Ten-year mortality after treating obstructive coronary atherosclerosis with contemporary stents in patients with or without concomitant peripheral arterial disease

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Previous studies in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) patients showed a higher 3-year adverse event risk, including all-cause mortality, in those with concomitant peripheral arterial disease (PADs). Ten-year data of mortality and causes of death are scarce. This analysis assessed PCI patients, treated with contemporary drug-eluting stents, the impact of concomitant PADs on very long-term mortality, and causes of death.

METHODS

We assessed PCI all-comers from our center who participated in the TWENTE and DUTCH PEERS trials (clinicaltrials.gov:NCT01066650, NCT01331707), comparing patients with versus without PADs. Life status was checked in the Dutch Personal Records Database; causes of death were obtained from medical records.

RESULTS

Of 2705 study patients, 668 (24.7%) died during follow-up: 88/212 (41.5%) patients with PADs and 580/2493 (23.1%) without PADs. In PADs patients, the 10-year rate of all-cause mortality was about twice as high as in patients without PADs (41.5% vs.23.1%, HR: 2.05, 95%-CI: 1.64-2.57, p<0.001). For both groups, the rates of patients dying from various causes of death were: cardiac (14.1% vs.6.8%), vascular (2.8% vs. 1.1%), non-cardiovascular (17.4% vs. 9.8%), and unclear causes (7.1% vs. 5.3%), without a statistically significant between-group difference. When multivariate analysis was adjusted for between-group differences in cardiovascular risk profile, PADs remained predictor of all-cause mortality (adjusted HR: 1.38, 95%-CI: 1.08-1.75, p=0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The 10-year all-cause mortality rate in PCI patients with concomitant PADs was almost twice as high as in those without PADs. Age and other traditional cardiovascular risk factors were higher in patients with PADs, but after correction for these confounders PADs still accounted for almost 40% increase in mortality.

Invasiveness of previous treatment for peripheral arterial disease and risk of adverse cardiac events after coronary stenting

Patients with peripheral arterial disease (PADs), undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), have higher adverse event risks. The effect of invasiveness of PADs treatment on PCI outcome is unknown. This study assessed the impact of the invasiveness of previous PADs treatment (invasive or non-invasive) on event risks after PCI with contemporary drug-eluting stents. This post-hoc analysis pooled 3-year patient-level data of PCI all-comer patients living in the eastern Netherlands, previously treated for PADs. PADs included symptomatic atherosclerotic lesion in the lower or upper extremities; carotid or vertebral arteries; mesenteric arteries or aorta. Invasive PADs treatment comprised endarterectomy, bypass surgery, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, stenting or amputation; non-invasive treatment consisted of medication and participation in exercise programs. Primary endpoint was (coronary) target vessel failure: composite of cardiac mortality, target vessel-related myocardial infarction, or clinically indicated target vessel revascularization. Of 461 PCI patients with PADs, information on PADs treatment was available in 357 (77.4%) patients; 249 (69.7%) were treated invasively and 108 (30.3%) non-invasively. Baseline and PCI procedural characteristics showed no between-group difference. Invasiveness of PADs treatment was not associated with adverse event risks, including target vessel failure (20.5% vs. 16.0%; HR: 1.30, 95%-CI 0.75-2.26, p = 0.35), major adverse cardiac events (23.3% vs. 20.4%; HR: 1.16, 95%-CI 0.71-1.90, p = 0.55), and all-cause mortality (12.1% vs. 8.3%; HR: 1.48, 95%-CI 0.70-3.13, p = 0.30). In PADs patients participating in PCI trials, we found no significant relation between the invasiveness of previous PADs treatment and 3-year outcome after PCI. Consequently, high-risk PCI patients can be identified by consulting medical records, searching for PADs, irrespective of the invasiveness of PADs treatment.

Outcome of percutaneous coronary intervention using ultrathin-strut biodegradable polymer sirolimus-eluting versus thin-strut durable polymer zotarolimus-eluting stents in patients with comorbid peripheral arterial disease: a post-hoc analysis from two randomized trials

Background

In patients with peripheral arterial disease (PADs), who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), little is known about the potential impact of using different new-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) on outcome. In PCI all-comers, the results of most between-stent comparisons-stratified by strut thickness-suggested some advantage of coronary stents with ultrathin-struts. The current post-hoc analysis aimed to assess outcomes of PCI with ultrathin-strut biodegradable polymer sirolimus-eluting stents (BP-SES) vs. thin-strut durable polymer zotarolimus-eluting stents (DP-ZES) in patients with PADs.

Methods

We pooled 3-year patient-level data from two large-scale randomized all-comer trials to compare Orsiro ultrathin-strut BP-SES vs. Resolute-type thin-strut DP-ZES in trial participants with concomitant PADs. BIO-RESORT (December 2012 to August 2015) and BIONYX (October 2015 to December 2016) included all-comer patients who were aged 18 years or older, capable of providing informed consent, and required a PCI. The trials had web-based randomization, with block sizes of 4 and 8, performed in a 1:1:1 or 1:1 fashion. Assessors, research staff, and patients were blinded to the type of stent used. We assessed the composite main clinical endpoint target vessel failure [TVF: cardiac death, target vessel related myocardial infarction (MI), or clinically indicated target vessel revascularization (TVR)], its components, and stent thrombosis.

Results

Of 4,830 trial participants, 360 had PADs: 177 (49.2%) were treated with BP-SES and 183 (50.8%) with DP-ZES. Baseline characteristics were similar. For BP-SES, the 3-year TVF rate was 11.0% and for DP-ZES 17.9% [hazard ratio (HR): 0.59, 95% CI: 0.33-1.04; P=0.07]. For BP-SES, the TVR rate was lower than for DP-ZES (4.1% vs. 11.0%; HR: 0.36, 95% CI: 0.15-0.86; P=0.016), but this did not translate into between-group differences in cardiac death or MI. In small vessels (<2.75 mm), the TVR rate was also lower in BP-SES (5.6% vs. 13.9%; HR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.11-0.91; P=0.024). Definite-or-probable stent thrombosis rates were 1.2% and 2.3% (P=0.43).

Conclusions

In PCI patients with PADs, the 3-year TVF incidence was numerically lower in the ultrathin-strut BP-SES vs. the thin-strut DP-ZES group. Furthermore, TVR risk was significantly lower in ultrathin-strut BP-SES, mainly driven by a lower TVR rate in small vessels.

