The Diagnostic Value of the 12-Lead ECG in Arrhythmogenic Left Ventricular Cardiomyopathy: Novel ECG Signs

BACKGROUND

Electrocardiographic (ECG) findings in arrhythmogenic left ventricular cardiomyopathy (ALVC) are limited to small case series.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to analyze the ECG characteristics of ALVC patients and to correlate ECG with cardiac magnetic resonance and genotype data.

METHODS

We reviewed data of 54 consecutive ALVC patients (32 men, age 39 ± 15 years) and compared them with 84 healthy controls with normal cardiac magnetic resonance.

RESULTS

T-wave inversion was often noted (57.4%), particularly in the inferior and lateral leads. Low QRS voltages in limb leads were observed in 22.2% of patients. The following novel ECG findings were identified: left posterior fascicular block (LPFB) (20.4%), pathological Q waves (33.3%), and a prominent R-wave in V1 with a R/S ratio ≥0.5 (24.1%). The QRS voltages were lower in ALVC compared with controls, particularly in lead I and II. At receiver-operating characteristic analysis, the sum of the R-wave in I to II ≤8 mm (AUC: 0.909; P < 0.0001) and S-wave in V1 plus R-wave in V6 ≤12 mm (AUC: 0.784; P < 0.0001) effectively discriminated ALVC patients from controls. It is noteworthy that 4 of the 8 patients with an apparently normal ECG were recognized by these new signs. Transmural late gadolinium enhancement was associated to LPFB, a R/S ratio ≥0.5 in V1, and inferolateral T-wave inversion, and a ringlike pattern correlated to fragmented QRS, SV1+RV6 ≤12 mm, low QRS voltage, and desmoplakin alterations.

CONCLUSIONS

Pathological Q waves, LPFB, and a prominent R-wave in V1 were common ECG signs in ALVC. An R-wave sum in I to II ≤8 mm and SV1+RV6 ≤12 mm were specific findings for ALVC phenotypes compared with controls.

Asymptomatic Patients With Brugada ECG Pattern: Long-Term Prognosis From a Large Prospective Study

BACKGROUND

Brugada syndrome poses significant challenges in terms of risk stratification and management, particularly for asymptomatic patients who comprise the majority of individuals exhibiting Brugada ECG pattern (BrECG). The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term prognosis of a large cohort of asymptomatic patients with BrECG.

METHODS

Asymptomatic patients with BrECG (1149) were consecutively collected from 2 Italian centers and followed-up at least annually for 2 to 22 years. For the 539 asymptomatic patients (men, 433 [80%]; mean age, 46±13 years) with spontaneous type 1 documented on baseline ECG (87%) or 12-lead 24-hour Holter monitoring (13%), an electrophysiologic study (EPS) was proposed; for the 610 patients with drug-induced-only type 1 (men, 420 [69%]; mean age, 44±14 years), multiple ECGs and 12-lead Holter were advised in order to detect the occurrence of a spontaneous type-1 BrECG. Arrhythmic events were defined as sudden death or documented ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia.

RESULTS

Median follow-up was 6 (4-9) years. Seventeen (1.5%) arrhythmic events occurred in the overall asymptomatic population (corresponding to an event-rate of 0.2% per year), including 16 of 539 (0.4% per year) in patients with spontaneous type-1 BrECG and 1 of 610 in those with drug-induced type-1 BrECG (0.03% per year; P<0.001). EPS was performed in 339 (63%) patients with spontaneous type-1 BrECG. Patients with spontaneous type-1 BrECG and positive EPS had significantly higher event rates than patients with negative EPS (7 of 103 [0.7% per year] versus 4 of 236 [0.2% per year]; P=0.025). Among 200 patients who declined EPS, 5 events (0.4% per year) occurred. There was 1 device-related death.

CONCLUSIONS

The entire population of asymptomatic patients with BrECG exhibits a relatively low event rate per year, which is important in view of the long life expectancy of these young patients. The presence of spontaneous type-1 BrECG associated with positive EPS identifies a subgroup at higher risk. Asymptomatic patients with drug-induced-only BrECG have a minimal arrhythmic risk, but ongoing follow-up with 12-lead Holter monitoring is recommended to detect the appearance of spontaneous type-1 BrECG pattern.

Low QRS voltages and left ventricular hypertrophy: a risky association

AIMS

Low QRS voltages (LQRSV) are an unexpected finding in left ventricular hypertrophy, i.e. hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) or athlete's heart.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Prevalence and clinical correlates of LQRSV were investigated in 197 consecutive HCM patients, aged 58 ± 13 years and comparatively in 771 Olympic athletes, aged 23 ± 4. Clinical characterization included family/personal history, symptoms, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, electrocardiographic pattern, ventricular arrhythmias, and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). Twenty-two (11%) of HCM and 18 (2.3%) of athletes presented LQRSV. At initial evaluation, in HCM, LQRSV showed no differences vs. non-LQRSV for functional class (90% vs. 91%, in Classes I and II; P = 0.983), symptoms (27% vs. 18%; P = 0.478), and ventricular arrhythmias (40% vs. 39%; P = 857) but showed larger extent of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) at CMR (4.1 ± 1.5 vs. 1.5 ± 0.7 affected segments; P < 0.001). In athletes, LQRSV was associated with larger prevalence of inverted T-waves (22% vs. 9%; P < 0.001) and ventricular arrhythmias (28% vs. 8%; P = 0.005). In one LQRSV athlete, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy was identified. Over 4.5 ± 2.6-year follow-up, presence of LQRSV in HCM was associated with larger incidence of functional deterioration (31% vs. 14%; P = 0.038), stroke (22% vs. 6%; P = 0.008), and implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implant (27% vs. 10%; P = 0.015). No clinical events occurred in LQRSV athletes without initial evidence of cardiac disease.

CONCLUSION

LQRSV are relatively common (11%) in HCM and have clinical relevance, being predictive over a medium term for a worsening functional class, incidence of stroke, and ICD implant. Instead, LQRSV are rare (2.3%) in athletes but may occasionally be a marker that raises suspicion for underlying cardiac disease at risk.

