms, and cardiac mechanical function in patients with symptomatic heart failure and reduced ejection fraction in the ANTHEM-HF Study. The ANTHEM-HFpEF Study is the first investigation to evaluate the safety and feasibility of ART in patients with symptomatic heart failure and preserved or mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFpEF, HFmrEF). METHODS This open-label interventional study enrolled 52 patients with HFpEF or HFmrEF, NYHA Class II-III, and LVEF ≥40%, who received stable guideline-directed medical therapy. All patients were successfully implanted with LivaNova VNS Therapy® system with an electrical lead surrounding the right cervical vagus nerve. RESULTS Adverse event incidence was low. At 12 months, NYHA class (p < 0.0001), 6-min walk distance (p < 0.05), and quality of life (p < 0.0001) were improved. Cardiac mechanical function measures were normal at baseline, except for left ventricular mass index in women and E/e' ratio in all patients, which were elevated at baseline, and were unchanged by ART. Autonomic tone and reflexes improved, indicated by 29% decrease in low-frequency/high-frequency heart rate variability to normal levels (p = 0.028) and by increased heart rate turbulence slope (p = 0.047). T-wave alternans (p = 0.001) and T-wave heterogeneity (p = 0.001) were reduced from abnormal to normal ranges. Nonsustained ventricular tachycardia incidence decreased (p = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS ART appeared well-tolerated and safe in patients with HFpEF or HFmrEF. Chronic ART did not alter mechanical function measures but was associated with improved heart failure symptoms, exercise tolerance, autonomic tone, and cardiac electrical stability. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY Autonomic Neural Regulation Therapy to Enhance Myocardial Function in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction [ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT03163030, registered 05/22/2017].
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bruce D Nearing
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Richard L Verrier
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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9
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Verrier RL, Varma N, Nearing BD. Continuous multi-day tracking of post-myocardial infarction recovery of cardiac electrical stability and autonomic tone using electrocardiogram patch monitors. Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2023; 28:e13035. [PMID: 36630149 PMCID: PMC9833356 DOI: 10.1111/anec.13035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk is elevated following acute myocardial infarction (MI). The time course of SCD susceptibility post-MI requires further investigation. METHODS In this observational cohort study, we employed state-of-the-art noninvasive ECG techniques to track the daily time course of cardiac electrical instability and autonomic function following ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-STEMI (NSTEMI). Preventice BodyGuardian MINI-EL Holters continuously recorded ECGs for 7 days at hospital discharge and at 40 days for STEMI (N = 5) or at 90 days for NSTEMI patients (N = 5). Cardiac electrical instability was assessed by T-wave alternans (TWA) and T-wave heterogeneity (TWH); autonomic tone was determined by rMSSD-heart rate variability (HRV). RESULTS TWA was severely elevated (≥60 μV) in STEMI patients (80 ± 10.3 μV) at discharge and throughout the first recording period but declined by 50% to 40 ± 2.3 μV (p = .03) by Day 40 and remained in the normal range (<47 μV). TWH, a related phenomenon analyzed from 12-lead ECGs, was reduced by 63% in the five STEMI patients from discharge to normal (<80 μV) at follow-up (105 ± 27.3 to 39 ± 3.3 μV, p < .04) but increased by 65% in a STEMI case (89 to 147 μV), who received a wearable defibrillator vest and later implantable cardioverter defibrillator. In NSTEMI patients, TWA was borderline abnormal (47 ± 3.3 μV) at discharge and declined by 19% to normal (38 ± 1.2 μV) by Day 90 (p = .05). An overall reciprocal increase in rMSSD-HRV suggested recovery of vagal tone. CONCLUSIONS This study provides proof-of-principle for tracking post-MI SCD risk in individual patients with implications for personalized therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard L. Verrier
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | | | - Bruce D. Nearing
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
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Ramírez J, Kiviniemi A, van Duijvenboden S, Tinker A, Lambiase PD, Junttila J, Perkiömäki JS, Huikuri HV, Orini M, Munroe PB. ECG T-Wave Morphologic Variations Predict Ventricular Arrhythmic Risk in Low- and Moderate-Risk Populations. J Am Heart Assoc 2022; 11:e025897. [PMID: 36036209 PMCID: PMC9496440 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.121.025897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Background Early identification of individuals at risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) remains a major challenge. The ECG is a simple, common test, with potential for large-scale application. We developed and tested the predictive value of a novel index quantifying T-wave morphologic variations with respect to a normal reference (TMV), which only requires one beat and a single-lead ECG. Methods and Results We obtained reference T-wave morphologies from 23 962 participants in the UK Biobank study. With Cox models, we determined the association between TMV and life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia in an independent data set from UK Biobank study without a history of cardiovascular events (N=51 794; median follow-up of 122 months) and SCD in patients with coronary artery disease from ARTEMIS (N=1872; median follow-up of 60 months). In UK Biobank study, 220 (0.4%) individuals developed life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. TMV was significantly associated with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias (hazard ratio [HR] of 1.13 per SD increase [95% CI, 1.03-1.24]; P=0.009). In ARTEMIS, 34 (1.8%) individuals reached the primary end point. Patients with TMV ≥5 had an HR for SCD of 2.86 (95% CI, 1.40-5.84; P=0.004) with respect to those with TMV <5, independently from QRS duration, corrected QT interval, and left ventricular ejection fraction. TMV was not significantly associated with death from a cause other than SCD. Conclusions TMV identifies individuals at life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia and SCD risk using a single-beat single-lead ECG, enabling inexpensive, quick, and safe risk assessment in large populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Ramírez
- Clinical Pharmacology and Precision Medicine William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London London United Kingdom.,Aragon Institute of Engineering Research University of Zaragoza Zaragoza Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red - Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina Zaragoza Spain
| | - Antti Kiviniemi
- Research Unit of Internal Medicine Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital Oulu Finland
