Atrial fibrillation (AF) causes important mortality and morbidity on a population-level. So far, we do not have the means to prevent AF or AF-related complications adequately. Therefore, over 70 experts on atrial fibrillation convened for the 2nd AFNET/EHRA consensus conference to suggest directions for research to improve management of AF patients (Supplementary Data). The group defined three main areas in need for research in AF: 1. better understanding of the mechanisms of AF; 2. Improving rhythm control monitoring and management; and 3. comprehensive cardiovascular risk management in AF patients. The group put forward the hypothesis that successful therapy of AF and its associated complications will require comprehensive therapy. This applies e.g. to the "old" debate of "rate versus rhythm control", since rhythm control is generally added to underlying (continued) rate control therapy, but also to the emerging debate of "antiarrhythmic drugs versus catheter ablation", of which both may be needed in most patients to maintain sinus rhythm, but also to therapy of conditions that predispose to AF and contribute to cardiovascular complications such as stroke, cognitive decline, heart failure, and acute coronary syndromes. We call for research initiatives aiming at a better understanding of the different causes of AF and its complications, and at development and validation of mechanism-based therapies. The future of AF therapy may require a combination of management of underlying and concomitant conditions, early and comprehensive rhythm control therapy, adequate control of ventricular rate and cardiac function, and continuous therapy to prevent AF-associated complications (e.g. antithrombotic therapy). The reasons for these suggestions are detailed in this paper.
Background: The RESHAPE-HF2 trial is aimed at evaluating the efficacy of the MitraClip device for the treatment of clinically significant functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) in patients with heart failure (HF). This report describes the baseline echocardiographic characteristics of patients enrolled in the RESHAPE-HF2 trial compared to those enrolled in the COAPT and MITRA-FR trials. Methods: The RESHAPE-HF2 study is a prospective, randomized, multicenter trial involving patients with symptomatic HF, a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) between 20% and 50%, and moderate-to-severe or severe FMR who are ineligible for isolated mitral valve surgery, despite receiving guideline-directed therapy. Patients were randomized 1:1 to either receive the MitraClip or be placed in a control group without the intervention. Results: For the 505 patients randomized (mean age 70 years, 20% female, mean body mass index 26.8 kg/m2), the mean LVEF in the cohort was 31±8%. The mean regurgitant volume was 37±12 mL, while mean proximal iso-velocity surface area (PISA) radius was 0.72 cm. Less than half of the patients (44%) had MR severity grade 4+. The mean effective regurgitant orifice area (EROA) among patients in RESHAPE-HF2 (0.25 cm2) was lower compared to patients in MITRA-FR (0.31 cm2) and in COAPT (0.40 cm2) trials. Regurgitant volumes in RESHAPE-HF2 were 18% lower than in than in MITRA-FR (45 mL) but 38% higher than in COAPT (27 mL). The mean LV end-diastolic volumes values in the RESHAPE-HF2, COAPT, and MITRA-FR trials were 211 mL, 193 mL, and 250 mL, respectively. Patients in RESHAPE-HF2 (41 mmHg) had a comparatively lower right ventricular systolic pressure than patients in MITRA-FR (54 mmHg) and in COAPT (44 mmHg). Patients in RESHAPE-HF2, MITRA-FR, and COAPT had a similar LVEF of around 31%. Conclusions: The baseline echocardiographic characteristics of patients in the RESHAPE-HF2 trial differ from patients in the MITRA-FR and COAPT trials. Patients enrolled in RESHAPE-HF2 had moderate-to-severe FMR, characterized by a smaller PISA radius, a lesser proportion of MR severity grade of 4+, and lower mean EROA and regurgitant volumes compared to patients in COAPT and MITRA-FR trials. LVEF was largely similar across all trials. RESHAPE-HF2 is testing TEER in a third distinct cohort of patients who have less severe FMR compared to patients in COAPT trial but have high left atrial volumes. The RESHAPE-HF2 population is also echocardiographically different from the MITRA-FR cohort.
AimsCardioband system is a direct annuloplasty adjustable device that is implanted in the beating heart on the posterior annulus under fluoroscopic and transoesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) guidance. We report the early (1 month) outcomes of the first-in-man pre-CE-mark feasibility and safety trial.
Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging can be used to evaluate characteristics of atrial fibrosis. The novel noninvasive epicardial and endocardial electrophysiology system (NEEES) allows for the identification of sources with rotor activity. This study describes a new technique to examine the relationship between rotors and LGE signal intensity in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (PERS) scheduled for ablation.Ten consecutive patients underwent pulmonary vein isolation for persistent atrial fibrillation. LGE CMR of both atria was performed, and NEEES-based analysis was conducted to identify rotors. For each mapping point, the intracardiac locations were transferred onto an individual CMR-derived 3-dimensional shell. This allowed the LGE signal intensity to be projected onto the anatomy from the NEEES analysis. NEEES analysis identified a total number of 410 electric rotors, 47.8% were located in the left atrium and 52.2% in the right atrium. Magnetic resonance imaging analysis was performed from 10 right atria and 10 left atria data sets, including 86 axial LGE CMR planes per atrium. The mean LGE burden for left atrium and right atrium was 23.9±1.6% and 15.9±1.8%, respectively. Statistical analysis demonstrated a lack of regional association between the extent of LGE signal intensity and the presence of rotors.This is the first study demonstrating that the presence of rotors based on NEEES analysis is not directly associated with the extent and anatomic location of LGE signal intensity from CMR. Further studies evaluating the relationship between rotors and fibrosis in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation are mandatory and may inform strategies to improve ablation outcome.
