Double-blind, placebo-controlled evaluation of biorest liposomal alendronate in diabetic patients undergoing PCI: The BLADE-PCI trial.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an important predictor of neointimal hyperplasia (NIH) and adverse clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). LABR-312, a novel intravenous formulation of liposomal alendronate, has been shown in animal models to decrease NIH at vascular injury sites and around stent struts. The aim of the Biorest Liposomal Alendronate Administration for Diabetic Patients Undergoing Drug-Eluting Stent Percutaneous Coronary Intervention trial was to assess the safety, effectiveness, and dose response of LABR-312 administered intravenously at the time of PCI withDES in reducing NIH as measured by optical coherence tomography postprocedure in patients with DM. METHODS: Patients with DM were randomized to a bolus infusion of LABR-312 vs placebo at the time of PCI. Dose escalation of LABR-312 in the study arm was given: 0.01 mg, 0.03 mg, and 0.08 mg. The primary endpoint was the in-stent %NIH volume at 9 months as measured by optical coherence tomography. RESULTS: From September 2016 to December 2017, 271 patients with DM undergoing PCI were enrolled; 136 patients were randomized to LABR-312 infusion and 135 patients were randomized to placebo. At 9-month follow-up, no difference was seen in the primary endpoint of %NIH between LABR-312 and placebo (13.3% ± 9.2 vs 14.6% ± 8.5, P = .35). No differences were present with the varying LABR-312 doses. Clinical outcomes at 9 months were similar between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with DM undergoing PCI with drug-eluting stents, a bolus of LABR-312 injected systematically at the time of intervention did not result in a lower rate in-stent %NIH volume at 9-month follow-up.

Is percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty the treatment of choice for iatrogenic stenosis of the left main coronary artery following aortic valve replacement?

Iatrogenic coronary ostial stenosis after aortic valve replacement (AVR) is a rare but life-threatening complication. This condition has been treated with urgent coronary bypass surgery, but such surgery is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The clinical symptoms are usually severe and may appear from 1 to 6 months postoperatively. Pains in the chest that are typical for coronary artery disease but occur in patients after the AVR operation suggest a significant threat. We report a case of left main coronary artery ostial stenosis in a patient who had normal preoperative coronary angiography results. The patient was successfully treated with implantation of a drug-eluting stent.

Multicenter registry of Impella-assisted high-risk percutaneous coronary interventions and cardiogenic shock in Poland (IMPELLA-PL).

BACKGROUND: Impella is a percutaneous mechanical circulatory support device for treatment of cardiogenic shock (CS) and high-risk percutaneous coronary interventions (HR-PCIs). IMPELLA-PL is a national retrospective registry of Impella-treated CS and HR-PCI patients in 20 Polish interventional cardiological centers, conducted from January 2014 until December 2021. AIMS: We aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of Impella using real-world data from IMPELLA-PL and compare these with other registries. METHODS: IMPELLA-PL data were analyzed to determine primary endpoints: in-hospital mortality and rates of mortality and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) at 12 months post-discharge. RESULTS: Of 308 patients, 18% had CS and 82% underwent HR-PCI. In-hospital mortality rates were 76.4% and 8.3% in the CS and HR-PCI groups, respectively. The 12-month mortality rates were 80.0% and 18.2%, and post-discharge MACCE rates were 9.1% and 22.5%, respectively. Any access site bleeding occurred in 30.9% of CS patients and 14.6% of HR-PCI patients, limb ischemia in 12.7% and 2.4%, and hemolysis in 10.9% and 1.6%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Impella is safe and effective during HR-PCIs, in accordance with previous registry analyses. The risk profile and mortality in CS patients were higher than in other registries, and the potential benefits of Impella in CS require investigation.

