Vibeke Marie Almaas

  • Consultant Cardiologist, MD, PhD
  • +47 230 74145

Vibeke Almaas successfully defended her PhD thesis "Obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Pathophysiology and clinical management" in October 2015. Her supervisors were Professor Emeritus Jan Peder Amlie, MD, PhD, University of Oslo and Professor Svend Aakhus, MD, PhD, Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

She found that a type of scarring in the heart muscle, interstitial fibrosis, in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), is associated with severe cardiac arrhythmia and that a newly developed cardiac ultrasound examination can identify patients at increased risk. Together with Scandinavian colleagues, Vibeke M. Almaas has shown that PTSMA is a safe and effective treatment for obstructive HCM patients.

In the period 2001-2009, over a hundred HCM patients were referred to Department of Cardiology, Rikshospitalet, Oslo University Hospital, for PTSMA; a catheter-based method of applying a myocardial infarction to the thickened heart partition, or myectomy; a heart operation where the thickened part of the heart partition is removed. Obstructive HCM patients have thickened cardiac wall that prevents blood from flowing freely into the main artery. These patients may be offered PTSMA or myectomy. A treatment team with experience in HCM assessed whether conditions were suitable for PTSMA or whether surgical correction and myectomy were needed. Before and after PTSMA / myectomy, patients were examined, among other things, with 48-hour cardiac rhythm recording, cardiac ultrasound and magnetic resonance (MRI) of the heart. The heart muscle tissue removed by myectomy was examined microscopically. PTSMA-treated patients were included in a Scandinavian database where long-term follow-up after PTSMA was recorded.

In her thesis Almaas and her colleagues showed that the catheter-based method PTSMA can be safely performed at centers with experienced invasive cardiologists and that interstitial fibrosis, scarring associated with severe arrhythmia, is not so readily seen in cardiac MRI examination, but scarring leads to reduced function of the heart muscle which can be identified by a fast and simple heart ultrasound method.

 

Publications 2024

Abdullah R, Bjørnebekk A, Hauger LE, Hullstein IR, Edvardsen T, Haugaa KH, Almaas VM (2024)
Severe biventricular cardiomyopathy in both current and former long-term users of anabolic-androgenic steroids
Eur J Prev Cardiol, 31 (5), 599-608
DOI 10.1093/eurjpc/zwad362, PubMed 37992194

Almaas VM, Abdullah R, Edvardsen T, Haugaa KH, Bjørnebekk A (2024)
Comment on 'Anabolic-androgenic steroids and cardiac function'
Eur J Prev Cardiol, 31 (13), e97-e98
DOI 10.1093/eurjpc/zwae183, PubMed 38788779

Gregersen I, Scarth ME, Abdullah R, Thorsby PM, Hauger LE, Haugaa KH, Sagen EL, Michelsen AE, Ueland T, Edvardsen T, Aukrust P, Almaas VM, Bjørnebekk AK, Halvorsen B (2024)
Elevated interleukin 8 and matrix metalloproteinase 9 levels are associated with myocardial pathology in users of anabolic-androgenic steroids
Eur J Prev Cardiol, 31 (12), 1469-1476
DOI 10.1093/eurjpc/zwae126, PubMed 38573232

Henriksen HCB, Havnes IA, Jørstad ML, Abdullah R, Thorsby PM, Hauger LE, Edvardsen T, Haugaa KH, Almaas VM, Bjørnebekk A (2024)
Treatment-seeking behavior and cardiovascular morbidity among men with anabolic-androgenic steroid use: A cross-sectional study
Scand J Med Sci Sports, 34 (1), e14554
DOI 10.1111/sms.14554, PubMed 38268076

Langen I, Langesæter E, Gunnes N, Almaas VM, Haugen G, Estensen ME, Sørbye IK (2024)
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy among women with cardiovascular disease in Norway: A historical cohort study
Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand, 103 (7), 1457-1465
DOI 10.1111/aogs.14841, PubMed 38597240

Publications 2023

Gronningsaeter L, Langesaeter E, Sørbye IK, Quattrone A, Almaas VM, Skulstad H, Estensen ME (2023)
High prevalence of pre-eclampsia in women with coarctation of the aorta
Eur Heart J Open, 3 (4), oead072
DOI 10.1093/ehjopen/oead072, PubMed 37559925

Sasi A, Romaine A, Erusappan PM, Melleby AO, Hasic A, Dahl CP, Broch K, Almaas VM, Puertas RD, Roderick HL, Lunde IG, Sjaastad I, Vistnes M, Christensen G (2023)
Temporal expression and spatial distribution of the proteoglycan versican during cardiac fibrosis development
Matrix Biol Plus, 19-20, 100135
DOI 10.1016/j.mbplus.2023.100135, PubMed 38076279

