Prognosis of Patients With Left Circumflex Artery Acute Myocardial Infarction in Relation to ST-Segment on Admission Electrocardiogram.

BACKGROUND: Total thrombotic occlusion of the left circumflex (LCX) artery may present without ST-segment elevations; the clinical outcomes of such patients remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: To examine the difference in clinical outcomes between patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) due to LCX occlusion or stenosis with and without ST-segment elevation. METHODS: The present study is based on an observational, retrospective cohort comprising all patients admitted to 2 centers between 2009 and 2019 with MI due to LCX disease. Clinical outcomes included recurrent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), hospitalization due to acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and mortality. Risk factors for mortality were assessed using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: During the study period, a total of 897 patients with LCX-related MI were treated. Most (56.6%) presented with non-ST segment elevation MI (NSTEMI), which was associated with higher rates of 1-year hospitalization for ACS (15.8% vs 11.1%; P=.05) and PCI (20.9% vs 14.4%; P=.05) compared with ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI) patients. STEMI was associated with higher 30-day mortality compared with NSTEMI (3.9% vs 1.7%, respectively; P=.05), with no difference in mortality after 1 year (6.7% vs 5.6%, respectively; P=.55). Multivariate analysis found left dominant circulation (odds ratio [OR], 2.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4-4.7) and diabetes mellitus (OR, 2.13; 95% CI, 1.2-3.6) to be independent predictors for 1-year mortality. CONCLUSION: Patients suffering from NSTEMI and STEMI related to LCX occlusion or stenosis have similar 1-year mortality. Left dominant circulation was associated with higher short- and long-term mortality. These results suggest that a substantial population of patients who present as NSTEMI should be treated as promptly and aggressively as STEMI patients.

Type of Anemia, Chronic Non-cardiovascular Illnesses, and Outcomes of Patients with ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of different types of anemia and of concomitant non-cardiovascular chronic illnesses on outcomes of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and baseline anemia admitted to the Intensive Cardiac Care Unit. METHODS: Based on the mean corpuscular volume, anemia was stratified into: microcytic (<80 fL), normocytic (≥80, <96 fL), and macrocytic (≥96 fL). Data on concomitant chronic non-cardiovascular illnesses including malignancies were carefully collected. Endpoints included in-hospital bleeding as well as all-cause mortality at long-term follow-up. RESULTS: Of 1,390 patients with STEMI, 294 patients had baseline anemia (21.2%), in whom normocytic, microcytic, and macrocytic anemia was present in 77.2%, 17.0%, and 5.8% patients, respectively. In-hospital bleeding occurred in 25 (8.5%) of the study population without significant differences between the three groups. At a mean follow-up of 5.5±3.5 years, 104 patients (35.4%) had died. Mortality was the highest in patients with macrocytic anemia, followed by patients with normocytic anemia and microcytic anemia (58.8%, 37.0%, and 20.0%, respectively; P=0.009). Chronic non-cardiovascular condition was identified as an independent predictor of both in-hospital bleeding (odds ratio=2.57, P=0.01) and long-term mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.54, P=0.019). Performance of coronary angiography within index hospitalization was associated with lower long-term mortality (HR 0.38, P=0.001). Mean corpuscular volume did not predict either in-hospital bleeding or mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic non-cardiovascular illnesses are highly prevalent among patients with STEMI and baseline anemia, and are strongly associated with higher in-hospital bleeding and long-term mortality. Type of anemia is not related to prognosis post-STEMI.

Strategies to overcome challenges of transradial coronary angiography and intervention.

The transradial approach has become the preferred route for performing coronary angiography and interventions. Several studies reported that radial access is associated with significant reduction in vascular complications compared with the femoral access. This technique allows also early ambulation, improves the patient's well-being, and is less expensive. One important limitation of radial access is that coronary engagement from transradial approach is more challenging than transfemoral approach. The increased susceptibility of the radial artery to spasm, the radial-brachial artery tortuosities, and the subclavian-aorta curves make catheter advancement and coronary artery cannulation difficult. Hereby, we suggest several techniques for recognising and overcoming potential challenges during transradial coronary angiography.

Revascularization Strategies and Survival in Patients With Multivessel Coronary Artery Disease.

