Late stent malapposition with marked positive vascular remodeling observed only at the site of drug-eluting stents after multivessel coronary stenting.

A 74-year-old woman presented with effort-induced chest pain. Diagnostic coronary angiography revealed three-vessel disease. A successful angioplasty was performed with two sirolimus-eluting stents placed in the left anterior descending artery (LAD) and left circumflex artery (LCX). The right coronary artery (RCA) was treated with a bare-metal stent. Follow-up angiography and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) assessment were performed 8 months later, which showed late stent malapposition (LSM) with marked positive vascular remodeling around the drug-eluting stents (DES) in both LAD and LCX lesions, but there was no evidence of ectatic area around the BMS in the RCA lesion. Compared with the baseline IVUS, a significant increase in external elastic membrane (EEM) cross-sectional area was found. Twenty-seven months later, we performed repeat follow-up angiography. Intravascular ultrasound still showed vessel malapposition. A previous report showed that aneurysmal dilatation of the stented segment with severe localized hypersensitivity reaction could be a potential cause of late thrombosis after DES implantation. If LSM is related to hypersensitivity of the DES, it may have a potential risk of adverse events. Although there is a paucity of data regarding malapposition as the cause of adverse events, careful long-term follow-up of patients with vessel enlargement after DES placement is recommended.

The echocardiographic determinants of functional mitral regurgitation differ in ischemic and non-ischemic cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Functional mitral regurgitation (MR) is one of the common and severe complications in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. The detailed mechanisms that cause functional MR remain to be elucidated. Using two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography, we investigated the differences in major determinants of MR severity between ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) and non-ICM patients. METHODS: We enrolled 103 patients (91 males; age 64+/-12 years) with significant left ventricular (LV) dilatation. They were divided into ICM group (n=69) with significant coronary disease, and non-ICM (n=34) group without coronary disease. We devised a novel and simple parameter; the short-axis sphericity index (SI), to evaluate global LV remodeling, and used coaptation depth (CD) and tenting area (TA) to evaluate mitral deformity. RESULTS: In all cases, CD, TA and left atrium diameter (LAD) correlated positively with maximum regurgitation area (MRA) (r=0.54, 0.57, 0.57; P<0.0001). A negative correlation was observed between MRA and SI (r=-0.33, P=0.0008). There was no significant relationship between MRA and LV ejection fraction (EF). In non-ICM cases, SI tended to be lower with reduced EF. Multivariate stepwise linear regression analysis showed the following equations; ICM: MRA=-9.4+0.81CD+0.21LAD (r2=0.47, P<0.0001), non-ICM: MRA=-7.2+0.17LVDs (LV end systolic diameter) -8.7SI+0.27LAD (r2=0.63, P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The strongest determinants of functional MR severity differ in ICM and non-ICM. While LV diameter and SI (global LV remodeling index) mainly determine the severity in non-ICM, CD that reflects mitral deformity is the major determinant in ICM.

Echocardiographic prediction of left ventricular dysfunction after mitral valve repair for mitral regurgitation as an indicator to decide the optimal timing of repair.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to determine whether echocardiography before mitral valve repair (MVR) for mitral regurgitation (MR) was predictive of postoperative left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and useful for deciding the optimal timing of repair. BACKGROUND: Some reports have shown that the preoperative echocardiographic data of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVDs) were good predictors of postoperative LV dysfunction. However, few reports were based on long-term follow-up data of large numbers of patients who underwent MVR in the last decade. METHODS: A total of 274 patients with moderate or severe MR underwent MVR between October 1, 1991, and September 30, 2000. Among them, 171 patients who had both an operation for isolated MR due to degenerative pathology and a postoperative echocardiogram were studied. Postoperative echocardiograms were performed 3.9 +/- 2.4 years after the operation. The LVEF decreased from 66 +/- 10% before surgery to 63 +/- 11% after surgery (p < 0.0001). On univariate analysis, preoperative LVEF and LVDs correlated with postoperative LVEF (r = 0.41 and r = -0.39, respectively). Overall, postoperative LV dysfunction (defined as LVEF <50%) was not frequent (12%). However, the incidence of postoperative LV dysfunction was high in patients with preoperative LVEF <55% (38%) or LVDs > or =40 mm (23%). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with MR, the echocardiographic data of LVEF and LVDs were good predictors of postoperative LV dysfunction. When a decrease in LVEF or an increase in LVDs is detected, MVR should be considered to preserve postoperative LV function.

Impact of a preoperative mitral regurgitation scoring system on outcome of surgical repair for mitral valve prolapse.

