Long-term effects on clinical outcomes of aggressive lowering of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and low-dose anticoagulation in the post coronary artery bypass graft trial. Post CABG Investigators

Antithrombotic strategies for preventing graft failure in coronary artery bypass graft

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedures face challenges related to graft failure, driven by factors such as acute thrombosis, neointimal hyperplasia, and atherosclerotic plaque formation. Despite extensive efforts over four decades, the optimal antithrombotic strategy to prevent graft occlusion while minimizing bleeding risks remains uncertain, relying heavily on expert opinions rather than definitive guidelines. To address this uncertainty, we conducted a review of randomized clinical trials and meta-analyses of antithrombotic therapy for patients with CABG. These studies examined various antithrombotic regimens in CABG such as single antiplatelet therapy (aspirin or P2Y12 inhibitors), dual antiplatelet therapy, and anticoagulation therapy. We evaluated outcomes including the patency of grafts, major adverse cardiovascular events, and bleeding complications and also explored future perspectives to enhance long-term outcomes for CABG patients. Early studies established aspirin as a key component of antithrombotic pharmacotherapy after CABG. Subsequent randomized controlled trials focused on adding a P2Y12 inhibitor (such as clopidogrel, ticagrelor, or prasugrel) to aspirin, yielding mixed results. This article aims to inform clinical decision-making and guide the selection of antithrombotic strategies after CABG.

The prognostic role of the low and very low baseline LDL-C level in outcomes of patients with cardiac revascularization; comparative registry-based cohort design

BACKGROUND

Although low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) level is considered one of the main prognostic factors in patients with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), the question about "the lower the better" is still unanswered. We aimed to evaluate and compare the outcomes of patients with CABG and low or very low baseline LDL-C, regardless of statin usage.

METHODS

In this registry-based cohort study, 10,218 patients with low/very low (70-100 and ≤ 70 mg/dL) baseline LDL-C who underwent isolated and the first-time CABG without known previous history of cardio-cerebrovascular events, were included and compared. The median follow-up was 73.33 (72.15-74.51) months. Primary outcomes were all-cause mortality and major adverse cardio-cerebrovascular events (MACCE) (consisted of all-cause mortality, acute coronary syndrome, stroke or transient ischemic attack, and the need for repeat revascularization [percutaneous coronary intervention or redo-CABG]). Cox regression analyses before and after the propensity score matching (PSM) model were applied to evaluate and compare outcomes.

RESULTS

The mean age of the study population was 66.17 ± 9.98 years old and 2506 (24.5%) were women. Diabetes mellitus and a history of cigarette smoking were significantly higher in the very low LDL group (P-value ≤ 0.001). In Cox regression analyses before applying PSM model, both all-cause mortality (14.2% vs. 11.9%, P-value = 0.004 and MACCE (26.0% vs. 23.6%, P-value = 0.006) were significantly higher in the very low LDL group compared to low LDL. However, these results were no longer significant after applying the PSM model (all-cause mortality HR: 1.115 [95% CI: 0.986-1.262], P = 0.083 and MACCE HR: 1.077 [95%CI: 0.984-1.177], P = 0.095). The sensitivity analysis to remove the statin effect demonstrated that very low LDL-C level was correlated to higher risk of all-cause mortality in both unmatched and PSM analyses.

CONCLUSION

Very low serum LDL-C levels (≤ 70 mg/dl) could increase long-term all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events in patients who have undergone isolated CABG.

Influence of cholesterol level on long-term survival and cardiac events after surgical coronary revascularization

Objective

Statins have been shown to delay the inevitable progression of atherosclerosis in native coronaries and saphenous vein grafts, thereby reducing ischemic events after surgical coronary revascularization. However, there is significant controversy as to whether titrating statin therapy to concrete cholesterol targets is appropriate.

Methods

A single-center retrospective analysis of 309 consecutive patients who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass graft in 2007 and 2008 was performed. Measurements of lipid profile subcomponents, namely total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglycerides, in mmol/L, were obtained by retrospective review of electronic health records. The primary end point was cardiac death. The secondary end point was the composite of cardiac events, including cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, hospitalization for unstable angina, and target lesion revascularization. Database lock date was August 15, 2020.

Results

The median follow-up duration was 12.5 years. Cardiac death occurred in 6.8% of the cohort. Cardiac events occurred in 21.7% of the cohort. New-onset myocardial infarction occurred in 8.7% (n = 27), of which 48.1% (n = 13) underwent repeat revascularization. A 2-level nested Cox proportional hazards regression model was constructed to determine whether cholesterol target attainment was independently associated with cardiac events. After risk adjustment, LDL-C, non–HDL-C, total cholesterol (TC), and TC/HDL-C ratio were independently associated with cardiac death. In receiver operating characteristics analyses, the optimal cut-off values for non–HDL-C, LDL-C, and TC/HDL-C ratio were 3.2 mmol/L, 2.3 mmol/L, and 3.5, respectively.

Conclusions

Exposure to elevated LDL-C and non–HDL-C cholesterol levels independently predicted long-term cardiac death after coronary artery bypass graft.

PLCL vascular external sheath carrying prednisone for improving patency rate of the vein graft

Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) is an impactful treatment for coronary heart disease. Intimal hyperplasia is the central reason for the restenosis of vein grafts after CABG. The introduction of external vascular sheaths around VGs (VGs) can effectively inhibit intimal hyperplasia and ensure the patency of VGs. In this study, the well-known biodegradable copolymer poly (ε-caprolactone-co-L, L-lactide) (PLCL) was electrospun into high porosity external sheaths. The prednisone loaded in the PLCL sheath was slowly released during the degradation process of PLCL. Under the combined effects of sheath and prednisone, intimal hyperplasia was inhibited. For the cell experiments, all sheaths show low cytotoxicity to L929 cells at different concentrations at different time intervals. The ultrasonography and histological results showed prominent dilation and intimal hyperplasia of VG without sheath after two months of surgery. But there was no dilation in PLCL and PLCL_Prednisone groups. Notably, the prednisone-loaded sheath group exhibited efficacy in inhibiting intimal hyperplasia and ensured graft patency.

