Transplacental treatment of foetal supraventricular tachycardia with triple antiarrhythmic combination to avoid intra-foetal intervention

Although a high percentage of foetuses with supraventricular tachycardia respond to single or dual antiarrhythmic therapy, on occasion when there is no response to these combination regimens, direct intra-foetal therapy remains the only choice, albeit such an approach carries a potential risk to the foetus. Data with regard to the safety and efficacy of triple antiarrhythmic combination have not been reported before. Here, we present a foetus with intractable tachycardia in whom arrhythmia termination was successfully achieved with triple oral antiarrhythmic therapy.

Clinical features and antiarrhythmic therapy in patients with catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia

Aims. To evaluate the long-term efficacy of antiarrhythmic therapy in patients with catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT).Methods. CPVT was diagnosed in 11 patients between the ages of 3-12 years with a minimum follow-up of 10 years. The data analyzed was obtained from existing medical records that included symptoms, family screenings, treadmill tests, electrocardiography, echocardiography, implanted cardioverter-defibrillator data (ICD), and medical treatments.Results. Cardiac events were registered in 75% of patients on beta-blocker therapy. Supraventricular arrhythmias such as atrial and atrioventicular nodal tachycardia, atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter were detected using various ECG diagnostic methods in all patients, which is significantly higher than reported in similar studies. A combination of anti-arrhythmic therapy and beta-blocker treatment reduced the number of cardiac events by 50% as compared to only beta-blocker treatment.Conclusion. Multiple supraventricular arrhythmias have a high prevalence in patients with CPVT and can trigger ventricular arrhythmia. Combined antiarrhythmic therapy is effective because it prevents cardiac events in patients with CPVT. Combined antiarrhythmic therapy improves the prognosis of patients with CPVT and may help to avoid or postpone ICD implantation.

Abstract 10617: Antiarrhythmic Use and the Posterior Probability of Neurologically Intact Survival in a Reanalysis of the Amiodarone, Lidocaine or Placebo Study in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Introduction: There are no randomized controlled trials (RCT) demonstrating improvement in neurologically intact survival from antiarrhythmic therapy given during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) from ventricular fibrillation/tachycardia (VF/VT). The Amiodarone, Lidocaine or Placebo Study in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (ALPS) was an RCT of amiodarone, lidocaine or placebo whose primary end-point was survival to hospital discharge. We sought to estimate the posterior probability of the absolute risk difference of neurologically intact survival (modified Rankin Score ≤ 3) from antiarrhythmic use (amiodarone or lidocaine) compared to placebo and from the use amiodarone versus lidocaine. Methods: We performed a Bayesian reanalysis on the per-protocol population of the ALPS trial in order to calculate the posterior probability of neurologically intact survival. We derived prior probabilities from the Amiodarone for Resuscitation after Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Due to Ventricular Fibrillation (ARREST) and Amiodarone Compared with Lidocaine for Shock-Resistant Ventricular Fibrillation (ALIVE) trials. We considered a clinically meaningful absolute difference to be ≥ 1%. Results: The posterior median probability of the absolute difference in neurologically intact survival between antiarrhythmic therapy and placebo was 2.2% (95% credible interval of -0.15% to 4.7%). There is a 96% chance that antiarrhythmic improves neurologic outcome and 86% chance of a clinically meaningful improvement. The posterior median probability of the absolute difference in neurologically intact survival between amiodarone and lidocaine was 1.5% (95% credible interval -1.6% to 4.5%). Conclusion: The results of this Bayesian analysis of the ALPS trial using likely optimistic prior probabilities derived from the ARREST trial may help inform clinicians of the value of antiarrhythmic therapy in OHCA.