BACKGROUND: We sought to assess real-world implementation of the guidelines in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD) using a prospective national registry in Israel. METHODS: All consecutive patients with left main or 2- to 3-vessel CAD involving the proximal or mid left anterior descending artery were enrolled in a dedicated multicenter registry. Patients were managed at the discretion of the treating team at each hospital and were followed for 30 months. RESULTS: This registry included 1,064 patients, 55% treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and 45% with coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that chronic renal failure (odds ratio [OR], 2.43; p = 0.001) and prior myocardial infarction (OR, 1.7; p = 0.024) were associated with referral to PCI versus CABG, whereas male gender (OR, 2.27; p < 0.001), prior aspirin treatment (OR, 1.72; p = 0.005), diabetes mellitus (OR, 1.51; p = 0.007), 3-vessel CAD (OR, 3.45; p < 0.001) and SYNTAX score (SS) greater than 32 (OR, 10.0; p < 0.001) were associated with referral to CABG versus PCI. Each point increment in the SS was independently associated with a 9% greater likelihood of referral to CABG (p < 0.001). Survival analysis showed that mortality risk was lower among PCI patients less than 8 months after the procedure, and CABG was associated with a significant survival benefit thereafter. CONCLUSIONS: We found good agreement with current guidelines regarding revascularization strategies in real-world patients with multivessel CAD. The SS was the main independent predictor associated with the choice of revascularization strategy. The time-dependent association between revascularization strategy and long-term survival should be incorporated in the risk assessment of this population.

Acute Kidney Injury After Primary Angioplasty: Is Contrast-Induced Nephropathy the Culprit?

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) following primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) is frequently interpreted as contrast-induced AKI but may result from other insults. We aimed to determine the causal association of contrast material exposure and the incidence of AKI following pPCI using a control group of propensity score-matched patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction who were not exposed to contrast material. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 2025 patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction who underwent pPCI and 1025 patients receiving fibrinolysis or no reperfusion who were not exposed to contrast material during the first 72 hours of hospital stay (control group). AKI was defined as creatinine of ≥0.5 mg/dL or >25% rise within 72 hours. AKI rates were similar in the pPCI and control groups (10.3% versus 12.1%, respectively; P=0.38). Propensity score matching resulted in 931 matched pairs with PCI and no PCI, with balanced baseline covariates (standardized difference <0.1). Among propensity score-matched patients, AKI rates were not significantly different with and without PCI (8.6% versus 10.9%, P=0.12). In the pPCI cohort, independent predictors of AKI included age ≥70 years, insulin-treated diabetes mellitus, diuretic therapy, anterior infarction, baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate, and variables related to the presence of pump failure (higher Killip class, intra-aortic balloon pump use) and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction but not contrast material dose. A risk score based on the PCI cohort had similar discriminatory capacity for AKI in the control group (C statistic 0.81±0.02 and 0.78±0.02, respectively; P=0.26). CONCLUSIONS: The development of AKI in patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction undergoing pPCI is mainly related to older age, baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate, heart failure, and hemodynamic instability. Risk for AKI is similar among ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction patients with and without contrast material exposure.

One-year results of the ICON (Ionic versus non-ionic Contrast to Obviate worsening Nephropathy after angioplasty in chronic renal failure patients) Study.

BACKGROUND: Long-term clinical outcomes after exposure to non-ionic iso-osmolar contrast medium (IOCM) or ionic low-osmolar CM (LOCM) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing coronary angiography are unclear. METHODS: The ICON trial was a prospective, double-blinded, multicentre study that randomly assigned 146 patients with CKD undergoing coronary angiography with or without percutaneous coronary intervention to the non-ionic IOCM Iodixanol or the ionic LOCM Ioxaglate. We report the 1-year clinical outcomes. RESULTS: After randomization, baseline and procedural characteristics were well-matched between the two groups. At 1 year, three deaths (4.1%) occurred in the ioxaglate and nine deaths in the iodixanol group (13.6%, P = 0.07). The cardiac death rate at 1 year was 2.7% in the ioxaglate group and 9.1% in the iodixanol group (P = 0.07). There were no significant differences in the rates of myocardial infarction (1.4% vs. 1.5%; P = 1.00) and repeated revascularization (6.8% vs. 9.1%; P = 0.75). CONCLUSIONS: The use of ionic LOCM ioxaglate was associated with a numerically lower mortality at 1 year as compared to iodixanol in patients who underwent cardiac catheterization. Future studies evaluating long-term safety following exposure to different types of CM are warranted.

