Independent prognostic value of coronary artery calcium score and coronary computed tomography angiography in an outpatient cohort of low to intermediate risk chest pain patients

Background

Limited studies report on the additional prognostic value of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and the coronary artery calcium score (CACS).

Methods

For a median of 637 days, 1551 outpatients with chest pain, without known coronary artery disease (CAD) and low or intermediate pre-test probability of CAD, were followed for major adverse cardiac events (MACE), defined as death, myocardial infarction or late revascularisation. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to evaluate the independent prognostic value of CCTA and CACS.

Results

MACE occurred in 23 patients (1.5?%): death (3, 0.2?%), myocardial infarction (4, 0.3?%) and late revascularisation (16, 1.3?%). Multivariate analysis showed an independent prognostic value of CCTA (p?<?0.001), CACS of 100–400 (p?=?0.035) and CACS of >?400 (p?=?0.021). CCTA showed obstructive CAD in 3.1?% of patients with CACS?=?0. No events occurred in patients with CACS?=?0 without obstructive CAD at CCTA, whereas 2/23 patients (9?%) with CACS?=?0 with obstructive CAD had a MACE.

Conclusions

Our study shows that both CCTA and higher CACS categories have independent prognostic value in chest pain patients with low to intermediate pre-test probability of obstructive CAD, in which CCTA is appropriate. Furthermore a non-negligible amount of patients with CACS?=?0 have obstructive CAD at CCTA. CCTA can be used in these patients to identify those at risk for MACE.

     

Long-term comparison of balloon angioplasty with provisional stenting versus routine stenting in patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome

Background. In patients with unstable angina or non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) who are eligible for PCI, routine stenting is the recommended treatment strategy, based on the opinion of experts. Provisional stenting may provide a viable alternative by retaining the early benefits of stenting without its potential late hazards. Method. Patients with NSTE-ACS were randomised to provisional or routine stenting after coronary angiography. Patients were followed for up to ten years. The occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) was recorded. Results. 237 consecutive patients with NSTE-ACS were randomly assigned to routine stenting (n=116) or provisional stenting (n=121). No difference in the incidence of MACE at 30 days was observed. At six months, angiographic restenosis was lower in the routine stenting group (41 vs. 20%, p=0.02), paralleled by more MACE in the provisional stenting group at one year (40.5 vs. 27.6%, p=0.036). At complete follow-up the difference in MACE was not significant (61.2 vs. 50%, p=0.084) because of relatively more target lesion revascularisations in the routine stent group. There was no difference in the incidence of very late stent thrombosis (1.7 vs. 3.4%, p=0.439). The only independent predictor of MACE was β-blocker use (RR 0.62 [0.431; 0.892] p=0.010). Conclusion. In selective patients with NSTE-ACS, routine stenting was more beneficial than provisional stenting for a period of up to five years, driven by a reduction in repeat revascularisation procedures. After this period, the benefit was no longer significant. Beta-blocker use was the only independent predictor of MACE throughout the complete follow-up period. (Neth Heart J 2010;18:307-313.)     

Multivessel revascularisation versus infarct-related artery only revascularisation during the index primary PCI in STEMI patients with multivessel disease: a meta-analysis

Background

There are controversial data regarding infarct-related artery only (IRA-PCI) revascularisation versus multivessel revascularisation (MV-PCI) in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients with multivessel disease undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We performed a meta-analysis comparing outcome in same stage MV-PCI versus IRA-PCI in STEMI patients with multivessel disease.

Methods

Systematic searches of studies comparing MV-PCI with IRA-PCI in the MEDLINE and the Cochrane Database of systematic reviews were conducted. A meta-analysis was performed of all available studies. Primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Secondary endpoints were re-infarction, revascularisation, bleeding and major adverse cardiac events (MACE).

Results

A total of 15 studies were identified with a total number of 35,975 patients. Mortality rate was significantly higher in the MV-PCI group compared with the IRA-PCI group, odds ratio (OR): 1.64 (1.46–1.85). Both the incidence of re-infarction and re-PCI were significantly lower in the MV-PCI group compared with the IRA-PCI group: OR 0.54 (0.34–0.88) and OR 0.67 (0.48–0.93), respectively. Bleeding complications occurred more often in the MV-PCI group as compared with the IRA-PCI group: OR 1.24 (1.08–1.42). Rates of MACE were comparable between the two groups.

