Spontaneous Remission Without Steroid Therapy in Isolated Cardiac Sarcoidosis with Severe Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction.

Spontaneous remission is often observed in extracardiac cases of sarcoidosis, such as skin sarcoidosis. However, for cardiac sarcoidosis (CS), the prognosis is unfavorable. Although corticosteroids are the first-line treatment for CS, data regarding the natural history of isolated CS are limited. We describe a rare case of isolated CS with severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction that improved without steroid therapy.

Safety and potential usefulness of sequential intracoronary acetylcholine and ergonovine administration for spasm provocation testing.

BACKGROUND: Although guidelines recommend intracoronary acetylcholine (ACh) and ergonovine (ER) provocation testing for diagnosis of vasospastic angina, the feasibility and safety of sequential (combined) use of both pharmacological agents during the same catheterization session remain unclear. OBJECTIVES: In this study, we investigated the feasibility and safety of sequential intracoronary ACh and ER administration for coronary spasm provocation testing. METHODS: The study included 235 patients who showed positive results on ACh and ER provocation testing. Initial intracoronary ACh administration was followed by ER administration for left coronary artery (LCA) spasm provocation testing. Subsequently, the right coronary artery (RCA) was subjected to sequential ACh and ER administration for provocation testing. The primary outcome of the study was the safety of sequential intracoronary ACh and ER provocation testing, which was assessed based on a composite of all-cause death, sustained ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation, and cardiogenic shock. RESULTS: Even in patients with negative results on sequential intracoronary ACh and ER provocation testing in the LCA and only ACh administration into the RCA, additional administration of ER into the RCA showed a positive provocation test result in 33 of 235 (14.0%) patients; three (1.3%) patients developed adverse effects (cardiogenic shock occurred in all cases) during LCA provocation testing. We observed no deaths attributable to spasm provocation testing. CONCLUSION: Sequential administration of intracoronary ACh and ER was associated with a relatively low major complication rate and may be safe and potentially useful for diagnosis of vasospastic angina.

Safety and potential usefulness of novel coronary spasm provocation testing protocolCoronary spasm represents a subtype of ischemic heart disease, potentially leading to heart attack. Although guidelines recommend intracoronary administration of different pharmacological agents, acetylcholine (ACh) and ergonovine (ER), for coronary spasm provocation testing, the feasibility and safety of sequential (combined) use of both drugs are unclear. In the present study, we showed that sequential administration of intracoronary ACh and ER was associated with a relatively low major complication rate and may be safe and potentially useful for diagnosis of coronary vasospasm.

Echo Intensity of Gastrocnemius Is Independently Associated with 6-Minute Walking Distance in Male Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease.

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to examine the differences in the thickness and echo intensity (EI) of the gastrocnemius muscle measured via ultrasonography between healthy adults and patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and to determine the associations of gastrocnemius thickness (GT) and EI within a 6 min walking distance (6MD) in patients with PAD. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study targeted 35 male patients with PAD (mean age, 73.7 years; mean body mass index [BMI], 23.5 kg/m2) and age- and gender-matched 73 male healthy adults (mean age, 73.2 years; mean BMI, 23.3 kg/m2). The gastrocnemius thickness (GT) and EI were measured using ultrasound. Both legs of patients with PAD were classified based on higher and lower ankle brachial pressure index (ABI), and the GTs and EIs with higher and lower ABI were compared with those of healthy adults. Multiple regression analysis incorporated 6MD as a dependent variable and each GT and EI with higher and lower ABI, age, and BMI as independent variables. Results: This study showed that GT was considerably greater in healthy adults than in both legs with higher and lower ABI (median values, 13.3 vs. 11.3 vs. 10.7, p < 0.01), whereas EI was lower in healthy adults than in the lower ABI leg (72.0 vs. 80.8 vs. 83.6, p < 0.05). The 6MD was shown to be substantially related to EI in both legs with higher and lower ABIs (p < 0.01) but not in the GT. Conclusions: In patients with PAD, the GT was lower, and EI was higher than in healthy adults. In addition, EIs in both legs with higher and lower ABIs were independently associated with 6MD in male PAD patients. This study showed that the EI measured via ultrasonography could become an important indicator for treatments for patients with PAD.

Three-Year Clinical Outcomes Following Implantation of LifeStent Self-Expanding Nitinol Stents in Patients With Femoropopliteal Artery Lesions.

The aim of this study was to evaluate midterm clinical outcomes after implantation of LifeStent self-expanding nitinol stents for the treatment of femoropopliteal lesions. This retrospective, multicenter, non-randomized study examined 260 femoropopliteal lesions in 250 consecutive patients with peripheral artery disease implanted with LifeStents from April 2016 to April 2017. The prevalence of chronic total occlusion (CTO), lesion length ≥25 cm, and distal reference vessel diameter (RVD) <5 mm was 58%, 35%, and 50%, respectively. The 3-year restenosis rate in the overall population was estimated to be 72.9% and a major adverse limb event was observed in 36.9%. Multivariate analysis revealed that chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) (odds ratio [OR]: 8.04; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.86-34.7), CTO (OR: 4.87; 95% CI: 1.43-16.6), lesion length ≥25 cm (OR: 5.95; 95% CI: 1.11-32.0), and distal RVD <5 mm (OR: 4.43; 95% CI: 1.34-14.6) were independent risk factors for 3-year restenosis. The present study demonstrated the midterm clinical outcomes and risk factors for restenosis after implantation of the LifeStent in femoropopliteal artery lesions. CLTI, CTO, lesion length ≥25 cm, and distal RVD <5 mm predicted decreased patency after a 3-year follow-up.

