Consecutive or selectively included high bleeding risk patients in the MASTER DAPT screening log and trial

AIMS

Screening logs have the potential to appraise the actual prevalence and distribution of predefined patient subsets, avoiding selection biases, which are inevitably and potentially present in randomised trials and real-world registries, respectively. We aimed to assess the prevalence of high bleeding risk (HBR) characteristics in the real world and the external validity of the MASTER DAPT trial.

METHODS AND RESULTS

All consecutive patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for at least two consecutive weeks across 65 sites participating in the trial were entered into a screening log. Of 2,847 consecutive patients, 1,098 (38.6 %) were HBR and 109 (9.9 %) consented for trial participation. PRECISE-DAPT score ≥ 25 was the most frequent HBR feature, followed by advanced age, use of oral anticoagulation (OAC) and anaemia. Compared with consecutive HBR patients, consenting patients were older (≥ 75 years: 69 % versus 62 %, absolute standardized difference [SD] 0.16), more frequently male (78 % versus 71 %, absolute SD 0.18), had higher use of OAC (38 % versus 20 %, absolute SD 0.39), treatment with steroids or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (10 % versus 5 %, SD 0.16), and prior cerebrovascular events (10 % versus 6 %, absolute SD 0.18) but lower PRECISE DAPT score ≥ 25 (54 % versus 66 %, absolute SD 0.24).

CONCLUSIONS

The HBR criteria distribution differed between consecutive versus selectively included HBR patients, suggesting the existence of selection biases in the trial population.

Outcomes With Hybrid Catheter-Directed Therapy Compared With Aspiration Thrombectomy for Patients With Intermediate-High Risk Pulmonary Embolism

PURPOSE

Intermediate-high-risk pulmonary embolism (IHR PE) is a challenging form of embolism obstruction that causes right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. The optimal management of IHR PE has not been established. This single-center prospective, observational study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of complex catheter-directed therapy (CDT) - catheter-directed mechanical aspiration thrombectomy (CDMT) supplemented with catheter-directed thrombolysis (hybrid CDT) in comparison to CDMT alone for IHR PE.

METHODS

A propensity score based on the pulmonary embolism severity index class and Miller obstruction index (MOI) was calculated, and 21 hybrid CDT cases (mean age 54.8 (14.7) years, 9/21 women) were matched with 21 CDMT cases (mean age 58.8 (14.9) years, 13/21 women). The baseline demographics, clinical, and treatment characteristics were analyzed.

RESULTS

No significant differences were detected regarding baseline demographics and PE severity parameters. Hybrid CDT demonstrated a higher reduction in mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) (hybrid CDT: median mPAP reduction 8 mmHg (IQR: 6-10 mmHg) vs CDMT: median mPAP reduction 6 mmHg (IQR: 4-7 mmHg); P = 0.019), MOI score (hybrid CDT: median change - 5 points (IQR: 5-6 points) vs CDMT median change - 3 points (IQR: 3-5 points); P = 0.019), and median RV: left ventricular ratio (hybrid CDT: median change 0.4 (IQR: 0.3-0.45) vs CDMT median change 0.26 (IQR: 0.2-0.4); P = 0.007). No major bleeding was observed. Both the hybrid CDT and CDMT alone treatments are safe and effective in managing IHR PE.

CONCLUSIONS

Hybrid CDT is a promising technique for the management of IHR PE with insufficient thrombus load reduction by CDMT.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT0447356-registration date 16 July 2020.

A Twenty-Year Follow-Up of Adults with Ebstein Anomaly with Special Focus on Supraventricular Arrhythmias, Supraventricular Arrhythmias and Effectiveness of Catheter Ablation in 20-Year Follow-Up of Adults with Ebstein Anomaly