Heart failure in patients with diabetes undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes mellitus is associated with increased risk after acute coronary syndromes. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention is the most effective method of reperfusion for acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction and can limit the ischaemic damage to the left ventricle. However, there are few data on the impact of diabetes mellitus on the risk of heart failure following primary percutaneous coronary intervention. METHODS: We studied 958 ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention, of whom 263 (27.5%) had diabetes mellitus, with 67 (7.0%) treated with insulin. The primary end points of the study were re-admission for heart failure. Secondary end points were all-cause mortality and recurrent infarctions. The follow-up period was 5 years after hospital discharge. RESULTS: The cumulative incidence of re-admission for heart failure was 8.4%, 15.2% and 26.7% in patients without diabetes mellitus, non-insulin-treated and insulin-treated diabetes mellitus, respectively. Compared with patients without diabetes mellitus, the adjusted hazard ratio for heart failure was 1.95 (95% confidence intervals 1.30-2.93) and 3.09 (95% confidence intervals 1.71-5.60) in non-insulin-treated and insulin-treated diabetes mellitus, respectively. The corresponding hazard ratios for mortality were 1.03 (95% confidence intervals 0.68-1.55) and 2.04 (95% confidence intervals 1.22-3.42), respectively. There was a J-shaped association between fasting glucose levels in the acute phase and risk of mortality (P=0.0001) and a direct association with heart failure (P=0.03). CONCLUSION: Despite modern treatment of ST-elevation myocardial infarction and high levels of guideline-based medical care, diabetes mellitus had an independent adverse effect on the risk of re-admissions for heart failure, which was particularly high among insulin-treated patients.

Impact of Early Invasive Approach on Outcomes of Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome and Baseline Anemia: Analysis From the ACSIS Registry.

BACKGROUND: Anemia in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is strongly related to the increased risk of bleeding and mortality. Whether benefit of early invasive strategy exceeds the risk of bleeding in these patients is unknown. AIM: To assess impact of early coronary angiography on outcomes of patients with ACS and baseline anemia. METHODS AND RESULTS: Biennial Israeli ACS registry (ACSIS) prospectively collects data from all 26 public hospitals. The endpoints included rates of in-hospital major bleeding, as well as 30-day and 1-year mortality. Anemia at baseline was present in 1,464 of 5,600 patients with ACS (26.1%). Coronary angiography within index hospitalization was performed less frequently in patients with anemia (76.6% vs. 90.8%, P < 0.001). Non-performance of coronary angiography was associated with older age and higher prevalence of comorbidities. Among patients with anemia who underwent coronary angiography, the majority (95.5%) had obstructive coronary disease, of whom 77.8% were triaged to revascularization. Performance of coronary angiography was associated with significantly lower (P < 0.0001) rates of mortality at 30 days (5.7% vs. 15.6%) and at 1 year (11.9% vs. 34.1%). Major bleeding occurred with similar incidence in groups with and without coronary angiography (3.1% vs. 3.8%, respectively; P = 0.54). By multivariable analysis, performance of coronary angiography was an independent predictor of lower 1-year mortality (hazard ratio [95%CI] = 0.30 [0.21, 0.44]. CONCLUSION: In the setting of ACS, despite the presence of baseline anemia, early coronary angiography with subsequent revascularization, when indicated, was associated with improved clinical outcomes including 1-year mortality without significant increase in rates of major bleeding.

Cerebrovascular events after a primary percutaneous coronary intervention strategy for acute ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction: analysis from the HORIZONS-AMI Trial.