STUDY OF HEART RATE VARIABILITY IN PATIENTS WITH PAROXYSMAL ATRIAL FIBRILLATION DURING PROPHYLACTIC TREATMENT OF METOPROLOL AND CORDARONE FOR ONE YEAR

This work is devoted to the dynamic study of heart rate variability indicators for one year in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation treated with antiarrhythmic drugs metoprolol and cordarone. The study found that patients treated with metoprolol monotherapy had a weakening of parasympathetic effects on the heart, due to a decrease in Mean by 12.9%, Mo by 13%, Amo by 29.4%, SDNN by 28.3% compared to the group of healthy individuals, but they differed in stable indicators of heart rate variability and 33% retained sinus rhythm during the year. With cordarone monotherapy, there was a curative effect of sympathetic and parasympathetic effects on the heart, as indicated by an increase in: Mean by 15.9%, Mo by 15.9%, IVR by 95.5%, Amo by 41.1% and a decrease in SDNN by 37.5%, compared with the group of healthy individuals at the initial stage. A year later, a negative dynamics was revealed - the predominance of sympathetic influences on the heart compared to the groups of healthy individuals and the control due to an increase in: IVR by 363.3% and 238.5%; VPR by 116.7% and 106%; Amo by 111.2% and 72.9; IN by 304% and 246.8%; PAPR by 92% and 79.1%, respectively. During the year, 39% of patients left the study due to the replacement of antiarrhythmic therapy and 16.5% due to the development of a permanent form of atrial fibrillation. In the remaining patients in the study, in comparison with their initial data, there was a predominance of sympathetic effects on the heart due to an increase in IVR by 137%. In combination therapy with metoprolol and cordarone, there were no significant changes in heart rate variability compared to the initial ones. Initially, there was a decrease in overall heart rate variability due to a decrease in SDNN by 28.4% and a decrease in parasympathetic effects on the heart due to an increase in Amo by 45.2% and a decrease in Delta X by 32.9% compared to the group of healthy individuals. After a year, 40% left the study due to the replacement of antiarrhythmic therapy and 30% due to the development of a permanent form of atrial fibrillation. During dynamic observation of patients, it was found that the following indicators have the most important prognostic value in the development of atrial fibrillation: SDNN, Delta X and RMSSD. Therefore, it is very important to register an ECG with the measurement of these indicators at least once every 3 months for timely correction of treatment.

Safety and interaction of direct oral anticoagulants with antiarrhythmic drugs

The use of direct oral anticoagulants minimized the risks associated with vitamin K antagonist (warfarin) therapy. Currently, direct oral anticoagulants have priority over warfarin for the prevention of thromboembolic events in patients with atrial fibrillation and a number of other conditions requiring anticoagulant therapy. Direct oral anticoagulants along with antiarrhythmic therapy are the accepted strategy for atrial fibrillation treatment. At the same time, the effect of drug-drug interactions (DDI) between direct oral anticoagulants and antiarrhythmic drugs, which have common points of metabolic application, has not been fully elucidated. In order to provide effective and safe anticoagulant and antiarrhythmic therapy in patients with AF, it is important to understand the mechanisms and severity of DDI of direct oral anticoagulants and antiarrhythmic agents. This review discusses the issues of DDI of direct oral anticoagulants and antiarrhythmic drugs used to treat atrial fibrillation.

ОСОБЛИВОСТІ ДІАГНОСТИЧНОГО ТА МЕДИКАМЕНТОЗНО-ІНВАЗИВНОГО МЕНЕДЖМЕНТУ ЧАСТО РЕЦИДИВУЮЧОЇ ПОЛІМОРФНОЇ, ПОЛІТОПНОЇ ШЛУНОЧКОВОЇ ТАХІКАРДІЇ

In today's conditions, given the difficult economic situation in the country and the low adherence of patients to treatment, a difficult and relevant issue is the treatment of post-myocardial infarction patients, especially in the complicated course of the disease. The main reason for the occurrence of complex cardiac arrhythmias is the formation of a focus of ectopic activity in the myocardium or the appearance of a re-entry wave. In case of recurrence of life-threatening tachycardias, despite antiarrhythmic therapy, the choice must be between escalating drug therapy and radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA). Purpose: a detailed description of the clinical case of the disease in a patient with low compliance to medical treatment, who suffered an acute myocardial infarction and was subsequently hospitalized several times in a specialized cardiac hospital for the development of complex ventricular arrhythmias. The article describes in detail modern approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of life-threatening tachycardias, including emergency care, comparison of escalation of antiarrhythmic therapy with RFA in a patient with post-infarction cardiosclerosis and frequent attacks of recurrent polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, treatment of modern defibrillator, electrophysiological study, RFA. Conclusions: Long-term follow-up of a patient with low compliance to the treatment of complex ventricular arrhythmias showed that ablation of the ventricular tachycardia substrate was more effective than escalation of antiarrhythmic therapy, which led to the remodulation of the heart cavities, improving the quality of life of the patient and preventing the progression of cardiovascular events.

