Immature Platelet Fraction Predicts Adverse Events in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome: the ISAR-REACT 5 Reticulated Platelet Substudy.

BACKGROUND: Immature or reticulated platelets are associated with impaired efficacy of antiplatelet drugs and adverse events in cardiovascular patients. Their role as a predictive biomarker in patients with acute coronary syndrome treated with potent P2Y12 receptor inhibitors is not fully understood. We aimed to prospectively evaluate reticulated platelets as a predictor of the primary end point of the ISAR-REACT 5 trial consisting of death, myocardial infarction, or stroke at 1 year in patients with acute coronary syndrome randomized to prasugrel or ticagrelor. METHODS: Immature platelet fraction (IPF) was assessed within 48 hours after randomization. Patients were divided based on the IPF median values: the IPFhigh group included patients with IPF>median and the IPFlow group included patients with IPF≤median. Platelet aggregation was assessed using the Multiplate Analyzer and was correlated to IPF. RESULTS: Five hundred seventy-seven patients were included in the study. IPF values in % (median [interquartile range]) within the first 48 hours did not differ between the two study groups: 3.6 (2.5-5.2)% in the prasugrel group and 3.6 (2.5-5.4)% in the ticagrelor group (P=0.882). The incidence of the primary end point was significantly higher in the IPFhigh (IPF>3.6%) group compared with the IPFlow (IPF≤3.6%) group: 13.0% versus 7.2% (HRadj, 1.74 [1.02-3.00]; P=0.044), independently from the assigned drug (Pint=0.159). No significant association between IPF and BARC 3 to 5 bleeding was observed. ADP-induced platelet aggregation correlated significantly with IPF in patients treated with prasugrel (r=0.22; P=0.005) while no correlation was detected in patients treated with ticagrelor (r=0.09; P=0.257). CONCLUSIONS: Independently from drug treatment, IPF was associated with the primary end point and therefore is a promising biomarker for the prediction of adverse cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndrome treated with prasugrel or ticagrelor. REGISTRATION: https://www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov; Unique identifier: NCT01944800.

[The new ESC guidelines 2021 on prevention of cardiovascular diseases : Appeal for prevention]. / Neue ESC-Leitlinien 2021 zur Prävention von kardiovaskulären Erkrankungen : Aufruf zur Prävention.

This article summarizes the innovations and most important points of the recently published and updated ESC guidelines 2021 on the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Developments in risk stratification and further developments with respect to targets and options for the treatment of risk factors necessitated an update of the guidelines from 2016. The innovations incorporate a staged and individualized approach to the prevention targets, an implementation of the systematic coronary risk evaluation 2 (SCORE 2 update) and the SCORE 2­older persons (OP) systems on risk stratification, including age-dependent estimations for young (<50 years old) and older people (≥70 years old) as well as for patients with diabetes mellitus and atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, specific recommendations are given for coronary heart disease, heart failure and chronic kidney insufficiency. In addition to recommendations on individualized treatment, the relevance of cardiovascular prevention at the population level, including environmental protection is underlined.

Ticagrelor or Prasugrel in Patients With ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

BACKGROUND: Data on the comparative efficacy and safety of ticagrelor versus prasugrel in patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention are limited. We assessed the efficacy and safety of ticagrelor versus prasugrel in a head-to-head comparison in patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention. METHODS: In this prespecified subgroup analysis, we included 1653 patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction randomized to receive ticagrelor or prasugrel in the setting of the ISAR REACT-5 trial (Intracoronary Stenting and Antithrombotic Regimen: Rapid Early Action for Coronary Treatment 5). The primary end point was the incidence of death, myocardial infarction, or stroke at 1 year after randomization. The secondary end point was the incidence of bleeding defined as BARC (Bleeding Academic Research Consortium) type 3 to 5 bleeding at 1 year after randomization. RESULTS: The primary end point occurred in 83 patients (10.1%) in the ticagrelor group and in 64 patients (7.9%) in the prasugrel group (hazard ratio, 1.31 [95% CI, 0.95-1.82]; P=0.10). One-year incidence of all-cause death (4.9% versus 4.7%; P=0.83), stroke (1.3% versus 1.0%; P=0.46), and definite stent thrombosis (1.8% versus 1.0%; P=0.15) did not differ significantly in patients assigned to ticagrelor or prasugrel. One-year incidence of myocardial infarction (5.3% versus 2.8%; hazard ratio, 1.95 [95% CI, 1.18-3.23]; P=0.010) was higher with ticagrelor than with prasugrel. BARC type 3 to 5 bleeding occurred in 46 patients (6.1%) in the ticagrelor group and in 39 patients (5.1%) in the prasugrel group (hazard ratio, 1.22 [95% CI, 0.80-1.87]; P=0.36). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention, there was no significant difference in the primary end point between prasugrel and ticagrelor. Ticagrelor was associated with a significant increase in the risk for recurrent myocardial infarction. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT01944800.