The optimal timing of surgical correction of severe mitral regurgitation (MR) is important for improved morbidity and mortality. We utilized a scoring system to decide the timing of procedures. Based on clinical features and echocardiographic data, we hypothesized that preoperative semi-quantitation of MR using this scoring system may be useful for predicting prognosis after repair. The MR score was composed of 6 parameters associated with disease severity (i.e., history of heart failure, atrial fibrillation, pulmonary hypertension, left ventricular end-systolic dimension, fractional shortening, and left atrial dimension). The maximum score was 6. Of 267 patients who underwent mitral valve repair in the last 10 years, 191 patients with mitral valve prolapse were studied. Patients were categorized into 2 groups according to MR score (group low [L] : 0 to 2.5 and group high [H]: >/=3.0) irrespective of New York Heart Association functional class. A significant difference in postoperative event-free survival was observed between both groups (p = 0.0014); the adjusted risk ratio was 3.4 (95% confidence interval 1.6 to 7.2). Postoperative echocardiography showed larger left ventricular systolic dimensions (p <0.0001), lower fractional shortening (p = 0.0016), and larger left atrial dimensions (p <0.0001) in group H than group L. Thus, an MR score is a simple way to predict the prognosis of severe MR independently of subjective symptoms in patients undergoing mitral valve repair.

Acute myocardial infarction caused by embolism of thrombus in the right coronary sinus of Valsalva: a case report and review of the literature.

A 56-year-old man presented with sustained chest pain. Coronary angiography revealed total occlusion of the distal right coronary artery and left anterior descending branch. Left ventriculography depicted a mobile mass in the right sinus of Valsalva originating from the ostium of the right coronary artery. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) showed a mobile mass in the sinus of Valsalva and another mobile mass in the aortic arch. The mass at the right sinus of Valsalva was surgically resected, and histologic examination revealed an organized thrombus. Coagulation study showed protein S deficiency. This is the first case of acute myocardial infarction as a result of multiple coronary embolism caused by thrombosis in the right sinus of Valsalva with a second aortic arch thrombosis, contributed by protein S deficiency.

Etiology of aortic valve disease and recent changes in Japan:a study of 600 valve replacement cases.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies on the etiology of aortic valve disease in the US showed a decrease in rheumatic valve disease and an increase in age-related degenerative disease. The purpose of this study was to describe the etiology of aortic valve disease and its temporal changes in Japan, based on a large number of cases. METHODS: The medical charts of all patients who underwent aortic valve replacement at our institute between 1977 and 1999 were reviewed. Among the 600 patients analyzed, 213 (36%) had pure aortic stenosis, 265 (44%) had pure aortic regurgitation, and 122 (20%) had combined stenosis and regurgitation. RESULTS: The causes were rheumatic change (49%), degenerative change (19%), bicuspid valves (18%), infective endocarditis (5%) and others (9%). Rheumatic disease continued to be the most common cause of aortic stenosis, but its frequency decreased from 100% in 1977-1979 to 37% in 1995-1999. In contrast, the frequency of degenerative change among stenotic valves increased recently from 11% in 1990-1994 to 30% in 1995-1999. Similarly, rheumatic disease remained to be the leading cause of aortic regurgitation, with a decline in frequency from 46% in 1985-1989 to 27% in 1995-1999. The percentage of degenerative change among regurgitant valves did not change appreciably. CONCLUSIONS: There was a shift in the causes of aortic valve disease, with a decrease in rheumatic disease and an increase in degenerative disease. This trend was similar to that observed in the US. These findings suggest the increasing importance of aortic valve disease due to degenerative change.

Normalization of left ventricular parameters following combined pimobendan and carvedilol treatment in a case of unclassified cardiomyopathy with longstanding refractory status.

A 58-year-old man with a 64-month history of unclassified cardiomyopathy developed congestive heart failure (CHF) and had been dependent on long-term intravenous positive inotropes. Combined pimobendan and carvedilol administration resulted in marked symptomatic improvement from New York Heart Association functional class IV to I. Echocardiograms showed improvement of left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction from 15 to 48%, and LV end-diastolic diameter from 6.7 to 4.9 cm. This mode of therapy not only improved LV contractile function but also normalized LV volume, which was an unusual clinical course compared with the general course of advanced CHF.

Delayed enhancement cardiovascular magnetic resonance as a novel technique to predict cardiac events in dilated cardiomyopathy patients.

PURPOSE: Delayed enhancement cardiovascular magnetic resonance (DE-CMR) can detect cardiac scarring and has the potential to visualize the progression of myocardial remodeling. We determined whether DE-CMR can predict cardiac events in dilated cardiomyopathy patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Transthoracic echocardiography, coronary arteriography, and DE-CMR studies were performed in 60 consecutive dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients. Percent delayed enhancement (%DE) was determined as the ratio of the area showing delayed enhancement to the total myocardial area in three short-axis views. Patients were classified as advanced group (Group A) when %DE was 10% or higher, and as non-advanced group (Group NA) when %DE was less than 10%. The incidence of cardiac events and the clinical history were compared between Group A and Group NA. RESULTS: There were 11 patients in Group A and 49 patients in Group NA. The incidence of cardiac events was significantly higher in Group A (36%; 4/11 patients) than in Group NA (2.0%; 1/49 patients) (log rank, p=0.0001). CONCLUSION: DE-CMR is a useful tool to predict cardiac events in DCM patients.