Conclusions

MV-PCI during the index of primary PCI in STEMI patients is associated with a higher mortality rate, a higher risk of bleeding complications, but lower risk of re-intervention and re-infarction and comparable rates of MACE.     

Treatment of non-culprit lesions detected during primary PCI: long-term follow-up of a randomised clinical trial

Background

There are conflicting data regarding optimal treatment of non-culprit lesions detected during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and multi-vessel disease (MVD). We aimed to investigate whether ischaemia-driven early invasive treatment improves the long-term outcome and prevents major adverse cardiac events (MACE).

Methods

121 patients with at least one non-culprit lesion were randomised in a 2:1 manner, 80 were randomised to early fractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided PCI (invasive group), and 41 to medical treatment (conservative group). The primary endpoint was MACE at 3 years.

Results

Three-year follow-up was available in 119 patients (98.3 %). There was no significant difference in all-cause mortality between the invasive and conservative strategy, 4 patients (3.4 %) died, all in the invasive group (P = 0.29). Re-infarction occurred in 14 patients (11.8 %) in the invasive group versus none in the conservative group (p = 0.002). Re-PCI was performed in 7 patients (8.9 %) in the invasive group and in 13 patients (32.5 %) in the conservative group (P = 0.001). There was no difference in MACE between these two strategies (35.4 vs 35.0 %, p = 0.96).

Conclusions

In STEMI patients with MVD, early FFR-guided additional revascularisation of the non-culprit lesion did not reduce MACE at three-year follow-up compared with a more conservative strategy. The rate of MACE in the invasive group was predominantly driven by death and re-infarction, whereas in the conservative group the rate of MACE was only driven by repeat interventions.     

HEART与GRACE危险评分对急性冠脉综合征患者危险分层的对比研究

目的:探讨HEART与GRACE危险评分对急性冠脉综合症(ACS)患者主要心血管不良事件(MACE)发生的预测应用价值。方法:回顾性分析自2015年6月至2018年6月就诊于我院急诊入院的ACS患者591例,分别使用HEART与GRACE危险评分对研究对象进行危险分层(低危组,中危组,高危组),随访患者发病后90天MACE发生情况,分析不同危险分层ACS患者发病后90天MACE发生情况与评分之间的关系,并比较两种评分对ACS患者90天发生MACE事件的预测能力。结果:本研究纳入371例患者,其中男性324例(87.3%),女性47例(12.7%),年龄(58±11.70)岁;167患者(45.1%)在3个月内发生MACE。随着HEART和GRACE危险评分越高,发病90天发生MACE事件的发生率显著增加(P<0.05),HEART评分中高危组预测MACE准确性较GRACE评分高,GRACE评分低危险组预测MACE准确性较HEART评分高。HEART和GRACE评分对ACS患者预测MACE敏感性分别为76.51%,64.73%,特异性分别为96.71%,96.25%。HEART评分具有良好的预测价值,其ROC曲线下面积为0.908(95%CI 0.846~0.974),与GRACE评分ROC曲线下面积的0.801相比,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:HEART和GRACE评分都可以应用于ACS患者的危险分层,预后评估和预测MACE发生,但HEART危险评分更可靠。     

Dickkopf-1 as a Novel Predictor Is Associated with Risk Stratification by GRACE Risk Scores for Predictive Value in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Retrospective Research

Objective

Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1), a major regulator of the Wnt pathway, plays an important role in cardiovascular disease. However, no study has evaluated the association of DKK-1 and acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We investigated this association and whether the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) hospital-discharge risk score predicting major adverse cardiac events (MACE) can be improved by adding the DKK-1 value.

Methods

We enrolled 291 patients (46 with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI] and 245 with non-ST elevated ACS [NSTE-ACS]) who were divided into groups by tertiles of baseline plasma DKK-1 level measured by ELISA. The GRACE risk score was calculated and predictive value alone and together with DKK-1 and/or high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level were assessed, respectively.

