Association Between the Magnitude of Glycemic Control and Body Weight Loss With GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Risk of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analyses of Randomized Diabetes Cardiovascular Outcomes Trials.

PURPOSE: Reduction of major atherosclerotic cardiovascular events (MACE) has not been consistent among different glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of this study was to assess the association between the magnitude of glycemic control, body weight loss, and reductions in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) achieved through GLP-1 RA therapy and MACE. METHODS: Electronic databases (MEDLINE, CENTRAL, SCOPUS) were searched through March 2023. Studies were eligible if they were cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOTs) comparing GLP-1 RAs versus placebo in T2DM patients. The outcome of interest was 3-point MACE - cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke. Random-effects meta-regression analyses evaluated the associations between reductions of HbA1c, body weight, SBP and LDL-C and reduction of MACE. RESULTS: Overall, 8 CVOTs were included (60079 patients, 30693 with GLP-1 RAs). Reductions of HbA1C were associated with the reduction of 3P-MACE (Log RR -0.290 [95% CI -0.515;-0.064], p = 0.012), with an estimated RR reduction of 25% for each 1% absolute reduction in HbA1C levels. Body weight loss was associated with the reduction of 3P-MACE (Log RR -0.068 [95% CI -0.135;-0.001], p = 0.047), with an estimated RR reduction of 7% for each 1 kg reduction in body weight. Reductions of SBP (Log RR -0.058 [95% CI -0.192;0.076], p = 0.396) and LDL-C (Log RR -0.602 [95% CI -4.157;2.953], p = 0.740) were not associated with the reduction of 3P-MACE. CONCLUSIONS: In T2DM patients, more potent GLP-1 RAs in reducing HbA1c and body weight were associated with greater reductions of MACE.

Transcatheter tricuspid valve-in-valve replacement: one-year results : Alternative to surgery in high-risk patients.

Although rheumatic heart disease is becoming uncommon in industrialized countries, its global burden is still significant. We report the case of a 70-year-old male with rheumatic heart disease, who underwent 4 previous heart valve replacement surgeries, and presented to our hospital with refractory heart failure (NYHA functional class IV) due to severe stenosis of a previously implanted tricuspid bioprosthesis. The Heart Team deemed the patient as inoperable/high-risk for surgery. As an alternative, a transcatheter tricuspid valve-in-valve replacement was decided upon and later executed through the right femoral vein, with the insertion of an Edwards SAPIEN XT 29 no. (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA, USA) through the inferior vena cava, towards the RV, followed by direct implantation in the tricuspid bioprosthesis (valve-in-valve), under rapid pacing, without complications. A substantial clinical and echocardiographic improvement was noted after the procedure and the patient was subsequently discharged in NYHA functional class II. These favourable outcomes persisted through the 1-year follow-up period. This case report adds to the current body of evidence that tricuspid valve implantation stands as a viable and reliable alternative in the treatment of degenerated bioprosthesis in high-surgical-risk patients.

Applicability of the Zwolle risk score for safe early discharge after primary percutaneous coronary intervention in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: The optimal length of stay for patients with uncomplicated ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) is still undetermined. The Zwolle risk score (ZRS) is a simple tool designed to identify patients who can be safely discharged within 72 hours. The purpose of this study was to assess the applicability and performance of the ZRS in our population. METHODS: We studied 276 consecutive patients (mean age 62 ± 14 years, 75% male, 20% Killip class >1) admitted over a two-year period for STEMI and treated with PPCI. ZRS, length of stay, 30-day mortality and readmission were obtained for all patients. Low risk was defined as ZRS ≤ 3. RESULTS: The median ZRS was 3 (interquartile range [IQR] 1-4), with 171 patients (62%) being classified as low risk. Thirty-day mortality was 4.7% (13 patients). Compared to other patients, low-risk patients had shorter length of stay (median 5.0 [IQR 4-7] vs. 7.0 [5-13] days, p<0.001), and lower 30-day mortality (0 vs. 12.4%, p<0.001), yielding a negative predictive value of 100% (95% CI 97.0-100%) for the proposed cutoff. The ZRS showed excellent discriminative power (C-statistic: 0.937, 95% CI 0.906-0.968, p<0.001), and good calibration against the original cohort. CONCLUSIONS: The ZRS appears to perform well in identifying low-risk STEMI patients who could be safely discharged within 72 hours of admission. Using the ZRS in our population could result in a more rational use of in-patient resources.