Trial Registration

BIO-RESORT trial: clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01674803); BIONYX trial: clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02508714).

Final 5‐Year Report of the Randomized BIO‐RESORT Trial Comparing 3 Contemporary Drug‐Eluting Stents in All‐Comers

Background

In a previous trial, higher 5‐year mortality was observed following treatment with biodegradable polymer Orsiro sirolimus‐eluting stents (SES). We assessed 5‐year safety and efficacy of all‐comers as well as patients with diabetes treated with SES or Synergy everolimus‐eluting stents (EES) versus durable polymer Resolute Integrity zotarolimus‐eluting stents (ZES).

Methods and Results

The randomized BIO‐RESORT (Comparison of Biodegradable Polymer and Durable Polymer Drug‐Eluting Stents in an All Comers Population) trial enrolled 3514 all‐comer patients at 4 Dutch cardiac centers. Patients aged ≥18 years who required percutaneous coronary intervention were eligible. Participants were stratified for diabetes and randomized to treatment with SES, EES, or ZES (1:1:1). The main end point was target vessel failure (cardiac mortality, target vessel myocardial infarction, or target vessel revascularization). Five‐year follow‐up was available in 3183 of 3514 (90.6%) patients. The main end point target vessel failure occurred in 142 of 1169 (12.7%) patients treated with SES, 130 of 1172 (11.6%) treated with EES, versus 157 of 1173 (14.1%) treated with ZES (hazard ratio [HR], 0.89 [95% CI, 0.71–1.12], P log‐rank =0.31; and HR, 0.82 [95% CI, 0.65–1.04], P log‐rank =0.10, respectively). Individual components of target vessel failure showed no significant between‐stent difference. Very late definite stent thrombosis rates were low and similar (SES, 1.1%; EES, 0.6%; ZES, 0.9%). In patients with diabetes, target vessel failure did not differ significantly between stent‐groups (SES, 19.8%; EES, 19.2%; versus ZES, 21.1% [ P log‐rank =0.69 and P log‐rank =0.63]).

Conclusions

Orsiro SES, Synergy EES, and Resolute Integrity ZES showed similar 5‐year outcomes of safety and efficacy, including mortality. A prespecified stent comparison in patients with diabetes also revealed no significant differences in 5‐year clinical outcomes.

Registration

URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT01674803.

New-generation drug-eluting coronary stents in octogenarians: Patient-level pooled analysis from the TWENTE I-IV trials

BACKGROUND

Patients aged ≥80 years are often treated with new-generation drug-eluting stents (DES), but data from randomized studies are scarce owing to underrepresentation in most trials. We assessed 1-year clinical outcome of octogenarians treated with new-generation DES versus younger patients.

METHODS

We pooled patient-level data of 9,204 participants in the TWENTE, DUTCH PEERS, BIO-RESORT, and BIONYX (TWENTE I-IV) randomized trials. The main clinical end point was target vessel failure (TVF), a composite of cardiac death, target vessel-related myocardial infarction (MI), or clinically indicated target vessel revascularization.

RESULTS

The 671 octogenarian trial participants had significantly more comorbidities. TVF was higher in octogenarians than in 8,533 patients <80 years (7.3% vs 5.3%, hazard ratio [HR]: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.0-1.83, P = .04). The cardiac death rate was higher in octogenarians (3.9% vs 0.8%, P < .001). There was no significant between-group difference in target vessel MI (2.3% vs 2.3%, P = .88) and repeat target vessel revascularization (1.9% vs 2.8%, P = .16). In multivariate analyses, age ≥ 80 years showed no independent association with TVF (adjusted HR: 1.04, 95% CI: 0.76-1.42), whereas the risk of cardiac death remained higher in octogenarians (adjusted HR: 3.38, 95% CI: 2.07-5.52, P < .001). In 6,002 trial participants, in whom data on major bleeding were recorded, octogenarians (n = 459) showed a higher major bleeding risk (5.9% vs 1.9%; HR: 3.08, 95% CI: 2.01-4.74, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Octogenarian participants in 4 large-scale randomized DES trials had more comorbidities and a higher incidence of the main end point TVF. Cardiac mortality was higher in octogenarians, whereas there was no increase in MI or target vessel revascularization rates. Treatment of octogenarian patients with new-generation DES appears to be safe and effective.

Three contemporary thin-strut drug-eluting stents implanted in severely calcified coronary lesions of participants in a randomized all-comers trial

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to assess the 2-year clinical performance of three drug-eluting stents in all-comer patients with severely calcified coronary lesions.

BACKGROUND

Severe lesion calcification increases cardiovascular event risk after coronary stenting, but there is a lack of data on the clinical outcome of all-comers with severely calcified lesions who were treated with more recently introduced drug-eluting stents.

METHODS

The BIO-RESORT trial (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01674803) randomly assigned 3,514 all-comer patients to biodegradable polymer Synergy everolimus-eluting stents (EES) or Orsiro sirolimus-eluting stents (SES), versus durable polymer Resolute Integrity zotarolimus-eluting stents (ZES). In a post hoc analysis, we assessed 783 patients (22.3%) with at least one severely calcified target lesion.

RESULTS

At 2-year follow-up (available in 99% of patients), the main composite endpoint target vessel failure occurred in 19/252 (7.6%) of the EES and in 33/265 (12.6%) of the ZES-treated patients (p = .07). Target vessel failure occurred in 24/266 (9.1%) of the SES-treated patients (vs. ZES: p = .21). There was a difference in target vessel revascularization, which was required in EES in 6/252 (2.4%) patients and in ZES in 20/265 (7.7%) patients (p = .01); the target vessel revascularization rate in SES was 9/266 (3.4%, vs. ZES: p = .04). Multivariate analysis showed that implantation of EES, but not SES, was independently associated with lower target vessel revascularization rates than in ZES.

CONCLUSIONS

In BIO-RESORT participants with severely calcified target lesions, treatment with EES was associated with a lower 2-year target vessel revascularization rate than treatment with ZES.

Three-year clinical outcome in all-comers with "silent" diabetes, prediabetes, or normoglycemia, treated with contemporary coronary drug-eluting stents: From the BIO-RESORT Silent Diabetes study

Background

Patients with coronary disease may have unknown diabetes or prediabetes. We evaluated 3‐year outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with contemporary drug‐eluting stents (DES) in patients with silent diabetes, prediabetes, and normoglycemia.

