Clinical outcomes of balloon angioplasty alone versus nitinol stent implantation in patients with small femoropopliteal artery disease: Observations from the Retrospective Multicenter Analysis for Femoropopliteal Stenting (REAL-FP).

OBJECTIVES: We sought to assess whether balloon angioplasty (BA) alone for small femoropopliteal disease improved the outcome following endovascular therapy as compared with stent implantation. BACKGROUND: The optimal strategy of endovascular therapy for small vessel arteries in femoropopliteal disease remains unclear. METHODS: We performed a multicenter retrospective analysis of 337 consecutive patients (371 limbs) with femoropopliteal arteries 4.0 mm or less in diameter and 150 mm or less in length. RESULTS: Cumulative 3-year incidence of primary patency was significantly higher in the BA group than in the stent group (53.8% vs. 34.2%, P = 0.002). While assisted-primary patency and freedom from any major adverse limb events were also significantly higher in the BA group than in the stent group (70.9% vs. 44.2%, P < 0.001 and 60.6% vs. 36.4%, P = 0.001, respectively), secondary patency did not significantly differ between the two groups (86.9% vs. 86.9%, P = 0.67). Predictors of restenosis were diabetes mellitus (hazard ratio [HR], 1.61; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14-2.31; P = 0.01), no administration of cilostazol (HR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.07-2.13; P = 0.02), stent implantation (HR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.15-2.41; P = 0.01), and lesion length >75.0 mm(HR, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.50-2.92; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Lesions in small (<4.0 mm diameter) FP vessels demonstrated better primary patency at 3 years when successfully treated with balloon angioplasty alone as opposed to routine or bailout stenting. This difference was especially pronounced for lesions 75 to 150 mm in length.

Efficacy of CilostAzol for Below-the-Knee Artery Disease after Balloon AnGioplasty in PatiEnts with Severe Limb Ischemia (CABBAGE Trial).

BACKGROUND: Optimal medical therapy after endovascular therapy in patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated whether cilostazol reduce restenosis after balloon angioplasty for infrapopliteal lesions in CLI patients. METHODS: This study was performed as a multicenter, prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded-end point study with independent angiographic core laboratory adjudication. Sixty patients were eligible and 53 patients were enrolled and allocated. The primary end point was 3-month angiographic restenosis. The main secondary end points included major adverse limb event (MALE defined as requirement of any reintervention or major amputation), perioperative complications, major amputation, all-cause death, and hemorrhagic events. RESULTS: A total of 53 patients were randomized and all received their allocated intervention. Two patients in the cilostazol plus aspirin group and 1 in the aspirin group did not undergo any angioplasty for infrapopliteal stenotic lesions, and therefore were excluded from analysis. Finally, 38 vessels in 25 patients in the cilostazol plus aspirin group and as many cases in the aspirin group were included in the analysis. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the 2 groups. The 3-month restenosis rate was 82% in the cilostazol + aspirin group and 81% in the aspirin group, with no significant difference (P = 0.91). The MALE rate was 11% in the cilostazol plus aspirin group and 8% in the aspirin group (P = 0.73). In addition, no significant difference was observed in any secondary points. CONCLUSIONS: Cilostazol did not reduce 3-month angiographic restenosis after balloon angioplasty for below-the-knee lesion in CLI patients.

Retrospective Multicenter Comparison of S.M.A.R.T. CONTROL and MISAGO Stents in Treatment of Femoropopliteal Lesions.

PURPOSE: To compare primary patency between MISAGO (Terumo Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) and S.M.A.R.T. CONTROL (Cordis Corporation, Miami Lakes, Florida), second-generation and first-generation nitinol stents, in femoropopliteal lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This multicenter, retrospective study included 240 cases with MISAGO stent implantation and 1,265 cases with S.M.A.R.T. stent implantation. The S.M.A.R.T. group had more Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society of Consensus (TASC) II class C/D lesions (53% vs 41%, P = .001) and smaller reference vessel diameter (RVD) (5.3 mm ± 0.9 vs 5.5 mm ± 0.9, P < .001). RESULTS: Kaplan-Meier estimates of 2-year primary patency after S.M.A.R.T. and MISAGO stent implantation were 67% and 55% (P = .007). Interaction analysis revealed that TASC II classification and RVD had a significant influence on the association of MISAGO versus S.M.A.R.T. stents with the outcome. The study population was stratified according to TASC II classification and RVD, and MISAGO and S.M.A.R.T. stents were compared after propensity score matching. There was no significant difference in 2-year patency between the 2 stents in the subgroup with TASC II class A/B and RVD ≥ 5 mm (S.M.A.R.T. 82% ± 4 vs MISAGO 74% ± 5, P = .480). MISAGO stents had lower primary patency than S.M.A.R.T. stents in cases with TASC II class C/D or RVD < 5 mm (S.M.A.R.T. 62% ± 6 vs MISAGO 25% ± 6, P = .015). CONCLUSIONS: S.M.A.R.T. and MISAGO stents had similar patency in simple lesions, but MISAGO stents had lower patency than S.M.A.R.T. stents in more complex lesions.

