Publications by authors named "Stephan Dobner"

Precision medicine, which among other aspects includes an individual's genomic data in diagnosis and management, has become the standard-of-care for Mendelian cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, early identification and management of asymptomatic patients with potentially lethal and manageable Mendelian CVD through screening, which is the promise of precision health, remains an unsolved challenge. The reduced costs of genomic sequencing have enabled the creation of biobanks containing in-depth genetic and health information, which have facilitated the understanding of genetic variation, penetrance, and expressivity, moving us closer to the genotype-first screening of asymptomatic individuals for Mendelian CVD.

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  • This study investigates the use of artificial intelligence to detect transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).
  • Researchers analyzed a variety of data including clinical, lab, and imaging results to develop machine learning models for detection and outcome prediction.
  • Results showed that while echocardiography and 4D-CT-strain had good to high detection performances, the multi-modality model incorporating various data types did not significantly outperform the 4D-CT-strain model alone.
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  • Tafamidis has been shown to decrease cardiovascular issues and mortality in patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM), but access to the drug varies.
  • A study of 91 ATTR-CM patients found that quicker access to tafamidis led to faster diagnoses and treatment initiation, significantly improving heart function compared to patients who had delayed access.
  • Timely access not only reduced hospitalizations for heart failure but also improved survival rates over time, highlighting the importance of availability and timely diagnosis in managing ATTR-CM.
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Background And Aims: Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) assessing semaglutide reported reductions of systolic blood pressure (SBP) in trial populations with baseline blood pressure in the normotensive range. This study aimed to determine whether this SBP reduction is greater in hypertensive groups.

Methods: Individual patient data (IPD) from three RCTs examining the effect of semaglutide 2.

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  • Researchers developed a new risk score called ABC-AS for predicting outcomes in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing aortic valve replacement, using a neuronal network model.
  • The study involved 3,595 patients, split into test and validation groups, utilizing variables such as age, high-sensitivity troponin T levels, and cardiac history to create the score.
  • Findings showed that the ABC-AS score outperformed the existing Society of Thoracic Surgery Predictive Risk score in predicting both 30-day and overall cardiovascular mortality, highlighting its potential as a better risk assessment tool.
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  • The study aimed to explore the prevalence of transthyretin amyloidosis variant cardiomyopathy (ATTRv-CM) among relatives at risk, assess the effectiveness of repeated evaluations, and analyze first-line diagnostic methods like ECG and echocardiogram.
  • Among 159 relatives evaluated, 25% were diagnosed with ATTRv-CM, and half of those diagnosed exhibited heart failure symptoms, showcasing a high negative predictive value for screening based on specific criteria.
  • The findings emphasize the need for ongoing monitoring, as 13% of patients with ATTRv-CM showed no initial cardiac signs, suggesting regular follow-up testing is crucial for early detection and management.
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Aims: Tafamidis improves clinical outcomes in transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM), yet how tafamidis affects cardiac structure and function remains poorly described. This study prospectively analysed the effect of tafamidis on 12-month longitudinal changes in cardiac structure and function by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) compared with the natural course of disease in an untreated historic control cohort.

Methods And Results: ATTR-CM patients underwent CMR at tafamidis initiation and at 12 months.

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  • Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) like the HeartMate 3 enhance the health and quality of life for patients with severe heart failure.
  • A patient experienced a sudden decline in health on day 55 after having the LVAD implanted, marked by frequent low-flow alarm episodes.
  • Multimodal imaging revealed outflow graft obstruction due to aortic dissection, leading to a surgical revision that improved the patient's condition.
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Quantitative Tc-3,3-diphosphono-1,2-propanodicarboxylic acid ([Tc]Tc-DPD) SPECT may be used for risk-stratifying patients with amyloid transthyretin-related cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM). We aimed to analyze the predictive value of quantitative [Tc]Tc-DPD SPECT/CT in suspected and confirmed ATTR-CM according to different disease stages. The study enrolled consecutive patients with suspected ATTR-CM who were referred to a single tertiary center and underwent quantitative [Tc]Tc-DPD SPECT/CT allowing SUV and SUV analysis.

