Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has revolutionized management of high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis. However, survival and the incidence of severe complications have been ...assessed in relatively small populations and/or with limited follow-up.
This report details late clinical outcome and its determinants in the FRANCE-2 (FRench Aortic National CoreValve and Edwards) registry.
The FRANCE-2 registry prospectively included all TAVRs performed in France. Follow-up was scheduled at 30 days, at 6 months, and annually from 1 to 5 years. Standardized VARC (Valve Academic Research Consortium) outcome definitions were used.
A total of 4,201 patients were enrolled between January 2010 and January 2012 in 34 centers. Approaches were transarterial (transfemoral 73%, transapical 18%, subclavian 6%, and transaortic or transcarotid 3%) or, in 18% of patients, transapical. Median follow-up was 3.8 years. Vital status was available for 97.2% of patients at 3 years. The 3-year all-cause mortality was 42.0% and cardiovascular mortality was 17.5%. In a multivariate model, predictors of 3-year all-cause mortality were male sex (p < 0.001), low body mass index, (p < 0.001), atrial fibrillation (p < 0.001), dialysis (p < 0.001), New York Heart Association functional class III or IV (p < 0.001), higher logistic EuroSCORE (p < 0.001), transapical or subclavian approach (p < 0.001 for both vs. transfemoral approach), need for permanent pacemaker implantation (p = 0.02), and post-implant periprosthetic aortic regurgitation grade ≥2 of 4 (p < 0.001). Severe events according to VARC criteria occurred mainly during the first month and subsequently in <2% of patients/year. Mean gradient, valve area, and residual aortic regurgitation were stable during follow-up.
The FRANCE-2 registry represents the largest database available on late results of TAVR. Late mortality is largely related to noncardiac causes. Incidence rates of severe events are low after the first month. Valve performance remains stable over time.
at least moderate ischaemia on a stress test, is there a benefit to adding cardiac catheterization and, if feasible, revascularization to optimal medical therapy? The study team randomized 5179 ...patients into an invasive or conservative strategy. What is noteworthy from the baseline characteristics is the high proportion of diabetes, a preserved ejection fraction in the majority of patients, well-managed LDL, and history of angina in 90% of patients. Only 10% had silent ischaemia. While the ISCHEMIA study-the largest trial of invasive vs. conservative strategy in patients with stable ischaemic heart disease-demonstrated that an initial invasive strategy of cardiac catheterization and revascularization in patients with stable coronary artery disease and moderate-to-severe ischaemia had no overall outcomes' advantage compared with medical therapy alone, the results also showed that patients with angina nevertheless derived a quality of life benefit. Procedural MIs were increased and spontaneous MIs were decreased with the invasive strategy. There was no heterogeneity of treatment effect on the primary endpoint, including by severity of ischaemia or extent of coronary disease. 'The implications', said Prof. Hochman, 'are that a validated measure of patient-reported quality of life should be collected before deciding about an invasive strategy.
Recent trials have examined the effect of prolonged dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in a variety of patient populations, with heterogeneous results regarding benefit and safety, specifically with ...regard to cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular mortality. We performed a meta-analysis of randomized trials comparing more than a year of DAPT with aspirin alone in high-risk patients with a history of prior myocardial infarction (MI).
A total of 33 435 patients were followed over a mean 31 months among one trial of patients with prior MI (63.3% of total) and five trials with a subgroup of patients that presented with, or had a history of, a prior MI (36.7% of total). Extended DAPT decreased the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events compared with aspirin alone (6.4 vs. 7.5%; risk ratio, RR 0.78, 95% confidence intervals, CI, 0.67-0.90; P = 0.001) and reduced cardiovascular death (2.3 vs. 2.6%; RR 0.85, 95% CI 0.74-0.98; P = 0.03), with no increase in non-cardiovascular death (RR 1.03, 95% CI 0.86-1.23; P = 0.76). The resultant effect on all-cause mortality was an RR of 0.92 (95% CI 0.83-1.03; P = 0.13). Extended DAPT also reduced MI (RR 0.70, 95% CI 0.55-0.88; P = 0.003), stroke (RR 0.81, 95% CI 0.68-0.97; P = 0.02), and stent thrombosis (RR 0.50, 95% CI 0.28-0.89; P = 0.02). There was an increased risk of major bleeding (1.85 vs. 1.09%; RR 1.73, 95% CI 1.19-2.50; P = 0.004) but not fatal bleeding (0.14 vs. 0.17%; RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.53-1.58; P = 0.75).
Compared with aspirin alone, DAPT beyond 1 year among stabilized high-risk patients with prior MI decreases ischaemic events, including significant reductions in the individual endpoints of cardiovascular death, recurrent MI, and stroke. Dual antiplatelet therapy beyond 1 year increases major bleeding, but not fatal bleeding or non-cardiovascular death.
Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is effective in older patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis, while the indication has recently broadened to younger patients at lower risk. ...Although thromboembolic and bleeding complications after TAVI have decreased over time, such adverse events are still common. The recommendations of the latest 2017 ESC/EACTS Guidelines for the management of valvular heart disease on antithrombotic therapy in patients undergoing TAVI are mostly based on expert opinion. Based on recent studies and randomized controlled trials, this viewpoint document provides updated therapeutic insights in antithrombotic treatment during and after TAVI.
Abstract
The aim of this collaborative document is to provide an update for clinicians on best antithrombotic strategies in patients with aortic and/or peripheral arterial diseases. Antithrombotic ...therapy is a pillar of optimal medical treatment for these patients at very high cardiovascular risk. While the number of trials on antithrombotic therapies in patients with aortic or peripheral arterial diseases is substantially smaller than for those with coronary artery disease, recent evidence deserves to be incorporated into clinical practice. In the absence of specific indications for chronic oral anticoagulation due to concomitant cardiovascular disease, a single antiplatelet agent is the basis for long-term antithrombotic treatment in patients with aortic or peripheral arterial diseases. Its association with another antiplatelet agent or low-dose anticoagulants will be discussed, based on patient’s ischaemic and bleeding risk as well therapeutic paths (e.g. endovascular therapy). This consensus document aims to provide a guidance for antithrombotic therapy according to arterial disease localizations and clinical presentation. However, it cannot substitute multidisciplinary team discussions, which are particularly important in patients with uncertain ischaemic/bleeding balance. Importantly, since this balance evolves over time in an individual patient, a regular reassessment of the antithrombotic therapy is of paramount importance.
Antithrombotic treatment regimen following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is not evidence-based. Apixaban, a non-vitamin K direct anticoagulant (NOAC) was shown to be superior to VKA ...and superior to aspirin to prevent cardioembolic stroke in non-valvular atrial fibrillation. It may have the potential to reduce TAVR-related thrombotic complications including subclinical valve thrombosis along with a better safety than the standard of care.
ATLANTIS is a multicenter, randomized, phase IIIb, prospective, open-label, superiority study comparing standard of care (SOC Group) versus an apixaban-based strategy (Anti-Xa Group) after successful TAVR (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT 02664649). Randomization is stratified according to the need for chronic anticoagulation therapy for a reason other than the TAVR procedure. In the experimental arm, patients receive 5 mg bid of apixaban or a reduced dose of 2.5 mg bid according to the drug label or when apixaban is combined with antiplatelet therapy. In the control arm, patients receive VKA therapy if there is an indication for oral anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy alone (single or dual) or the combination of both if needed. The primary study end point is the composite of all-cause death, TIA/stroke, myocardial infarction, symptomatic valve thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, deep venous thrombosis, systemic embolism, life-threatening, disabling or major bleeding, according to the Valve Academic Research Consortium definitions.
ATLANTIS tests the superiority of an apixaban-based strategy versus the recommended standard of care strategy to reduce the risk of post-TAVR thromboembolic and bleeding complications in an all comer population.
Aims
Restoration of sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA2a) activity through gene transfer improved cardiac function in experimental and pilot studies in humans with heart failure. The ...AGENT‐HF (NCT01966887) trial investigated the impact of adeno‐associated virus (AAV1)/SERCA2a on ventricular remodelling using multimodality non‐invasive cardiac imaging.
Methods and results
AGENT‐HF was a single centre, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial in adult patients with NYHA class III–IV ischaemic or non‐ischaemic heart failure and left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35%. Eligible patients were randomized to receive a single intracoronary infusion of either 1 × 1013 DNase‐resistant particles of AAV1/SERCA2a or placebo. The primary endpoint was change in left ventricular end‐systolic volume (LVESV), measured by cardiac computed tomography at 6 month follow‐up. We planned to include 40 patients but the trial was terminated prematurely as the sponsor suspended further enrolment following neutral results of the CUPID‐2 outcome trial. At the time of termination, nine patients were randomized with five patients infused with AAV1/SERCA2a and four with placebo. At 6 months, LVESV was increased in both groups compared with baseline: median (interquartile range) in AAV1/SERCA2a vs. placebo: 13 (13;14) mL vs. 3.5 (−36;36) mL, P = 0.74, with a mean difference between groups of 11.4 mL in favour of placebo. No safety issues were noted.
Conclusion
AGENT‐HF failed to demonstrate any improvement in ventricular remodelling in response to AAV1/SERCA2a at the dose studied. However, because of premature termination, the study was underpowered to demonstrate an effect of AAV1/SERCA2a and these data should be interpreted with caution.
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