BACKGROUND: Patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction are at increased risk of cerebrovascular events. We assessed the incidence, predictors, and implications of cerebrovascular events in patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction managed with a primary percutaneous coronary intervention strategy. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the Harmonizing Outcomes With Revascularization and Stents in Acute Myocardial Infarction (HORIZONS-AMI) trial, 72 of 3602 patients (2.0%) experienced at least 1 cerebrovascular event (stroke: 63 patients; transient ischemic attack: 12 patients) during the 3-year follow-up (40.3% within 30 days, 20.8% between 30 days and 1 year, and 38.9% between 1 and 3 years). Stroke was ischemic in 58 (92.1%) patients and hemorrhagic in 5 (7.9%) patients. More than half of all strokes (52.3%) were disabling. By principal management strategy, cerebrovascular events developed in 2.0%, 14.9%, and 1.9% of patients triaged to primary percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass grafting, and medical therapy, respectively (P<0.0001). Cerebrovascular events were independently predicted by older age, creatinine clearance <60 mL/min, treatment with coronary artery bypass grafting, anemia, and diabetes mellitus. Cerebrovascular events were associated with significantly increased rates of 3-year mortality (20.5% versus 6.5%; P<0.0001), as well as reinfarction (14.3% versus 3.8%; P=0.0007), ischemia-driven target vessel revascularization (22.8% versus 13.0%; P=0.006), and major bleeding (23.5% versus 8.4%; P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In HORIZONS-AMI, cerebrovascular events within 3 years after ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction in patients undergoing a primary percutaneous coronary intervention management strategy occurred in 2.0% of patients and were most frequent after coronary artery bypass grafting. Cerebrovascular events were often disabling and were strongly associated with high rates of death, reinfarction, recurrent ischemia, and major bleeding. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00433966.

Sex-based differences in bleeding and long term adverse events after percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction: three year results from the HORIZONS-AMI trial.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown sex-based disparities in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) management and prognosis. We sought to compare women and men undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for STEMI in a large, prospective, contemporary context. METHODS: The Harmonizing Outcomes with Revascularization and Stents in Acute Myocardial Infarction (HORIZONS-AMI) trial randomized 3,602 patients (23.4% women and 76.6% men) with STEMI presenting within 12 hr of onset of symptoms to bivalirudin or heparin plus glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors and to PCI with drug-eluting or bare metal stents. RESULTS: Compared with men, women presented later after symptom onset and were more often treated with medical management alone (6.9% vs. 4.7%; P = 0.01). Women had significantly higher rates of 3-year major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and major bleeding. After adjusting for baseline differences, female sex remained an independent predictor of major bleeding (hazard ratio [HR] 1.81, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.41-2.33; P < 0.0001) but not of MACE (HR 1.09; 95% CI 0.91-1.32; P = 0.35). CONCLUSIONS: This study found that women with STEMI are at increased risk of bleeding as compared to men. While female sex may not directly contribute to increased risk of MACE, it is, however, associated with the presence of comorbidities that increase the risk of ischemic events long-term. Further dedicated studies are needed to confirm these findings and to assess strategies to optimize both the initial emergent treatment and long-term management in this high-risk subset. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Femoral vascular closure device use, bivalirudin anticoagulation, and bleeding after primary angioplasty for STEMI: results from the HORIZONS-AMI trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship of femoral vascular closure device (VCD) use to bleeding and ischemic events in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) via different anticoagulation strategies. BACKGROUND: It is unknown whether femoral VCD reduce major bleeding after primary PCI for STEMI using bivalirudin anticoagulation. METHODS: We compared VCD-treated patients with propensity-matched controls in the HORIZONS-AMI trial with respect to net adverse clinical events (NACE), defined as the composite of major bleeding unrelated to coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) and major adverse cardiac events (comprised of death, reinfarction, ischemia-driven target vessel revascularization, and stroke), at 30 days and 1 year. RESULTS: Among 3,602 patients enrolled in HORIZONS-AMI, 2,948 underwent primary PCI via femoral arterial access and 896 (30%) received VCDs, of whom 642 were included in our model along with 642 propensity-matched controls. At 30 days, VCD-treated patients had significantly less NACE (6.7% vs. 10.8%, HR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.42-0.89, P = 0.009), driven by a lower rate of non-CABG related major bleeding (5.0% vs. 8.1%, HR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.39-0.94, P = 0.02). Bleeding reduction was maintained at one year and consistent in magnitude regardless of randomization to bivalirudin or unfractionated heparin plus a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor (P for interaction = 0.84). CONCLUSION: In patients undergoing transfemoral primary PCI for STEMI, VCD use was associated with significantly lower non-CABG major bleeding irrespective of anticoagulation strategy.

