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BACKGROUND: Clinical trials inform on average efficacy, but individualized risk assessments for outcome prediction are important in guiding treatment implementation. OBJECTIVES: The authors developed and validated a patient-specific risk score to predict survival at 1 and 2 years after HeartMate 3 (HM3) left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. METHODS: The MOMENTUM 3 (Multicenter Study of MagLev Technology in Patients Undergoing Mechanical Circulatory Support Therapy with HeartMate 3) trial includes 2,200 HM3 LVAD patients in the pivotal trial and Continued Access Protocol study (2014-2018). The authors randomly assigned all patients to a derivation cohort (n = 1,540) or validation cohort (n = 660). Univariate mortality predictors were screened for potential model inclusion, stepwise selection was used to build the multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model, and performance (discrimination and calibration) was evaluated. RESULTS: Age, prior cardiac surgery (coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG] or valve procedure), lower serum sodium, higher blood urea nitrogen (BUN), small left ventricular size, and right atrial pressure-to-pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (RAP/PCWP) ratio >0.6 were significant risk factors for mortality. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis in the validation cohort demonstrated an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.76 (95% CI: 0.70-0.81) at 1 year and 0.71 (95% CI: 0.66-0.77) at 2 years. Calibration between predicted and observed survival of the risk quintiles was high, with Pearson correlation coefficients of 0.986 and 0.994 at 1 and 2 years, respectively. Patients were successfully stratified into tertiles with higher-than-average, average, and lower-than-average survival, and observed mortality risk increased by 2-fold from one tertile to the next. CONCLUSIONS: A practical, easy-to-use HM3 Survival Risk Score with 6 components was developed to accurately predict 1- and 2-year survival after HM3 LVAD implantation. The survival risk score can be used to provide individual survival estimates to facilitate shared decision making when considering HM3 LVAD therapy. (MOMENTUM 3 Trial Portfolio; NCT02224755, NCT02892955).

Summary Background Previous studies have suggested that haemodynamic-guided management using an implantable pulmonary artery pressure monitor reduces heart failure hospitalisations in patients with moderately symptomatic (New York Heart Association [NYHA] functional class III) chronic heart failure and a hospitalisation in the past year, irrespective of ejection fraction. It is unclear if these benefits extend to patients with mild (NYHA functional class II) or severe (NYHA functional class IV) symptoms of heart failure or to patients with elevated natriuretic peptides without a recent heart failure hospitalisation. This trial was designed to evaluate whether haemodynamic-guided management using remote pulmonary artery pressure monitoring could reduce heart failure events and mortality in patients with heart failure across the spectrum of symptom severity (NYHA funational class II–IV), including those with elevated natriuretic peptides but without a recent heart failure hospitalisation. Methods The randomised arm of the haemodynamic-GUIDEed management of Heart Failure (GUIDE-HF) trial was a multicentre, single-blind study at 118 centres in the USA and Canada. Following successful implantation of a pulmonary artery pressure monitor, patients with all ejection fractions, NYHA functional class II–IV chronic heart failure, and either a recent heart failure hospitalisation or elevated natriuretic peptides (based on a-priori thresholds) were randomly assigned (1:1) to either haemodynamic-guided heart failure management based on pulmonary artery pressure or a usual care control group. Patients were masked to their study group assignment. Investigators were aware of treatment assignment but did not have access to pulmonary artery pressure data for control patients. The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause mortality and total heart failure events (heart failure hospitalisations and urgent heart failure hospital visits) at 12 months assessed in all randomly assigned patients. Safety was assessed in all patients. A pre-COVID-19 impact analysis for the primary and secondary outcomes was prespecified. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT03387813 . Findings Between March 15, 2018, and Dec 20, 2019, 1022 patients were enrolled, with 1000 patients implanted successfully, and follow-up was completed on Jan 8, 2021. There were 253 primary endpoint events (0·563 per patient-year) among 497 patients in the haemodynamic-guided management group (treatment group) and 289 (0·640 per patient-year) in 503 patients in the control group (hazard ratio [HR] 0·88, 95% CI 0·74–1·05; p=0·16). A prespecified COVID-19 sensitivity analysis using a time-dependent variable to compare events before COVID-19 and during the pandemic suggested a treatment interaction (pinteraction=0·11) due to a change in the primary endpoint event rate during the pandemic phase of the trial, warranting a pre-COVID-19 impact analysis. In the pre-COVID-19 impact analysis, there were 177 primary events (0·553 per patient-year) in the intervention group and 224 events (0·682 per patient-year) in the control group (HR 0·81, 95% CI 0·66–1·00; p=0·049). This difference in primary events almost disappeared during COVID-19, with a 21% decrease in the control group (0·536 per patient-year) relative to pre-COVID-19, virtually no change in the treatment group (0·597 per patient-year), and no difference between groups (HR 1·11, 95% CI 0·80–1·55; p=0·53). The cumulative incidence of heart failure events was not reduced by haemodynamic-guided management (0·85, 0·70–1·03; p=0·096) in the overall study analysis but was significantly decreased in the pre-COVID-19 impact analysis (0·76, 0·61–0·95; p=0·014). 1014 (99%) of 1022 patients had freedom from device or system-related complications. Interpretation Haemodynamic-guided management of heart failure did not result in a lower composite endpoint rate of mortality and total heart failure events compared with the control group in the overall study analysis. However, a pre-COVID-19 impact analysis indicated a possible benefit of haemodynamic-guided management on the primary outcome in the pre-COVID-19 period, primarily driven by a lower heart failure hospitalisation rate compared with the control group. Funding Abbott.

