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Aims: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of cryoballoon ablation (CBA) compared with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for symptomatic paroxysmal or drug-refractory persistent atrial fibrillation (AF)., Methods and Results: Prospective cluster cohort study in experienced CBA and RFA centres. Primary endpoint was 'atrial arrhythmia recurrence', secondary endpoints were as follows: procedural results, safety, and clinical course. A total of 4189 patients were included: CBA 2329 (55.6%) and RFA 1860 (44.4%). Cryoballoon ablation population was younger, with fewer comorbidities. Procedure time was longer in the RFA group (P = 0.01). Radiation exposure was 2487 (CBA) and 1792 cGycm2 (RFA) (P < 0.001). Follow-up duration was 441 (CBA) and 511 days (RFA) (P < 0.0001). Primary endpoint occurred in 30.7% (CBA) and 39.4% patients (RFA) [adjusted hazard ratio (adjHR) 0.85, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.70-1.04; P = 0.12). In paroxysmal AF, CBA resulted in a lower risk of recurrence (adjHR 0.80, 95% CI 0.64-0.99; P = 0.047). In persistent AF, the primary outcome was not different between groups. Major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular event rates were 1.0% (CBA) and 2.8% (RFA) (adjHR 0.53, 95% CI 0.26-1.10; P = 0.088). Re-ablations (adjHR 0.46, 95% CI 0.34-0.61; P < 0.0001) and adverse events during follow-up (adjHR 0.64, 95% CI 0.48-0.88; P = 0.005) were less common after CBA. Higher rehospitalization rates with RFA were caused by re-ablations., Conclusions: The primary endpoint did not differ between CBA and RFA. Cryoballoon ablation was completed rapidly; the radiation exposure was greater. Rehospitalization due to re-ablations and adverse events during follow-up were observed significantly less frequently after CBA than after RFA. Subgroup analysis suggested a lower risk of recurrence after CBA in paroxysmal AF., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01360008), https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01360008., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.)

Aims: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with an increased morbidity and mortality after cardiac surgery. Von Willebrand factor (vWF) has been proposed as a biomarker of endothelial damage/dysfunction. We hypothesized that vWF levels could be used as valuable biomarker for AF occurrence after cardiac surgery. Moreover, we explored the potential association between vWF and tissue remodelling as possible implication in post-surgical AF., Methods and Results: We prospectively recruited 100 consecutive patients who undergoing programmed cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass and with no previous history of AF. Plasma vWF levels were determined from citrated plasma samples. Right atrial appendage tissue was obtained during cardiac surgery, and vWF expression as well as interstitial fibrosis was analysed by immunostaining and Masson's trichrome, respectively. We found raised vWF plasma levels in ischaemic vs. valvular patients (200.2 ± 66.3 vs. 157.2 ± 84.3 IU/dL; P = 0.015). Fibrosis degree was associated with plasma vWF levels. Plasma vWF was an independent prognostic marker for AF development in ischaemic patients [odds ratio, OR 6.44 (95% confidence interval, CI 1.40-36.57), P = 0.035]., Conclusion: Plasma vWF levels are associated with tissue fibrosis in patients undergoing cardiac surgery and with post-surgical AF development in ischaemic patients. These findings suggest an association among vWF levels, atrial remodelling, and AF development. It is supported by higher vWF expression in right atrial tissue in ischaemic patients, who developed post-surgical AF., (Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author 2015. For permissions please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: The presence of bundle-branch block (BBB) is associated with high mortality rates and is considered an important predictor of poor outcome in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI)., Hypothesis: The objective of this study was to assess the prognostic significance of BBB in patients with AMI depending on its form of presentation., Methods: A multicenter prospective 1-year follow-up study involving 1,239 consecutive patients diagnosed with AMI was performed., Results: Bundle-branch block was present in 177 cases (14.2%), associated with worse clinical characteristics, lower rate of thrombolytic therapy, and higher mortality: in-hospital (23.8 vs. 9.7%, p < .01) and 1-year (40.9 vs. 16.9%, p < 0.01). Compared with right BBB (n = 135), left BBB (n = 42) was more often associated with female gender and higher prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, but had a similar 1-year mortality. In the absence of heart failure or complete atrioventricular (AV) block, there was no difference in in-hospital mortality of patients with BBB (n = 76) and without BBB (n = 786) (2.6 vs. 3.9%). Compared with existing BBB (n = 113), BBB of new appearance (n = 64) was more often accompanied by complete AV block and heart failure and higher in-hospital and 1-year mortality rates. Only BBB of new appearance was an independent predictor of mortality: in-hospital (odds ratio [OR] 2.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1-4.7) and 1-year mortality (OR 3.2, 95% CI, 1.7-9.1)., Conclusions: In patients with AMI, the classification of BBB according not only to location but also to time of appearance is of practical interest. New BBB is an independent predictor of short- and long-term mortality.

The effects of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor captopril on blood pressure, proteinuria, creatinine clearance and metabolic control in diabetic nephropathy have been evaluated. Captopril 144 mg per day was given to 8 longstanding, insulin-dependent, diabetic females with nephropathy. The blood pressure was significantly reduced (systolic 45.4, diastolic pressure 30.6 and mean arterial pressure 33.8 mm Hg after 24 weeks of treatment). Plasma renin activity rose significantly from a basal value of 1.60 to 6.71 ng.ml-1.h-1, and so did serum potassium (from 4.57 to 4.83 mEq.1-1). Serum aldosterone fell from 161 to 70.9 pgm.ml-1 and from 27.3 to 15.3 micrograms.24 h-1 in plasma and urine, respectively, after 6 months on captopril therapy. Urinary protein excretion was decreased by about 48% and creatinine clearance remained unchanged throughout the study. Plasma triglycerides and cholesterol also remained unchanged, and glycosylated haemoglobin was significantly reduced from 13.8 to 10.2% after captopril. The results suggest that captopril is a useful drug to treat hypertension in patients suffering from diabetic nephropathy, as the decline in kidney function can be reduced without impairing glucose tolerance or the lipid profile.