Aortic valve replacement for severe aortic stenosis in octogenarians: patient outcomes and comparison of operative risk scores.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR) in octogenarians is associated with increased operative risk, due to higher prevalence of associated risk factors and other comorbidities, making outcome prediction essential. We sought to analyze operative mortality and morbidity and to compare the predictive accuracy of the logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation score (EuroSCORE) I, EuroSCORE II and Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) score in this population. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 106 consecutive octogenarians with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis undergoing isolated AVR in a large-volume single center between January 2003 and December 2010 and calculated surgical risk scores. RESULTS: Mean logistic EuroSCORE I, EuroSCORE II and STS score were 14.6±11, 4.4±3.1 and 4.0±2.4%, respectively. Mean operative mortality was 5.7% (six patients). Two (1.9%) patients suffered an ischemic stroke, three (2.8%) required temporary hemodialysis and five (4.7%) had a permanent pacemaker implanted. Five (4.7%) required rethoracotomy. No myocardial infarction or sternal wound infection was observed. Calibration-in-the-large showed overestimation of operative mortality with logistic EuroSCORE I (p=0.036), whereas EuroSCORE II (p=1.0) and STS (p=1.0) showed good calibration. C-statistic values were 0.877 (95% CI 0.800-0.933) for logistic EuroSCORE I, 0.792 (95% CI 0.702-0.864) for EuroSCORE II and 0.702 (95% CI 0.605-0.787) for STS, without statistically significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that AVR can be performed safely in selected octogenarians. EuroSCORE II and STS demonstrated superior calibration and should be the preferred tools for risk assessment, at least for this population.

Percutaneous coronary intervention of unprotected left main disease: five-year outcome of a single-center registry.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is increasingly used as a treatment option for unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) lesions. We aimed to evaluate the long-term outcome of patients undergoing ULMCA PCI. METHODS AND RESULTS: We retrospectively analyzed 95 consecutive patients (median EuroSCORE I 2.9 [IQR 1.4;6.1]) who underwent ULMCA PCI between 1999 and 2006, included in a single-center prospective registry. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) defined as all-cause death, myocardial infarction (MI) and target lesion revascularization (TLR) at five years. Forty patients (42.1%) were treated in the setting of acute coronary syndrome and 81 patients (85%) had at least one additional significant lesion (SYNTAX score 24.2±11.8). Single ULMCA PCI was performed in 33% (81.1% with drug-eluting stents) and complete functional revascularization was achieved in 79% of the patients. During the observation period, 20 patients died (21.1%), 6 (6.3%) had MI and 11 (11.6%) had TLR (total combined MACE 28.4%). Independent predictors of MACE were previous MI (HR 2.9 95% CI 1.23-6.92; p=0.015), hypertension (HR 5.7 95% CI 1.86-17.47; p=0.002) and the EuroSCORE I (HR 1.1 95% CI 1.03-1.12; p=0.001). Drug-eluting stent implantation was associated with a significantly lower MACE rate, even after propensity score adjustment (AUC=0.84; HR [corrected] 0.1; 95% CI 0.04-0.26; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Unprotected left main percutaneous coronary intervention, particularly using drug-eluting stents, can be considered a valid alternative to coronary artery bypass grafting, especially in high-risk surgical patients and with favorable anatomic features.

