Randomized Comparison of Everolimus- and Zotarolimus-Eluting Coronary Stents With Biolimus-Eluting Stents in All-Comer Patients.

BACKGROUND: There is limited data comparing the Xience everolimus-eluting stent (EES) and the Resolute zotarolimus-eluting stent (ZES) with the BioMatrix biolimus-eluting stent (BES). METHODS: This open-label, randomized, noninferiority trial enrolled all-comer patients to be randomly treated with either BES, EES, or ZES in a 1:1:1 ratio in 15 centers across South Korea. The primary end point was a device-oriented composite outcome consisting of cardiac death, target-vessel myocardial infarction, and clinically indicated target lesion revascularization at 24 months. The BES was compared with the EES and the ZES by intention-to-treat analyses with a noninferiority margin of 3.8%, respectively. RESULTS: Because of slow recruitment and low event rates, this trial was prematurely terminated after enrollment of 1935 (75%) of the intended 2580 patients. Of the 1911 patients randomized to either EES (n=638), BES (n=634), or ZES (n =639), the rate of device-oriented composite outcome was 3.6%, 2.2%, and 3.9%, respectively, at 24 months (BES versus EES: absolute risk difference -1.4% [upper limit of 1-sided 95% CI: -3.2%]; Pfor noninferiority <0.001; BES versus ZES: absolute risk difference -1.7% [upper limit of 1-sided 95% CI: -3.6%]; Pfor noninferiority <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The BES was noninferior to either the EES or the ZES in all-comer patients for device-oriented composite outcome at the 24-month follow-up. However, caution is advised regarding interpretation of these results due to the premature termination of this study. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT01397175.

Prognostic Implications of Newly Developed T-Wave Inversion After Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

We investigated the prognostic value of newly developed T-wave inversion after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. New T-wave inversion was defined as new onset of T-wave inversion after the primary PCI, without negative T waves on the presenting electrocardiogram. The primary end point was the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), which consisted of cardiovascular mortality, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and rehospitalization for heart failure. A total of 271 patients were analyzed and followed up for 24 months in this study. New T-wave inversion was observed in 194 patients (72%), whereas the remaining 77 patients (28%) did not show T-wave inversion after the index PCI. Post-PCI Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction flow grade 2 or 3 was observed more frequently in patients with new T-wave inversion (97% vs 90%; p = 0.011). The cumulative MACE rate was significantly lower in patients with new T-wave inversion than in those without new T-wave inversion (8% vs 30%; odds ratio 0.197, 95% confidential interval 0.096 to 0.403; p <0.001). In multivariate Cox regression analysis, new T-wave inversion was an independent prognostic factor for MACE (hazard ratio 0.297, 95% confidential interval 0.144 to 0.611; p = 0.001). In conclusion, newly developed T-wave inversion after primary PCI was associated with favorable long-term outcome.

Beneficial Effects of Bariatric Surgery on Cardiac Structure and Function in Obesity.

BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery is being considered as a therapeutic option for morbidly obese patients. Data are accumulating showing that this surgical intervention may improve in major cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. We evaluated the effects of bariatric surgery on left ventricular (LV) structure and function including LV mechanics in obese patients. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients (age = 36 ± 10 years; male:female = 11:26) undergoing bariatric surgery were enrolled. Echocardiography was performed before and after at least 1 year of bariatric surgery. Conventional echocardiographic parameters, including tissue Doppler measurements, were measured. LV global longitudinal, circumferential, and radial deformations were assessed utilizing 2D speckle tracking software. RESULTS: Patients decreased body mass index by 11.8 ± 4.7 over 15.6 ± 5.5 months. Bariatric surgery led to significant decreases in left ventricular (LV) size and mass (51.0 ± 3.3 to 49.1 ± 3.4 mm, p < 0.001 for LV end-diastolic dimension; 192.6 ± 33.5 to 146.2 ± 29.1 g, p < 0.001 for LV mass), and increases were noted in the ratio of early-to-late diastolic mitral inflow (E/A), early diastolic tissue Doppler velocity (Em), and LV longitudinal strain (1.42 ± 0.52 to 1.59 ± 0.56, p = 0.04 for E/A ratio; 9.7 ± 2.0 to 11.0 ± 2.4 cm/s, p < 0.001 for Em; 14.1 ± 1.9 to 16.2 ± 1.4 %, p < 0.001 for longitudinal strain). Changes of LV longitudinal strain were related to LV mass reduction (p = 0.04). However, LV ejection fraction, LV circumferential, and radial strains were all comparable at follow-up. CONCLUSION: Significant weight loss by bariatric surgery was associated with improved LV structure and function in obese patients, suggesting potential favorable effects of bariatric surgery to prevent future cardiovascular events.

