Utilization of TandemHeart in cardiogenic shock: Insights from the THEME registry.

BACKGROUND: TandemHeart has been demonstrated to improve hemodynamic and metabolic complications in cardiogenic shock (CS). Contemporary outcomes have not been reported. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the outcomes of the TandemHeart (LivaNova) in contemporary real-world use. METHODS: We analyzed baseline characteristics, hemodynamic changes, and outcomes of all patients treated with TandemHeart who were enrolled in the THEME registry, a multicenter, prospective, observational study. RESULTS: Between May 2015 and June 2019, 50 patients underwent implantation of the TandemHeart device. 22% of patients had TandemHeart implanted within 12 h, 32% within 24 h, and 52% within 48 h of CS diagnosis. Cardiac index (CI) was significantly improved 24 h after implantation (median change 1.0, interquartile range (IQR) (0.5-1.4 L/min/m2 ). In survivors, there was a significant improvement in CI (1.0, IQR (0.5-2.25 L/min/m2 ) and lactate clearance -2.3 (-5.0 to -0.7 mmol/L). The 30-day and 180-day survival were 74% (95% confidence interval: 60%-85%) and 66% (95% confidence interval: 51%-79%), respectively. Survival was similarly high in those in whom TandemHeart has been used as a bridge to surgery (85% 180-day survival). CONCLUSION: In a contemporary cohort of patients presenting in CS, the use of TandemHeart is associated with a 74% 30-day survival and a 66% 180-day survival.

Socioeconomic Distress Associated With Increased Use of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Over Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

BACKGROUND: The influence of socioeconomic determinants of health on choice of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) vs coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for coronary artery disease is unknown. We hypothesized that higher Distressed Communities Index (DCI) scores, a comprehensive socioeconomic ranking by zip code, would be associated with more frequent PCI. METHODS: All patients undergoing isolated CABG or PCI in a regional American College of Cardiology CathPCI registry and The Society of Thoracic Surgeons database (2018-2021) were assigned DCI scores (0 = no distress, 100 = severe distress) based on education level, poverty, unemployment, housing vacancies, median income, and business growth. Patients who presented with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction or emergent procedures were excluded. The most distressed quintile (DCI ≥80) was compared with all other patients. Multivariable logistic regression analyzed the association between DCI and procedure type. RESULTS: A total of 23 223 patients underwent either PCI (n = 16 079) or CABG (n = 7144) for coronary artery disease across 28 centers during the study period. Before adjustment, high socioeconomic distress occurred more frequently among CABG patients (DCI ≥80, 12.4% vs 8.42%; P < .001). After multivariable adjustment, high socioeconomic distress was associated with greater odds of receiving PCI, relative to CABG (odds ratio 1.26; 95% CI, 1.07-1.49; P = .007). High socioeconomic distress was significantly associated with postprocedural mortality (odds ratio 1.52; 95% CI, 1.02-2.26; P = .039). CONCLUSIONS: High socioeconomic distress is associated with greater risk-adjusted odds of receiving PCI, relative to CABG, as well as higher postprocedural mortality. Targeted resource allocation in high DCI areas may help eliminate barriers to CABG.

Characteristics and outcomes of surgically ineligible patients with multivessel disease treated with percutaneous coronary intervention.

OBJECTIVES: In this study we evaluated the clinical characteristics and outcomes of surgically ineligible patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent multivessel percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). BACKGROUND: Patients with multivessel CAD who are surgically ineligible and undergo PCI are not well represented in large trials. METHODS: Out of 1,061 consecutive patients who underwent a non-emergent PCI for unprotected left main or multivessel CAD at the University of Virginia Medical Center, 137 patients were determined to be surgically ineligible for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery by a heart team. The clinical characteristics and reasons for surgical ineligibility were collected. The coronary angiograms were reviewed and the SYNTAX score calculated. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) score was calculated. Outcomes were determined at 30 days and 1-year. RESULTS: The mean age of the cohort was 71 and 59% were women. Hypertension, hyperlipidemia, tobacco abuse, and diabetes were common comorbidities. The average SYNTAX score was 22. The most commonly cited reasons for surgical ineligibility were advanced age, frailty, severe lung disease, ejection fraction ≤ 30% and STS score ≥ 8%. Outcomes at 30 days were excellent and better than those predicted by STS for surgery. Frailty and STS score predicted one-year outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing PCI for multivessel disease who are surgically ineligible have multiple risk factors and comorbidities. Frailty, lung disease, poor left ventricular function, and high STS score represent common reasons for surgical ineligibility. Frailty and the STS score better predict one-year outcomes after PCI compared to the SYNTAX score.

