Present criteria for prophylactic ICD implantation: Insights from the EU-CERT-ICD (Comparative Effectiveness Research to Assess the Use of Primary ProphylacTic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators in EUrope) project

BACKGROUND

The clinical effectiveness of primary prevention implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy is under debate. It is urgently needed to better identify patients who benefit from prophylactic ICD therapy. The EUropean Comparative Effectiveness Research to Assess the Use of Primary ProphylacTic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (EU-CERT-ICD) completed in 2019 will assess this issue.

SUMMARY

The EU-CERT-ICD is a prospective investigator-initiated non-randomized, controlled, multicenter observational cohort study done in 44 centers across 15 European countries. A total of 2327 patients with heart failure due to ischemic heart disease or dilated cardiomyopathy indicated for primary prophylactic ICD implantation were recruited between 2014 and 2018 (>1500 patients at first ICD implantation, >750 patients non-randomized non-ICD control group). The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality, and first appropriate shock was co-primary endpoint. At baseline, all patients underwent 12‑lead ECG and Holter-ECG analysis using multiple advanced methods for risk stratification as well as documentation of clinical characteristics and laboratory values. The EU-CERT-ICD data will provide much needed information on the survival benefit of preventive ICD therapy and expand on previous prospective risk stratification studies which showed very good applicability of clinical parameters and advanced risk stratifiers in order to define patient subgroups with above or below average ICD benefit.

CONCLUSION

The EU-CERT-ICD study will provide new and current data about effectiveness of primary prophylactic ICD implantation. The study also aims for improved risk stratification and patient selection using clinical risk markers in general, and advanced ECG risk markers in particular.

Rationale and design of the EU-CERT-ICD prospective study: comparative effectiveness of prophylactic ICD implantation

Aims

The clinical effectiveness of primary prevention implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy is under debate. The EUropean Comparative Effectiveness Research to Assess the Use of Primary ProphylacTic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (EU‐CERT‐ICD) aims to assess its current clinical value.

Methods and results

The EU‐CERT‐ICD is a prospective investigator‐initiated non‐randomized, controlled, multicentre observational cohort study performed in 44 centres across 15 European Union countries. We will recruit 2250 patients with ischaemic or dilated cardiomyopathy and a guideline indication for primary prophylactic ICD implantation. This sample will include 1500 patients at their first ICD implantation and 750 patients who did not receive a primary prevention ICD despite having an indication for it (non‐randomized control group). The primary endpoint is all‐cause mortality; the co‐primary endpoint in ICD patients is time to first appropriate shock. Secondary endpoints include sudden cardiac death, first inappropriate shock, any ICD shock, arrhythmogenic syncope, revision procedures, quality of life, and cost‐effectiveness. At baseline (and prior to ICD implantation if applicable), all patients undergo 12‐lead electrocardiogram (ECG) and Holter ECG analysis using multiple advanced methods for risk stratification as well as detailed documentation of clinical characteristics and laboratory values. Genetic biobanking is also organized. As of August 2018, baseline data of 2265 patients are complete. All subjects will be followed for up to 4.5 years.

Conclusions

The EU‐CERT‐ICD study will provide a necessary update about clinical effectiveness of primary prophylactic ICD implantation. This study also aims for improved risk stratification and patient selection using clinical and ECG risk markers.

Who needs a permanent pacemaker after transcatheter aortic valve implantation?

INTRODUCTION

We aimed to identify predictive factors for pacemaker requirement and determine the rate of pacemaker dependency in a single centre patient group.

METHODS AND REULTS

Out of 116 patients, who underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation at our institution. Absence of atrial fibrillation at time of procedure, pulmonary hypertension, obesity and severity of aortic valve stenosis were predictive for the need of permanent pacemaker implantation after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

CONCLUSION

Only persisting periprocedural and early-onset complete heart block were permanent and resulted in patients' pacemaker dependency. Definite predictors of persistence of conduction impairment are yet to be identified. We can predict only pacemaker dependency, but the real need of pacing in our risky patients with softer indications for permanent pacemaker after transcatheter aortic valve implantation cannot be clearly identified, essential in context of improving quality of their lives in avoiding symptomatic bradycardia, which can be intermittent, especially in such a group of elderly patients often with fragile and degenerate conduction system (Tab. 5, Ref. 34).

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and microvascular angina pectoris in 500 consecutive patients referred to coronarography

OBJECTIVE

This work was aimed to evaluate the prevalence of insulin resistance (IR) and metabolic syndrome in a large cohort of 40-60 years old patients with cardiovascular symptoms.

METHODS

A total of 500 consecutive males and females referred to coronarography and coronary catheterization, because of spontaneous or after load precordial pain plus denivelisation of ST segment by electrocardiography, were included. Besides standard clinical examinations, ergometry, echocardiography, fundamental laboratory tests, and several other laboratory examinations were also performed, including oral glucose toleration test (OGTT), total and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, apoprotein A1 and B, apolipoprotein (a), uric acid, fibrinogen, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), cytokines (tumor necrosis factor α, TNFα, interleukin-1, IL-1, interleukin-6, IL-6), endothelin-1, as well as hormones (insulin, C peptide, leptin, growth hormone, cortisol).

