Thromboembolism in Patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is an inherited cardiac disease, which has a marked heterogeneity in clinical expression, natural history, and prognosis. HCM is associated with a high prevalence of thromboembolic events (stroke and systemic embolic events), even if taking no account of atrial fibrillation (AF), leading to unexpected disability and death in patients of all ages. Several risk factors of thromboembolism such as AF, greater age, left atrial diameter, heart failure and others have been confirmed in patients with HCM. Conventional thromboembolic predictive models were estimated by several trials in HCM population but it turned out to be unsatisfactory. Based on those previous explorations, researchers tried to modify or develop novel models suitable for HCM population in thromboembolism prediction. In consideration of catastrophic advent events of thromboembolism, current guidelines have recommended life-long anticoagulant therapy after a single short AF.Therefore, early identification of risk factors for thromboembolism, accurate risk stratification, timely preventive measures and aggressive management may help to avoid serious adverse thromboembolic events in HCM population.     

Sleep Apnea and Atrial Fibrillation: Role of the Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System

Sleep apnea is highly associated with atrial fibrillation (AF), and both diseases are highly prevalent in the United States. The mechanistic underpinnings that contribute to their association remain uncertain, but numerous possible mechanisms have been proposed, including dysfunction of the cardiac autonomic nervous system (ANS). Studies have reported that apnea induces hyperactivity of the ANS, leading to increases in AF susceptibility. This review compiles the latest evidence on the role of the ANS in sleep-apnea-induced AF.     

Anticoagulation Strategies in Patients With Cancer: JACC Review Topic of the Week

Patients with active cancer are at an increased risk of arterial and venous thromboembolism (VTE) and bleeding events. Historically, in patients with cancer, low molecular weight heparins have been preferred for treatment of VTE, whereas warfarin has been the standard anticoagulant for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). More recently, direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have been demonstrated to reduce the risk of venous and arterial thromboembolism in large randomized clinical trials of patients with VTE and AF, respectively, thus providing an attractive oral dosing option that does not require routine laboratory monitoring. In this review, we summarize available clinical trial data and guideline recommendations, and outline a practical approach to anticoagulation management of VTE and AF in cancer.     

Anticoagulation in the cardiac patient: A concise review

Anticoagulation has multiple roles in the treatment of cardiovascular disease, including in management of acute myocardial infarction, during percutaneous coronary intervention, as stroke prophylaxis in patients with atrial arrhythmias, and in patients with mechanical heart valves. Clinical anticoagulation choices in the aforementioned diseases vary widely, due to conflicting data to support established agents and the rapid evolution of evidence‐based practice that parallels more widespread use of novel oral anticoagulants. This review concisely summarizes evidence‐based guidelines for anticoagulant use in cardiovascular disease, and highlights new data specific to direct oral anticoagulants.     

养心定悸胶囊治疗伴长RR间期的心房颤动合并慢性心力衰竭的临床研究

目的观察养心定悸胶囊治疗伴长RR间期的心房颤动合并慢性心力衰竭患者的效果。方法将2016年5月1日—2018年6月1日就诊于河北省人民医院的104例伴长RR间期的心房颤动合并慢性心力衰竭患者随机分为试验组52例和对照组52例,2组均给予改善心功能、稳定心率在内的规范化治疗,试验组在此基础上加服养心定悸胶囊,6粒/次,2次/d。观察2组患者治疗12周后症状、心率、RR间期、心功能[左室射血分数(LVEF)、左室舒张末期内径(LVEDD)、左房内径(LAD)、N端前脑钠肽(NT-proBNP)]及心率变异性指标[窦性心率RR间期标准差(SDNN)、RR间期平均值标准差(SDANN)、相邻RR间期差值的均方根(RMSSD)、窦性相邻RR间期之差>50 ms的计数占总RR间期数的百分比(PNN50)]的变化,记录2组不良反应发生情况。结果治疗12周后,试验组和对照组的临床症状总有效率分别为88.5%(46/52)和75.0%(39/52),试验组明显高于对照组(P<0.05);2组患者的24 h总心搏次数、心率及长RR间歇次数均显著少于治疗前,最长间歇时间均显著短于治疗前,且试验组最长间歇时间显著短于对照组,长RR间歇次数显著少于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P均<0.05);2组患者的LVEF及均心率变异性各指标显著高于治疗前,LVEDD、LAD及NT-proBNP水平均显著低于治疗前,且试验组的变化都更为显著,差异均有统计学意义(P均<0.05)。治疗期间2组患者的不良反应发生率比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论养心定悸胶囊辅助治疗可明显改善伴长RR间期的心房颤动合并慢性心力衰竭患者症状,有效稳定心率,缩短长间歇,改善心功能,调节心率变异性,且安全性高。