Results

Compared with patients with NSTE-ACS, those with STEMI had higher plasma DKK-1 level at baseline (P = 0.006). Plasma DKK-1 level was correlated with hs-CRP level (r = 0.295, P<0.001) and was greater with high than intermediate or low GRACE scores (P = 0.002 and P<0.001, respectively). We found 44 (15.1%) MACEs during a median 2-year follow-up. DKK-1 levels were higher for patients with than without events (P<0.001). The rate of MACE increased with increasing DKK-1 level (P<0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for GRACE score with MACE was 0.524 and improved to 0.791 with the addition of hs-CRP level, 0.775 with the addition of DKK-1 level and 0.847 with both values added.

Conclusions

DKK-1 is an independent predictor of long-term MACE of patients with ACS. The long-term predictive ability of post-discharge GRACE score may be enhanced by adding DKK-1 level.     

Six-month clinical outcomes of the Tryton Side Branch Stent for the treatment of bifurcation lesions

Aims

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of a bifurcation lesion (BL) is still associated with poorer clinical outcomes when compared with PCI of a non-BL. Therefore, several dedicated coronary bifurcation stents, such as the Tryton Side Branch Stent™ (Tryton Medical, Durham, NC, USA), were developed to improve clinical outcomes. We investigated 6-month clinical outcomes after placement of a Tryton stent in 91 patients treated for 93 BLs in our centre.

Methods and results

All consecutive patients who have undergone PCI of a BL treated with the Tryton stent in our centre were included. Outcomes were defined as any death, cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI), any revascularisation, ischaemia-driven target vessel revascularisation (TVR), ischaemia-driven target lesion revascularisation (TLR), stent thrombosis, and target vessel failure (TVF; composite of cardiac death, MI, and ischaemia-driven TVR). Event rates were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Thirty-eight (42 %) patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) were included (16 % ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI)). The 6-month event rates were 5.4 % (death), 4.3 % (cardiac death), 2.2 % (MI), 4.5 % (any revascularisation), 4.5 % (TVR), 4.5 % (TLR) and 9.7 % (TVF).

Conclusion

In a real-world all-comers single-centre registry, the use of the Tryton Side Branch Stent was associated with acceptable procedural and promising clinical outcomes at 6 months, including ACS and STEMI patients.     

Lipoprotein(a) levels and long-term cardiovascular risk in the contemporary era of statin therapy

Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] has enhanced atherothrombotic properties. The ability of Lp(a) levels to predict adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients undergoing coronary angiography has not been examined. The relationship between serum Lp(a) levels and both the extent of angiographic disease and 3-year incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE: death, myocardial infarction, stroke, and coronary revascularization) was investigated in 2,769 patients who underwent coronary angiography [median Lp(a) 16.4 mg/dl, elevated levels (≥30 mg/dl) in 38%]. An elevated Lp(a) was associated with a 2.3-fold [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.7–3.2, P < 0.001] greater likelihood of having a significant angiographic stenosis and 1.5-fold (95 CI, 1.3–1.7, P < 0.001) greater chance of three-vessel disease. Lp(a)≥30 mg/dl was associated with a greater rate of MACE (41.8 vs. 35.8%, P = 0.005), primarily due to a greater need for coronary revascularization (30.9 vs. 26.0%, P = 0.02). A relationship between Lp(a) levels and cardiovascular outcome was observed in patients with an LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) ≥70-100 mg/dl (P = 0.049) and >100 mg/dl (P = 0.02), but not <70 mg/dl (P = 0.77). Polymorphisms of Lp(a) were also associated with both plasma Lp(a) levels and coronary stenosis, but not a greater rate of MACE. Lp(a) levels correlate with the extent of obstructive disease and predict the need for coronary revascularization in subjects with suboptimal LDL-C control. This supports the need to intensify lipid management in patients with elevated Lp(a) levels.     

Superiority of total white blood cell count over other leukocyte differentials for predicting long-term outcomes in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome

Abstract

Context: Leukocytes have been found to be the predictor of outcome following acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Objective: We sought to determine the relationship between leukocyte differentials and developing major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in patients with non-ST elevation ACS (NSTE-ACS).

Materials and methods: A total of 490 consecutive patients were enrolled, and MACE incidence was evaluated at long-term follow-up period.

Results: Total white blood cell (WBC) was higher in subjects occurring MACE. Moreover, elevated total WBC, ≥7.5?×?10³/µL, independently predicted MACE.

