Blockage of interleukin-1ß with canakinumab in patients with Covid-19.

There is the urgent need to study the effects of immunomodulating agents as therapy for Covid-19. An observational, cohort, prospective study with 30 days of observation was carried out to assess clinical outcomes in 88 patients hospitalized for Covid-19 pneumonia and treated with canakinumab (300 mg sc). Median time from diagnosis of Covid-19 by viral swab to administration of canakinumab was 7.5 days (range 0-30, IQR 4-11). Median PaO2/FiO2 increased from 160 (range 53-409, IQR 122-210) at baseline to 237 (range 72-533, IQR 158-331) at day 7 after treatment with canakinumab (p < 0.0001). Improvement of oxygen support category was observed in 61.4% of cases. Median duration of hospitalization following administration of canakinumab was 6 days (range 0-30, IQR 4-11). At 7 days, 58% of patients had been discharged and 12 (13.6%) had died. Significant differences between baseline and 7 days were observed for absolute lymphocyte counts (mean 0.60 vs 1.11 × 109/L, respectively, p < 0.0001) and C-reactive protein (mean 31.5 vs 5.8 mg/L, respectively, p < 0.0001).Overall survival at 1 month was 79.5% (95% CI 68.7-90.3). Oxygen-support requirements improved and overall mortality was 13.6%. Confirmation of the efficacy of canakinumab for Covid-19 warrants further study in randomized controlled trials.

Vascular complications after balloon aortic valvuloplasty in recent years: Incidence and comparison of two hemostatic devices.

OBJECTIVES: To define the incidence of vascular complications (VC) after balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) in recent years, and to compare the performance of two vascular closure devices (VCD). BACKGROUND: VC remain the most frequent drawback of BAV and are associated with adverse clinical outcomes. METHODS: All BAV procedures performed at 2 high-volume centers over a 6-year period (n = 930) were collected in prospective registries and investigated to assess the incidence of Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 (VARC-2) defined VC. Incidence of life-threatening, major and minor bleeding was also assessed. In-hospital major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) rate (composite of in-hospital death, myocardial infarction, TIA/stroke, and life-threatening bleeding) as well as 30-day survival was compared between a suture-mediated closure system and a collagen plug hemostatic device. RESULTS: A 9 Fr arterial sheath was used in most of the patients (84.1%). Vascular closure was obtained with the Angio-Seal in 643 patients (69.1%) and the ProGlide in 287 (30.9%). The overall incidence of major VC was 2.7%, and minor VC 6.6%, without significant differences between groups. The Angio-Seal group was associated with a higher rate of small hematomas (6.9% vs. 3.5%, P = 0.042), whilst blood transfusions were more frequent in the ProGlide group (6.6% vs. 3.5%, P = 0.034). Rates of in-hospital MACCE and 30-day survival were similar. Use of either VCD was not independently associated with major VC. CONCLUSIONS: VC rate after BAV is fairly low in experienced centers without major differences between the 2 most used VCD.

Instent neointimal hyperplasia after percutaneous intervention for ST-elevation myocardial infarction and treatment with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor. Results from the stem cells in myocardial infarction (STEMMI) trial.

