Fifteen-Year Clinical Outcomes After Sirolimus-Eluting Stent Implantation.

BACKGROUND: Clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention have improved with the use of drug-eluting stents, but data beyond 10 years are limited. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients undergoing sirolimus-eluting stent implantation with follow-up beyond 10 years and to determine the impact of clinical and angiographic characteristics on long-term prognosis.Methods and Results: The clinical outcomes of 885 patients who had undergone sirolimus-eluting stent implantation at a single institution were retrospectively reviewed. Primary endpoints included in the analysis were clinically driven target lesion revascularization (cTLR) and target lesion revascularization (TLR). Univariate and multivariate nominal logistic regression was used for data analysis. The incidence rates of cTLR and TLR beyond 10 years after sirolimus-eluting stent implantation were 16.4% and 36.8%, respectively, with cTLR tending to decrease beyond 10 years. Acute coronary syndrome was a predominant trigger for cTLR. Age, statin use, and stent restenosis emerged as predictors of cTLR within 10 years, but no significant predictors other than age were identified beyond 10 years. CONCLUSIONS: Events continue to occur beyond 10 years after sirolimus-eluting stent implantation, with a trend toward an increase in acute coronary syndromes. It is important to be vigilant about the occurrence of acute coronary syndromes during long-term follow-up.

Chronic Effects of Adaptive Servo-Ventilation Therapy on Mortality and the Urgent Rehospitalization Rate in Patients Experiencing Recurrent Admissions for Heart Failure　- A Multicenter Prospective Observational Study (SAVIOR-L).

BACKGROUND: This study investigated whether the chronic use of adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV) reduces all-cause mortality and the rate of urgent rehospitalization in patients with heart failure (HF).Methods and Results: This multicenter prospective observational study enrolled patients hospitalized for HF in Japan between 2019 and 2020 who were treated either with or without ASV therapy. Of 845 patients, 110 (13%) received chronic ASV at hospital discharge. The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause death and urgent rehospitalization for HF, and was observed in 272 patients over a 1-year follow-up. Following 1:3 sequential propensity score matching, 384 patients were included in the subsequent analysis. The median time to the primary outcome was significantly shorter in the ASV than in non-ASV group (19.7 vs. 34.4 weeks; P=0.013). In contrast, there was no significant difference in the all-cause mortality event-free rate between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic use of ASV did not impact all-cause mortality in patients experiencing recurrent admissions for HF.

Polypharmacy and Bleeding Outcomes After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

BACKGROUND: Polypharmacy was reported to be associated with major bleeding in various populations. However, there are no data on polypharmacy and its association with bleeding in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Methods and Results: Among 12,291 patients in the CREDO-Kyoto PCI Registry Cohort-3, we evaluated the number of medications at discharge and compared major bleeding, defined as Bleeding Academic Research Consortium Type 3 or 5 bleeding, across tertiles (T1-3) of the number of medications. The median number of medications was 6, and 88.0% of patients were on ≥5 medications. The cumulative 5-year incidence of major bleeding increased incrementally with increasing number of medications (T1 [≤5 medications] 12.5%, T2 [6-7] 16.5%, and T3 [≥8] 20.4%; log-rank P<0.001). After adjusting for confounders, the risks for major bleeding of T2 (hazard ratio [HR] 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.08-1.36; P=0.001) and T3 (HR 1.27; 95% CI 1.12-1.45; P<0.001) relative to T1 remained significant. The adjusted risks of T2 and T3 relative to T1 were not significant for a composite of myocardial infarction or ischemic stroke (HR 0.95 [95% CI 0.83-1.09; P=0.47] and HR 1.06 [95% CI 0.91-1.23; P=0.48], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In a real-world population of patients undergoing PCI, approximately 90% were on ≥5 medications. Increasing number of medications was associated with a higher adjusted risk for major bleeding, but not ischemic events.

Predictors of success and puncture site complications in the distal radial approach.

