Browsing by Author "Soares, R"
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- Antiarrhythmic Effect of Sacubitril-Valsartan: Cause or Consequence of Clinical Improvement?Publication . Valentim Gonçalves, A; Pereira-da-Silva, T; Galrinho, A; Rio, P; Branco, LM; Soares, R; Feliciano, J; Ilhão Moreira, R; Cruz Ferreira, RSacubitril/Valsartan (LCZ696) reduced sudden cardiac death in the PARADIGM-HF trial. However, the mechanism by which LCZ696 reduces ventricular arrhythmias remains unclear. The aim of this study was to compare electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters and mechanical dispersion index, assessed by left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS), before and after LCZ696 therapy. We prospectively evaluated chronic Heart Failure (HF) patients with LV ejection fraction ≤40%, despite optimal medical and device therapy, in which LCZ696 therapy was started, while no additional HF treatment was expected to change. ECG and transthoracic echocardiographic data were gathered in the week before starting LCZ696 and at six months of therapy. A semiautomated analysis of LV GLS was performed and mechanical dispersion index was defined as the standard deviation from 16 time intervals corresponding to each LV segment. Of the 42 patients, 35 completed the six month follow-up, since two patients died and five discontinued treatment for adverse events. QTc interval (451.9 vs. 426.0 ms, p < 0.001), QRS duration (125.1 vs. 120.8 ms, p = 0.033) and mechanical dispersion index (88.4 vs. 78.1 ms, p = 0.036) were significantly reduced at six months. LCZ696 therapy is associated with a reduction in QTc interval, QRS duration and mechanical dispersion index as assessed by LV GLS.
- Does Permanent Atrial Fibrillation Modify Response to Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in Heart Failure Patients?Publication . Abreu, A; Oliveira, MM; Cunha, PS; Santa Clara, H; Portugal, G; Rodrigues, I; Santos, V; Almeida-Morais, L; Selas, M; Soares, R; Branco, LM; Cruz Ferreira, R; Mota Carmo, MINTRODUCTION: The benefits of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) documented in heart failure (HF) may be influenced by atrial fibrillation (AF). We aimed to compare CRT response in patients in AF and in sinus rhythm (SR). METHODS: We prospectively studied 101 HF patients treated by CRT. Rates of clinical, echocardiographic and functional response, baseline NYHA class and variation, left ventricular ejection fraction, volumes and mass, atrial volumes, cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) duration (CPET dur), peak oxygen consumption (VO2max) and ventilatory efficiency (VE/VCO2 slope) were compared between AF and SR patients, before and at three and six months after implantation of a CRT device. RESULTS: All patients achieved ≥95% biventricular pacing, and 5.7% underwent atrioventricular junction ablation. Patients were divided into AF (n=35) and SR (n=66) groups; AF patients were older, with larger atrial volumes and lower CPET dur and VO2max before CRT. The percentages of clinical and echocardiographic responders were similar in the two groups, but there were more functional responders in the AF group (71% vs. 39% in SR patients; p=0.012). In SR patients, left atrial volume and left ventricular mass were significantly reduced (p=0.015 and p=0.021, respectively), whereas in AF patients, CPET dur (p=0.003) and VO2max (p=0.001; 0.083 age-adjusted) showed larger increases. CONCLUSION: Clinical and echocardiographic response rates were similar in SR and AF patients, with a better functional response in AF. Improvement in left ventricular function and volumes occurred in both groups, but left ventricular mass reduction and left atrial reverse remodeling were seen exclusively in SR patients
