Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio on admission predicts early rehospitalization in patients with acute decompensated heart failure.

Detecting high-risk patients for early rehospitalization is crucial in heart failure patient care. An association of albuminuria with cardiovascular events is well known. However, its predictive impact on rehospitalization for acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) remains unknown. In this study, 190 consecutive patients admitted due to ADHF between 2017 and April 2019 who underwent urinalysis were enrolled. Among them, 140 patients from whom urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) was measured with spot urine samples on admission were further analyzed. The association between UACR and rehospitalization due to HF during 1 year after discharge was evaluated. The mean age of 140 participants was 77.6 years and 55% were men. Only 18% (n = 25) of patients presented with normoalbuminuria (UACR < 30 mg/g∙creatinine), whereas 59% (n = 83) and 23% (n = 32) showed microalbuminuria (UACR 30-300 mg/g·creatinine) and macroalbuminuria (UACR > 300 mg/g·creatinine), respectively. The level of UACR on admission was correlated with the risk of subsequent rehospitalization due to HF (p = 0.017). The receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated that the best cut-off values for the UACR and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels to predict ADHF rehospitalization were 50 mg/g·creatinine and 824 pg/ml, respectively. When the patients were divided into four groups using both cut-off values, the individual predictive impacts of UACR and BNP on rehospitalization were comparable. Patients with both elevated UACR and BNP levels had a higher rate of HF rehospitalization than those with elevated BNP levels alone (p < 0.05). The combination of both values enabled more accurate prediction of HF rehospitalization than BNP levels alone. In conclusion, UACR could be a new useful biomarker to predict HF rehospitalization in patients with ADHF, especially in combination with the levels of BNP, and should be further evaluated in a prospective study.

Cluster Randomized Trial of Duration of Cooling in Targeted Temperature Management After Resuscitation for Cardiac Arrest.

Background: The 2020 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care recommend that comatose patients with return of spontaneous circulation after cardiac arrest have targeted temperature management (TTM). However, the duration of TTM remains to be elucidated. Methods and Results: We conducted a cluster randomized trial in 10 hospitals to compare 12-24 vs. 36 h of cooling in patients with cardiac arrest who received TTM. The primary outcome was the incidence, within 1 month, of complications including bleeding requiring transfusion, infection, arrhythmias, decreasing blood pressure, shivering, convulsions, and major adverse cardiovascular events. Secondary outcomes were mortality and favorable neurological outcome (Cerebral Performance Categories 1-2) at 3 months. Random-effects models with clustered effects were used to calculate risk ratios (RR). Data of 185 patients were analyzed (12- to 24-h group, n=100 in 5 hospitals; 36-h group, n=85 in 5 hospitals). The incidence of complications within 1 month did not differ between the 2 groups (40% vs. 34%; RR 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.67-1.61, P=0.860). Favorable neurological outcomes at 3 months were comparable between the 2 groups (64% vs. 62%; RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.72-1.14, P=0.387). Conclusions: TTM at 34℃ for 12-24 h did not significantly reduce the incidence of complications. This study did not show superiority of TTM at 34℃ for 12-24 h for neurologic outcomes.

Impact of Induced Therapeutic Hypothermia by Intravenous Infusion of Ice-Cold Fluids After Hospital Arrival in Comatose Survivors of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest With Initial Shockable Rhythm.

BACKGROUND: The effect of in-hospital rapid cooling by intravenous ice-cold fluids for comatose survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is unclear.Methods and Results:From the J-PULSE-HYPO study registry, data for 248 comatose survivors with return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) who were treated with therapeutic hypothermia (34℃ for 12-72 h) after witnessed shockable OHCA were extracted. Patients were divided into 2 groups by the median collapse-to-ROSC interval (18 min), and then into 2 groups by cooling method (rapid cooling by intravenous ice-cold fluids vs. standard cooling). The primary endpoint was favorable neurological outcome (Cerebral Performance Category of 1 or 2) at 30 days after OHCA. In the whole cohort, the shorter collapse-to-ROSC interval group had significantly higher favorable neurological outcome than the longer collapse-to-ROSC interval group (78.2% vs. 46.8%, P<0.001). In the shorter collapse-to-ROSC interval group, no significant difference was observed in favorable neurological outcome between the 2 cooling groups (rapid cooling group: 79.4% vs. standard cooling group: 77.0%, P=0.75). In the longer collapse-to-ROSC interval group, however, favorable neurological outcome was significant higher in the rapid cooling group than in the standard cooling group (60.7% vs. 33.3%, P<0.01) and the adjusted odds ratio after rapid cooling was 3.069 (95% confidence interval 1.423-6.616, P=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: In-hospital rapid cooling by intravenous ice-cold fluids improved neurologically intact survival in comatose survivors whose collapse-to-ROSC interval was delayed over 18 min after shockable OHCA.