Frequency and predictors of stent thrombosis after percutaneous coronary intervention in acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Concerns persist regarding the risk of stent thrombosis in the setting of primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. METHODS AND RESULTS: The Harmonizing Outcomes With Revascularization and Stents in Acute Myocardial Infarction (HORIZONS-AMI) trial included 3602 patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention who were randomized to heparin plus a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor (GPI) (n=1802) versus bivalirudin monotherapy (n=1800). Stents were implanted in 3202 patients, including 2261 who received drug-eluting stents and 861 who received only bare metal stents. Definite or probable stent thrombosis within 2 years occurred in 137 patients (4.4%), including 28 acute events (0.9%), 49 subacute events (1.6%), 32 late events (1.0%), and 33 very late events (1.1%). The 2-year cumulative rates of stent thrombosis were 4.4% with both drug-eluting stents and bare metal stents (P=0.98) and 4.3% versus 4.6% in patients randomized to bivalirudin monotherapy versus heparin plus a GPI, respectively (P=0.73). Acute stent thrombosis occurred more frequently in patients assigned to bivalirudin compared with heparin plus a GPI (1.4% versus 0.3%; P<0.001), whereas stent thrombosis after 24 hours occurred less frequently in patients with bivalirudin compared with heparin plus a GPI (2.8% versus 4.4%; P=0.02). Pre-randomization heparin and a 600-mg clopidogrel loading dose were independent predictors of reduced acute and subacute stent thrombosis, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Stent thrombosis is not uncommon within the first 2 years after primary percutaneous coronary intervention in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, and occurs with similar frequency in patients receiving drug-eluting stents versus bare metal stents and bivalirudin alone versus heparin plus a GPI. Optimizing adjunct pharmacology including early antithrombin therapy preloading with a potent antiplatelet therapy may further reduce stent thrombosis in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Heparin plus a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor versus bivalirudin monotherapy and paclitaxel-eluting stents versus bare-metal stents in acute myocardial infarction (HORIZONS-AMI): final 3-year results from a multicentre, randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Primary results of the HORIZONS-AMI trial have been previously reported. In this final report, we aimed to assess 3-year outcomes. METHODS: HORIZONS-AMI was a prospective, open-label, randomised trial undertaken at 123 institutions in 11 countries. Patients aged 18 years or older were eligible for enrolment if they had ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), presented within 12 h after onset of symptoms, and were undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention. By use of a computerised interactive voice response system, we randomly allocated patients 1:1 to receive bivalirudin or heparin plus a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor (GPI; pharmacological randomisation; stratified by previous and expected drug use and study site) and, if eligible, randomly allocated 3:1 to receive a paclitaxel-eluting stent or a bare metal stent (stent randomisation; stratified by pharmacological group assignment, diabetes mellitus status, lesion length, and study site). We produced Kaplan-Meier estimates of major adverse cardiovascular events at 3 years by intention to treat. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00433966. FINDINGS: Compared with 1802 patients allocated to receive heparin plus a GPI, 1800 patients allocated to bivalirudin monotherapy had lower rates of all-cause mortality (5·9%vs 7·7%, difference -1·9% [-3·5 to -0·2], HR 0·75 [0·58-0·97]; p=0·03), cardiac mortality (2·9%vs 5·1%, -2·2% [-3·5 to -0·9], 0·56 [0·40-0·80]; p=0·001), reinfarction (6·2%vs 8·2%, -1·9% [-3·7 to -0·2], 0·76 [0·59-0·99]; p=0·04), and major bleeding not related to bypass graft surgery (6·9%vs 10·5%, -3·6% [-5·5 to -1·7], 0·64 [0·51-0·80]; p=0·0001) at 3 years, with no significant differences in ischaemia-driven target vessel revascularisation, stent thrombosis, or composite adverse events. Compared with 749 patients who received a bare-metal stent, 2257 patients who received a paclitaxel-eluting stent had lower rates of ischaemia-driven target lesion revascularisation (9·4%vs 15·1%, -5·7% [-8·6 to -2·7], 0·60 [0·48-0·76]; p<0·0001) after 3 years, with no significant differences in the rates of death, reinfarction, stroke or stent thrombosis. Stent thrombosis was high (≥4·5%) in both groups. INTERPRETATION: The effectiveness and safety of bivalirudin monotherapy and paclitaxel-eluting stenting are sustained at 3 years for patients with STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention. FUNDING: Boston Scientific and The Medicines Company.

