Heart Failure Of Unknown Etiology Research Articles

Etiologies and predictors of mortality in an all-comer population of patients with non-ischemic heart failure

BackgroundDespite progress in diagnosis and therapy of heart failure (HF), etiology and risk stratification remain elusive in many patients.MethodsThe My Biopsy HF Study (German clinical trials register number: DRKS22178) is a retrospective monocentric study investigating an all-comer population of patients with unexplained HF based on a thorough workup including endomyocardial biopsy (EMB).Results655 patients (70.9% men, median age 55 [45/66] years) with non-ischemic, non-valvular HF were included in the analyses. 489 patients were diagnosed with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), 52 patients with HF with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) and 114 patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). After a median follow-up of 4.6 (2.5/6.6) years, 94 deaths were enumerated (HFrEF: 68; HFmrEF: 8; HFpEF: 18), equating to mortality rates of 3.3% and 11.6% for patients with HFrEF, 7.7% and 15.4% for patients with HFmrEF and 5.3% and 11.4% for patients with HFpEF after 1 and 5 years, respectively. In EMB, we detected a variety of putative etiologies of HF, including incidental cardiac amyloidosis (CA, 5.8%). In multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusting for age, sex and comorbidities only CA, age and NYHA functional class III + IV remained independently associated with all-cause mortality (CA: HRperui 3.13, 95% CI 1.5–6.51; p = 0.002).ConclusionsIn an all-comer population of patients presenting with HF of unknown etiology, incidental finding of CA stands out to be independently associated with all-cause mortality. Our findings suggest that prospective trials would be helpful to test the added value of a systematic and holistic work-up of HF of unknown etiology.Graphical abstract

Prevalence and outcome of cardiac amyloidosis in an all-comer population of patients with non-ischaemic heart failure

Abstract Background Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is increasingly recognized as an underlying cause of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), associated with high morbidity and mortality. However, most studies, solely investigated the prevalence of CA in special subgroups including HFpEF and severe aortic valve disease. Purpose With the present study we sought to investigate prevalence of different phenotypes of CA in an all comer-population of patients with non-ischaemic heart failure (HF) and to analyze the impact of CA on all-cause mortality. Methods The My Biopsy HF-Study (German clinical trials register number: 22178) is a retrospective monocentric study investigating the underlying etiology of HF in an all-comer population of patients with HF of unknown etiology. Patients presenting with symptoms of HF at the University Medical Centre between 14/10/2012 and 01/03/2021, who underwent endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) were enrolled in the present study. Ischaemic HF and valvular HF were ruled out prior to EMB. Specimens were sent for further examination to a specialized laboratory approved by the Food and Drug Administration Results Between October 2012 and March 2021, 767 patients (71.6% men) with HF of unknown etiology were included. Mean age at the time of presentation was 55.4 years (±14.4). Altogether, 72.5% of the patients presented with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), 7.1% were diagnosed with HF with mid-range ejection fraction (HFmrEF) and 20.4% with HFpEF. Based on histological examination and genotyping, CA was diagnosed in 44 (5.7%) patients (immunglobulin light chain [AL] CA: 15 patients; variant transthyretin [ATTRv] CA: 6 patients; wild type transthyretin [ATTRwt] CA: 21 patients; de novo CA: 2 patients). Patients with CA were older compared with patients without CA (69.4±11.4 vs. 54.1±14.5; p<0.0001), had a higher prevalence of arterial hypertension (68.2% vs. 50.9%; p=0.045) and showed a better left ventricular ejection fraction based on echocardiographic examination (47.5% vs. 32.6%; p<0.0001). With respect to biomarker expression, levels of both brain natriuretic peptide and high-sensitive troponin I were significantly higher in patients without CA (BNP: 914.1 vs 612; p=0.01; troponin I: 812.8 vs. 171.7; p=0.006). In univariate logistic regression analysis CA was associated with a significant all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] per unit increase [ui], 5.17, 95% CI, 2.93–9.08; p<0.0001), even after adjustment for classical cardiovascular risk factors (HRperui 3.12, 95% CI, 1.11–8.76; p=0.03) and comorbidities like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease and stroke (HRperui 2.93, 95% CI, 1.2–7.15; p=0.018). Conclusions Among patients presenting with HF of unknown etiology, including patients with HFpEF, HFmrEF and HFrEF, cardiac amyloidosis is the underlying cause of HF in 5.7% of patients and is independently associated with all-cause mortality. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