Comparison of Long-Term Outcomes Between Combination Antiplatelet and Anticoagulant Therapy and Anticoagulant Monotherapy in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and Left Atrial Thrombi.

Background: Anticoagulation for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) complicated by left atrial thrombi (LAT) is a frequent cause of bleeding complications, but risk factors remain unknown. Methods and Results: Of 3,139 AF patients who underwent transesophageal echocardiography, 82 with LAT under anticoagulation were included in this study. Patients treated with combination antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy (n=31) were compared with those receiving anticoagulant monotherapy (n=51) to investigate the effects of antiplatelet agents during anticoagulation on bleeding complications. Over a mean (±SD) follow-up of 878±486 days, bleeding events occurred more frequently in the combination therapy than monotherapy group (58% vs. 20%; P<0.001), but there was no significant difference in embolic events (6.5% vs. 3.9%; P=0.606). Kaplan-Meier analysis also showed a significantly higher rate of bleeding events in the combination therapy group, but no significant difference in the rate of embolic events. Inverse probability of treatment weighting revealed that combination therapy was independently associated with an increased risk of bleeding (hazard ratio [HR] 2.98, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14-7.89, P=0.026), but not with the risk of embolic events (HR 0.30, 95% CI 0.04-2.59, P=0.275). Net clinical benefit analysis was almost negative for combination therapy vs. monotherapy. Conclusions: In patients with AF and LAT, combination therapy was significantly associated with an increased risk of bleeding events, but not with a reduced risk of embolic events.

Association between rewarming duration and neurological outcome in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients receiving therapeutic hypothermia.

AIM: The European Resuscitation Council guidelines recommend a slow rate of rewarming of 0.25 °C/h-0.5 °C/h for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients receiving therapeutic hypothermia (TH). Conversely, a very slow rewarming of 1 °C/day is generally applied in Japan. The rewarming duration ranged from less than 24 h up to more than 50 h. No randomized control trials have examined the optimal rewarming speed for TH in OHCA patients. Therefore, we examined the association between the rewarming duration and neurological outcomes in OHCA patients who received TH. METHODS: This study was a secondary analysis of the Japanese Population-based Utstein-style study with defibrillation and basic/advanced Life Support Education and implementation-Hypothermia (J-PULSE-HYPO) study registry, a multicenter prospective cohort study. Patients suffering from OHCA who received TH (target temperature, 34 °C) after the return of spontaneous circulation from 2005 to 2011 in 14 hospitals throughout Japan were enrolled. The rewarming duration was defined as the time from the beginning of rewarming at a target temperature of 34 °C until reaching 36 °C. The primary outcome was an unfavorable neurological outcome at hospital discharge, i.e., a cerebral performance category of 3-5. RESULTS: The J-PULSE-HYPO study enrolled 452 OHCA patients. Of these, 328 were analyzed; 79.9% survived to hospital discharge, of which 56.4% had a favorable neurological outcome. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that the rewarming duration was independently associated with unfavorable neurological outcomes [odds ratio (per 5 h), 0.89; 95% confidence interval, 0.79-0.99; p =  0.032]. CONCLUSION: A longer rewarming duration was significantly associated with and was an independent predictor of favorable neurological outcomes in OHCA patients who received TH.