Randomised trial to compare a protective effect of Clopidogrel Versus TIcagrelor on coronary Microvascular injury in ST-segment Elevation myocardial infarction (CV-TIME trial).

AIMS: Ticagrelor has shown greater, more rapid and more consistent platelet inhibition than clopidogrel. However, the superiority of ticagrelor for preventing ischaemic damage in STEMI patients has not been proven. The aim of this trial was to assess whether ticagrelor is superior to clopidogrel in preventing microvascular injury in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients with STEMI underwent prospective random assignment to receive a loading dose (LD) of clopidogrel 600 mg or ticagrelor 180 mg (1:1 ratio) before primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). As the primary endpoint, the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) was measured immediately after primary PCI. The secondary endpoint was the infarct size estimated from the wall motion score index (WMSI). A total of 76 patients were enrolled (clopidogrel group=38, ticagrelor group=38). The IMR in the ticagrelor group was significantly lower than that in the clopidogrel group (22.2±18.0 vs. 34.4±18.8 U, p=0.005). Cardiac enzymes were less elevated in the ticagrelor group than in the clopidogrel group (CK peak; 2,651±1,710 vs. 3,139±2,698 ng/ml, p=0.06). Infarct size, estimated by WMSI, was not different between the ticagrelor and clopidogrel groups at baseline (1.55±0.30 vs. 1.61±0.29, p=0.41) or after three months (1.42±0.33 vs. 1.47±0.33, p=0.57). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with STEMI treated by primary PCI, a 180 mg LD of ticagrelor might be more effective in reducing microvascular injury than a 600 mg LD of clopidogrel, as demonstrated by IMR immediately after primary PCI.

Relation Between Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Index of Microcirculatory Resistance in Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been proved as a reliable inflammatory marker for the atherosclerotic process and as a predictor for clinical outcomes in patients with various cardiovascular diseases. A recent study reported that elevated NLR is associated with impaired myocardial perfusion in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We investigated whether NLR is associated with coronary microcirculation as assessed by the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) in patients with STEMI who had undergone primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). A total of 123 patients with STEMI who underwent successful primary PCI were enrolled in this study. NLR was obtained on admission, and patients were divided into 3 groups by NLR tertile. IMR was measured using an intracoronary thermodilution-derived method immediately after index PCI. Symptom onset-to-balloon time was significantly longer (p = 0.005), and IMR was significantly higher in the high NLR group than that in the low and intermediate groups (21.94 ± 12.87 vs 23.22 ± 12.73 vs 32.95 ± 20.60, p = 0.003). Furthermore, in multiple linear regression analysis, NLR showed an independent positive correlation with IMR (r = 0.205, p = 0.009). In conclusion, NLR has shown positive correlation with IMR, whereas negative association with infarct-related artery patency in patients with STEMI who underwent primary PCI. Therefore, NLR at admission could reflect myocardial damage and the status of coronary microcirculation in patients with STEMI (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02828137).