Undiagnosed Peripartum Cardiomyopathy for emergency Caesarean section: Lessons learnt

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a form of dilated cardiomyopathy. It is a systolic heart failure of unknown aetiology and poorly understood pathophysiology. The prognosis of patients with PPCM is generally good with 70-80% recovering with ejection fraction >50% at the end of 6 months. However, the intrapartum period, especially in case of operative delivery, is fraught with danger

Identify cause of heart failure of unknown aetiology using cardiac magnetic resonance - a 10-year observational study

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome caused by structural or functional cardiac abnormality and is diagnosed on the basis of typical symptoms. It is associated with significant morbidity and mortality and affects more than 25 million people worldwide. HF of unknown aetiology is managed with symptomatic treatment. Patients with reduced (HFrEF) or mid-reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) and no clear cause of systolic dysfunction are usually classified as having DCM. In HFpEF group ejection fraction is preserved but diastolic dysfunction is present leading to HF symptoms. Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging to identify heart failure (HF) aetiology. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all medical charts of patients referred for CMR due to heart failure of unknown aetiology admitted to our hospital between 2008 and 2017. Only patients with no specific pre-CMR initial diagnosis were included. Patients with suspicion of any specific disease leading to HF were excluded. If a referring physician suspected myocarditis, cardiomyopathy, previous myocardial infarction or advanced stable coronary disease (based on clinical signs and symptoms, the patient’s and family history or all pre-CMR studies), these patients were omitted from our analysis. Thus, we included only patients whose diagnostic work-up did not reveal suspicion of any specific cardiac disease leading to HF. Results The study sample consisted of 243 patients (173 (71.2%) male, mean age 44.0 ± 14.2%). All patients underwent contrast-enhanced CMR. Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) was detected in 74.9% cases. Cardiomyopathies comprised the main aetiology (174 cases, 71.6%), in particular dilated cardiomyopathy (143 patients, 58.8%). 17 patients (7.0%) were diagnosed with myocarditis and in 24 patients (9.9%) CMR-based diagnosis was ambiguous – pointing out myocarditis or dilated cardiomyopathy. In 23 cases (9.5%) CMR indicated the presence of prior infarction undetected by pre-CMR testing. In five patients (2.1%) valvular disease was revealed as the sole cause of HF. We analysed the change in patients’ management guided by the CMR results defined as change of treatment and/or necessity of further tests leading to therapeutic consequences. Change of pre-CMR diagnosis occurred in 94 patients (38.7%) and was judged crucial in 41 patients (16,9%). As crucial we adjudicated the diagnosis associated with a need immediately further investigation and treatment changing, as follows: newly diagnosed amyloidosis, ischaemic heart disease or complex advanced valvular disease and cardiomyopathies other than dilated, hypertrophic and restrictive. Conclusion Our study strongly suggests that cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is a valuable tool for determining the aetiology of heart failure and impacts patients" management. Abstract Figure.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy in Indian population: A pooled analysis

Introduction: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) refers to heart failure of unknown etiology in later gestation or early postpartum period. Data regarding its incidence, clinical features, risk factors, and outcomes in the Indian population are scarce. Materials and Methods: We performed a pooled analysis of seven Indian studies on PPCM, including 221 patients to study PPCM. Results: The incidence of PPCM in the Indian population was 1 in 1340 live births. Indian women developed PPCM at a mean age of 27 years and most commonly in the postpartum period (60% cases). Hypertensive disorders and anemia were associated with PPCM in nearly half the number of patients. Maternal mortality was 11.7% and fetal mortality 14.2%. Conclusion: Our study provides data on PPCM in the Indian population. Larger studies with higher number of patients are needed to study PPCM in detail in the Indian subset.

Computed tomography coronary angiography for patients with heart failure (CTA-HF): a randomized controlled trial (IMAGE-HF 1C).

