Successful closure of transcatheter aortic valve replacement-induced Gerbode defect with valve-in-valve technique: A case report.

We present the first documented case of a successful closure of a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)-induced Gerbode defect using a valve-in-valve approach. A 90-year-old female with severe aortic stenosis underwent TAVR. Following post-dilatation, the patient experienced hemodynamic deterioration and collapse due to tamponade and sub-annular rupture leading to hemodynamic deterioration and the development of a Gerbode defect with communication between the left ventricle and right atrium. Hemodynamic stabilization was achieved through pericardiocentesis, followed by the low implantation of a second valve, effectively sealing the rupture. This case showcases a valuable alternative for managing rare challenging complications during TAVR procedures.

The Role of Intracoronary Imaging for the Management of Calcified Lesions.

Interventional cardiologists in everyday practice are often confronted with calcified coronary lesions indicated for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). PTCA of calcified lesions is associated with diverse technical challenges resulting in suboptimal coronary stenting and adverse long-term clinical outcomes. Angiography itself offers limited information regarding coronary calcification, and the adjuvant use of intracoronary imaging such as intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) can guide the treatment of calcified coronary lesions, optimizing the different stages of the procedure. This review offers a description of why, when, and how to use intracoronary imaging for PTCA of calcified coronary lesions in order to obtain the most favorable results. We used the PubMed and Google Scholar databases to search for relevant articles. Keywords were calcified coronary lesions, intracoronary imaging, IVUS, OCT, coronary calcium modification techniques, PTCA, and artificial intelligence in intracoronary imaging. A total of 192 articles were identified. Ninety-one were excluded because of repetitive or non-important information.

Assessment of myocardial salvage in patients with STEMI undergoing thrombolysis: ticagrelor versus clopidogrel.

BACKGROUND: In the setting of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the faster and stronger antiplatelet action of ticagrelor compared to clopidogrel, as well as its pleiotropic effects, could result in a greater degree of cardioprotection and final infarct size (FIS) limitation. The aim of our study was to comparatively evaluate the effect of ticagrelor and clopidogrel on myocardial salvage index (MSI) in STEMI patients undergoing thrombolysis. METHODS: Forty-two STEMI patients treated with thrombolysis were randomized to receive clopidogrel (n = 21) or ticagrelor (n = 21), along with aspirin. Myocardial area at risk (AAR) was calculated according to the BARI and the APPROACH jeopardy scores. FIS was quantified by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) performed 5-6 months post-randomization. MSI was calculated as (AAR-FIS)/AAR × 100%. Primary endpoint of our study was MSI. Secondary endpoints were FIS and CMR-derived left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at 5 -6 months post-randomization. RESULTS: By using the BARI score for AAR calculation, mean MSI was 52.25 ± 30.5 for the clopidogrel group and 54.29 ± 31.08 for the ticagrelor group (p = 0.83), while mean MSI using the APPROACH score was calculated at 51.94 ± 30 and 53.09 ± 32.39 (p = 0.9), respectively. Median CMR-derived FIS-as a percentage of LV-was 10.7% ± 8.25 in the clopidogrel group and 12.09% ± 8.72 in the ticagrelor group (p = 0.6). Mean LVEF at 5-6 months post-randomization did not differ significantly between randomization groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the administration of ticagrelor in STEMI patients undergoing thrombolysis offer a similar degree of myocardial salvage, compared to clopidogrel.

Post-PCI corrected TIMI Frame Count predicts left ventricular global longitudinal strain at 90 days post-STEMI in thrombolysis-treated patients: A pre-specified analysis of the MIRTOS study.

Introduction: Ticagrelor has been established as the P2Y12-inhibitor of choice in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI); however, its use has not been adequately studied in the context of thrombolysis. In the present study, we sought to investigate whether the administration of ticagrelor together with thrombolysis could result in a greater degree of left ventricular systolic function recovery compared to clopidogrel, at 90 days post-STEMI, as well as to evaluate post-PCI corrected TIMI Frame Count (CTFC) as a predictive marker of myocardial recovery in thrombolysis-treated patients. Material and methods: In this pre-specified analysis of the MIRTOS trial, the degree of change in left ventricular ejection fraction (ΔLVEF) and left ventricular longitudinal strain (ΔLV-GLS) from baseline to 90 days post-randomization in all patients who underwent conventional and speckle-tracking echocardiography at both timepoints was compared between the ticagrelor and clopidogrel groups. In addition, speckle-tracking echocardiographic measurements were evaluated for any correlations to post-PCI CTFC. Results: No statistically significant differences were detected between the ticagrelor and clopidogrel groups for ΔLVEF (+3.61 ± 5.08 % versus +2.21 ± 4.78 %; P = 0.18) and ΔLV-GLS (-1.53 ± 2.7 % versus -1.21 ± 3.05 %; P = 0.73). A strong negative correlation was found between post-PCI CTFC and the absolute value of LV-GLS at 90 days post-randomization (r = -0.33, P = 0.014). Conclusions: Our work suggests that both P2Y12-inhibitors are accompanied with a similar degree of myocardial recovery in the context of lytic therapy. Importantly, post-PCI microvascular integrity is a predictor of 3-month left ventricular systolic function in STEMI patients initially treated with thrombolysis.