Methods

All BIO‐RESORT trial (NCT01674803) participants without known diabetes, enrolled at our center, were invited for oral glucose tolerance testing (OGTT) and measurements of fasting plasma glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c).

Results

OGTT detected silent diabetes in 68 (6.9%), prediabetes in 132 (13.4%), and normoglycemia in 788 (79.8%) of all 988 study participants. Follow‐up was available in 986 (99.8%) patients. The main endpoint target vessel failure (TVF: cardiac death, target vessel‐related myocardial infarction [MI], or target vessel revascularization) differed between groups (14.8, 9.9, and 5.6%; p = .002), driven by MI during the first 48 hr and by cardiac death (p < .001; p = .026). Between 48 hr and 3‐years, there was no significant between‐group difference in TVF, target vessel MI, and target vessel revascularization. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that silent diabetes was independently associated with TVF (adjusted HR: 2.52, 95%‐CI: 1.26–5.03). An alternative diagnostic approach—HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose—detected silent diabetes and prediabetes in 33 (3.3%) and 217 (22.0%) patients, and normoglycemia in 738 (74.7%); TVF rates were 12.1, 7.9, and 6.0% (p = .23).

Conclusion

In patients without known diabetes, abnormal glucose metabolism by OGTT was independently associated with higher 3‐year TVF rates after PCI with contemporary DES. This difference was driven by periprocedural MI and cardiac death. After the first 48 hr, the rates of TVF, target vessel MI, and target vessel revascularization were low and did not differ significantly between metabolic groups.

Thin composite wire strut, durable polymer-coated (Resolute Onyx) versus ultrathin cobalt-chromium strut, bioresorbable polymer-coated (Orsiro) drug-eluting stents in allcomers with coronary artery disease (BIONYX): an international, single-blind, randomised non-inferiority trial

BACKGROUND

During the past decade, many patients had zotarolimus-eluting stents implanted, which had circular shape cobalt-chromium struts with limited radiographic visibility. The Resolute Onyx stent was developed to improve visibility while reducing strut thickness, which was achieved by using a novel composite wire with a dense platinum-iridium core and an outer cobalt-chromium layer. We did the first randomised clinical trial to assess the safety and efficacy of this often-used stent compared with the Orsiro stent, which consists of ultrathin cobalt-chromium struts.

METHODS

We did an investigator-initiated, assessor-blinded and patient-blinded, randomised non-inferiority trial in an allcomers population at seven independently monitored centres in Belgium, Israel, and the Netherlands. Eligible participants were aged 18 years or older and required percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents. After guide wire passage with or without predilation, members of the catheterisation laboratory team used web-based computer-generated allocation sequences to randomly assign patients (1:1) to either the Resolute Onyx or the Orsiro stent. Randomisation was stratified by sex and diabetes status. Patients and assessors were masked to allocated stents, but treating clinicians were not. The primary endpoint was target vessel failure at 1 year, a composite of cardiac death, target-vessel-related myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularisation, and was assessed by intention to treat (non-inferiority margin 2·5%) on the basis of outcomes adjudicated by an independent event committee. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02508714.

FINDINGS

Between Oct 7, 2015, and Dec 23, 2016, 2516 patients were enrolled, 2488 of whom were included in the intention-to-treat analysis (28 withdrawals or screening failures). 1243 participants were assigned to the Resolute Onyx group, and 1245 to the Orsiro group. Overall, 1765 (70·9%) participants presented with acute coronary syndromes and 1275 (51·2%) had myocardial infarctions. 1-year follow-up was available for 2478 (99·6%) patients. The primary endpoint was met by 55 (4·5%) patients in the Resolute Onyx group and 58 (4·7%) in the Orsiro group. Non-inferiority of Resolute Onyx to Orsiro was thus established (absolute risk difference -0·2% [95% CI -1·9 to 1·4]; upper limit of the one-sided 95% CI 1·1%; p_{non-inferiority}=0·0005). Definite or probable stent thrombosis occurred in one (0·1%) participant in the Resolute Onyx group and nine (0·7%) in the Orsiro group (hazard ratio 0·11 [95% CI 0·01-0·87]; p=0·0112).

INTERPRETATION

The Resolute Onyx stent was non-inferior to Orsiro for a combined safety and efficacy endpoint at 1-year follow-up in allcomers. The low event rate in both groups suggests that both stents are safe, and the very low rate of stent thrombosis in the Resolute Onyx group warrants further clinical investigation.

FUNDING

Biotronik and Medtronic.

Clopidogrel or ticagrelor in acute coronary syndrome patients treated with newer-generation drug-eluting stents: CHANGE DAPT

AIMS

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) guidelines have been changed, favouring more potent antiplatelet drugs. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a ticagrelor- instead of a clopidogrel-based primary dual antiplatelet (DAPT) regimen in ACS patients treated with newer-generation drug-eluting stents (DES).

METHODS AND RESULTS

CHANGE DAPT (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03197298) assessed 2,062 consecutive real-world ACS patients, treated by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), the primary composite endpoint being net adverse clinical and cerebral events (NACCE: all-cause death, any myocardial infarction, stroke or major bleeding). In the clopidogrel (CP; December 2012-April 2014) and ticagrelor periods (TP; May 2014-August 2015), 1,009 and 1,053 patients were treated, respectively. TP patients were somewhat older, underwent fewer transfemoral procedures, and received fewer glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors. In the TP, the one-year NACCE rate was higher (5.1% vs. 7.8%; HR 1.53 [95% CI: 1.08-2.17]; p=0.02). Assessment of non-inferiority (pre-specified margin: 2.7%) was inconclusive (risk difference: 2.64 [95% CI: 0.52-4.77]; pnon-inferiority=0.48). TP patients had more major bleeding (1.2% vs. 2.7%; p=0.02) while there was no benefit in ischaemic endpoints. Propensity score-adjusted multivariate analysis confirmed higher NACCE (adj. HR 1.75 [95% CI: 1.20-2.55]; p=0.003) and major bleeding risks during TP (adj. HR 2.75 [95% CI: 1.34-5.61]; p=0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

In this observational study, the guideline-recommended ticagrelor-based primary DAPT regimen was associated with an increased event risk in consecutive ACS patients treated with newer-generation DES.

