The conventional view holds that functional mitral regurgitation (MR) is caused by restriction of leaflet motion resulting from displacement of the papillary muscle-bearing segments of the left ...ventricle. In the past decade, evidence has accrued suggesting functional MR can also be caused by left atrial enlargement. This underrecognized cause of secondary MR—atrial functional MR (AF-MR)—is mechanistically linked to annular enlargement, perturbations of annular contraction, and atriogenic leaflet tethering. AF-MR has been described in patients with atrial fibrillation and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Preliminary data suggest rhythm control may decrease MR severity in patients with atrial fibrillation. Additionally, several studies have reported reductions in MR and symptomatic improvement with restrictive annuloplasty and transcatheter edge-to-edge repair. This review discusses the pathophysiology, echocardiographic diagnosis, and treatment of AF-MR. AF-tricuspid regurgitation is also discussed.
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•Atrial functional MR is an underrecognized cause of secondary MR.•Atrial fibrillation and HFpEF are associated with atrial functional MR.•Preliminary evidence suggests that rhythm control may reduce the severity of AF-MR, but further studies are needed.
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although initial reports concentrated on severe respiratory illness, emerging ...literature has indicated a substantially elevated risk of thromboembolic events in patients with COVID-19 disease. Pro-inflammatory cytokine release has been linked to endothelial dysfunction and activation of coagulation pathways, as evident by elevated D-dimer levels and deranged coagulation parameters. Both macrovascular and microvascular thromboses have been described in observational cohort and post-mortem studies. Concurrently, preliminary data have suggested the role of therapeutic anticoagulation in preventing major thromboembolic complications in moderately but not critically ill patients. However, pending results from randomized controlled trials, clear guidance is lacking regarding the intensity and duration of anticoagulation in such patients. Herein, we review the existing evidence on incidence and pathophysiology of COVID-19 related thromboembolic complications and guide anticoagulation therapy based on current literature and societal consensus statements.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term impact of coronary artery calcification (CAC) on outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention and the respective performance of first- and ...second-generation drug-eluting stents (DES).
Whether contemporary DES have improved the long-term prognosis after percutaneous coronary intervention in lesions with severe CAC is unknown.
Individual patient data were pooled from 18 randomized trials evaluating DES, categorized according to the presence of angiography core laboratory–confirmed moderate or severe CAC. Major endpoints were the patient-oriented composite endpoint (death, myocardial infarction MI, or any revascularization) and the device-oriented composite endpoint of target lesion failure (cardiac death, target vessel MI, or ischemia-driven target lesion revascularization). Multivariate Cox proportional regression with study as a random effect was used to assess 5-year outcomes.
A total of 19,833 patients were included. Moderate or severe CAC was present in 1 or more target lesions in 6,211 patients (31.3%) and was associated with increased 5-year risk for the patient-oriented composite endpoint (adjusted hazard ratio adjHR: 1.12; 95% confidence interval CI: 1.05 to 1.20) and target lesion failure (adjHR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.09 to 1.34), as well as death, MI, and ischemia-driven target lesion revascularization. In patients with CAC, use of second-generation DES compared with first-generation DES was associated with reductions in the 5-year risk for the patient-oriented composite endpoint (adjHR: 0.88; 95% CI: 0.78 to 1.00) and target lesion failure (adjHR: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.61 to 0.87), as well as death or MI, ischemia-driven target lesion revascularization, and stent thrombosis. The relative treatment effects of second-generation compared with first-generation DES were consistent in patients with and without moderate or severe CAC, although outcomes were consistently better with contemporary devices.
In this large-scale study, percutaneous coronary intervention of target lesion moderate or severe CAC was associated with adverse patient-oriented and device-oriented adverse outcomes at 5 years. These detrimental effects were mitigated with second-generation DES.
