Usefulness of subcutaneous Implantable Loop Recorder in Brugada Syndrome. A single UK centre experience

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
C Scrocco ◽  
Y Ben-Haim ◽  
M Tome-Esteban ◽  
M Papadakis ◽  
S Sharma ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Experience with implantable loop recorder (ILR) in Brugada Syndrome (BrS) is limited. Purpose We sought to evaluate the usefulness of continuous monitoring in BrS patients in a UK based Inherited Cardiac Conditions centre. Methods Subjects with BrS were consecutively recruited and demographic, clinical, device and follow-up data acquired. Results Of 452 subjects with BrS recruited in our centre, 41 (9%) received an ILR. Twenty-one (51%) were males. Twenty-four subjects (59%) had a high probability of BrS based on the Shanghai score. Mean age at implantation was 45.3±15.5 years. The indications for the implantation were: syncope or pre-syncope in 28 subjects (68%), palpitations in 12 (29%), family history of SADS in 1 case. Sixteen subjects presented with a spontaneous type 1 pattern, of whom 12 (75%) underwent an electrophysiological study for risk stratification which was negative. During a mean follow-up of 82±46 months (range 4.0–182), 5 new diagnoses of atrial fibrillation (AF) or supraventricular tachycardia were made; 3 subjects had symptomatic pathological pauses (in one case associated with fast AF) and underwent permanent pacemaker or ICD implantation; one subject experienced an asymptomatic episode of fast, non-sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia. In 2 cases the device was explanted prematurely due to site infection. Patients who received an ECG diagnosis following interrogation of the ILR were older (mean age 55±11 vs 43±16m p=0.04), although there were no differences in sex or Shanghai score. Conclusions In a large UK cohort of BrS patients, the use of ILR was low. However, continuous subcutaneous monitoring yielded a diagnosis of tachy- or brady-arrhythmic episodes in 22% of cases, and therefore can be helpful in guiding the management of low/intermediate risk BrS patients. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Robert Lancaster Memorial Fund

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
C Perings ◽  
C Wolff ◽  
A Wilk ◽  
A Witthohn ◽  
R Voss ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction In 30% of patients with syncope, the underlying cause remains unexplained after clinical investigations. Unexplained syncope tends to recur, significantly impacting patients' quality of life of patients and mortality. Thus, there is a need for timely and more accurate diagnosis to initiate treatment. Dedicated care pathways are recommended by ESC guidelines. Purpose Patients with recurrent syncope were followed over time and patient outcomes with ILR were compared to patients with the same syncope burden, age, gender and mortality risk score who did not receive an ILR. Method A representative database of 4.9 million patients insured by German company statuary health insurances (BKK) was analysed over a time period of 10 years, 2007–17. Patients with recurrent syncope (two times ICD-10 GM diagnosis codes R55), age between 45–84 and no diagnosis code for the syncope were included in the analysis and followed for at least 2 years. Patients with ILR were matched to patients without ILR based on age, gender and Charlson Comorbidity index (CCI) using mahalanobis distances. The index event was the device implant in the ILR group and the second syncope event in the control group. Life expectancy, syncope hospitalisations, fall related injuries, health care costs, diagnoses and treatment rates were compared between the groups. Results A total of 412 patients with ILR for recurrent unexplained syncope were matched to the control group. Overall mean age was 68, mean was CCI 2.7, 42% were females. The risk of death was 2.35 times higher in the control group during follow up as shown in Figure 1 (p-value logrank test <0.0001). Cardiovascular related diagnosis and treatment rates were higher in the ILR group with 69% of patients having a cardiology diagnosis compared to 41% in the control group. Over a quarter (27%) of ILR patients received an implantable cardiac device compared to 5% in the control group. Ablation rates were 7% in the ILR group compared to 0% in the control group. Median health care costs were € 3,847 higher in the ILR group including the costs of the ILR implant, follow up and higher rates of cardiac treatments. These extra costs appear moderate given the substantially higher mortality risk in the control group. Conclusion This study of patients with recurrent unexplained syncope shows a remarkable difference in life expectancy in patients with ILR compared to a matched control group. Two large claim data analysis have recently shown higher rates of cardiovascular death as well as all-cause mortality in patients with unexplained syncope. A more vigilant cardiac workup might be needed to identify a possible underlying cardiac condition. Higher rates of cardiac device therapy in the ILR group were likely to play an important role for their better life expectancy. Cardiac therapies such as pacemakers, defibrillators and ablation have also been shown to significantly improve patients' quality of life. Life Expectancy Comparison Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Private company. Main funding source(s): The data analysis was funded by Medtronic