Increased left ventricular dilation and reduced systolic function are consistently associated with a poor prognosis and worse clinical outcomes. In this review, we discuss the pathophysiological me...

Background Morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19 has increased exponentially, and patients with cardiovascular (CV) disease are at risk for poor outcomes. Several lines of evidence suggest a potential role for CV therapies in COVID-19 treatment. Characteristics of clinical trials of CV therapies related to COVID-19 registered on ClinicalTrials.gov have not been described. Methods ClinicalTrials.gov was queried on August 7, 2020 for COVID-19 related trials. Studies evaluating established CV drugs, other fibrinolytics (defibrotide), and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation were included. Studies evaluating anti-microbial, convalescent plasma, non-colchicine anti-inflammatory, and other therapies were excluded. Trial characteristics were tabulated from study-specific entries. Results A total of 2,935 studies related to COVID-19 were registered as of August 7, 2020. Of these, 1,645 were interventional studies, and the final analytic cohort consisted of 114 studies evaluating 10 CV therapeutic categories. Antithrombotics (32.5%; n = 37) were most commonly evaluated, followed by pulmonary vasodilators (14.0%; n = 16), renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system-related therapies (12.3%; n = 14), and colchicine (8.8%; n = 10). Trials evaluating multiple CV therapy categories and CV therapies in combination with non-CV therapies encompassed 4.4% (n = 5) and 9.6% (n = 11) of studies, respectively. Most studies were designed for randomized allocation (87.7%; n = 100), enrollment of less than 1000 participants (86.8%; n = 99), single site implementation (55.3%; n = 63), and had a primary outcome of mortality or a composite including mortality (56.1%; n = 64). Most study populations consisted of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 (81.6%; n = 93). At the time of database query, 28.9% (n = 33) of studies were not yet recruiting and the majority were estimated to be completed after December 2020 (67.8%; n = 78). Most lead sponsors were located in North America (43.9%; n = 50) or Europe (36.0%; n = 41). Conclusions A minority (7%) of clinical trials related to COVID-19 registered on ClinicalTrials.gov plan to evaluate CV therapies. Of CV therapy studies, most were planned to be single center, enroll less than 1000 inpatients, sponsored by European or North American academic institutions, and estimated to complete after December 2020. Collectively, these findings underscore the need for a network of sites with a platform protocol for rapid evaluation of multiple therapies and generalizability to inform clinical care and health policy for COVID-19 moving forward.

Cardiac allografts from donors with a history of cocaine use (DHCU) are often discarded owing to concerns regarding organ quality. We investigated long-term outcomes of de novo adult heart transplantation (HTx) using DHCU.Using the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation Thoracic Organ Transplant Registry, we identified 24,430 adult recipients of primary, deceased donor, heart-alone transplants between January 1, 2000, and June 30, 2013. Transplants were categorized on the basis of DHCU. Survival rates were compared using Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests.A total of 3,246 (13.3%) HTx were performed using DHCU during the study period. Of these, 1,477 (45.5%) were classified as current users. Organs from DHCU were transplanted at a later sequence number (data from a sub-group of patients transplanted in the United States) than those from the non-cocaine use group (mean sequence number 16.1 ± 55.6 vs 11.5 ± 38.2; p0.001), suggesting higher decline rates by centers. Kaplan-Meier estimates of survival were not different between groups (p = 0.16), with post-transplant survival rates at 1, 5, and 10 years of 88.1%, 75.8%, and 58.5%, respectively, in the non-cocaine use group and 90.0%, 76.7%, and 59.7%, respectively, in the DHCU group. On multivariate analysis, DHCU were not associated with mortality (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.94; 95% CI: 0.88-1.00; p = 0.050), cardiac allograft vasculopathy (HR: 1.02; 95% CI: 0.94-1.11; p = 0.56), or allograft rejection (HR: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.92-1.05; p = 0.61).Our findings demonstrate that adult HTx performed using DHCU is not associated with an adverse impact on long-term clinical outcomes. These findings should spur efforts to reduce discard rates of organs from DHCU.