The pivotal role of ECG in cardiomyopathies

Cardiomyopathies are a heterogeneous group of pathologies characterized by structural and functional alterations of the heart. Recent technological advances in cardiovascular imaging offer an opportunity for deep phenotypic and etiological definition. Electrocardiogram (ECG) is the first-line diagnostic tool in the evaluation of both asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals. Some electrocardiographic signs are pathognomonic or fall within validated diagnostic criteria of individual cardiomyopathy such as the inverted T waves in right precordial leads (V1-V3) or beyond in individuals with complete pubertal development in the absence of complete right bundle branch block for the diagnosis of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy of the right ventricle (ARVC) or the presence of low voltages typically seen in more than 60% of patients with amyloidosis. Most other electrocardiographic findings such as the presence of depolarization changes including QRS fragmentation, the presence of epsilon wave, the presence of reduced or increased voltages as well as alterations in the repolarization phase including the negative T waves in the lateral leads, or the profound inversion of the T waves or downsloping of the ST tract are more non-specific signs which can however raise the clinical suspicion of cardiomyopathy in order to initiate a diagnostic procedure especially using imaging techniques for diagnostic confirmation. Such electrocardiographic alterations not only have a counterpart in imaging investigations such as evidence of late gadolinium enhancement on magnetic resonance imaging, but may also have an important prognostic value once a definite diagnosis has been made. In addition, the presence of electrical stimulus conduction disturbances or advanced atrioventricular blocks that can be seen especially in conditions such as cardiac amyloidosis or sarcoidosis, or the presence of left bundle branch block or posterior fascicular block in dilated or arrhythmogenic left ventricular cardiomyopathies are recognized as a possible expression of advanced pathology. Similarly, the presence of ventricular arrhythmias with typical patterns such as non-sustained or sustained ventricular tachycardia of LBBB morphology in ARVC or non-sustained or sustained ventricular tachycardia with an RBBB morphology (excluding the "fascicular pattern") in arrhythmogenic left ventricle cardiomyopathy could have a significant impact on the course of each disease. It is therefore clear that a learned and careful interpretation of ECG features can raise suspicion of the presence of a cardiomyopathy, identify diagnostic "red flags" useful for orienting the diagnosis toward specific forms, and provide useful tools for risk stratification. The purpose of this review is to emphasize the important role of the ECG in the diagnostic workup, describing the main ECG findings of different cardiomyopathies.

The Autonomic Coumel Triangle: A New Way to Define the Fascinating Relationship between Atrial Fibrillation and the Autonomic Nervous System

Arrhythmogenic substrate, modulating factors, and triggering factors (the so-called Coumel's triangle concept) play a primary role in atrial fibrillation (AF) pathophysiology. Several years have elapsed since Coumel and co-workers advanced the concept of the relevance of autonomic nervous system (ANS) influences on atrial cells' electrophysiological characteristics. The ANS is not only associated with cardiac rhythm regulation but also exerts an important role in the triggering and maintenance of atrial fibrillation. This review aims to describe in detail the autonomic mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation (AF), starting from the hypothesis of an "Autonomic Coumel Triangle" that stems from the condition of the fundamental role played by the ANS in all phases of the pathophysiology of AF. In this article, we provide updated information on the biomolecular mechanisms of the ANS role in Coumel's triangle, with the molecular pathways of cardiac autonomic neurotransmission, both adrenergic and cholinergic, and the interplay between the ANS and cardiomyocytes' action potential. The heterogeneity of the clinical spectrum of the ANS and AF, with the ANS playing a relevant role in situations that may promote the initiation and maintenance of AF, is highlighted. We also report on drug, biological, and gene therapy as well as interventional therapy. On the basis of the evidence reviewed, we propose that one should speak of an "Autonomic Coumel's Triangle" instead of simply "Coumel's Triangle".

The electrocardiogram in non-ischaemic-dilated cardiomyopathy

This article summarizes the main electrocardiogram (ECG) findings in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients. Recent reports are described in the great 'pot' of DCM peculiar ECG patterns that are typical of specific forms of DCM. Patients with late gadolinium enhancement on CMR, who are at greatest arrhythmic risk, have also distinctive ECG features. Future studies in large DCM populations should evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of the ECG.

Heart failure and telemedicine: where are we and where are we going? Opportunities and critical issues

Heart failure (HF) is one of the main causes of morbidity in the world and is responsible for an enormous amount of health costs, mostly due to hospitalizations. The remote control techniques of vital signs and health status have the potential to help prevent factors leading to HF instability by stimulating early therapeutic interventions. The goal of telemedicine is to change the intervention strategy from a 'reactive' type, in which therapy is optimized in response to the worsening of symptoms, to a 'pro-active' type, in which therapeutic changes are undertaken based on changes in the monitored parameters during the sub-clinical phase. This article is aimed at exploring the major results obtained by telemedicine application in HF patients with and without cardiac electronic devices or in those with haemodynamic sensors and to analyse the critical issues and the opportunities of its use.

HeartLogic™: real-world data-efficiency, resource consumption, and workflow optimization

Heart failure (HF) is a major and still growing medical problem and is characterized by episodes of acute decompensation that are associated with a negative prognosis and a significant burden on the patients, doctors, and healthcare resources. Early detection of incipient HF may allow outpatient treatment before patients severely decompensate, thus reducing HF hospitalizations and related costs. The HeartLogic™ algorithm is an automatic, remotely managed system combining data directly related to HF pathophysiology into a single score, the HeartLogic™ index. This index proved to be effective in predicting the risk of incipient HF decompensation, allowing to redistribute resources from low-risk to high-risk patients in a timely and cost-saving manner. The alert-based remote management system seems more efficient than the one based on scheduled remote transmission in terms of caregivers' workload and alert detection timing. The widespread application of the HeartLogic™ algorithm requires the resolution of logistical and financial issues and the adoption of a pre-defined, functional workflow. In this paper, we reviewed general aspects of remote monitoring in HF patients, the functioning and pathophysiological basis of the HeartLogic index, its efficiency in the management of HF patients, and the economic effects and the organizational revolution associated with its use.

