Search

Clinical quality registries (CQRs) are an observational study method, which facilitates the collection of uniform data to evaluate specified outcomes for a population defined by a disease and that serve scientific, clinical, or policy purposes.

Background Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is an important cause of pregnancy-associated heart failure and occurs in women towards the end of pregnancy or within the first five months post-partum. Though PPCM is mostly associated with left ventricular (LV) recovery, many affected women develop chronic heart failure with persistently reduced LV ejection fraction (LVEF). Despite recent advances in the treatment of PPCM, clinical predictors of myocardial recovery remain sparse. Purpose N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) is the only clinically established biomarker with diagnostic value in PPCM. However, its prognostic value for LV recovery in PPCM remains uncertain. We aimed to establish whether NT-pro-BNP could serve as a predictor of LV recovery in PPCM, and if so, which levels would help with such risk stratification. Methods Women with PPCM seen at the Cardiomyopathy Clinic at Groote Schuur Hospital were recruited between 2012 and 2018. Clinical details and echocardiographic features were recorded at baseline and follow-up, and NT-pro-BNP was measured at baseline. LV recovery was defined as an LVEF of ≥50% at 12-month follow-up. Results This cohort of 42 women with PPCM had a mean age of 29.3±5.8 years and median parity of 2 (IQR 1–4). Almost half (45.2%) presented with a NYHA functional class III/IV. The median systolic and diastolic blood pressures were 117mmHg (IQR 105–133) and 75mmHg (IQR 68–85) respectively. The median heart was 94bpm (IQR 74–103). At diagnosis, mean LVEF was 31.1±8.4% and LV end-diastolic dimension (EDD) of 59mm (IQR 53–64), which improved to LVEF 44.5%±14.5 (p=0.001) and LVEDD 53.6mm (p=0.007) at 1 year. Median NT-pro-BNP at presentation was 915.8pg/mL (IQR 613.6–2422.5). Patients presenting with sinus tachycardia (heart rate >100 bpm) had significantly higher NT-pro-BNP values (1815 vs. 728pg/mL, p=0.009) at the time of diagnosis. At presentation, NT-pro-BNP tended to correlate with LVEDD (R 0.33, p=0.04) and was inversely correlated with LVEF (R −0.39, p=0.01). Whereas initial LVEDD and LVEF did not predict LV recovery at 1 year, NT-pro-BNP at the time of diagnosis had prognostic significance. Patients without LV recovery had a significantly higher NT-pro-BNP at diagnosis (1694.1pg/mL vs. 613.1pg/mL, p=0.02). As shown in Figure 1, NT-pro-BNP of >900pg/mL was associated with lower probability of LV recovery (OR 0.19 [95% CI 0.05–0.73], p=0.018). Conclusion We show, for the first time, that NT-pro-BNP has a prognostic value for LV recovery in PPCM. NT-pro-BNP may be useful in the risk stratification in PPCM and may be used to recommend more intensive follow-up of patients who have a NT-pro-BNP >900pg/mL at diagnosis. Figure 1 Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): This study was supported by the South African Medical Research Council and National Research Foundation of South Africa.

Introduction Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is an important cause of pregnancy-associated heart failure worldwide. Although a significant number of women recover their left ventricular (LV) function within 12 months, some remain with persistently reduced systolic function. Methods Knowledge gaps exist on predictors of myocardial recovery in PPCM. N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is the only clinically established biomarker with diagnostic value in PPCM. We aimed to establish whether NT-proBNP could serve as a predictor of LV recovery in PPCM, as measured by LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDD) and LV ejection fraction (LVEF). Results This study of 35 women with PPCM (mean age 30.0 ± 5.9 years) had a median NT-proBNP of 834.7 pg/ml (IQR 571.2–1840.5) at baseline. Within the first year of follow-up, 51.4% of the cohort recovered their LV dimensions (LVEDD 50%). Women without LV recovery presented with higher NT-proBNP at baseline. Multivariable regression analyses demonstrated that NT-proBNP of ≥ 900 pg/ml at the time of diagnosis was predictive of failure to recover LVEDD (OR 0.22, 95% CI 0.05–0.95, P = 0.043) or LVEF (OR 0.20 [95% CI 0.04–0.89], p = 0.035) at follow-up. Conclusions We have demonstrated that NT-proBNP has a prognostic value in predicting LV recovery of patients with PPCM. Patients with NT-proBNP of ≥ 900 pg/ml were less likely to show any improvement in LVEF or LVEDD. Our findings have implications for clinical practice as patients with higher NT-proBNP might require more aggressive therapy and more intensive follow-up. Point-of-care NT-proBNP for diagnosis and risk stratification warrants further investigation.

Background Cardiac arrhythmia is an important cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in pregnancy, but is difficult to diagnose. Purpose The aim of this single-centre, prospective, randomized pilot study was to compare the implantable loop recorder (ILR) with standard assessment of arrhythmia (12-lead ECG; 24-hour Holter ECG) in terms of acceptability, detection of arrhythmias and impact on outcome in pregnant women with symptomatic arrhythmias and/or structural heart disease (SHD). Methods The study recruited 40 consecutive patients from a weekly, dedicated cardiac obstetric clinic. Inclusion criteria: symptoms of arrhythmia and/or having SHD at risk of arrhythmia. Patients were randomized to either standard care (SC) or standard care plus ILR (SC-ILR). ILR recordings were read at the monthly visits and/or when presenting with symptoms. Results There were no demographic differences between the study groups. Seventeen patients consented to ILR insertion, all of whom found the procedure acceptable. No arrhythmias were recorded by the 12-lead ECGs. Holter monitoring detected arrhythmias in 10 of 23 patients (43%) from the SC group. In the SC-ILR group, 8 of 17 patients (47%) had arrhythmias detected by Holter, whereas 13 of 17 patients (76%) patients had arrhythmias detected by ILR (p=0.157). One of 4 patients with supraventricular tachycardia, 2 of 3 patients with premature ventricular complexes and 2 patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) recorded by ILR did not have the arrhythmias detected by Holter monitoring (Figure 1A shows a scatter plot of the variable R-R intervals seen in AF and 1B a rhythm strip of AF with irregular RR intervals and the absence of P waves, both downloaded from the ILR). Four of these 5 patients (80%) had a change in management as a direct result of their ILR recordings. There were no maternal deaths up to 42 days postpartum in either of the study groups. Nine babies were born with a low birthweight ( Figure 1 Conclusion(s) This study suggests that an ILR is an acceptable diagnostic modality in pregnant women with a suspected or at risk of arrhythmia. The ILR increased the diagnostic yield to detect arrhythmias that were not detected by routine ECG and Holter monitoring which led to a change in management in the SC-ILR group and was associated with better maternal and neonatal outcomes. The impact of ILR monitoring should be further assessed in larger studies with longer follow up.