- Fluido Torácico Total. Um Possível Determinante da Eficácia Ventilatória em Doentes com Insuficiência CardíacaPublication . Valente, B; Feliciano, J; Soares, R; Toste, A; Ferreira, F; Hamad, H; Santos, N; Silva, S; Abreu, A; Cruz Ferreira, RA eficácia ventilatória, avaliada por prova de esforço cardiorrespiratória (PECR), tem um importante valor prognóstico em doentes (dts) com insuficiência cardíaca crónica (ICC) por disfunção sistólica ventricular esquerda (DSVE). Os seus determinantes mantêm-se, contudo, controversos. Objectivo: Investigar a eventual correlação entre parâmetros de eficácia ventilatória, obtidos por PECR, e o valor do fluido torácico total (FTT), avaliado por bioimpedância eléctrica torácica (BET), em dts com ICC por DSVE. Métodos: Estudámos 120 dts com ICC por DSVE, referenciados ao nosso laboratório para PECR — 76% do sexo masculino, idade 52,1 ± 12,1 anos, 37% de etiologia isquémica, fracção de ejecção ventricular esquerda 27,6 ± 7,9%, 83% em ritmo sinusal, 96% sob iECA e/ou ARAII, 79% sob beta-bloqueante e 20% tratados com dispositivo de ressincronização cardíaca. Os dts efectuaram PECR, em tapete rolante, protocolo de Bruce modificado,sendo considerados para análise, como parâmetro de capacidade funcional, o consumo de oxigénio de pico (VO2p) e, como parâmetros de eficácia ventilatória, o declive (d) da relação entre ventilação minuto(VE) e produção de CO2 (VCO2) e o valor do VE/VCO2 no limiar anaeróbico (LANA). Os estudos por BET, média de 20 minutos de aquisição, foram efectuados após 15 minutos de repouso, em posição supina, imediatamente antes das PECR, sendo analisado o valor do FTT. Resultados: O valor do FTT variou entre 20,6 e 45,8 kOhm−1, média = 32,2, DP = 5,7, mediana = 32,7, o de VO2p entre 8,9 e 40,6 ml/kg/min, média = 21,0, DP = 6,2, mediana = 20,2, o do dVE/VCO2 entre 19,8 e 60,7, média = 30,7, DP = 7,9, mediana = 29,1 e o do VE/VCO2 no LANA entre 21 e 62,média = 33,1, DP = 7,5, mediana = 31,5. Por regressão linear, o FTT não se correlacionou com o VO2p — r = 0,05, p = 0,58 — mas apresentou correlação com os parâmetros de eficácia ventilatória analisados: r = 0,20, p = 0,032, r² = 0,04 com dVE/VCO2 e r = 0,25, p = 0,009, r² = 0.06 com VE/VCO2 no LANA. Conclusão: O FTT correlaciona-se com os parâmetros de eficácia ventilatória, avaliados por PECR, em dts com ICC por DSVE, o que indica que poderá ser um dos seus determinantes.
- Incidência de Arritmias Ventriculares em Doentes com Disfunção Sistólica Ventricular Esquerda Grave: Existe Benefício Após Terapêutica de Ressincronização CardíacaPublication . Timóteo, AT; Oliveira, MM; Nogueira da Silva, M; Toste, A; Ramos, R; Feliciano, J; Silva Cunha, P; Soares, R; Santos, S; Cruz Ferreira, RIntrodução: A terapêutica de ressincronização cardíaca (TRC) tem benefícios significativos em doentes seleccionados. O impacto desta modalidade na incidência de taquidisritmias ventriculares permanece controverso. Analisámos a ocorrência de terapêuticas apropriadas em doentes submetidos a TRC combinada com cardioversor-desfibrilhador (CDI). Métodos: Estudo de 123 doentes com fracção de ejecção ventricular esquerda (FEVE) < 35%, submetidos a implantação com sucesso de TRC-CDI ou CDI isoladamente (prevenção primária). Resultados: Idade média foi 63±12 anos, FEVE de 25±6%, seguimento mediano de 372 dias. Implantou-se TRC-CDI em 63 doentes (grupo A) e CDI isoladamente em 60 doentes (grupo B). No grupo A tivemos 86% de respondedores clínicos, menor prevalência de miocardiopatia isquémica(30% versus 72%), e mais doentes em classe III da NYHA antes da implantação do dispositivo(90% versus 7%) comparativamente com o grupo com CDI isoladamente. Não se identificaram diferenças relativamente à incidência de terapêuticas apropriadas (19% versus 12%) ou no tempo para a primeira terapêutica (305 dias versus 293 dias). A mortalidade total foi de 11% no grupo A e de 12% no grupo B. As curvas de Kaplan-Meier para eventos arrítmicos em doentes com TRC, não mostraram diferenças significativas (HR 3,02, IC 95% 0,82-11,09, p = NS) comparativamente com doentes sem TRC. Conclusões: Em doentes submetidos a TRC-CDI por prevenção primária, apesar da elevada taxa de respondedores, a incidência de terapêuticas apropriadas não foi diferente do obtido em doentes com CDI isoladamente.
