Predictors of Length of Stay after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: Impact of Prognostic Nutritional Index.

Background: Pre-transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) nutritional status can potentially affect the length of hospital stay (LoS) after TAVR. The Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) is a widely recognised nutritional index. We aimed to determine the effect of PNI on LoS in patients undergoing TAVR. Methods: The study population (158 patients) was divided into two groups: early discharge (LoS ≤ 3 days) and late discharge (LoS > 3 days). PNI was calculated before TAVR. Results: In the LoS > 3 days group, the median age, creatinine level, rate of surgical access site closure and rate of major complications were higher, whereas estimated glomerular filtration rate, albumin, haemoglobin, lymphocyte count and PNI were significantly lower. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed a PNI cutoff of 39 (area under the curve = 0.778, p < 0.001) with 86.8% sensitivity and 55.2% specificity for predicting extended LoS. The 30-day endpoint analysis revealed significantly higher rates of death and hospitalisation with LoS > 3 days and PNI ≤ 39. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis identified several independent predictors of extended LoS: severe renal insufficiency [odds ratio: 3.951 (95% confidence interval: 1.281-12.191); p = 0.017], surgical access site closure [4.353 (1.701-11.141); p = 0.002), complications [7.448 (1.305-42.518); p = 0.024] and PNI < 39 [5.906 (2.375-14.684); p < 0.005]. Conclusions: Decreased PNI may be associated with LoS > 3 days after TAVR. Nutritional status assessed using PNI may be a useful independent predictor of LoS after TAVR.

Evaluation of silent brain injury in patients undergoing aorto-ostial coronary stent implantation.

BACKGROUND: Aorto-ostial (AO) coronary interventions may be associated with multiple problems, including the potential embolization of atherothrombotic debris into the aorta and systemic circulation. Such embolization could theoretically lead to stroke or silent brain injury (SBI). In this study, we aimed to investigate whether there is an increased risk of SBI in patients undergoing AO stent implantation. METHODS: Fifty-five consecutive patients undergoing AO stenting and 55 consecutive patients undergoing non-AO stenting were included. Venous blood samples were obtained before and 12 h after the procedure to measure neuron-specific enolase (NSE), which is a sensitive marker of brain injury. Newly developed NSE elevation after the procedure in an asymptomatic patient was defined as SBI. RESULTS: SBI was detected in 24 (43.6%) patients in the AO stenting group and 17 (30.9%) patients in the non-AO stenting group (p = .167). Although the SBI rates were statistically comparable between the groups, the presence of significant (≥50%) AO stenosis was found to be an independent predictor of SBI in multivariate logistic regression analysis [odds ratio (OR) 2.856; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.057-7.716; p = .038]. A longer procedure time was another independent predictor for the development of SBI (OR 1.037; 95% CI 1.005-1.069; p = .023). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that AO stenting may be associated with an increased risk of SBI if the lesion in the ostium is significant.

Comparative Analysis of Right vs. Left Radial Access in Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Impact on Silent Cerebral Ischemia.

Background and Objectives: Silent cerebral ischemia (SCI) is defined as a condition that can be detected by biochemical markers or cranial imaging methods but does not produce clinical symptom. This study aims both to compare the frequency of SCI in PCIs performed with right transradial access and left transradial access and to evaluate the influencing factors. Materials and Methods: A prospective, single-center study included 197 patients undergoing PCI via transradial access between November 2020 and July 2022. The patients were categorized into right radial and left radial groups. Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) values were measured and recorded before and 18 h after the procedure. A post-procedure NSE level higher than 20 ng/dL was defined as SCI. Results: SCI occurred in 60 of the 197 patients. NSE elevation was observed in 37.4% (n = 37) of the right radial group and in 23.5% (n = 23) of the left radial group (p = 0.032). Patients with SCI had higher rates of smoking (p = 0.043), presence of subclavian tortuosity (p = 0.027), and HbA1c (p = 0.031). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, the level of EF (ejection fraction) (OR: 0.958 95% CI 0.920-0.998, p = 0.039), right radial preference (OR: 2.104 95% CI 1.102-3.995 p = 0.023), and smoking (OR: 2.088 95% CI 1.105-3.944, p = 0.023) were observed as independent variables of NSE elevation. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that PCI via right radial access poses a greater risk of SCI compared to left radial access. Anatomical considerations and technical challenges associated with right radial procedures and factors such as smoking and low ejection fraction contribute to this elevated risk.

