Cohort profile: the ESC EURObservational Research Programme Non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infraction (NSTEMI) Registry

AIMS

The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) EURObservational Research Programme (EORP) Non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) Registry aims to identify international patterns in NSTEMI management in clinical practice and outcomes against the 2015 ESC Guidelines for the management of acute coronary syndromes in patients presenting without ST-segment-elevation.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Consecutively hospitalised adult NSTEMI patients (n = 3620) were enrolled between 11 March 2019 and 6 March 2021, and individual patient data prospectively collected at 287 centres in 59 participating countries during a two-week enrolment period per centre. The registry collected data relating to baseline characteristics, major outcomes (in-hospital death, acute heart failure, cardiogenic shock, bleeding, stroke/transient ischaemic attack, and 30-day mortality) and guideline-recommended NSTEMI care interventions: electrocardiogram pre- or in-hospital, pre-hospitalization receipt of aspirin, echocardiography, coronary angiography, referral to cardiac rehabilitation, smoking cessation advice, dietary advice, and prescription on discharge of aspirin, P2Y12 inhibition, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi)/angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), beta-blocker, and statin.

CONCLUSION

The EORP NSTEMI Registry is an international, prospective registry of care and outcomes of patients treated for NSTEMI, which will provide unique insights into the contemporary management of hospitalised NSTEMI patients, compliance with ESC 2015 NSTEMI Guidelines, and identify potential barriers to optimal management of this common clinical presentation associated with significant morbidity and mortality.

Analysis of myocardial function by deformation imaging in patients with transthyretin gene mutation

Introduction

Hereditary transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis is a rare disease that can affect various organs. The early identification of cardiac involvement through echocardiography allows to corroborate the diagnosis and to start therapy at an early stage.

Purpose

The aim of our study was to detect early signs of cardiac involvement in patients with TTR gene mutation and neurological phenotype or absence of any organ disease (carriers) compared to patients with TTR gene mutation and cardiac amyloidosis (CA).

Material and methods

An observational study was conducted on a sample of 31 patients with TTR gene mutation. Patients were divided into 3 groups (23% CA, 42% amyloid neuropathy and 35% carriers). All patients underwent echocardiography with evaluation of left ventricular myocardial deformation indices (apical/basal strain ratio and relative apical sparing).

Results

Carriers and patients with amyloid neuropathy had normal left ventricular systolic and diastolic function. Analyzing left ventricular longitudinal global strain (GLS) we didn't find significant differences between carriers and neuropathy, but we found a significant difference about apical/basal strain ratio and relative apical sparing (respectively 1.33±0.20 vs 1.58±0.25, p value 0.001 and 0.62±0.07 vs 0.72±0.08, p value 0.039).

Conclusion

Relative apical sparing is specific to identify CA; the apical/basal ratio seems to gradually increase from carriers to patients with cardiac amyloidosis and it could be used to monitor patients with TTR mutation, before developing CA.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

P133 UTILITÀ DEL MYOCARDIAL WORK NELLA VALUTAZIONE ECOCARDIOGRAFICA MULTIPARAMETRICA DI PAZIENTI CON CARCINOMA MAMMARIO

Background

The aim of our study was to assess subclinical cardiac effects of anthracyclines (ANTs) in women treated for breast cancer (BC).

Methods

We enrolled 46 female patients with BC undergoing adjuvant treatment with anthracycline–containing chemotherapy (CT) followed by taxane (paclitaxel/docetaxel). Patients underwent physical examination, electrocardiogram (ECG) and standard transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) including evaluation of diastolic and systolic function, measured as left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS) and myocardial work (MW) expressed as global work index (GWI), global constructive work (GCW), global work waste (GWW), and global work efficiency (GWE). The parameters were measured at baseline (T0) and at 3 months (T1) and 6 months (T2) follow up.

Results

All patients completed the chemotherapy cycles. No significant cardiovascular adverse events were observed during treatment. Neither 2D left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) nor E/e’ ratio evaluation at TDI were significantly changed after treatment. Conversely, GLS was significantly reduced at T1 and T2 since baseline (GLS – 19,99 % IQR –20,6 –19,3 % at T0 vs –17,88 % IQR –18,8 –16,9 % at T1, p < 0,00 1 and –16,71 % IQR 17,6 –15,7 % at T2, p < 0,001). Consensually, a significant reduction in myocardial work was also measured (GWI 2115 mmHg% IQR 1888 – 2342 mmHg% at T0 vs 1714 mmHg% IQR 1557 – 1870 mmHg% at T1, p < 0,0001 and 1694 mmHg% IQR 1482 – 1907 mmHg% at T2, p < 0,0001).

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates that evaluation of myocardial work allows very early detection of subclinical cardiac damage induced by chemotherapy, consensually to the reduction of the GLS. A multiparametric assessment of the myocardial function, including myocardial work and GLS, could improve the accuracy of risk stratification of cardiotoxicity in patients undergoing ANTs treatment.

