An Unlucky Four-Leaf Clover Stenosis With a Single Coronary Artery.

The recognition of quadricuspid aortic valve has clinical significance as it leads to aortic valve dysfunction. Due to its frequent association with other congenital cardiac abnormalities, such as abnormally located coronary ostia, preoperative diagnosis is crucial. We present the case of a unique association of quadricuspid aortic valve stenosis with a single coronary artery.

P2Y12 Inhibitor Loading Time Before Elective PCI and the Prevention of Myocardial Necrosis.

BACKGROUND: There are dated and conflicting data about the optimal timing of initiation of P2Y12 inhibitors in elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Peri-PCI myocardial necrosis is associated with poor outcomes. We aimed to assess the impact of the P2Y12 inhibitor loading time on periprocedural myocardial necrosis in the population of the randomized Assessment of Loading With the P2Y12 Inhibitor Ticagrelor or Clopidogrel to Halt Ischemic Events in Patients Undergoing Elective Coronary Stenting (ALPHEUS) trial, which compared ticagrelor with clopidogrel in high-risk patients who received elective PCI. METHODS: The ALPHEUS trial divided 1809 patients into quartiles of loading time. The ALPHEUS primary outcome was used (type 4 [a or b] myocardial infarction or major myocardial injury) as well as the main secondary outcome (type 4 [a or b] myocardial infarction or any type of myocardial injury). RESULTS: Patients in the first quartile group (Q1) presented higher rates of the primary outcome (P = 0.01). When compared with Q1, incidences of the primary outcome decreased in patients with longer loading times (adjusted odds ratio [adjOR], 0.70 [0.52.-0.95]; P = 0.02 for Q2; adjOR 0.65 [0.48-0.88]; P < 0.01 for Q3; adjOR 0.66 [0.49-0.89]; P < 0.01 for Q4). Concordant results were found for the main secondary outcome. There was no interaction with the study drug allocated by randomization (clopidogrel or ticagrelor). Bleeding complications (any bleeding ranging between 4.9% and 7.3% and only 1 major bleeding at 48 hours) and clinical ischemic events were rare and did not differ among groups. CONCLUSIONS: In elective PCI, administration of the oral P2Y12 inhibitor at the time of PCI could be associated with more frequent periprocedural myocardial necrosis than an earlier administration. The long-term clinical consequences remain unknown.

Compared Outcomes of ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients With Multivessel Disease Treated With Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention and Preserved Fractional Flow Reserve of Nonculprit Lesions Treated Conservatively and of Those With Low Fractional Flow Reserve Managed Invasively: Insights From the FLOWER-MI Trial.

BACKGROUND: In patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction and multivessel disease, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for nonculprit lesions guided by fractional flow reserve (FFR) is superior to treatment of the culprit lesion alone. Whether deferring nonculprit PCI is safe in this specific context is questionable. We aimed to assess clinical outcomes at 1 year in ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction patients with multivessel coronary artery disease and an FFR-guided strategy for nonculprit lesions, according to whether or not ≥1 PCI was performed. METHODS: Outcomes were analyzed in patients of the randomized FLOWER-MI (Flow Evaluation to Guide Revascularization in Multivessel ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction) trial in whom, after successful primary PCI, nonculprit lesions were assessed using FFR. The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and unplanned hospitalization with urgent revascularization at 1 year. RESULTS: Among 1171 patients enrolled in this study, 586 were assigned to the FFR-guided group: 388 (66%) of them had ≥1 PCI, and 198 (34%) had no PCI. Mean FFR before decision (ie, PCI or not) of nonculprit lesions was 0.75±0.10 and 0.88±0.06, respectively. During follow-up, a primary outcome event occurred in 16 of 388 patients (4.1%) in patients with PCI and in 16 of 198 patients (8.1%) in patients without PCI (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.42 [95% CI, 0.20-0.88]; P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction undergoing complete revascularization guided by FFR measurement, those with ≥1 PCI had lower event rates at 1 year, compared with patients with deferred PCI, suggesting that deferring lesions judged relevant by visual estimation but with FFR >0.80 may not be optimal in this context. Future randomized studies are needed to confirm these data. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT02943954. Graphic Abstract: A graphic abstract is available for this article.

Cytotoxic CD8+ T cells promote granzyme B-dependent adverse post-ischemic cardiac remodeling.

Acute myocardial infarction is a common condition responsible for heart failure and sudden death. Here, we show that following acute myocardial infarction in mice, CD8+ T lymphocytes are recruited and activated in the ischemic heart tissue and release Granzyme B, leading to cardiomyocyte apoptosis, adverse ventricular remodeling and deterioration of myocardial function. Depletion of CD8+ T lymphocytes decreases apoptosis within the ischemic myocardium, hampers inflammatory response, limits myocardial injury and improves heart function. These effects are recapitulated in mice with Granzyme B-deficient CD8+ T cells. The protective effect of CD8 depletion on heart function is confirmed by using a model of ischemia/reperfusion in pigs. Finally, we reveal that elevated circulating levels of GRANZYME B in patients with acute myocardial infarction predict increased risk of death at 1-year follow-up. Our work unravels a deleterious role of CD8+ T lymphocytes following acute ischemia, and suggests potential therapeutic strategies targeting pathogenic CD8+ T lymphocytes in the setting of acute myocardial infarction.

