Angiotensin Receptor Neprilysin Inhibitor in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction and Secondary Mitral Regurgitation: Design and Rationale of the PRAISE-MR Trial.

Background: Secondary or functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) of atrial origin is prevalent in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and portends a worse clinical course. Unlike ventricular FMR, it lacks evidence-based treatment and is often overlooked. Sacubitril-valsartan may provide benefit in this HFpEF phenotype.

The interaction between atrial fibrillation and mitral regurgitation: Insights from the CABANA randomized clinical trial.

Aims: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and mitral regurgitation (MR) frequently coexist. While catheter ablation is a key rhythm-control strategy in AF, its impact on MR severity remains uncertain. This study evaluates the effects of catheter ablation on AF recurrence, functional status, and MR progression in patients with AF and baseline MR.

Atrial Functional Mitral Regurgitation: Definition, Mechanisms, and Treatment Perspectives.

Purpose Of Review: This review aims to explore the complex interplay between atrial functional mitral regurgitation (AFMR), atrial fibrillation (AF), and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The goal is to define these conditions, examine their underlying mechanisms, and discuss treatment perspectives, particularly addressing diagnostic challenges.

Recent Findings: Recent research highlights the rising prevalence of AFMR, now accounting for nearly one-third of significant mitral regurgitation cases.

Mitral regurgitation in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: The interplay of valve, ventricle, and atrium.

Mitral regurgitation (MR) is highly prevalent among patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Despite this combination being closely associated with unfavourable outcomes, it remains relatively understudied. This is partly due to the inherent heterogeneity of patients with HFpEF.

Sodium loading in ambulatory patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: Mechanistic insights into sodium handling.

Aims: Sodium restriction was not associated with improved outcomes in heart failure patients in recent trials. The skin might act as a sodium buffer, potentially explaining tolerance to fluctuations in sodium intake without volume overload, but this is insufficiently understood. Therefore, we studied the handling of an increased sodium load in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Arrythmia-Mediated Valvular Heart Disease.

The aging population is rising at record pace worldwide. Along with it, a steep increase in the prevalence of atrial fibrillation and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction is to be expected. Similarly, both atrial functional mitral and tricuspid regurgitation (AFMR and AFTR) are increasingly observed in daily clinical practice.

Reduced Left Atrial Appendage Flow Is Associated With Future Atrial Fibrillation After Cryptogenic Stroke.

Background: Hemostasis within the left atrial appendage (LAA) is a common cause of stroke, especially in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Although LAA flow provides insights into LAA function, its potential for predicting AF has yet to be established. The aim of this study was to explore whether LAA peak flow velocities early after cryptogenic stroke are associated with future AF on prolonged rhythm monitoring.

Sex Differences in Extensive Mitral Annular Calcification With Associated Mitral Valve Dysfunction.

Mitral annular calcification (MAC)-related mitral valve (MV) dysfunction is an increasingly recognized entity, which confers a high burden of morbidity and mortality. Although more common among women, there is a paucity of data regarding how the phenotype of MAC and the associated adverse clinical implications may differ between women and men. A total of 3,524 patients with extensive MAC and significant MAC-related MV dysfunction (i.

Mitral Valve Dysfunction in Patients With Annular Calcification: JACC Review Topic of the Week.

Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is a common clinical finding and is associated with adverse clinical outcomes, but the clinical impact of MAC-related mitral valve (MV) dysfunction remains underappreciated. Patients with MAC frequently have stenotic, regurgitant, or mixed valvular disease, and this valvular dysfunction is increasingly recognized to be independently associated with worse prognosis. MAC-related MV dysfunction is a distinct pathophysiologic entity, and importantly much of the diagnostic and therapeutic paradigm from published rheumatic MV disease research cannot be applied in this context, leaving important gaps in our knowledge.

Acute valvular emergencies.

Acute valvular emergencies represent an important cause of cardiogenic shock. However, their clinical presentation and initial diagnostic testing are often non-specific, resulting in delayed diagnosis. Moreover, metabolic disarray or haemodynamic instability may result in too great a risk for emergent surgery.

Alterations in Human Mitral Valve Mechanical Properties Secondary to Left Ventricular Remodeling: A Biaxial Mechanical Study.

Secondary mitral regurgitation occurs when a left ventricular problem causes leaking of the mitral valve. The altered left ventricular geometry changes the orientation of the subvalvular apparatus, thereby affecting the mechanical stress on the mitral valve. This in turn leads to active remodeling of the mitral valve, in order to compensate for the ventricular remodeling.

The MADIT-ICD benefit score helps to select implantable cardioverter-defibrillator candidates in cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Aims: The aim of this study is to evaluate whether the MADIT-ICD benefit score can predict who benefits most from the addition of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in real-world patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and to compare this with selection according to a multidisciplinary expert centre approach.

Methods And Results: Consecutive HFrEF patients who received a CRT for a guideline indication at a tertiary care hospital (Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Genk, Belgium) between October 2008 and September 2016, were retrospectively evaluated. The MADIT-ICD benefit groups (low, intermediate, and high) were compared with the current multidisciplinary expert centre approach.

Impact of Pulmonary Hypertension on Outcomes in Patients With Mitral Annular Calcium and Associated Mitral Valve Dysfunction.

