Incremental value of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction treated with sacubitril/valsartan.

AIMS: We investigated the incremental advantage in terms of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) reduction in patients affected by heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) treated with sacubitril/valsartan (S/V) and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA) versus patients treated with S/V only. METHODS: Consecutive adult patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of ≤40% who were followed in our outpatient clinic from January 2016 to December 2019 and treated with S/V were analysed. RESULTS: Out of eligible 147 patients, 99 were treated with S/V+MRA at baseline and 48 patients were treated with S/V. Patients treated with S/V+MRA were significantly younger (61.5 vs 67.8 years, p=0.006), had better basal renal function (serum creatinine 1.2 vs 1.4 mg/dL, p=0.006) and lower LVEF (30.9% vs 33.1%, p=0.039). At follow-up at 8-16 months, 84 out of 99 patients continued to be on S/V+MRA, and 39 out of 48 patients continued to be on S/V. Between these two groups, at follow-up, LVEF did not vary significantly, ΔNT-proBNP was not significantly different (-215.7 vs -165.9 pg/mL, p=0.93) and neither was the rate of hospitalisation for heart failure (9.5% vs 12.8%, p=0.58). Using general linear models, both age and basal NT-proBNP influenced significantly ΔNT-proBNP (respectively, p=0.002; p=0.005), while treatment with S/V+MRA versus S/V only did not significantly influence ΔNT-proBNP (p=0.462). CONCLUSION: Even with the limitations of a small retrospective study, our results generate the hypothesis that MRA might not provide any additional value in patients with HFrEF treated with S/V. Larger studies are needed to test if MRA should remain a standard treatment in patients with HFrEF treated with S/V.

Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease from Infancy to Older Age: A 25-Year Experience from an Italian Referral Center.

AIM: Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is the most common congenital heart defect, with considerable risk of morbidity and mortality. The purpose of the study was to analyze clinical and echocardiographic presentation of BAV in a large-volume tertiary Italian center and to test their interaction with full age span, sex, and first diagnosis versus second referral. METHODS: Consecutive patients of all ages diagnosed with BAV at our center from January 1988 to December 2012 were retrospectively included. Exclusion criteria were as follows: associated complex congenital cardiac disease, systemic syndrome, and previous cardiac surgery. RESULTS: Eligible patients were 790, divided by age quartiles. Seventy-two percent of patients had any grade BAV dysfunction. Aortic valve stenosis was more frequent in the first (24%) and fourth (24%) quartiles. This corresponds to a double-peak stenosis severity curve, being more severe at a very young age and in the elderly. Aortic valve regurgitation was more prevalent in each quartile than stenosis, with a prevalence of 72% in the second quartile and 77% in the third quartile. This corresponds to a single-peak regurgitation severity curve, being more severe in the fourth and fifth decades of life. Patients with previously diagnosed BAV had more significant valve dysfunction in comparison to patients with first diagnosis of BAV, either stenosis (15% vs. 21%, P = 0.024) or regurgitation (58% vs. 68%, P = 0.006). CONCLUSION: The dominant BAV dysfunction in this large Northern Italian community is regurgitation, with higher severity of disease in the fourth and fifth decades of life.

Contrast-Induced Nephropathy in Patients Undergoing Staged Versus Concomitant Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation and Coronary Procedures.

Background The impact of staged versus concomitant coronary procedures on renal function in patients with aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) remains unclear. Methods and Results Three-hundred thirty-nine patients undergoing coronary procedures and TAVI as a staged strategy (160, 47.2%) or concomitant strategy (179, 52.8%) were retrospectively analyzed. Contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) occurred in 49 patients in the staged strategy group (30.6%) and in 18 patients (10.1%) in the concomitant strategy group (P<0.001). Among the staged strategy group, 25 (15.6%) patients developed CI-AKI after coronary angiography or percutaneous coronary intervention, 17 (10.6%) after TAVI, and 7 (4.3%) after both the procedures. Staged strategy was associated with a higher risk of CI-AKI (odds ratio, 3.948; P<0.001) after adjustment for multiple confounders and regardless of the baseline renal function (P for interaction=0.4) when compared with the concomitant strategy. At a median follow-up of 24.0 months (3.0-35.3), CI-AKI was not associated with sustained renal injury (P=0.794), irrespective of the adopted strategy. The concomitant strategy did not impact the overall early safety at 30 days follow-up after TAVI compared to the staged strategy (P=0.609). Conclusions Performing coronary procedures with a staged strategy before TAVI was associated with a higher risk of CI-AKI compared with a concomitant strategy. Moreover, a concomitant strategy did not increase the risk of procedure-related complications.

Contrast-Induced Acute Kidney Injury in Patients Undergoing TAVI Compared With Coronary Interventions.