Optimising Percutaneous Coronary Interventions: The Impact of Stent Type and Diameter on Long-Term Clinical Outcomes in Large Coronary Arteries.

Background and Objectives: Our study aimed to reveal the effect of using 4 mm bare-metal stents (BMS), 4 mm drug-eluting stents (DES), or 3 mm DES with 4 mm diameter balloon post-dilation strategies on long-term clinical outcomes and endpoints for large-diameter coronary artery percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Materials and Methods: In our study, patients who had undergone PCI were retrospectively screened between January 2014 and July 2020. The study included 350 patients and was divided into three groups; Group I (n = 134) included patients with direct 4.0 mm BMS implantation, Group II (n = 109) included patients with direct 4.0 DES implantation, and Group III (n = 107) included patients with 4mm NC post-dilatation after 3 mm DES implantation. Primary endpoints were determined as target lesion revascularisation, cardiac mortality, and myocardial infarction associated with the target vessel. Our secondary endpoint was all-cause mortality. Results: No differences were observed between the groups in terms of the baseline variables. Stent length was the highest in Group II and the shortest in Group III. There were no significant differences between the groups regarding major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Conclusions: Our study suggests that in percutaneous coronary interventions for non-complex lesions, there is no significant difference in MACE outcomes when directly implanting a 4 mm diameter DES, a 4 mm diameter BMS, or a 3 mm diameter DES, followed by post-dilation with an appropriately sized NC balloon when the target vessel diameter is in the range of 4 to 4.4 mm.

Contemporary In-Hospital Outcomes of Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary Interventions: Insights from the MENATA (Middle East, North Africa, Turkey, and Asia) Chapter of the PROGRESS-CTO Registry.

Chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been rapidly evolving in different parts of the world. We examined the clinical and angiographic characteristics and procedural outcomes of 1,079 consecutive CTO PCIs performed in 1,063 patients at 10 centers in the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey, and Asia regions between 2018 and 2022. The mean age was 61 ± 10 years and 82% of the patients were men. The prevalence of diabetes (49%) and previous PCI (50%) was high. The most common target vessel was the right coronary artery (51%), followed by the left anterior descending artery (33%) and the circumflex artery (15%). The mean Japanese CTO score was 2.1 ± 1.2 and mean PROGRESS-CTO (Prospective Global Registry for the Study of Chronic Total Occlusion Intervention) score was 1.2 ± 1.0. The technical and procedural success rates were high (91% and 90%, respectively) with a low incidence (1.6%) of in-hospital major adverse cardiac events. The incidence of perforation was 4.6% (n = 50): guidewire exit was the most common mechanism of perforation (48%) and 14 patients required pericardiocentesis (28%). Antegrade wire escalation was the most common crossing strategy used (91%), followed by retrograde approach (24%) and antegrade dissection and re-entry (12%). Median contrast volume, air kerma radiation dose, and fluoroscopy time were 300 (200 to 400) ml, 3.7 (2.0 to 6.3) Gy, and 40 (25 to 65) minutes, respectively. In conclusion, high success and acceptable complication rates are currently achieved at experienced centers in the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey, and Asia regions using a combination of crossing strategies.

