Hwan-Cheol Park

Electrophysiological Characteristics Related to Outcome after Catheter Ablation of Idiopathic Ventricular Arrhythmia Originating from the Papillary Muscle in the Left Ventricle

Background and Objectives The electrophysiological properties associated with favorable outcome of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for idiopathic ventricular arrhythmia (VA) originating from the papillary muscle (PM) remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships of electrophysiological characteristics and predictors with the outcome of RFCA in patients with VAs originating from PM in the left ventricle (LV). Subjects and Methods Twelve (4.2%) of 284 consecutive patients with idiopathic VAs originating from LV PM were assessed. The electrophysiological data were compared between the patients in the successful group and patients in the recurrence group after RFCA. Results In 12 patients with PM VAs, non-sustained ventricular tachycardias (VTs, n=6), sustained VTs (n=4) and premature ventricular complexes (n=2) were identified as the presenting arrhythmias. Seven of eight patients showing high-amplitude discrete potentials at the ablation site had a successful outcome (85.7%), while the remaining four patients who showed low-amplitude fractionated potentials at the ablation site experienced VA recurrence. The mean duration from onset to peak downstroke (Δt) on the unipolar electrogram was significantly longer in the successful group than in the recurrence group (58±8 ms vs. 37±9 ms, p=0.04). A slow downstroke >50 ms of the initial Q wave on the unipolar electrogram at ablation sites was also significantly associated with successful outcome (85.7% vs. 25.0%, p=0.03). Conclusion In PM VAs, the high-amplitude discrete potentials before QRS and slow downstroke of the initial Q wave on the unipolar electrogram at ablation sites were related to favorable outcome after RFCA.

Unilateral pulmonary edema: a rare initial presentation of cardiogenic shock due to acute myocardial infarction.

Cardiogenic unilateral pulmonary edema (UPE) is a rare clinical entity that is often misdiagnosed at first. Most cases of cardiogenic UPE occur in the right upper lobe and are caused by severe mitral regurgitation (MR). We present an unusual case of right-sided UPE in a patient with cardiogenic shock due to acute myocardial infarction (AMI) without severe MR. The patient was successfully treated by percutaneous coronary intervention and medical therapy for heart failure. Follow-up chest Radiography showed complete resolution of the UPE. This case reminds us that AMI can present as UPE even in patients without severe MR or any preexisting pulmonary disease affecting the vasculature or parenchyma of the lung.

Comparison of Morphologic Features and Flow Velocity of the Left Atrial Appendage Among Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Alone, Transient Ischemic Attack, and Cardioembolic Stroke

The left atrial appendage (LAA) is a major source of emboli responsible for cardioembolic stroke (CES). We hypothesized that there could be differences in the morphologic and functional features of LAAs among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) alone, patients with cardioembolic transient ischemic attack (CETIA), and patients with CES. Patients with AF and CETIA/CES were included in either a CETIA group or a CES group. Patients with AF without past histories of stroke were included in an AF/non-CVA (cerebrovascular accident) group. Cardiac computerized tomography and transesophageal echocardiography were employed for morphologic and functional assessments of LAAs. Cauliflower LAA morphology increased and chicken wing LAA morphology decreased in frequency in the following order: AF/non-CVA, CETIA, and CES group. LAA orifice diameters were larger in the CETIA and CES groups than in the AF/non-CVA group. LAA flow velocity was higher in the CES group than in the other groups. Multiple multinominal regression analyses showed that the cauliflower morphology was associated with CETIA and CES; however, after LAA orifice diameters and flow velocity were adjusted, LAA morphology was associated with neither of them. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that LAA orifice diameter and flow velocity accurately predicted CETIA (c-statistic 0.839) and CES (c-statistic 0.896), respectively. In conclusion, cauliflower LAA morphology is associated with an increased risk of CETIA and CES through its large LAA orifice diameters and low LAA flow velocity. There are clear differences in LAA orifice diameters and flow velocity among patients with AF alone, CES, and CETIA.

Clinical efficacy of aspirin with identification of intimal morphology by optical coherence tomography in preventing event recurrence in patients with vasospasm-induced acute coronary syndrome

Using optical coherence tomography (OCT), we found that there were morphological differences in the coronary intima between patients with vasospasm-induced acute coronary syndrome (VACS) and those with stable variant angina. We investigated whether aspirin use would protect against chest pain recurrence in patients with VACS. A retrospective cohort study was performed. Patients with ST-segment elevation who were confirmed to have VACS by a provocation test were included. OCT was performed at the index event and when chest pain recurred to assess intimal morphology. Chest pain recurrence was defined as the first revisit to the emergency room with angina. Propensity score matching was performed between the aspirin and non-aspirin groups. For 48 months, 154 patients were followed (77 patients in each group). The baseline characteristics and OCT findings were well balanced between the two groups after propensity score matching. Myocardial infarction (17 vs. 3%, p = 0.003) and chest pain recurrence (26 vs. 9%, p = 0.006) occurred more frequently in the non-aspirin group than in the aspirin group. Multiple Cox regression analysis showed that aspirin use was a significant predictor of lower risk of myocardial infarction [hazard ratio (HR) 0.13; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.03–0.61] and chest pain recurrence (HR 0.33; 95% CI 0.12–0.71) during the follow-up period, after adjustments for relevant covariates including OCT findings. The use of aspirin may have a preventive effect on myocardial infarction and chest pain recurrence in patients with VACS. Randomized controlled trials are necessary to confirm the result.

