Clinical Outcomes of Comparison Between Type III Coronary Artery Perforation (CAP) and non-CAP Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients During 3-Year Follow-up.

Coronary artery perforation (CAP) is a potentially fatal complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This study aimed to investigate in-hospital, 1-year, and 3-year clinical outcomes of type III CAP during PCI in patients with ACS. The study retrospectively evaluated 118 patients with CAP and 43,226 case-control patients. Clinical, angiographic, and procedural characteristics, management, and outcomes were analyzed retrospectively at 1-year and 3-year follow-ups. The mean age of the patients was 66.5 ± 11.9 years (61.8% males). There was no significant difference in hospital mortality between the type III CAP and non-CAP groups. The all-cause mortality was 33.3% in the CAP group vs 1.8% in the non-CAP group at 1 year, and 28.3% in CAP group vs 6.9% in non-CAP group at 3 years (p = .001 for both comparisons). The procedural, clinical, and 1 and 3-year outcomes of type III CAP showed a relatively high risk of myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass graft, cerebrovascular event, stent thrombosis, and major bleeding at the 1 and 3-year follow-ups. In addition, non-CAP ACS patients had better survival (log-rank: p < .001, 34.29 months 95% Confidence Interval [33.58-35.00]) than type III CAP ACS patients (29.53 months 95% Confidence Interval [27.28-31.78]) at the 3-year follow-up visit.

Effect of Coronary Thrombus Aspiration in Non ST Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients on Three-Year Survival- Does it add any Benefit?

We assessed the effect of thrombus aspiration (TA) during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on in-hospital and 3-year mortality in consecutive non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (n = 189) and unstable angina pectoris (n = 148) patients (n = 337) between 2011 and 2016. In total, 153 patients (45.4%) underwent TA. The number of patients with postoperative thrombolysis in terms of myocardial infarction grade 3 blood flow (P < .001) and myocardial blush grade 3 (P < .001) were significantly higher in all TA groups. At 6-, 12- and 24-month post-PCI, the mean left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly higher in the all TA groups versus the stand alone PCI group (P < .001). Thrombus aspiration was associated with a significant improvement both in epicardial flow, myocardial perfusion and left ventricular ejection fraction. Thrombus aspiration during PCI in all acute coronary syndrome (except ST segment elevation) patients was associated with better survival compared with stand alone PCI group at 3-year follow-up (P = .019).

Correction to: Impaired coronary blood flow may be related to elevated homocysteine levels in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Correction to: Wien Klin Wochenschr 2015 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-015-0854-z The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake. The first names of Dr. Ismail Dogu Kilic were interchanged.

Manual Thrombus Aspiration and the Improved Survival of Patients With Unstable Angina Pectoris Treated With Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (30 Months Follow-Up).

The clinical effect of intracoronary thrombus aspiration during percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with unstable angina pectoris is unknown. In this study, we aimed to assess how thrombus aspiration during percutaneous coronary intervention affects in-hospital and 30-month mortality and complications in patients with unstable angina pectoris.We undertook an observational cohort study of 645 consecutive unstable angina pectoris patients who had performed percutaneous coronary intervention from February 2011 to March 2013. Before intervention, 159 patients who had culprit lesion with thrombus were randomly assigned to group 1 (thrombus aspiration group) and group 2 (stand-alone percutaneous coronary intervention group). All patients were followed-up 30 months until August 2015.Thrombus aspiration was performed in 64 patients (46%) whose cardiac markers (ie, creatinine kinase [CK-MB] mass and troponin T) were significantly lower after percutaneous coronary intervention than in those of group 2 (CK-MB mass: 3.80 ±â€Š1.11 vs 4.23 ±â€Š0.89, P = 0.012; troponin T: 0.012 ±â€Š0.014 vs 0.018 ±â€Š0.008, P = 0.002). Left ventricular ejection fraction at 6, 12, and 24 months postintervention was significantly higher in the group 1. During a mean follow-up period of 28.87 ±â€Š6.28 months, mortality rates were 6.3% in the group 1 versus 12.9% in the group 2. Thrombus aspiration was also associated with significantly less long-term mortality in unstable angina pectoris patients (adjusted HR: 4.61, 95% CI: 1.16-18.21, P = 0.029).Thrombus aspiration in the context of unstable angina pectoris is associated with a limited elevation in cardiac enzymes during intervention that minimises microembolization and significantly improves both of epicardial flow and myocardial perfusion, as shown by angiographic TIMI flow grade and frame count. Thrombus aspiration during percutaneous coronary intervention in unstable angina pectoris patients has better survival over a 30-month follow-up period.