Impact of calcium on the procedural techniques and outcomes of chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: Coronary calcification is common and increases the difficulty of chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: We examined the impact of calcium on procedural outcomes of 13,079 CTO PCIs performed in 12,799 patients at 46 US and non-US centers between 2012 and 2023. RESULTS: Moderate or severe calcification was present in 46.6% of CTO lesions. Patients whose lesions were calcified were older and more likely to have had prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Calcified lesions were more complex with higher J-CTO score (3.0 ± 1.1 vs. 1.9 ± 1.2; p < 0.001) and lower technical (83.0% vs. 89.9%; p < 0.001) and procedural (81.0% vs. 89.1%; p < 0.001) success rates compared with mildly calcified or non-calcified CTO lesions. The retrograde approach was more commonly used among cases with moderate/severe calcification (40.3% vs. 23.5%; p < 0.001). Balloon angioplasty (76.6%) was the most common lesion preparation technique for calcified lesions, followed by rotational atherectomy (7.3%), laser atherectomy (3.4%) and, intravascular lithotripsy (3.4%). The incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) was higher in cases with moderate or severe calcification (3.0% vs. 1.2%; p < 0.001), as was the incidence of perforation (6.5% vs. 3.4%; p < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, the presence of moderate/severe calcification was independently associated with lower technical success (odds ratio, OR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.63-0.84) and higher MACE (OR = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.66-3.27). CONCLUSIONS: Moderate/severe calcification was present in nearly half of CTO lesions, and was associated with higher utilization of the retrograde approach, lower technical and procedural success rates, and higher incidence of in-hospital MACE.

Procedural Time and Outcomes of Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) can be lengthy procedures. We sought to investigate the effect of procedural time on CTO PCI outcomes. We examined the procedural time required for the various steps of CTO PCI in 6,442 CTO PCIs at 40 US and non-US centers between 2012 and 2022. The mean and median procedure times were 129 ± 76 and 112 minutes, respectively, with no significant change over time. The median times from access to wire insertion, guidewire manipulation time, and post crossing were 20, 32, and 53 minutes, respectively. Lesions crossed in <30 minutes were less complex, as reflected by lower Japanese CTO score (1.89 ± 1.19, p <0.001) than lesions that were not successfully crossed (2.88 ± 1.22) and lesions that were crossed in ≥30 minutes (2.85 ± 1.13). The likelihood of successful crossing if crossing was not achieved after 30, 90, and 180 minutes were a 76.7%, 60.7%, and 42.7%, respectively. The parameters independently associated with ≥30 minutes guidewire manipulation time in patients with a primary antegrade approach included left anterior descending target vessel, proximal cap ambiguity, blunt/no stump, occlusion length, previous failed attempt, medium/severe calcification, and medium/severe tortuosity. The mean duration of CTO PCI is approximately 2 hours (∼20% of time for access to wire insertion, ∼30% wire manipulation time, and ∼50% postwiring time). Guidewire crossing time was shorter in less complex lesions and in cases without complications.

Outcomes of Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary Intervention After a Previous Failed Attempt.

The impact of a previous failure on procedural techniques and outcomes of chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has received limited study. We examined the clinical and angiographic characteristics and procedural outcomes of 9,393 patients who underwent 9,560 CTO PCIs at 42 United States and non-United States centers between 2012 and 2022. A total of 1,904 CTO lesions (20%) had a previous failed PCI attempt. Patients who underwent reattempt CTO PCI were more likely to have a family history of coronary artery disease (37% vs 31%, p <0.001) and dyslipidemia (87.9% vs 84.3%, p <0.001) but were less likely to have heart failure (25.1% vs 29.5%; p <0.001) and cerebrovascular disease (8.7% vs 10.4%, p = 0.04). Patients with previous failure had a higher Japanese CTO (3.33 ± 1.16 vs 2.12 ± 1.19, p <0.001) score and required longer procedure (120 vs 111 minutes, p <0.001) and fluoroscopy (46.9 vs 40.4 minutes, p <0.001) times and higher air kerma radiation dose (2.3 vs 2.1 gray, p = 0.013). Technical success rates (84.3% vs 86.5%, p = 0.011) were lower in patients with a previous failure compared with patients who underwent first-attempt CTO PCI with no significant difference in in-hospital major adverse cardiac events. After adjusting for potential confounders, a previous failure was not associated with technical failure. Operators performing >30 CTO PCIs annually were more likely to achieve technical success in patients with previous failure. In conclusion, a previous failed CTO PCI attempt was associated with higher lesion complexity, longer procedure time, and lower technical success; however, the association with lower technical success did not remain significant in multivariable analysis.

Assessment of silent brain injury in patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention due to chronic total occlusion.