Influence of diagnosis of venous thromboembolism on immature platelets, absolute platelet count and platelet aggregation over time.

The extent of the involvement of platelets in venous thromboembolisms (VTE) is still not fully understood. Immature platelets are large, RNA-rich, prothrombotic platelets. They are involved in arterial thromboembolisms and are associated with adverse cardiovascular events. Their role in VTE has not been investigated before. The aim of this study was to assess different platelet parameters including immature platelet fraction (IPF), immature platelet count (IPC), absolute platelet count and platelet aggregation (PA) over time in patients with VTE at time of diagnosis, as well as at 3-10 days and at 90-110 days after diagnosis. 50 healthy volunteers similar in age and sex to patients served as controls at diagnosis. IPF was measured by the Sysmex XE-5000 analyzer, PA was assessed using the Multiplate analyzer. Diagnosis of VTE had no relevant effect on IPF and IPC whereas absolute platelet count and PA were significantly decreased compared to controls. In the course of VTE, IPF decreased significantly, whereas IPC, absolute platelet count and PA increased. In conclusion, VTE was associated with relevant changes of the absolute platelet count and PA at diagnosis, as well as changes in IPF and IPC over time reflecting a relevant and measurable platelet consumption in VTEs.

Endovascular therapy of subclavian artery occlusive disease involving the vertebral artery origin.

Background: While the majority of subclavian artery (SA) lesions are localized in the proximal segment, the evidence in patients with medial SA disease involving the vertebral artery (VA) origin are scarce. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed all patients who underwent percutaneous revascularization of the SA at our institution. RESULTS: A total of 196 patients were retrospectively analyzed. The majority of SA lesions (n = 163, 83 %) were located in the proximal segment, whereas 28 lesions (14 %) were located in the medial segment, and only 5 lesions (3 %) involved the distal segment. Procedural success was high for both stenosis (96 %) and occlusion (89 %) and did not differ depending on lesion location. Revascularization techniques in the medial segment included stenting of the SA only (13 patients), additional VA balloon-dilatation (6 patients), and bifurcation stenting of the SA and VA using T-stenting technique (9 patients). Outcome after a median of 12 months showed no significant differences in freedom from restenosis between proximal and medial lesions (90 % vs. 95 %; p = 0.67). CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular revascularization of SA disease with medial segments involving the VA origin required more complex techniques and showed long-term patency rates comparable to those in lesions located within the proximal SA.

Real clinical experiences of dual versus triple antithrombotic therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess the impact of omitting aspirin on clinical outcomes in a real-world collective of patients receiving oral anticoagulation (OAC) therapy who were treated with a current-generation drug-eluting stent (DES) or an everolimus-eluting bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS). BACKGROUND: Limited data are available regarding the clinical benefit of triple antithrombotic therapy (TAT) with aspirin compared with dual antithrombotic therapy (DAT) without aspirin in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and requiring OAC. METHODS: In total, 237 patients were analyzed. The primary outcome was a composite of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) within 1 year after PCI. Secondary outcomes were the individual components of the primary endpoint, cardiovascular death, and any bleeding according to Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) or Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) criteria. RESULTS: Eighty-nine patients (37.6%) received DAT, and 148 (62.4%) received TAT. The rate of MACCE was significantly higher in DAT patients than in TAT patients (16 (18%) vs. 11 (7.4%); hazard ratio [HR] 2.73, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.24-6.03; P = 0.01). The results of the multivariable Cox proportional hazards model including corrections for imbalances in baseline characteristics confirmed a significant independent association between DAT and MACCE (HRadj 3.14, 95% CI 1.31-7.54; P = 0.01). Major bleeding did not differ significantly between treatment groups. CONCLUSION: DAT was associated with a significantly higher rate of MACCE than TAT after DES or BVS implantation. Further studies are required to evaluate the safety and efficacy of dual versus TAT after PCI in clinical practice.