Impact of area strain by 3D speckle tracking on clinical outcome in patients after acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Three-dimensional (3D) speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) has been developed to overcome the limitations of two-dimensional (2D) STE and has been applied in the several clinical settings. However, no data exist about the prognostic value of 3DSTE-based strain on clinical outcome after myocardial infarction (MI). This study was designed to investigate the prognostic value of area strain (AS) by 3D speckle tracking in predicting clinical outcome after acute MI. METHODS: We assessed 96 patients (62±14 years, 72% male) with acute MI and who had undergone a coronary angiography. Clinical parameters and conventional echocardiographic measurements including the left atrial (LA) size and tissue Doppler measurements were evaluated. The global left ventricular (LV) AS was measured using 3D speckle tracking software. The relationship between the AS and clinical outcome of death or hospitalization for heart failure (HF) was assessed. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 33±10 months, primary endpoint of death or HF occurred in 12 patients (12.5%). AS was predictive of death or HF after adjustment for age, gender, peak CK-MB, LA volume, LV end-systolic volume, LV mass, the ratio of early mitral inflow velocity to early mitral annular velocity, and LV ejection fraction in a multivariate Cox model (HR 1.23, 95% CI 1.02-1.47, P=.03). In addition, AS added incremental value in predicting death or heart failure on a model based on clinical and standard echocardiographic measures (P=.008). CONCLUSION: AS is independently associated with increased risk of death or HF after acute MI, suggesting that it can be a useful prognostic parameter in the patients following MI.

Comparison of Transradial and Transfemoral Approaches for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome and Anemia.

Anemia is an independent predictor of bleeding complications and poor clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention. Percutaneous coronary transradial intervention (TRI) is better than percutaneous coronary transfemoral intervention (TFI) in terms of reducing bleeding complications that can affect the prognosis. This study aims to investigate the clinical outcomes between TRI and TFI for patients with anemia. We analyzed periprocedure complications, in-hospital mortality, and major adverse cardiac events for one year in the Korean TRI registry from January 2013 to April 2014. Patients with chronic kidney disease for whom TFI is preferred were excluded. Anemia was defined as hemoglobin <13 g/dl for men and <12 g/dl for women. A total of 1,279 patients were finally enrolled. Of these, 348 patients had anemia. Among them, 253 patients (72.7%) underwent TRI and 95 patients (27.3%) underwent TFI. There were no significant differences of baseline demographic characteristics between the TRI and TFI groups, except for the incidence of dyslipidemia (TRI 23.7% vs TFI 12.6%, p = 0.023). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed lower incidence of composite severe bleeding complications (hazard ratio 0.34, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.99, p = 0.049) and lower incidence of in-hospital mortality than TFI group (hazard ratio 0.74, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.88, p = 0.042). In conclusion, this study suggests that the TRI for patients with anemia may be translated into better prognosis in terms of lower rates of bleeding complications and in-hospital mortality.

Epicardial Artery Stenosis with a High Index of Microcirculatory Resistance Is Frequently Functionally Insignificant as Estimated by Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR).

Objective Differences in microvascular integrity can diversely influence the functional assessment of epicardial coronary artery disease in each patient. We investigated the relevance of the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) and fractional flow reserve (FFR) of intermediate coronary lesions. Methods The IMR and FFR were measured in 67 intermediate coronary lesions of the left anterior descending artery of 67 patients, by using a pressure sensor/thermistor-tipped guidewire. Results To assess the differences in FFR in relationship to the IMR value, patients were divided into tertile IMR groups as follows: Low-IMR (n=22, IMR 14±3), Mid-IMR (n=23, IMR 21±2), and High-IMR (n=22, IMR 36±10). An analysis of variance showed that the High-IMR group had significantly higher FFR values (0.87±0.07) than the Low-IMR group (0.81±0.08) (p=0.03). Functionally significant lesions with FFR ≤0.8 accounted for 9% of lesions in the High-IMR group, 36% in the Low-IMR group and 22% in the Mid-IMR group (p=0.02). In the multivariate logistic analysis, the IMR value was an independent determinant of FFR ≤0.8 (p=0.03). Conclusion In patients with a high IMR, intermediate lesions as identified with visual estimation were more frequently functionally insignificant. The IMR can provide additional information in understanding the mismatch between the anatomical and functional severity of intermediate coronary stenosis.

