Coronary Vasospasm-Related Sudden Cardiac Arrest in the Community

Explaining the Unexplained: A Practical Approach to Investigating the Cardiac Arrest Survivor

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a common cause of death. The majority of SCA is caused by ventricular arrhythmia due to underlying CHD. Aborted SCA with no apparent diagnosis after initial assessment with ECG, echocardiography and coronary assessment is referred to as unexplained cardiac arrest (UCA). Systematic evaluation of such patients may reveal a specific diagnosis in up to half of patients before a diagnosis of idiopathic VF is assigned. Specific diagnoses include inherited cardiac conditions, such as latent cardiomyopathies or inherited primary electrical disease. Identifying the cause of UCA is therefore not only critical for appropriate management of the SCA survivors to prevent recurrence, but also for their family members who may be at risk of the same condition. This review provides a tiered, systematic approach for the investigation of UCA.

Characteristics and factors associated to patients discharging from hospital without an implantable cardioverter defibrillator after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

AIMS

Guidelines recommend that in the absence of reversible cause for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) should be performed to prevent further fatal event. We sought to describe the frequency and characteristics of patients discharged from the hospital without ICD after the SCA in the daily practice.

METHODS AND RESULTS

From 2011 to 2018, all SCAs related to a cardiac cause admitted alive across the 48 hospitals of Great Paris Area were prospectively enrolled. Two investigators thoroughly reviewed each medical report to ensure accuracy of the assigned diagnosis towards identifying the cause of SCA and ICD implantation. Out of the 4314 SCA admitted alive at hospital admission, 1064 cardiac-related SCA survivors were discharged alive from hospital, including 356 patients (33.5%) with an ICD and 708 (66.5%) without. The principal underlying cause of SCA among those discharged without an ICD was acute coronary syndrome (ACS; 602, 85%), chronic coronary artery disease (41, 5.8%), structural non-ischaemic heart disease (48, 6.8%), and non-structural heart disease (17, 2.4%). Among ACS-related SCA, 93.8% (602/642) discharged without an ICD. The unique factor associated with non-ICD implantation in the setting of ACS was immediate coronary angioplasty (odds ratio 4.22, 95% confidence interval 1.86-9.30, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Two-thirds of SCA survivors were discharged without an ICD, mainly in the setting of ACS. The unique factor associated with non-ICD implantation among ACS was immediate coronary angioplasty emphasizing the fact that ACS definition must be precise since associated with ICD implantation or not.

Epinephrine versus norepinephrine in cardiac arrest patients with post-resuscitation shock

PURPOSE

Whether epinephrine or norepinephrine is preferable as the continuous intravenous vasopressor used to treat post-resuscitation shock is unclear. We assessed outcomes of patients with post-resuscitation shock after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest according to whether the continuous intravenous vasopressor used was epinephrine or norepinephrine.

METHODS

We conducted an observational multicenter study of consecutive patients managed in 2011-2018 for post-resuscitation shock. The primary outcome was all-cause hospital mortality, and secondary outcomes were cardiovascular hospital mortality and unfavorable neurological outcome (Cerebral Performance Category 3-5). A multivariate regression analysis and a propensity score analysis were performed, as well as several sensitivity analyses.

RESULTS

Of the 766 patients included in five hospitals, 285 (37%) received epinephrine and 481 (63%) norepinephrine. All-cause hospital mortality was significantly higher in the epinephrine group (OR 2.6; 95%CI 1.4-4.7; P = 0.002). Cardiovascular hospital mortality was also higher with epinephrine (aOR 5.5; 95%CI 3.0-10.3; P < 0.001), as was the proportion of patients with CPC of 3-5 at hospital discharge. Sensitivity analyses produced consistent results. The analysis involving adjustment on a propensity score to control for confounders showed similar findings (aOR 2.1; 95%CI 1.1-4.0; P = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

Among patients with post-resuscitation shock after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, use of epinephrine was associated with higher all-cause and cardiovascular-specific mortality, compared with norepinephrine infusion. Until additional data become available, intensivists may want to choose norepinephrine rather than epinephrine for the treatment of post-resuscitation shock after OHCA.

