High-risk coronary plaque of sudden cardiac death victims: postmortem CT angiographic features and histopathologic findings.

High-risk coronary plaques (HRP) are characterized in clinical radiological imaging by the presence of low plaque attenuation, a napkin-ring sign (NRS), spotty calcifications (SC) and a positive remodeling index (RI). To evaluate if these signs are detectable in postmortem imaging by a multi-phase postmortem CT angiography (MPMCTA), a retrospective study of a series of autopsy well-documented coronary plaques related to sudden cardiac death (SCD) was performed. Then correlations between histological and radiological findings were described. Fourty SCD cases due to acute coronary syndrome based on clinical history and confirmed at autopsy were selected (28 men and 12 women, age 53.3 ± 10.9). The culprit lesion was mainly situated in the proximal segments of coronary arteries, in the right coronary artery in 23 cases (57.5%), the left anterior descending artery in 13 cases (32.5%), the circumflex artery in 3 cases (7.5%) and in one case in the left main stem. MPMCTA showed a positive RI (≥ 1.1) in 75% of cases with a mean RI 1.39 ± 0.71. RI values were lower in cases with fibrotic plaques. NRS was observed in 40% of cases, low attenuation plaque in 46.3%, and SC in 48.7% of cases. There were significant correlations of the radiological presence of NRS for fibrolipid composition of the plaque (p-value 0.007), severe intraplaque inflammation (p-value 0.017), severe adventitial inflammation (p-value 0.021) and an increased vasa vasorum (p-value 0.012). A significant correlation (p-value 0.002) was observed between the presence of SC at radiological examination and the presence of punctuate/fragmented calcification at histology. In addition, in 58.3% of cases, plaque enhancement was observed, which correlated with plaque inflammation and the fibrolipid composition of the plaque. The coronary artery calcium score was 314 (± 455). There was a poor agreement between stenosis of the lumen at histology versus radiology. Our study shows that the various radiological signs of HRP can be detected in all plaques by MPMCTA, but individually only to a variable extent; plaque enhancement appeared as a new sign of vulnerability. In the postmortem approach, these radiological markers of HRP, should always be applied in combination, which can be useful for developing a predictive model for diagnosing coronary SCD.

Severe COVID-19 post pregnancy complicated by acute thromboemboli resulting in ST-elevation myocardial infarction - A case report.

Introduction: It has been shown that pregnancy can cause alterations in the severity of COVID-19 infection. We demonstrate an immediate post-partum patient diagnosed with severe COVID-19 and subsequently developed acute thrombosis of coronary artery.Case Summary: 35-year-old female unvaccinated for COVID-19 presented in labor and delivered on the same day. Several hours later, she was found to be in respiratory distress and tested positive for COVID-19. On day 7, computerized tomography (CT) of chest revealed bilateral pneumonia and pneumomediastinum. On day 8, she developed chest pain with electrocardiogram (EKG) showing inferior STelevations with troponin I of 0.6 ng/mL. She was intubated for airway protection and emergent diagnostic angiogram revealed thrombus occlusion of the third right posterolateral segment that resulted in thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) 0 flow without evidence of underlying atherosclerotic disease in the remaining vessels. Intracoronary IIb/IIIa inhibitor was administered. Arterial blood gas in the lab revealed profound hypoxia despite being on 100% inspired oxygen. Multidisciplinary decision was made to cannulate patient for venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) to treat severe COVID-19 pneumonia. She was finally decannulated from ECMO on day 65. After prolonged hospital stay, she eventually recovered and was discharged to rehabilitation.Conclusions: The center for disease control (CDC) surveillance has reported that pregnant patients with COVID-19 are more likely to require invasive ventilation and ECMO, and die given the immunological changes during pregnancy. Hypercoagulable state caused by combination of pregnancy and COVID-19 resulting in coronary thrombosis is rarely described in literature, our case demonstrated the paucity of this phenomenon.

The Prognostic Value of D-Dimer in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Retrospective Longitudinal Cohort Study in Taiwan.