Mortality After Repeat Revascularization Following PCI or CABG for Left Main Disease: The EXCEL Trial.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and impact on mortality of repeat revascularization after index percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for left main coronary artery disease (LMCAD). BACKGROUND: The impact on mortality of the need of repeat revascularization following PCI or CABG in patients with unprotected LMCAD is unknown. METHODS: All patients with LMCAD and site-assessed low or intermediate SYNTAX (Synergy Between PCI With Taxus and Cardiac Surgery) scores randomized to PCI (n = 948) or CABG (n = 957) in the EXCEL (Evaluation of XIENCE Versus Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery for Effectiveness of Left Main Revascularization) trial were included. Repeat revascularization events were adjudicated by an independent clinical events committee. The effect of repeat revascularization on mortality through 3-year follow-up was examined in time-varying Cox regression models. RESULTS: During 3-year follow-up, there were 346 repeat revascularization procedures among 185 patients. PCI was associated with higher rates of any repeat revascularization (12.9% vs. 7.6%; hazard ratio: 1.73; 95% confidence interval: 1.28 to 2.33; p = 0.0003). Need for repeat revascularization was independently associated with increased risk for 3-year all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio: 2.05; 95% confidence interval: 1.13 to 3.70; p = 0.02) and cardiovascular mortality (adjusted hazard ratio: 4.22; 95% confidence interval: 2.10 to 8.48; p < 0.0001) consistently after both PCI and CABG (pint = 0.85 for both endpoints). Although target vessel revascularization and target lesion revascularization were both associated with an increased risk for mortality, target vessel non-target lesion revascularization and non-target vessel revascularization were not. CONCLUSIONS: In the EXCEL trial, repeat revascularization during follow-up was performed less frequently after CABG than PCI and was associated with increased mortality after both procedures. Reducing the need for repeat revascularization may further improve long-term survival after percutaneous or surgical treatment of LMCAD. (EXCEL Clinical Trial; NCT01205776).

Outcomes of left main revascularization in patients with acute coronary syndromes and stable ischemic heart disease: Analysis from the EXCEL trial.

BACKGROUND: Prompt revascularization is often required in acute coronary syndromes (ACS), whereas stable ischemic heart disease (SIHD) may allow for more measured procedural planning. Whether the acuity of presentation preferentially affects outcomes after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) versus percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with left main coronary artery disease (LMCAD) is unknown. We investigated whether the acuity of presentation discriminated patients who derived a differential benefit from PCI versus CABG in the randomized Evaluation of XIENCE versus Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery for Effectiveness of Left Main Revascularization (EXCEL) trial. METHODS: We used multivariable Cox models to assess the interaction between the acuity of presentation, type of revascularization and outcomes in patients with low or intermediate SYNTAX scores enrolled in EXCEL. RESULTS: At baseline, 1151 patients (60.7%) presented with SIHD and 746 patients (39.3%) presented with an ACS. The acuity of presentation was not associated with the primary endpoint of all-cause death, MI, or stroke at 3 years (multivariable adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0.94; 95% CI 0.70-1.26, P = .64). The primary endpoint rate was similar in patients assigned to PCI versus CABG whether they presented with SIHD (adjusted HR 1.04; 95% CI 0.73-1.48]) or with ACS (HR 0.82; 95% CI 0.54-1.26) (Pinteraction = .34). CONCLUSIONS: The acuity of presentation did not predict outcomes in patients with LMCAD undergoing revascularization, nor did it discriminate patients who derive greater event-free survival from PCI versus CABG.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitor toxicity manifesting as comorbid Moyamoya syndrome and obstructive coronary artery disease: A case report and review of the literature.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have assumed an increasingly vital role in treating various hematologic and oncologic malignancies. However, adverse effects with respect to vascular disease have been reported following administration of this class of medications. Here, we present a case report of TKI toxicity, manifesting as comorbid Moyamoya syndrome and obstructive coronary artery disease leading to a type 1 non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction. This patient eventually required percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stent placement in the right coronary artery. Given the expanding indications of TKI therapy, this case highlights a growing population subset which may require coronary and/or peripheral interventions to treat sequela from otherwise life-prolonging treatment.