| | - Stefan van Duijvenboden
- Clinical Pharmacology and Precision Medicine William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London London United Kingdom.,Institute of Cardiovascular Science University College London London United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Tinker
- Clinical Pharmacology and Precision Medicine William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London London United Kingdom.,National Institute for Health and Care Research Barts Cardiovascular Biomedical Research Centre Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London London United Kingdom
| | - Pier D Lambiase
- Institute of Cardiovascular Science University College London London United Kingdom.,Barts Heart Centre St Bartholomew's Hospital London United Kingdom
| | - Juhani Junttila
- Research Unit of Internal Medicine Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital Oulu Finland
| | - Juha S Perkiömäki
- Research Unit of Internal Medicine Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital Oulu Finland
| | - Heikki V Huikuri
- Research Unit of Internal Medicine Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital Oulu Finland
| | - Michele Orini
- Institute of Cardiovascular Science University College London London United Kingdom.,Barts Heart Centre St Bartholomew's Hospital London United Kingdom
| | - Patricia B Munroe
- Clinical Pharmacology and Precision Medicine William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London London United Kingdom.,National Institute for Health and Care Research Barts Cardiovascular Biomedical Research Centre Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London London United Kingdom
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11
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Verrier RL, Pang TD, Nearing BD, Schachter SC. The Epileptic Heart and the Case for Routine Use of the Electrocardiogram in Patients with Chronic Epilepsy. Neurol Clin 2022; 40:699-716. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ncl.2022.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
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12
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Pang TD, Nearing BD, Verrier RL, Schachter SC. T-wave heterogeneity crescendo in the surface EKG is superior to heart rate acceleration for seizure prediction. Epilepsy Behav 2022; 130:108670. [PMID: 35367725 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2022.108670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
We examined whether T-wave heterogeneity (TWH) on the surface electrocardiographic (EKG) could predict epileptic seizure onset. Patients with electroencephalography-confirmed generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) (n = 6) exhibited abnormal elevations in TWH (>80 µV) at baseline (105 ± 20.4 µV), which increased from 30 min prior to seizure without heart rate increases > 2 beats/min until 10 min pre-seizure. Specifically, TWH on 3-lead surface EKG patch recordings increased from 1-hour baseline to 30 min (<0.05), 20 min (p < 0.002), 10 min (p = 0.01), and 1 min (p = 0.01) before seizure onset. At 10 min following GTCS, TWH returned to 110 ± 20.3 µV, similar to baseline (p = 0.54). This pre-ictal TWH warning pattern was not present in patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) (n = 3), as TWH did not increase until PNES and returned to baseline within 10 min after PNES. Acute elevations in TWH may predict impending GTCS and may discriminate patients with GTCS from those with behaviorally similar PNES.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trudy D Pang
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), Boston, MA, United States; Harvard Medical School, 99 Brookline Avenue, RN-301, Boston, MA 02215, United States.
| | - Bruce D Nearing
- Harvard Medical School, 99 Brookline Avenue, RN-301, Boston, MA 02215, United States; Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), Boston, MA, United States.
| | - Richard L Verrier
- Harvard Medical School, 99 Brookline Avenue, RN-301, Boston, MA 02215, United States; Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), Boston, MA, United States.
| | - Steven C Schachter
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), Boston, MA, United States; Harvard Medical School, 99 Brookline Avenue, RN-301, Boston, MA 02215, United States; Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Consortia for Improving Medicine with Innovation & Technology (CIMIT), 125 Nashua St., Suite 324, Boston, MA 02114, United States.
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13
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Verrier RL, Libbus I, Nearing BD, KenKnight BH. Multifactorial Benefits of Chronic Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Autonomic Function and Cardiac Electrical Stability in Heart Failure Patients With Reduced Ejection Fraction. Front Physiol 2022; 13:855756. [PMID: 35431984 PMCID: PMC9005779 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.855756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction is a progressive disease that claims > 352,000 lives annually in the United States alone. Despite the development of an extensive array of pharmacologic and device therapies, prognosis remains poor. Disruption in autonomic balance in the form of heightened sympathetic nerve activity and reduced vagal tone have been established as major causes of heart failure progression. Interest in chronic neuromodulation mediated by vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has intensified in recent years. This review focuses on four main goals: (1) To review the preclinical evidence that supports the concept of a cardioprotective effect of VNS on autonomic function and cardiac electrical stability along with the underlying putative mechanisms. (2) To present the initial clinical experience with chronic VNS in patients with heart failure and highlight the controversial aspects of the findings. (3) To discuss the latest findings of the multifactorial effects of VNS on autonomic tone, baroreceptor sensitivity, and cardiac electrical stability and the state-of-the-art methods employed to monitor these relationships. (4) To discuss the implications of the current findings and the gaps in knowledge that require attention in future investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard L. Verrier
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- *Correspondence: Richard L. Verrier, , orcid.org/0000-0001-5602-6793
| | - Imad Libbus
- LivaNova USA, Inc., Houston, TX, United States
| | - Bruce D. Nearing
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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14
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Verrier RL, Pang TD, Nearing BD, Schachter SC. Prolonged QT Interval Predicts All-Cause Mortality in Epilepsy Patients: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Implications. Heart Rhythm 2022; 19:585-587. [PMID: 35033664 DOI: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2022.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Richard L Verrier
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston MA, USA.