Background: Serum D-dimer level has been associated with worsening outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction. This study aimed to explore the association between serum D-dimer level and clinical outcomes in Taiwanese patients with acute myocardial infarction. Methods: We analyzed Tri-Service General Hospital-Coronary Heart Disease registry data related to patients with acute myocardial infarction who were admitted between January 2014 and December 2018. A total of 748 patients were enrolled and categorized into high (≥ 495 ng/ml) and low (< 495 ng/ml) D-dimer groups. The primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality, and secondary endpoints were post-discharge mortality and post-discharge major adverse cardiovascular events. Results: Overall, 139 patients died, with 77 from cardiovascular causes and 62 from non-cardiovascular causes. In-hospital mortality was higher in the high D-dimer group than in the low D-dimer group. Among the patients alive at discharge, those with a high D-dimer level had higher cardiovascular mortality and future major adverse cardiovascular events than those with a low D-dimer level. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that higher serum D-dimer levels were significantly associated with higher risks of in-hospital mortality [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.11; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.06-1.16, p < 0.001], subsequent cardiovascular mortality after discharge (HR = 1.15; 95% CI, 1.08-1.22, p < 0.001), and major adverse cardiovascular events (HR = 1.10; 95% CI, 1.04-1.16, p < 0.001). Conclusions: This is the first study in Taiwan to demonstrate that a higher baseline serum D-dimer level was independently associated with higher risks of in-hospital mortality, post-discharge mortality, and major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Administration of a new nano delivery system coated with Tirofiban to prevent early thrombosis of vein graft.

OBJECTIVE: To verify the administration of a new nano delivery system coated with Tirofiban on preventing early thrombosis in vein graft. METHODS: Forty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into five groups with eight rabbits in each group. The rabbits of all groups underwent jugular vein transplantation, except group I with only neck opening and closing operation. Vein grafts of group II were preprocessed by intravenous injection of normal saline; group III were preprocessed by tirofiban alone; group IV were preprocessed by unloaded nanoparticles of PLGA-PEG; group V were preprocessed by PLGA-PEG coated with tirofiban. Coagulation and platelet function of peripheral and vein graft blood were detected at 1, 2, 4, 12 h and 1, 3, 7, 10, 14 days after operation. Patency rate of vein graft and blood flow index were measured by vascular ultrasound at third, seventh, 10th, and 14th days after operation; two rabbits in each group were randomly sacrificed at the corresponding time of detection. Pathological differences of vein grafts were observed by HE stainin. RESULTS: The patency rate of vein grafts in group V was significantly higher than that in group II to IV. The platelet and platelet aggregation rate in group V were inhibited in vein graft blood significantly. The post-operative PT and APTT in vein graft blood in group V were increased obviously while the FBG, D-dimer and FDP were significantly inhibited. Except group I, the lumen loss rate of vein grafts in group V was significantly lower than that in other groups, and vein graft blood in group V had a significant lower expression of platelet P-selectin and GP IIb/IIIa receptor than that in other groups. CONCLUSION: This study proves that PEG-PLGA coated with tirofiban can effectively prevent early vein graft stenosis from thrombosis by inhibition of platelet function, coagulation function.

Simultaneous Double-Vessel Coronary Thrombosis with Sudden Cardiac Arrest as the First Manifestation of COVID-19.

The relationship between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and myocardial injury was established at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. An increase in the incidence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest was also observed. This case report aims to point to the prothrombotic and proinflammatory nature of coronavirus infection, leading to simultaneous coronary vessel thrombosis and subsequently to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a 46-year-old male patient with no comorbidities suffered out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) with ventricular fibrillation as the first recorded rhythm. The applied cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) measures initiated by bystanders and continued by emergency medical service (EMS) resulted in the return of spontaneous circulation. The stabilized patient was transferred to the tertiary university center. Electrocardiogram (ECG) revealed "lambda-like" ST-segment elevation in DI and aVL leads, necessitating an immediate coronary angiography, which demonstrated simultaneous occlusion of the left anterior descending (LAD) and right coronary artery (RCA). Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with the implantation of one drug-eluting stent (DES) in LAD and two DES in RCA was done. Due to the presence of cardiogenic shock (SCAI C), an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) was implanted during the procedure, and due to the comatose state and shockable cardiac arrest, targeted temperature management was initiated. The baseline chest X-ray revealed bilateral interstitial infiltrates, followed by increased proinflammatory markers and a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) demasking underlying COVID-19-related pneumonia. Within the following 48 h, the patient was hemodynamically stable, which enabled weaning from IABP and vasopressor discontinuation. However, due to the worsening of COVID-19 pneumonia, prolonged mechanical ventilation, together with antibiotics and other supportive measures, was needed. The applied therapy resulted in clinical improvement, and the patient was extubated and finally discharged on Day 26, with no neurological sequelae and with mildly reduced left ventricle ejection fraction.