Impact of collateralisation to a concomitant chronic total occlusion in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a subanalysis of the EXPLORE randomised controlled trial

Objective

The impact on cardiac function of collaterals towards a concomitant chronic total coronary occlusion (CTO) in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has not been investigated yet. Therefore, we have evaluated the impact of well-developed collaterals compared with poorly developed collaterals to a concomitant CTO in STEMI.

Methods and results

In the EXPLORE trial, patients with STEMI and a concomitant CTO were randomised to either CTO percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or no-CTO PCI. Collateral grades were scored angiographically using the Rentrop grade classification. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) at 4 months were measured using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Well-developed collaterals (Rentrop grades 2-3) to the CTO were present in 162 (54%) patients; these patients had a significantly higher LVEF at 4 months (46.2±11.4% vs 42.1±12.7%, p=0.004) as well as a trend for a lower LVEDV (208.2±55.7 mL vs 222.6±68.5 mL, p=0.054) when compared with patients with poorly developed collaterals to the CTO. There was no significant difference in the total amount of scar in the two groups. Event rates were statistically comparable between patients with well-developed collaterals and poorly developed collaterals to the CTO at long-term follow-up.

Conclusions

In patients with STEMI and a concomitant CTO, the presence of well-developed collaterals to a concomitant CTO is associated with a better LVEF at 4 months. However, this effect on LVEF did not translate into improvement in clinical outcome. Therefore, the presence of well-developed collaterals is important, but should not solely guide in the clinical decision-making process regarding any additional revascularisation of a concomitant CTO in patients with STEMI.

Clinical trial registration

NTR1108.

Long-Term Outcome of Consecutive Patients With Previous Coronary Bypass Surgery, Treated With Newer-Generation Drug-Eluting Stents

Background

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with previous coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is associated with adverse clinical events. Although newer generation drug‐eluting stents showed favorable short‐term safety profiles, there is a lack of long‐term outcome data. We evaluated the impact of previous CABG on 5‐year clinical outcomes of patients treated with PCI using newer‐generation drug‐eluting stents.

Methods and Results

In this patient‐level pooled analysis of the prospective TWENTE (The Real‐World Endeavor Resolute versus Xience V Drug‐Eluting Stent Study in Twente) trial and nonenrolled TWENTE registry, we assessed a consecutive series of patients who underwent PCI with newer‐generation drug‐eluting stents for non–ST‐segment–elevation acute coronary syndromes or stable angina. Of all 1709 patients, 202 (11.8%) had a history of CABG. Patients with previous CABG had significantly higher 5‐year rates of cardiac death (10.4% versus 4.3%; P<0.001) and target vessel revascularization (25.0% versus 8.1%; P<0.001). These differences remained statistically significant after adjustment for differences in baseline characteristics. Landmark analysis revealed that from 1‐ to 5‐year follow‐up, the rates of cardiac death (8.1% versus 3.2%; P<0.001) and target vessel revascularization (17.1% versus 5.9%; P<0.001) were significantly higher in patients with previous CABG. Among patients with a history of CABG, PCI of an obstructed vein graft was associated with a higher rate of 5‐year target vessel revascularization (P=0.003).

Conclusions

At 5‐year follow‐up after PCI with newer‐generation drug‐eluting stents, the risk of cardiac death and target vessel revascularization was significantly higher in patients with previous CABG. The target vessel revascularization rate was highest in patients who underwent PCI of obstructed vein grafts.

Value of the SYNTAX score for periprocedural myocardial infarction according to WHO and the third universal definition of myocardial infarction: insights from the TWENTE trial

AIMS

The SYNTAX score is a tool to quantify the complexity of coronary artery disease. We investigated the relation between the SYNTAX score and the occurrence of a periprocedural myocardial infarction (PMI) according to the historical definition of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the recently updated universal definition of MI.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The SYNTAX score was calculated in 1,243 patients enrolled in TWENTE, a randomised trial which assessed second-generation drug-eluting stents. PMI was defined by the WHO definition and the third universal definition of MI. Patients were divided into tertiles of the SYNTAX score: ≤7 (n=430); >7 and <15 (n=390); ≥15 (n=423). PMI according to the WHO definition occurred more frequently in patients in the highest SYNTAX score tertile (7.3% vs. 3.1% vs. 1.6%, p<0.001) compared to the mid and lowest tertile. Similar findings were seen for universal PMI (9.9% vs. 7.7% vs. 3.7%, p<0.01). After multivariate analysis, SYNTAX score was a significant independent correlate of PMI for both definitions: the highest SYNTAX score tertile had an almost five times higher risk for WHO PMI, and a three times higher risk for universal PMI.

CONCLUSIONS

In a broad patient population treated with second-generation DES, the SYNTAX score was able to stratify the risk of PMI.

Three-Year Clinical Outcome of Patients with Coronary Disease and Increased Event Risk Treated with Newer-Generation Drug-Eluting Stents: From the Randomized DUTCH PEERS Trial

OBJECTIVE

Limited data is available on the long-term outcome of patients with increased cardiovascular event risk, treated with newer-generation durable polymer drug-eluting stents (DES).

METHODS

We therefore assessed 3-year follow-up data of high-risk versus low- to intermediate-risk patients of the randomized DUTCH PEERS trial (NCT01331707). In both risk groups we also compared patients treated with Resolute Integrity versus Promus Element DES. Patients were categorized as "high-risk" if they met ≥1 of the following criteria: (1) diabetes (17.9%); (2) previous myocardial infarction (21.9%); (3) previous coronary revascularization (25.8%); (4) chronic renal failure (3.5%); (5) left ventricular ejection fraction ≤30% (1.5%); and (6) age ≥75 years (17.3%).

RESULTS

At the 3-year follow-up, the incidence of the composite endpoint target vessel failure (TVF) (13.2 vs. 7.5%; logrank p < 0.001) and 2 of its components - cardiac death (4.7 vs. 1.5%; logrank p < 0.001) and target vessel revascularization (7.3 vs. 4.7%; logrank p = 0.03) - was higher in high-risk (n = 957) versus low- to intermediate-risk patients (n = 854). Among high-risk patients, treatment with Resolute Integrity (n = 481) and Promus Element stents (n = 476) was similarly safe and efficacious (TVF: 13.3 vs. 13.1%; logrank p = 0.95; definite-or-probable stent thrombosis: 1.7 vs. 1.7%; logrank p = 1.00).