Cilostazol reduces angiographic restenosis after endovascular therapy for femoropopliteal lesions in the Sufficient Treatment of Peripheral Intervention by Cilostazol study.

BACKGROUND: It remains unclear whether cilostazol, which has been shown to improve the clinical outcomes of endovascular therapy for femoropopliteal lesions, also reduces angiographic restenosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: The Sufficient Treatment of Peripheral Intervention by Cilostazol (STOP-IC) study investigated whether cilostazol reduces the 12-month angiographic restenosis rate after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with provisional nitinol stenting for femoropopliteal lesions. Two hundred patients with femoropopliteal lesions treated from March 2009 to April 2011 at 13 cardiovascular centers were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive oral aspirin with or without cilostazol. The primary end point was 12-month angiographic restenosis rate. Secondary end points were the restenosis rate on duplex ultrasound, the rate of major adverse cardiac events, and target lesion event-free survival. Researchers evaluated all follow-up data and assessed the end points in a blinded fashion. The mean lesion length and reference vessel diameter at the treated segment were 128±86 mm and 5.4±1.4 mm, respectively. The frequency of stent used was similar between groups (88% versus 90% in the cilostazol and noncilostazol group, respectively, P=0.82). During the 12-month follow-up period, 11 patients died and 152 patients (80%) had evaluable angiographic data at 12 months. The angiographic restenosis rate at 12 months was 20% (15/75) in the cilostazol group versus 49% (38/77) in the noncilostazol group (P=0.0001) by intention-to-treat analysis. The cilostazol group also had a significantly higher event-free survival at 12 months (83% versus 71%, P=0.02), although cardiovascular event rates were similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Cilostazol reduced angiographic restenosis after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with provisional nitinol stenting for femoropopliteal lesions. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00912756; and URL: https://www.umin.ac.jp. Unique identifier: UMIN000002091.

Nutri-pharmacogenomics of warfarin anticoagulation therapy: VKORC1 genotype-dependent influence of dietary vitamin K intake.

Warfarin is the most widely prescribed oral anticoagulant, but large interindividual variations exist in the dose required to achieve comparable therapeutic effects. Several clinical and genetic variables have been identified that influence warfarin dosing. However, interactions between genotype and nutrition remain uncertain in terms of dietary vitamin K intake. To investigate genotype-nutrient interactions in warfarin anticoagulation therapy, 202 consecutive outpatients (M/F = 142/60, mean age, 69 years) undergoing treatment with warfarin were enrolled. Prevalent single nucleotide polymorphisms in VKORC1 and CYP2C9 were genotyped, and dietary vitamin K intake during the week preceding the blood sampling was quantitatively estimated by a dietitian-assisted questionnaire. Patients were classified according to low, medium, or high vitamin K intake. The mean daily warfarin dose in subjects with a VKORC1-1639 A/A genotype was significantly smaller than that with a -1639A/G genotype (2.74 vs. 3.91 mg/day, respectively, p < 0.0001). Dose requirements did not differ between subjects with a CYP2C9 *1/*3 genotype versus a CYP2C9 *1/*1 genotype. In subjects with a variant VKORC1-1639 G allele, the mean daily warfarin dose was significantly attenuated by low vitamin K intake compared with medium and high intake after adjustment for covariates (3.4 vs. 5.0 vs. 4.0 mg/day, respectively, p = 0.028). No such genotype effects were observed in homozygous patients for the VKORC1-1639 A allele. The results of the present study suggest that the capacity of dietary vitamin K intake to influence warfarin dose requirements during anticoagulation therapy is VKORC1 genotype-dependent, at least in part.

Efficacy of the S.M.A.R.T. Control vs. other stents for aortoiliac occlusive disease in contemporary clinical practice.