Paclitaxel-eluting stents versus bare-metal stents in acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: There is no consensus regarding the safety and efficacy of drug-eluting stents, as compared with bare-metal stents, in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction who are undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: We randomly assigned, in a 3:1 ratio, 3006 patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction to receive paclitaxel-eluting stents (2257 patients) or otherwise identical bare-metal stents (749 patients). The two primary end points of the study were the 12-month rates of target-lesion revascularization for ischemia (analysis powered for superiority) and a composite safety outcome measure of death, reinfarction, stroke, or stent thrombosis (powered for noninferiority with a 3.0% margin). The major secondary end point was angiographic evidence of restenosis at 13 months. RESULTS: Patients who received paclitaxel-eluting stents, as compared with those who received bare-metal stents, had significantly lower 12-month rates of ischemia-driven target-lesion revascularization (4.5% vs. 7.5%; hazard ratio, 0.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.43 to 0.83; P=0.002) and target-vessel revascularization (5.8% vs. 8.7%; hazard ratio, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.48 to 0.89; P=0.006), with noninferior rates of the composite safety end point (8.1% vs. 8.0%; hazard ratio, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.76 to 1.36; absolute difference, 0.1 percentage point; 95% CI, -2.1 to 2.4; P=0.01 for noninferiority; P=0.92 for superiority). Patients treated with paclitaxel-eluting stents and those treated with bare-metal stents had similar 12-month rates of death (3.5% and 3.5%, respectively; P=0.98) and stent thrombosis (3.2% and 3.4%, respectively; P=0.77). The 13-month rate of binary restenosis was significantly lower with paclitaxel-eluting stents than with bare-metal stents (10.0% vs. 22.9%; hazard ratio, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.33 to 0.57; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction who were undergoing primary PCI, implantation of paclitaxel-eluting stents, as compared with bare-metal stents, significantly reduced angiographic evidence of restenosis and recurrent ischemia necessitating repeat revascularization procedures. No safety concerns were apparent at 1 year. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00433966.)

The unligated left internal mammary artery side branch as the cause of angina after coronary artery bypass grafting.

The left internal mammary artery (LIMA) is a widely used conduit during coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery because of its excellent long-term patency. Although large LIMA side branches are typically ligated during the surgery, the occurrence of a coronary steal phenomenon related to these side branches following surgery remains controversial. Advocates for occlusion of LIMA side branches in the setting of left anterior descending artery (LAD) ischemia indicate that anginal symptoms often improve and that objective measures of LAD ischemia frequently resolve. We present a patient with ischemia in the LAD distribution secondary to coronary steal from a large LIMA side branch that was successfully treated using the Embolization Coil-IMWCE-3-PDA5 (Cook Medical, Bjaeverskov, Denmark).

Bivalirudin during primary PCI in acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Treatment with the direct thrombin inhibitor bivalirudin, as compared with heparin plus glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, results in similar suppression of ischemia while reducing hemorrhagic complications in patients with stable angina and non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes who are undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The safety and efficacy of bivalirudin in high-risk patients are unknown. METHODS: We randomly assigned 3602 patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction who presented within 12 hours after the onset of symptoms and who were undergoing primary PCI to treatment with heparin plus a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor or to treatment with bivalirudin alone. The two primary end points of the study were major bleeding and combined adverse clinical events, defined as the combination of major bleeding or major adverse cardiovascular events, including death, reinfarction, target-vessel revascularization for ischemia, and stroke (hereinafter referred to as net adverse clinical events) within 30 days. RESULTS: Anticoagulation with bivalirudin alone, as compared with heparin plus glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, resulted in a reduced 30-day rate of net adverse clinical events (9.2% vs. 12.1%; relative risk, 0.76; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.63 to 0.92; P=0.005), owing to a lower rate of major bleeding (4.9% vs. 8.3%; relative risk, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.46 to 0.77; P<0.001). There was an increased risk of acute stent thrombosis within 24 hours in the bivalirudin group, but no significant increase was present by 30 days. Treatment with bivalirudin alone, as compared with heparin plus glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, resulted in significantly lower 30-day rates of death from cardiac causes (1.8% vs. 2.9%; relative risk, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.40 to 0.95; P=0.03) and death from all causes (2.1% vs. 3.1%; relative risk, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.44 to 1.00; P=0.047). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction who are undergoing primary PCI, anticoagulation with bivalirudin alone, as compared with heparin plus glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, results in significantly reduced 30-day rates of major bleeding and net adverse clinical events. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00433966 [ClinicalTrials.gov].).