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
A.L Hohneck ◽  
D Overhoff ◽  
M Rutsch ◽  
B Rudic ◽  
E Tueluemen ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives This study evaluated the prognostic significance of cardiac magnetic resonance myocardial feature racking (CMR-FT) in patients with Brugada syndrome (BrS) to detect subclinical alterations and predict major adverse events (MAE). Methods and results CMR was performed in 106 patients (pts) with BrS. Biventricular global strain analysis was assessed using CMR-FT. Pts were followed for a mean of 11.1±3.5 years. The study cohort was subdivided according to the presence of a spontaneous type 1 ECG (sECG), into sBrS (BrS with sECG, n=34 (32.1%)) and diBrS (BrS with drug-induced type 1 ECG, n=72 (67.9%)). Both left and right ventricular (RV) ejection fraction were reduced within the normal range in sBrS pts. CMR-FT revealed morphological differences between sBrS and diBrS pts regarding RV strain (circumferential (%) (sBrS 7.9±2.9 vs diBrS −9.5±3.1, p=0.02) and radial strain (%) (sBrS 12.0±4.3 vs diBrS 15.4±5.4, p<0.01)). During follow up, MAE were noted in 12 pts (11.3%). The presence of a sECG was the strongest predictor for MAE (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.53–0.90; p=0.008). RV global circumferential strain (GCS) was also associated with MAE (OR 0.16, 95% CI 0.03–0.82; p=0.03). A risk model which combined these two identified predictors showed a substantial risk increase for patients with both sECG and reduced RV-GCS. Conclusion Myocardial strain analysis detected early subclinical alterations, prior to apparent changes in myocardial function, in patients with BrS. Moreover, RV-GCS provided additional prognostic information on the occurrence of MAE during follow-up. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Deutsches Zentrum für Herz- und Kreislaufforschung (DZHK), German Centre for Cardiovascular Research


EP Europace ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
P M Berne ◽  
T Fancello ◽  
G Viola ◽  
V Carboni ◽  
G Mula ◽  
...  

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Project Code CRP- 6175. Regione Autonoma della Sardegna Background The subcutaneous defibrillator (S-ICD) is an attractive option for patients with Brugada syndrome (BrS) at high risk, as it is highly effective to prevent arrhythmic sudden cardiac death (SCD) while avoiding some of the complications associated to transvenous devices. However, S-ICD are not free from complications, one of the most common being inappropriate shocks. Objective To assess the causes and predictors of inappropriate shocks by subcutaneous defibrillators (S-ICD) in a cohort of sardinian BrS patients Methods From February 2013 to September 2019, 373 patients were diagnosed as BrS patients. Sixty-five patients were considered to be at high risk of SCD, and implanted with an ICD. Of them, 36 were implanted with an S-ICD. Patients went through regular follow-up visits (physical examination, 12-lead ECG, device interrogation, occurrence of symptoms). Appropriate and inappropriate shocks were analyzed to establish their cause. Results Thirty-six BrS patients were implanted with an S-ICD (9.7% of the total BrS group, 55% of ICD implants). Twenty-four patients (67%) were male, mean age at diagnosis was 45± 14 y.o., and 31 (86%) were probands.  Seventeen patients (47%) had a family history of SCD. Ten patients (28%) had a spontaneous type 1 ECG at diagnosis and 14 (19%) had an spontaneous type 1 ECG at least once since the diagnosis , 2 patients (5.7%) had a type 1 ECG during fever, and 11 (31%) presented an S wave ≥40 msec in lead DI. Twelve patients (33%) underwent EP study, and 8 (67%) were inducible for ventricular fibrillation. During a mean follow-up of 46 ± 67 months, 2 patients (6%) had appropriate shocks, while 5 (14%) had inappropriate shocks. The rate between inappropriate and appropriate shock was 2.5.  The causes of inappropriate shock were T-wave oversensing (4 patients, 80%) and air entrapment (1 patient, 20%). Gender, proband status, sport practice, family history of SCD, type 1 ECG during fever, S wave ≥40 msec in lead DI, VF inducibility EP study, or the presence of symptoms during the follow-up (vaso-vagal syncope, arrhythmic syncope, nocturnal enuresis, ventricular fibrillation, atrial fibrillation) did not associated with inappropriate shock; neither did the technique of screening for S-ICD (manual or automated tool) nor the selected vector of sensing of the S-ICD. A spontaneous type 1 ECG at diagnosis (4 (80%) versus 6 (21%), p = 0.009), or at any time from diagnosis during follow-up (4 (80%) versus 10 (33%), p = 0.0049) and having a high-pass filter programmed OFF/not available [3 (75% versus 7 (25%), p = 0.044], were significantly associated with inappropriate shock of S-ICD in these population. Conclusions Brugada syndrome patients implanted with S-ICD present a higher rate of inappropriate shock compared to appropriate shock (2.5 times). Patients with spontaneous type 1 ECG are at  higher risk to receive inappropriate shock from S-ICDs, while programming a high-pass filter ON may prevent some of these episodes.


