Effusive-constrictive pericarditis after the second dose of BNT162b2 vaccine (Comirnaty): a case report.

BACKGROUND: Whereas effusive-constrictive pericarditis (ECP) can rarely occur in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), to date no cases of ECP related to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) vaccine have been documented. CASE SUMMARY: A 59-year-old Caucasian man presented to our emergency department with ECP. Symptoms occurred shortly after the second dose of BNT162b2 (Comirnaty) vaccine. No other aetiological causes were identified. Guidelines-directed therapy for acute pericarditis was implemented, with clinical benefit. DISCUSSION: Systemic inflammatory response to COVID-19 can rarely trigger pericarditis. In our case, a strong temporal relationship between the second dose of BNT162b2 vaccine and symptoms occurrence was documented, indicating a possible rare adverse reaction to the vaccine, similarly to natural infection. Further research is needed to confirm a causal relationship.

Mitral annulus morphometry in degenerative mitral regurgitation phenotypes.

OBJECTIVES: Degenerative mitral regurgitation (DMR) is classified into different phenotypes based on the extent of leaflet degeneration. Our aim is to demonstrate that phenotype complexity predicts the extent of structural abnormalities of mitral annulus (MA). METHODS AND RESULTS: Seventy-five patients with DMR and severe valve regurgitation and 23 patients with normal mitral valve were studied using 3D transesophageal echocardiography. Classification of DMR was done by allocating each 3D echocardiography result under five categories: fibroelastic deficiency (FED), FED+, forme fruste, Barlow's disease Mitral annular disjunction (BD MAD)- or BD MAD+. MA was reconstructed in early systole and in end systole. We tested for a trend toward enlargement and flattening of MA in end systole and for a difference in MA dynamics from early systole to end systole with a worsening of DMR phenotype, in the whole spectrum of subjects ranging from controls to BD MAD+. A significant trend was observed toward larger anteroposterior diameter, intercommissural diameter, annulus circumference, and annulus area (P < .001). A reduction was found in annulus height to commissural width ratio (P = .003): This indicates a progressive MA flattening. Prolapse height and prolapse volume tended to be larger (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Based on the extent of leaflet degeneration, DMR is classified into different phenotypes. As the disease progresses, a related increase in MA size is found, with rounder annular shape, loss of saddle shape, and increase in height and volume of leaflet prolapse. The most pronounced alterations are found in BD MAD+.

Anatomy of mitral annulus insights from non-invasive imaging techniques.

The mitral annulus (MA) is not a continuous ring of connective tissue from which are suspended mitral leaflets. Instead, it is a much more complex structure made up of a mix of fibrous, muscular, and adipose tissues. MA is a key structure in any type of mitral valve repair and recently it has been targeted for transcutaneous devices. Thus, a deep understanding of MA anatomy has never been more important. Traditionally, cardiac anatomy has been described using anatomic specimens. Currently, sophisticated non-invasive techniques allow imaging of MA with a richness of anatomical details unimaginable only two decades ago. The aim of this review is to provide a better understanding of the peculiar aspects of MA as they are revealed through these imaging techniques and discuss clinical implications related to this complex structure.

One-year outcome of biolimus eluting stent with biodegradable polymer in all comers: the Italian Nobori Stent Prospective Registry.

OBJECTIVES: INSPIRE-1 (Italian Nobori Stent ProspectIve REgistry-1) was designed and conducted to assess clinical performance of Nobori biolimus A9-eluting stent (BES) implantation in an unrestricted "real-world" cohort of patients. METHODS: Unrestricted consecutive high-risk patients treated with BES with biodegradable polymer (Nobori, Terumo, Tokyo, Japan) between February 2008 and July 2012 were prospectively enrolled in an independent multicenter registry and divided in two groups: complex and non complex lesions. RESULTS: 1066 patients (1589 lesions) treated with Nobori BES were analyzed. The majority of patients (57%) were treated for at least one complex lesion and presented a high-risk clinical profile (previous CABG 17.6%, diabetes mellitus 33.1%, chronic kidney disease 14.3%). Angiographic success rate was achieved in 96.2% cases. At 1 year, the primary endpoint, (composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and clinically driven target vessel revascularization), occurred in 39 (4.0%) patients, and was higher in the complex lesions (5.2% vs. 2.5%, P = 0.032). Target lesion failure (TLF, secondary endpoint) occurred in 45 (4.6%) patients, and was more frequent in the complex lesions group (6.2% vs. 2.7%, P = 0.011), mainly due to a higher incidence of any target lesion revascularization (4.8% vs. 2.7%; P = 0.095). Definite and probable stent thrombosis (ST) rate was 0.6% and 0.5% respectively, with no difference between groups. CONCLUSIONS: In unrestricted daily practice, BESs were implanted predominantly in high risk patients with complex lesions. Despite this, the Nobori BES was associated with a relatively low rate of primary endpoint and TLF, with a higher risk in patients with complex lesions.

PlaCor PRT measurement of shear-activated platelet aggregate formation in stable patients treated with single and dual antiplatelet therapy.

Shear forces play a key role in thrombus formation and shear-based tests may better reflect physiological conditions in vivo compared with agonist-based tests. We evaluated the PlaCor PRT®, a novel platelet reactivity test based on shear-induced platelet aggregation, in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) treated with single (SAPT) and dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). We examined 100 patients with multiple risk factors for CAD and/or documented stable CAD: 38 treated with SAPT, aspirin 100 mg qd, 62 treated with DAPT, aspirin 100 mg + clopidogrel 75 mg qd, compared with age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers without antiplatelet therapy (HV, n = 35). Measures of shear-induced platelet aggregation were performed with the PlaCor PRT®. In 25 patients in SAPT, the PlaCor test was also performed before and after a 12-hour-loading dose of clopidogrel 600 mg. The mean ± SD PRT time (seconds) in HV was 78 ± 13 and was significantly lower compared with SAPT (118 ± 16, p = 0.030) and to DAPT patients (242 ± 11, p < 0.0001). A statistically significant difference was also reported between SAPT and DAPT patients (p < 0.0001). After a loading dose of clopidogrel, the PRT time of SAPT patients increased significantly from 112 ± 20 to 254 ± 17, p < 0.0001. 2.7 and 26% of patients were considered as "poor responders" to single and dual antiplatelet therapy, respectively. This study shows that in patients with multiple risk factors for CAD and/or documented stable CAD, SAPT and DAPT play an important role in reducing platelet aggregation mediated by shear forces as evaluated with the novel PlaCor PRT®. Further studies will be required to confirm and assess the extent of these findings in patients with acute coronary syndromes.