Strand ME, Vanhaverbeke M, Henkens MTHM, Sikking MA, Rypdal KB, Braathen B, Almaas VM, Tønnessen T, Christensen G, Heymans S, Lunde IG (2023)
Inflammation and Syndecan-4 Shedding from Cardiac Cells in Ischemic and Non-Ischemic Heart Disease
Biomedicines, 11 (4)
DOI 10.3390/biomedicines11041066, PubMed 37189684

Publications 2022

Castrini AI, Skjølsvik E, Estensen ME, Almaas VM, Skulstad H, Lyseggen E, Edvardsen T, Lie ØH, Picard KCI, Lakdawala NK, Haugaa KH (2022)
Pregnancy and Progression of Cardiomyopathy in Women With LMNA Genotype-Positive
J Am Heart Assoc, 11 (8), e024960
DOI 10.1161/JAHA.121.024960, PubMed 35434999

Rixon C, Andreassen K, Shen X, Erusappan PM, Almaas VM, Palmero S, Dahl CP, Ueland T, Sjaastad I, Louch WE, Stokke MK, Tønnessen T, Christensen G, Lunde IG (2022)
Lumican accumulates with fibrillar collagen in fibrosis in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
ESC Heart Fail, 10 (2), 858-871
DOI 10.1002/ehf2.14234, PubMed 36444917

Publications 2021

Lie ØH, Chivulescu M, Rootwelt-Norberg C, Ribe M, Bogsrud MP, Lyseggen E, Beitnes JO, Almaas V, Haugaa KH (2021)
Left Ventricular Dysfunction in Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy: Association With Exercise Exposure, Genetic Basis, and Prognosis
J Am Heart Assoc, 10 (8), e018680
DOI 10.1161/JAHA.120.018680, PubMed 33821670

Rootwelt-Norberg C, Lie ØH, Chivulescu M, Castrini AI, Sarvari SI, Lyseggen E, Almaas VM, Bogsrud MP, Edvardsen T, Haugaa KH (2021)
Sex differences in disease progression and arrhythmic risk in patients with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy
Europace, 23 (7), 1084-1091
DOI 10.1093/europace/euab077, PubMed 33829244

Rypdal KB, Erusappan PM, Melleby AO, Seifert DE, Palmero S, Strand ME, Tønnessen T, Dahl CP, Almaas V, Hubmacher D, Apte SS, Christensen G, Lunde IG (2021)
The extracellular matrix glycoprotein ADAMTSL2 is increased in heart failure and inhibits TGFβ signalling in cardiac fibroblasts
Sci Rep, 11 (1), 19757
DOI 10.1038/s41598-021-99032-2, PubMed 34611183

Publications 2019

Jensen MK, Faber L, Liebregts M, Januska J, Krejci J, Bartel T, Cooper RM, Dabrowski M, Hansen PR, Almaas VM, Seggewiss H, Horstkotte D, Adlova R, Berg JT, Bundgaard H, Veselka J (2019)
Effect of impaired cardiac conduction after alcohol septal ablation on clinical outcomes: insights from the Euro-ASA registry
Eur Heart J Qual Care Clin Outcomes, 5 (3), 252-258
DOI 10.1093/ehjqcco/qcy049, PubMed 30304395

Lorén CE, Dahl CP, Do L, Almaas VM, Geiran OR, Mörner S, Hellman U (2019)
Low Molecular Mass Myocardial Hyaluronan in Human Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Cells, 8 (2)
DOI 10.3390/cells8020097, PubMed 30699940

Publications 2018

Veselka J, Faber L, Jensen MK, Cooper R, Januska J, Krejci J, Bartel T, Dabrowski M, Hansen PR, Almaas VM, Seggewiss H, Horstkotte D, Adlova R, Bundgaard H, Ten Berg J, Liebregts M (2018)
Effect of Institutional Experience on Outcomes of Alcohol Septal Ablation for Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy
Can J Cardiol, 34 (1), 16-22
DOI 10.1016/j.cjca.2017.10.020, PubMed 29275877

Publications 2017

Haland TF, Hasselberg NE, Almaas VM, Dejgaard LA, Saberniak J, Leren IS, Berge KE, Haugaa KH, Edvardsen T (2017)
The systolic paradox in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Open Heart, 4 (1), e000571
DOI 10.1136/openhrt-2016-000571, PubMed 28674623

