Correction to: Immediate and delayed hypersensitivity after intra-arterial injection of iodinated contrast media: a prospective study in patients with coronary angiography

The original version of this article, published on 01 April 2019, unfortunately contained a mistake. The presentation of Fig. 1 was incorrect. The corrected figure is given below.

Complete Revascularization of Multivessel Coronary Artery Disease Does Not Improve Clinical Outcome in ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients with Reduced Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction

The benefit of complete revascularization (CR) in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction is uncertain. A total of 1314 STEMI patients with multivessel coronary artery disease were analyzed. CR was defined angiographically and by a residual Synergy between PCI with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery trial (SYNTAX) score (SS) <8. Patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <40% were classified as the reduced LVEF group. The major study endpoints were patient-oriented composite outcome (POCO) and cardiac death during three-year follow-up. Overall, patients that received angiographic CR (579 patients, 44.1%) had significantly lower three-year clinical events compared with incomplete revascularization (iCR). CR reduced three-year POCO and cardiac death rates in the preserved LVEF group (POCO: 13.2% vs. 21.9%, p < 0.001, cardiac death: 1.8% vs. 6.5%, p < 0.001, respectively) but not in the reduced LVEF group (POCO: 26.0% vs. 33.1%, p = 0.275, cardiac death: 15.1% vs. 19.0%, p = 0.498, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that CR significantly reduced three-year POCO (hazard ration (HR) 0.59, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.43–0.82) and cardiac death (HR 0.34, 95% CI 0.14–0.80), only in the preserved LVEF group. Additionally, the results were corroborated using the SS-based CR definition. In STEMI patients with multivessel disease, CR did not improve clinical outcomes in those with reduced LVEF.

Intravascular ultrasound or optical coherence tomography-defined anatomic severity and hemodynamic severity assessed by coronary physiologic indices

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Fractional flow reserve or instantaneous wave-free ratio has become a standard criterion for revascularization. We sought to evaluate the association between intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) or optical coherence tomography (OCT)-derived quantitative plaque characteristics and the severity of physiologic stenosis.

METHODS

A total of 365 stenoses from 330 patients were evaluated. The association between IVUS or OCT-derived parameters and resting physiologic indices (instantaneous wave-free ratio, resting full-cycle ratio, and diastolic pressure ratio) and fractional flow reserve were explored.

RESULTS

Among the total number of lesions, 50.7% and 58.1% showed an instantaneous wave-free ratio ≤ 0.89 and fractional flow reserve ≤ 0.80, respectively. IVUS or OCT-derived parameters showed significant correlations with resting physiologic indices (P values <.005). The best cutoff values of IVUS minimum lumen area (MLA), plaque burden, OCT-MLA, and OCT-area stenosis to predict functional significance were the same (IVUS-MLA: 3.4 mm², plaque burden: 72.0%, OCT-MLA: 2.0 mm², OCT-area stenosis: 68.0%) for all resting physiologic indices (instantaneous wave-free ratio, resting full-cycle ratio, and diastolic pressure ratio). The best cutoff values for fractional flow reserve were an IVUS-MLA of 3.8 mm², plaque burden of 70.0%, OCT-MLA of 2.3 mm², and OCT-area stenosis of 65.0%. Regardless of IVUS or OCT-derived parameters, the overall diagnostic accuracies of the parameters were lower than 70% and discrimination indices were less than 0.75 for resting physiologic indices or fractional flow reserve.

CONCLUSIONS

The resting physiologic indices showed an identical relationship with IVUS or OCT-defined quantitative plaque characteristics. The diagnostic accuracy and discrimination ability of anatomical parameters were modest in predicting functional significance defined by resting and hyperemic invasive physiologic indices. This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT03795714).

Impact of Optimized Procedure-Related Factors in Drug-Eluting Balloon Angioplasty for Treatment of In-Stent Restenosis

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of optimizing procedure-related factors during drug-eluting balloon (DEB) angioplasty on clinical outcomes of drug-eluting stent in-stent restenosis (ISR).