Facilitated PCI in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: We hypothesized that percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) preceded by early treatment with abciximab plus half-dose reteplase (combination-facilitated PCI) or with abciximab alone (abciximab-facilitated PCI) would improve outcomes in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, as compared with abciximab administered immediately before the procedure (primary PCI). METHODS: In this international, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we randomly assigned patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction who presented 6 hours or less after the onset of symptoms to receive combination-facilitated PCI, abciximab-facilitated PCI, or primary PCI. All patients received unfractionated heparin or enoxaparin before PCI and a 12-hour infusion of abciximab after PCI. The primary end point was the composite of death from all causes, ventricular fibrillation occurring more than 48 hours after randomization, cardiogenic shock, and congestive heart failure during the first 90 days after randomization. RESULTS: A total of 2452 patients were randomly assigned to a treatment group. Significantly more patients had early ST-segment resolution with combination-facilitated PCI (43.9%) than with abciximab-facilitated PCI (33.1%) or primary PCI (31.0%; P=0.01 and P=0.003, respectively). The primary end point occurred in 9.8%, 10.5%, and 10.7% of the patients in the combination-facilitated PCI group, abciximab-facilitated PCI group, and primary-PCI group, respectively (P=0.55); 90-day mortality rates were 5.2%, 5.5%, and 4.5%, respectively (P=0.49). CONCLUSIONS: Neither facilitation of PCI with reteplase plus abciximab nor facilitation with abciximab alone significantly improved the clinical outcomes, as compared with abciximab given at the time of PCI, in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00046228 [ClinicalTrials.gov].)

Elevated resistin opposed to adiponectin or angiogenin plasma levels as a strong, independent predictive factor for the occurrence of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events in patients with stable multivessel coronary artery disease over 1-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Adipokines such as adiponectin and resistin, as well as angiogenin, may be associated with inflammation and atherosclerosis. The relationship between their levels and prognosis in high risk patients is, however, still unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of these adipokines in patients with stable multivessel coronary artery disease (MCAD). MATERIAL/METHODS: The study group comprised 107 MCAD patients (74% males, mean age 63 ± 8 years). Adiponectin, resistin and angiogenin plasma levels were measured at admission and after 1-year follow-up. Primary end point (major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events--MACCE) was defined as cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, stroke, and hospitalization for angina or heart failure over a 1-year period. RESULTS: After 1-year follow-up, 9 (8%) patients died, all from cardiovascular causes. Primary end point was experienced by 32% of patients. Surgical treatment (CABG) was received by 51% of patients, while 49% were treated medically alone. Total cholesterol concentration levels ≥ 173 mg/dl were associated with a 7-fold increase (OR 7.3; 95% CI, 1.6-33.0); LDL ≥ 93.5 mg/dl with a 16-fold increase (OR 16.3; 95% CI, 2.8-93.8), and resistin ≥ 17.265 ng/ml with a 13-fold increase in MACCE risk (OR 13.5; 95% CI, 2.3-80.3). In multivariate analysis, a medical treatment strategy (p = 0.001), a higher CCS class (p = 0.004), resistin levels (p = 0.003) and a higher Gensini score (p = 0.03) were independent predictors of MACCE. CONCLUSIONS: In stable patients with MCAD, elevated plasma resistin (as opposed to adiponectin or angiogenin) is a strong, independent predictive factor for the occurrence of MACCE over 1-year follow-up.