Background: Ebstein anomaly (EA) is a rare congenital heart disease characterized by the apical displacement of the tricuspid leaflets, creating an enlarged functional right atrium. Supraventricular arrhythmias (SVA) are common, and catheter ablation remains challenging. SVA is considered a risk factor for sudden cardiac death in this population. Still, there are very few real-life data on the impact of SVA treated invasively or conservatively on a patient's prognosis. We aimed to analyze the incidence of SVA in adults with EA, evaluate the effectiveness of catheter ablation, and analyze the impact of SVA and catheter ablation on survival in this population. Methods and results: 71 pts (median age 53 years; range 24-84 years) with EA were evaluated retrospectively from 1988 to 2020. Forty patients (56.3%) had SVA, and eighteen of them (45.0%) required at least one catheter ablation (35 procedures in total). Indications for ablation were mostly intra-atrial reentrant tachycardia (IART) and atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT) (14 pts [77.8% and 9 pts [50.0%], respectively. IART and AVRT coexisted in nine pts. One patient suffered from persistent atrial fibrillation. Procedural effectiveness was reported in 28 (80%) cases; over a longer follow-up (mean 12.6 ± 5.4 years), only eight (44.4%) patients were completely free from SVA after the first ablation. In total, 10 patients (14%) died due to cardiovascular events. There was no difference in survival between patients with or without SVA (p = 0.9) and between ablated and non-ablated EA individuals (p = 0.89). Conclusions: Supraventricular arrhythmia is frequent in adults with Ebstein anomaly. Patients often require more than one catheter ablation but eventually become free from arrhythmias. The imaging parameters assessed by echocardiography or cardiac magnetic resonance do not seem to be associated with ablation outcomes. The impact of supraventricular arrhythmia itself or treatment with radiofrequency ablation is questionable and should be thoroughly investigated in this population.

Magnesium bioresorbable scaffold (Magmaris) versus polymer biodegradable ultrathin drug-eluting stent (Ultimaster) in acute coronary syndrome. Mid-term outcomes (2 years)

Introduction

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a well-known risk factor for adverse clinical outcomes in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Therefore, evaluation of coronary stents in this challenging clinical scenario can provide unique information on device safety and efficacy. Bioresorbable scaffolds (BRS) were designed to overcome long-term complications related to permanent vessel caging with a permanent metallic drug-eluting stent (DES).

Aim

We designed this study to evaluate the mid-term safety and efficiency of the Magmaris BRS in comparison to the leading new-generation ultrathin DES Ultimaster in the ACS population.

Material and methods

We present a retrospective analysis of 2-year follow-up data. The primary outcomes consisted of death from cardiac causes, myocardial infarction, and in-stent thrombosis. The second main study endpoint was defined as target-lesion failure (TLF).

Results

The study population consisted of two cohorts, the first of 193 patients treated with Magmaris implantation and the second of 169 patients treated with Ultimaster implantation. At the 2-year follow-up, there were no significant differences in both study cohorts in terms of primary outcome (5.1% vs. 11%; p = 0.051), and TLF (5.6% vs. 8%, p = 0.41).

Conclusions

Treatment with a second-generation BRS (Magmaris) versus a novel second-generation DES (Ultimaster) in non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) was associated with similar rates of target lesion failure at 2-year follow-up.

First-year follow-up costs of myocardial infarction management in Poland from the payer's perspective

BACKGROUND

Myocardial infarction (MI) remains a major burden for healthcare systems. Therefore, we intended to analyze the determinants of cost management of patients hospitalized for MI in Poland.

METHODS

Data on patients hospitalized and discharged with the diagnosis of acute MI were derived from the public payer claims database. Adult patients, reported between October 1, 2017 and December 31, 2019, were included. Costs of hospitalization for acute MI and cumulative one-year follow-up were analyzed.

RESULTS

The median (IQR) of the total direct cost was €3804.7 (2674.1-5712.7) per patient and 29% (€1113.6 [380.5-2490.4]) of these were costs related to the use of post-hospitalization healthcare resources. The median cost of cardiovascular disease management was €3624.7 (2582.1-5258.5), and 26% of this sum were follow-up costs. The analysis of the total cost for individual years showed a slight increase in median costs in subsequent years: €3450.7 (2407.8-5205.2) in 2017, €3753.8 (2642.6-5681.9) in 2018, and €3944.9 (2794.8-5844.4) in 2019. Male sex, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, diabetes, kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and history of stroke in addition to hospitalization in a department other than cardiology or internal disease were independently related to the cost of MI patient management.

CONCLUSIONS

The high cost of management of MI patients was independently related to sex, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, diabetes, kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and history of stroke as well as hospitalization in other than cardiology or internal disease department.