The distal radial approach (DRA) has been proposed as an alternative approach for coronary angiography (CAG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI); however, the predictors of DRA failure and puncture site complications are unclear. Among 7153 consecutive patients undergoing CAG or PCI between November 2018 and January 2021, 3610 patients undergoing CAG or PCI with DRA were analyzed. The primary endpoint of this study was the procedural success, and the secondary endpoint of this study was puncture site complications during procedure. Puncture site complications during procedure were defined as a composite of major bleeding, minor bleeding, arteriovenous fistula, pseudoaneurysm, and neuropathy. The DRA success rate and the puncture site complication rate were 90.4% and 7.7%, respectively. The predictors of DRA failure were low body weight and dual antiplatelet therapy; those of DRA success were PCI and ultrasonography-guided DRA; those of puncture site complications during procedure were low body weight, peripheral arterial disease, dual antiplatelet therapy, anticoagulant therapy, and PCI; and that of no puncture site complications were previous PCI and ultrasonography-guided DRA. The negative predictors of DRA success with no puncture site complication during procedure were low body weight and dual antiplatelet therapy. The positive predictor of DRA success with no puncture site complication during procedure was ultrasonography-guided DRA. We identified the predictors of DRA failure and puncture site complications during procedure in patients undergoing CAG and PCI with DRA. Ultrasonography-guided DRA was associated with a high DRA success rate and a low puncture site complication rate in patients undergoing CAG or PCI with DRA.

Radiological and audiological prediction for hearing outcome in cholesteatoma recidivism surgery.

PURPOSE: In cholesteatoma recidivism, achieving satisfactory hearing outcome after revision surgery remains challenging. The presence of concomitant recidivism pathology or related anatomical abnormalities can impact revision reconstruction of the sound transmission system. The current study aimed to identify prognostic factors affecting hearing outcomes after surgery for cholesteatoma recidivism. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included consecutive patients whose ears required initial surgery for recidivism between January 2016 and December 2021. Patients followed up for < 6 months and those not indicated for ossiculoplasty were excluded. The impact of preoperative otoscopic findings, computed tomography (CT) features, and hearing levels on the prediction of satisfactory hearing (postoperative air-bone gap [ABG] ≤ 20 dB) was evaluated using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Overall, 102 patients were included, with a mean follow-up of 24.8 months. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed the following independent predictive factors for satisfactory hearing: presence of aeration in the tympanic cavity (odds ratio [OR] [95% confidence interval {CI}]: 13.287 [1.113-158.604], p = 0.0409), absence of soft-tissue density occupying the oval window (OR [95% CI]: 13.445 [3.178-56.887], p = 0.0040), and ≤ 22.5 dB preoperative ABG in four-frequency average (OR [95% CI]: 9.339 [2.026-43.050], p = 0.0042). CONCLUSIONS: For cholesteatoma recidivism, reliable preoperative prediction based on CT and ABG would facilitate decision-making regarding the probability of efficient revision ossiculoplasty or appropriate preoperative counseling, including early hearing rehabilitation using hearing aids or implementation of simultaneous implantable hearing equipment during surgery for recidivism.

Systemic inflammation score as a preoperative prognostic factor for patients with pT2-T4 resectable gastric cancer: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Systemic inflammation has been reported to be associated with cancer progression and metastasis. Systemic inflammation score (SIS), calculated from preoperative serum albumin level and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio, has been shown to be a novel prognostic factor for several types of tumors. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of the SIS in patients with pT2-4 resectable gastric cancer (GC). METHODS: Total 97 patients with pT2-4 GC who underwent curative surgery from 322 cases between 2009 and 2015 in Fukushima Medical University Hospital were included. We performed univariate and multivariate analyses to evaluate the usefulness of preoperative SIS and other prognostic factors for relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: The higher SIS score was associated with undifferentiated cancer and recurrence. Univariate analysis of RFS identified deeper tumor invasion and higher SIS were significant risk factors and multivariate analysis revealed that both of them were independent prognostic factors for RFS. As for OS, age, tumor invasion, SIS and LNR were significantly correlated with RFS. In multivariate analysis, tumor invasion, SIS and LNR were independent prognostic factors for OS. CONCLUSIONS: SIS was an independent prognostic factor for RFS and OS in pT2-4 resectable gastric cancer patients who underwent curative gastrectomy.

