Abstract The optimal timing of valve surgery remains controversial. Biomarkers can be serially monitored and are objective laboratory measurements. Plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and its ...N-terminal pro-form are well known predictors in heart failure. Diastolic stretch induces cardiomyocyte BNP expression in volume-loaded conditions like aortic or mitral regurgitation (MR) or pressure-loaded conditions like aortic stenosis (AS). Here, we review the value of natriuretic peptide measurements in valve disease. Cardiac decompensation is reflected by increased BNP in AS and in MR. Repeated marked increases in natriuretic peptides are a potential indication for valve replacement in severe asymptomatic AS with normal ejection fraction and exercise test results. High BNP level also predicts postoperative outcome. Increased BNP level is associated with low-flow AS, impaired left ventricular longitudinal strain, and myocardial fibrosis. The BNP ratio to the reference value for age and sex incrementally predicts mortality in AS. Increased BNP reflects the hemodynamic consequences of MR and is associated with exercise-induced pulmonary-arterial hypertension and reduced contractile reserve. In severe primary MR, increased and serially increasing BNP or N-terminal pro-form BNP might be helpful in guiding early mitral replacement. In conclusion, baseline (N-terminal pro-form) BNP should be obtained in all severe valve disease patients and interpreted together with clinical and echocardiography findings. Very high BNP values are associated with increased mortality and should lead to close monitoring peri- and postoperatively. Progressively increasing BNP in asymptomatic patients points to advancing valve disease. BNP adds important incremental prognostic information that is useful for valve patient management and for optimal timing of surgery in particular.
Background No randomized comparison of early (ie, ≤3 months) aortic valve replacement (AVR) versus conservative management or of transcatheter AVR (TAVR) versus surgical AVR has been conducted in ...patients with low-flow, low-gradient (LFLG) aortic stenosis (AS). Methods and Results A total of 481 consecutive patients (75±10 years; 71% men) with LFLG AS (aortic valve area ≤0.6 cm
/m
and mean gradient <40 mm Hg), 72% with classic LFLG and 28% with paradoxical LFLG, were prospectively recruited in the multicenter TOPAS (True or Pseudo Severe Aortic Stenosis) study. True-severe AS or pseudo-severe AS was adjudicated by flow-independent criteria. During follow-up (median IQR 36 11-60 months), 220 patients died. Using inverse probability of treatment weighting to address the bias of nonrandom treatment assignment, early AVR (n=272) was associated with a major overall survival benefit (hazard ratio HR, 0.34 95% CI, 0.24-0.50;
<0.001). This benefit was observed in patients with true-severe AS but also with pseudo-severe AS (HR, 0.38 95% CI, 0.18-0.81;
=0.01), and in classic (HR, 0.33 95% CI, 0.22-0.49;
<0.001) and paradoxical LFLG AS (HR, 0.42 95% CI, 0.20-0.92;
=0.03). Compared with conservative management in the conventional multivariate model, trans femoral TAVR was associated with the best survival (HR, 0.23 95% CI, 0.12-0.43;
<0.001), followed by surgical AVR (HR, 0.36 95% CI, 0.23-0.56;
<0.001) and alternative-access TAVR (HR, 0.51 95% CI, 0.31-0.82;
=0.007). In the inverse probability of treatment weighting model, trans femoral TAVR appeared to be superior to surgical AVR (HR 95% CI 0.28 0.11-0.72;
=0.008) with regard to survival. Conclusions In this large prospective observational study of LFLG AS, early AVR appeared to confer a major survival benefit in both classic and paradoxical LFLG AS. This benefit seems to extend to the subgroup with pseudo-severe AS. Our findings suggest that TAVR using femoral access might be the best strategy in these patients. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT01835028.
This position statement from the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology Cardio‐Oncology Study Group in collaboration with the International Cardio‐Oncology Society presents ...practical, easy‐to‐use and evidence‐based risk stratification tools for oncologists, haemato‐oncologists and cardiologists to use in their clinical practice to risk stratify oncology patients prior to receiving cancer therapies known to cause heart failure or other serious cardiovascular toxicities. Baseline risk stratification proformas are presented for oncology patients prior to receiving the following cancer therapies: anthracycline chemotherapy, HER2‐targeted therapies such as trastuzumab, vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors, second and third generation multi‐targeted kinase inhibitors for chronic myeloid leukaemia targeting BCR‐ABL, multiple myeloma therapies (proteasome inhibitors and immunomodulatory drugs), RAF and MEK inhibitors or androgen deprivation therapies. Applying these risk stratification proformas will allow clinicians to stratify cancer patients into low, medium, high and very high risk of cardiovascular complications prior to starting treatment, with the aim of improving personalised approaches to minimise the risk of cardiovascular toxicity from cancer therapies.
