Time course of restenosis with "black hole" on intravascular ultrasound after implantation of platinum-chromium everolimus-eluting stent: Assessment using optical frequency-domain imaging.

Management of in-stent restenosis (ISR) remains challenging even in the drug-eluting stent era. We report the case of a Japanese female with repeated ISR after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute coronary syndrome. We observed ISR tissue with "black hole" on intravascular ultrasound, which appeared to be heterogeneous tissue on optical frequency-domain imaging (OFDI). Paclitaxel-coated balloon dilatation of the ISR lesion with "black hole" was ineffective. The morphological assessment of ISR tissue using OFDI might be important to treat ISR lesions by PCI. OFDI is a novel tool to observe the difference in the in-stent tissue characteristics. .

Combined prognostic utility of ST segment in lead aVR and troponin T on admission in non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes.

Many studies have shown that ST-segment depression is a strong predictor of poor outcomes in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACSs); however, lead aVR was not considered in these studies. The present study examined the prognostic usefulness of the 12-lead electrocardiogram in combination with biochemical markers in 333 patients with NSTE-ACS. ST-segment deviation of > or =0.5 mm was considered clinically significant. Coronary angiography was performed a median of 3 days after admission in all patients. The primary end point was the composite of death, myocardial infarction, and urgent revascularization at 90 days. ST-segment elevation in lead aVR (odds ratio 13.8, 95% confidence interval 1.43 to 100.9, p = 0.03) and increased troponin T (odds ratio 7.9, 95% confidence interval 1.22 to 123.8, p = 0.04) were the only independent predictors of restricted events (death or myocardial infarction) at 90 days. ST-segment elevation in lead aVR (odds ratio 12.8, 95% confidence interval 4.80 to 33.9, p < 0.0001) and increased troponin T (odds ratio 2.03, 95% confidence interval 1.20 to 4.29, p = 0.04) were also the only independent predictors of adverse events (death, myocardial infarction, or urgent revascularization) at 90 days. When ST-segment status in lead aVR was combined with troponin T, patients with ST-segment elevation in lead aVR and increased troponin T had the highest rates of left main or 3-vessel coronary disease (62%) and 90-day adverse outcomes (47%). In conclusion, our findings suggest that ST-segment status in lead aVR combined with troponin T on admission is a simple and useful clinical tool for early risk stratification in patients with NSTE-ACS.

B-type natriuretic peptide as a predictor of ischemia/reperfusion injury immediately after myocardial reperfusion in patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: In animal models of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) administered before and during coronary occlusion limits infarct size. However, the relation between plasma BNP levels and ischemia/reperfusion injury remains unclear. METHODS: 302 patients with ST-segment elevation AMI (STEMI) received emergency percutaneous coronary intervention within six hours from the onset. The patients were divided into two groups according to the plasma BNP level before angiography: group L (n=151), BNP ≤ 32.2 pg/ml; group H (n=151), BNP >32.2 pg/ml. The Selvester QRS-scoring system was used to estimate infarct size. RESULTS: The rate of ischemia/reperfusion injury immediately after reperfusion, defined as reperfusion ventricular arrhythmias (26% vs. 11%, p=0.001) and ST-segment re-elevation (44% vs. 22%, p=0.008), was higher in group L than in group H. Group L had a greater increase in the QRS score during percutaneous coronary intervention (3.55 ± 0.17 vs. 2.09 ± 0.17, p<0.001) and a higher QRS score 1 h after percutaneous coronary intervention (5.77 ± 0.28 vs. 4.51 ± 0.28, p=0.002). On multivariate analysis, plasma BNP levels in the lower 50th percentile were an independent predictor of reperfusion injury (odds ratio, 2.620; p<0.001). The odds ratios of reperfusion injury according to decreasing quartiles of BNP level, as compared with the highest quartile, were 1.536, 3.692 and 4.964, respectively (p trend=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Plasma BNP level before percutaneous coronary intervention may be a predictor of ischemia/reperfusion injury and the resultant extent of myocardial damage. Our findings suggest that high plasma BNP levels might have a clinically important protective effect on ischemic myocardium in patients with STEMI who receive percutaneous coronary intervention.

Predictors of left main or three-vessel disease in patients who have acute coronary syndromes with non-ST-segment elevation.