- Miopatia Miotubular Ligada ao Cromossoma X - Caso ClínicoPublication . Emilio, A; Soares, R; Cristovão, C; Vieira, JP; Tomé, T; Estrada, J; Barata, D; Costa, TIntrodução:A miopatia miotubular ligada ao cromossoma X e uma miopatia congénita grave neonatal que afecta o sexo masculino, com prognóstico reservado. Relato de Caso: Lactente com hipotonia generalizada grave detectada após o nascimento, atrofia muscular generalizada e abolição dos reflexos osteotendinosos, cujo estudo etiológico específico (biópsia muscular e estudo de genética molecular) revelo tratar-se de miopatia miotubular ligada ao cromossoma X. Internado em Unidade de Cuidados Intensivos até aos oito meses, foi submetido a traqueostomia e gastrotomia, tendo alta para domicílio. Faleceu aos dez meses, subitamente, de causa indeterminada. Discussão: Este caso mostra que, apesar da terapêutica actual ser apenas paliativa, a importância do conhecimento do mecanismo genético é enorme, abrindo novos horizontes para uma terapia génica no futuro.
- Modulating Effect of Cardiac Rehabilitation on Autonomic Nervous System Function in Patients with Coronary Artery DiseasePublication . Rio, P; Pereira-da-Silva, T; Abreu, A; Filipe, C; Soares, R; Portugal, G; Alves, T; Silva, S; Mimoso, I; Cruz Ferreira, R
- Predictors of Response to Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy: A Prospective Cohort StudyPublication . Abreu, A; Oliveira, MM; Cunha, PS; Santa Clara, H; Santos, V; Portugal, G; Rio, P; Soares, R; Branco, LM; Alves, M; Papoila, AL; Cruz Ferreira, R; Mota Carmo, MINTRODUCTION: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has modified the prognosis of chronic heart failure (HF) with left ventricular systolic dysfunction. However, 30% of patients do not have a favorable response. The big question is how to determine predictors of response. AIMS: To identify baseline characteristics that might influence echocardiographic response to CRT. METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed a prospective single-center hospital-based cohort study of consecutive HF patients selected to CRT (NYHA class II-IV, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <35% and QRS complex ≥120 ms). Responders were defined as those with a ≥5% absolute increase in LVEF at six months. Clinical, electrocardiographic, laboratory, echocardiographic, autonomic, endothelial and cardiopulmonary function parameters were assessed before CRT device implantation. Logistic regression models were used. Seventy-nine patients were included, 54 male (68.4%), age 68.1 years (standard deviation 10.2), 19 with ischemic etiology (24%). At six months, 51 patients (64.6%) were considered responders. Although by univariate analysis baseline tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and serum creatinine were significantly different in responders, on multivariate analysis only TAPSE was independently associated with response, with higher values predicting a positive response to CRT (OR=1.13; 95% CI: 1.02-1.26; p=0.020). TAPSE ≥15 mm was strongly associated with response, and TAPSE <15 mm with non-response (p=0.005). Responders had no TAPSE values below 10 mm. CONCLUSION: From a range of clinical and technical baseline characteristics, multivariate analysis only identified TAPSE as an independent predictor of CRT response, with TAPSE <15 mm associated with non-response. This study highlights the importance of right ventricular dysfunction in CRT response.
- Prognostic Power of Anaerobic Threshold Parameters in Patients with Transposition of the Great Arteries and Systemic Right VentriclePublication . Valentim Gonçalves, A; Mano, T; Agapito, A; Aguiar Rosa, S; Sousa, L; Rio, P; Oliveira, JA; Monteiro, A; Pereira-da-Silva, T; Ilhão Moreira, R; Soares, R; Pinto, MF; Cruz Ferreira, RINTRODUCTION: Both transposition of the great arteries (TGA) previously submitted to a Senning/Mustard procedure and congenitally corrected TGA (cc-TGA) have the systemic circulation supported by the morphological right ventricle, thereby rendering these patients to heart failure events risk. The aim of this study was to evaluate cardiopulmonary exercise test parameters for stratifying the risk of heart failure events in TGA patients. METHODS: Retrospective evaluation of adult TGA patients with systemic circulation supported by the morphological right ventricle submitted to cardiopulmonary exercise test in a tertiary centre. Patients were followed up for at least 1 year for the primary endpoint of cardiac death or heart failure hospitalisation. Several cardiopulmonary exercise test parameters were analysed as potential predictors of the combined endpoint and their predictive power were compared (area under the curve). RESULTS: Cardiopulmonary exercise test was performed in 44 TGA patients (8 cc-TGA), with a mean age of 35.1 ± 8.4 years. The primary endpoint was reached by 10 (22.7%) patients, with a mean follow-up of 36.7 ± 26.8 months. Heart rate at anaerobic threshold had the highest area under the curve value (0.864), followed by peak oxygen consumption (pVO2) (0.838). Heart rate at anaerobic threshold ≤95 bpm and pVO2 ≤20 ml/kg/min had a sensitivity of 87.5 and 80.0% and a specificity of 82.4 and 76.5%, respectively, for the primary outcome. CONCLUSION: Heart rate at anaerobic threshold ≤95 bpm had the highest predictive power of all cardiopulmonary exercise test parameters analysed for heart failure events in TGA patients with systemic circulation supported by the morphological right ventricle.