Intensive lipid-lowering therapy, time to think beyond low-density lipoprotein cholesterol

Statins have been shown to be effective in reducing cardiovascular events. Their magnitude of benefits has been proportionate to the reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c). Intensive lipid-lowering therapies using ezetimibe and more recently proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin 9 inhibitors have further improved clinical outcomes. Unselective application of these treatments is undesirable and unaffordable and, therefore, has been guided by LDL-c level. Nonetheless, the residual risk in the post-statin era is markedly heterogeneous, including thrombosis and inflammation risks. Moreover, the lipo-protein related risk is increasingly recognised to be related to other non-LDL-c markers such as Lp(a). Emerging data show that intensive lipid-lowering therapy produce larger absolute risk reduction in patients with polyvascular disease, post coronary artery bypass graft and diabetes. Notably, these clinical entities share similar phenotype of large burden of atherosclerotic plaques. Novel plaque imaging may aid decision making by identifying patients with propensity to develop lipid rich plagues at multi-vascular sites. Those patients may be suitable candidates for intensive lipid lowering treatment.

Influence of LDL-Cholesterol Lowering on Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus Undergoing Coronary Revascularization

BACKGROUND

Elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is associated with increased cardiovascular events, especially in high-risk populations.

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to evaluate the influence of LDL-C on the incidence of cardiovascular events either following a coronary revascularization procedure (percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI] or coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG]) or optimal medical therapy alone in patients with established coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

METHODS

Patient-level pooled analysis of 3 randomized clinical trials was undertaken. Patients with T2DM were categorized according to the levels of LDL-C at 1 year following randomization. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac or cerebrovascular events ([MACCE] the composite of all-cause mortality, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and nonfatal stroke).

RESULTS

A total of 4,050 patients were followed for a median of 3.9 years after the index 1-year assessment. Patients whose 1-year LDL-C remained ≥100 mg/dl experienced higher 4-year cumulative risk of MACCE (17.2% vs. 13.3% vs. 13.1% for LDL-C between 70 and <100 mg/dl and LDL-C <70 mg/dl, respectively; p = 0.016). When compared with optimal medical therapy alone, patients with PCI experienced a MACCE reduction only if 1-year LDL-C was <70 mg/dl (hazard ratio: 0.61; 95% confidence interval: 0.40 to 0.91; p = 0.016), whereas CABG was associated with improved outcomes across all 1-year LDL-C strata. In patients with 1-year LDL-C ≥70 mg/dl, patients undergoing CABG had significantly lower MACCE rates as compared with PCI.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with coronary heart disease with T2DM, lower LDL-C at 1 year is associated with improved long-term MACCE outcome in those eligible for either PCI or CABG. When compared with optimal medical therapy alone, PCI was associated with MACCE reductions only in those who achieved an LDL-C <70 mg/dl.

Impact of lipid levels and high-intensity statins on vein graft patency after CABG: Midterm results of the ACTIVE trial

BACKGROUND

High-dose atorvastatin did not improve 1-year vein graft patency in the recent Aggressive Cholesterol Therapy to Inhibit Vein Graft Events trial. However, it remains unknown whether high-intensity statins may impact graft disease in the years that follow.

METHODS

In the trial, patients (N = 173) were randomized to receive atorvastatin 10 or 80 mg for 1 year after coronary bypass surgery (CABG). Beyond 1 year, the choice of statin was left to the patient's physician. In this study of participants who agreed to follow-up (N = 76), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels were measured and graft patency was assessed 3 years after surgery.

RESULTS

The rate of vein graft disease 3 years after surgery was not significantly reduced with atorvastatin 80 mg during the first postoperative year or the use of open-label high-intensity statin thereafter (p = NS). However, a trend was observed between higher LDL levels during the first postoperative year and a greater incidence of vein graft disease at 3 years (p = .12). Among patients who had LDL levels more than 90 mg/dl in the first year after CABG, 38.5% had vein graft disease at 3 years, compared to 19.0% for those with LDL levels less than 90 mg/dl (p = .15). Higher mean LDL levels during the first postoperative year were associated with a higher rate of vein disease 3 years after surgery both at the graft level (p = .03) and at the patient level (p = .03) in multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher LDL levels during the first postoperative year were associated with significantly greater vein graft disease 3 years after CABG.

Drug-eluting PCL/graphene oxide nanocomposite scaffolds for enhanced osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells

Recently, drug-eluting nanofibrous scaffolds have attracted a great attention to enhance the cell differentiation through biomimicking the extracellular matrix (ECM) in regenerative medicine. In this study, electrospun nanocomposite polycaprolactone (PCL)-based scaffolds containing synthesized graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets and osteogenic drugs, i.e. dexamethasone and simvastatin were fabricated. The physicochemical and surface properties of the scaffolds were investigated through FTIR, wettability, pH, and drug release studies. The cell viability, differentiation, and biomineralization were studied on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) by Alamar Blue, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and Alizarin Red-S staining, respectively. Uniformly distributed GO (thickness < 1 nm) in PCL nanofibers was observed by electron microscopy. It was revealed that the addition of GO and the drugs improved the hydrophilicity, cell viability, and osteogenic differentiation, in addition to pH changes, in comparison with PCL scaffolds. Despite the notable reduction in the cell viability, significant differentiation was revealed by ALP assay on PCL/GO-Dex scaffolds. Noteworthy, a twofold increase in the osteogenic differentiation was observed in comparison with the cells cultured in osteogenic differentiation medium, while a significant biomineralization was observed. The results of this study indicate the synergistic effect of GO and dexamethasone on improving osteogenic differentiation of drug-eluting nanocomposite scaffolds in bone tissue engineering applications.

The Impact of Statins before High-Risk CABG on Postoperative Multiple Organ Function

Background

The purpose of this cohort study was to investigate the independent relationship between preoperative statin therapy (PST) and postoperative severe multiorgan failure, measured by the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) maximum greater than 11, in high-risk patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Methods

The present study is a perspective, single-center, cohort analysis enrolling high-risk patients undergoing CABG from Jan 1, 2018, to Dec 31, 2018, in Beijing Anzhen hospital.

Results

Among a total of 880 high-risk patients undergoing isolated CABG included in this study, 503 (57.2%) experienced statin therapy before CABG. The SOFA maximum was significantly lower in the PST group compared with the control group (7.8 ± 3.0 v 9.2 ± 3.4, P < 0.0001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated the incidence of the severe multiorgan dysfunction, measured by SOFA maximum ≥11, was dramatically reduced in the PST group (OR, 0.68, 95% CI 0.50-0.92, P=0.013). Furthermore, preoperative statin therapy (PST) might be associated with a decreased risk of postoperative major adverse cardiovascular and cerebral events and acute kidney injury, but an increased risk of postoperative hepatic inadequacy.

