Ezzeddine, Omar F. Abou

ABSTRACT Background Acute heart failure (AHF) exhibits marked heterogeneity in diastolic hemodynamics, yet comprehensive echocardiographic assessment of diastolic function (DF) and filling pressure (FP) is often infeasible. We evaluated whether artificial intelligence–enabled electrocardiography (AI-ECG) could provide scalable DF grading and FP estimation in hospitalized AHF patients. Methods We retrospectively studied adults hospitalized for AHF across Mayo Clinic sites (2013–2023) who received ≥1 dose of intravenous loop diuretic and had paired 12-lead ECG and TTE. The previously validated AI-ECG DF model was applied without retraining to generate four DF grades and a continuous FP probability. Clinical outcomes were all-cause mortality and heart failure rehospitalization. Associations with clinical severity markers and echocardiographic indices were examined. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and adjusted multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were performed. Exploratory analyses examine the kinetics of change in FP probability and impact on mortality. Results Among 11,513 patients (median age 75 years, 39% female), AI-ECG DF grading was feasible in 100%, whereas echocardiographic DF was indeterminate in 44% of clinically eligible patients. In 2,582 patients with determinate echocardiographic DF, AI-ECG FP probability discriminated TTE Grade 2–3 dysfunction with AUC 0.85 (95% CI 0.83 – 0.86). Higher AI-ECG DF grades were associated with higher comorbidity burden, worse NYHA class, elevated NT-proBNP, higher MAGGIC scores, elevated PCWP, and more advanced structural remodeling. After multivariable adjustment, AI-ECG DF remained independently associated with mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.25, 95% CI 1.16–1.35 for Grade 2; HR 1.44, 95% CI 1.33–1.56 for Grade 3 versus Normal/Grade 1). Combining AI-ECG DF with MAGGIC scores yielded ordered risk gradients, with highest mortality in patients with both high MAGGIC and Grade 2–3 DF. Among patients with serial ECGs, improvement in FP probability was independently associated with lower mortality (HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.79–0.91), whereas worsening did not show a consistent adverse gradient beyond baseline DF. Conclusions In a large, geographically diverse AHF cohort, AI-ECG DF grading was universally feasible, correlated with established hemodynamic severity markers, and provided independent prognostic information beyond established risk factors, supporting its role as a pragmatic, scalable diastolic biomarker in AHF. CLINICAL PERSPECTIVE What Is New? In 11,513 hospitalized acute heart failure (HF) patients, artificial intelligence-enabled electrocardiography provided diastolic function grading in 100% of patients from a single 12-lead ECG without requiring additional clinical variables, compared with 56% feasibility for guideline-based echocardiography grading. AI-ECG diastolic function grades correlated with established marker of severity (NYHA functional class, NT-proBNP, MAGGIC risk scores, and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure) and remained independently associated with both mortality and HF rehospitalization after multivariable adjustment. Serial AI-ECG measurements identified post-discharge filling pressure trajectories, with improvement independently associated with 15% lower mortality, a first demonstration that longitudinal ECG assessment can track post-discharge hemodynamic recovery. What Are the Clinical Implications? AI-ECG transforms the universally obtained 12-lead ECG into an actionable hemodynamic biomarker that addresses the critical gap when echocardiographic diastolic function assessment is indeterminate or unavailable in acute HF patients. Despite markedly different hemodynamic severity and long-term outcomes across AI-ECG diastolic function grades, hospitalization length of stay did not differ, suggesting advanced diastolic dysfunction represents occult risk not easily recognized during routine acute care and highlighting the need for improved post-discharge risk stratification. The continuous filling pressure probability metric enables longitudinal monitoring of post-discharge hemodynamic status using serial routine ECGs, potentially identifying patients requiring intensified follow-up or specialist referral.