Relationship of Central Venous Pressure to Body Fluid Volume Status and Its Prognostic Implication in Patients With Acute Decompensated Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Although central venous pressure (CVP) is a surrogate measure of preload in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), it is a multifactorial index influenced not only by fluid volume status, but also by cardiac pump function and other factors. We aimed to elucidate the individual pathophysiological factors of CVP elevation in patients with ADHF by assessing the relationship between CVP and extracellular fluid volume status (EVS). METHODS AND RESULTS: We quantified EVS in 100 patients with ADHF with the use of bioelectrical impedance analysis. CVP was also measured at the same time point. Subjects were categorized into tertiles according to their CVP-EVS ratios, and patient characteristics and clinical outcomes were compared among these tertiles. The upper-tertile group had a higher incidence of impaired right ventricular pump function, whereas the lower-tertile group had higher incidences of severe inflammation, hypoalbuminemia, and renal dysfunction. Patients in both the upper and lower tertiles had a significantly higher cardiac event rate than those in the middle tertile. CONCLUSIONS: The combined assessment of CVP and EVS provides insight into both the total volume status and distribution of body fluid in ADHF patients, and it may have applications in guiding decongestive therapy and improving prognostic predictions.

Impact of Preprocedural Serum Eicosapentaenoic Acid to Arachidonic Acid Ratio on Post-Ablation Recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation.

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of the serum eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) to arachidonic acid (AA) ratio on recurrence after catheter ablation (CA) for atrial fibrillation (AF).A total of 192 patients who underwent first-time radiofrequency CA for AF were enrolled in this study. They were divided into two groups based on the median serum EPA/AA ratio before CA: a LOW group (< 0.30; n = 96) and a HIGH group (≥ 0.30; n = 96). Patients in the LOW group were younger and had smaller left atrial diameter (LAD) than those in the HIGH group. Although pulmonary vein triggers initiating AF were more frequently observed in the LOW group than the HIGH group (63% versus 46%, respectively; P = 0.021), no significant between-group difference was observed regarding the incidence of AF recurrence since the last procedure (17% versus 17%, P = 0.78; median follow-up, 37 months). Multivariate Cox regression analysis after adjustment for age and LAD revealed that EPA/AA of < 0.30 was not a significant predictor of AF recurrence (hazard ratio, 1.12; 95% confidence interval 0.53-2.37; P = 0.76). However, in the non-paroxysmal AF subgroup (n = 65), the incidence of AF recurrence was significantly higher in the LOW group than in the HIGH group (25.7% versus 6.7%, respectively; P = 0.031).In conclusion, a lower preprocedural EPA/AA ratio, which was associated with younger age and small left atrium, was not a predictor for the risk of AF recurrence after CA for AF. The potential impact of the ratio on recurrence in non-paroxysmal AF subgroups should be examined with larger samples.

Effect of Extensive Ablation on Recurrence in Patients with Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Treated with Pulmonary Vein Isolation (EARNEST-PVI) trial: Design and rationale.

BACKGROUND: Although extensive substrate modification in addition to pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) has been recommended in catheter ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation (AF), recent randomized controlled trials have not demonstrated efficacy of such additional ablations. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: The Osaka Cardiovascular Conference will conduct a multicenter, randomized, open-label trial aiming to examine whether PVI alone is non-inferior to PVI plus additional ablation such as linear ablation and/or complex fractionated atrial electrogram ablation in patients with persistent AF. The primary outcome is recurrence of AF documented by scheduled or symptom-driven electrocardiogram tests during a 1-year follow-up period after the index ablation. The key secondary endpoints include all-cause death, occurrence of symptomatic stroke, complications related to the procedure, and quality of life assessment using the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey. The clinical impact of the presence or absence of AF trigger foci, and their origins in cases with them, on the results of catheter ablation will also be investigated as an exploratory endpoint. A total of 512 patients will be enrolled and followed up to 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: The EARNEST-PVI trial is a randomized controlled trial designed to assess whether PVI alone is non-inferior to extended substrate ablation for patients with persistent AF undergoing a first catheter ablation.

