Karikalan, Suganya Arunachalam

Abstract Background Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) is associated with development of atrial fibrillation (AF) at an early age. With increased survival of this cohort into adulthood, the prevalence of concurrent CHD and AF is expected to increase over the next several decades. Little is known about the utility of clinical risk factors or prediction models in determining bleeding or stroke rates in adults with CHD and AF. Purpose This study aims to measure the performance of the CHADSVASC and HASBLED scores in a cohort of people with CHD. The association between traditional stroke and bleeding risk factors, as well as CHD-specific factors, will be quantified. Methods Patients age 18 or older attending one of three centers in the USA were included in this study if they had a history of AF on ECG, holter monitor or device interrogation, in addition to a diagnosis of Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), Double Outlet Right Ventricle (DORV), or Pulmonary Atresia with Intact Ventricular Septum (PA-IVS). Outcomes were major bleeding event, and stroke rate. Analysis was conducted using cox univariable regression controlling for current age. Receiver operator curve and c-statistics were produced for the CHADSVASC and HASBLED scores respectively. Results 326 people were included in this study, of whom 161 (49.5%) had TOF secondary to Pulmonic Stenosis, 126 (38.8%) had TOF secondary to Pulmonary Atresia, 25 (7.7%) had DORV, and 155 (47.7%) had PA-IVS. 227 people used warfarin (79.4%), 28 (9.8%) used apixaban, 9 (3.1%) used Rivaroxaban, 3 (1%) used Edoxaban, and 5 (1.7%) used Enoxaparin for a period of at least 30 days during the study. 13 (4.5%) people didn’t receive anticoagulation during the study. 26 people had a stroke (8.8%) while 85 people (28.6%) had a major bleeding event. Only the CHADSVASC score was significantly associated with stroke rates (HR 2.103, 95% CI 1.555 to 2.844, p<0.001). Clinical variables, such as subtype of CHD, prior conduit placement or unifocalization were not associated with stroke or major bleeding events. C-statistic for the CHADSVASC score in predicting stroke events was 0.755 (Figure 1). C-statistic for the HASBLED score in predicting major bleeding was 0.442 (Figure 2). Conclusions Among people with CHD and AF, the CHADSVASC score can robustly predict stroke events. Other clinical variables are less valuable in predicting either bleeding or strokes. The HASBLED score likely doesn’t have a role in predicting major bleeding episodes in this cohort.

Abstract Aims : Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are widely used for stroke prevention in people with non-valvular atrial fibrillation/flutter (NVAF). Anticoagulants have different bleeding profiles. Apixaban is associated with the lowest bleeding risk. This study evaluates the interaction between DOAC used and right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) on echocardiogram and bleeding rates. It was hypothesized that pulmonary hypertension may be associated with excess bleeding based on anticoagulant-specific pharmacologic profiles. Methods & Results : A retrospective analysis of a database was conducted. Multivariable regression models for bleeding rates were developed using a causative analysis approach among participants who had undergone an echocardiogram, and interaction terms for DOAC choice were incorporated. Stratum specific estimates were calculated using linear computation. Patients taking Apixaban had lower bleeding rates than those taking Rivaroxaban and Dabigatran. Among those without pulmonary hypertension, there was no difference in bleeding rates. Where RVSP was ≥45mmHg, there was a 90% increase in bleeding rates with use of Dabigatran (HR 1.99, p=0.024) and Rivaroxaban (HR 1.86, p=0.042) compared to Apixaban (Figure 1). Conclusions : Elevated RVSP is associated with excess bleeding in patients taking Rivaroxaban and Dabigatran, but not Apixaban, after controlling for confounding variables.

Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is characterized by various arrhythmic manifestations ranging from catastrophic sudden cardiac death secondary to ventricular arrhythmia, severe conduction disease, sinus node dysfunction, and atrial fibrillation. The management of CS is complex and includes not only addressing the arrhythmia but also controlling the myocardial inflammation resultant from the autoimmune reaction. Arrhythmic manifestations of CS carry significant prognostic implications and invariably affect long-term survival in these patients. In this review, we focus on management of arrhythmic manifestation of cardiac sarcoidosis as well as risk stratification for sudden cardiac death in these patients.