Acute myocardial infarction and large coronary thrombosis in a patient with COVID-19.

This is a case report of a 60-year-old male, without any cardiovascular risk factor and no cardiac history admitted to hospital with a diagnosis of interstitial pneumonia caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). After 7 days, the blood tests showed a significant rise of inflammatory and procoagulant markers, along with a relevant elevation of high-sensitivity Troponin I. Electrocardiogram and transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) were consistent with a diagnosis of infero-posterolateral acute myocardial infarction and the patient was transferred to the isolated Cath Lab for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The angiography showed an acute massive thrombosis of a dominant right coronary artery without clear evidence of atherosclerosis. Despite the optimal pharmacological therapies and different PCI techniques, the final TIMI flow was 0/1 and after 3 hr the clinical condition evolved in cardiac arrest for pulseless electric activity. Acute coronary syndrome-ST-elevation myocardial infarction is a relevant complication of COVID-19. Due to high levels of proinflammatory mediators, diffuse coronary thrombosis could occur even in patients without cardiac history or comorbidities. This clinical case suggests that coronary thrombosis in COVID-19 patients may be unresponsive to optimal pharmacological (GP IIb-IIIa infusion) and mechanical treatment (PCI).

Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold outcomes following implantation with routine intravascular imaging guidance.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to describe the outcomes of BVS use from a single-center experience in which scaffold implantation was guided by intravascular imaging (ultrasound and/or optical coherence tomography) to identify and treat mechanical factors potentially related to BVS failure. BACKGROUND: The Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) has been associated with an unexpectedly high incidence of thrombosis. METHODS: Between 11/2014 and 10/2016, 100 patients were treated with BVS. Intravascular imaging assessment before and after BVS implantation was performed in all cases. RESULTS: Mean age was 58.1 years; 88% were male, 31% had diabetes, and 28% presented with acute coronary syndromes. A total of 171 lesions in 141 vessels were treated with 190 BVS (mean 1.9 scaffolds/patient). Further intervention following intravascular imaging to optimize BVS implantation was required in 31% of patients. Procedure success was 100%. All patients completed a 1-year follow-up. The 1-year rate of target lesion failure was 4%, and there were no cases (0%) of scaffold thrombosis, myocardial infarction, or death. CONCLUSIONS: In this real-world experience, the use of intravascular imaging to guide BVS implantation was associated with a high 1-year event-free survival rate, with no scaffold thrombosis.

Extracellular traps derived from macrophages, mast cells, eosinophils and neutrophils are generated in a time-dependent manner during atherothrombosis.

Extracellular traps generated by neutrophils contribute to thrombus progression in coronary atherosclerotic plaques. It is not known whether other inflammatory cell types in coronary atherosclerotic plaque or thrombus also release extracellular traps. We investigated their formation by macrophages, mast cells, and eosinophils in human coronary atherosclerosis, and in relation to the age of thrombus of myocardial infarction patients. Coronary arteries with thrombosed or intact plaques were retrieved from patients who died from myocardial infarction. In addition, thrombectomy specimens from patients with myocardial infarction were classified histologically as fresh, lytic or organised. Neutrophil and macrophage extracellular traps were identified using sequential triple immunostaining of CD68, myeloperoxidase, and citrullinated histone H3. Eosinophil and mast cell extracellular traps were visualised using double immunostaining for eosinophil major basic protein or tryptase, respectively, and citrullinated histone H3. Single- and double-stained immunopositive cells in the plaque, adjacent adventitia, and thrombus were counted. All types of leucocyte-derived extracellular traps were present in all thrombosed plaques, and in all types of the in vivo-derived thrombi, but only to a much lower extent in intact plaques. Neutrophil traps, followed by macrophage traps, were the most prominent types in the autopsy series of atherothrombotic plaques, including the adventitia adjacent to thrombosed plaques. In contrast, macrophage traps were more numerous than neutrophil traps in intact plaques (lipid cores) and organised thrombi. Mast cell and eosinophil extracellular traps were also present, but sparse in all instances. In conclusion, not only neutrophils but also macrophages, eosinophils, and mast cells are sources of etosis involved in evolving coronary thrombosis. Neutrophil traps dominate numerically in early thrombosis and macrophage traps in late (organising) thrombosis, implying that together they span all the stages of thrombus progression and maturation. © 2018 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