To identify an early, simple, noninvasive predictor of left main (LM) or 3-vessel disease (3-VD), we retrospectively studied clinical variables on admission in 310 patients with acute coronary syndromes with non-ST-segment elevation. Univariate analysis indicated that many factors were related to LM/3-VD. Multivariate analysis showed that ST-segment elevation in lead aVR of >/=0.5 mm was the strongest predictor of LM/3-VD, followed by positive troponin T (odds ratio 19.7, p <0.001, and odds ratio 3.08, p = 0.048, respectively). ST-segment elevation in lead aVR of >/=0.5 mm and positive troponin T identified LM/3-VD with sensitivities of 78% and 62%, specificities of 86% and 59%, positive predictive values of 57% and 26%, and negative predictive values of 95% and 87%, respectively (p <0.05). Our findings suggest that in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes, ST-segment elevation in lead aVR of >/=0.5 mm and positive troponin T on admission (especially the former) are useful predictors of LM/3-VD.

A myocardial perfusion imaging system using a multifocal collimator for detecting coronary artery disease: validation with invasive coronary angiography.

OBJECTIVE: Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) systems using a multifocal collimator can reduce scan time substantially compared with conventional MPI systems. In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of multifocal collimator SPECT/CT in coronary artery disease (CAD) detection by comparing it with coronary artery angiography (CAG). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 50 consecutive patients who had undergone CAG and stress (201)Tl MPI multifocal collimator SPECT/CT within a 3-month period. A summed difference score (SDS) was calculated for each vascular territory from the MPI images. On CAG, a stenotic coronary artery was defined as one with luminal narrowing of ≥75 % with quantitative coronary angiography software. RESULTS: We analyzed the diagnostic accuracy of coronary artery stenosis detection using the definition that a coronary artery territory was ischemic when the SDS per vessel was ≥2. We generated receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to evaluate the usefulness of SDS per vascular territory to find coronary artery stenoses. The area under the ROC curve was 0.86 and cut-off value was 2. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy to detect stenoses were 85, 83, 66, 94 and 84 %, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed the high accuracy of imaging with multifocal collimator SPECT/CT for detection of angiographically significant CAD.

Validation of prone myocardial perfusion SPECT with a variable-focus collimator versus supine myocardial perfusion SPECT with or without computed tomography-derived attenuation correction.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether prone myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (MPS) with thallium-201 acquired through a variable-focus collimator (IQ-SPECT) can correct for soft-tissue attenuation. METHODS: Thirty-nine patients underwent thallium-201 stress MPS with IQ-SPECT. Delayed images acquired with the patients in the prone position were compared with delayed images obtained with the patients in the supine position with computed tomography-derived attenuation correction (CTAC) (S-CTAC images) or without CTAC (S-NCTAC images). Quantitative tracer uptake (QTU) and semi-quantitative defect scores were determined for the 17 standard myocardial segments. Segments were categorized into anterior-anteroseptal, lateral, inferior, and apex, and areas with defect decision were determined by using the defect scores. RESULTS: Image quality in the prone images was similar to that of S-NCTAC and S-CTAC images. In male patients, QTU in prone images was equivalent to that in S-CTAC images in the anterior-anteroseptal area, but was significantly lower than that in S-CTAC images in the inferior area. In female patients, QTU in prone images was similar to that in S-CTAC images in the anterior-anteroseptal, lateral, and inferior areas. In male and in female patients, QTU in the apex was significantly greater in the prone images than that in the S-CTAC images. In the combined male and female patient group, the defect decision for prone images was similar to that for S-CTAC images in the anterior-anteroseptal, lateral, and inferior areas. Apical defects were observed more frequently in S-CTAC images than in prone or S-NCTAC images. CONCLUSIONS: Fewer artificial defects were observed in the apex of images acquired by prone imaging than by S-CTAC imaging. Prone images improved attenuation and had similar defect decision as S-CTAC images in the anterior-anteroseptal, lateral, and inferior areas.

Validation of a short-scan-time imaging protocol for thallium-201 myocardial SPECT with a multifocal collimator.