[Total Gastrectomy for Gastric Invasion of Multiple Myeloma-A Case Report].

A 65-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for lumbago. The patient was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2020. She underwent chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and the disease progression stabilized. In 2022, the patient presented with severe anemia(Hb 4.9 mg/dL), and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a type 1 tumor in the middle body of the stomach. Computed tomography showed masses in the stomach and pancreas. The patient required a large volume of blood transfusion and underwent total gastrectomy to control the bleeding. Histological examination of the resected specimen indicated infiltration of myeloma cells. The patient died from invasive lesions in other organs, a year after surgery. Usually, extramedullary multiple myeloma lesions occur in the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes. Gastric invasion of multiple myeloma is very rare. Because of poor prognosis, surgery for gastric invasion of multiple myeloma is even rarer. We report a case of gastric invasion of multiple myeloma with a literature review.

[Remodeling of the Tumor Microenvironment by Radiotherapy through the cGAS-STING Pathway in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma].

It has been reported that tumor cell-intrinsic cyclic GMP-AMP synthase(cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes(STING) pathway is essential for radiotherapy(RT)-induced activation of anti-tumor immune responses. However, its role in the RT- induced remodeling of the tumor microenvironment(TME)in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC), is largely unknown. In this study, we found that the tumor cell-intrinsic cGAS-STING pathway is a critical component for RT-induced activation of immune cells in the TME through the induction of type Ⅰ interferon and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 in tumor cells in ESCC. However, at the same time, the tumor cell-intrinsic cGAS-STING pathway is also involved in RT-triggered infiltration and polarization of immunosuppressive CD163+ tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) through the induction of interleukin 34 (IL-34) in tumor cells in ESCC. Our findings suggest that targeting IL-34 to impede the infiltration and polarization of CD163+ TAM could potentially enhance the efficacy of RT-induced immune cell activation in ESCC TME.

[A Case of Perforation of the Duodenum during Chemotherapy with Ramucirumab plus Nab-Paclitaxel for Advanced Gastric Cancer].

A 70-year-old male patient was diagnosed with advanced gastric cancer with para-aortic lymph node metastasis. After diagnostic laparoscopy, the patient received 2 courses of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Subsequently, distal gastrectomy, D2 plus para-aortic lymph node dissection, and Roux-en-Y reconstruction were performed. An enlarged lymph node(No. 16b2)was identified during surgery. The histopathological diagnosis revealed ypT4b, ypN3b, cM1(LYM; No. 16), Stage ⅣB. Chemotherapy with ramucirumab plus nab-paclitaxel was administered at 6 weeks postoperatively. However, after 2 courses of chemotherapy, the patient developed an abscess discharge from the wound, which was confirmed by an abdominal CT scan and diagnosed as an intra-abdominal abscess derived from duodenal perforation. The abscess was drained percutaneously. Subsequently, chemotherapy with nab-paclitaxel, nivolumab, and trifluridine/tipiracil hydrochloride was administered. After the appearance of brain metastases, the treatment was shifted to palliative care. The patient died 2 years and 7 months later from the primary disease.

Comparison and Validation of Long-Term Bleeding Events for Academic Bleeding Risk (ARC-HBR) Criteria and Contemporary Risk Scores for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With a Second-Generation Drug Eluting Stent.