Contrast-induced acute kidney injury after primary percutaneous coronary intervention: results from the HORIZONS-AMI substudy.

AIM: We sought to examine the short- and long-term outcomes of patients who developed contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI; defined as an increase in serum creatinine of ≥0.5 mg/dL or a 25% relative rise within 48 h after contrast exposure) from the large-scale HORIZONS-AMI trial. METHODS AND RESULTS: Multivariable analyses were used to identify predictors of CI-AKI, as well predictors of the primary and secondary endpoints. The incidence of CI-AKI in this cohort of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients was 16.1% (479/2968). Predictors of CI-AKI were contrast volume, white blood cell count, left anterior descending infarct-related artery, age, anaemia, creatinine clearance <60 mL/min, and history of congestive heart failure. Patients with CI-AKI had higher rates of net adverse clinical events [NACE; a combination of major bleeding or composite major adverse cardiac events (MACE; consisting of death, reinfarction, target vessel revascularization for ischaemia, or stroke)] at 30 days (22.0 vs. 9.3%; P < 0.0001) and 3 years (40.3 vs. 24.6%; P < 0.0001). They also had higher rates of mortality at 30 days (8.0 vs. 0.9%; P < 0.0001) and 3 years (16.2 vs. 4.5%; P < 0.0001). Multivariable analysis confirmed CI-AKI as an independent predictor of NACE [hazard ratio ([HR), 1.53; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.23-1.90; P = 0.0001], MACE (HR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.23-1.98; P = 0.0002), non-coronary artery bypass grafting major bleeding (HR, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.57-2.73; P < 0.0001), and mortality (HR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.19-2.73; P = 0.005) at 3-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: Contrast-induced acute kidney injury is associated with poor short- and long-term outcomes after primary percutaneous coronary intervention in STEMI.

Should proximal LAD be treated differently? Insights from a large DES stent registry.

BACKGROUND: The current revascularization treatment recommendation is different according to lesion location and a higher recommendation is given to surgery for proximal LAD (pLAD) lesions over PCI. This is based on previous studies and expert opinion. We aimed to investigate whether indeed there is a difference in outcome with respect to LAD lesion location while using a drug eluting stent (DES). METHODS: The NOBORI-2 trial, enrolled 3067 consecutive patients in 125 centers who were treated with DES for single and multivessel disease. We compared 834 [27.2%] patients who underwent PCI of the pLAD as part of their revascularization, to 2203 [71.8%] patients in which stenting to other lesion(s) but not the pLAD was performed. RESULTS: The pLAD group had lower incidence of hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, prior PCI and CABG, but had more lesions treated [1.55 ± 0.8 vs. 1.35 ± 0.6], more stents implanted [1.98 ± 1.2 vs. 1.66 ± 1.0] and longer overall stent length [31.8 ± 20.2 vs. 28.2 ± 17.8 mm]. There was no difference in the occurrence of the primary endpoint [cardiac death, myocardial infarction and target lesion revascularization] at 1 or 2 years of follow up between the pLAD and non pLAD [6.0% vs. 4.6%, p=0.14 and 7.7% vs. 6.6%; p=0.22, respectively]. The relief from anginal symptoms was similar. Multivariate analysis showed that pLAD location was not a variable that predicted MACE or TLF. Stent thrombosis rate was similar. CONCLUSION: When considering PCI with DES, there is no difference in outcome between patients with and without proximal LAD lesions.

Relationship between ST-segment recovery and clinical outcomes after primary percutaneous coronary intervention: the HORIZONS-AMI ECG substudy report.

