Impact of the use of plaque modification techniques on coronary microcirculation using an angiography-derived index of microcirculatory resistance.

Many lesions in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) exhibit significant calcification. Several techniques have been developed to improve outcomes in this setting. However, their impact on coronary microcirculation remains unknown. The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of plaque modification techniques on coronary microcirculation across patients with severely calcified coronary artery disease. In this multicenter retrospective study, consecutive patients undergoing PCI with either Rotablation (RA) or Shockwave-intravascular-lithotripsy (IVL) were included. Primary endpoint was the impairment of coronary microvascular resistances assessed by Δ angiography-derived index of microvascular resistance (ΔIMRangio) which was defined as the difference in IMRangio value post- and pre-PCI. Secondary endpoints included the development of peri procedural PCI complications (flow-limiting coronary dissection, slow-flow/no reflow during PCI, coronary perforation, branch occlusion, failed PCI, stroke and shock developed during PCI) and 12-month follow-up adverse events. 162 patients were included in the analysis. Almost 80% of patients were male and the left descending anterior artery was the most common treated vessel. Both RA and IVL led to an increase in ΔIMRangio (22.3 and 10.3; p = 0.038, respectively). A significantly higher rate of PCI complications was observed in patients with ΔIMRangio above the median of the cohort (21.0% vs. 6.2%; p = 0.006). PCI with RA was independently associated with higher ΔIMRangio values (OR 2.01, 95% CI: 1.01-4.03; p = 0.048). Plaque modification with IVL and RA during PCI increases microvascular resistance. Evaluating the microcirculatory status in this setting might help to predict clinical and procedural outcomes and to optimize clinical results.

Pharmacological Considerations during Percutaneous Treatment of Heart Failure.

Heart Failure (HF) remains a global health challenge, marked by its widespread prevalence and substantial resource utilization. Although the prognosis has improved in recent decades due to the treatments implemented, it continues to generate high morbidity and mortality in the medium to long term. Interventional cardiology has emerged as a crucial player in HF management, offering a diverse array of percutaneous treatments for both acute and chronic HF. This article aimed to provide a comprehensive review of the role of percutaneous interventions in HF patients, with a primary focus on key features, clinical effectiveness, and safety outcomes. Despite the growing utilization of these interventions, there remain critical gaps in the existing body of evidence. Consequently, the need for high-quality randomized clinical trials and extensive international registries is emphasized to shed light on the specific patient populations and clinical scenarios that stand to benefit most from these innovative devices.

Fractional flow reserve use in coronary artery revascularization: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Fractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is recommended in revascularization guidelines for intermediate lesions. However, recent studies comparing FFR-guided PCI with non-physiology-guided revascularization have reported conflicting results. PubMed and Embase were searched for studies comparing FFR-guided PCI with non-physiology-guided revascularization strategies (angiography-guided, intracoronary imaging-guided, coronary artery bypass grafting). Data were pooled by meta-analysis using random-effects model. 26 studies enrolling 78,897 patients were included. FFR-guided PCI as compared to non-physiology-guided coronary revascularization had lower risk of all-cause mortality (odds ratio [OR] 0.79 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.64-0.99, I2 = 53%) and myocardial infarction (MI) (OR 0.74 95% CI 0.59-0.93, I2 = 44.7%). However, no differences between groups were found in terms of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) (OR 0.86 95% CI 0.72-1.03, I2 = 72.3%) and repeat revascularization (OR 1 95% CI 0.82-1.20, I2 = 43.2%). Among patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), FFR-guided PCI as compared to non-physiology-guided revascularization was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality and MI.

Impact of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose on heart failure with preserved and reduced ejection fraction.

AIMS: Heart failure (HF) is a proinflammatory disease often associated with the onset of iron deficiency (ID). ID alters mitochondrial function, reducing the generation of cellular energy in skeletal muscle and cardiomyocytes. This study aimed to analyse the response of patients with HF to intravenous iron administration according to the type of HF: preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) or reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted a retrospective, single-centre study of 565 consecutive outpatients diagnosed with HF, recruited over 5 years, who were given intravenous ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) for the treatment of ID [defined as ferritin < 100 µg/L or ferritin 100-300 µg/L with transferrin saturation (TSAT) < 20%]. Clinical, laboratory, and echocardiographic parameters were analysed before and after administration. After FCM administration, overall ferritin, TSAT, and haemoglobin levels increased up to 5-fold, 1.6-fold, and 1.1-fold, respectively, relative to baseline values in HF patients with reduced and preserved ejection fraction (P < 0.0001), with a greater increase in ferritin and TSAT in HFpEF patients. The left ventricular ejection fraction of the overall series improved by 8 percentage points in both types of HF (from 40% to 48%, P < 0.0001). The percentage of patients with normalization of right ventricular function increased by 6.9 points (from 74.1% to 81%) in HFpEF patients and by 6.4 points (from 53% to 59.4%) in the HFrEF subgroup (P < 0.0001). New York Heart Association functional status slightly improved, from a median of 2.4 (interquartile range, IQR: 2-2.7) to 1.9 (IQR: 1.5-2.5; P < 0.0001) after FCM in both types of HF. No changes were noted in plasma levels of liver enzymes, creatinine, or natriuretic peptide (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous iron administration appeared to improve ejection fraction and cardiac functional status in outpatients with ID and HF with both preserved and reduced ejection fraction.

Clinical Risk Prediction in Patients With Left Ventricular Myocardial Noncompaction.

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a heterogeneous entity with uncertain prognosis. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to develop and validate a prediction model of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and to identify LVNC cases without events during long-term follow-up. METHODS: This is a retrospective longitudinal multicenter cohort study of consecutive patients fulfilling LVNC criteria by echocardiography or cardiovascular magnetic resonance. MACE were defined as heart failure (HF), ventricular arrhythmias (VAs), systemic embolisms, or all-cause mortality. RESULTS: A total of 585 patients were included (45 ± 20 years of age, 57% male). LV ejection fraction (LVEF) was 48% ± 17%, and 18% presented late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). After a median follow-up of 5.1 years, MACE occurred in 223 (38%) patients: HF in 110 (19%), VAs in 87 (15%), systemic embolisms in 18 (3%), and 34 (6%) died. LVEF was the main variable independently associated with MACE (P < 0.05). LGE was associated with HF and VAs in patients with LVEF >35% (P < 0.05). A prediction model of MACE was developed using Cox regression, composed by age, sex, electrocardiography, cardiovascular risk factors, LVEF, and family aggregation. C-index was 0.72 (95% confidence interval: 0.67-0.75) in the derivation cohort and 0.72 (95% confidence interval: 0.71-0.73) in an external validation cohort. Patients with no electrocardiogram abnormalities, LVEF ≥50%, no LGE, and negative family screening presented no MACE at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: LVNC is associated with an increased risk of heart failure and ventricular arrhythmias. LVEF is the variable most strongly associated with MACE; however, LGE confers additional risk in patients without severe systolic dysfunction. A risk prediction model is developed and validated to guide management.