TLR4-Myd88 pathway upregulated caveolin-1 expression contributes to coronary artery spasm

AIM

To study the role of toll-like receptors 4-myeloid differentiation factor 88 (TLR4-Myd88) dependent caveolin-1 (Cav-1) expression modulation in coronary artery spasm (CAS) and explore the underlying pathogenic mechanisms.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and acetylcholine (Ach) were used to develop the in vitro and in vivo models mimicking the physiological CAS microenvironment. LPS-induced upregulation of Cav-1 expression in mouse coronary and aorta endothelial cells was shown by western blot and immunofluorescence (IF) staining (p < 0.01). Caveolin-1-knockout (Cav-1^-/-) mice had reduced aortic inflammation after LPS challenge, and fewer ST segment changes were observed through electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring compared to wild type mice after LPS and ACh administration. In vitro, pretreating human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with siCav-1 to knock down Cav-1 expression reduced the endothelial inflammation following LPS challenge. SiCav-1 also partially reversed the attenuated Ca²⁺ concentration after LPS and ACh administration compared to the control group, which was evaluated by fluorescent molecular probing for Ca²⁺ alternation monitoring (p < 0.05). TLR4 and Myd88 downregulation by siRNA partially blocked the increased Cav-1 mRNA and protein expressions following LPS treatment, as well as partially reversed the decreased NO production evaluated by nitrate reductase method and the impaired Ca²⁺ concentration of endothelial cells induced by LPS and ACh.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggested that Cav-1, which was upregulated by TLR4-Myd88, served as an important modulator of CAS microenvironment establishment in vivo and in vitro, making it a potential pharmacologic target for the treatment of vasospasm via reduced endothelial cell inflammation.

Stress Echo 2030: The Novel ABCDE-(FGLPR) Protocol to Define the Future of Imaging

With stress echo (SE) 2020 study, a new standard of practice in stress imaging was developed and disseminated: the ABCDE protocol for functional testing within and beyond CAD. ABCDE protocol was the fruit of SE 2020, and is the seed of SE 2030, which is articulated in 12 projects: 1-SE in coronary artery disease (SECAD); 2-SE in diastolic heart failure (SEDIA); 3-SE in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (SEHCA); 4-SE post-chest radiotherapy and chemotherapy (SERA); 5-Artificial intelligence SE evaluation (AI-SEE); 6-Environmental stress echocardiography and air pollution (ESTER); 7-SE in repaired Tetralogy of Fallot (SETOF); 8-SE in post-COVID-19 (SECOV); 9: Recovery by stress echo of conventionally unfit donor good hearts (RESURGE); 10-SE for mitral ischemic regurgitation (SEMIR); 11-SE in valvular heart disease (SEVA); 12-SE for coronary vasospasm (SESPASM). The study aims to recruit in the next 5 years (2021-2025) ≥10,000 patients followed for ≥5 years (up to 2030) from ≥20 quality-controlled laboratories from ≥10 countries. In this COVID-19 era of sustainable health care delivery, SE2030 will provide the evidence to finally recommend SE as the optimal and versatile imaging modality for functional testing anywhere, any time, and in any patient.

Non-ischemic sudden cardiac arrest: Role of 12 lead Holter, family screening and genetic testing

OBJECTIVE AND BACKGROUND

To evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic yield of a comprehensive protocol involving clinical and broad genetic testing in consecutive sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) population. Determining the pathogenesis of non-ischemic SCA is crucial for management and SCA prevention in other family members METHODS: Families with unexplained non-ischemic SCA event underwent rigorous clinical and genetic protocol after referral to our inherited arrhythmia clinic, during 2011-2017.

RESULTS

One hundred and four index cases, 29 ± 16 years, and 421 family members were studied. After a thorough evaluation, diagnosis was made in 80 (77%) of families. The most prevalent 47/104 (45%) diagnosis was inherited channelopathy. The genetic test was positive, in 37 /69 (54%) of patients. Using the Mann Whitney test, we found that electrocardiography (ECG) (effect size 0.5, p < .001), 12 lead Holter (effect size 0.33, p = .001) and family screening (effect size 0.4, p = .001) had the highest yield in reaching the final diagnosis. Family screening, genetic testing, and cardiac MRI were the exclusive modalities for final diagnosis in 14%, 9%, and 2% of families, respectively. Among 421 family members evaluated through cascade screening, 127 (30%), were diagnosed and medically treated. Nine family members from 25 (40%) patients who underwent implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation have experienced appropriate ICD shock.

CONCLUSIONS

A rigorous, systematic protocol in a specialized inherited arrhythmia clinic has a high diagnostic and prognostic yield. ECG, 12 lead Holter and family screening significantly increased the diagnostic yield. In nine families, without genetic testing, the diagnosis would have been missed.