The thromboelastography G parameter as a potential biomarker of acute coronary syndrome.

The most prominent event that defines acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is the formation of an intra-arterial thrombus, usually resulting from activation of platelet and fibrinogen at the ruptured plaque. Usually, conventional coagulation tests (CCTs) are used to estimate the hemostatic properties of patients. However, CCTs have significant limitations because they each assess individual aspects of the coagulation cascade, which is a complex multifaceted process. And CCTs are performed with platelet-poor plasma, while the contribution of platelets to clot formation is not measured. In contrast, thromboelastography (TEG) is a test for global hemostasis with whole blood, from the beginning of coagulation through clot formation to the ending with fibrinolysis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether TEG parameters could be surrogate biomarkers of thrombus formation process and diagnosis of ACS. Receiver operating characteristic（ROC）curve was used to evaluate the diagnosis performance of each index. Logistic regression analysis was utilized to define the independent risk factors of ACS. The results showed that the shear elastic modulus parameter (G) was an independent diagnostic indicator for ACS (odds ratio [OR], 2.600; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.035-3.322). The area under ROC curve of G was 0.866. The optimal cut-off value for the diagnosis of ACS was 10.55 dyne/cm2, while the sensitivity was 66.2% and the specificity was 92.4%. In conclusion, G could be used as an optimal indicator of activation of platelet and fibrinogen, which is eligible to be a useful biomarker for early diagnosis of ACS.

Update on pathological platelet activation in coronary thrombosis.

Although coronary thrombosis (CT) is integral to cardiovascular outcomes, the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms remain unclear. CT may occur in case of atherosclerotic plaque erosion/rupture, or even after stenting implantation. Platelets (PLT) activation is the keystone of atherothrombosis and depends on many dysregulated elements, including endothelial dysfunction, oxidized lipoproteins, and immune response. Besides the classical view of PLT as an effector of hemostatic response, a new repertoire of PLT activities is emerging. PLT lipidome oxidation is a self-maintaining process which promotes PLT reactivity, coagulation cascade, and inflammatory cell activation. PLT-innate immune cell interaction is also sustained by neutrophil extracellular traps and NLRP3 inflammasome pathways. Other noteworthy emerging mechanisms are implicated in the crosstalk between PLT and surrounding cells. Especially, microvesicles (MVs) released from PLT may extend their signaling network far beyond the classical cell-cell interactions. Moreover, the recognition of noncoding RNA in PLT MVs introduce another layer of complexity in terms of intercellular signaling by a direct regulation of messenger RNA profile and gene expression in the recipient cells. The aim of this narrative review is to update the recent advance in CT and intracoronary stent thrombosis, including causal factors and potential translation of experimental evidence into the clinical setting.

Is a covered stent justifiable in the treatment of coronary artery perforation? An observational analysis of long-term results of two different covered stent types.

