Percutaneous coronary intervention with ridaforolimus eluting-stents in small vessel coronary artery disease.

INTRODUCTION: The ridaforolimus-eluting stent (RES) system uses a novel cobalt alloy-based coronary stent with a durable elastomeric polymer eluting ridaforolimus. AIM OF STUDY: To assess the safety and efficacy of small diameter (2.25 mm) RES (EluNIR) in small coronary artery disease. METHODS: A prospective, multicenter, single-arm, open-label clinical trial. Clinical follow-up was performed at 30 days, 6 months, and 1 year after the procedure. Target lesions were located in native coronary arteries or bypass graft conduits, with visually estimated diameter of ≥2.25 mm to ≤2.5 mm. The primary endpoint was combined device success, defined as final in-stent residual diameter stenosis <30%, without 30-day major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). RESULTS: A total of 81 patients were enrolled in the study. Twenty-three patients (28%) had acute coronary syndrome (ACS) at presentation and 37 (46%) had prior myocardial infarction (MI). Most of the target lesions were located in the circumflex coronary artery (44%) and were classified as B2/C grade according to the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology classification. The final mean minimal lumen diameter, mean reference vessel diameter, and mean residual percent diameter stenosis were 2.0 ± 0.2 mm, 2.3 ± 0.1 mm, and 14 + 6.6%, respectively. The primary endpoint of device success without 30-day MACE was achieved in 98.8% of the patients. Target lesion failure (TLF) at 6 months was 1.2%. Thirty-day and 1-year MACE rates were 1.2% and 2.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The EluNIR 2.25 mm stent shows excellent results in small coronary artery disease and adds another tool in the treatment of this complex lesion type.

Traditional Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction in Women and Men: A Single-Center Study.

INTRODUCTION: Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is common in patients with and without obstructive epicardial coronary artery disease (CAD). Risk factors for the development of CMD have not been fully elucidated, and data regarding sex-associated differences in traditional cardiovascular risk factors for obstructive CAD in patients with CMD are lacking. METHODS: In this single-center, prospective registry, we enrolled patients with nonobstructive CAD undergoing clinically indicated invasive assessment of coronary microvascular function between November 2019 and March 2023. Associations between coronary microvascular dysfunction, traditional cardiovascular risk factors, and sex were assessed using univariate and multivariate regression models. RESULTS: Overall, 245 patients with nonobstructive CAD were included in the analysis (62.9% female; median age 68 (interquartile range: 59, 75). Microvascular dysfunction was diagnosed in 141 patients (57.5%). The prevalence of microvascular dysfunction was similar in women and men (59.0% vs. 57.0%; p = 0.77). No association was found between traditional risk factors for coronary atherosclerosis and CMD regardless of whether CMD was structural or functional. In women, but not in men, older age and the presence of previous ischemic heart disease were associated with lower coronary flow reserve (ß = -0.29; p < 0.01 and ß = -0.15; p = 0.05, respectively) and lower resistive reserve ratio (ß = -0.28; p < 0.01 and ß = -0.17; p = 0.04, respectively). CONCLUSION: For the entire population, no association was found between coronary microvascular dysfunction and traditional risk factors for coronary atherosclerosis. In women only, older age and previous ischemic heart disease were associated with coronary microvascular dysfunction. Larger studies are needed to elucidate risk factors for CMD.

Procedural and long-term outcome among patients undergoing expedited trans-catheter aortic valve replacement.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with rapidly deteriorating clinical status due to severe aortic stenosis are often referred for expedited transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Data regarding the outcome of such interventions is limited. We aimed to evaluate the outcome of patients undergoing expedited TAVR. DESIGN AND SETTING: Data were derived from the Israeli Multicenter Registry. SUBJECTS: Subjects were divided into two groups based on procedure urgency: patients who were electively hospitalized for the procedure (N = 3140) and those who had an expedited TAVR (N = 142). Procedural and periprocedural complication rates were significantly higher among patients with an expedited indication for TAVR compared to those having an elective procedure: valve malposition 4.6% versus 0.6% (p < 0.001), procedural cardiopulmonary resuscitation 4.3% versus 1.0% (p = 0.007), postprocedure myocardial infarction 2.0% versus 0.4% (p = 0.002), and stage 3 acute kidney injury 3.0% versus 1.1%, (p < 0.001). Patients with expedited indication for TAVR had significantly higher in hospital mortality (5.6% vs. 1.4%, p = 0.003). Kaplan-Meier's survival analysis showed that patients undergoing expedited TAVR had higher 3-year mortality rates compared to patients undergoing an elective TAVR procedure (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis found that patients with expedited indication had fourfolds increased risk of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio: 4.07, p = 0.001), and nearly twofolds increased risk of mortality at 3-year (hazard ratio: 1.69, p = 0.001) compared to those having an elective procedure. CONCLUSION: Patients with expedited indications for TAVR suffer from poor short- and long-term outcomes. It is important to characterize and identify these patients before the deterioration to perform TAVR in a fast-track pathway to minimize their procedural risk.