| | - Trudy D Pang
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston MA, USA
| | - Bruce D Nearing
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston MA, USA
| | - Steven C Schachter
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston MA, USA; Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston MA, USA; Consortia for Improving Medicine with Innovation & Technology (CIMIT), Boston MA, USA
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15
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Verrier RL, Kumar K. Conduction system versus biventricular pacing: Getting double for your trouble. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 2021; 33:296-298. [PMID: 34908210 DOI: 10.1111/jce.15319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Richard L Verrier
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kapil Kumar
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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16
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Araujo Silva B, Hauser TH, Nearing BD, Bortolotto AL, Marum AA, Tessarolo Silva F, Medeiros SA, Pedreira GC, Gervino EV, Verrier RL. Regadenoson-induced T-wave heterogeneity complements coronary stenosis detection by myocardial perfusion imaging in men and women. Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging 2021; 22:1341-1349. [PMID: 32620962 DOI: 10.1093/ehjci/jeaa128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2019] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS We analysed whether incorporating electrocardiographic interlead T-wave heterogeneity (TWH) with myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) during pharmacologic stress improves detection of flow-limiting lesions (FLL). METHODS AND RESULTS Medical records of all 103 patients at our institution who underwent stress testing with regadenoson (0.4 mg IV bolus) within 3 months of coronary angiography from September 2017 to March 2019 were studied. Cases (N = 59) had angiographically significant FLL (≥50% of left main or ≥70% of other epicardial coronary arteries ≥2 mm in diameter); controls (N = 44) were normal or had non-FLL. TWH, i.e., interlead splay of T waves, was assessed from precordial leads V4-6 by second central moment analysis. Maximum TWHV4-6 levels during regadenoson stress were 68% higher in cases than in controls (P < 0.0001). TWHV4-6 generated areas under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve of 0.79 in men (P < 0.0001) and 0.71 in women (P = 0.007). In men, the ROC-guided 54-µV TWHV4-6 cut-point for FLL produced adjusted odds of 7.3 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.3-41.5, P = 0.03], 79% sensitivity, and 78% specificity. In women, the ROC-guided 35-µV TWHV4-6 cut-point produced adjusted odds of 4.5 (95% CI: 1.1-18.9, P = 0.04), 84% sensitivity, and 52% specificity. Adding TWHV4-6 to MPI determinations reduced false-positive results by 70%, more than doubled true-negative results, and improved adjusted odds ratio to 6.8 (95% CI: 2.2-21.4, P = 0.001) with specificity of 78% in men and 86% in women. CONCLUSION This observational study is the first to demonstrate the benefit of combining TWHV4-6 with MPI to enhance FLL detection during MPI with regadenoson in both men and women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruna Araujo Silva
- Cardiovascular Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA.,Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Doutor Arnaldo, 255, São Paulo, SP, 05430-000, Brazil
| | - Thomas H Hauser
- Cardiovascular Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA.,Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Bruce D Nearing
- Cardiovascular Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA.,Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Alexandre L Bortolotto
- Cardiovascular Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA.,Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Doutor Arnaldo, 255, São Paulo, SP, 05430-000, Brazil
| | - Alexandre A Marum
- Cardiovascular Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA.,Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Doutor Arnaldo, 255, São Paulo, SP, 05430-000, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Tessarolo Silva
- Cardiovascular Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA.,Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Doutor Arnaldo, 255, São Paulo, SP, 05430-000, Brazil
| | - Sofia A Medeiros
- Cardiovascular Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA.,Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Doutor Arnaldo, 255, São Paulo, SP, 05430-000, Brazil
| | - Giovanna C Pedreira
- Cardiovascular Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA.,Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Doutor Arnaldo, 255, São Paulo, SP, 05430-000, Brazil
| | - Ernest V Gervino
- Cardiovascular Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA.,Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Richard L Verrier
- Cardiovascular Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA.,Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
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17
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Verrier RL, Nearing BD, D'Avila A. Spectrum of clinical applications of interlead ECG heterogeneity assessment: From myocardial ischemia detection to sudden cardiac death risk stratification. Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2021; 26:e12894. [PMID: 34592018 PMCID: PMC8588374 DOI: 10.1111/anec.12894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Heterogeneity in depolarization and repolarization among regions of cardiac cells has long been recognized as a major factor in cardiac arrhythmogenesis. This fundamental principle has motivated development of noninvasive techniques for quantification of heterogeneity using the surface electrocardiogram (ECG). The initial approaches focused on interval analysis such as interlead QT dispersion and Tpeak -Tend difference. However, because of inherent difficulties in measuring the termination point of the T wave and commonly encountered irregularities in the apex of the T wave, additional techniques have been pursued. The newer methods incorporate assessment of the entire morphology of the T wave and in some cases of the R wave as well. This goal has been accomplished using a number of promising vectorial approaches with the resting 12-lead ECG. An important limitation of vectorcardiographic analyses is that they require exquisite stability of the recordings and are not inherently suitable for use in exercise tolerance testing (ETT) and/or ambulatory ECG monitoring for provocative stress testing or evaluation of the influence of daily activities on cardiac electrical instability. The objectives of the present review are to describe a technique that has been under clinical evaluation for nearly a decade, termed "interlead ECG heterogeneity." Preclinical testing data will be briefly reviewed. We will discuss the main clinical findings with regard to sudden cardiac death risk stratification, heart failure evaluation, and myocardial ischemia detection using standard recording platforms including resting 12-lead ECG, ambulatory ECG monitoring, ETT, and pharmacologic stress testing in conjunction with single-photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard L Verrier
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bruce D Nearing
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Andre D'Avila
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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18
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Verrier RL, Pang TD, Nearing BD, Schachter SC. Epileptic heart: A clinical syndromic approach. Epilepsia 2021; 62:1780-1789. [PMID: 34236079 DOI: 10.1111/epi.16966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Prevention of premature death in patients with chronic epilepsy remains a major challenge. Multiple pathophysiologic factors have been implicated, with intense investigation of cardiorespiratory mechanisms. Up to four in five patients with chronic epilepsy exhibit cardiovascular comorbidities. These findings led us to propose the concept of an "epileptic heart," defined as "a heart and coronary vasculature damaged by chronic epilepsy as a result of repeated surges in catecholamines and hypoxemia leading to electrical and mechanical dysfunction." Among the most prominent changes documented in the literature are high incidence of myocardial infarction and arrhythmia, altered autonomic tone, diastolic dysfunction, hyperlipidemia, and accelerated atherosclerosis. This suite of pathologic changes prompted us to propose for the first time in this review a syndromic approach for improved clinical detection of the epileptic heart condition. In this review, we discuss the key pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying the candidate criteria along with standard and novel techniques that permit evaluation of each of these factors. Specifically, we present evidence of the utility of standard 12-lead, ambulatory, and multiday patch-based electrocardiograms, along with measures of cardiac electrical instability, including T-wave alternans, heart rate variability to detect altered autonomic tone, echocardiography to detect diastolic dysfunction, and plasma biomarkers for assessing hyperlipidemia and accelerated atherosclerosis. Ultimately, the proposed clinical syndromic approach is intended to improve monitoring and evaluation of cardiac risk in patients with chronic epilepsy to foster improved therapeutic strategies to reduce premature cardiac death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard L Verrier