Discussion and conclusion: Elevated admission total WBC can predict long-term MACE in NSTE-ACS patients better than other differentials.     

CC chemokine ligands in patients presenting with stable chest pain: association with atherosclerosis and future cardiovascular events

Background

CC chemokine ligands (CCLs) are elevated during acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and correlate with secondary events. Their involvement in plaque inflammation led us to investigate whether CCL3-5-18 are linked to the extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) and prognostic for primary events during follow-up.

Methods

We measured CCL3-5-18 serum concentrations in 712 patients with chest discomfort referred for cardiac CT angiography. Obstructive CAD was defined as ≥50?% stenosis. The extent of CAD was measured by calcium score and segment involvement score (number of coronary segments with any CAD, range 0–16). Patients were followed up for all-cause mortality, ACS and revascularisation, for a mean 26 ± 7 months.

Results

Patients with obstructive CAD had significantly higher CCL5 (p = 0.02), and borderline significantly elevated CCL18 plasma levels as compared with patients with <50?% stenosis (p = 0.06). CCL18 levels were associated with coronary calcification (p = 0.002) and segment involvement score (p = 0.007). Corrected for traditional risk factors, only CCL5 provided independent predictive value for obstructive CAD: odds ratio (OR) 1.27 (1.02–1.59), p = 0.04. CCL5 provided independent predictive value for primary events during follow-up: OR 1.62 (1.03–2.57), p = 0.04.

Conclusions

While CCL18 serum levels correlated with extent of CAD, CCL5 demonstrated an independent association with the presence of obstructive CAD, and occurrence of primary cardiac events.

     

Lectin-Like OLR1 3′UTR Rs1050286 Gene Polymorphism and Plasma Oxidized-LDL in Coronary Artery Disease and Their Relation to Cardiovascular Risk and Outcomes

Background:Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) has an important role in the genesis of coronary atherosclerosis. Lectin-like ox-LDL receptor 1 (OLR1) contributes to the uptake and internalization of ox-LDL. Genetic polymorphisms have been associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). Here we explore the association of plasma levels of ox-LDL and 3′ UTR OLR1 (rs1050286) SNP with CAD risk and in-hospital adverse outcomes.Methods:A case-control study enrolled 192 patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), 100 patients with unstable angina, and 100 healthy controls. Baseline, clinical characteristics, and risk scores of the patients were determined. Plasma ox-LDL and other biochemical variables were measured. All subjects are genotyped for OLR1 (rs1050286) by RT-PCR with TaqMan SNP genotyping assay.Results:Plasma ox-LDL was higher with enhanced sensitivity and specificity in identifying patients with STEMI and was found as a significant independent risk factor for CAD in those two groups. Levels of ox-LDL were increased with increasing poor prognostic factors in STEMI patients that are associated with an increased incidence of some adverse events and in-hospital mortality. Elevated STEMI risk was associated with T allele of OLR1 (rs1050286) (odds ratio of 4.9, 95% CI: 2.6-9.4, p< 0.001). STEMI patients who have T allele exhibited higher risk scores, coronary multivessel narrowing, and elevated incidence of in-hospital major adverse clinical events.Conclusion:These results suggest that plasma ox-LDL, as well as T allele of ORL-1 (rs1050286), is associated with the increased risk for developing STEMI and the associated adverse clinical outcomes.Key Words: Coronary artery disease, genotyping, OLR1, outcomes, Oxidized low-density lipoprotein     

Are There Ethnic Inequalities in Revascularisation Procedure Rate after an ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction?

Background

Previously, ethnic inequalities in prognosis after a first acute myocardial infarction were observed in the Netherlands. This might be due to differences in revascularisation rate between ethnic minority groups and ethnic Dutch. Therefore, we investigated inequalities in revascularisation rate after occurrence of an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) between first generation ethnic minority groups (henceforth, migrants) and ethnic Dutch.

Methods

All STEMI events between 2006 and 2011 were identified in a subset of the Achmea Health Database, which records medical care to persons insured at the Achmea health insurance company, a major health insurance company in the central part of the Netherlands. Ethnic Dutch and migrants from Suriname (Hindustani Surinamese and non-Hindustani Surinamese), Morocco, and Turkey were included (n = 1,765). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to identify ethnic inequalities in revascularisation rate (percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)) after a STEMI event.

