Two-year plaque level outcomes involving the left anterior descending artery: insights from the Lipid-Rich Plaque study

Background

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is more frequently seen in the left anterior descending artery (LAD). LAD disease resulting in an acute anterior wall myocardial infarction (MI) is associated with a low left ventricular ejection fraction and invariably a worsened prognosis. The Lipid Rich Plaque (LRP) Study reported the strong association between NIRS-IVUS derived max4mmLCBI and future plaque events in non-culprit vessels.

Objective

To report the events involving the LAD versus the other major coronary vessels in the Lipid-Rich Plaque study.

Methods

The LRP Study was an international, multicenter, prospective cohort study conducted in patients with suspected CAD who underwent cardiac catheterization with possible ad hoc percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for an index event. Plaque level events within the subsequent 2 years were adjudicated. Plaque level events were defined as the composite of cardiac death, cardiac arrest, non-fatal MI, acute coronary syndrome (ACS), revascularization by coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or PCI, and rehospitalization for angina with >20% stenosis progression related and unrelated to the treatment at index procedure. All together these events were reported as Non-Culprit Lesion-related Major Adverse Cardiac Events (NC-MACE). Prespecified subgroups of segments were defined according to LAD (vs. non-LAD) with maxLCBI4mm ≤400 or >400.

Results

A total of 57 plaque events occurred through 2 years of follow-up. More than half occurred in the LAD, followed by the LCX and the RCA. There were more, albeit non-statistically significant, lipid-rich plaques in the LAD, compared to the LCX and RCA: 12.5% vs 10.4% and 11.3%, respectively, p=0.097. A minimum lumen area (MLA) ≤4mm2 within the maxLCBI4mm was observed more in the LAD and the LCX, compared to the RCA: 34.1% vs 25.9% vs 13.7%, respectively, p<0.001. Lipid rich plaque (maxLCBI4mm>400) was present in 20/57 (35.1%) of the plaque level events, a large PB (≥70%) was present in 6/57 (10.5%), and a small MLA (≤4mm2) was present in 26/57 (45.6%). Out of the 57 plaque level events, 4 (7%) had all three high risk plaque characteristics.

Presence of an elevated maxLCBI4mm (>400) was predictive of NC-MACE in all subgroups (for LAD >400 HR 4.32; 95% CI (1.93, 9.69; p 0.0004) and for the non-LAD >400 HR 2.56; 95% CI (1.06, 6.17; p 0.0354).

Conclusion

Non-culprit segments in the LAD with maxLCBI4mm values >400 were more frequently associated with plaque level events than in the lipid -rich segments in the other epicardial vessels. This sub-study results point to the unequivocal value of maxLCBI4mm>400 in predicting future plaque level events especially in the LAD.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Private company. Main funding source(s): Infraredx Plaque Events-Ware Segment Locations

Impact of diabetes mellitus on 2-year outcomes of Absorb BVS compared to Xience EES: a pooled analysis of the COMPARE-ABSORB and AIDA trial

Background and purpose

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). To evaluate the impact of Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) in patients with DM, we aimed to compare the 2-year outcomes of Absorb BVS versus 2nd generation drug eluting stents Xience (EES) by pooling diabetic patients treated with BVS or EES from two large, randomized controlled trial.

Methods

Patients with medically-treated DM and treated by Absorb BVS in the COMPARE-ABSORB and AIDA trial were pooled for analysis. The primary efficacy outcomes measure was target lesion failure (cardiac death, target-vessel myocardial infarction or target lesion revascularization), and the primary safety outcome measure was device thrombosis at 2-year follow-up.

Results

Out of a total 3515 enrolled subjects in the two trials, 913 were diabetics. Compared with the non-diabetic patients, those with DM were older, more often to have a history of hypercholesterolemia, chronic renal failure, stroke, hypertension, heart failure, peripheral vascular disease and previous PCI. At 2-years, target lesion failure occurred in 10.8% of BVS DM patients and 7.6% of EES DM patients (adjusted HR 1.43, 95% CI: 0.87–2.34, P=0.115). The 2-year rates of cardiac death (2.4% vs 1.6%, P=0.385), TV-MI (5% vs 1.6%, P=0.123) and TLR (7.8% vs 5.8%, P=0.416) showed not significant difference. The 2-year incidence of definite device thrombosis was 3.2% in Absorb BVS versus 0.7% in Xience EES (adjusted HR 4.77, 95% CI: 1.01–22.43, P=0.048).

Conclusion

This pooling of the diabetic patients from two large scale RCTs compared BVS versus 2nd generation DES, showed an increased rate of device thrombosis in BVS-treated patients at 2 years.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Private company. Main funding source(s): Abbott

Four-year results of the AIDA trial: comparison of Absorb bioresorbable scaffold with Xience everolimus-eluting metallic stent in daily clinical practice

Aims

Absorb bioresorbable scaffold (BRS) related events were noticed between 1 and 3 years – the approximate time of active scaffold bioresorption. This resulted in the recommendation for 3 year DAPT after Absorb BRS implantation. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Absorb BRS in comparison with Xience everolimus-eluting stent (EES) at 4 years follow-up in large unselected population. In addition, we aimed to assess the value of prolonged DAPT against scaffold thrombosis.