Comprehensive assessment of microcirculation after primary percutaneous intervention in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: insight from thermodilution-derived index of microcirculatory resistance and coronary flow reserve.

OBJECTIVES: A pathophysiological mechanism of microvascular dysfunction in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is multifactorial; thus, multiple modalities were needed to precisely evaluate a microcirculation. METHODS: We complementarily assessed microcirculation in STEMI by the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) and coronary flow reserve (CFR) immediately after a primary percutaneous intervention in 89 STEMI patients. Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) including cardiovascular death, target vessel failure, heart failure, and stroke were assessed during a mean follow-up period of 3.0 years. RESULTS: The microcirculation of enrolled patients was classified into four groups using cutoff CFR and IMR values (CFR>2 and mean IMR): group-1 (n=23, CFR>2 and IMR ≤ 27); group-2 (n=31, CFR ≤ 2 and IMR ≤ 27); group-3 (n=9, CFR>2 and IMR>27); and group-4 (n=26, CFR<2 and IMR>27). On echocardiography 3 months later, improvement in the wall motion score index was shown in group-1 (P<0.01), group-2 (P<0.01), and group-3 (P=0.04), whereas group-4 did not show improvement in wall motion score index (P=0.06). During clinical follow-up, there were no MACCE in group-1 and the patients in group-2 and group-3 showed significantly lower MACCE compared with group-4 (group-1=0%, group-2, and group-3=10%, group-4=23.1%, P=0.04). CONCLUSION: Complimentary assessment of microcirculation by the IMR and CFR may be useful to evaluate myocardial viability and the long-term prognosis of STEMI patients.

Current Practice of Transradial Coronary Angiography and Intervention: Results from the Korean Transradial Intervention Prospective Registry.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although increasing evidence has indicated that radial access is a beneficial technique, few studies have focused on Korean subjects. The aim of this study was to evaluate current practice of coronary angiography (CAG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using radial access in South Korea. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 6338 subjects were analyzed from Korean Transradial Intervention prospective registry that was conducted at 20 centers in Korea. After evaluating the initial access, subjects intended for radial access were assessed for their baseline, procedure-related, and complication data. Subjects were categorized into three groups: group of overall subjects (n=5554); group of subjects who underwent PCI (n=1780); and group of subjects who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) (n=167). RESULTS: The rate of radial artery as an initial access and the rate of access site crossover was 87.6% and 4.4%, respectively, in overall subjects. Those rates were 82.4% and 8.1%, respectively, in subjects who underwent PCI, and 60.1% and 4.8%, respectively, in subjects who underwent PPCI. For subjects who underwent CAG, a 6-F introducer sheath and a 5-F angiographic catheter was the most commonly used. During PCI, a 6-F introducer sheath (90.6%) and a 6-F guiding catheter were standardly used. CONCLUSION: The large prospective registry allowed us to present the current practice of CAG and PCI using radial access. These data provides evidence to achieve consensus on radial access in CAG and PCI in the Korean population.

