Variability in extent of platelet function inhibition after administration of optimal dose of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor blockers in patients undergoing a high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention.

The Ultegra Rapid Platelet Function Assay was used to measure the inhibition of platelet aggregation at baseline and 10 minutes and 8 hours after starting therapy in 114 patients undergoing high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention with the planned use of a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor. The abciximab-treated patients received a 0.25 mg/kg bolus, followed by a 0.125 microg/kg/min infusion for 12 hours; the eptifibatide-treated patients received 2 boluses of 180 microg/kg administered 10 minutes apart, followed by a 2 microg/kg/min infusion for 24 hours; the tirofiban-treated patients received a 25 microg/kg bolus, followed by a 0.15 microg/kg/min infusion for 18 hours. Ten minutes after starting therapy, the mean level of platelet inhibition was 86 +/- 9% for abciximab, 92 +/- 6% for eptifibatide, and 95 +/- 5% for tirofiban (p <0.001); > or =95% platelet inhibition was achieved in 29% of the patients treated with abciximab, 44% of those receiving eptifibatide, and 68% of the those receiving tirofiban (p = 0.02). In conclusion, at the evaluated doses, tirofiban seemed to be the most effective drug in achieving "optimal" platelet inhibition very early after percutaneous coronary intervention.

Downstream administration of a high-dose tirofiban bolus in high-risk patients with unstable angina undergoing early percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: The best treatment option for high-risk patients with unstable coronary syndrome is an early invasive strategy accompanied by intensive anti-platelet therapy. We tested the effect on clinical outcome of early coronary angioplasty using a high-dose bolus of tirofiban in patients with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome. METHODS: One hundred and forty consecutive patients with unstable coronary syndrome who underwent an immediate percutaneous coronary intervention with the administration of a high (25 microg/kg) dose bolus of tirofiban followed by an 18-h infusion of 0.15 microg kg(-1) min(-1) were compared with a matched control group of 162 patients treated with abciximab. The primary endpoint of the study was the 30-day incidence of major adverse cardiac events; the secondary endpoints were the incidence of major and minor bleeding. RESULTS: The time from admission to PCI was slightly shorter in the tirofiban group (3.9+/-4.8 vs. 4.5+/-4.4 h; P=0.26). The 30-day rate of major adverse cardiac events was similar in the two groups (6% with tirofiban and 8.6% with abciximab: OR=1.37, 95% CI=0.58-3.29, P=0.52). No major bleeding episodes were observed; the incidence of minor bleeding was 3.6% in the tirofiban group and 2.5% in the abciximab group (OR=0.68, 95% CI=0.18-2.59, P=0.74). CONCLUSIONS: In this preliminary study, the beneficial effect of the administration of a high-dose tirofiban bolus on 30-day clinical outcomes was similar to that of abciximab in high-risk patients with unstable angina undergoing immediate percutaneous coronary intervention. The results of this therapeutic strategy should be tested in a larger randomised study.

Comparison in patients having primary coronary angioplasty of abciximab versus tirofiban on recovery of left ventricular function.

In patients treated with primary coronary angioplasty, the use of abciximab improves microvascular perfusion and enhances the recovery of contractile function. This study compared the effects of the new dose regimen of tirofiban (25-microg/kg bolus followed by an 18-hour infusion at 0.15 microg/kg/min) on left ventricular function with those of abciximab in patients who underwent direct angioplasty. One hundred patients who underwent primary coronary angioplasty were randomized to receive a standard dose of abciximab or a large-dose bolus of tirofiban. The primary end point of the study was change in the infarct-zone wall motion score index between the initial and 30-day follow-up echocardiographic studies. The secondary end points were procedural evaluations before and after Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) grade flow, TIMI grade myocardial perfusion, and corrected TIMI frame count. Baseline global and regional ventricular functions were similar in the 2 treatment groups. After the procedure, a TIMI grade 3 flow was obtained in 86% of patients treated with abciximab and 88% of those receiving tirofiban (p = 1.0), whereas TIMI grade 3 myocardial perfusion was present in 70% and 76%, respectively (p = 0.65); corrected TIMI frame count was 22.5 +/- 1.9 and 22.1 +/- 2.5 (p = 0.37). After 30 days, we obtained 87 paired echocardiographic studies. The infarct-zone wall motion score index decreased from 2.20 +/- 0.3 to 1.99 +/- 0.2 in the abciximab group and from 2.18 +/- 0.3 to 1.95 +/- 0.3 in the tirofiban group (p = 0.67). Thus, in patients who had primary coronary angioplasty, abciximab, and the large-dose bolus of tirofiban showed similar effects on the initial angiographic results and 30-day recovery of left ventricular function.