PURPOSE: To compare the safety and efficacy of the S.M.A.R.T. Control stent vs. other stents in patients with symptomatic aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD) followed for up to 4 years. METHODS: A subgroup analysis of data from a retrospective multicenter registry examined 2036 symptomatic patients (1659 men; mean age 71±8 years) who received stent-supported endovascular therapy for 2541 AIOD lesions between April 2005 and December 2009. The cohort was divided into the S.M.A.R.T. stent group (955 patients/1196 lesions) and the "other" stent group (1081 patients/1345 lesions). The main study outcomes of primary patency and event-free survival at 4 years were compared before and after propensity matching analysis. The rates for freedom from major amputation, surgical conversion, target lesion revascularization (TLR), and major adverse limb events were also assessed. RESULTS: The S.M.A.R.T. Control stent group had greater frequency of critical limb ischemia (CLI), TASC C/D lesions, and chronic total occlusions. The mean follow-up was 25±17 months in the S.M.A.R.T. group vs. 29±19 months in the other stent group. After propensity matching, 4-year primary patency (86% vs. 76%, p<0.001) and freedom from adverse limb events (93% vs. 90%, p=0.04) were greater in the S.M.A.R.T. Control stent group, while event-free survival rates (75% vs. 77%, p=0.50) were similar between groups. Univariate subgroup analysis showed that use of the S.M.A.R.T. stent was associated with greater primary patency in patients with renal insufficiency (serum creatinine >1.5 mg/dL) and CLI. CONCLUSION: After propensity matching analysis, the durability of the S.M.A.R.T. stent was superior to that of other stents, which might reflect differing design characteristics.

Contemporary outcomes after endovascular treatment for aorto-iliac artery disease.

BACKGROUND: The patency and complications in aorto-iliac (AI) stenting remain poorly understood. The aim of this paper was to investigate the safety and efficacy after AI stenting. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study was performed as a large-scale multicenter, retrospective registry. A total of 2,147 consecutive patients with AI disease were enrolled. The safety endpoints were procedure success, complications and 30-day mortality. The efficacy endpoints were primary, assisted primary and secondary patency, overall survival, freedom from major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE; all-cause death, myocardial infarction and stroke), and major adverse cardiovascular and limb events (MACLE; any repeat revascularization for limb and leg amputation in addition to MACE). Procedure success, complication rate and 30-day mortality were 97.6%, 6.4% and 0.7%. Primary patency was 92.5%, 82.6% and 77.5% at 1, 3 and 5 years, assisted primary patency was 97.0%, 92.7% and 91.9% at 1, 3 and 5 years and secondary patency was 99.0%, 98.7% and 98.5% at 1, 3 and 5 years. The overall survival rate was 95.0%, 87.6%, and 79.3% at 1, 3 and 5 years. The cause of death was cardiovascular in 44.1%. Freedom from MACE (MACLE) was 93.3% (89.9%), 84.4% (76.7%), and 74.9% (66.8%) at 1, 3 and 5 years. Female gender, diabetes, renal failure, absence of aspirin, reference vessel diameter <8.0mm and outflow lesion were found to be independent predictors of primary patency. CONCLUSIONS: The safety and efficacy after AI stenting are feasible compared to surgical reconstruction.

Response to pre-dilatation with POBA can predict target lesion revascularization after DCB angioplasty for de novo small coronary artery lesions.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the determinants of target lesion revascularization (TLR) after drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty for de novo small coronary artery lesions. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled consecutive lesions from patients that were in a stable condition and had undergone successful DCB treatment for de novo small coronary artery lesions. The study endpoint was TLR and major adverse cardiac events at 12 months. RESULTS: A total of 68 patients with 83 lesions were enrolled in the study. Of these, 11 (13.3%) lesions required TLR. Mean ± SD pre-dilatation balloon diameters were similar in the non-TLR (2.33 ± 0.72 mm) and TLR (2.18 ± 0.36 mm) groups. A comparison of the two groups showed that post/pre-lumen area ratio during pre-dilatation (%) by plain old balloon angioplasty (POBA) was significantly and negatively associated with TLR and the optimal cut-off point was 170%. Cox proportional hazard and multivariate regression analyses showed that post/pre-lumen area ratio was the only independent predictor of TLR (hazard ratio 0.9318; 95% confidence interval 0.9001, 0.9645). CONCLUSION: Greater pre-dilatation using POBA, assessed as the post/pre-lumen area ratio, may be independently associated with a lower 12-month TLR rate in patients undergoing DCB angioplasty for de novo small coronary lesions.