Increased variability of watershed areas in patients with high-grade carotid stenosis.

PURPOSE: Watershed areas (WSAs) of the brain are most susceptible to acute hypoperfusion due to their peripheral location between vascular territories. Additionally, chronic WSA-related vascular processes underlie cognitive decline especially in patients with cerebral hemodynamic compromise. Despite of high relevance for both clinical diagnostics and research, individual in vivo WSA definition is fairly limited to date. Thus, this study proposes a standardized segmentation approach to delineate individual WSAs by use of time-to-peak (TTP) maps and investigates spatial variability of individual WSAs. METHODS: We defined individual watershed masks based on relative TTP increases in 30 healthy elderly persons and 28 patients with unilateral, high-grade carotid stenosis, being at risk for watershed-related hemodynamic impairment. Determined WSA location was confirmed by an arterial transit time atlas and individual super-selective arterial spin labeling. We compared spatial variability of WSA probability maps between groups and assessed TTP differences between hemispheres in individual and group-average watershed locations. RESULTS: Patients showed significantly higher spatial variability of WSAs than healthy controls. Perfusion on the side of the stenosis was delayed within individual watershed masks as compared to a watershed template derived from controls, being independent from the grade of the stenosis and collateralization status of the circle of Willis. CONCLUSION: Results demonstrate feasibility of individual WSA delineation by TTP maps in healthy elderly and carotid stenosis patients. Data indicate necessity of individual segmentation approaches especially in patients with hemodynamic compromise to detect critical regions of impaired hemodynamics.

Comparison of exercise training modalities and change in peak oxygen consumption in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: a secondary analysis of the OptimEx-Clin trial.

AIMS: Exercise training (ET) is an effective therapy in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), but the influence of different ET characteristics is unclear. We aimed to evaluate the associations between ET frequency, duration, intensity [% heart rate reserve (%HRR)] and estimated energy expenditure (EEE) with the change in peak oxygen consumption (V̇O2) over 3 months of moderate continuous training (MCT, 5×/week) or high-intensity interval training (HIIT, 3×/week) in HFpEF. METHODS AND RESULTS: ET duration and heart rate (HR) were recorded with a smartphone application. EEE was calculated using the HR data during ET and the individual HR-V̇O2 relationships during cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Differences between groups and associations between ET characteristics and peak V̇O2 change were assessed with linear regression analyses. Peak V̇O2 improved by 9.2 ± 13.2% after MCT and 8.7 ± 15.9% after HIIT (P = 0.67). The average EEE of 1 HIIT session was equivalent to ∼1.42 MCT sessions and when adjusted for EEE, the mean difference between MCT and HIIT was -0.1% (P = 0.98). For both MCT and HIIT, peak V̇O2 change was positively associated with ET frequency (MCT: R2 = 0.103; HIIT: R2 = 0.149) and duration/week (MCT: R2 = 0.120; HIIT: R2 = 0.125; all P < 0.05). Average %HRR was negatively associated with peak V̇O2 change in MCT (R2 = 0.101; P = 0.034), whereas no significant association was found in HIIT (P = 0.234). Multiple regression analyses explained ∼1/3 of the variance in peak V̇O2 change. CONCLUSION: In HFpEF, isocaloric HIIT and MCT seem to be equally effective over 3 months. Within each mode, increasing ET frequency or duration/week may be more effective to improve peak V̇O2 than increasing ET intensity.

In heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, endurance exercise training is one of the most effective treatment options to improve exercise tolerance, however, the influence of different exercise training characteristics such as training frequency, duration, intensity and energy expenditure have not yet been evaluated. A high-intensity interval training session of 38 min was associated with a ∼42% higher energy expenditure compared with a moderate continuous training session of 40 min. After taking into account the different energy expenditure, both training modes had equal effects on exercise tolerance. Therefore, patient preferences should be considered when planning an exercise program to improve treatment adherence. A higher number of exercise sessions per week or a higher weekly duration of exercise were more closely related to an increase in exercise tolerance than a higher exercise intensity. Therefore, increasing the frequency or weekly duration of exercise may be more effective in improving exercise tolerance than increasing exercise intensity.

Comparison of American and European Guidelines for Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: JACC Guideline Comparison.

This review compares the primary prevention recommendations of the recent 2021 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and 2019 American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines on cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention. Although the 2019 ACC/AHA guideline represents its inaugural version, the ESC guideline is an update to its 2016 statement. Both guidelines address prevention using a holistic approach and agree on the importance of lifestyle optimization and intensified risk factor management. Cardiovascular (CV) risk assessment tools differ, reflecting the unique populations being screened as well as philosophical differences to their approach. Conventional risk factors are used to estimate CV risk, but each guideline acknowledges the role of risk modifiers to refine risk calculation. The ESC guideline recognizes the importance of nonclassical risk factors, including environmental issues, that impact CV health at the population level and calls for legislative action at the local, regional, and national levels.

Exercise for Primary and Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: JACC Focus Seminar 1/4.

Regular exercise that meets or exceeds the current physical activity guidelines is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality. Therefore, exercise training plays an important role in primary and secondary prevention of CVD. In this part 1 of a 4-part focus seminar series, we highlight the mechanisms and physiological adaptations responsible for the cardioprotective effects of exercise. This includes an increase in cardiorespiratory fitness secondary to cardiac, vascular, and skeletal muscle adaptations and an improvement in traditional and nontraditional CVD risk factors by exercise training. This extends to the role of exercise and its prescription in patients with CVDs (eg, coronary artery disease, chronic heart failure, peripheral artery disease, or atrial fibrillation) with special focus on the optimal mode, dosage, duration, and intensity of exercise to reduce CVD risk and improve clinical outcomes in these patients.

Cardiovascular risk factors, exercise capacity and health literacy in patients with chronic ischaemic heart disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus in Germany: Baseline characteristics of the Lifestyle Intervention in Chronic Ischaemic Heart Disease and Type 2 Diabetes study.

BACKGROUND: Lifestyle interventions are a cornerstone in the treatment of chronic ischaemic heart disease (CIHD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study aimed at identifying differences in clinical characteristics between categories of the common lifestyle intervention targets BMI, exercise capacity (peak V̇O2) and health literacy (HL). METHODS: Cross-sectional baseline characteristics of patients enrolled in the LeIKD trial (Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03835923) are presented in total, grouped by BMI, %-predicted peak V̇O2 and HL (HLS-EU-Q16), and compared to other clinical trials with similar populations. RESULTS: Among 499 patients (68.3±7.7 years; 16.2% female; HbA1c, 6.9±0.9%), baseline characteristics were similar to other trials and revealed insufficient treatment of several risk factors (LDL-C 92±34 mg/dl; BMI, 30.1±4.8 kg/m2; 69.6% with peak V̇O2<90% predicted). Patients with lower peak V̇O2 showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) CIHD and T2DM disease severity (HbA1c, CIHD symptoms, coronary artery bypass graft). Obese patients had a significantly higher prevalence of hypertension and higher triglyceride levels, whereas in patients with low HL both quality of life components (physical, mental) were significantly reduced. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with CIHD and T2DM, peak V̇O2, BMI and HL are important indicators of disease severity, risk factor burden and quality of life, which reinforces the relevance of lifestyle interventions.

Prediction of Successful Pharmacological Cardioversion in Acute Symptomatic Atrial Fibrillation: The Successful Intravenous Cardioversion for Atrial Fibrillation (SIC-AF) Score.