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Trudy D Pang
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bruce D Nearing
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Steven C Schachter
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Consortia for Improving Medicine with Innovation and Technology, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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19
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Monteiro FR, Rabelo Evangelista AB, Nearing BD, Medeiros SA, Tessarolo Silva F, Pedreira GC, Ullman E, Gervino EV, Verrier RL. T-wave heterogeneity in standard resting 12-lead ECGs is associated with 90-day cardiac mortality in women following emergency department admission: A nested case-control study. Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2021; 26:e12826. [PMID: 33543816 PMCID: PMC8164148 DOI: 10.1111/anec.12826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background We investigated whether T‐wave heterogeneity (TWH) can identify patients who are at risk for near‐term cardiac mortality. Methods A nested case–control analysis was performed in the 888 patients admitted to the Emergency Department (ED) of our medical center in July through September 2018 who had ≥2 serial troponin measurement tests within 6 hr for acute coronary syndrome evaluation to rule‐in or rule‐out the presence of acute myocardial infarction. Patients who died from cardiac causes during 90 days after ED admission were considered cases (n = 20; 10 women) and were matched 1:4 on sex and age with patients who survived during this period (n = 80, 40 women). TWH, that is, interlead splay of T waves, was automatically assessed from precordial leads by second central moment analysis. Results TWHV4‐6 was significantly elevated at ED admission in 12‐lead resting ECGs of female patients who died of cardiac causes during the following 90 days compared to female survivors (100 ± 14.9 vs. 40 ± 3.6 µV, p < .0001). TWHV4‐6 generated areas under the receiver‐operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) of 0.933 in women (p < .0001) and 0.573 in men (p = .4). In women, the ROC‐guided 48‐µV TWHV4‐6 cut point for near‐term cardiac mortality produced an adjusted odds ratio of 121.37 (95% CI: 2.89–6,699.84; p = .02) with 100% sensitivity and 82.5% specificity. In Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, TWHV4‐6 ≥ 48 µV predicted cardiac mortality in women during 90‐day follow‐up with a hazard ratio of 27.84 (95% CI: 7.29–106.36, p < .0001). Conclusion Elevated TWHV4‐6 is associated with near‐term cardiac mortality among women evaluated for acute coronary syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe R Monteiro
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.,Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ana B Rabelo Evangelista
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.,Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Bruce D Nearing
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sofia A Medeiros
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.,Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Tessarolo Silva
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.,Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Giovanna C Pedreira
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.,Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Edward Ullman
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ernest V Gervino
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Richard L Verrier
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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20
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Young WJ, van Duijvenboden S, Ramírez J, Jones A, Tinker A, Munroe PB, Lambiase PD, Orini M. A Method to Minimise the Impact of ECG Marker Inaccuracies on the Spatial QRS-T angle: Evaluation on 1,512 Manually Annotated ECGs. Biomed Signal Process Control 2021; 64:102305. [PMID: 33537064 PMCID: PMC7762839 DOI: 10.1016/j.bspc.2020.102305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Inaccuracies of QRS and T-wave markers significantly impact QRS-Ta estimation. These errors influence the classification of clinically relevant abnormal values. Our algorithm provides robust measurements in the presence of inaccurate VCG markers. We present for the first time, the distribution of the QRS-Ta in a large cohort.
The spatial QRS-T angle (QRS-Ta) derived from the vectorcardiogram (VCG) is a strong risk predictor for ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death with potential use for mass screening. Accurate QRS-Ta estimation in the presence of ECG delineation errors is crucial for its deployment as a prognostic test. Our study assessed the effect of inaccurate QRS and T-wave marker placement on QRS-Ta estimation and proposes a robust method for its calculation. Reference QRS-Ta measurements were derived from 1,512 VCGs manually annotated by three expert reviewers. We systematically changed onset and offset timings of QRS and T-wave markers to simulate inaccurate placement. The QRS-Ta was recalculated using a standard approach and our proposed algorithm, which limits the impact of VCG marker inaccuracies by defining the vector origin as an interval preceding QRS-onset and redefines the beginning and end of QRS and T-wave loops. Using the standard approach, mean absolute errors (MAE) in peak QRS-Ta were >40% and sensitivity and precision in the detection of abnormality (>105°) were <80% and <65% respectively, when QRS-onset was delayed or QRS-offset anticipated >15 ms. Using our proposed algorithm, MAE for peak QRS-Ta were reduced to <4% and sensitivity and precision of abnormality were >94% for inaccuracies up to ±15 ms. Similar results were obtained for mean QRS-Ta. In conclusion, inaccuracies of QRS and T-wave markers can significantly influence the QRS-Ta. Our proposed algorithm provides robust QRS-Ta measurements in the presence of inaccurate VCG annotation, enabling its use in large datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- William J Young
- Clinical Pharmacology Department, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, EC1M 6BQ, United Kingdom.,Barts Heart Centre, St Bartholomew's Hospital, Barts Health NHS trust, London, EC1A 7BE, United Kingdom
| | - Stefan van Duijvenboden
- Clinical Pharmacology Department, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, EC1M 6BQ, United Kingdom.,Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of College London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Julia Ramírez
- Clinical Pharmacology Department, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, EC1M 6BQ, United Kingdom.,Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of College London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Aled Jones
- Clinical Pharmacology Department, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, EC1M 6BQ, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Tinker
- Clinical Pharmacology Department, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, EC1M 6BQ, United Kingdom
| | - Patricia B Munroe
- Clinical Pharmacology Department, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, EC1M 6BQ, United Kingdom
| | - Pier D Lambiase
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of College London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.,Barts Heart Centre, St Bartholomew's Hospital, Barts Health NHS trust, London, EC1A 7BE, United Kingdom
| | - Michele Orini
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of College London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.,Barts Heart Centre, St Bartholomew's Hospital, Barts Health NHS trust, London, EC1A 7BE, United Kingdom