OBJECTIVE: IQ-SPECT (Siemens AG, Munich, Germany) is a highly sensitive single-photon-emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) system that uses a multifocal collimator. We searched for a suitable protocol for short-time imaging by IQ-SPECT in thallium-201 (Tl-201) MPI by evaluating phantom images and also by comparing human IQ-SPECT images with conventional SPECT images as reference standards. METHODS: We assessed the image quality using the normalized mean square error (NMSE) and drew up count profiles in Tl-201 SPECT images acquired with IQ-SPECT in a phantom study. We also performed Tl-201 stress myocardial SPECT/CT in 21 patients and compared delayed images acquired by using IQ-SPECT with 36 or 17 views per head with images obtained by using conventional SPECT. RESULTS: The NMSE of SPECT images from IQ-SPECT with 36 views was approximately one-fifth of that with 17 views. The myocardial count profile of images with 17 views was lower than those of images with 36 or 104 views in some regions. Defect scores were significantly lower, and image quality scores higher, in images from conventional SPECT than in those from IQ-SPECT with 17 views. Defect scores and image quality scores were equivalent in images from conventional SPECT and those from IQ-SPECT with 36 views. Agreement with the results of conventional SPECT in terms of coronary artery territory-based defect judgment was the best in IQ-SPECT with 36 views with computed tomography-derived attenuation correction (CTAC): the kappa values for IQ-SPECT with 36 views were 0.76 (without CTAC) and 0.83 (with CTAC), and those for IQ-SPECT with 17 views were 0.62 (without CTAC) and 0.59 (with CTAC). The difference in quantitative tracer uptake between conventional SPECT images and IQ-SPECT images was significantly greater for IQ-SPECT images with 17 views than for those with 36 views. CONCLUSIONS: Scanning with 36 views per head with CTAC may be appropriate for Tl-201 MPI using IQ-SPECT, because it provides images equivalent to those using conventional SPECT.

Differences between men and women in terms of clinical features of ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have examined sex-related differences in the clinical features of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, prospective studies are scant, and sex-related differences in symptoms of AMI remain unclear. We examined differences between men and women in terms of the clinical features of ST-segment elevation AMI. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 457 patients (106 women and 351 men) with ST-segment elevation AMI who were admitted within 24 h after symptom onset. The same cardiologist interviewed all patients within 48 h after admission. Women were older than men (72 vs 62 years, p<0.001) and had higher rates of hypertension (70 vs 56%, p=0.010), diabetes mellitus (36 vs 26%, p=0.047), and hyperlipidemia (51 vs 38%, p=0.019). Women were more likely than men to have non-specific symptoms (45 vs 34%, p=0.033), non-chest pain (pain in the jaw, throat, neck, shoulder, arm, hand, and back), mild pain (20 vs 7%, p<0.001), and nausea (49 vs 36%, p=0.013). On coronary angiography, the severity of coronary-artery lesions was similar in both sexes. In-hospital mortality was significantly higher in women than in men (6.6 vs 1.4%, p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical profiles and presentations differ between women and men with AMI. Women have less typical symptoms of AMI than men.

Prognostic significance of inverted T waves in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

BACKGROUND: The significance of inverted T waves remains unclear in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE). METHODS AND RESULTS: The relationship of the number of leads with inverted T waves to the severity of PE in 40 patients with acute PE was studied. Patients were classified into 3 groups according to the number of leads with inverted T waves on the admission electrocardiogram (ECG): 15 patients, or=7 leads (group H). In groups L, M and H, the rates of right ventricular dysfunction on echocardiography were 47%, 92% and 100% (p<0.01), respectively, and the rates of in-hospital complicated events (including death or the need for catecholamine support, cardiopulmonary resuscitation or mechanical cardiovascular support because of hemodynamic instability) were 0%, 8% and 46% (p=0.004), respectively. On multivariate analysis, arterial hypotension at presentation (odds ratio (OR) 8.96, p=0.049) and inverted T waves in >or=7 leads on the admission ECG (OR 16.8, p=0.037) were the only independent predictors of in-hospital complicated events. CONCLUSIONS: The number of leads with inverted T waves may be a useful and simple marker of increased risk for early complications in patients with acute PE.

Persistent hyperglycemia is associated with left ventricular dysfunction in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: The relationship of changes in blood glucose concentrations after admission to left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in patients with recanalized anterior acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS: Blood glucose concentrations were measured on admission and 24 h after symptom onset in 210 patients with recanalized anterior AMI within 6 h of symptom onset. Of them, 142 had hyperglycemia on admission, defined as a blood glucose >or=8.9 mmol/L, and 68 patients did not. Among the patients with admission hyperglycemia, 49 had persistent hyperglycemia, defined as a blood glucose >or=8.9 mmol/L 24 h after onset, and 93 did not. The incidences of myocardial blush grade of 0/1 after recanalization indicating impaired myocardial perfusion (71%), and peak creatine kinase concentration (5,631+/-2,855 mU/ml) were higher and predischarge LV function (43+/-11%) was lower in patients with persistent hyperglycemia than in those without (p<0.01). Multivariate analysis showed that persistent hyperglycemia was independently associated with LV dysfunction, defined as a predischarge LV ejection fraction

