Background Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) has been linked to increased cardiovascular risk. We aim to determine the prognostic value of TMAO and its dietary precursors, choline and betaine, in heart failure (HF). Methods and Results In 112 patients with chronic systolic HF with comprehensive echocardiographic evaluation, we measured plasma TMAO, choline, and betaine by mass spectrometry. Median TMAO levels, choline, and betaine levels were 5.8 [3.6, 12.1] μM, 10.9 [8.4, 14.0] μM, 43.8 [37.1, 53.0] μM, respectively, and were correlated with each other (all p<0.0001 for both). TMAO levels were significantly higher in patients with diabetes mellitus (9.4 [4.9, 13.2] vs 4.8 [3.4, 9.8] μM, p=0.005) and in subjects with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III or greater (7.0 [4.7, 14.8] vs 4.7 [3.4, 11.3] μM, p=0.02). Elevated TMAO, choline, and betaine levels were each associated with higher plasma NT-proBNP levels and more advanced left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, but not systolic dysfunction or inflammatory and endothelial biomarkers. Higher choline (Hazard ratio (HR) 1.64 [95% CI: 1.22 2.20], p=0.001), betaine (HR 1.51 [1.10–2.08], p=0.01), and TMAO (HR 1.48 [1.10–1.96], p=0.01) predicted increased risk for 5-year adverse clinical events (death/transplant). Only higher TMAO levels predicted incident adverse clinical events independent of age, eGFR, mitral E/septal Ea, and NT-proBNP levels (HR 1.46 [1.03 2.14], p=0.03). Conclusion Elevated plasma TMAO, choline and betaine levels are each associated with more advanced left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and portend poorer long-term adverse clinical outcomes in chronic systolic HF. However, only higher plasma TMAO levels was associated with poor prognosis after adjustment for cardio-renal indices.

Objective Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is an endogenous counter-regulator of the renin-angiotensin system. The relationship between soluble ACE2 (sACE2), myocardial function, and clinical outcomes in patients with chronic systolic heart failure is not well established. Methods We measured sACE2 activity in 113 patients with chronic systolic heart failure (left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] ≤ 35%, NYHA class II-IV). Comprehensive echocardiography was performed at the time of blood sampling. We prospectively examined adverse clinical events (death, cardiac transplant, and heart failure hospitalizations) over 34 ± 17 months. Results Patients who had higher sACE2 plasma activity were more likely to have a lower LVEF (Spearman’s r= −0.36, p <0.001), greater RV systolic dysfunction (r=0.33, p<0.001), higher estimated pulmonary artery systolic pressure (r=0.35, p=0.002), larger LV end diastolic diameter (r=0.23, p=0.02), and higher plasma NT-proBNP levels (r=0.35, p<0.001). sACE2 was less associated with diastolic dysfunction (r=0.19, p=0.05), and was similar between patients with ischemic and non-ischemic cardiomyopathies. There was no relationship between sACE2 activity and markers of systemic inflammation. After adjusting for NT-proBNP and LVEF, sACE2 activity remained an independent predictor of adverse clinical events (HR=1.7 [95% CI: 1.1 – 2.6], p=0.018). Conclusions Elevated plasma sACE2 activity was associated with greater severity of myocardial dysfunction and was an independent predictor of adverse clinical events.

Background The development of worsening renal function (WRF, defined as creatinine rise ≥0.3 mg/dL) occurs frequently in the setting of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) and strongly predicts adverse clinical outcomes. Neutrophil gelatinase–associated lipocalin (NGAL) is produced by the nephron in response to tubular epithelial damage and serves as an early marker for acute renal tubular injury. We sought to determine the relationship between admission serum NGAL levels and WRF in the setting of ADHF. Methods and Results We measured serum NGAL levels in 91 patients admitted to the hospital with ADHF. Patients were adjudicated by independent physician into those that did or did not develop WRF over the ensuing 5 days of in-hospital treatment. In our study cohort (68% male, mean age 61 ± 15 years, mean left ventricular ejection fraction 31 ± 14%), median admission serum NGAL level was 165 ng/mL (interquartile range [IQR] 108–235 ng/mL). Thirty-five patients (38%) developed WRF within the 5-day follow-up. Patients who developed WRF versus those without WRF had significantly higher median admission serum NGAL levels (194 [IQR 150–292] ng/mL vs. 128 [IQR 97–214] ng/mL, P = .001). High serum NGAL levels at admission were associated with greater likelihood of developing WRF (odds ratio: 1.92, 95% confidence interval 1.23–3.12, P = .004). In particular, admission NGAL ≥140 ng/mL had a 7.4-fold increase in risk of developing WRF, with a sensitivity and specificity of 86% and 54%, respectively. Conclusions The presence of elevated admission serum NGAL levels is associated with heightened risk of subsequent development of WRF in patients admitted with ADHF.