Cardiology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 145 (7) ◽  
pp. 413-420
Author(s):  
Rafi Sakhi ◽  
Amira Assaf ◽  
Dominic A.M.J. Theuns ◽  
Judith M.A. Verhagen ◽  
Tamas Szili-Torok ◽  
...  

Introduction: There is limited data on the experience with insertable cardiac monitors (ICMs) in patients with Brugada syndrome. Objective: To evaluate the outcome of ICM in symptomatic patients with Brugada syndrome who are at suspected low risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Methods: We conducted a prospective single-center cohort study including all symptomatic patients with Brugada syndrome who received an ICM (Reveal LINQ) between July 2014 and October 2019. The main indication for monitoring was to exclude ventricular arrhythmias as the cause of symptoms and to establish a symptom-rhythm relationship. Results: A total of 20 patients (mean age, 39 ± 12 years; 55% male) received an ICM during the study period. Nine patients (45%) had a history of syncope (presumed nonarrhythmogenic), and 5 patients had a recent syncope (<6 months). During a median follow-up of 32 months (interquartile range, 11–36 months), 3 patients (15%) experienced an episode of nonsustained ventricular arrhythmia. No patient died suddenly or experienced a sustained ventricular arrhythmia, and no patient had a recurrence of syncope. Overall, 17 patients (85%) experienced symptoms during follow-up, of whom 10 patients had an ICM-detected arrhythmia. In 4 patients (20%), the ICM-detected arrhythmia was an actionable event. ICM-guided management included antiarrhythmic drug therapy for symptomatic ectopic beats (n = 3), pulmonary vein isolation, and oral anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation (n = 1), electrophysiological study for risk stratification (n = 1), and pacemaker implantation for atrioventricular block (n = 1). Conclusions: An ICM can be used to exclude ventricular arrhythmias in symptomatic patients with Brugada syndrome at low risk of SCD. Furthermore, an ICM-detected arrhythmia changed clinical management in 20% of patients.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krishna Akella ◽  
Ghulam Murtaza ◽  
Domenico G Della Rocca ◽  
Naresh Kodwani ◽  
Rakesh Gopinathannair ◽  
...  

Incorporation of technological advances in healthcare delivery has played a foundational role in development of modern healthcare. With the use of wireless transmission in conjunction with digitization of electrocardiography, continuous monitoring strategies have redefined our approach to dysrhythmia. These devices show promising results in evolving implantable loop recorder technology. In this review, we summarize the history of remote monitoring, indications for loop recorders, devices available, evidence for specific devices and anticipated studies.