Veselka J, Faber L, Liebregts M, Cooper R, Januska J, Krejci J, Bartel T, Dabrowski M, Hansen PR, Almaas VM, Seggewiss H, Horstkotte D, Adlova R, Bundgaard H, Ten Berg J, Stables RH, Jensen MK (2017)
Outcome of Alcohol Septal Ablation in Mildly Symptomatic Patients With Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy: A Long-Term Follow-Up Study Based on the Euro-Alcohol Septal Ablation Registry
J Am Heart Assoc, 6 (5)
DOI 10.1161/JAHA.117.005735, PubMed 28512112

Publications 2016

Haland TF, Almaas VM, Hasselberg NE, Saberniak J, Leren IS, Hopp E, Edvardsen T, Haugaa KH (2016)
Strain echocardiography is related to fibrosis and ventricular arrhythmias in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging, 17 (6), 613-21
DOI 10.1093/ehjci/jew005, PubMed 26873460

Jensen MK, Jacobsson L, Almaas V, van Buuren F, Hansen PR, Hansen TF, Aakhus S, Eriksson MJ, Bundgaard H, Faber L (2016)
Influence of Septal Thickness on the Clinical Outcome After Alcohol Septal Alation in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Circ Cardiovasc Interv, 9 (6)
DOI 10.1161/CIRCINTERVENTIONS.115.003214, PubMed 27217377

Veselka J, Jensen MK, Liebregts M, Januska J, Krejci J, Bartel T, Dabrowski M, Hansen PR, Almaas VM, Seggewiss H, Horstkotte D, Tomasov P, Adlova R, Bundgaard H, Steggerda R, Ten Berg J, Faber L (2016)
Long-term clinical outcome after alcohol septal ablation for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: results from the Euro-ASA registry
Eur Heart J, 37 (19), 1517-23
DOI 10.1093/eurheartj/ehv693, PubMed 26746632

Publications 2014

Apelland T, Gude E, Strøm EH, Gullestad L, Eiklid KL, Månsson JE, Reinholt FP, Houge G, Dahl CP, Almaas VM, Heiberg A (2014)
Familial globotriaosylceramide-associated cardiomyopathy mimicking Fabry disease
Heart, 100 (22), 1793-8
DOI 10.1136/heartjnl-2014-305616, PubMed 25031264

Publications 2013

Almaas VM, Haugaa KH, Strøm EH, Scott H, Dahl CP, Leren TP, Geiran OR, Endresen K, Edvardsen T, Aakhus S, Amlie JP (2013)
Increased amount of interstitial fibrosis predicts ventricular arrhythmias, and is associated with reduced myocardial septal function in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Europace, 15 (9), 1319-27
DOI 10.1093/europace/eut028, PubMed 23426552

Almaas VM, Haugaa KH, Strøm EH, Scott H, Smith HJ, Dahl CP, Geiran OR, Endresen K, Aakhus S, Amlie JP, Edvardsen T (2013)
Noninvasive assessment of myocardial fibrosis in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Heart, 100 (8), 631-8
DOI 10.1136/heartjnl-2013-304923, PubMed 24368281

Publications 2011

Jensen MK, Almaas VM, Jacobsson L, Hansen PR, Havndrup O, Aakhus S, Svane B, Hansen TF, Køber L, Endresen K, Eriksson MJ, Jørgensen E, Amlie JP, Gadler F, Bundgaard H (2011)
Long-term outcome of percutaneous transluminal septal myocardial ablation in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy: a Scandinavian multicenter study
Circ Cardiovasc Interv, 4 (3), 256-65
DOI 10.1161/CIRCINTERVENTIONS.110.959718, PubMed 21540441

Publications 2007

Krayer von Krauss MP, Kaiser M, Almaas V, van der Sluijs J, Kloprogge P (2007)
Diagnosing and prioritizing uncertainties according to their relevance for policy: the case of transgene silencing
Sci Total Environ, 390 (1), 23-34
DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2007.09.028, PubMed 17988720

Publications 2005

Ghanima W, Almaas V, Aballi S, Dörje C, Nielssen BE, Holmen LO, Almaas R, Abdelnoor M, Sandset PM (2005)
Management of suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) by D-dimer and multi-slice computed tomography in outpatients: an outcome study
J Thromb Haemost, 3 (9), 1926-32
DOI 10.1111/j.1538-7836.2005.01544.x, PubMed 16102097

Publications 2004

Almaas V (2004)
Holdninger til personvern: rapport fra fokusgrupper om elektroniske spor og personvern
In Rapport, Rådet, Oslo, 1, februar 2004, 28 bl.
BIBSYS 041502264, ISBN 82-92447-00-8

Publications 2001

Almaas V (2001)
Når det piper i telefonen...: en analyse av mobiltelefonens betydning for by- og bygdeungdom
V. Almaas, [Trondheim], 93, [18] bl.
BIBSYS 020594852

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