Outcomes of Patients Undergoing PCI of Ostial Coronary Lesions: A Single-Center Study.

INTRODUCTION: Ostial coronary lesions are a subset of proximal coronary lesions, which are relatively more difficult to treat and were associated with worse clinical outcomes in the early percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) era. Data regarding the outcomes of ostial lesions' PCI in the contemporary era are lacking. METHODS: We conducted a single-center, all-comer, prospective registry study, enrolling patients undergoing PCI with the use of contemporary drug-eluting stents (DES) between July 2016 and February 2018. Included in the present analysis were only patients treated for proximal lesions. Clinical outcomes were compared between patients undergoing PCI of ostial versus proximal nonostial lesions. The primary endpoint was target vessel revascularization (TVR). Secondary endpoints included target lesion revascularization (TLR) and major cardiovascular adverse events (MACE) at 12 months. RESULTS: A total of 334 (84.7% male, 67.3 ± 10.7 years) patients were included, of which 91 patients were treated for ostial lesions and 243 were treated for proximal nonostial lesions. Baseline and procedural characteristics were similar between the two groups. At 12 months, TVR and TLR were numerically higher among patients undergoing PCI of ostial versus nonostial lesions without reaching statistical significance (5.5% vs. 3.3%; p = 0.35 and 4.4% vs. 2.5%; p = 0.47, respectively). The rate of MACE was similar between the two groups. CONCLUSION: In patients undergoing PCI with the use of contemporary DES, clinical outcomes were similar among patients treated for ostial compared to proximal nonostial lesions. Larger studies are required to further evaluate the performance of contemporary DES in this subset of lesions.

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio as a Prognostic Marker in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) Patients.

BACKGROUND: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a simple and cost-effective marker of inflammation. This marker has been shown to predict cardiac arrhythmias, progression of valvular heart disease, congestive heart failure decompensation, acute kidney injury, and mortality in cardiovascular patients. The pathologic process of aortic stenosis includes chronic inflammation of the valve and therefore biomarkers of inflammation might offer additive prognostic value. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate NLR and its association with long term mortality in transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) patients. METHODS: We evaluated data of 1152 consecutive patient from the Tel Aviv Medical Center TAVI registry who underwent TAVI. Data included baseline clinical, demographic, and echocardiographic findings; procedural complications; and post-procedure mortality. Patients were compared by using the median NLR value (4.1) and evaluated for long-term mortality. RESULTS: Patients with NLR above the median had higher mortality rates (26.4% vs. 16.3%, P < 0.001) at 3 years post-procedure. A multivariable analysis found NLR to be an independent risk factor for mortality (hazard ratio = 1.47, 95% confidence interval 1.09-1.99, P = 0.013). In addition, high NLR was linked to complicationsduring and after the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: NLR is an independent prognostic marker among TAVI patients. This marker may represent an increased inflammatory response and should be added to previous known prognostic factors.

Forced diuresis with matched hydration during transcatheter aortic valve implantation for Reducing Acute Kidney Injury: a randomized, sham-controlled study (REDUCE-AKI).

