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The increasing age of liver donors and transplant candidates, together with the growing prevalence of metabolic comorbidities, could impact the risk of vascular complications after liver transplantation. We enrolled a consecutive cohort of adult patients undergoing liver transplantation from 2012 to 2021 who had a blinded pathological assessment of atherosclerosis in the donor and recipient hepatic arteries (HA). Patients receiving partial or reduced grafts, retransplantation, or combined organ transplantation were excluded. The relationship between HA atherosclerosis and HA thrombosis after liver transplantation was evaluated using logistic regression in the whole study cohort and in a propensity score-matched subpopulation. Among 443 eligible patients, 272 had a full pathological evaluation of the donor and recipient HA and were included in the study. HA atheroma was present in 51.5% of donors and in 11.4% of recipients. HA thrombosis occurred in 16 patients (5.9%), being more likely in patients who received a donor with HA atherosclerosis than in those without (10.7% vs. 0.8%; p < 0.001). Donor HA atherosclerosis was an independent risk factor of HA thrombosis (OR = 17.79; p = 0.008), and this finding was consistent in the propensity score-matched analysis according to age, sex, complex arterial anastomosis, and alcoholic liver disease (OR = 19.29; p = 0.007). Atheromatous disease in the recipient had no influence on the risk of HA thrombosis (OR = 1.70; p = 0.55). In conclusion, patients receiving donors with HA atherosclerosis are at increased risk for HA thrombosis after liver transplantation. The evaluation of the donor graft vasculature could guide antiplatelet therapy in the postoperative period.
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Arteria Hepática , Trasplante de Hígado , Complicaciones Posoperatorias , Trombosis , Donantes de Tejidos , Humanos , Trasplante de Hígado/efectos adversos , Femenino , Masculino , Arteria Hepática/patología , Persona de Mediana Edad , Factores de Riesgo , Trombosis/etiología , Trombosis/patología , Estudios de Seguimiento , Complicaciones Posoperatorias/etiología , Pronóstico , Adulto , Placa Aterosclerótica/etiología , Placa Aterosclerótica/patología , Estudios Retrospectivos , Supervivencia de Injerto , Aterosclerosis/etiologíaRESUMEN
This Medical News article discusses a randomized clinical trial that investigated the effects of negative emotions on blood vessel dilation.
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Ira , Infarto del Miocardio , Placa Aterosclerótica , Accidente Cerebrovascular , Vasodilatación , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Adulto Joven , Ira/fisiología , Infarto del Miocardio/etiología , Infarto del Miocardio/fisiopatología , Infarto del Miocardio/psicología , Placa Aterosclerótica/etiología , Placa Aterosclerótica/fisiopatología , Placa Aterosclerótica/psicología , Ensayos Clínicos Controlados Aleatorios como Asunto , Accidente Cerebrovascular/etiología , Accidente Cerebrovascular/fisiopatología , Accidente Cerebrovascular/psicología , Vasodilatación/fisiologíaAsunto(s)
Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas , Microplásticos , Placa Aterosclerótica , Humanos , Microplásticos/efectos adversos , Microplásticos/análisis , Nanopartículas/efectos adversos , Nanopartículas/análisis , Placa Aterosclerótica/química , Placa Aterosclerótica/etiología , Placa Aterosclerótica/ultraestructura , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas/etiología , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas/patología , Cromatografía de Gases y Espectrometría de Masas , Microscopía Electrónica de RastreoRESUMEN
Acute thrombosis secondary to atherosclerotic plaque rupture is the main cause of acute cardiac and cerebral ischemia. An animal model of unstable atherosclerotic plaques is highly important for investigating the mechanism of plaque rupture and thrombosis. However, current animal models involve complex operations, are costly, and have plaque morphologies that are different from those of humans. We aimed to establish a simple animal model of vulnerable plaques similar to those of humans. Rabbits were randomly divided into three groups. Group A was given a normal formula diet for 13 weeks. Group C underwent surgery on the intima of the right carotid artery with - 80 °C cryofluid-induced injury after 1 week of a high-fat diet and further feeding a 12-week high-fat diet. Group B underwent the same procedure as Group C but without the - 80 °C cryofluid. Serum lipid levels were detected via ELISA. The plaque morphology, stability and degree of stenosis were evaluated through hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, Masson trichrome staining, Elastica van Gieson staining (EVG), and oil red O staining. Macrophages and inflammatory factors in the plaques were assessed via immunohistochemical analysis. The serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride (TG), and total cholesterol (TC) levels in groups B and C were significantly greater than those in group A. No plaque formation was observed in group A. The plaques in group B were very small. In group C, obvious plaques were observed in the blood vessels, and the plaques exhibited a thin fibrous cap, a large lipid core, and partially visible neovascularization, which is consistent with the characteristics of vulnerable plaques. In the plaques of group C, a large number of macrophages were present, and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor 1 (LOX-1) were abundantly expressed. We successfully established a rabbit model of vulnerable carotid plaque similar to that of humans through the combination of cryofluid-induced endothelial injury and a high-fat diet, which is feasible and cost effective.