The value of the 12-lead electrocardiogram in the prediction of sudden cardiac death

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) can be caused by several clinical conditions, overt or misconceived, which recognize different pathophysiologies determining the development of fatal arrhythmic events. In the various forms of structural heart disease such as ischaemic heart disease, cardiomyopathies (e.g. hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, and arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy), channelopathies (e.g. long-QT syndrome, congenital short QT, Brugada syndrome, early repolarization (ER) syndrome, and idiopathic ventricular fibrillation) but also in the apparently healthy subject, the 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) has proved, over the years, to be a reliable and readily available method for stratifying the risk of adverse arrhythmic events and consequently SCD. Several electrocardiographic markers have been shown to be associated with adverse outcomes in different types of patients. Although with different sensitivity and specificity in each clinical condition, depolarization abnormalities, such as QRS fragmentation, Q waves, QRS duration, left posterior fascicular block, low QRS voltage, and left ventricular hypertrophy and similarly repolarization abnormalities as ER pattern, T wave alternans, QT interval, and QT dispersion, have shown significant efficacy in predicting SCD. Despite the advancement of techniques especially in the field of imaging, the correct interpretation of the 12-lead ECG remains, therefore, an effective tool for assessing the possible prognostic outcome in terms of arrhythmic risk and SCD in different types of patients.

Electrocardiogram in arrhytmogenic cardiomyopathy

Criteria for diagnosis of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) were first proposed in 1994 and subsequently revised in 2010 and in 2020 by an international task force. According to the last consensus of 2020, ACM is defined as a heart muscle disease affecting right ventricle, left ventricle or both, whose principal pathologic feature is fibrofatty myocardial replacement that impairs systolic ventricular function and predisposes to lethal ventricular arrhythmias. ECG findings not only could help to early recognize affected patients but also could identify the ones with maximum risk of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death.

Cardiac magnetic resonance in Fabry disease

Fabry disease (FD) is a rare X-linked inherited lysosomal storage disorder caused by deficient a-galactosidase A activity that leads to an accumulation of glycolipids, mainly globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) and globotriaosylsphingosine, in affected tissues, including the heart. Cardiovascular involvement usually manifests as left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), myocardial fibrosis, heart failure, and arrhythmias, which limit the quality of life and represent the most common causes of death. Following the introduction of enzyme replacement therapy, early diagnosis and treatment have become essential in slowing down the disease progression and preventing major cardiac complications. Recent advances in the understanding of FD pathophysiology suggest that in addition to Gb3 accumulation, other mechanisms contribute to the development of cardiac damage. FD cardiomyopathy is characterized by an earlier stage of glycosphingolipid accumulation and a later one of hypertrophy. Morphological and functional aspects are not specific in the echocardiographic evaluation of Anderson-Fabry disease. Cardiac magnetic resonance with tissue characterization capability is an accurate technique for the differential diagnosis of LVH. Progress in imaging techniques has improved the diagnosis and staging of FD-related cardiac disease: a decreased myocardial T1 value is specific of FD. Late gadolinium enhancement is typical of the later stage of cardiac involvement but as in other cardiomyopathy is also valuable to predict the outcome and cardiac response to therapy.

Predictors of late arrhythmic events after generator replacement in Brugada syndrome treated with prophylactic ICD

Introduction

Predictors of late life-threatening arrhythmic events in Brugada syndrome (BrS) patients who received a prophylactic ICD implantation remain to be evaluated. The aim of the present long-term multicenter study was to assess the incidence and clinical-electrocardiographic predictors of late life-threatening arrhythmic events in BrS patients with a prophylactic implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and undergoing generator replacement (GR).

Methods

The study population included 105 patients (75% males; mean age 45 ± 14years) who received a prophylactic ICD and had no arrhythmic event up to first GR.

Results

The median period from first ICD implantation to last follow-up was 155 (128-181) months and from first ICD Implantation to the GR was 84 (61-102) months. During a median follow-up of 57 (38-102) months after GR, 10 patients (9%) received successful appropriate ICD intervention (1.6%/year). ICD interventions included shock on ventricular fibrillation (n = 8 patients), shock on ventricular tachycardia (n = 1 patient), and antitachycardia pacing on ventricular tachycardia (n = 1 patient). At survival analysis, history of atrial fibrillation (log-rank test; P = 0.02), conduction disturbances (log-rank test; P < 0.01), S wave in lead I (log-rank test; P = 0.01) and first-degree atrioventricular block (log-rank test; P = 0.04) were significantly associated with the occurrence of late appropriate ICD intervention. At Cox-regression multivariate analysis, S-wave in lead I was the only independent predictor of late appropriate ICD intervention (HR: 9.17; 95%CI: 1.15-73.07; P = 0.03).

Conclusions

The present study indicates that BrS patient receiving a prophylactic ICD may experience late appropriate intervention after GR in a clinically relevant proportion of cases. S-wave in lead I at the time of first clinical evaluation was the only independent predictor of persistent risk of life-threatening arrhythmic events. These findings support the need for GR at the end of service regardless of previous appropriate intervention, mostly in BrS patients with conduction abnormalities.

Arrhythmic risk prediction in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy: external validation of the arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy risk calculator

AIMS

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) causes ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) and sudden cardiac death (SCD). In 2019, a risk prediction model that estimates the 5-year risk of incident VAs in ARVC was developed (ARVCrisk.com). This study aimed to externally validate this prediction model in a large international multicentre cohort and to compare its performance with the risk factor approach recommended for implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) use by published guidelines and expert consensus.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In a retrospective cohort of 429 individuals from 29 centres in North America and Europe, 103 (24%) experienced sustained VA during a median follow-up of 5.02 (2.05-7.90) years following diagnosis of ARVC. External validation yielded good discrimination [C-index of 0.70 (95% confidence interval-CI 0.65-0.75)] and calibration slope of 1.01 (95% CI 0.99-1.03). Compared with the three published consensus-based decision algorithms for ICD use in ARVC (Heart Rhythm Society consensus on arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, International Task Force consensus statement on the treatment of ARVC, and American Heart Association guidelines for VA and SCD), the risk calculator performed better with a superior net clinical benefit below risk threshold of 35%.