CONCLUSIONS

The newer-generation Resolute Integrity and Promus Element stents showed similar results in terms of safety and efficacy for treating high-risk patients, who had significantly higher event rates than patients with low-to-intermediate risk.

Long-term outcome and chest pain in patients with true versus non-true bifurcation lesions treated with second-generation drug-eluting stents in the TWENTE trial

The objective of this study is to assess 3-year clinical outcome of patients with true bifurcation lesions (TBLs) versus non-true bifurcation lesions (non-TBLs) following treatment with second-generation drug-eluting stents (DES). TBLs are characterized by the obstruction of both main vessel and side-branch. Limited data are available on long-term clinical outcome following TBL treatment with newer-generation DES. We performed an explorative sub-study of the randomized TWENTE trial among 287 patients who had bifurcated target lesions with side-branches ≥2.0 mm. Patients were categorized into TBL (Medina classes: 1.1.1; 1.0.1; 0.1.1) versus non-TBL to compare long-term clinical outcome. A total of 116 (40.4 %) patients had TBL, while 171 (59.6 %) had non-TBL only. Target-lesion revascularization rates were similar (3.5 vs. 3.5 %; p = 1.0), and definite-or-probable stent thrombosis rates were low (both <1.0 %). The target-vessel myocardial infarction (MI) rate was 11.3 versus 5.3 % (p = 0.06), mostly driven by (periprocedural) MI ≤48 h from PCI. All-cause mortality and cardiac death rates were 8.7 versus 3.5 % (p = 0.06) and 3.5 versus 1.2 % (p = 0.22), respectively. The 3-year major adverse cardiac event rate for patients with TBL versus non-TBL was 20.0 versus 11.7 % (p = 0.05). At 1-, 2-, and 3-year follow-up, 6.5, 13.0, and 11.0 % of patients reported chest pain at less than or equal moderate physical effort, respectively, without any between-group difference. Patients treated with second-generation DES for TBL had somewhat higher adverse event rates than patients with non-TBL, but dissimilarities did not reach statistical significance. Up to 3-year follow-up, the vast majority of patients of both groups remained free from chest pain.

Outcome After Myocardial Infarction Treated With Resolute Integrity and Promus Element Stents: Insights From the DUTCH PEERS (TWENTE II) Randomized Trial

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

In acute myocardial infarction (MI), novel highly deliverable drug-eluting stents (DES) may be particularly valuable as their flexible stent designs might reduce device-induced traumas to culprit lesions. The aim of the study was to assess the safety and efficacy of percutaneous coronary interventions with 2 novel durable polymer-coated DES in patients with acute MI.

METHODS

The prospective, randomized DUTCH PEERS (TWENTE II) multicenter trial compares Resolute Integrity and Promus Element stents in 1811 all-comer patients, of whom 817 (45.1%) were treated for ST-segment elevation MI or non-ST-segment elevation MI and the 2-year outcome is available in 99.9%. The primary clinical endpoint is target vessel failure (TVF), a composite of cardiac death, target vessel related MI, or target vessel revascularization.

RESULTS

Of all 817 patients treated for acute MI, 421 (51.5%) were treated with Resolute Integrity and 396 (48.5%) with Promus Element stents. At the 2-year follow-up, the rates of TVF (7.4% vs 6.1%; P = .45), target lesion revascularization (3.1% vs 2.8%; P = .79), and definite stent thrombosis (1.0% vs 0.5%; P = .69) were low for both stent groups. Consistent with these findings in all patients with acute MI, outcomes for the 2 DES were favorable and similar in both, with 370 patients with ST-segment elevation MI (TVF, 5.1% vs 4.9%; P = .81) and 447 patients with non-ST-segment elevation MI (TVF, 9.0% vs 7.5%; P = .56).

CONCLUSIONS

Resolute Integrity and Promus Element stents were both safe and efficacious in treating patients with acute MI. The present 2-year follow-up data underline the safety of using these devices in this particular clinical setting.

Impact of severe lesion calcification on clinical outcome of patients with stable angina, treated with newer generation permanent polymer-coated drug-eluting stents: A patient-level pooled analysis from TWENTE and DUTCH PEERS (TWENTE II)

BACKGROUND

The outcome of percutaneous coronary intervention with newer generation permanent polymer-coated drug-eluting stents (DES) in patients with severely calcified lesions is greatly unknown. We assessed the impact of severe lesion calcification on clinical outcome in patients with stable angina who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention with newer generation DES.

METHODS

TWENTE and DUTCH PEERS randomized trials enrolled 1423 patients with stable angina, who were categorized into patients with versus without severe target lesion calcification. A patient-level pooled analysis assessed clinical outcome, including target vessel failure (TVF), a composite of cardiac death, target vessel-related myocardial infarction, or target vessel revascularization (TVR).

RESULTS

Patients with severe calcification (n = 342) were older (66.6 ± 9.1 vs 64.2 ± 9.8 years, P < .001) and had more diabetes (25.7% vs 20.4%, P = .04) than other patients (n = 1081). Patients with calcified lesions had higher rates of TVF (16.4% vs 9.8%, pLogrank = .001), cardiac death (4.4% vs 1.5%, P = .03), target vessel myocardial infarction (7.6% vs 3.4%, P = .001), and definite stent thrombosis (1.8% vs 0.4%, P = .02). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that severe calcification was an independent risk factor of 2-year TVF (HR 1.42, 95% CI: 1.02-1.99, pLogrank = .04); landmark analysis showed that this was based on a difference during the first year (periprocedural: 5.8% vs. 3.1%, pLogrank = .02; first year: 7.5% vs. 3.8%, pLogrank = .007; second year: 4.1% vs. 3.3%, pLogrank = .54).

CONCLUSION

In patients with stable angina, severe target lesion calcification is associated with an increased risk of adverse cardiovascular events following treatment with newer generation permanent polymer-coated DES. This increase in risk is restricted to the first year of follow-up, which is an encouraging finding.