Preoperative left atrial emptying fraction is a powerful predictor of successful maze procedure.

BACKGROUND: The maze procedure for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) is a widely used adjunctive therapy. It is necessary to define the precise indications for the procedure based on preoperative factors, but definitive parameters in terms of atrial function have not been well determined. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the present study, 55 consecutive patients undergoing the maze procedure for persistent AF in combination with operations for organic heart diseases were evaluated. After dividing the patients into successful (n=41) and unsuccessful procedure (n=14) groups, based on the postoperative rhythm, the preoperative left atrial (LA) emptying fraction measured by transthoracic 2-dimensional echocardiogram was compared between groups. The LA emptying fraction was calculated as [(LA maximum volume - LA minimum volume)/LA maximum volume]x100. The preoperative LA emptying fraction was higher in the successful procedure group than in the unsuccessful procedure group (31.2+/-8.5 vs 21.4+/-10.9%, P=0.0011). Based on receiver-perating characteristic curve analyses, LA emptying fraction >26% predicted successful maze procedure with 70.7% sensitivity and 78.6% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: LA emptying fraction should be considered in the precise indications of the maze procedure as adjunctive therapy.

Long-term outcome of first-generation metallic coronary stent implantation in patients with coronary artery disease: observational study over a decade.

BACKGROUND: In the era of drug-eluting stents, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been considered an established therapeutic modality for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). However, little is known about the long-term prognosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using data obtained from a single-center registry for cases of first-generation bare metallic stent (BMS) implantation, a 10-year follow-up study in patients with CAD was performed. Data for 125 serial patients (aged 62+/-9 years, 104 males) in whom a BMS was successfully implanted was analyzed. Cardiac death (n=16 [12.8%]), including sudden cardiac death (n=9 [7.2%]), non-cardiac death (n=17 [13.6%]) and non-fatal acute myocardial infarction (n=16 [12.8%]) were documented. At 10 years, cumulative probabilities of target and non-target lesion revascularization were 20.5% and 41.5%, respectively, and only 39.2% of the patients were free from cardiac events (cardiac death/myocardial infarction/unplanned revascularization). Age and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were significant predictors of total death, and LVEF and the use of diuretics were predictors of cardiac events. CONCLUSIONS: Stabilization of the initial stented site was relatively good and the majority of cardiac events might have originated in non-target lesions. Prevention of systemic arteriosclerosis progression is important for patients with CAD, even after successful PCI.

Pre-operative atrial fibrillation as the key determinant of outcome of mitral valve repair for degenerative mitral regurgitation.

AIMS: To examine the impact of pre-operative atrial fibrillation (AF) on the outcome of mitral valve repair (MVR) for degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR). METHODS AND RESULTS: Among 392 patients with moderate to severe MR who underwent MVR between 1991 and 2002, 283 patients with isolated degenerative MR were followed for 4.7+/-3.3 years. Of 27 deaths, nine were due to cardioembolic events and four were due to left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. When compared with patients with pre-operative AF, those with sinus rhythm (SR) had better survival (96+/-2.1 vs. 87+/-3.2% at 5 years, P=0.002) and higher cardiac event-free rates (96+/-2.0 vs. 75+/-4.4% at 5 years, P<0.001). In patients with pre-operative SR, observed and expected survival were similar (P=0.811). Cox multivariable regression analysis confirmed AF [P=0.027, adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) 2.9] and age as independently predictive of survival, and AF (P=0.002, AHR 3.1), New York Heart Association Class, and LV fractional shortening as independently predictive of cardiac event. CONCLUSION: Death due to LV dysfunction was not frequent and cardioembolic events due to AF were the leading cause for cardiac death. Pre-operative AF became a strong independent predictor of survival and morbidity. Patients with pre-operative SR had excellent prognosis. The benefits of preventing cardioembolic events due to AF validate the indication of MVR for patients with high risk for AF.

Effects of carvedilol on plasma levels of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in nine patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVES: Whether beta-blocker therapy changes the circulating levels of cytokines as congestive heart failure improves remains uncertain. METHODS: Nine patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, who had previously received conventional treatment and were classified as New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class II, received carvedilol by stepwise dose increase up to 20 mg daily, and the plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels were measured. RESULTS: IL-6 was significantly reduced from 0.80 +/- 0.49 pg/ml before therapy to 0.21 +/- 0.08 pg/ml after carvedilol was increased to 20 mg daily (p < 0.05). Moreover, IL-6 level had already decreased significantly compared to the baseline when the dose of carvedilol had reached 10 mg daily (0.28 +/- 0.12 pg/ml, p < 0.05). TNF-alpha levels did not change significantly. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that IL-6 concentration is significantly decreased by beta-blocker therapy. The efficacy for heart failure may be related to the change of IL-6 concentration.