Lack of Usefulness of Donor-Derived Cell-Free DNA as a Biomarker for Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy: A Prospective Study.

Background: Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality among long-term heart transplant recipients. There is an unmet need for a non-invasive biomarker of CAV that could obviate the need to perform surveillance coronary angiograms in these patients. Our aim was to evaluate the performance of Donor-derived Cell Free DNA (dd-cfDNA) as a biomarker of CAV. Methods: We prospectively measured dd-cfDNA levels in all patients undergoing routine coronary angiography >1 year after heart transplant at a single center. Endpoints included the association between dd-cfDNA levels and the presence CAV, according to several prespecified criteria. Results: We included 94 heart transplant recipients, a median of 10.9 years after transplant. Coronary angiogram revealed CAV0, CAV1, CAV2, and CAV3 in 61, 19, 14, and 6% of patients, respectively. Comparison of dd-cfDNA levels in patients with CAV0 and CAV1-2-3 (primary end-point) did not show significant differences (0.92%, IQR 0.46-2.0 vs. 0.46%, IQR 0.075-1.5, p = 0.059), nor did the comparison between patients with stable CAV (no new coronary lesions since previous angiogram, n = 77) and progressive CAV (n = 17); dd-cfDNA values 0.735% (IQR 0.195-2.0) vs. 0.9% (IQR 0.12-1.8), p = 0.76. However, we found an association between NTproBNP levels and CAV degree (p = 0.017). Dd-cfDNA levels did not correlate with NTproBNP (ρ = -0.095). Conclusion: In this study, dd-cfDNA did not perform as a useful biomarker to avoid surveillance coronary angiograms for CAV diagnosis. Clinical Trial Notation: Potential Role of Donor-derived Cell Free DNA as a Biomarker in Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy, NCT04791852.

Prospective application of a bleeding and ischemic risks-adjusted antithrombotic protocol in elderly patients revascularized with everolimus-eluting stents: EPIC05-Sierra75 study.

OBJECTIVES: Elderly patients show a higher incidence of ischemic and bleeding events after percutaneous transluminal coronary intervention (PCI). We sought to investigate outcomes in elderly patients treated with antithrombotic strategy guided by bleeding and ischemic risks after revascularization with last generation everolimus-eluting stent (EES). METHODS: Prospective multicenter registry including patients over 75 years revascularized with EES and antithrombotic therapy guided by clinical presentation, PCI complexity and PRECISE DAPT score. Co-primary safety endpoints were: (1) composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction and stent thrombosis and; (2) bleeding (BARC 2-5). Primary efficacy endpoint was target lesion revascularization. A matched group of patients revascularized with current drug-eluting stents and no such tailored antithrombotic therapy was used as control. RESULTS: Finally, 1064 patients were included in SIERRA-75 cohort, 80.8 ± 4.2 years, 36.6% women, 71% acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and 53.6% complex PCI. Co-primary safety endpoint of major adverse cardiovascular events was met in 6.2%, co-primary safety endpoint of bleeding in 7.8% and primary efficacy endpoint of TKLR in 1.5%. The multivariable adjusted model showed no significant association of the prescribed short/long dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) durations with any endpoint suggesting a well tailored therapy. No stent thrombosis reported in the subgroup with 1-3 months DAPT duration. As compared to control group, bleeding BARC 2-5 was significantly lower in SIERRA-75 group (7.4% vs. 10.2%, P = 0.04) as well as the net safety-efficacy endpoint (14.3% vs. 18.5%, P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: In elderly population, the application of this risks-adjusted antithrombotic protocol after revascularization with last generation EES seems to be associated with an improved prognosis in terms of ischemic and bleeding outcomes.

Dual Antiplatelet Therapy for 6 Months vs 12 Months After New-generation Drug-eluting Stent Implantation: Matched Analysis of ESTROFA-DAPT and ESTROFA-2.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The recommendation for dual antiplatelet therapy following drug-eluting stent implantation ranges from 6 months to 12 months or beyond. Recent trials have suggested the safety of a 6-month dual antiplatelet therapy regimen, yet certain caveats to these studies limit the applicability of this shorter duration dual antiplatelet therapy strategy in real world settings. METHODS: A registry was constructed with consecutive recruitment of patients undergoing new-generation drug-eluting stent implantation and prescribed 6 months of dual antiplatelet therapy. Propensity score matching was undertaken with a historical cohort of patients treated with second-generation drug-eluting stents who received 12 months of dual antiplatelet therapy from the ESTROFA-2 registry. The sample size was calculated using a noninferiority basis and the primary endpoint was the combination of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, revascularization, or major bleeding at 12 months. RESULTS: The analysis included 1286 patients in each group, with no significant differences in baseline characteristics. The primary endpoint occurred in 5.0% and 6.6% in the 6-month and 12-month groups, respectively (P = .001 for noninferiority). The incidence of definite or probable stent thrombosis was 0.5% and 0.7% in the 6-month and 12-month groups, respectively (P = .4). Major bleeding events were lower in the 6-month group than in the 12-month group (0.8% vs 1.4%; P = .2) CONCLUSIONS: In selected patients in this large multicenter study, the safety and efficacy of a 6-month dual antiplatelet therapy regimen after implantation of new-generation drug-eluting stents appeared to be noninferior to those of a 12-month dual antiplatelet therapy regimen.