CONCLUSION

Using a large independent cohort of patients, this study shows that the ARVC risk model provides good prognostic information and outperforms other published decision algorithms for ICD use. These findings support the use of the model to facilitate shared decision making regarding ICD implantation in the primary prevention of SCD in ARVC.

POS0895 THE ROLE OF SURGERY IN THE ESOPHAGEAL INVOLVEMENT IN SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

Background

Among gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) one of the predominant and challenging problems is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which occurs in ~75% of patients. Although proton pump inhibitors are useful, they are ineffective in 40% of cases with chronic use at high doses, against the background of long-term risks (e.g., cardiovascular disease and infections) which have been identified in the general population. Surgery might be an option following failure of medical therapy but currently, there is no consensus regarding the optimal surgical procedure for refractory GERD in SSc.

Objectives

To evaluate, among the surgical approaches to GERD, the feasibility of fundoplication (FP) with regards to its safety, efficacy, indications, and timing.

Methods

Four research questions based on the PICO framework were developed to guide the systematic literature review that was conducted up to 22 December 2021. The search and performed across different databases including PubMed, MEDLINE (OVID), EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Emcare and Academic Search Premier. References were independently screened by two reviewers (PMC and AA) who also independently assessed the full text of eligible articles, and extracted data. Due to heterogeneity of retrieved studies, narrative summaries are used to present the data.

Results

The search yielded 916 papers of which 30 were eligible for full text review. In these studies, out of 2919 clinically heterogeneous patients, 348 SSc patients were identified (mostly female, mean age 52.7 years). Out of these 348, only 257 underwent anti-reflux surgical procedure and were included in the analysis. Most of the studies were conducted in surgical settings and relevant rheumatological data were largely missing. Refractory GERD symptoms, were the commonest indication for surgery, with post-operative dysphagia being the most frequent complication. In 18 studies, FP was effective, whereas 4 studies had equivocal findings and in 5 a lack of efficacy was reported. The Collis-Nissen FP was the most popular procedure overall as well as in earlier studies, followed by Nissen FP, and Dor FP in relatively more recent studies, reflecting the change in surgical strategy over time. The data extracted shows also an acceptable rate of mortality and morbidity related to surgery, and heterogeneous outcome measures were used hampering any comparison of the studies (Table 1). Due to the heterogeneity of the data, it was not possible to separate the mortality and morbidity rate of SSc patients from the rest of the population.

Table 1.

GERD ASSESSMENT AND SURGICAL OUTCOMES

Domain assessed/outcomeInstrument/MeasurementN° of studiesReflux severityDysphagia: 20Number of antireflux medications: 10High dose PPI: 9pH monitoring (pre-procedure): 11Oesophagitis/Barret 4Reflux improvement (post-procedure)Symptom resolution/reduction 24pH monitoring 12Repeat EGDS 8N° of patientsN° of surgical proceduresTotSSc 257Collis-Nissen FP 54Nissen FP 39Dor FP 37Collis-Belsey FP 20Toupet FP 18RYGB 23Others 30Undefined 36Post-operative surgical complications73 (2,5%)*Mortality (n° deaths)8 (0,27%)*

*rate in total population (2919)

Conclusion

Our SLR has highlighted that the surgical management of GERD in SSc patients is still highly challenging since the available evidence is scarce and of poor quality. Among the surgical approaches to the problem of GERD, overall FP seems a safe and effective procedure in SSc. Transient post-operative dysphagia was noted in many studies, particularly related with the posterior FP. In the future, it will be necessary to develop minimal requirement to conduct surgical studies in SSc as well as to design studies aimed at defining the clinical criteria for referral to surgery. Indeed, the right timing for surgery and the best surgical procedure in SSc still remains an unmet need.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

Remotely-driven management of diuretic therapy in heart failure patients with a multiparametric ICD algorithm

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Private grant(s) and/or Sponsorship. Main funding source(s): Boston Scientific

Background

HeartLogic algorithm combines data from multiple sensors to predict future heart failure (HF) decompensation in patients with an implantable defibrillator (ICD) . An optimal strategy to manage algorithm alerts is not yet known, although decongestive treatment with diuretics is the most frequent alert-triggered action reported so far.

Purpose

We describe the implementation of HeartLogic for remote monitoring of HF patients, and we evaluate the approach to diuretic dosing and timing of the intervention in patients with device alerts.

Methods

The study was conducted in eight Italian high-volume arrhythmia centers. The algorithm was activated in 229 ICD patients during a median follow-up was 17 months [25th–75th percentile: 11-24] between December 2017 and July 2020. Remote data reviews and patient phone contacts were undertaken at the time of HeartLogic alerts, to assess the patient’s status and to prevent HF worsening. The study protocol did not mandate any specific intervention algorithm, and physicians were free to remotely implement clinical actions, to schedule extra in-office visits when deemed necessary for additional investigations or for interventions, or to adopt an active monitoring approach. We analyzed alert-triggered augmented HF treatments, consisting of isolated increases in diuretics dosage.

Results

We reported 242 alerts (0.8 alerts/patient-year) in 123 patients, 137 (56%) alerts triggered clinical actions to treat HF. Overall, timely diuretic changes were associated with a shorter "in-alert" state duration in comparison with late changes, i.e. 28 days [25th-75th percentile: 20-43] versus 62 days [25th-75th percentile: 44-118], p&lt;0.001. By contrast, major and minor diuretic augmentations resulted in comparable durations, i.e. 47 days [25th-75th percentile: 30-58] versus 38 days [25th-75th percentile: 23-79], p=0.954. Of the 56 decongestive treatment adjustments, 47 resolved the alert condition, while in the remaining 9 cases, further treatments were required (augmented HF therapy during hospitalization or unscheduled intravenous decongestive therapy in outpatients). The need of hospitalization for further treatments to resolve the alert condition was associated with higher HeartLogic index values on the day of the diuretics increase (odds ratio: 1.11, 95%CI: 1.02-1.20, p=0.013) and with late interventions (odds ratio: 5.11, 95%CI: 1.09-24.48, p=0.041). No complications were reported after drug adjustments.

Conclusions

Decongestive treatment adjustments triggered by HeartLogic alerts, even when such adjustments were completely dependent on the physicians’ clinical expertise and were not standardized. The early use of decongestive treatment and the use of high doses of diuretics seem to be associated with more favorable outcomes.

