Atrial Strain Analysis Predicts Atrial Arrhythmia Recurrence Following Cavotricuspid Isthmus Ablation of Typical Atrial Flutter.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of right and left atrial strain reservoir (RASr and LASr) in predicting the recurrence of atrial arrhythmias (AAs) following cavotricuspid isthmus ablation (CTIA) for typical atrial flutter (AFL). We retrospectively enrolled consecutive patients with AFL who had undergone CTIA. Transthoracic echocardiography was conducted within one month before the procedure, and atrial two-dimensional speckle tracking analysis was performed offline.

Incremental prognostic value of left atrial reservoir strain after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction for the prediction of new-onset atrial fibrillation.

New-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) affects up to 21% of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. The value of LA reservoir strain to predict new-onset AF in a STEMI population has not been thoroughly investigated. We aimed to explore the incremental value of LA reservoir strain for predicting new-onset AF post-STEMI.

Left ventricular dilatation in patients with significant aortic regurgitation: association with outcome.

Aims: Left ventricular (LV) dilatation is an important prognostic factor in patients with aortic regurgitation (AR). Although current guidelines recommend the use of LV end-systolic diameter index (LVESDi) to indicate the need for intervention, recent studies suggested that LV end-systolic volume index (LVESVi) may more accurately characterize LV remodelling.The present study aims to evaluate, in a multi-centre setting, whether combining LV linear and volumetric measures could improve risk stratification.

Evolution of Cardiac Damage Staged With Echocardiography in Fabry Disease.

Background: Fabry disease can be classified in 4 stages based on the extent of cardiac damage assessed with echocardiography. This staging is strongly associated with prognosis, with a doubled risk increase of cardiovascular events for each stage progression. The aims of the present study were to investigate the evolution of cardiac damage using this staging system during midterm follow-up and to identify predictors of stage worsening.

Evolution and prognostic implications of cardiac damage in women after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Recently, a cardiac damage staging system has been proposed in patients with severe AS to improve risk stratification, but there is still paucity of data in women. Accordingly, we aimed to characterize the change in cardiac damage after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), and to assess the prognostic value of cardiac damage staging in women. A total of 334 women (mean age 81 ± 7 years) with severe AS undergoing TAVI were included and retrospectively analyzed.

Association of Cardiac Sarcoidosis and Ulcerative Colitis: A Case Report and a Brief Review of the Literature.

• CS is a rare inflammatory disease with immune-mediated pathogenesis. • The authors report a rare case of coexistence of CS and ulcerative colitis. • CS and ulcerative colitis may share common pathogenetic pathways.

Electrocardiogram evolution in Anderson-Fabry disease patients during follow-up in relation to specific treatment and cardiac disease progression.

Aims: Electrocardiogram (ECG) analysis plays a central role in Anderson-Fabry disease (AFD) diagnosis and management. This study aimed to assess ECG evolution during follow-up in relation to specific treatment and disease progression.

Methods: Retrospective study of a multicentric cohort of AFD patients with ≥2 ECG and echocardiographic data.

Right atrial strain in Anderson-Fabry disease.

Background: To date, only limited data are available on right atrium (RA) morphofunctional remodeling in Fabry disease (FD).

Purpose: We aimed to investigate RA structural and functional remodeling in patients with FD vs. healthy controls using 2D speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) and to explore whether any differences exist in FD patients with and without left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH).

The reversibility of cardiac damage after transcatheter aortic valve implantation and short-term outcomes in a real-world setting.

Aims: This study aims to assess the changes in cardiac damage stage in a real-world cohort of patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), and to investigate the prognostic value of cardiac damage stage evolution.

Methods And Results: Patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing TAVI were retrospectively analysed. A five-stage system based on the presence and extent of cardiac damage assessed by echocardiography was applied before and 6 months after TAVI.

Association between Left Atrial Function and Survival in Systemic Sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a multisystemic autoimmune disorder in which cardiac involvement is frequent and portends negative prognosis. Left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction is one of the most common cardiac alterations in these patients, and left atrial (LA) reservoir strain (Ɛ) measurement using speckle tracking echocardiography has been proposed as a novel parameter for a better assessment of LV diastolic function. Therefore, the aim of this study was to test the prognostic value of Ɛ in a large multicenter cohort of SSc patients.