Clinical and Echocardiographic Factors Affecting Tricuspid Regurgitation Severity in the Patients with Lone Atrial Fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) can be a risk factor for development of significant tricuspid regurgitation (TR). We investigated which clinical and echocardiographic parameters were related to severity of functional TR in patients with lone AF. METHODS: A total of 89 patients with lone AF were enrolled (75 ± 11 years; 48% male): 13 patients with severe TR, 36 patients with moderate TR, and 40 consecutive patients with less than mild TR. Clinical parameters and echocardiographic measurements including right ventricular (RV) remodeling and function were evaluated. RESULTS: Patients with more severe TR were older and had more frequently persistent AF (each p < 0.001). TR severity was related to right atrial area and tricuspid annular systolic diameter (all p < 0.001). The patients with moderate or severe TR had larger left atrial (LA) volume and increased systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) than the patients with mild TR (p = 0.04 for LA volume; p < 0.001 for SPAP). RV remodeling represented by enlarged RV area and increased tenting height was more prominent in severe TR than mild or moderate TR (all p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed type of AF, LA volume, tricuspid annular diameter and tenting height remained as a significant determinants of severe TR. In addition, tenting height was independently associated with the presence of severe TR (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: In patients with lone AF, TR was related to type of AF, LA volume, tricuspid annular diameter and RV remodeling. Especially, tricuspid valvular tethering seemed to be independently associated with development of severe functional TR.

Clinical and Angiographic Predictors of Microvascular Dysfunction in ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

PURPOSE: We aimed to discover clinical and angiographic predictors of microvascular dysfunction using the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 113 patients with STEMI (age, 56±11 years; 95 men) who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The IMR was measured with a pressure sensor/thermistor-tipped guidewire after primary PCI. The patients were divided into three groups based on IMR values: Low IMR [<18 U (12.9±2.6 U), n=38], Mid IMR [18-31 U (23.9±4.0 U), n=38], and High IMR [>31 U (48.1±17.1 U), n=37]. RESULTS: The age of the Low IMR group was significantly lower than that of the Mid and High IMR groups. The door-to-balloon time was <90 minutes in all patients, and it was not significantly different between groups. Meanwhile, the symptom-onset-to-balloon time was significantly longer in the High IMR group, compared to the Mid and Low IMR groups (p<0.001). In the high IMR group, the culprit lesion was found in a proximal location significantly more often than in a non-proximal location (p=0.008). In multivariate regression analysis, age and symptom-onset-to-balloon time were independent determinants of a high IMR (p=0.013 and p=0.003, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that age and symptom-onset-to-balloon time might be the major predictors of microvascular dysfunction in STEMI patients with a door-to-balloon time of <90 minutes.

Cardiac involvement in CD56 negative primary pancreatic extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type, presenting with ventricular tachycardia during the early stages of chemotherapy.

We herein report the case of a 23-year-old man who presented with recurrent pancreatitis and was diagnosed with primary pancreatic extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type, involving the right ventricle. The cardiac involvement was screened and confirmed by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography. Although the patient did not have any cardiac symptoms or evidence of arrhythmia before chemotherapy, he presented with fatal newly developed ventricular tachycardia during the early stages of chemotherapy. The follow-up TTE after his chemotherapy demonstrated markedly decreased thickness of the invaded myocardium, thus suggesting that the myocardium infiltrated by lymphoma cells might become vulnerable to fatal arrhythmia with tumor regression.

Comparing the effect of clopidogrel versus ticagrelor on coronary microvascular dysfunction in acute coronary syndrome patients (TIME trial): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Although prompt reperfusion treatment restores normal epicardial flow, microvascular dysfunction may persist in some patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Impaired myocardial perfusion is caused by intraluminal platelets, fibrin thrombi and neutrophil plugging; antiplatelet agents play a significant role in terms of protecting against thrombus microembolization. A novel antiplatelet agent, ticagrelor, is a non-thienopyridine, direct P2Y12 blocker that has shown greater, more rapid and more consistent platelet inhibition than clopidogrel. However, the effects of ticagrelor on the prevention of microvascular dysfunction are uncertain. The present study is a comparison between clopidogrel and ticagrelor use for preventing microvascular dysfunction in patients with ST elevation or non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI or NSTEMI, respectively). METHODS/DESIGN: The TIME trial is a single-center, randomized, open-label, parallel-arm study designed to demonstrate the superiority of ticagrelor over clopidogrel. A total of 152 patients with a spectrum of STEMI or NSTEMI will undergo prospective random assignment to clopidogrel or ticagrelor (1:1 ratio). The primary endpoint is an index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) measured after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI); the secondary endpoint is wall motion score index assessed at 3 months by using echocardiography. DISCUSSION: The TIME trial is the first study designed to compare the protective effect of clopidogrel and ticagrelor on coronary microvascular dysfunction in patients with STEMI and NSTEMI. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02026219. Registration date: 24 December 2013.