Outcome of patients with myocarditis according to clinical risk classification and cardiac magnetic resonance parameters

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

Myocarditis is an inflammatory disease defined by precise histological, immunological and immunohistochemical criteria and characterized by a great heterogeneity of presentation. The early evaluation of the possible outcomes and long-term prognosis of patients with myocarditis remains a challenge for the cardiologists, with repercussions on the most appropriate therapeutic choices for the patient.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to analyze the outcomes of patients with acute myocarditis using the multiparametric integration of clinical, echocardiographic and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging data.

Methods

We retrospectively collected data from 127 patients admitted for acute myocarditis from 2011 to 2021 in 3 Sicilian hospitals. The main anamnestic information, risk factors and clinical manifestations at onset, electrocardiogram, echocardiogram including the global longitudinal strain (GLS) measurement and morphofunctional parameters at cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), presence of edema and delayed enhancement (DE) and myocardial segments involved were collected. Patients were stratified according to the classification proposed by the group of Trieste group in 2017 in high-risk, intermediate-risk patients and low-risk patients. The occurrence of adverse events during follow up in the 3 groups was evaluated.

Results

High-risk patients had a higher frequency of total adverse events (66.7%) compared to intermediate (14%) and low (16%) risk (p < 0,0001), while no significant differences were observed regarding relapses. Intermediate-risk patients had a tendency to develop events comparable to low-risk patients. At baseline, FE was 34.02 ± 12.98% for high risk patients vs 59.24 ± 3.82% low risk vs 58.41 ± 5.21% intermediate risk (p < 0,0001). The mean GLS was -16 ± 4.43 for high risk patients vs -19 ± 2.37 low risk vs -18 ± 2.06 intermediate risk (p < 0,0271). 78% high-risk patients, 72% low-risk patients, and 75% intermediate-risk patients had edema at baseline MRI (p < 0,0249). 90% patients with high risk,  85% patients with low risk and 97% patients with intermediate risk had DE at baseline MRI (p < 0,0001). In intermediate-risk patients, an association was observed between the number of segments affected by DE at baseline MRI and the occurrence of events (p <0.013). The number of segments involved by DE that, with the best sensitivity and specificity, identifies the subjects most likely to develop events was 2.5 [AUC 0.5; p-value of 0.24]. The sum of the segments involved by DE at MRI statistically correlated with the detection of a reduced mean GLS (p < 0.009).

Conclusions

 Our study confirms the usefulness of the clinical prognostic classification of the Trieste group. Intermediate-risk patients, who still represent a gray area from a prognostic point of view, have shown to have an overall good prognosis, not significantly different since low-risk patients. The extent of edema and the extent of DE at baseline are the major predictors of events.

Prognostic stratification of patients with low-risk hypertrophyc cardiomyopathy: the role of myocardial deformation imaging and myocardial fibrosis

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is associated with a high incidence of adverse cardiovascular events. Risk stratification for major cardiac events and management of HCM patients are still a serious challenge in cardiology. Current ESC guidelines recommend stratifying the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) at 5 years using a prediction model which evaluates clinical and echocardiographic criteria but this model does not include parameters of myocardial deformation at echocardiography and myocardial fibrosis at cardiac magnetic resonance.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive prognostic role of myocardial deformation imaging parameters derived by echocardiography (left ventricular global longitudinal strain GLS and PALS) and magnetic resonance parameters (extension of delayed enhancement DE) in a population of patients with HCM with low-risk of SCD, considering ESC prediction model.

Methods

We enrolled 166 patients, mean age 56.25 ± 16 with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. A complete echocardiogram and a cardiac magnetic resonance were performed. After a period of 2.5 years, adverse cardiovascular events were evaluated: number of ICD shocks and ventricular arrhythmias, occurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) or other supraventricular arrhythmias, symptoms of heart failure (HF) and or hospitalizations, heart transplant and death.

Results

7 heart transplants, 8 deaths, 29 patients developed AF, 6 patients developed ventricular arrhythmias and/or ICD shock, 17 patients were hospitalized, 16 patients developed HF. Patients with cardiovascular events had significantly lower PALS values than patients without events (PALS 4.6 ± 2.6 vs 17.5 ± 3.26, p-value < 0.0001) and higher values left atrial volume (179 ± 81 vs 76 ± 37, p-value < 0.001); significantly greater DE extension (57 ± 20 vs 17 ± 19, p-value 0.0082), lower GLS and EF values (GLS 10 ± 3 vs 15 ± 4, p value 0.0033; EF p-value 0,0001). Patients who developed ventricular arrhythmias, did not show significant changes in EF (p-value 0.26), left atrial volume (90 ± 17, p-value 0.36) and PALS (18 ± 1, p-value 0.7), but they had significantly lower GLS values (5.7 ± 12, p-value 0.02) and a greater extent of DE (p-value 0.04). Patients with AF showed a significantly increased left atrial volume (100 ± 43, p 0.0034) and the PALS (10.8+ 5.9, p-value < 0.0001) was significantly reduced compared to patients without events; EF, GLS (-11.8 ± 8, p-value 0.08) and DE were not significantly reduced (14.8 ± 8, p-value 0.14). In patients who developed HF, both EF, GLS (p-value 0.035), left atrial volume , PALS (p-value < 0.0001) and DE (65 ± 22.5 p-value < 0.0001) were altered compared to patients without events.