Protective role of N-acetylcysteine and Sulodexide on endothelial cells exposed on patients' serum after SARS-CoV-2 infection

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 causes hyperinflammation and activation of coagulation cascade and, as a result, aggravates endothelial cell dysfunction. N-acetylcysteine and Sulodexide have been found to mitigate endothelial damage. The influence on coronary artery endothelial cells of serum collected after 4 ± 1 months from coronavirus infection was studied. The concentrations of serum samples of interleukin 6, von Willebrand Factor, tissue Plasminogen Activator, and Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 were studied. The cultures with serum of patients after coronavirus infection were incubated with N-acetylcysteine and Sulodexide to estimate their potential protective role. The blood inflammatory parameters were increased in the group of cultures incubated with serum from patients after coronavirus infection. Supplementation of the serum from patients after coronavirus infection with N-acetylcysteine or Sulodexide reduced the synthesis of interleukin 6 and von Willebrand Factor. No changes in the synthesis of tissue Plasminogen Activator were observed. N-acetylcysteine reduced the synthesis of Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1. N-acetylcysteine and Sulodexide increased the tPA/PAI-1 ratio. N-acetylcysteine may have a role in reducing the myocardial injury occurring in the post-COVID-19 syndrome. Sulodexide can also play a protective role in post-COVID-19 patients.

Neutrophil and lymphocyte count as predictors of the location of calcific coronary lesions in patients treated with rotational atherectomy

Introduction

The role of immune system activation in development and progression of atherosclerotic plaques has been postulated. Previous studies on inflammation have focused on the severity of coronary disease, the risk of acute coronary syndrome, and the prediction of outcomes based on hematological indices obtained from whole blood count analysis.

Aim

To analyze simple data of the whole blood count in relation to the location of calcified atherosclerotic lesions in patients treated with coronary rotational atherectomy (RA).

Material and methods

Eighty-one patients (57 (70%) males, mean (SD) age of 70.4 ±8 years) who underwent RA were enrolled in the study. The study group was divided into two subgroups depending on the proximal (group 1) and non-proximal (group 2) location of the culprit lesions in coronary arteries. The angiographic results were compared with demographic and clinical data and whole blood count analysis.

Results

The multivariable analysis revealed the predictive value of low neutrophil (OR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.58-0.97, p = 0.030) and lymphocyte counts (OR = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.11-0.68, p = 0.005) for the proximal location of the culprit lesions. In the ROC analysis, combined neutrophil and lymphocyte counts showed the best prediction of proximal location, with the area under the curve of 0.747 (p < 0.001), yielding a sensitivity of 79.07% and specificity of 73.68%.

Conclusions

The lower neutrophil and lymphocyte counts in peripheral blood count analysis may be more representative of proximal calcified coronary lesions. The relationship between neutrophil and lymphocyte blood count and calcific atherosclerotic plaque location can indicate the inflammatory background of epicardial atheroma formation and distribution.

Cangrelor - Expanding therapeutic options in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Cangrelor is the only intravenous P2Y12 receptor antagonist. It is an adenosine triphosphate analog that selectively, directly, and reversibly binds to the platelet P2Y12 receptors exerting its antiaggregatory effect. Cangrelor is characterized by linear, dose-dependent pharmacokinetics and rapid onset of action providing potent platelet inhibition exceeding 90%. Cangrelor is rapidly metabolized by endothelial endonucleotidase; thus, its half-life is 2.9 to 5.5 min, and its antiplatelet effect subsides within 60 to 90 min. Data originating from three pivotal cangrelor trials (CHAMPION PLATFORM, CHAMPION PCI, and CHAMPION PHOENIX) indicate that cangrelor reduces the risk of periprocedural thrombotic complications during percutaneous coronary intervention at the expense of mild bleedings. Its unique pharmacological properties allow it to overcome the limitations of oral P2Y12 receptor inhibitors, mainly related to the delayed and decreased bioavailability and antiplatelet effect of these agents, which are often observed in the setting of acute coronary syndrome. Subgroups of patients who could theoretically benefit the most from cangrelor include those in whom pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of oral P2Y12 receptor antagonists are most disturbed, namely patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, those treated with opioids, with mild therapeutic hypothermia, or in cardiogenic shock. Cangrelor could also be useful if bridging is required in patients undergoing surgery. According to the current guidelines cangrelor may be considered in P2Y12 receptor inhibitor-naïve patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention in both acute and stable settings.