Decongestive treatment adjustments in heart failure patients remotely monitored with a multiparametric implantable defibrillators algorithm

AIMS

HeartLogic algorithm combines data from multiple implantable defibrillators (ICD)-based sensors to predict impending heart failure (HF) decompensation. A treatment protocol to manage algorithm alerts is not yet known, although decongestive treatment adjustments are the most frequent alert-triggered actions reported in clinical practice. We describe the implementation of HeartLogic for remote monitoring of HF patients, and we evaluate the approach to diuretic dosing and timing of the intervention in patients with device alerts.

METHODS

The algorithm was activated in 229 ICD patients at eight centers. The median follow-up was 17 months (25th-75th percentile: 11-24). Remote data reviews and patient phone contacts were undertaken at the time of HeartLogic alerts, to assess the patient's status and to prevent HF worsening. We analyzed alert-triggered augmented HF treatments, consisting of isolated increases in diuretics dosage.

RESULTS

We reported 242 alerts (0.8 alerts/patient-year) in 123 patients, 137 (56%) alerts triggered clinical actions to treat HF. The HeartLogic index decreased after the 56 actions consisting of diuretics increase. Specifically, alerts resolved more quickly when the increases in dosing of diuretics were early rather than late: 28 days versus 62 days, p < .001. The need of hospitalization for further treatments to resolve the alert condition was associated with higher HeartLogic index values on the day of the diuretics increase (odds ratio: 1.11, 95% CI: 1.02-1.20, p = .013) and with late interventions (odds ratio: 5.11, 95% CI: 1.09-24.48, p = .041). No complications were reported after drug adjustments.

CONCLUSIONS

Decongestive treatment adjustments triggered by alerts seem safe and effective. The early use of decongestive treatment and the use of high doses of diuretics seem to be associated with more favorable outcomes.

Association of Premature Ventricular Contraction Burden on Serial Holter Monitoring With Arrhythmic Risk in Patients With Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy

IMPORTANCE

A high burden of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) at disease diagnosis has been associated with an overall higher risk of ventricular arrhythmias in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC). Data regarding dynamic modification of PVC burden at follow-up with Holter monitoring and its impact on arrhythmic risk in ARVC are scarce.

OBJECTIVE

To describe changes in the PVC burden and to assess whether serial Holter monitoring is dynamically associated with sustained ventricular arrhythmias during follow-up in patients with ARVC.

DESIGN, SETTINGS, AND PARTICIPANTS

In this cohort study, patients with a definite ARVC diagnosis, available Holter monitoring results at disease diagnosis, and at least 2 additional results of Holter monitoring during follow-up were enrolled from 6 ARVC registries in North America and Europe. Data were collected from June 1 to September 15, 2021.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The association between prespecified variables retrieved at each Holter monitoring follow-up (ie, overall PVC burden; presence of sudden PVC spikes, defined as absolute increase in PVC burden ≥5000 per 24 hours or a relative ≥75% increase, with an absolute increase of ≥1000 PVCs; presence of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia [NSVT]; and use of β-blockers and class III antiarrhythmic drugs) and sustained ventricular arrhythmias occurring within 12 months after that Holter examination was assessed using a mixed logistical model.

RESULTS

In 169 enrolled patients with ARVC (mean [SD] age, 36.3 [15.0] years; 95 men [56.2%]), a total of 723 Holter examinations (median, 4 [IQR, 4-5] per patient) were performed during a median follow-up of 54 (IQR, 42-63) months and detected 75 PVC spikes and 67 sustained ventricular arrhythmias. The PVC burden decreased significantly from the first to the second Holter examination (mean, 2906 [95% CI, 1581-4231] PVCs per 24 hours; P < .001). A model including 24-hour PVC burden (odds ratio [OR] 1.50 [95% CI, 1.10-2.03]; P = .01), PVC spikes (OR, 6.20 [95 CI, 2.74-13.99]; P < .001), and NSVT (OR, 2.29 [95% CI, 1.10-4.51]; P = .03) at each follow-up Holter examination was associated with sustained ventricular arrhythmia occurrence in the following 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

These findings suggest that in patients with ARVC, changes in parameters derived from each Holter examination performed during follow-up are associated with the risk of sustained ventricular arrhythmias within 12 months of disease diagnosis.

Atrial fibrillation and sport: need for monitoring

Historically, regular exercise contributed to reduce the arrhythmic burden and improve cardiovascular outcomes in the general population. However, a heightened risk of Atrial Fibrillation (AF) seems to occur mainly amongst endurance athletes. The exact mechanisms are not fully elucidated, but dynamic interactions between electroanatomical changes induced by exercise, the autonomic system, variable triggers, along individual genetic predisposition are the main contributors to AF development in athletes. The type and training load of sports are also crucial in determining the arrhythmogenic milieu predisposing to AF insurgence and perpetuation. Moreover, a sex difference seems to influence an increased risk of AF only in men undergoing strenuous exercise, whereas women appear protected even during more vigorous training. In the absence of solid evidence, the advent of modern technologies could help to monitor and deep investigate the peculiar aspects of AF in these athletes. This review aims to describe the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of AF in athletes, shedding light on possible future strategies to face AF in this population.

Association between common cardiovascular risk factors and clinical phenotype in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) EurObservational Research Programme (EORP) Cardiomyopathy/Myocarditis registry

AIMS

The interaction between common cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is poorly studied. We sought to explore the relation between CVRF and the clinical characteristics of patients with HCM enrolled in the EURObservational Research Programme (EORP) Cardiomyopathy registry.

