Defining Strategies of Modulation of Antiplatelet Therapy in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease: A Consensus Document from the Academic Research Consortium.

Antiplatelet therapy is the mainstay of pharmacologic treatment to prevent thrombotic or ischemic events in patients with coronary artery disease treated with percutaneous coronary intervention and those treated medically for an acute coronary syndrome. The use of antiplatelet therapy comes at the expense of an increased risk of bleeding complications. Defining the optimal intensity of platelet inhibition according to the clinical presentation of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and individual patient factors is a clinical challenge. Modulation of antiplatelet therapy is a medical action that is frequently performed to balance the risk of thrombotic or ischemic events and the risk of bleeding. This aim may be achieved by reducing (ie, de-escalation) or increasing (ie, escalation) the intensity of platelet inhibition by changing the type, dose, or number of antiplatelet drugs. Because de-escalation or escalation can be achieved in different ways, with a number of emerging approaches, confusion arises with terminologies that are often used interchangeably. To address this issue, this Academic Research Consortium collaboration provides an overview and definitions of different strategies of antiplatelet therapy modulation for patients with coronary artery disease, including but not limited to those undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, and consensus statements on standardized definitions.

Cardiac complications in patients hospitalised with COVID-19.

AIMS: To determine the frequency and pattern of cardiac complications in patients hospitalised with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). METHODS AND RESULTS: CAPACITY-COVID is an international patient registry established to determine the role of cardiovascular disease in the COVID-19 pandemic. In this registry, data generated during routine clinical practice are collected in a standardised manner for patients with a (highly suspected) severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection requiring hospitalisation. For the current analysis, consecutive patients with laboratory confirmed COVID-19 registered between 28 March and 3 July 2020 were included. Patients were followed for the occurrence of cardiac complications and pulmonary embolism from admission to discharge. In total, 3011 patients were included, of which 1890 (62.8%) were men. The median age was 67 years (interquartile range 56-76); 937 (31.0%) patients had a history of cardiac disease, with pre-existent coronary artery disease being most common (n=463, 15.4%). During hospitalisation, 595 (19.8%) patients died, including 16 patients (2.7%) with cardiac causes. Cardiac complications were diagnosed in 349 (11.6%) patients, with atrial fibrillation (n=142, 4.7%) being most common. The incidence of other cardiac complications was 1.8% for heart failure (n=55), 0.5% for acute coronary syndrome (n=15), 0.5% for ventricular arrhythmia (n=14), 0.1% for bacterial endocarditis (n=4) and myocarditis (n=3), respectively, and 0.03% for pericarditis (n=1). Pulmonary embolism was diagnosed in 198 (6.6%) patients. CONCLUSION: This large study among 3011 hospitalised patients with COVID-19 shows that the incidence of cardiac complications during hospital admission is low, despite a frequent history of cardiovascular disease. Long-term cardiac outcomes and the role of pre-existing cardiovascular disease in COVID-19 outcome warrants further investigation.

Mid-term outcomes of the Absorb BVS versus second-generation DES: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffolds (BVS) were introduced to overcome some of the limitations of drug-eluting stent (DES) for PCI. Data regarding the clinical outcomes of the BVS versus DES beyond 2 years are emerging. OBJECTIVE: To study mid-term outcomes. METHODS: We searched online databases (PubMed/Medline, Embase, CENTRAL), several websites, meeting presentations and scientific session abstracts until August 8th, 2017 for studies comparing Absorb BVS with second-generation DES. The primary outcome was target lesion failure (TLF). Secondary outcomes were all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, target lesion revascularization (TLR) and definite/probable device thrombosis. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were derived using a random effects model. RESULTS: Ten studies, seven randomized controlled trials and three propensity-matched observational studies, with a total of 7320 patients (BVS n = 4007; DES n = 3313) and a median follow-up duration of 30.5 months, were included. Risk of TLF was increased for BVS-treated patients (OR 1.34 [95% CI: 1.12-1.60], p = 0.001, I2 = 0%). This was also the case for all myocardial infarction (1.58 [95% CI: 1.27-1.96], p<0.001, I2 = 0%), TLR (1.48 [95% CI: 1.19-1.85], p<0.001, I2 = 0%) and definite/probable device thrombosis (of 2.82 (95% CI: 1.86-3.89], p<0.001 and I2 = 40.3%). This did not result in a difference in all-cause mortality (0.78 [95% CI: 0.58-1.04], p = 0.09, I2 = 0%). OR for very late (>1 year) device thrombosis was 6.10 [95% CI: 1.40-26.65], p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: At mid-term follow-up, BVS was associated with an increased risk of TLF, MI, TLR and definite/probable device thrombosis, but this did not result in an increased risk of all-cause mortality.