Functional Recovery of a Failed Radial Artery Graft After Progression of Native Coronary Stenosis.

Competitive flow from the native vessel can lead to coronary graft failure. However, restoration of graft patency can occasionally occur. We present the case of subtotal occlusion of a radial artery graft bypassing a lesion with moderate stenosis, with subsequent late functional recovery once the native vessel disease had progressed. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.).

Non-typhoidal Salmonella myocarditis in an immunocompetent young adult with diarrhea.

Myocarditis is the inflammation of the heart muscle and it is caused by a wide range of infectious and non-infectious conditions. Non-typhoidal Salmonella infection, a common foodborne illness worldwide, only rarely causes myocarditis. We describe a case of an immunocompetent adult with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium myocarditis who had a favorable outcome due to early recognition of the causative factor and prompt initiation of appropriate treatment.

Interaction between platelets and endothelium: from pathophysiology to new therapeutic options.

Platelets were traditionally considered to purely have a role in the maintenance of haemostasis. Recently their role in vasomotor function, inflammation and atherosclerosis has been very well-recognized. Endothelium which was originally considered as a simple passive barrier, it is now viewed as an organ whose normal functioning is crucial for maintaining vascular health. When endothelial balance is disturbed, vascular disease initiates. Platelet interactions with endothelium have an important contribution in this process. Low-grade inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and platelet hyper-reactivity are all independently associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. Older antiplatelet agents like aspirin and clopidogrel and newer more potent agents like prasugrel and ticagrelor have been proven effective in all the clinical spectrum of coronary artery disease patients. Current antiplatelet medications and especially newer generation P2Y12 inhibitor ticagrelor, offer clinical benefits not only due to their well-recognized antithrombotic effect, but also via the attenuation of platelet inflammatory action, impediment of P2Y12 activation effects in other cells and through other complex and sometimes undefined pathways. Future research is expected to better define platelet-endothelium interactions and the multiple impact of current antiplatelet therapy on them.

Antiplatelet treatment in diabetic patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: a GReek AntiPlatElet registry substudy.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: We compared the clinical outcome of diabetic versus nondiabetic patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the GReek AntiPlatElet (GRAPE) registry. PATIENTS AND METHODS: GRAPE is a prospective observational study, focusing on contemporary antiplatelet use in moderate-risk to high-risk ACS patients receiving PCI. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), (composite of death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, urgent revascularization, and stroke) and bleeding events (Bleeding Academic Research Consortium definition) at 1 year of follow-up were analyzed using propensity score adjustment. A subanalysis according to diabetes mellitus (DM) status was performed. RESULTS: Out of 2047 registered patients, 469 (22.9%) were diabetic. Complete 1-year follow-up was available in 95.1% of patients. MACE occurred in 12.2 and 7.2% of those patients with and without DM, respectively [adjusted hazard ratio (HR), 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.27 (0.89-1.79), P=0.2]. Observed BARC type ≥3 bleeding risk was not higher in diabetic patients: adjusted HR (95% CI)=1.20 (0.79-1.84). In the subgroup of clopidogrel-treated patients (N=238), MACE rate was significantly higher in diabetic compared with nondiabetic cohort [13.4 vs. 9%, adjusted HR (95% CI)=1.68 (1.07-2.64), P=0.03]. In the subgroup of ticagrelor-treated or prasugrel-treated patients (N=228), MACE rate did not differ significantly between diabetic and nondiabetic patients: 9.6 versus 5%, adjusted HR (95% CI)=1.35 (0.77-2.37), P=0.38. CONCLUSION: In 'real-life' ACS undergoing PCI, diabetic patients have higher - although not significantly - MACE rate and no difference in bleeding events. This difference in MACE was significant among clopidogrel-treated patients, whereas when newer antiplatelet agents were used the negative impact of DM on ischemic events was eliminated.

