Abstract Subclinical leaflet thrombosis was recently described in a randomized trial of transcatheter aortic valve replacement. It was subsequently demonstrated in a series of registries that this ...was a commonly observed imaging finding seen in all transcatheter and surgical bioprostheses. The phenomenon has aroused considerable interest due to the as-yet-undefined risk for later clinical events and the possibility of pharmacological intervention with anticoagulation. Subclinical leaflet thrombosis is easily detected noninvasively by technically suitable computed tomography (CT) with a high degree of concordance to transesophageal echocardiography findings. The CT hallmarks were noted to be hypoattenuated leaflet thickening (HALT) associated with reduced leaflet motion (RELM). The combination of HALT and RELM signified hypoattenuation affecting motion, the standardized imaging endpoint used. This paper describes the systematic CT evaluation methodology that was devised during the Portico trial investigation and U.S. Food and Drug Administration submission; it also highlights the need for an ongoing discussion among experts to enable, with the help of the Valve Academic Research Consortium, standardization of reporting of this imaging finding to cater to the present and future needs of clinical trials.
Abstract Objectives This study sought to develop a robust and definitive risk model for new permanent pacemaker implantation (PPMI) after SAPIEN 3 (third generation balloon expandable valve) (Edwards ...Lifesciences, Irvine, California) transcatheter aortic valve replacement (third generation balloon expandable valve TAVR), including calcification in the aortic-valvular complex (AVC). Background The association between calcium in the AVC and need for PPMI is poorly delineated after third generation balloon expandable valve TAVR. Methods At Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute in Los Angeles, California, a total of 240 patients with severe aortic stenosis underwent third generation balloon expandable valve TAVR and had contrast computed tomography. AVC was characterized precisely by leaflet sector and region. Results The total new PPMI rate was 14.6%. On multivariate analysis for predictors of PPMI, pre-procedure third generation balloon expandable valve TAVR, right bundle branch block (RBBB), shorter membranous septum (MS) length, and noncoronary cusp device-landing zone calcium volume (NCC-DLZ CA) were included. Predictive probabilities were generated using this logistic regression model. If 3 pre-procedural risk factors were present, the c-statistic of the model for PPMI was area under the curve of 0.88, sensitivity of 77.1%, and specificity of 87.1%; this risk model had high negative predictive value (95.7%). The addition of the procedural factor of device depth to the model, with the parameter of difference between implantation depth and MS length, combined with RBBB and NCC-DLZ CA increased the c-statistic to 0.92, sensitivity to 94.3%, specificity to 83.8%, and negative predictive value to 98.8% Conclusions By using a precise characterization of distribution of calcification in the AVC in a single-center, retrospective study, NCC-DLZ CA was found to be an independent predictor of new PPMI post–third generation balloon expandable valve TAVR. The findings also reinforce the importance of short MS length, pre-existing RBBB, and ventricular implantation depth as important synergistic PPMI risk factors. This risk model will need validation by future prospective multicenter studies.
Background:The impact of antiplatelet drug effects on mid-term local arterial responses following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains uncertain. We evaluated the impact of the platelet ...reactivity of prasugrel on mid-term vascular healing between acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and stable coronary artery disease (CAD).Methods and Results:We conducted a prospective, 12-center study in 125 patients with ACS and 126 patients with stable CAD who underwent PCI with an everolimus-eluting stent (EES) and received dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with prasugrel and aspirin. Serial optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed immediately after PCI and at the 9-month follow-up to assess the association of P2Y12reaction units (PRU) with the frequency of malapposed or uncovered struts and intrastent thrombi (IST). The incidence of abnormal mid-term OCT findings did not different between the ACS and CAD arms, regardless of clinical presentation, except that uncovered struts were more frequent in the ACS than CAD arm. PRU at PCI was significantly associated with the frequency of IST at follow-up, but not with uncovered and malapposed struts. PRU at PCI was the only independent predictor of IST detected at follow-up (odds ratio 1.009).Conclusions:In patients undergoing EES implantation and receiving prasugrel, achieving an adequate antiplatelet effect at the time of stent implantation may regulate thrombus formation throughout the follow-up period.
Four-dimensional volume-rendered computed tomography (4DCT) has demonstrated instances of hypo-attenuating leaflet thickening (HALT) with or without hypo-attenuation affecting motion (HAM) after ...transcatheter and surgical aortic valve implantation (TAVI, SAVR). The temporal pattern of evolution of these phenomena is uncertain.
