Distal Ventricular Pacing for Drug-Refractory Mid-Cavity Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Personalized Pacing.

Background: Patients with refractory, symptomatic left ventricular (LV) mid-cavity obstructive (LVMCO) hypertrophic cardiomyopathy have few therapeutic options. Right ventricular pacing is associated with modest hemodynamic and symptomatic improvement, and LV pacing pilot data suggest therapeutic potential. We hypothesized that site-specific pacing would reduce LVMCO gradients and improve symptoms.

Prognostic Value of RV Abnormalities on CMR in Patients With Known or Suspected Cardiac Sarcoidosis.

Background: Left ventricular abnormalities in cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) are associated with adverse cardiovascular events, whereas the prognostic value of right ventricular (RV) involvement found on cardiac magnetic resonance is unclear.

Objectives: This study aimed to systematically assess the prognostic value of right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) and RV late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in known or suspected CS.

Methods: This study was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022302579).

Incremental value of left atrial booster and reservoir strain in predicting atrial fibrillation in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a cardiovascular magnetic resonance study.

Background: Left atrial (LA) size and function are known predictors of new onset atrial fibrillation (AF) in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients. Components of LA deformation including reservoir, conduit, and booster function provide additional information on atrial mechanics. Whether or not LA deformation can augment our ability to predict the risk of new onset AF in HCM patients beyond standard measurements is unknown.

Diagnostic accuracy and prognostic value of simultaneous hybrid 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging in cardiac sarcoidosis.

Aims: Cardiac death is the leading cause of mortality in patients with sarcoidosis, yet cardiac involvement often remains undetected. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) have been used to diagnose cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) yet never simultaneously in a cohort. This study sought to assess the diagnostic and prognostic utility of simultaneous hybrid cardiac PET/MR.

Heart failure - what the general physician needs to know.

The British Society of Heart Failure (BSH) meetings highlight the latest advancements within the field of heart failure (HF) and provide education for training and revalidation for cardiologists and general physicians. This article reviews take-home messages from the 7th BSH HF revalidation and training meeting. It emphasises what every physician needs to know about the latest acute HF guidelines, diagnostics in HF, management strategies (including pharmacotherapeutics and device therapy), and when to consider referring to a transplant centre for mechanical circulatory support or transplantation.

Improving the diagnostic accuracy for detecting cardiac sarcoidosis.

Cardiac sarcoid is a potentially fatal condition that presents with a wide range of clinical manifestations including conduction abnormalities, tachyarrhythmias, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy and sudden cardiac death. Small observational registries and non-comparative studies have described clinical evidence of cardiac involvement in 5% of patients with systemic sarcoid, yet autopsy studies suggest prevalence as high as 79%. This suggests that cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is underdiagnosed in everyday clinical practice.

Application of current diagnostic criteria for arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy in every day clinical practice.

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy is an inherited cardiac muscle disease associated with sudden cardiac death, ventricular arrhythmias and cardiac failure. It is primarily a disease of the desmosome, with mutations in desmosomal protein genes identified in approximately 50% of affected individuals. Mutations result in fibrofatty replacement of cardiomyocytes, aneurysm formation and dilatation of the right and often the left ventricle.