BACKGROUND: Recombinant granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) mobilized pluripotent cells from the bone marrow are proposed to have a regenerative potential. Though, a report of excessive instent restenosis, in patients treated with G-CSF before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) warrants caution. METHODS: Patients (n=59) enrolled in the STEMMI trial, a randomized and double blind study, comparing G-CSF and placebo after large ST-elevation myocardial infarctions, had an intracoronary ultrasound imaging at 6 months follow-up with a quantitative analysis of instent neointimal hyperplasia. RESULTS: During G-CSF treatment leukocyte counts, and CD34+ and CD45-/CD34- cell fractions in peripheral blood increased markedly (p<0.0001 vs. placebo). At follow-up, there were no differences in intracoronary late lumen loss, expressed as neointima volume per mm of stent (1.6 mm(3)± 1.2 [G-CSF group] vs. 1.9 mm(3)± 1.3 [placebo group]; p=0.38), and in minimal instent lumen area (5.4 mm(2)± 2.4 vs. 5.3 mm(2)± 2.6, p=0.90). In the placebo group, plasma concentration of stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) increased significantly after STEMI. This SDF-1 response was completely suppressed during G-CSF treatment. A rebound increase of SDF-1 was observed after withdrawal of G-CSF (p=0.001). Plasma concentration of SDF-1 at the time of stent implantation correlated positively to neointimal hyperplasia (p=0.025). CONCLUSIONS: G-CSF treatment, initiated after PCI, does not lead to excessive instent neointimal hyperplasia or restenosis in patients with STEMI. The timing of G-CSF, in relation to the PCI, might be important, as G-CSF influences SDF-1.

The influence of genotype on vascular endothelial growth factor and regulation of myocardial collateral blood flow in patients with acute and chronic coronary heart disease.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that mutations in the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene are associated with plasma concentration of VEGF and subsequently the ability to influence coronary collateral arteries in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS: Blood samples from patients with chronic ischemic heart disease (n=53) and acute coronary syndrome (n=61) were analysed. Coronary collaterals were scored from diagnostic biplane coronary angiograms. RESULTS: The plasma concentration of VEGF was increased in patients with acute compared to chronic CHD (p=0.01). The genotype frequencies differed significantly from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in three of 15 examined loci. Four new mutations in addition to the already described were identified. The VEGF haplotype did not seem to predict plasma VEGF concentration (p=0.5). There was an association between the genotype in locus VEGF-1154 and coronary collateral size (p=0.03) and a significant association between the VEGF plasma concentration and the collateral size (p=0.03). CONCLUSION: VEGF plasma concentration seems related to coronary collateral function in patients with CHD. The results did not support the hypothesis that polymorphisms in the untranslated region of the VEGF gene were associated with the concentration of circulating VEGF. Increased understanding of VEGF in the regulation of myocardial collateral flow may lead to new therapies in CHD.

Long-term effectiveness of early administration of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa agents to real-world patients undergoing primary percutaneous interventions: results of a registry study in an ST-elevation myocardial infarction network.

AIMS: To evaluate the clinical impact of early administration of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa agents (IIb/IIIa agents) in the context of a dedicated hub and spoke network allowing very prompt pharmacological/mechanical interventions. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using a prospective database, we conducted a cohort study of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients (n = 1124) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary interventions (PPCIs) and IIb/IIIa agents administration (period, 2003-2006). Comparisons were planned between patients receiving early IIb/IIIa agents administration (in hub/spoke centre emergency departments or during ambulance transfer; early group, n = 380) or delayed administration (in the catheterization laboratory; late group, n = 744). The primary outcome measure was long-term overall mortality/re-infarction. Baseline characteristics of the two groups were largely comparable. Angiographically, early group patients more often achieved pre-PPCI TIMI Grade 2-3 and TIMI Grade 3 flow. Clinically, the early administration group experienced lower 2-year risk of unadjusted mortality/re-infarction (17 vs. 23%; P = 0.01). After adjustment for potential confounders, early administration was associated with favourable outcome in the overall population (HR = 0.71, P = 0.03) and in high-risk subgroups (TIMI risk index >25, HR = 0.64, P = 0.02; Killip class >1, HR = 0.54, P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: In patients treated by PPCI within a STEMI network setting, early administration of IIb/IIIa agents may provide long-term clinical benefits. Notably, these results appeared magnified in high-risk patients.

Release of biomarkers of myocardial damage after direct intramyocardial injection of genes and stem cells via the percutaneous transluminal route.