While anti‐cancer therapies, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted therapy, are constantly advancing, cardiovascular toxicity has become a major challenge for ...cardiologists and oncologists. This has led to an increasing demand of cardio‐oncology units in Europe and a growing interest of clinicians and researchers. The Heart Failure 2019 meeting of the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology in Athens has therefore created a scientific programme that included four dedicated sessions on the topic along with several additional lectures. The major points that were discussed at the congress included the implementation and delivery of a cardio‐oncology service, the collaboration among cardio‐oncology experts, and the risk stratification, prevention, and early recognition of cardiotoxicity. Furthermore, sessions addressed the numerous different anti‐cancer therapies associated with cardiotoxic effects and provided guidance on how to treat cancer patients who develop cardiovascular disease before, during, and after treatment.
Cancer and heart failure (HF) are common medical conditions with a steadily rising prevalence in industrialized countries, particularly in the elderly, and they both potentially carry a poor ...prognosis. A new diagnosis of malignancy in subjects with pre‐existing HF is not infrequent, and challenges HF specialists as well as oncologists with complex questions relating to both HF and cancer management. An increased incidence of cancer in patients with established HF has also been suggested. This review paper summarizes the epidemiology and the prognostic implications of cancer occurrence in HF, the impact of pre‐existing HF on cancer treatment decisions and the impact of cancer on HF therapeutic options, while providing some practical suggestions regarding patient care and highlighting gaps in knowledge.
Targeted agents have significantly improved outcomes in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma, and are changing long‐term expectations in these patients. Experience with these agents ...highlights a distinct safety and tolerability profile, differing from that observed with conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Cardiovascular adverse events have been observed when treating with targeted agents. This is of particular importance for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma who are elderly and present with significant comorbidities. A multidisciplinary approach and close collaboration between oncologists and cardiologists is essential for optimal management of cardiovascular adverse events. Strategies for the management of these adverse events include assessment of cardiovascular status at baseline and at regular intervals, patient education, and the use of supportive medication. Effective therapy management allows patients with cardiovascular adverse events to receive and continue targeted therapy with careful monitoring. Implementation of therapy management measures contributes towards maximizing treatment outcomes with targeted agents in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
Abstract
As advances in oncology therapies lead to significant improvement in life expectancy of many cancer entities, short-, and long-term cardiac side effects of oncology treatments gain ...increasing importance. In search of new screening modalities, echocardiography currently presents the best established and clinically easily feasible tool to detect cardiotoxicity in patients undergoing cancer therapy. This review focusses on the most commonly used oncology therapies and aims to give a practical approach to guide clinicians caring for this growing number of patients.
We sought to assess the outcome of asymptomatic patients with very severe aortic stenosis.
We prospectively followed 116 consecutive asymptomatic patients (57 women; age, 67 + or - 16 years) with ...very severe isolated aortic stenosis defined by a peak aortic jet velocity (AV-Vel) > or = 5.0 m/s (average AV-Vel, 5.37 + or - 0.35 m/s; valve area, 0.63 + or - 0.12 cm(2)). During a median follow-up of 41 months (interquartile range, 26 to 63 months), 96 events occurred (indication for aortic valve replacement, 90; cardiac deaths, 6). Event-free survival was 64%, 36%, 25%, 12%, and 3% at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 years, respectively. AV-Vel but not aortic valve area was shown to independently affect event-free survival. Patients with an AV-Vel > or = 5.5 m/s had an event-free survival of 44%, 25%, 11%, and 4% at 1, 2, 3, and 4 years, respectively, compared with 76%, 43%, 33%, and 17% for patients with an AV-Vel between 5.0 and 5.5 m/s (P<0.0001). Six cardiac deaths occurred in previously asymptomatic patients (sudden death, 1; congestive heart failure, 4; myocardial infarction, 1). Patients with an initial AV-Vel > or = 5.5 m/s had a higher likelihood (52%) of severe symptom onset (New York Heart Association or Canadian Cardiovascular Society class >II) than those with an AV-Vel between 5.0 and 5.5 m/s (27%; P=0.03).
Despite being asymptomatic, patients with very severe aortic stenosis have a poor prognosis with a high event rate and a risk of rapid functional deterioration. Early elective valve replacement surgery should therefore be considered in these patients.
During the ‘Heart Failure and World Congress on Acute Heart Failure 2018’, many sessions and lectures focused on cardio‐oncology. This important field of research is constantly growing, and ...therefore, a great amount of time during the congress focused on it. Prevention and early recognition of side effects is very important in cancer patients. One of the most common and potentially severe problems during antineoplastic therapy is cardiotoxicity. Hence, cardio‐oncology is vital in managing cancer patients. This paper will summarize the topics discussed in three main sessions and many additional lectures throughout the ‘Heart Failure and World Congress on Acute Heart Failure 2018’. The covered topics included pathophysiological mechanisms in the development of heart failure, risk factors, and early signs of cardiotoxicity detectable with different circulating and imaging biomarkers, as well as cardioprotective treatments recommended by different guidelines and position papers.
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