Mehta, Ramila A.

Abstract Background Diagnosing myocardial infarction (MI) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is difficult as these patients often have elevated baseline high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) concentrations. Methods Observational U.S. cohort study of emergency department (ED) patients undergoing hs-cTnT measurement. Cases with >1 hs-cTnT increase >99th percentile were adjudicated following the Fourth Universal Definition of MI. Diagnostic performance of baseline and serial 2- and 6-hour hs-cTnT thresholds for ruling-in acute MI was compared between those without and with CKD (eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73m2). Results The study cohort included 1992 patients, amongst whom 501 (25%) had CKD. There were 701 (82%) patients with myocardial injury, 64 (7.5%) with type 1, and 91 (11%) with type 2 MI. In CKD patients with baseline hs-cTnT thresholds of >52, >100, >200 or >300 ng/L, PPVs for acute MI were 37% [95% CI 28-46], 53% (95% CI 39-67), 73% (95% CI 50-89) and 80% (95% CI 44-98), and in those without CKD, 64% (95% CI 50-77), 69% (95% CI 49-85), 59% (95% CI 33-82) and 54% (95% CI 25-81). In CKD patients with a 2-hour hs-cTnT delta of >10, >20 or >30 ng/L, the corresponding PPVs were 65% (95% CI 50-78), 86% (95% CI 68-96) and 88% (95% CI 68-97), and in those without CKD, 65% (95% CI 51-78), 73% (95% CI 57-86) and 75% (95% CI 58-88) (Figure). Conclusion Diagnostic performance of standard baseline and serial 2-hour hs-cTnT thresholds to rule-in MI is suboptimal in patients with CKD. It significantly improves when using higher baseline thresholds and delta values.

Abstract Aims Diagnosing myocardial infarction (MI) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is difficult as they often have increased high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) concentrations. Methods and results Observational US cohort study of emergency department patients undergoing hs-cTnT measurement. Cases with ≥1 hs-cTnT increase > 99th percentile were adjudicated following the Fourth Universal Definition of MI. Diagnostic performance of baseline and serial 2 h hs-cTnT thresholds for ruling-in acute MI was compared between those without and with CKD (estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2). The study cohort included 1992 patients, amongst whom 501 (25%) had CKD. There were 75 (15%) and 350 (70%) patients with CKD and 80 (5%) and 351 (24%) without CKD who had acute MI and myocardial injury. In CKD patients with baseline hs-cTnT thresholds of ≥52, >100, >200, or >300 ng/L, positive predictive values (PPVs) for MI were 36% (95% CI 28–45), 53% (95% CI 39–67), 73% (95% CI 50–89), and 80% (95% CI 44–98), and in those without CKD, 61% (95% CI 47–73), 69% (95% CI 49–85), 59% (95% CI 33–82), and 54% (95% CI 25–81). In CKD patients with a 2 h hs-cTnT delta of ≥10, >20, or >30 ng/L, PPVs were 66% (95% CI 51–79), 86% (95% CI 68–96), and 88% (95% CI 68–97), and in those without CKD, 64% (95% CI 50–76), 73% (95% CI 57–86), and 75% (95% CI 58–88). Conclusion Diagnostic performance of standard baseline and serial 2 h hs-cTnT thresholds to rule-in MI is suboptimal in CKD patients. It significantly improves when using higher baseline thresholds and delta values.

Introduction: The incidence and risk factors for sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patients with systemic right ventricle (sRV) and D-TGA palliated with atrial switch procedures is not well understood. Methods: This cohort was examined retrospectively for the composite end point of SCD, sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) >30 s or appropriate ICD therapy for VT. Clinical characteristics of those with and without the end point were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis or Chi-square test as appropriate. Results: The composite end point occurred in 15 of 148 (10%) patients (63.5% male) at a mean age of 36.4 (SD 10.3) years. SCD occurred in 6 patients (n=2 successfully resuscitated), sustained VT in 6 patients and ICD therapy for VT in 3 patients who had previously received a primary prevention ICD. Patients with SCD/VT had lower sRV ejection fraction (EF) compared to patients without SCD/VT [28±11 vs 40±10%, P<0.001]. The odds ratio of SCD/VT in patients with sRVEF≤35% compared to sRVEF>35% was 13.3 (95% CI 2.8 - 64.4). Kaplan Meier analysis of time to SCD/VT stratified by sRV EF is presented in figure. QRS duration, QRS fragmentation, QTc and history of systemic AV valve surgery were not significantly associated with SCD/VT. Non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) on Holter monitoring occurred more frequently in SCD/VT patients (80 vs 39%, p=0.003). All 11 survivors of SCD/VT received an ICD; appropriate ICD therapy occurred in 27% of these patients during follow-up. Conclusion: SCD or VT occurred in one-tenth of D-TGA patients palliated with atrial switch, predominantly in 3 rd and 4 th decade of life. Reduced sRV EF was the most important association and ICD implantation for primary prevention of SCD is a reasonable consideration in those with reduced sRV EF.