BACKGROUND: The Academic Research Consortium for High Bleeding Risk (ARC-HBR) defined a consensus clinical criterion for patients at HBR undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This study aimed to validate and compare the ARC-HBR criteria and the contemporary risk score for long-term bleeding outcomes using a cohort of patients undergoing PCI.Methods and Results: This study analyzed 3,410 patients who underwent PCI between 2010 and 2013. The endpoint was defined as incidence of The Bleeding Academic Research Consortium 3 or 5 bleeding events. In addition to ARC-HBR, this study validated the predictability of the Predicting Bleeding Complications in Patients Undergoing Stent Implantation and Subsequent Dual Antiplatelet Therapy (PRECISE-DAPT) score, Patterns of non-adherence to Anti-platelet Regimens In Stented patients (PARIS) bleeding score, and Coronary Revascularization Demonstrating Outcome Study in Kyoto (CREDO-Kyoto) bleeding scores for bleeding events. There was a trend toward an increase in bleeding events, as the risk score increased for all bleeding risk scores used in this study. The ARC-HBR criteria had higher diagnostic sensitivity for bleeding events than other bleeding risk scores. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with a higher number of risk factors in each of the four bleeding risk scores had a higher risk of long-term bleeding events. In comparison to other contemporary risk scores, the ARC-HBR criteria were more sensitive in the identification of patients with bleeding events in the long-term.

Gastrointestinal and Intracranial Bleeding Events After Second-Generation Drug-Eluting Stent Implantation　- Their Association With High Bleeding Risk, Predictors, and Clinical Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) and intracranial bleeding (ICB) are frequently observed as major bleeding events after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI); however, there are few reports on these predictors and their association with the Academic Research Consortium for High Bleeding Risk (ARC-HBR).Methods and Results: The study included 3,453 patients who underwent PCI with second-generation drug-eluting stents between 2010 and 2013. Mean follow up was 2,663±596 days. The cumulative incidences of GIB and ICB were significantly higher in the HBR group than in the non-HBR group (6.3% vs. 1.9%, P<0.001, 5.5% vs. 2.3%, P<0.001). Older age, oral anticoagulant (OAC), and severe chronic kidney disease were independent predictors of GIB (hazard ratios [HR], 1.64; 95% confidence intervals [CI], 1.11-2.41; P=0.012; HR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.23-3.05; P=0.004; HR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.02-3.19, P=0.043 respectively), and low body weight, OAC, and left main coronary artery stenting were independent predictors of ICB by multivariate logistic regression analysis (HR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.20-2.80; P=0.005; HR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.31-3.19; P=0.002; HR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.18-2.70; P=0.006 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: ARC-HBR was consistently associated with GIB and ICB within a 7-year period. GIB and ICB had three predictors each. Of these, only OAC administration was common, and the other two were different.

Bleeding Outcomes After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in the Past Two Decades in Japan　- From the CREDO-Kyoto Registry Cohort-2 and Cohort-3.

BACKGROUND: Optimal intensity is unclear for P2Y12receptor blocker therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in real-world clinical practice.Methods and Results: From the CREDO-Kyoto Registry, the current study population consisted of 25,419 patients (Cohort-2: n=12,161 and Cohort-3: n=13,258) who underwent their first PCI. P2Y12receptor blocker therapies were reduced dose of ticlopidine (200 mg/day), and global dose of clopidogrel (75 mg/day) in 87.7% and 94.8% of patients in Cohort-2 and Cohort-3, respectively. Cumulative 3-year incidence of GUSTO moderate/severe bleeding was significantly higher in Cohort-3 than in Cohort-2 (12.1% and 9.0%, P<0.0001). After adjusting 17 demographic factors and 9 management factors potentially related to the bleeding events other than the type of P2Y12receptor blocker, the higher bleeding risk in Cohort-3 relative to Cohort-2 remained significant (hazard ratio (HR): 1.52 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.37-1.68, P<0.0001). Cohort-3 compared with Cohort-2 was not associated with lower adjusted risk for myocardial infarction/ischemic stroke (HR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.87-1.06, P=0.44). CONCLUSIONS: In this historical comparative study, Cohort-3 compared with Cohort-2 was associated with excess bleeding risk, which might be at least partly explained by the difference in P2Y12receptor blockers.

