Long-term results of the radial artery used for myocardial revascularization.

BACKGROUND: No information is available on the long-term results of radial artery (RA) grafts used as coronary artery bypass conduits. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this report, we describe the long-term (105+/-9 months) angiographic results of a series of 90 consecutive patients in whom the RA was used as a coronary artery bypass conduit directly anastomosed to the ascending aorta. The long-term patency and perfect patency rates of the RA were 91.6% and 88%, respectively, versus 97.5% and 96.3% for internal thoracic artery grafts. The severity of stenosis of the target vessel clearly influenced long-term RA patency, whereas location of the target vessel and long-term use of calcium channel blockers did not influence angiographic results. Preserved endothelial function and absence of flow-limiting, fibrous, intimal hyperplasia were also documented. CONCLUSIONS: Ten years after surgery, RA grafts have excellent patency and perfect patency rates. Appropriate surgical technique and correct indication are the key factors for long-term RA patency.

Catheter-induced straightening of external iliac tortuosity: a cause of pseudostenosis to be borne in mind.

Reversible vascular obstructive lesions, i.e. pseudostenoses, may pose significant threats to interventional cardiologists as they can be mistaken for obstructive lesions and prompt inappropriate revascularization procedures. We hereby report for the first time in the literature a case of external iliac artery pseudostenosis due to catheter straightening of significant underlying vessel tortuosities. Despite the initial angiographic image obtained from retrograde catheterization of the right external iliac artery which was strongly suggestive for significant stenosis, a thorough review of clinical history, physical examination and a second-look angiography by means of contralateral catheterization and contrast injection showed the absence of any significant lesion in the tortuous left external iliac artery, thus avoiding an unnecessary and potentially harmful vascular intervention. This clinical vignette emphasizes the importance of a thorough clinical examination and angiographic assessment for the appropriate diagnosis and management of reversible stenoses.

Angiographic evaluation of the effect of intracoronary abciximab administration in patients undergoing urgent PCI.

BACKGROUND: Recent data suggest that the intracoronary (i.c.) administration of a systemic bolus dose of abciximab during PCI may increase the efficacy of this antiplatelet drug. However, the effect of i.c. abciximab on coronary angiographic flow has been not clarified. METHODS: We studied 37 consecutive patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) who underwent successful urgent PCI on the target vessel and were treated by an i.c. abciximab bolus (0.25 mg/kg) prior to the first balloon inflation (Group IC), and 37 matched controls who were treated by intravenous (i.v.) abciximab bolus at the same dose (Group IV). Corrected TIMI frame count (CTFC) in the culprit and in a non-culprit coronary artery branch was assessed before treatment, immediately after intracoronary administration of abciximab bolus and at the end of the procedure. RESULTS: After administration of abciximab, CTFC significantly decreased from 48+37 to 33+30 (P=0.001) in the culprit vessel while in the non-culprit vessel it remained unchanged (16+7 pre-treatment and 16+7 post-treatment, P=0.68). Final CTFC was 12+4 in Group IC and 14+5 in Group IV (P=0.069). Post-treatment mean peak of the cardiac enzymes showed a trend toward reduction in Group IC compared with Group IV. CONCLUSIONS: The i.c. administration of abciximab bolus acutely decreases CTFC through culprit vessels of patients with ACS undergoing urgent PCI. Further studies evaluating the potential clinical benefits associated with i.c. abciximab administration are warranted.

Use of a novel high-osmolar gadolinium chelate, gadobutrol, for percutaneous renal artery stenting in two patients with chronic renal failure.

Gadolinium chelates have been recently proposed and preliminarily tested as contrast agents for diagnostic and interventional angiography in alternative to iodinated media. However, in most studies low-osmolarity agents were employed and digital subtraction was required for satisfactory images. In this article, we report for the first time in the literature two cases of successful percutaneous renal artery stenting in which gadobutrol, a high-osmolar (1 mmol/ml) gadolinium chelate, was employed as contrast agent because of chronic renal failure and substantial risk for iodinated contrast-associated nephrotoxicity. In both patients gadobutrol yielded high-quality images without digital subtraction and was well tolerated with no ensuing renal dysfunction.

Coronary bifurcation lesions: to stent one branch or both? A meta-analysis of patients treated with drug eluting stents.

