Brian Bridal Løgstrup

Bio: Brian Bridal Løgstrup is an academic researcher from Aarhus University Hospital. The author has contributed to research in topics: Heart failure & Myocardial infarction. The author has an hindex of 18, co-authored 66 publications receiving 778 citations. Previous affiliations of Brian Bridal Løgstrup include Odense University Hospital & Aarhus University.

Myocardial oedema in acute myocarditis detected by echocardiographic 2D myocardial deformation analysis

Abstract: Aims The clinical diagnosis of acute myocarditis is based on symptoms, electrocardiography, elevated myocardial necrosis biomarkers, and echocardiography. Often, conventional echocardiography reveals no obvious changes in global cardiac function and therefore has limited diagnostic value. Myocardial deformation imaging by echocardiography is an evolving method used to characterize quantitatively longitudinal systolic function, which may be affected in acute myocarditis. The aim of our study was to assess the utility of echocardiographic deformation imaging of the left ventricle in patients with diagnosed acute myocarditis in whom cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) evaluation was performed. Methods and results We included 28 consecutive patients (mean age 32 ± 13 years) with CMR-verified diagnosis of acute myocarditis according to the Lake Louise criteria. Cardiac function was evaluated by a comprehensive assessment of left ventricular (LV) function, including 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography. We found no significant correlation between the peak values of cardiac enzymes and the amount of myocardial oedema assessed by CMR (troponin: r = 0.3; P = 0.05 and CK-MB: r = 0.1; P = 0.3). We found a larger amount of myocardial oedema in the basal part of the left ventricle [American Heart Association (AHA) segments 1–6] in inferolateral and inferior segments, compared with the anterior, anterolateral, anteroseptal, and inferoseptal segments. In the mid LV segments (AHA segments 7–12), this was more pronounced in the anterior, anterolateral, and inferolateral segments. Among conventional echocardiographic parameters, LV function was not found to correlate with the amount of myocardial oedema of the left ventricle. In contrast, we found the wall motion score index to be significantly correlated with the amount of myocardial oedema, but this correlation was only present in patients with an extensive amount of oedema (>11% of the total left ventricle). Global longitudinal systolic myocardial strain correlated significantly with the amount of oedema ( r = 0.65; P < 0.001). We found that both the epicardial longitudinal and the endocardial longitudinal systolic strains were significantly correlated with oedema ( r = 0.55; P = 0.003 and r = 0.54; P < 0.001). Conclusion In patients with acute myocarditis, 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography was a useful tool in the diagnostic process of acute myocarditis. Global longitudinal strain adds important information that can support clinical and conventional echocardiographic evaluation, especially in patients with preserved LV ejection fraction in relation to the diagnosis and degree of myocardial dysfunction.

Changes in Longitudinal Myocardial Deformation during Acute Cardiac Rejection: The Clinical Role of Two-Dimensional Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography

Abstract: Background Diagnosing and monitoring acute cellular rejection (ACR) is a major objective in the surveillance of heart-transplanted patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of global longitudinal strain (GLS), measured by two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography, as a noninvasive tool for graft function monitoring in relation to ACR. Methods The study population consisted of all heart-transplanted patients who underwent biopsy and corresponding echocardiography at one institution from 2011 to 2013 ( n = 64). ACR was classified according to the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation (0R–3R). Changes in graft function were serially evaluated before, during, and in the resolving period after ACR. Results No sign of rejection was seen in 268 biopsies (52.7%), minimal rejection (1R) in 202 biopsies (39.7%), and moderate rejection (2R) in 39 biopsies (7.7%); no patients had severe (3R) rejection. A significant difference in GLS was observed comparing the groups with 0R (−15.5%; 95% confidence interval, −16.2% to −14.2%), 1R (−15.3%; 95% confidence interval, −16.0% to −14.6%), and 2R (−13.8%; 95% confidence interval, −14.6% to −12.9%) rejection ( P 2 years) after transplantation. In the serial assessment, GLS was decreasing significantly at the time of moderate 2R rejection and improved significantly in the resolving period. The traditional diastolic Doppler parameters, E-wave deceleration time and isovolumetric relaxation time, were unaffected by rejections, whereas the E/A and E/e′ ratios were significantly higher in the 2R group ( P = .004 and P = .01) compared with the 0R and 1R groups. Conclusions GLS is significantly reduced during moderate (2R) ACR and improves significantly in the resolving period. The present results provide encouraging evidence to consider the routine use of GLS as a marker of graft function involvement during ACR.

