Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) is an emerging treatment for patients with inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH).We report on a prospective series of 56 consecutive ...patients who underwent 266 BPA interventions (median, five per patient) at two German institutions. All patients underwent a comprehensive diagnostic work-up including right heart catheterisation at baseline and 24 weeks after their last intervention.BPA resulted in improvements in WHO functional class, 6 min walk distance (mean change, +33 m), right ventricular function and haemodynamics, including a decline in mean pulmonary artery pressure by 18% and in pulmonary vascular resistance by 26%. Procedure-related adverse events occurred in 9.4% of the interventions. The most common complications were related to pulmonary vascular injury and consecutive pulmonary bleeding. Most of these events were asymptomatic and self-limiting, but one patient died from pulmonary bleeding, resulting in a mortality rate of 1.8%.BPA resulted in haemodynamic and clinical improvements but was also associated with a considerable number of complications, including one fatal pulmonary bleeding. As the effects of BPA on survival are unknown, randomised controlled outcome trials comparing BPA with approved medical therapies in patients with inoperable CTEPH are required to allow for appropriate risk-benefit assessments.
Objectives This study sought to evaluate exact release kinetics of microRNAs (miRNAs) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Background miRNAs may be useful as novel biomarkers in patients with ...cardiovascular disease, although it is difficult to establish the detailed release kinetics of miRNAs in patients with AMI. Methods We analyzed the release kinetics of circulating cardiac-specific (miR-21, miR-208a) and muscle-enriched (miR-1, miR-133a) miRNAs using the TaqMan polymerase chain reaction in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy who were undergoing transcoronary ablation of septal hypertrophy (TASH), a procedure mimicking AMI. Consecutive patients (n = 21) undergoing TASH were included. Serum samples were collected prior to and at 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, and 105 min and 2, 4, 8, and 24 h after TASH. Results Circulating concentrations of miR-1 were significantly increased (>3-fold; p = 0.01) after 15 min, with a peak after 75 min (>60-fold; p < 0.001). The miR-21 concentrations were not increased at any time point. Concentrations of miR-133a were significantly increased at 15 min (2.9-fold; p < 0.001) and reached a plateau between 75 and 480 min (>50-fold change). The miR-208a concentrations were elevated at 105 min (>2-fold; p = 0.01), without a further increase. Conclusions miR-1, miR-133a, and miR-208a were continuously increased during the first 4 h after the induction of MI. In particular, miR-1 and miR-133a were significantly increased at early time points. These results demonstrate the release kinetics of miRNAs, which are helpful for developing their potential use as biomarkers in patients with acute coronary syndromes.
Pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) is a curative treatment option for more than 60% of patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). For selected inoperable patients, ...interventional balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) has recently been established in addition to medical treatment. This approach disrupts scar tissue occluding the pulmonary arteries, leading to an improvement in parenchymal perfusion. CTEPH is occasionally heterogeneous, with operable disease on one side but peripheral, inoperable changes on the contralateral side. Performing unilateral PEA (on the operable side only) in these patients may lead to a worse hemodynamic outcome and increased mortality compared with patients who that can be surgically corrected bilaterally. We sought to determine the feasibility, safety, and benefits of BPA applied to the contralateral lung in several patients with predominantly unilateral disease that was amenable to treatment by PEA.
Standard unilateral PEA in deep hypothermic circulatory arrest was performed in 3 CTEPH patients with poor pulmonary hemodynamics, and inoperability of the contralateral pulmonary artery obstructions was confirmed. The inoperable side was treated by BPA. The intervention was performed during the rewarming phase of cardiopulmonary bypass.
A dramatic improvement in pulmonary hemodynamics, with a mean reduction in pulmonary vascular resistance of 842 dyne · sec/cm(5), was achieved in all patients. World Health Organization Functional Class was also significantly improved at the midterm follow-up.
The combination of surgical PEA and interventional BPA is a new treatment option for highly selected high-risk CTEPH patients. A multidisciplinary CTEPH expert team is a basic pre-requisite for this complex concept.
Objectives
The aim of this study was to assess septal and right ventricular insertion point (RVIP) fibrosis in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) via native T1 ...mapping and extracellular volume fraction (ECV) determination and to analyze correlations with functional parameters.
Methods
Imaging was performed at 1.5 Tesla in 24 patients diagnosed with CTEPH and 24 controls. T1 values were measured within the septal myocardium, the upper and lower RVIP, and the lateral wall at basal short axis section.