2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Velislav N Batchvarov ◽  

The Brugada syndrome (BrS) is a hereditary arrhythmic syndrome manifesting as syncope or sudden cardiac death (SCD) in individuals without overt structural heart disease. Currently, its diagnosis is mainly based on the presence of a spontaneous or Na+-channel blocker induced so-called “type 1” Brugada electrocardiographic (ECG) pattern typically seen in leads V1 and V2 recorded from the 4th to 2nd intercostal spaces. Presently the main unresolved clinical problem in the BrS is the identification of patients at high risk of SCD who need implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). Current guidelines recommend ICD implantation only in patients with spontaneous type 1 ECG pattern and either history of aborted cardiac arrest or documented sustained ventricular tachycardia (class I) or syncope of arrhythmic origin (class IIa) because they are at high risk of recurrent arrhythmias. However, the majority of BrS patients are asymptomatic when diagnosed and have generally low risk (0.5 % annually or lower) and therefore are not indicated for ICD. Most of SCD victims in the BrS have had no symptoms prior to the fatal event and therefore were not protected with an ICD. Currently there are no reliable methods to identify these potential victims of SCD. Although some ECG markers such as QRS fragmentation and infero-lateral early repolarisation have been demonstrated to signify increased arrhythmic risk their value still needs to be confirmed in large prospective studies. Novel risk assessment strategies need to be developed based on computerised quantitative ECG analysis of large digital ECG databases in patients with BrS and their relatives, and combined assessment of the most important factors of ventricular arrhythmogenesis.


2012 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent Probst ◽  
Stéphanie Chatel ◽  
Jean-Baptiste Gourraud ◽  
Hervé Le Marec ◽  
◽  
...  

Brugada syndrome (BrS) is a clinical entity characterised by an incomplete right bundle branch block associated with an ST segment elevation in the right precordial leads and a risk of ventricular arrhythmia and sudden death in the absence of structural abnormalities. Patients with a personal history of sudden death have an annual arrhythmia risk of recurrence as high as 10 %. Similarly, the presence of syncope is consistently associated with an increased arrhythmic risk. This risk can be estimated at about 1.5 % per year. The risk is lower in asymptomatic patients. Regarding the relatively high rate of complication of Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation, in most of the cases, asymptomatic patients with a Brugada syndrome revealed during ajmaline challenge do not need to be implanted. The situation is more complex in patients with a spontaneous type 1 aspect since the risk could be estimated to be around 0.8 % per year. For these patients, a careful evaluation of the arrhythmic risk using all the different tools available is mandatory.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
P Huang ◽  
C Liu

Abstract Background Lower systolic blood pressure (SBP) at admission or discharge was associated with poor outcomes in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). However, the optimal long-term SBP for HFpEF was less clear. Purpose To examine the association of long-term SBP and all-cause mortality among patients with HFpEF. Methods We analyzed participants from the Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure with an Aldosterone Antagonist (TOPCAT) study. Participants had at least two SBP measurements of different times during the follow-up were included. Long-term SBP was defined as the average of all SBP measurements during the follow-up. We stratified participants into four groups according to long-term SBP: &lt;120mmHg, ≥120mmHg and &lt;130mmHg, ≥130mmHg and &lt;140mmHg, ≥140mmHg. Multivariable adjusted Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for all-cause mortality associated with SBP level. To assess for nonlinearity, we fitted restricted cubic spline models of long-term SBP. Sensitivity analyses were conducted by confining participants with history of hypertension or those with left ventricular ejection fraction≥50%. Results The 3338 participants had a mean (SD) age of 68.5 (9.6) years; 51.4% were women, and 89.3% were White. The median long-term SBP was 127.3 mmHg (IQR 121–134.2, range 77–180.7). Patients in the SBP of &lt;120mmHg group were older age, less often female, less often current smoker, had higher estimated glomerular filtration rate, less often had history of hypertension, and more often had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and atrial fibrillation. After multivariable adjustment, long-term SBP of 120–130mmHg and 130–140mmHg was associated with a lower risk of mortality during a mean follow-up of 3.3 years (HR 0.65, 95% CI: 0.49–0.85, P=0.001; HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.50–0.88, P=0.004, respectively); long-term SBP of &lt;120mmHg had similar risk of mortality (HR 1.03, 95% CI: 0.78–1.36, P=0.836), compared with long-term SBP of ≥140mmHg. Findings from restricted cubic spline analysis demonstrate that there was J-shaped association between long-term SBP and all-cause mortality (P=0.02). These association was essentially unchanged in sensitivity analysis. Conclusions Among patients with HFpEF, long-term SBP showed a J-shaped pattern with all-cause mortality and a range of 120–140 mmHg was significantly associated with better outcomes. Future randomized controlled trials need to evaluate optimal long-term SBP goal in patients with HFpEF. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Foundation. Main funding source(s): China Postdoctoral Science Foundation Grant (2019M660229 and 2019TQ0380)


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 4700
Author(s):  
Michelle M. Monasky ◽  
Emanuele Micaglio ◽  
Giuseppe Ciconte ◽  
Ilaria Rivolta ◽  
Valeria Borrelli ◽  
...  