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Rahola JT, Kiviniemi AM, Ukkola OH, Tulppo MP, Junttila MJ, Huikuri HV, Kenttä TV, Perkiömäki JS. Temporal variability of T-wave morphology and risk of sudden cardiac death in patients with coronary artery disease. Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2021; 26:e12830. [PMID: 33486851 PMCID: PMC8164143 DOI: 10.1111/anec.12830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The possible relationship between temporal variability of electrocardiographic spatial heterogeneity of repolarization and the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) is not completely understood. Methods The standard deviation of T‐wave morphology dispersion (TMD‐SD), of QRST angle (QRSTA‐SD), and of T‐wave area dispersion (TW‐Ad‐SD) were analyzed on beat‐to‐beat basis from 10 min period of the baseline electrocardiographic recording in ARTEMIS study patients with angiographically verified CAD. Results After on average of 8.6 ± 2.3 years of follow‐up, a total of 66 of the 1,678 present study subjects (3.9%) had experienced SCD or were resuscitated from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). TMD‐SD was most closely associated with the risk for SCD and was significantly higher in patients who had experienced SCD/SCA compared with those who remained alive (3.61 ± 2.83 vs. 2.64 ± 2.52, p = .008, respectively), but did not differ significantly between the patients who had experienced non‐SCD (n = 71, 4.2%) and those who remained alive (3.20 ± 2.73 vs. 2.65 ± 2.53, p = .077, respectively) or between the patients who succumbed to non‐cardiac death (n = 164, 9.8%) and those who stayed alive (2.64 ± 2.17 vs. 2.68 ± 2.58, p = .853). After adjustments with relevant clinical risk indicators of SCD/SCA, TMD‐SD still predicted SCD/SCA (HR 1.107, 95% CIs 1.035–1.185, p = .003). Conclusions Temporal variability of electrocardiographic spatial heterogeneity of repolarization represented by TMD‐SD independently predicts long‐term risk of SCD/SCA in patients with CAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janne T Rahola
- Research Unit of Internal Medicine, Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Antti M Kiviniemi
- Research Unit of Internal Medicine, Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Olavi H Ukkola
- Research Unit of Internal Medicine, Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Mikko P Tulppo
- Department of Physiology, Research Unit of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - M Juhani Junttila
- Research Unit of Internal Medicine, Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Heikki V Huikuri
- Research Unit of Internal Medicine, Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Tuomas V Kenttä
- Research Unit of Internal Medicine, Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Juha S Perkiömäki
- Research Unit of Internal Medicine, Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
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Nearing BD, Anand IS, Libbus I, Dicarlo LA, Kenknight BH, Verrier RL. Vagus Nerve Stimulation Provides Multiyear Improvements in Autonomic Function and Cardiac Electrical Stability in the ANTHEM-HF Study. J Card Fail 2020; 27:208-216. [PMID: 33049374 DOI: 10.1016/j.cardfail.2020.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (HFrEF) experience long-term deterioration of autonomic function and cardiac electrical stability linked to increased mortality risk. The Autonomic Neural Regulation Therapy to Enhance Myocardial Function in Heart Failure (ANTHEM-HF) trial reported improved heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate turbulence (HRT) and reduced T-wave alternans (TWA) after 12 months of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS). We investigated whether the benefits of chronic VNS persist in the long term. METHODS AND RESULTS Effects of chronic VNS on heart rate, HRV, HRT, TWA, R-wave and T-wave heterogeneity (RWH, TWH), and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) incidence were evaluated in all ANTHEM-HF patients with ambulatory ECG data at 24 and 36 months (n = 25). Autonomic markers improved significantly at 24 and 36 months compared to baseline [heart rate, square root of the mean squared differences of successive normal-to-normal intervals (rMSSD), standard deviation of the normal-to-normal intervals (SDNN), HF-HRV, HRT slope, P < 0.05]. Peak TWA levels remained reduced at 24 and 36 months (P < 0.0001). Reductions in RWH and TWH at 6 and 12 months persisted at 24 and 36 months (P < 0.01). NSVT decreased at 12, 24, and 36 months (P < 0.025). No sudden cardiac deaths, ventricular fibrillation, or sustained ventricular tachycardia occurred. CONCLUSION In symptomatic patients with HFrEF, chronic VNS appears to confer wide-ranging, persistent improvements in autonomic tone (HRV), baroreceptor sensitivity (HRT), and cardiac electrical stability (TWA, RWH, TWH).
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce D Nearing
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | | | | | | | - Richard L Verrier
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
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Arteyeva NV. Dispersion of ventricular repolarization: Temporal and spatial. World J Cardiol 2020; 12:437-449. [PMID: 33014291 PMCID: PMC7509993 DOI: 10.4330/wjc.v12.i9.437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Repolarization heterogeneity (RH) is an intrinsic property of ventricular myocardium and the reason for T-wave formation on electrocardiogram (ECG). Exceeding the physiologically based RH level is associated with appearance of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. In this regard, an accurate and comprehensive evaluation of the degree of RH parameters is of importance for assessment of heart state and arrhythmic risk. This review is devoted to comprehensive consideration of RH phenomena in terms of electrophysiological processes underlying RH, cardiac electric field formation during ventricular repolarization, as well as clinical significance of RH and its reflection on ECG parameters. The formation of transmural, apicobasal, left-to-right and anterior-posterior gradients of action potential durations and end of repolarization times resulting from the heterogenous distribution of repolarizing ion currents and action potential morphology throughout the heart ventricles, and the different sensitivity of myocardial cells in different ventricular regions to the action of pharmacological agents, temperature, frequency of stimulation, etc., are being discussed. The review is focused on the fact that RH has different aspects – temporal and spatial, global and local; ECG reflection of various RH aspects and their clinical significance are being discussed. Strategies for comprehensive assessment of ventricular RH using different ECG indices reflecting various RH aspects are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia V Arteyeva
- Laboratory of Cardiac Physiology, Institute of Physiology of Komi Science Centre of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Syktyvkar 167982, Russia
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Bortolotto AL, Verrier RL, Nearing BD, Marum AA, Araujo Silva B, Pedreira GC, Tessarolo Silva F, Medeiros SA, Sroubek J, Zimetbaum PJ, Chang JD. Preimplantation interlead ECG heterogeneity is superior to QRS complex duration in predicting mechanical super-response in patients with non-left bundle branch block receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy. Heart Rhythm 2020; 17:1887-1896. [PMID: 32497764 DOI: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2020.05.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reliable quantitative preimplantation predictors of response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) are needed. OBJECTIVE We tested the utility of preimplantation R-wave and T-wave heterogeneity (RWH and TWH, respectively) compared to standard QRS complex duration in identifying mechanical super-responders to CRT and mortality risk. METHODS We analyzed resting 12-lead electrocardiographic recordings from all 155 patients who received CRT devices between 2006 and 2018 at our institution and met class I and IIA American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association/Heart Rhythm Society guidelines with echocardiograms before and after implantation. Super-responders (n=35, 23%) had ≥20% increase in left ventricular ejection fraction and/or ≥20% decrease in left ventricular end-systolic diameter and were compared with non-super-responders (n=120, 77%), who did not meet these criteria. RWH and TWH were measured using second central moment analysis. RESULTS Among patients with non-left bundle branch block (LBBB), preimplantation RWH was significantly lower in super-responders than in non-super-responders in 3 of 4 lead sets (P=.001 to P=.038) and TWH in 2 lead sets (both, P=.05), with the corresponding areas under the curve (RWH: 0.810-0.891, P<.001; TWH: 0.759-0.810, P≤.005). No differences were observed in the LBBB group. Preimplantation QRS complex duration also did not differ between super-responders and non-super-responders among patients with (P=.856) or without (P=.724) LBBB; the areas under the curve were nonsignificant (both, P=.69). RWHV1-3LILII ≥ 420 μV predicted 3-year all-cause mortality in the entire cohort (P=.037), with a hazard ratio of 7.440 (95% confidence interval 1.015-54.527; P=.048); QRS complex duration ≥ 150 ms did not predict mortality (P=.27). CONCLUSION Preimplantation interlead electrocardiographic heterogeneity but not QRS complex duration predicts mechanical super-response to CRT in patients with non-LBBB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre L Bortolotto