2020 APHRS/HRS expert consensus statement on the investigation of decedents with sudden unexplained death and patients with sudden cardiac arrest, and of their families

This international multidisciplinary document intends to provide clinicians with evidence-based practical patient-centered recommendations for evaluating patients and decedents with (aborted) sudden cardiac arrest and their families. The document includes a framework for the investigation of the family allowing steps to be taken, should an inherited condition be found, to minimize further events in affected relatives. Integral to the process is counseling of the patients and families, not only because of the emotionally charged subject, but because finding (or not finding) the cause of the arrest may influence management of family members. The formation of multidisciplinary teams is essential to provide a complete service to the patients and their families, and the varied expertise of the writing committee was formulated to reflect this need. The document sections were divided up and drafted by the writing committee members according to their expertise. The recommendations represent the consensus opinion of the entire writing committee, graded by Class of Recommendation and Level of Evidence. The recommendations were opened for public comment and reviewed by the relevant scientific and clinical document committees of the Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society (APHRS) and the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS); the document underwent external review and endorsement by the partner and collaborating societies. While the recommendations are for optimal care, it is recognized that not all resources will be available to all clinicians. Nevertheless, this document articulates the evaluation that the clinician should aspire to provide for patients with sudden cardiac arrest, decedents with sudden unexplained death, and their families.

[Fighting against unexplained sudden death]

Sudden cardiac death, mostly related to ventricular arrhythmia, is a major public health issue, with still very poor survival at hospital discharge. Although coronary artery disease remains the leading cause, other etiologies should be systematically investigated. Exhaustive and standardized exploration is required to eventually offer specific therapeutics and management to the patient as well as his/her family members in case of inherited cardiac disease. Identification and establishing direct causality of the detected cardiac anomaly may remain challenging, underlying the need for a multidisciplinary and experimented team.

2020 APHRS/HRS expert consensus statement on the investigation of decedents with sudden unexplained death and patients with sudden cardiac arrest, and of their families

This international multidisciplinary document intends to provide clinicians with evidence-based practical patient-centered recommendations for evaluating patients and decedents with (aborted) sudden cardiac arrest and their families. The document includes a framework for the investigation of the family allowing steps to be taken, should an inherited condition be found, to minimize further events in affected relatives. Integral to the process is counseling of the patients and families, not only because of the emotionally charged subject, but because finding (or not finding) the cause of the arrest may influence management of family members. The formation of multidisciplinary teams is essential to provide a complete service to the patients and their families, and the varied expertise of the writing committee was formulated to reflect this need. The document sections were divided up and drafted by the writing committee members according to their expertise. The recommendations represent the consensus opinion of the entire writing committee, graded by Class of Recommendation and Level of Evidence. The recommendations were opened for public comment and reviewed by the relevant scientific and clinical document committees of the Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society (APHRS) and the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS); the document underwent external review and endorsement by the partner and collaborating societies. While the recommendations are for optimal care, it is recognized that not all resources will be available to all clinicians. Nevertheless, this document articulates the evaluation that the clinician should aspire to provide for patients with sudden cardiac arrest, decedents with sudden unexplained death, and their families.

Vasospasm-related Sudden Cardiac Death Has Outcomes Comparable with Coronary Stenosis in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

BACKGROUND

Characteristics of coronary vasospasm-related sudden cardiac death are not well understood. We aimed to compare the characteristics and clinical outcomes between coronary vasospasm and stenosis, in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survivors, who underwent coronary angiogram (CAG).

METHODS

We conducted a multicenter retrospective observational registry-based study at 8 Korean tertiary care centers. Data of OHCA survivors undergoing CAG between 2010 and 2015 were extracted. Patients were divided into vasospasm and stenosis (stenosis > 50%) groups based on CAG findings. The primary and the secondary outcomes were survival and a good neurologic outcome at 30 days after OHCA. Patients in the vasospasm and stenosis groups were propensity score matched.

RESULTS

Of the 413 included patients, vasospasm and stenosis groups comprised 87 and 326 patients, respectively. There were 279 (66.7%) survivors and 206 (49.3%) patients with good neurologic outcomes. The vasospasm group had better clinical characteristics for outcome (younger age, less diabetes and hypertension, more prehospital restoration of spontaneous circulation, higher Glasgow Coma Scale, less ST segment elevation, and less requirement of circulatory support). The vasospasm group had better survival (75/87 vs. 204/326, P < 0.001) and good neurologic outcomes (62/87 vs. 144/326, P < 0.001). However, vasospasm was not independently associated with survival (odds ratio [OR], 0.980; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.400-2.406) or neurologic outcomes (OR, 0.870; 95% CI, 0.359-2.108) after adjustment and vasospasm was not associated with survival and neurologic outcome in propensity score-matched cohorts.