The relationship between J wave on the surface electrocardiography and ventricular fibrillation during acute myocardial infarction.

We investigated whether the presence of J wave on the surface electrocardiography (sECG) could be a potential risk factor for ventricular fibrillation (VF) during acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We performed a retrospective study of 317 patients diagnosed with AMI in a single center from 2009 to 2012. Among the enrolled 296 patients, 22 (13.5%) patients were selected as a VF group. The J wave on the sECG was defined as a J point elevation manifested through QRS notching or slurring at least 1 mm above the baseline in at least two leads. We found that the incidence of J wave on the sECG was significantly higher in the VF group. We also confirmed that several conventional risk factors of VF were significantly related to VF during AMI; time delays from the onset of chest pain, blood concentrations of creatine phosphokinase and incidence of ST-segment elevation. Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the presence of J wave and the presence of a ST-segment elevation were independent predictors of VF during AMI. This study demonstrated that the presence of J wave on the sECG is significantly related to VF during AMI.

Impact of female gender on bleeding complications after transradial coronary intervention (from the Korean Transradial Coronary Intervention registry).

Besides poor clinical outcomes, female gender has been known as a high-risk factor for bleeding complications. This study aimed to investigate the impact of gender on clinical outcomes and bleeding complications after transradial coronary intervention (TRI). The Korean TRI registry is a retrospective multicenter registry with 4,890 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention in 2009 at 12 centers. To compare clinical outcomes and bleeding complications between the male and female groups, we performed a propensity score matching in patients who received TRI. A total of 1,194 patients (597 in each group) were studied. The primary outcome was 1-year major adverse cardiac events, including all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, target vessel revascularization, and stroke. The secondary outcome was major bleeding (composite of bleeding requiring transfusion of ≥2 units of packed cells or bleeding that was fatal). The proportion of major adverse cardiac events was similar between the 2 groups (6.2% vs 4.7%, p = 0.308). The female group had a greater incidence of major bleeding (0.3% vs 3.2%, p <0.001). On multivariate analysis, female gender (odds ratio [OR] 7.748, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.767 to 13.399), age ≥75 years (OR 5.824, 95% CI 2.085 to 16.274), and chronic kidney disease (OR 7.264, 95% CI 2.369 to 12.276) were independent predictors of major bleeding. In conclusion, the female gender had a tendency for more bleeding complications than male gender after TRI without difference in the clinical outcome.

Response of functional mitral regurgitation during dobutamine infusion in relation to changes in left ventricular dyssynchrony and mitral valve geometry.

PURPOSE: Functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) and myocardial dyssynchrony commonly occur in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The aim of this study was to elucidate changes in FMR in relation to those in left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony as well as geometric parameters of the mitral valve (MV) in DCM patients during dobutamine infusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-nine DCM patients (M:F=15:14; age: 62±15 yrs) with FMR underwent echocardiography at baseline and during peak dose (30 or 40 ug/min) of dobutamine infusion. Using 2D echocardiography, LV end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume (LVESV), ejection fraction (EF), and effective regurgitant orifice area (ERO) were estimated. Dyssynchrony indices (DIs), defined as the standard deviation of time interval-to-peak myocardial systolic contraction of eight LV segments, were measured. Using the multi-planar reconstructive mode from commercially available 3D image analysis software, MV tenting area (MVTa) was measured. All geometrical measurements were corrected (c) by the height of each patient. RESULTS: During dobutamine infusion, EF (28±8% vs. 39±11%, p=0.001) improved along with significant decrease in cLVESV (80.1±35.2 mm³/m vs. 60.4±31.1 mm³/m, p=0.001); cMVTa (1.28±0.48 cm²/m vs. 0.79±0.33 cm²/m, p=0.001) was significantly reduced; and DI (1.31±0.51 vs. 1.58±0.68, p=0.025) showed significant increase. Despite significant deterioration of LV dyssynchrony during dobutamine infusion, ERO (0.16±0.09 cm² vs. 0.09±0.08 cm², p=0.001) significantly improved. On multivariate analysis, ΔcMVTa and ΔEF were found to be the strongest independent determinants of ΔERO (R²=0.443, p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Rather than LV dyssynchrony, MV geometry determined by LV geometry and systolic pressure, which represents the MV closing force, may be the primary determinant of MR severity.