AIMS: We aimed to quantify the release of biomarkers of myocardial damage in relation to direct intramyocardial injections of genes and stem cells in patients with severe coronary artery disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 71 patients with 'no-option' coronary artery disease. Patients had, via the percutaneous transluminal route, a total of 11 +/- 1 (mean +/- SD) intramyocardial injections of vascular endothelial growth factor genes (n = 56) or mesenchymal stromal cells (n = 15). Injections were guided to an ischaemic area by electromechanical mapping, using the NOGA/Myostar catheter system. Plasma CKMB (upper normal laboratory limit = 5 microg/L) was 2 microg/L (2-3) at baseline; increased to 6 (5-9) after 8 h (P < 0.0001) and normalized to 4 (3-5) after 24 h. A total of eight patients (17%), receiving a volume of 0.3 mL per injection, had CKMB rises exceeding three times the upper limit, whereas no patient in the group receiving 0.2 mL had a more than two-fold CKMB increase. No patient developed new ECG changes. There were no clinically ventricular arrhythmias and no death. CONCLUSION: NOGA mapping followed by direct intramyocardial injections of stem cells or genes lead to measurable release of cardiac biomarkers compared with NOGA mapping alone. The increase in biomarkers was related to the injected volume.

Predictive value of high sensitivity C-reactive protein in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated with percutaneous coronary intervention.

AIMS: To evaluate the predictive value of high sensitivity (hs) C-reactive protein levels on long-term survival in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary PCI. METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 758 STEMI patients (from January 2003 to December 2005), with STEMI onset <12 h and hs-C-reactive protein determination on admission. Patients were classified into four groups [I (hs-C-reactive protein < 0.48 mg/dL), II (hs-C-reactive protein > or = 0.48 to <1.2 mg/dL), III (hs-C-reactive protein > or = 1.2 to <3.1 mg/dL), IV (hs-C-reactive protein > or = 3.1 mg/dL)] according to quartiles of hs-C-reactive protein serum level. The IV quartile hs-C-reactive protein group had a higher incidence of in-hospital mortality and cumulative adverse events. At a mean follow-up of 724 +/- 376 days (range 0-1393), the IV quartile hs-C-reactive protein group showed lower estimated survival, lower estimated myocardial infarction-free survival and lower estimated event-free survival. At multivariable analysis hs-C-reactive protein appeared to be an independent predictor of long-term mortality (HR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01-1.07, P = 0.003), long-term mortality and re-infarction (HR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.06, P = 0.008) and adverse events (HR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.05, P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Evaluation of hs-C-reactive protein on admission in STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI allows reliable risk stratification of these patients.

Usefulness of prehospital triage in patients with cardiogenic shock complicating ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

We investigated the impact of ambulance-based prehospital triage on treatment delay and all-cause mortality (in hospital and long term) in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) complicated by cardiogenic shock referred for primary percutaneous coronary intervention in a prospectively collected registry. During the study period (January 2003 to December 2005), a total of 121 patients was referred for primary percutaneous coronary intervention at our intervention laboratory through 2 main triage groups: (1) after prehospital, ambulance-telemedicine-based triage (42 patients) and (2) by more conventional routes (79 patients) represented by the institutional S. Orsola-Malpighi hospital emergency department triage (44 patients) and spoke hospital triage (35 patients). Total ischemic time was shorter in the prehospital triage (142 minutes, range 106 to 187, vs 212 minutes, range 150 to 366, p = 0.003). Patients with prehospital triage showed a lower rate (29% vs 54%, p = 0.01) of severely depressed (