A multicentre, prospective, randomised controlled trial to assess the safety and effectiveness of cooling as an adjunctive therapy to percutaneous intervention in patients with acute myocardial infarction: the COOL AMI EU Pivotal Trial.

BACKGROUND: Despite primary PCI (PPCI), ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) can still result in large infarct size (IS). New technology with rapid intravascular cooling showed positive signals for reduction in IS in anterior STEMI. AIMS: We investigated the effectiveness and safety of rapid systemic intravascular hypothermia as an adjunct to PPCI in conscious patients, with anterior STEMI, without cardiac arrest. METHODS: Hypothermia was induced using the ZOLL® Proteus™ intravascular cooling system. After randomisation of 111 patients, 58 to hypothermia and 53 to control groups, the study was prematurely discontinued by the sponsor due to inconsistent patient logistics between the groups resulting in significantly longer total ischaemic delay in the hypothermia group (232 vs 188 minutes; p<0.001). RESULTS: There were no differences in angiographic features and PPCI result between the groups. Intravascular temperature at wire crossing was 33.3+0.9°C. Infarct size/left ventricular (IS/LV) mass by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) at day 4-6 was 21.3% in the hypothermia group and 20.0% in the control group (p=0.540). Major adverse cardiac events at 30 days increased non-significantly in the hypothermia group (8.6% vs 1.9%; p=0.117) while cardiogenic shock (10.3% vs 0%; p=0.028) and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (43.1% vs 3.8%; p<0.001) were significantly more frequent in the hypothermia group. CONCLUSIONS: The ZOLL Proteus intravascular cooling system reduced temperature to 33.3°C before PPCI in patients with anterior STEMI. Due to inconsistent patient logistics between the groups, this hypothermia protocol resulted in a longer ischaemic delay, did not reduce IS/LV mass and was associated with increased adverse events.

Bivalirudin in patients undergoing primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction (HORIZONS-AMI): 1-year results of a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: In the HORIZONS-AMI trial, patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) who were treated with the thrombin inhibitor bivalirudin had substantially lower 30-day rates of major haemorrhagic complications and net adverse clinical events than did patients assigned to heparin plus a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor (GPI). Here, we assess whether these initial benefits were maintained at 1 year of follow-up. METHODS: Patients aged 18 years or older were eligible for enrolment in this multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial if they had STEMI, presented within 12 h after the onset of symptoms, and were undergoing primary PCI. 3602 eligible patients were randomly assigned by interactive voice response system in a 1:1 ratio to receive bivalirudin (0.75 mg/kg intravenous bolus followed by 1.75 mg/kg per h infusion; n=1800) or heparin plus a GPI (control; 60 IU/kg intravenous bolus followed by boluses with target activated clotting time 200-250 s; n=1802). The two primary trial endpoints were major bleeding and net adverse clinical events (NACE; consisting of major bleeding or composite major adverse cardiovascular events [MACE; death, reinfarction, target vessel revascularisation for ischaemia, or stroke]). This prespecified analysis reports data for the 1-year follow-up. Analysis was by intention to treat. Patients with missing data were censored at the time of withdrawal from the study or at last follow-up. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00433966. FINDINGS: 1-year data were available for 1696 patients in the bivalirudin group and 1702 patients in the control group. Reasons for participant dropout were loss to follow-up and withdrawal of consent. The rate of NACE was lower in the bivalirudin group than in the control group (15.6%vs 18.3%, hazard ratio [HR] 0.83, 95% CI 0.71-0.97, p=0.022), as a result of a lower rate of major bleeding in the bivalirudin group (5.8%vs 9.2%, HR 0.61, 0.48-0.78, p<0.0001). The rate of MACE was similar between groups (11.9%vs 11.9%, HR 1.00, 0.82-1.21, p=0.98). The 1-year rates of cardiac mortality (2.1%vs 3.8%, HR 0.57, 0.38-0.84, p=0.005) and all-cause mortality (3.5%vs 4.8%, HR 0.71, 0.51-0.98, p=0.037) were lower in the bivalirudin group than in the control group. INTERPRETATION: In patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI, anticoagulation with bivalirudin reduced the rates of net adverse clinical events and major bleeding at 1 year compared with treatment with heparin plus a GPI. This finding has important clinical implications for the selection of optimum treatment strategies for patients with STEMI. FUNDING: Cardiovascular Research Foundation, with unrestricted grant support from Boston Scientific Corporation and The Medicines Company.

