Evaluation of right-ventricular function by two-dimensional echocardiography and two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography in patients with successful RCA CTO recanalization

OBJECTIVES

Chronic total occlusion (CTO) of the right coronary artery (RCA) is common in patients with coronary artery disease. Although revascularization techniques and success rates have improved significantly in recent years, there are still no studies investigating possible effects of successful recanalization of RCA CTO on the right-ventricular (RV) function. With this study, we aimed to evaluate RV function after recanalization of the RCA by two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (2DE) and additional two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2DSTE).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Our analysis included 102 patients undergoing successful RCA CTO recanalization at the University Medical Center of Mainz. All patients underwent 2DE and 2DSTE to assess RV function before PCI procedure and 6 months after successful revascularization. We found an altered RV function in our collective at baseline assessed by 2DSTE with a significant improvement at 6 month follow-up (baseline RV free wall strain: - 20.7 [- 6.3 to - 32.0] % vs. - 23.4 [- 8.3 to - 39.3] % at follow-up, p < 0.001 and baseline RV global strain - 15.9 [- 6.0 to - 25.7] % vs. - 17.9 [- 7.0 to - 29.5] % at follow-up, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

RV function was altered in patients with RCA CTO and showed significant improvement after successful recanalization. We also noticed an improvement in patient-reported clinical symptoms. Our study suggests that CTO procedure is a beneficial treatment option in symptomatic patients with RCA CTO.

Evaluation of right atrial function by two-dimensional echocardiography and strain imaging in patients with RCA CTO recanalization

OBJECTIVES

The right heart is mainly supplied with blood by the right coronary artery (RCA). The impact of RCA chronic total occlusion (CTO) on the function of the right heart [right atrium (RA) and ventricle (RV)] and whether successful recanalization of a RCA CTO improves the function of the right heart is not clearly understood yet. We aimed to evaluate right atrial function after recanalization of the RCA using transthoracic echocardiography with additional strain imaging.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Fifty-five patients undergoing RCA CTO recanalization at the University Medical Center of Mainz were included in the study. Right atrial strain was assessed before and 6 months after successful CTO revascularization. The median age of the total collective was 66 (50-90) years. We did not find difference in our analysis of RA Volume (p 0.086), RA area (p 0.093), RA major dimension (p 0.32) and RA minor dimension (p 0.139) at baseline and follow-up. Mean RA reservoir strain at baseline was 30.9% (21.1-43.0) vs. 33.4% (20.7-47.7) at follow up (p < 0.001). Mean RA conduit strain was - 17.5% (- 10.7-(- 29.7)) at baseline vs. - 18.2% (- 9.6-(- 31.7)) at follow-up (p = 0.346). Mean RA contraction strain was - 12.9% (- 8.0- (- 21.3)) at baseline vs. - 15.5% (- 8.7-(- 26.6)) at follow-up (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Right atrial function was altered in patients with RCA CTO. Successful revascularisation of an RCA CTO improved RA function assessed by strain imaging at follow-up.

Use of intravascular ultrasound for optimal vessel sizing in chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention

Aim

The aim of this study is to provide evidence on how use of standardized intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) use impacts stent size choice in the setting of chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) compared to visual estimation.

Methods and results

Data of 82 consecutive patients who had successfully undergone IVUS-guided revascularization of CTO at the University Medical Center Mainz were analyzed. Angiography-based stent size prediction for the proximal and distal vessels was compared to the implanted stent diameter after IVUS assessment. Angiography-based stent size prediction for the proximal vessel was 3.09 ± 0.41, whereas IVUS use demonstrated larger vessel diameter, resulting in larger implanted stent diameter (3.24 ± 0.45, p &lt; 0.001). Proximal vessel stent size prediction was underestimated in the majority of patients by angiographic estimation. Angiography-based stent size prediction for the distal vessel was 2.79 ± 0.38, whereas IVUS use demonstrated larger vessel diameter, resulting in larger implanted stent diameter (2.92 ± 0.39, p &lt; 0.001).

Conclusion

Pre-stent IVUS assessment in CTO PCI provides important information on vessel morphology and size. Angiography-based stent size prediction for the proximal and distal vessels was frequently underestimated, IVUS use demonstrated larger vessel diameter, resulting in significantly larger implanted stent diameter.

Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion in a frail, high-risk, octogenarian patient population, after having undergone transcatheter aortic valve implantation

Background

Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) represents an alternative stroke prevention method in patients with atrial fibrillation and an increased bleeding risk, chronic kidney disease or contraindications to oral anticoagulants. Aim of our study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of percutaneous LAAO in high-risk, frail patients having undergone transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Methods

Thirty-one patients having undergone TAVI and scheduled for LAAO were prospectively included in our study.

Results

Implantation was successful in 29 of 31 cases (93.5%).There were no patients that developed a major acute cardiovascular event, stroke, or device dislocation/embolization. There was a single case of major bleeding (3.2%) and 3 cases of acute kidney injury (9.7%). At 3 months, no patients experienced a stroke, one patient had a device-related thrombus (3.4%), one patient showed a significant peri-device leak, and one patient had a persistent iatrogenic atrial septal defect.

Conclusions

Our study shows that percutaneous LAAO may represent a feasible alternative strategy for stroke prevention, that can be safely performed in high-risk, multimorbid patients with high bleeding risk or contraindications to oral anticoagulation.

TNF-α blockade may lead to improvement of vascular function in psoriasis patients

Psoriasis is one of the most common chronic inflammatory skin diseases and at the same time a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Interleukin-17A (IL-17A)-mediated inflammation in psoriasis may lead to vascular dysfunction. This study aimed at investigating whether anti-inflammatory treatment by tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α blockade alters vascular function in psoriasis patients. A total of 11 patients with psoriasis who underwent treatment with either adalimumab (n = 8) or etanercept (n = 3), 10 healthy control individuals and 14 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) were included in this study. Treatment response was assessed using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score. Endothelial reactivity and resting endothelium-dependent vascular tone were assessed by ultrasound measurement of flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and low-flow-mediated constriction (l-FMC), respectively. FMD was slightly impaired in psoriasis patients compared to healthy controls. Anti-TNF-α treatment did not significantly change FMD levels. Psoriasis patients showed a trend towards increased baseline vascular activity compared to healthy controls. Anti-TNF-α treatment significantly improved l-FMC in psoriasis patients. Noteworthy, both FMD and l-FMC in psoriasis patients were comparable to those in patients with CAD; however, an important influence of age differences between the groups or co-existent classical cardiovascular risk factors on FMD and l-FMC cannot be ruled out by our small study. The results suggest that anti-inflammatory treatment with TNF-α blockade improves vascular function in patients with psoriasis, mainly by altering baseline vascular tone. Further studies will be necessary to establish the potentially protective impact of anti-inflammatory therapy on vascular function in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases.

Lysed Erythrocyte Membranes Promote Vascular Calcification

BACKGROUND

Intraplaque hemorrhage promotes atherosclerosis progression, and erythrocytes may contribute to this process. In this study we examined the effects of red blood cells on smooth muscle cell mineralization and vascular calcification and the possible mechanisms involved.

METHODS

Erythrocytes were isolated from human and murine whole blood. Intact and lysed erythrocytes and their membrane fraction or specific erythrocyte components were examined in vitro using diverse calcification assays, ex vivo by using the murine aortic ring calcification model, and in vivo after murine erythrocyte membrane injection into neointimal lesions of hypercholesterolemic apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. Vascular tissues (aortic valves, atherosclerotic carotid artery specimens, abdominal aortic aneurysms) were obtained from patients undergoing surgery.