Ultrasound-guided thrombin-gelatin injection is effective for the treatment of iatrogenic femoral artery pseudoaneurysms: initial results.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the technique of ultrasound (US)-guided percutaneous thrombin-gelatin injection for the treatment of femoral artery pseudoaneurysms (FAPs). BACKGROUND: FAPs are a possible complication from percutaneous angiographic procedures. US-guided thrombin injection is currently the preferential therapeutic option, limited by a low risk of potentially catastrophic femoral thrombosis; transluminal injection of collagen is another effective and safe option, although a more invasive one; surgical repair is associated with significant comorbidity. We hypothesized that US-guided combined thrombin and gelatin injection (UG-TGI) would also be effective while minimizing the risk of limb thrombosis. METHODS: Review of the results, complications and length of hospital admission after the injection into the FAP sac of combined human-origin thrombin and bovine-origin gelatin matrix (FloSeal(®), Baxter), under direct US-guidance. RESULTS: We treated 13 patients (mean age 64 ± 9.46 years, 38% male), who developed a FAP following a percutaneous procedure: isolated coronariography in five (38%); angioplasty in four (31%); other cardiac procedures in four (31%). Immediate success was obtained in all (100%) patients, assessed by US; no allergic reactions, local infection, or embolic events occurred on 30-day follow-up. Median (interquartile range) admission time after the UG-TGI was 2 days (1.25-2.0); median time of total admission was 8 days (6.5-16.25). CONCLUSIONS: In this small study, UG-TGI for the treatment of FAP was feasible and had short-term effectiveness, without a learning curve effect. Despite the need for further experience, a trial comparing different therapies for FAP should include this procedure.

Coronary-subclavian steal syndrome: percutaneous approach.

Coronary subclavian steal syndrome is a rare ischemic cause in patients after myocardial revascularization surgery. Subclavian artery stenosis or compression proximal to the internal mammary artery graft is the underlying cause. The authors present a clinical case of a patient with previous history of non-ST elevation myocardial infarction, triple coronary bypass, and effort angina since the surgery, with a positive ischemic test. Coronary angiography revealed a significant stenosis of the left subclavian artery, proximal to the internal mammary graft.

Recurrent myocardial infarction in a patient with papillary fibroelastoma.

This report describes a case of a 62 year-old man admitted for recurrent myocardial infarction and normal coronary arteries, caused by coronary embolism from aortic papillary fibroelastoma. Other conditions causing acute coronary syndrome and normal coronary arteries are discussed. A careful evaluation by transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography is required in this clinical setting. Surgical excision of the tumor is safe and curative.

Infarto do miocárdio recorrente em um paciente com fibroelastoma papilar / Recurrent myocardial infarction in a patient with papillary fibroelastoma / Infarto de miocardio recurrente en un paciente con fibroelastoma papilar

Este relatório descreve o caso de um homem de 62 anos, admitido por infarto do miocárdio recorrente e artérias coronárias normais, causado por embolia coronária a partir de fibroelastoma papilar aórtico. Outros quadros que causam a síndrome coronariana aguda são discutidos, assim como as artérias coronárias normais. Nesse quadro clínico, faz-se necessária a avaliação cuidadosa, por meio de ecocardiograma transtorácico e transesofágico. A excisão cirúrgica do tumor é segura e curativa.

This report describes a case of a 62 year-old man admitted for recurrent myocardial infarction and normal coronary arteries, caused by coronary embolism from aortic papillary fibroelastoma. Other conditions causing acute coronary syndrome and normal coronary arteries are discussed. A careful evaluation by transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography is required in this clinical setting. Surgical excision of the tumor is safe and curative.

Este informe describe el caso de un hombre de 62 años, admitido por infarto de miocardio recurrente y arterias coronarias normales, causado por embolia coronaria a partir de fibroelastoma papilar aórtico. Otros cuadros que causan el síndrome coronario agudo son discutidos, así como las arterias coronarias normales. En ese cuadro clínico, se hace necesaria la evaluación cuidadosa, por medio de ecocardiograma transtorácico y transesofágico. La escisión quirúrgica del tumor es segura y curativa.

Femoral stenosis due to a collagen closure device treated percutaneously by peripheral stenting.

Late complications from vascular closure devices, such as puncture site stenosis, are not well documented. They may be of clinical significance and probably share the same mechanism that underlies intra-coronary stent restenosis. Thus, treatment approaches based on balloon angioplasty alone may not be sufficient, and the use of stents (when possible) is safe and effective in this setting. We describe the case of a 60-year-old patient with a 90% stenosis of the femoral artery, which CT angiography strongly suggested to be secondary to previous implantation of a closure device.