Age and the Risk of Ventricular Tachyarrhythmia in Patients With an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator.

Background: The benefit of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) in elderly patients is controversial.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to evaluate the risk for ventricular tachyarrhythmia (VTA) and ICD shocks by age groups and to assess the competing risk for VTA and death without prior VTA.

Methods: The study included 5,170 primary prevention ICD recipients enrolled in 5 landmark ICD trials (MADIT [Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial] II, MADIT-Risk, MADIT-CRT [MADIT Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy], MADIT-RIT [MADIT Reduce Inappropriate Therapy], and RAID [Ranolazine in High-Risk Patients With Implanted Cardioverter-Defibrillator]).

Sudden Cardiac Death Prevention in Patients with Ischemic Heart Disease-Beyond the Ejection Fraction.

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patients with ischemic heart disease remains a leading cause of death. Prediction of who is at risk is based on the left ventricular ejection fraction (EF). However, the majority of victims of SCD have a normal EF, and the majority of patients implanted with an implantable cardioverter- defibrillator based on their EF are never treated by their device.

Comparison of Frequency of Ventricular Tachyarrhythmia in Men-Versus-Women in Patients with Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator for Primary Prevention.

Current guidelines do not account for possible sex differences in the risk of ventricular tachyarrhythmia (VTA). We sought to identify specific factors associated with increased risk for VTA in women implanted with a primary prevention implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). Our study cohort consisted of 4,506 patients with an ICD or cardiac resynchronization therapy-defibrillator who were enrolled in the 4 landmark MADIT studies - MADIT-II, MADIT-RISK, MADIT-CRT and MADIT-RIT (1,075 women [24%]).

Case Report: Presumed Optic Neuropathy after Amiodarone and then Dronedarone for Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation.

Significance: Amiodarone and dronedarone have recognized ophthalmological adverse effects including optic neuropathy. The recognition of optic neuropathy as a complication of amiodarone and dronedarone treatment may enable withdrawing the drug and accordingly preventing permanent vision loss.

Purpose: This study aimed to describe a case of optic neuropathy after substitution of amiodarone with dronedarone for treatment of atrial fibrillation.

Characteristics and outcomes of diabetic patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator in a real world setting: results from the Israeli ICD registry.

Aims: There are limited data regarding the effect of diabetes mellitus (DM) on the risks of both appropriate and inappropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy. The present study was designed to compare the outcome of appropriate and inappropriate ICD therapy in patients with or without DM.

Methods And Results: The risk of a first appropriate ICD therapy for ventricular tachyarrhythmias (including anti tachycardia pacing and shock) was compared between 764 DM and 1346 non-DM patients enrolled in the national Israeli ICD registry.

Evaluation of the Genetic Basis of Familial Aggregation of Pacemaker Implantation by a Large Next Generation Sequencing Panel.

Background: The etiology of conduction disturbances necessitating permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation is often unknown, although familial aggregation of PPM (faPPM) suggests a possible genetic basis. We developed a pan-cardiovascular next generation sequencing (NGS) panel to genetically characterize a selected cohort of faPPM.

Materials And Methods: We designed and validated a custom NGS panel targeting the coding and splicing regions of 246 genes with involvement in cardiac pathogenicity.

Association between second-hand smoking and acute coronary heart disease among Arab women with multiple risk factors.

Background: Active smoking is a well-established risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD). However, the role of second-hand smoking (SHS) needs further investigation. We aimed to study the association between SHS and CHD in Arab women in Israel.

Ethnic differences among implantable cardioverter defibrillators recipients in Israel.

Heart failure is an increasingly common condition arising from a variety of different pathophysiological processes. Little is known about the unique features of Israeli Arabs who present with heart failure and who undergo cardiac device implantation. The study population comprised of 4,671 patients who were enrolled in the national Israeli Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator registry.

Frequencies of C282Y and H63D alleles in the HFE gene among various Jewish ethnic groups in Israel: a change of concept required.

Purpose: Hereditary hemochromatosis has not been fully evaluated in the non-Ashkenazi population and is considered to be relatively rare. After ascertaining three unrelated hereditary hemochromatosis families of North African Jewish origin with the HFE C282Y/C282Y genotype, we evaluated the C282Y and H63D allele frequencies among the different Jewish ethnic groups in Israel, in particular North African Jews.

Methods: Data were collected from three Israeli Medical Centers.

Modern pacemakers: hope or hype?

In recent years, the role of implantable pacing devices has expanded beyond the arrhythmia horizon and contemporary pacemakers' attempt to meet the physiological needs of patients. Modern pacemakers' functions include various modes of dual-chamber pacing, rate-response algorithms with dual sensors for optimum physiological response, cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), arrhythmia-prevention algorithms, antitachycardia pacing, and hemodynamic monitoring. The automaticity features of pacemakers enable continuous or intermittent monitoring of various pacemaker parameters including battery voltage, pacing impedance, sensing levels, pacing thresholds, and daily activity log.

Disparity in utilization of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators in treatment of heart failure based on sex and race.

Evaluation of: Hernandez AF, Fonarow GC, Lang L et al.:Sex and racial differences in the use of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators among patients hospitalized with heart failure.JAMA298(13), 1525-1532 (2007) [1] .

Role of ablation therapy in ventricular arrhythmias.

Catheter ablation is an effective therapy for symptomatic ventricular arrhythmia (VA) in patients with and without structural heart disease. It is the treatment of choice to cure or reduce recurrent VA in patients who have an implantable cardioverter defibrillator and can be a life-saving procedure in patients who have electrical storm. Catheter ablation for VAs remains a challenging procedure and requires a precise understanding of cardiac electrophysiology, the arrhythmia mechanisms, and mapping techniques.