Conclusion

SOFA maximum was significantly lower in the PST group compared with the control group and the incidence of the severe multiorgan dysfunction was dramatically reduced in the PST group. The findings of this study might shed new light on questions of positive or negative effects of PST on multiple organ function after high-risk CABG, so as to ultimately improve high-risk patient in-hospital outcomes from CABG.

Effects of Alirocumab on Cardiovascular Events After Coronary Bypass Surgery

BACKGROUND

Patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and history of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) are at high risk for recurrent cardiovascular events and death.

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to determine the clinical benefit of adding alirocumab to statins in ACS patients with prior CABG in a pre-specified analysis of ODYSSEY OUTCOMES (Evaluation of Cardiovascular Outcomes After an Acute Coronary Syndrome During Treatment With Alirocumab).

METHODS

Patients (n = 18,924) 1 to 12 months post-ACS with elevated atherogenic lipoprotein levels despite high-intensity statin therapy were randomized to alirocumab or placebo subcutaneously every 2 weeks. Median follow-up was 2.8 years. The primary composite endpoint of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) comprised coronary heart disease death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, or unstable angina requiring hospitalization. All-cause death was a secondary endpoint. Patients were categorized by CABG status: no CABG (n = 16,896); index CABG after qualifying ACS, but before randomization (n = 1,025); or CABG before the qualifying ACS (n = 1,003).

RESULTS

In each CABG category, hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for MACE (no CABG 0.86 [0.78 to 0.95], index CABG 0.85 [0.54 to 1.35], prior CABG 0.77 [0.61 to 0.98]) and death (0.88 [0.75 to 1.03], 0.85 [0.46 to 1.59], 0.67 [0.44 to 1.01], respectively) were consistent with the overall trial results (0.85 [0.78 to 0.93] and 0.85 [0.73 to 0.98], respectively). Absolute risk reductions (95% confidence intervals) differed across CABG categories for MACE (no CABG 1.3% [0.5% to 2.2%], index CABG 0.9% [-2.3% to 4.0%], prior CABG 6.4% [0.9% to 12.0%]) and for death (0.4% [-0.1% to 1.0%], 0.5% [-1.9% to 2.9%], and 3.6% [0.0% to 7.2%]).

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients with recent ACS and elevated atherogenic lipoproteins despite intensive statin therapy, alirocumab was associated with large absolute reductions in MACE and death in those with CABG preceding the ACS event. (ODYSSEY OUTCOMES: Evaluation of Cardiovascular Outcomes After an Acute Coronary Syndrome During Treatment With Alirocumab; NCT01663402).

Influence of lipoproteins and antiplatelet agents on vein graft patency 1 year after coronary artery bypass grafting

OBJECTIVE

It remains unclear whether aggressive low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) management (<1.8 mmol/L) can slow the process of vein graft stenosis. This study aimed to explore the impact of baseline LDL-C levels on vein graft patency in patients on ticagrelor with or without aspirin 1 year after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

METHODS

This was a post hoc analysis of the DACAB (Different Antiplatelet Therapy Strategy After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery) trial (NCT02201771), a randomized controlled trial (ticagrelor + aspirin or ticagrelor vs aspirin) of patients undergoing CABG in China. The study subjects were stratified as LDL-low (baseline LDL-C <1.8 mmol/L, 148 patients with 430 vein grafts) versus LDL-high (baseline LDL-C ≥1.8 mmol/L, 352 patients with 1030 vein grafts). The primary outcome was the 1-year vein graft patency (Fitzgibbon grade A) assessed by coronary computed tomographic angiography or coronary angiography.

RESULTS

Baseline/1-year LDL-C were 1.4/1.6 and 2.6/2.4 mmol/L in the LDL-low and LDL-high subgroups, respectively. Regardless of antiplatelet regimen, no significant inter-subgroup difference was observed for 1-year graft patency (LDL-low: 83.8% [359/430 grafts]; LDL-high: 82.3% [848/1030 grafts]; adjusted OR for non-patency [OR_adj], 0.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.62-1.50, P = .857). For both subgroups, the 1-year graft patency rates were greater with ticagrelor + aspirin versus aspirin (LDL-low: OR_adj, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.17-0.97; LDL-high: OR_adj, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.20-0.71; inter P = .679).

CONCLUSIONS

In general, baseline LDL-C is not associated with 1-year vein graft patency after CABG. Regardless of the baseline LDL-C levels, ticagrelor + aspirin was superior to aspirin alone in maintaining vein graft patency. The primary factor causing early vein graft disease might not be atherosclerosis but thrombosis.

Effects of intensive lipid-lowering therapy on mortality after coronary bypass surgery: A meta-analysis of 7 randomised trials

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The recent reported analysis from the ODYSSEY OUTCOMES trial showed that patients with previous coronary bypass graft surgery (CABG) had enhanced clinical benefits in response to intensive low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c). Nonetheless, the impact on cardiovascular and all-cause mortality was difficult to ascertain given the relatively small number.

METHODS

We conducted a meta-analysis investigating the role of more versus less intensive lipid-lowering treatment, taking into consideration the difference in studies duration when reporting treatment effect.

RESULTS

A significant 14% reduction in deaths from any cause [RR 0.86 (95% CI, 0.74 to 0.99)] and 25% reduction in cardiovascular mortality [RR 0.75, (95% CI, 0.65 to 0.86)] were associated with intensive LDL-c reduction in patients post CABG. Importantly, this reduction was apparent in patients who were stable or developed an acute coronary syndrome following CABG.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with previous CABG incurred reduction in all-cause mortality and particularly cardiovascular mortality in response to intensive LDL-c reduction. Patient's clinical presentation following CABG did not modulate the associated benefits with intensive LDL-c reduction. Characterising atherosclerotic disease may help identify other high-risk groups who may benefit maximally from additional lipid-lowering therapies.