This randomized controlled trial sought to determine the financial impact of an initial diagnostic strategy of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in patients with heart failure (HF) of unknown aetiology. Invasive coronary angiography (ICA) is used to investigate HF patients. CCTA may be a non-invasive cost-effective alternative to ICA. This randomized controlled trial sought to determine the financial impact of an initial diagnostic strategy of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in patients with heart failure (HF) of unknown aetiology. This multicentre, international trial enrolled patients with HF of unknown aetiology. The primary outcome was the cost of CCTA vs. ICA strategies at 12 months. Clinical outcomes were also collected. An 'intention-to-diagnose' analysis was performed and a secondary 'as-tested' analysis was based on the modality received. Two hundred and forty-six patients were randomized (age = 57.8 ± 11.0 years, ejection fraction = 30.1 ± 10.1%). The severity of coronary artery disease was similar in both groups. In the 121 CCTA patients, 93 avoided ICA. Rates of downstream ischaemia and viability testing were similar for both arms. There were no significant differences in the composite clinical outcomes or quality of life measures. The cost of CCTA trended lower than ICA [CDN -$871 (confidence interval, CI -$4116 to $3028)]. Using an 'as-tested' analysis, CCTA was associated with a decrease in healthcare costs (CDN -$2932, 95% CI -$6248 to $746). In patients with HF of unknown aetiology, costs were not statistically different between the CCTA and ICA strategies. NCT01283659.

Triple intracardiac thrombus

A 58-year-old woman with new onset atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response (heart rate (HR) 161 bpm) and acute decompensated heart failure of unknown aetiology was admitted to our emergency...

Correlation Perspectives for the Diagnosis of Idiopathic Triglyceride Deposit Cardiomyovasculopathy

Background: Triglyceride (TG) deposit cardiomyovasculopathy (TGCV) is a novel cardiovascular disorder and was recently encoded as an orphan disease in Europe (ORPHA code: 565612). Defective lipolysis results in TG accumulation in the myocardium and coronary arteries in TGCV. The myocardial washout rate (WR) of iodine-123-β-methyl iodophenyl-pentadecanoic acid (BMIPP) is an essential indicator to evaluate myocardial lipolysis in vivo. TGCV is classified into primary and idiopathic type with and without PNPLA2 mutation, respectively. Here, we present the clinical correlation perspectives of TGCV patients in Chiba, Japan, to increase the awareness of this orphan disease and facilitate its diagnosis. Methods: We enrolled 234 patients who underwent BMIPP scintigraphy between September 2015 and July 2019. The diagnosis of TGCV was made based on the criteria we reported previously. Blood smear tests were performed for TGCV classification. The distributions of TGCV in each comorbidity were investigated. Results: In total, 104 patients were diagnosed with definitive idiopathic TGCV (I-TGCV). They had various comorbid conditions, including heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and multivessel coronary artery disease requiring revascularization. Moreover, the serum TG levels in I-TGCV patients were not high, and there was no correlation between serum TG level and BMIPP WR (n=205, p-value=0.31), supporting the pathophysiological hypothesis of TGCV. Conclusion: I-TGCV patients showed multiple coexistence of coronary artery disease, heart failure of unknown etiology, or diabetes mellitus. For patients with such clinical characteristics, BMIPP scintigraphy and calculation of WR should be considered proactively for the diagnosis of TGCV.

