Efficacy and safety of abciximab versus tirofiban in addition to ticagrelor in STEMI patients undergoing primary percutaneous intervention.

Platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (GPIs) have been part of the adjuvant treatment of acute coronary syndrome for years. However, real-life data regarding the efficacy and safety of GPIs under the current indications are lacking in the setting of potent platelet inhibition. The objectives were to assess the efficacy and safety of abciximab versus tirofiban in patients with ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) and pretreated with ticagrelor, and to identify independent predictor factors of efficacy, bleeding and platelet drop. Three hundred sixty-two patients were divided by GPI administered. Clinical, laboratory, angiographic and outcome characteristics were compared. The primary objective was a composite efficacy endpoint (death from any cause, nonfatal myocardial infarction and nonfatal stroke) at 30 days. The secondary objectives were its individual components, safety (bleeding) and the impact on platelet count during hospital stay. The composite efficacy endpoint was similar in the abciximab and tirofiban groups (6.1% vs 7.3%; p = .632). There were also no differences in cardiovascular death (2.5% vs 2.4%; p = .958), nonfatal myocardial infarction (3% vs 4.3%; p = .521) and nonfatal stroke (0.5% vs 1.8%; p = .332). Tirofiban administration was associated with a higher incidence of bleeding (11.6% vs 22%; p = .008) with no differences in BARC ≥ 3b bleeding (3.6 vs 2.5%; p = .760). In STEMI patients undergoing PPCI with ticagrelor, abciximab and tirofiban had similar rates in the composite efficacy endpoint at 30 days. The 30-day bleeding rate was significantly higher in the tirofiban group. Tirofiban administration was an independent predictor of both bleeding and platelet count drop.

Cardiopatía asociada a infección por VIH / HIV-associated heart disease

Resumen La infección por VIH continúa representando un problema sanitario de primer orden en el mundo. El aumento de la esperanza de vida gracias a la terapia antirretroviral ha aumentado la prevalencia de la enfermedad de manera importante. La infección por VIH es una causa importante de cardiopatía adquirida, en especial en relación con el desarrollo de cardiopatía isquémica (manifestación cardiovascular más frecuente en los países desarrollados en la actualidad). Se presenta el caso de una paciente de 42 años, con infección por VIH, sin factores de riesgo cardiovascular clásicos, quien presentó un síndrome coronario agudo de alto riesgo. Se discuten la etiopatogenia de la cardiopatía isquémica asociada a la infección por VIH y sus aspectos particulares diagnósticos y terapéuticos.

Abstract Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection continues to be a leading health problem worldwide. Increased life expectancy due to antiretroviral therapy has significantly increased the prevalence of the disease. Human immunodeficiency virus infection is an important cause of acquired heart disease, especially the development of ischemic heart disease (the most common cardiovascular manifestation in developed countries today). We present the case of a 42-year-old patient with HIV infection with no classical cardiovascular risk factors who developed a high-risk acute coronary syndrome. We discuss the etiopathogenesis of HIV-associated ischemic heart disease and its particular diagnostic and therapeutic aspects.

Sustained benefit of left ventricular remodelling after valve replacement for aortic stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Valve replacement for aortic stenosis (AS) determines negative ventricular remodelling. We used cross sectional and Doppler echocardiography to check how rapidly it occurs and to assess if these changes are sustained over time. METHODS: We evaluated in 34 patients subjected to aortic valve replacement for AS morphological and functional (ejection fraction and E:A ratio) left ventricular data by echocardiography prior to surgery and 2 postoperative studies: early after surgery (pQ1) and at mid-term evolution (pQ2). RESULTS: Left ventricular mass index was reduced at pQ1 (from 152 +/- 47 g/m2 to 113 +/- 31 g/m2; p < 0.01) as well as end-diastolic (from 51.3 mm to 48.3 mm; p < 0.03), end-systolic (from 32.2 mm to 29.4 mm; p < 0.02), interventricular septum (from 12.9 mm to 10.3 mm; p < 0.01), and posterior wall (from 12.5 mm to 11 mm; p < 0.01) dimensions. Left ventricular ejection fraction (from 61.2% to 65.2%; p < 0.04) and E:A ratio (from 0.94 to 0.98; p < 0.01) increased significantly at pQ1. There were no significant differences in measurements between pQ1 and pQ2. CONCLUSIONS: Aortic valve replacement surgery leads to a rapid negative left ventricular remodelling during the first 7 months, including a decrease in myocardial hypertrophy and an improvement in systolic and diastolic function. These beneficial hemodynamic changes are sustained for at least 3 years.