Characteristics of hypertension subtypes and treatment outcome among elderly Korean hypertensives.

There are limited data about characteristics of hypertension subtypes in Asian hypertensive patients and their impacts on treatment of hypertension. This prospective, multi-center, observational study evaluated 2439 hypertensive patients. (≥60 years) Inadequately controlled and drug-naïve patients were categorized into three hypertension subtypes (isolated systolic hypertension [ISH], combined systolic/diastolic hypertension [SDH], and isolated diastolic hypertension [IDH]), and proportions of each hypertension subtype were evaluated. After 6-month strict treatments, we compared the characteristics of patients who did not achieve target BP with those who did. In overall population, ISH was the most common subtype (53.2%; 1297/2439). However, in drug-naïve patients, SDH was the predominant hypertension subtype (59.6%; 260/436). Notably, the proportion of ISH was substantially lower than previously known data. Predictors associated with failure of reaching target BP were old age (>70 years), hypertension awareness, and baseline systolic blood pressure (≥160 mm Hg) for total patients. In drug naïve patients, hypertension awareness, ISH, and microalbuminuria were associated with treatment failure. These findings might have an impact on the evaluations and antihypertensive treatments of elderly Korean patients.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection by intravascular ultrasound in a patient with myocardial infarction.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a rare cause of acute coronary syndrome and sudden cardiac death. The incidence, causes, pathogenesis, and treatment have not been defined clearly, but spontaneous coronary artery dissection should be considered in young patients without major cardiovascular risk factors or in patients in the peripartum period who present with acute coronary syndrome. The treatment is often challenging. Medical treatment is usually considered, and percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass surgery may be possible in some patients. We herein report two cases of middle-aged males with myocardial infarction who were treated with percutaneous coronary angioplasty.

Thrombus aspiration during primary percutaneous coronary intervention for preserving the index of microcirculatory resistance: a randomised study.

AIMS: We aimed to investigate whether thrombus aspiration could preserve the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS AND RESULTS: Sixty-three patients with STEMI were randomised into two groups: primary PCI after thrombus aspiration (aspiration group, n=33) and primary PCI without thrombus aspiration (non-aspiration group, n=30). IMR was measured using a pressure-temperature sensor-tipped coronary wire. Echocardiography was performed at baseline and at six-month follow-up. No significant differences in baseline ejection fraction (EF, 47.3±8.5% vs. 49.5±7.8%, p=0.281) and baseline wall motion score index (WMSI, 1.45±0.31 vs. 1.37±0.27, p=0.299) were observed between the two groups. However, significant differences in IMR (23.5±10.2 U vs. 34.2±21.7 U, p=0.018), %E2%88%86EF (follow-up EF - baseline EF; 3.33±4.6% vs. 0.73±1.9%, p=0.005), and %E2%88%86WMSI (follow-up WMSI - baseline WMSI; -0.121±0.16 vs. -0.004±0.07, p=0.001) were observed between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Thrombus aspiration as an adjunctive method to primary PCI for STEMI may preserve microvascular integrity and have beneficial effects on myocardial microcirculation.