Objectives This study sought to determine the frequency, incidence rates over time, association with mortality, and potential risk factors for hemocompatibility-related adverse events (HRAEs) occurring during venoarterial-extracorporeal life support (VA-ECLS). Background HRAEs are common complications of VA-ECLS. Studies examining relevant clinical predictors and the association of HRAEs with survival are limited by small sample size and single-center setting. Methods We queried adult patients supported with VA-ECLS from 2010 to 2017 in the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization database to assess the impact of HRAEs on in-hospital mortality. Results Among 11,984 adults meeting study inclusion, 8,457 HRAEs occurred; 62.1% were bleeding events. The HRAE rate decreased significantly over the study period (p trend Conclusions Although decreasing, HRAEs remain common during VA-ECLS and have a cumulative association with survival. Bleeding events are twice as common as thrombotic events, with a hierarchy of HRAEs influencing survival. Differential risk factors for bleeding and thrombotic complications exist and raise the possibility of a tailored approach to ECLS management.

Substantial progress in the field of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) has expanded the treatment options for patients with advanced-stage heart failure (HF). Currently available MCS devices can be implanted percutaneously or surgically. They can also be configured to support the left, right, or both ventricles, offering varying levels of circulatory support. Short-term temporary MCS devices are primarily used in high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention, cardiogenic shock, and post-cardiac arrest, while durable left ventricular assist systems (LVAS) are increasingly utilized either as a bridge-to-transplant, bridge to decision, or as a destination therapy. The evolution from older pulsatile devices to continuous-flow LVAS and the incorporation of smaller pumps, with no valves, fewer moving parts, and improved hemocompatibility has translated into improved clinical outcomes, greater durability, fewer adverse events, and reduced overall cost of care. However, despite marked advances in device design and clinical management, determining MCS candidacy is often difficult and requires the integration of clinical, biomarker, imaging, exercise, and hemodynamic data. This review aims to provide a summary of the current use of short-term and durable MCS devices in the treatment of advanced-stage HF, highlighting several aspects of LVAS support and the challenges that remain.

To understand the challenges for thoracic transplantation and mechanical circulatory support during the current coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, we propose separating the effects of the pandemic into 5 distinct stages from a healthcare system perspective. We discuss how the classical ethical principles of utility, justice, and efficiency may need to be adapted, and we give specific recommendations for thoracic transplantation and mechanical circulatory support centers to balance their clinical decisions and strategies for advanced heart and lung disease during the current pandemic.

Objectives This study investigated the effects of a mid-trial protocol amendment requiring elevated natriuretic peptides for inclusion in the COMMANDER-HF (A Study to Assess the Effectiveness and Safety of Rivaroxaban in Reducing the Risk of Death, Myocardial Infarction, or Stroke in Participants with Heart Failure and Coronary Artery Disease Following an Episode of Decompensated Heart Failure) trial. Background Heart failure (HF) trials that select patients based on history of HF hospitalization alone are susceptible to regional variations in event rates. Elevated plasma concentrations of natriuretic peptides (NPs) as selection criteria may help HF ascertainment and risk enrichment. In the COMMANDER-HF trial, B-type natriuretic peptide ≥200 ng/l or N-terminal pro–B-type natriuretic peptide ≥800 ng/l were added to inclusion criteria as a mid-trial protocol amendment, providing a unique case-study of NP-based inclusion criteria. Methods We compared the baseline characteristics, event rates, and treatment effects for patients enrolled before and after the NP protocol amendment. The primary endpoint was all-cause death, myocardial infarction, or stroke. Secondary endpoints included HF rehospitalization and cardiovascular death. Results A total of 5,022 patients with left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40% and coronary artery disease were included. Compared to patients enrolled before the NP protocol amendment, those enrolled post-amendment (n = 3,867, 77%) were older, more often had diabetes, and had lower values for body mass index, left ventricular ejection fraction, and estimated glomerular filtration rate, higher heart rate, and higher event rates: primary endpoint (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.32; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16 to 1.50), cardiovascular death (HR: 1.29; 95% CI: 1.11 to 1.50), HF rehospitalization (HR: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.15 to 1.49), and major bleeding (HR: 1.71; 95% CI: 1.11 to 2.65). Differences between pre- and post-amendment rates were confined to and driven by Eastern Europe. This protocol amendment did not modify the neutral effect of rivaroxaban on the primary endpoint (p interaction = 0.36) or secondary endpoints. Conclusions In a global event-driven trial of rivaroxaban in HF, requiring elevated NPs for inclusion increased event rates allowing earlier completion of the trial but did not modify treatment effect. These data inform future HF trials regarding the expected impact of NP-based inclusion criteria on patient characteristics and event rates. (COMMANDER HF [A Study to Assess the Effectiveness and Safety of Rivaroxaban in Reducing the Risk of Death, Myocardial Infarction, or Stroke in Participants With Heart Failure and Coronary Artery Disease Following an Episode of Decompensated Heart Failure] NCT01877915)