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BACKGROUNDDrug-coated balloons (DCB) are frequently used to treat femoropopliteal artery disease. However, patency loss occurs in ≥10% of patients within 12 months posttreatment with poor ...understanding of the underlying mechanisms. OBJECTIVESThe authors sought to investigate the determinants of DCB failure in femoropopliteal disease. METHODSData from randomized clinical trials (IN.PACT SFA, MDT-2113 SFA Japan) and 2 prespecified imaging cohorts of the IN.PACT Global Clinical Study were included. Influential procedural characteristics were evaluated by an independent angiographic core laboratory. The primary endpoint was DCB failure (patency loss during follow-up). Additional endpoints were binary restenosis and clinically driven target lesion revascularization. Multivariable analyses evaluated the clinical, anatomical, and procedural predictors of DCB failure. RESULTSIncluded were 557 participants with single lesions and 12-month core laboratory-adjudicated duplex ultrasonography. Key clinical characteristics were as follows: mean age 68.8 years, 67.5% male, 87.6% with hypertension, 76.9% with hyperlipidemia, 40.5% with diabetes mellitus, 90.5% in Rutherford Classification Category (RCC) 2 to 3, and 9.5% in RCC 4 to 5. Average length and reference vessel diameter (RVD) were 16.37 cm and 4.66 mm, respectively; 49.7% of lesions were totally occluded. In multivariable analysis, only residual stenosis >30% was associated with patency loss, whereas residual stenosis >30% and smaller preprocedure RVD were associated with increased binary restenosis risk. RCC >3 and residual stenosis >30% were associated with increased 12-month clinically driven target lesion revascularization risk. CONCLUSIONSPatency loss after DCB treatment was influenced by procedural and clinical factors. Residual stenosis >30%, smaller preprocedure RVD, and higher RCC may be considered predictors of increased risk of DCB failure and its components in femoropopliteal artery disease. (Randomized Trial of IN.PACT Admiral® Drug Coated Balloon vs Standard PTA for the Treatment of SFA and Proximal Popliteal Arterial Disease INPACT SFA I; NCT01175850; IN.PACT Admiral Drug-Coated Balloon vs. Standard Balloon Angioplasty for the Treatment of Superficial Femoral Artery SFA and Proximal Popliteal Artery PPA INPACT SFA II; NCT01566461; MDT-2113 Drug-Eluting Balloon vs. Standard PTA for the Treatment of Atherosclerotic Lesions in the Superficial Femoral Artery and/or Proximal Popliteal Artery MDT-2113 SFA; NCT01947478; IN.PACT Global Clinical Study; NCT01609296).
Sub-Optimal deployment of Self expanding interwoven stents (Supera) has been shown to increase the rate of Clinically Driven Target Lesion Revascularization (CD-TLR). Meanwhile, drug coated balloons ...(DCB) have been shown to reduce CD-TLR in the femoral-popliteal segment in de- novo and restenotic lesions. However, the clinical effects of vessel preparation with DCB in nominal, compressed, and elongated Supera has not been widely studied. The purpose of this study is to assess the outcomes of clinically driven re-intervention, major amputations, and mortality in relation to the use of DCB as vessel preparation in different deployment conditions (nominal, compressed, elongated) of the Supera stent. Patient chart data was collected at a single center hospital between March 2015 and May 2020. All patients were adults (≥ 18 years old) and were treated with at least one (≥ 1) Supera stent. Deployment status was extrapolated from anonymized angiograms. The primary endpoint of this study was CD-TLR. Secondary endpoints included amputation and mortality rates associated with each deployment condition. A total of 670 limbs were treated and patients were followed for 36 months. Nominal stent deployment was observed in 337 limbs, followed by elongated condition (n = 176), then by compressed conditions (n = 159). CD-TLR was observed most frequently with elongated deployment. Drug coated balloons were used as vessel prep prior to stenting and showed a protective effect regardless of deployment status; O.R = 0.44 (CI 0.30-0.66, p < .05).
ST2 is a receptor for interleukin (IL)-33. We investigated an association of soluble ST2 (sST2) and IL-33 serum levels with different clinical stages of coronary artery disease. We assessed the ...predictive value of sST2 and IL-33 in patients with stable angina, non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).
We included 373 patients of whom 178 had stable angina, 97 had NSTEMI, and 98 had STEMI. Patients were followed for a mean of 43 months. The control group consisted of 65 individuals without significant stenosis on coronary angiography. Serum levels of sST2 and IL-33 were measured by ELISAs.
sST2 levels were significantly increased in patients with STEMI as compared to patients with NSTEMI and stable angina as well as with controls. IL-33 levels did not differ between the four groups. During follow-up, 37 (10%) patients died and the combined endpoint (all cause death, MI and rehospitalisation for cardiac causes) occurred in 66 (17.6%) patients. sST2 serum levels significantly predicted mortality in the total cohort. When patients were stratified according to their clinical presentation, the highest quintile of sST2 significantly predicted mortality in patients with STEMI, but not with NSTEMI or stable coronary artery disease. sST2 was a significant predictor for the combined endpoint in STEMI patients and in patients with stable angina. Serum levels of IL-33 were not associated with clinical outcome in the total cohort, but the highest quintile of IL-33 predicted mortality in patients with STEMI.
Serum levels of sST2 are increased in patients with acute coronary syndromes as compared to levels in patients with stable coronary artery disease and in individuals without coronary artery disease. sST2 and IL-33 were associated with mortality in patients with STEMI but not in patients with NSTEMI or stable angina.
