Vitamin-K antagonist versus dual antiplatelet therapy in management of isolated and non-obstructive atherosclerotic coronary artery ectasia.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of isolated and non-obstructive atherosclerotic coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is still controversial. AIM: To assess the efficacy and safety of vitamin-K antagonist (VKA) versus dual antiplatelet (DAPT) therapy in management of patients with isolated and non-obstructive atherosclerotic CAE. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 79 patients diagnosed on elective coronary angiography to have either isolated CAE or non-obstructive atherosclerotic CAE. Patients were assigned in 1:1 pattern to receive either VKA (warfarin) or DAPT (aspirin plus clopidogrel). Patients were followed-up for nine-months. The primary endpoint was the cumulative events rate including acute coronary event, target vessel intervention, or cardiac death. Analysis of cumulative events at different time intervals, its individual components, and bleeding were considered secondary endpoints. RESULTS: Cumulative events rate was 33%, with mortality rate of 2.5%. Both treatment groups showed comparable cumulative events during the nine-months follow-up duration. Nevertheless, Kaplan-Meier analysis beyond the first 3-months of follow-up showed significantly higher event-free survival among the VKA-group. Recurrent events (≥2) were significantly higher among the DAPT-group. Both groups showed no major bleeding events. Multivariable cox-regression analysis showed that presence of significant coronary tortuosity, use of DAPT in reference to VKA, and lower percent time in therapeutic range (%TTR) among those receiving VKA were significant independent predictors of clinical adverse events beyond the first 3-months of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Cumulative adverse events were comparable among both treatment groups for isolated non-obstructive CAE. However, adverse events were significantly more frequent in the DAPT-group beyond the first three months.

Coronary artery disease severity and risk stratification of patients with non ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome using CHA2DS2-VASc-HSF score.

BACKGROUND: Risk stratification assessment of patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE ACS) plays an important role in optimal management and defines the patient's prognosis. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of CHA2DS2-VASc-HSF score (comprising of the components of the CHA2DS2-VASc score with a male instead of female sex category, hyperlipidemia, smoking, and family history of coronary artery disease respectively) to predict the severity and complexity of CAD and its efficacy in stratification for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with NSTE ACS without known atrial fibrillation. METHODS: This study included 200 patients (males 72.5%, mean age 55.8 ± 10.1 years) who were admitted with NSTE ACS. CHA2DS2-VASC-HSF score was calculated on admission. Patients were classified into three groups according to their CHA2DS2-VASC-HSF score: low score group (< 2; 29 patients), intermediate score group (2-4; 83 patients), and high score group (≥ 5; 88 patients). Coronary angiography was conducted and the Syntax score (SS) was calculated. Clinical follow-up at 6 months of admission for the development of MACE was recorded. RESULTS: SS was significantly high in the high CHA2DS2-VASc-HSF score group compared with low and intermediate score groups. CHA2DS2-VASc-HSF score had a significant positive strong correlation with syntax score (r = 0.64, P < 0.001). Smoking, vascular disease, hyperlipidemia, and CHA2DS2-VASc-HSF score were independent predictors of high SS. For the prediction of severe and complex CAD, CHA2DS2-VASc-HSF score had a good predictive power at a cut-off value ≥ 5 with a sensitivity of 86% and specificity of 65%. Hypertension, vascular disease, high SS, and CHA2DS2-VASc-HSF score were independent predictors of MACE. CHA2DS2-VASC-HSF score ≥ 4 was identified as an effective cut-off point for the development of MACE with 94% sensitivity and 70% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: CHA2DS2-VASC-HSF score is proposed to be a simple bedside score that could be used for the prediction of the severity and complexity of CAD as well as a risk stratification tool for the development of MACE in NSTE ACS patients.

Impact of residual coronary lesions on outcomes of myocardial infarction patients with multi-vessel disease.