Three-Year Clinical Outcomes Following Implantation of LifeStent Self-Expanding Nitinol Stents in Patients With Femoropopliteal Artery Lesions.

The aim of this study was to evaluate midterm clinical outcomes after implantation of LifeStent self-expanding nitinol stents for the treatment of femoropopliteal lesions. This retrospective, multicenter, non-randomized study examined 260 femoropopliteal lesions in 250 consecutive patients with peripheral artery disease implanted with LifeStents from April 2016 to April 2017. The prevalence of chronic total occlusion (CTO), lesion length ≥25 cm, and distal reference vessel diameter (RVD) <5 mm was 58%, 35%, and 50%, respectively. The 3-year restenosis rate in the overall population was estimated to be 72.9% and a major adverse limb event was observed in 36.9%. Multivariate analysis revealed that chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) (odds ratio [OR]: 8.04; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.86-34.7), CTO (OR: 4.87; 95% CI: 1.43-16.6), lesion length ≥25 cm (OR: 5.95; 95% CI: 1.11-32.0), and distal RVD <5 mm (OR: 4.43; 95% CI: 1.34-14.6) were independent risk factors for 3-year restenosis. The present study demonstrated the midterm clinical outcomes and risk factors for restenosis after implantation of the LifeStent in femoropopliteal artery lesions. CLTI, CTO, lesion length ≥25 cm, and distal RVD <5 mm predicted decreased patency after a 3-year follow-up.

Impact of cilostazol after endovascular treatment for infrainguinal disease in patients with critical limb ischemia.

BACKGROUND: Cilostazol reduces restenosis and repeat revascularization after endovascular therapy (EVT) in claudicant patients with femoropopliteal lesions. However, the efficacy of cilostazol in patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) is unclear. Therefore, we investigated the effect of cilostazol on outcomes in patients with CLI. METHODS: From January 2004 to December 2009, 618 patients (30.8% women, 356 treated with cilostazol, 72.4 ± 7.3 years old) with CLI underwent EVT for de novo infrainguinal lesions. Their data were retrospectively analyzed. The primary outcome measure was amputation-free survival (AFS), The secondary outcome measures were overall survival, limb salvage, freedom from repeat revascularization, and freedom from surgical conversion. Mean follow-up was 21 ± 14 months. RESULTS: AFS and the limb salvage rate at 5 years were significantly higher in the cilostazol-treated group (47.7% vs 32.7%, P < .01; 86.6% vs 75.3%, P < .01; respectively). However, overall survival and freedom from repeat revascularization at 5 years did not differ significantly between the two groups (43.9% vs 46.0%, P = .24; 39.9% vs 31.8%, P = .21, respectively). Freedom from surgical conversion at 5 years was significantly higher in the cilostazol-treated group (91.0% vs 81.2%, P < .01). After correcting all end points with baseline variables, cilostazol was effective for prevention of AFS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.67; 95% confidential interval [CI], 0.49-0.91; adjusted P = .01) and improvement of limb salvage rate (HR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.25-0.69; adjusted P < .01). There was no significant difference in overall survival, repeat revascularization, and surgical conversion between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Cilostazol may improve AFS and limb salvage rate after EVT for infrainguinal disease in patients with CLI.

Possible effect of direct oral anti-coagulant for preventing long stenting lesion from in-stent restenosis in femoropopliteal segment: Case report with angioscopy findings.

A 64-year-old female underwent a successful first percutaneous intervention using MISAGO stents for a de novo femoropopliteal lesion. Subsequently, three more effective procedures were done using balloon catheters for in-stent restenosis. In May 2016, a fourth procedure using Zilver PTX stent for in-stent restenosis was carried out. For this final procedure, we added direct oral anti-coagulant as she had additional problem of popliteal vein thrombosis and her femoropopliteal segment remained clear. A Zilver PTX stent, a drug-eluting stent for a peripheral artery, was expected to bring superior outcomes compared to conventional bare nitinol stents (i.e. MISAGO stent). But subsequent studies reported that Zilver PTX stent was not more effective than conventional bare nitinol stents. In our above mentioned case, her angioscopy findings suggest that her successful outcome appears to be related to the added direct oral anti-coagulant.

