Automatic measurement of short-term variability of repolarization to indicate ventricular arrhythmias in a porcine model of cardiac ischaemia

AIMS

An automated method for determination of short-term variability (STV) of repolarization on intracardiac electrograms (STV-ARIauto) has previously been developed for arrhythmic risk monitoring by cardiac implantable devices, and has proved effective in predicting ventricular arrhythmias (VA) and guiding preventive high-rate pacing (HRP) in a canine model. Current study aimed to assess (i) STV-ARIauto in relation to VA occurrence and secondarily (ii-a) to confirm the predictive capacity of STV from the QT interval and (ii-b) explore the effect of HRP on arrhythmic outcomes in a porcine model of acute myocardial infarction (MI).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Myocardial infarction was induced in 15 pigs. In 7/15 pigs, STV-QT was assessed at baseline, occlusion, 1 min before VA, and just before VA. Eight of the 15 pigs were additionally monitored with an electrogram catheter in the right ventricle, underwent echocardiography at baseline and reperfusion, and were randomized to paced or control group. Paced group received atrial pacing at 20 beats per min faster than sinus rhythm 1 min after occlusion. Short-term variability increased prior to VA in both STV modalities. The percentage change in STV from baseline to successive timepoints correlated well between STV-QT and STV-ARIauto. High-rate pacing did not improve arrhythmic outcomes and was accompanied by a stronger decrease in ejection fraction.

CONCLUSION

STV-ARIauto values increase before VA onset, alike STV-QT in a porcine model of MI, indicating imminent arrhythmias. This highlights the potential of automatic monitoring of arrhythmic risk by cardiac devices through STV-ARIauto and subsequently initiates preventive strategies. Continuous HRP during onset of acute MI did not improve arrhythmic outcomes.

Short-term variability of repolarization is equally modulated by atrial and (bi)ventricular high rate pacing in patients with an indication for an implantable cardioverter defibrillator

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Dutch Heart Foundation

Background

 An increase in temporal dispersion of repolarization, quantified as short-term variability of the QT-interval (STV-QT), precedes ventricular arrhythmias and has therefore been proposed as a marker for monitoring of imminent arrhythmic risk. A reversal of an increased STV by high rate pacing at 100 bpm was anti-arrhythmic in the chronic atrioventricular block dog model susceptible to Torsade de Pointes arrhythmias upon challenge with an IKr-blocker. The objective of the current study was to investigate the physiological modulation of STV by pacing in patients with an indication for an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), and to compare atrial and ventricular pacing.

Methods

 ECG recordings were obtained with a sampling frequency of 1200 Hz in 10 dual chamber ICD patients and 10 patients with cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillation function (CRT-D) during the implantation or replacement. One-minute recordings were made during sinus rhythm (SR), and during pacing at 80 and 100 beats per minute (bpm) from the atrium (AAI), atrium and right ventricle (DDD RVp), and during atrio-biventricular pacing (DDD BiVp). The QT-interval was determined offline with fiducial segment averaging at one minute of each pacing rate, and 31 consecutive beats were used to calculate STV-QT with the following formula: ∑|D(n + 1)-Dn |/(N×√2), where D represents the determinant of repolarization (in this case the QT interval), and N represents the number of beats taken into account minus 1.

Results

 In the patients overall, STV-QT decreased from 1.27 ± 0.38 ms in SR (±58 bpm) to 0.86 ± 0.26 ms* during AAI80, and to 0.68 ± 0.22 ms*† during AAI100 (*p < 0.05 compared to SR, †p < 0.05 compared to 80 bpm). The same decrease was seen during DDD80 RVp (0.81 ± 0.28 ms*) and during DDD100 RVp (0.66 ± 0.22 ms*†) (fig. 1). Additionally, DDD BiVp decreased STV-QT to 0.78 ± 0.20 ms* at 80 bpm and to 0.62 ± 0.19 ms* at 100 bpm in CRT-D patients (fig. 2).

Conclusion

 Pacing at 80 and 100 bpm decreases STV-QT compared to sinus rhythm both in dual chamber ICD patients and CRT-D patients. The modulation of STV-QT is similar during atrial, and atrio- right ventricular and atrio-biventricular pacing. Abstract Figure. Modulation of STV-QT by AAI and DDD RVp

High rate pacing guided by short-term variability of repolarization prevents imminent ventricular arrhythmias autonomically by an ICD

Background

The anesthetized, chronic complete atrioventricular block (CAVB) dog model allows reproducible inducibility of Torsade de Pointes (TdP) arrhythmias due to ventricular remodeling and after a challenge with an IKr-blocker. High rate pacing (HRP) prevents ventricular arrhythmias, but has long-term detrimental effects on cardiac function when applied continuously. Temporal dispersion of repolarization, quantified as short-term variability (STV), increases prior to ventricular arrhythmias and has been proposed as a marker to guide HRP.

Purpose

A proof-of-principle study to show STV determined automatically and in real-time by an ICD can guide HRP to prevent imminent ventricular arrhythmias.

Methods

Eight CAVB dogs were implanted with an ICD (Medtronic, lead in the right ventricular (RV) apex), with software to automatically determine STV online (STV-ICD). STV was determined from the activation recovery interval (ARI) of 31 consecutive beats with the formula: STV = Σ|ARI(n+1) − ARI(n)|/(N*√2). The CAVB dogs were challenged twice with dofetilide (0.025 mg/kg i.v. in 5 minutes or until the first TdP). In the first experiment, the individual STV-ICD threshold was determined prior to the first arrhythmic event and programmed into the ICD. In a serial experiment, HRP was initiated automatically once the STV-ICD threshold was reached, by gradually increasing the heart rate to 100 bpm. Occurrence of TdPs was monitored for 10 minutes from the start of dofetilide infusion in both experiments. During HRP, STV was measured offline from RV electrograms (EGM) and left ventricular (LV) monophasic action potential durations (MAPD) (STV-offline).