Abstract Background Guidelines suggest that the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (MI) is likely when high concentrations of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) are present in the initial sample. These concentration thresholds are much higher than the 99th percentile and are said to provide a high positive predictive value (PPV) for acute MI1. Purpose Evaluate the PPV of recommended baseline hs-cTnT thresholds (&gt;52 and &gt;100 ng/L) for the diagnosis of acute MI from our multi-center United States (US) experience. Methods Retrospective, multicenter (n=22), observational biomarker study involving consecutive, adult patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) in whom at least 1 hs-cTnT measurement was obtained within 12 hours of presentation (CV DataMart Biomarker cohort). The primary endpoint was also evaluated in an adjudicated cohort of consecutive patients presenting to the ED with at least 1 hs-cTnT &gt;99th percentile (ACTION cohort). These cases were adjudicated based on the Fourth Universal Definition of MI by trained physicians. The primary efficacy endpoint was the PPV of acute MI (type 1 or 2), type 1 MI and type 2 MI during index hospitalization using baseline hs-cTnT thresholds of &gt;52 ng/L and &gt;100 ng/L. Results The CV DataMart Biomarker cohort consisted of 143,709 patients, amongst whom 3,003 (2.1%) were diagnosed with acute MI using ICD codes. In the CV DataMart Biomarker cohort, baseline hs-cTnT concentrations of &gt;52 ng/L and &gt;100 ng/L resulted in PPVs of 12% (95% CI: 11, 12) and 17% (95% CI: 17, 19) for acute MI, respectively. In patients with chest pain and baseline hs-cTnT concentrations &gt;52 ng/L, PPV for acute MI was 17% (95% CI: 15, 18), and in those with hs-cTnT concentrations &gt;100 ng/L, PPV was 22% (95% CI: 19, 25). The adjudicated ACTION cohort consisted of 2,107 patients, amongst whom 155 (7.4%) were diagnosed with acute MI including 64 (41%) with type 1 MI and 91 (59%) with type 2 MI. In the ACTION cohort, baseline hs-cTnT concentrations of &gt;52 ng/L and &gt;100 ng/L resulted in PPVs of 46% (95% CI: 40, 53) and 62% (95% CI: 53, 70) for acute MI, respectively. In patients with chest pain and baseline hs-cTnT concentrations &gt;52 ng/L, PPV was 67% (95% CI: 57, 76) for acute MI, 52% (95% CI: 41, 62) for type 1 MI and 15% (95% CI: 8.4, 24) for type 2 MI. In those with chest pain and baseline hs-cTnT concentrations &gt;100 ng/L, PPV was 77% (95% CI: 65, 87) for acute MI, 64% (95% CI: 51, 75) for type 1 MI and 14% (95% CI 6.4, 24) for type 2 MI (Figure). Conclusion Using previously recommended high-risk hs-cTnT thresholds of 52 and 100 ng/L in US patients provides reasonable performance to rule-in acute MI when used in patients with chest pain. When used more broadly across all-comers, the diagnostic performance is poor.

Congenital rubella syndrome is a constellation of birth defects that can have devastating consequences, impacting approximately 100,000 births worldwide each year. The incidence is much lower in countries that routinely vaccinate their population. In the US, postnatal immunization of susceptible women is an important epidemiological strategy for the prevention of rubella as the Center for Disease Control (CDC) does not recommend administering this vaccine during pregnancy due to its nature as a live attenuated virus vaccine. However, concerns that the co-administration of rubella vaccine with other immunoglobins (i.e., Rhogam) could compromise vaccine efficacy has produced warnings that can delay the administration of rubella vaccination postpartum, leaving women susceptible to the disease in subsequent pregnancies. We aimed to address whether the co-administration of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine and Rhogam decreased antibody responses compared to those receiving only MMR vaccination. This retrospective cohort study utilized clinical data from 78 subjects who received the MMR vaccine and Rhogam after delivery and 45 subjects who received the MMR vaccine alone. Maternal demographics, pregnancy complications and rubella status at the start of a subsequent pregnancy were recorded for analysis. Overall, the two cohorts had similar baseline characteristics; however, lower parity was noted in the participants that received both MMR vaccination and Rhogam. Making assessments based on maternal antibody IgG index for rubella during the next pregnancy, we observed that 88% of the Rhogam + MMR vaccine group had positive serology scores, which was not significantly different from the 80% rate in the MMR-vaccine-only cohort (p = 0.2). In conclusion, no differences were observed in rubella immunity status in subsequent pregnancies in those mothers given both the MMR vaccine and Rhogam concurrently. Given these findings, warnings against co-administration of vaccines in combination with Rhogam appear unwarranted.