Influence of different antiplatelet treatment regimens for primary percutaneous coronary intervention on all-cause mortality.

AIMS: The aim of this analysis was to examine the influence of different in-cath-lab antiplatelet regimens for the primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on all-cause mortality. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study group consisted of 7193 patients (pts) undergoing primary PCI in 38 centres in 2003 in Poland. All patients received pretreatment with 300 mg of aspirin, 992 pts (14%) received glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa inhibitors, 2690 pts (37%) were treated with 300 mg loading dose of clopidogrel, and 1566 (22%) received combined antiplatelet treatment with both GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors and clopidogrel. Remaining 1945 patients (27%) did not receive GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors or clopidogrel. Primary endpoint of the study was all-cause mortality up to 1 year from ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). One year mortality rates in the four groups were: 10.4%, 9.0%, 9.7%, and 15.3%, respectively. Propensity-adjusted survival analysis showed significant reduction of mortality for combination therapy with GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors and clopidogrel, clopidogrel alone, and GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors alone over aspirin alone. No additive effect on survival was seen for a combination therapy with GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors and clopidogrel in comparison to treatment with clopidogrel alone. CONCLUSION: In this large cohort, multicentre STEMI registry in-cath-lab use of GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors and clopidogrel alone or in combination was associated with the reduction of 1 year all-cause mortality in the setting of primary PCI in comparison with aspirin only. However, the use of GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors on top of 300 mg loading dose of clopidogrel did not further reduce mortality.

Quality of life in high-risk patients with stable multivessel coronary artery disease treated either medically or with coronary artery bypass graft surgery - 12-month follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of chronic diseases, such as atherosclerosis, usually leads to significant short-term improvement. Mid- and long-term results are not always as satisfactory. That is why improvement of quality of life should be the leading qualification criterion for invasive procedures, which sometimes carry a risk of complications. AIM: To determine the quality of life in patients with stable, multivessel coronary artery disease (MCAD), treated surgically or medically. METHODS: The study group comprised 107 patients (pts; 80 males) suffering from MCAD, assigned to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) (55 pts) or to medical treatment alone (52 pts). The mean Gensini score in the whole group was 90 (66-132). To evaluate quality of life we used a Short Form-36 (SF-36) health status survey by the International Quality of Life Assessment Project. RESULTS: During a 12-month follow-up 9 pts died (6 pts in the medically treated group and 3 in the CABG group), all for cardiovascular reasons. Patients treated conservatively were more often hospitalised due to angina symptoms (20 vs. 5, p = 0.003). Analysis of SF-36 showed that pts treated surgically had better improvement of quality of life in comparison with medically treated patients. Significant differences were found for physical functioning, bodily pain, vitality, mental health and mental component summary. CONCLUSIONS: This study has shown that there is a significant difference in health-related quality of life 12 months after CABG surgery and medical treatment alone in high-risk patients with MCAD. Surgical treatment decreases the number of adverse events, better attenuates of anginal and heart failure symptoms, and improves the quality of life, especially the mental component. Our results should encouraged selecting patients with advanced atherosclerosis for revascularisation procedures, even if there is a very high peri-procedural risk.

A head-to-head comparison of wall motion score index, force, strain, and ejection fraction for the prediction of SYNTAX and Gensini coronary scores by dobutamine stress echocardiography.