METHODS AND RESULTS

1739 patients with HCM were studied. The relation between hypertension (HT), diabetes (DM), body mass index (BMI), and clinical traits was analysed. Analyses were stratified according to the presence or absence of a pathogenic variant in a sarcomere gene. The prevalence of HT, DM, and obesity (Ob) was 37, 10, and 21%, respectively. HT, DM, and Ob were associated with older age (P<0.001), less family history of HCM (HT and DM P<0.001), higher New York Heart Association (NYHA) class (P<0.001), atrial fibrillation (HT and DM P<0.001; Ob p = 0.03) and LV (left ventricular) diastolic dysfunction (HT and Ob P<0.001; DM P = 0.003). Stroke was more frequent in HT (P<0.001) and mutation-positive patients with DM (P = 0.02). HT and Ob were associated with higher provocable LV outflow tract gradients (HT P<0.001, Ob P = 0.036). LV hypertrophy was more severe in Ob (P = 0.018). HT and Ob were independently associated with NYHA class (OR 1.419, P = 0.017 and OR 1.584, P = 0.004, respectively). Other associations, including a higher proportion of females in HT and of systolic dysfunction in HT and Ob, were observed only in mutation-positive patients.

CONCLUSION

Common CVRF are associated with a more severe HCM phenotype, suggesting a proactive management of CVRF should be promoted. An interaction between genotype and CVRF was observed for some traits.

629 CPVT and complete atrio-ventricular block: two faces of the same coin?

Aims

Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) is an electrical genetic disease characterized by induction of malignant ventricular arrhythmias during adrenergic stress in structurally normal hearts. CPVT is correlated to syncope or sudden cardiac death (SCD). Usually, it is caused by an autosomal dominant mutation in the cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2), an essential gene for Ca2+ homeostasis.

Methods and results

Our case series refers to: a man (59 years) who came to our attention for a clinical check-up 4 years after implanting bicameral pacemaker at the age of 55 years for complete AV block; and his three sons (E. female 27 years; D. male 25 years; and B. female 17 years) who had evidence of polymorphic non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) with increasing effort during stress test. The three sons performed cardiac MRI and underwent genetic test. All three were found to be carriers of the same microdeletion of the RYR 2 gene (1q43- extended for about 49 kb) at the genetic test. They also have non-compacted myocardium at cardiac MRI. The father was also found to be a carrier of the same genetic microdeletion, while the mother was negative to the genetic test. The man was diagnosed to be a carrier of the mutation 4 years after pacemaker implantation.

Conclusions

Mutation of the RyR2 may have different phenotypic expressions and can be correlated to various clinical manifestations. CPVT is the most common one, and its prompt identification is crucial to prevent subjects from sport-related risks and to plan an efficient therapy. Our case series provides evidence for a careful consideration of such a genetic disorder even in presence of a major AV conduction disease in a relatively young subject. In the present case series, no major adverse events occurred. However, we can, in the aftermath, speculate that if a genetic disorder had been suspected when AV block occurred, a timely diagnosis could have been made earlier also for the sons.

Ivabradine versus bisoprolol in the treatment of inappropriate sinus tachycardia: a long-term follow-up study

AIM

The aim of our study was to compare ivabradine versus bisoprolol in the short-term and long-term treatment of inappropriate sinus tachycardia.

METHODS

From this prospective, parallel-group, open-label study, consecutive patients affected by inappropriate sinus tachycardia received ivabradine or bisoprolol and were evaluated with Holter ECG, ECG stress test, European Heart Rhythm Association score and Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire at baseline, after 3 and 24 months.

RESULTS

Overall, 40 patients were enrolled. Baseline parameters were comparable in the ivabradine and bisoprolol subgroups. Two patients had transient phosphenes with ivabradine and two others interrupted the drug after 3 months as they planned to become pregnant. Eight individuals treated with bisoprolol experienced hypotension and weakness, which caused drug discontinuation in five of them. Ivabradine was superior to bisoprolol in reducing Holter ECG mean heart rate (HR) and mean HR during daytime at short- and long-term follow-up. Moreover, ivabradine but not bisoprolol significantly reduced Holter ECG mean HR during night-time as well as maximal and minimal HR and significantly increased the time duration and maximal load reached at ECG stress test. The quality of life questionnaires significantly improved in both subgroups.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that ivabradine is better tolerated than bisoprolol and seems to be superior in controlling the heart rate and improving exercise capacity in a small population of individuals affected by inappropriate sinus tachycardia during a short-term and long-term follow-up.

Atrial fibrillation and autonomic nervous system: A translational approach to guide therapeutic goals

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is known to play an important role in the genesis and maintenance of atrial fibrillation (AF). Biomolecular and genetic mechanisms, anatomical knowledges with recent diagnostic techniques acquisitions, both invasive and non-invasive, have enabled greater therapeutic goals in patients affected by AF related to ANS imbalance. Catheter ablation of ganglionated plexi (GP) in the left and right atrium has been proposed in varied clinical conditions. Moreover interesting results arise from renal sympathetic denervation and vagal nerve stimulation. Despite all this, in the scenario of ANS modulation translational strategies we necessary must consider the treatment or correction of dynamic factors such as obesity, obstructive sleep apnea, lifestyle, food, and stress. Finally, new antiarrhythmic drugs, gene therapy and "ablatogenomic" could be represent exciting future therapeutic perspectives.

Predictors of Left Ventricular Scar Using Cardiac Magnetic Resonance in Athletes With Apparently Idiopathic Ventricular Arrhythmias

Background

In athletes with ventricular arrhythmias (VA) and otherwise unremarkable clinical findings, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) may reveal concealed pathological substrates. The aim of this multicenter study was to evaluate which VA characteristics predicted CMR abnormalities.

Methods and Results

We enrolled 251 consecutive competitive athletes (74% males, median age 25 [17‐39] years) who underwent CMR for evaluation of VA. We included athletes with >100 premature ventricular beats/24 h or ≥1 repetitive VA (couplets, triplets, or nonsustained ventricular tachycardia) on 12‐lead 24‐hour ambulatory ECG monitoring and negative family history, ECG, and echocardiogram. Features of VA that were evaluated included number, morphology, repetitivity, and response to exercise testing. Left‐ventricular late gadolinium‐enhancement was documented by CMR in 28 (11%) athletes, mostly (n=25) with a subepicardial/midmyocardial stria pattern. On 24‐hour ECG monitoring, premature ventricular beats with multiple morphologies or with right‐bundle‐branch‐block and intermediate/superior axis configuration were documented in 25 (89%) athletes with versus 58 (26%) without late gadolinium‐enhancement (P<0.001). More than 3300 premature ventricular beats were recorded in 4 (14%) athletes with versus 117 (53%) without positive CMR (P<0.001). At exercise testing, nonsustained ventricular tachycardia occurred at peak of exercise in 8 (29%) athletes with late gadolinium‐enhancement (polymorphic in 6/8, 75%) versus 17 athletes (8%) without late gadolinium‐enhancement (P=0.002), (P<0.0001). At multivariable analysis, all 3 parameters independently correlated with CMR abnormalities.

