2014 ESC/EACTS Guidelines on myocardial revascularization: The Task Force on Myocardial Revascularization of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS)Developed with the special contribution of the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI)

Bioabsorbable drug-eluting vascular scaffold for the treatment of coronary in-stent restenosis: A two center registry

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Coronary in-stent restenosis (ISR) is a clinical problem for which a satisfactory solution has not been found yet. Bioabsorbable drug eluting vascular scaffolds (BVSs) provide transient vessel scaffolding combined with prolonged drug delivery capability. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety of BVS for the treatment of coronary ISR.

METHODS/MATERIALS

Between January 2013 and June 2013, 27 patients (31 lesions), presenting with either stable or unstable angina due to coronary ISR, were enrolled in a single arm, prospective, open label registry. Primary end point was the occurrence of target vessel revascularization (TVR) at 12 months. Secondary end point was the composite of death, myocardial infarction and TVR at 12 months.

RESULTS

A diffuse ISR pattern was present in 70% of the lesions; mean lesion length was 34.6±15. BVS was successfully implanted in all patients with no in hospital MACE. At twelve months of follow up, MACE rate was 18.5%. One patient died for non-cardiac reason, one patient died due to a possible stent thrombosis and TVR was necessary in 3 patients (11.1%).

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that BVS is safe and technically feasible for treatment of long and diffuse coronary ISR. These data could be considered hypothesis generator for a randomized clinical trial.

Noninvasive Fractional Flow Reserve Derived from Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography for the Diagnosis of Lesion-specific Ischemia

Fractional flow reserve derived from coronary computed tomography angiography (FFR_CT) has emerged as a powerful tool for the assessment of flow-limiting coronary stenoses. To date, FFR_CT is the only noninvasive imaging modality for the depiction of lesion-specific ischemia and large prospective multicenter studies have established its high diagnostic value. The nature of FFR_CT allows the prediction of functional outcome of coronary stenting, which will expand the role of cardiac computed tomography in the evaluation and management of coronary artery disease.

A 75-year-old woman with chest pain and transient severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction

INTRODUCTION

Coronary spasm can cause myocardial ischemia and angina in both patients with and without obstructive coronary artery disease. However, provocation tests using intracoronary acetylcholine (ACh) have been rarely performed in the Western world.

CASE REPORT

We report a case of a 75-year-old woman with a history of hypertension and a mechanical aortic prosthesis who presented in the emergency room with acute-onset chest pain, widespread ST-segment depression and severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction, with no signs of prosthesis dysfunction. Emergent coronary angiography excluded obstructive coronary artery disease. Pain relief and normalization of ST segment and systolic function occurred within six hours. The patient was treated for a possible thromboembolic myocardial infarction and was discharged home asymptomatic. Two weeks later, cardiac magnetic resonance was performed showing inferoseptal transmural infarct scar, inferior and inferolateral subendocardial infarct and mid-basal ischemia in the anterior and anterolateral walls. She was readmitted with recurrence of chest pain and it was decided to perform a provocation test with ACh. After injection of ACh into the left anterior descending artery, chest pain, ST-segment depression, blood flow impairment (TIMI 1) and transient grade 3 atrioventricular (AV) block occurred. Intracoronary administration of nitrates reversed the coronary spasm and AV conduction disturbances. Twenty minutes later, chest pain and ischemic ST changes recurred; there was no response to vasodilators and the patient developed cardiac arrest with pulseless electrical activity. Advanced life support was maintained for 32 minutes without return of spontaneous circulation.

CONCLUSIONS

Provocation tests have a high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of vasospastic angina. Although it is rare, these tests have the potential risk of irreversible spasm leading to arrhythmia and death.

Short- and Long-Term Patient Outcomes From Combined Coronary Endarterectomy and Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: A Meta-Analysis of 63,730 Patients (PRISMA)

This meta-analysis aimed to compare the short- and long-term outcomes in patients undergoing combined coronary endarterectomy and coronary artery bypass grafting (CE + CABG) versus isolated CABG, and particularly to examine subgroup patients with high-risk profile and patients with diffuse disease in the left anterior descending artery (LAD).Studies published between January 1, 1970 and May 31, 2015 were searched in the literature databases, including Ovid Medline, Embase, PubMed, and ISI Web of Science.A total of 30 eligible studies including 63,730 patients were analyzed.Five authors extracted data from the included studies independently.Meta-analysis on the total patients revealed that CE + CABG was associated with significantly increased 30-day postoperative all-cause mortality compared with isolated CABG (OR = 1.86, 95% CI: 1.66-2.08, z = 10.99, P < 0.0001). Subgroup analysis on patients with high-risk profile and patients with diffuse disease in the LAD showed that 30-day mortality after CE + CABG was 2.6 folds (OR = 2.60, 95% CI: 1.39-4.86, z = 2.99, P = 0.003) and 3.93 folds (OR = 3.93, 95% CI: 1.40-11.0, z = 2.60, P = 0.009) of that after isolated CABG in the respective subgroup. In contrast, the mortality was comparable in CE + off-pump CABG and CE + on-pump CABG groups (OR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.18-1.55, z = 1.16, P = 0.248). In addition, the incidences of perioperative myocardial infarction (MI) and 30-day postoperative complications, including low output syndrome (LOS), MI, ventricular tachycardia (VT), and renal dysfunction after CE + CABG were significantly higher than those after isolated CABG (all P < 0.05). In high-risk patient subgroup, CE + CABG significantly increased the incidences of postoperative LOS, MI, and renal function compared with isolated CABG (all P < 0.05). The incidence of perioperative myocardial after CE + CABG was 2.86 and 2.92 times of that after isolated CABG in high-risk patients and patients with diffuse disease in LAD, respectively. Analysis on the recent reports (published later than 2000) showed consistent results as the analysis including all the eligible reports. Long-term survival was comparable in CE + CABG and isolated CABG groups (hazardous ratio = 1.16, 95% CI: 0.32-4.22, z = 0.23, P = 0.819).CE + CABG appears to be associated with poor short-term outcomes, particularly in high-risk patients and patients with diffuse disease in the LAD.