Care of the Post-CABG Patient

An estimated 400,000 coronary artery bypass graft operations are performed annually in the United States. Saphenous vein grafts are the most commonly used conduits; however, graft failure is common. In contrast, left internal mammary artery grafts have more favorable long-term patency rates. Guidelines recommend aggressive secondary prevention. In the 2 decades following surgery, 16% of patients require repeat revascularization, and percutaneous coronary intervention accounts for 98% of procedures performed. Post-coronary artery bypass graft patients presenting with symptoms of acute coronary syndrome or progressive heart failure should undergo early coronary angiography given the high likelihood that such a presentation represents graft failure. Percutaneous coronary intervention in degenerated saphenous vein grafts is associated with embolization that may cause the "no-reflow phenomenon," which can be avoided with the use of embolic protection devices. Hybrid revascularization procedures are a promising emerging strategy to avoid the placement of vein grafts.

Does Early Graft Patency Benefit from Perioperative Statin Therapy? A Propensity Score-Matched Study of Patients Undergoing Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

Background

Decreased graft patency after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) leads to substantial increases in cardiac events. However, there is paucity of data on efficacy and safety of perioperative statin therapy for OPCAB populations.

Methods

582 patients undergoing OPCAB in a single-institution database (October 1, 2009–September 30, 2012) were stratified by perioperative continuation of statin therapy (CS group, n=398) or not (DS group, n=184). Inverse probability weighted propensity adjustment was used to account for treatment assignment bias, resulting in a well-matched cohort. Primary outcomes were graft patency at an average of five days after operation and in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included intraoperative blood loss, liver, and renal functions.

Results

No in-hospital death occurred in this study. Early graft patency rates after OPCAB were 98.4% (1255 of 1275 grafts) in the CS group and 98.0% (583 of 595 grafts, P=0.486) in the DS group. Secondary outcomes showed a reduction in blood loss during operation (438.53 mL versus 480.47 mL, P=0.01). Continuation of statin therapy is associated with alanine transaminase (ALT) elevation (49.67 U/L versus 34.52 U/L, P<0.001), as well as aspartate transaminase (33.54 U/L versus 28.10 U/L, P<0.001). Abnormal ALT elevation was observed in 8.9% of the CS group and 3.1% in DS (odds ratio 3.06, 95% confidence interval, 1.77 to 5.29, P<0.001). There was no significant difference in estimated glomerular filtration rate (76.28 mL/min/1.73m² versus 76.13 mL/min/1.73m², P=0.90). Subgroup analyses suggested that graft occlusion was less common in CS than in DS group among smoking patients (odds ratio 0.41, 95% confidence interval, 0.20 to 0.86, P=0.026).

Conclusions

Perioperative continuation of statin therapy did not improve early graft patency in OPCAB patients. A lower risk of graft occlusion was observed among smoking patients. Continuous statin use correlated with liver function elevation (Clinical Trials.gov number, NCT 01268917).

Rivaroxaban, Aspirin, or Both to Prevent Early Coronary Bypass Graft Occlusion: The COMPASS-CABG Study

BACKGROUND

Patients with recent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery are at risk for early graft failure, which is associated with a risk of myocardial infarction and death. In the COMPASS (Cardiovascular OutcoMes for People Using Anticoagulation StrategieS) trial, rivaroxaban 2.5 mg twice daily plus aspirin 100 mg once daily compared with aspirin 100 mg once daily reduced the primary major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) outcome of cardiovascular death, stroke, or myocardial infarction. Rivaroxaban 5 mg twice daily alone did not significantly reduce MACE.

OBJECTIVES

This pre-planned substudy sought to determine whether the COMPASS treatments are more effective than aspirin alone for preventing graft failure and MACE after CABG surgery.

METHODS

The substudy randomized 1,448 COMPASS trial patients 4 to 14 days after CABG surgery to receive the combination of rivaroxaban plus aspirin, rivaroxaban alone, or aspirin alone. The primary outcome was graft failure, diagnosed by computed tomography angiogram 1 year after surgery.

RESULTS

The combination of rivaroxaban and aspirin and the regimen of rivaroxaban alone did not reduce the graft failure rates compared with aspirin alone (combination vs. aspirin: 113 [9.1%] vs. 91 [8.0%] failed grafts; odds ratio [OR]: 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.82 to 1.57; p = 0.45; rivaroxaban alone vs. aspirin: 92 [7.8%] vs. 92 [8.0%] failed grafts; OR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.67 to 1.33; p = 0.75). Compared with aspirin, the combination was associated with fewer MACE (12 [2.4%] vs. 16 [3.5%]; hazard ratio [HR]: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.33 to 1.47; p = 0.34), whereas rivaroxaban alone was not (16 [3.3%] vs. 16 [3.5%]; HR: 0.99, CI: 0.50 to 1.99; p = 0.98). There was no fatal bleeding or tamponade within 30 days of randomization.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of rivaroxaban 2.5 mg twice daily plus aspirin or rivaroxaban 5 mg twice daily alone compared with aspirin alone did not reduce graft failure in patients with recent CABG surgery, but the combination of rivaroxaban 2.5 mg twice daily plus aspirin was associated with similar reductions in MACE, as observed in the larger COMPASS trial. (Cardiovascular OutcoMes for People Using Anticoagulation StrategieS [COMPASS]; NCT01776424).

Assessment of Long-term Follow-up of Randomized Trial Participants by Linkage to Routinely Collected Data: A Scoping Review and Analysis

Importance

Follow-up of participants in randomized trials may be limited by logistic and financial factors. Some important randomized trials have been extended well beyond their original follow-up period by linkage of individual participant information to routinely collected data held in administrative records and registries.

Objective

To perform a scoping review of randomized clinical trials extended by record linkage to characterize this literature and explore any additional insights into treatment effectiveness provided by long-term follow-up using record linkage.

Data Sources

A literature search in Embase, CINAHL, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials was performed for the period January 1, 1945, through November 25, 2016.

Study Selection

Various combinations of search terms were used, as there is no accepted terminology. Determination of study eligibility and extraction of information about trial characteristics and outcomes, for both original and extended trial reports, were performed in duplicate.

Data Extraction and Synthesis

Assessment of study eligibility and data extraction were performed independently by 2 reviewers. All analyses were descriptive.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Outcomes in the pairs of original and extended trials were categorized according to whether any benefits or harms from interventions were sustained, were lost, or emerged during long-term follow-up.