AIMS: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and is associated with increased risk for short- and long-term mortality. In patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), forced diuresis with matched hydration has been shown to reduce the incidence of AKI by ∼50%. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether forced diuresis with matched intravenous hydration reduces AKI in patients undergoing TAVI. METHODS AND RESULTS: Reducing Acute Kidney Injury (REDUCE-AKI) was a single-centre, prospective, randomized, double-blind sham-controlled clinical trial, designed to examine the effect of an automated matched saline infusion with urine output for the prevention of AKI in patients undergoing TAVI. A total of 136 TAVI patients were randomized, 68 in each group. Mean age was 83.9 ± 5 years and 41.2% were males. There were no differences in baseline characteristics between the two groups. The rate of AKI was not statistically different between the groups (25% in the active group vs. 19.1% in the sham group, P = 0.408). There was a significant increase in long-term mortality in the active group (27.9% vs. 13. 2% HR 3.744, 95% CI 1.51-9.28; P = 0.004). The study was terminated prematurely by the Data Safety Monitoring Board for futility and a possible signal of harm. CONCLUSIONS: Unlike in PCI, forced diuresis with matched hydration does not prevent AKI in patients undergoing TAVI, and might be associated with increased long-term mortality. Future studies should focus on understanding the mechanisms behind these findings. CLINICALTRIALS.GOV REGISTRATION: NCT01866800, 30 April 2013.

Incidence and predictors of target lesion failure in patients undergoing contemporary DES implantation-Individual patient data pooled analysis from 6 randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Drug-eluting stents (DESs) have improved clinical outcomes of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Nevertheless, adverse events related to previously treated lesion still occur. We sought to evaluate the incidence and predictors of target lesion failure (TLF) in patients undergoing contemporary DES implantation. METHODS: Patient-level data from 6 prospective, randomized trials were pooled, and DES treatment outcomes were analyzed at up to 5 years. Primary outcome was TLF (cardiac death, target lesion revascularization, or target vessel myocardial infarction). Cox proportional-hazards model was used to identify predictors of TLF. RESULTS: Overall, 10,072 patients were included in the analysis. TLF rate was 1.7%, 4.3%, and 11.9% at 30 days, 1 year, and 5 years, respectively. The only independent predictor of TLF at 30 days was stent length (hazard ratio [HR] 1.017, 95% CI 1.011-1.024, P < .0001). Moderate/severe calcification, stent length and post procedural diameter sthenosis were predictors between 30 days to 1 year but not at 1 to 5 years. Reference vessel diameter was the only lesion-related predictor at 5 years (P = .003). Clinical predictors of TLF between 30 days and 1 year were diabetes and hypertension (P < .01 for both), and between 1 and 5 years, diabetes (HR 1.40, 95% CI 1.13-1.73, P = .002), prior coronary artery bypass grafting (HR 2.52, 95% CI 1.92-3.30, P < .0001), and prior PCI (HR 1.29, 95% CI 1.02-1.64, P = .04) predicted TLF. CONCLUSIONS: Predictors of TLF vary in the early, late, and very late postprocedural periods. Reference vessel diameter was the only lesion-related predictor of long-term TLF; clinical predictors were diabetes, prior coronary artery bypass grafting, and prior PCI.

Outcomes of the Tryton-dedicated bifurcation stent for the treatment of true coronary bifurcations: Individual-patient-data pooled analysis.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the dedicated Tryton side branch (SB) stent for the treatment of true bifurcations involving large SBs. BACKGROUND: Bifurcation lesions are associated with lower procedural success and a higher risk of adverse cardiac events. Provisional stenting (PS) is currently the default approach for the treatment of bifurcation lesions. The Tryton stent is a dedicated bifurcation stent system for the treatment of true bifurcation lesions. METHODS: We performed an individual-patient-data pooled post-hoc analysis of the Tryton Pivotal randomized controlled trial and post-approval Confirmatory Study. Only patients with true bifurcations involving a SB ≥ 2.25 mm in diameter were included. The primary endpoint was non-inferiority of Tryton compared with PS for target vessel failure (TVF) at 1 year. RESULTS: Of the 411 patients meeting the criteria for enrolment, 287 patients were treated with the Tryton stent and 124 with PS. Procedural success was higher in the Tryton group (95.4 versus 82.3%, P < 0.0001). TVF at 1 year was 8.1% in the Tryton group and 9.7% in the PS group, meeting the pre-specified criteria for non-inferiority established for the randomized controlled trail (pnon-inferiority = 0.02). At 9-month angiographic follow-up, SB diameter stenosis was significantly lower in the Tryton group (29.3 ± 21.9 versus 41.1 ± 17.5, P = 0.0008) and in-segment binary restenosis (diameter stenosis ≥ 50%) was higher in the PS group (19.0 versus 34.2%, respectively, P = 0.052). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with true bifurcations involving a large SB, treatment with the Tryton SD Stent was clinically non-inferior to PS and showed favorable angiographic outcomes.

The Reducer device in patients with angina pectoris: mechanisms, indications, and perspectives.