Background: Modern personalised medicine requires patient-tailored decisions. This is particularly important when considering pharmacological cardioversion for the acute treatment of haemodynamically stable atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter in a shared decision-making process. We aimed to develop and validate a predictive model to estimate the individual probability of successful pharmacological cardioversion using different intravenous antiarrhythmic agents. Methods: We analysed data from a prospective atrial fibrillation registry comprising 3053 cases of first-detected or recurrent haemodynamically stable, non-permanent, symptomatic atrial fibrillation presenting to an Austrian academic emergency department between January 2012 and December 2017. Using multivariable analysis, a prediction score was developed and externally validated. The clinical utility of the score was assessed using decision curve analysis. Results: A total of 1528 cases were included in the development cohort (median age 69 years, IQR 58−76; 43.9% female), and 1525 cases were included in the validation cohort (median age 68 years, IQR (58−75); 39.5% female). Finally, 421 cases were available for score development and 330 cases for score validation The weighted score included atrial flutter (8 points), duration of symptoms associated with AF (<24 h; 8 points), absence of previous electrical cardioversion (10 points), and the specific intravenous antiarrhythmic drug (amiodarone 10 points, vernakalant 11 points, ibutilide 13 points). The final score, the "Successful Intravenous Cardioversion for Atrial Fibrillation (SIC-AF) score," showed good calibration (R2 = 0.955 and R2 = 0.954) and discrimination in both sets (c-indices: 0.68 and 0.66) and net clinical benefit. Conclusions: A predictive model was developed to estimate the success of intravenous pharmacological cardioversion using different antiarrhythmic agents in a cohort of patients with haemodynamically stable, non-permanent, symptomatic atrial fibrillation. External temporal validation confirmed good calibration, discrimination, and clinical usefulness. The SIC-AF score may help patients and physicians jointly decide on the appropriate treatment strategy for acute symptomatic atrial fibrillation. Registration: NCT03272620.

Peak O2 -pulse predicts exercise training-induced changes in peak V̇O2 in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

AIMS: Exercise training (ET) has been consistently shown to increase peak oxygen consumption (V̇O2 ) in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF); however, inter-individual responses vary significantly. Because it is unlikely that ET-induced improvements in peak V̇O2 are significantly mediated by an increase in peak heart rate (HR), we aimed to investigate whether baseline peak O2 -pulse (V̇O2  × HR-1 , reflecting the product of stroke volume and arteriovenous oxygen difference), not baseline peak V̇O2 , is inversely associated with the change in peak V̇O2 (adjusted by body weight) following ET versus guideline control (CON) in patients with HFpEF. METHODS AND RESULTS: This was a secondary analysis of the OptimEx-Clin (Optimizing Exercise Training in Prevention and Treatment of Diastolic Heart Failure, NCT02078947) trial, including all 158 patients with complete baseline and 3 month cardiopulmonary exercise testing measurements (106 ET, 52 CON). Change in peak V̇O2 (%) was analysed as a function of baseline peak V̇O2 and its determinants (absolute peak V̇O2 , peak O2 -pulse, peak HR, weight, haemoglobin) using robust linear regression analyses. Mediating effects on change in peak V̇O2 through changes in peak O2 -pulse, peak HR and weight were analysed by a causal mediation analysis with multiple correlated mediators. Change in submaximal exercise tolerance (V̇O2 at the ventilatory threshold, VT1) was analysed as a secondary endpoint. Among 158 patients with HFpEF (66% female; mean age, 70 ± 8 years), changes in peak O2 -pulse explained approximately 72% of the difference in changes in peak V̇O2 between ET and CON [10.0% (95% CI, 4.1 to 15.9), P = 0.001]. There was a significant interaction between the groups for the influence of baseline peak O2 -pulse on change in peak V̇O2 (interaction P = 0.04). In the ET group, every 1 mL/beat higher baseline peak O2 -pulse was associated with a decreased mean change in peak V̇O2 of -1.45% (95% CI, -2.30 to -0.60, P = 0.001) compared with a mean change of -0.08% (95% CI, -1.11 to 0.96, P = 0.88) following CON. None of the other factors showed significant interactions with study groups for the change in peak V̇O2 (P > 0.05). Change in V̇O2 at VT1 was not associated with any of the investigated factors (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with HFpEF, the easily measurable peak O2 -pulse seems to be a good indicator of the potential for improving peak V̇O2 through exercise training. While changes in submaximal exercise tolerance were independent of baseline peak O2 -pulse, patients with high O2 -pulse may need to use additional therapies to significantly increase peak V̇O2 .