Results

A total of 113 extended trials were included in the study. Linkage to administrative and registry data extended follow-up by between 1 and 55 years. The most common interventions were pharmaceuticals (47 [41.6%]), surgery (19 [16.8%]), and disease screening (19 [16.8%]). End points most frequently studied through record linkage included mortality (88 [77.9%]), cancer (41 [36.3%]), and cardiovascular events (37 [32.7%]). One hundred four trial extensions (92.0%) were analyzed according to the original trial randomization. The reports provided details of 155 analyses of study outcomes. Seventy-four analyses (47.7%) identified statistically significant benefits in the trial extension phase. In 21 of these (28.4%), benefits were significant only in this period. Null results in both the original and extended trials were seen in 34 of the analyses (21.9%). Loss of significant benefits of an intervention were seen in 12 analyses (7.7%). Statistically significant harms were seen in 16 trial extension analyses (10.3%), and in 14 of these (87.5%), the harms were significant only in the trial extension phase.

Conclusions and Relevance

Trial extension by linkage to routinely collected data is a versatile underused approach that may add critical insights beyond those of the original trial. Some beneficial and harmful outcomes of interventions are captured only in the extension phase of randomized trials.

Current role of saphenous vein graft in coronary artery bypass grafting

Saphenous vein was the conduit used in the first series of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and, with the exception of surgical revascularization of the left anterior descending artery, it remains the most commonly used bypass conduit. However, its durability and longevity are not ideal. Arterial grafts have better patency than saphenous vein grafts and therefore should be preferred over them. However, in certain situations, like grafting right coronary arteries with lesser degree of proximal stenosis and higher competitive flow, or in certain patient populations, like those at very high risk of wound infections and octogenarians, arterial grafting may not be the best option and saphenous vein grafting should be considered instead.

The Role of Statins in the Management of Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Each year, a large number of patients undergo coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG) worldwide. Accumulating evidence suggests that the preoperative administration of statins might be useful in preventing adverse events after CABG. In the present review, we discuss the role of statins in the perioperative management of patients undergoing CABG. Preoperative administration of statins in these patients substantially reduces the risk of postoperative atrial fibrillation and shortens hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) stay. Atorvastatin appears to be more effective, particularly when administered at high doses. Given these benefits and the safety of statins, their administration should be considered in patients undergoing CABG, even though the statins do not appear to affect the incidence of cardiovascular events and overall mortality perioperatively.

Secondary prevention after coronary artery bypass graft surgery: a primer

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Despite the benefits of surgical coronary revascularization, patients continue to be at risk for ischemic events in the years that follow coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), mandating the role for postoperative secondary preventive therapy. The purpose of this review was to present a summary on the subject of secondary prevention after CABG, including an overview of a recently published scientific statement, and highlight the newest studies in the field.

RECENT FINDINGS

Aspirin and statin therapy continue to be the mainstay of secondary prevention after CABG, although newer antiplatelet and lipid-lowering medicines are being actively studied for their potential benefits. Other important elements to secondary prevention after CABG include the aggressive management of hypertension, smoking cessation, and the initiation of cardiac rehabilitation.

SUMMARY

Secondary prevention is an essential component of postoperative care after CABG. Instituting preventive therapies after surgery optimizes graft patency and helps patients achieve the highest level of physical health and quality of life following CABG.

Use of the guidelines directed medical therapy after coronary artery bypass graft surgery in Saudi Arabia

Background: incidence of cardiovascular diseases in Saudi Arabia is growing and more patients are expected to have cardiac revascularization surgery. Optimal pharmacotherapy management with Guideline Directed Medical Therapy (GDMT) post coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) plays an important role in the prevention of adverse cardiovascular outcomes. The objective of this study was to assess the utilization of GDMT for secondary prevention in CABG patients and determine whether specific patients' characteristics can influence GDMT utilization. Method: A retrospective chart review of patients discharged from the hospital after CABG surgery from April 2015 to April 2016. The primary outcome was the utilization of secondary prevention GDMT after CABG surgery - aspirin, B-blockers, statin and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) (or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) in ACEI-intolerant patients). The proportions of eligible and ideal patients who received treatment were calculated, and mixed-effects logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) for the association of age, gender or patient nationality with the use of GDMT. Results: A total number of 119 patients included in the analysis. The median age of the cohort was 57.3 ± 11 years, and 83% were male (83.2%). Nearly 69.7% of patients had diabetes, and 82% had a previous diagnosis of hypertension. Nearly 91% received aspirin therapy and the rate was lower for B-blocker and statin. The rate of GDMT utilization did not change with the change in patient’s age, gender or nationality. Conclusion: Despite adjustments for contraindications to GDMT, the rate of GDMT utilization was suboptimal.

Cumulative in-trial and post-trial effects of blood pressure and lipid lowering: systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Persistent long-term benefits after discontinuation of treatment have been suggested for blood pressure-lowering and lipid-lowering treatment. We conducted a systematic review to assess the long-term effects of blood pressure (BP) lowering (BPL) and lipid lowering on all-cause and cardiovascular mortality after discontinuation of randomized treatment.

METHODS

We systematically searched Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. We included large-scale randomized controlled trials of BPL or lipid lowering of at least 1 year with post-trial follow-up. We identified 13 BPL trials with 48 892 participants and 10 lipid-lowering trials with 71 370 participants. Mean in-trial and post-trial follow-up was approximately 4 and 6 years, respectively.

RESULTS

BP and lipid levels tended to come together soon in the post-trial period. There was significant benefit of BPL on all-cause mortality during the in-trial period (relative risk 0.85, 95% confidence interval 0.81-0.89), and significant, but attenuated, benefit during overall follow-up (0.91, 0.87-0.94). Likewise, lipid lowering with statins reduced the risk of all-cause mortality during the in-trial period (0.88, 0.81-0.95), and this effect persisted during overall follow-up (0.92, 0.87-0.97). Similar findings were observed for cardiovascular death. In BPL trials, the cumulative reduction in all-cause mortality was significantly lower in trials with at least 5 years of post-trial follow-up compared with those with less than 5 years, and a similar tendency was observed for lipid-lowering trials.

CONCLUSION

Benefits of BPL and lipid lowering on all-cause and cardiovascular mortality were persistent, but attenuated, after discontinuation of randomized treatment, indicating the importance of continuing therapy.

Management and Prevention of Saphenous Vein Graft Failure: A Review

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) remains a vital treatment for patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD), especially diabetics. The long-term benefit of the internal thoracic artery graft is well established and remains the gold standard for revascularization of severe CAD. It is not always possible to achieve complete revascularization through arterial grafts, necessitating the use of saphenous vein grafts (SVG). Unfortunately, SVGs do not have the same longevity, and their failure is associated with significant adverse cardiac outcomes and mortality. This paper reviews the pathogenesis of SVG failure, highlighting the difference between early, intermediate, and late failure. It also addresses the different surgical techniques that affect the incidence of SVG failure, as well as the medical and percutaneous prevention and treatment options in contemporary practice.