[Is heart transplantation for primary cardiac sarcoma a useful therapeutic option?]. / ¿Es útil el trasplante cardíaco como tratamiento del sarcoma cardíaco primario?

Primary cardiac sarcomas are rapidly progressive malignant tumors. No good therapeutic option is known. In recent years, heart transplantation has sometimes been performed in selected patients with cardiac sarcoma.We retrospectively analyzed 8 patients with primary cardiac sarcoma referred to our center to undergo assessment for heart transplantation. After an exhaustive study of the extension of the tumor, 6 patients were added to the waiting list for heart transplantation. Heart transplantation was not performed in 3 of these patients due to evidence of extracardiac extension, but the procedure was completed in the remaining 3 patients. The median survival in intention-to-treat analysis (transplantation or a frustrated transplantation attempt) was 8.5 months. Overall, the median survival of the 3 patients who underwent transplantation (12 months) was similar to that of the 5 patients who did not (11 months).

[Multiple coronary embolisms in a woman with risk factors for thromboembolic disease]. / Embolismo coronario múltiple en una mujer con factores de riesgo pra enfermedad tromboembólica.

We report the case of a 33-years-old woman, smoker and taking oral contraceptives, who presented to the emergency room with an anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Thrombolytic treatment was initiated and a few minutes after, chest pain returned and an inferior ST-segment-elevation infarction was diagnosed at that moment. Catheterization revealed multiple embolic occlusion of coronary branches. We discuss tests performed and pathophysiology of myocardial infarction in this patient.

[Retrograde angioplasty: an option for total coronary artery occlusions]. / Angioplastia vía retrógrada: una alternativa en las oclusiones totales coronarias.

The safety and effectiveness of angioplasty for chronic total occlusions of the coronary arteries have been demonstrated in several studies, but the success rate is less than for conventional interventions. The complexity of the procedures presents a major challenge. In selected cases, performing angioplasty of the occlusion via a retrograde approach has been used as an alternative. We present the first published Spanish series, comprising 11 procedures in 9 patients, in which a retrograde approach was used to eliminate obstructions caused by chronic total coronary artery occlusions. The characteristics, outcomes and complications of the procedure were assessed.

Terapia antiplaquetaria doble de 6 o de 12 meses tras implante de stents farmacoactivos de nueva generación: análisis emparejado de los registros ESTROFA-DAPT y ESTROFA-2 / Dual antiplatelet therapy for 6 months vs 12 months after new-generation drug-eluting stent implantation: matched analysis of ESTROFA-DAPT and ESTROFA-2

Introducción y objetivos: El periodo de uso recomendado del tratamiento antiagregante plaquetario combinado doble tras implante de stents farmacoactivos va de los 6 a los 12 meses o más. Ensayos recientes indican que es seguro utilizar un tratamiento antiagregante plaquetario combinado doble durante 6 meses, si bien ciertas limitaciones de estos estudios hacen que sea escasa la aplicabilidad de esta estrategia de tratamiento antiagregante plaquetario combinado doble de menor duración en la práctica clínica real. Métodos: Se puso en marcha un registro con la inscripción de pacientes consecutivos a los que se había implantado stent farmacoactivo de nueva generación seguido de una prescripción de 6 meses de tratamiento antiagregante plaquetario combinado doble. Se realizó una igualación por puntuación de propensión con una cohorte histórica de pacientes tratados con stentsfarmacoactivos de segunda generación que recibieron luego 12 meses de tratamiento antiagregante plaquetario combinado doble del registro ESTROFA-2. El tamaño muestral se calculó para el criterio de no inferioridad y el objetivo principal fue la combinación de muerte cardiaca, infarto de miocardio, revascularización o hemorragia mayor a los 12 meses. Resultados: Se incluyó en el análisis a 1.286 pacientes de cada grupo, que no presentaban diferencias significativas en sus características basales. Se produjeron episodios del objetivo principal en el 5,0 y el 6,6% de los pacientes en los grupos de 6 y de 12 meses respectivamente (p = 0,001 para no inferioridad). La incidencia de trombosis del stent definitiva o probable fue del 0,5 y el 0,7% en los grupos de tratamiento de 6 y 12 meses respectivamente (p = 0,4). Los episodios de hemorragia mayor fueron menos en el grupo de 6 meses que en el de 12 (el 0,8 y el 1,4%; p = 0,2). Conclusiones: En pacientes seleccionados de este amplio estudio multicéntrico, la seguridad y la eficacia de 6 meses de tratamiento antiagregante plaquetario combinado doble después del implante de stents farmacoactivos de nueva generación fueron no inferiores a las observadas con 12 meses de tratamiento antiagregante plaquetario combinado doble (AU)