Early generation left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) for treatment of refractory heart failure attempted to mimic the pulsatility of a native heart and were bulky and less durable due to valves within the inflow and outflow pathways. The next disruption came with the introduction of continuous flow pumps characterized by a low-pulse pressure circulation. Since the mechanism of action did not involve displacement of blood, these pumps were much smaller and less noisy in part due to fewer moving parts. Such devices include the HeartMate II axial-flow pathway pump which is implanted thoraco-abdominally and the HVAD, a centrifugal-flow pathway pump which is smaller and is implanted entirely within the thoracic cavity and uses a combination of hydrodynamic and magnetic levitation of the internal rotor. These pumps improved survival compared with the early generation LVADs and in a trial, the HVAD demonstrated non-inferiority compared with the HeartMate II but with an increase in ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. The HeartMate 3 LVAD is an intrapericardial centrifugal-flow pathway pump with a full magnetically levitated, frictionless rotor with a fixed intrinsic pulse. In a randomized trial, the HeartMate 3 "hybrid" pump was associated with near-elimination of pump thrombosis, a reduction in strokes of any type or severity and lower mucosal bleeding rates. Despite improvements in hemocompatibility, right heart failure and infections contribute to significant morbidity, and devices designed to be internally contained with a wireless power source and physiological flow characteristics are still required despite great strides in the field.

Anticoagulation before, during, and after heart transplantation (HT) presents unique challenges to clinicians. Bleeding and thrombotic morbidity continues to affect this patient population throughout all phases of the HT journey. Reversal is commonly required since patients are commonly bridged to HT with left ventricular assist devices, which require chronic anti platelet and anticoagulation. Caution must be exercised in patients requiring cardiopulmonary bypass during surgery who are at risk of complications from heparin induced thrombocytopenia. The reported incidence of venous thromboembolism following HT is high, particularly during the first post-HT year, most likely due to surgery, biopsies, specific immunosuppression (mTOR inhibitors) and immobilization. It is crucial to maintain long-term oral anticoagulation after the first venous thromboembolism event, especially when risk factors exist. A major issue, and one for which there remains considerable debate, is the optimal treatment of such complications, particularly upper extremity venous thrombosis. For both warfarin and the thrombin inhibitors or Factor Xa inhibitors, the clinician must determine potential drug interactions based on the HT drug regimen, and then develop a patient-specific management strategy.

Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV)-mediated by a heterogeneous myriad of immune and non-immune factors, which contribute to the progressive and diffuse thickening of the arterial allograft's tunica intima in one distinct form of CAV, and the build-up of plaque in another-is a major limiting factor of long-term survival post heart transplantation. Information on the optimal pharmacotherapeutic approaches for the prevention and management of CAV is conflicting, scattered, and inconsistent, with numerous recent studies adding to the literature. In this paper, we present a go-to clinical resource with the most updated and comprehensive information on the topic. Immunosuppressant therapy remains a staple, with mTOR inhibitors and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) showing direct correlation with CAV prevention. More data is now available with calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) minimizing or sparing regimens. More novel approaches are being investigated for the roles of monoclonal antibodies, anti-thymocyte globulin, and bortezomib in preventing or delaying CAV. On the other hand, statins' established efficacy is attributed to lipid-lowering and lipid-independent immunomodulatory effects, with early initiation associated with improved outcomes. The choice of statin is dependent on drug-drug interactions. Other aiding approaches for the prevention of CAV include antioxidant vitamins, aspirin, vasodilators, folate therapy, and, most pertinently, cytomegalovirus prophylaxis. Larger clinical trials are needed before these options are institutionalised. For management of established CAV, early initiation of augmented immunosuppressive therapies may be effective, as well as CNI conversion to mTOR inhibitors with or without standard MMF and azathioprine therapy. Risk of acute rejection needs to be monitored during conversion. Finally, preclinical investigations highlight novel potential therapies for CAV prevention and attenuation, however robust clinical trials are needed to test their efficacy and safety.

