Publications

BACKGROUND

Ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) originating from the aortic root are common. Coronary angiography is typically recommended before catheter ablation to document proximity of the ablation catheter to the coronary ostia.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate how often catheter ablation in the aortic root could be guided by phased-array intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) and electroanatomic mapping without requiring aortography or coronary angiography.

METHODS

We reviewed consecutive patients referred for aortic root VAs to operators experienced in the use of ICE at a single center. An ICE catheter and a 3.5-mm irrigated ablation catheter were used in all cases, and the need for angiography before ablation was documented. Acute success and acute and 30-day complications were noted.

RESULTS

Thirty-five patients (age 58 ± 13 years; 74% men) were referred for the ablation of VAs; 32 of 35 (91%) underwent ablation using ICE and 3-dimensional mapping without the need for coronary angiography. Successful acute ablation was achieved in 29 of 35 (83%) patients. In all cases, the catheter tip was directly visualized with ICE >1 cm from the coronary ostia. The site of origin of the earliest VA was the left cusp (17 of 35 [49%]), right cusp (9 of 35 [26%]), right-left cusp junction (8 of 35 [23%]), or right-noncoronary cusp junction (1 of 35 [3%]). There were no cases of coronary injury, embolic stroke, aortic root perforation, worsening of aortic regurgitation, or death acutely or at 30 days.

CONCLUSION

Radiofrequency ablation of VAs originating from the aortic root may be safely performed using ICE and electroanatomic mapping in the majority of cases without the need for coronary angiography.

Development of novel strategies to treat noninfectious posterior uveitis is an ongoing challenge, in part because of limited availability of animal models that mimic the naturally occurring disease in humans. Mice deficient in the autoimmune regulatory gene Aire develop a spontaneous T-cell and macrophage-mediated autoimmune uveitis that closely recapitulates human endogenous uveitis and thus provide a useful model for mechanistic and therapeutic investigations. Lymphocytic and mononuclear infiltration of the retina in Aire knockout (KO) mice triggers the onset of uveitis from initial retinal inflammation to eventual destruction of the neuroretina with loss of photoreceptors. The C-C chemokine receptor type 2 protein (CCR2) functions in directing monocyte and macrophage migration to inflamed tissues via interaction with monocyte chemotactic proteins. Using the Aire KO mouse model, we demonstrated an essential role for CCR2 in the pathogenesis of autoimmune-mediated uveitis. Loss of functional CCR2 effectively reduced immune cell infiltration and rescued the retina from destruction. CCR2-dependent migration of bone marrow-derived cells provided the driving force for retinal inflammation, with CCR2-expressing mononuclear cells contributing to retinal damage via recruitment of CD4(+) T cells. These studies identify the CCR2 pathway as a promising therapeutic target that may prove an effective approach to treat uveitis associated with autoimmunity.

BACKGROUND

HIV-infected individuals are at increased risk for pulmonary hypertension and cardiomyopathy, portending a poor prognosis. Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is associated with worse outcomes in these conditions, yet its prevalence is poorly defined in HIV. We sought to determine the prevalence of RV dysfunction in an outpatient HIV cohort.

METHODS

Echocardiograms were evaluated from 104 HIV-infected adults. Measurements included estimated pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PASP) and several measures of RV function, including tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), RV longitudinal myocardial strain (RVLMS), RV fractional area change (RVFAC), and myocardial performance index (MPI).

RESULTS

Sixteen subjects (15%) had PASP >35 mm Hg, yet RV function did not differ significantly from those with normal estimated PASP. RV dysfunction defined by RVFAC <35% occurred in 11%. RVLMS had a median value of -27.3%, and individuals below the median had lower TAPSE but no differences in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), PASP, or other measures. Dyspnea was associated with the lowest quintile of RVLMS (≥-21.05%). There were 6 subjects with LVEF <50%, and these individuals had lower TAPSE but no differences in PASP or other RV functional measures.

CONCLUSIONS

RV dysfunction was common as estimated PASP >35 mm Hg and LV dysfunction, but these findings did not cosegregate. RV dysfunction in HIV-infected individuals may be a separate entity from LV/global cardiomyopathy or pulmonary hypertension and deserves further study.

BACKGROUND

Few population-based studies have described characteristics and management of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in the USA.

METHODS

We retrospectively studied adults with CHB in the Northern California Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program (KPNC) from July 2009 to December 2010 (n = 12,016). Laboratory tests, treatment patterns, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance were ascertained during a "recent" 18-month study window (July 2009-December 2010), or as "ever" based on records dating to 1995.

RESULTS

The mean age was 49 years; 51 % were men, 83 % Asian, and 87 % KPNC members >5 years. Overall, 51 % had ≥ 1 liver-related visit, 14 % with gastroenterology or infectious disease specialists, and 37 % with primary care providers (PCP) only. Less than 40 % of patients had both hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and ALT testing conducted recently, while 56 % of eligible patients had received HCC surveillance. Recent laboratory testing and HCC surveillance were more frequent in patients seen by a specialist versus PCP only (90 vs. 47 % and 92 vs. 73 %, respectively, p values <0.001). During the study period, 1,649 (14 %) received HBV treatment, while 5 % of untreated patients had evidence of treatment eligibility. Among 599 patients newly initiated on HBV therapy, 76 % had guideline-based indications for treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Most patients initiated on HBV treatment met eligibility, and very few patients with evidence of needing treatment were left untreated. However, monitoring of ALT and HBV DNA levels, as well as HCC surveillance, were not frequent, underestimating the proportion of patients that warranted HBV therapy. Viral monitoring and cancer surveillance are therefore important targets for improving the scope of CHB care in the community setting.