Endothelial progenitor cells as markers of severity in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

AIMS: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are bone marrow-derived cells that are mobilized into the circulation to migrate and differentiate into mature endothelial cells contributing to post-natal physiological and pathological neovascularization. In this study, we evaluated circulating EPCs in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and examined a potential association with clinical parameters of the disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: We included 40 HCM patients and 23 healthy individuals. Using flow cytometry we measured EPCs in peripheral blood as two subpopulations of CD45-/CD34+/VEGFR2+ and CD45-/CD34+/CD133+ cells. Circulating CD45-/CD34+/VEGFR2+ cells were significantly increased in HCM patients in comparison with the controls (0.000238 ± 0.0003136 vs. 0.000057 ± 0.0001316, respectively, P = 0.002). However, there was no significant difference in the number of circulating CD45-/CD34+/CD133+ cells (0.003079 ± 0.0033288 vs. 0.002065 ± 0.0022173, respectively, P = 0.153). The CD45-/CD34+/VEGFR2+ subpopulation revealed a moderate correlation with LV mass index (r = 0.35, P = 0.026), while both EPC subpopulation levels showed strong positive correlations with th E/e' ratio (r = 0.423, P = 0.007 for CD45-/CD34+/VEGFR2+ and r = 0.572, P < 0.001 for CD45-/CD34+/CD133+). CONCLUSION: HCM patients showed an increased mobilization of EPCs compared with healthy individuals that correlated with diastolic dysfunction. Our findings may open up new dimensions in the pathophysiology, prognostication, and treatment of HCM.

In-hospital switching of oral P2Y12 inhibitor treatment in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: prevalence, predictors and short-term outcome.

BACKGROUND: P2Y12 inhibitor switching has appeared in clinical practice as a consequence of prasugrel and ticagrelor availability, apart from clopidogrel, for use in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: In the context of the GReek AntiPlatelet REgistry (GRAPE) we assessed the prevalence, predictive factors and short-term outcome of in-hospital P2Y12 inhibitor switching in 1794 ACS patients undergoing PCI. RESULTS: Switching occurred in 636 (35.5%) patients of which in the form of clopidogrel to a novel agent, novel agent to clopidogrel and between prasugrel and ticagrelor in 574 (90.4%), 34 (5.3%) and 27 (4.3%) patients, respectively. Presentation to non PCI-capable hospital, bivalirudin use, age ≥75 years (inverse predictor), and regional trends emerged as predictive factors of switching to a novel agent. At combined in-hospital and one-month follow-up, propensity matched pairs analysis showed no differences in major adverse cardiovascular (MACE) or bleeding events between switching from clopidogrel to a novel agent vs novel agent constant administration. More Bleeding Academic Research Consortium type 1, type 2 and any type events and fewer MACE were seen when switching from clopidogrel to a novel agent vs only clopidogrel administration (23.7%, 3.8%, 30.6%, 1.2% vs 8.9%, 1.2%, 12.0%, 3.8% with P < .001, P = .03, P < .001 and P = .03 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In a real-life experience with contemporary antiplatelet treatment in ACS patients undergoing PCI, in-hospital switching represents common clinical practice. Clinical factors and regional practice differences seem to affect this strategy's choice, while switching to a novel agent may be associated with higher risk of bleeding.

Implementation of contemporary oral antiplatelet treatment guidelines in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: a report from the GReek AntiPlatelet rEgistry (GRAPE).

BACKGROUND: Few data exist about the implementation of contemporary oral antiplatelet treatment guidelines in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: GReek AntiPlatelet rEgistry (GRAPE), initiated on January 2012, is a prospective, observational, multicenter cohort study focusing on contemporary use of P2Y12 inhibitors. In 1434 patients we evaluated appropriateness of P2Y12 selection initially and at discharge by applying an eligibility-assessing algorithm based on P2Y12 inhibitors' contraindications/specific warnings and precautions. RESULTS: Appropriate, less preferable and inappropriate P2Y12 inhibitor selections were made initially in 45.8%, 47.2% and 6.6% and at discharge in 64.1%, 29.2% and 6.6% of patients, respectively. The selection of clopidogrel was most commonly less preferable, both initially (69.7%) and at discharge (75.6%). Appropriate selection of newer agents was high initially (79.2%-82.8%), with further increase as selection at discharge (89.4%-89.8%). Inappropriate selection of the newer agents was 17.2%-20.8% initially, decreasing to 10.2%-10.6% at discharge. Conditions and co-medications related to increased bleeding risk, presentation with ST elevation myocardial infarction and the absence of reperfusion within the first 24h were the most powerful predictors of appropriate P2Y12 selection initially, whereas age ≥75 years, conditions and co-medications related to increased bleeding risk and regional trends mostly affected appropriate P2Y12 selection at discharge. CONCLUSIONS: In GRAPE, adherence with the recently released guidelines on oral antiplatelet therapy was satisfactory. Clopidogrel was most commonly used as a less preferable selection, while prasugrel or ticagrelor selection was mostly appropriate. Certain factors may predict initial and at discharge guideline implementation. Clinical Trial Registration-clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01774955 http://clinicaltrials.gov/.