Procedural and long-term outcome among patients undergoing expedited trans-catheter aortic valve replacement.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with rapidly deteriorating clinical status due to severe aortic stenosis are often referred for expedited transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Data regarding the outcome of such interventions is limited. We aimed to evaluate the outcome of patients undergoing expedited TAVR. DESIGN AND SETTING: Data were derived from the Israeli Multicenter Registry. SUBJECTS: Subjects were divided into two groups based on procedure urgency: patients who were electively hospitalized for the procedure (N = 3140) and those who had an expedited TAVR (N = 142). Procedural and periprocedural complication rates were significantly higher among patients with an expedited indication for TAVR compared to those having an elective procedure: valve malposition 4.6% versus 0.6% (p < 0.001), procedural cardiopulmonary resuscitation 4.3% versus 1.0% (p = 0.007), postprocedure myocardial infarction 2.0% versus 0.4% (p = 0.002), and stage 3 acute kidney injury 3.0% versus 1.1%, (p < 0.001). Patients with expedited indication for TAVR had significantly higher in hospital mortality (5.6% vs. 1.4%, p = 0.003). Kaplan-Meier's survival analysis showed that patients undergoing expedited TAVR had higher 3-year mortality rates compared to patients undergoing an elective TAVR procedure (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis found that patients with expedited indication had fourfolds increased risk of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio: 4.07, p = 0.001), and nearly twofolds increased risk of mortality at 3-year (hazard ratio: 1.69, p = 0.001) compared to those having an elective procedure. CONCLUSION: Patients with expedited indications for TAVR suffer from poor short- and long-term outcomes. It is important to characterize and identify these patients before the deterioration to perform TAVR in a fast-track pathway to minimize their procedural risk.

Double-blind, placebo-controlled evaluation of biorest liposomal alendronate in diabetic patients undergoing PCI: The BLADE-PCI trial.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an important predictor of neointimal hyperplasia (NIH) and adverse clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). LABR-312, a novel intravenous formulation of liposomal alendronate, has been shown in animal models to decrease NIH at vascular injury sites and around stent struts. The aim of the Biorest Liposomal Alendronate Administration for Diabetic Patients Undergoing Drug-Eluting Stent Percutaneous Coronary Intervention trial was to assess the safety, effectiveness, and dose response of LABR-312 administered intravenously at the time of PCI withDES in reducing NIH as measured by optical coherence tomography postprocedure in patients with DM. METHODS: Patients with DM were randomized to a bolus infusion of LABR-312 vs placebo at the time of PCI. Dose escalation of LABR-312 in the study arm was given: 0.01 mg, 0.03 mg, and 0.08 mg. The primary endpoint was the in-stent %NIH volume at 9 months as measured by optical coherence tomography. RESULTS: From September 2016 to December 2017, 271 patients with DM undergoing PCI were enrolled; 136 patients were randomized to LABR-312 infusion and 135 patients were randomized to placebo. At 9-month follow-up, no difference was seen in the primary endpoint of %NIH between LABR-312 and placebo (13.3% ± 9.2 vs 14.6% ± 8.5, P = .35). No differences were present with the varying LABR-312 doses. Clinical outcomes at 9 months were similar between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with DM undergoing PCI with drug-eluting stents, a bolus of LABR-312 injected systematically at the time of intervention did not result in a lower rate in-stent %NIH volume at 9-month follow-up.

Outcome of patients with prior coronary bypass surgery admitted with an acute coronary syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Patients with prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) are at increased risk for recurrent cardiovascular ischaemic events. Advances in management have improved prognosis of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), yet it is not known whether similar trends exist in patients with prior CABG. AIM: Examine temporal trends in the prevalence, treatment and clinical outcomes of patients with prior CABG admitted with ACS. METHODS: Time-dependent analysis of patients with or without prior CABG admitted with an ACS who enrolled in the ACS Israeli Surveys between 2000 and 2016. Surveys were divided into early (2000-2008) and late (2010-2016) time periods. Outcomes included 30 days major adverse cardiac events (30d MACE) (death, myocardial infarction, stroke, unstable angina, stent thrombosis, urgent revascularisation) and 1-year mortality. RESULTS: Among 15 152 patients with ACS, 1506 (9.9%) had a prior CABG. Patients with prior CABG were older (69 vs 63 years), had more comorbidities and presented more with non-ST elevation-ACS (82% vs 51%). Between time periods, utilisation of antiplatelets, statins and percutaneous interventions significantly increased in both groups (p<0.001 for each). The rate of 30d MACE decreased in patients with (19.1%-12.4%, p=0.001) and without (17.4%-9.5%, p<0.001) prior CABG. However, 1-year mortality decreased only in patients without prior CABG (10.5% vs 7.4%, p<0.001) and remained unchanged in patients with prior CABG. Results were consistent after propensity matching. CONCLUSIONS: Despite an improvement in the management and prognosis of patients with ACS in the last decade, the rate of 1-year mortality of patients with prior CABG admitted with an ACS remained unchanged.

