Objectives: To improve the understanding of the association between electrocardiographic)ECG(abnormalities and clinical outcomes of patients with all types of intracranial hemorrhage)ICH(. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in a tertiary healthcare hospital on patients with ICH without cardiac disease or renal disease requiring dialysis. Demographic and clinical data were collected from hospital records. ECG record were Original Article obtained within 24 hours of presentation and prior to treatment. Records were interpreted for this study by a cardiologist blinded to other data. Results: Assessment of 291 patients)228 adults and 63 children(showed that subdural hemorrhage was the most common type of ICH)31.6%(followed by intraparenchymal hemorrhage)23.0%(. ECG records were available for 98 patients. ECG abnormalities were most commonly nonspecific ST-segment changes)32.6%(. In adults, history of neurological disease was associated with atrioventricular block)p=.004(and QTc prolongation)p=.041(. Pediatric patients exhibited associations between ST-segment changes)p=.045(and sinus tachycardia)p=.027(and type of ICH. However, ECG changes were not statistically associated with clinical outcomes in adults or children. Conclusion: Significant ECG changes frequently occurred in patients with all types of ICH but did not consistently predict the outcome in this study. Close observation of patients is still recommended to detect ECG changes that could affect the treatment.

Introduction: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) with multipoint left ventricular (LV) pacing (MultiPoint Pacing, MPP) has been shown to improve CRT response, although MPP response using automated pacing vector programming has not been demonstrated in the Middle East. Objective: Compare the impact of MPP to conventional biventricular pacing (BiV) using echocardiographic and clinical changes at 6 months post-implant. Methods: This prospective, randomized study was conducted at 13 Middle Eastern centers. After de novo CRT-D implant (Abbott Unify Quadra MP or Quadra Assura MP) with quadripolar LV lead (Abbott Quartet), patients were randomized to either BiV or MPP therapy. In BiV patients, the LV pacing vector was selected per standard practice; in MPP patients, the two LV pacing vectors were selected automatically using VectSelect. CRT response was defined at 6 months post-implant by a reduction in LV end-systolic volume (ESV) [?]15%. Results: One-hundred and forty-two patients (61 years old, 68% male, NYHA class II/III/IV 19%/75%/6%, 33% ischemic, 57% hypertension, 52% diabetes, 158 ms QRS, 25.8% ejection fraction [EF]) were randomized to either BiV (N=69) or MPP (N=73). After 6 months,

Introduction: Alström syndrome, ALMS (OMIM 203800) is a rare multi-systemic disease. The characteristic clinical features include blindness due to progressive cone-rod dystrophy, sensorineural hearing loss, type 2 diabetes mellitus, dilated cardiomyopathy, and childhood obesity. The aim of this study was to identify the genetic cause of Alström syndrome in patients who presented with variable clinical characteristics. Material and methods: Clinical phenotyping and whole exome sequencing were performed in Saudi Alström syndrome patients. The Sanger sequencing was done to ascertain the segregation of Alström syndrome causative mutation in the family members. The rare prevalence of this mutation was further established by sequencing an additional 100 healthy Saudi controls. Results: Whole exome sequencing analysis revealed that Alström syndrome patients have inherited a novel homozygous protein truncating mutation (c.2938dupA) in the ALMS1 gene segregated in an autosomal recessive fashion. This variant was absent in healthy controls. Genotype-phenotype analysis showed its interesting association with intra-familial clinical variability with regards to vision abnormalities, age at onset of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), obesity and hearing loss symptoms in the Alström syndrome patients. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the atypical presentation of Alström syndrome, even within siblings, could sometimes lead to clinical misdiagnosis. Hence, the present study emphasizes the utility of exome sequencing to support the clinical diagnosis of Alström syndrome patients.

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Evidence of cardiovascular complications associated with the COVID-19 global pandemic continues to evolve. These include direct and indirect myocardial injury with subsequent acute myocardial ischemia, and cardiac arrhythmia. Some results from a limited number of trials of antiviral medications, along with chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, have been beneficial. However, these pharmacotherapies may cause drug-induced QT prolongation leading to ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Mitigation of the potential risk in these susceptible patients may prove exceptionally challenging. The Saudi Heart Rhythm Society established a task force to perform a review of this subject based on has recently published reports, and studies and recommendations from major medical organizations. The objective of this review is to identify high-risk patients, and to set clear guidelines for management of patients receiving these pharmacotherapies.

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