Efficacy and safety of nebivolol in Korean patients with hypertension by age and sex: a subanalysis from the BENEFIT-KOREA study.

BACKGROUND: BENEFIT-KOREA (BEnefits after 24 weeks of NEbivolol administration For essential hypertensIon patients wiTh various comorbidities and treatment environments in Korea) study, an observational study in South Korea, demonstrated the efficacy and safety of nebivolol in Asian patients with essential hypertension with and without comorbidities in real-world settings. We present a subanalysis of the efficacy and safety of nebivolol across age and sex in the BENEFIT-KOREA cohort. METHODS: Adult South Korean patients with essential hypertension participated in the prospective, single-arm, open, observational BENEFIT-KOREA study; 3011 patients received nebivolol as monotherapy or add-on therapy. Changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and pulse rate at 12 and 24 weeks were evaluated. Participants were divided into three age groups-young males and females: < 50 years; middle-aged males and females: ≥50 years to < 70 years; and older males and females: ≥70 years. RESULTS: The mean age of study participants was 63.5 ± 12.9 years; majority were between 50 and 69 years of age and 40.4% were females. A significant decrease was observed in mean SBP, DBP, and pulse rate from baseline at 12 and 24 weeks in males and females across all age groups analyzed (all P < 0.001 vs. baseline), with no significant difference in mean reduction in SBP and DBP from baseline between sex within the age groups. Majority of reported adverse events were mild. The incidence of adverse events was lower in young participants versus middle-aged and older participants. CONCLUSIONS: Our subanalysis from the real-world BENEFIT-KOREA study in Asian patients with essential hypertension demonstrated the efficacy and safety of once-daily nebivolol across age groups with no between-sex differences. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Name of the registry: clinicaltrials.gov. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03847350 . Date of registration: February 20, 2019 retrospectively registered.

Relationship between the ST-Segment Resolution and Microvascular Dysfunction in Patients Who Underwent Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

OBJECTIVES: Incomplete ST-segment elevation resolution (STR) occasionally occurs despite successful revascularization of epicardial coronary artery after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the degree of STR and the severity of microvascular dysfunction. METHODS: A total of 73 consecutive patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who underwent successful PPCI were evaluated. Serial 12-lead electrocardiography was performed at baseline and at 90 minutes after PPCI. Microvascular dysfunction was assessed by index of microvascular resistance (IMR) immediately after PPCI. RESULTS: Patients were classified into 2 groups: 50 patients with complete STR (STR ≥50%) and 23 patients with incomplete STR (STR <50%). The incomplete STR group had a higher IMR value and lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), compared with the complete STR group. The degree of STR was significantly correlated with IMR (r = -0.416, P=0.002) and LVEF (r = 0.300, P=0.011). These correlations were only observed in patients with left anterior descending artery (LAD) infarction but not observed in patients with non-LAD infarction. A cutoff IMR value was 27.3 for predicting incomplete STR after PPCI. CONCLUSION: Incomplete STR after PPCI in patients with STEMI reflects the presence of microvascular and left ventricular dysfunction, especially in patients with LAD infarction.

Non-invasively measured aortic wave reflection and pulse pressure amplification are related to the severity of coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Augmentation index (AIx) and pulse pressure amplification (PPA, here the aortic/brachial pulse pressure ratio) are an age-related emerging risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, it has not been clearly shown that AIx and PPA predict a high risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to investigate the association between non-invasively measured aortic wave reflection (AWR) and PPA and CAD. METHODS: The study group consisted of 80 patients who were admitted to our institute for elective coronary angiography. We non-invasively measured augmentation pressure (AP), AIx, and PPA using radial applanation tonometry. RESULTS: When the extent of CAD was divided by no or minimal CAD, 1- or 2- and 3-vessel disease (VD), there was a significant association between the extent of CAD and AIx and PPA in patients aged <65 years, but not in patients aged ≥ 65 years. In multivariate regression analysis after controlling the traditional risk factors, the odds ratio of having 3VD was significant in patients aged <65 years: 2.15 (1.04-4.44; p=0.039) per 5% increase of AIx and 2.02 (1.15-3.55; p=0.015) per 0.05 increase of PPA, but not in patients aged ≥ 65 years. The severity of CAD expressed as a Gensini score showed a significant correlation with AP, AIx, and PPA in patients aged <65 years, but not in patients aged ≥ 65 years. CONCLUSION: Increasing of non-invasively measured AWR and PPA is related to the severity of CAD, particularly in younger patients up to 65 years of age.

A case of primary cardiac lymphoma mimicking acute coronary and aortic syndrome.

Primary cardiac lymphoma (PCL) is a rare disorder, but the incidence is increasing and its clinical manifestations are various. We report a case of PCL, which mimics an acute coronary and aortic syndrome. A 51 year-old female was presented with chest pain radiating to the back. Her initial electrocardiogram revealed T wave inversion in the leads of V 5-6, II, III and aVF. Additionally, cardiac troponin-T was slightly elevated. Chest radiography showed marked mediastinal widening. Computed tomography scan showed a huge pericardial mass. The histopathologic findings of the mass were compatible with diffuse large B cell lymphoma. She died of refractory ventricular tachycardia, probably, due to an extensive infiltration of PCL to the myocardium.

Effect of Aspiration Thrombectomy on Microvascular Dysfunction in ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction With an Elevated Neutrophil Count.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Aspiration thrombectomy (AT) during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is an effective adjunctive therapy for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). An elevated neutrophil count in STEMI is associated with microvascular dysfunction and adverse outcomes. We evaluated whether AT can improve microvascular dysfunction in patients with STEMI and an elevated neutrophil count. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Seventy patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI from August 2007 to February 2009 in our institution were classified by tertiles of neutrophil count on admission (<5,300/mm(3), 5,300-7,600/mm(3), and >7,600/mm(3)). The angiographic outcome was post-procedural thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow grade. Microvascular dysfunction was assessed by TIMI myocardial perfusion (TMP) grade and ST-segment resolution on electrocardiography 90 minutes after PCI. The clinical outcome was major adverse cardiac event (MACE), defined as cardiac death, re-infarction, and target lesion revascularization at 9 months. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the clinical characteristics and pre- and post-procedural TIMI flow grades between the neutrophil tertiles. As the neutrophil count increased, a lower tendency toward TMP grade 3 (83% vs. 52% vs. 54%, p=0.06) and more persistent residual ST-segment elevation (>4 mm: 13% vs. 26% vs. 58%, p=0.005) was observed. The 9-month MACE rate was similar between the groups. On subgroup analysis of AT patients (n=52) classified by neutrophil tertiles, the same tendency toward less frequent TMP grade 3 (77% vs. 56% vs. 47%, p=0.06) and persistent residual ST-segment elevation (>4 mm: 12% vs. 28% vs. 53%, p=0.05) was observed as neutrophil count increased. CONCLUSION: A higher neutrophil count at presentation in STEMI is associated with more severe microvascular dysfunction after primary PCI, which is not improved with AT.