The SAVORY registry enrolled patients treated by TAVI (n = 75) or SAVR (n = 30) with two 4DCT scans fully interpretable for HALT and HAM as well as unchanged anti-thrombotic medication between the scans. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the evolution of HALT and HAM while accounting for demographic and baseline variables, timing of both CT scans, valve type and antithrombotic therapy. The analysis population consisted of 84 patients, in whom first and second CT scans were performed at 140 ± 152 days and 298 ± 141 days after valve implantation, respectively. Hypo-attenuating leaflet thickening was noted in 32 patients (38.1%), with HAM in 17 (20.2%). Both findings were dynamic, showing progression in 13 (15.5%) and regression and 9 (10.7%) patients. Compared with antiplatelet therapy, progression was less likely among patients on oral anticoagulation with vitamin-K antagonists or non-VKA oral anticoagulants (odds ratio: 0.014, P = 0.036). Maintenance on chronic oral anticoagulation was not a significant predictor of regression. These findings were similar for both transcatheter and surgical bioprosthetic aortic valves. No patients developed symptoms of valve dysfunction and leaflet thickening was not clearly associated with any clinical events.
Subclinical leaflet thrombosis is a common finding after TAVI and SAVR, and may progress from normal leaflet over HALT to the more severe HAM. The phenomenon can develop and regress at variable intervals after valve implantation. Anticoagulants may have a protective effect against the development of HALT, but HALT can also regress without anticoagulation therapy.
NCT02426307.
Background:In-stent neoatherosclerosis (NA) is a risk for future cardiovascular events through atherosclerotic progression in non-stented lesions. Using optical coherence tomography, this study ...assessed the efficacy of intensive therapy with 10 mg/day rosuvastatin plus 1,800 mg/day eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) vs. standard 2.5 mg/day rosuvastatin therapy on native coronary plaques in patients with NA.Methods and Results:This was a subgroup analysis of the randomized LINK-IT trial, which was designed to compare changes in the lipid index in NA between intensive and standard therapy for 12 months. In all, 42 patients with native coronary plaques and NA were assessed. Compared with standard therapy, intensive therapy resulted in greater decreases in serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations and greater increases in serum 18-hydroxyeicosapentaenoic acid concentrations, with significantly greater decreases in the lipid index and macrophage grade in both NA (−24 vs. 217 P<0.001 and −15 vs. 24 P<0.001, respectively) and native coronary plaques (−112 vs. 29 P<0.001 and −17 vs. 1 P<0.001, respectively) following intensive therapy. Although there was a greater increase in the macrophage grade in NA than in native coronary plaques in the standard therapy group, in the intensive therapy group there were comparable reductions in macrophage grade between NA and native coronary plaques.Conclusions:Compared with standard therapy, intensive therapy prevented atherosclerotic progression more effectively in native coronary plaques in patients with NA.
Optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI) is a high-resolution intracoronary imaging modality with fast automated longitudinal pullback. We aimed to evaluate the ability of performing OFDI from the ...superficial femoral artery (SFA) to the below-knee (BK) artery. This clinical trial was a multi-center, single-arm, open-label study. The primary endpoint was to obtain a clear image of the intra-vascular lumen from the SFA to the BK artery, specifically > 270° visualization of the blood vessel lumen with > 16/21 cross sections. The proportion of the clear image (≥ 85%) was regarded as confirmatory of the ability of OFDI to visualize the vessel lumen. Overall, 20 patients were enrolled. The proportion of the primary endpoint was 90% (18/20), and the pre-specified criterion was successfully attained. The proportion of the clear image assessed by the operator was 100% (20/20), and an additional statistical analysis for the proportion of the visualization, > 270°, of the blood vessel lumen revealed a significantly higher cut-off value than that for the pre-specified criterion, 85% (
p
= 0.0315). There were three adverse events not related to OFDI. OFDI achieved acceptable visualization of the vessel lumen without any adverse event related to it. After regulatory approval based on the present study, OFDI will be available as a new option of endovascular imaging for peripheral artery diseases in daily practice
Trial registration: This study was registered in the Japanese Registry of Clinical Trials (jRCT 2052190025,
https://jrct.niph.go.jp/latest-detail/jRCT2052190025
).
Several clinical variables have been identified as predictors of clinical outcome after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Nonetheless, there is limited and contradictive data on the ...impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) on the prognosis of patients who undergo TAVI. We aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and the early and midterm outcomes after TAVI according to DM status. From 802 consecutive patients who underwent TAVI, we compared 548 patients with no DM to 254 patients with diabetes (177 orally treated and 77 insulin treated). Patients with DM were younger had higher body mass index and incidence of coronary artery disease and lower incidence of frailty. Device success, 30-day mortality and major complications rates were similar between groups. One-year mortality was 12.1% for patient with DM and 12.2% for patients without DM (p = 0.91). In a multivariable regression analysis including age, body mass index, coronary artery disease and frailty, DM was associated with decreased overall survival. This was driven by increased overall mortality of the insulin-treated DM subgroup (hazard ratio 2.40, 95% CI 1.32 to 4.37; p <0.01). In conclusion, DM does not affect short-term mortality or rates of complications after TAVI. Insulin-treated DM, but not orally treated DM, is independently associated with death at midterm follow-up and therefore aggressive cardiovascular risk factor modification as well as intense glycemic control should be considered for patients with insulin-treated DM with severe aortic stenosis who undergo TAVI.
