Coagulopathy, thromboembolic complications, and the use of heparin in COVID-19 pneumonia.

The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) is causing a pandemic and potentially fatal disease of global public health concern. Viral infections are known to be associated with coagulation impairment; thus, thrombosis, hemorrhage, or both may occur. Understanding the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying the development of coagulation disorders during viral infection is essential for the development of therapeutic strategies. Coagulopathy in COVID-19 infection is emerging as a precipitant factor for severe respiratory complications and death. An increase in coagulation markers, such as fibrinogen and D-dimer, has been found in severe COVID-19 cases. Heparin, clinically used as an anticoagulant, also has anti-inflammatory properties, including binding of inflammatory cytokines, inhibition of neutrophil chemotaxis, and protection of endothelial cells, and a potential antiviral effect. We hypothesized that low-molecular-weight heparin may attenuate cytokine storm in COVID-19 patients; therefore, low-molecular-weight heparin could be a valid adjunctive therapeutic drug for the treatment of COVID-19 pneumopathy. In this paper, we review potential mechanisms involved in coagulation impairment after viral infection and the possible role of heparin in the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

Double aortic arch with hypoplastic right aortic arch and type C atresia of left aortic arch.

We report the case of a 2-month-old baby with a double aortic arch, type C atresia of the left arch and severe hypoplasia of the right aortic arch between the right carotid and subclavian arteries, resulting in systemic obstruction, left ventricular dysfunction and congestive heart failure. Surgical augmentation of the right aortic arch ameliorated the obstruction with improvement in left ventricular function and symptoms.

Early cardiovascular remodelling in Fabry disease.

AIMS: Fabry disease (FD) is a rare X-linked genetic disorder caused by the deficiency or absent activity of lysosomal α-galactosidase A. Cardiovascular remodelling is a hallmark of FD. The present study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the cardiac, vascular and microvascular status in a population of patients with genetic mutations for FD without left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). METHODS AND RESULTS: This study includes subjects carrying genetic mutations for FD (Fabry disease mutation-carrier, FDMC) without LVH (n = 19). A group of control subjects (n = 19) matched for age, sex, body mass index and cardiovascular risk factors were also included. All subjects underwent echocardiography, carotid ultrasound scan, endothelial flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC) assessment. When compared to the subjects in the control group, FDMC patients showed significantly lower mean values of systolic myocardial velocity (7.33 ± 1.28 vs. 10.08 ± 1.63 cm/s, p < 0.0001), longitudinal systolic strain (-18.07 ± 1.72 vs. -21.15 ± 2.22%, p < 0.0001), significantly higher E/E' mean values (7.15 ± 1.54 vs. 5.98 ± 1.27, p = 0.016) and intima-media thickness mean values (0.80 ± 0.20 vs. 0.61 ± 0.19 mm, p = 0.005), significantly lower FMD (8.3 ± 4.6 vs. 12.2 ± 5.0%, p = 0.02), more atypical capillaries and irregular NFC architecture in FDMC than control subjects (52.6 vs. 0%, p < 0.0001; 78.9 vs. 36.8%, p = 0.02 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: FD progressively involves cardiac, macrovascular and microvascular systems in an early stage. These features are present even in asymptomatic mutation carriers without LVH.

Transient impairment of vasomotion function after successful chronic total occlusion recanalization.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to assess coronary vasomotion after successful revascularization of chronic total occlusion (CTO). BACKGROUND: It is largely unknown whether the recovery of anterograde flow after CTO recanalization with drug-eluting stent implantation affects vascular function in distal coronary segments. METHODS: One hundred consecutive CTOs successfully treated with drug-eluting stents underwent coronary diameter measurement after intracoronary nitroglycerin injection 5, 20, and 35 mm distal to the stented coronary segment using 3-dimensional quantitative coronary angiography. In a subgroup of 14 patients, coronary vasomotion was tested in distal segments: incremental atrial pacing for endothelium-dependent cases; and intracoronary nitroglycerin injection for endothelium-independent cases. In another subgroup of 13 patients, distal vessels were assessed by intracoronary ultrasounds. RESULTS: Vessel diameters significantly increased at follow-up as compared to baseline values (2.0 ± 0.52 mm vs. 2.25 ± 0.50 mm, 1.76 ± 0.49 mm vs. 2.05 ± 0.58 mm, 1.54 ± 0.53 mm vs. 2.04 ± 0.58 mm, at each segment analyzed; p < 0.001). At baseline, distal segments failed to respond to both endothelium-dependent and -independent stimuli. At follow-up, atrial pacing induced vasoconstriction, whereas nitroglycerine administration resulted in significant vasodilation (p < 0.05). Intracoronary ultrasounds failed to show changes of the cross-sectional area of distal segments at follow-up angiography. CONCLUSIONS: Recanalization of CTO is followed by a hibernation of vascular wall at distal coronary segments that fail to respond to endothelium-dependent and -independent stimuli. Distal vessel diameter increases over time in the absence of positive remodeling and in spite of persistent endothelial dysfunction. This severe impairment of vasomotor tone after CTO reopening suggests that intracoronary ultrasound assessment is of paramount importance for the selection of stent size.

Mid-term follow-up after retrograde recanalization of chronically occluded saphenous vein graft.

We reported a case of 55-year-old male with an ostial chronically occluded saphenous vein graft which was recanalized by retrograde approach through an epicardial collateral channel with implantation of three drug eluting stents. Six-month coronary angiography showed the patency of graft and distal native vessel diameter enhancement.

[Chronic total occlusions]. / Occlusioni coronariche croniche.

Many studies showed that successful recanalization of chronic total occlusion (CTO) provides an improvement of long-term outcome and left ventricular ejection fraction, electrical stability of the myocardium, increased tolerance to future coronary events, and last but not least an improvement in quality of life. Because of the perceived procedural complexity of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI), patients with CTO are usually referred to coronary artery bypass surgery or medical therapy. Recent advances in PCI materials, devices, approaches, and techniques have allowed expert operators to tackle successfully with complex cases of CTO that many years ago would have sent patients to surgery. This has also been motivated by the long-term patency and freedom from restenosis obtained by drug-eluting stent implantation. Each strategy and device has advantages and disadvantages, even though percutaneous treatment of CTO needs a higher operator's skill with respect to other non-occlusive lesions as well as an appropriate training period. In order to avoid complications and to achieve CTO recanalization in more than 70% of cases, it is advisable to understand the principles of each strategy, to plan the proper strategy and choose the appropriate materials, to take time, to be zen and aware when to stop.