Long-term dual antiplatelet treatment and bleeding complications in diabetic patients treated with drug eluting stent implantation.

BACKGROUND: Dual antiplatelet treatment (DAPLT) for at least 12 months is recommended after drug eluting stent (DES) implantation, but concerns regarding the extended use of this treatment persist due to increased risk of bleeding. In this study are assessed the incidence, correlates, and clinical significance of bleeding complications in diabetic patients after long-term DAPLT post DES implantation. METHODS: We studied 610 consecutive diabetic patients after DES implantation. The primary end point was the occurrence of any bleeding according to the BARC and TIMI definitions. RESULTS: The incidence of overall bleeding was higher in patients on DAPLT (21.1% vs. 4.4%, p < 0.001); minor/minimal according to the TIMI definition, and type 1 or 2 according to the BARC definition, were more frequently observed in patients on DAPLT (20.3% vs. 3.0%, p < 0.001, 15.6% vs. 2.0%, p < 0.001 and 4.4% vs. 0.5%, p = 0.034, respectively), whereas there was no effect on type 3 (3.5% vs. 2.0%, p = ns). DAPLT was an independent predictor for overall (HR 5.35, 95% CI: 2.69-10.67, p < 0.001), minor (HR 7.45, 95% CI: 3.25-17.12, p < 0.001, for TIMI classification) and type 1 or 2 bleeding (HR 8.17, 95% CI 3.29-20.25, p < 0.001); furthermore smoking was also predictor for overall bleeding (HR 1.65, 95% CI: 1.05-2.61, p = 0.030). Cardiovascular adverse events were not more frequent in patients with bleeding as compared with those without bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term DAPLT in diabetic patients after DES implantation is associated with higher risk of overall and minor but not major bleeding; smoking may have a significant role in the occurrence of bleeding complications.

Myocarditis as a precipitating factor for heart failure: evaluation and 1-year follow-up using cardiovascular magnetic resonance and endomyocardial biopsy.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate myocarditis as a precipitating factor for heart failure using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and endomyocardial biopsy. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eighty-five patients with suspected myocarditis and 20 controls were evaluated. Seventy-one patients with positive CMR were referred for endomyocardial biopsy and re-evaluation after 1 year. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance was performed using STIR T2-weighted (T2W), early T1-weighted (EGE), and late gadolinium-enhanced (LGE) images. Immunohistological and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of myocardial specimens was employed. In patients with myocarditis, T2 and EGE were increased compared with controls (2.6 ± 0.9 vs. 1.57 ± 0.13, P < 0.001 and 7.9 ± 5.5 vs. 3.59 ± 0.08, P < 0.001, respectively). Late gadolinium enhancement was found in all myocarditis patients. Endomyocardial biopsy performed in 50 of 71 patients with positive CMR showed positive immunohistology in 48% and presence of infectious genomes in 80% (mainly Chlamydia, Herpes, and Parvovirus B19). Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was significantly decreased compared with controls (47.7 ± 19.2 vs. 64 ± 0.2, P < 0.001). After 1 year, CMR showed normalization of T2 and EGE, and decreased LGE. Left ventricular ejection fraction increased in 36.5% of patients, remained stable in 56.5% and decreased in 7% of patients, in whom biopsy showed persistence of the initial infective agents. A negative correlation was identified between EGE, LGE, and LVEF. Patients with positive biopsies had lower LVEFs. CONCLUSION: In a Greek population with myocarditis, Chlamydia with viruses was a common finding. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance and PCR proved useful for the detection of myocarditis; EGE and LGE had the best correlation for the development of heart failure. Persistence of the initially detected infective agents was identified in patients who deteriorated further.

Environmental determinants of blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and central hemodynamics.

BACKGROUND: Arterial stiffness and wave reflection alterations may be implicated in the association between cardiovascular mortality, meteorological variables and ambient particulate matter air pollution. The present study explored the cross-sectional relations between ambient environmental parameters, arterial stiffness, peripheral and central hemodynamics in a large-scale cohort of hypertensive patients and normotensive controls. METHODS: The study comprised 1222 consecutive individuals who sought medical consultation in the hypertension outpatient clinics of the Hippokration' and 'Onassis' Hospitals (Athens, Greece) during a 3-year period (2004-2006). All individuals underwent a complete clinical and lipid-profile assessment at drug-free baseline. Carotid radial, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity measurements and aortic pressure waveform analysis were performed noninvasively to all participants. Data from the National Technical University of Athens and the air quality department of the Hellenic Ministry for the Environment were used to estimate daily meteorological conditions and PM10 exposure. RESULTS: In the total population, multiple-linear regression analysis revealed no significant associations between environmental variables and arterial stiffness. However, in men, the mean 5 day PM10 air concentration was independently associated with the augmentation pressure [2.0 mmHg (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.56-3.39) per 43.4 microg/m3] and the aortic-pulse pressure [2.78 mmHg (95% CI 3.91-5.12)] denoting a significant effect of particulate matter on the aortic-wave reflection magnitude and central hemodynamics. In addition, globally, the mean-daily temperature was related to the aortic-pulse pressure [-2.38 mmHg (95% CI -4.51 to -0.26) per 23.6 degrees C change] and the subendocardial viability ratio [5.85% (95% CI 1.1-10.6 per 23.6 degrees C)]. CONCLUSION: The exposure to lower environmental temperatures is related to impaired hemodynamics not only to the periphery but also to the aorta. In men, PM10 air-pollution levels are associated with heightened amplitude of the reflection wave leading to significant alterations in central-pulse pressure.