BACKGROUND: In patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing thrombolytic therapy, the degree of ST-segment resolution (STR) correlates with long-term cardiovascular mortality. The long-term predictive value of STR after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is less well understood. We sought to determine the long-term prognostic value of STR after primary PCI in ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a formal substudy from the Harmonizing Outcomes with Revascularization and Stents in Acute Myocardial Infarction (HORIZONS-AMI) trial, 2484 patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary PCI with interpretable baseline and 60-minute post-PCI electrocardiograms had at least 1 mm of baseline ST-segment elevation in ≥2 contiguous leads. Patients were categorized by the degree of STR at 60 minutes: (1) complete (>70%); (2) partial (30%-70%); and (3) absent (<30%). Absent, incomplete, and complete STR were achieved in 514 (20.7%), 712 (28.7%), and 1258 (50.5%) patients, respectively. STR <30% was associated with a greater likelihood of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, longer symptom onset to balloon time, lower left ventricular ejection fraction, and final thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow <3. At 3 years, patients with STR<30% experienced a higher rate of major adverse cardiovascular events (death, reinfarction, ischemia-driven target vessel revascularization or stroke; 29.9% versus 20.1% versus 19.6%; P<0.0001), ischemia-driven target vessel revascularization (20.4% versus 14.0% versus 11.7%; P<0.001), and mortality (8.4% versus 5.0% versus 5.6%; P=0.03) than those with partial and complete STR, respectively. By multivariable analysis, STR<30% was an independent predictor of 3-year major adverse cardiovascular events (hazard ratio, 1.58; 95% confidence interval, 1.24-2.00; P=0.0002) and 3-year ischemia-driven target vessel revascularization (hazard ratio, 1.87; 95% confidence interval, 1.41-2.48; P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In this large international study, absent STR 60 minutes after primary PCI was present in ≈1 in 5 patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction and was a significant independent predictor of major adverse cardiovascular events and target vessel revascularization at 3 years.

Comparison of outcomes of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction with versus without previous coronary artery bypass grafting (from the Harmonizing Outcomes With Revascularization and Stents in Acute Myocardial Infarction [HORIZONS-AMI] trial).

The present substudy from the Harmonizing Outcomes with Revascularization and Stents in Acute Myocardial Infarction (HORIZONS-AMI) trial assessed the outcomes and their relation to different antithrombotic regimens in patients with previous coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Of 3,599 patients with information regarding a history of CABG, 105 (2.9%) had previously undergone CABG. Of these 105 patients, 46 were randomized to heparin plus a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor and 59 to bivalirudin. The patients with versus without previous CABG were less frequently triaged to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (83.8% vs 93.2%, p = 0.0002) and had a longer door-to-balloon time (median 1.9 vs 1.6 hours, p = 0.047), lower rates of final Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction flow grade 2 to 3 in the intervened vessel (92.6% vs 97.8%, p = 0.007), and less frequent rates of complete or partial ST-segment resolution (66.3% vs 77.6%, p = 0.019). At 3 years, previous CABG was associated with a significantly greater incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (36.4% vs 21.4%, p <0.001) owing to greater rates of mortality (11.2% vs 6.7%, p = 0.08), reinfarction (11.6% vs 7.1%, p = 0.09), stroke (5.1% vs 1.8%, p = 0.013), and ischemic target vessel revascularization (23.6% vs 12.9%, p = 0.005). The outcomes did not differ significantly as a function of the antithrombotic regimen. On multivariate analysis, previous CABG was an independent predictor of 3-year ischemic stroke (hazard ratio 3.57, 95% confidence interval 1.09 to 11.66). Intervention on the saphenous vein graft versus the native vessel predicted 3-year major adverse cardiovascular events (hazard ratio 2.69, 95% confidence interval 1.17 to 6.19). In the HORIZONS-AMI trial, previous CABG was associated with a delay to mechanical reperfusion and lower rates of percutaneous coronary intervention and patency of the infarct related vessel along with worse clinical outcomes.

Long-term prognosis of patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction with no significant coronary artery disease (from the HORIZONS-AMI trial).

The clinical features and prognosis of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and no significant coronary artery disease (CAD) have not been well studied. We examined the outcomes of patients with STEMI in the Harmonizing Outcomes with Revascularization and Stents in Acute Myocardial Infarction (HORIZONS-AMI) trial according to the presence or absence of significant CAD. "No-CAD" was defined by the absence of any lesion with a diameter stenosis of ≥30% on quantitative coronary angiography of the baseline coronary angiogram. Of 3,602 patients, 127 (3.5%) had no-CAD. Of these, 86 (67.7%) had angiographically normal coronary arteries, and 41 (32.3%) had mild disease (diameter stenosis <30%). Eight patients had previously been treated with coronary artery bypass grafting. Compared to patients with CAD, patients with no-CAD were younger, had a lower body mass index, were more frequently black, had a lower prevalence of smoking and previous angina, and had a greater left ventricular ejection fraction. Cardiac enzymes were elevated in fewer patients with no-CAD than in those with CAD (63.2% vs 98.7%, p <0.001). At 3 years of follow-up, the patients with no-CAD versus CAD had lower rates of major adverse cardiovascular events (7.7% vs 22.2%, p = 0.002), net adverse clinical events (major adverse cardiovascular events or major bleeding not related to coronary artery bypass grafting, 12.5% vs 26.9%, p = 0.005), and postprocedure coronary revascularization (0% vs 19.5%, p <0.001). The differences in the rates of death or reinfarction, stroke, and major bleeding were not statistically significant. In conclusion, 3.5% of patients with STEMI had no significant CAD. The 3-year prognosis for these patients was favorable compared to that of patients with STEMI and with obstructive CAD.