Trends in prognosis after hospitalization for acute heart failure in Kurashiki Central hospital 2015-2018: single-center prospective study.

Recently, we have been working on enhancing the effectiveness of treatment for acute heart failure (HF) through team-based care. This study was designed to assess the benefits of this initiative by quantifying the prognostic impact on HF patients receiving treatment at our hospital. We identified 1977 consecutive HF patients (mean age 78.3 ± 11.9 years) being discharged from our hospital between February 2015 and December 2018, divided them by admission year, and tracked changes over time, with 2015 as a reference. The postdischarge clinical outcome measures were defined as a composite of all-cause death or rehospitalization for HF, all-cause death, and rehospitalization for HF. The risk of a composite of all-cause death or rehospitalization for HF was lower in 2017 (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.72; 95% confidence interval: 0.57 to 0.91; p = 0.005) and 2018 (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.78; 95% confidence interval: 0.61 to 0.99; p = 0.045) than in 2015, and that of all-cause death was lower in 2017 (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.72; 95% confidence interval: 0.53 to 0.98; p = 0.04) and 2018 (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.60; 95% confidence interval: 0.43 to 0.85; p = 0.004) than in 2015, but that of rehospitalization for HF was not significantly different through the study period. The mortality rate decreased at the end of the study period, but the rate of rehospitalization for HF did not. The benefits of team-based care were difficult to evaluate by quantification.

Academic Research Consortium for High Bleeding Risk Definitions for Early, Late, and Very Late Bleeding Events.

BACKGROUND: The validity of the Academic Research Consortium for High Bleeding Risk (ARC-HBR) definitions of early (<1 year), late (1-4 years), and very late (>4 years) bleeding events is unknown.Methods and Results:This study was performed on patients (n=3,453) implanted with second-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) between 2010 and 2013. Data on all criteria of the ARC-HBR definition were collected retrospectively. The primary endpoint was Bleeding Academic Research Consortium Type 3 or 5 bleeding events; the ischemic endpoint was a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and ischemic stroke. The mean follow-up period was 7.5 years. Compared with non-high bleeding risk (HBR) patients, HBR patients (n=1,840; 53.3%) had an increased risk of the primary endpoint (early events, 3.6% vs. 0.5% [P<0.0001]; late events, 5.3% vs. 2.5% [P<0.0001]; very late events, 5.5% vs. 2.1% [P<0.0001]) and of ischemic events during follow-up. The discrimination ability of the ARC-HBR definition for late and very late bleeding events was comparable to that of early bleeding events (C statistics 0.679, 0.621, and 0.620, respectively) with high negative predictive value (96.6%, 95.1%, and 93.1%, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed the different effects of individual criteria on bleeding events in each follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: The ARC-HBR definition consistently identified patients at risk of long-term bleeding and ischemic events after second-generation DES implantation.

Outcomes at 1 Year of Non-Left Main Trunk Bifurcation Lesions Treated With a 2-Stent Strategy Using Newer-Generation Everolimus-Eluting Stents.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for coronary bifurcation lesions using the 2-stent strategy remains a challenging procedure for interventionalists because of the higher incidence of in-stent restenosis (ISR) and adverse events. ISR predictors in patients treated with newer-generation everolimus-eluting stents (EES) and the 2-stent strategy remain unknown. Hence, we aimed to evaluate the 1-year clinical and angiographic outcomes of non-left main trunk (LMT) bifurcation lesions treated with the 2-stent strategy using newer-generation EES.Methods and Results:The study sample consisted of 262 non-LMT bifurcation lesions treated using culotte or T-stenting with EES between 2010 and 2018. One-year post-procedural angiographic and clinical examinations were conducted in 208 (79.4%) and 260 (99.2%) lesions, respectively. The primary outcome measure was the 1-year post-procedural ISR rate, which was found to be 15.9%. Independent predictors of 1-year post-procedural ISR were long side branch lesions (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.31; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-5.23; P=0.04) and 3-link EES implantation (aOR 2.45; 95% CI 1.07-5.61; P=0.03). The 1-year cumulative incidence of target lesion revascularization was 3.5%. CONCLUSIONS: The 1-year clinical outcomes of non-LMT bifurcation lesions treated with the 2-stent strategy using EES were acceptable. Long side branch lesions and lesions treated with 3-link EES were independent predictors of 1-year post-procedural ISR.