Validation of cardiac damage classification and addition of albumin in a large cohort of patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

AIMS: We aimed to validate a new scoring system based on extent of cardiac damage for risk stratification in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in a real-world cohort and to examine the addition of baseline albumin in risk assessment. METHODS AND RESULTS: We investigated 2608 patients undergoing TAVR. Subjects were divided into five groups based on their echocardiography findings. Patients were further assessed by incorporating baseline albumin. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that each increase in stage was associated with significant increased risk of 1-year mortality (HR 1.37, 95%CI 1.23-1.54, p < .001). Among patients at increased stage (3-4), incorporation of baseline of albumin identified the highest risk group, such that each 1 decrement in albumin levels was associated with more than triple increase in mortality among patients at stage 3 and 4 (HR 2.77, 95% CI 1.48-5.18, p-value = .001). CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac damage classification is validated in a real-world cohort of patients undergoing TAVR. Incorporation of low baseline albumin may further identify patients at the highest risk group. CONDENSTED ABSTRACT: We evaluated 2608 patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in order to validate a new scoring system dividing patients in to 5 stages (0-4) based on extent of cardiac damage. Patients were further assessed by incorporating baseline albumin. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that each increase in stage was associated with significant increased risk of 1-year mortality. Furthermore, among patients at increased stage (3-4), incorporation of baseline of albumin identified the highest risk group, such that each 1 decrement in albumin levels was associated with more than triple increase in mortality among patients at stage 3 and 4.

Long-Term Outcomes of 560 Consecutive Patients Treated With Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation and Propensity Score-Matched Analysis of Early- Versus New-Generation Valves.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an established treatment for severe aortic stenosis in patients at high or prohibitive surgical risk. Nevertheless, long-term clinical and echocardiographic data are still lacking. We carried out an analysis of 560 consecutive patients who underwent TAVI at our institution from 2008 to 2016 to evaluate temporal changes in TAVI characteristics, predictors of 1-year and long-term outcomes, and to compare the performance of the early- and new-generation valve systems. With time, we have adopted lower risk threshold for patient selection and have been using conscious sedation and transfemoral access preferentially (p <0.001 for all). The incidence of greater than mild PVL decreased from 16% to 7.6%, p = 0.029. Within 5 years, 47% of the patients died, the majority (78%) due to noncardiac causes. Independent predictors of 1-year death included periprocedural aspects (i.e., vascular complications, stroke, and PVL), whereas death occurring later than 1 year was solely related to baseline co-morbidities. Transvalvular gradients and residual regurgitation remained nonclinically significant for up to 5 years of follow-up. New-generation valves were associated with less PVL compared with propensity score-matched early-generation valves (p <0.001). In conclusion, TAVI utilization at our institution has progressed to include lower risk patients with transfemoral access becoming applicable in the great majority. Poor long-term survival is attributable to population factors rather than to procedural factors. Intermediate- and long-term hemodynamics are excellent. PVL has diminished significantly with the new-generation valves. Efforts to improve long- and short-term outcomes remain a therapeutic challenge.

One-Year Outcomes After Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction With Varying Quantities of Coronary Artery Calcium (from a 13-Year Registry).