BACKGROUND: Gut microbial imbalance may contribute to endotoxemia, inflammation, and oxidative stress in heart failure (HF). Changes occurring in the intestinal microbiota and inflammatory/oxidative milieu during HF progression and following left ventricular assist device (LVAD) or heart transplantation (HT) are unknown. We aimed to investigate variation in gut microbiota and circulating biomarkers of endotoxemia, inflammation, and oxidative stress in patients with HF (New York Heart Association, Class I–IV), LVAD, and HT. METHODS: We enrolled 452 patients. Biomarkers of endotoxemia (lipopolysaccharide and soluble [sCD14]), inflammation (C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and endothelin-1 adiponectin), and oxidative stress (isoprostane) were measured in 644 blood samples. A total of 304 stool samples were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing. RESULTS: Gut microbial community measures of alpha diversity were progressively lower across worsening HF class and were similarly reduced in patients with LVAD and HT (p < 0.05). Inflammation and oxidative stress were elevated in patients with Class IV HF vs all other groups (all p < 0.05). Lipopolysaccharide was elevated in patients with Class IV HF (vs Class I–III) as well as in patients with LVAD and HT (p < 0.05). sCD14 was elevated in patients with Class IV HF and LVAD (vs Class I–III, p < 0.05) but not in patients with HT. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced gut microbial diversity and increased endotoxemia, inflammation, and oxidative stress are present in patients with Class IV HF. Inflammation and oxidative stress are lower among patients with LVAD and HT relative to patients with Class IV HF, whereas reduced gut diversity and endotoxemia persist in LVAD and HT.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to describe our experience with fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography computed tomography (PET/CT) in diagnosing left ventricular assist device (LVAD) infections and perform a meta-analysis of published studies to determine overall diagnostic accuracy. BACKGROUND: Device-related infections are a common complication of LVADs and are linked to worse outcomes. Diagnosis of LVAD infections remains challenging. FDG PET/CT has demonstrated good diagnostic accuracy in several other infectious conditions. METHODS: This was a single-center, retrospective case series of FDG PET/CT scans in suspected LVAD infection between September 2015 and February 2018. A systematic review of PubMed from database inception through March 2018 was also conducted to identify additional studies. RESULTS: Nineteen FDG PET/CT scans were identified for the retrospective case series. The systematic review identified an additional 3 publications, for a total of 4 studies involving 119 scans assessing diagnostic performance. Axial (n = 36) and centrifugal (n = 83) flow LVADs were represented. Pooled sensitivity was 92% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 82% to 97%) and specificity was 83% (95% CI: 24% to 99%) for FDG PET/CT in diagnosing LVAD infections. Summary receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated an AUC of 0.94 (95% CI: 0.91 to 0.95). CONCLUSIONS: FDG PET/CT for suspected LVAD infections demonstrates good diagnostic accuracy, with overall high sensitivity but variable specificity.

Background Hemodynamic-guided heart failure (HF) management using pulmonary artery (PA) pressures reduces HF hospitalizations (HFHs) in previously hospitalized HF patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III symptoms. It remains uncertain whether this approach reduces not only HFHs but all-cause mortality and if benefits extend to patients with NYHA class II and IV HF or to those symptomatic patients with elevated natriuretic peptides without recent HFH. Methods GUIDE-HF is a prospective trial with 2 arms enrolling patients with HF regardless of ejection fraction (EF). The randomized arm is a single-blind, randomized, controlled trial of PA pressure-guided therapy in NYHA class II-IV patients (n = 1,000) with either a previous HFH or elevated natriuretic peptides (B-type natriuretic peptide/NT-pro–B-type natriuretic peptide). All consenting subjects will receive an implantable PA pressure sensor (CardioMEMS HF System) followed by randomization to either a treatment group, managed with provider remote access to the hemodynamic data, or a control group, managed without provider access to these data. Subjects in the control group will receive scheduled, scripted, sham contacts from the study team to maintain blinding as to their study group assignment. The primary study end point is the composite of cumulative HF events and all-cause mortality at 12 months. Secondary end points include quality-of-life and functional assessments. The single arm of the trial is an observational arm in which NYHA class III patients (n = 2,600) with either a previous HFH or elevated natriuretic peptides (but no recent HFH) will be implanted with a PA pressure sensor and observed for occurrence of the primary composite end point of cumulative HF events and mortality at 12 months. This arm will test the hypothesis that hemodynamic-guided care is similarly effective in HF patients enrolled on the basis of elevated natriuretic peptide levels but no recent HFH and those with a recent HFH. Conclusions GUIDE-HF is the largest clinical trial of hemodynamic-guided HF management across a broad population of HF patients, with a study design and sample size adequate to examine survival, cumulative HF events, quality of life, and functional capacity.

