Day 1 : February 19, 2018

Keynote Forum

Josef Veselka

2nd Medical School and Charles University Prague, Czech Republic

Keynote: Update of alcohol septal ablation for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy

Time : 10:00-10:40

Biography:

Dr. Josef Veselka, PhD attended medical school at Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic, and graduated in 1989. He is Professor of Medicine, Chief of Department of Cardiology, 2nd Medical School, Charles University and University Hospital Motol, Prague. His main expertise and interest is both in cardiomyopathies and interventional cardiology. He is one of the pioneers  in the field of structural and coronary interventions. He has been published more than 300 scientific papers and edited 5 monographs and textbooks. He is a member of several editorial boards of medical journals

Abstract:

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is characterized by the presence of increased thickness of the left ventricular wall that is not solely explained by abnormal loading conditions.Two-thirds of the patients with HCM have an obstruction in the left ventricle after provocation or even while at rest. Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction in HCM is associated with greater morbidity and mortality, and relief of obstruction is associated with improvement in symptoms and perhaps outcome. The first step in treating obstruction is the introduction of negatively inotropic medications. The two invasive therapeutic approaches for treating a left ventricular obstruction are alcohol septal ablation and surgical myectomy. The final decision concerning the optimal invasive therapy for patients with obstructive HCM should be individualized to each patient depending on his/her wishes and expectations, way of life, age, heart morphology, and hemodynamics, as well as the experience of the treating center. There is a clear learning and safety curve associated with volume of procedures in all forms of septal reduction, this suggests that these procedures should only be performed in expert centres (centres of excellence)

Keynote Forum

Harold D. Schultz

University of Nebraska College of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska

Keynote: Chemoreflex Dysfunction in Heart Failure: Why It Should Not Be Ignored

Time : 10:40-11:20

Biography:

My research interests are preclinical translational studies aimed to improve baro and chemo reflexes control of autonomic, respiratory, renal and cardiac function, using a variety of approaches such as gene manipulation, novel pharmacological interventions, exercise/diet, and surgical interventions (e.g. cardiac, carotid body, renal denervations). In contemporary studies, we have focused on carotid body chemoreflex function in heart. Hyper-sensitization and tonic activation of the carotid body chemoreflex coupled with suppression of the baroreflex functionally exacerbates renal and cardiac dysfunction (cardio-renal syndrome) leading to increased morbidity and mortality in animal models of systolic heart failure. Our recent evidence suggests that these effects are tied to altered regulation of the major anti-oxidant transcription factors Nrf2 and KLF2. NIH and AHA grants have continuously funded these and other neuro-circulatory related studies under my direction over the past thirty-five years, including a Program Project Grant for the past 17 years

Abstract:

Enhanced arterial chemoreflex function is strongly related to cardiorespiratory disorders and disease progression in heart failure (HF). The mechanisms underlying chemoreflex sensitization during HF are not fully understood. We have utilized preclinical animal models of HF to describe an important role of both carotid body and central chemoreceptor function on autonomic and cardio-respiratory dysfunction in both HFrEF (cardiac pacing in rabbits and myocardial infarct in rats) and HFpEF (arterial-venous fistula in rats). Despite the etiology of HF, HFrEF and HFpEF animals exhibit similar cardio-respiratory abnormalities of periodic breathing, sympatho-vagal imbalance, and arrhythmias. In HFrEF animals, carotid body chemoreflex sensitivity is enhanced, but central chemoreflex sensitivity is minimally impacted. Whereas, in HFpEF animals, the opposite scenario it true.  In HFrEF, carotid body ablation restores normal breathing patterns and autonomic balance, reduces arrhythmias and increases survival. The enhanced neural activity from the carotid body in HFrEF and its impact on sympathetic hyperactivity and breathing instability are related to a chronic reduction in cardiac output that down regulates a flow sensitive transcription factor KLF2 in the carotid body. In HFpEF, carotid body function is not markedly altered, consistent with normal blood flow and KLF2 expression in the carotid  body, but central chemoreflex sensitivity to changes in PaCO₂ is markedly enhanced and correlates with the sympathetic hyperactivity and breathing instability observed in that condition. These studies suggest that the differential influences of HFrEF and HFpEF on carotid body and central chemoreceptor function are related to differences in systemic hemodynamics and blood flow. Nevertheless, elevated chemoreflex activity, whether from the carotid body or central chemoreceptors, contributes a major role to the sympathetic hyperactivity and breathing instability seen in HF. Clinical evaluation of chemoreflex sensitivity in HF patients can provide important information about the etiology of autonomic/respiratory dysfunction and disease progression in these patients and may guide more targeted therapeutic strategies