Coronary artery dominance and the risk of adverse clinical events following percutaneous coronary intervention: insights from the prospective, randomised TWENTE trial

AIMS

To investigate the prognostic value of coronary dominance for various adverse clinical events following the implantation of drug-eluting stents.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We assessed two-year follow-up data of 1,387 patients from the randomised TWENTE trial. Based on the origin of the posterior descending coronary artery, coronary circulation was categorised into left and non-left dominance (i.e., right and balanced). Target vessel-related myocardial infarction (MI) was defined according to the updated Academic Research Consortium (ARC) definition (2x upper reference limit of creatine kinase [CK], confirmed by CK-MB elevation), and periprocedural MI (PMI) as MI ≤48 hours following PCI. One hundred and thirty-six patients (9.8%) had left and 1,251 (90.2%) non-left dominance. Target lesions were more frequently located in dominant arteries (p<0.005). Left dominance was associated with more severe calcifications (p=0.006) and more bifurcation lesions (p=0.031). Non-left dominance tended to be less frequent in men (p=0.09). Left coronary dominance was associated with more target vessel-related MI (14 [10.3%] vs. 62 [5.0%], p=0.009). Left dominance independently predicted PMI (adjusted HR 2.19, 95% CI: 1.15-4.15, p=0.017), while no difference in other clinical endpoints was observed between dominance groups.

CONCLUSIONS

In the population of the TWENTE trial, we observed a higher incidence of periprocedural myocardial infarction in patients who had left coronary dominance.

Three-year clinical outcome of patients with bifurcation treatment with second-generation Resolute and Xience V stents in the randomized TWENTE trial

BACKGROUND

Only limited data from large randomized clinical trials have been published on the long-term performance of second-generation drug-eluting stents in bifurcation lesions.

METHODS

We investigated in patients in the randomized TWENTE trial the long-term safety and efficacy of treating bifurcation lesions with 2 widely applied second-generation drug-eluting stents, the zotarolimus-eluting Resolute stent (Medtronic Inc, Santa Rosa, CA) and the everolimus-eluting Xience V stent (Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, CA). Three-year follow-up was available in 99.3%. Patients were categorized into treatment for ≥1 bifurcation lesion versus treatment for nonbifurcation lesions only.

RESULTS

Among the 1,391 patients of the TWENTE trial, 362 (26%) were treated for bifurcation lesions. At 3-year follow-up, target-vessel failure did not differ between patients treated for bifurcation versus nonbifurcation lesions (13.1% vs 12.6%; P = .84), whereas the periprocedural myocardial infarction rate was higher in patients with bifurcation lesions (6.9% vs 3.1%; P < .01). Of the 362 patients with bifurcation lesion treatment, 179 (49.4%) were treated with Resolute and 183 (50.6%) with Xience V. There was no significant difference in target-vessel failure between the Resolute and Xience V groups with bifurcation treatment (13.6% vs 12.6%; P = .78), and their incidence of definite-or-probable stent thrombosis was low and similar (1.1% vs 0.5%, respectively; P = .62).

CONCLUSION

Despite a significant difference in periprocedural myocardial infarction, 3-year clinical outcome after implantation of second-generation stents was favorable and similar for patients with and without bifurcation lesions. In addition, we observed no difference in long-term clinical outcome after bifurcation lesion treatment with Resolute and Xience V stents.

Impact of previous coronary artery bypass surgery on clinical outcome after percutaneous interventions with second generation drug-eluting stents in TWENTE trial and non-enrolled TWENTE registry

BACKGROUND

Patients with previous coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have an increased repeat revascularization rate, but data on contemporary second-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) are scarce.

METHODS

We evaluated 1-year clinical outcome following secondary revascularization by PCI in patients of the TWENTE trial and non-enrolled TWENTE registry, and compared patients with previous CABG versus patients without previous CABG.

RESULTS

Of all 1709 consecutive patients, 202 (11.8%) had previously undergone CABG (on average 11.2±8.5 years ago). CABG patients were older (68.5±9.4 years vs. 64.1±10.7 years, P<0.001) and more often had diabetes (28.7% vs. 20.9%, P=0.01) and previous PCI (40.1% vs. 19.8%, P<0.001) compared to patients without previous CABG. Nevertheless, a higher target vessel revascularization (TVR) rate following PCI in the CABG patients (9.4% vs. 2.3%, P<0.001) was the only significant difference in clinical outcome at 1-year follow-up (available for 99.6%). Among CABG patients, the TVR rate was significantly higher in patients treated for graft lesions (n=65; 95.4% in vein grafts) than in patients treated for native coronary lesions only (n=137) (18.5% vs. 5.1%, P=0.002). Among 1638 patients with PCI of native coronary lesions only, there was only a non-significant difference in TVR between patients with previous CABG versus patients without previous CABG (5.1% vs. 2.3%, P=0.08).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with previous CABG showed a favorable safety profile after PCI with second-generation DES. Nevertheless, their TVR rate was still much higher, driven by more repeat revascularizations after PCI of degenerated vein grafts. In native coronary lesions, there was no such difference.

Unilateral and multilateral congenital coronary-pulmonary fistulas in adults: clinical presentation, diagnostic modalities, and management with a brief review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Congenital coronary-pulmonary fistulas (CPFs) are commonly unilateral, but bilateral and multilateral fistulas may occur. In multilateral CPFs, the value of a multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) imaging technique as an adjuvant to coronary angiography (CAG) is eminent. The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical presentation, diagnostic modalities, and management of coincidentally detected congenital CPFs.

HYPOTHESIS

Unilateral and multilateral coronary-pulmonary fistulas are increasingly detected due to the wide speard application of multidetector computed tomography which might be a supplementary or replacing to conventional coronary angiography.

METHODS

We evaluated 14 adult patients with congenital coronary artery fistulas (CAFs) who were identified from several Dutch cardiology departments.

RESULTS

Fourteen adult patients (5 female and 9 male), with a mean age of 57.5 years (range, 24-80 years) had the following abnormal findings: audible systolic cardiac murmur (n = 4), chronic atrial fibrillation (n = 2), nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (n = 1), and cardiomegaly on chest x-ray (n = 2). Echocardiography revealed normal findings with trivial valvular abnormalities (n = 9), depressed left ventricle systolic function (n = 3), and severe mitral regurgitation and atrial dilatation (n = 2). The findings in the rest of the patients were unremarkable. CAG and MDCT were used as a diagnostic imaging techniques either alone (CAG, n = 6; MDCT, n = 1) or in combination (n = 7). Single modality and multimodality diagnostic methods revealed 22 fistulas including CPFs (n = 15), coronary cameral fistulas terminating into the right (n = 2) and the left atrium (n = 1), and systemic-pulmonary fistulas (n = 4). Of all of the fistulas, 10 were unilateral, 6 were bilateral, and 6 was hexalateral. (13) N-ammonia positron emission tomography-computed tomography was performed in 3 patients revealing decreased myocardial perfusion reserve.