The stronger one-sided relative hypoperfusion, the more pronounced ipsilateral spatial attentional bias in patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis.

Patients with asymptomatic, high-grade internal carotid artery stenosis often suffer from subtle cognitive impairments with unclear underlying neuro-cognitive mechanisms. Thus, we hypothesized that stenosis-related unilateral cerebral hypoperfusion leads to an ipsilateral attentional bias; 22 patients with asymptomatic, one-sided high-grade carotid stenosis and 24 age-matched healthy controls underwent pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling to assess brain perfusion in the territory of the carotid arteries. Furthermore, a parametric assessment of attention functions was carried out on the basis of the computational Theory of Visual Attention. Both patients' perfusion and spatial attention were significantly more lateralized than those of healthy controls. Critically, both asymmetry indices were significantly correlated in patients, i.e. the stronger one-sided relative hypoperfusion, the stronger ipsilateral bias of attention. This association was specifically pronounced in parietal cortices and independent of white matter hyperintensities as a surrogate for cerebrovascular brain damage. Results provide evidence for a link between lateralized hypoperfusion and lateralized attentional weighting in asymptomatic, high-grade carotid stenosis. Data suggest that lateralized hypoperfusion with simultaneous spatial attentional bias might serve as a potential therapeutic target in one-sided carotid stenosis.

Ticagrelor or Prasugrel in Patients With Non-ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes.

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines recommend intensified platelet inhibition by prasugrel or ticagrelor in patients with unstable angina (UA) or non-ST-segment elevation (NSTE) myocardial infarction (MI). OBJECTIVES: This study sought to investigate the benefits and risks of ticagrelor as compared with prasugrel in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS) and planned invasive management. METHODS: This post hoc analysis combines the pre-specified subgroups of UA and NSTEMI of the randomized ISAR-REACT 5 trial. It included 1,179 patients assigned to ticagrelor and 1,186 assigned to prasugrel. Ticagrelor was started immediately after randomization and prasugrel after coronary angiography. The primary endpoint was a composite of death, MI, or stroke during 1-year follow-up, and the safety endpoint was Bleeding Academic Research Consortium class 3-5. RESULTS: The primary endpoint was reached in 101 (8.7%) patients in the ticagrelor and in 73 (6.3%) patients in the prasugrel group (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.41; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04 to 1.90). The HR for all-cause death was 1.43 (95% CI: 0.93 to 2.21) and that for MI 1.43 (95% CI: 0.94 to 2.19). The safety endpoint occurred in 49 (5.2%) patients in the ticagrelor and in 41 (4.7%) patients in the prasugrel group (HR: 1.09; 95% CI: 0.72 to 1.65). Landmark analysis revealed persistence of the efficacy advantage with prasugrel after the first month. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with NSTE-ACS, we found that prasugrel was superior to ticagrelor in reducing the combined 1-year risk of death, MI, and stroke without increasing the risk of bleeding. Due to the post hoc nature of the analysis, these findings need confirmation by further studies. (Prospective, Randomized Trial of Ticagrelor Versus Prasugrel in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome; NCT01944800).

Flow-metabolism uncoupling in patients with asymptomatic unilateral carotid artery stenosis assessed by multi-modal magnetic resonance imaging.

Oxygen extraction (OEF), oxidative metabolism (CMRO2), and blood flow (CBF) in the brain, as well as the coupling between CMRO2 and CBF due to cerebral autoregulation are fundamental to brain's health. We used a clinically feasible MRI protocol to assess impairments of these parameters in the perfusion territories of stenosed carotid arteries. Twenty-nine patients with unilateral high-grade carotid stenosis and thirty age-matched healthy controls underwent multi-modal MRI scans. Pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (pCASL) yielded absolute CBF, whereas multi-parametric quantitative blood oxygenation level dependent (mqBOLD) modeling allowed imaging of relative OEF and CMRO2. Both CBF and CMRO2 were significantly reduced in the stenosed territory compared to the contralateral side, while OEF was evenly distributed across both hemispheres similarly in patients and controls. The CMRO2-CBF coupling was significantly different between both hemispheres in patients, i.e. significant interhemispheric flow-metabolism uncoupling was observed in patients compared to controls. Given that CBF and CMRO2 are intimately linked to brain function in health and disease, the proposed easily applicable MRI protocol of pCASL and mqBOLD imaging might serve as a valuable tool for early diagnosis of potentially harmful cerebral hemodynamic and metabolic states with the final aim to select clinically asymptomatic patients who would benefit from carotid revascularization therapy.