P1313 A curious case of endocarditis

Abstract INTRODUCTION Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE) is a rare form ofnoninfectious endocarditis in which a small sterile vegetations deposited on the heart valves (mostly aortic and mitral).It has been reported in every age group, most commonly affecting patients between the fourth and eighth decades of life with no sex predilection. Patients with advanced malignancy and those with systemic lupus erythematosus are the most common populations affected by NBTE, and they are typically asymptomatic until embolization occurs. Here, we report a case of a female patient with rheumatoid arthritis whose diagnosis was made prior to any thromboembolic event. CASE REPORT DESCRIPTION An 83-year-old female patient with a 10-year history of rheumatoid arthritis, was admitted for urinary tract infection with exacerbation of chronic renal disease and decompensated heart failure of unknown etiology. On physical examination, she was febrile (38,3ºC) with a blood pressure of 130/70 and pulse rate of 90 beats/min. Cardiac auscultation revealed a sistolic murmur of grade 1/4 in the fifth left intercostal space. A joint deformities in the hands were noted, such as interosseous atrophy and ulnar deviation. To evaluate this new sistolic murmur,the transthoracic echocardiogramwas performed and showed a vegetation in the mitral valve. Then, a transesophageal echocardiogram(TEE) was requested to better characterize this vegetation, showing a vegetation of 19x4mm involving the posterior cusp of the mitral valve leaflet, with moderate mitral regurgitation,being the hypothesis of infective endocarditis (IE) proposed. There were no other significant abnormalities in the remaining echocardiogram. Empirical antibiotic therapy to IE was initiated. The TEE was repeated after 4 weeks of antibiotic therapy with maintenance of the referred vegetation and mention of a smaller one (10x2mm). Clinical investigation didn’t show any infectious process. Hence, the hypothesis of NBTE was established. Anti-coagulation therapy was started immediately. The NBTE lesion disappeared in the follow-up echocardiography three months post anti-coagulation treatment. CONCLUSION Although NBTE is an uncommon and difficult diagnosis that requires a high degree of suspicion, its timely diagnosis is essential since it allows the prevention of thromboembolic events, resulting in a positive impact on patients" quality of life. In addition, the existence of this clinical condition may allow the diagnosis of another underlying disease, such as a hidden neoplasia. Thus, the authors believe that the sharing of this clinical case will allow a reflection on this entity emphasizing the importance in the hypotheses of vegetation diagnosis. From the authors" knowledge, from the available medical literature, the clinical case presented is one of the few NBTEs described in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, with mitral valve involvement and whose diagnosis was made before any thromboembolic event. Abstract P1313 Figure. A vegetation of mitral valve

Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis

An 83-year-old woman with a 10-year history of rheumatoid arthritis was admitted for urinary tract infection with exacerbation of chronic kidney disease and decompensated heart failure of unknown etiology. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) showed a vegetation involving the posterior mitral valve leaflet, and a hypothesis of infective endocarditis was proposed. Empirical antibiotic therapy was initiated. TEE was repeated after antibiotic therapy, and showed persistence of the original vegetation and revealed the presence of another, smaller vegetation. Clinical investigation revealed no infectious process, and so a diagnosis of nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE) was established. Anticoagulant therapy was started immediately. The NBTE lesion had disappeared on the follow-up echocardiogram two months after anticoagulant therapy.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Computed Tomography Coronary Angiography in Patients Presenting with Heart Failure of Unknown Etiology in the Middle East.

Objectives:The purpose of this study is to assess the diagnostic performance of coronary artery calcium score (CACS), computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA), and the prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) as etiology of heart failure (HF) in the Middle Eastern population.Background:CTCA has several advantages compared to invasive coronary angiography (ICA). However, studies on the diagnostic accuracy of CTCA and CACS in detecting the prevalence of CAD in patients with newly diagnosed HF are lacking in the Middle East.Methods:This study included 204 patients with symptoms of HF and ejection fraction (EF) of <50% by echocardiography who underwent CTCA for diagnosis of CAD within 3 months. The exclusion criteria were defined as patients with a history of CAD, percutaneous coronary intervention, or coronary artery bypass grafting. All patients with obstructive CAD based on CTCA were referred for ICA. In addition, 30 patients with normal CTCA also underwent ICA for verification.Results:The mean age was 48 ± 13 years, 69% (n = 141) were male and 31% (n = 73) were female, mean left ventricular EF was 31% ± 9%, and mean CACS was 58 ± 120. Based on the CTCA results, 169 patients had normal or nonobstructive CAD, whereas 35 patients had obstructive CAD. ICA was performed in all 35 patients with obstructive CAD; 30 of them were confirmed as having abnormal ICA, and only 5 had nonobstructive CAD. In addition, 30 patients with normal CTCA underwent ICA testing and were confirmed as having normal ICA. The CTCA had 100% sensitivity, 84% specificity, 86% positive predictive value, and 100% negative predictive value. Of the total population, 30 (15%) who were documented as having obstructive CAD were classified as CAD HF based on ICA. The remaining 174 (85%) patients were classified as having no CAD HF based on normal CTCA and/or ICA. The prevalence of CAD HF based on ICA was 15%. There was a strong correlation between CACS and both CTCA and ICA, with P = 0.001 and 0.0048, respectively.Conclusion:In patients with newly diagnosed HF, CACS and CTCA had a 100% sensitivity and negative value as well as overall excellent diagnostic accuracy. CACS = 0 excluded CAD as the etiology of HF with correlation between CACS groups and both CTCA and ICA. The prevalence of CAD as etiology of HF in the study population was 15%.