Does high serum uric acid level cause aspirin resistance?

In patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), though aspirin inhibits platelet activation and reduces atherothrombotic complications, it does not always sufficiently inhibit platelet function, thereby causing a clinical situation known as aspirin resistance. As hyperuricemia activates platelet turnover, aspirin resistance may be specifically induced by increased serum uric acid (SUA) levels. In this study, we thus investigated the association between SUA level and aspirin resistance in patients with CAD. We analyzed 245 consecutive patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP) who in coronary angiography showed more than 50% occlusion in a major coronary artery. According to aspirin resistance, two groups were formed: the aspirin resistance group (Group 1) and the aspirin-sensitive group (Group 2). Compared with those of Group 2, patients with aspirin resistance exhibited significantly higher white blood cell counts, neutrophil counts, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios, SUA levels, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels, and fasting blood glucose levels. After multivariate analysis, a high level of SUA emerged as an independent predictor of aspirin resistance. The receiver-operating characteristic analysis provided a cutoff value of 6.45 mg/dl for SUA to predict aspirin resistance with 79% sensitivity and 65% specificity. Hyperuricemia may cause aspirin resistance in patients with CAD and high SUA levels may indicate aspirin-resistant patients. Such levels should thus recommend avoiding heart attack and stroke by adjusting aspirin dosage.

Impaired coronary blood flow may be related to elevated homocysteine levels in patients with metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MS) refers to a group of cardiovascular risk factors associated with endothelial dysfunction and impaired coronary blood flow (CBF). Homocysteine (Hcy) is another risk factor for the development of insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction. However, the relationship between Hcy levels and CBF in patients with MS has not been investigated specifically. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between Hcy levels and CBF in MS patients with normal coronary arteries. METHODS: The study population included 36 patients with MS (20 males, 16 females; mean age = 55 ± 9 years) and 36 control subjects (20 males, 16 females; mean age = 51 ± 7 years). All subjects had angiographically proven normal coronary arteries. Plasma Hcy concentrations were evaluated after a fast of 12 h or longer. The CBF rates of all subjects were documented by the thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) frame count method. RESULTS: The TIMI frame counts for each major epicardial coronary artery and mean TIMI frame count were found to be significantly higher in the MS group compared with the control group (left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD): 53 ± 26 vs. 39 ± 17; p = 0.01, left circumflex artery (LCx): 32 ± 12 vs. 26 ± 11; p = 0.01, right coronary artery (RCA): 33 ± 14 vs. 26 ± 12; p = 0.02, mean TIMI frame count: 39 ± 16 vs. 20 ± 12; p = 0.01). Plasma Hcy levels in patients with MS were significantly higher compared with controls (MS group = 11.6 ± 4 and control group = 9.6 ± 2.6; p = 0.01). Additionally, plasma Hcy levels were positively correlated with each calculated TIMI frame count value in the MS group (LAD, r: 0.28 and p = 0.006; LCx, r: 0.25 and p = 0.022; RCA, r: 0.26 and p = 0.042; mean TIMI frame count, r: 0.28 and p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Plasma Hcy levels and TIMI frame counts were significantly higher in patients with MS. Impaired CBF in MS may be related to elevated levels of Hcy, even if Hcy levels are normal.

Limitation of motion and shoulder disabilities in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices.