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Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Placa Aterosclerótica , Animales , Conejos , Placa Aterosclerótica/patología , Placa Aterosclerótica/etiología , Masculino , Dieta Alta en Grasa/efectos adversos , Macrófagos/metabolismo , Macrófagos/patología , Arterias Carótidas/patología , Endotelio Vascular/patología , Endotelio Vascular/metabolismoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) are emerging as a potential risk factor for cardiovascular disease in preclinical studies. Direct evidence that this risk extends to humans is lacking. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, multicenter, observational study involving patients who were undergoing carotid endarterectomy for asymptomatic carotid artery disease. The excised carotid plaque specimens were analyzed for the presence of MNPs with the use of pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, stable isotope analysis, and electron microscopy. Inflammatory biomarkers were assessed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunohistochemical assay. The primary end point was a composite of myocardial infarction, stroke, or death from any cause among patients who had evidence of MNPs in plaque as compared with patients with plaque that showed no evidence of MNPs. RESULTS: A total of 304 patients were enrolled in the study, and 257 completed a mean (±SD) follow-up of 33.7±6.9 months. Polyethylene was detected in carotid artery plaque of 150 patients (58.4%), with a mean level of 21.7±24.5 µg per milligram of plaque; 31 patients (12.1%) also had measurable amounts of polyvinyl chloride, with a mean level of 5.2±2.4 µg per milligram of plaque. Electron microscopy revealed visible, jagged-edged foreign particles among plaque macrophages and scattered in the external debris. Radiographic examination showed that some of these particles included chlorine. Patients in whom MNPs were detected within the atheroma were at higher risk for a primary end-point event than those in whom these substances were not detected (hazard ratio, 4.53; 95% confidence interval, 2.00 to 10.27; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, patients with carotid artery plaque in which MNPs were detected had a higher risk of a composite of myocardial infarction, stroke, or death from any cause at 34 months of follow-up than those in whom MNPs were not detected. (Funded by Programmi di Ricerca Scientifica di Rilevante Interesse Nazionale and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT05900947.).
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Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas , Microplásticos , Placa Aterosclerótica , Humanos , Estenosis Carotídea/diagnóstico por imagen , Estenosis Carotídea/etiología , Estenosis Carotídea/patología , Microplásticos/efectos adversos , Infarto del Miocardio/etiología , Infarto del Miocardio/mortalidad , Placa Aterosclerótica/química , Placa Aterosclerótica/etiología , Placa Aterosclerótica/mortalidad , Placa Aterosclerótica/patología , Plásticos/efectos adversos , Estudios Prospectivos , Accidente Cerebrovascular/etiología , Accidente Cerebrovascular/mortalidad , Factores de Riesgo de Enfermedad Cardiaca , Endarterectomía Carotidea , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas/etiología , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas/patología , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas/cirugía , Estudios de SeguimientoRESUMEN
AIMS: People with type 1 diabetes (T1D) have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The Mediterranean diet is associated with reduced CVD; however, the evidence in T1D is scarce. We aimed to analyse the relationships between adherence to the energy-restricted Mediterranean diet (erMEDd) and carotid atherosclerosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included children with T1D without CVD, with ≥1 of the following: age ≥40 years, diabetic kidney disease, or ≥10 years of disease duration with another risk factor. Plaque presence (intima-media thickness ≥1.5 mm) was determined by ultrasonography. The PREDIMED-Plus 17-item questionnaire (PP-17) was used to assess adherence to the erMEDd. RESULTS: Four hundred one individuals were included (48% males, age 48.3 ± 11 years, diabetes duration 26.8 ± 11.4 years). Those harbouring plaques (42%) showed lower adherence to the erMEDd (PP-17: 8.9 ± 2.3 of a maximum of 17 vs. 9.8 ± 2.5, p < 0.001). Greater adherence to the erMEDd was correlated with an overall better metabolic profile. After adjusting for multiple confounders, adherence to the erMEDd was independently associated with carotid atherosclerosis (OR 0.86 [0.77-0.95] for plaque presence and OR 0.85 [0.75-0.97] for ≥2 plaques). The consumption of fruit and nuts and preference of white over red meat was higher in individuals without atherosclerosis (p < 0.05). Fruit and nut consumption was associated with lower plaque prevalence in the fully adjusted models (OR 0.38 [0.19-0.73] and 0.51 [0.29-0.93]). CONCLUSIONS: Greater adherence to the erMEDd is associated with less carotid atherosclerosis in children with T1D at high risk of CVD. Strategies to improve and implement healthy dietary patterns in this population should be encouraged.