OBJECTIVES: In this retrospective observational study, we investigate outcome of patients treated with or without covered stent (CS) implantation in the management of coronary artery perforation (CAP) during coronary intervention. BACKGROUND: CSs have shown to be effective devices to achieve acute hemostasis in large CAP. However, doubts have been raised regarding their long-term outcome. METHODS: Data of 19 061 PCI procedures during a 10-year period were reviewed. Fifty-five cases of large CAP were withheld (Ellis type 2, 3 or cavity spilling). All medical and procedural records of these cases were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Twenty-four (43.6%) patients were treated with CS implantation (15 polytetrafluoroethylene and 9 pericardium CSs). Twenty-six (47.3%) patients were managed without CS implantation, of whom five had unsuccessful delivery of a CS (stent delivery failure 17.2%). Although significantly more Ellis type-3 perforations were present in the CS group compared to the Non-CS group (75.0% vs 45.2%; P = 0.03), in-hospital mortality was not significantly different (8.3% vs 6.4%; [P = 0.79]). We observed a high rate of CS restenosis (29.2%) but a lower rate of CS thrombosis (4.2%). Despite these observations, 5-year MACE and all-cause mortality were not significantly different between CS and Non-CS group (respectively, 58.8% vs 50.0% (P = 0.26) and 26.7% vs 13.3% (P = 0.36)). CONCLUSION: Although deliverability of CSs was not flawless and a high rate of CS restenosis appeared, short- and long-term outcome were comparable between patients treated with or without CS. Therefore, CSs are justifiable in the treatment of CAP.

Psychometric responsiveness of the health-related quality of life questionnaire (HeartQoL-P) in the Iranian post-myocardial infarction patients.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) as a most frequent and costly NCDs account for about 17.3 million annual deaths worldwide. About 80% of these deaths are taking place in low and middle income countries (LMIC). The survivors may experience severe disabling consequences with extensive impacts on their quality of life. The HeartQoL is a relatively new scale to measure health-related quality of life in CVD patients and was validated for use in other languages. Main aim of the present study was to validate the HeartQoL for Persian speaking populations. DESIGN AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study the participants were 557 admitted patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) across three specialized hospitals in Tabriz, North West of Iran from Sep 2014 to Feb 2015. Translation back-translation procedures were applied to prepare the Persian version of the HeartQol (HeartQoL-P) and the content validity of the scale was evaluated by an expert panel of 10 academic staff. Construct validity was assessed by exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. The internal consistency was assessed based on the numeric value of Cronbach's alpha and sensitivity of the measure according to the ceiling and floor effect's values. RESULTS: The two-factor structure of the HeartQoL-P was supported by the confirmatory factor analysis' outputs and good internal consistency measures (total score α = 0.94) (physical subscale (10 items) α = 0.95) and emotional subscale (4items) α = 0.80)). No ceiling and floor effects were observed for the overall HeartQol-P's score. CONCLUSION: The findings supported the HeartQoL-P usability as a valid instrument in studies on the Iranian or other Persian speaking patients.

Coronary thrombosis in acute pancreatitis.

The incidence of acute myocardial infarction in the setting of acute pancreatitis is very rare. The recognition of such complex diagnosis may be clinically challenging, as the symptoms of both conditions are often indistinguishable. We report a case in which we encountered both conditions concurrently, and hypothesize that the ambient inflammatory and pro-thrombotic milieu of acute pancreatitis resulted in acute coronary thrombosis despite the absence of significant coronary atherosclerosis. Among multiple coronary imaging modalities currently in use, optimal cohesion tomography provided a unique capability for direct visualization of the coronary thrombus. (1) Inflammatory processes such as acute pancreatitis promote a thrombogenic state. (2) Presentation of acute myocardial infarction is variable and can mimic a variety of medical conditions. (3) Intravascular imaging is emerging as a useful tool in delineating details of intra-coronary pathology not clear on standard fluoroscopy. (4) The above case highlights the likely concurrence of pathologies that follow common pathways such as system-wide inflammation and coagulation. Clinicians must be aware of this uncommon yet very likely possibility and keep a low threshold to perform ECG and cardiac biomarker testing if symptoms are suggestive of a myocardial infarction, even in the presence of a clear alternative diagnosis.

[Morphological and Immunohystochemical Characteristics of Aspirated Thrombi in Patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction].

