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Hagendorff A, Stöbe S, Helfen A, Knebel F, Altiok E, Beckmann S, Bekfani T, Binder T, Ewers A, Hamadanchi A, Freyhaus HT, Groscheck T, Haghi D, Knierim J, Kruck S, Lenk K, Merke N, Pfeiffer D, Dorta ER, Ruf T, Sinning C, Wunderlich NC, Brandt R, Ewen S. Echocardiographic assessment of left atrial appendage morphology and function-an expert proposal by the German Working Group of Cardiovascular Ultrasound. Clin Res Cardiol 2024:10.1007/s00392-024-02492-5. [PMID: 39196343 DOI: 10.1007/s00392-024-02492-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
The left atrial appendage is a blind ending cardiac structure prone to blood stasis due to its morphology. This structure is a preferred region of thrombogenesis in relation to reduced myocardial contractility of the atrial wall. Blood stasis occurs primarily in low flow conditions. One of the tasks of echocardiography is the analysis of morphology and function of the left atrial appendage. The detection of thrombi by echocardiography is difficult and must be carried out thoroughly and carefully to avoid potential complications-especially in the context of rhythm control. The assessment of thromboembolic risk, especially in patients with unknown and presumed atrial fibrillation is a second challenge by characterizing atrial function and flow conditions in the left atrial appendage. Thus, this proposal focuses on the obvious problems of echocardiography when assessing left atrial appendage and the role of this method in planning a potential interventional closure of left atrial appendage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Hagendorff
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Leipzig AöR, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Stephan Stöbe
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Leipzig AöR, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Andreas Helfen
- Department of Kardiologie, Katholische St. Paulus Gesellschaft, St.-Marien-Hospital Lünen, Lünen, Germany
| | - Fabian Knebel
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Cardiology, Sana Klinikum Lichtenberg, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ertunc Altiok
- Department of Cardiology, Angiology, and Intensive Medicine, University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Stephan Beckmann
- Privatpraxis Kardiologie, Beckmann Ehlers Und Partner, Berlin-Grunewald, Germany
| | - Tarek Bekfani
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, University Hospital Magdeburg AöR, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Binder
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospital AKH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Aydan Ewers
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Germany
| | - Ali Hamadanchi
- Department of Cardiology, University of Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Henrik Ten Freyhaus
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Cardiology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Thomas Groscheck
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, University Hospital Magdeburg AöR, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Dariush Haghi
- Kardiologische Praxisklinik Ludwigshafen-Akademische Lehrpraxis of the University of Mannheim, Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Jan Knierim
- Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Paulinenkrankenhaus Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sebastian Kruck
- Praxis Für Kardiologie Cardio Centrum Ludwigsburg, Ludwigsburg, Germany
| | - Karsten Lenk
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Leipzig AöR, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Nicolas Merke
- Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Deutsches Herzzentrum Charité Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Elena Romero Dorta
- Department of Cardiology, Angiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University of Berlin, Deutsches Herzzentrum Charité Berlin, Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tobias Ruf
- Department of Cardiology, Center of Cardiology, Heart Valve Center, University Medical Center Mainz, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Christoph Sinning
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg, German Centre of Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Roland Brandt
- Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Klinik GmbH, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Sebastian Ewen
- Department Cardiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Schwarzwald-Baar Klinik, Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany
- University Heart Center Freiburg, Bad Krozingen, Freiburg, Germany