Results
The mean septal native T1 values were 1012.8 ms ± 50.5 in the CTEPH group and 956.9 ms ± 24.4 in controls (
p
< 0.001), upper RIVP 1050.8 ms ± 64.2 vs. 965.3 ms ± 37.1 (
p
< 0.001), and lower RVIP 1084.4 ms ± 93.1 vs. 959.8 ms ± 40.4 (
p
< 0.001). The corresponding mean ECV values were also significantly increased in the CTEPH group (
p
< 0.001). Native septal T1 showed a strong negative correlation with right ventricular ejection fraction (k = -0.92;
p
= 0.01).
Conclusions
We conclude that native T1 mapping and ECV assessment enable visualization and quantification of septal fibrosis in CTEPH patients. The results also correlate well with right ventricular ejection fraction. Therefore, these parameters might be useful for prognosis and as therapy-monitoring tool in the future.
Key Points
•
Septal native T1 and ECV values are significantly higher in CTEPH patients.
•
Native T1 and ECV values are elevated even in absence of LGE.
•
These techniques therefore enable an improved quantification of septal fibrosis in CTEPH.
•
Native T1 values also correlate well with right ventricular EF and PA-pressure.
•
Prognosis and therapy-monitoring might be assessable in the future with these parameters.
Objectives The purpose of this randomized study was to compare sirolimus-eluting stenting with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for patients with unprotected left main (ULM) coronary artery ...disease. Background CABG is considered the standard of care for treatment of ULM. Improvements in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with use of drug-eluting stents might lead to similar results. The effectiveness of drug-eluting stenting versus surgery has not been established in a randomized trial. Methods In this prospective, multicenter, randomized trial, 201 patients with ULM disease were randomly assigned to undergo sirolimus-eluting stenting (n = 100) or CABG using predominantly arterial grafts (n = 101). The primary clinical end point was noninferiority in freedom from major adverse cardiac events, such as cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and the need for target vessel revascularization within 12 months. Results The combined primary end point was reached in 13.9% of patients after surgery, as opposed to 19.0% after PCI (p = 0.19 for noninferiority). The combined rates for death and myocardial infarction were comparable (surgery, 7.9% vs. stenting, 5.0%; noninferiority p < 0.001), but stenting was inferior to surgery for repeat revascularization (5.9% vs. 14.0%; noninferiority p = 0.35). Perioperative complications including 2 strokes were higher after surgery (4% vs. 30%; p < 0.001). Freedom from angina was similar between groups (p = 0.33). Conclusions In patients with ULM stenosis, PCI with sirolimus-eluting stents is inferior to CABG at 12-month follow-up with respect to freedom from major adverse cardiac events, which is mainly influenced by repeated revascularization, whereas for hard end points, PCI results are favorable. A longer follow-up is warranted. (Percutaneous Coronary Intervention PCI With Drug-Eluting Stents DES Versus Coronary Artery Bypass Graft CABG for Patients With Significant Left Main Stenosis; NCT00176397 )
Objective
Since the beginning of the transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) era, many prosthetic valves have entered clinical practice. TAVI prostheses differ regarding stent design and some ...may potentially interfere with diagnostic or interventional catheters. The aim of our analysis was to evaluate the feasibility of coronary angiography (CA) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with prior TAVI.
Methods
From 2011 to 2014, 1,000 patients were treated by TAVI at our center using eight different valve prostheses (Symetis ACURATE TA and ACURATE TF; Medtronic CoreValve and Engager; JenaValve, SJM Portico; Edwards Lifesciences SAPIEN and SAPIEN XT). In this analysis, all patients were included who underwent either CA or PCI after TAVI. CA or PCI were rated as fully feasible when coronary ostia could be fully intubated, partially feasible when coronary arteries could be displayed only unselectively or unfeasible when coronary arteries could not be displayed.
Results
A total of 35 patients underwent CA/PCI after TAVI at our hospital. In all patients with valves implanted in a subcoronary position (SAPIEN
n
= 19; JenaValve
n
= 1), selective intubation was feasible using standard catheters. Out of 15 patients with valve types that are placed over the coronary ostia (CoreValve
n
= 10, ACURATE
n
= 4, Portico
n
= 1), selective intubation of coronary arteries was not possible in 9 cases, even with the use of different diagnostic catheters. Full accessibility was possible only in 3 cases. In 2 cases, display of the right CA was only feasible using unselective aortography. In 1 case, coronary arteries could not be displayed at all immediately after a valve-in-valve procedure.