Bad Heart Luck: Myocardial Infarction Related to Iatrogenic Coronary Cameral Fistula in a Heart Transplant Patient.

Endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) remains the gold standard method for diagnosis of cardiac allograft rejection. Complications following EMB rarely occur, however, it can lead to coronary cameral fistulae (CCF). We describe the case of a 65-year-old patient admitted for lateral STEMI related to a fistula communicating the distal part of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) with the right ventricle after EMB biopsy, which was incompletely closed with a covered stent.

Hospital admissions for acute myocardial infarction before and after lockdown according to regional prevalence of COVID-19 and patient profile in France: a registry study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on general health care. We aimed to evaluate the effect of a nationwide lockdown in France on admissions to hospital for acute myocardial infarction, by patient characteristics and regional prevalence of the pandemic. METHODS: In this registry study, we collected data from 21 centres participating in the ongoing French Cohort of Myocardial Infarction Evaluation (FRENCHIE) registry, which collects data from all patients admitted for ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) or non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) within 48 h of symptom onset. We analysed weekly hospital admissions over 8 weeks: the 4 weeks preceding the institution of the lockdown and the 4 weeks following lockdown. The primary outcome was the change in the number of hospital admissions for all types of acute myocardial infarction, NSTEMI, and STEMI between the 4 weeks before lockdown and the 4 weeks after lockdown. Comparisons between categorical variables were made using χ2 tests or Fisher's exact tests. Comparisons of continuous variables were made using Student's t tests or Mann-Whitney tests. Poisson regression was used to determine the significance of change in hospital admissions over the two periods, after verifying the absence of overdispersion. Age category, region, and type of acute myocardial infarction (STEMI or NSTEMI) were used as covariables. The FRENCHIE cohort is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04050956. FINDINGS: Between Feb 17 and April 12, 2020, 1167 patients were consecutively admitted within 48 h of acute myocardial infarction (583 with STEMI, 584 with NSTEMI) and were included in the study. Admissions for acute myocardial infarction decreased between the periods before and after lockdown was instituted, from 686 before to 481 after lockdown (30% decrease; incidence rate ratio 0·69 [95% CI 0·51-0·70]). Admissions for STEMI decreased from 331 to 252 (24%; 0·72 [0·62-0·85]), and admissions for NSTEMI decreased from 355 to 229 (35%; 0·64 [0·55-0·76]) following institution of the lockdown, with similar trends according to sex, risk factors, and regional prevalence of hospital admissions for COVID-19. INTERPRETATION: A marked decrease in hospital admissions was observed following the lockdown, irrespective of patient characteristics and regional prevalence of COVID-19. Health authorities should be aware of these findings, in order to adapt their message if the COVID-19 pandemic persists or recurs, or in case of future major epidemics. FUNDING: Recherche Hospitalo-Universitaire en Santé iVasc.

A sirolimus-eluting bioabsorbable polymer-coated stent (MiStent) versus an everolimus-eluting durable polymer stent (Xience) after percutaneous coronary intervention (DESSOLVE III): a randomised, single-blind, multicentre, non-inferiority, phase 3 trial.

BACKGROUND: MiStent is a drug-eluting stent with a fully absorbable polymer coating containing and embedding a microcrystalline form of sirolimus into the vessel wall. It was developed to overcome the limitation of current durable polymer drug-eluting stents eluting amorphous sirolimus. The clinical effect of MiStent sirolimus-eluting stent compared with a durable polymer drug-eluting stents has not been investigated in a large randomised trial in an all-comer population. METHODS: We did a randomised, single-blind, multicentre, phase 3 study (DESSOLVE III) at 20 hospitals in Germany, France, Netherlands, and Poland. Eligible participants were any patients aged at least 18 years who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention in a lesion and had a reference vessel diameter of 2·50-3·75 mm. We randomly assigned patients (1:1) to implantation of either a sirolimus-eluting bioresorbable polymer stent (MiStent) or an everolimus-eluting durable polymer stent (Xience). Randomisation was done by local investigators via web-based software with random blocks according to centre. The primary endpoint was a non-inferiority comparison of a device-oriented composite endpoint (DOCE)-cardiac death, target-vessel myocardial infarction, or clinically indicated target lesion revascularisation-between the groups at 12 months after the procedure assessed by intention-to-treat. A margin of 4·0% was defined for non-inferiority of the MiStent group compared with the Xience group. All participants were included in the safety analyses. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02385279. FINDINGS: Between March 20, and Dec 3, 2015, we randomly assigned 1398 patients with 2030 lesions; 703 patients with 1037 lesions were assigned to MiStent, of whom 697 received the index procedure, and 695 patients with 993 lesions were asssigned to Xience, of whom 690 received the index procedure. At 12 months, the primary endpoint had occurred in 40 patients (5·8%) in the sirolimus-eluting stent group and in 45 patients (6·5%) in the everolimus-eluting stent group (absolute difference -0·8% [95% CI -3·3 to 1·8], pnon-inferiority=0·0001). Procedural complications occurred in 12 patients (1·7%) in the sirolimus-eluting stent group and ten patients (1·4%) in the everolimus-eluting stent group; no clinical adverse events could be attributed to these dislodgements through a minimum of 12 months of follow-up. The rate of stent thrombosis, a safety indicator, did not differ between groups and was low in both treatment groups. INTERPRETATION: The sirolimus-eluting bioabsorbable polymer stent was non-inferior to the everolimus-eluting durable polymer stent for a device-oriented composite clinical endpoint at 12 months in an all-comer population. MiStent seems a reasonable alternative to other stents in clinical practice. FUNDING: The European Cardiovascular Research Institute, Micell Technologies (Durham, NC, USA), and Stentys (Paris, France).