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Cizauskas HE, Burnham HV, Panni A, Peña A, Alvarez-Arce A, Davis MT, Araujo KN, Delligatti CE, Edassery S, Kirk JA, Arora R, Barefield DY. Proteolytic degradation of atrial sarcomere proteins underlies contractile defects in atrial fibrillation. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2024; 327:H460-H472. [PMID: 38940916 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00148.2024] [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: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is the most common cardiac rhythm disturbance, often treated via electrical cardioversion. Following rhythm restoration, a period of depressed mechanical function known as atrial stunning occurs, suggesting that defects in contractility occur in AFib and are revealed upon restoration of rhythm. This project aims to define the contractile remodeling that occurs in AFib. To assess contractile function, we used a canine atrial tachypacing model of induced AFib. Mass spectrometry analysis showed dysregulation of contractile proteins in samples from AFib compared with sinus rhythm atria. Atrial cardiomyocytes show reduced force of contraction, decreased resting tension, and increased calcium sensitivity in skinned single cardiomyocyte studies. These alterations correlated with degradation of myofilament proteins including myosin heavy chain altering force of contraction, titin altering resting tension, and troponin I altering calcium sensitivity. We measured degradation of other myofilament proteins, including cardiac myosin binding protein C and actinin, that show degradation products in the AFib samples that are absent in the sinus rhythm atria. Many of the degradation products appeared as discrete cleavage products that are generated by calpain proteolysis. We assessed calpain activity and found it to be significantly increased. These results provide an understanding of the contractile remodeling that occurs in AFib and provide insight into the molecular explanation for atrial stunning and the increased risk of atrial thrombus and stroke in AFib.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac rhythm disorder, and remodeling during atrial fibrillation is highly variable between patients. This study has defined the biophysical changes in contractility that occur in atrial fibrillation along with identifying potential molecular mechanisms that may drive this remodeling. This includes proteolysis of several myofilament proteins including titin, troponin I, myosin heavy chain, myosin binding protein C, and actinin, which is consistent with the observed contractile deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah E Cizauskas
- Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Hope V Burnham
- Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Azaria Panni
- Feinberg Cardiovascular and Renal Research Institute, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Alexandra Peña
- Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Alejandro Alvarez-Arce
- Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - M Therese Davis
- Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Kelly N Araujo
- Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Christine E Delligatti
- Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Seby Edassery
- Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Jonathan A Kirk
- Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Rishi Arora
- Feinberg Cardiovascular and Renal Research Institute, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - David Y Barefield
- Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
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Jain P, Patel V, Patel Y, Rasool J, Gandhi SK, Patel P. Effectiveness of Transesophageal Echocardiography in Preventing Thromboembolic Complications Before Cardioversion: A Narrative Review. Cureus 2023; 15:e48149. [PMID: 38046740 PMCID: PMC10692994 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.48149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is one of the most prevalent irregular heartbeats that doctors encounter. Clinicians typically pursue two main approaches for treatment, namely, controlling the heart rate and managing the heart rhythm. Under the rhythm control approach, AFib is addressed through cardioversion, which is achieved either with medications termed pharmacological cardioversion (PCV) or via an electrical shock termed electric cardioversion (ECV). While ECV proves instrumental in AFib management, it carries its own risk factors, potentially leading to blood clot-related complications such as embolic strokes. To counteract this potential downside, a well-established strategy involves the utilization of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) to identify possible embolic sources before initiating cardioversion. The goal of this systematic review is to highlight the role of TEE in preempting embolic occurrences following ECV during the management of AFib. After conducting a thorough search of databases, namely, PubMed, PubMed Central, and Medline, a total of 36 studies were selected for this review article. Following a comprehensive evaluation of these studies, it was concluded that TEE plays a pivotal role in preventing thromboembolic complications during ECV for AFib. However, it is important to note that further research is needed to delve deeper into this matter. While existing evidence underscores its efficacy, additional investigation is needed to address this subject matter comprehensively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prateek Jain
- Department of Internal Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi, IND
| | - Vishwesh Patel
- Department of Internal Medicine, M.P. Shah Government Medical College, Jamnagar, IND
| | - Yashaswi Patel
- Department of Internal Medicine, Government Medical College, Surat, Surat, IND
| | - Jawairiya Rasool
- Department of Internal Medicine, Dow International Medical College, Karachi, PAK
| | | | - Priyansh Patel
- Department of Internal Medicine, Medical College Baroda, Vadodara, IND
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