Coronary reperfusion and clinical outcomes after thrombus aspiration during primary percutaneous coronary intervention: findings from the HORIZONS-AMI trial.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the quality of coronary reperfusion and long-term clinical outcomes of patients enrolled in the HORIZONS-AMI trial according to the use of thrombus aspiration (TA). BACKGROUND: The impact of manual TA on microvascular perfusion and clinical outcomes in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) is unsettled. METHODS: In this retrospective, nonrandomized, subgroup analysis, the authors evaluated thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow, tissue myocardial perfusion grade (TMPG), ST-segment resolution (STR), net adverse clinical events (NACE), and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in patients undergoing pPCI with or without manual TA. RESULTS: A total of 318 patients had pPCI with upfront TA, and 2,917 patients had pPCI without TA. Patients who had TA were more likely to have TIMI 0/1 flow at baseline (75.1% vs. 63.7%, P < 0.0001). There was no difference in the rates of final TIMI 3 flow (90.2% vs. 92.3%, P = 0.19) or dynamic TMPG 2-3 (77.4% vs. 76.4%, P = 0.68). STR ≥70% was similar in both groups at 60 minutes but higher in the TA group at discharge (71.8% vs. 64.6%, P = 0.02). After multivariable adjustment, TA did not predict MACE at 30 days (HR 0.96 [0.51-1.80], P = 0.90), 1 year (HR 1.03 [0.68-1.55], P = 0.89), or 3 years (HR 1.13 [0.86-1.48], P = 0.39). Stent thrombosis did not differ at 1 year or 3 years. CONCLUSIONS: In STEMI patients undergoing pPCI, the use of manual TA was associated with improved STR at discharge, but not with any difference in final TIMI flow, TMPG, or MACE.

Outcomes of patients with prior coronary artery bypass grafting and acute coronary syndromes: analysis from the ACUITY (Acute Catheterization and Urgent Intervention Triage Strategy) trial.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to assess the contemporary outcomes of patients with prior coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) who present with moderate and high-risk acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and are treated with an early invasive strategy and contemporary antithrombin regimens. BACKGROUND: The prognosis of patients with ACS and prior CABG in relation to triage strategy and contemporary antithrombotic regimens is unknown. METHODS: In the ACUITY (Acute Catheterization and Urgent Intervention Triage Strategy) trial, 2,475 of 13,764 patients (18.0%) with ACS managed with an early invasive strategy had previously undergone CABG. Their outcomes were examined according to treatment and randomized antithrombin regimen. RESULTS: Prior CABG was associated with older age, more frequent comorbidities, higher Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction risk score, and lower left ventricular ejection fraction. Patients with versus without prior CABG were less likely to undergo (repeat) CABG and were more likely to be managed medically. At 1 year, patients with versus without prior CABG had higher rates of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) (22.5% vs. 15.2%, p < 0.0001) due to greater mortality (5.4% vs. 3.9%, p < 0.0001), myocardial infarction (10.0% vs. 6.8%, p < 0.0001), and unplanned revascularization (13.1% vs. 8.2%, p < 0.0001). History of CABG was an independent predictor of MACE. The 1-year MACE rates were not significantly different after randomization to bivalirudin versus heparin plus a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor (odds ratio: 1.24, 95% confidence interval: 0.90 to 1.70). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the progress in the treatment of coronary artery disease, patients with prior CABG and ACS have a poor prognosis, substantially worse than for those without prior CABG. Whereas bivalirudin monotherapy was an acceptable treatment for these patients, it did not improve their prognoses.