The CAIRP (CAndesartan for In-stent Restenosis Prevention) Trial--a multicenter study of AT1-receptor blocker therapy in coronary stenting.

Angiotensin II (Ang II) is implicated in the development of in-stent restenosis (ISR). Ang II- and AT1-receptor blockade could possibly reduce ISR. We enrolled 206 patients into a prospective double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter randomized trial of candesartan cilexitil 16 mg to test this notion. Mean lumen diameter (MLD) was the primary objective measured by quantitative coronary angiography and intravascular ultrasound. The Candesartan Group showed a trend towards a larger MLD at follow up without significant differences in the binary ISR rate. In vessels < 2.75 mm, we found a larger MLD in the treatment group after 6 months. This might indicate the potential benefit of AT1-receptor blocker therapy for certain subgroups when percutaneous coronary intervention is performed with bare-metal stent implantation.

Acute renal haemodynamic effects of radiocontrast media in patients undergoing left ventricular and coronary angiography.

BACKGROUND: Tubular toxicity and renal ischaemia have been implicated in the pathogenesis of radiocontrast media induced nephropathy (CIN), but their respective role remains unclear. Aims. In order to evaluate changes in renal blood flow in response to intra-arterial contrast media administration, we aimed to continuously measure renal arterial perfusion by means of renal blood flow velocity (RBFV) during left ventricular and coronary angiography and subsequent coronary intervention in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ten patients (7 males, 63.4 +/- 11.7 years) with serum creatinine (SCr) >1.5 mg/dl participated in the study. The first five patients received low-osmolar iopromide and the others iso-osmolar iodixanol contrast medium. RBFV was measured using a 0.014-inch Doppler guide wire, which was inserted through a separate contralateral femoral sheath via a 5 F Cobra diagnostic catheter into the renal artery. Data were recorded at 500 Hz to allow beat-to-beat analysis of RBFV and pressure. All patients were pre-treated with acetylcysteine and hydration. RESULTS: Immediately after left ventricular angiography no significant changes in RBFV were detected. Over time, however, following repeated administration of the additional contrast medium into the coronary arteries, RBFV decreased significantly from baseline until the end of the investigation, 28.4 (19.1/42.7) to 22.9 (16.9/30.6) cm/s (median and quartiles; P = 0.005), in the absence of significant changes in systemic arterial blood pressure. In individual patients the reduction in RBVF varied from 3.7% to 39.5%. On average the decline in RBFV was more pronounced in patients receiving iopromide (from 41.6 cm/s to 29.3 cm/s) than in those receiving iodixanol (from 19.3 to 17.8 cm/s; P = 0.008 for the difference of relative decline). However, in the iopromide treated patients, coronary intervention was more frequently performed (5/5 versus 2/5) and the median duration of the procedure tended to be longer [85 (32-150) min versus 38 (27-110) min; P > 0.2]. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of non-ionic low-osmolal contrast media has no immediate effect on renal perfusion in patients with CKD. However, during the course of coronary angiography a gradual decline in renal blood flow may occur, the extent of which varies, presumably depending on individual pre-disposition as well as on the amount of the contrast medium.

Percutaneous transluminal septal artery ablation using polyvinyl alcohol foam particles for septal hypertrophy in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy: acute and 3-year outcomes.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of septal artery occlusion with transluminally delivered polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) foam particles for the treatment of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). METHODS: Percutaneous septal artery ablation was performed in 18 symptomatic patients (13 men; mean age 60+/-17 years, range 28-89) with drug-resistant HOCM. PVA foam particles were mixed with contrast medium and injected through an angiographic catheter under fluoroscopic control until complete stasis in the septal branch was achieved. Patients were monitored with echocardiography and cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: The septal artery was successfully occluded in all patients; no embolization of other coronary branches occurred after infusion of 3 to 8 mL (5.2+/-0.8) of PVA foam particles. The resting pressure gradient was diminished from 83+/-32 to 31+/-35 mmHg (p<0.05). Over a mean follow-up of 44+/-4 months, all patients had symptomatic improvement of their dyspnea and workload without the need for intensified drug therapy. The average NYHA functional class decreased from 3.3+/-0.5 to 1.3+/-0.7 (p<0.0001), with a significant increase in the area of the left ventricular outflow tract (1.3+/-0.2 to 2.6+/-0.2 cm2, p<0.0001). Three instances of transient atrioventricular block occurred, but no complete heart block was produced by the embolization procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Embolization of the septal artery with PVA foam particles appears effective and safe in this series of patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. The pure ischemic infarction produced by PVA ablation might be the responsible for the lack of complete heart block and the need for permanent pacing.