Conclusions

In athletes with apparently idiopathic VA, simple characteristics such as number and morphology of premature ventricular beats on 12‐lead 24‐hour ambulatory ECG monitoring and response to exercise testing predicted the presence of concealed myocardial abnormalities on CMR. These findings may help cost‐effective CMR prescription.

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest due to idiopathic ventricular fibrillation in patients with normal electrocardiograms: results from a multicentre long-term registry

AIMS 

To define the clinical characteristics and long-term clinical outcomes of a large cohort of patients with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (IVF) and normal 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Patients with ventricular fibrillation as the presenting rhythm, normal baseline, and follow-up ECGs with no signs of cardiac channelopathy including early repolarization or atrioventricular conduction abnormalities, and without structural heart disease were included in a registry. A total of 245 patients (median age: 38 years; males 59%) were recruited from 25 centres. An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) was implanted in 226 patients (92%), while 18 patients (8%) were treated with drug therapy only. Over a median follow-up of 63 months (interquartile range: 25-110 months), 12 patients died (5%); in four of them (1.6%) the lethal event was of cardiac origin. Patients treated with antiarrhythmic drugs only had a higher rate of cardiovascular death compared to patients who received an ICD (16% vs. 0.4%, P = 0.001). Fifty-two patients (21%) experienced an arrhythmic recurrence. Age ≤16 years at the time of the first ventricular arrhythmia was the only predictor of arrhythmic recurrence on multivariable analysis [hazard ratio (HR) 0.41, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.18-0.92; P = 0.03].

CONCLUSION 

Patients with IVF and persistently normal ECGs frequently have arrhythmic recurrences, but a good prognosis when treated with an ICD. Children are a category of IVF patients at higher risk of arrhythmic recurrences.

Electrocardiographic voltage criteria in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND

Several ECG voltage criteria have been proposed for the diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Notably, ECG criteria have been historically validated in concentric LVH but not in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), wherein the hypertrophy pattern is typically asymmetric.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of our study was to evaluate the performance of ECG voltage criteria for LVH diagnosis in the HCM population.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The electrocardiograms of 92 HCM patients and 41 sex- and age-matched controls were evaluated with the most frequently used ECG voltage criteria for LVH diagnosis. Cardiac magnetic resonance (MRI) was performed in HCM and controls in order to quantify LVH and its distribution.

RESULTS

In the HCM population, the maximal diagnostic accuracy was achieved by Amplitude total and Amplitude total product criteria (58% for both), while the Cornell Voltage best performed in septal HCM (62%), the Sokolov in aVL and Gubner criteria in apical HCM (79% for both) and the Cornell Voltage and Product in anterior HCM (86% for both). All the ECG voltage criteria showed a poor correlation with left ventricular mass and maximal thickness measured by cardiac MRI.

CONCLUSIONS

In our study, only a few ECG voltage criteria used for the detection of LVH in clinical practice showed an acceptable performance in the HCM population. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of ECG for LVH detection in HCM patients.

Ventricular arrhythmias and risk stratification of cardiac sudden death in athletes

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) of young athletes is an unexpected and tragic event that could occur during sport activities and is frequently related to ventricular arrhythmias. Identifying athletes at risk of SCD remains a major challenge. While specific characteristics of premature ventricular contractions are considered common and benign, other "uncommon" features should require more accurate investigations, in order to determine eligibility for competitive sports. The most common type of idiopathic premature ventricular contractions originates from ventricular outflow tract and is characterized by an ECG pattern with left bundle branch block and inferior QRS axis (infundibular pattern). Another pattern associated with a good prognosis is the "fascicular" morphology, characterized by a typical right bundle branch block, superior QRS axis morphology and QRS duration <130 ms. Conversely, other morphological features (such as left bundle branch block /intermediate or superior axis or right bundle branch block/intermediate or superior axis and wide QRS) correlate to an underlying substrate. In risk stratification setting, cardiac magnetic resonance plays a key role allowing an accurate identification of myocardial tissue abnormalities, which could affect athletes' prognosis. This review focuses on characteristics of premature ventricular contractions characteristics in terms of morphology, distribution, complexity and response to exercise and describes the possible underlying myocardial substrates. This review also critically analyzes the evaluation process of athletes with premature ventricular contractions necessary for an accurate risk stratification.

Sacubitril/valsartan effect on left ventricular remodeling: the case of a super-responder

Sacubitril/valsartan has been shown to improve clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), but its effects on left ventricular (LV) systolic function and reverse remodeling parameters remain to be established. We hereby describe the case of a 41 year old man with HFrEF and severe reduction of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The patient was first treated with triple HF therapy (beta-blocker, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor and mineralocorticoid antagonist), but after three months he was still symptomatic and with an LVEF firmly low. In consideration of poor response to therapy, we switched angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor to sacubitril/valsartan to the maximum tolerated dose (49/51 mg bid) with a marked improvement in LV systolic function and reduction in LV volumes at follow-up. In light of the almost normalized LVEF the patient was also removed from the list for the implantation of a cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator. In conclusion, our case showed a strong beneficial effect of sacubitril/valsartan on reverse remodeling and LVEF beyond the benefits of concomitant optimal medical therapy. This result is particular noteworthy because it was obtained although the patient wasn't able to reach the full dose of the drug. Physicians should always consider this drug effect when more demanding therapeutic strategies are needed for their HF patients.

Electrocardiographic and echocardiographic evaluation of a large cohort of peri-pubertal soccer players during pre-participation screening

BACKGROUND

The early diagnosis of cardiac abnormalities in young athletes may be helpful not only to identify subjects potentially at risk of sudden cardiac death but also to prevent stress-related cardiac dysfunction and cardiovascular events during the life of these subjects. The aim of our study was to investigate the prevalence of cardiac abnormalities in a population of young male soccer players undergoing pre-participation screening through electrocardiogram and trans-thoracic echocardiography.

