Characteristics of patients with atrial fibrillation treated with direct oral anticoagulants and new insights into inappropriate dosing: results from the French National Prospective Registry: PAFF.

Aims: Since the introduction of direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) for atrial fibrillation (AF) therapy, inappropriate and/or underdosing of these drugs has been a major clinical challenge. We evaluated the characteristics of patients with AF treated with inappropriate and low-dose DOACs.

Methods And Results: Patients with AF treated with inappropriate and low-dose DOACs from October 2021 to December 2021 were evaluated from the French National Prospective Registry (PAFF).

Management of antithrombotics in situations with a gap in evidence: A national French survey focusing on patients with coronary artery disease and atrial fibrillation.

Background: If several randomized studies allowed to better apprehend what should be the best antithrombotic strategy in patients with concomitant coronary artery disease (CAD) and atrial fibrillation (AF), there are still several clinical situations with a gap of evidence.

Methods: We conducted a national French survey in September-October 2020 among cardiologists in order to assess what are daily practices regarding the antithrombotic management in several specific clinical settings where no or little scientific evidence is available. The questionnaires were built by a committee of 6 cardiologists routinely involved in the field of CAD and/or AF.

Review Article: Gastrointestinal Bleeding Risk with Direct Oral Anticoagulants.

Purpose: Although direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are associated with an overall favourable safety profile, the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding with DOACs compared with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) remains controversial. Accordingly, we aimed to provide a focused overview of the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding associated with dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban and edoxaban and its management.

Methods: We reviewed published studies reporting on DOACs with gastrointestinal bleeding as an outcome, including randomised controlled trials (RCTs), retrospective database studies and large-scale prospective cohort studies.

Hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin tolerance in haemodialysis patients during COVID-19 infection.

Background: Haemodialysis patients are at risk of developing severe forms of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection: coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In March 2020, hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and azithromycin (AZI) were proposed as potential treatments of COVID-19, but with warnings concerning their possible toxicity. No data are available regarding the toxicity of this treatment in haemodialysis patients.

Management of outpatients in France with stable coronary artery disease. Findings from the prospeCtive observational LongitudinAl RegIstry oF patients with stable coronary arterY disease (CLARIFY) registry.

Background: Improvements in the treatment of coronary artery disease mean that an increasing number of patients survive acute cardiovascular events and live as outpatients with or without anginal symptoms.

Aim: To determine the characteristics and management of contemporary outpatients with stable coronary artery disease in Western Europe, and to compare France with the other Western European countries.

Methods: CLARIFY (prospeCtive observational LongitudinAl RegIstry oF patients with stable coronary arterY disease) is an international, prospective, observational, longitudinal study.

Ambulatory hypertensive patients treated by cardiologists in France.

Background: While general practitioners treat most hypertensive patients in France, hypertension is the most frequent pathology treated by cardiologists, raising questions about the differing profiles of such patients. Poor control of hypertension is commonly reported, and yet has not improved over time. Better understanding of the determinants of control, at both patient and physician levels, is necessary to implement improvements in practice.

Slow pathway elimination for atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia with the 8-mm tip cryoablation catheter: an 18-month follow-up study.

Purpose: The 9-French 8-mm tip cryoablation catheter confers a high rate of acute slow pathway (SP) elimination and an acceptable short-term outcome in patients with atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term outcome of patients treated with this electrode in this indication.

Methods: Eighty-two patients (female = 52) with a mean age of 54.

Reduction of procedure duration and radiation exposure with a dedicated inner lumen mapping catheter during pulmonary vein cryoablation.

Background: The Achieve catheter (AC; Medtronic-CryoCath, Pointe-Claire, Canada) is a circular mapping catheter introduced through the lumen of the cryoballoon (CB) catheter which is safe and effective to both navigate the CB to the pulmonary veins (PV) and allow PV potential recording during PV cryoablation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the use of the AC on procedural outcomes.

Methods: Sixteen consecutive patients (14 men) underwent AC-guided PV isolation (PVI) for drug-refractory paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF; AC group).

Pulmonary vein isolation using a single size cryoballoon chosen according to transesophageal echocardiography information.

Background: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using cryoballoon (CB) catheter is a new technique for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. Previous studies used computer tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to determine the pulmonary vein (PV) diameter and anatomy for choosing the CB size. We evaluated pre-ablation transoesophageal-echocardiography (TEE) as an alternative to CT/MRI scan in patients undergoing AF ablation for determining the appropriate size of the CB.

Gender-related differences in the management of hypertension by cardiologists: the PARITE study.

Background: Several studies have shown gender differences in the management of cardiovascular risk factors and diseases. Whether the management of hypertension by cardiologists in France differs according to patient gender has not been fully investigated.

Aims: The main objective of this cross-sectional, multicentre study was to examine the management according to gender of hypertensive patients by office-based cardiologists in France.

Distribution of left ventricular ejection fraction and heart rate values in a cohort of stable coronary patients: the INDYCE registry.

Background: The distribution of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) - a key factor in coronary artery disease (CAD) patient management and prognostication - is poorly documented.

Objective: To determine LVEF and heart rate (HR) values, and describe the management of stable CAD patients in France.

Methods: The INDYCE survey was a prospective, multicentre registry of consecutive stable CAD outpatients attending a cardiology consultation.

Cross-ventricular pacemaker-mediated tachycardia by myopotential induction during biventricular pacing.

Background: Patients in permanent atrial fibrillation treated for heart failure and ventricular asynchrony can be implanted with conventional dual chamber pacemakers (DDD) pacemakers used in the biventricular mode. The left ventricular lead is connected to the atrial channel.

Case Report: We report the case of a patient who developed ventriculo-ventricular pacemaker-mediated tachycardia (PMT) induced by myopotential sensing in the atrial channel, inhibiting left ventricular pacing.