Cardiac Post-Chest Radiotherapy Complications in a 50-Year-Old Patient with Hodgkin Lymphoma

Lymphomas are a group of malignant tumors that originate in the lymphatic system. It is the most common type of blood cancer. It affects the lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, blood, and other organs. They can be aggressive or chronic. Hodgkin lymphoma survival rate is 2 in 100,000 people. Young adults aged 20-30 and people over 50 are most often affected. The prognosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma is good, with a survival rate of up to 80 percent. Nevertheless, in 20-30 percent of patients who initially respond to treatment, the disease has a tendency to progress. The positive effect of radiotherapy (RT) on patients' survival rates has been proven in many randomized clinical trials. Although the dose of chest RT has significantly reduced over the years, we still struggle with the long-term complications of post-RT repercussions, mainly because there is no established safe dose of RT affecting the heart. Other complications include earlier onset of coronary artery disease, early and late onset of pericarditis, valve degeneration (predominantly of the left heart), calcification of the aorta and its branches, heart failure, and arrhythmias. One patient can manifest each of the abovementioned complications, as in the present case. That is why choosing the right treatment strategy is crucial.

Rapidly Progressive Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in a Paediatric Patient Treated with Lung Transplantation

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare heterogeneous disorder in the paediatric population which is mostly associated with congenital heart disease. The management of paediatric idiopathic PAH (IPAH) is difficult due to insufficient comparative data and depends on the results of evidence-based adult studies with several pulmonary vasodilators, as well as the clinical experiences of paediatric experts. Our aim was to present the case of a 9-year-old girl who underwent several methods of treatment, including pharmacotherapy with a significant reaction to treprostinil, as well as bilateral lung transplantation. The patient's treatment was distinguished by the fact that the dose escalation was as rapid as that observed in the adult population. Due to the limited current evidence and knowledge, the initiation of treatment for these patients remains an individual choice. On the grounds of the number of non-specific symptoms, the diagnosis of this patient was a long process and based mainly on the differential diagnosis. The purpose of this paper is to study this example in order to highlight the importance of early symptoms and the quick implementation of intensive treatment. The applied methods may be useful in doubtful diagnosis processes and treatment procedures in the paediatric population.

Catheter-directed mechanical aspiration thrombectomy in a real-world pulmonary embolism population: a multicenter registry

AIMS

High- (HR) and intermediate-high risk (IHR) pulmonary embolisms (PEs) are related to high early mortality and long-term sequelae. We aimed to describe clinical outcomes and adverse events in IHR and HR pulmonary embolism (PE) treated with catheter-directed mechanical thrombectomy (CDMT) in a real-world population.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This study is a multicenter, prospective registry enrolling 110 PE patients treated with CDMT between 2019 and 2022. The CDMT was performed using the 8F Indigo (Penumbra, Alameda, CA, USA) system bilaterally in pulmonary arteries (PAs). The primary safety endpoints included device or PE-related death during the 48-h after CDMT, procedure-related major bleeding, or other major adverse events. Secondary safety outcomes were all-cause mortality during hospitalization or the follow-up. The primary efficacy outcomes were the reduction of PA pressures and change in the right-to-left ventricular (RV/L) ratio assessed in the imaging 24-48 h after the CDMT.71.8% of patients had IHR PE and 28.2% HR PE. 11.8% of patients had a failure and 34.5% had contraindications to thrombolysis, and 2.7% had polytrauma. There was 0.9% intraprocedural death related to RV failure and 5.5% deaths within the first 48 h. CDMT was complicated by major bleeding in 1.8%, pulmonary artery injury in 1.8%, and ischaemic stroke in 0.9%. Immediate haemodynamic improvements included a 10.4 ± 7.8 mmHg (19.7%) drop in systolic PAP (P < 0.0001), a 6.1 ± 4.2 mmHg (18.8%) drop in mean PAP, and 0.48 ± 0.4 (36%) drop in RV/LV ratio (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

These observational findings suggest that CDMT may improve hemodynamics with an acceptable safety profile in patients with IHR and HR PE.

