Self-Expanding Transcatheter Aortic Valve System for Symptomatic High-Risk Patients With Severe Aortic Stenosis.

BACKGROUND: The CENTERA transcatheter heart valve (THV) is a low-profile, self-expanding nitinol valve made from bovine pericardial tissue that is 14-F compatible with a motorized delivery system allowing for repositionability. OBJECTIVES: The pivotal study evaluated safety and efficacy of this THV in high-surgical-risk study patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. METHODS: Implantations were completed in 23 centers. Clinical and echocardiographic outcomes were assessed at baseline, discharge, and 30 days. Major events were adjudicated by an independent clinical events committee. Echocardiograms and computed tomography scans were reviewed by core laboratories. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality at 30 days. RESULTS: Between March 25, 2015 and July 5, 2016, 203 patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis and increased surgical risk, as determined by the heart team, were treated by transfemoral THV implantation (age 82.7 ± 5.5 years, 67.5% female, 68.0% New York Heart Association functional class III/IV). At 30 days, mortality was 1%, disabling stroke occurred in 2.5% of patients, and New York Heart Association functional class I/II was observed in 93.0% of patients. Effective orifice area increased from 0.71 ± 0.20 cm2 to 1.88 ± 0.43 cm2 (p < 0.001). Mean aortic transvalvular gradient decreased from 40.5 ± 13.2 mm Hg to 7.2 ± 2.8 mm Hg at 30 days post-procedure (p < 0.001). Paravalvular aortic regurgitation at 30 days was moderate or higher in 0.6% of patients. A new permanent pacemaker was implanted in 4.5% of patients receiving the THV (4.9% for patients at risk). CONCLUSIONS: The herein described THV is safe and effective at 30 days with low mortality, significant improvements in hemodynamic outcomes, and low incidence of adverse events. Of particular interest is the low incidence of permanent pacemaker implantations. (Safety and Performance Study of the Edwards CENTERA-EU Self-Expanding Transcatheter Heart Valve [CENTERA-2]; NCT02458560).

Rationale and design of the Cyclosporine to ImpRove Clinical oUtcome in ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients (the CIRCUS trial).

BACKGROUND: Both acute myocardial ischemia and reperfusion contribute to cardiomyocyte death in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The final infarct size is the principal determinant of subsequent clinical outcome in STEMI patients. In a proof-of-concept phase II trial, the administration of cyclosporine prior to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) has been associated with a reduction of infarct size in STEMI patients. METHODS: CIRCUS is an international, prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. The study is designed to compare the efficacy and safety of cyclosporine versus placebo, in addition to revascularization by PPCI, in patients presenting with acute anterior myocardial infarction within 12 hours of symptoms onset and initial TIMI flow ≤1 in the culprit left anterior descending coronary artery. Patients are randomized in a 1:1 fashion to 2.5 mg/kg intravenous infusion of cyclosporine or matching placebo performed in the minutes preceding PCI. The primary efficacy end point of CIRCUS is a composite of 1-year all-cause mortality, rehospitalization for heart failure or heart failure worsening during initial hospitalization, and left ventricular adverse remodeling as determined by sequential transthoracic echochardiography. Secondary outcomes will be tested using a hierarchical sequence of left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction and absolute measurements of LV volumes. The composite of death and rehospitalization for heart failure or heart failure worsening during initial hospitalization will be further assessed at three years after the initial infarction. RESULTS: Recruitment lasted from April 2011 to February 2014. The CIRCUS trial has recruited 975 patients with acute anterior myocardial infarction. The 12-months results are expected to be available in 2015. CONCLUSIONS: The CIRCUS trial is testing the hypothesis that cyclosporine in addition to early revascularization with PPCI compared to placebo in patients with acute anterior myocardial infarction reduces the incidence of death, heart failure and adverse LV remodeling at one-year follow-up.