Abstract Abstract Title: Real-world analysis comparing Black and White patients with triple-negative breast cancer receiving therapy per KEYNOTE-522 Background: KEYNOTE-522 was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial which resulted in the FDA approval of pembrolizumab with neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients with newly diagnosed, high-risk, early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Despite the significant improvement in pathological complete response (pCR) and event-free survival rates across all patients, the landmark trial included only 4.5% Black patients. It is essential to assess outcomes in representative treatment populations. We assessed real-world toxicity and treatment outcomes across Black and White patients who received standard-of-care treatment per KEYNOTE-522. Methods: In this retrospective, multicenter study, we examined patients with early-stage TNBC who received planned treatment per KEYNOTE-522 as standard-of-care (SOC) therapy. 16 sites were included in the analysis. IRB approval was obtained from each participating site. Number and length of treatment delays, treatment-related toxicities (both chemotherapy and immune-related) of all grades, and pCR rate were collected from the electronic medical record of each participating site, and deidentified data were shared for central analysis. Results: Of the 577 patients who initiated treatment with chemotherapy and immunotherapy, 534 patients were included in this analysis with 105 patients who self-identified as Black (19.7%) and 429 who self-identified as White (80.3%). There were no statistically significant differences in clinical and pathological characteristics between the two groups. White women were more likely to have grade 3+ immune-related adverse events (irAEs) compared to Black women (33.8% vs 20.9%, P=0.011). There was no significant difference across Black and White patients with respect to grade 3+ chemotherapy-related adverse events. Out of the 444 patients who have completed surgery, no difference in pCR rate was observed between Black and White women (45/86 52.3% vs 200/358 55.9%) (p = 0.6). The authors also saw no difference in the rates of hospitalizations between Black and White women (39% vs 36% p = 0.5), and rates of acute care utilization (38% vs 38% p = 0.9). Conclusions: We report safety and efficacy across Black and White women in a real-world analysis of patients who received treatment per KEYNOTE-522. Notably, White patients had a significantly higher frequency of grade 3+ irAEs, although the reason for this finding is unclear based on this analysis. Black patients had similar pCR rates and rates of treatment-related hospitalizations compared to White patients. Assessment of outcomes and toxicity by race in clinical trials and real-world analyses are critical in drug development. Citation Format: Mara Hofherr, Andrew Davis, Spenser January, Emily Owen, Farah Raheem, Lida A. Mina, Suganya Arunachalam Karikalan, Lauren Lyons, Meredith Watson Rose, Katherine Madden, Jerline Hsin, Aimee Keegan, Wai Yu, Shawna Kraft, Allison Schepers, Emily Armgardt, Douglas Mazewski, Alison Svoboda, Kayla Harwood, Jodi Taraba, Yonatan Resnick, Shelly Hummert, Lisa Grate, Sidney Keisner, Jacob Hobbs, Todd Davis, Kristin Bastian, Dawn Minikel, Wiliam Adler, Traci White, Avneek Singh Sandu, Fouad Boulbol, Kelsey Finch, Katherine Clifton. Real-world analysis comparing Black and White patients with triple-negative breast cancer receiving therapy per KEYNOTE-522 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PS14-02.