Managing Heart Failure Patients with Multivessel Disease - Coronary Artery Bypass Graft versus Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

The foundation of treatment for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction is guideline-directed medical treatment. However, surgical revascularisation offers improved survival and quality of life for patients with more extensive coronary disease and the greatest degree of left ventricular systolic dysfunction and remodelling. The most commonly considered surgical interventions for patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction are coronary artery bypass surgery, sometimes combined with surgical ventricular reconstruction and surgery for mitral regurgitation. In this review, the author considers the risks and benefits of coronary artery bypass graft versus percutaneous coronary intervention in the management of heart failure patients with multivessel disease.

Bivalirudin versus unfractionated heparin: a meta-analysis of patients receiving percutaneous coronary intervention for acute coronary syndromes

Objective

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) encompasses ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), with generally high thrombus burden and non-ST segment elevation ACS (NSTE-ACS), with lower thrombus burden. In the setting of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ACS, bivalirudin appears superior to unfractionated heparin (UFH), driven by reduced major bleeding. Recent trials suggest that the benefit of bivalirudin may be reduced with use of transradial access and evolution in antiplatelet therapy. Moreover, a differential role of bivalirudin in ACS cohorts is unknown.

Methods

A meta-analysis of randomised trials comparing bivalirudin and UFH in patients with ACS receiving PCI, with separate analyses in STEMI and NSTE-ACS groups. Overall estimates of treatment effect were calculated with random-effects model.

Results

In 5 trials of STEMI (10 358 patients), bivalirudin increased the risk of acute stent thrombosis (ST) (OR 3.62; CI 1.95 to 6.74; p<0.0001) compared with UFH. Bivalirudin reduced the risk of major bleeding only when compared with UFH plus planned glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (GPI) (OR 0.49; CI 0.36 to 0.67; p<0.00001). In 14 NSTE-ACS trials (25 238 patients), there was no difference between bivalirudin and UFH in death, myocardial infarction or ST. However, bivalirudin reduced the risk of major bleeding compared with UFH plus planned GPI (OR 0.52; CI 0.43 to 0.62; p<0.00001), or UFH plus provisional GPI (OR 0.68; CI 0.46 to 1.01; p=0.05). The reduction in major bleeding with bivalirudin was not related to vascular access site.

Conclusions

Bivalirudin increases the risk of acute ST in STEMI, but may confer an advantage over UFH in NSTE-ACS while undergoing PCI, reducing major bleeding without an increase in ST.

Shock Management for Cardio-surgical ICU Patients - The Golden Hours

Postoperative shock following cardiac surgery is a serious condition with a high morbidity and mortality. There are four types of shock: cardiogenic, hypovolemic, obstructive and distributive and these can occur alone or in combination. Early identification of the underlying diseases and understanding of the mechanisms at play are key for successful management of shock. Prompt resuscitation measures are necessary to reverse the shock state and avoid permanent organ dysfunction or death. In this review, the authors focus on the management during the first 6 hours of shock (the 'golden hours'). They discuss how to optimise preload, vascular tone, contractility, heart rate and oxygen delivery. The review incorporates the findings of recent trials on early goal-directed therapy and includes practical recommendations in areas in which the evidence is scare or controversial. While the review focuses on cardio-surgical patients, the suggested treatment algorithms might be usefully expanded to other critically ill patients with shock arising from other causes.

Predictive Value of Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin for Contrast-Induced Acute Kidney Injury After Cardiac Catheterization: A Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) accumulates in cortical tubules in acute kidney injury (AKI) patients, with its levels associated with serum creatinine. However, the predictive value of NGAL level for contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) remains unclear.

METHODS

A total of 1520 patients from 14 relevant studies retrieved from PUBMED, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar from the inception to November 2014 and 15 data sets were included.

RESULTS

The pooled area under the curve of receiver operating characteristic analysis of NGAL for predicting CI-AKI was 0.93, and the diagnostic odds ratio, sensitivity, specificity, and median cutoff value were 42.54, 83.98%, 89.03%, and 52.4 ng/mL, respectively. Urine and serum/plasma NGAL levels performed similarly well in predicting CI-AKI, with somewhat better results obtained when the NGAL level was determined within 4 hours after exposure to contrast medium.