Principles of minimize bleeding and the transfusion of blood and its components in operated patients - surgical aspects

One of the target of perioperative tratment in surgery is decreasing intraoperative bleeding, which increases the number of perioperative procedures, mortality and treatment costs, and also causes the risk of transfusion of blood and its components. Trying to minimize the blood loss(mainly during the operation) as well as the need to transfuse blood and its components (broadly understood perioperative period) should be standard treatment for a patient undergoing a procedure. In the case of this method, the following steps should be taken: 1) in the preoperative period: identyfication of risk groups as quickly as possible, detecting and treating anemia, applying prehabilitation, modyfying anticoagulant treatment, considering donating one's own blood in some patients and in selected cases erythropoietin preparations; 2) in the perioperative period: aim for normothermia, normovolemia and normoglycemia, use of surgical methods that reduce bleeding, such as minimally invasive surgery, high-energy coagulation, local hemostatics, prevention of surgical site infection, proper transfusion of blood and its components if it occurs; 3) in the postoperative period: monitor the condition of patients, primarily for the detection of bleeding, rapid reoperation if required, suplementation (oral administration preferred) nutrition with microelements (iron) and vitamins, updating its general condition. All these activities, comprehensively and in surgical cooperation with the anesthesiologist, should reduce the blood loss and transfusion of blood and its components.

Safety and Efficacy of Orbital Atherectomy in the All-Comer Population: Mid-Term Results of the Lower Silesian Orbital Atherectomy Registry (LOAR)

BACKGROUND

Coronary calcifications represent a challenging subset for the interventional cardiologist performing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and are well-established risk factors for adverse outcomes. Adequate plaque modification prior to stent implantation is critical to achieve an optimal outcome following PCI. Recently, a novel orbital atherectomy device has been introduced into clinical practice to modify calcified plaques. We evaluated the mid-term safety and efficacy of OA in a high-risk "all-comers" population.

METHODS

We evaluated 96 consecutive patients with severely calcified coronary lesions who underwent PCI facilitated by the orbital atherectomy device.

RESULTS

In-hospital MACCE was 5.2% without target lesion revascularization. At 6-month follow-up, the MACCE rate was 10.4% with a concomitant TLR rate of 1%.

CONCLUSIONS

Our mid-term data showed good safety and efficacy of orbital atherectomy as a plaque-modifying tool in an all-comers cohort with severely calcified coronary lesions.

The impact of left circumflex coronary artery ostium stenosis on outcomes for patients after percutaneous coronary intervention for unprotected left main disease

BACKGROUND

The impact of left circumflex coronary artery (LCX) ostium atherosclerosis in left main coronary artery (LM) bifurcation disease is not well-known.

AIM

The study aimed to assess whether the involvement of LCX ostium carries prognostic implications in patients undergoing unprotected LM percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODS

Consecutive 564 patients with unprotected LM (ULMCA) disease who underwent LM PCI between January 2015 and February 2021, with at least 1 year of available follow-up were included in the study. The first group was composed of 145 patients with ULMCA disease with LCX ostium stenosis, and the second group consisted of 419 patients with ULMCA disease without LCX ostium stenosis.

RESULTS

Patients in the group with ULMCA disease with LCX ostium stenosis were significantly older and had more comorbidities. The two-stent technique was used more often in the group with LCX ostium stenosis (62.8% vs. 14.6%; P <0.001). During 7-year follow-up, all-cause mortality did not differ significantly between groups with and without LCX ostium stenosis (P = 0.50). The use of one-stent or two-stent technique also did not impact mortality in patients with LCX ostial lesions (P = 0.75). Long-term mortality subanalysis for three groups of patients: (1) patients with LM plus LCX ostium stenosis; (2) LM plus left anterior descending artery (LAD) ostium stenosis; (3) LM plus LCX ostium plus LAD ostium stenosis also did not differ significantly (P = 0.63).

CONCLUSIONS

LCX ostium involvement in LM disease PCI is not associated with adverse long-term outcomes, which is highly beneficial for the Heart Team's decision-making process.