BACKGROUND: Predicting the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) may be possible during dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) with various indices of left ventricular function. AIMS: We assessed the relative value of ejection fraction (EF), force, global longitudinal strain (GLS), and wall motion score index (WMSI) in predicting SYNTAX and Gensini scores in patients with known or suspected CAD. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 223 patients (120 men; mean [SD] age, 62 [9] years) and assessed the following indices: 1) EF (with triplane imaging); 2) force, calculated as the ratio of systolic blood pressure to left ventricular end­systolic volume; 3) GLS; 4) WMSI. All patients underwent coronary angiography within 12 weeks with SYNTAX and Gensini scores evaluation. RESULTS: The correlation of SYNTAX and Gensini scores was highest with peak WMSI (SYNTAX, rho = 0.591; Gensini, rho = 0.612; P <0.001), intermediate with peak force (SYNTAX, rho = -0.346; Gensini, rho = -0.377; P <0.001) and GLS (SYNTAX, rho = -0.205; P = 0.002 and Gensini rho = -0.216; P = 0.001), and the weakest for EF (SYNTAX, rho = -0.149; P = 0.03 and Gensini, rho = -0.191; P = 0.006). The similar hierarchy of variables was detected for changes during DSE. In the subgroup after myocardial infarction (n = 66 [27%]), GLS outperformed the force. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with CAD at DSE peak, theWMSI and force were better predictors of the coronary SYNTAX and Gensini scores and CAD severity than GLS or EF. However, in patients after myocardial infarction, the GLS correlation with coronary scores improved and got closer to the visual assessment.

Acute coronary syndrome or steal phenomenon - a case of right coronary to right ventricle fistula.

We report a case of 53-year-old male admitted to the hospital with severe chest pain and elevation of troponin I levels, who was transferred to our department for a coronary angiography. Contrast injection into the right coronary artery (RCA) demonstrated no evidence of coronary artery disease. However, a double outlet coronary artery fistula which drained into the right ventricle was visualised. With standard 2-dimensional echocardiographic imaging abnormal flow was detected in the inflow part of the right ventricular free wall. Three-dimensional colour Doppler imaging clearly demonstrated the presence of double outlet RCA - right ventricle coronary fistula with sufficient quality.

Intracoronary administration of stem cells in patients with acute myocardial infarction - angiographic follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Even up-to-date reperfusion therapy using primary percutaneous intervention (PCI) in acute myocardial infarction does not result in improvement of the left ventricular (LV) function in all patients. Cellular myoblasty, a novel method using mononuclear bone marrow cells (BMC), can be applied in the infarcted myocardium area to stimulate regeneration and to limit the organ damage. However, the impact of intracoronary BMC administration on the effect of PCI is not clear. AIM: To assess angiographic outcomes in patients with anterior myocardial infarction and LV dysfunction, undergoing intracoronary BMC administration after a successful primary PCI. METHODS: The study group consisted of 40 patients (mean age 56.2 years) with LV ejection fraction below 40%, in whom 20 ml of BMC were administered to the infarct-related artery (IRA) distally to the occlusion. The control group comprised 25 age- and sex-matched patients with similar values of LV ejection fraction undergoing bare metal stenting of IRA without BMC administration. Quantitative coronary angiography was performed 6 months later to assess IRA patency. RESULTS: The reference diameter of the stented artery decreased in the study group from 3.22 +/- 0.28 mm to 3.16 +/- 0.18 mm (p < 0.05) and in the control group from 3.22 +/- 0.31 mm to 3.15 +/- 0.28 mm (p < 0.082); also in the area of the implanted stent the diameter decreased from 3.57 +/- 0.21 mm to 2.96 +/- 0.79 mm in the study group vs. 3.48 +/- 0.22 mm to 3.01 +/- 0.35 mm in the control group. For lumen diameter measured 10 mm distally to the stent, the diameter loss was similar in both groups. In 6 patients from the BMC treated group and in 3 patients from the control group there was asymptomatic lumen reduction > 70% (NS). CONCLUSION: The results of our study show that BMC administration into IRA is safe. The degree of lumen loss in the stent area was larger in the BMC group than in the control group. There was no significant difference in the lumen change distally to the stent; the artery diameter loss in both groups was similar, and the improvement in LV ejection fraction was greater in the BMC-treated group.