Introduction and objectives: The recommendation for dual antiplatelet therapy following drug-eluting stent implantation ranges from 6 months to 12 months or beyond. Recent trials have suggested the safety of a 6-month dual antiplatelet therapy regimen, yet certain caveats to these studies limit the applicability of this shorter duration dual antiplatelet therapy strategy in real world settings. Methods: A registry was constructed with consecutive recruitment of patients undergoing new-generation drug-eluting stent implantation and prescribed 6 months of dual antiplatelet therapy. Propensity score matching was undertaken with a historical cohort of patients treated with second-generation drug-eluting stents who received 12 months of dual antiplatelet therapy from the ESTROFA-2 registry. The sample size was calculated using a noninferiority basis and the primary endpoint was the combination of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, revascularization, or major bleeding at 12 months. Results: The analysis included 1286 patients in each group, with no significant differences in baseline characteristics. The primary endpoint occurred in 5.0% and 6.6% in the 6-month and 12-month groups, respectively (P = .001 for noninferiority). The incidence of definite or probable stent thrombosis was 0.5% and 0.7% in the 6-month and 12-month groups, respectively (P = .4). Major bleeding events were lower in the 6-month group than in the 12-month group (0.8% vs 1.4%; P = .2) Conclusions: In selected patients in this large multicenter study, the safety and efficacy of a 6-month dual antiplatelet therapy regimen after implantation of new-generation drug-eluting stents appeared to be noninferior to those of a 12-month dual antiplatelet therapy regimen (AU)

Angioplastia vía retrógrada: una alternativa en las oclusiones totales coronarias / Retrograde angioplasty: an option for total coronary artery occlusions

La angioplastia en oclusiones totales crónicas coronarias ha demostrado su efectividad y su seguridad en diversos estudios, aunque con una tasa de éxitos menor que en intervenciones convencionales. Constituye un reto por la complejidad de los procedimientos. Para casos seleccionados, se ha desarrollado una técnica de angioplastia por vía retrógrada a la localización de la oclusión. Presentamos la primera serie publicada en nuestro país con 11 procedimientos en 9 pacientes en los que se realizó un intento de desobstrucción de la oclusión total crónica por vía retrógrada y evaluamos las características del procedimiento, los resultados y complicaciones (AU)

The safety and effectiveness of angioplasty for chronic total occlusions of the coronary arteries have been demonstrated in several studies, but the success rate is less than for conventional interventions. The complexity of the procedures presents a major challenge. In selected cases, performing angioplasty of the occlusion via a retrograde approach has been used as an alternative. We present the first published Spanish series, comprising 11 procedures in 9 patients, in which a retrograde approach was used to eliminate obstructions caused by chronic total coronary artery occlusions. The characteristics, outcomes and complications of the procedure were assessed (AU)

¿Es útil el trasplante cardíaco como tratamiento del sarcoma cardíaco primario? / Is heart transplantation for primary cardiac sarcoma a useful therapeutic option?

El sarcoma cardíaco primario es un tumor maligno de evolución rápida y fatal. Se desconoce en la actualidad cuál debe ser la aproximación terapéutica ideal a esta enfermedad. El trasplante cardíaco se ha utilizado ocasionalmente como tratamiento definitivo de esta entidad. Presentamos a 8 pacientes diagnosticados de sarcoma cardíaco primario que fueron valorados para trasplante. Después del estudio de extensión, 6 pacientes fueron incluidos en lista de espera para trasplante cardíaco. En 3 pacientes, la intervención no se pudo completar al demostrarse intraoperatoriamente la extensión extracardíaca del sarcoma, y en tres pacientes el procedimiento se llevó a término. La mediana de supervivencia por intención de tratar (trasplante o intento de trasplante) fue de 8,5 meses. La mediana de supervivencia de los 3 pacientes trasplantados (12 meses) fue similar a la de los 5 pacientes no trasplantados (11 meses) (AU)