BACKGROUND: In the treatment of coronary bifurcation lesions (CBL), with drug eluting stents (DES), we sought to compare angiographic and clinical outcomes of a simple strategy of stenting main vessel only with balloon dilatation of the side branch with a complex strategy of stenting both branches. METHODS: We performed a meta-analysis of six studies, randomized (three) or prospective observational (three), including 963 patients, that directly compared the simple strategy to the complex strategy, in the treatment of CBL with DES. RESULTS: Final minimal lumen diameter (MLD) of the side branch was significantly smaller in the simple strategy group [WMD -0.50 mm, 95% CI (-0.76, -0.24), p<0.00001]. The risk of main vessel restenosis [RR 0.66, 95% CI (0.38-1.17), p=0.16], side branch restenosis [RR 0.62, 95% CI (0.24-1.56), p=0.31], follow up death [RR 0.60, 95% CI (0.19-1.86), p=0.38], follow up myocardial infarction [RR 0.71, 95% CI (0.46-1.10), p=0.13], or target vessel revascularization [RR 0.90, 95% CI (0.56-1.46), p=0.67] was similar between the two strategies. The simple strategy showed a trend to a lower risk of early myocardial infarction [RR 0.65, 95% CI (0.41-1.05), p=0.08]. CONCLUSION: In the treatment of unselected CBL with DES, the complex strategy does not penalize angiographic and clinical outcomes compared to the simple strategy. Further randomized studies are needed to assess the benefit of simple or complex strategy in the treatment of specific subsets of bifurcated lesions.

The complex link between oxidised low-density lipoprotein and unstable angina.

OBJECTIVE: The role of oxidised low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) in plaque destabilisation is controversial; therefore we aimed at comparing plaque and plasma ox-LDL content in stable and unstable ischaemic syndromes. We also assessed the correlation between plaque or plasma ox-LDL and angiographic complex stenosis morphology. METHODS: Ten consecutive patients with chronic stable angina (SA) and 10 consecutive patients with unstable angina (UA) were studied. Plaque sections obtained by directional coronary atherectomy were immunostained with the monoclonal antibody mAb-4E6, which recognises several oxidation epitopes on LDL (mAb-4E6 ox-LDL), and with the monoclonal antibody mAb-1H11 (mAb-1H11 ox-LDL), which recognises malondialdehyde-modified LDL. An mAb-4E6-based competition ELISA was used for quantification of ox-LDL in plasma. C-reactive protein serum levels were measured by a high-sensitivity nephelometric assay. An angiographic analysis was performed to assess severity and extent of coronary atherosclerotic disease and stenosis morphology. RESULTS: Percent plaque area occupied by mAb-4E6 ox-LDL or mAb-1H11 ox-LDL was similar in patients with SA or UA (22.4 +/- 13.1 vs. 21.1 +/- 19.7%, P = 0.8 and 19.3 +/- 10.4 vs. 16.8 +/- 16.9%, P = 0.6, respectively), whereas ox-LDL plasma levels were significantly higher in patients with UA than in patients with SA (2.4 +/- 1.1 vs. 0.9 +/- 0.6 mg/dl; P = 0.03). Furthermore, a significant correlation was found between plasma levels of ox-LDL and the number of angiographically complex lesions (P = 0.03) or C-reactive protein serum levels (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Neither plaque mAb-4E6 ox-LDL nor plaque mAb-1H11 ox-LDL seem to be a major trigger of coronary plaque instability. However, circulating ox-LDL might be involved in plaque vulnerability and coronary artery disease activity.

Baseline systemic inflammatory status and no-reflow phenomenon after percutaneous coronary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Systemic inflammation is involved in several pathological cardiovascular processes. However, whether it plays a role in the no-reflow phenomenon occurring in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is unknown. METHODS: We studies 60 consecutive patients (59.5+/-12 years, 82% males) with a first ST-segment elevation AMI, treated by primary or rescue PCI within 6 h of symptom onset. Angiographic indexes of no-reflow, evaluated at the end of the procedure, included coronary TIMI flow grading, corrected TIMI frame count (c-TFC) and myocardial blush grade (MBG). ECG indexes of no-reflow included the lack of ST segment resolution (defined as a reduction <50% of the measured ST-segment elevation at 90 min, compared to the admission ECG), as analyzed both in the single lead with the maximal ST elevation and in all leads showing ST elevation on admission. Patients were divided into two groups according to baseline high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) serum levels measured on admission: high CRP group (CRP>5 mg/L) and low CRP group (CRP<5 mg/L). RESULTS: A similar prevalence of final TIMI flow<3 and MBG<3 was observed in patients with high and low CRP serum levels (30% vs. 12%, p=0.1, and 50% vs. 53%, p=1.0, respectively), and c-TFC was also similar in the two groups (26+/-4.5 vs. 24+/-6, p=0.5). Accordingly, the prevalence of lack of ST-segment resolution in the two groups was similar, both by the single-lead method (25% vs. 25%, p=1.0) and the multiple-lead method (29% vs. 19%, p=0.4). CONCLUSION: In this study we failed to demonstrate any significant association between CRP serum levels on admission and coronary no-reflow, as assessed by both angiographic and ECG parameters in AMI patients treated by successful primary or rescue PCI within 6 h of chest pain onset.

Directional atherectomy before stenting versus stenting alone in percutaneous coronary interventions: a meta-analysis.