Objective. To compare the safety and efficacy between the SpiderFX EPD and Emboshield NAV6 filter in the collection of embolic debris created from lower limb atherectomy procedures in patients with ...PAD. Materials and Methods. Between January 2014 and October 2015, 507 patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease were treated with directional atherectomy (SilverHawk), rotational atherectomy (JetStream), or laser atherectomy (Turbo Elite) based on operator discretion. Emboshield NAV6 (n = 161) and SpiderFX (n = 346) embolic protection devices were used with each of the 3 atherectomy devices. The primary study endpoint was 30-day freedom from major adverse events (MAEs). An MAE was defined as death, MI, TVR, thrombosis, dissection, distal embolization, perforation at the level of the filter, and unplanned amputation. A descriptive comparison of the MAE rates between Emboshield NAV6 and SpiderFX embolic protection devices was conducted. Results. The freedom from major adverse event (MAE) rate was 92.0% (CI: 86.7%, 95.7%) in patients who received an Emboshield NAV6 filter compared to 91.6% (CI: 88.2%, 94.3%) in patients who received the SpiderFX filter (p=0.434). The lower limit of 86.7% freedom from major adverse event rate in the Emboshield NAV6 group was above the performance goal of 83% (p<0.0008). Conclusions. There were no significant clinical outcome differences between Emboshield NAV6 and SpiderFX EPD filters in the treatment of lower extremities. This evaluation indicates the safety and efficacy to use either filter device to treat PAD patients with lower extremity lesions.
Although several variables have been identified as bleeding determinants (BDs), their occurrence and predictive value in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the real world ...remain unclear. We aimed to characterize the rate of BDs in patients undergoing PCI with stent implantation in a large volume tertiary centre.
We included patients undergoing coronary stenting at our institution from January 2012 to December 2016, and defined post-discharge bleeding (PDB) as bleeding requiring hospitalization or transfusion. Several BDs, identified by the PARIS bleeding and PRECISE-DAPT scores and inclusion criteria of the LEADERS FREE trial, were analysed.
In a population of 10,406 subjects who underwent PCI, 2,938 patients (28.2%) had 1, 2,367 (22.8%) had 2 and 2,913 (28.0%) had ≥3 pre-specified BD. Compared with patients without PDB, subjects who experienced PDB were older (70.43 ± 11.94 vs. 65.90 ± 11.54 years,
< 0.0001) with a higher prevalence of common cardiovascular risk factors. One-year PDB occurred in 177 patients (2.4%), and consistently increased according to the number of BDs involved (1.12, 2.11 and 4.35%, respectively;
< 0.0001). Analogously, 1-year rates of post-discharge myocardial infarction or stent thrombosis increased according to the number of BDs (2.44, 3.38 and 4.87%, respectively;
< 0.0001). Only 7 BDs remained independently associated with PDB at 1 year, with anaemia, oral anticoagulant at discharge and malignancy representing the strongest predictors of such risk.
Many risk factors predispose to PDB; they were often clustered together and conferred additive PDB risk at 1-year of follow-up.
Patients may prefer percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) over coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, despite heart team recommendations. The outcomes in such patients have not been ...examined. We sought to examine the results of PCI in patients who were recommended for but declined CABG.
Consecutive patients with stable ischemic heart disease and unprotected left main or 3-vessel disease or Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Taxus and Cardiac Surgery score >22 who underwent PCI after heart team review between 2013 and 2020 were included. Patients were categorized into 3 groups according to heart team recommendations on the basis of appropriate use criteria: (1) PCI-recommended; (2) CABG-eligible but refused CABG (CABG-refusal); and (3) CABG-ineligible. The primary end point was the composite of death, myocardial infarction, or stroke at 1 year. The study included 3687 patients undergoing PCI (PCI-recommended, n=1718 46.6%), CABG-refusal (n=1595 43.3%), and CABG-ineligible (n=374 10.1%). Clinical and procedural risk increased across the 3 groups, with the highest comorbidity burden in CABG-ineligible patients. Composite events within 1 year after PCI occurred in 55 (4.1%), 91 (7.0%), and 41 (14.8%) of patients in the PCI-recommended, CABG-refusal, and CABG-ineligible groups, respectively. After multivariable adjustment, the risk of the primary composite outcome was significantly higher in the CABG-refusal (hazard ratio HR, 1.67 95% CI, 1.08-3.56;
=0.02) and CABG-ineligible patients (HR, 3.26 95% CI, 1.28-3.65;
=0.004) groups compared with the reference PCI-recommended group, driven by increased death and stroke.
Cardiovascular event rates after PCI were significantly higher in patients with multivessel disease who declined or were ineligible for CABG. Our findings provide real-world data to inform shared decision-making discussions.
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