Application of the Modified High Bleeding Risk Criteria for Japanese Patients in an All-Comers Registry of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention　- From the CREDO-Kyoto Registry Cohort-3.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of and expected bleeding event rate in patients with the Japanese version of high bleeding risk (J-HBR) criteria are currently unknown in real-world percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) practice.Methods and Results:We applied the J-HBR criteria in the multicenter CREDO-Kyoto registry cohort-3 that enrolled 13,258 consecutive patients who underwent first PCI. The J-HBR criteria included Japanese-specific major criteria such as heart failure, low body weight, peripheral artery disease and frailty in addition to the Academic Research Consortium (ARC)-HBR criteria. There were 8,496 patients with J-HBR, and 4,762 patients without J-HBR. The J-HBR criteria identified a greater proportion of patients with HBR than did ARC-HBR (64% and 48%, respectively). Cumulative incidence of the Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) type 3 or 5 bleeding was significantly higher in the J-HBR group than in the no-HBR group (14.0% vs. 4.1% at 1 year; 23.1% vs. 8.4% at 5 years, P<0.0001). Cumulative 5-year incidence of BARC 3/5 bleeding was 25.1% in patients with ARC-HBR, and 23.1% in patients with J-HBR. Cumulative incidence of myocardial infarction or ischemic stroke was also significantly higher in the J-HBR group than in the no-HBR group (6.9% vs. 3.6% at 1 year; 13.2% vs. 7.1% at 5 years, P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The J-HBR criteria successfully identified those patients with very high bleeding risk after PCI, who represented 64% of patients in this all-comers registry.

Three-dimensional optical coherence tomography versus intravascular ultrasound in percutaneous coronary intervention for the left main coronary artery.

We aimed to compare the intravascular imaging findings, and clinical outcomes between three-dimensional optical coherence tomography (OCT)- and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for the left main coronary artery (LMCA). We enrolled 331 patients underwent OCT- or IVUS-guide single crossover stenting across the side branch (SB) and subsequent kissing balloon inflation (KBT) for LMCA bifurcation. Primary endpoint was defined as a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and target lesion revascularization. Of 331 patients, 58 patients (17.5%) underwent OCT-guide PCI. OCT-guide PCI associated with higher frequency of proximal optimization technique (POT) (98.3% vs 85.3%, P = 0.013) and smaller balloon size of POT (4.29 ± 0.44 mm vs 4.43 ± 0.42, P = 0.02) than IVUS-guide PCI. Although maximal stent area at LMCA and minimal stent area at main vessel were significantly smaller in OCT-guide PCI in intravascular imaging (P = 0.01, and P = 0.002, respectively), the restenosis rate at follow-up angiography was comparable in both groups (15.2% vs. 9.4%, P = 0.387). Cumulative rate of primary endpoint was not significantly different between 2 groups both before and after propensity score adjustment (7.0% vs. 7.4%, P = 0.98 and 2.6% vs. 7.3%, P = 0.18). In conclusion, the clinical outcomes at 1 year were comparable, suggesting OCT- and IVUS-guided PCI for LMCA were similarly feasible. The balloon size of POT in OCT-guide PCI might be influenced by the limited visibility in the proximal LMCA.

Impact of high-dose statin on cardiovascular outcomes in real-world patients with ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction.