Results

On average, 73.2% of STEMI events were followed by a revascularisation procedure. After adjustment for confounders (age, sex, degree of urbanization) no significant differences in revascularisation rate were found between the ethnic Dutch population and Hindustani Surinamese (HR: 1.04; 0.85–1.27), non-Hindustani Surinamese (HR: 0.98; 0.63–1.51), Moroccan (HR: 0.94; 0.77–1.14), and Turkish migrants (HR: 1.04; 0.88–1.24). Additional adjustment for comorbidity and neighborhood income did not change our findings.

Conclusion

Our study suggests no ethnic inequalities in revascularisation rate after a STEMI event. This finding is in agreement with the universally accessible health care system in the Netherlands.     

血尿酸水平对ST段抬高型心肌梗死患者急诊经皮冠状动脉介入术后长期预后的影响

目的:探讨血尿酸(SUA)水平对行急诊经皮冠状动脉介入治疗(PCI)的ST段抬高型心肌梗死(STEMI)患者长期预后的影响。方法:连续纳入2012年1月至2012年12月在我院诊断为STEMI并成功行急诊PCI的患者275例,按照入院时SUA水平三分位法将患者分成A组91例(低尿酸)、B组90例(中尿酸)、C组94例(高尿酸)。收集所有患者临床基线资料,包括吸烟史、既往病史、血液学指标及冠脉造影结果等,观察三组患者急诊PCI术后住院期间及术后6年随访期间主要不良心血管事件(MACE)的发生情况,logistic回归分析SUA水平对患者近期及长期预后的危险因素。结果:C组男性和心律失常病史比例明显高于A、B组(P0.05)。同时,三组患者AIP、Scr、BUN、SUA、APTT组间比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。C组患者三支血管病变比例明显高于A、B组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。三组患者住院期间心力衰竭、支架内血栓形成、总MACE比例组间比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。三组患者术后6年心力衰竭、心绞痛、支架内再狭窄/闭塞和总MACE比例组间比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。Logistic回归显示年龄、吸烟史、TC、SUA、血栓抽吸术、IABP应用是住院期间MACE发生的危险因素(P0.05),AIP、SUA、APTT、IABP应用是PCI术后6年随访期间MACE发生的危险因素(P0.05)。结论:成功行急诊PCI的STEMI患者,SUA水平是其近期及长期预后的独立危险因素,SUA水平升高者长期MACE发生率增加。     

Predictors of ventricular tachyarrhythmia in high-risk myocardial infarction patients treated with primary coronary intervention

Background. We investigated the association between clinical characteristics, angiographic data and ventricular arrhythmia in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) Methods. In patients with STEMI (n=225), a Holter analysis was performed the first 12 hours after primary PCI. Results. A total of 151 (66%) patients had ≥1 episode of ventricular tachycardia (VT). Age <70 years (RR 4.9, 95% CI 1.8 to 12.7), TIMI 0-1 pre-PCI (RR 2.6, 95% CI 1.1 to 6.1) and peak CK (RR 3.5, 95% CI 1.9 to 5.8) were independent predictors of VT. One-year mortality was 7%, no association between mortality and presence of early VT was found. Conclusion. Ventricular tachycardia is common in the first 12 hours after primary PCI for STEMI. Independent predictors of VT are younger age, TIMI 0-1 flow prior to PCI and larger infarct size. The presence of early VT was not significantly associated with one-year mortality. (Neth Heart J 2010;18:122-8.)     

The 1‑year safety and efficacy outcomes of Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffolds for coronary artery disease treatment in diabetes mellitus patients: the ABSORB DM Benelux study

Background

Diabetes mellitus (DM) patients show higher rates of repeat revascularisation even in the era of modern drug-eluting stents (DES). The concept of bioresorbable scaffolds is becoming captivating, as it might allow for repeat interventions, prolonging the time span during which patients can be treated by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Aims

We intend to evaluate the short- and long-term safety and efficacy of Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (Absorb BVS) in the treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD) in DM patients for any indication.