Left Main Revascularization With PCI or CABG in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: EXCEL Trial.

BACKGROUND: The optimal revascularization strategy for patients with left main coronary artery disease (LMCAD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the comparative effectiveness of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) versus coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in patients with LMCAD and low or intermediate anatomical complexity according to baseline renal function from the multicenter randomized EXCEL (Evaluation of XIENCE Versus Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery for Effectiveness of Left Main Revascularization) trial. METHODS: CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 ml/min/1.73 m2 using the CKD Epidemiology Collaboration equation. Acute renal failure (ARF) was defined as a serum creatinine increase ≥5.0 mg/dl from baseline or a new requirement for dialysis. The primary composite endpoint was the composite of death, myocardial infarction (MI), or stroke at 3-year follow-up. RESULTS: CKD was present in 361 of 1,869 randomized patients (19.3%) in whom baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate was available. Patients with CKD had higher 3-year rates of the primary endpoint compared with those without CKD (20.8% vs. 13.5%; hazard ratio [HR]: 1.60; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.22 to 2.09; p = 0.0005). ARF within 30 days occurred more commonly in patients with compared with those without CKD (5.0% vs. 0.8%; p < 0.0001), and was strongly associated with the 3-year risk of death, stroke, or MI (50.7% vs. 14.4%; HR: 4.59; 95% CI: 2.73 to 7.73; p < 0.0001). ARF occurred less commonly after revascularization with PCI compared with CABG both in patients with CKD (2.3% vs. 7.7%; HR: 0.28; 95% CI: 0.09 to 0.87) and in those without CKD (0.3% vs. 1.3%; HR: 0.20; 95% CI: 0.04 to 0.90; pinteraction = 0.71). There were no significant differences in the rates of the primary composite endpoint after PCI and CABG in patients with CKD (23.4% vs. 18.1%; HR: 1.25; 95% CI: 0.79 to 1.98) and without CKD (13.4% vs. 13.5%; HR: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.73 to 1.27; pinteraction = 0.38). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with CKD undergoing revascularization for LMCAD in the EXCEL trial had increased rates of ARF and reduced event-free survival. ARF occurred less frequently after PCI compared with CABG. There were no significant differences between PCI and CABG in terms of death, stroke, or MI at 3 years in patients with and without CKD. (EXCEL Clinical Trial [EXCEL]; NCT01205776).

Outcomes of patients with cardiogenic shock treated with TandemHeart® percutaneous ventricular assist device: Importance of support indication and definitive therapies as determinants of prognosis.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to review the characteristics of patients in cardiogenic shock treated with TandemHeart® percutaneous ventricular assist device (pVAD) to determine influential predictors of survival. BACKGROUND: The TandemHeart® pVAD is used in the management of patients with cardiogenic shock resulting from a variety of conditions. Several studies have documented the efficacy of this therapy and outlined its complications. Still, there is little data to guide the effective and appropriate use of this resource. METHODS: Patients referred for TandemHeart® pVAD implant for refractory cardiogenic shock at the University of Virginia between September 2007 and October 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. Univariate analysis was used to identify predictors of mortality. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients underwent successful TandemHeart® implant. Hemodynamics significantly improved following TandemHeart® implant. Cardiac index increased from 1.8 ± 0.6 to 3.1 ± 1.0 L/min/m2 (P = 0.007) and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure decreased from 30. 5 ± 9.9 to 19.6 ± 7.4 mmHg (P =0.0007). Survival was significantly influenced by implant indication with 23.8% surviving in bridge to recovery vs. 51% in bridge to LVAD or surgery (P = 0.04). In patients who did not receive definitive therapy, only 4 (13.8%) were weaned from TandemHeart® support and survived to hospital discharge. Only younger age, 51.8 vs. 62.7 years, predicted survival to hospital discharge (P = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Mortality from refractory cardiogenic shock is high even with TandemHeart® support. Our study found that patients with an exit strategy with either cardiac surgery or durable LVAD implant significantly influenced survival to hospital discharge.