RESULTS

In 81.6% of patients, IR syndrome with compensatory hyperinsulinemia was found in a positive correlation with various symptoms of metabolic syndrome, including abdominal obesity, increased body mass index (BMI), dysglycemia, dyslipoproteinemia, coronary stenosis, decreased HDL level, and hypertension. Hirsutism with polycystic ovarian syndrome was found in 52% of examined women with IR. However, a normal coronary angiogram, called as a microvascular form of the angina pectoris (MIV-AP), was found in 14% of predominantly periclimacteric and benign hirsutic females with long-term disorders of menstrual cycle. Since these patients showed the same symptoms as their gender, age, BMI, and degree of coronary stenoses adjusted pairs with the macrovascular form (such as the same levels of several lipids, hormones and obesity measures), our data strongly support the view that MIV-AP might belong to the IR syndrome.

CONCLUSIONS

Hyperinsulinemia and high prevalence of various symptoms of metabolic syndrome (MS) were found in high percentage of patients with after load precordial pain who were referred to coronarography. Similarly, in several women, MIV-AP was detected and its affiliation to MS suggested.

Case report of out-of-hospital heat dissipation of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator

The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) has revolutionized the treatment of patients at risk of sudden cardiac death due to ventricular arrhythmias. Repeated studies have shown them to increase overall survival rates in patients with congestive heart failure or previous myocardial infarction and left ventricular dysfunction. We present a rare case of out-of-hospital ICD heat dissipation due to rapid battery discharge preceded by an audible popping noise.

[Management of ventricular tachycardia after acute myocardial infarct]

BACKGROUND

Risk stratification of malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmias and sudden cardiac death after myocardial infarction is essentially important for high risk patients identification, who require specific therapeutic procedures. Non-invasive risk markers--LVEF, late potentials LP, Q-T dispersion, decreased heart rate variability (HRV) and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS)--and ventricular tachycardia inducibility have low positive predictive value. The appropriate combination and consecutiveness which will provide most precise identification of patients threatened by sudden arrhythmic death, applicable to all patients after myocardial infarction, is being analysed.

METHODS

In a group of 87 patients after myocardial infarction suffering from ventricular tachycardia retrospective assessment of sudden cardiac death risk markers incidence was performed.

RESULTS

1. The most frequent risk marker was LVEF 0.40 (48.3%), abnormal LP (84.9%), DQT 80 ms and decreased HRV (73.1%) and their combinations. 2. Patients with inducible ventricular tachycardia (62.1%) had lower LVEF in comparison with non-inducible ventricular tachycardia patients (0.42 +/- 0.11 vs 0.51 +/- 0.01, p = 0.002), higher QT dispersion (85.0 +/- 30.5 ms versus 63.6 +/- 30.7 ms, p = 0.003). 3. In patients with recurrent malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmias and sudden cardiac death occurring during the follow-up is sustained inducible ventricular tachycardia with antiarrhythmic therapy and induction of ventricular tachycardia during native state significantly more frequent. LVEF is significantly reduced, FQRS on SAECG is significantly prolonged, DQT is significantly higher.

CONCLUSION

On the basis of the results and data from literature the authors recommend LVEF assessment in all patients after myocardial infarction and further stratification in patients with left ventricular dysfunction.

[Corneal endothelium after radical keratotomy]

Corneal endothelium was examined in 37 patients with a contact endothelial specular microscope before and after radial keratotomy. The mean percent of cell loss was 0.9% one month and 2.5% six months after surgery.

[Use of transconjunctival cryoapplication in chronic pars planitis with involvement of peripheral retina and choroid]

The transconjunctival cryoapplication was performed in 8 patients (13 eyes) with the recurrent pars planitis and the simultaneous involvement of peripheral retina and choroid. Before the surgery, the peripheral fundus of the eye was examined with the Goldmann three-mirror lens and afterwards, the cryoapplication of lesions was performed. The topical treatment, dexamethasone and indomethacin drops, followed the surgery only. In all cases the inflammation disappeared but the macular edema and vitreal exudation regressed slowly. The considerable improvement of visual acuity was achieved in 8 eyes (61%). So far, the results of the observations are satisfactory and they entitle the authors to carry on the application of the treatment mentioned above.

[Critical evaluation of the treatment of diabetic retinopathy based on personal experience]

The authors present the results of analysis of the treatment of 184 patients (360 eyes) with diabetic retinopathy; it comprises as well the out-patients as the in-patients divided into 4 groups in dependence on the changes and the treatment applied (laser focused photocoagulation, panretinal photocoagulation, cryopexy) the majority of patients reported to the hospital with an advanced proliferative diabetic retinopathy and this allowed only the performance of a panretinal photocoagulation and in a part of cases only cryopexy. The attention is called to the necessity of an early detection of pathological changes and of an early treatment.