Differences in amiodarone efficacy in relation to ejection fraction and basal rhythm in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. However, data are lacking concerning the association of AF and VAs. This study aimed to clarify the association between AF and VAs and to investigate the effect of amiodarone on the incidence of VAs in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). METHODS AND RESULTS: We enrolled 612 patients who had ICDs or who underwent cardiac resynchronization therapy with a defibrillator (CRT-D) and classified them into two groups (sinus rhythm [SR] group, n = 427; AF group, n = 185) according to their basal rhythm at enrollment. Patients with paroxysmal AF were grouped into the AF group. The incidence of VAs, i.e., ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF), was significantly lower in the AF group than in the SR group (0.54 vs 0.95 episodes/person/year, P = 0.032). Furthermore, amiodarone use was significantly higher in the AF group than in the SR group (P = 0.003). Non-use of amiodarone was associated with a significant increase in the occurrence of VT/VF in the two groups. This beneficial suppressive effect of amiodarone on the incidence of VT/VF was present in the AF group regardless of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). However, this effect of amiodarone was present only in patients with LVEF ≥ 40% in the SR group. CONCLUSIONS: Amiodarone was negatively associated with VT/VF occurrence and was frequently used in ICD/CRT-D patients with AF. VT/VF was controlled by amiodarone in all cases in the AF group but only in patients with an LVEF ≥ 40% in the SR group.

Clinical Influence and Predictors of Pacing-Induced Mechanical Asynchrony in Patients with Normal Cardiac Function with Ventricular Lead Placed in Non-Apical Position.

Right ventricular apical (RVA) pacing often causes left ventricular (LV) mechanical asynchrony, which is enhanced by impaired cardiac contraction and intrinsic conduction abnormality. However, data on patients with normal cardiac function and under RV non-apical (non-RVA) pacing are limited.We retrospectively investigated 97 consecutive patients with normal ejection fraction who received pacemaker implantation for atrioventricular block with the ventricular lead placed in a non-RVA position. We defined mechanical asynchrony as discoordinate contraction between opposing regions of the LV wall evaluated by echocardiography. Asynchrony was detected in 9 (9%) patients at baseline and in 38 (39%) under non-RVA pacing (P < 0.001). Asynchrony at baseline was significantly associated with complete left bundle branch block (CLBBB) [odds ratio (OR) = 20.8, P < 0.001]. Asynchrony under non-RVA pacing was significantly associated with left anterior fascicular block (LAFB) (OR = 7.14, P < 0.001) and CLBBB (OR = 13.3, P = 0.002) at baseline. New occurrence of asynchrony was significantly associated with LAFB at baseline (OR = 5.88, P = 0.001). During a median follow-up period of 4.8 years, the incidence of device-detected atrial fibrillation (AF) was more frequent in patients who developed asynchrony than in those who did not (53.3% versus 27.5%, hazard ratio = 2.17, 95% confidence interval = 1.02-4.61, P = 0.03).In patients with normal cardiac function, LAFB at baseline was significantly associated with new occurrence of mechanical asynchrony under non-RVA pacing. Abnormal contraction had a significant influence on the incidence of device-detected AF.

Evaluation of Need for Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator by Thallium-201 Scintigraphy Among Japanese Patients With Prior Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: Identifying who among current Japanese patients with prior myocardial infarction (MI) would benefit from an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is imperative. Accordingly, this study seeks to determine whether single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) can help identify such patients. Methods and Results: This retrospective study enrolled 60 consecutive patients with prior MI who underwent stress thallium-201 SPECT and ICD implantation from February 2000 to October 2014. Occurrence of arrhythmic death and/or or appropriate ICD therapy, defined as shock or antitachycardia pacing for ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia, was identified until November 2016. During the median follow-up interval of 6.6 years, 18 (30%) patients experienced arrhythmic death and/or appropriate ICD therapy. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis revealed that the summed stress score (SSS) [hazard ratio (HR)=1.14; P=0.005] and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at rest (HR=0.92; P=0.038) were significantly associated with the occurrence of arrhythmic events. Patients with SSS ≥21 and LVEF ≤30%, which were determined to be the best cutoff points, had significantly higher incidence of the arrhythmic events than the other patients (64% vs. 11%; HR=7.18; log-rank P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: SSS using stress thallium-201 SPECT in combination with LVEF can help determine the need for ICD therapy among current Japanese patients with prior MI.

Continuous ST-Monitoring Function of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Detects Silent Ischemia in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease.