Potentially increased incidence of scaffold thrombosis in patients treated with Absorb BVS who terminated DAPT before 18 months.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) termination on late and very late scaffold thrombosis (ScT) in patients treated with the Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS). METHODS AND RESULTS: Data from the registries of three centres were pooled (808 patients). To investigate the effect of DAPT termination on ScT after a minimum of six months, we selected a subgroup ("DAPT study cohort" with 685 patients) with known DAPT status >6 months and excluded the use of oral anticoagulants and early ScT. In this cohort, definite/probable ScT incidence for the period on DAPT was compared to ScT incidence after DAPT termination. ScT incidence was 0.83 ScT/100 py with 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.34-1.98. After DAPT termination, the incidence was higher (1.77/100 py; 95% CI: 0.66-4.72), compared to the incidence on DAPT (0.26/100 py, 95% CI: 0.04-1.86; p=0.12) and increased within the month after DAPT termination (6.57/100 py, 95% CI: 2.12-20.38; p=0.01). No very late ScT occurred in patients who continued on DAPT for a minimum of 18 months. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of late and very late definite/probable ScT was acceptable. The incidence was low while on DAPT but potentially higher when DAPT was terminated before 18 months.

Two-year outcomes after deployment of XIENCE V everolimus-eluting stents in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention of bifurcation lesions: a report from the SPIRIT V single arm study.

The aim of this analysis was to analyze outcomes of patients undergoing Xience V EES treatment of bifurcation lesions, a subset in which treatment is particularly challenging. The SPIRIT V Study provided an evaluation of the Xience V everolimus eluting stent (EES) performance in complex patient and lesion population. The SPIRIT V Single Arm Study enrolled 2700 patients with de novo coronary artery lesions suitable to be optimally treated with a maximum of four planned Xience V EES. Lesion evaluation was by visual assessment. The outcomes of the 492 patients undergoing Xience V EES stenting of ≥1 bifurcation lesion were compared to those with no bifurcation lesion treated. Compared to those without bifurcation treatment, patients with bifurcation treatment were more likely to have multi-vessel disease (49% vs 40%), left main treatment (3.1% vs 0.9%), more lesions treated (1.5 vs 1.3), calcification (36.4% vs 27.5%), and ostial (17.1% vs 8.2%) and angulated lesions (29.3% vs 21.1%), all P < 0.001. The 30-day composite rate of death, myocardial infarction (MI), target vessel revascularization (TVR) was 4.3% in patients with bifurcation PCI and 2.2% in those with non-bifurcation PCI (P = 0.017). At 2 years, this composite event rate was 11.3% and 10.0% in these two groups, respectively (P = 0.403). Rates of cardiac death, MI, target lesion revascularization (TLR), TVR, and ARC defined definite or probable stent thrombosis (0.4% vs 0.9%, P = 0.402) were not significantly different between the two groups. Despite greater patient and lesion complexity, treatment of patients with bifurcation lesions using the Xience V EES in the SPIRIT V prospective Single Arm Study was safe and effective, with low overall event rates that were similar to those without bifurcation lesion treatment. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The SPIRIT V diabetic study: a randomized clinical evaluation of the XIENCE V everolimus-eluting stent vs the TAXUS Liberté paclitaxel-eluting stent in diabetic patients with de novo coronary artery lesions.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic patients respond less favorably to revascularization and have poorer long-term outcomes. Our main aim was to evaluate the angiographic efficacy of XIENCE V (everolimus-eluting stent, or EES) in diabetic patients compared with TAXUS Liberté (paclitaxel-eluting stent, or PES). METHODS: The SPIRIT V Diabetic Study was a prospective, single-blind, randomized study that enrolled 324 diabetic (insulin and non-insulin dependent) patients at 28 sites in Europe and Asia Pacific. Randomization was 2:1 between EES (n = 218) and PES (n = 106). The primary end point was sequential noninferiority and superiority of EES for in-stent late loss at 9 months. Secondary clinical end points included stent thrombosis, death, myocardial infarction, and revascularization rates up to 1 year. RESULTS: Everolimus-eluting stent was superior to PES for in-stent late loss at 9 months (0.19 mm vs 0.39 mm, respectively; P(superiority) = .0001). The composite rate of death, myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization was the same in the 2 groups at 1 year (16.3% vs 16.4%). No stent thromboses (Academic Research Consortium definite and probable) were seen through 1 year with EES compared with 2 of 104 (2%) with PES (P = .11). CONCLUSION: In this prospective, randomized trial in a high-risk group of diabetic patients, implantation of EES compared with PES resulted in significantly better inhibition of intimal hyperplasia with a comparable safety outcome.

