The long-term prognostic significance of high-sensitive C-reactive protein to in-stent restenosis

The Diagnostic Value of Circulating Biomarkers and Role of Drug-Coated Balloons for In-Stent Restenosis in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is an increasingly pathological condition that commonly affects the femoropopliteal arteries. The current fashionable treatment is percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), often with stenting. However, the in-stent restenosis (ISR) rate after the stenting of the femoropopliteal (FP) district remains high. Many techniques have been proposed for the treatment of femoropopliteal ISR, such as intravascular brachytherapy, laser atherectomy, second stenting and drug-coated balloons angioplasty (DCB). DCB showed a significantly lower rate of restenosis and target lesions revascularization (TLR) compared to conventional PTA. However, further studies and multi-center RCTs with dedicated long-term follow-up are needed to verify the true efficiency of this approach. Nowadays, the correlation between PAD and inflammation biomarkers is well known. Multiple studies have shown that proinflammatory markers (such as C-reactive proteins) and the high plasma levels of microRNA could predict the outcomes after stent placement. In particular, circulating microRNA-320a, microRNA-3937, microRNA-642a-3p and microRNA-572 appear to hold promise in diagnosing ISR in patients with PAD, but also as predictors of stent patency. This narrative review intends to summarize the current knowledge on the value of circulating biomarkers as predictors of ISR and to foster the scientific debate on the advantages of using DCB in the treatment of ISR in the FP district.

Prognostic Value of High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein in In-Stent Restenosis: A Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials

Background: A risk assessment of in-stent restenosis (ISR) patients is critical for providing adequate treatment. Nevertheless, the prognostic value of high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) levels on ISR has not been consistently demonstrated in clinical studies. In the current meta-analysis, we aim to assess the predictive role of hs-CRP in patients treated with stenting. Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Registry through May 2022. We selected random control trials that compared the effects of different interventions, and that revealed the effects of hs-CRP. Two reviewers independently screened the articles, extracted the data, and assessed the quality of the studies according to the PRISMA guidelines (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). The data were pooled using a random-effects meta-analysis. Results: Nine articles were included in the meta-analysis. A total of 1.049 patients received stent implantation, and 185 ISR events were recorded during the 1–12-month follow-up period. Baseline hs-CRP levels were not associated with the prediction of ISR among patients receiving stent implantation. The OR of hs-CRP for ISR was 1.81 (0.92–2.69). In the subgroup analysis, 6–12-month hs-CRP levels, diabetes mellitus (DM), and age ≥60(years)were associated with a higher risk of ISR. Conclusions: This meta-analysis shows that higher levels of baseline hs-CRP are not associated with an increased risk of ISR in stented patients. However, an increased risk of ISR was associated with hs-CRP levels at 6 to 12 months of follow-up, which is higher in studies with diabetes mellitus patients and the elderly.

The Role of Early Revascularization and Biomarkers in the Management of Diabetic Foot Ulcers: A Single Center Experience

Diabetic neuropathy and Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) are the main etiological factors in foot ulceration. Herein, we report our experience of diabetic foot ulceration (DFU) management, with an analysis of the relationship between the rate of lower extremity amputation, in persons with infected DFU, after revascularization procedures performed to prevent major amputation. This study highlights the role of different biomarkers, showing their usefulness and potentiality in diabetic foot ulcer management, especially for the early diagnosis and therapy effectiveness monitoring. A retrospective analysis, from September 2016 to January 2021, of diabetic patients presenting diabetic foot with DFU, was performed. All patients were treated with at least one vascular procedure (endovascular, open, hybrid procedures) targeting PAD lesions. Outcomes measured were perioperative mortality and morbidity. Freedom from occlusion, primary and secondary patency, and amputation rate were registered. A total of 267 patients, with a mean age of 72.5 years, were included in the study. The major amputation rate was 6.2%, minor amputation rate was 17%. In our experience, extreme revascularization to obtain direct flow reduced the rate of amputations, with an increase in ulcer healing.

Pathogenesis and Clinical Significance of In-Stent Restenosis in Patients with Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a strong risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral arterial disease (PAD). In the population of people living with DM, PAD is characterised by multi-level atherosclerotic lesions as well as greater involvement of the arteries below the knee. DM is also a factor that significantly increases the risk of lower limb amputation. Percutaneous balloon angioplasty with or without stent implantation is an important method of the treatment for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases, but restenosis is a factor limiting its long-term effectiveness. The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in the course of DM differs slightly from that in the general population. In the population of people living with DM, more attention is drawn to such factors as inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, platelet dysfunction, blood rheological properties, hypercoagulability, and additional factors stimulating vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. DM is a risk factor for restenosis. The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the literature and to present the most important information on the current state of knowledge on mechanisms and the clinical significance of restenosis and in-stent restenosis in patients with DM, especially in association with the endovascular treatment of PAD. The role of such processes as inflammation, neointimal hyperplasia and neoatherosclerosis, allergy, resistance to antimitotic drugs used for coating stents and balloons, genetic factors, and technical and mechanical factors are discussed. The information on restenosis collected in this publication may be helpful in planning further research in this field, which may contribute to the formulation of more and more precise recommendations for the clinical practice.