Single and persistent elevation of C-reactive protein levels and the risk of atrial fibrillation in a general population: The Ansan-Ansung Cohort of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study

BACKGROUND Inflammation has been reported to cause atrial fibrillation (AF). However, it remains unclear whether C-reactive protein (CRP) levels predict AF. We investigated whether there was an association between serum CRP levels and the development of AF. METHODS A total of 10,030 subjects aged between 40 and 69 years were enrolled and followed biennially over a 12-year period in the Ansan-Ansung cohort study. Serum CRP levels were measured at baseline and high-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) levels were measured at every revisit. AF was identified using 12-lead standard electrocardiography. Inverse probability of treatment weighting was applied to balance the confounders of AF development between groups. RESULTS Serum CRP levels were higher in subjects with AF at baseline and those with new-onset AF than in those without AF. Cox-regression analysis showed that high CRP levels (>3 mg/L) and intermediate CRP levels (1-3 mg/L) at baseline were not associated with a higher risk of new-onset AF compared with low CRP levels (<1 mg/L) after adjustments for covariates. The weighted incidences of AF also did not differ according to the CRP levels. In contrast, persistent elevation of CRP or hsCRP levels (≥1 mg/L at all visits) was associated with a higher risk of AF compared with nonpersistent elevation of CRP or hsCRP levels after adjustment for covariates in both unweighted and weighted cohorts. CONCLUSION A high CRP level at a single measurement was not associated with the risk of AF, whereas persistently elevated CRP levels independently predicted the development of AF.

Defining Vitamin D Deficiency and Its Relationship to Hypertension in Postmenopausal Korean Women

BACKGROUND Inconsistent results regarding the association between low vitamin D level and hypertension (HTN) have led to uncertainty in clinical practice as to the use of vitamin D cutoff value. The aims of this study were to investigate the association between vitamin D deficiency and HTN in postmenopausal women and to determine the clinically significant cutoff value for vitamin D deficiency. METHODS We analyzed data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 5 database (4107 postmenopausal women, aged 50-79 years). The cutoff value for vitamin D deficiency was based on the changes in parathyroid hormone (PTH) level according to serum 25(OH)D value. RESULTS PTH levels were significantly higher in groups with serum 25(OH)D <15 ng/mL (p < 0.001). When a serum 25(OH)D value of 15 ng/mL was used as a cutoff value, 35.2% of the subjects were found to be vitamin D deficient. Although the association between 25(OH)D level <15 ng/mL and systolic blood pressure did not remain significant after adjusting for season (p = 0.30), multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that 25(OH)D level <15 ng/mL was an independent risk factor for HTN (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.285, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.024-1.614, p = 0.031). CONCLUSIONS Using serum PTH level, we defined vitamin D deficiency as 25(OH)D <15 ng/mL in postmenopausal women. Vitamin D deficiency [25(OH)D <15 ng/mL] was a significant risk factor for HTN in postmenopausal women.

926 WITHIN-VISIT BLOOD PRESSURE VARIABILITY AND RELEVANT FACTORS IN THE GENERAL POPULATION

Objectives: In this, study, we aimed to investigate within-visit BP variability and its relevant factors in a nationwide epidemiologic survey. Design & Methods: We analyzed the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHNES) data for 2005 (n = 5488). BP was measured three times in KNHNES. We examined three within-visit BP variability parameters: the alarm reaction (AR), within-visit BP discrepancy (&Dgr;BPmax) and standard deviation (BPSD). Results: First BP, age, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and female gender were associated with AR. Moreover, age, fasting glucose, eGFR, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and the metabolic syndrome (MetS) score were relevant factors for systolic AR, &Dgr;SBPmax and SBPSD. Multiple linear regression models revealed that age (&bgr; = 0.043, p < 0.0001), official systolic BP level (&bgr; = - 0.022, p < 0.0001), the MetS score (&bgr; = 0.290, p < 0.0001), female gender (&bgr; = 0.674, p = 0.007) and eGFR (&bgr; = 0.017, p = 0.049) were independently associated with systolic AR, while age (&bgr; = 0.031 and 0.017, p < 0.0001), official systolic BP level (&bgr; = 0.035 and 0.018, p < 0.0001), and female gender (&bgr; = 0.455 and 0.246, p = 0.024 and 0.022) were independently associated with &Dgr;SBPmax and SBPSD, respectively. Conclusions: Within-visit BP variability, especially in systolic BP is significantly associated with greater age, female gender and cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, low eGFR, and adverse glucose and lipid profiles. In addition, greater age, female gender, eGFR and MetS score were independently relevant factors for systolic AR.