The aim of this study is to investigate the presence of limitations in the shoulder range of motion (ROM) or the loss of upper extremity function on the affected side in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) with respect to the implantation time. Forty-nine patients (30 men and 19 women), mean age 64.84±11.18 years, who had been living with a CIED for less than 3 months were included in the short-term recipient (STR) group and 127 patients (85 men and 42 women), mean age 64.91±14.70 years, and with the device for longer than 3 months were included in the long-term recipients group. Shoulder ROMs were measured using a digital goniometer. The other arm was used as the control. The Constant-Murler Score, Shoulder Pain Disability Index, and Shoulder Disability Questionnaire were used to assess the functional status. Limitations of ROM for flexion, abduction, and internal rotation were found to be significantly lower in the arm on the side of CIED compared with the control arm. Significant differences in shoulder flexion, abduction, and external rotation in STRs were found compared with long-term recipient (P<0.05). However, the functional comparison of groups by the Constant-Murler Score was not significant. A low to moderate amount of shoulder disability measured by Shoulder Pain Disability Index and Shoulder Disability Questionnaire was found in patients with CIEDs, which was more prominent in STRs (P<0.05). Pain, association of CIED with pectoral muscles, a possible subtle ongoing capsular pathology, and avoidance behaviors of patients to minimize the risk of lead dislodgement might be related to restriction of motion and function in the shoulder joint in patients with CIEDs.

Clinical and electrophysiological characteristics of typical atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia in the elderly - changing of slow pathway location with aging.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the clinical and electrophysiological characteristics of elderly patients with typical atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT), and to assess the acute safety and efficacy of slow-pathway radiofrequency (RF) ablation in this specific group of patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: The present study retrospectively included a total of 1,290 patients receiving successful slow-pathway RF ablation for typical slow-fast AVNRT. Patients were divided into 2 groups: group I included 1,148 patients aged <65 years and group II included 142 patients aged >65 years. The required total procedure duration and total fluoroscopy exposure time were significantly higher in group II vs. group I (P=0.005 and P=0.0001, respectively). The number of RF pulses needed for a successful procedural end-point was significantly higher in group II than in group I (4.4 vs. 7.2, P=0.005). While the ratio of the anterior location near to the His-bundle region was significantly higher in group II, the ratio of posterior and midseptal locations were significantly higher in group I (P=0.0001). The overall procedure success rates were similar. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in respect of the complications rates. CONCLUSIONS: This experience demonstrates that RF catheter ablation, targeting the slow pathway, could be considered as first-line therapy for typical AVNRT patients older than 65 years as well as younger patients, as it is very safe and effective in the acute period of treatment.

Impaired systolic blood pressure recovery and heart rate recovery after graded exercise in patients with metabolic syndrome.

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare systolic blood pressure recovery and heart rate recovery (HRR) values obtained at various time intervals after maximal graded exercise treadmill testing between patients with metabolic syndrome (MS) and the controls without MS. To our knowledge, this is the first study indicating systolic blood pressure recovery (SBPR) impairment and its relations to HRR and other variables in this group of patients. The study population included 110 patients with MS (67 men, 43 women; mean age: 46 ±â€Š9 years) and 110 control subjects who did not meet the criteria for MS (58 men, 52 women; mean age: 44 ± 10 years). All patients were selected from nonobese, apparently healthy sedentary individuals who had the ability to perform maximum exercise testing. SBPR was assessed by calculating the ratio of systolic blood pressure (SBP) obtained in the third minute of the recovery period to either the peak-exercise SBP or the SBP in the first minute of the recovery period after graded exercise testing. HRR values were calculated by subtracting the HR at the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth minutes of the recovery period from the HR reached at peak exercise. There was no significant difference found between the 2 groups with respect to age and sex distribution. As expected, patients with MS had higher waist circumference, fasting plasma glucose and serum triglyceride, and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol compared with control subjects. All HRR values calculated in the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth minutes were significantly detected lower in the MS group compared with the control group (HRR 1st: 32 ± 10 vs 36 ± 11; P = 0.009; HRR 2nd: 47 ± 10 vs 51 ± 11; P = 0.02; HRR 3rd: 53 ± 11 vs 58 ± 12; P = 0.001; HRR 4th: 57 ± 11 vs 64 ± 12; P < 0.001; HRR 5th: 60 ± 16 vs 69 ± 15; P < 0.001). In addition, calculated mean values for SBPR1 and SBPR2 were >1 in patients with MS (1.01 ±â€Š0.2 vs 0.91 ± 0.1 and 1.01 ± 0.1 vs 0.94 ± 0.1) and these were statistically significant compared with the control group (P < 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively). The existence of MS was found to be the only parameter that was independently and positively related to SBPR values in the study population. Our findings suggest that only the existence of MS itself, not the presence of any MS components, is independently associated with SBPRs. We are of the opinion that significantly impaired SBPR values, in addition to the decreased HRR values observed in this group of patients, such as those with MS, may especially help identify patients with potentially increased cardiovascular risk despite normal exercise stress testing findings.

