Intravenous Iron Replacement Therapy Improves Cardiovascular Outcomes in Hemodialysis Patients.

BACKGROUND/AIM: More than half of deaths among hemodialysis patients are due to cardiovascular disease. This study examined whether intravenous administration of ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) has an impact on cardiovascular events in iron-deficient hemodialysis patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study concerning patients undergoing hemodialysis in our center from September 2016 to December 2019. We identified those who began FCM therapy (FCM group) during this period and those who did not (control group). We analyzed clinical, echocardiographic and laboratory parameters at the beginning (t0) and after one year (t1), to detect differences between the two groups. RESULTS: We identified 53 patients for the FCM group and 19 for the control group. Median follow-up was 1 year±3 months for both groups. In the FCM group, we observed a reduction in the doses of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) (p<0.001) and a significative difference in cardiovascular events (p<0.01), but no differences in echocardiographic parameters. CONCLUSION: Patients who received FCM reached satisfactory values of transferrin saturation and ferritin, presented fewer coronary artery events and cardiovascular events, and could reduce doses of ESA.

[Characteristics and outcomes of acute coronary syndrome in Italian-born patients and immigrants: a population-based observational study using health administrative data of the Emilia-Romagna Region]. / Caratteristiche ed esiti della sindrome coronarica acuta nella popolazione italiana e migrante: uno studio osservazionale basato su dati amministrativi sanitari nella Regione Emilia-Romagna.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to analyze the characteristics and outcomes of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in relation to country of origin. METHODS: The study population included patients living in the Emilia-Romagna Region and discharged from 2012 to 2014 with a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (with [STEMI] and without ST-elevation). The study outcomes were: percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) within 48 hours of admission for STEMI, 30-day all-cause mortality, 1-year all-cause mortality, 1-year major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), and adherence to post-infarction medications. The relationship between outcomes and citizenship was investigated using multiple regression analysis. Potential confounders were identified among diagnoses recorded in the index hospitalization and in all hospitalizations occurring 2 years prior to the index hospitalization. RESULTS: Of the 23 884 study patients, 647 (2.7%) were non-Italians. The mean age of onset of ACS was lower among immigrants (56 years) than among Italians (73 years). Thirty-day mortality was 9.6% while 1-year mortality and MACCE were 19.8% and 20.8%, respectively. The proportion of PCI within 48 hours was 63.2%, while patients adherent to medications were 31.0%. Compared with Italians, patients from Africa and Asia had a reduced probability of undergoing PCI and were less adherent to medications. Adjusted mortality rates were similar between Italians and immigrants, while patients from Asia had a 62% increased probability of experiencing a MACCE during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with Italians, immigrant citizens with ACS were younger, less likely to undergo PCI, and less adherent to drug treatment after discharge. Further studies are warranted to identify the determinants of these disparities and to develop organizational models tailored to the specific needs of immigrant patients.

[Idiopathic massive myocardial calcification: a rare cause of heart failure]. / Calcificazione miocardica massiva idiopatica: una rara causa di insufficienza miocardica.

Massive myocardial calcification is a very rare finding usually associated with previous myocardial infarction, ventricular aneurysms, myocarditis, endomyocardial fibrosis, tuberculosis and systemic metabolic disease such as sarcoidosis and primary hyperoxaluria. Rarely, it can be associated with idiopathic mitral annular calcification or rheumatic heart disease. We report an unusual case of massive myocardial calcification without other predisposing factors and with documented disease progression.

Management of patients with acute coronary syndromes in real-world practice in Italy: an outcome research study focused on the use of ANTithRombotic Agents: the MANTRA registry.