The prevalence of mitral annular calcium (MAC) is increasing in our aging population. However, data regarding prognostication in MAC-related mitral valve (MV) disease remain limited. This retrospective observational study aims to explore the prognostic impact of systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) in MAC-related MV dysfunction and define its determinants.

Outcome and durability of mitral valve annuloplasty in atrial secondary mitral regurgitation.

Objectives: Atrial secondary mitral regurgitation (ASMR) is a clinically distinct form of Carpentier type I mitral regurgitation (MR), rooted in excessive atrial and mitral annular dilation in the absence of left ventricular dysfunction. Mitral valve annuloplasty (MVA) is expected to provide a more durable solution for ASMR than for ventricular secondary MR (VSMR). Yet data on MR recurrence and outcome after MVA for ASMR are scarce.

Atrial Fibrillation Population Screening.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with adverse outcomes. Screening may lead to earlier recognition and treatment of asymptomatic AF. However, most evidence regarding AF applies to clinical AF, with symptoms or electrocardiographic diagnosis.

Mitral Annular Dynamics in AF Versus Sinus Rhythm: Novel Insights Into the Mechanism of AFMR.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate mitral annular dynamics in atrial fibrillation (AF) and after sinus rhythm restoration, and to assess the relationship between annular dynamics and mitral regurgitation (MR).

Background: AF can be associated with MR that improves after sinus rhythm restoration. Mechanisms underlying this atrial functional MR (AFMR) are ill-understood and generally attributed to left atrial remodeling.

Left ventricular function recovery after ST-elevation myocardial infarction: correlates and outcomes.

Background: Contemporary data on left ventricular function (LVF) recovery in patients with left ventricular dysfunction after ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are scarce and to date, no comparison has been made with patients with a baseline normal LVF. This study examined predictors of LVF recovery and its relation to outcomes in STEMI.

Methods: Patients presenting with STEMI between January 2010 and December 2016 were categorized in three groups after 3 months according to left ventricular ejection fraction (EF): (i) baseline normal LVF (EF ≥ 50% at baseline); (ii) recovered LVF (EF < 50% at baseline and ≥ 50% after 3 months); and (iii) reduced LVF (EF < 50% at baseline and after 3 months).

Diuretic response and effects of diuretic omission in ambulatory heart failure patients on chronic low-dose loop diuretic therapy.

Aims: To study loop diuretic response and effect of loop diuretic omission in ambulatory heart failure (HF) patients on chronic low-dose loop diuretics.

Methods And Results: Urine collections were performed on two consecutive days in 40 ambulatory HF patients with 40-80 mg furosemide (day 1 with loop diuretic; day 2 without loop diuretic). Three phases were collected each day: (i) first 6 h; (ii) rest of the day; and (iii) night.

Left Atrial Mechanics Assessed Early during Hospitalization for Cryptogenic Stroke Are Associated with Occult Atrial Fibrillation: A Speckle-Tracking Strain Echocardiography Study.

Background: Occult atrial fibrillation (AF) is an important contributor to cryptogenic stroke, yet remains difficult to unmask at presentation. This study investigated the predictive value of left atrial (LA) mechanics by strain echocardiography during stroke hospitalization for the presence of AF as detected on early 30-day monitoring and routine clinical follow-up.

Methods: Left atrial mechanics were studied by strain echocardiography in a retrospective cohort of 191 patients with cryptogenic stroke and 30-day mobile cardiac outpatient telemetry poststroke to diagnose AF.

LA Mechanics in Decompensated Heart Failure: Insights From Strain Echocardiography With Invasive Hemodynamics.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of congestion and decongestive therapy on left atrial (LA) mechanics and to determine the relationship between LA improvement after decongestive therapy and clinical outcome in immediate or chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Background: LA mechanics are affected by volume/pressure overload in decompensated HFrEF.

Methods: A total of 31 patients with HFrEF and immediate heart failure (age 64 ± 15 years, 74% male, left ventricular ejection fraction 20 ± 12%) underwent serial echocardiography during decongestive therapy with simultaneous hemodynamic monitoring.

The Detrimental Effect of RA Pacing on LA Function and Clinical Outcome in Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy.

Objectives: This study assessed the impact of right-atrial (RA) pacing on left-atrial (LA) physiology and clinical outcome.

Background: Data for the effects of RA pacing on LA synchronicity, function, and structure after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) are scarce.

Methods: The effect of RA pacing on LA function, morphology, and synchronicity was assessed in a prospective imaging cohort of heart failure (HF) patients in sinus rhythm with a guideline-based indication for CRT.

Atrial Functional Mitral Regurgitation: JACC Review Topic of the Week.

Unlike secondary mitral regurgitation (MR) in the setting of left ventricular (LV) disease, the occurrence of functional MR in atrial fibrillation (AF) and/or heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) has remained largely unspoken. LV size and systolic function are typically normal, whereas isolated mitral annular dilation and inadequate leaflet adaptation are considered mechanistic culprits. Moreover, the role of left atrial and annular dynamics in provoking MR is often underappreciated.

3D-Printing in Congenital Cardiology: From Flatland to Spaceland.

Medical imaging has changed to a great extent over the past few decades. It has been revolutionized by three-dimensional (3D) imaging techniques. Despite much of modern medicine relying on 3D imaging, which can be obtained accurately, we keep on being limited by visualization of the 3D content on two-dimensional flat screens.