Biomaterial-Based Approaches to Address Vein Graft and Hemodialysis Access Failures

Veins used as grafts in heart bypass or as access points in hemodialysis exhibit high failure rates, thereby causing significant morbidity and mortality for patients. Interventional or revisional surgeries required to correct these failures have been met with limited success and exorbitant costs, particularly for the US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Vein stenosis or occlusion leading to failure is primarily the result of neointimal hyperplasia. Systemic therapies have achieved little long-term success, indicating the need for more localized, sustained, biomaterial-based solutions. Numerous studies have demonstrated the ability of external stents to reduce neointimal hyperplasia. However, successful results from animal models have failed to translate to the clinic thus far, and no external stent is currently approved for use in the US to prevent vein graft or hemodialysis access failures. This review discusses current progress in the field, design considerations, and future perspectives for biomaterial-based external stents. More comparative studies iteratively modulating biomaterial and biomaterial-drug approaches are critical in addressing mechanistic knowledge gaps associated with external stent application to the arteriovenous environment. Addressing these gaps will ultimately lead to more viable solutions that prevent vein graft and hemodialysis access failures.

Interpretation of the evidence for the efficacy and safety of statin therapy

This Review is intended to help clinicians, patients, and the public make informed decisions about statin therapy for the prevention of heart attacks and strokes. It explains how the evidence that is available from randomised controlled trials yields reliable information about both the efficacy and safety of statin therapy. In addition, it discusses how claims that statins commonly cause adverse effects reflect a failure to recognise the limitations of other sources of evidence about the effects of treatment. Large-scale evidence from randomised trials shows that statin therapy reduces the risk of major vascular events (ie, coronary deaths or myocardial infarctions, strokes, and coronary revascularisation procedures) by about one-quarter for each mmol/L reduction in LDL cholesterol during each year (after the first) that it continues to be taken. The absolute benefits of statin therapy depend on an individual's absolute risk of occlusive vascular events and the absolute reduction in LDL cholesterol that is achieved. For example, lowering LDL cholesterol by 2 mmol/L (77 mg/dL) with an effective low-cost statin regimen (eg, atorvastatin 40 mg daily, costing about £2 per month) for 5 years in 10 000 patients would typically prevent major vascular events from occurring in about 1000 patients (ie, 10% absolute benefit) with pre-existing occlusive vascular disease (secondary prevention) and in 500 patients (ie, 5% absolute benefit) who are at increased risk but have not yet had a vascular event (primary prevention). Statin therapy has been shown to reduce vascular disease risk during each year it continues to be taken, so larger absolute benefits would accrue with more prolonged therapy, and these benefits persist long term. The only serious adverse events that have been shown to be caused by long-term statin therapy-ie, adverse effects of the statin-are myopathy (defined as muscle pain or weakness combined with large increases in blood concentrations of creatine kinase), new-onset diabetes mellitus, and, probably, haemorrhagic stroke. Typically, treatment of 10 000 patients for 5 years with an effective regimen (eg, atorvastatin 40 mg daily) would cause about 5 cases of myopathy (one of which might progress, if the statin therapy is not stopped, to the more severe condition of rhabdomyolysis), 50-100 new cases of diabetes, and 5-10 haemorrhagic strokes. However, any adverse impact of these side-effects on major vascular events has already been taken into account in the estimates of the absolute benefits. Statin therapy may cause symptomatic adverse events (eg, muscle pain or weakness) in up to about 50-100 patients (ie, 0·5-1·0% absolute harm) per 10 000 treated for 5 years. However, placebo-controlled randomised trials have shown definitively that almost all of the symptomatic adverse events that are attributed to statin therapy in routine practice are not actually caused by it (ie, they represent misattribution). The large-scale evidence available from randomised trials also indicates that it is unlikely that large absolute excesses in other serious adverse events still await discovery. Consequently, any further findings that emerge about the effects of statin therapy would not be expected to alter materially the balance of benefits and harms. It is, therefore, of concern that exaggerated claims about side-effect rates with statin therapy may be responsible for its under-use among individuals at increased risk of cardiovascular events. For, whereas the rare cases of myopathy and any muscle-related symptoms that are attributed to statin therapy generally resolve rapidly when treatment is stopped, the heart attacks or strokes that may occur if statin therapy is stopped unnecessarily can be devastating.

Total Arterial Revascularization: Bypassing Antiquated Notions to Better Alternatives for Coronary Artery Disease

Total arterial revascularization is the leading trend in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for the treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD). Adding to its superiority to vein conduits, arteries allow for a high degree of versatility and long-term patency, while minimizing the need for reintervention. This is especially important for patients with multi-vessel coronary artery disease, as well as young patients. However, arterial revascularization has come a long way before being widely appreciated, with some yet unresolved debates, and advances that never cease to impress. In this review, we discuss the evolution of this surgical technique and its clinical success, as well as its most conspicuous limitations in light of accumulated published date from decades of experience.

The benefit of adding ezetimibe to statin therapy in patients with prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery and acute coronary syndrome in the IMPROVE-IT trial

AIMS

To examine the efficacy and safety of ezetimibe added to statin in patients with prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) following hospitalization for an acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

METHODS AND RESULTS

In the IMPROVE-IT trial, post-ACS patients with mean low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) of 93.8 mg/dL at presentation were randomized to simvastatin/ezetimibe or simvastatin/placebo. The primary endpoint was cardiovascular death, major coronary event or stroke, and the median follow-up was 6 years. Efficacy and safety endpoints were examined by prior CABG status. Among 18 134 patients, 1684 (9.3%) had a prior CABG (median age 69 years, 82% male). During the trial, the median time-weighted LDL-C level was 55.0 mg/dL with simvastatin/ezetimibe vs. 69.9 mg/dL with simvastatin/placebo in patients with prior CABG (P < 0.001), and it was 53.6 mg/dL vs. 69.5 mg/dL, respectively, in patients without prior CABG (P < 0.001). The rate of the primary endpoint was higher in patients with vs. without prior CABG [56% vs. 32%, adj. hazard ratio 1.45, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.33-1.58]. Patients with prior CABG receiving simvastatin/ezetimibe had an 8.8% (95% CI 3.1-14.6%) lower absolute risk over simvastatin/placebo in the primary endpoint, whereas patients without prior CABG had a 1.3% (95% CI 0-2.6%) lower absolute risk (P-interaction = 0.02). There were no between-group significant differences in safety endpoints.