RESULTS

The membrane fraction of lysed, but not intact human erythrocytes promoted mineralization of human arterial smooth muscle cells in culture, as shown by Alizarin red and van Kossa stain and increased alkaline phosphatase activity, and by increased expression of osteoblast-specific transcription factors (eg, runt-related transcription factor 2, osterix) and differentiation markers (eg, osteopontin, osteocalcin, and osterix). Erythrocyte membranes dose-dependently enhanced calcification in murine aortic rings, and extravasated CD235a-positive erythrocytes or Perl iron-positive signals colocalized with calcified areas or osteoblast-like cells in human vascular lesions. Mechanistically, the osteoinductive activity of lysed erythrocytes was localized to their membrane fraction, did not involve membrane lipids, heme, or iron, and was enhanced after removal of the nitric oxide (NO) scavenger hemoglobin. Lysed erythrocyte membranes enhanced calcification to a similar extent as the NO donor diethylenetriamine-NO, and their osteoinductive effects could be further augmented by arginase-1 inhibition (indirectly increasing NO bioavailability). However, the osteoinductive effects of erythrocyte membranes were reduced in human arterial smooth muscle cells treated with the NO scavenger 2-phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl 3-oxide or following inhibition of NO synthase or the NO receptor soluble guanylate cyclase. Erythrocytes isolated from endothelial NO synthase-deficient mice exhibited a reduced potency to promote calcification in the aortic ring assay and after injection into murine vascular lesions.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings in cells, genetically modified mice, and human vascular specimens suggest that intraplaque hemorrhage with erythrocyte extravasation and lysis promotes osteoblastic differentiation of smooth muscle cells and vascular lesion calcification, and also support a role for erythrocyte-derived NO.

Novel echocardiographic prognostic markers for cardiac tamponade in patients with large malignant pericardial effusions: A paradigm shift from flow to tissue imaging

BACKGROUND

With this study, we sought to investigate the prognostic value of echocardiographic tissue imaging markers in predicting tamponade among patients with large malignant pericardial effusion compared to routinely used echocardiographic signs.

METHODS

A total of 96 consecutive patients with large malignant pericardial effusion, not in clinical cardiac tamponade, underwent an echocardiographic examination and were prospectively assessed for 1 month. Clinically evident cardiac tamponade was considered as the study endpoint. The prognostic performance of tricuspid valve annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and peak systolic annular velocity at the lateral margin of the tricuspid valve annulus (S_TV ) was assessed and compared to routinely used imaging signs.

RESULTS

During follow-up, 37 patients (39%) developed clinically evident cardiac tamponade. TAPSE (area under the curve [AUC] 0.958) and S_TV (AUC 0.948) had excellent predictive accuracy for tamponade. Multivariate analysis showed that TAPSE (Hazard ratio [HR] 3.03; 95% CI 1.60-5.73, P=.001) and S_TV (HR 1.17; 95% CI 1.05-1.29, P=.005) remained independent significant predictors of cardiac tamponade. Reclassification analysis and decision curve analysis showed additive prognostic value and adjunct clinical benefit of these markers when added to a recently published triage pericardiocentesis score.

CONCLUSION

Echocardiographic tissue imaging markers such as TAPSE and S_TV are characterized by an excellent prognostic ability for development of cardiac tamponade and better prognostic value compared to routine echocardiographic signs in patients with large malignant pericardial effusion. Incorporating these markers to a recent triage pericardiocentesis score resulted in additional prognostic value and increased clinical benefit.

Contrast-Induced Acute Kidney Injury: An Update

Contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) is defined as an abrupt deterioration in renal function associated with the administration of iodinated contrast media. This type of acute kidney injury is frequently encountered as a complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and is associated with adverse short- and long-term outcomes including mainly mortality, cardiovascular morbidity and prolongation of hospitalization. The incidence of CI-AKI after PCI ranges from 2 to 20 % according to baseline kidney function. It may also range according to the clinical setting, being higher after emergency PCI. The primary manifestation is a small decline in kidney function, occurring 1 to 3 days after the procedure. Kidney function usually returns to preexisting levels within 7 days. Incidence of acute renal failure requiring dialysis following PCI is rare (<1 %). The present article aims to review up-to-date published data concerning diagnosis, definition, epidemiology and prognosis of this novel in-hospital epidemic.

New aspects on the metabolic role of intestinal microbiota in the development of atherosclerosis

Gut microbiota remains a very interesting, yet largely unexplored ecosystem inside the human organism. The importance of this ecosystem for the physiology and the pathophysiology of the organism is being slowly unraveled. Recent studies reveal a connection between intestinal microbiota and atherosclerosis development. It seems that alterations in the function and composition of this bacterial population lead through complex mechanisms to a high risk for atherosclerosis. Although these mechanisms remain largely unknown, published studies show that microbiota can lead to atherosclerosis either by augmenting known risk factors or via other, more "direct" mechanisms. This review article summarizes the available literature regarding this matter.