Coronary artery calcium (CAC) is associated with poor angiographic results and higher rates of complications after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Limited data are available regarding the impact of angiographically evident CAC on long-term outcomes after primary PCI in patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). In this single-center, registry-based retrospective cohort analysis, we analyzed 2,143 consecutive patients presenting with STEMI who underwent primary PCI within 12 hours of symptom onset. Patients were divided based on degree of CAC (determined by visual inspection of angiograms) as follows: (1) moderate-to-severe CAC (n = 306; 14.3%) and (2) minimal-to-none CAC (n = 1,837; 85.7%). The primary end point was all-cause mortality at 1-year after PCI. Patients with moderate-to-severe CAC were older, women, and had higher rates of hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and peripheral vascular disease. Moderate-to-severe CAC was associated with higher rates of anterior myocardial infarction, advanced Killip class, and poor final angiographic results. At 1-year follow-up, rates of all-cause mortality were higher in the moderate-to-severe CAC cohort than those in the minimal-to-none CAC cohort (8.5% vs 4.7%; p = 0.008). However, after accounting for major clinical and angiographic characteristics, moderate-to-severe CAC on presenting STEMI angiogram was no longer predictive of 1-year all-cause mortality. In conclusion, advanced CAC burden occurs in ∼15% of patients undergoing primary PCI for STEMI and reflects a marker of adverse prognosis late into follow-up after PCI.

Dynamic changes in left ventricular function after a percutaneous coronary intervention: prevalence, predictors, and prognosis.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence, identify predictors, and assess the prognostic implications of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) changes after an elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: We included all consecutive patients who underwent elective PCI in our institution and were evaluated with echocardiography before and within 1 year of the procedure. Patients were grouped in terms of baseline LVEF. Hazard ratios (HRs) for all-cause mortality and acute myocardial infarction were calculated for baseline LVEF groups and in terms of LVEF normalization or decline. RESULTS: A total of 974 patients were included. Patients with moderately impaired (HR 1.41, P=0.01) and poor LVEF (HR 2.44, P<0.001) had significantly worse survival in comparison with patients with good LVEF. Decline from preserved to impaired LVEF following PCI was associated with an increased 1-year risk (HR 3.48, P<0.001) and 5-year risk (HR 2.79, P<0.001) for the composite outcome of all-cause mortality and acute myocardial infarction. LVEF recovery from impaired to preserved was associated with a decreased 5-year risk for the composite outcome (HR 0.5, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Changes in LVEF after elective PCI occur often. Both higher baseline LVEF and post-PCI LVEF normalization are associated with improved outcomes.

Coronary stenting approaches in the treatment of chronic total occlusion: contemporary registry-based experience.

AIMS: This 'real-world' investigation attempted to determine the long-term prognoses of patients who have undergone successful revascularization of chronic total occlusion (CTO) lesions. METHODS: All consecutive unselected patients from January 2006 to June 2011, undergoing stenting for CTO (n = 272), were retrospectively identified through an institutional registry. Procedural failure was defined as final diameter stenosis greater than 30% or postdilatation thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow less than 3. Outcomes were assessed based on stenting type [bare metal stent (BMS), drug-eluting stent (DES), or mixed] in the successful procedural cohort. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to account for known baseline cardiovascular risk imbalances. The primary endpoint was 2-year target vessel revascularization. RESULTS: Overall procedural failure occurred in 55 (20.2%) patients presenting with CTO lesions. Failed revascularization was independently associated with multivessel disease, lesion lengths greater than 15 mm, tortuous segments, and presence of calcifications. Major complications included coronary dissection (10%) and perforation (2%). Of the successful procedures, 141 (64%) underwent pure DES, 46 (21%) pure BMS, and 34 (15%) mixed stenting. At 2-year follow-up, fewer patients in the DES group required repeat revascularization compared to the mixed stenting group (6 vs. 26%; P = 0.002). Mixed stenting was an independent predictor of long-term target vessel revascularization (adjusted odds ratio 2.1, 95% confidence interval 1.1-4.1, P = 0.02) compared to DES. CONCLUSIONS: Failed revascularization of CTO lesions occurs in a fifth of patients and appears to be associated with complex vessel anatomy. Our data suggest that DES use in this setting are associated with improved 2-year clinical endpoints compared with pure BMS or mixed stenting approaches.

Incidence, predictors, and outcomes of failed primary percutaneous coronary intervention: a 10-year contemporary experience.