AbstractIntroductionLittle is known regarding the prevalence and prognostic implications of non‐sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) in patients with wild‐type transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTRwt‐CA). We aimed to investigate the prevalence of NSVT in patients with ATTRwr‐CA, and the association of NSVT with sustained ventricular arrhythmias (VA) and all‐cause mortality.MethodsIn a cohort of ATTRwt‐CA patients from 2011 to 2022 without prior sustained VA, we ascertained the presence and characteristics of NSVT during clinically indicated ambulatory Holter monitoring. Patients were stratified based on the presence of NSVT at baseline. The primary and secondary endpoints of sustained VA and all‐cause mortality, respectively, were assessed during follow‐up.ResultsThe cohort included 217 patients with ATTRwt‐CA (95% males, median age 75 years; median NYHA class 2). Baseline Holter monitoring demonstrated NSVT in 116 (53%) patients. During a median follow‐up of 27 months (IQR 16–45) after the index Holter monitor, 11 (5.1%) patients reached the primary endpoint of sustained VA (incidence 1.8 per 100 person‐years, all monomorphic VT), and 46 (21%) patients died. In univariable Cox proportional hazard model, NYHA class 3 or 4 heart failure (p = .048), the presence of NSVT (p = .04), the duration of longest NSVT run (p = .029), and the percentage of ventricular ectopy (p < .001) were associated with the primary outcome. When adjusting for age and NYHA class 3 or 4 heart failure, the presence of NSVT remained associated with the primary outcome (p = .03). All‐cause mortality was not significantly different between patients with and without NSVT. A cutoff for ventricular ectopy burden of 0.5%, the median for all patients in this study, was associated with increased risk in sustained VA (log‐rank p = .004) and mortality (log‐rank p = .02).ConclusionNSVT is highly prevalent among ATTRwt‐CA patients undergoing clinically indicated Holter monitoring and may confer an increased risk of incident sustained VA.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension is common in HFpEF and is associated with increased mortality. Pulmonary hypertension can lead to right ventricular systolic dysfunction. However, the magnitude and prognostic significance of RV dysfunction in the HFpEF population are unclear. Hypothesis: RV systolic dysfunction is common in HFpEF and is associated with increased mortality. Methods: RV size and systolic function were assessed qualitatively (as normal or abnormal) and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) was estimated using echocardiography in 548 consecutive HFpEF subjects (Framingham criteria and EF ≥50%) from a prospective population based study (Olmsted County, Minnesota). Control group was a retrospectively identified random sample of age and sex matched hypertensive (N=360) and normotensive subjects (N=168) from Olmsted County. HFpEF group was followed for up to 5 years (median follow up 4.4 years). Results: See table and figure. RV enlargement and systolic dysfunction were more prevalent in HFpEF compared with age and sex matched hypertensive and normotensive controls. In HFpEF subjects with PASP above the median, RV systolic dysfunction was associated with poor survival compared with normal RV function. RV systolic dysfunction was a significant predictor of mortality even after adjustment for age and PASP in a Cox regression model (Hazard Ratio=1.4, p=0.02). Conclusions: In the community, RV systolic dysfunction is common in HFpEF and is associated with higher mortality. Although quantitative assessment of RV function is difficult owing to its complex geometry, qualitative assessment is feasible on the majority of subjects and provides significant prognostic information.

The transthyretin (TTR) and immunoglobulin light chain proteins do not exist in isolation in cardiac amyloid (CA) plaques. Laser microdissection followed by mass spectrometry-based proteomic (LMD-MS) typing techniques can identify hundreds of co-deposited proteins in the "nano-environment" of amyloid deposits. Some, such as the "amyloid signature" proteins (SAP, APOE, APOA4, vitronectin, clusterin), are specific for amyloid plaques across different tissues and amyloid types. However, many of the remaining proteins are also abundant in the serum or normal tissues making it difficult to discern if they are unique to the amyloid plaque or part of the normal tissue background. We included 288 patients/samples with TTR CA (of which 53 were mutated) diagnosed by endomyocardial biopsy and 5 normal control samples obtained from 3 patients during autopsy. At the time of the meeting updated analyses including 168 cardiac light chain amyloid patients and 15 controls from patients with restrictive and hypertensive cardiomyopathy will be presented. Normalized spectral counts were used as a semi-quantitative measure of abundance. Proteins were considered part of the proteome if their abundance in the amyloid plaque was increased by 1.5-fold compared to normal controls (FDR p<0.05). Of 2240 unique proteins identified across all samples, 42 were differentially expressed in amyloid plaques. These included a) signature proteins: SAP, APOE, APOA4, vitronectin, clusterin; b) serum proteins: albumin, b2-glycoprotein, 7 complement pathway proteins; c) matrix proteins: 2 collagen isoforms, fibulin 1, decorin, PCOLCE2, TIMP3; d) cytosketal and contractile proteins: 2 actin isoforms, MYL2, 8 myosin isoforms, 3 ankyrin isofroms, desmin; and "other" proteins: serpine2, MAGE-like protein-2, pleiotrophin, AMBP, SRPX and QSOX1). The signature and cytoskeletal proteins were the most abundant overall, however, proteins that were most increased compared to normal included (log2 fold change in parentheses): fibulin (24.5), PCOLCE2 (23.5), b2-glycoprotein (23.5), factor H related peptide-2 (24.2), serpine2 (24.7), mage-like protein-2 (22.8), pleiotrophin (23.8), QSOX1 (22.9), SRPX (23.5). B2 glycoprotein was more abundant in wild type TTR samples(p=0.003). APOE (p=0.002), fibulin (p=0.008) and serpine2 (p<0.0001) were more abundant in UK stage (Gilmore JD et al, Eur Heart J 2018) 2/3 patients. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering of patients by normalized protein abundance revealed two major distinct patterns of co-deposited proteins (figure). Patients with high levels of contractility proteins (myosin isoforms, desmin, actins) were characterized by low levels of most other proteins (clusters on the left). Most complement proteins co-deposited along with higher levels of signature proteins (clusters on the right). When comparing clinical and laboratory characteristics between those 2 groups of patients only cardiac strain was found to be significantly higher (worse) in patients with lower levels of contractility proteins (p=0.01). Our data shows that the TTR CA proteome includes signature, serum and cardiac tissue proteins with variable expression according to TTR mutation status and cardiac functional status, which could inform mechanisms of disease pathogenesis. Comparison with diseased controls may further clarify if this proteomic pattern is specific to CA. Figure Disclosures Dasari: The Binding Site: Patents & Royalties: US Patent Rights on Mass Spectroscopy Licensing agreement with The Binding Site, Research Funding. Dispenzieri:Akcea: Consultancy; Intellia: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Pfizer: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Alnylam: Research Funding.

