Mechanisms of stent thrombosis analysed by optical coherence tomography: insights from the national PESTO French registry.

AIMS: Angiography has limited value for identifying the causes of stent thrombosis (ST). We studied a large cohort of patients by optical coherence tomography (OCT) to explore ST characteristics and mechanisms. METHODS AND RESULTS: A prospective multicentre registry was screened for patients with confirmed ST. Optical coherence tomography was performed after initial intervention to the culprit lesion (in 69% of cases in a deferred procedure). Stent thrombosis was classified as acute (AST), sub-acute (SAST), late (LST), and very late (VLST). Optical coherence tomography records were analysed in a central core lab. The analysis included 120 subjects aged 61.7 [51.4-70.7]; 89% male. Very late ST was the clinical presentation in 75%, LST in 6%, SAST in 15%, and AST in 4% of patients. Bare metal stents (BMS) were used in 39%, drug-eluting stents (DES) in 59% and bioresorbable vascular scaffolds in 2% of the cases. Optical coherence tomography identified an underlying morphological abnormality in 97% of cases, including struts malapposition (34%), neoatherosclerotic lesions (22%), major stent underexpansion (11%), coronary evagination (8%), isolated uncovered struts (8%), edge-related disease progression (8%), and neointimal hyperplasia (4%). Ruptured neoatherosclerotic lesions were more frequent with BMS than with DES (36 vs. 14%, P = 0.005), whereas coronary evaginations were more frequent with DES than with BMS (12 vs. 2%, P = 0.04). LST + VLST were mainly related to malapposition (31%) and neoatherosclerosis (28%), while prominent mechanisms for AST + SAST were malapposition (48%) and underexpansion (26%). CONCLUSION: In patients with confirmed ST, OCT imaging identified an underlying morphological abnormality in 97% of cases.

New-Onset Left Bundle Branch Block After TAVI has a Deleterious Impact on Left Ventricular Systolic Function.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has revolutionized the management of severe aortic stenosis. The development of a new-onset complete left bundle branch block (LBBB) is, however, a frequent complication. The objective of the present study was to assess the impact of a new-onset LBBB after TAVI on the evolution of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). METHODS: Forty consecutive patients were included after the development of a new-onset LBBB after TAVI and were matched for age and LVEF with 40 patients implanted during the same period who did not develop an LBBB. The primary endpoint was evolution of the LVEF measured by echocardiography before implantation and between 6 and 12 months after TAVI. RESULTS: The development of an LBBB was associated with a 5-point decrease in LVEF [-12.5; 2.5], contrary to the non-LBBB group (1.5 [-6.5; 9.5], P = 0.007) at 8 months, with the persistence of the LBBB (n = 23) exacerbating this decrease (-7 [-13; 2], P = 0.009). When left ventricular dysfunction (LVEF < 50%) was present before TAVI, the appearance of an LBBB was associated with a reduction in LVEF (-2 [-8; 2]) contrary to the non-LBBB group (20 [9; 22], P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The appearance of a new-onset LBBB after TAVI has a pejorative impact on left ventricular systolic function, particularly in patients with an initial LVEF < 50%, due to a lack of recovery of the latter, thereby potentially affecting their prognosis.

Bioimpedance analysis is safe in patients with implanted cardiac electronic devices.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: There is an increase in the number of patients worldwide with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs). Current medical practice guidelines warn against performing bioimpedance analysis (BIA) in this group of patients in order to avoid any electromagnetic interference. These recommendations restrict using the BIA in patients undergoing heart failure or with nutrition disorders in whom BIA could be of major interest in detecting peripheral congestion and to help guide treatment. The present study was conducted to evaluate whether BIA caused electromagnetic interference in patients having CIEDs. METHODS: Patient enrollment was conducted during routine face-to-face consultations for scheduled CIEDs interrogations. Device battery voltage, lead impedance, pacing thresholds and device electrograms were recorded before and after each BIA measurement to detect any electromagnetic interference or oversensing. RESULTS: A total of 200 patients were enrolled. During BIA, no significant changes in battery voltage, lead impedance or pacing thresholds were detected, nor were there any inappropriate over- or undersensing observed in intracardiac electrograms. Furthermore, 6- and 12-month follow-up did not reveal any changes in CIEDs. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows no interference in patients equipped with CIEDs and suggests that BIA can be securely performed in these patients. Trial registered under the identifier NCT03045822.

Low fibrosis biomarker levels predict cardiac resynchronization therapy response.

Cardiac fibrosis is associated with heart failure and poor prognosis. Fibrosis biomarkers have been poorly evaluated as a tool to predict cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) response generating conflicting results. The present study assessed the predictive value of cardiac fibrosis biomarkers on CRT response. Patients underwent clinical examination, echocardiography and blood fibrosis biomarker evaluation prior to CRT implantation. At six months, a positive response to CRT was defined by a composite endpoint of no death or hospitalization for heart failure, and presence of left ventricular (LV) reverse remodeling (decrease in LV end-systolic volume ≥15%). Sixty patients were included in a multicenter study. At 6 months, 38 were positive responders to CRT and reached the response criteria (63%). Compared to non-responders, CRT responders displayed lower concentration levels of the fibrosis biomarkers procollagen type I C-terminal propeptide [PICP 135[99-166] ng/ml vs. 179[142-226]ng/ml, p = 0.001)] and procollagen type III N-terminal propeptide [PIIINP 5.50[3.66-8.96] ng/ml vs. 8.01[5.01-11.86]ng/ml, p = 0.014)] at baseline. In multivariate analysis, a PICP ≤ 163 ng/ml was associated with a positive CRT response [OR = 7.8(1.3-46.7), p = 0.023] independently of the presence of LBBB, QRS duration, LV lead position or non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. Altogether, the present findings show that a lower degree of cardiac fibrosis is associated with a positive response after CRT implantation. PICP evaluation before CRT implantation could help improve patient selection.