High Sensitivity C-reactive Protein in Patients with Coronary Artery in-stent Restenosis: A Case-control Study

Background:

Inflammation plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of In-Stent Restenosis (ISR). High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) is positively associated with major cardiovascular events.

Aim:

We aimed to investigate the hsCRP inflammatory response to Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) in Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) patients with coronary ISR vs. patients without ISR.

Methods:

This case-control study included 80 CAD patients previously treated with drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. Patients had Coronary Angiography (CAG) because of chest pain or equivalent symptoms and were subdivided into 2 groups. Group A (n=40) included CAD patients with ISR. Group B (n=40) included age and gender-matched controls with CAD but without ISR. Serum hsCRP levels were obtained before PCI (baseline) and 8, 16, 24 h post-PCI.

Results:

At baseline (before intervention/CAG), the hsCRP level was increased in the ISR group compared with the No-ISR group (p=0.007). There were 36 (90%) patients in the ISR group who had a high hsCRP (>3 mg/L) compared with 25 (62.5%) patients in the No-ISR group. Also, there was a significant relationship between high hsCRP and the ISR. Patients with ISR had higher frequencies and percentages of elevated CRP than the no-ISR control group. This difference was maintained for all measurements, baseline, after 8, 16, and 24 h (p<0.05). Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) in the ISR group revealed that mean hsCRP differed significantly between serial measurements (p<0.001). In contrast, in the control group, the mean hsCRP did not differ significantly between the serial measurements (p=0.65).

Most of our patients (n=66, 82.5%) had 1-vessel CAD disease, and the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery was significantly affected in 46 patients (57.5%). Management of restenosis was accomplished mainly by stenting by DES in 29 patients (72.5%).

Conclusion:

Patients with ISR had substantially higher pre- and post-PCI hsCRP levels than the no-ISR controls. This difference was maintained up to 24h post-PCI. Conversely, the mean hsCRP did not significantly differ at the follow-up points for the controls without ISR.

Association of Kidney Disease, Potassium, and Cardiovascular Risk Factor Prevalence with Coronary Arteriosclerotic Burden, by Sex

The present study aimed to determine the relationship between the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and the number and severity of coronary artery atherosclerotic lesions obtained by coronary angiography. We reviewed and analyzed 1642 records from consecutive patients at the Catheter Laboratory of Talca Regional Hospital in Chile between March 2018 and May 2019. Patients were stratified according to the presence and severity of atherosclerotic lesions: 632 (38.5%) had no lesions or <30% stenosis and 1010 (61.5%) had at least one coronary atherosclerotic lesion with ≥30% stenosis (CALS-30). CALS-30 was more frequent in males, smokers, and patients with diabetes and/or hypertension (all p-values < 0.02). Serum potassium, glycaemia, creatinine and glomerular filtration rates were also associated with CALS-30 (all p-values < 0.01) in males. The age and the proportion of males with CALS-30 increased with the number of risk factors (p-values for trends < 0.001). Our results showed a stronger association between the accumulation of risk factors and CALS-30 in women than in men. Serum potassium levels were inversely associated with CALS-30 in men but not in women.

Predictive value of inflammatory factors on coronary restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with coronary heart disease: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Evidence reveals that inflammatory factors can predict coronary restenosis in patients suffering from coronary heart disease (CHD) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Perhaps, inflammatory factors are promising biomarkers for the diagnosis of coronary restenosis after PCI. However, the accuracy of inflammatory factors has not been systematically evaluated. Therefore, it is necessary to perform a meta-analysis to certify the diagnostic values of inflammatory factors on coronary restenosis after PCI.

METHODS

China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, VIP, China Biology Medicine disc (CBM), PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science were searched for relevant studies to explore the potential diagnostic values of inflammatory factors on coronary restenosis after PCI from inception to January 2021. All data were extracted by 2 experienced researchers independently. The risk of bias about the meta-analysis was confirmed by the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2). The data extracted were synthesized and heterogeneity was investigated as well. All of the above statistical analyses were carried out with Stata 16.0.

RESULTS

The results of this meta-analysis will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication.

CONCLUSION

This study clarified confusions about the specificity and sensitivity of inflammatory factors on coronary restenosis after PCI, thus further guiding their promotion and application.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval will not be necessary since this systematic review and meta-analysis will not contain any private information of participants or violate their human rights.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/N28JX.