Little is known about the impact of a high-dose statin on cardiovascular outcomes after ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) in real-world Japanese patients. Between July 2011 and June 2017, 1110 consecutive STEMI patients underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention at our hospital and were discharged. A high-dose statin was administered in 117 patients (10.5%) and non-high-dose statin was administered in 947 patients (85.3%). The low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level was significantly higher in the high-dose statin group at admission (129.8 ± 44.9 vs. 110.4 ± 32.7, p < 0.0001), but the levels were not significantly different at follow-up (86.7 ± 25.7 vs. 85.0 ± 25.0, p = 0.52). The cumulative 2-year incidence of a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and any unplanned coronary revascularization was significantly lower in the high-dose statin group (6.2% vs. 16.9%, log-rank p = 0.004). Propensity score matched analysis indicated similar results. Among the types of coronary revascularization, a high-dose statin was significantly correlated with a lower rate of de novo lesion revascularization (hazard ratio 0.31; 95% confidence interval 0.08-0.83; p = 0.02). The results of our analyses indicate that administration of a high-dose statin may result in better cardiovascular outcomes after STEMI mainly by reducing the rate of revascularization for de novo lesions regardless of the achieved low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level in real-world patients.

Prevalence of the Academic Research Consortium for High Bleeding Risk Criteria and Prognostic Value of a Simplified Definition.

BACKGROUND: The Academic Research Consortium for High Bleeding Risk (ARC-HBR) criteria have been suggested as the standard definition of HBR. However, the prevalence of individual criteria and their prognostic value for long-term bleeding events after percutaneous coronary intervention are scarcely studied.Methods and Results:The study population comprised 1,193 patients treated with everolimus-eluting stents between 2010 and 2011. Data on all 17 major and minor criteria of the ARC-HBR definition were retrospectively collected, and applied to this study population. Major bleeding was defined as the occurrence of a BARC type 3 or 5 bleeding event. A simplified definition was developed by excluding the low-frequency criterion, and the prognostic value was assessed by a receiver-operating characteristic curve. Mean follow-up was 2,996±433 days and there were 656 HBR patients (55.0%). The cumulative incidence of major bleeding was significantly higher in the HBR group than in the non-HBR group (16.2% vs. 5.7% at 8 years, P<0.001). The frequencies of 6 of the 17 criteria were less than 1%. The prognostic value of the simplified definition made by excluding these 6 criteria for major bleeding was comparable to that of the original (c-statistic=0.598 and 0.600, P=0.08). CONCLUSIONS: Some risk criteria of the ARC-HBR definition are observed infrequently. Our simplified definition identified patients with long-term bleeding risk as successfully as the original definition.

Clinical Outcomes and Angiographic Results of Bailout Stenting for Guide Catheter-Induced Iatrogenic Coronary Artery Dissection　- Impact of Stent Type.

BACKGROUND: Guide catheter-induced iatrogenic coronary artery dissection is a rare but feared complication. When it occurs, bailout stenting is widely performed; however, its prognosis and the impact of stent type remains unclear.Methods and Results:The study population consisted of 77,257 consecutive patients (coronary angiography, 55,864; percutaneous coronary intervention, 21,393) between 2000 and 2015. We investigated the incidence, clinical outcomes, and angiographic results after bailout stenting and compared by stent type: bare-metal stent (BMS) and drug-eluting stent (DES). Iatrogenic coronary artery dissection occurred in 105 patients (incidence rate, 0.14%). All cases of iatrogenic coronary artery dissection that were recognized as requiring bailout procedure could be managed by stent implantation, and no patients died during bailout procedure. The 5-year cumulative incidences of cardiac death, target lesion revascularization, and major adverse cardiac events were 11.3%, 10.3%, and 21.0%, respectively. The binary restenosis rate was 10.4%, and it was not significantly different between BMS and DES implantation. In lesions with preprocedural stenosis, however, it was significantly lower in the DES group than in the BMS group. On the other hand, coronary artery dissection recurred in 8 patients, which was observed only after DES implantation. CONCLUSIONS: The immediate and long-term outcomes of bailout stenting for iatrogenic coronary artery dissection were acceptable. Although DES may be favorable for stenotic lesions, coronary artery dissection can recur after DES implantation.