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Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 1 , Dieta Mediterránea , Placa Aterosclerótica , Masculino , Niño , Humanos , Adulto , Persona de Mediana Edad , Femenino , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 1/complicaciones , Grosor Intima-Media Carotídeo , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas/epidemiología , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas/etiología , Placa Aterosclerótica/epidemiología , Placa Aterosclerótica/etiología , Factores de RiesgoRESUMEN
Macrophages are major players in myocardial infarction (MI) and atherosclerosis, two major cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Atherosclerosis is caused by the buildup of cholesterol-rich lipoproteins in blood vessels, causing inflammation, vascular injury, and plaque formation. Plaque rupture or erosion can cause thrombus formation resulting in inadequate blood flow to the heart muscle and MI. Inflammation, particularly driven by macrophages, plays a central role in both atherosclerosis and MI. Recent integrative approaches of single-cell analysis-based classifications in both murine and human atherosclerosis as well as experimental MI showed overlap in origin, diversity, and function of macrophages in the aorta and the heart. We here discuss differences and communalities between macrophages in the heart and aorta at steady state and in atherosclerosis or upon MI. We focus on markers, mediators, and functional states of macrophage subpopulations. Recent trials testing anti-inflammatory agents show a major benefit in reducing the inflammatory burden of CVD patients, but highlight a necessity for a broader understanding of immune cell ontogeny and heterogeneity in CVD. The novel insights into macrophage biology in CVD represent exciting opportunities for the development of novel treatment strategies against CVD.
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Aterosclerosis , Enfermedades Cardiovasculares , Infarto del Miocardio , Placa Aterosclerótica , Humanos , Animales , Ratones , Enfermedades Cardiovasculares/etiología , Macrófagos , Aterosclerosis/etiología , Placa Aterosclerótica/etiología , Infarto del Miocardio/complicaciones , InflamaciónRESUMEN
Air pollution is responsible worldwide for 9-12 million deaths annually. The major contributor to air pollution is particulate matter ≤2.5 µg per cubic meter of air (PM2.5) from vehicles, industrial emissions, and wildfire smoke. United States ambient air standards recommend annual average PM2.5 concentrations of ≤12 µg/m³ while European standards allow an average annual PM2.5 concentration of ≤20 µg/m3. However, significant PM2.5 cardiovascular and pulmonary health risks exist below these concentrations. Chronic PM2.5 exposure significantly increases major cardiovascular and pulmonary event risks in Americans by 8 to more than 20% for each 10-µg/m3 increase in PM2.5. PM2.5-induced increases in lipid peroxidation, induction of vascular inflammation and endothelial cell injury initiate and propagate respiratory diseases, coronary and carotid atherosclerosis. PM2.5 can cause atherosclerotic vascular plaque rupture and myocardial infarction and stroke by activating metalloproteinases. This article discusses PM2.5 effects on the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems, specific PM2.5 pathophysiologic mechanisms contributing to cardiopulmonary disease, and preventive measures to limit the cardiovascular and pulmonary effects of PM2.5.