BACKGROUND

Although DEB angioplasty is recommended as a reasonable option for ISR, recurrent target lesion failure (TLF) still occurs in many patients after DEB angioplasty.

METHODS

Consecutive patients with drug-eluting stent ISR treated with DEB (SeQuent Please) were collected from 4 centers in Korea. The primary outcome was 2-year TLF. Procedure-related modifiable independent predictors for TLF and their best cutoff values were determined.

RESULTS

In a total of 256 patients (309 lesions), TLF occurred in 52 patients (20.3%). Modifiable independent predictors of TLF among procedure-related factors were residual diameter stenosis after lesion preparation (residual percentage diameter stenosis [%DS]), DEB-to-stent ratio (BSR), and DEB inflation time (T_inflation), whose best cutoff values were 20%, 0.91, and 60 s, respectively. TLF rates were significantly higher in groups with residual %DS ≥20% (34.7% vs. 12.5%; adjusted hazard ratio: 2.15; 95% confidence interval: 1.86 to 2.48; p < 0.001), BSR ≤0.91 (46.4% vs. 21.9%; adjusted hazard ratio: 2.02; 95% confidence interval: 1.75 to 2.34; p < 0.001), and T_inflation ≤60 s (26.2% vs. 14.0%; adjusted hazard ratio: 1.82; 95% confidence interval: 1.36 to 2.45; p < 0.001). When classifying ISR lesions by combination of procedure-related factors, TLF occurred in 8.3% in the fully optimized procedure group (residual %DS <20%, BSR >0.91, and T_inflation >60 s) and 66.7% in the nonoptimized group (residual %DS ≥20%, BSR ≤0.91, and T_inflation ≤60 s) (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Residual %DS after lesion preparation, BSR, and T_inflation were the only modifiable procedure-related factors in DEB angioplasty. Fully optimized DEB angioplasty with optimal lesion preparation, prolonged inflation, and sufficient dilation may play an important role in reducing TLF after DEB angioplasty.

Better Prognosis After Complete Revascularization Using Contemporary Coronary Stents in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease

BACKGROUND

The prognostic value of angiographic complete revascularization in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) has not been thoroughly investigated, especially for contemporary coronary stents. We compared the clinical outcomes of complete and incomplete revascularization with second-generation drug-eluting stent, according to the presence of CKD.

METHODS

From the Grand Drug-Eluting Stent Registry (N=17 286) in Korea, we selected 8471 patients, who were treated with second-generation drug-eluting stent and had glomerular filtration rate and quantitative coronary angiography data (3014 [35.6%] patients with CKD and 5457 (64.4%) patients with preserved renal function). Angiographic complete revascularization was defined as a residual SYNTAX score (Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Taxus and Cardiac Surgery) of 0. The primary outcome was the patient-oriented composite outcome at 3 years, including all-cause death, any myocardial infarction, and any revascularization.

RESULTS

The patient-oriented composite outcome rate after complete revascularization was significantly lower than that after incomplete revascularization in patients with CKD (14.6% versus 21.8%; adjusted hazard ratio, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.64-0.96; P=0.020) and in patients with preserved renal function (8.0% versus 12.0%; adjusted hazard ratio 0.77; 95% CI, 0.63-0.94; P=0.011). The cutoff values of residual SYNTAX scores for predicting better patient-oriented composite outcomes were different according to the presence of CKD, that is, <3 and <8 in patients with CKD and with preserved renal function, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Angiographic complete revascularization led to better clinical outcomes in patients with CKD and with preserved renal function. However, the residual SYNTAX score to achieve a better outcome was lower in patients with CKD than with preserved renal function, favoring more aggressive revascularization in patients with CKD.

Development and Validation of an Ischemic and Bleeding Risk Evaluation Tool in East Asian Patients Receiving Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Background The ischemic/bleeding risk of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is still uncertain. We sought to develop a tool to predict ischemic and bleeding events in East Asians receiving 2nd generation drug-eluting stents (DESs) PCI.