Abstract Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of increased aortic angulation (AA) on acute procedural success following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). ...Background The degree of angulation between the aorta and the heart can make accurate positioning of the bioprosthesis during TAVR more demanding, particularly in instances of an extremely angulated or horizontal aortic root. Nonetheless, there are limited data on the impact of AA on the acute success of TAVR. Methods We assessed 582 patients who underwent TAVR at our institute and had contrast computed tomography available for AA evaluation. TAVR endpoints, device success, and adverse events were considered according to the Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 definitions. Results The mean angulation of the aorta was 47.3 ± 8.7°. Patients were therefore divided into 2 groups: AA <48° and AA ≥48°. AA in the 480 patients who underwent balloon-expandable (BE) TAVR did not influence acute procedural success or short-term clinical outcome. In contrast, increased AA among the 102 patients who underwent self-expandable (SE) TAVR was found to significantly attenuate procedural success (area under the curve: 0.73; 95% confidence interval: 0.61 to 0.85; p = 0.008). The numerical cutoff for AA with the highest sum of sensitivity and specificity for device success was ≥48° (sensitivity 85%, specificity 61%). Moreover, patients whose AA was ≥48° were also associated with an increased need for a second valve and post-dilation, had increased fluoroscopy time and increased valve embolization, and had increased post-procedural paravalvular regurgitation greater than or equal to mild following SE TAVR. Major complications at 30 days, including mortality were similar between AA groups. Six-month mortality was also similar between both AA groups. Conclusions Increased aortic root angulation adversely influences acute procedural success following SE but not BE TAVR. Because of these data, BE valves may be preferred when evaluating patients with high AA before TAVR.
Background: Fractional flow reserve-computed tomography (FFRCT) has not been validated in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for ...coronary artery disease due to theoretical difficulties in using nitroglycerin for such patients.Methods and Results: In this single-center study, we prospectively enrolled 21 patients (34 vessels) and performed pre-TAVR FFRCTwithout nitroglycerin, pre-TAVR invasive instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) measurements, and post-TAVR FFR measurements using a pressure wire. The diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of pre-TAVR FFRCT≤0.80 to predict post-TAVR invasive FFR ≤0.80 were 82%, 83%, 82%, 71%, and 90%, respectively. A receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated an optimal cutoff of 0.78 for pre-TAVR FFRCTto indicate post-TAVR FFR ≤0.80, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.84, and the counterpart cutoff of pre-TAVR iFR was 0.89 with an AUC of 0.86.Conclusions: FFRCTwithout nitroglycerin could be a useful non-invasive imaging modality for assessing the severity of coronary artery lesions in patients with severe AS.
The initial process of atherosclerotic development has not been systematically evaluated. This study aimed to observe atherosclerotic progression from normal vessel wall (NVW) to atherosclerotic ...plaque and examine local factors associated with such progression using > 5-year long-term follow-up data obtained by serial optical coherence tomography (OCT). A total of 49 patients who underwent serial OCT for lesions with NVW over 5 years (average: 6.9 years) were enrolled. NVW was defined as a vessel wall with an OCT-detectable three-layer structure and intimal thickness ≤ 300 μm. Baseline and follow-up OCT images were matched, and OCT cross sections with NVW > 30° were enrolled. Cross sections were diagnosed as “progression” when the NVW in these cross sections was reduced by > 30° at > 5-year follow-up. Atherogenic progression from NVW to atherosclerotic plaque was observed in 40.8% of enrolled cross sections. The incidence of microchannels in an adjacent atherosclerotic plaque within the same cross section (6.7 vs. 3.3%;
p
= 0.046) and eccentric distribution of atherosclerotic plaque (25.0 vs. 12.6%;
p
< 0.001) at baseline was significantly higher in cross sections with progression than in those without. Cross sections with progression exhibited significantly higher NVW intimal thickness at baseline than cross sections without progression (200.1 ± 53.7 vs. 180.2 ± 59.6 μm;
p
< 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that the presence of microchannels in an adjacent atherosclerotic plaque, eccentric distribution of atherosclerotic plaque, and greater NVW intimal thickness at baseline were independently associated with progression at follow-up. The presence of microchannels in an adjacent atherosclerotic plaque, eccentric distribution of atherosclerotic plaque, and greater NVW intimal thickness were potentially associated with initial atherosclerotic development from NVW to atherosclerotic plaque.
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