Conclusion

Low PALS, reduced EF and GLS and higher DE extension and left atrial volume, appear to be prognostic factors in patients with HCM. PALS and left atrial volume are predictors of death, heart failure and AF. Low GLS and DE are predictors of ventricular arrhythmias and heart failure.

Usefulness of a new risk score in identifying patients with CML at increased risk of cardiovascular toxicities

Background

Anti-BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) dramatically improved the prognosis of patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) however they have been associated with cardiovascular (CV) complications.

Purpose

The primary aim of our study was to compare the usefulness of two different tools to stratify the risk of developing cardiovascular adverse events in haematology patients treated with ponatinib or nilotinib.

Methods

A real-life retrospective observational study was carried out on 58 patients (32 M, 26 W; mean age ± SD: 59±15) affected by CML treated with TKIs for a median period of 43±31 months. Patients were divided in groups according to CV risk estimated with SCORE and the 2020 CV risk assessment proposed by the Cardio-Oncology Study Group of the ESC/ICOS. Cardiac evaluation and echocardiogram were performed in all patients. The recorded CV adverse events were: myocardial ischemia, peripheral vascular diseases, new-onset or progression of preexisting carotid atherosclerosis, arterial hypertension, arrhythmias.

Results

According to SCORE, 46% of patients were at high-very high risk (group A1) and 54% at low-moderate risk (group B1). Applying the ESC/ICOS risk stratification tools, 60% were at high-very high risk (group A2) and 40% at low-medium risk (group B2). 21 CV adverse events were observed. CV adverse events were significantly more frequent in group A1 than group B1 (p value = 0,0003) when considered overall, they were significantly more frequent in group A2 than group B2 either overall (p=0,0004) or considered individually (myocardial ischemia: p=0,01; peripheral arterial disease: p=0,03). See Table 1. Moreover, the ESC/ICOS risk stratification tools was significantly more sensitive than SCORE (p=0,0004) in identifying patients at higher risk of cardiovascular toxicity. See Table 2.

No patients treated with Ponatinib showed CV adverse events during follow up. It is worth of notice that all patients before starting treatment underwent cardio-oncological evaluation, risk factors correction and preventive treatment with aspirin. They also were treated with the lowest dose of TKI. None of the patients treated with nilotinib over 4 years and with multiple lines of therapy, experiencing adverse events, received aspirin in primary prevention.

Conclusions

Our study shows that the ESC/ICOS risk stratification tools is very sensitive and more performing than SCORE for risk stratification of cardiotoxicity in haematology patients treated with TKIs. It also suggests that baseline CV risk assessment, CV risk factors correction and preventive treatment with aspirin aid in reducing CV adverse events in patients treated with ponatinib.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None. Table 1Table 2

Left atrial strain and left atrial stiffness for early detection of cardiotoxicity in cancer patients

Background

Anti-cancer drugs can cause cardiovascular complications. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and global longitudinal strain (GLS) are usually used to identify clinical and subclinical cardiotoxicity.

Purpose

The aim of our study was to assess the addictional role of left atrial reservoir strain (LAS-S) and left atrial stiffness (LASI – the ratio of E/e' to LAS-S) in identifying patients at higher risk of cardiotoxicity.

Methods

102 breast cancer patients (median age 53±9.5 years), without cardiovascular diseases, were enrolled before starting chemotherapy. Electrocardiogram and transthoracic echocardiogram (conventional measurements based on EACVI recommendations; GLS, LAS-S and LASI measurement) were performed in all patients before starting chemotherapy (T0) and 3 (T1) and 6 months (T2) after chemotherapy.

Results

No patient developed clinical cardiotoxicity. Moreover we did not find at all times a significant reduction in LVEF compared to baseline.

At T1 and T2, we found a significant reduction in GLS (−21.1% IQR −21.9, −20.2% at T0 vs −18.8% IQR −9.5, −18.1% at T1 vs −18.0% IQR −19.8, −17.8% at T2; p value <0.01) and LAS-S (34.4% IQR 31.4–37.4% at T0 vs 28.5% IQR 26.2–30.8% at T1 vs 30.8% IQR 27.6–34% at T2; p<0.001), a significant increase of LASI (0.21%-1 IQR 0.10–0.20%-1 at T0 vs 0.28%-1 IQR 0.20–0.31%-1 at T1 vs 0.35%-1 IQR 0.23–0.41%-1 at T2, p<0.001).

In addiction patients were divided into 2 groups based on the presence at T2 and not at T1 (A group) or absence (B group) of a subclinical cardiac dysfunction (identified by a reduction in GLS ≥15% compared to baseline).