The prevalence of LA/LAA sludge/thrombus in patients with AF undergoing a pre-PVI screening TEE is very low (<2%) and increases significantly with higher CHADS(2) scores. This suggests that a screening TEE before PVI should be performed in patients with a CHADS(2) score of >or=1, and in patients with a CHADS(2) score of 0 when the AF is persistent and therapeutic anticoagulation has not been maintained for 4 weeks before the procedure.

Galectin-3 plays an important role in fibroblast activation and fibrosis in animal models. Elevated galectin-3 levels are associated with poor long-term survival in heart failure (HF). We examined the relation between plasma galectin-3 levels and myocardial indices of systolic HF. We measured plasma galectin-3 in 133 chronic HF and 45 advanced decompensated HF subjects with echocardiographic and hemodynamic evaluation. In our chronic HF cohort, median plasma galectin-3 level was 13.9ng/mL [interquartile range: 12.1–16.9ng/mL]. Higher galectin-3 was associated with more advanced age (r=0.22, p=0.010) and poor renal function (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR]: r= −0.24, p=0.007; cystatin C: r= 0.38, p<0.0001), and predicted all-cause mortality (Hazard ratio [HR] 1.86 [95% confidence interval: 1.36–2.54], p<0.001). In multivariate analysis, galectin-3 remained an independent predictor of all-cause mortality after adjusting for age, eGFR, left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF), and mitral E/septal Ea (HR 1.94 [1.30–2.91], p=0.001). However, galectin-3 did not predict the combined endpoint of all-cause mortality, cardiac transplantation, or HF hospitalization (p>0.05). Furthermore, there were no relations between galectin-3 and LV end-diastolic volume index (r= −0.05, p=0.61), LVEF (r= 0.10, p=0.25), or LV diastolic function (mitral E/septal Ea: r= 0.06, p=0.52; left atrial volume index: r= 0.08, p=0.41). In our advanced decompensated HF cohort, we did not observe any relation between galectin-3 and echocardiographic or hemodynamic indices. In conclusion, high plasma galectin-3 levels were associated with renal insufficiency and poorer survival in patients with chronic systolic HF. However, we did not observe a relation between galectin-3 and echocardiographic or hemodynamic indices.

In chronic systolic HF, elevated plasma MPO levels are associated with an increased likelihood of more advanced HF. Moreover, elevated plasma MPO levels within a HF subject seem to be predictive of increased adverse clinical outcomes.

In patients with chronic systolic HF, RAVI is a determinant of right-sided systolic dysfunction. This quantitative and reproducible echocardiographic marker provides independent risk prediction of long-term adverse clinical events.

BACKGROUND Cardiac dysfunction influences candidate selection for kidney transplantation. There is a paucity of data regarding predictors of myocardial recovery following kidney transplantation as well as long-term outcomes. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to identify the extent of reverse remodeling in our kidney transplant population as well as predictors of such changes and assess outcomes in these patients. METHODS We reviewed 232 patients who underwent kidney transplantation at the Cleveland Clinic from 2003 to 2013 and had baseline and post-transplant echocardiograms, excluding those with simultaneous heart transplantation. RESULTS Post-transplant median left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) improved in those with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction (increased from 41% to 50%; p < 0.0001; n = 66). There was significant improvement in other parameters including diastolic function, LV end-diastolic dimension, LV mass, and right ventricular systolic pressure. After adjusting for multiple clinical variables, increased hemoglobin following transplantation was associated with improved LVEF (odds ratio: 1.50; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07 to 2.14; p = 0.016) and reduced mortality (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.49 to 0.87; p = 0.004). Improved LVEF ≥10% predicted survival independent of pre-transplant LVEF (HR: 0.46; 95% CI: 0.21 to 0.93; p = 0.031). CONCLUSIONS Kidney transplantation is associated with improved cardiac structure and function. A rise in post-transplant hemoglobin was a significant factor associated with such changes, in addition to conferring a survival advantage.