CONCLUSIONS

CAG remains the gold standard for detection of CPFs. An adjuvant technique using MDCT provides full anatomical details of the fistulas.

Comparison of 3 biodegradable polymer and durable polymer-based drug-eluting stents in all-comers (BIO-RESORT): rationale and study design of the randomized TWENTE III multicenter trial

AIM

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of 2 novel drug-eluting stents (DES) with biodegradable polymer-based coatings versus a durable coating DES.

METHODS AND RESULTS

BIO-RESORT is an investigator-initiated, prospective, patient-blinded, randomized multicenter trial in 3540 Dutch all-comers with various clinical syndromes, requiring percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) with DES implantation. Randomization (stratified for diabetes mellitus) is being performed in a 1:1:1 ratio between ORSIRO sirolimus-eluting stent with circumferential biodegradable coating, SYNERGY everolimus-eluting stent with abluminal biodegradable coating, and RESOLUTE INTEGRITY zotarolimus-eluting stent with durable coating. The primary endpoint is the incidence of the composite endpoint target vessel failure at 1 year, consisting of cardiac death, target vessel-related myocardial infarction, or clinically driven target vessel revascularization. Power calculation assumes a target vessel failure rate of 8.5% with a 3.5% non-inferiority margin, giving the study a power of 85% (α level .025 adjusted for multiple testing). The impact of diabetes mellitus on post-PCI outcome will be evaluated. The first patient was enrolled on December 21, 2012.

CONCLUSIONS

BIO-RESORT is a large, prospective, randomized, multicenter trial with three arms, comparing two DES with biodegradable coatings versus a reference DES with a durable coating in 3540 all-comers. The trial will provide novel insights into the clinical outcome of modern DES and will address the impact of known and so far undetected diabetes mellitus on post-PCI outcome.

Clinical outcome following stringent discontinuation of dual antiplatelet therapy after 12 months in real-world patients treated with second-generation zotarolimus-eluting resolute and everolimus-eluting Xience V stents: 2-year follow-up of the randomized TWENTE trial

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of the implantation of Resolute zotarolimus-eluting stents (ZES) (Medtronic Inc., Santa Rosa, California) and Xience V everolimus-eluting stents (EES) (Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, California) following strict discontinuation of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after 12 months.

BACKGROUND

Only limited long-term follow-up data are available from head-to-head comparisons of second-generation drug-eluting stents.

METHODS

The randomized TWENTE (The Real-World Endeavor Resolute Versus Xience V Drug-Eluting Stent Study in Twente) trial is an investigator-initiated study performed in a population with many complex patients and lesions and only limited exclusion criteria. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to ZES (n = 697) or EES (n = 694).

RESULTS

Two-year follow-up information was available on all patients. The rate of continuation of DAPT beyond 12 months was very low (5.4%). The primary endpoint of target vessel failure, a composite of cardiac death, target vessel-related myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization, did not differ between ZES and EES (10.8% vs. 11.6, p = 0.65), despite fewer target lesion revascularizations in patients with EES (2.6% vs. 4.9%, p = 0.03). The patient-oriented composite endpoint was similar (16.4% vs. 17.1%, p = 0.75). Two-year rates of definite or probable stent thrombosis were 1.2% and 1.4%, respectively (p = 0.63). Very late definite or probable stent thrombosis occurred only in 2 patients in each study arm (0.3% vs. 0.3%, p = 1.00).

CONCLUSIONS

After 2 years of follow-up and stringent discontinuation of DAPT beyond 12 months, Resolute ZES and Xience V EES showed similar results in terms of safety and efficacy for treating patients with a majority of complex lesions and off-label indications for drug-eluting stents. (The Real-World Endeavor Resolute Versus Xience V Drug-Eluting Stent Study in Twente [TWENTE]; NCT01066650).

Usefulness and safety of the GuideLiner catheter to enhance intubation and support of guide catheters: insights from the Twente GuideLiner registry

AIMS

Optimal ostial seating and adequate back-up of guide catheters are required for challenging percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). The GuideLiner™ (GL) (Vascular Solutions Inc., Minneapolis, MN, USA) is a guide catheter extension system that provides active back-up support by deep coronary intubation. We aimed to assess feasibility and safety of GL-use in routine clinical practice.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We prospectively recorded patient and procedural details, technical success, and in-hospital outcome of 65 consecutive patients undergoing "5-in-6" Fr GL-facilitated PCI of 70 target vessels. The GL was mainly used for PCI of complex coronary lesions: 97% (68/70) had American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology (AHA/ACC) lesion types B2/C; 53% (37/70) were distally located; and 23% (17/70) were heavily calcified. Indications were to increase back-up of the guide and facilitate stent delivery (59%; 41/70), achievement of coaxial alignment of the guide catheter (29%; 20/70), and selective contrast injections (13%; 9/70). Device success rate was 93% (65/70). There were no major complications and two minor complications managed without clinical sequelae: one air embolism and one stent dislodgement.

CONCLUSIONS

GL-use resulted in increased back-up and guide catheter alignment for stent delivery in unfavourable tortuous coronary anatomies and complex, heavily calcified, and often distally located lesions, which otherwise may have been considered unsuitable for PCI. Procedural success rate was high and there were no major complications.

A randomized controlled trial in second-generation zotarolimus-eluting Resolute stents versus everolimus-eluting Xience V stents in real-world patients: the TWENTE trial

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to compare the safety and efficacy of Resolute zotarolimus-eluting stents (ZES) (Medtronic Cardiovascular, Santa Rosa, California) with Xience V everolimus-eluting stents (EES) (Abbott Vascular Devices, Santa Clara, California) at 1-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND

Only 1 randomized trial previously compared these stents.