BACKGROUND: Limited contemporary data exist regarding the incidence, predictors, and outcomes of failure of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the treatment of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this registry-based retrospective cohort study, all consecutive unselected patients (n=1725) who were hospitalized for STEMI and underwent primary PCI from January 2001 to December 2010 were included. PCI failure was defined as a final diameter stenosis greater than 30% or postdilatation Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow grade of 2 or less. We examined the predictors and survival among patients who failed primary PCI. RESULTS: The overall PCI failure rate was 5.4% (94 of 1725 procedures). After adjusting for prespecified baseline characteristics, independent predictors of PCI failure included age greater than 65 years (P=0.02), procedure date between 2001 and 2005 (P=0.05), night-time PCI (P=0.008), calcific lesion (P=0.008), and lower preprocedural TIMI flow grade (P=0.006). Failed PCI was associated with a 1-year mortality rate of 22% as compared with 4.2% in the successful PCI group (P<0.001). Conservative medical management was preferred in the majority of patients with failed PCI (n=78, 83%). Patients who underwent emergent surgery (n=11), conservative management (n=78), and redo PCI (n=5) experienced 30-day mortality rates of 27, 16, and 0%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Primary PCI failure in the setting of STEMI is not rare. It is associated with high-risk patient-related and angiographic-related characteristics. Primary PCI failure is associated with early and late mortality.

Drug eluting stenting in bifurcation coronary lesions long-term results applying a systematic treatment strategy.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the long-term results following implantation of drug-eluting stents (DES) in bifurcation lesions according to contemporary "real world" practice. BACKGROUND: Limited information is available on the long-term outcomes of patients with bifurcation lesions who are treated using DES. A systematic approach for bifurcation lesion management was applied, using either a "provisional" single stent technique or a dedicated two stents strategy according to the side-branch diameter and severity of its ostial stenosis. METHODS: Four hundred one consecutive patients underwent bifurcation percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using DES and were included in our prospective registry. All adverse events were recorded up to 2 years and distinguished according to the planned PCI strategy (e.g., one versus two stents technique). RESULTS: A planned two stents strategy was used in 141 patients (35% of patients). In 260 patients (65%), the planned treatment involved stenting of the main branch only with "provisional" stenting of the side-branch according to procedural course. Thus, 24 patients (9.2%) needed additional stenting at the side-branch to complete the PCI. Cumulative major adverse cardiac event rate at 1 and 2 years was similar for both groups (11.4% vs. 14.8% at 1 year and 19.4% vs. 25.7% at 2 years for the single vs. two stents groups, accordingly, P = NS for both). Likewise, there was no difference in mortality, cardiac mortality, myocardial infarction, need for target lesions or target vessel revascularization, or definite stent thrombosis rate between the two groups at 6, 12, and 2 years follow-up. The rate of angiographically confirmed (i.e., definite) stent thrombosis did not differ between the two groups during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed favorable long-term clinical results following DES implantation using a systematic, rather simplified approach towards bifurcation stenting and using either a single or double stenting technique.

Impact of myocardial blush on left ventricular remodeling after first anterior myocardial infarction treated successfully with primary coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial blush grade is a useful marker of microvascular reperfusion that may influence left ventricular dilation. OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of MB grade on LV remodeling in patients undergoing successful primary PCI for first anterior ST elevation myocardial infarction. METHODS: In 26 consecutive patients MB grade was evaluated immediately after primary PCI. Each patient underwent transthoracic echocardiography at 24 hours and 6 months after PCI for evaluation of LV volumes. LV remodeling was defined as an increase in end-diastolic volume by > or = 20%. RESULTS: The presence of myocardial reperfusion (MB 2-3) after primary PCI was associated with a significantly lower rate of remodeling than the absence of myocardial reperfusion (MB 0-1) (17.6% vs. 66.6%, P = 0.012). Accordingly, at 6 months, patients with MB 2-3 had significantly smaller LV end-diastolic volume (94 +/- 21.5 vs. 115.2 +/- 26 ml) compared with patients with MB 0-1. In univariate analysis, only MB (0-1 versus 2-3) was associated with increased risk of LV remodeling (odds ratio 9.3, 95% confidence interval 1.45-60.21, P = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: Impaired microvascular reperfusion, as assessed by MB 0-1, may be associated with LV remodeling in patients with STEMI treated successfully with primary PCI.