BACKGROUND: Newer implantable cardioverter defibrillators can monitor intracardiac ECGs , but their ability to detect ischemia is unclear. This study investigated the usefulness of implantable cardioverter defibrillators with an ST-monitoring function in coronary artery disease patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted a prospective study of implantable cardioverter defibrillator patients with the ST-monitoring function. One hundred seventy-three patients who received implantable cardioverter defibrillators for primary or secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death. All patients underwent medical examinations at least every 6 months, with standard 12-lead ECGs and device checks that included analysis of the ST-monitoring function. Myocardial perfusion imaging or coronary angiography was performed during the follow-up. The mean follow-up duration was 23.3±7.7 months. Significant ST changes occurred in 15 patients (8.7%), of whom 14 were asymptomatic. The incidence of angina pectoris was significantly higher in the ST change (+) group than that in the ST change (-) group (28.6% versus 7.2%, P=0.03). In the patients who underwent myocardial perfusion imaging, the sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive value of the ST-monitoring feature to detect ischemia were 75.0%, 72.5%, and 93.5%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive value of the ST-monitoring feature to predict residual stenosis evaluated using coronary angiography were 76.9%, 83.5%, and 97.5%, respectively. The percentage of patients with a septal right ventricular lead was significantly lower in the ST change (+) group than in the ST change (-) group (13.5% versus 33.5%, P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: If intracardiac ECGs ST changes are detected, it is necessary to use additional modalities even in asymptomatic patients. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: upload.umin.ac.jp. Unique identifier: UMIN000011824.

The Impact of Heart Rate Response During 48-Hour Rewarming Phase of Therapeutic Hypothermia on Neurologic Outcomes in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Patients.

OBJECTIVES: Bradycardia during therapeutic hypothermia has been reported to be a predictor of favorable neurologic outcomes in out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. However, bradycardia occurrence rate may be influenced by the target body temperature. During therapeutic hypothermia, as part of the normal physiologic response, heart rate decreases in the cooling phase and increases during the rewarming phase. We hypothesized that increased heart rate during the rewarming phase is another predictor of favorable neurologic outcomes. To address this hypothesis, the study aimed to examine the association between heart rate response during the rewarming phase and neurologic outcomes in patients having return of spontaneous circulation after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. DESIGN: A secondary analysis of the Japanese Population-based Utstein style study with defibrillation and basic/advanced Life Support Education and implementation-Hypothermia registry, which was a multicenter prospective cohort study. SETTING: Fourteen hospitals throughout Japan. PATIENTS: Patients suffering from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest who received therapeutic hypothermia after the return of spontaneous circulation from 2005 to 2011. INTERVENTION: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: This study enrolled 452 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients, of which 354 were analyzed, and 80.2% survived to hospital discharge, of which 57.3% had a good neurologic outcome. Heart rate response was calculated using heart rate data recorded during therapeutic hypothermia in the abovementioned registry. Heart rate response in the rewarming phase (heart rate response-rewarming) was calculated as follows: (heart rate [post rewarming]-heart rate [pre rewarming])/heart rate (pre rewarming) × 100. The primary outcome was an unfavorable neurologic outcome at hospital discharge, that is, a Cerebral Performance Category of 3-5. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association between heart rate response-rewarming and unfavorable neurologic outcomes. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that heart rate response-rewarming was independently associated with unfavorable outcomes (odds ratio [per 10% change], 0.86; 95% CI, 0.78-0.96; p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Increased heart rate in the approximately 48-hour rewarming phase during therapeutic hypothermia was significantly associated with and was an independent predictor of favorable neurologic outcomes during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Effects of early diuretic response to carperitide in acute decompensated heart failure treatment: A single-center retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Diuretic response is a strong predictor of outcome for admitted patients of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). However, little is known about the effects of early diuretic response to carperitide. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed records of 85 patients hospitalized for ADHF who received carperitide as initial treatment and <40 mg furosemide during the early period. The eligible patients were divided into good diuretic responder (GR) group and poor diuretic responder (PR) group on the basis of median urinary volume. RESULTS: The PR group demonstrated older age, lower body mass index (BMI), lower estimated glomerular filtration rate, and higher blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level, left ventricular ejection fraction, and ß-blockers prescribed at baseline than the GR group. The incidence of worsening renal function (WRF) was significantly higher in the PR group than in the GR group. There was no correlation between early intravenous furosemide dose and urinary volume (Spearman correlation, ρ = 0.111, p = 0.312). Multivariate analysis showed that the statistically significant independent factors associated with poor diuretic response to carperitide were BMI (Odds ratio (OR) = 0.82, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.68-0.94, p = 0.004) and BUN (OR = 1.07, 95%CI 1.01-1.15, p = 0.018). Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated a lower event-free rate in the PR group than in the GR group (log-rank, p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: BMI and BUN levels on admission were significant determinants of early poor diuretic response to carperitide. Early poor diuretic response to carperitide was associated with future poor outcomes.