Left ventricular global systolic longitudinal deformation and prognosis 1 year after femoral and apical transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Abstract: Background Aortic valve replacement is the recommended therapy for patients with severe aortic stenosis who have symptoms or decreased left ventricular (LV) function. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a treatment alternative in surgically high-risk or inoperable patients with severe aortic stenosis. The objective of this study was to analyze LV function assessed by global LV longitudinal systolic strain (GLS) and relation to prognosis in patients with severe aortic stenosis treated with femoral or apical TAVI. Methods Two-dimensional echocardiography was performed before and 1 year after TAVI. Ejection fraction (EF) was retrospectively measured using the biplane Simpson's method, and GLS was obtained as an average of 16 segments in the three standard apical views by speckle-tracking. GE Vivid 7 and Vivid 9 machines were used for echocardiography, and speckle-tracking analysis was performed using EchoPAC PC '08 version 7.0.1. Results The total population consisted of 100 TAVI patients. Eighty-one patients survived to 1-year follow-up, with a mean age of 81 ± 7 years (range, 64–93 years) and a mean European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation score of 9.6 ± 2.7. Nineteen patients died before 1-year follow-up (12 women), with a mean age of 82 ± 7 years (range, 66–92 years) and a mean European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation score of 10.5 ± 2.8. No differences were found between the 19 patients who died before follow-up and the 81 patients who survived to 1-year follow-up. GLS was increased significantly 1 year after TAVI. In 34 patients with EFs > 50%, GLS increased from −15.3 ± 3.4 to −17.1 ± 3.6 ( P = .04). In these patients, the mean EF increased numerically from 57.9 ± 5.3% to 60 ± 7.7% ( P = .19). In 74 patients with EFs ≤ 50%, mean GLS and EF improved significantly from −10 ± 2.8 to −13.8 ± 3.8 ( P P P = .52). Furthermore, GLS did not differ significantly after femoral and apical TAVI (−3.8 ± 3.3 and −2.6 ± 3.7, respectively, P = .21). There was no difference in causes of death according to approach. In the total population ( n = 100), 35 deaths occurred, 19 before 1-year follow-up and 16 afterward. The median follow-up time was 30 months. Twenty-five patients (71%) died from cardiac causes. Overall 1-year mortality was 19%, and overall 2-year mortality was 28%. In the patients who died, the median survival time in the apical group was 28.5 ± 15.4 months, compared with 31.6 ± 19 months in the femoral group ( P = .47). There was no impact on prognosis according to high (≥47.5%) versus low ( Conclusions LV EF and longitudinal systolic deformation were improved in TAVI independent of technical approach using the Edwards SAPIEN valve prosthesis during 1-year follow-up. The mortality rate was comparable between technical approaches and independent of baseline LV function. However, patients with the greatest improvement in LV systolic longitudinal deformation after TAVI had a lower mortality rate.

Layered Fibrotic Plaques Are the Predominant Component in Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy: Systematic Findings and Risk Stratification by OCT.

Abstract: Objectives The aims of this study were to characterize cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) phenotypes using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and to evaluate the prognostic significance of OCT-determined CAV severity. Background Intravascular OCT enables in vivo characterization of CAV microstructure after heart transplantation. Methods Sixty-two patients undergoing heart transplantation were enrolled at routine angiography from September 2013 through October 2015 and prospectively followed until censoring on May 27, 2016. Optical coherence tomographic acquisitions aimed for the longest possible pull-backs, including proximal segments of all 3 major vessels. Plaques and bright spots were analyzed by delineating circumferential borders and measuring the angulation of total circumference. Layers were contoured for absolute and relative estimates. Nonfatal CAV progression (NFCP) during follow-up was registered. NFCP included occluded vessels or severe (≥70%) new angiographic coronary stenosis or percutaneous coronary intervention. Results A total of 172 vessels were categorized as follows: no CAV, n = 111; mild to moderate CAV ( Conclusions OCT enables the detection of CAV-associated plaque compositions and allows early detection and differentiation of vessel wall disease not visible on angiography. LFP was the most prevalent plaque component, was strongly associated with NFCP, and may be associated with stepwise CAV progression caused by organizing mural thrombi. (The GRAFT Study: Evaluation of Graft Function, Rejection and Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy in First Heart Transplant Recipients; NCT02077764)

Clinical course and risk factors for mortality of adult inpatients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China: a retrospective cohort study