BACKGROUND: The outcomes of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in adults with congenital heart disease are not well described. METHODS: In a retrospective study of adult patients with congenital heart disease who underwent catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation between 2000 and 2020 at Mayo Clinic, procedural characteristics and outcomes were collected. The primary outcomes were atrial arrhythmia (AA) recurrence following a 3-month blanking period and repeat ablation. An arrhythmia clinical severity score was assessed pre- and post-ablation based on the duration of arrhythmia episodes, symptoms, cardioversion frequency, and antiarrhythmic drug use. RESULTS: One hundred forty-five patients (age, 57±12 years; 28% female; 63% paroxysmal atrial fibrillation) underwent 198 ablations with a median follow-up of 26 months (interquartile range, 14–69). One hundred ten, 26, and 9 patients had simple, moderate, and complex congenital heart disease, respectively. All patients underwent pulmonary vein isolation, and non–pulmonary vein targets were ablated in 79 (54%). AA recurrence at 12 months was 37% (95% CI, 29%–45%). On univariate analysis, increasing left atrial volume index was associated with higher odds of AA recurrence (odds ratio, 1.03 [1.00–1.06] per 1 mL/m 2 increment; P =0.05). Noninducibility of atrial flutter was predictive of decreased odds of AA recurrence (odds ratio, 0.43 [0.21–0.90]; P =0.03). A second ablation was performed in 43 patients after a median of 20 (interquartile range, 8–37) months. Arrhythmia clinical severity scores improved following ablation, reflecting a decrease in symptoms, cardioversions, and antiarrhythmic drugs. CONCLUSIONS: Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation is feasible and effective in patients with adult congenital heart disease and reduces symptoms. Recurrence of AA frequently requires repeat ablation.

Background: The 2021 ACC/AHA chest pain guidelines recommend risk scores such as HEAR (History, Electrocardiogram, Age, Risk Factors) for short term risk-stratification yet limited data exists integrating them with high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT). Methods: Retrospective, multicenter (n=2), observational, U.S. cohort study of consecutive ED patients without ST-elevation myocardial infarction (MI) who had at least one hs-cTnT (limit of quantitation, LoQ, <6 ng/L, and sex-specific 99 th percentiles of 10 ng/L for women and 15 ng/L for men) measurement on clinical indication in whom HEAR scores (0-8) were calculated. The composite major adverse cardiovascular (MACE) outcome was 30-day MI and death. Results: Among 1,979 ED patients undergoing hs-cTnT measurement, 1045 (53%) were classified as low-risk (0-3), 914 (46%) as intermediate-risk (4-6), and 20 (1%) as high-risk (7-8) based on HEAR scores. HEAR scores were not associated with an increased risk of 30-day MACE after adjusted analyses. Outcomes according to risk-strata based on HEAR scores and baseline hs-cTnT are shown in Table 1. Patients with quantifiable hs-cTnT (LoQ-99 th ) had an increased risk for 30-day MACE (3.4%) despite being estimated to be low-risk (0-3) per HEAR scores. Conversely, those with serial hs-cTnT<99 th percentile remained at low-risk (range 0% to 1.2%) for 30-day MACE across HEAR score strata. Conclusions: HEAR scores are of limited value in those with baseline hs-cTnT<LoQ or hs-cTnT>99 th percentile where hs-cTnT identifies very low and high-risk patients irrespective of HEAR scores. In those with baseline quantifiable hs-cTnT within the reference range (<99 th percentile), a higher risk (>1%) for 30-day MACE exists even in those with low HEAR scores. With serial hs-cTnT measurements, HEAR scores overestimate risk when hs-cTnT remains <99 th percentile.