Combination of factor Xa inhibition and antiplatelet therapy after stenting in patients with iliofemoral post-thrombotic venous obstruction.

OBJECTIVES: Studies addressing optimal postprocedural pharmacological management after endovascular stenting of iliofemoral post-thrombotic venous obstruction are lacking. We report our early clinical experience with a combination of rivaroxaban and clopidogrel in patients after iliofemoral post-thrombotic venous obstruction stenting. METHODS: Demographic, procedural, and follow-up data of nine patients (seven women; mean age of 32 ± 11 years) undergoing 10 procedures for iliofemoral post-thrombotic venous obstruction performed between August 2012 and January 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. After endovascular intervention, all patients were administered 20 mg rivaroxaban once daily (s.i.d.) and 75 mg clopidogrel s.i.d. or every second day depending on the individual drug responsiveness for at least six months. The adenosine diphosphate-induced platelet aggregation (platelet aggregation, in aggregation units × min) was assessed on a Multiplate analyzer. Patency was verified venographically at procedure end and was evaluated with duplex ultrasound in regular follow-ups. RESULTS: Iliofemoral venous flow was successfully re-established by percutaneous endovascular angioplasty and stent implantation in nine left-sided and one bilateral iliofemoral post-thrombotic venous obstruction. Under dual treatment strategy of rivaroxaban and clopidogrel with platelet aggregation control (median (range): 285 aggregation units × min (192; 402)), none of the patients experienced restenosis or stent thrombosis, respectively. After a median follow-up of 14 months (range: 6-26 months), the primary patency rate was 100% and no in-stent restenosis, stent occlusion or relevant minor or major bleeding occurred. CONCLUSION: Combined factor Xa inhibition and tailored antiplatelet therapy after stenting of iliofemoral post-thrombotic venous obstruction were safe and performed favorably in terms of vessel patency.

In vitro identification of the cytochrome P450 isozymes involved in the N-demethylation of the active opioid metabolite nortilidine to bisnortilidine.

Tilidine exhibits the highest consumption of opioids in Germany. The prodrug is hepatically metabolised in a sequential N-demethylation reaction. Its primary metabolite nortilidine is a selective µ-opioid receptor agonist which can penetrate the blood-brain barrier. Cytochrome P450 isozymes (CYP) 3A4 and CYP2C19 were previously identified as isozymes mediating the formation of nortilidine. This study was set up to identify the enzymes and kinetics of the subsequent N-demethylation to bisnortilidine, thus being able to understand clinical interactions. Human liver microsomes and recombinant CYPs were used to investigate the metabolism of nortilidine to bisnortilidine. Nortilidine and bisnortilidine were quantified using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Inhibitor screening kits were used to quantify the inhibition of CYP3A4, CYP2C19, CYP2B6 and CYP2D6 by bisnortilidine. Nortilidine metabolism to bisnortilidine followed the Michaelis-Menten kinetics with K (m) = 141.6 ± 15 µM and V (max) = 46.2 ± 3 nmol/mg/h. Inhibitors of CYP3A4, CYP2C19 and CYP2B6 inhibited this reaction. Assays with recombinant CYPs verified that the N-demethylation is catalysed by CYP3A4, CYP2C19 and CYP2B6. Our results also demonstrated that the metabolism from tilidine to nortilidine is not only mediated by CYP3A4 and CYP2C19, but also by CYP2B6. Moreover, bisnortilidine is a weak inhibitor of CYP3A4 and CYP2B6, a strong inhibitor of CYP2D6, but not an inhibitor of CYP2C19. Our study demonstrated that nortilidine is metabolised via the same CYP isozymes as the prodrug tilidine, whereas the formation of bisnortilidine appears to be the rate-limiting step in the metabolism of tilidine. Pharmacokinetic interactions can be expected with inhibitors or inducers of CYP3A4, CYP2C19 or CYP2B6.