METHODS

All consecutive male football players undergoing pre-participation screening comprehensive of medical history, physical examination, 12-lead electrocardiogram and trans-thoracic echocardiography at the FMSI Sport Medicine Institute in Rome between January 2008-March 2009 were enrolled in the study.

RESULTS

Overall, 2261 consecutive young athletes aged 12.4 ± 2.6 years were evaluated. Training-unrelated electrocardiogram abnormalities were observed in 65 (2.9%) athletes. Abnormal trans-thoracic echocardiography was observed in 102 athletes (4.5%), including two cases of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, eight of mild left ventricular hypertrophy, six of mild left ventricular dilation and 17 of bicuspid aortic valve. An abnormal electrocardiogram was associated with anomalous trans-thoracic echocardiography in 11/65 (16.9%) cases. All athletes requiring sport disqualification were identified by electrocardiogram. Notably, among 2216 athletes with a normal electrocardiogram, 91 had abnormal trans-thoracic echocardiography, including six cases of left ventricular dilation and six of ventricular hypertrophy.

CONCLUSIONS

In a wide population of peri-pubertal male athletes, evaluation of the electrocardiogram identified all cardiac diseases requiring sport disqualification. Trans-thoracic echocardiography alone allowed the identification of cardiac abnormalities potentially leading to cardiomyopathies or major cardiovascular events over time.

Cyto- and genotoxic profile of groundwater used as drinking water supply before and after disinfection

The assessment of the toxicological properties of raw groundwater may be useful to predict the type and quality of tap water. Contaminants in groundwater are known to be able to affect the disinfection process, resulting in the formation of substances that are cytotoxic and/or genotoxic. Though the European directive (98/83/EC, which establishes maximum levels for contaminants in raw water (RW)) provides threshold levels for acute exposure to toxic compounds, the law does not take into account chronic exposure at low doses of pollutants present in complex mixture. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cyto- and genotoxic load in the groundwater of two water treatment plants in Northern Italy. Water samples induced cytotoxic effects, mainly observed when human cells were treated with RW. Moreover, results indicated that the disinfection process reduced cell toxicity, independent of the biocidal used. The induction of genotoxic effects was found, in particular, when the micronucleus assay was carried out on raw groundwater. These results suggest that it is important to include bio-toxicological assays as additional parameters in water quality monitoring programs, as their use would allow the evaluation of the potential risk of groundwater for humans.

A New Electrocardiographic Marker of Sudden Death in Brugada Syndrome: The S-Wave in Lead I

BACKGROUND

Risk stratification in asymptomatic patients remains by far the most important yet unresolved clinical problem in the Brugada syndrome (BrS).

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to analyze the usefulness of electrocardiographic parameters as markers of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in BrS.

METHODS

This study analyzed data from 347 consecutive patients (78.4% male; mean age 45 ± 13.1 years) with spontaneous type 1 BrS by ECG parameters but with no history of cardiac arrest (including 91.1% asymptomatic at presentation, 5.2% with a history of atrial fibrillation [AF], and 4% with a history of arrhythmic syncope). Electrocardiographic characteristics at the first clinic visit were analyzed to predict ventricular fibrillation (VF)/SCD during follow-up.

RESULTS

During the follow-up (48 ± 38 months), 276 (79.5%) patients remained asymptomatic, 39 (11.2%) developed syncope, and 32 (9.2%) developed VF/SCD. Patients who developed VF/SCD had a lower prevalence of SCN5A gene mutations (p = 0.009) and a higher prevalence of positive electrophysiological study results (p < 0.0001), a family history of SCD (p = 0.03), and AF (p < 0.0001). The most powerful marker for VF/SCD was a significant S-wave (≥0.1 mV and/or ≥40 ms) in lead I. In the multivariate analysis, the duration of S-wave in lead I ≥40 ms (hazard ratio: 39.1) and AF (hazard ratio: 3.7) were independent predictors of VF/SCD during follow-up. Electroanatomic mapping in 12 patients showed an endocardial activation time significantly longer in patients with an S-wave in lead I, mostly because of a significant delay in the anterolateral right ventricular outflow tract.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of a wide and/or large S-wave in lead I was a powerful predictor of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias in patients with BrS and no history of cardiac arrest at presentation. However, the prognostic value of a significant S-wave in lead I should be confirmed by larger studies and by an independent confirmation cohort of healthy subjects.

Genetics of Vesicoureteral Reflux

Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is the retrograde passage of urine from the bladder to the upper urinary tract. It is the most common congenital urological anomaly affecting 1-2% of children and 30-40% of patients with urinary tract infections. VUR is a major risk factor for pyelonephritic scarring and chronic renal failure in children. It is the result of a shortened intravesical ureter with an enlarged or malpositioned ureteric orifice. An ectopic embryonal ureteric budding development is implicated in the pathogenesis of VUR, which is a complex genetic developmental disorder. Many genes are involved in the ureteric budding formation and subsequently in the urinary tract and kidney development. Previous studies demonstrate an heterogeneous genetic pattern of VUR. In fact no single major locus or gene for primary VUR has been identified. It is likely that different forms of VUR with different genetic determinantes are present. Moreover genetic studies of syndromes with associated VUR have revealed several possible candidate genes involved in the pathogenesis of VUR and related urinary tract malformations. Mutations in genes essential for urinary tract morphogenesis are linked to numerous congenital syndromes, and in most of those VUR is a feature. The Authors provide an overview of the developmental processes leading to the VUR. The different genes and signaling pathways controlling the embryonal urinary tract development are analyzed. A better understanding of VUR genetic bases could improve the management of this condition in children.

Omega 3 and atrial fibrillation: Where are we?

Anti-arrhythmic properties of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, at least in part mediated by anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic power, have been widely proved. Effect of fish oil on atrial fibrillation, both in primary and in secondary prevention and after cardiac surgery, are controversial, mostly due to lack of homogeneity between studies but also due to individual variability in response to fatty acids administration. Inclusion of measurement of incorporation of fish oil into cell membranes, appears to be essential in future studies, to assess their antiarrhythmic effect.