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Contaminantes Atmosféricos , Contaminación del Aire , Enfermedades Cardiovasculares , Placa Aterosclerótica , Humanos , Estados Unidos/epidemiología , Material Particulado/efectos adversos , Material Particulado/análisis , Enfermedades Cardiovasculares/epidemiología , Enfermedades Cardiovasculares/etiología , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/efectos adversos , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Contaminación del Aire/efectos adversos , Contaminación del Aire/análisis , Factores de Riesgo , Placa Aterosclerótica/etiologíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: We investigated the causal relevance of alcohol intake with measures of carotid artery thickness and atherosclerosis in Chinese adults. METHODS: The study included 22,384 adults from the China Kadoorie Biobank, with self-reported alcohol use at baseline and resurvey, carotid artery ultrasound measurements, and genotyping data for ALDH2-rs671 and ADH1B-rs1229984. Associations of carotid intima media thickness (cIMT), any carotid plaque, and total plaque burden (derived from plaque number and size) with self-reported (conventional analyses) and genotype-predicted mean alcohol intake (Mendelian randomization) were assessed using linear and logistic regression models. RESULTS: Overall 34.2% men and 2.1% women drank alcohol regularly at baseline. Mean cIMT was 0.70 mm in men and 0.64 mm in women, with 39.1% and 26.5% having carotid plaque, respectively. Among men, cIMT was not associated with self-reported or genotype-predicted mean alcohol intake. The risk of plaque increased significantly with self-reported intake among current drinkers (odds ratio 1.42 [95% CI 1.14-1.76] per 280 g/week), with directionally consistent findings with genotype-predicted mean intake (1.21 [0.99-1.49]). Higher alcohol intake was significantly associated with higher carotid plaque burden in both conventional (0.19 [0.10-0.28] mm higher per 280 g/week) and genetic analyses (0.09 [0.02-0.17]). Genetic findings in women suggested the association of genotype-predicted alcohol with carotid plaque burden in men was likely to due to alcohol itself, rather than pleiotropic genotypic effects. CONCLUSIONS: Higher alcohol intake was associated with a higher carotid plaque burden, but not with cIMT, providing support for a potential causal association of alcohol intake with carotid atherosclerosis.
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Consumo de Bebidas Alcohólicas , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas , Grosor Intima-Media Carotídeo , Placa Aterosclerótica , Adulto , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Consumo de Bebidas Alcohólicas/efectos adversos , Consumo de Bebidas Alcohólicas/epidemiología , Consumo de Bebidas Alcohólicas/genética , Aldehído Deshidrogenasa Mitocondrial/genética , Arterias Carótidas/diagnóstico por imagen , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas/diagnóstico por imagen , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas/epidemiología , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas/etiología , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas/genética , Pueblos del Este de Asia , Placa Aterosclerótica/diagnóstico por imagen , Placa Aterosclerótica/epidemiología , Placa Aterosclerótica/etiología , Placa Aterosclerótica/genética , Factores de RiesgoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The impact of donor transmitted atherosclerosis as assessed by intravascular ultrasound on development and progression of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) after heart transplantation (HT) remains poorly defined in contemporary practice. In this exploratory analysis, we sought to assess the prognostic role of early qualitative assessment of donor artery morphology using optical coherence tomography (OCT) as a more sensitive imaging modality. METHODS: HT recipients were prospectively enrolled for baseline OCT imaging of the left anterior descending coronary artery. OCT findings were classified as normal, homogeneous intimal thickening, and advanced plaque characteristics. The endpoint was a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, or new angiographically detectable CAV stratified by the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation criteria up to 4 years of follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 35 patients underwent baseline OCT of whom 51.4% had normal OCT, 14.3% had homogenous plaque, and 34.3% had advanced characteristics. There were no significant differences in baseline demographics between patients with and without normal morphology. During a mean follow-up of 3.3 ± 0.4 years, the endpoint occurred in 11 patients including 1 death, 7 CAV1, 3 CAV2, and 1 CAV3. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a significantly higher event rate in patients with advanced characteristics (log-rank p = 0.010). In multivariate analysis, OCT-based plaque morphology was an independent predictor of clinical events (adjusted hazard ratio 4.57, 95% confidence interval 1.50-13.92, p = 0.008) while maximal intimal thickness ≥0.5 mm was not. CONCLUSIONS: Early qualitative OCT assessment of donor coronary artery morphology appears to be a reliable marker for predicting future cardiovascular events in HT recipients. Our findings warrant more careful study in a larger cohort.