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts; Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Richard L Verrier
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
| | - Bruce D Nearing
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Alexandre A Marum
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts; Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Bruna Araujo Silva
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts; Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Giovanna C Pedreira
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts; Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Tessarolo Silva
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts; Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sofia A Medeiros
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts; Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jakub Sroubek
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Peter J Zimetbaum
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - James D Chang
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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Verrier RL, Pang TD, Nearing BD, Schachter SC. The Epileptic Heart: Concept and clinical evidence. Epilepsy Behav 2020; 105:106946. [PMID: 32109857 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.106946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Revised: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is generally considered to result from a seizure, typically convulsive and usually but not always occurring during sleep, followed by a sequence of events in the postictal period starting with respiratory distress and progressing to eventual cardiac asystole and death. Yet, recent community-based studies indicate a 3-fold greater incidence of sudden cardiac death in patients with chronic epilepsy than in the general population, and that in 66% of cases, the cardiac arrest occurred during routine daily activity and without a temporal relationship with a typical seizure. To distinguish a primarily cardiac cause of death in patients with epilepsy from the above description of SUDEP, we propose the concept of the "Epileptic Heart" as "a heart and coronary vasculature damaged by chronic epilepsy as a result of repeated surges in catecholamines and hypoxemia leading to electrical and mechanical dysfunction." This review starts with an overview of the pathophysiological and other lines of evidence supporting the biological plausibility of the Epileptic Heart, followed by a description of tools that have been used to generate new electrocardiogram (EKG)-derived data in patients with epilepsy that strongly support the Epileptic Heart concept and its propensity to cause sudden cardiac death in patients with epilepsy independent of an immediately preceding seizure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard L Verrier
- Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and Department of Neurology, Boston, MA United States of America.
| | - Trudy D Pang
- Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and Department of Neurology, Boston, MA United States of America
| | - Bruce D Nearing
- Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and Department of Neurology, Boston, MA United States of America
| | - Steven C Schachter
- Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and Department of Neurology, Boston, MA United States of America
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Sánez Tähtisalo H, Hiltunen TP, Kenttä T, Junttila J, Oikarinen L, Virolainen J, Kontula KK, Porthan K. Effect of four classes of antihypertensive drugs on cardiac repolarization heterogeneity: A double-blind rotational study. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0230655. [PMID: 32208439 PMCID: PMC7092984 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background T-wave area dispersion (TW-Ad) is a novel electrocardiographic (ECG) repolarization marker associated with sudden cardiac death. However, limited data is available on the clinical correlates of TW-Ad. In addition, there are no previous studies on cardiovascular drug effects on TW-Ad. In this study, we examined the relation between TW-Ad and left ventricular mass. We also studied the effects of four commonly used antihypertensive drugs on TW-Ad. Methods A total of 242 moderately hypertensive males (age, 51±6 years; office systolic/diastolic blood pressure during placebo, 153±14/100±8 mmHg), participating in the GENRES study, were included. Left ventricular mass index was determined by transthoracic echocardiography. Antihypertensive four-week monotherapies (a diuretic, a beta-blocker, a calcium channel blocker, and an angiotensin receptor antagonist) were administered in a randomized rotational fashion. Four-week placebo periods preceded all monotherapies. The average value of measurements (over 1700 ECGs in total) from all available placebo periods served as a reference to which measurements during each drug period were compared. Results Lower, i.e. risk-associated TW-Ad values correlated with a higher left ventricular mass index (r = −0.14, p = 0.03). Bisoprolol, a beta-blocker, elicited a positive change in TW-Ad (p = 1.9×10−5), but the three other drugs had no significant effect on TW-Ad. Conclusions Our results show that TW-Ad is correlated with left ventricular mass and can be modified favorably by the use of bisoprolol, although demonstration of any effects on clinical endpoints requires long-term prospective studies. Altogether, our results suggest that TW-Ad is an ECG repolarization measure of left ventricular arrhythmogenic substrate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heini Sánez Tähtisalo
- Department of Medicine, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Research Program for Clinical and Molecular Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Timo P. Hiltunen
- Department of Medicine, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Research Program for Clinical and Molecular Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- * E-mail:
| | - Tuomas Kenttä
- Research Unit of Internal Medicine, Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Juhani Junttila
- Research Unit of Internal Medicine, Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Lasse Oikarinen
- Division of Cardiology, Heart and Lung Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Juha Virolainen
- Division of Cardiology, Heart and Lung Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kimmo K. Kontula
- Department of Medicine, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Research Program for Clinical and Molecular Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kimmo Porthan
- Division of Cardiology, Heart and Lung Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Medicine, University of Helsinki and Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, Helsinki, Finland
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Arteyeva NV, Azarov JE. ECG markers of local but not global increase in dispersion of ventricular repolarization (simulation study). J Electrocardiol 2020; 60:54-59. [PMID: 32268231 DOI: 10.1016/j.jelectrocard.2020.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND An increase in local dispersion of repolarization (DOR) may contribute more to arrhythmogenesis as compared to changes of global DOR. The aim of this simulation study was to find ECG markers of local increase in DOR in conditions where global DOR remains normal. METHODS In the framework of van Oosterom and Oostendorp ECGSIM model, the local DOR was increased in 10 different ventricular locations by (1) action potential duration (APD) shortening/lengthening both on epi- and endocardium, (2) epicardial APD shortening, and (3) endocardial APD shortening. The simulation cases where the increase in local DOR was accompanied by increase in global DOR were excluded from consideration. T-wave parameters were analyzed in the simulated precordial and anatomically ordered limb leads. RESULTS The increase in local DOR resulted in increased lead-to‑lead differences in Tpeak and Tend instants in 28 out of 32 simulated scenarios, and in an increased dispersion of Tpeak-Tend interval throughout 12 standard leads in 8 out of 32 simulated scenarios. In all simulations, the global DOR measured as a difference between earliest and latest repolarization times and standard APD deviation was the same. CONCLUSIONS The local increase in DOR was expressed in increased lead-to‑lead differences in Tpeak and Tend instants between adjacent anatomically ordered standard leads (aVL, I, aVR(-), II, aVF, III, and V1-V6), even if global DOR, Tpeak-Tend interval and Tpeak-Tend dispersion were within a normal range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia V Arteyeva
- Department of Cardiac Physiology, Institute of Physiology, Komi Science Center, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 50, Pervomayskaya st., Syktyvkar 167982, Russia.