Outcomes for Atrial Fibrillation Patients with Silent Left Atrial Thrombi Detected by Transesophageal Echocardiography.

Although we have occasionally experienced silent thrombi in the left atrium (LA), defined as thrombi free from embolic events, by screening transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for atrial fibrillation (AF), few data are available on predictors and outcomes of silent LA thrombi in patients with AF. We retrospectively reviewed clinical records and identified 83 patients (2.6%) with silent LA thrombi, out of 4,214 TEE procedures in 3,139 patients with AF at 6 hospitals from January 2010 to December 2012. The median [interquartile range] CHA2DS2-VASc score was 3 [2, 5]. Most patients (n = 71, 86%) were taking oral anticoagulants before the TEE, and 59 patients (71%) had heart failure (HF). During follow-up periods of 905 [620, 1301] days, ischemic stroke and systemic embolism, and hemorrhagic stroke occurred only in 3 (3.6%) and 2 patients (2.4%), respectively. All-cause death developed in 14 patients (17%), and cardiac death was the primary cause of death (n = 9, 11%). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed the composite end point of death, stroke, systemic embolism, and major bleeding was significantly associated with age (hazard ratio; 1.06, 95% confidence interval; 1.01 to 1.11, p = 0.019) and HF (3.18, 1.27 to 7.99, p = 0.014). In conclusion, the incidence of ischemic stroke after detecting silent LA thrombi was relatively low in patients with AF under oral anticoagulation. Advanced age and HF were predictors for worse outcomes in AF patients with silent LA thrombi.

Angioplasty of the Occluded Persistent Sciatic Artery Using the Retrograde Approach from Superficial Femoral Artery.

Persistent sciatic artery is a rare developmental anomaly prone to atherosclerotic disease. We present a case of successful endovascular therapy for left persistent sciatic artery that was occluded at the distal site. The angioplasty was performed with both antegrade approach from contralateral common femoral artery and retrograde approach from ipsilateral superficial femoral artery. The guidewire was advanced via collateral channel and crossed through the lesion retrogradely. Rendez-vous technique was performed, and the lesion was successfully dilated by balloon inflation. Angioplasty of occluded sciatic artery can be performed successfully and effectively using the collateral channel.

Outcomes of First- Versus Second-Generation Drug-Eluting Stent Implanted for Right Coronary Artery Ostial Narrowing.

Clinical outcome is generally poor when stents are implanted at right coronary artery ostial lesion (RCAos). We compared the clinical outcome between the first-generation drug-eluting stent (first DES) and second-generation drug-eluting stent (second DES) used for RCAos. Consecutive 88 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary interventions of de novo RCAos using the first DES (33 patients) or second DES (55 patients) were analyzed. The incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) defined as the composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction attributed to right coronary artery, and target lesion revascularization within 2.5 years was compared. The incidence of MACE was significantly lower in second DES (11% vs 36%, p = 0.010) than that in the first DES. Multivariate analysis revealed use of second DES (odds ratio 0.24, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.93, p = 0.008) alone was significantly associated with MACE. In conclusion, second DES revealed better clinical outcome than the first DES when used in de novo RCAos.