Accuracy of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging to rule out significant coronary artery disease in patients with systolic heart failure of unknown aetiology: Single-centre experience and comprehensive meta-analysis

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of systolic heart failure (HF). Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is a non-invasive technique that detects a myocardial infarction scar as subendocardial or transmural late gadolinium enhancement (st-LGE). We sought to evaluate whether a lack of st-LGE could rule out CAD in new-onset systolic HF of unknown aetiology. We included 232 consecutive patients with new-onset HF and left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35% who underwent both coronary angiography and CMR to assess HF aetiology. CAD was defined as the presence of coronary artery stenosis≥50% on a coronary angiogram. We assessed sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios (PLR and NLR) of the presence of st-LGE to detect underlying CAD. A complementary meta-analysis of 11 studies (including ours) was also performed. In our study, 49 (21.1%) patients had CAD. The sensitivity and specificity of the presence of st-LGE to detect CAD were 69 and 92%, respectively. PLR and NLR were 8.47 and 0.33, respectively. In the meta-analysis, 1227 patients were included, and the prevalence of CAD ranged from 19.2 to 68.3%. Sensitivity, specificity, PLR and NLR were 87% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.80-0.92), 93% (95% CI 0.89-0.96), 12.91 (95% CI 7.70-21.64) and 0.14 (95% CI 0.09-0.22), respectively. Altogether, 55 patients presented CAD with no st-LGE; inversely, 75 patients presented st-LGE with no CAD. With a CMR specificity of 93%, the absence of st-LGE rules out significant underlying CAD in patients with systolic HF of unknown aetiology in most cases.

Rationale for Endomyocardial Biopsy of Heart Failure Patients Who Have Responded to Usual Care

Background: Endomyocardial biopsy (EBM) is the only method for histological evaluation of cardiac tissue; however, the AHA/ACC/ESC scientific statement 2007 did not recommend EBM to those who respond to usual care within 1 to 2 weeks (class IIb recommendation). Methods: We reviewed clinical charts of patients who had heart failure of unknown etiology with reduced ejection fraction (!40%) and underwent EBM as a part of diagnostic cardiac catheterization even if they well responded to usual care in Niigata University Hospital since April 2013 to March 2015. Results: Among 45 patients (54611 years old, 37 males, LVDd 63610mm LVDs 55611 mm, LVEF 28.769.0%), final diagnosis was idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy in 39 cases (87%). EBM was crucial and helpful for final diagnosis in 6 cases (2 cases of chronic myocarditis due to collagen disease, 2 cases of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, 1 case of Fabry’s disease, and 1 case of mitochondrial cardiomyopathy). Conclusion: EBM would not be necessary for diagnosis in all of the patients who had heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and responded to usual care, but it was useful in some cases for definitive diagnosis. Comprehensive screening of secondary cardiomyopathy would be desirable before conducting EBM.

Computed tomography coronary imaging as a gatekeeper for invasive coronary angiography in patients with newly diagnosed heart failure of unknown aetiology

To evaluate the accuracy of cardiac computed tomography (CT) in distinguishing CAD and non-CAD heart failure (HF) and its effectiveness as a gatekeeper for invasive coronary angiography (ICA). We prospectively included 93 symptomatic patients with newly diagnosed HF of unknown aetiology (59 men; mean age 53 ± 13) and EF <45%, and/or fractional shortening <25%, and/or end-diastolic LV diameter >60 mm (men) or >55 mm (women). In all patients, the CT calcium score (CTCS) was determined. CTCS = 0 excluded CAD HF. Additional CT coronary angiography (CTCA) was performed if CTCS >0. ICA was used as the gold standard for distinguishing between CAD and non-CAD HF in patients with >20% luminal diameter narrowing on CTCA. CAD HF was defined as >50% luminal diameter narrowing in either (i) the left main coronary artery or proximal left anterior descending coronary artery or (ii) in multiple coronary arteries. Diagnostic accuracy and follow-up data (20 ± 16 months) were collected for all patients. CTCS = 0 ruled out CAD HF in 43 patients (46%). The CT algorithm had 100% sensitivity, 95% specificity, 67% positive predictive value, and 100% negative predictive value for detecting CAD HF. Patients with CTCS = 0 or non-CAD HF on CTCA had no coronary events during follow-up, and ICA could have been safely avoided in 76 out of 93 patients (82%). In patients with HF of unknown aetiology, cardiac CT combining CTCS and CTCA has high accuracy for detecting CAD HF and can be used effectively as a gatekeeper for ICA.