The aim of study was to evaluate the morphological and immunohystochemical characteristics of aspirated thrombi in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction undergoing precutaneous coronary intervention to find the possible platelet activation and inflammatory cell involvement in coronary thrombi. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thrombi collected from 67 patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction were studied. Macroscopic and immunohystochemical analyses were performed to reveal the cellular components of thrombi. The peroxidase - antiperoxidase immunohystochemical method was applied with monoclonal antibodies to CD4+, CD8+, CD15+, CD63+ and CD105+ using diaminobenzidine agent as a visualization agent to investigate the potential involvement of different cellular subpopulations. RESULTS: The macroscopic examination revealed friable thrombi with apparent laminations (lines of Zahn). Microscopic analysis of thrombi revealed a loose meshwork of fibrin fibers with compact accumulation of activated platelets. The platelets were surrounded by neutrophilic granulocytes.The immunohystochemical analysis confirmed that cell aggregates are consisting of CD 63+ activated platelets and leucocytes. The granulocytes also tested positive for CD15 antigen. The immunohystochemical analysis revealed the presence of CD8+ cytotoxic T-lymphocytes and CD4+ helper T-lymphocytes. No expression of iNOS, CD105 and VEGF was found in the analyzed thrombi. CONCLUSIONS: The hystopathological evaluation of thrombi in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction revealed the presence of activated CD63+ platelets and CD15+ neutrophilic granulocytes. Activated platelets and neutrophils may play a role in thromboinflammatory activation course leading to destabilization of atherosclerotic plaque and development of acute thrombosis in patients with ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction.

Platelet-Specific p38α Deficiency Improved Cardiac Function After Myocardial Infarction in Mice.

OBJECTIVE: MAPKs (mitogen-activated protein kinases), especially p38, play detrimental roles in cardiac diseases and cardiac remodeling post-myocardial infarction. However, the activation and function of MAPKs in coronary thrombosis in vivo and its relationship with clinical outcomes remain poorly understood. APPROACH AND RESULTS: Here, we showed that p38α was the major isoform expressed in human and mouse platelets. Platelet-specific p38α-deficient mice presented impaired thrombosis and hemostasis but had improved cardiac function, reduced infarct size, decreased inflammatory response, and microthrombus in a left anterior descending artery ligation model. Signaling analysis revealed that p38 activation was one of the earliest events in platelets after treatment with receptor agonists or reactive oxygen species. p38α/MAPK-activated protein kinase 2/heat shock protein 27 and p38α/cytosolic phospholipases A2 were the major pathways regulating receptor-mediated or hydrogen peroxide-induced platelet activation in an ischemic environment. Moreover, the distinct roles of ERK1/2 (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) in receptor- or reactive oxygen species-induced p38-mediated platelet activation reflected the complicated synergistic relationships among MAPKs. Analysis of clinical samples revealed that MAPKs were highly phosphorylated in platelets from preoperative patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction, and increased phosphorylation of p38 was associated with no-reflow outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that p38α serves as a critical regulator of platelet activation and potential indicator of highly thrombotic lesions and no-reflow, and inhibition of platelet p38α may improve clinical outcomes in subjects with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction.

An unusual case of mycobacterium tuberculous coronary arteritis and thrombosis resulting in acute myocardial infarction.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a prevalent infection worldwide and an endemic infection in Singapore. The most common presentation is that of pulmonary tuberculosis. Extra pulmonary tuberculosis usually involves the lymph nodes, pleura, central nervous system, or abdominal cavity. Involvement of the heart is rare (0.14-2% of TB cases), and when it is involved, it tends to be in the pericardium or myocardium. Here, a rare case of sudden death due to tuberculous coronary arteritis with tuberculous coronary thrombosis resulting in acute myocardial infarction is presented.

The influence of the manual thrombus aspiration on the short term effectiveness of the percutaneous revascularization in patients with coronary artery thrombosis.