Despite available pharmacological and interventional therapies, refractory angina is a common and disabling clinical condition, and a major public health problem, which affects patients' quality-of-life, and has a significant impact upon health care resources. Persistent angina is common not only in patients who are not good candidates for revascularization, but also in patients following successful revascularization. Clearly, there is a need for additional treatment options for refractory angina beyond currently available pharmacological and interventional therapies. It is of pivotal importance, in this condition, to practice a patient-centred health assessment approach, measuring success of a new therapy by its effects on patients' symptoms, functional status, and quality-of-life, rather than hard clinical endpoints as used in clinical studies. The coronary sinus Reducer is a novel technology designed to reduce disabling symptoms and improve quality-of-life of patients suffering from refractory angina. This review serves to update the clinician as to current evidence and future perspectives of the optimal utilization of this innovative technology.

Utility of intracoronary imaging in the cardiac catheterization laboratory: comprehensive evaluation with intravascular ultrasound and optical coherence tomography.

Background: Intracoronary imaging is an important tool for guiding decision making in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Sources of data: We have reviewed the latest available evidence in the field to highlight the various potential benefits of intravascular imaging. Areas of agreement: Coronary angiography has been considered the gold standard test to appropriately diagnose and manage patients with coronary artery disease, but it has the inherent limitation of being a 2-dimensional x-ray lumenogram of a complex 3-dimensional vascular structure. Areas of controversy: There is well-established inter- and intra-observer variability in reporting coronary angiograms leading to potential variability in various management strategies. Intracoronary imaging improves the diagnostic accuracy while optimizing the results of an intervention. Utilization of intracoronary imaging modalities in routine practice however remains low worldwide. Increased costs, resources, time and expertise have been cited as explanations for low incorporation of these techniques. Growing points: Intracoronary imaging supplements and enhances an operator's decision-making ability based on detailed and objective lesion assessment rather than a subjective visual estimation. The benefits of intravascular imaging are becoming more profound as the complexity of cases suitable for revascularization increases. Areas timely for developing research: While the clinical benefits of intravascular ultrasound have been well validated, optical coherence tomography in comparison is a newer technology, with robust clinical trials assessing its clinical benefit are underway.

Coronary sinus reducer for the treatment of chronic refractory angina pectoris-results of the preclinical safety and feasibility study.

BACKGROUND: Narrowing of the coronary sinus (CS) has recently emerged as a new therapeutic option for the treatment of patients with chronic refractory angina pectoris. The results of the preclinical study presented here, evaluate the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of reducer implantation in a swine model with and without myocardial ischemia. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study included a safety/feasibility arm, and a safety/efficacy arm. In the safety/feasibility arm, reducers were implanted in 26 mini swine; follow up of up to 6 months included cardiac catheterization with CS angiogram, and histological evaluation of the stented segments of the CS. In the safety/efficacy arm, eight swine with evidence of inducible myocardial ischemia were divided into reducer implantation group (n = 4) and a control group (n = 4). Follow-up in this arm included 6 weeks and 6 months dobutamine stress echo and myocardial contrast echo to evaluate severity and extent of ischemia. In the safety/feasibility arm (n = 26), reducers were implanted with procedural success rate of 100% and with no short or long-term complications. All CS reducers were found to be patent at the time of sacrifice. In the safety/efficacy arm, all four animals with myocardial ischemia that underwent reducer implantation showed improvement in ischemia parameters at 6 weeks and 6 months follow-up, with no mortality. Among the control group, no improvement in ischemia parameters was observed and three out of four animals died. CONCLUSIONS: Narrowing of the CS using percutaneous implantation of the reducer in swine is feasible, safe, and improves the extent and severity of ischemia.

Shift Work and the Risk of Coronary Artery Disease: A Cardiac Computed Tomography Angiography Study.