Can coronary calcium scoring and computed tomography angiography serve as a gatekeeper for invasive coronary angiography in patients with new‐onset heart failure?

Can coronary calcium scoring and computed tomography angiography serve as a gatekeeper for invasive coronary angiography in patients with new‐onset heart failure?

Utilidade clínica da angiografia coronária e da ressonância nuclear magnética no diagnóstico da cardiomiopatia isquêmica

INTRODUÇÃO: O diagnóstico da cardiomiopatia isquêmica é frequentemente difícil. A angiografia coronária (AC) é limitada, por ser invasiva e de avaliação exclusivamente anatômica. A ressonância nuclear magnética cardíaca (RNM) com realce tardio pelo gadolínio (RTG) pode mensurar padrões de fibrose miocárdica ocasionados pela isquemia. Porém, o RTG pode não detectar isquemia que não resultou em fibrose. Assim, uma avaliação clínica meticulosa pelo cardiologista parece ser a maneira mais eficaz para definir o diagnóstico. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a AC e o RTG como métodos complementares para o diagnóstico de cardiomiopatia isquêmica em pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca sistólica sem etiologia definida. MÉTODOS: Pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca sistólica, fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo < 45% e etiologia indefinida após avaliação não invasiva inicial foram submetidos à AC e à RNM com RTG para definição etiológica. A análise dos casos por dois cardiologistas foi o padrão-ouro para o diagnóstico de cardiomiopatia isquêmica. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídos 24 pacientes. A sensibilidade para detecção de cardiomiopatia isquêmica foi de 0,45 para AC vs. 0,81 do RTG. A especificidade da AC foi de 1,0 vs. 0,84 do RTG. O valor preditivo positivo foi de 1,0 vs. 0,81, e o valor preditivo negativo foi 0,68 vs. 0,84 para AC e do RTG, respectivamente. A acurácia do RTG foi superior a da AC (0,83 vs. 0,75). CONCLUSÕES: O RTG foi mais sensível do que a AC na avaliação etiológica da disfunção ventricular, enquanto a AC foi mais específica. A definição de cardiomiopatia isquêmica utilizando cada um dos métodos em separado apresentou limitações.

Clinical Use of Coronary Angiography and Magnetic Nuclear Resonance Imaging in the Diagnosis of Ischemic Cardiomyopathy

The diagnosis of ischemic cardiomyopathy is frequently difficult. Coronary angiography (CA) is limited because it is invasive and the evaluation is exclusively anatomic. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) measures patterns of myocardial fibrosis caused by ischemia. However, LGE does not detect ischemia that does not result in fibrosis. Thus, a thorough clinical evaluation by a cardiologist seems to be the most effective option for diagnosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate CA and LGE as complementary methods for the diagnosis of ischemic cardiomyopathy in patients with systolic heart failure of unknown etiology. Patients with systolic heart failure, left ventricle ejection fraction < 45% and unknown etiology after initial non-invasive evaluation were submitted to CA and MRI with LGE to define the etiology of the disease. Patient evaluation by two cardiologists was the gold standard for the diagnosis of ischemic cardiomyopathy. Twenty-four patients were included. The sensitivity to detect ischemic cardiomyopathy was 0.45 for CA vs. 0.81 for LGE. The specificity was 1.0 for CA vs. 0.84 for LGE. The positive predictive value was 1.0 vs. 0.81 and the negative predictive value was 0.68 vs. 0.84 for CA and LGE, respectively. LGE accuracy was superior to CA accuracy (0.83 vs. 0.75). LGE was more sensitive than CA to evaluate the etiology of ventricular dysfunction, whereas CA was more specific. The diagnosis of ischemic cardiomyopathy using each one of the methods separately presented limitations. Utilidade Clínica da Angiografia Coronária e da Ressonância Nuclear Magnética no Diagnóstico da Cardiomiopatia Isquêmica O diagnóstico da cardiomiopatia isquêmica é frequentemente difícil. A angiografia coronária (AC) é limitada, por ser invasiva e de avaliação exclusivamente anatômica. A ressonância nuclear magnética cardíaca (RNM) com realce tardio pelo gadolínio (RTG) pode mensurar padrões de fibrose miocárdica ocasionados pela isquemia. Porém, o RTG pode não detectar isquemia que não resultou em fibrose. Assim, uma avaliação clínica meticulosa pelo cardiologista parece ser a maneira mais eficaz para definir o diagnóstico. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a AC e o RTG como métodos complementares para o diagnóstico de cardiomiopatia isquêmica em pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca sistólica sem etiologia definida. Pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca sistólica, fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo < 45% e etiologia indefinida após avaliação não invasiva inicial foram submetidos à AC e à RNM com RTG para definição etiológica. A análise dos casos por dois cardiologistas foi o padrão-ouro para o diagnóstico de cardiomiopatia isquêmica. Foram incluídos 24 pacientes. A sensibilidade para detecção de cardiomiopatia isquêmica foi de 0,45 para AC vs. 0,81 do RTG. A especificidade da AC foi de 1,0 vs. 0,84 do RTG. O valor preditivo positivo foi de 1,0 vs. 0,81, e o valor preditivo negativo foi 0,68 vs. 0,84 para AC e do RTG, respectivamente. A acurácia do RTG foi superior a da AC (0,83 vs. 0,75). O RTG foi mais sensível do que a AC na avaliação etiológica da disfunção ventricular, enquanto a AC foi mais específica. A definição de cardiomiopatia isquêmica utilizando cada um dos métodos em separado apresentou limitações.

