Thromboembolic Outcomes of Different Anticoagulation Strategies for Patients with Atrial Fibrillation in the Setting of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Systematic Review

Predictive Value of Left Atrial Strain for Thrombotic Events in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy without Atrial Fibrillation

Purpose To assess the predictive value of left atrial (LA) fast long-axis strain derived from cardiac MRI for thrombotic events (TEs) in individuals with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Materials and Methods This secondary analysis of an ongoing prospective trial (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR1900024094) included consecutive participants with HCM without atrial fibrillation (AF) who underwent cardiac MRI from January 2012 to December 2020. The LA fast long-axis strain was obtained by semiautomatically tracking the distance between the atrioventricular junction and the midposterior LA wall. The primary end point was the occurrence of TEs, including ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack, and systemic thromboembolism. The predictive value of LA strain was determined with Cox analysis. Results Overall, 714 participants with HCM (mean age ± SD, 50.1 years ± 14.3; 441 men, 273 women; obstructive HCM, n = 289; apical HCM, n = 144) were included (median follow-up: 51 months). Twenty-eight (3.9%) participants with HCM experienced TEs, 60% (17 of 28) of whom had no new-onset AF. Those who experienced TEs had lower LA reservoir and conduit strains (16.2% ± 7.3 vs 21.8% ± 8.3, P = .001; 5.9% ± 3.5 vs 9.7% ± 5.5, P = .01, respectively), with no evidence of a difference in LA booster strain between groups. LA reservoir and conduit strain were independent predictors of TEs in different multivariable models, even after adjusting for age, diabetes, and left ventricular ejection fraction (adjusted hazard ratios: reservoir strain [per 5% decrease], 1.29-1.34 [95% CI: 1.05, 1.50]; conduit strain [per 5% decrease], 1.42-1.47 [95% CI: 1.04, 1.67]). Conclusion Cardiac MRI-derived LA reservoir and conduit strain were independent predictors for the occurrence of TEs in individuals with HCM without AF. Keywords: MR-Imaging, Left Atrium, Cardiomyopathies, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Thromboembolism, Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Chinese Clinical Trial Registry no. ChiCTR1900024094 Supplemental material is available for this article. © RSNA, 2025.

A Case of New-Onset Atrial Tachyarrhythmias With Apical Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and Bronchiectasis in a Very Elderly Patient: A Therapeutic Dilemma

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a primary myocardial disease that is genetically transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait. Even apical HCM (ApHCM) induces atrial fibrillation (AF) based on underlying left ventricle (LV) diastolic dysfunction, where anticoagulation therapy is recommended. However, anticoagulation for AF in patients at high risk of bleeding is a double-edged sword. A 98-year-old woman living in a nursing home presented to our hospital with sudden-onset dyspnea and palpitation persisting for two hours. The patient had a history of apical HCM and bronchiectasis. An electrocardiogram showed a regular tachycardia with a heart rate of 130 bpm, suggesting atrial flutter with 2:1 atrioventricular conduction. Intravenous verapamil (5 mg) resulted in the conversion into AF, and subsequent cibenzoline (70 mg) failed to restore sinus rhythm. Given the impossibility of continuous anticoagulation, electrical cardioversion was planned. Electrical cardioversion was successful in converting AF into sinus rhythm. Given the very high risk of hemoptysis, anticoagulation was avoided. This case gives an insight into how to manage a practical therapeutic problem, which is the coexistence of AF and bronchiectasis. A variety of individual factors should be considered for clinical decision-making and management of patients with concomitant HCM and AF.

Thromboembolism in Patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is an inherited cardiac disease, which has a marked heterogeneity in clinical expression, natural history, and prognosis. HCM is associated with a high prevalence of thromboembolic events (stroke and systemic embolic events), even if taking no account of atrial fibrillation (AF), leading to unexpected disability and death in patients of all ages. Several risk factors of thromboembolism such as AF, greater age, left atrial diameter, heart failure and others have been confirmed in patients with HCM. Conventional thromboembolic predictive models were estimated by several trials in HCM population but it turned out to be unsatisfactory. Based on those previous explorations, researchers tried to modify or develop novel models suitable for HCM population in thromboembolism prediction. In consideration of catastrophic advent events of thromboembolism, current guidelines have recommended life-long anticoagulant therapy after a single short AF. Therefore, early identification of risk factors for thromboembolism, accurate risk stratification, timely preventive measures and aggressive management may help to avoid serious adverse thromboembolic events in HCM population.