Radial artery graft stenosis treated by percutaneous intervention.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the clinical implications of radial artery graft stenosis and the performance of percutaneous intervention (PCI) of radial artery (RA) grafts. METHODS: Out of 291 patients, 18 (6.2%) underwent PCI of an RA graft. The indications for PCI were acute myocardial infraction (n=1), angina (n=10) and scintigraphic abnormality (n=5). Two patients were asymptomatic and underwent PCI prior to major extracardiac surgery. The location of the RA stenosis was proximal (n=2) or distal anastomosis (n=5) and body of the conduit (n=11). From 1992 to 2001, balloon dilatation alone was performed on nine RA grafts at 1.7 years after surgery. Since 1999, stenting of nine RA grafts was achieved at 9.2 years after surgery. Three bare-metal and six drug-eluting stents were implanted. Stent mean diameter and length were 2.75 mm and 16 mm, respectively. Simultaneous PCI of other coronaries was achieved in five cases. RESULTS: At 5.8 years, clinical follow-up showed heart failure (n=2) and recurrent angina (n=3), all after balloon dilatation. Control angiogram was performed in 14 cases at 4.5 years by conventional angiography (n=8) and 64-slice CT scan (n=6). One RA graft was occluded due to competitive flow from the native coronary vessel. Two RA restenoses following balloon dilatation were treated by stenting with long-term success (n=1) and secondary occlusion (n=1). Intra-stent RA stenosis was noted in one asymptomatic patient. All patients survived at long term except for one non-cardiac death at 5.9 years. CONCLUSION: Focal stenosis of radial artery graft is a rare angiographic finding and its meaning is unequivocal. PCI with balloon alone should be restricted to the early postoperative period during which spasm is difficult to exclude. Stenting offers excellent and durable results and shall be preferred in most cases.

Long-term (5- to 20-year) patency of the radial artery for coronary bypass grafting.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the angiographic results of the radial artery as a coronary bypass conduit at long term (>5 years). METHODS: Radial artery grafts were controlled in 202 patients at 10.1 years by conventional angiography (n = 79) and computed tomography (n = 123). Clinical or paraclinical evidence of ischemia was noted in 81 patients, whereas 121 patients were asymptomatic. Some 520 conduits were controlled: radial artery (n = 230), left internal thoracic artery (n = 190), right internal thoracic artery (n = 30), and veins (n = 70). Radial arteries were anastomosed to the right coronary (24%), marginal (58%), diagonal (16%), and left anterior descending (<1%) arteries, whereas left internal thoracic arteries were primarily anastomosed to the left anterior descending artery (95%). The mean number of antithrombotic and anti-anginal medications was 1.2 and 1.9 per patient, respectively. RESULTS: The ejection fraction was slightly decreased compared with its preoperative value (54% +/- 11% vs 57% +/- 9%; P = .009). Nine reoperations were required at 10.5 years for valve replacement (n = 8) and isolated bypass (n = 1). Percutaneous intervention was performed in 48 patients (24%) at 7.6 years on a graft (28%) or a native coronary artery (72%). The 10-year patency of radial artery grafts was 83%, which was lower than the patency of left internal thoracic arteries (95%, P < .001) and similar to the patency of right internal thoracic arteries (87%, P = .66) and veins (81%, P = .50). No medication seemed to influence radial artery graft patency (aspirin: P = .26; calcium blockers: P = .36). All graft patency was lower when clinical or paraclinical evidence of ischemia was present than in asymptomatic cases (83% vs 90% P = .02). The patency of left anterior descending grafts was higher than that of non-left anterior descending grafts (96% vs 82% P < .001). CONCLUSION: The radial artery-to-coronary bypass conduit provided a low coronary reoperation rate with an excellent patency (83%) up to 20 years postoperatively.