The primary systemic vasculitides are rare diseases characterized by vessel wall inflammation. Isolated pulmonary vasculitis, large-vessel vasculitis, and Behçet’s disease are mimickers of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH); group IV pulmonary hypertension (PH) can occur as a devastating complication in the course of these diseases. Pulmonary endarterectomy, balloon angioplasty, anticoagulation and pulmonary vasodilator agents are the main treatment options for CTEPH. There is no specific recommendation for the treatment of patients having group IV PH due to primary systemic vasculitides. We reviewed herein data about group IV PH due to primary systemic vasculitides.

Background: Atrial fibrillation is a common arrhythmia. Cryoablation is a treatment for atrial fibrillation, which has achieved remarkable results. But there are still many problems worthy of improvement and discussion. We aim to evaluate the scientific outputs of global cryoablation of atrial fibrillation research, providing new ideas and directions for further research.

Methods: The data were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection on July 28, 2022. Bibliometrics tools—CiteSpace V, Microsoft Excel 2019, and the Online Analysis Platform of Literature Metrology—were used for bibliometric analysis of the published outputs.

Results: A total of 1676 research articles were obtained from the Web of Science Core Collection published between 2002 and 2022, and the number of annual publications has gradually increased, with a slight decline in 2006-2008, 2011-2012, and 2021, reaching a peak in 2020. The institution with the highest number of research publications in this field was Asklepios Klin St. Georg, followed by Vrije Univ Brussel. The most productive researchers were Carlo De Asmundis, Gianbattista Chierchia, Pedro Brugada, Karlheinz Kuck, and Andreas Metzner. The most prolific journal has been the US publication Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology, and Europace from England ranked second. The article “Cryoballoon or Radiofrequency Ablation for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation” ranked first among all cited articles. Burst detection analysis of top keywords suggested that follow-up, task force, trial, phrenic nerve injury, and radiofrequency ablation were research hotspots.

Conclusion: This study provides a comprehensive overview of cryoablation in atrial fibrillation research using bibliometric and visual methods, which will help researchers better understand the development status and trends in this field.

Background: Some patients undergoing catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation may develop typical atrial flutter on follow-up, and a second procedure for typical atrial flut-ter is often required in such patients. In this study, we aimed to define the variables asso-ciated with the development of typical atrial flutter after ablation.

Methods: One hundred fifty-nine patients who underwent catheter ablation for the first time due to atrial fibrillation and who did not have a previously documented atrial flutter were included in the study. Before ablation, baseline clinical features and echocardiographic parameters were recorded. At the 1st, 3rd, 6th, and 12th months after the procedure, and then annually, the patients were followed up for typical atrial flutter development.

Results: At a mean follow-up of 34.0 (14.0-50.0) months, typical atrial flutter developed in 21 (13.2%) patients. During the follow-up, right atrial diameter was greater in those who developed typical atrial flutter than those who did not [39.0 (38.0-43.0) vs. 36.0 (34.0-39.0) mm, P <.001]. A multiple Cox regression analysis showed that the right atrial diameter was the only independent predictor of typical atrial flutter development (hazard ratio = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.02-1.23, P =.021). A receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that the best cutoff for the right atrial diameter was 38.5 mm to predict typical atrial flutter development (area under the curve = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.67-0.86, sensitivity = 62%, specificity
= 75%, P <.001).

Conclusion: In patients undergoing catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation, a pre-procedural right atrial diameter measurement may predict typical atrial flutter development at follow-up. In particular, patients with a pre-procedural right atrial diameter ≥39 mm may be at a higher risk for developing typical atrial flutter in the future.

Background: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is the source of the global pandemic known as coronavirus disease 2019, and the disease prognosis is also linked to the prevalence of cardiac problems. In our study, we aimed to contribute to the early diagnosis and treatment of cardiac complications by evaluating ischemic modified albumin levels in adults with coronavirus disease 2019 disease.