Abstract Introduction: Prognosis of AL amyloidosis has improved in recent years; however for many patients prognosis remains poor. We aimed to define patient-, disease- and treatment characteristics which are associated with long-term survival. Method: A retrospective chart review of all patients with biopsy-proven systemic AL amyloidosis, who were seen within 90 days of the confirmed diagnosis. Long-term survival was defined as 5-year and 10-year survival from the time of diagnosis. For 5-year survival we selected patients seen between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2012 (allowing a minimum of 5-year follow-up, n=1331) and for 10-year survival we screened patients seen between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2007 (allowing a minimum of 10-year follow-up; n=779). Treatment allocation was defined as the first regimen given, irrespective of subsequent treatment modifications. Results: Of the screening population, 498 patients survived ≥5 years from diagnosis (37% of the 5-year screening cohort) and 168 patients survived 10 years or more (22% of the 10-year screening cohort). Five-year survivors and 10-year survivors as compared to their counterparts were (Table): younger, higher proportion of women, more likely to have single organ involvement, less heart/liver/nerve involvement and more kidney involvement. Long-term survivors also had lower bone marrow plasma cell percentage at the time of diagnosis and lower tumor burden measured by the difference between involved to uninvolved light chain (dFLC). Similarly, long-term survivors had lower Mayo stages and higher systolic blood pressure. No difference in light chain isotype was observed between long-term survivors to long term non-survivors. Long-term survivors were less likely to be seen within 30 days of diagnosis compared to their counterparts (52% among 5-year survivors vs 67% among 5-year non-survivor; P<0.001). FISH abnormalities (data available for 555/1331 patients, 42%) were comparable between groups with regard to t(11;14) (50% among 5-year survival compared to 50% among 5-year non-survivors; P=0.93) and 13q abnormalities (34% vs 36%, respectively; P=0.53). However, trisomies were less frequently encountered in the 5-year survivor group (20% vs 29%, respectively; P=0.01), and far less common among 10-year survivors (11% vs 26%, respectively; P=0.04). Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) was more likely to be associated with long-term survival. Of all patients who underwent ASCT, 74% survived more than 5 years and 49% survived more than 10 years. In comparison, among the standard-intensity therapies, 5-year survival rates for melphalan-dexamethasone, bortezomib-based regimens, immunomodulatory drug-based regimens and single agent dexamethasone/ melphalan-prednisone were 29%, 28%, 30% and 10%, respectively. The corresponding 10-year survival rates were 15%, 20%, 20% and 5%, respectively. Conclusions: Long-term AL survivors have distinct favorable baseline characteristics (including those introduced by referral bias) and ASCT as their initial therapy. Identification of these patients, especially the Mayo 2004 stage III and the Mayo 2012 stage III-IV patients who unexpectedly survived 10 years, will allow for further study and insights. Disclosures Gertz: Teva: Consultancy; Prothena: Honoraria; Alnylam: Honoraria; celgene: Consultancy; Ionis: Honoraria; Physicians Education Resource: Consultancy; Research to Practice: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; janssen: Consultancy; Apellis: Consultancy; Medscape: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy; spectrum: Consultancy, Honoraria; annexon: Consultancy. Lacy:Celgene: Research Funding. Dingli:Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Other: Participates in the International PNH Registry (for Mayo Clinic, Rochester) for Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Millennium Takeda: Research Funding; Millennium Takeda: Research Funding; Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Other: Participates in the International PNH Registry (for Mayo Clinic, Rochester) for Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.. Kapoor:Takeda: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding. Russell:Vyriad: Equity Ownership. Kumar:KITE: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; KITE: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Merck: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; AbbVie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Research Funding; AbbVie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Oncopeptides: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Dispenzieri:Celgene, Takeda, Prothena, Jannsen, Pfizer, Alnylam, GSK: Research Funding.