In A group (47% of population) LASI increased significantly already at T1 and remained significantly increased at T2 (0.21±0.07 at T0 vs 0.3±0.12 at T1, p value <0.0001; 0.33±0.16 at T2, p value <0.0001); LAS-S was significantly reduced at T1 and T2 (35±5 at T0 vs 30±8 at T1, p value 0.0005; 29±9 at T2, p value 0.0001).

In patients without subclinical cardiac dysfunction during follow-up (B group, 53% of population), a significant reduction in LAS-S was already evident at T1 and not only at T2 (p value <0.0001 at T1-T2); we found a significant increase in LASI at T1 and T2 (p value <0.0001).

Conclusion

LAS-S and LASI are able to identify subclinical cardiac dysfunction during chemotherapy, they appear to be even more precious markers of cardio-toxicity than GLS. Further study are needed to verify the prognostic implications of atrial strain impairment during chemotherapeutic treatment.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Children with hearing impairment and early cochlear implant: A pragmatic assessment

Extensive research has demonstrated the benefits of cochlear implants (CI) in contributing to improve the linguistic skills of children with hearing impairment; however, few studies have focused on the development of pragmatic ability and its relationship with age of implantation. Pragmatics is the ability to use language in different contexts and its development has crucial implications, e.g., social inclusion and professional attainments. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive assessment of pragmatic ability using the Language Pragmatic Abilities (APL Medea), a battery composed by five different tasks: Comprehension of Metaphors, Implicit meaning, Comics, Situations and Colors Game (a perspective taking task). Eighteen children with early CI, belonging to 3 different age groups (6; 11-7; 11, 8; 0-8; 11 and 9; 0-9; 11 years-old), and twenty-four children with typical development (Control Group) participated to the study. We also investigated how the precocity of CI, i.e., age of first implantation, may affect the pragmatic development. Globally, children with CI obtained lower scores in the APL Medea battery than typically hearing children. However, focusing on the Medea tasks separately, children with CIs differed from their hearing peers only in Comics and Colors Game tasks. Finally, age of implantation was a moderate but significant predictor of pragmatic performance.

Use of myocardial work for multiparametric detection of subclinical anthracycline cardiotoxicity in breast cancer patients

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

The aim of our study was to assess subclinical cardiac effects of anthracyclines (ANTs) in women treated for breast cancer (BC).

Methods

We enrolled 46 female patients with BC undergoing adjuvant treatment with anthracycline-containing chemotherapy (CT) followed by taxane (paclitaxel/docetaxel).  Patients underwent physical examination, electrocardiogram (ECG) and standard transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) including evaluation of diastolic and systolic function, measured as left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS) and myocardial work (MW) expressed as global work index (GWI), global constructive work (GCW), global work waste (GWW), and global work efficiency (GWE). The parameters were measured at baseline (T0) and at 3 months (T1) and 6 months (T2) follow up.

Results

All patients completed the chemotherapy cycles. No significant cardiovascular adverse events were observed during treatment. Neither 2D left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) nor E/e’ ratio evaluation at TDI were significantly changed after treatment. Conversely, GLS was significantly reduced at T1 and T2 since baseline  (GLS - 19,99 % IQR -20,6 -19,3 % at T0 vs -17,88 % IQR -18,8 -16,9 % at T1, p< 0,00 1 and -16,71 % IQR 17,6 -15,7 % at T2, p< 0,001). Consensually, a significant reduction in myocardial work was also measured (GWI 2115 mmHg% IQR 1888 – 2342 mmHg%  at T0 vs 1714 mmHg% IQR 1557 – 1870 mmHg% at T1, p< 0,0001 and 1694 mmHg% IQR 1482 – 1907 mmHg% at T2, p< 0,0001).

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates that evaluation of myocardial work allows very early detection of subclinical cardiac damage induced by chemotherapy, consensually to the reduction of the GLS. A multiparametric assessment of the myocardial function, including myocardial work and GLS, could improve the accuracy of risk stratification of cardiotoxicity in patients undergoing ANTs treatment.

Congenital cytomegalovirus infection and audiological follow-up: electrophysiological auditory threshold before 3 months of age as a predictor of hearing outcome at 3 years of age

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to evaluate whether electrophysiological auditory thresholds (EATs) before 3 month of age, as assessed by the auditory brainstem responses (ABR) test and the auditory steady state responses (ASSR) test, can predict hearing outcome at 3 years of age among children born with congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection.

STUDY DESIGN

Audiological assessment was performed before 3 months of age, and every 6 months thereafter until 3 years of age, in a population of 63 children (126 ears). EATs before 3 months of age and at 3 years of age were compared.

RESULT

No ear with an EAT of ≤30 dBHL (i.e. normal hearing) before 3 months of age showed worsening EATs at 3 years of age.