BACKGROUND: The residual burden of coronary artery disease (CAD) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) drew a growing interest. The residual SYNTAX Score (rSS) was a strong prognostic factor of adverse events and all-cause mortality in patients who underwent PCI. In addition, the SYNTAX Revascularization Index (SRI), a derivative of rSS, was used to figure out the treated proportion of CAD and could be used as a prognostic utility in PCI for patients with multi-vessel disease (MVD). PURPOSE: We aimed at the assessment of the use of rSS and the SRI as predictors of in-hospital outcomes and up to two-year cumulative follow-up outcomes in patients with MVD who had PCI for the treatment of ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) or Non-STEMI (NSTEMI). METHODS: We recruited 149 patients who had either STEMI or NSTEMI while having MVD and received treatment with PCI. We divided them into tertiles based on their rSS and SRI values. We calculated baseline SYNTAX Score (bSS) and rSS using the latest version of the calculator on the internet, and we used both scores to calculate SRI. The study end-points were In-hospital composite Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events (MACE) and its components, in-hospital death, and follow-up cumulative MACE up to 2 years. RESULTS: Neither rSS nor SRI were significant predictors of in-hospital adverse events, while female sex, hypertension, and left ventricular ejection fraction were independent predictors of in-hospital MACE. At the two-year follow-up, Kaplan-Meyer analysis showed a significantly increased incidence of MACE within the third rSS tertile (rSS > 12) compared to other tertiles (log rank p = 0.03). At the same time, there was no significant difference between the three SRI tertiles. Unlike SRI, rSS was a significant predictor of cumulative MACE on univariate Cox regression (HR = 1.037, p < 0.001). On multivariate Cox regression, rSS was a significant independent predictor of two-year cumulative MACE (HR = 1.038, p = 0.0025) along with female sex, hypertension, and left ventricular ejection fraction. We also noted that all patients with complete revascularization survived well throughout the entire follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Neither rSS nor SRI could be good predictors of in-hospital MACE, while the rSS was a good predictor of MACE at two-year follow-up. Patients with rSS values > 12 had a significantly higher incidence of cumulative MACE after 2 years. The best prognosis was achieved with complete revascularization.

Multi-slice CT coronary angiography versus invasive coronary angiography in the assessment of graft patency after coronary artery bypasses graft surgery.

BACKGROUND: The long-term patency of arterial and venous grafts is crucial for the success of CABG. This study was designed to investigate graft patency using 128-slice coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and compared the results with those obtained using invasive coronary angiography (ICA). In this observational cross-sectional study, we included 40 symptomatic post-CABG patients underwent CCTA and ICA within the same month. RESULTS: Fifty-five percent were aged more than 60 years, and 80% were males. 67.5% had diabetes, 90% had hypertension, and 30% were smokers. Mean body mass index was 28.89 ± 5.17 kg/m2. Mean duration since CABG was 5.25 ± 4.04 years. In total, 124 native vessels and 97 grafts were assessed using CCTA and ICA. CCTA delineated 8 non-cannulated venous grafts and 6 non-cannulated left internal mammary artery grafts. CCTA required a significantly lower radiation dose (1165.77 ± 123.54 vs. 47,589.78 ± 6967.53, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: CCTA can be as accurate as ICA in assessing bypass grafts with less radiation dose, providing a non-invasive reliable tool for evaluation.

Prevention of radial artery occlusion by simultaneous ulnar and radial compression (PRO-SURC). A randomized duplex ultrasound follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: There might be a beneficial effect of transient ulnar artery compression in prevention of radial artery occlusion (RAO) after trans-radial catheterization. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess, by Duplex ultrasound, the efficacy of simultaneous ulnar and radial artery compression (SURC), in prevention of RAO, compared to conventional and patent hemostasis techniques. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Four hundred and fifty consecutive patients undergoing elective trans-radial catheterization were enrolled. Patients were randomized in 1:1:1 fashion into 3 groups; conventional hemostasis (Group A, n = 150 patients), patent hemostasis (Group B, n = 150 patients), and SURC technique (Group C, n = 150 patients). RAO was assessed by duplex ultrasound at 1-h post TR band removal (primary endpoint), and at 1-month. RESULTS: The primary endpoint, RAO 1-h post TR-band removal, was significantly lower among patients of group C as compared to those of group A and B (1.3%, 6.7%, and 7.3%, respectively -p = 0.03). This was still consistent at 1-month (0.7%, 8%, and 6%, respectively -p = 0.03). Multiple regression analyses revealed that lower radial artery diameter (RAD) after flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) independently predicted RAO at 1-h, while RAD at 1-h post-TR band removal was the only independent predictor of RAO at 1-month. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that RAD at 1-h post-TR band removal at cut-off ≤1.75 mm could predict RAO at 1-month with high accuracy (AUC = 0.9, CI = 0.8-1.0, p < 0.001-86% sensitivity, and 95% specificity). CONCLUSION: A technique of SURC is associated with less incidence of early and late RAO compared to conventional hemostasis techniques.

