Association of high-sensitivity troponin T with left ventricular dysfunction in prediabetes

BACKGROUND

Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) are an increasingly serious problem worldwide. Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), a non-invasive technique, may evaluate both systolic and diastolic function during the first phases of cardiovascular disease (CVD). High-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) can detect subclinical myocardial injury in asymptomatic prediabetic patients.

AIM

We aimed to investigate the relationship between left ventricular (LV) function and hs-cTnT in prediabetic patients.

METHODS

Between 1 October 2021 and 1 October 2022, we recruited 96 prediabetic and an equal number of age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers prospectively. TDI was used to evaluate both systolic and diastolic functions. Hs-cTnT levels were obtained and compared between groups.

RESULTS

It was found that the values for mitral annular plane systolic excursion (MAPSE), E, the rapid filling wave, E/Em, and the peak annular velocities of systolic excursion in the ejection period (Sm) were all significantly higher in these patients compared to healthy individuals (p < .001). Hs-cTnT was an independent predictor of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) and left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) (odds ratio [OR] = 2.625, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.324-4.308, p < .001, and OR = 1.922, 95% CI = 0.454-3.206, p = .004).

CONCLUSIONS

Prediabetics had higher hs-cTnT levels than controls. We showed that LVSD and LVDD functions were negatively affected in prediabetic patients. Our results proved that hs-cTnT levels may be associated with subclinical LV dysfunction in prediabetes.

Big tau aggregation disrupts microtubule tyrosination and causes myocardial diastolic dysfunction: from discovery to therapy

BACKGROUND

Amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, the molecular lesions that characterize Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other forms of dementia, are emerging as determinants of proteinopathies 'beyond the brain'. This study aims to establish tau's putative pathophysiological mechanistic roles and potential future therapeutic targeting of tau in heart failure (HF).

METHODS AND RESULTS

A mouse model of tauopathy and human myocardial and brain tissue from patients with HF, AD, and controls was employed in this study. Tau protein expression was examined together with its distribution, and in vitro tau-related pathophysiological mechanisms were identified using a variety of biochemical, imaging, and functional approaches. A novel tau-targeting immunotherapy was tested to explore tau-targeted therapeutic potential in HF. Tau is expressed in normal and diseased human hearts, in contradistinction to the current oft-cited observation that tau is expressed specifically in the brain. Notably, the main cardiac isoform is high-molecular-weight (HMW) tau (also known as big tau), and hyperphosphorylated tau segregates in aggregates in HF and AD hearts. As previously described for amyloid-beta, the tauopathy phenotype in human myocardium is of diastolic dysfunction. Perturbation in the tubulin code, specifically a loss of tyrosinated microtubules, emerged as a potential mechanism of myocardial tauopathy. Monoclonal anti-tau antibody therapy improved myocardial function and clearance of toxic aggregates in mice, supporting tau as a potential target for novel HF immunotherapy.

CONCLUSION

The study presents new mechanistic evidence and potential treatment for the brain-heart tauopathy axis in myocardial and brain degenerative diseases and ageing.

Neuromodulation of Inflammation to Treat Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial

Background

A systemic proinflammatory state plays a central role in the development of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Low‐level transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation suppresses inflammation in humans. We conducted a sham‐controlled, double‐blind, randomized clinical trial to examine the effect of chronic low‐level transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation on cardiac function, exercise capacity, and inflammation in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Methods and Results

Patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and at least 2 additional comorbidities (obesity, diabetes, hypertension, or age ≥65 years) were randomized to either active (tragus) or sham (earlobe) low‐level transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (20 Hz, 1 mA below discomfort threshold), for 1 hour daily for 3 months. Echocardiography, 6‐minute walk test, quality of life, and serum cytokines were assessed at baseline and 3 months. Fifty‐two patients (mean age 70.4±9.2 years; 70% female) were included (active, n=26; sham, n=26). Baseline characteristics were balanced between the 2 arms. Adherence to the protocol of daily stimulation was >90% in both arms (P>0.05). While the early mitral inflow Doppler velocity to the early diastolic mitral annulus velocity ratio did not differ between groups, global longitudinal strain and tumor necrosis factor‐α levels at 3 months were significantly improved in the active compared with the sham arm (−18.6%±2.5% versus −16.0%±2.4%, P=0.002; 8.9±2.8 pg/mL versus 11.3±2.9 pg/mL, P=0.007, respectively). The reduction in tumor necrosis factor‐α levels correlated with global longitudinal strain improvement (r=−0.73, P=0.001). Quality of life was better in the active arm. No device‐related side effects were observed.