Methods

The ABSORB DM Benelux is an international prospective study in DM patients who have undergone PCI with ≥1 Absorb BVS. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at 1 year was the primary endpoint, defined as a composite of all-cause death, any myocardial infarction (MI) and ischaemia-driven target vessel revascularisation (TVR). Secondary endpoints were target lesion failure (TLF) and definite or probable scaffold thrombosis (ScT).

Results

Between April 2015 and March 2017, 150 DM patients and 188 non-complex lesions were treated. Device implantation was successful in 100%. MACE occurred in 14 (9.5%) patients, with all-cause death occurring in 4 (2.7%), any MI in 6 (4.1%) and ischaemia-driven TVR in 7 (4.8%) respectively. TLF was reported in 11 (7.5%). Definite and probable ScT was observed in 2 (1.4%).

Conclusion

Absorb BVS for treatment of anatomically low-risk patients with DM show acceptable safety and efficacy outcomes at 1 year. If these promising results are confirmed after a longer follow-up period, new-generation bioresorbable scaffolds combined with refinement of implantation techniques might open new horizons for CAD treatment in DM patients.

     

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 Glu504Lys variant predicts a worse prognosis of acute coronary syndrome patients

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) Glu504Lys variant was an independent risk factor for acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, there are lacking researches about the relationship between the variant and prognosis of ACS. In the prospective study, 377 ACS patients were grouped into the wild‐type (*1/*1) and the mutation (*2/*2 + *1/*2) groups according to genotype detection. Compared with the wild‐type group, incidences of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and cardiac death were both higher in the mutation group (9.2% vs 21.0%, P = .002; 5.2% vs 12.2%, P = .026); the MACE‐free and the cardiac‐death‐free cumulative survival rates were obviously lower in the mutation group. Moreover, the mutant genotypes were associated with significantly increased risk of MACE and cardiac death (HR 2.443, 95%CI: 1.390‐4.296, P = .002; HR 2.727, 95%CI: 1.303‐5.708, P = .008). These results suggested that ALDH2 Glu504Lys variant could predict a worse prognosis of ACS patients.     

One-year clinical follow-up of a registry evaluating a percutaneous revascularisation strategy combining a pre-specified simple selection process with the use of a new thin-strut bare cobalt-chromium stent

Objectives. To evaluate clinical events in a specifically selected cohort of patients with obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD), using a new generation thin-strut bare cobalt-chromium coronary stent. Methods. Patients with single- or multi-vessel, stable or unstable CAD eligible for percutaneous implantation of at least one bare cobalt-chromium stent were evaluated in a single-centre registry. Prospective pre-specified criteria for bare cobalt-chromium stent implantation in our centre were: any acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (MI), otherwise 1) de novo coronary lesion, and 2) lesion length <20 mm, and 3) reference vessel diameter >2.6 mm, and 4) no diabetes, unless reference vessel diameter >3.5 mm. Endpoints, retrospectively collected, were death, MI and clinically driven target-lesion revascularisation (TLR) and target-vessel revascularisation (TVR) after 12 months. Results. Between September 2005 and June 2007, 712 patients (48.7% one-vessel, 29.9% two-vessel, 20% three-vessel and 1.4% left main disease; 7.9% diabetics) were treated with 800 bare cobalt-chromium stents, for stable angina (40.9%), unstable angina (20.9%) or acute ST-elevation MI (38.2%). The procedural success rate was 99.3%. Peri-procedural MI rate was 2.2% in the semi-elective group. At 12 months there were 17 deaths (2.4%), of which nine non-cardiac, 20 (2.8%) MI, 19 (2.7%) TLR and 29 (4.1%) TVR. Early and late definite stent thrombosis occurred in four (0.6%) and three (0.4%) patients, respectively. Conclusion. A strategy aimed at minimising drug-eluting stent use and combining a pre-specified simple selection process with the use of a new thin-strut bare cobalt-chromium stent is safe and effective at one-year clinical follow-up. (Neth Heart J 2010;18:486-92.)     

Long-term follow-up after bypass surgery or coronary stenting in elderly with multivessel disease

Background

We sought to compare long-term follow-up of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in elderly patients with left main or multivessel disease, hypothesising that completeness of revascularisation and severity of coronary artery disease are predictors of adverse outcomes.