Methods A pooled cohort of 13,172 East Asian patients receiving PCI with 2nd generation DES (the Grand DES cohort) was analyzed to develop a scoring system. A net score was calculated by subtracting the bleeding score from the ischemic score. External validation was performed in the HOST-ASSURE and NIPPON trials.

Results Among the total population, ischemic and bleeding events occurred in 195 patients (1.5%) and 166 patients (1.3%), respectively. The score to predict ischemic events included previous myocardial infarction (MI) or PCI, presentation as acute MI, anemia, stent diameter < 3 mm, and total stent length of ≥30 mm, while that for bleeding events included older age, low creatinine clearance, and anemia. C-statistics of the ischemic and bleeding model was 0.708 and 0.665, respectively. Patients with a net score of ≥1 had a higher ischemic risk compared with bleeding risk, and patients with a net score of ≤–1 had a higher bleeding risk compared with ischemic risk. The validation cohort showed a C-statistic of 0.647 for ischemic events and 0.633 for bleeding events.

Conclusion We developed a tool to predict ischemic and bleeding events in East Asian patients received PCI with 2nd generation DES. This system can be used to assess clinical event risks, and to determine the adequate duration of DAPT in East Asians.

Immediate and delayed hypersensitivity after intra-arterial injection of iodinated contrast media: a prospective study in patients with coronary angiography

OBJECTIVES

While hypersensitivity reactions (HSR) to intravenously administered iodinated contrast media (ICM) have been well studied, not much is known about HSR to intra-arterially administered ICM.

METHODS

A prospective observational study was performed to evaluate coronary angiography (CAG)-induced ICM hypersensitivity in patients who underwent CAG using ICM including ioversol, a low-osmolar non-ionic monomer, and iodixanol, an iso-osmolar non-ionic dimer. The HSR were investigated through in-patient monitoring after CAG and telephone interview after discharge.

RESULTS

A total of 714 patients were enrolled during the observation period, of whom 26 (3.6%) showed immediate HSR and 108 (15.1%) showed delayed HSR. With regard to severity, proportion of immediate HSR grades 1, 2, and 3 was 57.7%, 38.5%, and 3.8%, respectively, whereas that of delayed HSR grades 1, 2, and 3 was 85.2%, 13.9%, and 0.9%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that previous intra-arterial exposure to ICM was an independent risk factor for immediate HSR (odds ratio (OR) 2.92, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.22-6.96; p = 0.015). Iodixanol was a significant risk factor for delayed HSR (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.07-2.43; p = 0.024) and correlated with a higher incidence of delayed HSR within 24-h post-ICM administration compared to ioversol.

CONCLUSION

The incidence rate of immediate and delayed HSR in intra-arterially administered ICM was 3.6% and 15.1%, respectively. Previous exposure to intra-arterially administered contrast media was a significant risk factor for immediate HSR. Compared to ioversol, iodixanol was associated with relatively earlier and more frequent delayed HSR.

KEY POINTS

• In this prospective study, the incidence of immediate and delayed hypersensitivity in intra-arterial injection of contrast media during coronary angiography was 3.6% and 15.1%, respectively. • Delayed hypersensitivity reactions were more common but less severe than immediate hypersensitivity reactions during coronary angiography. • Previous exposure to ICM via intra-arterial route was a significant risk factor for immediate hypersensitivity to intra-arterial contrast medium.

The natural course of nonculprit coronary artery lesions; analysis by serial quantitative coronary angiography

BACKGROUND

Nonculprit lesions are the major cause of future cardiovascular events. However, the natural course of nonculprit lesions and angiographic predictors of plaque progression are not well-studied. The purpose of our study was to observe the natural course of nonculprit lesions, and to identify predictors of unanticipated future events and angiographic progression in nonculprit lesions.

METHODS

We analyzed 640 nonculprit lesions with a length of ≥2 mm and luminal narrowing ≥30% from 320 patients who had two serial angiographic follow-ups; 9 to 13 months post-PCI and 24 months post-PCI. The study endpoints were nonculprit-ischemia driven revascularization (IDR) and the rate of diameter stenosis (DS) progression. Those with progression of DS > 12%/year were defined as 'rapid progressors'.