AIMS: Shift work disrupts the normal circadian rhythm and is associated with risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD) and a higher incidence of CAD morbidity and mortality. Cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is a robust noninvasive modality for assessing the presence, extent, and severity of CAD. We sought to investigate whether shift workers are prone to a higher burden of CAD compared to non-shift workers. METHODS: We conducted a historically prospective study in consecutive patients who underwent CCTA and answered a telephonic questionnaire. Due to significant differences in age and gender, we compared 89 well-matched pairs of shift workers and non-shift workers with the use of propensity scores. RESULTS: Our cohort consisted of 349 participants, of whom 94 (26.9%) were shift workers. The mean age was 50.7 years, and 62.5% were males. After pairing, we showed that shift workers had a higher prevalence of CAD than non-shift workers (74.2 vs. 53.9%, respectively, p = 0.01), and a lower prevalence of coronary calcium scores of zero (46.8 vs. 63.4%, respectively, p = 0.034). Stenosis >50% was more prevalent in shift workers than in non-shift workers (20.2 vs. 11.2%, respectively, p = 0.006), and the extent of CAD (defined as the presence of ≥1-vessel disease) tended to be higher in shift workers than in non-shift workers (25.8 vs. 13.5%, respectively, p = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: In this CCTA study, we showed in a well-matched cohort of consecutive patients that shift workers had a higher prevalence and extent of CAD than non-shift workers.

Prognostic significance of aortic valve gradient in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of baseline aortic valve gradient (AVG) both as a continuous and a categorical variable on mortality in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), focusing on the high-gradient severe aortic stenosis (AS) patients. BACKGROUND: Identifying new predictors of mortality in the TAVR population can help refine risk stratification and improve the patient selection process for this procedure. So far, AVG has mainly been studied as a categorical variable and there is a paucity of data on its prognostic value as a continuous variable, especially in patients with high AVG AS, who constitute the majority of patients referred for TAVR. METHODS: We analyzed data on 1,224 consecutive symptomatic severe AS patients, who underwent TAVR at 3 centers. The relation between pre-TAVR AVG and mortality was evaluated among all patients and in patients with high AVGs (mean AVG ≥40 mm Hg) using the Cox proportional hazard model adjusting for multiple variables. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up of 1.8 years, baseline AVG was inversely associated with mortality in the entire cohort and in patients with high AVG AS. By multivariable analysis, patients with mean AVG 40-60 mm Hg and >60 mm Hg had a respective 38% (P = 0.010) and 61% (P < 0.001) reduction in mortality compared to patients with mean AVG <40 mm Hg. Every 10 mm Hg increase in mean AVG was associated with 20% reduction in mortality (P < 0.001). Analyses among patients with high (mean AVG >40 mm Hg) and very high AVG AS (mean AVG >60 mm Hg) yielded similar results (HR = 0.88, P = 0.031, and HR = 0.80, P = 0.019, per 10 mm Hg increase in AVG, respectively). Using peak AVGs and an analysis restricted to patients without reduced ejection fraction yielded consistent results. CONCLUSIONS: Baseline AVGs show an inverse association with mortality post-TAVR. These results were consistent also in patients with high-gradient AS, suggesting that AVG can be used to identify patients most likely to benefit from TAVR.

HbA1c Levels and Long-Term Mortality in Patients Undergoing Coronary Angiography.

OBJECTIVES: Previous studies investigating the prognostic value of HbA1c in patients undergoing coronary angiography reported a mixed pattern of results. Therefore, we aimed to better define the prognostic power of HbA1c among coronary catheterized patients. METHODS: Patients undergoing coronary angiography (n = 3,749) were divided into four groups according to HbA1c levels (<5, 5-6, 6-7 and >7%). Cox regression models assessed long-term mortality after adjusting for multiple covariates. RESULTS: Baseline clinical profiles differed in HbA1c groups, with a higher prevalence of comorbidities in the groups with higher HbA1c levels. Median follow-up was 1,745 days (interquartile range 1,007-2,171). A J-shaped association curve was observed between HbA1c levels and all-cause mortality rates, with patients in the lowest and highest HbA1c groups suffering from significantly higher mortality rates compared to in-between groups (hazard ratio 1.9, 95% CI 1.32-2.74, p = 0.001, and hazard ratio 1.58, 95% CI 1.29-1.95, p < 0.001, for the lowest and highest HbA1c groups, respectively). This association persisted after adjustment for anemia, nutritional status, renal function, cardiovascular risk factors and inflammatory biomarkers. CONCLUSIONS: HbA1c levels <5 or >7% are predictors of all-cause mortality in patients undergoing coronary angiography.

[THE CORONARY SINUS REDUCER: A DEVICEBASED THERAPY FOR REFRACTORY ANGINA].