Preliminary Study of Coupling Intervals of Premature Ventricular Complexes in Dogs With Different Cardiac Diseases

Coupling interval (CI), the time (ms) from the onset of a sinus QRS to the onset of the following premature ventricular complex (PVC), and their variability (CIV) might predict mortality and elucidate mechanisms of arrhythmogenesis. There has been limited investigation of CIV in dogs. Therefore, we determined CIV and prematurity index (PI) in three groups of dogs with ventricular arrhythmias that were subject to 24 hour ambulatory electrocardiographic (Holter) monitoring. Dogs in group 1 had presumptive arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), those in group 2 had structural heart disease in which patients with valvular heart disease predominated, and those in group 3 had a dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) either phenotype or presumed familial cardiomyopathy. In this preliminary study, we did not find significant differences in indices of CIV between groups. Median PI was lower in dogs treated with antiarrhythmic therapy. Severity of cardiac remodeling, except for left atrial to aortic ratio, were not correlated with CIV. It was not possible to determine the mechanism of arrhythmias in ARVC, DCM phenotype or structural heart disease groups and re-entry, triggered activity, and abnormal automaticity are possible etiologies. The effect of antiarrhythmic therapy demonstrated potential drug effect on CIV. Risk for malignant arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death were not examined. A larger study would be needed to determine if differences exist; if present, this would give insight into possible mechanisms and optimal antiarrhythmic therapy.

IATROGENIC CHANGES IN THYROID GLAND OF PATIENTS WITH ATRIAL FIBRILLATION AFTER THERAPY WITH AMIODARON

Objective of the study: to analyze the frequency of structural and functional changes in the thyroid gland of the patients with atrial fibrillation who took amiodarone for 12 months on regular basis. The study was based on findings obtained by examining 80 patients (28 women and 52 men) with cardiosclerosis (diffuse and postinfarction), atrial fibrillation and heart failure IIA at the age of 63.5 ± 1.3 years and 15 healthy individuals of the relevant age (62,4 ± 2,4 years) and relevant sex proportions. The main inclusion criterion was the euthyroid state of the thyroid gland before the beginning of antiarrhythmic therapy. To assess the functional state of the thyroid gland, we studied the content of free thyroxine, triiodothyronine, and antibodies to thyroid peroxidase. The examination was carried out before the therapy, and in 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after the beginning of the study during the course of antiarrhythmic therapy. To detect structural changes in the thyroid gland, we used ultrasound scanning. Depending on the prescribed treatment, the participants were divided into the following groups: group I included the patients who received amiodarone in a dosage of 200 mg per day and basic therapy (n = 60); control group involved the patients who received the basic therapy with antiarrhythmic drugs, digoxin and bisoprolol (n = 20). Results. The therapy with amiodarone for a year resulted in thyroid dysfunction in 33.3% of the patients. Hypothyroidism (20.0%) is leading in the structure of amiodarone-associated thyroid dysfunctions; this condition is subclinically manifested in 11.7% of the patients. The development of amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis was observed in 13.3% of the patients, and the first cases of hyperthyroidism were detected not earlier than six months. Under the effect of amiodarone in the first months of the therapy, serum levels of free thyroxine may increase, while free triiodothyronine may decrease, therefore there may be a tendency to slightly increased levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone in the first weeks of the therapy. The above changes in laboratory parameters are transient and are not accompanied by the deterioration of the antiarrhythmic action of amiodarone.