CONCLUSION

The clinical benefit of adding ezetimibe to statin appears to be enhanced in patients with prior CABG, supporting the use of intensive lipid lowering therapy in these high-risk patients following ACS.

WITHDRAWN: Preoperative statin therapy for patients undergoing cardiac surgery

This review has been withdrawn as authors are unable to complete the updating process.

The editorial group responsible for this previously published document have withdrawn it from publication.

Oral anticoagulants in coronary heart disease (Section IV). Position paper of the ESC Working Group on Thrombosis - Task Force on Anticoagulants in Heart Disease

Until recently, vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) were the only available oral anticoagulants evaluated for long-term treatment of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), particularly after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Despite efficacy in this setting, VKAs are rarely used because they are cumbersome to administer. Instead, the more readily manageable antiplatelet agents are the mainstay of prevention in ACS patients. This situation has the potential to change with the introduction of non-VKA oral anticoagulants (NOACs), which are easier to administer than VKAs because they can be given in fixed doses without routine coagulation monitoring. The NOACs include dabigatran, which inhibits thrombin, and apixaban, rivaroxaban and edoxaban, which inhibit factor Xa. Apixaban and rivaroxaban were evaluated in phase III trials for prevention of recurrent ischaemia in ACS patients, most of whom were also receiving dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel. Although at the doses tested rivaroxaban was effective and apixaban was not, both agents increased major bleeding. The role for the NOACs in ACS management, although promising, is therefore complicated, because it is uncertain how they compare with newer antiplatelet agents, such as prasugrel, ticagrelor or vorapaxar, and because their safety in combination with these other drugs is unknown. Ongoing studies are also now evaluating the use of NOACs in non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients, where their role is established, with coexistent ACS or coronary stenting. Focusing on CHD, we review the results of clinical trials with the NOACs and provide a perspective on their future incorporation into clinical practice.

Indications, algorithms, and outcomes for coronary artery bypass surgery in patients with acute coronary syndromes

For patients with a non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS), guideline recommendations and treatment pathways focus on revascularization for definitive treatment if the patient is an appropriate candidate. Despite the widespread use of revascularization for NSTE-ACS, most patients undergo a percutaneous coronary intervention, whereas a minority of patients undergo coronary artery bypass grafting. Focusing specifically on the USA, the contemporary utilization, preoperative and perioperative considerations, and outcomes of NSTE-ACS patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting have not been comprehensively reviewed.

Preoperative statin therapy for patients undergoing cardiac surgery

BACKGROUND

Patients referred to cardiac surgery for cardiovascular disease are at significant risk for the development of major postoperative adverse events despite significant advances in surgical techniques and perioperative care. Statins (5-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-co-enzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors) have gained a pivotal role in the primary and secondary prevention of coronary artery disease and are thought to improve perioperative outcomes in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. This review is an updated version of a review that was first published in 2012.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the effectiveness of preoperative statin therapy in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (2013, Issue 11), MEDLINE (1950 to November 2013 Week 3), EMBASE (1980 to 3 December 2013 (Week 48)) and the metaRegister of Controlled Trials. Additionally, we searched ongoing trials through the National Research Register, the ClinicalTrials.gov registry and grey literature. We screened online conference indices from relevant scientific meetings (2006 to 2014) to look for eligible trials. We applied no language restrictions.

SELECTION CRITERIA

All randomised controlled trials comparing any statin treatment before cardiac surgery, for any given duration and dose, versus no preoperative statin therapy (standard of care) or placebo.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors evaluated trial quality and extracted data from titles and abstracts identified by electronic database searches according to predefined criteria. Accordingly, we retrieved full-text articles of potentially relevant studies that met the inclusion criteria to assess definitive eligibility for inclusion. We reported effect measures as odds ratios (ORs) or weighted mean differences (WMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs).

MAIN RESULTS

We identified 17 randomised controlled studies including a total of 2138 participants undergoing on-pump or off-pump cardiac surgical procedures, and added to this review six studies with 1154 additional participants. Pooled analysis showed that statin treatment before surgery reduced the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.67; P value < 0.01; 12 studies, 1765 participants) but failed to influence short-term mortality (OR 1.80, 95% CI 0.38 to 8.54; P value = 0.46; two studies, 300 participants) or postoperative stroke (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.14 to 3.63; P value = 0.67; two studies, 264 participants). In addition, statin therapy was associated with a shorter stay for patients on the intensive care unit (ICU) (WMD -3.19 hours, 95% CI -5.41 to -0.98; nine studies, 721 participants) and in the hospital (WMD -0.48 days, 95% CI -0.78 to -0.19; 11 studies, 1137 participants) when significant heterogeneity was observed. Results showed no reduction in myocardial infarction (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.21 to 1.13; seven studies, 901 participants) or renal failure (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.30 to 1.10; five studies, 467 participants) and were not affected by subgroup analysis. Trials investigating this safety endpoint reported no major or minor perioperative side effects of statins.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative statin therapy reduces the odds of postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) and shortens the patient's stay on the ICU and in the hospital. Statin pretreatment had no influence on perioperative mortality, stroke, myocardial infarction or renal failure, but only two of all included studies assessed mortality. As analysed studies included mainly individuals undergoing myocardial revascularisation, results cannot be extrapolated to patients undergoing other cardiac procedures such as heart valve or aortic surgery.

Statin Recapture Therapy before Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Trial: Rationale and study design of a multicenter, randomized, double-blinded controlled clinical trial

INTRODUCTION

Patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) are still at significant risk for postoperative major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs). Recent clinical evidence shows that cardioprotection in patients receiving a chronic statin treatment can be "recaptured" by a high-dose statin therapy given shortly before an ischemia-reperfusion sequence. Evaluation of this novel therapeutic approach in the setting of CABG seems promising because myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury plays a pivotal role in poor clinical outcomes that may be improved by a simple preoperative statin recapture treatment.