CONCLUSION

An EAT of ≤30 dBHL obtained by ABR and ASSR tests before 3 months of age is predictive of a normal hearing at 3 years of age in children born with cCMV.

P776 Stress ecocardiography and speckle tracking analysis in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction

BACKGROUND

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is characterized by heart failure symptoms despite preserved LV systolic function together with at least one among left ventricle hypertrophy/left atrial enlargement plus diastolic dysfunction (DD) and increased brain natriuretic peptide levels. Rest echocardiography could still be normal despite patients experience HF symptoms. Speckle tracking analysis (STE) analyzes myocardial deformation and is able to identify subtle left ventricular dysfunction.

PURPOSE

to analyze the added value of stress echocardiography to improve diagnostic accuracy in patients with normal ejection fraction and unexplained dyspnoea by evaluating DD, lung B lines and STE.

METHODS

Main inclusion criteria were: suspected heart failure, EF > 40%, DD up to moderate at rest (E/e"<14), age < 85 and >18 years, satisfactory acoustic window. Exclusion criteria were: comorbidities limiting the prognosis, valvulopathy more than moderate, coronary artery disease, moderate to severe DD at rest (E/e"≥14; E/A≥2), pregnancy or lactation. Each patient underwent physical stress echo and STE by GE Vivid 7, (AFI).

RESULTS

After measuring diastolic function parameters variation with stress, HFpEF was diagnosed in 8 patients, who had baseline non-diagnostic echocardiogram (Table 1). In the remaining 20 patients a non-cardiac etiology of dyspnoea was diagnosed (NCD). EF did not significantly change from rest to stress either in HFpEF group (58 ± 6 vs 61 ± 8.7 p:0.62) or in DNC group (59 ± 8 vs 62.2 ± 7.4; p:0.26). GLS values tended to decrease in patients with HFpEF (-18.5 ± 2.2 at baseline vs -15.96 ± 6.67 at peak stress; p:0.33), and it was stable in DNC (-17.69 ± 1.15 at baseline vs - 18.04 ± 2.02 at peak stress; p:0.64).

CONCLUSIONS

Study of diastolic function during stress echocardiography is a useful diagnostic tool to reveal HFpEF in patients with dyspnea and unremarkable baseline echocardiogram. STE could offer useful adjunctive diagnostic information but further studies are needed to confirm its value.

Table 1 HFpEF NCD p HFpEF NCD p GLS -18,5 ± 2,2 -17,6 ± 1,15 0,23 -15,96 ± 6,67 18,04 ± 2,02 0,26 E/A 0,8 ± 0,1 1 ± 0,7 0,55 1,67 ± 0,7 1,26 ± 0,6 0,07 E/e’ 10,1 ± 2,2 9,9 ± 3,7 0,4 16,4 ± 0,9 13,8 ± 5 0,16 PAP 25,6 ± 4,1 22,33 ± 0,55 0,57 49,8 ± 9,65 28,27 ± 4,35 0,001 LA 35,5 ± 8,5 23,44 ± 4,9 0,001 34,45 ± 4,88 27,32 ± 7,33 0,018 EF 58 ± 6 59 ± 8 0,6 61 ± 8,7 62,2 ± 7,4 0,7 Echocardiographic parameters at baseline and at peak stress in patients with HFpEF and with NCD

P858 Cardiovascular toxicity induced by immunotherapy and tyrosine kinase inhibitors

Background

in the recent years, survival of cancer patients increased enormously through the use of new anticancer drugs such as molecular target drugs (tyrosine kinase inhibitors- TKIs, immunotherapy). Immunotherapy includes anti-BRAF and anti-MEK drugs (although evidences are scarce, these drugs seem to be capable of causing cardiovascular toxicity too); TKIs includes inhibitors of VEGF, VEGFR and other kinases.

Purpose

to assess cardiovascular toxic effects of TKIs and immunotherapy, to identify early signs of cardiac and vascular toxicity using speckle tracking echocardiography and arterial stiffness measurement.

Methods

a prospective study was carried out evaluating 45 patients treated with immunotherapy or TKIs. Population was divided into 2 groups: Group A (17 patients with melanoma treated with anti- BRAF and anti-MEK) and Group B (28 patients with solid cancer treated with TKIs-anti VEGF). Cardiological evaluation including electrocardiogram, conventional echocardiogram with tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS) measurement and carotid ultrasound scan was carried out before starting therapy and at a follow-up time of 6 and 12 months. Cardiovascular events such as heart failure, arterial hypertension, arrhythmias, Qtc interval prolongation, stroke, arterial and venous thrombosis were assessed during follow-up.

