Impact of Neuroeffector Adrenergic Receptor Polymorphisms on Incident Ventricular Fibrillation During Acute Myocardial Ischemia.

Background Cardiac adrenergic receptor gene polymorphisms have the potential to influence risk of developing ventricular fibrillation (VF) during ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction, but no previous study has comprehensively investigated those most likely to alter norepinephrine release, signal transduction, or biased signaling. Methods and Results In a case-control study, we recruited 953 patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction without previous cardiac history, 477 with primary VF, and 476 controls without VF, and genotyped them for Arg389Gly and Ser49Gly, Gln27Glu and Gly16Arg, and Ins322-325Del. Within each minor allele-containing genotype, haplotype, or 2-genotype combination, patients with incident VF were compared with non-VF controls by odds ratios (OR) of variant frequencies referenced against major allele homozygotes.

Prediction of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with a spontaneous Brugada type 1 pattern: the key is in the electrocardiogram.

Aims: There is currently no reliable tool to quantify the risks of ventricular fibrillation or sudden cardiac arrest (VF/SCA) in patients with spontaneous Brugada type 1 pattern (BrT1). Previous studies showed that electrocardiographic (ECG) markers of depolarization or repolarization disorders might indicate elevated risk. We aimed to design a VF/SCA risk prediction model based on ECG analyses for adult patients with spontaneous BrT1.

Exclusion of Intra-Atrial Thrombus Diagnosis Using D-Dimer Assay Before Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation.

Objectives: This study hypothesized that the association of D-dimer blood level and several clinical items in a new risk score could predict the absence of atrial thrombus.

Background: Symptomatic and drug resistant atrial fibrillation (AF) can be treated by catheter ablation. The procedure-related risk of thromboembolism is limited by the pre-operative use of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) to detect atrial thrombi.

Occurrence of Incomplete Endothelialization Causing Residual Permeability After Left Atrial Appendage Closure.

Aims: Percutaneous left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion is occasionally incomplete, with residual permeability of the LAA on cardiac computed tomography. The cause for this is unclear. Our objective was to determine if residual permeability was related to incomplete endothelialization.

Real-time atrial wall imaging during radiofrequency ablation in a porcine model.

Background: Real-time monitoring of radiofrequency (RF) ablation remains challenging.

Objective: We used intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) to describe atrial wall changes during RF ablation and to assess the extent of RF-induced lesions.

Methods: In 9 piglets, RF and IVUS catheters were coupled and introduced into the right atrium.