Effectiveness and Safety of Left Distal Transradial Access in Coronary Procedures in the Caribbean.

INTRODUCTION: This retrospective study investigated the effectiveness and safety of left distal transradial access (LDTRA) in patients with cardiovascular disease in Trinidad undergoing coronary angiography (CAG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHOD: Procedural parameters, including technical success and safety outcomes such as vascular complications and radial artery occlusion (RAO), were assessed in 111 consecutive patients undergoing CAG or PCI from January 2023 to June 2023 at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Trinidad and Tobago. Eighty-eight patients underwent LDTRA, while 23 received left transradial access (LTRA). RESULTS: There was no difference in procedural success with LDTRA compared to LTRA, 90.9% vs. 100%, p-value 0.202, non-significant (ns). LDTRA was associated with shorter fluoroscopy times (8.4 ± 6.8 minutes vs. 12.4 ± 7.7 minutes, p-value = 0.02), procedural duration (26.7 ± 18 minutes vs. 35.8 ± 20 minutes, p-value = 0.04), and hemostasis time (142 ± 41 minutes vs. 186 ± 44 minutes, p-value < 0.05). There were no significant differences in procedural-related complications (8% for LDTRA vs. 4.3% for LTRA, p-value = 0.476, ns). There were no reported cases of RAO. In the subgroup of patients with prior coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), the fluoroscopy and procedure times were similar for both access sites; however, LDTRA was associated with a shorter hemostasis time (128 ± 30 minutes vs. 194 ± 39 minutes, p-value = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: LDTRA is effective and safe for coronary procedures and is associated with a shorter hemostasis time. This study may prove clinically pertinent in a limited-resource Caribbean setting.

Effect of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) on platelet function testing profiles in patients with coronary artery disease: ECLAIR pilot study.

INTRODUCTION: This prospective pharmacodynamic nutraceutical study assessed the effect of a 1-week trial of 30 g/day of 65% cocoa (dark chocolate) (Theobroma cacao L.) consumption intervention on platelet reactivity. METHODS: Patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) (n=20) who were on maintenance dual antiplatelet therapy of aspirin (ASA) 81 mg/day and clopidogrel 75 mg/day were recruited. Platelet function was evaluated with the VerifyNow P2Y12 reaction unit (PRU) and aspirin reaction unit (ARU) assays (Werfen, Bedford, Massachusetts, USA) and assessed prior to initiation of and after a 1-week trial of 30 g/day of 65% cocoa consumption intervention. Results were compared with a paired t-test. RESULTS: Cocoa augmented the inhibitory effect of clopidogrel, demonstrated by a reduction of 11.9% (95% CI 5.7% to 18.0%, p value 0.001), significantly decreasing the PRU by 26.85 (95% CI 12.22 to 41.48, p value 0.001). The inhibitory effect of ASA was not impacted by cocoa, reflected by a non-significant reduction in ARU of 17.65 (95% CI 21.00 to 56.3, p value 0.351). No patients experienced any serious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Cocoa augmented the inhibitory effect of clopidogrel but not ASA. This nutraceutical study could be potentially informative and applicable for patients with stable CAD. Further long-term studies are required to confirm these exploratory findings. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04554901.

The Effect of Dapagliflozin on Platelet Function Testing Profiles in Diabetic Patients: The EDGE Pilot Study.

INTRODUCTION: This prospective pharmacodynamic (PD) study assessed the effect of the sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2i), dapagliflozin, on platelet reactivity. METHODS: Patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (n = 27) who were on maintenance dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) of aspirin 81 mg daily, and clopidogrel 75 mg daily were recruited. Platelet function was evaluated with the VerifyNow™ P2Y12 assay (Werfen, Bedford, MA, USA) and assessed prior to initiation of and after 10 days of treatment with dapagliflozin 10 mg once-daily dose regimen. Results were compared with a paired t test. RESULTS: Treatment with dapagliflozin significantly decreased P2Y12 reaction units (PRU) by 20%, (95% confidence interval (CI) 8.5-32.6%, p value 0.002). The mean difference in PRU was 36.70 (95% CI 16.66-56.75). No patients experienced any serious adverse events (SAEs). CONCLUSIONS: Significantly diminished platelet reactivity was observed on dapagliflozin as compared to without dapagliflozin. This dedicated pharmacodynamic study could be potentially informative and applicable for Trinidadian stable CAD patients with T2DM on DAPT. Further studies are required to confirm these exploratory findings. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: EDGE ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT04400760.