Fibrillatory pattern of dissociated venous activity after pulmonary vein isolation: Novel characteristics for remnant foci of a trigger ectopy for atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Dissociated pulmonary vein activity (DPVA), defined as isolated intrinsic ectopic beats observed after successful pulmonary vein (PV) isolation, indicates the presence of remnant foci of trigger ectopy but has yet to be extensively studied. We investigated the correlation between DPVA and the PV triggers of atrial fibrillation (AF). METHOD AND RESULTS: Consecutive 110 patients undergoing AF ablation were enrolled. We defined trigger ectopy as documented ectopic foci observed to spontaneously initiate AF. Trigger ectopy was detected in 62 (56%) patients. DPVA in at least one PV was detected in 95 (86%) patients. Of the 440 isolated PVs, we recognized trigger ectopy in 73 (16%) PVs (culprit PVs) and DPVA in 184 (42%) PVs. DPVA was more frequently observed in culprit PVs than in non-culprit PVs [59% vs. 39%; odds ratio (OR)=2.3; p=0.001]. The concordance ratio of culprit PV was 67% (8/12) in PV with fibrillatory DPVA, 20% (35/172) in PV with non-fibrillatory DPVA, and 12% (30/256) in PV without DPVA. Fibrillatory DPVA was more frequently observed in culprit PVs than non-fibrillatory DPVA (OR=7.8; p=0.001). Non-PV foci were observed in 10 (11%) of the 95 patients with DPVA and 5 (33%) of the 15 patients without DPVA (OR=4.3; p=0.02). No significant difference in the frequency of AF recurrence was observed between them. CONCLUSIONS: Fibrillatory DPVA was found to be strongly associated with trigger ectopy of AF. Non-fibrillatory DPVA might merely indicate the existence of bystander ectopic foci located inside PVs. Non-PV ectopic foci were frequently observed in patients without DPVA.

Comparison of angioscopic findings among second-generation drug-eluting stents.

BACKGROUND: First-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) have reduced short-term stent failure as compared to bare-metal stents due to the inhibition of neointima hyperplasia, but instead increased the risk of very-late stent failure. Although better outcomes have been reported for second-generation DES than for first-generation DES, the difference in the angioscopic findings at 1-year follow-up has not been adequately elucidated among second-generation DES. METHODS: Consecutive 161 patients who received angioscopic examination at 1 year after implantation of second-generation DES, i.e. Nobori biolimus-eluting stents (Terumo, Tokyo, Japan) (N-BES, n=25), Xience everolimus-eluting stents (Abbot Vascular, Santa Clara, CA, USA; X-EES, n=95), or Resolute zotarolimus-eluting stents (Resolute Integrity; Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA; R-ZES, n=41), in de novo native coronary lesions were analyzed. RESULTS: Maximum neointima coverage grade (N-BES, 0.9±0.3; X-EES, 1.2±0.4; R-ZES, 1.5±0.5; p<0.001) was the highest in R-ZES and lowest in N-BES. Heterogeneity score was higher in R-ZES than in N-BES (N-BES, 0.8±0.4; X-EES, 0.9±0.4; R-ZES, 1.1±0.5; p=0.007). Maximum yellow color grade and prevalence of thrombus were not different. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that only stent type was associated with maximum neointima coverage grade; stent type and total stent length were associated with heterogeneity score; and stenting for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and total stent length were associated with maximum yellow color grade. CONCLUSIONS: Neointima coverage and heterogeneity were mainly determined by stent type even among second-generation DES, while yellow color was determined mainly by whether target lesion was of ACS.

Transtubular Potassium Concentration Gradient as a Surrogate Measure of Arterial Underfilling in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: The monitoring of tissue hypoperfusion and the subsequent neurohumoral activation (ie, arterial underfilling) during decongestion is important for the management of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). The transtubular potassium concentration gradient (TTKG) has been reported to be a marker of renal aldosterone bioactivity. This study tested the hypothesis that TTKG can be a surrogate of arterial underfilling in patients with ADHF. METHODS AND RESULTS: We measured TTKG at discharge in 100 ADHF patients. The primary outcome measure was the occurrence of tissue hypoperfusion events (defined according to the "Cold Modified 2014" definition criteria) within 1 month after discharge. The secondary outcome measure was the occurrence of cardiac death or ADHF readmission within 3 months after discharge. On receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, TTKG predicted tissue hypoperfusion events with high accuracy (C-statistic, 0.889) for a cut-off of 6.0. Multivariate Cox regression analyses demonstrated independent relationships between TTKG and both the primary and secondary outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: TTKG has utility as a surrogate of arterial underfilling, and spot TTKG at discharge may be a prognostic marker in ADHF patients. (Circ J 2016; 80: 1965-1970).