Abstract Title: Real-world analysis of adverse events in patients with triple-negative breast cancer receiving therapy per KEYNOTE-522 Background: KEYNOTE-522 was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial which resulted in the FDA approval of pembrolizumab with neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients (pts) with newly diagnosed, high-risk, early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Given the improvement in pathological complete response (pCR) and event-free survival rates, this regimen has emerged as standard-of-care (SOC) therapy. To date, real world outcome analyses are limited. Methods: In this retrospective, multicenter study, we examined pts with early-stage TNBC who received planned treatment per KEYNOTE-522 as SOC. 16 sites were included in the analysis. IRB approval was obtained from each participating site. Number and length of treatment delays, treatment related toxicities (both chemotherapy and immune-related) of all grades, and pCR rate were collected from the electronic medical record of each participating site, and deidentified data were shared for central analysis. Results: 577 pts were included in this analysis. The median age of the cohort was 52 [range 27-77]. 457 pts had T1-2 disease and 139 had T3-4 disease. 316 pts had N0 disease and 261 had N1-3 disease. 506 pts had baseline ECOG 0, 62 had ECOG 1, and 9 had ECOG 2-3. Of the 482 patients who had surgery at the time of this analysis, 219 patients had pCR (54.5%) and 192 pts were still receiving treatment. 217 patients (37%) had an adverse drug event (ADE) causing dose reductions and 228 patients (39.5%) had to discontinue treatment early. There were 360 unplanned care visits, with 91 patients having 2+ visits. 66 patients had hospitalizations due to the regimen with 102 total hospitalizations. 179 (31%) of patients had grade 3+ immune related adverse events (irAEs), including many that are rare and potentially serious. 317 (54%) had an immune related adverse effect (see Table 1). There was no significant difference in the frequency of grade 3+ irAE based on age or body mass index. We observed no difference in residual disease between patients who discontinued treatment early and those who did not. However, if patients had an ADR causing a dose reduction, pts were significantly more likely to have residual disease (P=0.039) Conclusions: In a multicenter real-world analysis, the KEYNOTE-522 regimen was associated with a high frequency of dose reductions, early treatment discontinuations, ER visits, and hospitalizations. This may have accounted for a lower pCR rate than observed in the landmark clinical trial. Most grade 3+ irAEs occurred at greater frequency in our real-world analysis. Providers should carefully monitor for toxicity to ensure optimal patient outcomes. Table 1 Citation Format: Mara Hofherr, Katherine Clifton, Spenser January, Emily Owen, Farah Raheem, Lida A. Mina, Suganya Arunachalam Karikalan, Lauren Lyons, Meredith Watson Rose, Katherine Madden, Jerline Hsin, Aimee Keegan, Wai Yu, Shawna Kraft, Allison Schepers, Emily Armgardt, Douglas Mazewski, Alison Svoboda, Kayla Harwood, Jodi Taraba, Yonatan Resnick, Shelly Hummert, Lisa Grate, Sidney Keisner, Jacob Hobbs, Todd Davis, Kristin Bastian, Dawn Minikel, Traci White, William Adler, Avneek Singh Sandu, Fouad Boulbol, Kelsey Finch, Andrew Davis. Real-World Analysis of Adverse Events in Patients with Triple Negative Breast Cancer Receiving Therapy per KEYNOTE-522 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PS14-06.

AbstractIntroductionVentricular tachycardia storm or electrical storm (ES) is a common complication following left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. The factors contributing to ES and outcomes are less studied. The study aimed to determine the factors associated with ES and the probability of survival in patients undergoing LVAD in three tertiary centers over a span of 15 years.MethodsWe performed a retrospective cohort study on all patients who underwent LVAD implantation at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Phoenix, and Jacksonville) from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2020. ES was defined as ≥3 episodes of sustained ventricular tachycardia over a period of 24 h with no identifiable reversible cause. Detailed chart reviews of the electronic health records within the Mayo Clinic and outside medical records were performed.ResultsA total of 883 patients who underwent LVAD implantation were included in our study. ES occurred in 7% (n = 61) of patients with a median of 13 days (interquartile range [IQR]: 5–297 days) following surgery. We found 57% of patients (n = 35) developed ES within 30 days, while 43% (n = 26) patients developed ES at a median of 545 (IQR 152–1032) days after surgery. Following ES, 26% of patients died within 1 year. Patients with ES had a significant association with a history of ventricular arrhythmias and implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) shocks before the procedure. ES was significantly associated with reduced survival compared to patients without ES (hazards ratio [HR]: 1.92, 95% CI: 1.39–2.64, p < .001).ConclusionFollowing LVAD implantation, the rate of ES was 7% with majority of ES occurring within 30 days of LVAD. Risk factors for ES included pre‐implant history of ventricular arrhythmias and ICD shock. ES was significantly associated with reduced survival compared to patients without ES.