CONCLUSIONS

Patient nationality and definition of CI-AKI were important factors that affected the efficiency of NGAL level in predicting CI-AKI. Urine and serum/plasma NGAL levels appear to be promising biomarkers for early detection of CI-AKI after percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary angiography.

Bioresorbable vascular scaffold implantation in acute coronary syndromes: clinical evidence, tips and tricks

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with a drug-eluting stent (DES) is routine treatment for patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). However, permanent metallic caging of the vessel has several shortcomings, such as side branch jailing and impossibility of late lumen enlargement. Moreover, DES PCI is affected by vasomotion impairment. In ACS a high thrombus burden and vasospasm lead to a higher risk of acute and late acquired stent malapposition than in stable patients. This increases the risk of acute, late and very late stent thrombosis. In this challenging clinical setting, the implantation of bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS) could represent an appealing therapeutic option. Temporary vessel scaffolding has proved to have several advantages over metallic stent delivery, such as framework reabsorption, late lumen enlargement, side branch patency, and recovery of physiological reactivity to vasoactive stimuli. In the thrombotic environment of ACS, BVS implantation has the benefit of capping the thrombus and the vulnerable plaque. Bioresorbable vascular scaffolds also seems to reduce the incidence of angina during follow-up. Acute coronary syndromes patients may therefore benefit more from temporary polymeric caging than from permanent stent platform implantation. The aim of this review is to update the available knowledge concerning the use of BVS in ACS patients, by analyzing the potential pitfalls in this challenging clinical setting and presenting tricks to overcome these limitations.

Short-term rosuvastatin treatment for the prevention of contrast-induced acute kidney injury in patients receiving moderate or high volumes of contrast media: a sub-analysis of the TRACK-D study

BACKGROUND

Current randomized trials have demonstrated the effects of short-term rosuvastatin therapy in preventing contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CIAKI). However, the consistency of these effects on patients administered different volumes of contrast media is unknown.

METHODS

In the TRACK-D trial, 2998 patients with type 2 diabetes and concomitant chronic kidney disease (CKD) who underwent coronary/peripheral arterial angiography with or without percutaneous intervention were randomized to short-term (2 days before and 3 days after procedure) rosuvastatin therapy or standard-of-care. This prespecified analysis compared the effects of rosuvastatin versus standard therapy in patients exposed to (moderate contrast volume [MCV], 200-300 ml, n = 712) or (high contrast volume [HCV], ≥ 300 ml, n = 220). The primary outcome was the incidence of CIAKI. The secondary outcome was a composite of death, dialysis/hemofiltration or worsened heart failure at 30 days.

RESULTS

Rosuvastatin treatment was associated with a significant reduction in CIAKI compared with the controls (2.1% vs. 4.4%, P = 0.050) in the overall cohort and in patients with MCV (1.7% vs. 4.5%, P = 0.029), whereas no benefit was observed in patients with HCV (3.4% vs. 3.9%, P = 0.834). The incidence of secondary outcomes was significantly lower in the rosuvastatin group compared with control group (2.7% vs. 5.3%, P = 0.049) in the overall cohort, but it was similar between the patients with MCV (2.0% vs. 4.2%, P = 0.081) or HCV (5.1% vs. 8.8%, P = 0.273).

CONCLUSIONS

Periprocedural short-term rosuvastatin treatment is effective in reducing CIAKI and adverse clinical events for patients with diabetes and CKD after their exposure to a moderate volume of contrast medium.

Comparison of the efficacy of drug-eluting stents versus bare-metal stents for the treatment of left main coronary artery disease

Background:

Recent studies reported that percutaneous coronary intervention with stent implantation was safe and feasible for the treatment of left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease in select patients. However, it is unclear whether drug-eluting stents (DESs) have better outcomes in patients with LMCA disease compared with bare-metal stent (BMS) during long-term follow-up in Chinese populations.

Methods:

From a perspective multicenter registry, 1136 consecutive patients, who underwent BMS or DES implantation for unprotected LMCA stenosis, were divided into two groups: 1007 underwent DES implantation, and 129 underwent BMS implantation. The primary outcome was the rate of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs), including cardiovascular (CV) death, myocardial infarction (MI), and target lesion revascularization (TLR) at 5 years postimplantation.

Results:

Patients in the DES group were older and more likely to have hyperlipidemia and bifurcation lesions. They had smaller vessels and longer lesions than patients in the BMS group. In the adjusted cohort of patients, the DES group had significantly lower 5 years rates of MACE (19.4% vs. 31.8%, P = 0.022), CV death (7.0% vs. 14.7%, P = 0.045), and MI (5.4% vs. 12.4%, P = 0.049) than the BMS group. There were no significant differences in the rate of TLR (10.9% vs. 17.8%, P = 0.110) and stent thrombosis (4.7% vs. 3.9%, P = 0.758). The rates of MACE (80.6% vs. 68.2%, P = 0.023), CV death (93.0% vs. 85.3%, P = 0.045), TLR (84.5% vs. 72.1%, P = 0.014), and MI (89.9% vs. 80.6%, P = 0.029) free survival were significantly higher in the DES group than in the BMS group. When the propensity score was included as a covariate in the Cox model, the adjusted hazard ratios for the risk of CV death and MI were 0.41 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.21–0.63, P = 0.029) and 0.29 (95% CI: 0.08–0.92, P = 0.037), respectively.