Impaired fasting glucose and outcomes of ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome treated with primary percutaneous intervention among patients without previously known diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Fasting blood glucose levels (FG) are related to adverse outcomes in all patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), probably more so than admission glucose (AG) levels. We sought to examine this correlation among patients with ST-elevation AMI treated with primary percutaneous coronary interventions (PPCI). METHODS: Our cohort included 570 consecutive patients without previously known diabetes mellitus who were treated with PPCI for ST-elevation AMI. The cohort was divided according to FG levels measured on days 2 to 4 of hospitalization, while the patients were clinically stable: FG < or = 100 mg/dL, normal range; FG 100-110 mg/dL, mildly impaired FG; FG 110-126 mg/dL, significantly impaired FG; FG > or = 126 mg/dL, diabetic range. RESULTS: One third of the cohort had impaired FG, of whom 20% had FG levels in the diabetic range. There was a weak correlation between AG and FG levels (r = 0.38, P = .000). In the multivariate analysis, adjusted for AG quartiles, patients with FG > or = 110 mg/dL were more likely to die within 30 days (odds ratio 1.7, 95% CI 1.03-2.70, P = .04). Admission glucose levels did not independently impact on 30-day mortality (odds ratio 0.99, 95% CI 0.50-1.90, P = .96). CONCLUSIONS: Fasting blood glucose levels may be routinely assessed among patients with ST-elevation AMI undergoing PPCI, possibly aiding in risk prognostication and the tailoring of therapy.

Effect of no-reflow during primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction on six-month mortality.

No-reflow is a frequent event during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and it may affect cardiac prognosis. We evaluated the occurrence of no-reflow as a predictor of outcomes in patients who underwent PCI for AMI. We prospectively collected data from 599 consecutive patients who underwent stent-based PCI for ST-elevation AMI by identifying those with no-reflow (Thrombosis In Myocardial Infarction [TIMI] grade <3 flow at completion of the procedure) and analyzing their baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes. Patients with no-reflow (n = 40, 6.7%) were older (67 +/- 13 vs 60 +/- 13 years, p = 0.002) and had longer ischemic times (5.5 +/- 3.7 vs 4.4 +/- 3.0 hours, p = 0.04) with more TIMI grade 0/1 flow at presentation (90% vs 64%, p = 0.001). No-reflow occurred mostly (73%) after stenting and often required intra-aortic balloon pump counterpulsation (30% vs 4.3%, p <0.001). Peak creatine kinase level was higher in patients with no-reflow (2,700 +/- 1,900 vs 2,000 +/- 1,800, p = 0.03) and more often associated with moderate or severe left ventricular dysfunction (68% vs 45%, p = 0.006) and increased 6-month mortality (12.5% vs 4.3%, p = 0.04). By multivariate analysis, no-reflow was an independent predictor of long-term mortality (odds ratio 3.4, p = 0.02). In addition, renal failure (odds ratio 4.39, p = 0.0025) and preprocedure TIMI grade 0/1 flow (odds ratio 2.1, p = 0.003) were independent predictors of no-reflow. In conclusion, the association of no-reflow with longer ischemic time and worse initial TIMI flow may indicate the presence of highly organized thrombus burden with higher propensity for distal embolization. Regardless of its mechanism, no-reflow was an independent predictor of increased mortality.

The impact of renal insufficiency on patients' outcomes in emergent angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Renal insufficiency (RF) was shown to be associated with a worsened prognosis following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). OBJECTIVES: The authors analyzed the outcomes of AMI patients with impaired renal function tests treated using primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), to determine factors associated with increased mortality risk. METHODS: This study included 558 consecutive AMI patients treated using primary PCI between January 2001 and June 2005. The authors compared outcome results according to glomerular filtration rate (GFR). An abbreviated equation was used to calculate GFR. Patients were grouped as follow: normal (> or =90 mL/min/1.73 m(2)), mildly impaired (60-89 mL/min/1.73 m(2)), moderately impaired (30-59 mL/min/1.73 m(2)), and severely impaired GFR (< 30 mL/min/1.73 m(2)). RESULTS: There was a stepwise increase in 30-day mortality among patients with normal, mildly, moderately, and severely impaired RF: 2.1%, 3.7%, 8.2%, and 22.2%, respectively (P = 0.004). Seventeen out of the 324 with any degree of RF died within 1 month [5.3%] of these nine patients [53%] died because of cardiac cause. Univariate correlation analysis, factors associated with an increased risk of 1 month mortality included: age > 75 years, left ventricular ejection fraction < 35%, lower GFR, killip class > 1, multivessel coronary artery disease, failure to achieve TIMI flow grade = 3, the occurrence of no-reflow, IABP use, lack of administration of anti GP 2b/3a. The amount of contrast media used during the procedure [mL/Kg] as well as renal function deterioration were also associated with increased mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical and angiographic parameters collected before and during PCI can be used to predict 30-day mortality among AMI patients with RF. Findings indicate that in the setting of contemporary catheter-based reperfusion strategy for AMI, the extent of coronary artery disease, measures of PCI complexity, and degree of renal impairment prior/following the procedure are altogether related to mortality.