Methods

AIDA was an investigator-initiated, non-inferiority, multicenter, randomized, all-comers trial. Target vessel failure (a composite of cardiac death, target-vessel myocardial infarction and target-vessel revascularization) and device thrombosis at 4-year follow-up are the primary focus of this analysis. During the trial recommendation for DAPT was changed to up to 3-years post Absorb BVS implantation. Whether this adaption influenced the results after Absorb BVS will be assessed.

Results

Between August 2013 and December 2015, 1,845 patients were enrolled, of whom 924 were randomized to treatment with Absorb BRS and 921 to Xience EES. The baseline characteristics in the two study arms were well balanced. Of all patients, 18% had diabetes mellitus, more than 50% presented with ACS and the median SYNTAX score was 11. In the Absorb BRS arm, 97% of lesions were predilated and in 74% post-dilatation was performed. Four-year clinical outcomes are currently being adjudicated by an independent clinical event committee. The results will be available at EuroPCR 2020.

Conclusions

Absorb BRS is associated with higher rates of scaffold thrombosis throughout 3-year of follow-up. The performance of Absorb BRS beyond 3-years, in comparison with the Xience EES, in a large unselected population will be presented. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01858077)

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Private company. Main funding source(s): Abbott

Two-year clinical performance of Absorb BVS compared to Xience EES in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: a pooled analysis of AIDA and COMPARE-ABSORB trials

Introduction

Bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS) use appears theoretically attractive in patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) as acute lesions are generally composed of soft plaques, in which optimal BVS deployment and expansion is easier to achieve. Furthermore, those patients are generally younger and would benefit longer from the promise of vascular restoration therapy.

Purpose

In this patient level pooled analysis of two clinical trials, we evaluated the clinical outcomes of Absorb BVS versus Xience everolimus-eluting stent (EES) in STEMI patients at 2-year follow-up.

Methods

We performed an individual patient-level pooled analysis of the AIDA and COMPARE-ABSORB trials in which 3515 patient were randomly assigned to Absorb BVS (n=1772) or Xience EES (n=1743). Clinical outcomes in STEMI patients were analyzed by randomized treatment assignment cumulative through 2 years. The primary efficacy outcomes measure was target lesion failure (cardiac death, target-vessel myocardial infarction or target lesion revascularization), and the primary safety outcome measure was device thrombosis at 2-year follow-up.

Results

350 (19.8%) STEMI patients were allocated to Absorb BVS versus 328 (18.8%) to Xience EES. The mean age of patient presenting with STEMI was 60 years old, 76.0% were males and 15.3% had diabetes mellitus. At 2-years target lesion failure occurred in 8.4% of BVS STEMI patients and 6.2% of EES STEMI patients (p=0.253). The 2-year rates of cardiac death (2.6% vs 1.6%, p=0.332), TV-MI (4.7% vs 2.5%) and TLR (6.8% vs 4.1%) were not significantly different. The 2-year incidence of definite device thrombosis was 4.7% in Absorb BVS versus 1.8% in Xience EES (p=0.045).

Conclusion

In the present patient-level pooled analysis of the AIDA and COMPARE-Absorb trials, BVS was associated with increased rates of device thrombosis in STEMI patients compared to Xience EES.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Private company. Main funding source(s): Abbott

A NF-kappa B/c-myc-dependent survival pathway is targeted by corticosteroids in immature thymocytes

Glucocorticoid hormones modulate T cell maturation in vivo. While low levels of hormones are required for appropriate T cell development, high levels of glucocorticoid hormones target immature developing thymocytes for cell death during systemic stress. In this report, we propose a molecular mechanism for the induction of apoptosis in CD4+CD8+ double-positive thymocytes by dexamethasone in vivo. Dexamethasone injection induced the expression of IkappaBalpha and IkappaBbeta in thymocytes and down-regulated NF-kappaB DNA binding activated by intrathymic signals. Down-regulation of NF-kappaB DNA binding preceded cell death, suggesting that NF-kappaB may be important for the survival of immature thymocytes. In addition, ex vivo treatment of thymocyte single-cell suspension with dexamethasone accelerated p65/RelA down-regulation and cell death. Conversely, NF-kappaB induction diminished dexamethasone-induced death. Expression of the c-myc proto-oncogene, a NF-kappaB target, was also reduced in thymocytes of dexamethasone-treated animals, and ectopic transgenic expression of c-myc in mice provided partial rescue of double-positive thymocytes from dexamethasone mediated cell death. These observations suggest that viability of CD4+CD8+ thymocytes may be maintained by an NF-kappaB/c-myc-dependent pathway in vivo.