6-Minute walk test predicts prolonged hospitalization in patients undergoing transcatheter mitral valve repair by MitraClip.

BACKGROUND: The 6-minute walk test (6MWT) is a simple functional test that can predict exercise capacity and is widely employed to assess treatment outcomes. Although mortality with transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVr) using the MitraClip (Abbott Vascular, Menlo Park, CA) is significantly less than for open mitral valve surgery in high-risk patients, identifying which patient will benefit the most from TMVr remains a concern. There are limited prognostic metrics guiding patient selection and, no studies have reported relationship between prolonged hospitalization and 6MWT. This study aimed to determine if the 6MWT can predict prolonged hospitalization in patients undergoing TMVr by MitraClip. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 162 patients undergoing 6MWT before TMVr. Patients were divided into three groups according to the 6MWT distance (6MWTD) using the median (6MWTD ≥219 m, 6MWTD <219 m, and Unable to Walk). Multivariate logistic regression model was applied to select the demographic characteristics that were associated with the prolonged hospitalization defined as total length of stay ≥4 days in the study. RESULTS: We found that 6MWT (odds ratio 3.64, 95% confidence interval 2.03-6.52, P < 0.001) was independently associated with prolonged hospitalization after adjustment in multivariate analysis. Area under the curve of 6MWT for predicting prolonged hospitalization was 0.79 (95% confidence interval 0.72-0.85). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that 6MWT was independently associated with prolonged hospitalization in patients with TMVr, and has a good discriminatory performance for predicting prolonged hospitalization.

Predictive Value of Age-Adjusted Charlson Co-Morbidity Index for 1-, 3-, and 5-Year Mortality in Patients Requiring Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair.

Co-morbidities increase markedly with aging, and they often negatively affect its prognosis. Although mortality with transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVr) is significantly less than for open mitral valve surgery in patients at high surgical risk, it remains a concern to identify which patients will benefit from this treatment. Some prognostic metrics have been reported to guide better patient selection; however, universal risk stratification measures have not been established. This study aimed to determine if age-adjusted Charlson co-morbidity index (CCI) could predict mortality in patients who underwent TMVr and to assess its discriminatory performance in long-term outcomes. We retrospectively reviewed 222 patients who underwent TMVr, and 7 who died in hospital was excluded. Cox proportional hazard models were applied to select the demographic characteristics that were associated with cumulative mortality. Receiver-operating characteristic analyses were performed for predicting all-cause mortality, and discriminatory performance was assessed. We found that the age-adjusted CCI (hazard ratio 1.33, 95% confidence interval 1.16 to 1.51, p <0.001), New York Heart Association classification, and atrial fibrillation were independently associated with mortality. The age-adjusted CCI demonstrated good discriminative performance for predicting mortality at 3 and 5 years (area under the curve 0.71 and 0.77, respectively) and were greater than those of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons score in receiver-operating characteristic analysis. Kaplan-Meier curve demonstrated that the age-adjusted CCI ≥ 8 had poor prognosis after TMVr. In conclusions, the age-adjusted CCI could predict mortality and had a good discriminative performance for predicting longer term outcomes in patients who underwent TMVr.

Progressive Mitral Stenosis After MitraClip Implantation in a Patient With Systemic Inflammatory Disease.

We describe a patient at high surgical risk who was successfully treated with a MitraClip (Abbott Vascular, Menlo Park, CA) without transmitral gradient. She received corticosteroid therapy for systemic lupus erythematosus, and progressive mitral stenosis developed late after MitraClip implantation. It gradually increased and reached 23 mm Hg at 28 months after the procedure; during the same period, her dose of prednisone had to be increased owing to lupus flare. Systemic inflammatory disease has the potential to result in mitral valve inflammation and fibrosis, ultimately causing thickening of the tissue bridge and worsening of the mitral valve obstruction. Preprocedural counseling regarding durability may help in this population.