Prognostic importance of right ventricular infarction in an acute myocardial infarction cohort referred for contemporary percutaneous reperfusion therapy.

BACKGROUND: Right ventricular (RV) involvement during acute inferior myocardial infarction (MI) is associated with increased early morbidity and mortality. With recent improvement in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) techniques, it is unclear which factors may improve the outcomes of these patients. We sought to assess the prognostic significance of the presence of right ventricular myocardial infarction (RV-MI) in patients undergoing primary PCI and to explore factors associated with improved outcomes by using a large database representing the "real life" of patients with acute MI (AMI) treated by primary PCI. METHODS: We analyzed our database of patients with AMI undergoing primary PCI within 12 hours of chest pain between January 2001 and June 2005, excluding patients with cardiogenic shock. RESULTS: Of the 666 consecutive patients with MI fulfilling our inclusion criteria, 329 had anterior wall MI, 264 had inferior (230 inferior + 34 lateral) wall MI, and 73 had RV-MI. Mortality at hospital discharge, 30 days, and 6 months was highest in patients with RV-MI involvement (5.5%, 9.6%, and 12.3%, respectively), intermediate in patients with anterior MI (2.4%, 4.6%, and 7.3%, respectively), and lowest in patients without RV myocardial involvement (0.8%, 1.1%, and 3%, respectively) (P < .05 for hospital discharge and 30 days, P = .1 for 6 months). After adjustment for the CADILLAC score, odds ratio for 30-day morbidity was 5.2 (95% CI 1.6-17, P = .005) for patients with RV-MI versus those without RV-MI. Within the group of patients with RV-MI, complete revascularization of the right coronary artery including the major RV branch was associated with higher rate of RV function recovery by echocardiography and improved 30-day mortality (odds ratio 0.4, 95% CI 0.1-1.05, P = .06). CONCLUSIONS: Right ventricular infarction is an independent risk factor for increased mortality even in these days of primary PCI. Intensive medical therapy including restoring blood flow into the right coronary artery including the major RV branch may improve clinical outcomes.

Prognostic value of myocardial perfusion imaging in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients after percutaneous coronary intervention.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) in predicting major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We revised retrospectively patients after PCI that underwent MPI and were followed for a year for the presence of MACE. We found no differences in the incidence of MACE between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. On multivariate analysis, the presence of ischemia by MPI was the most important independent predictor of MACE (OR 5.09, CI 95% 2.15-12.05, p < 0.001). The presence of myocardial ischemia by MPI performed after PCI, and no symptom status, predicts a worse outcome during 1 year of follow-up.

Unusual presentation of Takayasu arteritis.

Takayasu arteritis (TA) is an inflammatory arteritis involving large vessels, predominantly the aorta and its main branches. Angina pectoris or myocardial infarction may occur in 3-5% of patients. Symptomatic coronary artery disease may be in rare case the first sign of TA. We describe a case of a young woman in whom acute myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock and stroke were the initial presentations of TA.

Drug-eluting stents in bifurcation lesions: to stent one branch or both?