BACKGROUND: Although outcomes of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) have greatly improved, bleeding is still an issue. Thus, this study aims to evaluate in-hospital management and outcomes of unselected patients with ACS focusing on antithrombotic therapies and bleeding. METHODS AND RESULTS: From 22 April 2009 to 29 December 2010, 6394 consecutive Italian patients were prospectively enrolled and followed for 6 months. Most patients (55.3%) had non-ST-elevation (NSTE) ACS. Of the ST-elevation (STE) ACS patients, 79.8% received reperfusion (mainly mechanical). In-hospital and 6-month unadjusted total mortality rates were 4.2 and 7.8% for STE-ACS and 2.5 and 6.4% for NSTE-ACS, respectively. During hospitalization, TIMI major bleeding rate was 1.2% (1.4% STE-ACS and 1.1% NSTE-ACS, respectively) and TIMI minor bleeding was 3.1%. In-hospital and 6-month unadjusted total mortality rates were 3.1 and 6.7% for patients without bleeding, 1.5 and 8.6% for minor bleeding, and 19.0 and 26.6% for TIMI major bleeding, respectively (p<0.0001). Notably, TIMI major bleeding was one of the strongest predictors of the 6-month composite end point (death or reinfarction) (STE-ACS hazard ratio, HR, 2.86, 95% confidence interval, 95% CI, 1.57-5.23; NSTE-ACS HR, 2.71, 95% CI 1.52-4.80). Predictors of in-hospital TIMI major bleeding were weight (odds ratio, OR, 0.97, 95% CI 0.95-0.99), female gender (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.09-2.96), history of peripheral vasculopathy (OR 2.95, 95% CI 1.83-4.78), switching anticoagulant therapy (OR 2.62, 95% CI 1.36-5.05), intra-aortic balloon pump implantation (OR 4.44, 95% CI 1.85-10.69), and creatinine ≥2 mg/dl on admission (OR 3.68, 95% CI 1.84-7.33). CONCLUSIONS: Despite aggressive management, the rate of bleeding remains relatively low in an unselected ACS population. However, major bleeding adversely affects prognosis and physicians should tailor treatments to reduce it.

Clinical epidemiology, management and outcome of acute coronary syndromes in the Italian network on acute coronary syndromes (IN-ACS Outcome study).

BACKGROUND: The Italian network on acute coronary syndromes outcome (IN-ACS Outcome) study is a nationwide observational, multicenter study with the aim to describe clinical epidemiology, management, 30-days and one-year outcomes of ACS in Italy. METHODS: All consecutive patients admitted for ACS to 38 hospitals, between December 2005 and February 2007, were enrolled in the study. Patient in-hospital details and follow-up data at 30-days and one-year were collected using a web-based CRF and stored in a central database. RESULTS: A total of 6045 patients (age 68 ± 13 years) were enrolled: 2313 patients (38.3%) had ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and 3732 (61.7%) patients had NSTE-ACS. Primary PCI was performed in 1085 (46.9%) STEMI patients, thrombolysis in 590 (25.5%) patients, whereas 638 (27.6%) patients were not reperfused. Among patients with NSTE-ACS, coronary angiography was performed in 2797 (75%) patients, PCI in 1797 (48.2%) patients and CABG in 213 (5.7%) patients. Thirty-days and one-year mortality rates were 5.8% and 9.8%, in STEMI patients and 3.1% and 8.6%, in NSTE-ACS patients. CONCLUSIONS: The IN-ACS Outcome study showed that the management of ACS is still suboptimal. Although 30-days mortality is low, the one-year mortality is still substantial.

[Electrocardiographic diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction in the aera of primary percutaneous coronary intervention and hub and spoke networks]. / La diagnosi elettrocardiografica di infarto miocardico acuto nell'era dell'angioplastica primaria e delle reti hub and spoke.

More than a century after it was invented, standard ECG is enjoying a renaissance of sorts. With regard to acute ischemic heart disease, this phenomenon is due mainly to the availability of large databases that in an ordered and predefined manner collect patient ECG patterns along side their clinical and coronary angiography details as well as outcome data. The present review critically analyses the diagnostic role of standard ECG in acute coronary syndromes with or without ST-segment elevation (STEMI and NSTEMI, respectively) and focuses on interpretation pitfalls and patterns that can contribute to therapeutic decision-making. In front of a patient with a clinical presentation suggestive of acute myocardial infarction the ECG can help answer many questions. In case a STEMI is suspected: are we sure we can exclude an infarction? (the problem of false negatives); are we sure it is a real infarction and not a false positive? Which is the obstructed coronary artery and at what level? Has there been reperfusion? In case an NSTEMI is suspected: are we sure it is a real myocardial infarction, rather than a pulmonary embolism or an aortic dissection? Are we sure it is NSTEMI rather than a "masked" dorsal STEMI? Which coronary substrate and what ischemia extension can we hypothesize in this patient? In particular, is the substrate of such high risk suggesting an emergency invasive approach?

[Antiplatelet therapy in acute coronary syndromes: state of the art and new perspectives]. / Antiaggreganti piastrinici nelle sindromi coronariche acute: stato attuale e prospettive future.

