Human herpesvirus‐8 (HHV‐8) infection is associated with neoplastic and non‐neoplastic diseases in immunocompromised patients. Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is a common malignancy reported in solid organ ...transplant recipients (SOTR). Kaposi sarcoma inflammatory cytokine syndrome (KICS), initially described in HIV patients, is characterized by high viral loads, elevated levels of cytokines, cytopenia, high fever, organ failure, and poor outcome. We report the case of a 54‐year‐old patient who developed simultaneous occurrence of KS of lymph nodes and KICS as a complication of primary donor‐transmitted HHV‐8 infection, after heart transplantation (HT). The diagnosis, management, and prognosis of this condition are unclear and needs a multidisciplinary approach.
Heart failure (HF) is a leading cause of morbidity worldwide, imposing a significant burden on deaths, hospitalizations, and health costs. Anticipating patients' deterioration is a cornerstone of HF ...treatment: preventing congestion and end organ damage while titrating HF therapies is the aim of the majority of clinical trials. Anyway, real-life medicine struggles with resource optimization, often reducing the chances of providing a patient-tailored follow-up. Telehealth holds the potential to drive substantial qualitative improvement in clinical practice through the development of patient-centered care, facilitating resource optimization, leading to decreased outpatient visits, hospitalizations, and lengths of hospital stays. Different technologies are rising to offer the best possible care to many subsets of patients, facing any stage of HF, and challenging extreme scenarios such as heart transplantation and ventricular assist devices. This article aims to thoroughly examine the potential advantages and obstacles presented by both existing and emerging telehealth technologies, including artificial intelligence.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVr) in patients with cardiogenic shock and significant mitral regurgitation (MR).
Patients in cardiogenic ...shock with severe MR have a poor prognosis in the setting of conventional medical therapy. Because of its favorable safety profile, TMVr is being increasingly used as an acute therapy in this population, though its efficacy remains unknown.
A multicenter, collaborative, patient-level analysis was conducted. Patients with cardiogenic shock and moderate to severe (3+) or severe (4+) MR who were not surgical candidates were treated with TMVr. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included 90-day mortality, heart failure (HF) hospitalization, and the combined event rate of 90-day mortality and HF hospitalization following dichotomization by TMVr device success.
Between January 2011 and February 2019, 141 patients across 14 institutions met the inclusion criteria. In-hospital mortality occurred in 22 patients (15.6%), at 90 days in 38 patients (29.5%), and at one year in 55 patients (42.6%). Median length of hospital stay following TMVr was 10 days (interquartile range: 6 to 20 days). HF hospitalization occurred in 26 patients (18.4%) at a median of 73 days (interquartile range: 26 to 546 days). When stratified by TMVr procedural results, successful TMVr reduced rates of in-hospital mortality (hazard ratio HR: 0.36; 95% confidence interval CI: 0.13 to 0.98; p = 0.04), 90-day mortality (HR: 0.36; 95% CI: 0.16 to 0.78; p = 0.01), and the composite of 90-day mortality and HF hospitalization (HR: 0.41; 95% CI: 0.19 to 0.90; p = 0.03).
TMVr may improve short- and intermediate-term mortality in high-risk patients with cardiogenic shock and moderate to severe MR. Randomized studies are needed to definitively establish MR as a therapeutic target in patients with cardiogenic shock.
Display omitted
Purpose of Review
Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccines have been related to rare cases of acute myocarditis, occurring between 1 in 10,000 and 1 in 100,000 individuals, approximately. ...Incidence of COVID-19 vaccine-associated myocarditis varies with age, sex, and type of vaccine. Although most patients with acute myocarditis temporally associated with COVID-19 vaccines have an uneventful course, a small subpopulation presents with cardiogenic shock (termed fulminant myocarditis FM). This review explored the prevalence, clinical presentation, management, and prognosis of COVID-19 vaccine-associated acute myocarditis, specifically focusing on FM and comparing patients with fulminant versus non-fulminant myocarditis.
Recent Findings
Cases of FM represent about 2–4% (0 to 7.5%) of COVID-19 vaccine-associated acute myocarditis cases, and mortality is around 1%, ranging between 0 and 4.4%. First, we identified 40 cases of FM up to February 2023 with sufficient granular data from case reports and case series of COVID-19 vaccine-associated acute myocarditis that occurred within 30 days from the last vaccine injection. This population was compared with 294 cases of non-fulminant acute myocarditis identified in the literature during a similar time. Patients with FM were older (48 vs. 27 years), had a larger proportion of women (58% vs. 9%), and mainly occurred after the first shot compared with non-fulminant cases (58% vs. 16%). The reported mortality was 27% (11 out of 40), in line with non-vaccine-associated fulminant myocarditis. These data were in agreement with 36 cases of FM from a large Korean registry. Herein, we reviewed the clinical features, imaging results, and histological findings of COVID-19 vaccine-associated fulminant myocarditis.
Summary
In conclusion, COVID-19 vaccine-associated FM differs from non-fulminant forms, suggesting potential specific mechanisms in these rare and severe forms. Mortality in vaccine-associated FM remains high, in line with other forms of FM.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVr) in patients with cardiogenic shock and significant mitral regurgitation (MR).
Patients in cardiogenic ...shock with severe MR have a poor prognosis in the setting of conventional medical therapy. Because of its favorable safety profile, TMVr is being increasingly used as an acute therapy in this population, though its efficacy remains unknown.
A multicenter, collaborative, patient-level analysis was conducted. Patients with cardiogenic shock and moderate to severe (3+) or severe (4+) MR who were not surgical candidates were treated with TMVr. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included 90-day mortality, heart failure (HF) hospitalization, and the combined event rate of 90-day mortality and HF hospitalization following dichotomization by TMVr device success.
Between January 2011 and February 2019, 141 patients across 14 institutions met the inclusion criteria. In-hospital mortality occurred in 22 patients (15.6%), at 90 days in 38 patients (29.5%), and at one year in 55 patients (42.6%). Median length of hospital stay following TMVr was 10 days (interquartile range: 6 to 20 days). HF hospitalization occurred in 26 patients (18.4%) at a median of 73 days (interquartile range: 26 to 546 days). When stratified by TMVr procedural results, successful TMVr reduced rates of in-hospital mortality (hazard ratio HR: 0.36; 95% confidence interval CI: 0.13 to 0.98; p = 0.04), 90-day mortality (HR: 0.36; 95% CI: 0.16 to 0.78; p = 0.01), and the composite of 90-day mortality and HF hospitalization (HR: 0.41; 95% CI: 0.19 to 0.90; p = 0.03).
TMVr may improve short- and intermediate-term mortality in high-risk patients with cardiogenic shock and moderate to severe MR. Randomized studies are needed to definitively establish MR as a therapeutic target in patients with cardiogenic shock.
PDF