Stenting deferral in primary percutaneous coronary intervention: exploring benefits and suitable interval in heavy thrombus burden.

BACKGROUND: Deferred stenting, despite being successful in early studies, showed no benefit in recent trials. However, these trials were testing routine deferral; not in patients with heavy thrombus burden. RESULTS: This is a prospective, Randomized Clinical Trial that included 150 patients who presented with STEMI, patients were allocated into three equal groups after the coronary angiography ± primary intervention and before stenting of the culprit lesion; group (A) included 50 patients with early deferral of stenting, group (B) included 50 patients with late deferral and group (C) included 50 patients with immediate stenting. No-reflow was significantly higher in group C, while Final TIMI flow grade 3 and MBG grade 3 were significantly higher in group A and B than group C; p = 0.019 and < 0.001 respectively, with no significant difference between groups A and B, only the thrombus resolution in group B was significantly higher than group A; p < 0.001. Finally, 6-months, over-all MACE was significantly higher in group C (34.7% vs. 14.6% and 16.3%, p = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS: Stent deferral was proved to be better than immediate stenting after recanalization of IRA, in achieving TIMI III flow, reducing risk of 6 months MACE, and restoration of myocardial function in a subset of STEMI patients presenting with large thrombus burden. While, no significant difference was found between both deferral times in final TIMI flow, or clinical outcomes.

Veno-arterial rail and over the wire technique for atrial septal defect closure in a patient with interrupted inferior venae cava.

Transcatheter closure of secundum atrial septal defect (ASD II) is considered the treatment of choice when anatomically suitable and clinically indicated. This is routinely done through the inferior vena cava via a femoral venous approach; however, certain anatomical anomalies, such as congenital interruption of inferior vena cava with azygos continuation, render the delivery of the device either difficult or not possible. When this anomaly is also associated with dextrocardia, the technical challenge increases further due to the unusual orientation of the interatrial septum. We describe a case of transcatheter closure of ASD II via left internal jugular vein approach with some modification of the standard technique. We used a combination of veno-arterial rail by parking the super-stiff wire in the descending aorta instead of the usual method of parking it in the pulmonary vein for better support, and over the wire technique during device deployment to maintain the delivery sheath position during device deployment. Changing the vascular access with the modification of the standard technique of closure was the key to success in this patient. .

Comparison of the early cardiac electromechanical remodeling following transcatheter and surgical secundum atrial septal defect closure in adults.

BACKGROUND: Secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) closure leads to electrical and mechanical remodeling that occurs early after shunt disappearance. The relationship between electromechanical remodeling using electrocardiogram (ECG) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) after percutaneous and surgical closure has not yet been recorded in prospective studies. OBJECTIVE: We thought to study right atrium (RA) and right ventricle (RV) changes by CMR 3 months after transcatheter and surgical closure and their comparison with electrical remodeling by ECG. RESULTS: We prospectively evaluated 30 consecutive adult patients with isolated secundum ASD who were referred for (transcatheter and surgical) ASD closure. There was significant reduction in all of the electrical parameters within the same group as compared to the baseline values, except P wave dispersion (Pd). (P max was 97.33 ± 16.67 (pre closure) to 76 ± 15.49 (post closure) in the device group and 97.33 ± 12.79 (preclosure) to 73.33 ± 16.32 (post closure) in the surgical group, QRS complex was 104 ± 18.82 (preclosure) to 80 ± 18.51 (post closure) in the device group and 106.67 ± 14.47 (preclosure) to 86.67 ± 17.99 (post closure) in the surgical group. QTc maximum was 478.53 ± 36.79 (preclosure) to 412.53 ± 38.03 (post closure) in the device group and 470.53 ± 65.70 (preclosure) to 405.93 ± 63.08 (post closure) in the surgical group, and QTc dispersion was 70.33 ± 24.04 (preclosure) to 60.26 ± 28.56 (post closure) in the device group and 80.73 ± 30.38 (preclosure) to 60.27 ± 28.57 (post closure) in the surgical group).There was no significant difference between two groups indicating that transcatheter and surgical closure had led to equivalent value of electrical remodeling. In CMR study, we measured RA maximal volume and right ventricle end diastolic volume (RVEDV), RA maximal volume decreased significantly as compared to the base line values post closure in both groups (P value < 0.001). The reduction in RA max volume was more in the transcatheter closure group; however, this difference was not statistically significant when compared with the surgical arm (P value = 0.5).RVEDV decreased significantly in both groups as compared to the baseline values (P value < 0.001). Transcatheter closure resulted in more significant reduction in the RVEDV than the surgical closure (P value = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Our study showed early significant electromechanical reverse remodeling in most of the study parameters from the baseline values after ASD closure. We found no significant differences in all of the electrical and RA mechanical remodeling parameters with significantly better mechanical remodeling of RV in the device group.