Methods: Our study was conducted with a total of 176 cases: group 1 (n = 70) with cardiac injury and coronavirus disease 2019 (+), group 2 (n = 57) with cardiac injury and coronavirus disease (−), and group 3 (n = 49) with healthy volunteers. The Mann–Whitney U test, the average, SD, minimum and maximum values, intergroup comparison of the results, and
statistical significance were evaluated with the Pearson correlation coefficient.

Results: As a result of the bilateral comparisons, ischemic modified albumin measurements of the coronavirus disease 2019 (+) and coronavirus disease 2019 (−) groups were higher than the control group (P =.006 and P =.006, respectively). There was no statisti-cally significant difference between ischemic modified albumin measurements of coronavirus disease 2019 (+) and coronavirus disease 2019 (−) groups.

Conclusion: Ischemic modified albumin measurement accelerates the diagnosis and treatment process in the evaluation of cardiac injuries in coronavirus disease 2019 patients.

Background: The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) is a biomarker of plasma atherogenicity. Elevated AIP is linked with adverse cardiac events. We sought to examine the association of admission AIP and no-reflow phenomenon (NRP) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patient population treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: Eight hundred eight-four ACS patients were included to statistical tests retrospectively and classified according to the occurrence of NRP: NRP (−) (n = 662) and NRP (+) (n = 186). AIP levels were calculated through the formula log10 (triglyceride-to-high-den sity lipoprotein cholesterol ratio).

Results: AIP levels were higher in NRP (+) patients compared to NRP (−) group patients. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis for AIP to predict NRP yielded an area under the ROC curve value 0.643 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.596-0.690, P <.001]. AIP was associated with NRP in univariate logistic regression analysis [Odds Ratio (OR): 2.46; P =.001; CI: 1.44 (lower limit)-4.21 (upper limit)]. However, AIP did not emerge as a significant prognostic factor of NRP in multiple logistic regression analysis [OR: 2.11; P =.422; CI: 0.34 (lower limit)-13.11 (upper limit)]. On the other hand, peak troponin T (log10) was an independent prognostic factor for NRP [OR: 0.13; P <.001; CI: 0.10 (lower limit)-0.37 (upper limit)] occurrence.

Conclusion: The AIP level on admission is not a statistically significant prognostic factor of NRP. However, peak troponin T (log10) is an independent prognostic parameter of NRP.

Background: Among patients with acute heart failure, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is closely related with admission blood pressure. However, it is unclear whether the systolic blood pressure is associated with the LVEF in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients. we evaluated the predictive value of admission SBP in AMI patients with different LVEF status.

Methods: Data were from our hospital database bank. 4114 patients were included in this analysis. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to their LVEF in the first echocardiography record after admission. Patients were categorized into 4 groups (SBP 90-99 mm Hg, SBP 100-119 mm Hg, SBP 120-139 mm Hg, and SBP ≥140 mm Hg) based on SBP level at admission.

Results: The mean age was 64.9 ± 12.5 years and 28% were female. For patients of LVEF < 50% in the lowest SBP group (SBP 90-99 mm Hg), the incidence of in-hospital cardiovascular death was significantly higher than other SBP groups (reference: SBP 90-99 mm Hg) (adjusted OR = 0.267, 95% CI: 0.113-0.728 for SBP 120-139 mm Hg, P =.004 and OR = 0.241, 95% CI: 0.089-0.651 for SBP ≥ 140 mm Hg, P =.005). Patients of LVEF ≥50% in the highest SBP group (SBP ≥ 140 mm Hg) were at higher risk of cardiogenic mortality during long-term follow-up (reference: SBP ≥140 mm Hg) (adjusted HR = 0.313, 95% CI: 0.489-0.962 for SBP 100-119 mm Hg, P <.001, HR = 0.701, 95% CI: 0.488-0.987 for SBP 120-139 mm Hg, P =.003, and HR = 0.554, 95% CI: 0.198-0.837 for SBP 90-99 mm Hg, P =.001).

Conclusion: SBP 90-99 mm Hg were associated with increased in-hospital cardiovascular death in AMI population with LVEF < 50%, and SBP > 140 mm Hg were associated with increased long-term cardiovascular death in AMI subjects with LVEF >50%.