| | - Jan E Azarov
- Department of Cardiac Physiology, Institute of Physiology, Komi Science Center, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 50, Pervomayskaya st., Syktyvkar 167982, Russia; Department of Physiology, Medical Institute of Pitirim Sorokin, Syktyvkar State University, 11, Babushkin st., Syktyvkar 167000, Russia
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Verrier RL. Altered mechano-electrical coupling: An underappreciated factor in sympathetically mediated torsades de pointes in the long QT1 syndrome. Int J Cardiol 2019; 286:81-82. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2019.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Stocco FG, Evaristo E, Shah NR, Cheezum MK, Hainer J, Foster C, Nearing BD, Gervino E, Verrier RL. Marked exercise-induced T-wave heterogeneity in symptomatic diabetic patients with nonflow-limiting coronary artery stenosis. Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2018; 23:e12503. [PMID: 28949056 PMCID: PMC6495190 DOI: 10.1111/anec.12503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2017] [Accepted: 08/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND T-wave heterogeneity (TWH) independently predicted cardiovascular mortality in Health Survey 2000 based on 12-lead ECGs recorded at rest. We investigated whether TWH is elevated during exercise tolerance testing (ETT) in symptomatic diabetic patients with nonflow-limiting coronary artery stenosis compared to control subjects without diabetes. METHODS Cases were all patients (n = 20) with analyzable ECG recordings during both rest and ETT who were enrolled in the Effects of Ranolazine on Coronary Flow Reserve (CFR) in Symptomatic Patients with Diabetes and Suspected or Known Coronary Artery Disease (RAND-CFR) study (NCT01754259); median CFR was 1.44; 80% of cases had CFR <2. Control subjects (n = 9) were nondiabetic patients who had functional flow reserve (FFR) >0.8, a range not associated with inducible ischemia. TWH was analyzed from precordial leads V4 , V5 , and V6 by second central moment analysis, which assesses the interlead splay of T-waves about a mean waveform. RESULTS During exercise to similar rate-pressure products (p = .31), RAND-CFR patients exhibited a 49% increase in TWH during exercise (rest: 49 ± 5 μV; exercise: 73 ± 8 μV, p = .003). By comparison, in control subjects, TWH was not significantly altered (rest: 52 ± 11 μV; ETT: 38 ± 5 μV, p = .19). ETT-induced ST-segment depression >1 mm (p = .11) and Tpeak -Tend (p = .18) and QTc intervals (p = .80) failed to differentiate cases from controls. CONCLUSIONS TWH is capable of detecting latent repolarization abnormalities, which are present during ETT in diabetic patients with nonflow-limiting stenosis but not in control subjects. The technique developed in this study permits TWH analysis from archived ECGs and thereby enables mining of extensive databases for retrospective studies and hypothesis testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando G. Stocco
- University of Sao Paulo School of MedicineSao PauloBrazil
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical CenterBostonMAUSA
| | - Ederson Evaristo
- University of Sao Paulo School of MedicineSao PauloBrazil
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical CenterBostonMAUSA
| | - Nishant R. Shah
- Brigham & Women's HospitalBostonMAUSA
- Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMAUSA
- Brown University Warren Alpert Medical SchoolProvidenceRIUSA
| | | | | | | | - Bruce D. Nearing
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical CenterBostonMAUSA
- Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMAUSA
| | - Ernest Gervino
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical CenterBostonMAUSA
- Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMAUSA
| | - Richard L. Verrier
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical CenterBostonMAUSA
- Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMAUSA
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Pirkola JM, Konttinen M, Kenttä TV, Holmström LTA, Junttila MJ, Ukkola OH, Huikuri HV, Perkiömäki JS. Prognostic value of T-wave morphology parameters in coronary artery disease in current treatment era. Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2018; 23:e12539. [PMID: 29484764 DOI: 10.1111/anec.12539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prognostic value of T-wave morphology parameters in coronary artery disease in the current treatment era is not well established. METHODS The Innovation to reduce Cardiovascular Complications of Diabetes at the Intersection (ARTEMIS) study included 1,946 patients with angiographically verified coronary artery disease (CAD). The study patients underwent thorough examinations including 12-lead digital electrocardiogram (ECG) at baseline. RESULTS During a follow-up period of 73 ± 22 months, a total of 201 (10.3%) patients died. Of the study patients, 95 (4.9%) experienced cardiac death (CD) consisting of 44 (2.3%) sudden cardiac deaths (SCD) and 51 (2.6%) nonsudden cardiac deaths (NSCD), and 106 (5.4%) patients experienced noncardiac death (NCD). T-wave morphology dispersion (TMD), T-wave area dispersion (TWAD), and total cosine R-to-T (TCRT) had a significant association with CD even after adjustment with relevant clinical risk markers in the Cox regression analysis (multivariate HRs: 1.015, 95% CI 1.007-1.023, p = .0003; 0.474, 95% CI 0.305-0.737, p = .0009; 0.598, 95% CI 0.412-0.866, p = .006, respectively). When including these parameters to the clinical risk model for CD, the C-index increased from 0.810 to 0.823 improving the discrimination significantly (integrated discrimination index [IDI] = 0.0118, 95% CI 0.0028-0.0208, p = .01). These parameters were more closely associated with NSCD (multivariate p-values from .016 to .001) than with SCD (univariate/multivariate p-values for TMD .015/.197 and for TCRT .012/.43). CONCLUSION T-wave morphology parameters describing repolarization heterogeneity improve the predictive power of the clinical risk model for CD in patients with CAD in the current treatment era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joni M Pirkola
- Research Unit of Internal Medicine, Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Maija Konttinen
- Research Unit of Internal Medicine, Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Tuomas V Kenttä
- Research Unit of Internal Medicine, Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Lauri T A Holmström
- Research Unit of Internal Medicine, Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - M Juhani Junttila
- Research Unit of Internal Medicine, Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Olavi H Ukkola
- Research Unit of Internal Medicine, Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Heikki V Huikuri
- Research Unit of Internal Medicine, Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Juha S Perkiömäki
- Research Unit of Internal Medicine, Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