Results

mean follow-up was 7 months for anti-BRAF and 13 months for TKI. Neither cardiovascular adverse events nor significant reductions in LVEF or other echocardiographic parameters during follow-up were observed in Group A: we did not observe significant changes in GLS (-18,4 [RI -19,9 a -15,8] vs. -18,3 [RI -18,9 a -16,1] or in vascular parameters (PWV 7,3 ± 1,4 vs. 6,7 ± 1,5, β mean wave 8,5 [RI 6,3-12] vs. 7,4 [RI 4,9-9,4]; α mean wave 6,8 [RI 3,1-6,2] vs. 9,6 [RI 2,4-4,6]). As regards Group B, new onset of arterial hypertension in 35% of population but no significant changes in LVEF or other echocardiographic parameters including GLS ( -18,6 ± 2,3 vs. -18,3 ± 3,3) were observed. Significant changes were furthermore found in vascular parameters with increased arterial stiffness during follow-up (PWV 7,82 ± 1,23 vs. 10,02 ± 2,73; p = 0,04, β mean wave 5,33 ± 1,98 vs. 8,43 ± 3,03; p = 0,02, α mean wave 10,79 ± 4,03 vs.16,82 ± 6,38; p = 0,03).

Conclusions

according to the literature data, immunotherapy seems to have a safe cardiovascular profile. Anti-VEGF drugs seem to predominantly cause vascular damage, early identifiable through arterial stiffness measurement.

1232 Acute myocarditis: prognostic role of speckle tracking echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance

Background

Myocarditis is an inflammatory disease of the myocardium predominantly caused by infection with subsequent immunological response. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is the currently best imaging modality to confirm a suspected diagnosis of myocarditis. Conventional echocardiography can detect regional or global wall motion abnormalities but it could also be negative. Speckle tracking echocardiography can help to identify subtle systolic dysfunction, in patients with myocardits and apparently negative echocardiogram.

Purpose

the aim of this study was to identify cardiac imaging parameters predictive of cardiovascular events in patients with acute myocarditis.

Methods

a prospective study was carried out using 76 patients with acute myocarditis. Cardiological evaluation including echocardiogram and CMR with quantitative analysis of edema and delayed enhancement (DE) was performed in all patients at the hospital admission.

In 43 patients we assessed multilayer 2D speckle tracking analysis measuring GLS at three levels (mid-wall layer, endocardial and epicardial) and mechanical dispersion (MD). We assessed cardiovascular events during hospitalization in all patients (arrhythmias, heart failure, cardiogenic shock, syncope).

Results

we found significant higher value of DE mass in patients with cardiovascular events compared to patients without cardiovascular events (20,23 ± 11,47gr vs 11,58 ± 9,54gr; p = 0,021). GLS and multilayer strain at each level was significantly lower in patients with events than in patients without events (GLS epicardial -16,29 ± 1,76% vs -14,54 ± 2,19%; p = 0,013; GLS mid-wall -18,22 ± 1,94% vs -16,27 ± 2,48%; p = 0,013; GLS endocardial -19,83 ± 1,91% vs -17,81 ± 2,65%; p = 0,011).

MD was significantly higher in patients with cardiovascular events (48.50 ± 15.79 ms vs 34.12 ± 6.22ms; p < 0,001). Logistic regression analysis showed that DE is a good predictor of events (ROCarea 0,81-OddsRatio 1,09). Also GLS seems to be predictive of events (GLS epicardial: ROC area 0,72-OddsRatio 1,57; GLS mid wall: ROC area 0,73-OddsRatio 1,52; GLS endocardial: ROC area 0,72-OddsRatio 1,48).

With segmental analysis, inferior and lateral walls seemed to be more predictive of events. Segment 9 had a good predictability in all layers (epicardial: ROCarea 0,8-OddsRatio 1,69; mid wall: ROCarea 0,83- OddsRatio 1,77; endocardial: ROC area 0,82-OddsRatio 1,69).

MD was a slight predictor of events with ROC area < 0,7.

Conclusions

Speckle tracking echocardiography could be used in addiction to cardiac magnetic resonance to get more information about prognosis and events risk stratification in patients with acute myocarditis.

P1462 Additive value of global longitudinal strain measurement in patients with known or suspected ischaemic heart disease undergoing stress echo

BACKGROUND

Speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) can be applied in a large variety of clinical conditions.

Global longitudinal strain (GLS) shows high diagnostic accuracy for the detection of myocardial

ischemia as it reflects changes in subendocardial fibers deformation that are more exposed to

ischemic damage, even before alterations in segmental kinetics are revealed.

PURPOSE

Aim of our study was to assess whether the measurement of global longitudinal strain during

stress-echo can provide additional information compared to the assessment of conventional

parameters such as left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and wall motion abnormalities. We

also evaluated the added value of strain in patients with complete (CRP) and incomplete

revascularization (IRP).

METHODS

We enrolled 69 patients, 39 with known (IHD) and 30 with suspected ischaemic heart disease

(SIHD) with indication to perform a stress echocardiogram. Inclusion criteria were: known or

suspected CAD, age <85 and >18, adeguate acoustic window. Cardiological evaluation and stress

echo were performed in all patients. Primary end point was evaluating whether in patients with

negative stress test the presence of reduced GLS identifies patients with an adverse prognosis at

follow up and to assess if in IRP and negative stress test there is evidence of left subclinical ventricular

dysfunction identifiable by GLS analysis compared to CRP.