Coexistence of Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection, Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy, and Myocardial Bridge.

We report a case of spontaneous coronary artery dissection located next to a myocardial bridge in a patient with concomitant takotsubo cardiomyopathy. A fusion image with multidetector-row computed tomography and single-photon emission computed tomography played an important role in the diagnosis of these lesions. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.).

The Role of Saline and Sodium Bicarbonate Preprocedural Hydration to Prevent Mid-term Renal Insufficiency in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Objective Persistent renal damage (RD) three months after exposure to contrast media is associated with contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) and poor clinical outcomes. Little is known about the role of preprocedural hydration on persistent RD in patients with chronic kidney disease [CKD; estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m2] undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We therefore examined the use of preprocedural hydration to decrease the incidence of persistent RD. Methods Between 2012 and 2015, 1,230 consecutive patients undergoing PCI, except for patients with an eGFR ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2, on dialysis, having acute myocardial infarction, or recently having started renin-angiotensin inhibitors, were screened (n=333). Before their index PCI, the 12-h saline group (n=103) received 1 mL/kg/h 0.9% sodium chloride for 12 hours, and the 1-h bicarbonate group (n=63) received 3 mL/kg 154 mEq/L sodium bicarbonate for 1 hour. The control group (n=167) received no pre-procedural hydration. The study outcome of kidney function decline was investigated using the percent-change (%-change) of the calculated creatinine clearance between the baseline value and the lowest value recorded three to six months after index PCI. Results There was less renal function deterioration in the saline group than in the control group, and the bicarbonate group showed deterioration similar to the other groups (%-change; 12-h saline 2.0±11.3% vs. control -5.6±12.6%, p<0.001; vs. 1-h bicarbonate -1.8±14.1%, p=0.18; 1-h bicarbonate vs. control, p=0.14 ANOVA). A multiple regression analysis adjusted for risk factors for persistent RD showed that saline hydration correlated independently with a higher %-change (r=0.262, p<0.001). Conclusion Preprocedural 12-h saline may be better than no preprocedural hydration in preventing mid-term renal insufficiency in CKD patients undergoing PCI.

The role of integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound in characterizing bare metal and drug-eluting stent restenotic neointima as compared to optical coherence tomography.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the role of integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound (IB-IVUS) in assessing the morphology of neointima in bare-metal stent (BMS) and drug-eluting stent (DES) restenosis as compared to the gold-standard, optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: A total of 120 cross-sections were evaluated by IB-IVUS and OCT at five cross-sections from 24 patients (24 lesions): at the minimal lumen area (MLA) and at 1 and 2mm proximal and distal to the MLA site in 24 lesions (9 treated with DES and 15 treated with BMS). IB-IVUS and OCT findings were analyzed according to the time at which restenosis was identified (early <12 months and late ≥12 months) and the stent type. RESULTS: IB-IVUS was found to correctly characterize the neointima of both BMS and DES in-stent restenosis (ISR) as compared to OCT. The overall agreement between the pattern of ISR neointima by IB-IVUS and that by OCT was excellent (kappa=0.85, 95% CI 0.76-0.94). Late DES ISR was characterized by more non-homogeneous, low backscatter and lipid-laden neointima, as compared to the BMS equivalent (BMS vs. DES, 45.0% vs. 80.0%, p<0.01; 51.7% vs. 85.0%, p=0.008; 33.3% vs. 65.0%, p<0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: IB-IVUS assessment of the ISR neointima pattern appears to provide similar information as the gold-standard OCT in patients with stable angina. Both modalities suggested that late DES restenosis is characterized by a non-homogeneous lipid-laden neointima.

Impact of combined supine and prone myocardial perfusion imaging using an ultrafast cardiac gamma camera for detection of inferolateral coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Although combined supine and prone acquisitions improve the detection of inferolateral obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD), the predictors of inaccurate detection of inferolateral ischemia have not been reported by using cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). METHODS AND RESULTS: Vasodilator stress (99m)Tc tetrofosmin MPI using CZT camera and coronary angiography was performed in 322 patients within an interval of 2 months. Prone MPI was performed immediately after supine MPI. Narrowing of the luminal diameter ≥ 75% was considered significant. The presence of an abnormality on both supine and prone images was considered significant. Combined supine and prone imaging, compared with supine-only quantification, was more specific (93% vs. 72%, respectively, p<0.0001) and accurate (88% vs. 74%, p<0.0001) without compromising sensitivity (82% vs. 68%, p=0.10). The area under the curve for detecting inferolateral ischemia was 0.769 (95% CI 0.705-0.833) for supine imaging and 0.802 (95% CI 0.730-0.875) for combined supine and prone imaging (p<0.05). Multivariable analysis revealed that previous inferolateral myocardial infarction was an independent predictor of a false diagnosis (odds ratio=3.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.62-7.37, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Combined supine and prone quantitative CZT MPI enhances the detection of inferolateral CAD without adversely affecting its sensitivity. However, we recommend inferolateral ischemia be monitored in patients with a history of previous inferolateral MI because previous inferolateral MI is a predictor of inaccurate diagnosis.