Africanized Honey Bee Sting-Induced Stress-Related Cardiomyopathy: A Bee or Octopus Trap.

The Africanized honey bee commonly referred to as the "killer bee," is a hybrid of the East African lowland honey bee with various European honey bees. These bees tend to be more hostile as compared to other bee species. Their stings may have devastating clinical sequelae, including cardiovascular, cerebrovascular events, and fatalities. We report the first-in-Caribbean case of a middle-aged woman who experienced stress-related, Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (also known as stress-related cardiomyopathy [SRC]) after being afflicted with innumerable Africanized honey bee stings. Key clinical message: The clinician should be cognizant of Takotsubo's cardiomyopathy as a potential sequela of Hymenoptera envenomation and anaphylaxis.

Isolated Right Ventricular Noncompaction Cardiomyopathy Causing Pulmonary Embolism.

Ventricular noncompaction is a rare, heterogeneous cardiomyopathy characterized by marked trabeculations and deep intertrabecular spaces with clinical sequelae of heart failure, arrhythmias, and cardioembolic events. In this article, we describe a patient with isolated right ventricular noncompaction who presented with submassive pulmonary embolism, which was managed with long-term direct oral anticoagulation.

The Effect of Empagliflozin on Platelet Function Profiles in Patients with Stable Coronary Artery Disease in Trinidad: The EFFECT Pilot Study.

INTRODUCTION: This prospective pharmacodynamic (PD) study aimed to assess the effect of the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) empagliflozin on platelet reactivity. METHODS: Patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (n = 20) who were actively treated with dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) of aspirin 81 mg daily and clopidogrel 75 mg daily were recruited. Platelet function was measured with the VerifyNow™ P2Y12 assay (Instrumentation Laboratory, Massachusetts, USA) and assessed before the initiation of and after 10 days of treatment with empagliflozin 25 mg once daily maintenance dose regimen. Results were compared with a paired t test. RESULTS: The mean P2Y12 reaction units (PRU) on empagliflozin was significantly less than without empagliflozin at baseline (187.35, 95% confidence interval (CI) 155.38-219.32 vs. 217.25, CI 180.60-253.90; p < 0.030). The mean difference in PRU was 29.90 (95% CI 3.17-56.63). No patients experienced any serious adverse events (SAEs). CONCLUSIONS: Significantly attenuated platelet reactivity was observed on empagliflozin as compared to without empagliflozin. This dedicated pharmacodynamic study could be clinically pertinent for Trinidadian patients with stable CAD and T2DM on DAPT. Further studies are required to confirm these exploratory findings. (Funded by the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine; EFFECT). CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT04342819.

The Effect of Low-Dose Ticagrelor on Platelet Function Profiles in Patients With Stable Coronary Artery Disease in Trinidad: The TWIST Pilot Study.

INTRODUCTION: This prospective, pharmacodynamic study aimed to explore the potential applicability of a low-dose ticagrelor regimen in a heterogeneous Trinidadian subpopulation. METHODS: Patients with stable coronary artery disease (n = 25) who were actively treated with dual antiplatelet therapy of aspirin 81 mg daily and clopidogrel 75 mg daily were recruited. Platelet function was measured with the VerifyNow P2Y12 assay (Accriva Diagnostics, San Diego, CA, USA) and assessed before initiation of and after 14 days of treatment with a low-dose ticagrelor 45 mg twice daily maintenance dose regimen. Results were compared with a paired t test. RESULTS: The mean P2Y12 reaction units (PRU) score on ticagrelor was significantly less compared to that of clopidogrel (50.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 29-73.9; vs. 149.6, 95% CI 129.4-169.9; p value < 0.001). Of the patients, 4% experienced Medical Research Council class 1 dyspnea, and Bleeding Academic Research Consortium class 1 bleeding on the ticagrelor regimen (one patient each). CONCLUSIONS: Significantly attenuated platelet reactivity was seen on the low ticagrelor maintenance dose as compared to clopidogrel. This dedicated pharmacodynamic study could be applicable and informative for Trinidadian stable coronary artery disease patients. Further studies are required to confirm these exploratory findings.(Funded by the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine). TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT04206176.