Impact of functional studies on exome sequence variant interpretation in early-onset cardiac conduction system diseases.

AIMS: The genetic cause of cardiac conduction system disease (CCSD) has not been fully elucidated. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) can detect various genetic variants; however, the identification of pathogenic variants remains a challenge. We aimed to identify pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in CCSD patients by using WES and 2015 American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) standards and guidelines as well as evaluating the usefulness of functional studies for determining them. METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed WES of 23 probands diagnosed with early-onset (<65 years) CCSD and analysed 117 genes linked to arrhythmogenic diseases or cardiomyopathies. We focused on rare variants (minor allele frequency < 0.1%) that were absent from population databases. Five probands had protein truncating variants in EMD and LMNA which were classified as 'pathogenic' by 2015 ACMG standards and guidelines. To evaluate the functional changes brought about by these variants, we generated a knock-out zebrafish with CRISPR-mediated insertions or deletions of the EMD or LMNA homologs in zebrafish. The mean heart rate and conduction velocities in the CRISPR/Cas9-injected embryos and F2 generation embryos with homozygous deletions were significantly decreased. Twenty-one variants of uncertain significance were identified in 11 probands. Cellular electrophysiological study and in vivo zebrafish cardiac assay showed that two variants in KCNH2 and SCN5A, four variants in SCN10A, and one variant in MYH6 damaged each gene, which resulted in the change of the clinical significance of them from 'Uncertain significance' to 'Likely pathogenic' in six probands. CONCLUSION: Of 23 CCSD probands, we successfully identified pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in 11 probands (48%). Functional analyses of a cellular electrophysiological study and in vivo zebrafish cardiac assay might be useful for determining the pathogenicity of rare variants in patients with CCSD. SCN10A may be one of the major genes responsible for CCSD.

Healing of femoral artery dissection after drug-coated balloon angioplasty: A case report with intravascular ultrasonography and angioscopy images.

Early 80s male with intermitted claudication underwent endovascular therapy for atherosclerotic stenosis at left external iliac artery and middle of superficial femoral artery. Patient also had chronic atrial fibrillation, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. After stent deployment for external iliac artery lesion, a short superficial femoral artery lesion was performed with angioplasty using drug-coated balloon. The drug-coated balloon angioplasty resulted in 50% residual stenosis with linear dissection; however, provisional stenting was not performed as decent ante-grade blood flow allowed 10 extra minutes. Medication involved ongoing use of aspirin 100 mg and rivaroxaban 15 mg. Angiography post 3 months from index procedure showed external iliac artery and superficial femoral artery patency and healing of intimal dissection at superficial femoral artery lesion was estimated by intravascular ultrasonography. In angioscopy findings, red thrombus was seen in dissection cavity.

Idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias originating from the tricuspid annulus: Prevalence, electrocardiographic characteristics, and results of radiofrequency catheter ablation.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic ventricular tachycardias (VTs) and premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) arising from the tricuspid annulus have been reported. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to clarify the prevalence and characteristics of VT/PVCs originating from the tricuspid annulus. METHODS: The ECG characteristics and results of radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation were analyzed in 454 patients with idiopathic VT/PVCs. RESULTS: Thirty-eight (8%) patients had VT/PVCs arising from the tricuspid annulus: 28 VT/PVCs (74%) originated from the septal portion of the tricuspid annulus and the remaining 10 (26%) from the free wall of the tricuspid annulus. QRS duration and Q-wave amplitude in each of leads V1-V3 were greater in VT/PVCs arising from the free wall of the tricuspid annulus than those from the septum of the tricuspid annulus (all P < .01). "Notching" of the QRS complex was observed more often in VT/PVCs arising from the free wall of the tricuspid annulus than those from the septum of the tricuspid annulus (P < .01). A Q wave in lead V1 was observed more often in VT/PVCs arising from the septum of the tricuspid annulus than those from the free wall of the tricuspid annulus (P < .005). R-wave transition occurred beyond lead V3 more often in VT/PVCs arising from the free wall of the tricuspid annulus than those from the septum of the tricuspid annulus (P < .005). RF catheter ablation eliminated 90% of the VT/PVCs arising from the free wall of the tricuspid annulus but only 57% of the VT/PVCs arising from septum of the tricuspid annulus. CONCLUSION: Idiopathic VT/PVCs arising from tricuspid annulus are not rare, and the detailed origin can be determined by ECG analysis. The preferential site of origin was the septum but also could be the free wall of the tricuspid annulus.