Objective: Silent brain infarcts (SBI) are thromboembolic complications associated with cardiac surgery, diagnostic angiography, and percutaneous interventions. Serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) is the proven biomarker for measuring neuronal damage. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of SBI, defined as elevated NSE after coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) intervention and elective coronary stenting. Design: The study population consisted of two patient groups: the CTO group included consecutive patients with coronary CTO intervention, and the control group consisted of patients who underwent elective coronary intervention. NSE blood levels were measured before and 12-18 h after the procedure. NSE blood levels of >20 ng/mL were considered SBI. Results: A total of 108 patients were included in the study. Of these, 55 (50.9%) had SBI after the procedure. The SBI rate was 59.7% in the CTO group and 39.1% in the control group. Patients with SBI were more likely to have diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, higher HbA1c, higher total stent length, and longer procedural time. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that CTO procedure (odds ratio [OR]: 3.129; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.246-7.858; p < 0.015) and diabetes mellitus (OR: 2.93; 95% CI: 1.185-7.291; p < 0.020) are independent predictors of SBI. Conclusion: Our data suggest that SBI occurs more frequently after CTO intervention than after non-CTO intervention. Intervention complexity and patient clinical characteristics may explain the increased incidence.

Evaluation of Long-Term Outcomes of Crossover or Focal Ostial Stenting of Left Anterior Descending Artery Ostial Stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Optimal management of patients with ostial left anterior descending artery stenosis remains an unresolved issue. METHODS: Patients with ostial left anterior descending stenosis who underwent stent implantation were included in this study. Coronary records of all patients were monitored, and long-term clinical outcomes were recorded. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the stenting method: focal left anterior descending stenting [ostial stenting group] and stenting from the left main coronary artery to the left anterior descending [crossover stenting group]. RESULTS: Of the 97 eligible consecutive patients, 56 were treated with ostial stenting and 41 with crossover stenting. At a mean follow-up of 23.6 ± 12.6 months, non-fatal myocardial infarction (3.9% vs. 12.8%, P=.118), target lesion revascularization (5.9% vs. 12.8%, P=.252), and all-cause death (2.0% vs. 7.7%, P=.191) rates were not statistically significant. However, the rate of major adverse cardiovascular events defined as a composite of non-fatal myocardial infarction, target lesion revascularization, or all-cause death was significantly higher in the crossover stenting group (8.2% vs. 28.2%, P = .013). In the multiple regression analysis, left main coronary artery diameter (odds ratio = 4.506; 95% CI: 1.225-16.582, P = .024) and application of the crossover stenting technique (odds ratio = 5.126; 95% CI: 1.325-19.833, P = .018) were found to be the most effective predictors of major adverse cardiovascular events. CONCLUSION: In our study, the ostial stenting group was associated with better clinical outcomes in the treatment of ostial left anterior descending stenosis. However, it is notappropriate to apply a single method to all patients with such lesions.

Preprocedural coronary computed tomography angiography in chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention: Insights from the PROGRESS-CTO registry.

BACKGROUND: Preprocedural coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) can be useful in procedural planning for chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: We examined the clinical, angiographic and procedural characteristics and outcomes of cases with vs. without preprocedural CCTA in PROGRESS-CTO (NCT02061436). Multivariable logistic regression was used to adjust for confounding factors. RESULTS: Of 7034 CTO PCI cases, preprocedural CCTA was used in 375 (5.3%) with increasing frequency over time. Patients with preprocedural CCTA had a higher prevalence of prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery (39% vs. 27%, p < 0.001) and angiographically unfavorable characteristics including higher prevalence of proximal cap ambiguity (52% vs. 33%, p < 0.001) and moderate/severe calcification (59% vs. 41%, p < 0.001) compared with those without CCTA. CCTA helped resolve proximal cap ambiguity in 27%, identified significant calcium not seen on diagnostic angiography in 18%, changed estimated CTO length by >5 mm in 10%, and was performed as part of initial coronary artery disease work up in 19%. CCTA cases had higher J-CTO (2.6 ± 1.2 vs. 2.3 ± 1.3, p < 0.001) and PROGRESS-CTO (1.3 ± 1.0 vs. 1.2 ± 1.0 p = 0.027) scores. After adjusting for potential confounders, cases with preprocedural CCTA had similar technical success (odds ratio [OR]: 1.18, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.83-1.67) and incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (OR: 1.47, 95% CI, 0.72-3.00). CONCLUSION: Preprocedural CCTA was used in ~5% of CTO PCI cases. While CCTA may help with procedural planning, especially in complex cases, technical success and MACE were similar with or without CCTA.