Conclusions:

DES implantation was associated with more favorable clinical outcomes than BMS implantation for the treatment of LMCA disease even though there was no significant difference in the rate of TLR between the two groups.

Clinical impact of dual antiplatelet therapy use in patients following everolimus-eluting stent implantation: insights from the SEEDS study

Background:

Studies have suggested that use of prolonged dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) following new generation drug-eluting stent implantation may increase costs and potential bleeding events. This study aimed to investigate the association of DAPT status with clinical safety in patients undergoing everolimus-eluting stent (EES) implantation in the SEEDS study (A Registry to Evaluate Safety and Effectiveness of Everolimus Drug-eluting Stent for Coronary Revascularization) at 2-year follow-up.

Methods:

The SEEDS study is a prospective, multicenter study, where patients (n = 1900) with small vessel, long lesion, or multi-vessel diseases underwent EES implantation. Detailed DAPT status was collected at baseline, 6-month, 1- and 2-year. DAPT interruption was defined as any interruption of aspirin and/or clopidogrel more than 14 days. The net adverse clinical events (NACE, a composite endpoint of all-cause death, all myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, definite/probable stent thrombosis (ST), and major bleeding (Bleeding Academic Research Consortium II-V)) were investigated according to the DAPT status at 2-year follow-up.

Results:

DAPT was used in 97.8% of patients at 6 months, 69.5% at 12 months and 35.4% at 2 years. It was observed that the incidence of NACE was low (8.1%) at 2 years follow-up, especially its components of all-cause death (0.9%), stroke (1.1%), and definite/probable ST (0.7%). DAPT was not an independent predictor of composite endpoint of all-cause death/MI/stroke (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.693, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.096–4.980, P = 0.715) and NACE (HR: 1.041, 95% CI: 0.145–7.454, P = 0.968). Of 73 patients who had DAPT interruption, no patient had ST at 12-month, and only 1 patient experienced ST between 1- and 2-year (1.4%). There was a high frequency of major bleeding events (53/65, 82.5%) occurred in patients receiving DAPT treatment.

Conclusions:

Prolonged DAPT use was not associated with improved clinical safety. The study emphasized that duration of DAPT needs to be shortened in Chinese patients following EES implantation (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT 01157455).

A carotid extra-media thickness, PATIMA combined index and coronary artery disease: Comparison with well-established indexes of carotid artery and fat depots

BACKGROUND

The clinical utility of traditional cardiovascular (CV) risk factors to predict coronary artery disease (CAD) is insufficient and limited. Our aim was to evaluate the association between a novel ultrasound index of periarterial fat and adventitia (carotid extra-media thickness; EMT) and the severity of CAD and to compare this with well-known vascular indexes in patients with high and very high CV risk.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Four hundred twenty two patients scheduled for elective coronary angiography were included in the study (age: 61.3 ± 7.4 years; males 65%). Several clinical parameters of obesity were obtained as well as the following ultrasound indexes: carotid EMT and intima-media thickness (IMT), epicardial and pericardial fat thickness (EFT and PFT), and intra-abdominal fat thickness (IAT). These were then related to CAD severity in all individuals. Our study patients had a very high estimated CV risk (82%), and most (60%) fulfilled the MS criteria. Most individuals (71%) had CAD (≥50% stenosis) with equal rates of one, two, or three-vessel disease, and critical (≥70%) coronary stenosis was found in 40% of patients. Carotid EMT was significantly increased in patients with CAD (812 ± 116 vs 746 ± 131 μm) and patients with critical coronary stenosis (829 ± 119 vs 769 ± 122 μm) compared to the appropriate control groups. Moreover, carotid EMT was significantly associated with the severity of CAD. Carotid IMT and EFT (but not PFT and IAT) also revealed significant relations to the number of diseased vessels. Carotid EMT and the new proposed combined index (PATIMA = EMT/BMIx35 + IMT + EFTx60) were predictive for CAD (AUC: 686 ± 304 and 755 ± 260, sensitivity: 60 and 62%, specificity: 76 and 81% for 772 μm and 2015u).

CONCLUSIONS

We present the first study showing that the new vascular index (carotid EMT) and the proposed combined index PATIMA are associated with the presence and the severity of CAD.

Continuation of Dual-Antiplatelet Therapy Following Percutaneous Revascularization with a Drug-Eluting Stent: What Duration Is Optimal?