Safety and efficacy of a novel calcified plaque modification technique - Shockwave Intravascular Lithotripsy - in patients with coronary artery disease: Mid-term outcomes

BACKGROUND

Coronary interventions in calcified lesions are associated with a higher rate of adverse clinical events. Initial aggressive plaque modification along with post-implantation optimization is pivotal for achieving a favorable outcome of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Recently, the Shockwave C2 Intravascular Lithotripsy (S-IVL) System, a novel acoustic wave-based device designed to modify calcified plaque, has been introduced into clinical practice.

AIMS

We evaluated the mid-term safety and efficiency of S-IVL in a cohort of 131 consecutive patients with severely calcified coronary lesions.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed a total of 131 consecutive S-IVL PCI procedures. The study had two main inclusion criteria - the presence of a calcified resistant lesion (defined by inadequate non-compliant balloon catheter inflation) or a significantly underexpanded stent (more than 20% of reference diameter). The study had two primary endpoints - successful clinical outcome and safety concerns. Clinical success was defined as effective stent deployment or optimization of a previously underexpanded stent (with less than <20% in-stent residual stenosis). Safety outcomes were defined as periprocedural complications, such as device failure and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE). Clinical follow-up was performed at the end of hospitalization and 6 months after the index procedure.

RESULTS

In-hospital MACCE was 4.6% with 1.5% target lesion revascularization (TLR) and one case of subacute fatal stent thrombosis. At 6-month follow-up, the MACCE rate was 7.9% with a concomitant TLR rate of 3.8%.

CONCLUSION

Our mid-term data confirm acceptable safety and efficacy of intravascular lithotripsy as a valuable strategy for lesion preparation and stent optimization in a cohort of 131 consecutive patients with severely calcified coronary lesions.

Mid-term safety and efficacy of magnesium bioresorbable vascular scaffolds - magmaris in diabetic population. 2-Years outcome in acute coronary syndrome cohort

BACKGROUND

Diabetes type 2 is one of the strongest risk factors affecting coronary artery disease (CAD) and is also a marker of poor short and long-term prognosis in subjects with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with subsequent drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. Chronic local vascular inflammation along with endothelial dysfunction is postulated to be the pathophysiological background of unfavorable results. The second generation of metallic magnesium BRS -Magmaris (Biotronik, Berlin, Germany) had been introduced to clinical practice to overcome these limitations.

METHODS

We evaluated 2-years clinical outcomes after Magmaris BRS implantation in NSTE-ACS diabetic (n-72) and non-diabetic (n-121) cohorts.

RESULTS

No significant differences between diabetic and non-diabetes cohorts were noticed in terms of Primary Outcome (cardiac death, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis) (8.1% vs 3.3% p = 0.182) and Principal secondary outcome - TLF- target lesion failure (9.5% vs 3.3% p = 0.106) at 2-years follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

2-years outcome suggests good safety and efficacy of the magnesium BRS (Magmaris) in NSTE- ACS and concomitant DM. Nevertheless, there is a strong need for large multicenter, randomized, prospective studies for a full assessment of this novel device in diabetic patients with ACS.

Comparison of Orbital Atherectomy and Rotational Atherectomy in Calcified Left Main Disease: Short-Term Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Coronary calcifications, particularly in left main disease (LMD), are independently associated with adverse outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Adequate lesion preparation is pivotal to achieve favorable short- and long-term outcomes. Rotational atherectomy devices have been used in contemporary practice to obtain adequate preparation of the calcified lesions. Recently, novel orbital atherectomy (OA) devices have been introduced to clinical practice to facilitate the preparation of the lesion. The objective of this study is to compare the short-term safety and efficacy of orbital and rotational atherectomy for LMD.

METHODS

we retrospectively evaluated a total of 55 consecutive patients who underwent the LM PCI supported by either OA or RA.

RESULTS

The OA group consisted of 25 patients with a median SYNTAX Score of 28 (26-36). The Rota group consisted of 30 patients with a median SYNTAX Score of 28 (26-33.1) There were no statistical differences in MACCE between the RA and OA subpopulations when recorded in-hospital (6.7% vs. 10.3% p = 0.619) as well as in a 1-month follow-up after the procedure (12% vs. 16.6% p = 0.261).