[Analysis of the causes of repeat stenosis of the coronary arteries after elective stenting in patients with stable angina pectoris]

AIM

Coronary stenting is the evidence-based treatment approach of stable angina. The objective was to determine the incidence of restenosis or atherosclerosis progression which led to the need for coronary angiography according to a single center registry data.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The procedure and clinical data of 3732 (2897 males) consecutive stable coronary artery disease patients undergoing coronary stenting, over five years between March 2010 and September 2014, were subject of this study. Over the next 4 years, 1487 (1173 males) patients were re-evaluated due to angina reoccurrence. 699 patients demonstrated the indications for coronary angiography.

RESULTS

The restenosis of the previously stented segment was detected in 84 (12%) cases, the progression of coronary atherosclerosis in 306 (44%), the combination of restenosis and atherosclerosis progression in 63 (9%), and the absence of these complications in 245 (35%) cases. The progression of coronary atherosclerosis was the leading indication for the repeat angiography and revascularization (44 and 58%, respectively); p0.05. The basal level of hsCRP2 mg/l had a prognostic significance for the development of combined event (the restenosis and atherosclerosis progression): AUC 0.65 (0.500.75), OR 3.0 (1.17.9), p0.05.

CONCLUSION

The progression of coronary atherosclerosis was the leading indication for the repeat angiography and repeat revascularization during 2 years after coronary stenting. The hsCRP level 2 mg/l at baseline had a prognostic significance for the development of restenosis in previously stented segment and coronary atherosclerosis progression.

Effects of Altered Levels of Pro- and Anti-Inflammatory Mediators on Locations of In-Stent Reocclusions in Elderly Patients

Imbalances of proatherogenic inflammatory and antiatherogenic inflammatory mediators were involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. This study sought to investigate the effects of proatherogenic inflammatory and antiatherogenic inflammatory mediators on the proximal, middle, and distal coronary artery reocclusions in elderly patients after coronary stent implantations. We measured the expression levels of proatherogenic inflammatory/antiatherogenic inflammatory cytokines. This included interleukin-1 β (IL-1 β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-10 (IL-10), interleukin-17 (IL-17), interleukin-13 (IL-13), and interleukin-37 (IL-37) in the elderly patients with the proximal, middle, and distal coronary artery reocclusions after coronary stent implantations. Levels of IL-1 β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and hs-CRP were remarkably increased (P < 0.001), and levels of IL-10, IL-17, IL-13, and IL-37 were remarkably lowered (P < 0.001) in the elderly patients with the proximal, middle, and distal coronary artery reocclusions. Imbalances of proatherogenic inflammatory and antiatherogenic inflammatory mediators may be involved in the formation and progression of proximal, middle, and distal coronary artery reocclusions in elderly patients after coronary stent implantations.

[The prognostic value of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein blood level after coronary stenting for the development of stent restenosis]

Aim      To analyze the relationship between serum concentrations of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in dynamics and development of restenosis at 12 months following elective coronary stent placement (CSP).Material and methods  The key role in atherogenesis, neointimal proliferation and restenosis belongs to inflammation. This study included 91 patients (median age, 60 [56; 66] years) with stable exertional angina after an elective CSP using second-generation stents. Follow-up coronarography was performed for 60 patients at 12 months. Concentration of hsCRP was measured immediately prior to CSP and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after CSP. Restenosis of the stented segment (50% or more narrowing of the stented segment or a 5-mm vessel segment proximally or distally adjacent to the stented segment) was observed in 8 patients.Results According to results of the ROC analysis, the increase in hsCRP concentration &gt;0.9 mg/l (&gt;25%) at one month after CSP had the highest predictive significance with respect of restenosis (area under the ROC curve, 0.89 at 95 % confidence interval (CI) from 0.79 to 0.99; sensitivity, 87.5 %; specificity, 82.8 %; р=0.0005), which was superior to the absolute value of hsCRP concentration &gt;3.0 mg/l (area under the ROC curve, 0.82 at 95 % CI from 0.68 to 0.96; р=0.0007).Conclusion      Increased concentration of hsCRP ≥0.9 mg /l (≥25 %) at a month after CSP was associated with restenosis of the coronary artery stented segment.

The Incidence and Possible Predictors of Coronary Restenosis

Objective. Assess time and possible predictors of restenosis after the implantation of first- and second-generation coronary stents and bare metal stents (BMSs) in patients with stable coronary artery disease after elective coronary stenting.

Materials and Methods. From 2010 to 2014, 3,732 (2,897 males, 60 [53; 68] years old) patients with stable exertional angina of functional class I–III underwent coronary stenting. From 2014 to 2017, 1,487 (1,173 males and 314 females) patients returned. Repeat coronary angiography was performed in 699 patients.