Increased shear stress conferred upon the circulation by continuous-flow pumps is associated with hemocompatibility-related adverse events, principally bleeding within the gastrointestinal system, and linked to the degradation of high-molecular-weight multimers (HMWMs) of von Willebrand factor (vWF). We evaluated the structure and functional characteristics of vWF HMWMs in patients with the fully magnetically levitated centrifugal-flow HeartMate 3 (HM3) and the continuous axial-flow HeartMate II (HMII) pump. Findings were correlated with bleeding events.In a prospective, multicenter, comparative cohort study, 60 patients from the Multicenter Study of MagLev Technology in Patients Undergoing Mechanical Circulatory Support Therapy With HeartMate 3 Continued Access Protocol (NCT02892955) with an HM3 pump were compared with 30 randomly selected HMII patients from the PREVENtion of HeartMate II Pump Thrombosis study (NCT02158403) biobank. The primary end point was the difference in the normalized vWF HMWM ratio (ratio of the HMWMs to the intermediate- and low-molecular-weight multimers, normalized to pooled plasma from healthy volunteers) between the HM3 and the HMII pump at 90 days after implantation. Assay tests for vWF activity, vWF antigen, vWF activity to antigen ratio, coagulation factor VIII activity, and ADAMTS13 activity were measured by using standard protocols. Differences in these markers were compared in the context of clinical characteristics and correlated with adjudicated bleeding events within the HM3 group.Of 51 and 29 evaluable patients in the HM3 and HMII arms, respectively, those implanted with the HM3 pump exhibited greater preservation of the vWF HMWM ratio than those with the HMII pump at 90 days after implantation (54.1% vs 42.4%, p0.0001). Laboratory values for all vWF assays (antigen, activity, and coagulation factor VIII activity) remained within the normal functional range with no significant differences observed between the pumps at 90 days after implantation. At baseline, there was a decrease in the structural integrity of vWF HMWMs that correlated with increasing heart failure severity as measured by the Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support profile. Multivariable modeling identified the HM3 pump as the only independent variable that determined post-implantation preservation of the structural integrity of vWF HMWMs.This prospective, multicenter comparative analysis study demonstrates that the fully magnetically levitated centrifugal-flow HM3 left ventricular assist device is associated with greater preservation of the structure of vWF HMWMs than the HMII mechanical bearing axial-flow pump.

BACKGROUND In this study we sought to evaluate risk factors (RFs) for death or heart transplantation (D-HT) in single-ventricle (SV) physiology due to tricuspid atresia (TA), pulmonary atresia‒intact ventricular septum (PA-IVS), and heterotaxy with SV (HX), clinical conditions for which outcome data are limited. METHODS To conduct a systematic review, we included citations that evaluated occurrence of D-HT in SV physiology of TA, PA-IVS, and HX in English articles published between January 1998 and December 2017 based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The Cochrane Risk of Bias in Non-Randomized Studies-Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool for non-randomized studies was used to assess the risk of bias. Meta-analysis was performed if RF data were available in more than 3 studies. RESULTS Of 11,629 citations reviewed, 30 met inclusion criteria. All 30 were observational, retrospective studies. In all, 1,770 patients were included, 481 died and 21 underwent HT (63 lost to follow-up); 723 patients reached Fontan completion. We found that systemic ventricular dysfunction (odds ratio [OR] 20.7, confidence interval [CI] 10.0–42.5, I2 = 0%) and atrioventricular valve regurgitation (AVR) were associated with risk of D-HT (OR 3.7, CI 1.9–6.9, I2 = 14%). RF associations with D-HT could not be derived for right ventricle‒dependent coronary circulation, pulmonary arteriovenous malformations, total anomalous pulmonary venous return, arrhythmias, and pulmonary atresia. CONCLUSIONS This systematic review and meta-analysis has identified a high mortality rate in children born with non-HLHS SV heart disease and points to potential under-utilization of HT. Systemic ventricular dysfunction and AVR were identified as RFs for D-HT in this subset of patients SV with TA, PA-IVS, and HX.