CONCLUSION

OA and RA seem to be similarly safe and effective strategies for preparating the lesion in the high-risk population with calcified LMD.

Stepwise relationship between delay in percutaneous coronary intervention and long-term mortality in patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

Current guidelines recommend coronary catheterization in patients with non-ST- -segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) within 24 hours of hospital admission. However, whether there is a stepwise relationship between the time to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and long-term mortality in patients with NSTEMI treated invasively within 24 hours of admission has not been established yet.

AIMS

The study aimed to evaluate the association between door-to-PCI time and all-cause mortality at 12 and 36 months in NSTEMI patients presenting directly to a PCI-capable center who underwent PCI within the first 24 hours of hospitalization.

METHODS

We analyzed data of patients hospitalized for NSTEMI between 2007-2019, included in the nationwide registry of acute coronary syndromes. Patients were stratified into twelve groups based on 2-hour intervals of door-to-PCI time. The mortality rates of patients within those groups were adjusted for 33 confounding variables by the propensity score weighting method using overlap weights.

RESULTS

A total of 37 589 patients were included in the study. The median age of included patients was 66.7 (interquartile range [IQR], 59.0-75.8) years; 66.7% were male, and the median GRACE (Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events) score was 115 (98-133). There were increased 12-month and 36-month mortality rates in consecutive groups of patients stratified by 2-hour door-to-PCI time intervals. After adjustment for patient characteristics, there was a significant positive correlation between the time to PCI and the mortality rates (rs = 0.61; P = 0.04 and rs = 0.65; P = 0.02 for 12-month and 36-month mortality, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The longer the door-to-PCI time, the higher were 12-month and 36-month all-cause mortality rates in NSTEMI patients.

Microcirculatory Disease in Patients after Heart Transplantation

Although the treatment and prognosis of patients after heart transplantation have significantly improved, late graft dysfunction remains a critical problem. Two main subtypes of late graft dysfunction are currently described: acute allograft rejection and cardiac allograft vasculopathy, and microvascular dysfunction appears to be the first stage of both. Studies revealed that coronary microcirculation dysfunction, assessed by invasive methods in the early post-transplant period, correlates with a higher risk of late graft dysfunction and death during long-term follow-up. The index of microcirculatory resistance, measured early after heart transplantation, might identify the patients at higher risk of acute cellular rejection and major adverse cardiovascular events. It may also allow optimization and enhancement of post-transplantation management. Moreover, cardiac allograft vasculopathy is an independent prognostic factor for transplant rejection and survival rate. The studies showed that the index of microcirculatory resistance correlates with anatomic changes and reflects the deteriorating physiology of the epicardial arteries. In conclusion, invasive assessment of the coronary microcirculation, including the measurement of the microcirculatory resistance index, is a promising approach to predict graft dysfunction, especially the acute allograft rejection subtype, during the first year after heart transplantation. However, further advanced studies are needed to fully grasp the importance of microcirculatory dysfunction in patients after heart transplantation.

Abandoned Intracardiac Electrodes in an Oncological Patient

Cardiological and oncological patients comprise the majority of patients admitted to the emergency unit with chronic or acute conditions that are the dominant cause of death worldwide. However, electrotherapy and implantable devices (pacemakers and cardioverters) improve the prognosis of cardiological patients. We present the case report of a patient who, in the past, had a pacemaker implanted due to symptomatic sick sinus syndrome (SSS) without removing the two remaining leads. Echocardiography revealed severe tricuspid valve regurgitation. The tricuspid valve septal cusp was in a restricting position due to the two ventricular leads passing through the valve. A few years later, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. We present a 65-year-old female admitted to the department due to right ventricular failure. The patient manifested symptoms of right heart failure, predominated by ascites and lower extremity edema, despite increasing doses of diuretics. The patient underwent a mastectomy two years ago due to breast cancer and was qualified for thorax radiotherapy. A new pacemaker system was implanted in the right subclavian area as the pacemaker generator occupied the radiotherapy field. In the case of right ventricular lead removal and the need for pacing and resynchronization therapy, guidelines allow a coronary sinus for LV pacing to avoid passing the leads through the tricuspid valve. We facilitated this approach in our patient, suggesting that the percentage of ventricular pacing was very low.