Early cardiac mechanics abnormalities in patients with mitochondrial diseases.

Background: Evidence about early cardiac mechanics abnormalities in patients with mitochondrial diseases (MDs) before overt cardiomyopathy is limited.

Methods: In this prospective study, we performed a comparative analysis of conventional and speckle tracking echocardiographic parameters between patients with genetically identified MDs and no overt cardiomyopathy vs controls matched for age, sex and cardiovascular risk factors. The Newcastle mitochondrial disease adult scale (NMDAS) was calculated, using a threshold of > 21 as indicator of high disease severity.

Pulmonary congestion assessed by lung ultrasound in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation: Prevalence and prognostic implications.

Aims: Lung ultrasound (LUS) is a sensitive tool to assess pulmonary congestion (PC). Few data are available on LUS-PC evaluation in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and prognostic impact of LUS-PC in patients with severe AS before and after TAVI.

Changes in Global Longitudinal Strain after TAVI: Additional Prognostic Value over Cardiac Damage in Patients with Severe Aortic Stenosis.

Previous studies demonstrated the prognostic value of baseline cardiac damage staging as well as left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the changes in cardiac damage stage and LVGLS after TAVI and to investigate their prognostic values when integrated into the follow-up assessment. Patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing TAVI were hierarchically classified into cardiac damage stages based on echocardiographic criteria before TAVI and at a 6-month follow-up.

Prognostic implications and alterations in left atrial deformation following transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Aims: To evaluate the prognostic implications of the left atrial reservoir strain-defined diastolic dysfunction (LARS-DD) grade in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for severe aortic stenosis (AS) and to determine whether post-TAVI LARS was more closely associated with new-onset atrial fibrillation than pre-TAVI LARS.

Methods And Results: Pre-TAVI LARS-DD was evaluated by speckle-tracking echocardiography and was assigned as Grade 0 to 1 (LARS ≥24%), Grade 2 (LARS 19-24%), and Grade 3 (LARS <19%). Patients were followed up for the primary endpoint of all-cause mortality from the date of TAVI.

Structural and functional abnormalities of left-sided cardiac chambers in Barlow's disease without significant mitral regurgitation.

Aims: This study aims to explore the presence of left ventricular (LV) and left atrial (LA) morphological and functional abnormalities in patients with Barlow's disease (BD) without significant mitral regurgitation (MR) and to investigate whether these abnormalities may predict MR progression.

Methods And Results: Consecutive patients with BD were retrospectively identified from two tertiary centres; those with MR graded from trivial to mild-to-moderate were selected and matched with healthy controls in a 1:1 ratio. Conventional and speckle-tracking echocardiographic data were collected.

Incremental Value of Biventricular Strain in Patients with Severe Aortic Stenosis.

(1) Background: Left ventricular global longitudinal (LVGLS) and right ventricular free wall strain (RVFWS) demonstrated separate prognostic values in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS). However, studies evaluating the combined assessment of LVGLS and RVFWS have shown contradictory results. This study explored the prognostic value of combining LVGLS and RVFWS in a large group of severe AS patients referred for transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Right Heart Remodeling and Outcomes in Patients With Tricuspid Regurgitation: A Literature Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR) can develop either because of right ventricular (RV) remodeling (ventricular functional TR) and/or right atrial dilation (atrial functional TR).

Objectives: This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the association between right heart remodeling and long-term (>1 year) all-cause mortality in patients with significant TR (at least moderate, ≥2+).

Methods: MEDLINE, ISI Web of Science, and SCOPUS databases were searched.

Left atrial structural and functional remodelling in Fabry disease and cardiac amyloidosis: A comparative analysis.

Background: Fabry disease (FD) and transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (TTR CA) are cardiomyopathies with hypertrophic phenotype that share several features, including left atrial (LA) enlargement and dysfunction, but direct comparative data are lacking. Aim of the present study was to perform a comparative analysis of LA remodelling between the two diseases.

Methods And Results: In this prospective study, a total of 114 patients (31 FD and 83 TTR CA) were included; all of them had left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), defined as left ventricular (LV) wall thickness ≥ 12 mm.