Results

During the inducibility experiment, 8/8 dogs had repetitive TdPs and STV-ICD increased from 0.96±0.42 to 2.10±1.26 ms* (*p<0.05). During the prevention experiment, all dogs reached the STV threshold. HRP decreased STV-offline from 2.02±1.12 to 0.78±0.28 ms*, which was accompanied by prevention of TdPs in 7/8 dogs* (Figure 1).

Conclusion

Temporal dispersion of repolarization, quantified as STV, can guide HRP automatically by an ICD to prevent ventricular arrhythmias.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Dutch Heart Foundation Public Private Partnership

Atrial dilation as a substrate for atrial fibrillation in the canine complete chronic atrioventricular block model

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia treated in clinical practice. Structural remodeling is characterized by atrial enlargement and contributes to the therapeutic resistance in patients with long-standing AF.

Purpose

To study the atrial arrhythmogenic and echocardiographic consequences induced by volume overload in the complete chronic atrioventricular block (CAVB) dog.

Methods

Echocardiographic and electrophysiological data was obtained in 14 anaesthetized Mongrel dogs, in acute AV-block (AAVB), after 6 weeks of CAVB (CAVB6) and CAVB10. Left atrial (LA) volume was determined with 2D echocardiography by using the biplane method. An electrocardiogram and monophasic action potentials (MAP) at the right atrial (RA) free wall were recorded. Atrial effective refractory period (AERP) was determined by continuous programmed electrical stimulation (PES) of 20 beats with a cycle length of 400 ms and an extrastimulus with decremental design until refractoriness was reached. A continuous PES protocol of 20 beats with an extrastimulus 5 ms longer than the AERP was applied for 150 seconds to trigger AF. After 5 min without arrhythmias, autonomic neuromodulation was performed by intravenous infusion (IV) of acetylcholine (1,5μg/kg/min to 6,0μg/kg/min) for 20 min followed by prompt IV infusion of isoprenaline (3μg/min) until the atrial heart rate increased by 20 bpm. PES with an extrastimulus was repeated for 150 seconds to induce AF.

Results

LA volume increased from 13.7±3.2 ml at AAVB to 20.5±5.9 ml* at CAVB6, and 22.7±6.0 ml* at CAVB10 (Fig. 1A). AERP was similar at AAVB, CAVB6, and CAVB10 (115.8±11.9, 117.3±11.7, and 106.8±12.1 ms respectively). Repetitive AF paroxysms of >10 seconds were induced in 1/14 (7%) dogs at AAVB, 1/11 (9%) at CAVB6, and 5/10 (50%)* at CAVB10 (*p<0.05) upon PES (Fig. 1B). Combined neuromodulation and PES did not increase the AF inducibility rate, but prolonged the longest episode of AF in the inducible dogs from 55±49 seconds to 236±202 seconds* at CAVB10 (Fig. 1C). LA volume was higher in inducible dogs 25.0±4.9 ml compared to 18.4±4.2 ml in non-inducible dogs at CAVB10.

Conclusion

Sustained atrial dilation forms a substrate for repetitive paroxysms of AF. Neuro-modulation prolongs AF episode duration in susceptible dogs. This animal model can be used to study structural remodeling of the atria and possible therapeutic advances in the management of AF.

Figure 1

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Private company. Main funding source(s): Amgen Research

The Increment of Short-term Variability of Repolarisation Determines the Severity of the Imminent Arrhythmic Outcome

Ventricular remodelling can make the heart more susceptible to ventricular arrhythmias like torsades de pointes. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of initiation of ventricular arrhythmias and the determining factors for its severity has the potential to uncover new interventions. Beat-to-beat variation of repolarisation, quantified as short-term variability of repolarisation (STV), has been identified as an important factor contributing to arrhythmogenesis. This article provides an overview of experimental data about STV in relation to the initiation of torsades de pointes in a canine model of complete chronic atrioventricular block susceptible to torsades de pointes arrhythmias. Furthermore, it explores STV in relation to the severity of the arrhythmic outcome.

Non-cardiac chest pain: prognosis and secondary healthcare utilisation

Objective

Presentations of non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP) to the emergency department (ED) are increasing. More knowledge of prognosis and healthcare utilisation of patients with NCCP is necessary to optimise their management.

Methods

This study is a prospective, observational, prevalence-based cohort study conducted from September 2015 to February 2016 with 1-year follow-up including all patients 18 years and older referred to the ED with chest pain. Discharge diagnoses, mortality, major adverse cardiac events (MACE), re-presentations to the ED, hospitalisations, cardiac interventions and outpatient monitoring were assessed.

Results

More than 60% of the 1239 patients presenting with chest pain were discharged with NCCP. The all-cause 1-year mortality rate of patients with NCCP was 2.3% compared with 7.2% in patients with cardiac chest pain (CCP) (p<0.001) and the occurrence of MACE was 5.1% vs 8.3%, respectively (p=0.026). Previous history of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with NCCP was identified as a predictive factor for MACE (OR 4.30 (95% CI 1.24 to 14.89), p=0.021). Patients with NCCP had more non-invasive interventions than patients with CCP (proportion of 0.225 vs 0.165 per patient, p<0.001) and 13.7% of patients with NCCP re-presented at the ED within 1  year.

Conclusion

The majority of patients referred to the ED with chest pain are discharged with NCCP. The prognosis of patients with NCCP is better than patients with CCP; however, they are at risk for MACE due to a history of CAD. Patients with NCCP moreover use a substantial amount of medical resources, stressing the importance of good triage to minimise unnecessary healthcare utilisation while still preventing MACE.