RESULTS

LVEF was significantly reduced in IHD patients compared to SIHD patients (54 ± 7vs 60 ± 4 at rest;

55 ± 8vs62 ± 3 at peak; p < 0.0001). We also observed a significant reduction of GLS in IHD patients

compared to SIHD patients (-16.7 ± 4,3vs-19 ± 2.2 - p = 0.07 at rest, -18 ± 4.6vs22 ± 3.4-p = 0.004 at

peak). In CRP patients GLS did not change significantly with a tendency to improve (-17.6 ± 4 at rest

vs -19 ± 4.5 at peak - p = 0.4). Instead in IRP patients, significant reduction of GLS was observed at

peak (17.5 ± 0.7 at rest vs 14.2 ± 0.3 at peak, p value 0,03). LVEF did not significantly differ in CRP

(54 ± 5 at baseline vs 55 ± 7 at peak, p = 0.5) and IRP (52 ± 9 at baseline vs. 52 ± 9 at peak, p =

0.9) .

CONCLUSIONS

Our study shows that strain analysis during stress echocardiography can provide additional information in identifying a subclinical reduction of myocardial function at baseline and

a reduction in contractile reserve under stress, secondary to coronary flow reduction. Being GLS a

powerful prognostic marker probably patients with negative stress test and incomplete

revascularization, reduced baseline GLS and reduction of GLS at peak exercise represent a population at higher risk of coronary artery disease progression and development of left ventricular dysfunction who need a closer follow up. To verify our hypothesis we plan to increase our sample size and to

prospectively follow up our patients.

Chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity: role of the conventional echocardiography and the tissue Doppler

AIM

The cardiotoxicity of anticancer drugs is an emerging problem and only an identification of the early signs of cardiotoxicity by conventional echocardiography and not (tissue Doppler imaging, TDI), will limit and contain the long-term cardiotoxicity effects. The aim of this study was to identify, through conventional echocardiography and TDI, parameters to use as early "signs" of cardiotoxicity.

METHODS

A prospective study was performed using patients with breast cancer (72 women, median age 57 ± 12) treated with anticancer drugs (adjuvant chemotherapy). All patients underwent a careful cardiological evaluation before starting treatment (T0) and during follow-up at 3 months (T1), 6 months (T2) and 1 year (T3). Electrocardiography and echocardiography were performed in all patients in these times. Echocardiography evaluation considered the following parameters: systolic and diastolic diameters and volumes, LVEF, MAPSE, TAPSE, E/A TDI (Em, Am, Sm, IVCT, IVRT, ET, TEI index). On the basis of chemotherapy treatment, patients were divided into 5 groups: A=FEC (fluorouracil, epirubicin, cyclophosphamide), B=FEC+trastuzumab, C=trastuzumab, D=FEC+taxotere, E=FEC+taxolo+trastuzumab.

RESULTS

A significant reduction in the echo parameters of TDI was observed. TDI appears to offer important advantages over traditional techniques in revealing the presence of early signs of cardiotoxicity.

CONCLUSION

The TDI should be utilized to complement conventional echocardiography in the assessment of cardiotoxicity.

Dysmorphism of the middle ear: case report

Although there are numerous publications in the literature describing the wide range of diagnosis, classifications and treatment of malformations of the hearing apparatus, even more variations can be found in clinical practice. Indeed, each individual case is unique as far as concerns pathogenesis, clinical course and treatment. The case reported herein describes a 12-year-old boy affected by cranio-facial dysmorphism and monolateral conductive hearing loss in the right ear: followed from radiological diagnosis--carried out to study a malformation of the ear pinna--to surgical treatment.

Nasal cheek flap in ethmoidal and skull base tumour surgery: results and complications

Surgery is the treatment of choice for the management of malignant nasal/ethmoidal tumours, followed, in most cases, by external radiotherapy. Two main procedures are adopted to resect these tumours depending upon stage and extension: ethmoidectomy and medial maxillectomy, via a transfacial approach, or craniofacial resection with a combined transcranial and transfacial approach. The nasal cheek flap technique allows complete nasal swing thus obtaining a wide access to both the nasal fossae and the ethmoidal labyrinth. Furthermore, this approach can also be used in the management of small intracranial tumours extended through the skull base to the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, upper and middle clivus. We have used the nasal cheek flap since 1992 with good aesthetic and functional results. Aim of the present study was to analyse personal experience, focusing on complications, aesthetic results and self-evaluation expressed by the patients.