Genetic testing in Brugada syndrome (BrS) is still not considered to be useful for clinical management of patients in the majority of cases, due to the current lack of understanding about the effect of specific variants. Additionally, family history of sudden death is generally not considered useful for arrhythmic risk stratification. We sought to demonstrate the usefulness of genetic testing and family history in diagnosis and risk stratification. The family history was collected for a proband who presented with a personal history of aborted cardiac arrest and in whom a novel variant in the SCN5A gene was found. Living family members underwent ajmaline testing, electrophysiological study, and genetic testing to determine genotype-phenotype segregation, if any. Patch-clamp experiments on transfected human embryonic kidney 293 cells enabled the functional characterization of the SCN5A novel variant in vitro. In this study, we provide crucial human data on the novel heterozygous variant NM_198056.2:c.5000T>A (p.Val1667Asp) in the SCN5A gene, and demonstrate its segregation with a severe form of BrS and multiple sudden deaths. Functional data revealed a loss of function of the protein affected by the variant. These results provide the first disease association with this variant and demonstrate the usefulness of genetic testing for diagnosis and risk stratification in certain patients. This study also demonstrates the usefulness of collecting the family history, which can assist in understanding the severity of the disease in certain situations and confirm the importance of the functional studies to distinguish between pathogenic mutations and harmless genetic variants.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
C Marques Pires ◽  
P Medeiros ◽  
C Oliveira ◽  
I Campos ◽  
M Flores ◽  
...  

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. INTRODUCTION Symptoms like syncope and palpitations are frequent and represent a diagnostic challenge. The implantable loop recorder (LR) is an important diagnostic tool, in selected cases. AIM To describe the main implantation indications of LR and to evaluate the diagnostic findings and therapeutic interventions. METHODS A retrospective study of patients (pts) that underwent LR implantation in our hospital from 2014 to 2019. For each pt the indication for implantation, baseline characteristics, previous study, recorded tracing and interventions were evaluated. RESULTS A total of 52 pts were included, 56% women, with a mean age of 60 years old. The implantation indications were recurrent syncope/ presyncope in 47 pts (90%) and palpitations in 5 pts (10%). All pts had a baseline echocardiogram and electrocardiogram, with 90% in sinus rhythm. QRS complex and atrial-ventricular conduction was normal in 50% of the pts. Previous to LR implantation, 46 pts (89%) had performed Holter, 19 (37%) carotid sinus massage, 14 (27%) Tilt table test, 29 (56%) stress test, 11(21%) ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and 9 (17%) electrophysiological study. During the monitoring period, 27 pts (52%) had recurrence of the symptoms. In this subgroup, we observed that 67% had a rhythmic cause capable of justified the symptoms, with a median of 5 months since implantation until diagnosis. In addition, the LR was useful in ruling out a rhythmic cause for symptoms in 33% of the cases. In the 47 pts with syncope/presyncope: 6(13%) had sinus node dysfunction, 4 (9%) had atrioventricular conduction disturbance, 1(2%) had atrial fibrillation (AF) and 3 (6%) had ventricular dysrhythmias. In the 5 pts with palpitations: 1(20%) had AF ad 3 (60%) had paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. LR results led to cardiac device implantation in 13 pts (pacemaker-9, implantable cardioverter desfibrillator-4). In addition, 2 pts are waiting for electrophysiological study and eventual ablation and 3 pts initiated antiarrhythmic therapy, and those with new diagnosis of AF also initiated oral anticoagulants. CONCLUSION In this study, the implantation of LR was useful to clarify the cause of the symptomology in 52% of the pts. In 35% of pts with symptom-rhythm correlation it ensured timely introduction of therapeutic approach with a positive impact on life quality.


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