METHODS

This investigator-initiated, patient-blinded, randomized noninferiority study had limited exclusion criteria (acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions not eligible). Patients (n = 1,391; 81.4% of eligible population) were randomly assigned to ZES (n = 697) or EES (n = 694). Liberal use of stent post-dilation was encouraged. Cardiac biomarkers were systematically assessed. The primary endpoint was target vessel failure (TVF), a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction not clearly attributable to non-target vessels, and clinically indicated target-vessel revascularization. An external independent research organization performed clinical event adjudication (100% follow-up data available). Analysis was by intention-to-treat.

RESULTS

Acute coronary syndromes were present in 52% and "off-label" feature in 77% of patients. Of the lesions, 70% were type B2/C; the post-dilation rate was very high (82%). In ZES and EES, TVF occurred in 8.2% and 8.1%, respectively (absolute risk-difference 0.1%; 95% confidence interval: -2.8% to 3.0%, p(noninferiority) = 0.001). There was no significant between-group difference in TVF components. The definite-or-probable stent thrombosis rates were relatively low and similar for ZES and EES (0.9% and 1.2%, respectively, p = 0.59). Definite stent thrombosis rates were also low (0.58% and 0%, respectively, p = 0.12). In EES, probable stent thrombosis beyond day 8 was observed only in patients not adhering to dual antiplatelet therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Resolute ZES were noninferior to Xience V EES in treating "real-world" patients with a vast majority of complex lesions and "off-label" indications for drug-eluting stents, which were implanted with liberal use of post-dilation. (The Real-World Endeavor Resolute Versus XIENCE V Drug-Eluting SteNt Study: Head-to-head Comparison of Clinical Outcome After Implantation of Second Generation Drug-eluting Stents in a Real World Scenario; NCT01066650).

The effect of pre-hospital glycoprotein IIb-IIIa inhibitors on angiographic outcome in STEMI patients who are candidates for primary PCI

OBJECTIVES

Aim of this study was to assess the effect of early initiation of high bolus dose tirofiban on top of dual antiplatelet therapy on angiographic outcome before and after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in ST-elevation myocardial infraction patients.

BACKGROUND

Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors are effective inhibitors of platelet aggregation, and have shown to reduce thrombotic complications in patients undergoing PCI.

METHODS

This is a pre-specified angiographic analysis of the On-TIME 2 trial (N = 984) and its open label run-in phase (N = 414). All angiographic parameters, including quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) were performed in an independent angiographic core lab.

RESULTS

Of the 1,398 patients, 709 patients (50.7%) were randomized to pre-hospital tirofiban. An open infarct related vessel (TIMI 2 or 3 flow) at initial angiography was more often present in the tirofiban group as compared to the no tirofiban group (58.3% vs. 49.7%, P = 0.002). Tirofiban also reduced initial thrombus burden (P for trend = 0.035) as well as thrombus grade 5 (46.9% vs. 54.3%, P = 0.016) and showed a trend toward a reduction in large thrombus burden (LTB) (69.4% vs. 74.5%, P = 0.055). After PCI, a trend towards a lower corrected TIMI frame count (cTFC) in the tirofiban group was found. A significant interaction was found with time of initiation of study drug, with highest efficacy of tirofiban when given within 76 min after symptom onset, with a significantly lower cTFC after PCI (21.9 ± 17.6 vs. 23.9 ± 18.5, P = 0.008, P for interaction P = 0.006).

CONCLUSION

In patients undergoing primary PCI, pre-hospital administration of tirofiban reduces initial thrombus burden and improves initial patency of the infarct related vessel before PCI. Initiation of tirofiban seems to be most effective when given very early after the onset of symptoms; however, this finding needs confirmation in other studies.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

The On-TIME 2 trial is registered, at http://isrctn.org, number ISRCTN06195297.

Micro-computed tomographic assessment following extremely oversized partial postdilatation of drug-eluting stents

AIMS

To assess the spatial geometry of drug-eluting stents (DES) following extremely oversized proximal postdilatation. Interventions of distal left main (LM) disease generally require stenting across the LM bifurcation with inherent vessel tapering along this segment and a high likelihood of stent malapposition, which can be avoided by such postdilations.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Sixteen DES (four 3.5 mm-samples of Cypher Select Plus, Taxus Liberté, Endeavor Resolute, Xience V) were deployed in water; 12 samples were then proximally postdilated with noncompliant 5.0 mm balloons at 18 atm. All samples were examined by micro-computed tomography. Taxus Liberté, Endeavor Resolute, and Xience V, showed increased cell areas in the transitional region (just distal to postdilated region), while Cypher Select showed its largest cells inside the postdilated region. Overall, the largest maximum cell area was observed in Endeavor Resolute, while Cypher Select showed the smallest (p<0.001, for both). In addition, the size of the very proximal postdilated cells was relatively small in most DES except Xience V.

CONCLUSIONS

Extremely oversized partial stent postdilatation demonstrated significant between-DES differences in final spatial stent configuration and maximum cell size. These data could be of practical interest with regard to coronary interventions in LM stems with stenting across the LM bifurcation.

Relationship between cardiovascular risk as predicted by established risk scores versus plaque progression as measured by serial intravascular ultrasound in left main coronary arteries

BACKGROUND

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is increasingly used as an end point in studies aimed at reducing progression or inducing regression of coronary artery disease. However, data linking serial changes by IVUS with clinical outcomes are scarce.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In the absence of a validated risk score for secondary prevention, we compared 3 established risk scores for primary prevention--PROCAM, SCORE, and Framingham--with plaque progression and lumen reduction as assessed with serial IVUS (follow-up, 18+/-9 months) in atherosclerotic left main coronary arteries of 56 patients with established atherosclerosis. For all 3 algorithms, patients at highest estimated risk of events showed greater plaque progression than patients at lowest risk (P<0.05 to <0.01). There were positive linear relationships between the risk of clinical events and plaque progression (r=0.41 to 0.60; P<0.002 to <0.0001). This translated into a greater decrease in lumen dimensions with increasing risk (P<0.05, PROCAM and SCORE). Risk prediction using the PROCAM algorithm showed the strongest relation with serial IVUS. During follow-up, 18 patients suffered from adverse cardiovascular events; these patients had an annual plaque progression that was significantly greater than other patients (25.2+/-19.4% versus 5.9+/-15.6%, P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

There was a positive linear relationship between the estimated risk of clinical events derived from all 3 established risk-score algorithms and the extent of plaque progression measured by serial IVUS. This translated into stenosis progression (reduction in lumen dimensions) with increasing clinical risk.