Oropharyngeal carcinoma during pregnancy: clinical and psycho-oncological aspects

Cancer is uncommon in pregnancy, occurring in approximately one out of 1000 pregnancies, although it has been noted that one out of 118 women diagnosed with cancer is pregnant at the time of diagnosis. In the last 10 years, two oropharyngeal carcinomas, (1 squamous cell carcinoma and 1 adenoid cystic carcinoma) which developed during pregnancy, have been diagnosed and treated in our Department. No cases of oropharyngeal cancer, during pregnancy, have so far been reported in the literature with the exception of one case of oral cancer. This report focuses not only on the clinical history but also the management of oropharyngeal carcinoma during pregnancy, in terms of choice and timing of treatment. A scrupulous psycho-oncological analysis was also carried out in order to throw further light on psychological repercussions of head and neck cancer in the pregnant woman.

[Endoscopic follow-up of translaryngeal Fantoni tracheostomy]

Dilatational tracheotomy techniques are widely used in the long-term management of the respiratory tract in patients in intensive care units (ICU). The translaryngeal tracheotomy technique (TLT) was first described by Fantoni in 1993 and rapidly asserted itself, especially in Europe. This technique basically differs from the other percutaneous techniques in that it involves a progressive, retrograde, dilatation of the trachea in a single session conducted from inside the trachea, working outward, simultaneously exerting a counter-pressure on the pre-tracheal soft tissues with the fingers. The present study involves an endoscopy follow-up of 130 patients who had undergone TLT at the Intensive Care Unit of our Hospital between November 2000 and May 2001. The pre-operative oro-tracheal intubation time varied from 1 to 42 days. All patients filled out a brief questionnaire containing validated questions on their general health and quality of life with particular attention focused on respiratory conditions. Then, after receiving informed consent, the patients underwent laryngo-tracheoscopy with local anesthetic using a flexible tracheobronchoscope. All tests were recorded and viewed later by two operators in order to identify and divide the patients according to the level of execution of the tracheotomy and the presence of sequelae. The results obtained have shown that, like other percutaneous tracheotomy techniques, TLT provides some benefits including the fact that procedure can be performed at the bedside in a short time, with few post-operative complications, simpler nursing and fewer sequelae in time. Analysis of data concerning time of tracheostomy execution, tracheal level of stomia and nursing times has revealed three factors that determine severe sequelae: delay in tracheostomy execution, high level of execution with cricoid involvement and onset of problems during first tracheal cannula change.

Is pressure dressing necessary after ear surgery?

Compressive bandages carry intrinsic risks and complications. The purpose of this study was to assess whether compressive head bandages are necessary after ear surgery to prevent complications such as hematoma or wound infection. A prospective, randomized, controlled study was conducted from August 1, 1993, to June 1, 1999. We randomly assigned 420 consecutive middle ear or mastoid operations to either a pressure bandage group or to a no-pressure bandage group. A careful follow-up was planned, and complications were recorded. In the pressure bandage group, 3 patients had bruising over the pinna and 70 patients had minor skin erythema when the dressing was removed. No patient had bruising or erythema in the no-pressure bandage group. No patient had hematoma, wound infection, or any other wound complication in either group. As a result of this study, we have decided to abandon the use of compression bandages after uncomplicated ear surgery.

[Reconstructive strategies in head and neck cancer: case history review from 1992 to 1997 (154 cases)]

Technological progress in reconstructive surgery, in particular the use of pedunculated or free flaps, has given new impetus to head and neck dissection. This stems from the fact that such techniques provide greater oncological radicality, reduce the number of severe post-operative complications and give better quality of life. The present study examines 154 patients suffering from upper aero-digestive tract neoplasms (131 males and 23 females; age range 23-82 years) who had undergone radical surgery. Reconstruction was performed with flaps in 154 cases: 119 pedunculated flaps (102 large myocutaneous pectoral and 17 temporal muscle flaps) and 35 free flaps (18 radial osteofasciocutaneous, 13 radial fasciocutaneous and 4 omentum flaps). Analysis of the individual districts showed that the flap of choice was the temporal muscle flap when surgery involved the soft parts of the orbital-maxilly-zigomatic area and the rhinopharynx. This is because it is highly moldable and reliable. In surgery of the oral cavity and oropharynx the grand pectoral flap is most frequently used as it provides enough tissue for the reconstruction, adequately protects the vascular-nerve axis in the neck and it is quick and easy. However, the functional results are not the best and there is some alteration in the initial phases of deglutition. To reduce these problems, the authors encourage the use of free flaps which provide good results from both the functional and esthetic points of view. They are, however, more difficult to perform and this leads the authors to conclude that they should only be selected for certain patients (long life expectancy, female, young, etc.). In the center where the authors work the flap of choice is the radial fasciocutaneous or osteofasciocutaneous flap. In surgery of the hypopharynx and larynx reconstruction is normally performed with a grand pectoral myocutaneous flap, sculpted as needed for the individual case. In this region, reconstruction proves functionally satisfactory even when there is a minimum of residual mucosa. Finally, for reconstructive surgery of the apex, the omentum free flap was used as it is malleable and can be used to reconstruct broad areas of dissection. The esthetic and functional results, the low incidence of complications and the greater quality of life suggest that this type of flap be extended to the surgery of locally advanced tumors in combination with an accurate, valid reconstructive solution.