Dual-antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is required after percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents (DESs) to prevent thrombotic complications, particularly stent thrombosis (ST). However, there is still disagreement regarding the optimal duration of DAPT post-DES placement. Compared to bare metal stents, DESs are known to reduce restenosis and target vessel revascularization but may be more prone to late and very late ST due to delayed endothelialization. Several trials have suggested that longer (>12 months) DAPT reduces ischemic events but does so at the cost of increased bleeding. Other trials have demonstrated non-inferiority of shorter (3 to 6 months) DAPT compared to long-term DAPT, with fewer bleeding events. The clinical challenge is how to balance the reduced ischemic risk with increased bleeding associated with longer DAPT. Furthermore, ST is associated with multiple patient- and procedure-specific factors, thereby limiting a "one-size-fits-all" approach to determining optimal duration of DAPT. The evaluation of DAPT duration should therefore be tailored individually. We will review the data supporting current recommendations for DAPT and recent clinical trials comparing varying DAPT durations and discuss patient- and procedure-specific factors affecting the "optimal" DAPT duration.

Prognosis of STEMI Patients with Multi-Vessel Disease Undergoing Culprit-Only PCI without Significant Residual Ischemia on Non-Invasive Stress Testing

Aims

In about 50–80% of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients there is significant atherosclerotic disease in other coronary arteries in addition to the culprit vessel. There is substantial controversy as to the optimal revascularization approach in these patients. We sought to compare the outcomes of STEMI patients with multi-vessel disease (MVD) treated with culprit-only primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) without significant ischemia on subsequent non-invasive testing, to those of STEMI patients with single-vessel disease (SVD).

Methods and Results

Between 2001–2010, 1,540 consecutive patients treated with primary PCI for STEMI were prospectively observed and entered into a comprehensive clinical database. The primary end point was a composite of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), consisting of mortality, re-infarction and revascularization within 1 and 3 years following PPCI (excluding events occurring during the first 30 days). Patients with cardiogenic shock were excluded. The study included 720 patients with SVD and 185 patients with MVD who underwent culprit-only PPCI and had no residual ischemia on subsequent non-invasive stress testing. Patients with MVD were older, more likely to have hypertension or previous MI and less likely to be smokers and present with anterior MI than patients with SVD. One and 3-year MACE rates were similar between the groups. On cox proportional-hazards regression MVD without residual ischemia was not independently associated with MACE and its components.

Conclusions

STEMI patients with MVD treated with culprit only-PCI without significant residual ischemia on non-invasive stress testing appear to have similar prognosis to STEMI patients with SVD.

Cardiac surgery 2014 reviewed

For the year 2014, more than 17,000 published references can be found in Pubmed when entering the search term "cardiac surgery". The last year has been characterized by a vivid discussion in the fields where classic cardiac surgery and modern interventional techniques overlap. Specifically, there have been important contributions in the field of coronary revascularization with either percutaneous coronary intervention or bypass surgery as well as in the fields of interventional valve therapy. Here, the US core valve trial with the first demonstration of a survival advantage at 1 year with transcatheter valves compared to surgical aortic valve replacement or the 5-year outcome of the SYNTAX trial with significant advantages for bypass surgery has been the landmark. However, in addition to these most visible publications, there have been several highly relevant and interesting contributions. This review article will summarize the most pertinent publications in the fields of coronary revascularization, surgical treatment of valve disease, heart failure (i.e., transplantation and ventricular assist devices) and aortic surgery. This condensed summary will provide the reader with "solid ground" for up-to-date decision-making in cardiac surgery.

Comparative effect on platelet function of a fixed-dose aspirin and clopidogrel combination versus separate formulations in patients with coronary artery disease: A phase IV, multicenter, prospective, 4-week non-inferiority trial

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

The effect of aspirin and clopidogrel in a fixed-dose combination (FDC) on platelet function was compared with separate formulations in patients that had undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stent (DES).

METHODS

This was a phase IV, prospective, multicenter, single-arm, non-inferiority study. Patients that had taken aspirin 100 mg and clopidogrel 75 mg once daily as separate formulations for >6 months after PCI with DES were enrolled, and then switched to an aspirin/clopidogrel FDC once-daily for 4 weeks. Platelet reactivity was determined using the VerifyNow® P2Y12 assay at baseline (immediately prior to switching) and 4 weeks later.

RESULTS

A total of 648 patients (the full-analysis population; age, 63.6±9.0 years; male, 76.5%) finished the study, and 565 (the per-protocol population) completed without protocol violations. In the per-protocol population, the % inhibitions of P2Y12 and ARU were not significantly different between baseline and after 4 weeks of FDC treatment (29.2±20.0% to 29.0±19.9%, P=0.708; 445.1±69.2 to 446.2±63.0, P=0.799, respectively) and the difference in P2Y12 inhibition observed did not exceed the predetermined limit of non-inferiority (95% CI, -0.9 to 1.3). In the full-analysis population, the % inhibitions of P2Y12, PRU, and ARU were not significantly changed after 4 weeks of FDC treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that the efficacy of platelet inhibition by an aspirin/clopidogrel FDC was not inferior to that of separate aspirin and clopidogrel formulations in patients that had undergone PCI with DES.