Clinical implications of intermediate QRS prolongation in the absence of bundle-branch block in patients with ST-segment-elevation acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: In the reperfusion era the clinical characteristics of intermediate QRS prolongation without bundle-branch block (BBB) remain unclear in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 465 patients with STEMI within 24 h of onset were classified into 3 groups according to QRS duration on presenting electrocardiograms: 338 patients had QRS duration <100 ms (group N), 71 had QRS duration >or=100 ms without BBB (group W), and 56 had BBB (group B). The frequency of Killip class >1 was higher in group W (28%) than in group N (12%), but lower than in group B (47%) (p<0.05, respectively). The percentages of patients with non-anterior infarction (69% vs 42%, 47%), 3-vessel disease (30% vs 9%, 16%), and coronary artery bypass graft surgery (24% vs 4%, 13%) were higher in group W than in groups N and B (all p<0.05). In group W, 6-month-mortality was similar to that in group N, but lower than that in group B (4%, 3% vs 25%, p<0.05 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In the reperfusion era, although patients with intermediate QRS prolongation without BBB have more severe coronary disease, 6-month-mortality is similar to those with normal conduction, but lower than those with BBB.

Local delivery of single low-dose of C-type natriuretic peptide, an endogenous vascular modulator, inhibits neointimal hyperplasia in a balloon-injured rabbit iliac artery model.

C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) is an endogenous vascular modulator. In addition to vasodilation, CNP exerts multifunctions including anti-thrombus and anti-proliferation actions against vascular smooth muscle cells and myofibroblasts. Therefore, CNP is a potential therapeutic agent for the prevention of restenosis following angioplasty. The current study investigated whether local delivery of CNP, even at microgram levels about three orders of magnitude lower than doses (high milligram levels) used for systemic administration in the previous study, attenuates neointimal hyperplasia. The rabbit iliac artery was denuded, and then CNP (100 microg, n = 5) or control vehicle (n = 5) was administered locally over 20 min, via a local drug delivery catheter. During drug delivery, blood pressure was monitored with a high-fidelity micromanometer catheter. There was no significant decrease in arterial pressure immediately after the CNP administration. Four weeks after the treatment, computer-assisted morphometric analysis revealed significant reduction in the intimal area (CNP 0.44 +/- 0.27 versus control 0.96 +/- 0.20 mm2, p < 0.01), but no changes in the medial area (CNP 0.93 +/- 0.23 versus control 0.79 +/- 0.29 mm2, p = NS). This resulted in a significant decrease in the ratio of the intimal area to the medial area in CNP-treated vessels compared with control vessels (CNP 0.45 +/- 0.26 versus control 1.40 +/- 0.66, p < 0.05). Local delivery of a single low dose of CNP effectively inhibits neointimal hyperplasia with a minimal likelihood of compromising hemodynamics. Considering its multipotent actions and its role as an important regulator of the vascular system, this treatment may have a therapeutic advantage for clinical use.

Different clinical and coronary angiographic findings according to ratios of total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol during the acute phase of myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVES: Several pathological studies have shown that a higher ratio of the serum total cholesterol concentration to the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration (TC/HDL-C ratio) is associated with plaque rupture in patients with acute coronary syndromes. We examined the relationship between the serum total cholesterol concentration and the TC/HDL-C ratio, and clinical and angiographic findings in patients with first acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: Two hundred eighty patients were classified into quartiles according to the TC/HDL-C ratio measured within 24 hr from symptom onset: 70 patients in the first quartile (group L: mean TC/HDL-C ratio, 3.0), 140 in the second and third quartiles (group M: mean TC/HDL-C ratio, 4.6), and 70 in the fourth quartile (group H: mean TC/HDL-C ratio, 7.5). RESULTS: There were no differences among the three groups with regard to sex, diabetes mellitus or hypertension. Patients in group L were older (66 +/- 9 vs 60 +/- 11, 56 +/- 10 years, p < 0.01) and had a higher incidence of stable angina before acute myocardial infarction (26% vs 14%, 10%, p < 0.05) than in patients groups M and H. Although coronary angiograms revealed no difference in the number of diseased vessels among the three groups, extent index indicating the proportion of each coronary segment that appears angiographically abnormal was lowest in group L (0.7 +/- 0.5), followed by group M (1.3 +/- 0.6), and high- est in group H ( 1.7 +/- 0.6, p < 0.01). The number of segments with calcification and the incidence of calcification in the culprit lesion were higher in group L than in groups M and H. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the clinical presentations and angiographic appearances differ according to the TC/HDL-C ratio in the acute phase of acute myocardial infarction.