INTRODUCTION: Alongside the remarkable progress in therapeutic strategies destined to patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), a growing number of patients who suffer from severe and diffuse CAD not amenable for revascularization, continue to experience severe debilitating angina despite optimal medical therapy. The Coronary Sinus (CS) Reducer has emerged as a novel therapeutic strategy for patients with refractory angina pectoris. The Reducer is a stainless steel, balloon-expandable, hourglass shaped device implanted percutaneously through the right internal jugular vein in the coronary sinus. After implantation it creates a controlled narrowing of the lumen, leading to an increase in coronary venues pressure, which improves blood flow to ischemic layers of the myocardium by redistribution of blood from the subepicardial myocardium to the more ischemic subendocardial layers of the myocardium, thus improving angina symptoms and quality of life.

Impact of carotid atherosclerosis on the risk of adverse cardiac events in patients with and without coronary disease.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Carotid atherosclerosis (CA) is reportedly a strong predictor of imminent cardiac events even in the absence of established coronary artery disease (CAD). We examined the differential impact of CA on the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with and without CAD diagnosed angiographically. METHODS: We conducted a follow-up survey of 1391 patients who underwent clinically driven coronary angiography and a same-day carotid ultrasound and Doppler study. Definitions of CAD, CA, and carotid artery stenosis were in accordance with current practice guidelines. RESULTS: Of 1391 patients, angiographic CAD was present in 1105 (79%) patients. Mean and median follow-up was 1574 and 1702 days, respectively. Rates of the primary composite major adverse cardiovascular event end point were higher among patients with CAD compared with those without CAD (48% versus 20%; P<0.001), whereas the rates of all-cause mortality (10% versus 9%; P=0.81) and stroke (7% versus 5%; P=0.3) did not differ significantly between both groups. Carotid artery stenosis and CA were associated with an increased risk of the composite major adverse cardiovascular event end point among patients without CAD (hazard ratio=3.17 [95% confidence interval, 1.52-6.60]; P<0.01; and hazard ratio=1.69 [0.95-3.01]; P=0.07, respectively) though not in patients with CAD. Carotid artery stenosis was associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality among patients without CAD (hazard ratio=2.93 [1.09-7.87]; P=0.03]) though not among those with CAD. CONCLUSIONS: CA and carotid artery stenosis are independent predictors of major adverse cardiovascular event in patients undergoing coronary angiography. The prognostic implications of carotid disease are imparted predominantly in patients without pre-existent CAD.

Smoking and Respiratory Diseases in Patients with Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Coronary microvascular disease (CMD) is common in patients with and without obstructive coronary artery disease, and is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Respiratory-related variables are associated with pulmonary and systemic microvascular dysfunction, while evidence about their relationship with CMD is limited. We aim to evaluate respiratory-related variables as risk factors of CMD. METHODS: This is an observational, single-center study enrolling consecutive patients undergoing invasive evaluation of coronary microvascular function in the catheterization laboratory. Patients with evidence of obstructive coronary artery disease or with missing data were excluded. Associations between respiratory-related variables and indices of CMD were assessed using univariate and multivariate regression models. RESULTS: Overall, 266 patients (mean age 67 ± 11 years, 59% females) were included in the current analysis. Of those, 155 (58%) had evidence of CMD. Among the respiratory variables, independent predictors of CMD were current smoking (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-5; P = .01) and obstructive sleep apnea (AOR 5.7; 95% CI, 1.2-26; P = .03), while chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was not. Among ever-smokers, higher smoking pack-years was an independent risk factor for CMD (median 35 vs 25 pack-years, AOR 1.09; 95% CI, 1.04-1.13; P < .01), and was associated with higher rates of pathologic index of microcirculatory resistance and resistive reserve ratio. CONCLUSION: In patients undergoing invasive coronary microvascular evaluation, current smoking and obstructive sleep apnea are independently associated with CMD. Among smokers, higher pack-years is a strong predictor for CMD. Our findings should raise awareness for prevention and possible treatment options.

Lipoprotein(a) Levels in Severe Aortic Stenosis Referred for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation Compared to Controls.

Background: Limited observational reports link elevated lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) levels to aortic stenosis (AS) or to disease progression. Data on large cohorts of verified severe AS patients are lacking. Objectives: The purpose of the study was to characterize Lp(a) levels of severe AS patients referred to transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and compare them to a large cohort of Lp(a) samples derived from the general population. Methods: Lp(a) levels obtained from frozen serum samples of TAVI patients between 2012 and 2017 were compared to a control group for whom Lp(a) levels were obtained for any reason and stratified by gender. Multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to investigate associations between younger age at TAVI and an Lp(a) cutoff of 50 mg/dL. Results: Lp(a) levels of 503 TAVI were compared to 25,343 controls. Patients in the AS group had mildly higher median Lp(a) levels compared to controls (20.5 vs 18.7 mg/dL, P = 0.04). Lp(a) levels in males with severe AS were higher than controls (19.9 vs 16.6 mg/dL, P = 0.04). Females had a nonsignificant difference (22.1 vs 21.3 mg/dL, P = 0.87). In multivariable analysis, an Lp(a) cutoff of above 50 mg/dL was not associated with an earlier age at TAVI (beta: 1.04; 95% CI: 0.42-2.57; P = 0.94). Conclusions: Median Lp(a) levels were only mildly higher in severe AS patients undergoing TAVI in comparison to a large control group, mainly driven by higher Lp(a) levels in males. Higher Lp(a) levels were not associated with an earlier age at TAVI, rejecting its association with an accelerated disease progression.

Conduction disorders following transcatheter aortic valve replacement using acurate Neo2 transcatheter heart valve: A propensity matched analysis.

BACKGROUND: The ACURATE neo2 transcatheter aortic valve was developed to improve paravalvular leak (PVL) rates while maintaining low rates of conduction disturbances and permanent pacemaker implantation (PPMI) seen with its predecessor. We aimed to compare conduction disturbances rates of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) using ACURATE Neo2 with other commonly used valves. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the Israeli TAVR registry between the years 2014-2023 was performed to compare conduction disturbances and PVL rates, and procedural outcomes, among patients treated with ACURATE neo2, Edwards Sapien 3 (S3), and Evolut PRO valves. Propensity score matching was performed to compare groups with similar characteristics. RESULTS: Following exclusion of patients with non-femoral access, unknown valve type, older-generation valves, and less commonly used valves or (n = 4387), our analysis included 3208 patients undergoing TAVR using ACURATE neo2, Edwards S3, and Evolut PRO valves. Propensity matched groups comprised 169 patients each. Rates of any conduction disturbances [left bundle branch block (LBBB), atrioventricular block, or PPMI] were lower in the ACURATE neo2 group compared to both other valves [15.8 %, S3-37.5 % (p < 0.001), Evolut PRO-27.5 % (p = 0.02)] as were LBBB rates [9.0 %, S3-31.3 % (p < 0.001); Evolut PRO-20.1 % (p = 0.01). Atrioventricular block and PPMI rates were lower without statistical significance, as were rates of above-moderate PVL. CONCLUSIONS: In this analysis, TAVR using ACURATE neo2 was associated with a lower composite rate of conduction disturbances in comparison to the Evolut PRO and Edwards S3 valves, mainly due to lower left bundle branch block rates, with non-significantly lower rates of PPMI and PVL.

Coronary microvascular dysfunction in patients with Takotsubo syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The pathophysiology of Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) remains incompletely understood. While coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is a potential pathophysiologic mechanism, evidence is limited. OBJECTIVES: We sought to evaluate CMD in patients with TTS. METHODS: Consecutive patients diagnosed with TTS were included and underwent coronary angiography with invasive microvascular function evaluation, including fractional flow reserve, Coronary Flow Reserve (CFR), Index of Microcirculatory Resistance (IMR), and Resistive Reserve Ratio (RRR). Patients had an echocardiography evaluation during their index admission and at approximately 6 weeks. RESULTS: Thirty patients were included (mean age 74 ±9, 90 % female). Twenty-five patients (83 %) had at least one abnormal coronary microvascular function parameter. Abnormal parameters included CFR<2.5 in 20 patients (67 %), IMR>25 in 18 patients (60 %), and RRR<3.5 in 25 (83 %). Longer time from symptoms to angiography correlated with a higher CFR (r = 0.51, P<0.01), and had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.793 (95 % CI 0.60-0.98) for pathologic CFR. Patients with emotional trigger had a lower rate of pathologic IMR compared with non-emotional trigger (36 % vs 81 %, p = 0.01). Follow up echocardiography performed at a median of 1.5 months (IQR 1.15-6) showed an improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction for all patients (from mean of 40 % to 57 %). CONCLUSION: CMD was present in most patients with TTS. The role of microvascular function in TTS may vary according to the clinical presentation and RRR may be more sensitive for the diagnosis of CMD in TTS.