Interventricular and right-intraventricular dyssynchrony are detectable in patients after TOF repair by 2D speckle tracking. Reduced RV myocardial deformation and QRS prolongation are the main factors associated with the observed dyssynchrony.

BackgroundIn patients with left heart failure, micro-RNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to be of diagnostic and prognostic value. The present study aims to identify those miRNAs in patients with univentricular heart (UVH) disease that may be associated with overt heart failure.MethodsA large panel of human miRNA arrays were used to determine miRNA expression profiles in the blood of 48 UVH patients and 32 healthy controls. For further selection, the most abundantly expressed miRNA arrays were related to clinical measures of heart failure and selected miRNAs validated by polymerase chain reaction were used for the prediction of overt heart failure and all-cause mortality.ResultsAccording to microarray analysis, 50 miRNAs were found to be significantly abundant in UVH patients of which miR-150-5p was best related to heart failure parameters. According to ROC analysis, NT-proBNP levels (AUC 0.940, 95% CI 0.873–1.000; p = 0.001), miR-150-5p (AUC 0.905, 95% CI 0.779–1.000; p = 0.001) and a higher NYHA class ≥ III (AUC 0.893, 95% CI 0.713–1.000; p = 0.002) were the 3 most significant predictors of overt heart failure. Using a combined biomarker model, AUC increased to 0.980 indicating an additive value of miR-150-5p. Moreover, in the multivariate analysis, a higher NYHA class ≥ III (p = 0.005) and miR-150-5p (p = 0.006) turned out to be independent predictors of overt heart failure.ConclusionIn patients with UVH, miR-150-5p is an independent predictor of overt heart failure and thus may be used in the risk assessment of these patients.

BackgroundSoluble suppression of tumorogenicity 2 (sST2) has been shown to be of prognostic value in patients with chronic and acute left heart failure. The present study aims to assess the predictive value of sST2 levels in adult patients with complex congenital heart disease (CHD).MethodsIn 169 consecutive patients with complex CHD and a mean age of 28.2 ± 12.0 years, sST2 levels were compared to 32 healthy controls and associated with clinical status as well as the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Mean follow-up time was 35.6 ± 24.9 months.ResultsIn CHD patients, median sST2 levels were 29.7 ng/ml compared to 26.4 ng/ml in healthy controls (p = 0.007) and increased with different types of CHD and the severity of MACE. According to ROC analysis, the most important predictors of acute heart/Fontan failure were NYHA class III/IV (AUC 0.804, p<0.001, CI 0.668–0.941), NT-proBNP levels (AUC 0.794, p<0.001, CI 0.640–0.948), γGT levels (AUC 0.793, p<0.001, CI 0.678–0.909) and sST2 levels (AUC 0.742, p = 0.004, CI 0.626–0.858), with NYHA class III/IV as the strongest independent predictor (p<0.001). All-cause mortality was best predicted by sST2 levels (AUC 0.890, p<0.001, CI 0.741–1.000), NT-proBNP levels (AUC 0.875, p = 0.001, CI 0.766–0.984) and NYHA class III/IV (AUC 0.837, p = 0.003, CI 0.655–1.000) with sST2 as the strongest independent predictor (p<0.001). Moreover, AUC increased to 0.918 combining both biomarkers and net reclassification improved with the addition of sST2.ConclusionIn patients with complex CHD, sST2 may have additive value to natriuretic peptides for the prediction of all-cause mortality.

We evaluated the interaction of left atrial and ventricular diastolic performance in asymptomatic children and young adults after ToF-repair (n=25). Those young people, as well as 25 age matched healthy children and young adults were examined using non-invasive conventional echocardiography. Regional systolic and diastolic myocardial strain and strain rate in left atrium and ventricle were analysed using 2D-speckle-tracking (Vivid VII, EchoPacGE). We collected planimetric data about the left atrial and ventricular performance during systole (volumetric LVEF, LV-Tei-Index, MV-E/E'-Ratio) and diastole (LAEF, LVEDV, left atrial volume). Registration of right pulmonary-venous inflow-patterns during ventricular systole, diastole and active atrial contraction was used to support assessment of left atrial function. To verify the timing of left atrial contraction and possible electromechanical delay we measured several ECG-related time-intervals. Statistical analysis included Mann-Whitney-U-Test, Bonferroni-Holm-Test and two-tailed Spearman-Correlation. Systolic pulmonary-venous inflow in ToF-patients was not different compared to the controls. Early diastolic pulmonary-venous inflow was significantly higher in ToF-patients as well as the LV-Tei-Index. The MV-E/E'-ratio, which is closely related to LVEDP, was significantly higher in ToF-patients and correlated with the early diastolic pulmonary venous inflow parameters such as the maximum diastolic bloodflow speed. Diastolic left atrial and ventricular strain and strain rate in ToF-patients did not differ from those in the controls. During late diastole there was a significantly premature timing of maximum myocardial strain rate of the interatrial septum and time-ratio of P-wave origin to maximum reverse pulmonary-venous blood flow and the duration of one heart action. Furthermore the maximum late diastolic reverse pulmonary-venous blood flow was significantly higher in ToF-patients. Those observations indicate a premature active left atrial contraction in late diastole in ToF-patients compared to the controls. In asymptomatic young patients after ToF-repair earlier and increased left atrial contraction was found, which may indicate adaptive compensatory mechanisms to overcome latent and asymptomatic altered systolic and diastolic left ventricular performance. Extensive assessment of left atrial parameters including the pulmonary veins should be considered in terms of an entire evaluation of left heart function in patients after ToF-repair.

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