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Aims Left ventricular reverse remodelling (LVRR) is a well-established predictor of a good prognosis in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The prediction of LVRR is important when developing a long-term treatment strategy. This study aimed to assess the clinical predictors of LVRR and establish a scoring system for predicting LVRR in patients with DCM that can be used at any institution. Methods and results We consecutively enrolled 131 patients with DCM and assessed the clinical predictors of LVRR. LVRR was defined as an absolute increase in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) from ≥10% to a final value of >35%, accompanied by a decrease in left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD) ≥ 10% on echocardiography at 1 ± 0.5 years after a diagnosis of DCM. The mean patient age was 50.1 ± 11.9 years. The mean LVEF was 32.2 ± 9.5%, and the mean LVEDD was 64.1 ± 12.5 mm at diagnosis. LVRR was observed in 45 patients (34%) at 1 ± 0.5 years. In a multivariate analysis, hypertension [odds ratio (OR): 6.86; P = 0.002], no family history of DCM (OR: 10.45; P = 0.037), symptom duration <90 days (OR: 6.72; P < 0.001), LVEF <35% (OR: 13.66; P < 0.0001), and QRS duration <116 ms (OR: 5.94; P = 0.005) were found to be independent predictors of LVRR. We scored the five independent predictors according to the ORs (1 point, 2 points, 1 point, 2 points, and 1 point, respectively), and the total LVRR predicting score was calculated by adding these scores. The LVRR rate was stratified by the LVRR predicting score (0-2 points: 0%; 3 points: 6.7%; 4 points: 17.4%; 5 points: 48.2%; 6 points: 79.2%; and 7 points: 100%). The cutoff value of the LVRR predicting score was >5 in receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis (area under the curve: 0.89; P < 0.0001; sensitivity: 87%; specificity: 78%). An LVRR predicting score of >5 was an independent predictor compared with the presence of late gadolinium enhancement on cardiovascular magnetic resonance or the severity of fibrosis on endomyocardial biopsy (OR: 11.79; 95% confidence interval: 2.40-58.00; P = 0.002). Conclusions The LVRR predicting score using five predictors including hypertension, no family history of DCM, symptom duration <90 days, LVEF <35%, and QRS duration <116 ms can stratify the LVRR rate in patients with DCM. The LVRR predicting score may be a useful clinical tool that can be used easily at any institution.

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Background: Chromogenic anti-factor Xa activity (AXA) assay is reported to be the most appropriate method to measure the pharmacodynamics of apixaban, but the distribution of AXA in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients on apixaban therapy has not been fully elucidated.Methods and Results: Steady-state trough and peak AXA were measured in 124 NVAF patients taking apixaban. In 25 patients, baseline, first peak, and trough AXA were also examined, and were 0.01±0.02 IU/ml, 0.83±0.43 IU/ml, and 0.34±0.17 IU/ml, respectively. First trough AXA was significantly lower than steady-state trough AXA, although it was significantly higher than baseline (P<0.0001). Similarly, first peak AXA was significantly lower than steady-state peak AXA (P<0.0001). In 124 patients, steady-state peak AXA was significantly higher in the 5-mg b.i.d. group than in the 2.5-mg b.i.d. group (2.05±0.73 IU/ml vs. 1.51±0.65 IU/ml, respectively; P<0.001), although there was no significant difference in trough AXA. Other than dose, age and serum creatinine were significantly related to both trough and peak AXA. Conclusions:The distribution of AXA in Japanese NVAF patients on apixaban therapy in daily clinical practice both in the acute and steady-state phase was measured. In patients taking apixaban, measurement of AXA clearly showed the pharmacodynamic profile of this drug. (Circ J 2015; 79: 2584 -2590

BackgroundDabigatran is a direct thrombin inhibitor used to decrease the risk of ischemic stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Its prodrug, dabigatran etexilate (DE) is often co-administrated with a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) because of its adverse effects on the gastrointestinal tract. Drug-drug interactions between DE and PPIs in daily clinical practice have not been fully elucidated.MethodsChanges in blood dabigatran concentration (DC) were investigated using the dilute thrombin time test in a randomized, open-label, two-period crossover study including 34 Japanese patients with NVAF receiving dabigatran therapy with or without PPI.ResultsThe average trough DC was significantly higher without PPI than with PPI (83 ± 42.3 vs. 55.5 ± 24.6 ng/mL, respectively; P < 0.001). Similarly, the average peak DC was significantly higher without PPI than with PPI (184.1 ± 107.7 vs. 124 ± 59.2 ng/mL, respectively; P = 0.0029). The average ratio of DC change at the trough and peak levels did not differ significantly among the three PPI types.ConclusionsPPI administration significantly decreased the trough and peak DCs in patients with NVAF. Therefore, when prescribing PPIs for patients with NVAF in a clinical setting, the possibility that the bioavailability of dabigatran may decrease should be considered.