Calcification analysis by intravascular ultrasound to define a predictor of left circumflex narrowing after cross-over stenting for unprotected left main bifurcation lesions.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify predictors of significant LCx-ostium compromise after distal unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) stenting on the basis of baseline intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). BACKGROUND: Provisional single-stenting is considered as the default strategy for non-true bifurcation lesions in ULMCA. However, in certain cases, left circumflex artery (LCx)-ostium stenting is necessary. METHODS: A total of 77 patients underwent percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents for non-true bifurcation lesions in ULMCA and had IVUS evaluation. Pre-procedural IVUS was performed to measure cross-sectional areas at the following segments: left main trunk, left anterior descending artery (LAD)-ostium. Post-stenting-narrowing at the circumflex ostium (PSN-LCx) was defined as the presence of more than 50% diameter stenosis at the LCx-ostium as determined by quantitative coronary angiography analysis. RESULTS: PSN-LCx occurred in 27 (35%) patients. The presence of calcified plaque at the culprit lesion as identified by IVUS was more frequently observed in the PSN-LCx group as compared to the non-PSN-LCx group (81.5% vs. 22.0%, p<0.001). Calcium arc in the PSN-LCx group was significantly greater than that in the non-PSN-LCx group (118.1°±69.9° vs. 36.9°±63.0°, p<0.001). On multivariable analysis, a calcium arc>60° was an independent predictor of PSN-LCx (odds ratio: 5.12, 95% confidence interval: 1.21-25.01, p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of calcified plaque at the culprit lesion appears to be one of the factors involved in LCx-ostial compromise in non-true bifurcation ULMCA lesions, especially when the calcium arc is >60°.

Appearance of neointima according to stent type and restenotic phase: analysis by optical coherence tomography.

AIMS: The features of neointima after bare metal stent (BMS) or drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation have not yet been fully characterised. The aim of this study was to investigate in-stent neointima characteristics according to stent type and restenotic phase. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study included 59 consecutive patients undergoing target lesion revascularisation for in-stent restenosis (ISR) evaluated by optical coherence tomography (OCT) during the early phase (≤1 year, n=30) and late phase (>1 year, n=29) after either BMS (n=37) or DES (n=22) implantation. The OCT signal patterns of tissues at the minimal lumen area were categorised into three patterns: (1) homogeneous high-signal band, (2) heterogeneous mixed-signal band, and (3) lipid-laden intima. The predominant OCT pattern was homogeneous high-signal band in the BMS early phase (19/21 [91%]), lipid-laden intima in the BMS late phase (12/16 [76%]), and heterogeneous mixed-signal band in the DES late phase (9/13 [69%]). Heterogeneous mixed-signal band was seen more frequently in the DES early phase compared with BMS early phase (44% vs. 9%, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There were differences of neointima according to stent type and restenotic phase, and this may lead to a better understanding of the different mechanisms of ISR.

Antihypertensive effects of long-acting calcium channel blockers on hemodialysis days--a randomized crossover trial between benidipine and nifedipine CR.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Since antihypertensive effects of most calcium channel blockers largely depend on their plasma concentrations, a rapid increase in blood pressure may occur as circulating levels of such blockers decrease after hemodialysis. Thus, the effects of benidipine and nifedipine CR (extended-release coated tablets, Adalat CR), which are long-acting calcium channel blockers, on post-hemodialytic blood pressures were investigated. METHODS: A randomized crossover trial was carried out with 10 hypertensive patients on chronic maintenance hemodialysis. Patients were assigned to receive benidipine (4-8 mg/day) or nifedipine CR (20-40 mg/day), and after 4 weeks, 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was performed on the day of hemodialysis and blood samples were obtained before and after hemodialysis to measure plasma concentrations of the blockers. The calcium channel blockers were then exchanged in each patient and the same protocol was repeated. RESULTS: The pattern of fluctuation of blood pressure differed markedly between the treatment with benidipine and nifedipine CR. Under treatment with nifedipine CR, rapid increase in blood pressure was observed after hemodialysis, while blood pressure remained at favorable levels with benidipine. Plasma concentrations of the blockers were significantly decreased by hemodialysis. CONCLUSION: Benidipine exerts more sustained antihypertensive effects than expected from its disposition in plasma. The stable depressor effects of benidipine even after hemodialysis may contribute to favorable control of blood pressure in this population.