The Use of Genotoxicity Endpoints as Biomarkers of Low Dose Radiation Exposure in Interventional Cardiology.

The effect of the reportedly low ionizing radiation doses, such as those very often delivered to patients in interventional cardiology, remains ambiguous. As interventional cardiac procedures may have a significant impact on total collective effective dose, there are radiation protection concerns for patients and physicians regarding potential late health effects. Given that very low doses (<100 mSv) are expected to be delivered during these procedures, the purpose of this study was to assess the potency and suitability of current genotoxicity biomarkers to detect and quantitate biological effects essential for risk estimation in interventional cardiology. Specifically, the biomarkers γ-H2AX foci, dicentric chromosomes, and micronuclei, which underpin radiation-induced DNA damage, were studied in blood lymphocytes of 25 adult patients before and after interventional cardiac procedures. Even though the mean values of all patients as a group for all three endpoints tested show increased yields relative to baseline following medical exposure, our results demonstrate that only the γ-H2AX biomarker enables detection of statistically significant differences at the individual level (p < 0.001) for almost all patients (91%). Furthermore, 24 h after exposure, residual γ-H2AX foci were still detectable in irradiated lymphocytes. Their decline was found to vary significantly among the individuals and the repair kinetics of γ-H2AX foci was found to range from 25 to 95.6% of their maximum values obtained.

Balloon pulmonary angioplasty is a promising option in thalassemic patients with inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH), a serious disorder with a high morbidity and mortality rate, is known to occur in a number of unrelated systemic diseases. ß-Thalassaemia, among other haematological disorders, develop PH which is not an infrequent finding and worsens the prognosis. Haemolysis, iron overload and hypercoagulable state are among the main pathogenetic mechanisms. Haemoglobinopathies and congenital haemolytic anaemia constitute a unique patients population more predisposed to developing chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Although pulmonary endarterectomy is accepted as the best treatment for CTEPH, surgery in these patients poses significant practical challenges given the distinct nature of the disease. As drug therapy is not expected to offer relief from the mechanical obstructions of pulmonary arteries and the use of specific pulmonary arterial hypertension drugs is not established in thalassaemia patients, the novel technique of balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) may emerge as a new therapeutic option for patients with inoperable CTEPH and thalassaemia. We are reporting the case of a thalassaemic patient with a history of splenectomy suffering from progressive severe pulmonary hypertension related to chronic thromboembolic disease, who was successfully treated by BPA with substantial improvement.

Long-term dual antiplatelet treatment and bleeding complications in diabetic patients treated with drug eluting stent implantation.

BACKGROUND: Dual antiplatelet treatment (DAPLT) for at least 12 months is recommended after drug eluting stent (DES) implantation, but concerns regarding the extended use of this treatment persist due to increased risk of bleeding. In this study are assessed the incidence, correlates, and clinical significance of bleeding complications in diabetic patients after long-term DAPLT post DES implantation. METHODS: We studied 610 consecutive diabetic patients after DES implantation. The primary end point was the occurrence of any bleeding according to the BARC and TIMI definitions. RESULTS: The incidence of overall bleeding was higher in patients on DAPLT (21.1% vs. 4.4%, p < 0.001); minor/minimal according to the TIMI definition, and type 1 or 2 according to the BARC definition, were more frequently observed in patients on DAPLT (20.3% vs. 3.0%, p < 0.001, 15.6% vs. 2.0%, p < 0.001 and 4.4% vs. 0.5%, p = 0.034, respectively), whereas there was no effect on type 3 (3.5% vs. 2.0%, p = ns). DAPLT was an independent predictor for overall (HR 5.35, 95% CI: 2.69-10.67, p < 0.001), minor (HR 7.45, 95% CI: 3.25-17.12, p < 0.001, for TIMI classification) and type 1 or 2 bleeding (HR 8.17, 95% CI 3.29-20.25, p < 0.001); furthermore smoking was also predictor for overall bleeding (HR 1.65, 95% CI: 1.05-2.61, p = 0.030). Cardiovascular adverse events were not more frequent in patients with bleeding as compared with those without bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term DAPLT in diabetic patients after DES implantation is associated with higher risk of overall and minor but not major bleeding; smoking may have a significant role in the occurrence of bleeding complications.