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Nishikii-Tachibana M, Pargaonkar VS, Schnittger I, Haddad F, Rogers IS, Tremmel JA, Wang PJ. Myocardial bridging is associated with exercise-induced ventricular arrhythmia and increases in QT dispersion. Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2017; 23:e12492. [PMID: 28921787 PMCID: PMC6931813 DOI: 10.1111/anec.12492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2017] [Accepted: 07/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A myocardial bridge (MB) has been associated with ventricular arrhythmia and sudden death during exercise. QT dispersion (QTd) is a measure of abnormal repolarization and may predict ventricular arrhythmia. We investigated the frequency of ventricular arrhythmias during exercise and the QTd at rest and after exercise, in patients with an MB compared to a normal cohort. METHODS We studied the rest and stress ECG tracings of patients with an MB suspected by focal septal buckling on exercise echocardiography (EE) (Echo-MB group, N = 510), those with an MB confirmed by another examination (MB group, N = 110), and healthy controls (Control group, N = 198). RESULTS The frequency of exercise-induced premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) was significantly higher in the Echo-MB and MB groups compared with the Control group (both p < .001). In all, 25 patients (4.9%) in the Echo-MB group, seven patients (6.4%) in the MB group and no patients in the Control group had exercise-induced non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT). There was no difference in the baseline QTd between the groups. In the Echo-MB and MB groups, QTd postexercise increased significantly when compared with baseline (both p < .001). Patients with NSVT had a higher frequency of male gender and an even greater increase in QTd with exercise compared with the non-NSVT group. DISCUSSION There is an increased frequency of exercise-induced PVCs and NSVT in patients with MBs. Exercise significantly increases QTd in MB patients, with an even greater increase in QTd in MB patients with NSVT. Exercise in MB patients results in ventricular arrhythmias and abnormalities in repolarization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makiko Nishikii-Tachibana
- The Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.,Cardiovascular Division, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Vedant S Pargaonkar
- The Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ingela Schnittger
- The Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Francois Haddad
- The Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ian S Rogers
- The Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer A Tremmel
- The Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Paul J Wang
- The Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
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Tan AY, Nearing BD, Rosenberg M, Nezafat R, Josephson ME, Verrier RL. Interlead heterogeneity of R- and T-wave morphology in standard 12-lead ECGs predicts sustained ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation and arrhythmic death in patients with cardiomyopathy. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 2017; 28:1324-1333. [DOI: 10.1111/jce.13288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2017] [Revised: 06/15/2017] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alex Y. Tan
- Electrophysiology Section, Division of Cardiology; Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center; Pauley Heart Center; Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine; Richmond VA USA
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine; Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Harvard Medical School; Boston MA USA
| | - Bruce D. Nearing
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine; Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Harvard Medical School; Boston MA USA
| | - Michael Rosenberg
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine; Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Harvard Medical School; Boston MA USA
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine; University of Colorado School of Medicine; Denver CO USA
| | - Reza Nezafat
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine; Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Harvard Medical School; Boston MA USA
| | - Mark E. Josephson
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine; Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Harvard Medical School; Boston MA USA
| | - Richard L. Verrier
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine; Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Harvard Medical School; Boston MA USA
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Evaristo E, Stocco FG, Shah NR, Cheezum MK, Hainer J, Foster C, Nearing BD, Di Carli M, Verrier RL. Ranolazine reduces repolarization heterogeneity in symptomatic patients with diabetes and non-flow-limiting coronary artery stenosis. Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2017; 23. [PMID: 28653394 DOI: 10.1111/anec.12480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Accepted: 05/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Experimental evidence suggests that ranolazine decreases susceptibility to ischemia-induced arrhythmias independent of effects on coronary artery blood flow. OBJECTIVE In symptomatic diabetic patients with non-flow-limiting coronary artery stenosis with diffuse atherosclerosis and/or microvascular dysfunction, we explored whether ranolazine reduces T-wave heterogeneity (TWH), an electrocardiographic (ECG) marker of arrhythmogenic repolarization abnormalities shown to predict sudden cardiac death. METHODS We studied all 16 patients with analyzable ECG recordings during rest and exercise tolerance testing before and after 4 weeks of ranolazine in the double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled RAND-CFR trial (NCT01754259). TWH was quantified without knowledge of treatment assignment by second central moment analysis, which assesses the interlead splay of T waves in precordial leads about a mean waveform. Myocardial blood flow (MBF) was measured by positron emission tomography. RESULTS At baseline, prior to randomization, TWH during rest was 54 ± 7 μV and was not altered following placebo (47 ± 6 μV, p = .47) but was reduced by 28% (to 39 ± 5 μV, p = .002) after ranolazine. Ranolazine did not increase MBF at rest. Exercise increased TWH after placebo by 49% (to 70 ± 8 μV, p = .03). Ranolazine did not reduce TWH during exercise (to 75 ± 16 μV), and there were no differences among the groups (p = .95, ANOVA). TWH was not correlated with MBF at rest before (r2 = .07, p = .36) or after ranolazine (r2 = .23, p = .06). CONCLUSIONS In symptomatic diabetic patients with non-flow-limiting coronary artery stenosis with diffuse atherosclerosis and/or microvascular dysfunction, ranolazine reduced TWH at rest but not during exercise. Reduction in repolarization abnormalities appears to be independent of alterations in MBF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ederson Evaristo
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.,Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Fernando G Stocco
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.,Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nishant R Shah
- Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Brown University Warren Alpert Medical School, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Michael K Cheezum
- Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jon Hainer
- Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Bruce D Nearing
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marcelo Di Carli
- Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Richard L Verrier
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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