In the throes of the COVID-19 crisis, a curious medical fact has emerged. The virus attacks universally and with high efficiency; however, its most menacing progression uniquely endangers the elderly, especially those with cardiovascular illness such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and coronary

Summary Background Hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, often in combination with a second-generation macrolide, are being widely used for treatment of COVID-19, despite no conclusive evidence of their benefit. Although generally safe when used for approved indications such as autoimmune disease or malaria, the safety and benefit of these treatment regimens are poorly evaluated in COVID-19. Methods We did a multinational registry analysis of the use of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine with or without a macrolide for treatment of COVID-19. The registry comprised data from 671 hospitals in six continents. We included patients hospitalised between Dec 20, 2019, and April 14, 2020, with a positive laboratory finding for SARS-CoV-2. Patients who received one of the treatments of interest within 48 h of diagnosis were included in one of four treatment groups (chloroquine alone, chloroquine with a macrolide, hydroxychloroquine alone, or hydroxychloroquine with a macrolide), and patients who received none of these treatments formed the control group. Patients for whom one of the treatments of interest was initiated more than 48 h after diagnosis or while they were on mechanical ventilation, as well as patients who received remdesivir, were excluded. The main outcomes of interest were in-hospital mortality and the occurrence of de-novo ventricular arrhythmias (non-sustained or sustained ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation). Findings 96 032 patients (mean age 53·8 years, 46·3% women) with COVID-19 were hospitalised during the study period and met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 14 888 patients were in the treatment groups (1868 received chloroquine, 3783 received chloroquine with a macrolide, 3016 received hydroxychloroquine, and 6221 received hydroxychloroquine with a macrolide) and 81 144 patients were in the control group. 10 698 (11·1%) patients died in hospital. After controlling for multiple confounding factors (age, sex, race or ethnicity, body-mass index, underlying cardiovascular disease and its risk factors, diabetes, underlying lung disease, smoking, immunosuppressed condition, and baseline disease severity), when compared with mortality in the control group (9·3%), hydroxychloroquine (18·0%; hazard ratio 1·335, 95% CI 1·223–1·457), hydroxychloroquine with a macrolide (23·8%; 1·447, 1·368–1·531), chloroquine (16·4%; 1·365, 1·218–1·531), and chloroquine with a macrolide (22·2%; 1·368, 1·273–1·469) were each independently associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality. Compared with the control group (0·3%), hydroxychloroquine (6·1%; 2·369, 1·935–2·900), hydroxychloroquine with a macrolide (8·1%; 5·106, 4·106–5·983), chloroquine (4·3%; 3·561, 2·760–4·596), and chloroquine with a macrolide (6·5%; 4·011, 3·344–4·812) were independently associated with an increased risk of de-novo ventricular arrhythmia during hospitalisation. Interpretation We were unable to confirm a benefit of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, when used alone or with a macrolide, on in-hospital outcomes for COVID-19. Each of these drug regimens was associated with decreased in-hospital survival and an increased frequency of ventricular arrhythmias when used for treatment of COVID-19. Funding William Harvey Distinguished Chair in Advanced Cardiovascular Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Background Concerns remain about the burden of nursing care required to implement pulmonary artery pressure monitoring of heart failure patients. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients (N = 15) with a PAP sensor at our center. We defined three categories of PAP activity and estimated the nursing time spent on PAP monitoring. Results During the 6 months after implantation, the median patient contact time was 67 (55–75) minutes/patient/month and the median frequency of patient contact was 5.8 (4.6–6.4) contacts/patient/month. The intensity of nurse-patient contact decreased after the first 3 months (81 [52–102] minutes/patient/month vs. 45 [29–61] minutes/patient/month; P = 0.005). Conclusions The intensity of nurse-patient contact increased significantly after PAP sensor implantation but declined after the first 3 months with medical stabilization. These data from our center may serve as a benchmark to project the nursing time required to support PAP monitoring in practice.