Results. A total of 644 first-generation stents, 5,321 second-generation stents, and 473 BMSs were implanted. During the control coronary angiography, contrasting was repeated for 193 first-generation stents, 899 second-generation stents, and 77 BMSs. Restenosis (stenosis of 50 % or more in the previously stented segment) was detected in 28 (14 % of angiographic control) first-generation drug-eluting stents, 94 (10 %) second-generation drug-eluting stents, and 21 (27 %) BMSs. Patients with BMS restenosis returned significantly earlier than patients with restenosis of the first- and second-generation drug-eluting stents (11 [6, 27] months vs. 32 [11; 48]) months and 24 [12; 42] months, respectively; p<0.05). The initial and repeat levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were higher in patients with restenosis (2.2 [1.2, 5.0] mg / L vs. 2.1 [1.0, 4.6] mg / L, respectively; p> 0.05) than in patients without restenosis (2.0 [0.9, 4.2] mg / L vs. 1.9 [0.7, 3.5] mg / L respectively, p>0.05). Blood levels of hs-CRP ≥2 mg / L according to receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis at return visit were used as a predictor to identify restenosis of stents with a diameter <3 mm and a length >25 mm – area under the curve (AUC) 0.67 (95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.51–0.84), p <0.05, odds ratio 3.7 (95 % CI 1.1–12.1), p<0.05. Stent type had a significant effect on the time to restenosis in the survival analysis (p<0.0005).

Conclusion. The time from coronary stenting to the return visit of patients presenting with restenosis after the implantation of first- and second-generation drug-eluting stents is consistent; median time of the return visit of patients with restenosis of the first-generation stents was 2–3 years after coronary stenting. Blood levels of hs-CRP ≥2 mg / L at the return visit is a predictor of restenosis of stents with a diameter <3 mm and a length >25 mm.

Impact of Elevated Serum Uric Acid Level on Target Lesion Revascularization After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Chronic Total Occlusion

Elevated serum uric acid (SUA) level is reportedly associated with subsequent cardiovascular events including revascularization in patients with coronary artery disease. However, the impact of SUA level on revascularization in patients with chronic total occlusion (CTO), one of the highest risk subsets in coronary artery disease, is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of SUA level on target lesion revascularization (TLR) in contemporary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for CTO. A total of 165 patients who underwent successful PCI with new-generation drug-eluting stent for CTO under intravascular ultrasound guidance were included. Patients were classified into 3 groups according to the tertiles of SUA level at baseline. Coronary angiography was qualitatively and quantitatively assessed, and gray-scale intravascular ultrasound was also analyzed. The primary end point was TLR. The tertiles of SUA level were as follows: low tertile, ≤5.2 mg/dl; intermediate tertile, 5.3 to 6.4 mg/dl; and high tertile, ≥6.5 mg/dl. During a median follow-up of 34 months, TLR was observed in 5 patients (8.8%) in the low tertile, in 5 (9.4%) in the intermediate tertile, and in 14 (25.5%) in the high tertile (p = 0.02). Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated a significantly higher incidence of TLR in patients with high tertile than the low and intermediate groups. Multivariable analysis showed SUA ≥6.5 mg/dl, diabetes mellitus, and longer CTO length as independent predictors of TLR. In conclusion, in patients who underwent PCI with drug-eluting stent, elevated SUA level was associated with TLR after successful recanalization of CTO.

Side Effects of Coronary Stenting such as Severe Coronary Stenosis and Multiple Coronary Chronic Total Occlusions in Elderly Patients via Induced Proinflammatory and Prooxidative Stress

Background

Severe coronary stenosis and multiple coronary chronic total occlusions are serious side effects of coronary stent implantation in elderly patients. This research sought to investigate the side effects of coronary stenting such as severe coronary stenosis and multiple coronary chronic total occlusions in elderly patients via induced proinflammatory and prooxidative stress.

Methods

We evaluated the expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), acrolein (ACR), malondialdehyde (MDA), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α), superoxide dismutase 3 (SOD3), and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in elderly patients with severe coronary stenosis and multiple coronary chronic total occlusions.

Results

Levels of TNF-α, TLR4, ACR, MDA, and hs-CRP were remarkably increased (P < 0.001), and levels of SDF-1α, SOD3, and eNOS were remarkably lowered (P < 0.001) in elderly patients with severe coronary stenosis and multiple coronary chronic total occlusions. Coronary stenting induced proinflammatory and prooxidant mediator expression and inhibited anti-inflammatory/antioxidant mediators. The proinflammatory and prooxidant mediators may be involved in severe coronary stenosis and multiple coronary chronic total occlusions in elderly patients.

Conclusions

Side effects such as severe coronary stenosis and multiple coronary chronic total occlusions because of coronary stenting in elderly patients were induced by proinflammatory and prooxidative stress. Circulating proinflammatory and prooxidant mediators could predict early severe coronary stenosis and multiple coronary chronic total occlusions in elderly coronary heart disease patients.