Endocrine therapy is the main treatment for hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer. However, advanced tumors develop resistance to endocrine therapy, rendering it ineffective as the disease progresses. There are several molecular mechanisms of primary and secondary endocrine resistance. Resistance can develop due to either alteration of the estrogen receptor pathway (e.g., ESR1 mutations) or upstream growth factors signaling pathways (e.g., PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway). Despite progress in the development of molecularly targeted anticancer therapies, the emergence of resistance remains a major limitation and an area of unmet need. In this article, we review the mechanisms of acquired endocrine resistance in HR+ advanced breast cancer and discuss current and future investigational therapeutic approaches.

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background/Introduction Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) myocarditis is a life-threatening condition characterized by lymphocytic myocardial infiltration[1]. Complete heart block (CHB) occurs in 15% of cases and is often fatal[2-4]. The nature and optimal management of this often-malignant condition is poorly understood[5]. Purpose This case series assesses prognostic factors associated with survival at 90 days among people with ICI myocarditis and CHB. Methods The electronic patient record system was used to identify patients admitted with ICI myocarditis. A two-physician review was used to assess the presence of ICI-associated CHB. Wilcoxon rank sum and Spearman’s rank correlation were used for categorical and quantitative variables respectively. Data was analysed using STATA/IC 16.1. The primary outcome was person-day survival 90 days after presenting symptom onset. Results Six patients were included in the final analysis. Mean survival was 47 person days. All had metastatic disease and presented 15 to 32 days after the first ICI infusion. All had muscle weakness. Other common self-symptoms were shortness of breath (4), blurred vision (4), double vision (3), collapse (3), and leg swelling (1). Proximal myopathy (2), fatigable myopathy (1), ptosis (3), and peripheral oedema (1) were present on examination. Raised troponin T and white blood cell count (WBC) were associated with 90-day survival (see Table 1). Nt-pro BNP, AST, and CK levels were raised in all patients. Two patients were tested for anti-striated muscle antibody titres, and both were strongly positive. Increase in QRS duration compared to baseline ECG was associated with lower survival at 90 days. Only one patient had CHB on admission. Steroid dose, IVIG, and plasmapheresis weren’t associated with survival. One patient declined device therapy. One declined permanent pacemaker (PPM) after insertion of transvenous pacemaker (TVP). Both died within 2 weeks. Three people underwent insertion of a transvenous pacemaker (TVP) followed by PPM insertion (table 2). All three eventually died within 100 days. One person received isoproterenol and immunosuppression as a bridge to PPM and survived. One patient was managed initially with TVP but subsequently declined PPM insertion. TVP removal resulted in CHB recurrence, and they died shortly after discharge. One person declined device therapy and died while receiving comfort care. Lead malfunction was frequent. One patient experienced bradycardia arrest with failure of a TVP lead to capture, while another experienced lead dislodgement. Conclusion CHB secondary to ICI is often fatal. It should be considered in patients presenting with symptoms of myositis, raised troponin and increased QRS duration. Despite a small sample size, this study identifies several prognostic factors which can guide both patients and physicians with decision-making. Larger studies are needed to better understand the role of device therapy in this population.

Background: Recognition of the causes of early mortality after atrial fibrillation (AF) catheter ablation is essential for the improvement of patient safety. This study sought to determine the causes of early mortality (≤90 days) after AF ablation. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of AF ablation from January 1, 2013, to December 1, 2021 at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Phoenix, and Jacksonville). Causes of death were identified through a comprehensive chart review of the electronic health record from within the Mayo Clinic system and outside records when available. Results: A total of 6723 patients were included in the study. The 90-day all-cause mortality rate was 0.22% (n=15). Among all 90-day deaths, majority of the deaths (73.3%) did not have a direct relationship with the procedure. Sudden death was the most common cause of early death (20%), followed by peri-procedural stroke (13%), respiratory failure (13%), atrioesophageal fistula (13%), infection (7%), heart failure (7%), and traumatic brain injury (7%). The 90-day mortality rate directly due to AF ablation procedural complications was 0.06% (n=4). Conclusions: AF ablation procedure has a 90-day mortality of 0.22%, and the most common cause of early mortality was sudden death. The majority (73.3%) of early mortality was not directly associated with a procedural complication, and the mortality rate due to complications associated with the AF ablation procedure was low at 0.06%. Further studies are required to investigate causes and risk factors associated with sudden death in this patient population.