Enhancement patterns detected by multidetector computed tomography are associated with microvascular obstruction and left ventricular remodelling in patients with acute myocardial infarction

AIMS

This study evaluated the clinical value of myocardial contrast-delayed enhancement (DE) with multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) for detecting microvascular obstruction (MVO) and left ventricular (LV) remodelling revealed by DE magnetic resonance imaging after acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

METHODS AND RESULTS

In 92 patients with first AMI, MDCT without iodine reinjection was performed immediately following successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Delayed-enhancement magnetic resonance imaging performed in the acute and chronic phases was used to detect MVO and LV remodelling (any increase in LV end-systolic volume at 6 months after infarction compared with baseline). Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence (n = 33) or absence (n = 59) of heterogeneous enhancement (HE). Heterogeneous enhancement was defined as concomitant presence of hyper- and hypoenhancement within the infarcted myocardium on MDCT. Microvascular obstruction and LV remodelling were detected in 49 (53%) and 29 (32%) patients, respectively. In a multivariable analysis, HE and a relative CT density >2.20 were significant independent predictors for MVO [odds ratio (OR) 13.5; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.15-84.9; P = 0.005 and OR 12.0; 95% CI, 2.94-49.2; P < 0.001, respectively). The presence of HE and relative CT density >2.20 showed a high positive predictive value of 93%, and the absence of these two findings yielded a high negative predictive value of 90% for the predictive value of MVO. Heterogeneous enhancement was significantly associated with LV remodelling (OR 6.75; 95% CI, 1.56-29.29; P = 0.011).

CONCLUSION

Heterogeneous enhancement detected by MDCT immediately after primary PCI may provide promising information for predicting MVO and LV remodelling in patients with AMI.

Harmonizing Optimal Strategy for Treatment of coronary artery diseases--comparison of REDUCtion of prasugrEl dose or POLYmer TECHnology in ACS patients (HOST-REDUCE-POLYTECH-ACS RCT): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background

Antiplatelet treatment is an important component in optimizing the clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) especially in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Prasugrel, which is a new P2Y12 inhibitor, has been confirmed as efficacious in a large trial in Western countries, and a similar trial is also to be launched in Asian countries. Although a 60-mg loading dose of prasugrel followed by 10 mg per day should be acceptable, there have been no data regarding the optimal dose in Asian patients. Furthermore, serum levels of prasugrel and the rates of platelet inhibition are known to be higher in Asians than Caucasians with the same dose of the drug.

Polymer, a key component of drug-eluting stents (DES), has been suggested as the cause of inflammation leading to late complications, and has driven many companies to develop biodegradable-polymer DES. Currently, there are limited data regarding the head-to-head comparison between BP-BES and the biostable polymer CoCr-EES or the newest platinum-chromium everolimus-eluting stent (PtCr-EES). Furthermore, the polymer issue may be more important in ACS where there is ruptured thrombotic plaque where polymer-induced inflammation may affect the local milieu of the stented artery.

Therefore, the present study dedicated only to ACS patients, will offer important information on the optimal prasugrel dose in the Asian population by comparing a 10-mg versus a 5-mg maintenance dose beyond 1 month after PCI, as well as giving important insight into the polymer issue by comparing BP-BES versus biostable-polymer PtCr-EES.

Method/Design

Harmonizing Optimal Strategy for Treatment of coronary artery diseases – comparison of REDUCtion of prasugrEl dose or POLYmer TECHnology in ACS patients (HOST-REDUCE-POLYTECH-ACS) trial is a multicenter, randomized and open-label clinical study with a 2 × 2 factorial design, according to the type of stent (PtCr-EES versus BP-BES) and prasugrel maintenance dose (5 mg versus 10 mg), to demonstrate non-inferiority of PtCr-EES relative to BP-BES or the reduced prasugrel dose relative to conventional dose in an Asian all-comers PCI population presenting with ACS. Approximately 3400 patients will undergo prospective, random assignment separately to either stent or prasugrel arm (1:1 ratio, respectively). When the patients have contraindications to prasugrel, they are categorized into an antiplatelet observation group after stent-randomization. The primary endpoint is the patient-oriented composite outcome, which is a composite of all-cause mortality, any myocardial infarction (MI), any repeat revascularization in the stent arm at 12 months after index PCI. In the prasugrel arm, primary endpoint is any major adverse cardiovascular event, which is a composite of all-cause mortality, any MI, any stent thrombosis (Academic Research Consortium (ARC)-defined), any repeat revascularization, stroke, or bleeding (BARC class ≥ 2).

Discussion

The HOST-REDUCE-POLYTECH-ACS RCT is the first study exploring the optimal maintenance dose of prasugrel beyond 1 month after PCI for ACS in Asian all-comers. In addition, this is the largest study dedicated only to ACS patients to evaluate the polymer issue in the situation of ACS by directly comparing biostable-polymer PtCr-EES versus BP-BES.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT02193971, 13 July 2014).

Is There Still a Survival Advantage to Bypass Surgery Over Percutaneous Intervention in the Modern Era?