Conclusion
CA or PCI after TAVI is usually feasible. Devices that are placed in a partially supracoronary position, however, can interfere with diagnostic or guiding catheters and impede straightforward intervention, especially when the prosthesis is not implanted in the correct position.
Aims
Approximately every fifth patient undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) requires a permanent pacemaker (PPM) after the procedure. The aim of this study was to analyse ...predictors of atrioventricular block III° (AVBIII) persistence with concurrent PPM dependency after TAVI.
Methods and results
Between 2010 and 2015 a total of 1198 patients underwent TAVI at the Kerckhoff Heart and Thorax Center, Germany. After exclusion of patients with prior PPM (
n
= 173) 14.7% (
n
= 176) of the patients underwent PPM implantation after the procedure. Independent predictors of PPM implantation were pre-existing right bundle branch block (RBBB,
p
< 0.001) and implantation of a CoreValve prosthesis (
p
< 0.001). A subgroup of patients with a newly implanted PPM (
n
= 102) were followed-up for a median of 73 (IQR 62–85) days. The leading indication for PPM implantation was AVBIII in 74.5% (76/102). Of these patients only 22.4% (17/76) had persistent AVBIII at follow-up. Predictors of AVBIII persistence were prior RBBB (
p
= 0.04), postdilatation (
p
= 0.006) and higher mean aortic valve gradient prior to implantation (
p
= 0.013). PPMs were implanted earlier in patients with persisting AVBIII 1 day (IQR0–2.5) vs. 4 days (IQR2–7);
p
< 0.001. Early PPM implantation after TAVI was the only independent predictor of persistent AVBIII OR 1.36 (95% 1.05–1.75);
p
= 0.02.
Conclusion
The long-term persistence of AVBIII is generally low after TAVI. Therefore, it may be wise to postpone the indication for PPM implantation for a couple of days. The only predictors of a lack of recovery of the AVB are prior RBBB, higher mean aortic valve gradients and postdilatation of the prosthesis.
Riociguat is the treatment of choice for inoperable patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). We addressed here whether additional balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) ...provides further benefits. A prospective series of 36 consecutive patients with inoperable CTEPH were treated with riociguat at least three months before BPA. All patients underwent diagnostic workup at baseline, before BPA treatments, and six months after final intervention. The main outcome measures were pulmonary hemodynamic parameters and World Health Organization (WHO) functional class (FC). Significant improvements in pulmonary hemodynamics and physical capacity were observed for riociguat treatment, and subsequent BPA interventions yielded further benefits. With targeted medication, WHO FC improved by at least one class in 13 (36.1%) patients (P = 0.01). Hemodynamic assessment showed significant improvements in mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) (49 ± 12 mmHg vs. 43 ± 12 mmHg; P = 0.003) and PVR (956 ± 501 dyn·s·cm–5 vs. 517 ± 279 dyn·s·cm–5; P = 0.0001). Treatment with a combination of targeted medication and BPA resulted in WHO FC improvement in 34 (94.4%) patients. Hemodynamic assessment showed significant improvement in mPAP (43 ± 12 mmHg vs. 34 ± 14 mmHg; P = 0.0001) and PVR (517 ± 279 dyn·s·cm–5 vs. 360 ± 175 dyn·s·cm–5; P = 0.0001). These findings provide, for the first time, support for the therapeutic strategy recommended by current guidelines.
Symptomatic patients with residual pulmonary perfusion defects or vascular lesions but no pulmonary hypertension at rest are diagnosed with chronic thromboembolic disease (CTED). Balloon pulmonary ...angioplasty (BPA) is an emerging treatment for patients with inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), but data regarding the safety and efficacy of BPA in patients with CTED are lacking. We report a prospective series of ten consecutive patients with CTED who underwent 35 BPA interventions (median of four per patient) at two German institutions. All patients underwent a comprehensive diagnostic workup at baseline and 24 weeks after their last intervention. BPA was safe, with one pulmonary vascular injury and subsequent self-limiting pulmonary bleeding as the only complication (2.9% of the interventions, 10% of the patients). After the procedures, World Health Organization functional class, 6-min walking distance, pulmonary vascular resistance, and pulmonary arterial compliance improved, and NT-proBNP concentrations declined in 9/10 patients. BPA may be a new treatment option for carefully selected patients with CTED. A larger, prospective, international registry is required to confirm these results.
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