Hybrid Coronary Revascularization for the Treatment of Multivessel Coronary Artery Disease: A Multicenter Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Hybrid coronary revascularization (HCR) combines minimally invasive surgical coronary artery bypass grafting of the left anterior descending artery with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of non-left anterior descending vessels. HCR is increasingly used to treat multivessel coronary artery disease that includes stenoses in the proximal left anterior descending artery and at least 1 other vessel, but its effectiveness has not been rigorously evaluated. OBJECTIVES: This National Institutes of Health-funded, multicenter, observational study was conducted to explore the characteristics and outcomes of patients undergoing clinically indicated HCR and multivessel PCI for hybrid-eligible coronary artery disease, to inform the design of a confirmatory comparative effectiveness trial. METHODS: Over 18 months, 200 HCR and 98 multivessel PCI patients were enrolled at 11 sites. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) (i.e., death, stroke, myocardial infarction, repeat revascularization) within 12 months post-intervention. Cox proportional hazards models were used to model time to first MACCE event. Propensity scores were used to balance the groups. RESULTS: Mean age was 64.2 ± 11.5 years, 25.5% of patients were female, 38.6% were diabetic, and 4.7% had previous stroke. Thirty-eight percent had 3-vessel coronary artery disease, and the mean SYNTAX (Synergy Between PCI With Taxus and Cardiac Surgery) score was 19.7 ± 9.6. Adjusted for baseline risk, MACCE rates were similar between groups within 12 months post-intervention (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.063; p = 0.80) and during a median 17.6 months of follow-up (HR: 0.868; p = 0.53). CONCLUSIONS: These observational data from this first multicenter study of HCR suggest that there is no significant difference in MACCE rates over 12 months between patients treated with multivessel PCI or HCR, an emerging modality. A randomized trial with long-term outcomes is needed to definitively compare the effectiveness of these 2 revascularization strategies. (Hybrid Revascularization Observational Study; NCT01121263).

Retrieval of Embolized Transcatheter Aortic Valves in Left Ventricle Through Apical Ventriculotomy.

Transcatheter valve placement complicated by left ventricular embolization is often treated with sternotomy, valve removal through the aorta, and conventional aortic valve replacement. We report three cases of ventricular embolization of aortic valves during deployment. We successfully placed a second transcatheter aortic valve in the correct position and retrieved the embolized valve through an apical ventriculotomy. All patients recovered well and survived for more than one year. doi: 10.1111/jocs.12701 (J Card Surg 2016;31:203-205).

The influence of a percutaneous mitral repair program on surgical mitral valve volume.

OBJECTIVES: Percutaneous mitral repair with the MitraClip system (Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, Calif) has been available in trials since 2006 and is currently approved for patients with degenerative mitral valve disease at prohibitive risk for surgery. There has been concern that novel transcatheter approaches may detract from mitral valve surgical volumes. We sought to evaluate the influence of our MitraClip program on our surgical mitral valve volumes and outcomes. METHODS: All patients referred for MitraClip underwent evaluation by a multidisciplinary team. Patients were screened for surgical candidacy and suitable valve anatomy for transcatheter repair. The fate of patients referred for MitraClip as well as the overall surgical mitral volumes and outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: From July 2007 to December 2014, 468 patients were referred for the MitraClip procedure at our institution. Of these, 156 patients (33.3%) received a MitraClip (including 45 implanted by surgeons), whereas 82 patients (17.5%) underwent surgical interventions. During this timeframe, the volume of isolated mitral valve operations increased from 50 procedures in 2007 to 93 in 2014 (80% increase; R(2) = 0.89). Importantly, operative mortality for all patients undergoing isolated mitral surgery from 2008 to 2014 was 2.6%, with an observed to expected ratio of 0.64. CONCLUSIONS: The availability of MitraClip resulted in an increase in our mitral valve referrals. Despite seeing an increase in higher risk referrals, operative mortality for mitral surgery remained excellent. Multidisciplinary evaluation, including input from experienced mitral surgeons, is necessary to have a successful percutaneous and surgical mitral valve program.