sST2 and Heart Failure-Clinical Utility and Prognosis

New parameters and markers are constantly being sought to help better assess patients with heart failure (HF). ST2 protein has gained interest as a potential biomarker in cardiovascular disease. It is known that the IL-33/ST2L system belongs to the cardioprotective pathway, which prevents the fibrosis, hypertrophy, and apoptosis of cardiomyocytes and also inhibits the inflammatory response. Soluble ST2 (sST2) is involved in the immune response and secreted in response to the mechanical overload of the myocardium, thus providing information on the processes of myocardial remodeling and fibrosis. A total of 110 hospitalized patients diagnosed with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) were included in the study. Clinical and biochemical parameters were studied. During the follow-up, 30.9% patients died and 57.3% patients reached the composite endpoint. Using ROC curves, the reference cut-off point for sST2 was determined to be 45.818 pg/mL for all-cause deaths. Significantly higher concentrations of inflammatory parameters and natriuretic peptides were found in the group of patients with higher sST2 concentrations. sST2 protein is an independent risk factor for all-cause deaths of patients with HFrEF.

Circulating miRNA-451a and miRNA-328-3p as Potential Markers of Coronary Artery Aneurysmal Disease

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are currently investigated as crucial regulatory factors which may serve as a potential therapeutic target. Reports on the role of miRNA in patients with coronary artery aneurysmal disease (CAAD) are limited. The present analysis aims to confirm the differences in the expression of previously preselected miRNAs in larger study groups and evaluate their usefulness as potential markers of CAAD. The study cohort included 35 consecutive patients with CAAD (Group 1), and two groups of 35 patients matched Group 1 regarding sex and age from the overall cohort of 250 patients (Group 2 and Group 3). Group 2 included patients with angiographically documented coronary artery disease (CAD), while Group 3 enrolled patients with normal coronary arteries (NCA) assessed during coronary angiography. We applied the RT-qPCR method using the custom plates for the RT-qPCR array. We confirmed that the level of five preselected circulating miRNAs was different in patients with CAAD compared to Group 2 and Group 3. We found that miR-451a and miR-328 significantly improved the CAAD prediction. In conclusion, miR-451a is a significant marker of CAAD compared to patients with CAD. In turn, miR-328-3p is a significant marker of CAAD compared to patients with NCA.

The influence of severe mitral regurgitation on major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events after myocardial infarction in 1-year follow-up: Data from PL-ACS registry

BACKGROUND

Mitral regurgitation (MR) is frequently observed in patients with myocardial infarction (MI). However, the incidence of severe MR in contemporary population is unknown.

AIMS

The study evaluates the prevalence and prognostic impact of severe MR in contemporary population of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI).

METHODS

The study group consists of 8062 patients enrolled in the Polish Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes over the years 2017‒2019. Only the patients with full echocardiography performed during the index hospitalization were eligible. Primary composite outcome was 12-month major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) (death, non-fatal MI, stroke and heart failure [HF] hospitalization) compared between patients with and without severe MR.

RESULTS

5561 NSTEMI patients and 2501 STEMI patients were enrolled into the study. Severe MR occurred in 66 (1.19%) NSTEMI patients and 30 (1.19%) STEMI patients. Multivariable regression models revealed that severe MR is an independent risk factor of all-cause death in 12-month observation (odds ratio [OR], 1.839; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.012‒3.343; P = 0.046) in all MI patients. Patients with NSTEMI and severe MR had higher mortality (22.7% vs. 7.1%), HF rehospitalization rate (39.4% vs. 12.9%) and MACCE occurrence (54.5% vs. 29.3%). Severe MR was associated with higher mortality (20% vs. 6%) and higher HF rehospitalization (30% vs. 9.8%), stroke (10% vs. 0.8%) and MACCE rates (50% vs. 23.1%) in STEMI patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Severe MR is associated with higher mortality and MACCE occurrence in patients with MI in 12-month follow-up. Severe MR is an independent risk factor of all-cause death.