The method of revascularization for multi-vessel coronary artery disease (MVD) has traditionally been coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), however, due to recent advances in the field of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), this latter technique has gained in popularity and its role in guidelines has been promoted. This review aims to address the current data available for the treatment of patients with complex coronary disease, including the specific disease subset in those with diabetes mellitus, focusing on the importance of risk stratification and review by the 'Heart Team'. The concept of complete versus incomplete revascularization and the assessment of lesions utilizing functional techniques are discussed. Over recent years, PCI has grown to become the most frequently performed therapeutic intervention in medicine and continues to grow. There are encouraging data that this is an effective and safe treatment option in selected patients, however, neither strategy alone can provide a solution for the entire spectrum of patients with MVD.

Stopping or continuing clopidogrel 12 months after drug-eluting stent placement: the OPTIDUAL randomized trial

AIM

This open-label, randomized, and multicentre trial tested the hypothesis that, on a background of aspirin, continuing clopidogrel would be superior to stopping clopidogrel at 12 months following drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Patients (N = 1799) who had undergone placement of ≥1 DES for stable coronary artery disease or acute coronary syndrome were included in 58 French sites (January 2009-January 2013). Patients (N = 1385) free of major cardiovascular/cerebrovascular events or major bleeding and on aspirin and clopidogrel 12 months after stenting were eligible for randomization (1:1) between continuing clopidogrel 75 mg daily (extended-dual antiplatelet therapy, DAPT, group) or discontinuing clopidogrel (aspirin group). The primary outcome was net adverse clinical events defined as the composite of death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or major bleeding. Follow-up was planned from a minimum of 6 to a maximum of 36 months after randomization. Owing to slow recruitment, the study was stopped after enrolment of 1385 of a planned 1966 patients. Median follow-up after stenting was 33.4 months. The primary outcome occurred in 40 patients (5.8%) in the extended-DAPT group and 52 in the aspirin group (7.5%; hazard ratio 0.75, 95% confidence interval 0.50-1.28; P = 0.17). Rates of death were 2.3% in the extended-DAPT group and 3.5% in the aspirin group (HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.34-1.22; P = 0.18). Rates of major bleeding were identical (2.0%, P = 0.95).

CONCLUSIONS

Extended DAPT did not achieve superiority in reducing net adverse clinical events compared to 12 months of DAPT after DES placement. The power of the OPTIDUAL trial was however low and reduced by premature termination of enrolment.

CLINICALTRIALSGOV NUMBER

NCT00822536.

Treating coronary artery disease in patients with a history of cerebrovascular disease

Patients with coronary artery disease and a history of stroke account for as many as one in eight of all patients with coronary artery disease, and they are at higher risk of ischaemic events than patients with 'lone' coronary artery disease. It is therefore tempting to increase the potency of antithrombotic treatment in this patient subset. However, these patients are also at greater risk of intracranial haemorrhage. In recent trials of new antithrombotic agents in acute coronary syndromes, patients with a history of cerebrovascular disease derived no clinical benefit from (and were even harmed by) the potent novel antithrombotic agents, with an increased risk of intracranial haemorrhage. However, this risk did not appear to be uniform: it was higher in patients with a history of stroke than in those with a history of transient ischaemic attack, and appeared to be largely confined to the first year after stroke/transient ischaemic attack. Specific strategies to optimize the benefit/risk ratio of antithrombotic agents in this relatively common patient group should be developed and evaluated.

Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of dual antiplatelet therapy with or without warfarin in patients with a clinical indication for DAPT and chronic anticoagulation: A meta-analysis of observational studies

OBJECTIVE

To compare the efficacy and safety of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) and triple therapy (TT, dual antiplatelet plus warfarin) in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) or PCI with stenting (PCI-S) who also require chronic oral anticoagulation.

BACKGROUND

Recommendations for the optimal antiplatelet/anticoagulant treatment regimen for patients undergoing PCI-S or MI who also require oral anticoagulation are largely based on evidence from observational studies and expert opinions.

METHODS

A systematic search was performed for studies comparing TT vs. DAPT in patients post PCI-S or MI and requiring chronic anticoagulation. Primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes were ischemic stroke, major bleeding, MI, and stent thrombosis. Pooled relative risks (RR) were calculated using random effects model.

RESULTS

A total of 17 studies were included, with 14,921 patients [TT: 5,819(39%) and DAPT: 9,102(61%)] and a mean follow-up of 1.6 years. The majority of patients required oral anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation. Compared to DAPT, patients treated with TT had no significant difference in all-cause mortality [RR: 0.81, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.61-1.08, P = 0.15], MI [RR 0.74, 95% CI: 0.51-1.06, P = 0.10], and stent thrombosis [RR 0.67, 95% CI: 0.35-1.30, P = 0.24]. Patients treated with TT had significantly increased risk of major bleeding [RR 1.20, 95% CI: 1.03-1.39, P = 0.02], whereas the risk for ischemic stroke was significantly lower [RR 0.59, 95% CI: 0.38-0.92, P = 0.02].

CONCLUSIONS

All-cause mortality appears similar in patients treated with TT or DAPT although TT was associated with higher rates of major bleeding and a lower risk for ischemic stroke. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Immediate and Long-Term Results of Drug-Eluting Stents in Mammary Artery Grafts

Percutaneous intervention of a coronary graft is the treatment of choice when the graft fails. The objective is to report the long-term results of drug-eluting stents (DES) in mammary artery grafts (MAG). Patients who had been treated with DES for MAG in 27 centers were selected. The baseline and procedural clinical data were included prospectively, and the follow-up was performed with the patients, families, and medical records. Two hundred and sixty-eight patients were included: age 65.5 ± 10.1 years, diabetes 47.8%, ejection fraction 55.5 ± 14.9%.