Methods

Patients aged ≥75 years with multivessel disease or left main disease who underwent PCI or CABG between 2012–2016 were included in this retrospective cohort study. Baseline characteristics from the index procedure were collected. Severity of coronary artery disease and completeness of revascularisation were assessed. Primary outcome was all-cause mortality, in addition we captured major adverse cardiac and cerebral events, bleedings, recurrent angina and new onset atrial fibrillation.

Results

A total of 597 patients were included. Median follow-up was 4 years (interquartile range 2.8–5.3 years). At baseline, patients in the PCI group more often had a previous medical history of CABG and more frequently underwent an urgent procedure compared with patients in the CABG group. Mortality at 5‑year follow-up was significantly higher in patients who underwent PCI compared with CABG (39.9% vs 25.4%, p < 0.001). Furthermore, acute coronary syndrome (ACS), repeat revascularisation and recurrent angina occurred more frequently after PCI, while occurrence of bleedings and new onset atrial fibrillation were more frequent after CABG. Neither completeness of revascularisation nor severity of coronary artery disease was a predictor for any of the outcomes.

Conclusion

Long-term mortality was higher in elderly patients with multivessel disease undergoing PCI compared with CABG. In addition, patients undergoing PCI had a higher risk of ACS, repeat revascularisation and recurrent angina.

     

Pregnancy-associated plasma protein A and proform eosinophilic major basic protein in the detection of different types of coronary artery disease

Kryptor system was proven to be a rapid, standard method for pregnancy-associated plasma protein A and proform eosinophilic major basic protein (PAPP-A/proMBP) complex detection in coronary artery disease (CAD). No age and/or gender differences in 51 controls and 110 stable coronary artery disease (SCAD) patients were found. SCAD patients did not differ from controls and no difference in PAPP-A/proMBP levels with regards to the number of affected vessels was found. In 21 unstable angina pectoris (UAP), in 35 without and 66 with ST elevation acute myocardial infarctions (NSTEMI, STEMI respectively) patients PAPP-A/proMBP levels were increased (P=0.004 and P<0.0005, respectively). PAPP-A/proMBP levels did not correlate with cardiac troponin I (cTnI) in STEMI and NSTEMI patients. PAPP-A/ proMBP increase was more frequent than cTnI (P=0.036) within the early phase of STEMI. In NSTEMI patients PAPP-A/proMBP positivity was present in 50 % of cTnI negative cases. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed the highest diagnostic accuracy of PAPP-A/proMBP (0.919) in STEMI cTnI positive cases. The highest specificity/sensitivity PAPP-A/proMBP levels for particular acute coronary syndrome (ACS) types were 10.65-14.75 mIU/l. Combination of PAPP-A/proMBP with cTnI increases their diagnostic efficacy within the early phase of ACS. Our results suggest that PAPP-A/proMBP complex is involved in processes preceding vulnerable plaque development in ACS.     

Plasma Levels of microRNA-145 Are Associated with Severity of Coronary Artery Disease

MethodsA total of 195 consecutive subjects who underwent coronary angiography for chest pain evaluation were enrolled in this study. In CAD patients severity of coronary lesions was assessed by the number of diseased vessels and the Synergy between PCI with Taxus and Cardiac surgery score (SYNTAX score). Plasma levels of miRNA-145 were quantified by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction test, and logarithmic transformation of miRNA-145 levels (Ln_miRNA-145) was used for analyses due to its skewed distribution.ResultsOf the 195 total subjects 167 patients were diagnosed as having CAD. Ln_miRNA-145 was significantly lower in CAD patients compared with the non-CAD group (-6.11±0.92 vs. -5.06±1.25; p <0.001). In multivariable linear regression analyses CAD was significantly associated with lower Ln_miRNA-145 (Estimate, -0.50; standard error (SE), 0.11; p <0.0001). Furthermore, among CAD patients, three-vessel disease, higher SYNTAX scores and STEMI were significantly associated with lower Ln_miRNA-145 ([Estimate, -0.40; SE, 0.07; p <0.0001]; [Estimate, -0.02, SE, 0.10; p = 0.005] and [Estimate, -0.35, SE, 0.10; p <0.001] respectively).ConclusionsLower plasma levels of miRNA-145 were significantly associated with the presence as well as severity of CAD. As a potential biomarker for CAD, plasma miRNA-145 may be useful in predicting CAD and its severity in patients presenting with chest pain.