The predictive value of galectin-3 levels on left atrial low voltage areas assessed by high-density mapping in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Aims: Galectin-3 is an inflammation biomarker that is associated with atrial fibrosis and plays a role in the development of atrial fibrillation (AF). Low voltage areas (LVAs) identified using an electroanatomical mapping system represent the presence of fibrotic tissue. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between coronary sinus (CS) serum sampling of galectin-3 levels and the presence and extent of LVA in patients with paroxysmal AF. Methods: A total of 115 consecutive paroxysmal AF patients underwent pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) included prospectively in the study. Voltage mapping was performed before PVI during sinus rhythm guided by multipolar high-density mapping catheter and LVAs were defined as regions where bipolar peak to peak voltage was <0.5 mV. Galectin-3 levels were measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: CS serum sampling of galectin-3 levels was significantly higher in paroxysmal AF patients with LVA than those without LVA (16.5 ± 3.7 ng/ml vs. 10.2 ±2.7 ng/ml, respectively, p < .001). CS serum sampling of galectin-3 levels was significantly higher in paroxysmal AF patients with moderate and severe LVA than in paroxysmal AF patients with mild LVA (17 ± 3.5 ng/ml and 20.1 ± 1.3 ng/ml vs. 13.3 ± 2.3 ng/ml, respectively, p = .002). In the multivariate analysis female gender (odds ratio [OR] = 7.537, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.011-56.195; p = .049), left atrium volume (OR = 1.326, 95% CI: 1.052-1.67; p = .017), and CS serum sampling of galectin-3 levels (OR = 1.704, 95% CI: 1.169-2.483; p = .006) were significant and independent predictors for LVAs. Conclusion: In this study, we found that the CS serum sampling of galectin-3 levels increased with the extent of LVA and was an independent predictor for the presence of LVA.

Low-Dose Slow Infusion Tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA) in Treatment of Thrombotic Coronary Artery Occlusions: Case Series and Literature Review.

Thrombotic coronary artery occlusions usually manifest as acute coronary syndrome with cardiogenic shock, acute pulmonary edema, cardiac arrest, fatal arrhythmias, or sudden cardiac death. Although it usually occurs based on atherosclerosis, it can also occur without atherosclerosis. There is no predictor of coronary artery thrombosis clinically and no consensus regarding the optimal treatment. In the current literature, treatment options include emergency coronary artery bypass grafting, entrapment of thrombus in vessel wall with stent implantation, intracoronary thrombolysis, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, anticoagulation with heparin, and thrombus aspiration as reperfusion strategies. Here, we reviewed a new treatment strategy based on the literature, and a case series with successful results in hemodynamically stable patients with low-dose slow infusion tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) for thrombotic coronary artery occlusions that allow coronary flow was reported. Prospective randomized studies and common consensus are needed on low-dose, slow-infusion tissue plasminogen activator treatment regimen and optimal treatment management for thrombotic coronary artery occlusions.

Effect of Covid-19 pandemic process on STEMI patients timeline.

OBJECTIVE: Delayed revascularisation in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is associated with poor prognosis. The aim of this study is to investigate how the timeline in STEMI treatment was affected during the Covid-19 outbreak. METHOD: Consecutive 165 STEMI patients were enrolled in the study during the Covid-19 pandemic period (Pandemic period) and the prepandemic period (Control period). The time period until patients' leaving their current position after the onset of pain (home delay), the time from the onset of pain to the first medical contact (FMC delay), door-to-balloon time, procedure time and hospitalisation time were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 165 patients, 82 in the Pandemic period and 83 in the Control period, were included in the study. When compared with the control period, home delay [30 (5-6912) minutes vs 165 (10-360) minutes, P < .001] and FMC delay [61 (20-6932) minutes vs 190 (15-3660) minutes, P < .001] were significantly prolonged during the pandemic period. In addition, non-IRA PCI rate (8.8% vs 19.3% P = .043) and hospitalisation time [71 (15-170) vs 74.2 (37-329) hours, P = .045] were decreased. CONCLUSION: During the Covid-19 pandemic period, prolonged prehospital time parameters were observed in STEMI patients. Therefore, additional measures may be required to prevent unfavourable delays in STEMI patients during the outbreak.