- Prognostic Prediction of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test Parameters in Heart Failure Patients with Atrial FibrillationPublication . Valentim Gonçalves, A; Pereira-da-Silva, T; Soares, R; Feliciano, J; Ilhão Moreira, R; Rio, P; Abreu, A; Cruz Ferreira, RBackground: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with increased mortality in heart failure (HF) patients. Objective: To evaluate whether the risk of AF patients can be precisely stratified by relation with cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) cut-offs for heart transplantation (HT) selection. Methods: Prospective evaluation of 274 consecutive HF patients with left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 40%. The primary endpoint was a composite of cardiac death or urgent HT in 1-year follow-up. The primary endpoint was analysed by several CPET parameters for the highest area under the curve and for positive (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) in AF and sinus rhythm (SR) patients to detect if the current cut-offs for HT selection can precisely stratify the AF group. Statistical differences with a p-value <0.05 were considered significant. Results: There were 51 patients in the AF group and 223 in the SR group. The primary outcome was higher in the AF group (17.6% vs 8.1%, p = 0.038). The cut-off value of pVO2 for HT selection showed a PPV of 100% and an NPV of 95.5% for the primary outcome in the AF group, with a PPV of 38.5% and an NPV of 94.3% in the SR group. The cut-off value of VE/VCO2 slope showed lower values of PPV (33.3%) and similar NPV (92.3%) to pVO2 results in the AF group. Conclusion: Despite the fact that AF carries a worse prognosis for HF patients, the current cut-off of pVO2 for HT selection can precisely stratify this high-risk group.
- Prognostic Value of a New Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing Parameter in Chronic Heart Failure: Oxygen Uptake Efficiency at Peak Exercise - Comparison with Oxygen Uptake Efficiency SlopePublication . Toste, A; Soares, R; Feliciano, J; Andreozzi, V; Silva, S; Abreu, A; Ramos, R; Santos, N; Ferreira, ML; Cruz Ferreira, RINTRODUCTION: A growing body of evidence shows the prognostic value of oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES), a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) parameter derived from the logarithmic relationship between O(2) consumption (VO(2)) and minute ventilation (VE) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prognostic value of a new CPET parameter - peak oxygen uptake efficiency (POUE) - and to compare it with OUES in patients with CHF. METHODS: We prospectively studied 206 consecutive patients with stable CHF due to dilated cardiomyopathy - 153 male, aged 53.3±13.0 years, 35.4% of ischemic etiology, left ventricular ejection fraction 27.7±8.0%, 81.1% in sinus rhythm, 97.1% receiving ACE-Is or ARBs, 78.2% beta-blockers and 60.2% spironolactone - who performed a first maximal symptom-limited treadmill CPET, using the modified Bruce protocol. In 33% of patients an cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) or cardiac resynchronization therapy device (CRT-D) was implanted during follow-up. Peak VO(2), percentage of predicted peak VO(2), VE/VCO(2) slope, OUES and POUE were analyzed. OUES was calculated using the formula VO(2) (l/min) = OUES (log(10)VE) + b. POUE was calculated as pVO(2) (l/min) / log(10)peakVE (l/min). Correlation coefficients between the studied parameters were obtained. The prognosis of each variable adjusted for age was evaluated through Cox proportional hazard models and R2 percent (R2%) and V index (V6) were used as measures of the predictive accuracy of events of each of these variables. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves from logistic regression models were used to determine the cut-offs for OUES and POUE. RESULTS: pVO(2): 20.5±5.9; percentage of predicted peak VO(2): 68.6±18.2; VE/VCO(2) slope: 30.6±8.3; OUES: 1.85±0.61; POUE: 0.88±0.27. During a mean follow-up of 33.1±14.8 months, 45 (21.8%) patients died, 10 (4.9%) underwent urgent heart transplantation and in three patients (1.5%) a left ventricular assist device was implanted. All variables proved to be independent predictors of this combined event; however, VE/VCO2 slope was most strongly associated with events (HR 11.14). In this population, POUE was associated with a higher risk of events than OUES (HR 9.61 vs. 7.01), and was also a better predictor of events (R2: 28.91 vs. 22.37). CONCLUSION: POUE was more strongly associated with death, urgent heart transplantation and implantation of a left ventricular assist device and proved to be a better predictor of events than OUES. These results suggest that this new parameter can increase the prognostic value of CPET in patients with CHF.