Letter by Hamilton-Craig et al Regarding Article, “Role of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance as a Gatekeeper to Invasive Coronary Angiography in Patients Presenting With Heart Failure of Unknown Etiology”

To the Editor: Assomull et al1 present encouraging data for the role of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) for noninvasive testing in patients with heart failure of unknown etiology. We agree with the many of the findings in this article, and have adopted a similar approach by using CMR for first-line evaluation of patients newly diagnosed with heart failure at our quaternary referral and transplant center. However, we would draw referring clinicians' attention to the fact that a CMR showing severe …

Response to Letter Regarding Article, “Role of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance as a Gatekeeper to Invasive Coronary Angiography in Patients Presenting With Heart Failure of Unknown Etiology”

We thank Dr Hamilton-Craig and colleagues for their insightful remarks regarding our work. We concur with their assertion that “the absence of late gadolinium enhancement does not necessarily obviate the need to image coronary arteries,” because a small proportion (0%–7.1%) of patients will have global hibernation secondary to proximal severe coronary artery disease (CAD) without infarction.1,2 In their own study, revascularization in these patients resulted in improved outcome stemming from augmented ventricular function.2 For precisely this reason, our protocol used magnetic …

Utilidade clínica da angiografia coronariana em pacientes com disfunção ventricular esquerda

Performing a coronary angiography in patients with heart failure of unknown etiology is often justified by the diagnostic assessment of ischemic heart disease. However, the clinical benefit of this strategy is not known. To evaluate the prevalence of ischemic heart disease by angiographic criteria in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction of unknown etiology, as well as its impact on therapy decisions. Consecutive outpatients with heart failure and systolic dysfunction, who had an indication for coronary angiography to clarify the etiology of heart disease were assessed from 1 January 2009 to December 31, 2010. Patients diagnosed with coronary artery disease, positive serology for Chagas disease, congenital heart disease, valve disease or patients undergoing cardiac transplantation were excluded from the analysis. The sample was divided into two groups according to the indication for catheterization. Group-1: Symptomatic due to angina or heart failure. Group-2: Presence of > 2 risk factors for coronary artery disease One hundred and seven patients were included in the analysis, with 51 (47.7%) patients in Group 1 and 56 (52.3%) in Group 2. The prevalence of ischemic heart disease was 9.3% (10 patients), and all belonged to Group 1 (p = 0.0001). During follow-up, only 4 (3.7%) were referred for CABG; 3 (2.8%) patients had procedure-related complications. In our study, coronary angiography in patients with heart failure and systolic dysfunction of unknown etiology, although supported by current guidelines, did not show benefits when performed only due to the presence of risk factors for coronary artery disease.