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Aterosclerosis , Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria , Cardiopatías , Trasplante de Corazón , Placa Aterosclerótica , Humanos , Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria/diagnóstico por imagen , Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria/etiología , Tomografía de Coherencia Óptica/métodos , Estudios Prospectivos , Aterosclerosis/diagnóstico , Aterosclerosis/etiología , Cardiopatías/etiología , Placa Aterosclerótica/etiología , Trasplante de Corazón/efectos adversos , Vasos Coronarios/diagnóstico por imagen , Aloinjertos , Ultrasonografía Intervencional/métodosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Drug-coated balloon (DCB) became a potential treatment option for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS); however, factors associated with target lesion failure (TLF) remain uncertain. METHODS: This retrospective, multicentre, observational study included consecutive ACS patients who underwent optical coherence tomography (OCT)-guided DCB treatment. Patients were divided into two groups according to the occurrence of TLF, a composite of cardiac death, target vessel-related myocardial infarction, and ischemia-driven target lesion revascularisation. RESULTS: We enrolled 127 patients in this study. During the median follow-up period of 562 (IQR: 342-1164) days, 24 patients (18.9%) experienced TLF, and 103 patients (81.1%) did not. The cumulative 3-year incidence of TLF was 22.0%. The cumulative 3-year incidence of TLF was the lowest in patients with plaque erosion (PE) (7.5%), followed by those with rupture (PR) (26.1%) and calcified nodule (CN) (43.5%). Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that plaque morphology was independently associated with TLF on pre-PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention) OCT, and residual thrombus burden (TB) was positively associated with TLF on post-PCI OCT. Further stratification by post-PCI TB revealed a comparable incidence of TLF in patients with PR (4.2%) to that of PE if the culprit lesion had a smaller post-PCI TB than the cut-off value (8.4%). TLF incidence was high in patients with CN, regardless of TB size on post-PCI OCT. CONCLUSIONS: Plaque morphology was strongly associated with TLF for ACS patients after DCB treatment. Residual TB post-PCI might be a key determinant for TLF, especially in patients with PR.
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Síndrome Coronario Agudo , Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria , Intervención Coronaria Percutánea , Placa Aterosclerótica , Humanos , Síndrome Coronario Agudo/diagnóstico por imagen , Síndrome Coronario Agudo/epidemiología , Síndrome Coronario Agudo/cirugía , Intervención Coronaria Percutánea/efectos adversos , Intervención Coronaria Percutánea/métodos , Tomografía de Coherencia Óptica/métodos , Estudios Retrospectivos , Angiografía Coronaria/métodos , Resultado del Tratamiento , Placa Aterosclerótica/diagnóstico por imagen , Placa Aterosclerótica/cirugía , Placa Aterosclerótica/etiología , Vasos Coronarios/patología , Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria/terapiaRESUMEN
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) can rarely arise from non-lipid-rich coronary plaques. This study sought to compare the clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) between AMI showing maximum lipid-core burden index in 4 mm (maxLCBI4mm) < 400 and ≥ 400 in the infarct-related lesions assessed by near-infrared spectroscopy-intravascular ultrasound (NIRS-IVUS). We investigated 426 AMI patients who underwent NIRS-IVUS in the infarct-related lesions before PCI. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were defined as the composite of cardiac death, non-fatal MI, clinically driven target lesion revascularization (TLR), clinically driven non-TLR, and congestive heart failure requiring hospitalization. 107 (25%) patients had infarct-related lesions of maxLCBI4mm < 400, and 319 (75%) patients had those of maxLCBI4mm ≥ 400. The maxLCBI4mm < 400 group had a younger median age at onset (68 years [IQR: 57-78 years] vs. 73 years [IQR: 64-80 years], P = 0.007), less frequent multivessel disease (39% vs. 51%, P = 0.029), less frequent TIMI flow grade 0 or 1 before PCI (62% vs. 75%, P = 0.007), and less frequent no-reflow immediately after PCI (5% vs. 11%, P = 0.039). During a median follow-up period of 31 months [IQR: 19-48 months], the frequency of MACE was significantly lower in the maxLCBI4mm < 400 group compared with the maxLCBI4mm ≥ 400 group (4.7% vs. 17.2%, P = 0.001). MaxLCBI4mm < 400 was an independent predictor of MACE-free survival at multivariable analysis (hazard ratio: 0.36 [confidence interval: 0.13-0.98], P = 0.046). MaxLCBI4mm < 400 measured by NIRS in the infract-related lesions before PCI was associated with better long-term clinical outcomes in AMI patients.