Clinical comparison of "normal-hours" vs "off-hours" percutaneous coronary interventions for ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: High mortality rates were reported in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary interventions (PPCI) "off-hours." The objective of this study was to evaluate this issue in a more recent population of patients with STEMI treated with PPCI in a high-volume tertiary center specifically dedicated to STEMI treatment. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analyzed in-hospital/1-year mortality among 985 consecutive patients with STEMI treated with PPCI between January 2003 and December 2005 in a high-volume (>1400 PCI/year) hub center in a STEMI provincial network organization during "normal-hours" (weekdays 08:00 am to 07:29 pm) and "off-hours" (weekdays 07:30 pm to 07:59 am and weekends). Most (61.2%) patients were treated during "off-hours". Clinical and angiographic characteristics of the "normal-hours" and "off-hours" groups were comparable (in both groups, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa were administered to approximately 80% patients). The off-hours group tended toward higher median (25th-75th percentiles) total ischemic time (199 [135-312] minutes vs 179 [126-285] minutes; P = .052). Median electrocardiogram-to-balloon time was less than 90 minutes in both groups. Despite 20 minutes longer median total ischemic time, patients who underwent PPCI during "off-hours" showed similar post-PPCI Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction 3 flow grade and mean left ventricular ejection fraction. No difference could be observed between the 2 groups in terms of in-hospital and 1-year mortality rates. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence that the clinical effectiveness of "normal" and "off-hours" PPCI can be equivalent, at least when performed at a center specifically dedicated to STEMI treatment with frequent use of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa agents.

Randomized comparative trial of a thin-strut bare metal cobalt-chromium stent versus a sirolimus-eluting stent for coronary revascularization.

OBJECTIVES: To see whether use of a sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) is superior to a third-generation thin-strut, cobalt-chromium stent (CCS) in terms of in-segment late loss at 9 months in patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease. BACKGROUND: Stent-strut thickness has been shown to be strictly related with risk of in-stent restenosis, but available demonstrations of the angiographic efficacy of SES have been based on comparisons with thick-strut bare metal control stents. METHODS: The primary outcome measure of this single-center, single-blind randomized comparative trial was 9-month in-segment late loss. Eligibility criteria were symptomatic coronary artery disease and target vessel diameter appropriate for implantation a 3-mm stent. Based on a power calculation, 104 patients were randomly assigned to receive a SES (Cypher) or a CCS (Vision). RESULTS: In-segment late loss was significantly lower in the SES group (0.18 +/- 0.40 mm vs 0.58 +/- 0.51 mm, P < 0.001). Regarding subsidiary outcome measures, in-segment restenosis (at 9 months) was recorded in 10% (5/50) patients treated with SES and 23% (11/48) receiving CCS (P = 0.14). No clinical difference between the two groups was apparent at 12 months. Freedom from target vessel failure at 12 months was 72% for SES patients and 68% for CCS patients (P = 0.65). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with de-novo coronary lesions at medium risk of restenosis the anti-proliferative effect of SES is greater than that of a thin-strut CCS. Nevertheless, the angiographic results of the CCS were rather good. It remains to be seen whether the angiographic superiority of SES can translate into clinical superiority.

Clinical impact of direct referral to primary percutaneous coronary intervention following pre-hospital diagnosis of ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

AIMS: Treatment delay is a powerful predictor of survival in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We investigated effectiveness of pre-hospital diagnosis of STEMI with direct referral to PCI, alongside more conventional referral strategies. METHODS AND RESULTS: From January 2003 to December 2004, 658 STEMI patients were referred for primary PCI at our intervention laboratory. Three predefined referral routes were compared: (1) for patients within 90 min drive of the PCI centre, pre-hospital diagnosis and direct transportation (n=166), (2) diagnosis at the interventional hospital emergency department (n=316), (3) diagnosis at local hospitals before transportation (n = 176). Pre-hospital diagnosis was associated with more than 45 min reduction in treatment delay (P = 0.001). No significant difference in in-hospital mortality was apparent in the overall study population. In the cardiogenic shock subgroup (n = 80), pre-hospital diagnosis was associated with a two-thirds reduction in in-hospital mortality (P = 0.019); mortality was only 6.2% in shock patients who underwent PCI in < 2 h. CONCLUSION: This study shows that pre-hospital diagnosis can provide a reduction in primary PCI treatment delay, and suggests the hypothesis that this referral strategy might provide survival benefits to patients with cardiogenic shock.