Clinical Significance of the Left Atrial Appendage Orifice Area.

Objective The left atrial appendage (LAA) is one of the major sources of cardiac thrombus formation. Three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) made it possible to perform a detailed evaluation of the LAA morphologies. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical implications of the LAA orifice area. Methods A total of 149 patients who underwent TEE without significant valvular disease were studied. The LAA orifice area was measured using three-dimensional TEE. The patients were divided into two groups according to the LAA orifice area (large LAA orifice group, ≥median value, and small LAA orifice group). The clinical characteristics and echocardiographic findings were evaluated. Results The median LAA orifice area among all patients was 4.09 cm2 (interquartile range 2.92-5.40). The large LAA orifice group were older (67.2±10.4 vs. 62.4±15.3 years, p=0.02), more often had hypertension (66.7% vs. 44.6%, p=0.007), and atrial fibrillation (70.7% vs. 39.2%, p<0.001) than the small LAA orifice group. Regarding the TEE findings, the LAA flow velocity was significantly lower (33.7±20.0 vs. 50.2±24.3, p<0.001) and spontaneous echo contrast was more often observed (21.3% vs. 8.1%, p=0.02) in the large LAA orifice group. Multivariate models demonstrated that atrial fibrillation was an independent predictor of the LAA orifice area. In the analysis of atrial fibrillation duration, the LAA orifice area tended to be larger as patients had a longer duration of atrial fibrillation. Conclusion Our findings indicated that a larger LAA orifice area was associated with the presence of atrial fibrillation and high thromboembolic risk based on TEE findings. A continuation of the atrial fibrillation rhythm might lead to the gradual expansion of the LAA orifice.

The Influence of Eicosapentaenoic Acid to Arachidonic Acid Ratio on Long-term Cardiovascular Events Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Objective The relationship between cardiovascular disease and the serum polyunsaturated fatty acid parameters has been reported. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between the eicosapentaenoic acid and arachidonic acid (EPA/AA) ratio and long-term cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease. Methods We identified a total of 831 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention and whose EPA/AA ratio was available. The patients were divided into two groups according to their serum EPA/AA ratio (median, 0.29; interquartile range 0.19-0.47): those in the lower quartile of EPA/AA ratios (Low EPA/AA group; n=231) and all other subjects (High EPA/AA group; n=600). The primary endpoints included a composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and ischemic stroke. Results Patients in the Low EPA/AA group were significantly younger (66.0±12.6 years vs. 69.9±9.3 years, p<0.001), current smokers (33.3% vs. 22.7%, p=0.002), and had a history of myocardial infarction (20.3% vs. 12.3%, p=0.003). During the follow-up (median, 1,206 days; interquartile range, 654-1,910 days), the occurrence of the primary endpoint was significantly higher in the Low EPA/AA group than in the High EPA/AA group. Of note, the rate of cardiovascular death was significantly higher in the Low EPA/AA group, and the rates of myocardial infarction and stroke tended to be higher. Conclusion A low EPA/AA ratio was associated with long-term adverse cardiovascular events in Japanese patients with coronary artery disease.

Clinical outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention for bifurcation lesions: kissing balloon inflation vs. sequential dilation.

Percutaneous coronary intervention for bifurcation lesions remains challenging, with there being several debatable issues, including the requirement for kissing balloon inflation (KBI). The objective of this study was to assess the clinical outcomes following single crossover stent implantation with KBI or sequential dilation alone. Data were examined for 255 non-left main bifurcation lesions (246 patients) treated with single crossover stent implantation, followed by side branch (SB) strut dilation with KBI (n = 74 lesions) or sequential dilation (n = 181 lesions) in three hospitals. Target lesion revascularization (TLR) was the primary endpoint. There was no significant difference in the pre-procedural reference diameter of both the main vessel (MV) and SB between the KBI and sequential dilation groups. However, MV post-dilation balloon size was smaller with lower pressure and post-procedural minimal lumen diameter was significantly smaller in the KBI group. During the median follow-up period of approximately 3 years, TLR incidence was significantly higher in the KBI group than in the sequential dilation group; in particular, the TLR rate at the distal MV was higher in the former. For bifurcation lesions treated with single crossover stent implantation, the TLR rate was higher after KBI than after sequential dilation; this was mainly due to higher revascularization in the distal MV. For bifurcation lesions treated with KBI, MV post-dilation balloon diameter tended to be smaller with lower pressure, which might lead to poorer stent expansion and a higher TLR rate.

Lipid-rich large plaques in a non-culprit left main coronary artery and long-term clinical outcomes.

BACKGROUND: An integrated backscatter (IB) intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) provides an information about tissue components and vulnerability of coronary plaques. The presence of vulnerable plaque in non-culprit lesion is associated with future clinical events. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between the characteristics of non-culprit left main coronary artery (LMCA) plaques evaluated by IB-IVUS and long-term clinical outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: Among the patients who underwent non-LMCA PCI, we studied 366 patients with adequate LMCA IVUS images. Conventional and IB-IVUS analyses of the LMCA segment were performed. Lipid-rich large plaque was defined as the presence of both a lager plaque volume and a higher percentage of the lipid component than the obtained median values. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) included cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and unplanned revascularization. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 68.5 ± 10.2 years, 79.8% were men. Median follow-up period was 6.0 years (IQR: 4.2-8.1 years). The incidence of MACE was significantly higher in patients with lipid-rich large plaques (P = .006). The incidence rates of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and unplanned revascularization were significantly higher in patients with lipid-rich large plaques (P = .02, 0.004, and 0.02, respectively). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the presence of a lipid-rich large plaque was significantly associated with MACE (HR: 1.74; 95%CI: 1.17-2.58; P = .006). CONCLUSION: The presence of lipid-rich large plaques in a non-culprit LMCA can be associated with the long-term MACE in patients who have undergone PCI.