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to compare two techniques to treat bifurcation lesions: a single drug-eluting stent (DES) implanted in the main branch combined with balloon dilatation for the side branch vs. stenting of both branches (double stent). BACKGROUND: Percutaneous coronary intervention in coronary bifurcation lesions remains challenging. Although DES reduce restenosis in lesions, the double stent procedure has not shown clear advantages over a single stent with balloon dilation. METHODS: Fifty-three symptomatic patients with true bifurcation lesions were treated using either the double stent technique (n = 25) or one stent in the parent vessel plus balloon angioplasty of the side branch (n = 28). Procedural results and major adverse cardiac event rates (MACE: cardiac death, myocardial infarction, target vessel revascularization (TVR)) were compared. RESULTS: Angiographic procedural success (residual stenosis <30% in both branches) was 75% in the single stent group and 100% in the double stent group (P = 0.01). All differences were due to residual stenosis of the side branch. Clinical follow-up (6-18 months) was available for all patients; 90.5% of patients had a coronary angiography or nuclear stress test. Three patients (11%) in the single stent group and two (8%) in the double stent group had ischemia-driven TVR (P = NS). Asymptomatic angiographic restenosis (>50% diameter stenosis) in the ostium of the side branch was seen in two patients in the double-stent group. At 6 months, MACE-free was comparable between groups (89.3% vs. 88%, P = 0.7). CONCLUSIONS: When treating bifurcation lesions with sirolimus-eluting stents, restenosis following a single stent procedure is comparable to stenting both parent and side branch vessels. Thus, stenting the main-branch lesion, coupled with balloon angioplasty in the side branch, produces a high success rate and good clinical outcomes at 6 months.

Acute coronary syndrome may occur with in-stent restenosis and is associated with adverse outcomes (the PRESTO trial).

Patients with de novo acute coronary syndromes (ACSs) have a higher rate of adverse cardiac events and recurrent revascularization after percutaneous coronary interventions compared with patients who have stable angina. However, it is not known if an ACS presentation in patients with in-stent restenosis (ISR) is associated with a worse prognosis. Using the large PRESTO database of patients with ISR, we compared outcomes after successful percutaneous coronary intervention in 824 patients who presented with ACS with 617 patients who had stable angina. In-hospital and 9-month follow-up for myocardial infarction, target vessel revascularization, death, and a combined outcome of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) were obtained. Follow-up angiographic results were also compared in those patients included in the angiographic substudy (140 patients with ACS and 99 with stable angina). Patients with ISR who presented with ACS were older and less often men, with higher incidences of diabetes, hypertension, tobacco use, previous coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and congestive heart failure. In-hospital complications were rare and similar in the 2 groups. At follow-up, patients with ACS had higher incidences of target vessel revascularization (33% vs 21%, p <0.001), MACEs (35% vs 22%, p <0.001), and angiographic restenosis (> or =50% narrowing, 56% vs 42%, p = 0.043). In multivariate analysis, after adjusting for baseline differences, an ACS presentation was associated with a higher incidence of long-term MACEs (odds ratio 1.66, 95% confidence interval 1.27 to 2.18, p <0.001). In conclusion, an ACS presentation in patients with ISR is associated with a higher incidence of recurrent adverse cardiovascular events and angiographic restenosis.

Predictors of left ventricular dysfunction in patients with first acute anterior myocardial infarction undergoing primary angioplasty.

BACKGROUND: The degree of left ventricular dysfunction determines the prognostic outcome of patients with acute myocardial infarction. OBJECTIVES: To define the clinical, angiographic and procedural variables related to LV dysfunction in patients with anterior wall AMI referred for primary percutaneous coronary intervention. METHODS: The sample included 168 patients treated by primary PCI for first anterior wall AMI. Clinical, demographic and medical data were collected prospectively into a computerized registry, and clinical outcome (death, reinfarction, major cardiovascular event) were evaluated during hospitalization and 30 days after discharge. Patients were divided into three groups by degree of LV dysfunction (mild, moderate, severe) and compared for clinical, angiographic and procedural variables. RESULTS: LV dysfunction was associated with pre-PCl renal failure (serum creatinine > 1.4 mg/dl), peripheral vascular disease, high peak creatine kinase level, longer door to balloon time, low TIMI flow grade before and after PCl, and use of an intraaortic balloon pump. On multivariate analysis adjusted for baseline differences, peak creatine kinase level (r = 0.3, P = 0.0001) and door to needle time (r = 0.2, P = 0.008) were the most significant independent predictors of moderate or severe LV dysfunction after anterior AMI. CONCLUSION: Abnormal LV function after first anterior AMI can be predicted by door to balloon time and the size of the infarction as assessed by creatine kinase levels. Major efforts should be made to decrease the time to myocardial reperfusion.