Publications by authors named "Ruta Virsinskaite"
Aims: Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is characterized by deposition of amyloid fibrils within the extracellular space, causing disarray of the myocardial structure and capillary architecture. This study aims to characterize the prevalence of microvascular obstruction (MVO) in patients with CA and to assess the association between MVO and prognosis.
Methods And Results: The study population comprised 800 patients, of which 400 had light-chain CA (AL-CA) and 400 had transthyretin CA (ATTR-CA).
Article Synopsis
- Cardiac amyloid infiltration significantly impacts survival in systemic light-chain (AL) amyloidosis, with guidelines suggesting early therapy changes for patients not responding well, regardless of cardiac amyloid severity.
- The study aimed to compare serum biomarkers, echocardiography, and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) with extracellular volume (ECV) mapping in understanding cardiac amyloid and its prognostic value.
- Findings revealed that ECV is a strong independent predictor of mortality, showing different relationships between the depth of hematological response and survival based on specific ECV thresholds over 1- and 6-month periods.
Article Synopsis
- Systemic sclerosis complicated by pulmonary arterial hypertension (SSc-PAH) presents significant risks, and this study aimed to evaluate if exercise-based cardiac assessments could predict patient outcomes better than traditional resting measures.
- Fifty intermediate-risk SSc-PAH patients underwent cardio MRI during exercise, finding that most had normal resting cardiac metrics but that peak exercise indicators, specifically RV indexed end-systolic volume (ESVi), were key for predicting survival.
- The study concluded that exercise CMR could help identify patients at higher risk of mortality, enhancing risk assessment practices even when resting tests appear normal.
To develop and assess a deep learning (DL) pipeline to learn dynamic MR image reconstruction from publicly available natural videos (Inter4K). Learning was performed for a range of DL architectures (VarNet, 3D UNet, FastDVDNet) and corresponding sampling patterns (Cartesian, radial, spiral) either from true multi-coil cardiac MR data (N = 692) or from synthetic MR data simulated from Inter4K natural videos (N = 588). Real-time undersampled dynamic MR images were reconstructed using DL networks trained with cardiac data and natural videos, and compressed sensing (CS).
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- The study investigates how heart size and function, measured through cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), can predict outcomes in patients with pulmonary hypertension associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc-PH).
- Out of 148 SSc-PH patients monitored over a median of 3.5 years, 45% died, with findings indicating that older age, right ventricular dilation, and higher native myocardial T1 values were linked to increased mortality risk.
- Importantly, right ventricular end-systolic volume index (RVESVi) and native T1 were identified as independent predictors of mortality, with specific thresholds set for better patient outcomes, highlighting the significance of myocardial tissue characterization in prognosis.
Background: N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a biomarker of cardiac ventricular wall stress that is incorporated into pulmonary hypertension (PH) risk stratification models. Sendaway sampling may enable patients to perform NT-proBNP tests remotely. This UK-wide study aimed to assess the agreement of sendaway NT-proBNP with standard venous NT-proBNP and to assess the effect of delayed processing.
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- Transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA) is a serious heart condition, and this study aimed to understand the relationship between various blood biomarkers and patient prognosis.
- Researchers examined 2,566 patients with ATTR-CA, finding high rates of anemia, urea, hyperbilirubinemia, and elevated troponin levels, which increased with disease severity.
- The study concluded that several biomarkers, especially anemia and elevated troponin levels, are independently linked to higher mortality rates in patients, with variations based on genetic factors and heart function.
Article Synopsis
- Transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA) often occurs alongside chronic kidney disease, with albuminuria being common and linked to worse health outcomes; however, its exact impact on ATTR-CA is not fully understood.
- In a study of 1,181 ATTR-CA patients, nearly 48% had albuminuria, which was associated with more severe heart issues marked by elevated cardiac biomarkers and poorer heart function compared to those with normal protein levels in urine.
- Both microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria independently predicted higher mortality rates, with significant risks evident even in patients without other complicating conditions like hypertension or diabetes; an increase in urinary albumin levels over 12 months also indicated increased
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is common, with an estimated prevalence of approximately 1% that increases with age. Prompt and accurate diagnosis is key to institute timely and appropriate therapy to improve symptoms and prognosis. The international guidelines for the diagnosis and management of PH have recently been updated, with a lowering of the haemodynamic threshold for diagnosis to a mean pulmonary artery pressure >20 mmHg.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImportance: Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging-derived extracellular volume (ECV) mapping, generated from precontrast and postcontrast T1, accurately determines treatment response in cardiac light-chain amyloidosis. Native T1 mapping, which can be derived without the need for contrast, has demonstrated accuracy in diagnosis and prognostication, but it is unclear whether serial native T1 measurements could also track the cardiac treatment response.
Objective: To assess whether native T1 mapping can measure the cardiac treatment response and the association between changes in native T1 and prognosis.
Aims: The aims of this study were to assess prescription patterns, dosages, discontinuation rates, and association with prognosis of conventional heart failure medications in patients with transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA).
Methods And Results: A retrospective analysis of all consecutive patients diagnosed with ATTR-CA at the National Amyloidosis Centre between 2000 and 2022 identified 2371 patients with ATTR-CA. Prescription of heart failure medications was greater among patients with a more severe cardiac phenotype, comprising beta-blockers in 55.