[Trends in prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and their treatment in coronary heart disease: the Euroaspire-project]. / Trends in prevalentie en behandeling van risicofactoren van coronaire hartziekte: het Euroaspire-project.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and their treatment in Dutch patients with coronary heart disease (the 'Euroaspire'-project) and to compare these data with those from 4 and 10 years previously. DESIGN: Retrospective. METHOD: The study included consecutive patients under 71 years of age, who had already been admitted for coronary revascularization or with myocardial infarction. Data were collected > 6 months after discharge. The prevalence of risk factors and their treatment were compared during the period May 1995-February 2006. RESULTS: In this third part of the study almost 80% of the patients were overweight (BMI >or= 25 kg/m2). 21% had diabetes mellitus. The average cholesterol level was 4.3 mmol/l. The percentage of smokers decreased significantly, from approximately 30% to 15%. More than 60% of subjects were hypertensive. More than 95% of the patients were on antiplatelet therapy or oral anticoagulants, 92% on cholesterol-reducing medication and 94% on antihypertensive medication. A sharp increase in medication was noted in comparison with earlier studies. CONCLUSION: Treatment of the most important cardiovascular risk factors has intensified over the past few years. Almost all patients were treated with antiplatelets, statins and antihypertensive medication. Overweight, hypertension and diabetes have become more important in the past decade. Care of cardiac patients will continue to be characterized by long-term and intensive care.

Safety and feasibility of transendocardial autologous bone marrow cell transplantation in patients with advanced heart disease.

The present report contains the final results of a Phase I study that evaluated the feasibility, safety, and potential efficacy of intramyocardial injection of autologous bone marrow (BM) in "no-option" patients with refractory angina and myocardial ischemia. Twenty-seven patients underwent electromechanic mapping-guided transendomyocardial injections (n = 12, 0.2 ml each) of unfractionated autologous BM cells directed to ischemic, noninfarcted myocardial territory. Patients were injected with 28 +/- 27 x 10(6)/ml nucleated cells containing 2.2 +/- 1.4% CD34+ cells. The autologous BM injection procedure was successful in all patients and was associated with no adverse events. At 3 months, the Canadian Cardiovascular Society angina score (3.2 +/- 0.5 vs 2.0 +/- 0.91, p = 0.001) and treadmill exercise duration (418 +/- 136 vs 489 +/- 142 seconds, p = 0.017) had improved significantly. The stress-induced ischemia score within the injected territories (118 segments) had also improved (2.2 +/- 0.8 vs 1.7 +/- 1.1, p < 0.001). At 1 year, the clinical improvement was sustained, although 5 patients had undergone revascularization procedures. The number of total injected nucleated cells (CD45+), progenitor cells (CD34+), and the magnitude of secreted vascular endothelial growth factor and macrophage chemoattractant protein-1 by cultured BM cells failed to predict the clinical response. In conclusion, the 3- and 12-month study results have indicated the safety of catheter-based transendocardial delivery of autologous BM cells in patients with advanced symptomatic ischemic heart disease and may suggest sustained potential efficacy. The cellular and humeral characteristics of autologous BM cells did not predict the clinical response, underscoring the advisability of additional mechanistic exploration.

Incidence of thrombotic stent occlusion during the first three months after sirolimus-eluting stent implantation in 500 consecutive patients.

Sirolimus-eluting stents have been used in our institution for all percutaneous interventions, without clinical or anatomic exclusion criteria, as part of the Rapamycin-Eluting Stent Evaluated At Rotterdam Cardiology Hospital registry. We analyzed the incidence of (sub)acute stent thrombosis after sirolimus-eluting stent implantation in an unselected population of 510 consecutive patients. At 3-month follow-up, (sub)acute stent thrombosis was diagnosed in 2 patients (0.4%) 6 hours and 11 days after the procedure, respectively. These cases occurred in diabetic women with complex coronary lesions. Intravascular ultrasound examination showed inadequate stent expansion and uncovered distal dissection as possible mechanical explanations for the thrombosis.

Persistent inhibition of neointimal hyperplasia after sirolimus-eluting stent implantation: long-term (up to 2 years) clinical, angiographic, and intravascular ultrasound follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Early results of sirolimus-eluting stent implantation showed a nearly complete abolition of neointimal hyperplasia. The question remains, however, whether the early promising results will still be evident at long-term follow-up. The objective of our study was to evaluate the efficiency of sirolimus-eluting stent implantation for up to 2 years of follow-up. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifteen patients with de novo coronary artery disease were treated with 18-mm sirolimus-eluting Bx-Velocity stents (Cordis) loaded with 140 microg sirolimus/cm2 metal surface area in a slow release formulation. Quantitative angiography (QCA) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) were performed according to standard protocol. Sirolimus-eluting stent implantation was successful in all 15 patients. During the in-hospital course, 1 patient died of cerebral hemorrhage after periprocedural administration of abciximab, and 1 patient underwent repeat stenting after 2 hours because of edge dissection that led to acute occlusion. Through 6 months and up to 2 years of follow-up, no additional events occurred. QCA analysis revealed no significant change in stent minimal lumen diameter or percent diameter stenosis, and 3-dimensional IVUS showed no significant deterioration in lumen volume. In 2 patients, additional stenting was performed because of significant lesion progression remote from the sirolimus-eluting stent. CONCLUSION: Sirolimus-eluting stents showed persistent inhibition of neointimal hyperplasia for up to 2 years of follow-up.