An unusual case of suspected microvascular angina in a newborn.

Myocardial ischemia in pediatric population is uncommon and usually due to congenital heart disease or extracardiac conditions leading to poor coronary perfusion. A 6-day-old newborn presented with respiratory distress and signs of heart failure. ECG, echocardiography, and laboratory results were consistent with myocardial ischemia. Coronary angiography was performed to exclude anomalous origin of coronary arteries, showing normal coronary artery origin and course. Thrombophilia and extra-cardiac causes were ruled out. Clinical conditions improved with mechanical ventilation and diuretics, enzyme levels lowered, repolarisation and systolic function abnormalities regressed, but ischemic electrocardiographic and echocardiographic signs still presented during intense crying. Becaues of suspicion of microvascular angina, therapy with ASA and beta-blocker was started. At 5 month followup, the baby was in good clinical condition and no more episodes were recorded. We believe it is an interesting case, as no similar cases have been recorded till now.

Percutaneous device closure of iatrogenic left ventricular wall pseudoaneurysm.

A 67-year-old man with ischemic cardiomyopathy was transferred to our hospital in cardiogenic. During a video-assisted mini-thoracotomy for left ventricular epicardial lead implantation, a left ventricular free-wall rupture occurred and an emergency surgical repair was performed. Postoperatively patients experience left ventricular wall pseudoaneurysm. After stabilization of clinical conditions with aggressive medical treatment, we decided to attempt a minimally invasive procedure (ie, a transcatheter pseudoaneurysm closure). To date, few cases of device closure of left ventricle pseudoaneurysm are reported in the literature, usually secondary to myocardial infarction, and we believe this is the first case of left ventricle pseudoaneurysm after iatrogenic left ventricle laceration and surgical closure.

[The project "Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation--Cardio-Thoracic Department De Gasperis--Lombardy Region" for the care of children from socio-economically deprived areas affected by cardiac disease]. / II progetto "Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi--Dipartimento Cardiochirurgico De Gasperis--Regione Lombardia" per la cura di bambini cardiopatici provenienti da paesi esteri a basso livello assistenziale.

BACKGROUND: In 2001 the Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit IRCCS S. Maria Nascente Center and the International Area of Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation, in collaboration with the Cardiac Surgery Department "De Gasperis" of Niguarda Ca' Granda Hospital in Milan, planned a project to treat children from impoverished countries. The "Fondo Sanitario Regionale" of the Lombard Region cosponsored the program. METHODS: From October 2001 to November 2006, 32 patients (25 from Zimbabwe and 7 from Albania) were selected and submitted to cardiac surgery: 22 patients were affected by acquired valvular heart disease in NYHA class III-IV, 10 by congenital heart disease. After surgery the patients admitted to our rehabilitation unit underwent a period of comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation. Afterwards, the patients were in the care of selected Italian families for about 3 months. In both populations the problems faced in the selection, management and surgical approach are discussed. RESULTS: At 21 months the survival of the whole study population was 93 % (2 valvular patients died during the follow-up); 2 patients who initially underwent mitral valve repair were submitted to valve replacement for late appearance of severe regurgitation. In 3 patients with mitral valve bioprosthesis a significant structural valve deterioration occurred in the follow-up and 2 of them underwent valve replacement. CONCLUSIONS: The advantage of the excellent performance in durability of mechanical prosthetic valves (with respect to the limited durability of porcine bioprostheses), the problems with long-term anticoagulation have to be taken into consideration in the management of patients coming from socio-economically deprived areas.