Volume 112, Nº 3, March 2019
DOI: http://www.dx.doi.org/10.5935/abc.20190045
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Role of Myocardial Fibrosis in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Systematic Review and Updated Meta-Analysis of Risk Markers for Sudden Death
Marcelo Imbroinise Bittencourt
Samária Ali Cader
Denizar Vianna Araújo
Ana Luiza Ferreira Salles
Felipe Neves de Albuquerque
Pedro Pimenta de Mello Spineti
Denilson Campos de Albuquerque
Ricardo Mourilhe-Rocha
Abstract
Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is associated with sudden death (SD). Myocardial fibrosis is reportedly correlated with SD.
Objective: We performed a systematic review with meta-analysis, updating the risk markers (RMs) in HCM emphasizing myocardial fibrosis.
Methods: We reviewed HCM studies that addressed severe arrhythmic outcomes and the certain RMs: SD family history, severe ventricular hypertrophy, unexplained syncope, non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) on 24-hour Holter monitoring, abnormal blood pressure response to exercise (ABPRE), myocardial fibrosis and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) in the MEDLINE, LILACS, and SciELO databases. We used relative risks (RRs) as an effect measure and random models for the analysis. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results: Twenty-one studies were selected (14,901 patients aged 45 ± 16 years; men, 62.8%). Myocardial fibrosis was the major RISK MARKER (RR, 3.43; 95% CI, 1.95-6.03). The other RMs, except for LVOTO, were also predictors: SD family history (RR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.39-2.20), severe ventricular hypertrophy (RR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.26-2.74), unexplained syncope (RR, 2.27; 95% CI, 1.69-3.07), NSVT (RR, 2.79; 95% CI, 2.29 3.41), and ABPRE (RR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.12-2.08).
Conclusions: We confirmed the association of myocardial fibrosis and other RMs with severe arrhythmic outcomes in HCM and emphasize the need for new prediction models in managing these patients. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2019;112(3):281-289)
Keywords: Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic, Familial; Endomyocardial Fibrosis; Risk Factors; Death, Sudden,Cardiac; Review; Meta-Analsis.