Conclusions

Neuromodulation with low‐level transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation over 3 months resulted in a significant improvement in global longitudinal strain, inflammatory cytokines, and quality of life in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Registration

URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT03327649.

Detection of congestive heart failure by mitral annular displacement in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy - concordance between tissue Doppler imaging-derived tissue tracking and M-mode

INTRODUCTION

The left ventricular systolic longitudinal function, traditionally measured by M-mode-derived mitral annular plane systolic excursion (MAPSE), is reduced in feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and further reduced in cats with left-sided congestive heart failure (CHF). The objectives of this study were to compare longitudinal displacement measured by tissue tracking (TT-LD) and MAPSE in feline HCM and assess these methods' ability to differentiate CHF from preclinical HCM. A further objective was to provide preliminary reference intervals for TT-LD.

ANIMALS

Eighty-five client-owned cats.

METHODS

A retrospective case-control study. Anatomical M-mode was used to record MAPSE, and TT-LD was recorded by tissue tracking.

RESULTS

Reduced longitudinal displacement measured by either MAPSE or TT-LD was significantly associated with CHF in cats with HCM (p < 0.036). Receiver-operating characteristic analysis indicated that TT-LD (AUC: 92.9%-97.9%) was more sensitive and specific than MAPSE (AUC: 85.8%-89.1%) for the detection of CHF. A diagnostic cut-off of 2.89 mm for maximal TT-LD in the left ventricular septum resulted in a sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 83.3%, while a diagnostic cut-off of 2.41 mm in the left ventricular posterior wall resulted in a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 90%.

CONCLUSIONS

M-mode-derived mitral annular plane systolic excursion and TT-LD were strongly correlated, but not interchangeable. Longitudinal displacement measured by tissue tracking decreased more with disease severity than traditional MAPSE. Longitudinal displacement may help detect CHF in cats with HCM - with the maximal TT-LD of the left ventricular posterior wall achieving the highest AUC value.

Obstructive sleep apnoea, intermittent hypoxia and heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is recognised to be a potent risk factor for hypertension, coronary heart disease, strokes and heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction. However, the association between OSA and heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is less well recognised. Both conditions are very common globally.It appears that there are many similarities between the pathological effects of OSA and other known aetiologies of HFpEF and its postulated pathophysiology. Intermittent hypoxia induced by OSA leads to widespread stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and more importantly a systemic inflammatory state associated with oxidative stress. This is similar to the consequences of hypertension, diabetes, obesity and ageing that are the common precursors to HFpEF. The final common pathway is probably via the development of myocardial fibrosis and structural changes in collagen and myocardial titin that cause myocardial stiffening. Thus, considering the pathophysiology of OSA and HFpEF, OSA is likely to be a significant risk factor for HFpEF and further trials of preventive treatment should be considered.

Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: A Comprehensive Review and Update of Diagnosis, Pathophysiology, Treatment, and Perioperative Implications

Almost three-quarters of all heart failure patients who are older than 65 have heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The proportion and hospitalization rate of patients with HFpEF are increasing steadily relative to patients in whom heart failure occurs as result of reduced ejection fraction. The predominance of the HFpEF phenotype most likely is explained by the prevalence of medical conditions associated with an aging population. A multitude of age-related, medical, and lifestyle risk factors for HFpEF have been identified as potential causes for the sustained low-grade proinflammatory state that accelerates disease progression. Profound left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic stiffening, elevated LV filling pressures, reduced arterial compliance, left atrial hypertension, pulmonary venous congestion, and microvascular dysfunction characterize HFpEF, but pulmonary arterial hypertension, right ventricular dilation and dysfunction, and atrial fibrillation also frequently occur. These cardiovascular features make patients with HFpEF exquisitely sensitive to the development of hypotension in response to acute declines in LV preload or afterload that may occur during or after surgery. With the exception of symptom mitigation, lifestyle modifications, and rigorous control of comorbid conditions, few long-term treatment options exist for these unfortunate individuals. Patients with HFpEF present for surgery on a regular basis, and anesthesiologists need to be familiar with this heterogeneous and complex clinical syndrome to provide successful care. In this article, the authors review the diagnosis, pathophysiology, and treatment of HFpEF and also discuss its perioperative implications.

Qualitative Assessment of Color M-Mode Signals in the Evaluation of Left Ventricular Diastolic Function: A Proof of Concept Study

OBJECTIVES

Although the most recent American Society of Echocardiography guidelines are a major step forward in echocardiographic evaluation of diastolic function, the ability to differentiate between normal and abnormal function remains challenging. The authors aimed to determine whether qualitative assessments of color M-mode flow displays could be a useful parameter in the evaluation of left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction.