Background Differences in the impact of contrast medium on the development of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) or a coronary angiography/percutaneous coronary intervention (CA/PCI) have not been previously investigated. Methods and Results Patients treated with TAVI or elective CA/PCI were retrospectively analyzed in terms of baseline and procedural characteristics, including preprocedural and postprocedural kidney function. CI-AKI was defined as a relative increase in serum creatinine concentration of at least 0.3 mg/dL within 72 hours of contrast-medium administration compared with baseline. The incidence of CI-AKI in the TAVI versus CA/PCI group was compared. After the exclusion of patients in dialysis and emergency procedures, 977 patients were analyzed; there were 489 patients who had undergone TAVI (50.1%) and 488 patients who had undergone CA/PCI (49.9%). Patients treated by TAVI were older, presenting a higher rate of anemia and chronic kidney disease (P<0.001 for all comparisons). Consistently, they also had a significantly lower glomerular filtration rate and higher serum creatinine concentration (P<0.001 for all). However, the occurrence of CI-AKI was significantly lower in these patients compared with patients treated by a CA/PCI (6.7% versus 14.5%, P<0.001). At multivariate analysis, the TAVI procedure had an independent protective effect on CI-AKI incidence among total population (odds ratio, 0.334; 95% CI, 0.193-0.579; P<0.001). This observation was confirmed after propensity score matching among 360 patients (180 by TAVI and 180 by CA/PCI; P=0.002). Conclusions CI-AKI occurred less frequently in patients undergoing TAVI than in patients undergoing a CA/PCI, despite a worse-risk profile. The impact of contrast administration on kidney function in patients who had undergone TAVI may be better tolerated because of the hemodynamic changes following aortic valve replacement.

Early Small Creatinine Shift Predicts Contrast-Induced Acute Kidney Injury and Persistent Renal Damage after Percutaneous Coronary Procedures.

PURPOSE: Little is known on the impact of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) on mid- and long-term renal function after percutaneous coronary procedure. The aim of the study was to investigate the incidence of persistent renal damage (PRD) after CI-AKI in a cohort of patients undergoing coronary angiography and/or intervention. Moreover, we sought to assess the predictive value of small creatinine change at 12-24 h (SCrΔ%12-24 h) from contrast exposure in predicting CI-AKI and PRD. METHODS: Complete clinical and biochemical data of 731 patients were retrospectively analyzed at sequential time intervals at baseline, 12-24 h and 48-72 h from the procedure. Data at 30 ±â€¯10 days and 12-24 months were available in 59% and 49% of the cases respectively. Logistic regression was used to assess variables associated with CI-AKI and PRD. ROC analysis was used to test the diagnostic accuracy of SCrΔ%12-24 h in predicting CI-AKI and PRD. RESULTS: CI-AKI occurred in 130/731 patients (17.8%). At 30 ±â€¯10 days PRD occurred in 54.8% patients who developed CI-AKI. A SCrΔ%12-24 h >5% demonstrated independent predictive value (OR = 1.05, CI = 1.04-1.06, p < 0.001) and fair accuracy (AUC = 0.80, CI = 0.77-0.84) for CI-AKI. CONCLUSION: CI-AKI was associated with PRD in >50% of the cases in this single centre cohort. A small and early SCrΔ%12-24 h demonstrated high predictive value for CI-AKI and may be used as a useful tool to unmask a group of patients at risk for PRD after percutaneous coronary procedures.

Pathology of valved venous homografts used as right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery conduits in congenital heart disease surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Although valved venous homografts (VVHs) are used for establishing right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery continuity in some complex heart defects, the tissue changes that occur in situ have not been described. We review the gross and microscopic changes observed in explanted VVH conduits and their effects on functionality. METHODS: In total, 20 explanted VVH conduits were evaluated for valve integrity, presence of thrombus, and stenosis. Hematoxylin and eosin- and trichrome-stained sections were reviewed for neointima formation, wall remodeling, inflammation, and calcification. Regurgitation and narrowing were assessed on pre-explant echocardiogram, and angiographic video clips were correlated with tissue findings. The source of the proliferating cells within the conduits was investigated by fluorescent in situ hybridization. RESULTS: Thirteen male and 7 female infants underwent VVH implantation either as part of a composite Sano shunt (65%) or to establish right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery continuity in biventricular hearts (35%). The median duration of conduits in situ was 140 days (range: 98-340 days). Conduits were predominantly explanted for staged conversion to bidirectional Glenn (60%) and conduit upsizing (20%). The valves remained intact and functional in 75% of cases. Occlusive thrombosis was absent in all. Wall thickening due to neointima formation and wall remodeling was uniformly present and appeared to be driven by smooth muscle actin-expressing cells, which by fluorescent in situ hybridization are predominantly of recipient origin. Minimal calcification and mild adventitial chronic inflammation were present. CONCLUSIONS: Vein wall thickening is a uniform finding and can cause stenosis. The valves remain functional in most, and vein walls undergo remodeling with only minimal inflammation and calcification.