METHODS

The investigator-initiated StaRT-CABG trial is a multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, 2-parallel group controlled clinical study in 2,630 patients. The trial aims to evaluate whether a high-dose statin recapture therapy given shortly before CABG reduces the incidence of MACCE at 30 days after surgery (primary composite outcome: all-cause mortality, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and cerebrovascular events). Consenting patients who are on chronic statin therapy before surgery will be randomized to receive either oral statin reloading therapy or matching placebo 12 and 2 hours before CABG. Key secondary end points include enzymatic myocardial injury; new-onset atrial fibrillation; length of stay in the intensive care unit and hospital; need for repeat coronary revascularization at 30 days; and, finally, all-cause mortality at 12 months after surgery.

IMPLICATIONS

The StaRT-CABG trial is expected to provide highly relevant clinical data on the efficacy of this novel therapeutic approach to optimize the care for patients with coronary artery disease undergoing CABG.

Baseline diabetes as a way to predict CV outcomes in a lipid-modifying trial: a meta-analysis of 330,376 patients from 47 landmark studies

BACKGROUND

Diabetes is a major cardiovascular risk factor. However, its influence on the rate of occurrence of cardiovascular (CV) events during a clinical trial that included a diabetes subgroup has not yet been quantified.

AIMS

To establish equations relating baseline diabetes prevalence and incident CV events, based on comparator arms data of major lipid-modifying trials.

METHODS

Meta-analysis of primary outcomes (PO) rates of key prospective trials, for which the baseline proportion of diabetics was reported, including studies having specifically reported CV outcomes within their diabetic subgroups.

RESULTS

47 studies, representing 330,376 patients (among whom 124,115 diabetics), were analyzed as regards the relationship between CV outcomes rates (including CHD) and the number of diabetics enrolled. Altogether, a total of 18,445 and 16,156 events occurred in the comparator and treatment arms, respectively. There were significant linear relationships between diabetes prevalence and both PO and CHD rates (%/year): y = 0.0299*x + 3.12 [PO] (p = 0.0128); and y = 0.0531*x + 1.54 [CHD] (p = 0.0094), baseline diabetes predicting PO rates between 3.12 %/year (no diabetic included) and 6.11 %/year (all patients diabetic); and CHD rates between 1.54 %/year (no diabetic) and 6.85 %/year (all patients diabetic). The slopes of the equations did not differ according to whether they were derived from primary or secondary prevention trials.

CONCLUSIONS

Absolute and relative CV risk associated with diabetes at inclusion can be readily predicted using linear equations relating diabetes prevalence to primary outcomes or CHD rates.

Coronary artery bypass graft: why is the saphenous vein prone to intimal hyperplasia?

Proliferation and migration of smooth muscle cells and the resultant intimal hyperplasia cause coronary artery bypass graft failure. Both internal mammary artery and saphenous vein are the most commonly used bypass conduits. Although an internal mammary artery graft is immune to restenosis, a saphenous vein graft is prone to develop restenosis. We found significantly higher activity of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) in the smooth muscle cells of the internal mammary artery than in the saphenous vein. In this article, we critically review the pathophysiology of vein-graft failure with detailed discussion of the involvement of various factors, including PTEN, matrix metalloproteinases, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases, in uncontrolled proliferation and migration of smooth muscle cells towards the lumen, and invasion of the graft conduit. We identified potential target sites that could be useful in preventing and (or) reversing unwanted consequences following coronary artery bypass graft using saphenous vein.

Relationship between early postoperative C-reactive protein elevation and long-term postoperative major adverse cardiovascular and cerebral events in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Inflammation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of vascular occlusive diseases, such as myocardial infarction and stroke. Additionally, these conditions are predicted by C-reactive protein (CRP), a general inflammation marker. We hypothesized that the inflammation induced by surgery itself augments vascular occlusive disease. We retrospectively evaluated the relationship between postoperative CRP elevation and postoperative major adverse cardiovascular and cerebral events (MACCE) in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (OPCAB).

METHODS

The electronic medical records of 1046 patients who underwent OPCAB were reviewed retrospectively. The relationship between postoperative serum CRP and long-term postoperative MACCE (median follow-up 28 months) was investigated.

RESULTS

Patients were divided into quartiles according to maximum postoperative CRP levels (<18, 18-22, 22-27, ≥27 mg dl(-1)). The adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) were 2.15, 2.45, and 2.81, respectively (P=0.004), compared with the lowest quartile (<18 mg dl(-1)). In the multivariate analysis, the postoperative CRP quartile (HR 2.81; P=0.004), postoperative non-use of statins (HR 1.86; P=0.003), and postoperative maximum troponin I (HR 1.02; P<0.001) independently predicted postoperative MACCE, while preoperative CRP did not (P=0.203). Several parameters were correlated with postoperative maximum CRP level: body temperature (P=0.001) and heart rate (P<0.001) at the end of surgery; intraoperative last lactate (P<0.001) and base excess (P<0.001); and red blood cell transfusion (P=0.019).

CONCLUSIONS

Postoperative CRP elevation was associated with long-term postoperative MACCE in OPCAB patients. This was mitigated by postoperative statin medication. Furthermore, postoperative CRP elevation was associated with intraoperative parameters reflecting hypoperfusion and inflammation.

Vitamin K antagonists in heart disease: current status and perspectives (Section III). Position paper of the ESC Working Group on Thrombosis--Task Force on Anticoagulants in Heart Disease

Oral anticoagulants are a mainstay of cardiovascular therapy, and for over 60 years vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) were the only available agents for long-term use. VKAs interfere with the cyclic inter-conversion of vitamin K and its 2,3 epoxide, thus inhibiting γ-carboxylation of glutamate residues at the amino-termini of vitamin K-dependent proteins, including the coagulation factors (F) II (prothrombin), VII, IX and X, as well as of the anticoagulant proteins C, S and Z. The overall effect of such interference is a dose-dependent anticoagulant effect, which has been therapeutically exploited in heart disease since the early 1950s. In this position paper, we review the mechanisms of action, pharmacological properties and side effects of VKAs, which are used in the management of cardiovascular diseases, including coronary heart disease (where their use is limited), stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation, heart valves and/or chronic heart failure. Using an evidence-based approach, we describe the results of completed clinical trials, highlight areas of uncertainty, and recommend therapeutic options for specific disorders. Although VKAs are being increasingly replaced in most patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation by the new oral anticoagulants, which target either thrombin or FXa, the VKAs remain the agents of choice for patients with atrial fibrillation in the setting of rheumatic valvular disease and for those with mechanical heart valves.