CONCLUSION

Our analysis of propensity score-matched cohorts finds that vasospasm OHCA survivors have survival and neurologic outcomes comparable with those of stenotic OHCA survivors.

Low rates of immediate coronary angiography among young adults resuscitated from sudden cardiac arrest

AIM

Coronary artery disease (CAD) has recently been emphasized as a major cause of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in young adults. We aim to assess the rate of immediate coronary angiography performance in young patients resuscitated from SCA.

METHODS

From May 2011 to May 2017, all cases of out-of-hospital SCA aged 18-40 years alive at hospital admission were prospectively included in 48 hospitals of the Great Paris area. Cardiovascular causes of SCA were centrally adjudicated, and management including immediate coronary angiography performance was assessed.

RESULTS

Out of 3579 SCA admitted alive, 409 (11.4%) patients were under 40 years of age (32.3 ± 6.2 years, 69.7% males), with 244 patients having a definite cause identified. Among those, CAD accounted for 72 (29.5%) cases, of which 64 (88.9%) were acute coronary syndromes. The rate of immediate coronary angiography was only 41.7% compared to 65.1% among those ≥40-years (P < 0.001). During the study period, while the rate of immediate coronary angiography increased from 60.5% to 70.3% (P < 0.001) in patients aged ≥40 years, the rate in patients aged less than 40 years remained stable (43.5% to 45.3%, P = 0.795). Patients younger than 40 years were significantly less likely to undergo immediate coronary angiography (OR = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.25-0.47), although early angiography was associated with survival at hospital discharge (OR = 2.68, 95% CI: 1.21-6.00).

CONCLUSION

CAD is the first cause of SCA in young adults aged less than 40 years. The observed low rates of immediate coronary angiography suggest a missed opportunity for early intervention.

Acute Myocardial Infarction in Young Individuals

Globally, cardiovascular disease remains a major cause of adverse outcomes in young individuals, unlike its decline in other age groups. This group is not well studied and has a unique risk profile with less traditional cardiovascular risk factors compared with older populations. Plaque rupture still remains the most common etiology of myocardial infarction, but unique syndromes such as plaque erosion, coronary microvascular dysfunction, spontaneous coronary artery dissection, and coronary spasm related to drug use are more prevalent in this age group. Such diversity of diagnosis and presentation, along with therapeutic implications, underscore the need to study the profile of myocardial infarction in young persons. We searched PubMed for articles published from 1980 to 218 using the terms acute myocardial infarction, young, plaque rupture, plaque erosion, spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), coronary vasospasm, variant or Prinzmetal angina, drug-induced myocardial infarction, myocarditis, coronary embolism, microvascular dysfunction, MINOCA, and myocardial infarction in pregnancy and reviewed all the published studies. With the data from this search, we aim to inform readers of the prevalence, risk factors, presentation, and management of acute myocardial infarction in young patients and elaborate on special subgroups with diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. We also outline a parsimonious method designed to simplify management of these complex patients.

Indications et heure de la coronarographie après un arrêt cardiaque extrahospitalier sans cause extracardiaque évidente

Les lésions coronaires instables sont la première cause des arrêts cardiaques extrahospitaliers. L’angioplastie coronaire semble améliorer la survie de ces patients. En l’absence de données randomisées, les recommandations actuelles sont fondées sur des données de registre. Une coronarographie immédiate, dès l’admission du patient, est recommandée s’il existe un sus-décalage du segment ST sur l’électrocardiogramme réalisé après retour d’une activité circulatoire spontanée. Dans les autres cas, il est conseillé de rechercher en premier une cause extracardiaque, notamment par la réalisation d’un scanner cérébral et thoracique. Si aucune cause extracardiaque n’a été retrouvée, la coronarographie doit être réalisée rapidement, moins de deux heures après l’admission. Si une lésion coronaire responsable de l’arrêt peut être identifiée, une angioplastie est réalisée au mieux par voie radiale et en utilisant des endoprothèses actives. Une nouvelle coronarographie à distance peut être indiquée chez les survivants pour réaliser une revascularisation complémentaire ou pour rechercher un spasme coronaire chez les patients dont la première coronarographie était normale.