Comparison between invasive and non-invasive assessment of blood pressure in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: The management of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) during hospitalization requires an accurate blood pressure (BP) measurement, mainly by invasive intra-arterial reading. Nevertheless, little is known about the precision of non-invasive (NI) central BP measurements in HDP. We aimed to assess the accuracy of NI central BP assessment in comparison to invasive BP measurement in HDP. This cross-sectional study included all patients with HDP that were admitted to university hospitals for high BP control, from December 2018 till December 2019, and 10 healthy matched non-hypertensive controls. Patients were compared for demographic, anthropometric, and echocardiographic data. In all subjects, invasive BP assessment was done by radial arterial cannulation and NI assessment of BP was performed by an oscillometric automated device (Mobil-O-Graph); the comparison was done after initial control of BP. RESULTS: One hundred patients were included and divided into 3 groups (pre-existing hypertension (HTN), gestational HTN, and pre-eclampsia). There was no statistically significant difference between NI central and invasive methods in measuring both systolic BP (SBP) (126.39 ± 14.5 vs 127.43 ± 15.3, p = 0.5) and diastolic BP (82.41 ± 9.0 vs 83.78 ± 8.9, p = 0.14) among the total studied population. A strong positive correlation was found between NI central and invasive SBP (r = 0.96, p < 0.001). HDP was associated with an increase in arterial stiffness, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, and complications. CONCLUSION: Non-invasive measurement of BP using oscillometric automated devices is as accurate as the invasive method, and it is a practical safe method in pregnant women with hypertensive disorders (CTR no. = NCT04303871).

Aortic Elasticity Indices as Predictors of Coronary Artery Disease Severity Assessed by SYNTAX Score.

Background: Aortic elastic properties have been related to coronary artery disease (CAD) morbidity and mortality. We aimed to assess the relation of aortic elasticity indices to the severity and complexity of CAD assessed using the SYNTAX Score (SS), evaluating which of these indices have better predictivity for CAD severity. Materials and Methods: We prospectively enrolled 150 individuals who underwent elective coronary angiography for suspected CAD, out of them 29 (19.3%) had normal or nonsignificant angiographic findings (Group I), whereas 121 (80.7%) had significant CAD (Group II) for whom the SS was calculated. Echo-derived aortic elasticity indices were performed for all patients. Results: Logistic regression analyses showed that each of aortic distensibility, stiffness index, elastic modulus, aortic strain, and aortic peak early diastolic velocity were predictors for significant CAD and further for more complex CAD as indicated by intermediate-high SS. Receiver operator characteristic curves-derived cutoff points were performed for each of the aortic elasticity indices. Along with diabetes, decreased aortic strain ≤10.2% was the only independent predictor of intermediate-high SS (odds ratio = 4.31, 95% confidence interval = 1.38-13.50, P = 0.01). Conclusion: Simple M-mode derived aortic elasticity indices, particularly aortic strain ≤10.2%, might predict patients with more severe and complex CAD.