Thrombus formation following transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

OBJECTIVES: This paper reviews the published data and reports 3 cases of thrombosis involving CoreValve (Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minnesota) and 1 involving Edward Sapien (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, California) devices. Three of these cases had pathological findings at autopsy. BACKGROUND: Only a limited number of cases of valve dysfunction with rapid increase of transvalvular aortic gradients or aortic insufficiency post-transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) have been described. This nonstructural valvular dysfunction has been presumed to be because of early pannus formation or thrombosis. METHODS: Through reviews of the published reports and 4 clinical cases, pathological and clinical findings of early valve thrombosis are examined to elucidate methods for recognition and identifying potential causes and treatments. RESULTS: This paper presents 4 cases, 2 of which had increasing gradients post-TAVR. All 3 pathology cases showed presence of a valve thrombosis in at least 2 TAV leaflets on autopsy, but were not visualized by transthoracic echocardiogram or transesophageal echocardiogram. One case was medically treated with oral anti coagulation with normalization of gradients. The consequence of valve thrombosis in all 3 pathology patients either directly or indirectly played a role in their early demise. At least 18 case reports of early valve thrombosis have been published. In 12 of these cases, the early treatment with anticoagulation therapy resolved the thrombus formation and normalized aortic pressures gradients successfully. CONCLUSIONS: These 4 cases elucidate the occurrence of valve thrombosis post-TAVR. Consideration should be given to treatment with dual antiplatelet therapy and oral anticoagulation in patients post-TAVR with increasing mean pressure gradients and maximum aortic valve velocity. Further research should be conducted to create guidelines for antithrombotic therapy following TAVR procedure.

Left main coronary artery disease: importance, diagnosis, assessment, and management.

Left main coronary disease is seen in 4%-6% of patients undergoing coronary angiography for an ischemic evaluation and is a potentially fatal condition if not promptly identified and treated. Recent studies have increased our understanding of the complexity of left main coronary artery disease. This lesion subset offers numerous challenges in diagnosis and management. Fractional flow reserve and intravascular ultrasound are important adjuncts to angiography to determine the significance of ambiguous lesions of the left main coronary artery. Surgery is associated with much better outcomes than medical therapy and is considered by many to be the standard of care in patients who are surgical candidates. Recent studies comparing surgery with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have defined subgroups with lesser extent of disease burden that may do just as well with PCI. Challenges remain in the management of bifurcation disease, and the interventional community anxiously awaits the results of the large-scale randomized trials comparing PCI with surgery.

Adenosine stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance with variable-density spiral pulse sequences accurately detects coronary artery disease: initial clinical evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Adenosine stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance perfusion imaging can be limited by motion-induced dark-rim artifacts, which may be mistaken for true perfusion abnormalities. A high-resolution variable-density spiral pulse sequence with a novel density compensation strategy has been shown to reduce dark-rim artifacts in first-pass perfusion imaging. We aimed to assess the clinical performance of adenosine stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance using this new perfusion sequence to detect obstructive coronary artery disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance perfusion imaging was performed during adenosine stress (140 µg/kg per minute) and at rest on a Siemens 1.5-T Avanto scanner in 41 subjects with chest pain scheduled for coronary angiography. Perfusion images were acquired during injection of 0.1 mmol/kg Gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepentacetate at 3 short-axis locations using a saturation recovery interleaved variable-density spiral pulse sequence. Significant stenosis was defined as >50% by quantitative coronary angiography. Two blinded reviewers evaluated the perfusion images for the presence of adenosine-induced perfusion abnormalities and assessed image quality using a 5-point scale (1 [poor] to 5 [excellent]). The prevalence of obstructive coronary artery disease by quantitative coronary angiography was 68%. The average sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 89%, 85%, and 88%, respectively, with a positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 93% and 79%, respectively. The average image quality score was 4.4±0.7, with only 1 study with more than mild dark-rim artifacts. There was good inter-reader reliability with a κ statistic of 0.67. CONCLUSIONS: Spiral adenosine stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance results in high diagnostic accuracy for the detection of obstructive coronary artery disease with excellent image quality and minimal dark-rim artifacts.