Pregnancy history and long-term progression of cardiomyopathy in LMNA genotype-positive women

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Precision Health Center for optimized cardiac care (ProCArdio), Oslo, Norway Fripro gene positive, Norwegian Research Council, Oslo, Norway

Background

Competitive and non-competitive exercises have been reported to be deleterious on prognosis of LMNA genotype-positive patients. Comparable to exercise, pregnancy is a prolonged hemodynamic stress situation.

Aims

We aimed to assess the association between pregnancy history and long-term progression of cardiomyopathy in women with pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants of LMNA (LMNA+).

Methods

We retrospectively included consecutive LMNA+ females and recorded pregnancy data. We analyzed repeated echocardiographic examinations, including data on left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic diameter (EDD), LV ejection fraction (EF) and LV global longitudinal strain (GLS). We recorded the occurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF), atrioventricular block, sustained ventricular arrhythmias (VA), and implantation of cardiac electronic devices (ICD/CRT-D). We analysed retrospectively complications during pregnancy and peripartum period.

Results

We included 89 LMNA+ women (28% probands, age 41 ± 16 years), of which 60 had history of pregnancy. Follow-up duration was 5 [IQR: 3-9] years. We analysed 452 repeated echocardiographic examinations. Women with previous pregnancy and nulliparous had a similar annual deterioration of LV EF (-0.5/year vs -0.3/year, p = 0.37, figure left panel), LV GLS (0.1/year vs 0.0/year, p = 0.35, figure right panel) and LV EDD (0.1/year vs 0.2/year, p = 0.09). Number of pregnancies was not associated with increased long-term risk of AF, atrioventricular block, sustained VA or ICD/CRT-D implantation. Pregnancy history was not associated with worse survival free from death, left ventricular assist device or need for cardiac transplantation. Arrhythmias occurred in 9% of pregnancies. No increase of maternal and fetal complications was observed.

Conclusions

In our cohort of LMNA+ women, pregnancy was not associated with long-term adverse progression of cardiac dysfunction, worsening in arrhythmic progression or reduced event-free survival. Likewise, LMNA+ women generally tolerated pregnancy well, with a small proportion of patients experiencing arrhythmias. Abstract Figure.

Mitral annulus disjunction is highly prevalent in patients with Marfan syndrome and Loyes-Dietz syndrome

Background

Mitral valve prolapse is a common finding in patients with Marfan and Loyes-Dietz syndrome. Mitral annulus disjunction (MAD), an atrial displacement of the hinge point of the mitral valve, has previously been associated with non-syndromic MVP and life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias.

Purpose

We aimed to assess the prevalence of MAD in patients with Marfan and Loyes-Dietz syndrome and relate the presence of MAD to mitral valve prolapse.

Methods

We included genotype positive patients with Marfan and Loyes-Dietz syndrome, and patients with Marfan syndrome fulfilling Revised Ghent Criteria. Mitral valve prolapse was defined as superior mitral leaflets' displacement ≥2mm beyond the mitral annulus. MAD was diagnosed by echocardiography and quantified as the distance from the ventricular myocardium to the hinge point of the posterior mitral leaflet (Figure, left panel).

Results

We included 111 patients with Marfan syndrome and 66 patients with Loyes-Dietz syndrome (age 26 [IQR, 13–39] years, 53% male). Mitral valve prolapse was observed in 54 (31%) and MAD in 74 (42%) patients. Longitudinal MAD distance was 8 (IQR, 6–10) mm. Forty-six (85%) patients with mitral valve prolapse had concomitant MAD, p<0.001 (Figure, right panel).

