Atrial Mechanics in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: Effect of a No-Implant Interatrial Shunt.

Background: The atria play an important role in the pathophysiology of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Decreased left atrial strain is associated with worse clinical outcomes. The impact of no-implant interatrial shunting on atrial structure and function has not been described.

Real-Life Management of Elevated Troponin Level in Patients Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the clinical outcomes of cancer. Nevertheless, their use may lead to myocardial injury. The 2022 European Society of Cardiology cardio-oncology guidelines recommend routine follow-up of troponin level; however, current guidelines do not provide specific protocols for managing elevated troponin levels during ICI therapy.

Mildly elevated left ventricular outflow tract gradients are associated with increased short-term mortality in inpatients without septal hypertrophy.

Background: Left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction is influenced by anatomical and physiological factors. While extensively studied in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), the significance of elevated LVOT gradients (LVOTG) in patients without septal hypertrophy remains poorly understood, particularly in the inpatient setting.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study, analyzing a cohort of 27,478 inpatients without septal hypertrophy.

The predictive value of serial troponin measurements in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) may lead to immune-related adverse events, including potentially life-threatening cardiovascular (CV) complications. Despite guideline-recommended troponin monitoring, limited data exist on evaluating its predictive significance.

Objective: We aimed to assess the predictive value of serial high-sensitivity troponin I (hs-TnI) monitoring in patients treated with ICIs.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated myocarditis: a novel risk score.

Background And Aims: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are associated with life-threatening myocarditis but milder presentations are increasingly recognized. The same autoimmune process that causes ICI myocarditis can manifest concurrent generalized myositis, myasthenia-like syndrome, and respiratory muscle failure. Prognostic factors for this 'cardiomyotoxicity' are lacking.

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Myocarditis and Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have transformed cancer treatment, but ICI myocarditis (ICI-M) remains a potentially fatal complication. The clinical implications and predictors of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <50% in ICI-M are not well understood.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with LVEF <50% vs ≥50% at the time of hospitalization for ICI-M.

A perfect mimic: the role of multimodality imaging in right ventricular cardiomyopathy-a case report.

Background: Distinguishing right ventricular cardiac sarcoidosis (RVCS) from arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is often a challenging task particularly when imaging findings are limited to the right ventricle and when electrocardiographic and arrhythmic findings are typical for ARVC. Here, we discuss the challenges of diagnosis and management in a patient whose initial work-up strongly suggested ARVC and was later diagnosed with cardiac sarcoidosis (CS), highlighting the role of multimodality imaging.

Case Summary: On presentation, this patient displayed electrocardiographic abnormalities, arrhythmia morphology, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging findings consistent with the criteria for a definite diagnosis of ARVC.

Safety and efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with pre-treatment reduced left ventricular function.

Aims: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized cancer treatment outcomes. However, the response varies across different populations, and their use may lead to life-threatening cardiovascular (CV) events. While pre-treatment reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is considered a marker for high-risk cardiotoxicity and a contraindication for anthracycline and HER2-targeted therapies, there is limited evidence on the safety and efficacy of ICIs therapy in patients presenting with pre-treatment reduced LVEF.

The Role of Inflammation in Early Left Ventricular Thrombus Formation Following ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction-A Matched Case-Control Study.

Background: There is limited data on the association between inflammation and the formation of early left ventricular thrombus (LVT) following ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). This study aimed to explore the predictive value of several inflammatory biomarkers for LVT formation following STEMI.

Methods And Results: Our cohort included 2534 consecutive patients admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) with STEMI.

Routine Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) measurement: a window into atherosclerosis and early left ventricular dysfunction in patients diagnosed with cancer.

Background: Cancer therapy is considered to cause accelerated ischemia. Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) measurement is an inexpensive, simple, available test for the early diagnosis of peripheral artery disease (PAD); however, it is not performed routinely. We aimed to evaluate the role of routine ABI measurement for the diagnosis of PAD among patients diagnosed with cancer and whether it correlates with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction.

Sex-related differences in the association between septal wall thickness and survival.

Background: In many conditions characterised by septal hypertrophy, females have been shown to have worse outcomes compared to males. In clinical practice and research, similar cutoff points for septal hypertrophy are still used for both sexes. Here, we explore the association between different cutoff points for septal hypertrophy and survival in relation to sex.

Prediction of recurrent heart failure hospitalizations and mortality using the echocardiographic Killip score.

Aim: Examine the performance of a simple echocardiographic "Killip score" (eKillip) in predicting heart failure (HF) hospitalizations and mortality after index event of decompensated HF hospitalization.

Methods: HF patients hospitalized at our facility between 03/2019-03/2021 who underwent an echocardiography during their index admission were included in this retrospective analysis. The cohort was divided into 4 classes of eKillip according to: stroke volume index (SVI) < 35ml/m > and E/E' ratio < 15 > .

In vivo fluid dynamics of the Ventura interatrial shunt device in patients with heart failure.

Aims: Interatrial shunts are under evaluation as a treatment for heart failure (HF); however, their in vivo flow performance has not been quantitatively studied. We aimed to investigate the fluid dynamics properties of the 0.51 cm orifice diameter Ventura shunt and assess its lumen integrity with serial transesophageal echocardiography (TEE).

Interatrial shunt therapy in advanced heart failure: Outcomes from the open-label cohort of the RELIEVE-HF trial.

Aims: Heart failure (HF) outcomes remain poor despite optimal guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT). We assessed safety, effectiveness, and transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) outcomes during the 12 months after Ventura shunt implantation in the RELIEVE-HF open-label roll-in cohort.

Methods And Results: Eligibility required symptomatic HF despite optimal GDMT with ≥1 HF hospitalization in the prior year or elevated natriuretic peptides.

Prognostic impact of combined non-severe aortic stenosis and mitral regurgitation on clinical outcomes: a single-centre retrospective study.

Objectives: Though the concomitant occurrence of non-severe aortic stenosis (AS) and mitral regurgitation (MR) is highly prevalent, there are limited data to guide clinical decision-making in this condition. Here, we attempt to determine an aortic valve area (AVA) cut-off value associated with worse clinical outcomes in patients with combined non-severe AS and MR.

Methods: Single-centre, retrospective analysis of consecutive patients who underwent echocardiography examination between 2010 and 2021 with evidence of combined non-severe AS and MR.

Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the prognosis of cancer. Diabetes mellitus (DM) has been shown to have a negative effect on patients treated with ICIs. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are effective antidiabetic therapies associated with reduced all-cause mortality and cardiovascular (CV) outcomes.

The prognostic value of beta-1 blockers in patients with non-small-cell lung carcinoma treated with pembrolizumab.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) such as pembrolizumab have revolutionized the treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC). Beta-adrenergic activation contributes to cancer initiation and progression. While non-selective beta-blocker were found to improve the efficacy of ICIs therapy, the role of beta-1 (β)-selective -blocker (βB) in lung cancer patients is unknown.