Circulating malondialdehyde-modified low-density lipoprotein (MDA-LDL) as a novel predictor of clinical outcome after endovascular therapy in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD).

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Despite advances in the treatment of peripheral artery disease (PAD), cardiovascular events and death rates remain high. This study aimed at identifying markers of outcome in patients with PAD undergoing endovascular therapy (EVT). METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing EVT were recruited. Markers of oxidative stress (malondialdehyde-modified low-density lipoprotein [MDA-LDL]), inflammation (IL-6; high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hsCRP]) and fibrinolysis (D-dimer) were measured pre-EVT and at post-EVT time-points to 36 h. Clinical follow-up assessed major cardiovascular and/or limb events. RESULTS: In the 35 patients enrolled, mean MDA-LDL levels decreased from a baseline level of 106.2 U/L to 72.6 U/L immediately post-EVT (p<0.0001); levels remained significantly reduced at all time-points. IL-6, hsCRP and D-dimer increased and were significantly higher at the 36 h time-point. A significant, negative association was seen between decreased MDA-LDL and pre-EVT hsCRP levels (r = -0.42, p=0.012). Clinical follow-up data were obtained for a mean period of 16 months. MDA-LDL ratios (obtained by comparison of post- and pre-EVT values) allowed assessment of high (≥0.495) and low (<0.495) ratio groups. A significantly higher rate of major adverse events, including limb-related events or death, was seen in the low ratio group (p<0.001). Cox proportional hazard analysis including traditional risk factors indicated that this ratio is a significant predictor of clinical endpoints (HR = 0.4210, p=0.0154). An association with clinical outcome was not observed with the other candidate biomarkers. CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of pre- and post-EVT MDA-LDL levels is a promising marker of clinical outcome in patients with PAD.

Diurnal glycemic fluctuation is associated with severity of coronary artery disease in prediabetic patients: Possible role of nitrotyrosine and glyceraldehyde-derived advanced glycation end products.

BACKGROUND: Glucose fluctuation (GF) is a risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). However, it remains unknown whether specific indices of GF are risk factors for CAD. Therefore, we evaluated the relationship between GF, as determined by a continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS) or the glucose level at 2h after a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (75g OGTT 120), and the severity of CAD in prediabetic patients. We also evaluated whether nitrotyrosine (NT) and glyceraldehyde-derived advanced glycation end-products (Glycer-AGE) were induced by GF. METHODS: Twenty-eight prediabetic patients underwent coronary angiography (CAG), and the Gensini score and the SYNTAX score were evaluated as the severity of CAD, while the mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (MAGE) by CGMS and 75g OGTT 120 were evaluated. Serum NT and Glycer-AGE were measured. RESULTS: The MAGE was closely associated with the Gensini score (r=0.742, p<0.001) and the SYNTAX score (r=0.776, p<0.001), respectively. The 75g OGTT 120 was not associated with the Gensini score (r=0.36, p=0.06), but it was significantly associated with the SYNTAX score (r=0.413, p=0.036). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the MAGE was the only independent determinant for the severity of CAD. The levels of NT and Glycer-AGE were significantly higher in the high MAGE group than in the low MAGE group. CONCLUSIONS: Diurnal GF is associated with the severity of CAD, even in prediabetic patients. GF, NT, and Glycer-AGE may play a pathological role in the progression of CAD.

Efficacy and Safety of Endovascular Therapy for Aortoiliac TASC D Lesions.

BACKGROUND: Although there is increasing evidence of the effectiveness of endovascular therapy for complex aortoiliac (AI) occlusive disease, it is not universally applied to TASC D lesions. METHODS: A total of 2096 patients, 2601 limbs with AI occlusive disease, were enrolled. The lesions were categorized as TASC D (395) or TASC A-C (2206), and we compared baseline data, procedure, and follow-up result between the 2 groups. RESULTS: The success rate of the procedure was significantly lower in the TASC D group (91.6% vs 99.3%, P < .01), and more procedure complications occurred in the TASC D group (11.1% vs 5.2%, P < .01). The results of a 5-year follow-up revealed no significant difference in primary patency (77.9% vs 77.1%, P = .17) and major adverse cardiovascular and limb events (MACLE; 30.5% vs 33.4%, P = .42) between the 2 groups. A multivariate analysis revealed complications and critical limb ischemia are independent predictors of MACLE in the TASC D group. CONCLUSION: The success rate of the procedure was lower in the TASC D group. Complications were more frequent in the TASC D group, and they were related to MACLE.