Evaluation of mesenteric artery disease in patients with severe aortic valve stenosis.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the mesenteric artery stenosis (MAS) in routinely performed CT angiography (CTA) of patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) planned for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) before the procedure. Patients with AS (AS group) who routinely underwent CTA before the TAVI procedure due to severe AS and patients who had CTA for other indications (control group) were retrospectively and sequentially scanned. The demographic characteristics of the patients in both groups were similar. Calcification and stenosis in the mesenteric arteries were recorded according to the localization of celiac truncus, superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and inferior mesenteric artery (IMA). Class 0-3 classification was used for calcification score. Stenoses with a stenosis degree ≥50% were considered as significant. A total of 184 patients, 73 patients with severe AS and 111 control groups, were included in the study. SMA and IMA calcification scores of patients with AS were significantly higher than the control group (p=0.035 for SMA and p=0.020 for IMA). In addition, the rate of patients with significant MAS in at least 1 artery (45.2% vs 22.5%, p=0.001) and the rate of patients with significant stenosis in multiple arteries were also significantly higher in the AS group (8.2% vs 1.8%, p=0.037). According to the study results, patients with AS are at a higher risk for MAS. Chronic mesenteric ischemia should be kept in mind in patients with AS who have symptoms such as non-specific abdominal pain and weight loss.

Galectin-3 levels and the prediction of atrial high-rate episodes in patients with cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Galectin-3 is an inflammation biomarker associated with atrial remodeling which plays a role in the development of atrial fibrillation (AF). Atrial high-rate episode (AHRE) is related to development of clinically documented AF and stroke. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between the presence of AHRE and the coronary sinus (CS) serum sampling of galectin-3 levels in the long-term follow-up of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) patients. A total of 108 consecutive CRT patients were included prospectively in the study. AHREs were defined as atrial tachyarrhythmia episodes lasting at least 6 min with atrial rate >190 beats/min detected by cardiac implantable electronic device. CS blood samples were drawn from the CS guiding catheter to perform galectin-3 measurements. Galectin-3 levels were measured via ELISA. During a mean follow-up 12.6±4.9 months, AHRE was observed in 31 (28.7%) patients and not observed in 77 (72.3%) patients. CS galectin-3 levels were significantly higher in patients with AHRE than those without AHRE (18.09±2.62 vs 13.17±3.17, respectively, p<0.001). Moreover, CS galectin-3 levels showed significant positive correlation with percent of time spent in total AHRE (r=0.436, p<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that left atrium (LA) volume and CS galectin-3 levels were significant and independent predictors for AHRE (OR=1.127, 95% CI: 1.045 to 1.216; p=0.002, OR=1.799, 95% CI: 1.388 to 2.330; p<0.001, respectively). In this study, we determined that high CS galectin-3 levels were a predictor for the development of AHRE in CRT patients.

Evaluation of ivabradine in left ventricular dyssynchrony and reverse remodeling in patients with chronic heart failure.

OBJECTIVES: Ivabradine is a pharmacological agent used in patients with heart failure and sinus rhythm. Its only known pharmacological effect is to slow the heart rate. In this study, we investigated the impact of ivabradine on dyssynchrony parameters in heart failure patients. METHODS: In this study, we assigned 55 patients taking medication for heart failure to receive ivabradine in addition (Group I). Twenty healthy volunteers comprised Group II. Echocardiographic measurements (dyssynchrony, left ventricular volumes and left ventricular ejection fraction) were taken at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months. RESULTS: A total of 32 heart failure patients in Group I completed the study. There was significant improvement in dyssynchrony parameters after ivabradine treatment in Group I. Interventricular dyssynchrony (IVD) decreased from 42.0 ± 24.4 milliseconds at baseline to 33.6 ± 20.7 milliseconds at 1 month (P = .001) and to 30.7 ± 19.4 milliseconds at 3 months (P < .001). Septal to posterior wall motion delay decreased from 90.3 ± 21.4 milliseconds to 83.9 ± 26.9 milliseconds (P = .011) at 1 month and to 81.5 ± 27.3 milliseconds at 3 months (P = .001). Septal to lateral Ts delay (Ts-SL) decreased from 42.7 ± 24.5 milliseconds to 35.8 ± 22.6 milliseconds at 1 month (P < .001) and to 34.8 ± 22.4 milliseconds at 3 months (P = .002). Left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV) decreased from 139.4 ± 42.2 mL to 135.3 ± 39.6 mL at 1 month (P = .006) and to 123.3 ± 39.5 mL at 3 months (P < .001). CONCLUSION: The addition of ivabradine to heart failure treatment improves cardiac dyssynchrony parameters in chronic systolic heart failure patients with sinus rhythm.