Plaque debulking before stenting is still controversial. We performed a meta-analysis of 12 randomized and non-randomized trials comparing directional coronary atherectomy (DCA) before stenting versus stenting alone. Angiographic end points were acute gain, late loss and angiographic restenosis rate. Clinical end points were early major adverse cardiac events [MACEs: death, Q-wave myocardial infarction (MI), non-Q-wave MI], late MACEs (death, Q-wave MI) and target lesion revascularization (TLR). Data are expressed as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) or weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% CI, as appropriate. A total of 1216 patients undergoing DCA before stent and 1484 patients undergoing stent alone have been included. DCA before stent was associated to a better acute gain compared to stenting alone (WMD 0.23, [0.18-0.28]; p<0.0001), to a striking reduction of angiographic restenosis rate (OR of 0.67, [0.54-0.84], p=0.0003) and to a significantly lower rate of late TLR (OR 0.73 [0.59-0.91], p=0.006). Late loss did not differ between the two groups (WMD 0.00 [-0.08 and 0.08], p=0.98). We found a higher rate of early MACEs for the combined approach (OR 1.87 [1.16-3.02], p=0.01), with similar prevalence of late MACEs (OR 0.83 [0.65-1.06], p=0.13). In conclusion, this meta-analysis demonstrates that DCA before stenting is superior to stenting alone with regard to acute angiographic results and TLR with a similar prevalence of late MACEs. The higher prevalence of early MACEs with DCA before stenting, however, is disturbing and probably related to distal embolization.

Endothelin-1 and acute myocardial infarction: a no-reflow mediator after successful percutaneous myocardial revascularization.

AIMS: No-reflow after a primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with a high incidence of left ventricular (LV) failure and a poor prognosis. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent endothelium-derived vasoconstrictor peptide and an important modulator of neutrophil function. Elevated systemic ET-1 levels have recently been reported to predict a poor prognosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) treated by primary PCI. We aimed to investigate the relationship between systemic ET-1 plasma levels and no-reflow in a group of AMI patients treated by primary PCI. METHODS AND RESULTS: A group of 51 patients (age 59+/-9.9 years, 44 males) with a first AMI, undergoing successful primary or rescue PCI, were included in the study. Angiographic no-reflow was defined as coronary TIMI flow grade < or =2 or TIMI flow 3 with a final myocardial blush grade < or =2. Blood samples were obtained from all patients on admission for ET-1 levels measurement. No reflow was observed in 31 patients (61%). Variables associated with no-reflow at univariate analysis included culprit lesion of the left anterior coronary descending artery (LAD) (67 vs. 29%, P=0.006) and ET-1 plasma levels (3.95+/-0.7 vs. 3.3+/-0.8 pg/mL, P=0.004). At multivariable logistic regression analysis, ET-1 was the only significant predictor of no-reflow (P=0.03) together with LAD as the culprit vessel (P=0.04). CONCLUSION: ET-1 plasma levels predict angiographic no-reflow after successful primary or rescue PCI. These findings suggest that ET-1 antagonists might be beneficial in the management of no-reflow.

Selective intracoronary injection of sestamibi to detect myocardial viability: Prediction of perfusion and contractile recovery after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.

BACKGROUND: The main limitation of myocardial single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in detecting hibernating myocardium is the poor delivery of radiotracers in hypoperfused areas supplied by severely stenotic coronary arteries. Increasing local availability of radiotracers by intracoronary injection might represent an attractive solution. The hypothesis that the intracoronary administration of sestamibi could improve myocardial SPECT accuracy in detecting hibernating myocardium was addressed in this pilot study. METHODS AND RESULTS: Seven patients with prior myocardial infarction and severe stenosis of the infarct-related artery underwent myocardial SPECT after intracoronary injection of technetium 99m sestamibi immediately before percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Wall motion and perfusion were evaluated, before and 1 month after PTCA, by 2-dimensional echocardiography and rest-redistribution thallium 201 SPECT. A "low-flow area" was identified on the pre-PTCA Tl-201 SPECT image as the area with less than 50% of maximum radiotracer uptake. Changes in wall motion and perfusion in the low-flow area were compared with results of intracoronary sestamibi imaging. On a pixel-by-pixel analysis, intracoronary sestamibi predicted perfusion recovery within the low-flow area with a 91% sensitivity, a 78% specificity, and an 82% overall accuracy. Only in the 5 patients with an extent of sestamibi uptake greater than one third of the low-flow area was an improved regional and global left ventricular wall motion observed after PTCA (wall motion score index decreased from 1.95 +/- 0.28 to 1.60 +/- 0.34, P =.007; left ventricular ejection fraction increased from 42% +/- 7% to 49% +/- 7%, P =.001; asynergic segments in the low-flow area decreased from 3.6 +/- 0.9 to 1.8 +/- 1.5, P =.021). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with prior myocardial infarction and severe stenosis of the infarct-related artery, sestamibi uptake after intracoronary administration identified viable myocardium that was undetected after rest-redistribution thallium SPECT but capable of clinically significant contractile improvement after revascularization.