Background The HeartMate 3 left ventricular assist system is engineered to avoid pump thrombosis, yet bleeding complications persist. We investigated the safety of low-intensity anti-coagulation in patients with the HeartMate 3. Methods The M inimal A nticoa G ulation E valuatio N T o a U gment he M ocompatibility (MAGENTUM 1) pilot study is a prospective, single-arm study of low-intensity warfarin anti-coagulation in patients implanted with the HeartMate 3 pump. After standard warfarin anti-coagulation (international normalized ratio [INR] 2.0 to 3.0) and aspirin for 6 weeks post-implant, patients were transitioned to a lower INR target range of 1.5 to 1.9. The primary end-point was a composite of survival free of pump thrombosis, disabling stroke (modified Rankin score [MRS] >3), or major bleeding (excluding peri-operative bleeding) with at least 6-month post-implant follow-up. Time in therapeutic range (TTR) was measured to assess anti-coagulation target efficacy using the Rosendaal method. A safety algorithm to monitor for signs of pump thrombosis was developed and implemented. Results We enrolled 15 patients (mean age 57.3 ± 13.3 years), 13 men with advanced heart failure (67% with INTERMACS Profiles 2 or 3), irrespective of therapeutic goal of bridge-to-transplant or destination therapy. The primary end-point was met in 14 of 15 (93 ± 6%) patients; 1 patient developed recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding . The TTR during the reduced anti-coagulation phase (6 weeks to 6 months) was 75.3 ± 8.6%. No thrombotic events occurred. Conclusions This pilot study suggests low-intensity anti-coagulation targeting an INR between 1.5 and 1.9 is achievable and safe with the HeartMate 3 cardiac pump in the short-term phase, 6-months post-implant. A large-scale trial is now warranted.

Background Primary outcomes analysis of the Multicenter Study of MagLev Technology in Patients Undergoing MCS Therapy With HeartMate 3 (MOMENTUM 3) trial short-term cohort demonstrated a higher survival rate free of debilitating stroke and reoperation to replace/remove the device (primary end-point) in patients receiving the HeartMate 3 (HM3) compared with the HeartMate (HMII). In this study we sought to evaluate the individual and interactive effects of pre-specified patient subgroups (age, sex, race, therapeutic intent [bridge to transplant/bridge to candidacy/destination therapy] and severity of illness) on primary end-point outcomes in MOMENTUM 3 patients implanted with HM3 and HMII devices. Methods Cox proportional hazard models were used to analyze patients enrolled in the “as-treated cohort” ( n = 289) of the MOMENTUM 3 trial to: (1) determine interaction of various subgroups on primary end-point outcomes; and (2) identify independent variables associated with primary end-point success. Results Baseline characteristics were well balanced among HM3 ( n = 151) and HMII ( n = 138) cohorts. No significant interaction between the sub-groups on primary end-point outcomes was observed. Cox multivariable modeling identified age (≤65 years vs >65 years, hazard ratio 0.42 [95% confidence interval 0.22 to 0.78], p = 0.006]) and pump type (HM3 vs HMII, hazard ratio 0.53 [95% confidence interval 0.30 to 0.96], p = 0.034) to be independent predictors of primary outcomes success. After adjusting for age, no significant impact of sex, race, therapeutic intent and INTERMACS profiles on primary outcomes were observed. Conclusions This analysis of MOMENTUM 3 suggests that younger age (≤65 years) at implant and pump choice are associated with a greater likelihood of primary end-point success. These findings further suggest that characterization of therapeutic intent into discrete bridge-to-transplant and destination therapy categories offers no clear clinical advantage, and should ideally be abandoned.

Cardiovascular (CV) disease is a leading cause of death among 15 million cancer survivors in the United States today [(1)][1]. Mitigating CV risk in this population should be a priority for both oncologists and cardiologists. Most patients with cancer undergo nongated chest computed tomography (

Background Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality after orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT). Little is known about the influence of aspirin on clinical expression of CAV. Methods We followed 120 patients with OHT at a single center for a median of 7 years and categorized them by the presence or absence of early aspirin therapy post-transplant (aspirin treatment ≥6 months in the first year). The association between aspirin use and time to the primary end-point of angiographic moderate or severe CAV (International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation grade ≥2) was investigated. Propensity scores for aspirin treatment were estimated using boosting models and applied by inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). Results Despite a preponderance of risk factors for CAV among patients receiving aspirin (male sex, ischemic heart disease as the etiology of heart failure, and smoking), aspirin therapy was associated with a lower rate of moderate or severe CAV at 5 years. Event-free survival was 95.9% for patients exposed to aspirin compared with 79.6% for patients without aspirin exposure (log-rank p = 0.005). IPTW-weighted Cox regression revealed a powerful inverse association between aspirin use and moderate to severe CAV (adjusted hazard ratio 0.13; 95% confidence interval 0.03–0.59), which was directionally consistent for CAV of any severity (adjusted hazard ratio 0.50; 95% confidence interval 0.23–1.08). Conclusions This propensity score–based comparative observational analysis suggests that early aspirin exposure may be associated with a reduced risk of development of moderate to severe CAV. These findings warrant prospective validation in controlled investigations.