Conclusion

Mitral valve prolapse was observed in one third of patients with Marfan and Loyes-Dietz syndrome. MAD was highly prevalent and found in 42% of all patients and in 85% of those with mitral valve prolapse. Presence of mitral valve prolapse in Marfan and Loyes-Dietz syndrome should raise awareness of MAD which may be of importance in follow-up and monitoring of these patients.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): Health Authority of South Eastern Norway

P4661Increased levels of sST2 in patients with mitral annulus disjunction and ventricular arrhythmias

Background

Mitral annulus disjunction (MAD), a basal displacement of the mitral valve annulus, is described as a possible aetiology of sudden cardiac death. Stretch-induced fibrosis in the sub-valvular apparatus has been suggested as the substrate of arrhythmias.

Purpose

We hypothesized that the stretch related biomarker soluble Suppression of Tumorigenicity-2 (sST2) is a marker of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with MAD.

Methods

We included patients with ≥1 mm MAD on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and recorded left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) suggesting papillary muscle fibrosis. Circulating levels of sST2 were assessed by blood sampling. The occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias, defined as aborted cardiac arrest, sustained or non-sustained ventricular tachycardia, was assessed retrospectively.

Results

We included 72 patients with MAD [55 (35–62) years old, 48 (67%) female], of which 22 (31%) had ventricular arrhythmias. Patients with ventricular arrhythmias had lower LVEF (60±6% vs. 63±6%, p=0.04), more prevalent papillary muscle fibrosis [14 (64%) vs. 10 (20%), p<0.001] and higher sST2 levels [31.6±10.1 ng/mL vs. 25.3±9.2 ng/mL, p=0.01] compared to those without. Combining sST2-level, LVEF and papillary muscle fibrosis optimally detected individuals with arrhythmias (area under the curve 0.82, 95% CI 0.73–0.92) and improved the risk model (p<0.05) compared to individual parameters (Figure right panel).

Conclusion

Circulating sST2 levels were higher in patients with MAD and ventricular arrhythmias compared to patients without arrhythmias. Combining sST2, LVEF and LGE may improve risk stratification in patients with MAD.

Acknowledgement/Funding

This work was supported by public grant [203489/030] from the Norwegian Research Council, Oslo, Norway. E. Scheirlynck received an ESC research grant

P3516Sex differences in cardiac function and muscular dystrophy in lamin A/C genotype positive family members

Background

Lamin A/C dilated cardiomyopathy is a highly penetrant inheritable cardiomyopathy with some patients developing muscluar dystrophy. Studies have indicated higher morbidity and mortality in men compared to women with lamin A/C.

Purpose

To explore sex differences in cardiac function, arrhythmias and muscular dystrophy in lamin A/C genotype positive family members of lamin A/C probands.

Methods

We included consecutive lamin A/C genotype positive family members recruited for cardiological evalutation based on the identification of lamin A/C genotype by cascade genetic screening. Cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography. Impaired cardiac function was defined according to guidelines as left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <52% in men, <54% in women. Presence of AV-block, atrial fibrillation and ventricular arrhythmias were evaluated by12-lead ECG, Holter monitoring, and interrogation of cardiac implantable electronic devices. Presence of muscular dystrophy was assessed retrospectively from medical records, and defined as present or not based on description of typical symptoms and/or findings on neurological exam.

Results

We included 55 lamin A/C genotype positive family members (age 35±15 years, 49% female). Men were younger at time of evaluation (31±15 years vs. 40±14 years, p=0.047). Despite lower age, men had significantly lower LVEF (48±12% vs. 55±9%, p=0.016) (Figure left panel), and showed worse survival free from impaired cardiac function compared to women (log rank p=0.019) (Figure, mid panel). Male sex was a marker for impaired cardiac function when adjusted for age (adjusted OR 5.3 [95% CI; 1.5–18.8]). Women had higher prevalence of muscular dystrophy compared to men (35% vs. 0%, p=0.004) (Figure right panel). We observed no sex related differences for AV-block, atrial fibrillation, nor ventricular arrhythmias.

Conclusions

Male lamin A/C genotype family members had earlier penetrance and more frequently impaired cardiac function compared to women. AV-block and arrhythmic disease did not differ. Muscular dystrophy was more frequent in women. These findings indicate sex differences in the phenotypical expression of lamin A/C disease.