OBJECTIVE: Introduction: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is one of the main issues in treatment of acute coronary syndrome with ST segment elevation (STEMI). The manual thrombus aspiration was believed to improve the results of intervention especially in patients with coronary thrombosis. The aim: To explore the influence of manual thrombus aspiration on the short-termed prognosis after PCI in patients with STEMI and visible coronary thrombosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: 50 patients with STEMI and visible coronary thrombosis were included for exploration. Main group (MG) consists of 25 patients to whom manual thrombus aspiration was performed and comparison group (CG) of 25 patients whom were performed just conventional PCI. RESULTS: Results: In the 84% patients of the MG and in 72% CG was gained ТІМІ 3 flow grade after the procedure (р=0.5). MBG 3 was reached in similar number of patients from both groups ( р=0.37). Comparison of the ejection fraction of the LV and its' wall motion score brought the same results. The trend to better indexes of glomerular filtration rate was observed in the patients of the MG (р=0.18). Need of the balloon angioplasty before stenting was the unique index improved by the manual thrombus aspiration (р=0.02). CONCLUSION: Conclisions: No significant advantages of the manual thrombus aspiration usage weren't revealed compearing to conventional PCI in our study in the patients with STEMI and visible coronary thrombosis. At the same time few insignificant trends were reveled. So the more powerful trial is needed to solve this problem.

Mechanical thrombectomy using the Solitaire stent in a left main coronary artery: A novel approach to coronary thrombus retrieval.

The Solitaire stent is a self-expanding nitinol, fully retrievable stent that was originally designed for applications in cerebral circulation. Expanded indications for its use in mechanical embolectomy during acute ischemic stroke have proven safe and effective. Herein, we describe a novel use of this stent to perform a mechanical thrombectomy of a large left main coronary artery thrombus. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Coronary neutrophil extracellular trap burden and deoxyribonuclease activity in ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome are predictors of ST-segment resolution and infarct size.

RATIONALE: Mechanisms of coronary occlusion in ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome are poorly understood. We have previously reported that neutrophil (polymorphonuclear cells [PMNs]) accumulation in culprit lesion site (CLS) thrombus is a predictor of cardiovascular outcomes. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to characterize PMN activation at the CLS. We examined the relationships between CLS neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), bacterial components as triggers of NETosis, activity of endogenous deoxyribonuclease, ST-segment resolution, and infarct size. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analyzed coronary thrombectomies from 111 patients with ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Thrombi were characterized by immunostaining, flow cytometry, bacterial profiling, and immunometric and enzymatic assays. Compared with femoral PMNs, CLS PMNs were highly activated and formed aggregates with platelets. Nucleosomes, double-stranded DNA, neutrophil elastase, myeloperoxidase, and myeloid-related protein 8/14 were increased in CLS plasma, and NETs contributed to the scaffolds of particulate coronary thrombi. Copy numbers of Streptococcus species correlated positively with dsDNA. Thrombus NET burden correlated positively with infarct size and negatively with ST-segment resolution, whereas CLS deoxyribonuclease activity correlated negatively with infarct size and positively with ST-segment resolution. Recombinant deoxyribonuclease accelerated the lysis of coronary thrombi ex vivo. CONCLUSIONS: PMNs are highly activated in ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome and undergo NETosis at the CLS. Coronary NET burden and deoxyribonuclease activity are predictors of ST-segment resolution and myocardial infarct size.

Primary thrombosis of the anterior descending in a patient with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome / Trombosis primaria de la descendente anterior en un paciente con síndrome de anticuerpos antifosfolípidos

Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome is a heterogeneous clinical and biochemical entity. We present the case of a young male with history of venous thromboembolism. This time he presents because of chest ischemic pain associated with ST segment elevation. He was taken to the cath lab to perform a primary percutaneous coronary intervention and a total occlusion of the left anterior descending artery was noted. Successful thrombus aspiration was performed. No stent was deployed. He was taken to the cath lab for a second look angiography and no atherosclerotic lesions were observed, which was confirmed by intravascular ultrasound.

El síndrome de anticuerpos antifosfolípidos es una situación clínica y bioquímica heterogénea. Presentamos el caso de un varón joven con antecedente de tromboembolia venosa que se presentó en esta ocasión por dolor precordial, con elevación del ST en el electrocardiograma. Fue llevado a sala de angiografía para realizar angioplastia primaria y se observó una oclu- sión total ostial de la descendente anterior. Se realizó aspiración manual del trombo. No se realizó angioplastia con balón ni stent. En la angiografía de control a las 48 horas se observó ausencia de trombo y de placas aterosclerosas, lo cual se co- rroboró mediante ultrasonido intracoronario.