Bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement in patients aged 50 years old and younger: Structural valve deterioration at long-term follow-up. Retrospective study

Background

Structural valve deterioration (SVD) remains the major determinant of bioprosthesis durability. The aim of this study was to investigate the SVD incidence, predictors and outcomes in patients aged 50 years and younger after bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement (bAVR).

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 73 consecutive patients ≤50 years old who underwent bioprosthetic AVR at our center between 2005 and 2015. Median age at surgery was 44 (interquartile range [IQR]: 39-47) years. Follow-up was 93.2% complete at a median time of 7.2 (IQR: 5.5-9.5) years. Cumulative follow-up was 545.5 valve-years. Bioprosthesis SVD was determined by strict echocardiographic assessment.

Results

The overall survival-rate at 10/15 years and freedom from SVD at 10/12.5 years were 89.6 ± 5.2%/81.5 ± 9.1% and 73.5 ± 8.2%/41.9 ± 18.9%, respectively. SVD occurred at a median time of 8.2 (IQR: 6.0-9.9) years after bAVR. Age was not found as an independent predictor for SVD at the multivariable model, despite a higher rate of SVD in the age group ≤30 years. Freedom from reoperation due to SVD at 10/15 years was 71.3 ± 14.1%/13.6 ± 12.3%. Reoperation was performed at a median time of 10.0 (IQR: 8.9-11.9) years since first bAVR and was associated with a 100% 12-month survival.

Conclusions

In our study, the rate and time of SVD occurrence were comparable to those of other studies' older age groups. Strict echocardiographic monitoring of valve performance is mandatory to set the appropriate timing of eventual reoperation. This attitude can improve outcomes of bAVR in younger patients.

Escherichia coli prosthetic valve endocarditis from a non-genitourinary source

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E. coli is an infrequent cause of infective endocarditis due to is limited ability to adhere to heart valves.

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There is a notable increase in the share of total cases of E. coli infective endocarditis due to prosthetic valve infections.

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There is an increased recognition of non-genitourinary sources of E. coli prosthetic valve endocarditis.

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The overall mortality rate is declining for E. coli prosthetic valve endocarditis cases.

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a rare cause of infective endocarditis due to its lack of traditional virulence factors that promote endocardial adherence. Previous case reports of E. coli infective endocarditis demonstrate specific risk factors to include advanced age over 70, female sex, diabetes, immunosuppression, and intravascular or cardiac devices. Antecedent genitourinary infection is the most common source. We present a case of a 55-year-old Honduran man with a recent bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement and tricuspid valve repair who presented with one month of subjective fevers, night sweats, anorexia, and significant weight loss. After extensive work-up, the patient was diagnosed with E. coli infective endocarditis secondary to E. coli growth in blood cultures and a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) revealing a vegetation on his prosthetic mitral valve. An indolent gastrointestinal source was suspected to be the source of infection with imaging only notable for mild periappendiceal stranding concerning for a possible site of antecedent inflammation. He was treated with a 6-week course of ceftriaxone and gentamicin inpatient and then discharged on trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole suppressive therapy with serial echocardiographic follow-up given the persistent small vegetation on repeat echocardiogram. Our case report and review of ten recent cases of prosthetic valve endocarditis described in the literature illustrates several common features of the epidemiology, presentation, and management of E. coli prosthetic valve endocarditis including more commonly reported non-genitourinary sources of bacteremia, a trend towards more frequent surgical interventions, and a declining mortality rate.

Acute lung injury after plasma exchange in a patient with anti-MDA5 antibody-positive, rapidly progressive, interstitial lung disease：A case report

The presence of anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibody (anti-MDA5 Ab) is closely associated with rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RP-ILD) in patients with clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis. Despite intensive immunosuppressive therapies, some of these patients still have a poor prognosis with few treatment options. Although removal of pathogenic autoantibodies and cytokines by plasma exchange (PE) could be a treatment option, its safety and efficacy have never been determined. We report a patient with anti-MDA5 Ab-positive RP-ILD who was refractory to intensive therapies including steroids, cyclosporine, and intravenous cyclophosphamide, and then treated by PE to prevent the progression of RP-ILD. Shortly after the initiation of PE therapy, however, his respiratory condition suddenly deteriorated due to acute pulmonary edema and the patient died on the following day. Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) would be the most likely cause of the acute pulmonary edema because there was no sign of circulatory overload. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report showing a critical adverse event associated with PE therapy for these patients. This case supports the idea that the presence of ILD could increase a risk for TRALI and therefore we should carefully evaluate the eligibility for PE therapy of anti-MDA5 Ab-positive RP-ILD patients given the risk of acute lung injury. Further studies collecting more clinical data are necessary to assess the efficacy, safety, and risk factors of PE therapy for these patients.