Clinical and electrophysiological characteristics of the patients with relatively slow atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to retrospectively investigate clinical and electrophysiologic characteristics of typical AVNRT with relatively slow tachycardia rates below the average value compared to faster ones, in patients without structural heart disease. METHODS: The present study retrospectively included a total of 1,150 patients receiving successful slow-pathway radio frequency ablation for typical slow-fast AVNRT. Patients were divided into two groups according to their tachycardia cycle length: group I included 1,018 patients with tachycardia cycle length < 400 msn and group II included 132 patients with cycle length > 400 msn. Patients with another form of arrhythmia other than typical AVNRT, the existence of structural heart disease, preexisting prolonged PR interval, history of clinically documented AF, and reasons capable of causing AF were accepted as exclusion criterias. RESULTS: The patients in group II were older than those in group 1 (p=0.039), and male ratio was significantly higher in group II compared to group I (p=0.02). Wenckebach cycle length and AV node antegrade effective refractory period values before the RF ablation were significantly higher in group II compared to group I (p=0.0001 and 0.01, respectively). Right atrium effective refractory period values in both pre- and post-ablation period were significantly higher in group I compared to group II (p=0.0001 and 0.004, respectively). The existence of atrial vulnerability before ablation was significantly higher in group II compared to group I (p=0.007); however, there was no difference between the two groups in terms of atrial vulnerability after the ablation. In addition, while the ratio of anterior location as an ablation site near the His-bundle region was significantly higher in group II, the ratio of posterior location was significantly higher in group I (p=0.0001 for both). CONCLUSION: Our experience demonstrates that clinical and electrophysiologic characteristics of AVNRT patients with relatively slower tachycardia rates were quite different compared to the faster AVNRT cases.

The association between coronary flow rate and impaired heart rate recovery in patients with metabolic syndrome: A preliminary report.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to evaluate heart rate recovery (HRR) and association between coronary flow rate and HRR in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS) who had morphologically normal coronary angiogram. METHODS: Study population included 43 patients with MS and 37 control subjects without MS. All patients were selected from individuals who had recently undergone coronary angiography in our hospital and were diagnosed as having angiographically normal coronary arteries. Exercise stress test results obtained prior to coronary angiography were evaluated for calculating HRR and other parameters. In addition, coronary flow was objectively evaluated for each major coronary artery in each subject using TIMI frame count method. RESULTS: All HRR values calculated were detected significantly lower in MS group compared to controls (HRR first: 32 ± 9 vs. 37 ± 10; p = 0.01, second: 46 ± 11 vs. 52 ± 11; p = 0.03, third: 51 ± 12 vs. 59 ± 12; p = 0.00, fourth: 54 ± 13 vs. 61 ± 2; p = 0.02). TIMI frame counts for each major epicardial coronary artery and mean TIMI frame count were also found to be significantly higher in MS group compared to controls (left anterior descending artery:51 ± 24 vs. 39 ± 15; p = 0.009, left circumflex artery: 32 ± 11 vs. 24 ± 7; p = 0.001, right coronary artery: 33 ± 14 vs. 24 ± 10; p = 0.003, mean TIMI frame count: 38 ± 15 vs. 29 ± 9;p = 0.002). Additionally, significant negative correlations were also detected between HRR first minute and coronary TIMI frame count values in patients with MS. None of MS parameters did not affect HRR values, however mean TIMI frame count independently associated with HRR first minute (p = 0.04) in patients with MS. CONCLUSIONS: Impaired coronary blood flow occurring in MS might be a clue of autonomic dysfunction in addition to previously known endothelial dysfunction.