Antiplatelet therapy plays a pivotal role in the treatment of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS), inducing a significant reduction of ischemic events. Aspirin treatment is associated with a substantial 50% reduction of death or myocardial infarction in patients with ACS, but it is usually combined with other antiplatelet agents in order to achieve a more profound inhibition of platelet aggregation. Ticlopidine was initially used in association with aspirin in patients treated with percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI), demonstrating a dramatic reduction of the risk of stent thrombosis. Later on it has been replaced by clopidogrel, which now represents in combination with aspirin the standard treatment of patients with ACS treated either medically or invasively, with a 20% risk reduction in comparison with aspirin alone. The limitation of clopidogrel resistance, documented in about 30% of patients because of genetic factors, clinical factors, and pharmacokinetic factors (i.e., poor absorption and drug-drug interactions), has promoted the development of third generation thienopiridines. Prasugrel, which is a more potent and faster inhibitor of platelet aggregation, in comparison with clopidogrel is associated with a further 20% reduction of ischemic events with an increase of major bleedings in patients with ACS undergoing PCI. It is therefore recommended for patients with ACS at high ischemic risk and at non-high hemorrhagic risk. Ticagrelor, a reversible antagonist of P2Y12 platelet receptor, in comparison with clopidogrel is associated with a 16% reduction of ischemic events, including a significant reduction of death from vascular causes, without increasing the rate of overall major bleeding. Intravenous cangrelor, which has been compared with clopidogrel in patients with ACS undergoing PCI, yielded negative results. The use of glycoproteins IIb/IIIa inhibitors (abciximab, eptifibatide, tirofiban) is no longer recommended as upstream therapy in patients with ACS undergoing PCI, but only in the periprocedural phase. New selective antagonists of thrombin receptor 1 (PAR-1), on top of the standard dual antiplatelet therapy, are now under investigation in patients with ACS and in the secondary prevention. In conclusion, an accurate evaluation is warranted of the balance between ischemic and hemorrhagic risk when deciding the choice of antiplatelet treatment in the individual patient. The hope for the future is the development of new selective platelet inhibitors with higher antischemic efficacy and better hemorrhagic profile.

[Atheromatosis of the thoracic aorta and risk of stroke]. / Aterosclerosi dell'aorta toracica e rischio di ictus.

Atrial fibrillation and severe carotid artery stenosis are the most common causes of stroke. However, several patients recognize unusual cause for their cerebral ischemia. At the beginning of the last decade after the introduction of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and other imaging techniques, atheromatosis of the thoracic aorta has been recognized as an important source of stroke or systemic embolism. Formerly in the pre-TEE era, this entity was included into cryptogenic strokes. Notably, aortic atheromas are found in about one quarter of patients presenting with embolic events and their grading by TEE correlates with the risk of future embolism, especially if mobile lesions or superimposed thrombi are present. Unfortunately, the diagnosis of aortic atheroma is mostly established when an embolic event has already occurred. The aim of this paper is to review the current evidence for aortic atheroma as an important independent risk factor for stroke, and to discuss the potential therapeutic options. Unfortunately, randomized studies addressing the treatment of patients with severe aortic atheroma are not yet completed. Furthermore, although warfarin and statins look promising in several retrospective series, their results are by most controversial so far. In conclusion, although the diagnostic criteria and the negative prognostic significance of aortic atheroma are almost defined, its therapeutic options are far to be clear. Therefore, clinical trials addressing this relevant pathologic condition are urgently needed.

[Obesity and cardiovascular disease: expected and unexpected relationship]. / Obesità e patologie cardiovascolari: relazioni attese ed inattese.

In all forms of cardiovascular disease, prevalence, incidence, morbidity and mortality are strikingly increased in obese persons, i.e. with elevated Body Mass Index or visceral adiposity. The relative excess risk for coronary events, congestive heart failure and sudden death is 1.5, 2, and 2.8 higher, respectively. Nevertheless, a paradoxical protective effect of obesity has been observed in patients with chronic heart failure, who present a better cardiovascular prognosis, i.e. lower risk of mortality, myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular events and post-PTCA bleedings. Even in patients submitted to cardiac surgery, moderate obesity is not correlated to perioperative morbidity and mortality, although sternal infections, supraventricular arrhythmias, and bleedings are more frequent. In conclusion, obese patients should undergo routine cardiac evaluation to identify those at high risk of cardiovascular events, or those with unknown coronary artery disease or asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction. Special care should be devoted to the treatment and cardiovascular follow-up of obese patients.