RESULTS

During the median follow-up period of 737 days, 20 lesions in 20 patients (6.3%) required nonculprit-IDR. Independent predictors of nonculprit-IDR were diabetes (hazard ratio [HR] 2.93, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.072-8.007, p = 0.036) and lesion type B2/C (HR 4.017, 95% CI 1.614-9.997, p = 0.003). The presence of one or both of the two major risk factors was associated with significant DS progression (3.0 ± 6.8% vs. 3.5 ± 6.1% vs. 6.8 ± 9.9% for lesions with 0, 1 and both risk factors, p < 0.001). Among the 640 lesions, 38 lesions (5.9%) in 33 patients were rapid progressors, while risk factors of rapid progressors included lesion type B2/C as a lesion-related risk factor (HR 1.998, 95% CI 1.006-3.791, p = 0.048) and diabetes mellitus as a patient-related risk factor (HR 3.725, 95% CI 1.937-7.538, p < 0.001). Lesions with both risk factors (type B2/C lesions in diabetic patients) were at the highest risk of rapid progression (odds ratio 3.250, 95% CI 1.451-7.282), compared to type A/B1 lesions in non-diabetic patients.

CONCLUSION

Nonculprit-IDR was not uncommon during the 2-year follow up period in our population. The major risk factors of nonculprit lesion progression were diabetes and lesion type B2/C.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Retrospectively registered and approved by the institutional review board of Seoul National University Hospital (No.: 1801-138-918) on February 2nd, 2018.

Third-Generation P2Y12 Inhibitors in East Asian Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients: A Nationwide Prospective Multicentre Study

Third-generation P2Y₁₂ inhibitors (prasugrel, ticagrelor) are recommended in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of third-generation P2Y₁₂ inhibitors in East Asian AMI patients. From the Korean AMI Registry, 9,355 patients who received dual antiplatelet agent (aspirin with clopidogrel [AC], 6,444 [70.5%] patients; aspirin with prasugrel [AP], 1,100 [11.8%] patients; or aspirin with ticagrelor [AT], 1,811 [19.4%] patients) were analysed. In-hospital endpoints were all-cause mortality or bleeding events during admission and 1-year endpoints were major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) and major bleeding events. Regarding in-hospital events, AP and AT showed similar all-cause mortality rates but higher bleeding event rates compared with AC. This trend was extended to 1-year endpoints; Cox regression analysis showed that third-generation P2Y₁₂ inhibitors had significantly higher bleeding risk (AP vs. AC: hazard ratio [HR], 2.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.53-2.99; p < 0.001; AT vs. AC: HR, 2.26; 95% CI, 1.73-2.95; p < 0.001). A propensity score matched triplet of 572 patients showed similar 1-year MACCE and higher bleeding events with third-generation P2Y₁₂ inhibitors (2.1 vs. 2.6 vs. 2.1%, p = 0.790 for MACCE and 3.1 vs. 8.0 vs. 8.0%, p < 0.001 for bleeding events, in AC, AP and AT groups, respectively). Inverse probability weighted regression analysis and pooled analysis after randomly imputing missing variables showed consistent results. Collectively, prasugrel and ticagrelor showed similar rates of 1-year MACCE, but a higher rate of bleeding events, compared with clopidogrel in Korean AMI patients. Further studies are warranted to adapt Western guidelines on third-generation P2Y₁₂ inhibitors for East Asians.

Benefit of Vasodilating β-Blockers in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Nationwide Multicenter Cohort Study

Background

Although current guidelines recommend β‐blocker after acute myocardial infarction (MI), the role of β‐blocker has not been well investigated in the modern reperfusion era. In particular, the benefit of vasodilating β‐blocker over conventional β‐blocker is still unexplored.