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Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria , Infarto del Miocardio , Intervención Coronaria Percutánea , Placa Aterosclerótica , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Anciano , Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria/diagnóstico por imagen , Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria/terapia , Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria/complicaciones , Intervención Coronaria Percutánea/efectos adversos , Espectroscopía Infrarroja Corta , Ultrasonografía Intervencional , Infarto del Miocardio/complicaciones , Placa Aterosclerótica/etiología , Resultado del Tratamiento , Angiografía Coronaria , Vasos Coronarios/diagnóstico por imagenRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Acute coronary syndromes are commonly caused by the rupture of vulnerable plaque, which often appear angiographically not severe. Although pharmacologic management is considered standard therapy for stabilizing plaque vulnerability, the potential role of preventive local treatment for vulnerable plaque has not yet been determined. The PREVENT trial was designed to compare preventive percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) plus optimal medical therapy (OMT) with OMT alone in patients with functionally nonsignificant high-risk vulnerable plaques. METHODS: The PREVENT trial is a multinational, multicenter, prospective, open-label, active-treatment-controlled randomized trial. Eligible patients have at least 1 angiographically significant stenosis (diameter stenosis >50% by visual estimation) without functional significance (fractional flow reserve [FFR] >0.80). Target lesions are assessed by intracoronary imaging and must meet at least 2 imaging criteria for vulnerable plaque; (1) minimal lumen area <4.0 mm2; (2) plaque burden >70%; (3) maximal lipid core burden index in a 4 mm segment >315 by near infrared spectroscopy; and (4) thin cap fibroatheroma as determined by virtual histology or optical coherence tomography. Enrolled patients are randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either preventive PCI with either bioabsorbable vascular scaffolds or metallic everolimus-eluting stents plus OMT or OMT alone. The primary endpoint is target-vessel failure, defined as the composite of death from cardiac causes, target-vessel myocardial infarction, ischemic-driven target-vessel revascularization, or hospitalization for unstable or progressive angina, at 2 years after randomization. RESULTS: Enrollment of a total of 1,608 patients has been completed. Follow-up of the last enrolled patient will be completed in September 2023 and primary results are expected to be available in early 2024. CONCLUSIONS: The PREVENT trial is the first large-scale, randomized trial to evaluate the effect of preventive PCI on non-flow-limiting vulnerable plaques containing multiple high-risk features that is appropriately powered for clinical outcomes. PREVENT will provide compelling evidence as to whether preventive PCI of vulnerable plaques plus OMT improves patient outcomes compared with OMT alone. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: https://www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov. Unique identifier: NCT02316886. KEY POINTS: The PREVENT trial is the first, large-scale randomized clinical trial to evaluate the effect of preventive PCI on non-flow-limiting vulnerable plaque with high-risk features. It will provide compelling evidence to determine whether PCI of focal vulnerable plaques on top of OMT improves patient outcomes.
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Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria , Reserva del Flujo Fraccional Miocárdico , Intervención Coronaria Percutánea , Placa Aterosclerótica , Humanos , Placa Aterosclerótica/terapia , Placa Aterosclerótica/etiología , Angiografía Coronaria/métodos , Intervención Coronaria Percutánea/métodos , Constricción Patológica , Resultado del Tratamiento , Estudios Prospectivos , Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria/diagnóstico , Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria/terapia , Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria/etiologíaRESUMEN
Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. We aimed to evaluate whether antibodies to oxidized low-density lipoprotein (anti-oxLDL) were associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with different SLE phenotypes (lupus nephritis, antiphospholipid syndrome, and skin and joint involvement). Anti-oxLDL was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 60 patients with SLE, 60 healthy controls (HCs) and 30 subjects with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV). Intima-media thickness (IMT) assessment of vessel walls and plaque occurrence were recorded using high-frequency ultrasound. In the SLE cohort, anti-oxLDL was again assessed in 57 of the 60 individuals approximately 3 years later. The levels of anti-oxLDL in the SLE group (median 5829 U/mL) were not significantly different from those in the HCs group (median 4568 U/mL), while patients with AAV showed significantly higher levels (median 7817 U/mL). The levels did not differ between the SLE subgroups. A significant correlation was found with IMT in the common femoral artery in the SLE cohort, but no association with plaque occurrence was observed. The levels of anti-oxLDL antibodies in the SLE group were significantly higher at inclusion compared to 3 years later (median 5707 versus 1503 U/mL, p < 0.0001). Overall, we found no convincing support for strong associations between vascular affection and anti-oxLDL antibodies in SLE.