INDICATION

stable angina 28.4%, unstable angina 38.1%, non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction 21.6%, ST-elevation myocardial infarction 5.3%, and heart failure 6.7%; 1.19 ± 0.59 stents/patient were implanted measuring 18.8 ± 8.8 mm in length and 2.68 ± 0.35 mm in diameter. Rapamycin was used in 78 cases (29.1%), paclitaxel in 77 (28.7%), everolimus in 70 (26.1%), zotarolimus in 34 (12.7%), and biolimus in 9 (3.4%). All cases were successful except for 1 in which the patient died 30 minutes after the procedure. There were no other inhospital events. After a follow-up of 41 months (Q25: 23.7 to Q75: 57.8), 24 patients (9%) died of heart-related causes and 20 (7.5%) of noncardiac causes. Repeat revascularization was necessary in 31 cases, and in 1 additional patient, there was total occlusion, which was not treated. These 32 patients represented 11.9% of the total. In conclusion, the implantation of DES in MAG shows very high procedural success and also low long-term event rates.

Coronary artery aneurysm following drug-coated balloon treatment

Drug-coated balloons are an effective treatment option for stent restenosis. Because of their potential benefits, the use of drug-coated balloons is predicted to increase in the future and expand further for the treatment of de novo lesions as well. We hereby present a case in which a patient developed a coronary artery aneurysm following the treatment of a de novo native coronary narrowing with a drug-coated balloon.

Impact of frailty on outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention: a prospective cohort study

Background

Average life expectancy is rising, resulting in increasing numbers of elderly, frail individuals presenting with coronary artery disease and requiring percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). PCI can be of value for this population, but little is known about the balance of benefit versus risk, particularly in the frail.

Objective

To determine the relationship between frailty and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing PCI.

Methods

Patients undergoing PCI, for either stable angina or acute coronary syndrome, were prospectively assessed for frailty using the Canadian Study of Health and Ageing Clinical Frailty Scale. Demographics, clinical and angiographic data were extracted from the hospital database. Mortality was obtained from the Office of National Statistics.

Results

Frailty was assessed in 745 patients undergoing PCI. The mean age of patients was 62±12 years and 70% were males. The median frailty score was 3 (IQR 2–4). A frailty score ≥5, indicating significant frailty, was present in 81 (11%) patients. Frail patients required longer hospitalisation after PCI. Frailty was also associated with increased 30-day (HR 4.8, 95% CI 1.4 to 16.3, p=0.013) and 1 year mortality (HR 5.9, 95% CI 2.5 to 13.8, p<0.001). Frailty was a predictor of length of hospital stay and mortality, independent of age, gender and comorbidities.

Conclusions

A simple assessment of frailty can help predict mortality and the length of hospital stay, and may therefore guide healthcare providers to plan PCI and appropriate resources for frail patients.

The dogma of aspirin: a critical review of evidence on the best monotherapy after dual antiplatelet therapy

Dual antiplatelet therapy based on the combination of an adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-receptor antagonist plus aspirin has demonstrated to be more effective in reducing the rate of major ischemic vascular events compared to aspirin monotherapy in some clinical settings. The current controversy on the duration of dual antiplatelet therapy should not conceal another major issue: the choice of the more appropriate antiplatelet monotherapy after the dual treatment phase. The aim of this article is to critically analyze the available evidence in this topic.

Data from studies like CAPRIE, MATCH, PROFESS, CHANCE, DAPT and others, raise questions as why antiplatelet monotherapy after the dual phase should only be based on aspirin, in spite of a lack of evidence surprisingly not highlighted by key opinion leaders and experts.

We conclude that, whether ADP-receptor antagonist rather than aspirin may be proposed as monotherapy seems not only have no answer but also not place in the current specialists’ analysis, as if a dogmatic approach were prevalent. Perhaps the time for an open debate on these topics is ripe.

Prevention of cardiovascular events with antiplatelet treatment: does time of intake matter for aspirin and ADP receptor blockers?

Long-term evidence supports a clustering of cardiovascular events in the early morning. Several studies have shown that platelet hyper-reactivity to various stimuli is also present at this period of the day. However, the idea of treatment strategies reflecting the circadian variation in platelet reactivity has been largely neglected so far, and this is true despite the huge number of patients being treated with these drugs. Some pharmacodynamic data suggest that early-morning platelet hyper-reactivity may be overcome by shifting aspirin intake to the bedtime. However, there is lack of evidence whether shifting the time of intake or splitting the daily dose of P2Y12-inhibitors with a regular QD dosing (clopidogrel or prasugrel) to the evening would be effective to overcome platelet hyper-reactivity or to suppress the excess of cardiovascular events observed during morning hours. Further research is warranted to clarify whether such a simple and costless effort like dose shifting or splitting may be beneficial to prevent cardiovascular events.