A dual-center analysis of conservative versus liberal glycoprotein IIb-IIIa antagonist strategies in the treatment of ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

While the efficacy of GpIIb-IIIa-inhibitors during primary PCI (pPCI) for ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) has previously been demonstrated, its ongoing role and safety in combination with newer P2Y12-inhibitors is unclear. We therefore sought to compare outcomes between two centers with divergent approaches to the use of GpIIbIIIa antagonists in pPCI. We performed a retrospective chart review of all-comer STEMI patients treated with pPCI at two high-volume Montreal academic tertiary care centers. One center tended to use GpIIb-IIIa-inhibitors up-front in a large proportion of patients (liberal strategy) and the other preferring a bail-out approach (conservative strategy). Baseline patient characteristics and procedural data were compared between the two groups. The main efficacy outcome was rate of no-reflow/slow-reflow and the main safety outcome was BARC ≥ 2 bleeding events. A total of 459 patients were included, of whom 167 (36.5%) were exposed to a GpIIb-IIIa-antagonist. There was a significant overall difference in use of GpIIb-IIIa-antagonist between the two centers (60.5% vs. 16.1%, p < 0.01). Rate of no-reflow/slow-reflow was similar between groups (2.6% vs. 1.4%, p = 0.22). In-hospital rates of unplanned revascularization, stroke and death were also not different between groups. Use of a liberal GpIIb--IIIa-antagonist strategy was however associated with a higher risk of bleeding (OR 3.16, 95% CI 1.57-6.37, p < 0.01), which persisted after adjustment for covariables (adjusted OR 2.85, 95% CI 1.40-5.81, p < 0.01). In this contemporary retrospective cohort, a conservative, bail-out only GpIIb--IIIa-antagonist strategy was associated with a lower incidence of clinically relevant bleeding without any signal for an increase in no-reflow/slow-reflow or ischemic clinical events.

Prevalence of H. pylori among patients undergoing coronary angiography (The HP-DAPT prevalence study).

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) screening and treatment is recommended for patients on chronic aspirin (ASA) therapy to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. Coronary artery disease patients requiring combination antithrombotic therapy (dual antiplatelet therapy; DAPT, or dual pathway inhibition; DPI) are at an even higher risk of GI bleeding. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence of H. pylori among patients referred for angiography and likely to receive DAPT or DPI. This single-center prospective observational study recruited patients undergoing coronary angiography and with the possibility of requiring DAPT or DPI. All included patients underwent H. pylori serology testing. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine predictors of seropositivity. 195 patients were included in the analysis. Mean age was 67 years, 50% had known prior CAD, and 49% underwent coronary intervention. H. pylori serology was positive in 36%. Chronic kidney disease (odds ratio [OR] 2.76; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.24 to 6.15; p = 0.01) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR 2.52; 95% CI 1.14 to 5.55; p = 0.02) history were independent predictors of H. pylori seropositivity. Given the clinically significant prevalence of H. pylori seropositivity among patients referred for angiography, systematic screening strategies and eradication of H. pylori could significantly reduce the incidence of GI bleeding in patients requiring DAPT or DPI.