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Aterosclerosis , Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico , Placa Aterosclerótica , Humanos , Grosor Intima-Media Carotídeo , Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico/complicaciones , Anticuerpos , Aterosclerosis/complicaciones , Placa Aterosclerótica/etiología , Lipoproteínas LDL , Factores de RiesgoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) leads to increased morbidity and mortality. The underlying causes of CKD are often similar to those of atherosclerosis. We investigated whether carotid atherosclerotic parameters are associated with renal function decline. METHODS: Within the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP), Germany, 2904 subjects were observed over 14 years. The carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) as well as carotid plaques were measured by standardized B-mode ultrasound protocol. CKD is defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and albuminuria as urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR) ≥30 mg/g. eGFR was calculated by the full age spectrum (FAS) equation and the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation. Mixed models were applied to associate carotid parameters with change in renal function longitudinally and adjusted for confounding. RESULTS: The age range of the study sample was 25-86 years with a median of 54 years at baseline. In longitudinal analyses, subjects with high cIMT and the presence of plaques at baseline showed a greater decrease in eGFR (cIMT: FAS-eGFR: P < .001, CKD-EPI-eGFR: P < .001; plaques: FAS-eGFR: P < .001, CKD-EPI-eGFR: n.s.) as well as an increased risk of developing CKD during the follow-up (cIMT: FAS-eGFR: P = .001, CKD-EPI-eGFR: P = .04; plaques: FAS-eGFR: P = .008, CKD-EPI-eGFR: P = .001). There was no association between atherosclerotic parameters and the risk of developing albuminuria. CONCLUSIONS: cIMT and carotid plaques are associated with renal function decline as well as CKD in a population-based sample. Furthermore, the FAS equation adapts best to this study population.
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Aterosclerosis , Placa Aterosclerótica , Insuficiencia Renal Crónica , Humanos , Adulto , Persona de Mediana Edad , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Grosor Intima-Media Carotídeo , Placa Aterosclerótica/diagnóstico por imagen , Placa Aterosclerótica/epidemiología , Placa Aterosclerótica/etiología , Albuminuria/epidemiología , Albuminuria/etiología , Insuficiencia Renal Crónica/complicaciones , Insuficiencia Renal Crónica/epidemiología , Tasa de Filtración Glomerular , Aterosclerosis/epidemiología , Aterosclerosis/etiología , Riñón/fisiología , Factores de RiesgoRESUMEN
Inflammation is a key factor in the development of atherosclerosis, a disease characterized by the buildup of plaque in the arteries. COVID-19 infection is known to cause systemic inflammation, but its impact on local plaque vulnerability is unclear. Our study aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 infection on coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients who underwent computed tomography angiography (CCTA) for chest pain in the early stages after infection, using an AI-powered solution called CaRi-Heart®. The study included 158 patients (mean age was 61.63 ± 10.14 years) with angina and low to intermediate clinical likelihood of CAD, with 75 having a previous COVID-19 infection and 83 without infection. The results showed that patients who had a previous COVID-19 infection had higher levels of pericoronary inflammation than those who did not have a COVID-19 infection, suggesting that COVID-19 may increase the risk of coronary plaque destabilization. This study highlights the potential long-term impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular health, and the importance of monitoring and managing cardiovascular risk factors in patients recovering from COVID-19 infection. The AI-powered CaRi-Heart® technology may offer a non-invasive way to detect coronary artery inflammation and plaque instability in patients with COVID-19.
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COVID-19 , Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria , Placa Aterosclerótica , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Anciano , Angiografía Coronaria/métodos , Tejido Adiposo , COVID-19/complicaciones , Placa Aterosclerótica/diagnóstico por imagen , Placa Aterosclerótica/etiología , Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria/diagnóstico por imagen , Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria/etiología , Tomografía Computarizada por Rayos X , Inflamación/complicaciones , Vasos CoronariosRESUMEN
Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial result of complicated pathophysiology. Changes in the expression of polygenes, coupled with environmental and lifestyle factors, trigger a cascade of adverse events involving a variety of cell types, such as vascular endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and macrophages. In this review, we summarize the function and therapeutic targets of atherosclerotic cells. This article reviews the role of endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, macrophages and foam cells in the development of atherosclerosis and the progress in the treatment of atherosclerosis by targeting these cells. Atherosclerotic plaque involves a variety of cells and biomolecules, and its complex biological environment is a difficult point for the study and treatment of atherosclerosis. For treating atherosclerosis, a large number of studies emerged based on blocking or inhibiting factors affecting the formation and development of plaque. Cardiovascular stent intervention is currently the main method for the treatment of atherosclerosis. In recent decades, numerous studies on cardiovascular, stents mainly involve drug coating or biomolecular modification of stents to enhance anti-thrombosis, anti-restenosis and endothelialization. This paper introduces the research status of cardiovascular stents and new strategies for surface modification. The treatment of atherosclerosis based on the level of molecular biology and cell biology is becoming a research hotspot in the coming decades.