Idiopathic ventricular arrhythmia arising from the mitral annulus: a distinct subgroup of idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to clarify the prevalence and characteristics of idiopathic ventricular tachycardia or premature ventricular contraction originating from the mitral annulus (MAVT/PVC). BACKGROUND: Recent case reports have presented patients with MAVT/PVC. METHODS: Electrocardiographic (ECG) characteristics and the results of electrophysiologic investigation and radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) were analyzed in 352 patients with symptomatic idiopathic ventricular tachycardia (IVT)/premature ventricular contraction (PVC). RESULTS: Nineteen cases of IVT/PVC (5%) represented MAVT/PVC. Of these, 11 (58%) originated from the anterolateral portion of the mitral annulus (AL-MAVT/PVC), and 2 (11%) arose from the posterior portion (Pos-MAVT/PVC). The remaining six cases of MAVT/PVC (31%) had posteroseptal origin (PS-MAVT/PVC). In all patients, an S-wave was present in lead V(6). The QRS polarity in inferior leads and leads I and aVL was useful for differentiating AL-MAVT/PVC from Pos-MAVT/PVC or PS-MAVT/PVC. The Pos-MAVT/PVC had an Rs pattern in lead I and an R pattern in lead V(1), whereas PS-MAVT/PVC invariably had an R pattern in lead I and a negative QRS component in lead V(1). The AL-MAVT/PVC and Pos-MAVT/PVC showed a longer QRS duration than the PS-MAVT/PVC (p < 0.001), and all had late-phase "notching" of the QRS complex in inferior leads. In all patients, RFCA eliminated MAVT/PVC, with no recurrences during follow-up for 21 +/- 15 months. CONCLUSIONS: Mitral annular VT/PVC is a rare but distinct subgroup of IVT/PVC. MAVT/PVC origin could be determined by ECG analysis. The AL and PS sites of the MA were preferential.

A case of coronary rupture and pseudoaneurysm formation after fracture of implanted paclitaxel-eluting stents.

A 48-year-old man who had undergone implantation of two paclitaxel-eluting stents (PESs) at the right coronary artery was admitted to our hospital with progressive dyspnea. In the coronary care unit, he developed cardiogenic shock due to cardiac tamponade treated by pericardiocentesis. A coronary angiogram showed a large pseudoaneurysm at the site of the previously implanted stents, suggesting coronary rupture due to implanted stent fracture. The pseudoaneurysm was completely sealed by polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stent implantation. Although this case is very rare, coronary rupture by stent fracture should be considered when cardiac tamponade occurs after drug-eluting stent implantation, especially PES.

Conversion to Purkinje-Related Monomorphic Ventricular Tachycardia After Ablation of Ventricular Fibrillation in Ischemic Heart Disease.

BACKGROUND: Catheter ablation is an effective therapy for ventricular fibrillation (VF) arising from the Purkinje system in ischemic heart disease. However, some patients experience newly emergent monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) after the ablation of VF. We evaluated the prevalence and mechanism of monomorphic VT after VF ablation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty-one consecutive patients with primary VF because of ischemic heart disease who underwent catheter ablation were retrospectively analyzed. Twenty of 21 patients were in electrical storm. Ventricular premature contractions triggering VF arose from the left Purkinje system and were targeted for ablation. Before the ablation, 14 of 21 patients had only VF, and the other 7 had VF and concomitant monomorphic VT. Four of the 14 patients with only VF (29%) exhibited newly emergent monomorphic VT after VF ablation. Three of these patients had Purkinje-related VTs, which were successfully eliminated by the ablation of a Purkinje network located in the same low-voltage area as the site of prior successful VF ablation. During a median follow-up of 28 months (interquartile range, 16-68 months), VF recurred in 6 of 21 patients (29%); however, there were neither electrical storms nor monomorphic VT, and all recurring arrhythmias were controlled by medical therapy alone. CONCLUSIONS: Over one fifth of patients with primary ischemic VF experienced newly emergent Purkinje-related monomorphic VT after VF ablation. The circuit of the monomorphic VT associated with the Purkinje network was located in the same low-voltage area as the Purkinje tissue that triggered VF and could be suppressed by additional ablation.