Methods and Results

Using nation‐wide multicenter Korean Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry data, we analyzed clinical outcomes of 7127 patients with acute MI who underwent successful percutaneous coronary intervention with stents and took β‐blockers: vasodilating β‐blocker (n=3482), and conventional β‐blocker (n=3645). In the whole population, incidence of cardiac death at 1 year was significantly lower in the vasodilating β‐blocker group (vasodilating β‐blockers versus conventional β‐blockers, 1.0% versus 1.9%; P=0.003). In 2882 pairs of propensity score–matched population, the incidence of cardiac death was significantly lower in the vasodilating β‐blocker group (1.1% versus 1.8%; P=0.028). Although incidences of MI (1.1% versus 1.5%; P=0.277), any revascularization (2.8% versus 3.0%; P=0.791), and hospitalization for heart failure (1.4% versus 1.9%; P=0.210) were not different between the 2 groups, incidences of cardiac death or MI (2.0% versus 3.1%; P=0.010), cardiac death, MI, or hospitalization for heart failure (3.0% versus 4.5%; P=0.003), cardiac death, MI, or any revascularization (3.9% versus 5.3%; P=0.026), and cardiac death, MI, any revascularization, or hospitalization for heart failure (4.8% versus 6.5%; P=0.011) were significantly lower in the vasodilating β‐blocker group.

Conclusions

Vasodilating β‐blocker therapy resulted in better clinical outcomes than conventional β‐blocker therapy did in patients with acute MI in the modern reperfusion era. Vasodilating β‐blockers could be recommended preferentially to conventional ones for acute MI patients.

Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial: harmonising optimal strategy for treatment of coronary artery stenosis - coronary intervention with next-generation drug-eluting stent platforms and abbreviated dual antiplatelet therapy (HOST-IDEA) trial

INTRODUCTION

We have recently seen the introduction of newer generation drug-eluting stents with ultrathin struts that use advanced polymer technologies. However, the efficacy and safety of these newest stents have not yet been fully explored. In addition, there are still controversies over the optimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after stent implantation, particularly for ultrathin stents with the newest polymer technologies.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The HOST-IDEA trial is a randomised, open-label, multicentre, non-inferiority trial and the first study to directly compare two of these ultrathin sirolimus-eluting stents: Orsiro stent with biodegradable polymer, and polymer-free Coroflex ISAR (CX-ISAR) stent. This study has a scheme of 2×2 factorial design according to the stent type and DAPT duration (3 vs 12 months). A total of 2152 patients will be randomised and stratified to demonstrate the non-inferiority of CX-ISAR to Orsiro, or of the abbreviated DAPT duration to the conventional 12 months (both in 1:1 ratio). For the comparison of stent type, the primary endpoint is target lesion failure (TLF), which is a composite of cardiac death, target vessel-related myocardial infarction and clinically driven target lesion revascularisation. For the comparison of DAPT duration, the net adverse clinical event is the coprimary endpoint, which is defined as a composite of TLF, definite/probable stent thrombosis and major bleeding.

ETHIC APPROVAL AND DISSEMINATION

All the institutions involved in this study are required to have ethical approval prior to patient enrolment. This multicentre study will recruit patients through competitive registration, but institutions that have not yet obtained ethical approvals have made it impossible to enrol patients in a centralised web database. The final results will be presented at relevant international conferences and will be materialised in the form of papers.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT02601157; Pre-results.

Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffolds - Are We Facing a Time of Crisis or One of Breakthrough?

Current 2nd-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) have dramatically improved clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention for coronary artery disease. However, DES implantation has major long-term limitations related to the permanent presence of foreign material in the coronary artery. Bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS) were designed to overcome this limitation of permanent metal-based DES. However, because of immature manufacturing technology, BVS have several drawbacks, such as the thicker strut, poor deliverability, poor radio-opacity, poor radial strength, and cumbersome procedure to meet the principle of PSP (Preparation, Sizing, and Post-dilatation). Initial studies indicated that BVS outcomes were non-inferior to those of current DES and recent follow-up data of trials have revealed an additional critical drawback, higher rate of scaffold thrombosis, on the top of the existing limitations of BVS. Thus attention must be paid to the appropriate BVS-specific implantation protocols (i.e., PSP), as well as adequate intensity and duration of dual antiplatelet therapy. In any case, current BVS need further technical evolution to replace current metallic DES in routine clinical use.