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Aterosclerosis , Placa Aterosclerótica , Humanos , Placa Aterosclerótica/terapia , Placa Aterosclerótica/etiología , Células Endoteliales/metabolismo , Aterosclerosis/terapia , Aterosclerosis/metabolismo , Stents/efectos adversos , Tratamiento Basado en Trasplante de Células y TejidosRESUMEN
The cell's response to hypoxia depends on stabilization of the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 complex and transactivation of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB). HIF target gene transcription in cells resident to atherosclerotic lesions adjoins a complex interplay of cytokines and mediators of inflammation affecting cholesterol uptake, migration, and inflammation. Maladaptive activation of the HIF-pathway and transactivation of nuclear factor kappa-B causes monocytes to invade early atherosclerotic lesions, maintaining inflammation and aggravating a low-oxygen environment. Meanwhile HIF-dependent upregulation of the ATP-binding cassette transporter ABCA1 causes attenuation of cholesterol efflux and ultimately macrophages becoming foam cells. Hypoxia facilitates neovascularization by upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secreted by endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells lining the arterial wall destabilizing the plaque. HIF-knockout animal models and inhibitor studies were able to show beneficial effects on atherogenesis by counteracting the HIF-pathway in the cell wall. In this review the authors elaborate on the up-to-date literature on regulation of cells of the arterial wall through activation of HIF-1α and its effect on atherosclerotic plaque formation.
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Aterosclerosis , Células Endoteliales , Hipoxia , Placa Aterosclerótica , Animales , Aterosclerosis/metabolismo , Aterosclerosis/patología , Colesterol/metabolismo , Células Endoteliales/metabolismo , Células Endoteliales/patología , Hipoxia/metabolismo , Inflamación , Placa Aterosclerótica/etiología , Placa Aterosclerótica/metabolismo , Transducción de Señal , Factor A de Crecimiento Endotelial Vascular/metabolismoRESUMEN
Angiography alone is the most commonly used imaging modality for guidance of percutaneous coronary interventions. Angiography is limited, however, by several factors, including that it only portrays a low resolution, two-dimensional outline of the lumen and does not inform on plaque composition and functional stenosis severity. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an intracoronary imaging technique that has superior spatial resolution compared to all other imaging modalities. High-resolution imaging of the vascular wall enables precise measurement of vessel wall and luminal dimensions, more accurately informing about the anatomic severity of epicardial stenoses, and also provides input for computational models to assess functional severity. The very high-resolution images also permit plaque characterization that may be informative for prognostication. Moreover, periprocedural imaging provides valuable information to guide lesion preparation, stent implantation and to evaluate acute stent complications for which iterative treatment might reduce the occurrence of major adverse stent events. As such, OCT represent a potential future all-in-one tool that provides the data necessary to establish the indications, procedural planning and optimization, and final evaluation of percutaneous coronary revascularization.
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Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria , Intervención Coronaria Percutánea , Placa Aterosclerótica , Humanos , Tomografía de Coherencia Óptica/métodos , Stents , Intervención Coronaria Percutánea/efectos adversos , Placa Aterosclerótica/etiología , Placa Aterosclerótica/patología , Angiografía Coronaria/métodos , Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria/diagnóstico por imagen , Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria/terapia , Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria/etiología , Vasos Coronarios/diagnóstico por imagen , Vasos Coronarios/cirugía , Vasos Coronarios/patología , Resultado del Tratamiento , Ultrasonografía Intervencional/métodosRESUMEN
Objective Few data exist regarding when atherosclerotic changes occur among patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). Carotid ultrasonography is a non-invasive method of evaluating this issue. The present study (1) compared the clinical utilities of carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and carotid plaque score (cPS) and (2) estimated the onset and progression of carotid atherosclerosis among patients with heterozygous FH (HeFH). Methods We retrospectively analyzed 511 patients under 30 years old who underwent carotid ultrasonography at our hospital from 2006 to 2019. We classified them into the HeFH group (n=78, 21.4±5.9 years old) and non-FH group (n=433, 23.4±6.0 years old) based on the clinical diagnosis and compared their cIMT and cPS values. In addition, we estimated the onset and progression of carotid atherosclerosis among young HeFH patients. Results There was no significant difference in the cIMT between the HeFH and non-FH groups (0.44 mm vs. 0.42 mm, p=0.25). In contrast, the cPS was significantly higher in the HeFH group than in the non-FH group (1.11 vs. 0.26, p=0.002). The regression equation for cPS of HeFH group was Y=-2.05+0.15X (r=0.37, p<0.001). Conclusion An assessment based on the cPS rather than the cIMT appears to be better to capture the progress of carotid atherosclerosis among young HeFH patients. Carotid atherosclerosis may start to develop at 14 years old in patients with HeFH.