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  • This study investigated whether 4D cardiac computed tomography (4DCCT) could enhance risk assessment and predict reverse remodeling (RRM) and mortality in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).
  • A total of 608 patients, mostly elderly, were analyzed before and after TAVI to measure left and right heart dimensions, mass, ejection fraction, and strain to assess outcomes.
  • Results indicated that while immediate post-TAVI measurements didn’t predict RRM, certain 4DCCT-derived metrics, like LV mass and ejection fraction at 12 months, were significant predictors of both RRM and survival.
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  • ATTR amyloidosis is a disease caused by protein misfolding, leading to fibril buildup in tissues, primarily affecting the heart and causing serious health issues.
  • Advanced cardiac imaging techniques, like echocardiography and MRI, are crucial for accurately diagnosing ATTR cardiomyopathy, especially since new treatments are most effective in the early stages of the disease.
  • The review discusses the latest cardiac imaging methods for diagnosing and managing ATTR-CM, and also explores how artificial intelligence could enhance clinical decisions and patient care in the future.
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Background Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) often coexists with severe aortic stenosis (AS). Although strain analysis from cardiac MRI and echocardiography was demonstrated to predict coexisting ATTR-CM, comparable data from four-dimensional (4D) cardiac CT are lacking despite wide availability. Purpose To evaluate the diagnostic performance of 4D cardiac CT-derived parameters in identifying ATTR-CM in older adults considered for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

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Introduction: Previous analyses have reported the outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for patients with low-flow, low-gradient (LFLG) aortic stenosis (AS), without stratifying according to the route of access. Differences in mortality rates among access routes have been established for high-gradient (HG) patients and hypothesized to be even more pronounced in LFLG AS patients. This study aims to compare the outcomes of patients with LFLG or HG AS following transfemoral (TF) or transapical (TA) TAVR.

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Background The prevalence of calcific aortic stenosis and amyloid transthyretin cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) increase with age, and they often coexist. The objective was to determine the prevalence of ATTR-CM in patients with severe aortic stenosis and evaluate differences in presentations and outcomes of patients with concomitant ATTR-CM undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation. Methods and Results Prospective screening for ATTR-CM with Technetium-3,3-diphosphono-1,2-propanodicarboxylic acid bone scintigraphy was performed in 315 patients referred with severe aortic stenosis between August 2019 and August 2021.

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Aims: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) improve clinical outcomes in heart failure patients with reduced and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), but have not yet been investigated in transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM). This study aimed to evaluate tolerability, clinical outcomes, and changes in NT-proBNP levels and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in ATTR-CM patients treated with dapagliflozin.

Methods And Results: Patients with stable, tafamidis-treated ATTR-CM were retrospectively evaluated at the initiation of dapagliflozin and 3 months thereafter.

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Even though it has been more than a decade since renal denervation (RDN) was first used to treat hypertension and an intense effort on researching this therapy has been made, it is still not clear how RDN fits into the antihypertensive arsenal. There is no question that RDN lowers blood pressure (BP), it does so to an extent at best corresponding to one antihypertensive drug. The procedure has an excellent safety record.

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Background: Microvascular obstruction (MVO) and Late Gadolinium Enhancement (LGE) assessed in cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) are associated with adverse outcome in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Our aim was to analyze the diagnostic performance of segmental strain for the detection of MVO and LGE.

Methods: Patients with anterior STEMI, who underwent additional CMR were enrolled in this sub-study of the CARE-AMI trial.

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Background: Increased left ventricular afterload resulting from severe aortic stenosis (AS) leads to progressive cardiac remodeling. Left atrial enlargement (LAE) is an early manifestation in a series of maladaptive changes and may affect clinical outcomes after valvular replacement therapy. The aim of this study is to determine the impact of LAE on clinical outcomes in symptomatic patients with severe AS undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

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Transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR amyloidosis) is a disease caused by deposition of transthyretin fibrils in organs and tissues, which causes their dysfunction. The clinical heterogeneity of ATTR amyloidosis and the variable presentation of symptoms at early disease stages, historically meant treatment delays. Diagnostic tools and therapy options of ATTR amyloidosis have markedly improved in recent years.

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Importance: Left ventricular remodeling following acute myocardial infarction results in progressive myocardial dysfunction and adversely affects prognosis.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of paroxetine-mediated G-protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 inhibition to mitigate adverse left ventricular remodeling in patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial was conducted at Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.

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Sex-related differences in prevalence, clinical presentation, and outcome of cardiac channelopathies are increasingly recognized, despite their autosomal transmission and hence equal genetic predisposition among sexes. In congenital long-QT syndrome, adult women carry a greater risk for Torsades de pointes and sudden cardiac death than do men. In contrast, Brugada syndrome is observed predominantly in adult men, with a considerably higher risk of arrhythmic sudden cardiac death in adult men than in women.

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Over the past decade, left ventricular assist device (VAD) therapy has become more prevalent and increasingly safe. Severe complications, such as VAD pump thrombosis and outflow graft obstruction, are rare, yet still associated with high morbidity and mortality. Clinical presentation, VAD alarm and log files, laboratory analysis, and non-invasive cardiac imaging are crucial for establishing the correct diagnosis and determining clinical management.

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