Echocardiographic assessment of pulmonary arterial stiffness in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is one of the complications of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Despite the emergence of effective therapies, pulmonary arterial hypertension is commonly seen, especially at advanced stages. At the time of diagnosis, a majority of patients are at New York Heart Association-Functional Class III or IV. Many of the current screening modalities are dependent on detecting a rise in pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP). However, high capacitance of the pulmonary circulation implies that early microcirculation loss is not accompanied by a change in resting PAP. Therefore, we aimed to demonstrate early changes in pulmonary vascular disease in HIV-infected patients with a new echocardiographic parameter, called as pulmonary arterial stiffness (PAS). METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-six HIV-infected patients and 36 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects were enrolled in this study. PAS was calculated echocardiographically by using maximal frequency shift and acceleration time of the pulmonary artery flow trace. There was no significant difference in diastolic functions, right ventricular diameters, systolic PAP, inferior vena cava widths, right atrial area, and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion values between the two groups. However, PAS was calculated as 24.3 ± 6.4 Hz/msn in HIV-infected patients and 19.3 ± 3.1 Hz/msn in healthy control group (P < 0.001). Increase in PAS was correlated with duration of HIV infection (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that HIV infection affects pulmonary vascular bed starting early onset of disease and this can be demonstrated by an easy-to-measure echocardiographic parameter.

Microvascular abnormalities in asymptomatic chronic smokers: A videocapillaroscopic study.

Cigarette smoking is reportedly associated with coronary, cerebral, and peripheral vascular diseases. Nailfold videocapillaroscopy is a noninvasive imaging technique used to examine the microvasculature. In this study we aim to investigate the capillaroscopic abnormalities of asymptomatic chronic smokers (N = 30), and compare findings to those of healthy nonsmokers (N = 30). Nailfold videocapillaroscopy was performed with a videodermatoscope, with images recorded at 40× magnification. Capillary morphologies were assessed as normal, enlargement, tortuosity, and microhemorrhages. Capillaroscopic abnormalities were seen in 16 (53.3%) of subjects within the smoker group and seven (23.3%) within the nonsmoker group (p < 0.05). Six smokers had only capillary enlargement; another 10 had both capillary enlargement and microhemorrhages. In comparison, enlarged capillaries and both enlarged capillaries and microhemorrhages were observed in three and four nonsmokers, respectively. In conclusion, nailfold capillaroscopic abnormalities were more common among asymptomatic chronic smokers than healthy nonsmokers, with the enlargement of nailfold capillaries being the most common abnormality. Nailfold videocapillaroscopic examination may serve as an efficient tool in determining microvascular abnormalities in asymptomatic chronic smokers not only for risk stratification purposes, but also to take the measures needed to preclude future vascular events.

An unusual thrombosis of an ostial left internal mammary artery graft causing acute coronary syndrome five years after coronary bypass surgery.

For long-term patency, a left internal mammary artery (LIMA) graft is considered the gold standard for left anterior descending artery (LAD) revascularization. Subsequent occlusion of a LIMA graft may be related to atherosclerosis, narrowing at anastomotic locations, fixed torsions within the graft, straight tubular stenosis, dissection, or vasospasm. Late thrombotic occlusion of a LIMA, however, is rare, and the cause is not known, though case reports can be found in the literature. The present case is a description of the successful revascularization via percutaneous intervention of an ostial LIMA thrombotic occlusion occurring 5 years after bypass surgery in a 71-year old patient diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome.