Prognostic impact of antiplatelet therapy in Takotsubo syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature.

While the most recent evidence suggests a lack of benefit, antithrombotic therapy is still extensively prescribed in patients with Takotsubo syndrome (TTS). The objective of this study was to determine whether patients with TTS benefit from anti-aggregation, in terms of either short-term or long-term outcomes. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted. A comprehensive search of the literature included MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Clinicaltrials.gov, EU Clinical Trial Register, References, and contact with the authors. Methodological quality assessment and data extraction were systematically performed. The review adhered to the PRISMA framework guidelines. A total of 86 citations were identified, six being eligible for inclusion, for a total of 1997 patients. One of them considered both short-term and long-term outcomes. One reported outcomes during the index event, while the remaining four focused on potential long-term benefits. They were all retrospective cohort studies.Based on our data, the long-term use of antiplatelet therapy (AT) led to a significantly higher incidence of the composite outcome (OR: 1.54; 95% CI 1.09-2.17; p = 0.014) and overall mortality (OR 1.72; 95% CI 1.07-2.77; p = 0.027). The analysis did not show a statistically significant difference in TTS recurrences, stroke/TIA, and MI or CAD worsening with AT compared with no anti-aggregation. The AT in this settings did not show any clear benefit in improving the long-term outcomes, and it may be even detrimental and it may be detrimental. These results warrant further future research and the design of adequately powered randomized controlled trials focusing on the impact of aspirin on the outcomes in patients presenting with TTS.

Impact of physiologically diffuse versus focal pattern of coronary disease on quantitative flow reserve diagnostic accuracy.

BACKGROUND: Fractional flow reserve (FFR) and instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) disagree in about 20% of intermediate coronary lesions. As the physiological pattern of coronary artery disease has a significant influence on FFR-iFR discordance, we sought to assess it may impact on the diagnostic accuracy of quantitative flow reserve (QFR). METHODS: One hundred and ninety-four patients with 224 intermediate coronary lesions were investigated with iFR, FFR, and QFR. The physiological pattern of disease was assessed with iFR Scout pullback and QFR virtual pullback in all the cases. RESULTS: A predominantly physiologically focal pattern was observed in 81 (36.2%) lesions, whereas a predominantly physiologically diffuse was observed in 143 (63.8%) cases. QFR demonstrated a significant correlation (r = 0.581, p < 0.001) and a substantial agreement with iFR, both in diffuse (AUC = 0.798) and in focal (AUC = 0.812) pattern of disease. Discordance between QFR and iFR was observed in 51 (22.8%) lesions, consisting of iFR+/QFR- (64.7%) and iFR-/QFR+ (35.3%). Notably, the physiological pattern of disease was the only variable significantly associated with iFR/QFR discordance. QFR virtual pullback demonstrated an excellent agreement (83.9%) with iFR Scout pullback in classifying the physiological pattern of disease. CONCLUSIONS: QFR has a good diagnostic accuracy in assessing myocardial ischemia independently of the pattern of coronary disease. However, the physiological pattern of disease has an influence on the QFR/iFR discordance, which occurs in ~20% of the cases. The QFR virtual pullback correctly defined the physiological pattern of disease in the majority of the cases using the iFR pullback as reference.

Volume of contrast to creatinine clearance ratio predicts early mortality and AKI after TAVI.

The volume of contrast to creatinine clearance ratio (CV/CrCl) is a useful indicator of the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing percutaneous interventional procedures. Association between CV/CrCl and adverse outcome after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) was suggested but it is not well established. A large retrospective multicenter cohort of 1381 patients treated with TAVI was analyzed to assess the association between CV/CrCl and the risk of AKI and mortality at 90 days and 1 year after TAVI. Patients receiving renal replacement therapy at the time of TAVI were excluded. CV/CrCl ≥ 2.2 was associated with the risk of AKI and 90 days mortality after TAVI after adjustment for age, sex, diabetes, baseline left ventricular function, baseline chronic kidney disease (CKD), previous myocardial infarction and peripheral vascular disease (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.16, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09-1.22, p < 0.0001). Importantly, CV/CrCl was associated with the adverse outcome independently from the presence of baseline CKD (p for interaction = 0.22). CV/CrCl was independently associated with the individual components of the composite primary outcome including AKI (odds ratio: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.08-1.28, p < 0.0001) and 90 days mortality (HR: 1.90, 95% CI: 1.01-3.60, p = 0.047) after TAVI. AKI (HR: 1.94, 95% CI: 1.21-3.11, p = 0.006) but not CV/CrCl was associated with the risk of 1-year mortality after TAVI. CV/CrCl is associated with excess renal damage and early mortality after TAVI. Procedural strategies to minimize the CV/CrCl during TAVI may improve early clinical outcomes in patients undergoing TAVI.

Complete versus culprit-only strategy in older MI patients with multivessel disease.

AIMS: The revascularization strategy to pursue in older myocardial infarction (MI) patients with multivessel disease (MVD) is currently unknown. For this reason, while waiting for the results of dedicated trials, we sought to compare a complete versus a culprit-only strategy in older MI patients by merging data from four registries. METHODS AND RESULTS: The inclusion criteria for the target population of the present study were (i) age ≥ 75 years; (ii) MI (STE or NSTE); (iii) MVD; (iv) successful treatment of culprit lesion. Propensity scores (PS) were derived using logistic regression (backward stepwise selection, p < 0.2). The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes were cardiovascular (CV) death, MI, and major bleeding. Multivariable adjustment included the PS and inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). The Kaplan-Meier plots were weighted for IPT. Among 2087 patients included, 1362 (65%) received culprit-only treatment whereas 725 (35%) complete revascularization. The mean age was 81.5 years, while the mean follow-up was 419 ± 284 days. Seventy-four patients (10%) died in the complete group and 223 in the culprit-only one (16%). The adjusted cumulative 1-year mortality was 9.7% in the complete and 12.9% in the culprit-only group (adjusted HR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.50-0.89). Complete revascularization was associated with lower incidence of CV death (adjusted HR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.48-0.95) and MI (adjusted HR 0.67, 95% CI: 0.48-0.95). CONCLUSIONS: Culprit-only is the default strategy in older MI patients with MVD. In our analysis, complete revascularization was associated with lower all-cause and CV mortality and with a lower MI rate.

New-onset extreme right axis deviation in acute myocardial infarction: clinical characteristics and outcomes.

BACKGROUND: QRS axis deviation can occur during myocardial infarction (MI); to date, little is known about the significance of extreme right axis deviation (ERAD) in the frontal plane, i.e. a shift in QRS axis between +180° and +270°, during MI. We sought to investigate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with new-onset ERAD in the absence of complete bundle branch blocks (BBB) in the setting of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). METHODS: A single-center retrospective observational study was conducted, including patients with new-onset ERAD in the absence of complete BBB admitted for ACS to our Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. Clinical, electrocardiographic, echocardiographic, angiographic features at baseline and cardiovascular events during hospitalization and at mid-term follow-up were collected. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 30 consecutive patients (23 men) from January 2014 to September 2018. The most frequent clinical presentation was ST-segment elevation MI (n = 22, 73.4%) and the most frequent electrocardiographic MI location was anterolateral (n = 11, 36.7%). Left anterior descending (LAD) was the most frequent infarct-related artery (n = 21, 70%); 15 patients (50%) had multivessel coronary artery disease. Cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation (VF) at presentation (n = 5, 16.6%), cardiogenic shock during the hospital stay (n = 10, 33.3%), cardiac arrest due to VF after revascularization (n = 6, 20%) and cardiac death (n = 7, 23.3%) were common. CONCLUSION: New-onset ERAD during MI may be related to extensive myocardial ischemia and/or necrosis causing an "electrical escaping" with an extreme dislocation of the QRS axis. In our limited series we found several acute arrhythmic and hemodynamic complications and high mortality.

Fractional flow reserve and resting indices for coronary physiologic assessment: Practical guide, tips, and tricks.

Physiologic assessment using fractional flow reserve (FFR) to guide percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) has been demonstrated to improve clinical outcomes, compared to angiography-guided PCI. Recently, resting indices such as resting Pd/Pa, "instantaneous wave-free ratio", and contrast medium induced FFR have been evaluated for the assessment of the functional consequences of coronary lesions. Herein, we review and discuss the use of FFR and other indices for the functional assessment of coronary lesions. This review will cover theoretical aspects, as well as practical points and common pitfalls related to coronary physiological assessment. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Initial clinical experience with the GORE® CARDIOFORM ASD occluder for transcatheter atrial septal defect closure.

OBJECTIVES: To report the initial clinical experience with a novel atrial septal defect (ASD) closure device, the GORE® CARDIOFORM ASD Occluder (GCO). BACKGROUND: Transcatheter closure has become the treatment of choice for secundum ASD. A wide range of occluder devices are available, but concern has been raised about the risk of cardiac erosion associated with rigid devices and future access to the left atrium METHODS: Retrospective chart review of patients treated with the GCO at three Canadian centers. Primary outcomes were procedural success and residual shunting at follow-up, as well as 30-day major adverse events. Secondary outcomes included new onset atrial arrhythmias, wire frame fractures (WFF), and all cause mortality. Clinical, echocardiographic, procedural data, and follow-up outcome variables were collected in each participating hospital. RESULTS: Between February and December 2015, 26 patients (5 children and 21 adults) underwent transcatheter ASD closure with the GCO and were included in the study cohort. Procedural success was achieved in 22 of 26 patients (85%) and no major procedural complications were observed. Two patients (8%) presented new onset atrial tachyarrhythmia during early follow-up (0-30 days). Follow-up echocardiography (median of 119 days [IQR: 92-146]) demonstrated no residual shunt in all implanted patients. After a median clinical follow-up of 174 days (IQR: 135-239), one patient died of an unrelated cause, there were no documented major adverse cardiovascular events. Fluoroscopic imaging of the device was performed in 20 patients (91%), and WFF was noted in five cases. No clinical consequence or device dysfunction was observed in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: In this first-in-man multicenter study, the GCO was safe and effective for ASD closure, with no major adverse events or residual shunt at follow-up. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Randomized Comparison of Xience V and Multi-Link Vision Coronary Stents in the Same Multivessel Patient With Chronic Kidney Disease (RENAL-DES) Study.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous coronary interventions in patients with chronic kidney disease have shown suboptimal results. Drug-eluting stents (DES) might reduce the rate of target vessel revascularization in comparison with bare-metal stents (BMS) in patients with chronic kidney disease. However, given the multiple concomitant individual variables present in such patients, the comparison of neointimal growth after percutaneous coronary intervention is complex and difficult to assess. METHODS AND RESULTS: Randomized Comparison of Xience V and Multi-Link Vision Coronary Stents in the Same Multivessel Patient with Chronic Kidney Disease (RENAL-DES) was a prospective, randomized, multicenter study to directly compare the efficacy in the prevention of clinical restenosis of everolimus-eluting stent (Xience V) and BMS with an identical design (Multi-Link Vision), both implanted in the same patient with multivessel coronary artery disease and chronic kidney disease (estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min). The primary end point of the study was the ischemia-driven target vessel revascularization as detected with myocardial scintigraphy at 12 months. In 215 patients, 512 coronary vessels were successfully treated with the randomly assigned DES (n=257) or BMS (n=255). At 1 year, the rate of ischemia-driven target vessel revascularization for DES and BMS groups was 2.7% (95% confidence interval, 1.1%-5.6%) and 11.4% (95% confidence interval, 7.8% to 16%), respectively, P<0.001. For the multivariate analysis, independent predictors of the ischemia-driven target vessel revascularization were BMS implantation (odds ratio, 4.95; 95% confidence interval, 2.1-11.6; P<0.001) and vessel size (odds ratio, 0.32; 95% confidence interval, 0.1-0.7; P=0.006). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first randomized trial showing a reduction of clinical restenosis with a new-generation DES in comparison with a BMS of equal design, in patients who have chronic kidney disease with multivessel coronary artery disease. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION URL: http://clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00818792.

Thrombus aspiration in primary angioplasty for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Mechanical reperfusion with primary percutaneous coronary intervention in acute ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction is superior to fibrinolysis in terms of short-term and long-term outcome, provided that it can be delivered on time and by an experienced team. Balloon angioplasty and stent implantation of an occluded epicardial vessel during ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction can cause disruption of the frail thrombus containing lesions associated with suboptimal myocardial reperfusion and microcirculatory obstruction. Distal embolization of atherothrombotic material can be prevented by thrombus aspiration during primary angioplasty. Mechanical aspiration via end-hole large-lumen thrombectomy catheters has been shown to improve Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow and result in a more consistent early resolution of ST-segment elevation in multiple registries. More recently, a more sophisticated quantification of the myocardial damage has been applied using myocardial scintigraphy and magnetic resonance, with no difference between patients treated with thrombectomy and patients treated with conventional therapy. The expectations in terms of lasting mortality benefit raised by the first Dutch single-center randomized trial of thrombectomy versus predilation with plain old balloon angioplasty (Thrombus Aspiration During Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Acute Myocardial Infarction, TAPAS) were not confirmed by a much larger Swedish trial (Thrombus Aspiration ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction, TASTE) showing no outcome changes. Although we are waiting for new trials to clarify these controversial results, thrombectomy is still used in selected patients with high thrombus load or with persistent occlusion of the infarct-related artery after wire passage. Here we review the various systems available and discuss their relative merits and the reported results.

Safety and efficacy of everolimus-eluting bioresorbable vascular scaffold for cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CART).

BACKGROUND: Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is still the main drawback of heart transplantation (HTx) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a palliative measure because of the high incidence of failure. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of bioresorbable scaffolds (BRSs) as potential novel therapeutic tool for the treatment of coronary stenoses in CAV. METHODS: This is a multicenter, single-arm, prospective, open-label study (CART, NCT02377648), that included patients affected by advanced CAV treated with PCI and second-generation ABSORB BRS (Abbott Vascular). The primary endpoint was the incidence of 12-month angiographic in-segment scaffold restenosis (ISSR). Secondary endpoints were the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) at 12- and 36-month follow-up and the incidence of ISSR at 36 months. A paired intracoronary imaging analysis at baseline and follow-up was also performed. RESULTS: Between 2015 and 2017 35 HTx patients were enrolled and treated for 44 coronary lesions with 51 BRSs. The primary endpoint occurred in 13.5% of the lesions (5/37), with a cumulative ISSR rate up to 3 years of 16.2% (6/37). Angiographic lumen loss was 0.40 ± 0.62 mm at 12 months and 0.53 ± 0.57 mm at 36 months. Overall survival rate was 91.4% and 74.3%, and MACEs incidence 14.2% and 31.4% at 12 and 36 months, respectively. At the paired intracoronary imaging analysis, a significant increase of the vessel external elastic membrane area in the treated segment and some progression of CAV proximally to the BRS were detected. CONCLUSIONS: BRS-based PCI for the treatment of CAV is feasible and safe, with an ISSR incidence similar to what reported in retrospective studies with drug-eluting stents.

Late and very late coronary stent thrombosis: Intravascular ultrasound findings and associations with antiplatelet therapy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Late and very-late stent occlusion remains a serious complication of coronary stenting. Despite their high anti-restenotic efficacy, drug-eluting stents (DES) have been associated to more late-thrombosis as compared to bare-metal stents (BMS). The aim of this study is to analyze the clinical presentation, angiographic, and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) findings in patients with late or very late stent thrombosis and the relationship with the antiplatelet regimen. METHODS AND RESULTS: Between January 2007 and December 2011, 34 consecutive patients with clinical syndromes compatible with late or very-late stent occlusion were studied with IVUS during emergency catheterization; 25 had DES and 9 had BMS. Thrombotic total occlusion was more common in DES (16 = 64%) than BMS patients (2 = 22%; P = 0.02) and ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction was the predominant clinical presentation in the former group (60% compared to 22%; P = 0.05). The time elapsed between implantation and failure was much longer in DES patients: 33 ± 22 versus 17 ± 14 months for BMS; P = 0.05. IVUS analysis showed a higher incidence of incomplete stent apposition (ISA) in the DES group compared to the BMS group (56% vs. 11%; P = 0.005) and in-stent plaque rupture was the most common finding in the BMS group (78%). In DES group, ISA was found more frequently in patients still under dual antiplatelet therapy (71%). CONCLUSIONS: Very late DES failure often causes ST-elevation myocardial infarction; these very late events may not correlate with the interruption of antiplatelet therapy. Severe, late acquired ISA belongs to DES and is frequently observed in patients with very late DES thrombosis.

Pooled estimates of immediate and late outcome of mitral valve surgery in octogenarians: a meta-analysis and meta-regression.

OBJECTIVE: The authors evaluated the outcome of patients≥80 years undergoing mitral valve (MV) surgery. DESIGN: Systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis. SETTING: None. PARTICIPANTS: None. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN RESULTS: Twenty-four studies reporting on 5,572 patients ≥80 years of age who underwent MV surgery were included in this analysis. Pooled proportion of operative mortality was 15.0% (95% confidence interval [CI] 11.9-18.1), stroke was 3.9% (95% CI 2.6-5.2), and dialysis was 2.7% (95% CI 0.5-4.9). Early date of study (p = 0.014), increased age (p = 0.006), MV replacement (p = 0.008), procedure other than isolated MV surgery (p = 0.010), MV surgery associated with coronary artery surgery (p = 0.029), aortic cross-clamping time (p<0.001), and cardiopulmonary bypass time (p<0.001) were associated significantly with increased operative mortality. MV repair had lower operative mortality compared with MV replacement (7.3% v 14.2%, relative risk 0.573, 95% CI 0.342-0.962). Random-effects metaregression showed that prolonged aortic cross-clamping time (p = 0.005) was the only determinant of increased operative mortality, even when adjusted (p<0.001) for date of study (p = 0.004). Operative mortality was significantly higher in studies reporting a mean cross-clamp time >90 minutes (17.0% v 7.4%, p<0.001). Survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 76.1%, 67.7%, and 56.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: MV surgery in patients ≥80 years of age is associated with operative mortality, which has decreased significantly during recent years. Prolonged aortic cross-clamp time is a major determinant of operative mortality. MV repair may achieve better results than MV replacement in the very elderly. Five-year survival of these patients is good and justifies surgical treatment of MV diseases in octogenarians.

Proof of concept study on coronary microvascular function in low flow low gradient aortic stenosis.

OBJECTIVES: We hypothesised that low flow low gradient aortic stenosis (LFLGAS) is associated with more severe coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) compared with normal-flow high-gradient aortic stenosis (NFHGAS) and that CMD is related to reduced cardiac performance. METHODS: Invasive CMD assessment was performed in 41 consecutive patients with isolated severe aortic stenosis with unobstructed coronary arteries undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR), resistive reserve ratio (RRR) and coronary flow reserve (CFR) were measured in the left anterior descending artery before and after TAVI. Speckle tracking echocardiography was performed to assess cardiac function at baseline and repeated at 6 months. RESULTS: IMR was significantly higher in patients with LFLGAS compared with patients with NFHGAS (24.1 (14.6 to 39.1) vs 12.8 (8.6 to 19.2), p=0.002), while RRR was significantly lower (1.4 (1.1 to 2.1) vs 2.6 (1.5 to 3.3), p=0.020). No significant differences were observed in CFR between the two groups. High IMR was associated with low stroke volume index, low cardiac output and reduced peak atrial longitudinal strain (PALS). TAVI determined no significant variation in microvascular function (IMR: 16.0 (10.4 to 26.1) vs 16.6 (10.2 to 25.6), p=0.403) and in PALS (15.9 (9.9 to 26.5) vs 20.1 (12.3 to 26.7), p=0.222). Conversely, left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain increased after TAVI (-13.2 (8.4 to 16.6) vs -15.1 (9.4 to 17.8), p=0.047). In LFLGAS, LV systolic function recovered after TAVI in patients with preserved microvascular function but not in patients with CMD. CONCLUSIONS: CMD is more severe in patients with LFLGAS compared with NFHGAS and is associated with low-flow state, left atrial dysfunction and reduced cardiac performance.

Angiography-derived index of microvascular resistance in takotsubo syndrome.

Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) has been proposed as a key driver in the etiopathogenesis of Takotsubo syndrome (TTS), likely related to an "adrenergic storm" upon a susceptible microvascular circulation. The aim of our manuscript was to assess CMD in patients with TTS through the computation of the angiography-derived index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) and its correlation with clinical presentation. Coronary angiograms of 41 consecutive TTS patients were retrospectively analyzed to derive angiography-based indices of CMD. Three indices (NH-IMRangio, AngioIMR and A-IMR) were calculated based on quantitative flow ratio. CMD was defined as an IMRangio value ≥ 25 units. The correlation between CMD and clinical presentation was then assessed. Median age was 76 years, 85.7% were women and mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at first echocardiogram was 41.2%. Angiography-derived IMR was higher in left anterior descending artery (LAD) than circumflex and right coronary artery with either NH-IMRangio (53.9 ± 19.8 vs 35.8 ± 15.4 vs 40.8 ± 18.5, p-value < 0.001), AngioIMR (47.2 ± 17.3 vs 31.8 ± 12.2 vs 37.3 ± 13.7, p-value < 0.001) or A-IMR (52.7 ± 19 vs 36.1 ± 14.1 vs 41.8 ± 16.1, p-value < 0.001). All patients presented CMD with angiography-derived IMR ≥ 25 in at least one territory with each formula. Angiography-derived IMR in LAD territory was significantly higher in patients presenting with LVEF impairment (≤ 40%) than in those with preserved ventricular global function (NH-IMRangio: 59.3 ± 18.1 vs 46.3 ± 16.0 p-value = 0.030; AngioIMR: 52.9 ± 17.8 vs 41.4 ± 14.2, p-value = 0.037; A-IMR: 59.2 ± 18.6 vs 46.3 ± 17.0, p-value = 0.035). CMD assessed with angiography-derived IMR is a common finding in TTS and it is inversely correlated with LV function. The available formulas have a substantial superimposable diagnostic performance in assessing coronary microvascular function.

Clinical outcomes in women and men with small aortic annuli undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation: A multicenter, retrospective, propensity score-matched comparison.

BACKGROUND: Sex-specific characteristics in patients with aortic stenosis and small annuli undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) might affect clinical outcomes and hemodynamics. METHODS: TAVI-SMALL 2 international retrospective registry included 1378 patients with severe aortic stenosis and small annuli (annular perimeter <72 mm or area < 400 mm2) treated with transfemoral TAVI at 16 high-volume centers between 2011 and 2020. Women (n = 1233) were compared with men (n = 145). One-to-one propensity score (PS) matching resulted in 99 pairs. Primary endpoint was incidence of all-cause mortality. Incidence of pre-discharge severe prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM) and its association with all-cause mortality were investigated. Binary logistic and Cox regression were performed to adjust the treatment effect for PS quintiles. RESULTS: Incidence of all-cause mortality at a median follow-up of 377 days did not differ between sex in the overall (10.3 vs. 9.8%, p = 0.842) and PS-matched (8.5 vs. 10.9%, p = 0.586) populations. After PS matching, pre-discharge severe PPM was numerically higher in women vs. men (10.2 vs. 4.3%), even though no evidence of a difference was found (p = 0.275). Within the overall population, women with severe PPM suffered a higher incidence of all-cause mortality when compared to those with less than moderate PPM (log-rank p = 0.024) and less than severe PPM (p = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: No difference in all-cause mortality at medium-term follow-up was observed between women and men with aortic stenosis and small annuli undergoing TAVI. Incidence of pre-discharge severe PPM was numerically higher in women than men, and it was associated with increased all-cause mortality in women.

Prediction of mortality and heart failure hospitalisations in patients undergoing M-TEER: external validation of the COAPT risk score.

BACKGROUND: A risk score was recently derived from the Cardiovascular Outcomes Assessment of the MitraClip Percutaneous Therapy for Heart Failure Patients with Functional Mitral Regurgitation (COAPT) Trial. However, external validation of this score is still lacking. AIMS: We aimed to validate the COAPT risk score in a large multicentre population undergoing mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (M-TEER) for secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR). METHODS: The Italian Society of Interventional Cardiology (GIse) Registry of Transcatheter Treatment of Mitral Valve RegurgitaTiOn (GIOTTO) population was stratified according to COAPT score quartiles. The performance of the COAPT score for 2-year all-cause death or heart failure (HF) hospitalisation was evaluated in the overall population and in patients with or without a COAPT-like profile. RESULTS: Among the 1,659 patients included in the GIOTTO registry, 934 had SMR and complete data for a COAPT risk score calculation. The incidence of 2-year all-cause death or HF hospitalisation progressively increased through the COAPT score quartiles in the overall population (26.4% vs 44.5% vs 49.4% vs 59.7%; log-rank p<0.001) and COAPT-like patients (24.7% vs 32.4% vs 52.3% vs. 53.4%; log-rank p=0.004), but not in those with a non-COAPT-like profile. The COAPT risk score had poor discrimination and good calibration in the overall population, moderate discrimination and good calibration in COAPT-like patients and very poor discrimination and poor calibration in non-COAPT-like patients. CONCLUSIONS: The COAPT risk score has a poor performance in the prognostic stratification of real-world patients undergoing M-TEER. However, after application to patients with a COAPT-like profile, moderate discrimination and good calibration were observed.

Implantation of contemporary transcatheter aortic valves in small aortic annuli: the international multicentre TAVI-SMALL 2 registry.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of aortic stenosis in patients with small annuli is challenging and can result in prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM). AIMS: We aimed to compare the forward flow haemodynamics and clinical outcomes of contemporary transcatheter valves in patients with small annuli. METHODS: The TAVI-SMALL 2 international retrospective registry included 1,378 patients with severe aortic stenosis and small annuli (annular perimeter <72 mm or area <400 mm2) treated with transfemoral self-expanding (SEV; n=1,092) and balloon-expandable valves (BEV; n=286) in 16 high-volume centres between 2011 and 2020. Analyses comparing SEV versus BEV and supra-annular (SAV; n=920) versus intra-annular valves (IAV; n=458) included inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). The primary endpoints were the predischarge mean aortic gradient and incidence of severe PPM. The secondary endpoint was the incidence of more than mild paravalvular leak (PVL). RESULTS: The predischarge mean aortic gradient was lower after SAV versus IAV (7.8±3.9 vs 12.0±5.1; p<0.001) and SEV versus BEV implantation (8.0±4.1 vs 13.6±4.7; p<0.001). Severe PPM was more common with IAV and BEV when compared to SAV and SEV implantation, respectively, (8.8% vs 3.6%; p=0.007 and 8.7% vs 4.6%; p=0.041). At multivariable logistic regression weighted by IPTW, SAV protected from severe PPM regardless of its definition. More than mild PVL occurred more often with SEV versus BEV (11.6% vs 2.6%; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In small aortic annuli, implantation of SAV and SEV was associated with a more favourable forward haemodynamic profile than after IAV and BEV implantation, respectively. More than mild PVL was more common after SEV than BEV implantation.

Comparison of different percutaneous revascularisation timing strategies in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

BACKGROUND: The optimal timing to perform percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) in transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) patients remains unknown. AIMS: We sought to compare different PCI timing strategies in TAVI patients. METHODS: The REVASC-TAVI registry is an international registry including patients undergoing TAVI with significant, stable coronary artery disease (CAD) at preprocedural workup. In this analysis, patients scheduled to undergo PCI before, after or concomitantly with TAVI were included. The main endpoints were all-cause death and a composite of all-cause death, stroke, myocardial infarction (MI) or rehospitalisation for congestive heart failure (CHF) at 2 years. Outcomes were adjusted using the inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW) method. RESULTS: A total of 1,603 patients were included. PCI was performed before, after or concomitantly with TAVI in 65.6% (n=1,052), 9.8% (n=157) or 24.6% (n=394), respectively. At 2 years, all-cause death was significantly lower in patients undergoing PCI after TAVI as compared with PCI before or concomitantly with TAVI (6.8% vs 20.1% vs 20.6%; p<0.001). Likewise, the composite endpoint was significantly lower in patients undergoing PCI after TAVI as compared with PCI before or concomitantly with TAVI (17.4% vs 30.4% vs 30.0%; p=0.003). Results were confirmed at landmark analyses considering events from 0 to 30 days and from 31 to 720 days. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with severe aortic stenosis and stable coronary artery disease scheduled for TAVI, performance of PCI after TAVI seems to be associated with improved 2-year clinical outcomes compared with other revascularisation timing strategies. These results need to be confirmed in randomised clinical trials.

Quantitative aortography for assessment of aortic regurgitation in the era of percutaneous aortic valve replacement.

Paravalvular leak (PVL) is a shortcoming that can erode the clinical benefits of transcatheter valve replacement (TAVR) and therefore a readily applicable method (aortography) to quantitate PVL objectively and accurately in the interventional suite is appealing to all operators. The ratio between the areas of the time-density curves in the aorta and left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT-AR) defines the regurgitation fraction (RF). This technique has been validated in a mock circulation; a single injection in diastole was further tested in porcine and ovine models. In the clinical setting, LVOT-AR was compared with trans-thoracic and trans-oesophageal echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. LVOT-AR > 17% discriminates mild from moderate aortic regurgitation on echocardiography and confers a poor prognosis in multiple registries, and justifies balloon post-dilatation. The LVOT-AR differentiates the individual performances of many old and novel devices and is being used in ongoing randomized trials and registries.

Comparison of serum creatinine and cystatin C for early diagnosis of contrast-induced nephropathy after coronary angiography and interventions.

BACKGROUND: The diagnostic accuracy of serum creatinine and cystatin C (Cys) as early predictors of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) has been debated. We investigated the diagnostic sensitivities, diagnostic specificities, and variations from baseline for serum creatinine and Cys in CIN. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated 166 patients at risk for CIN at baseline, and at 12, 24, and 48 h after exposure to contrast media. CIN occurred in 30 patients (18%). Changes (Δ) compared to baseline in serum creatinine and Cys were evaluated at the predefined time points. ROC curve analysis was performed for the Δ 12-h basal serum creatinine and Cys. RESULTS: The Δ serum creatinine at 12 h from baseline was the earliest predictor of CIN [area under the ROC curve (AUC) = 0.80; P < 0.001]. The Δ serum creatinine 15% variation [0.15 mg/dL (13.2 µmol/L)] yielded 43% diagnostic sensitivity and 93% diagnostic specificity. The ΔCys at 12 h from baseline performed significantly worse than serum creatinine (AUC = 0.48; P = 0.74). CONCLUSIONS: Variations from the serum creatinine baseline offer better diagnostic accuracy for predicting CIN at an earlier stage than similar variations in Cys. An additional diagnostic value of Cys over the determination of serum creatinine in the setting of CIN was not observed.