DESIGN

Retrospective observational study.

SETTING

Tertiary care level hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

The study comprised echocardiographic data from 105 consecutive patients.

INTERVENTION

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Patients were allocated into the following 3 groups according to the LV diastolic function based on current American Society of Echocardiography recommendation guidelines for LV diastolic dysfunction classification: group I-normal function (n = 40); group II-early relaxation abnormalities (grade I) (n = 50), and group III-elevated LV pressures (grade II) (n = 15). Patients with normal diastolic function were younger (45 ± 14 y) than those with diastolic dysfunction (group II: 64 ± 10 y and group III: 56 ± 15 y) (p < 0.05). Volumetric echocardiographic parameters and mitral inflow and mitral annulus tissue Doppler imaging measures were significantly different among the 3 studied groups (p < 0.05). Interestingly, qualitative assessment of color M-mode flows displayed distinctive signals based on the left ventricle filling properties. Intraobserver and interobserver variability to determine the reliability of these signals were robust (weighted kappa 0.84 ± 0.11 and 0.65 ± 0.13, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Qualitative assessment of color M-mode flow displays offers simple and reliable information of potential usefulness in the evaluation of LV diastolic function.

Improving risk stratification in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction by combining two validated risk scores

Introduction

The Intermountain Risk Score (IMRS) was developed and validated to predict short-term and long-term mortality in hospitalised patients using demographics and commonly available laboratory data. In this study, we sought to determine whether the IMRS also predicts all-cause mortality in patients hospitalised with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and whether it is complementary to the Get with the Guidelines Heart Failure (GWTG-HF) risk score or N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP).

Methods and results

We used the Stanford Translational Research Integrated Database Environment to identify 3847 adult patients with a diagnosis of HFpEF between January 1998 and December 2016. Of these, 580 were hospitalised with a primary diagnosis of acute HFpEF. Mean age was 76±16 years, the majority being female (58%), with a high prevalence of diabetes mellitus (36%) and a history of coronary artery disease (60%). Over a median follow-up of 2.0 years, 140 (24%) patients died. On multivariable analysis, the IMRS and GWTG-HF risk score were independently associated with all-cause mortality (standardised HRs IMRS (1.55 (95% CI 1.27 to 1.93)); GWTG-HF (1.60 (95% CI 1.27 to 2.01))). Combining the two scores, improved the net reclassification over GWTG-HF alone by 36.2%. In patients with available NT-proBNP (n=341), NT-proBNP improved the net reclassification of each score by 46.2% (IMRS) and 36.3% (GWTG-HF).

Conclusion

IMRS and GWTG-HF risk scores, along with NT-proBNP, play a complementary role in predicting outcome in patients hospitalised with HFpEF.

Association of High-Sensitivity Troponin T With Left Ventricular Dysfunction in Ankylosing Spondylitis

BACKGROUND

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a systemic inflammatory disease, and cardiac dysfunction has not been clearly described clinically. High-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) is a noninvasive marker for subclinical myocardial injury.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we aimed to investigate any relationship between hs-cTnT and left ventricular (LV) function evaluated via tissue Doppler imaging in AS patients with no known cardiac risk factor.

METHODS

Our study used a cross-sectional case protocol design and was conducted between January 2016 and June 2016. In total, 40 AS patients (17 females and 23 males) were age and sex matched with healthy volunteers (20 females and 20 males) and enlisted for this study. Detailed transthoracic echocardiography was performed, and tissue Doppler imaging was used to assess systolic and diastolic functions. High-sensitivity cardiac troponin T levels were measured and compared between 2 groups.

RESULTS

Compared with control subjects, AS patients had lower early (Em)/late (Am) diastolic myocardial velocities, mitral annular plane systolic excursion, and end-diastolic distance from the mitral annulus to the LV apex. Conversely, they had greater systolic myocardial velocity (Sm), isovolumetric relaxation time, and displacement index (p < 0.001, for all). Higher hs-cTnT levels were measured in AS patients (0.45 ± 0.22 vs. 1.11 ± 0.27, p < 0.001), and multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that hs-cTnT was an independent predictor of LV diastolic dysfunction in AS patients.

CONCLUSIONS

These data show that AS patients had impaired LV functions and increased hs-cTnT levels. Tissue Doppler imaging may be a useful tool for detection of early functional LV abnormalities, and hs-cTnT may be valuable biomarker of diastolic LV dysfunction in AS patients.