Abstract: Summary Background Since December, 2019, Wuhan, China, has experienced an outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 have been reported but risk factors for mortality and a detailed clinical course of illness, including viral shedding, have not been well described. Methods In this retrospective, multicentre cohort study, we included all adult inpatients (≥18 years old) with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 from Jinyintan Hospital and Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital (Wuhan, China) who had been discharged or had died by Jan 31, 2020. Demographic, clinical, treatment, and laboratory data, including serial samples for viral RNA detection, were extracted from electronic medical records and compared between survivors and non-survivors. We used univariable and multivariable logistic regression methods to explore the risk factors associated with in-hospital death. Findings 191 patients (135 from Jinyintan Hospital and 56 from Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital) were included in this study, of whom 137 were discharged and 54 died in hospital. 91 (48%) patients had a comorbidity, with hypertension being the most common (58 [30%] patients), followed by diabetes (36 [19%] patients) and coronary heart disease (15 [8%] patients). Multivariable regression showed increasing odds of in-hospital death associated with older age (odds ratio 1·10, 95% CI 1·03–1·17, per year increase; p=0·0043), higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score (5·65, 2·61–12·23; p Interpretation The potential risk factors of older age, high SOFA score, and d-dimer greater than 1 μg/mL could help clinicians to identify patients with poor prognosis at an early stage. Prolonged viral shedding provides the rationale for a strategy of isolation of infected patients and optimal antiviral interventions in the future. Funding Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences; National Science Grant for Distinguished Young Scholars; National Key Research and Development Program of China; The Beijing Science and Technology Project; and Major Projects of National Science and Technology on New Drug Creation and Development.

Vitamin D supplementation for prevention of mortality in adults

Abstract: Relevance to nursing care The evidence available regarding vitamin D on mortality has been inconclusive. Vitamin D can be obtained from sun exposure on skin, dietary intake, or supplementation as vitamin D3 or D2. Proper balance of vitamin D and calcium levels are important for healthy bones. Past studies have indicated that vitamin D supplementation prevents osteoporosis, osteomalacia, and fractures. Contradictory studies suggest that vitamin D may prevent cancer, cardiovascular disease, and affect mortality; and observational research has indicated a relationship of low vitamin D levels and risk of mortality. Evidence related to vitamin D is important for nurses working with patients with and without vitamin D insufficiency. The value of vitamin D needs clarification, and health information about risk factors, common problems with deficiency, as well as the benefits and proper use of vitamin D supplementation are needed by patients and caregivers. The purpose of this systematic review was to assess the beneficial and harmful effects of vitamin D supplementation on the prevention of mortality in healthy adults and in adults with a stable form of disease.

Tissue Tracking Technology for Assessing Cardiac Mechanics: Principles, Normal Values, and Clinical Applications

Abstract: Tissue tracking technologies such as speckle tracking echocardiography and feature tracking cardiac magnetic resonance have enhanced the noninvasive assessment of myocardial deformation in clinical research and clinical practice. The widespread enthusiasm for using tissue tracking techniques in research and clinical practice stems from the ready applicability of these technologies to routine echocardiographic or cardiac magnetic resonance images. The technology is common to both modalities, and derived parameters to describe myocardial mechanics are the similar, albeit with different accuracies. We provide an overview of the normal values and reproducibility of the clinically applicable parameters, together with their clinical validation. The use of these technologies in different clinical scenarios, and the additive value to current imaging diagnostics are discussed.

Increased cardiovascular risk in rheumatoid arthritis: mechanisms and implications.

Abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by excess morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease. Mechanisms linking rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular disease include shared inflammatory mediators, post-translational modifications of peptides/proteins and subsequent immune responses, alterations in the composition and function of lipoproteins, increased oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction. Despite a growing understanding of these mechanisms and their complex interplay with conventional cardiovascular risk factors, optimal approaches of risk stratification, prevention, and treatment in the context of rheumatoid arthritis remain unknown. A multifaceted approach to reduce the burden posed by cardiovascular disease requires optimal management of traditional risk factors in addition to those intrinsic to rheumatoid arthritis such as increased disease activity. Treatments for rheumatoid arthritis seem to exert differential effects on cardiovascular risk as well as the mechanisms linking these conditions. More research is needed to establish whether preferential rheumatoid arthritis therapies exist in terms of prevention of cardiovascular disease. Ultimately, understanding the unique mechanisms for cardiovascular disease in rheumatoid arthritis will aid in risk stratification and the identification of novel targets for meaningful reduction of cardiovascular risk in this patient population.