Residual Cardiovascular Risk: Role of Remnants Cholesterol, Monocyte/HDL Ratio and Lipoprotein Ratios on Personalized Cardiovascular Prevention.

Cardiovascular diseases represent the leading cause of death in the world and are subject to limitations in prevention strategies despite the use of very effective drugs. The concept of residual risk (RR) is intrinsically related to that of global risk of which it represents a very significant percentage. In the cardiovascular field, the term RR refers to the probability of incurring a major cardiovascular event, despite adequate control of the risk factors present in the individual patient. A significant portion of the RR in the cardiovascular field results from the underestimation of additional risk factors not subjected to adequate intervention such as, for example, triglyceride levels in patients treated for the presence of hypertension and/or hypercholesterolemia. The control of the RR therefore appears as an essential condition for the effective reduction of the global risk profile and is based on an integrated intervention that combines all the different prevention strategies derived from the available evidence and capable of interacting on the basis of a strengthening reciprocal between lifestyle and pharmacological and nutraceutical intervention methods.

Role of Lipoprotein Ratios and Remnant Cholesterol in Patients with Myocardial Infarction with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries (MINOCA).

BACKGROUND: Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) is a clinical situation characterized by evidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI)-according to the Fourth Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction-with normal or near-normal coronary arteries on angiographic study (stenosis < 50%). This condition is extremely variable in etiology, pathogenic mechanisms, clinical manifestations, prognosis and consequently therapeutic approach. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was the evaluation of remnant cholesterol (RC), monocyte/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (MHR), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and various lipoprotein ratios in patients with MINOCA in order to establish their validity as predictors of this event. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included 114 patients hospitalized in the Intensive Coronary Care Unit (ICCU) and Hospital Wards of our Hospital Center from 2015 to 2019 who received a diagnosis of MINOCA compared to a control group of 110 patients without previous cardiovascular events. RC was calculated with the following formula: RC = total cholesterol (TC) - HDL-C - LDL-C. MHR was calculated by dividing the monocyte count in peripheral blood by high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels; PLR was obtained by dividing platelet count by lymphocyte count. We also calculated various lipoprotein ratios, like total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TC/HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C/HDL-C), triglycerides/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C), and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C/HDL-C) ratios. RESULTS: The MINOCA group had higher mean levels of RC (21.3 ± 10.6 vs. 13.2 ± 7.7 mg/dL), MHR (23 ± 0.009 vs. 18.5± 8.3) and PLR (179.8 ± 246.1 vs. 135 ± 64.7) than the control group. Only the mean values of all calculated lipoprotein ratios were lower in MINOCA patients. Statistical significance was achieved only in the RC evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels of RC and MHR were found in patients with MINOCA. We also observed higher levels of PLR than in the control group. Only various lipoprotein ratios were lower, but this could reflect the extreme heterogeneity underlying the pathogenic mechanisms of MINOCA. In patients who receive a diagnosis of MINOCA with a baseline alteration of the lipid profile and higher levels of cholesterol at admission as well, the evaluation of these parameters could play an important role, providing more detailed information about their cardiometabolic risk.

Myocardical Infarction with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries (MINOCA): pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment.

The term MINOCA (Myocardial Infarction with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries) refers to myocardial infarction cases where coronary arteries exhibit less than 50 % stenosis. MINOCA encompasses a diverse range of pathologies with varying etiologies. Diagnosis involves meeting acute myocardial infarction criteria and excluding other causes (myocarditis, takotsubo syndrome). Clinical features often resemble those of traditional myocardial infarction, but MINOCA patients tend to be younger and more frequently female. Etiological investigations include coronary angiography, intracoronary imaging, and vasomotor function tests. Causes include plaque rupture, coronary dissection, vasospasm, microvascular dysfunction, thromboembolism. Prognosis varies, with some subsets at higher risk. Management involves a tailored approach addressing underlying causes, with emphasis on cardioprotective therapy, risk factor modification, and lifestyle interventions. Further research is needed to refine diagnostic strategies and optimize therapeutic approaches in MINOCA patients.

Cholesterol-Lowering Strategies for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention: The Importance of Intensive Treatment and the Simplification of Medical Therapy.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading global cause of mortality and are primarily driven by atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. Their pathogenesis involves multi-factorial mechanisms, among which low-density lipoprotein (LDL) plays a causative role. Recent ESC/EAS guidelines advocate for a shift toward new risk estimation algorithms that better emphasize non-fatal cardiovascular events, lifetime risk prediction, and tailored pharmacological approaches, including statin + ezetimibe and triple therapy, in specific cases. Intensive lipid-lowering therapy has been shown to be pivotal, especially in post-acute coronary events. Intracoronary imaging has revealed insights into the composition of plaque and demonstrated the significant regression that can be achieved through the use of statins such as rosuvastatin and atorvastatin. The positive effects of Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors, particularly alirocumab and evolocumab, on plaque regression, have been demonstrated. Inclisiran, which targets PCSK9 gene expression, significantly reduces LDL cholesterol. The associated challenges include hesitancy to prescribe intensive regimens and limited treatment adherence, highlighting the need for pharmacological combinations to improve therapeutic outcomes.

Right ventricle involvement in patients with breast cancer treated with chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Anthracyclines can cause left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. There is little data about right ventricular (RV) damage during chemotherapy. AIM: This study aimed to investigate the toxic effects of chemotherapy, analyzing its impact on right ventricular function. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective study was conducted, enrolling 83 female patients (55 ± 11 years old) affected by breast cancer treated with anthracyclines. Cardiological evaluation, HFA risk score assessment and comprehensive echocardiogram, including speckle tracking analysis and 3D analysis, were performed before starting chemotherapy (T0) and at 3 (T1), 6 (T2) and 12 months (T3) after beginning treatment. RV function was assessed with tricuspid annular plane excursion (TAPSE), S' wave of the tricuspid annulus, fractional area change (FAC), RV global longitudinal strain (RV-GLS), free wall strain (RV-FWLS) and RV 3D ejection fraction (RV-3DEF). Subclinical LV CTRCD was defined as a reduction of GLS > 15% compared to baseline. Subclinical RV cardiotoxicity was defined as the co-presence of a relative decrease of 10% from baseline in RV-3DEF and a relative reduction of 15% from baseline RV-FWLS. RESULTS: After chemotherapy, we found a significant reduction in 2D-LVEF (p = < 0.001) and 3D-LVEF (p = < 0.001), in LV-GLS and RVLS (p = < 0.001), in FAC and TAPSE, also RV-3DEF reduced significantly (p = 0.002). 39% of patients developed LV subclinical CTRCD; 28% of patients developed RV subclinical cardiotoxicity. LV and RV changes occurred concomitantly, and no RV echocardiographic parameters were found to predict the development of LV CTRCD and vice-versa. CONCLUSION: After anthracyclines-based chemotherapy, LV and RV subclinical damage occurs, and it can be detected early by speckle-tracking and 3D echocardiography.

Uncommon Carotid Artery Stenting Complications: A Series by Images.

AIMS: To describe through emblematic images rare but clinically relevant carotid artery stenting complications that occurred at two high-volume centres for carotid artery stenting (CAS). BACKGROUND: CAS is an alternative to carotid endarterectomy (CEA) for the treatment of carotid artery stenosis in patients judged to be at high risk for CEA. CAS complications range between 1 and 9% and are higher in older patients complaining of neurological symptoms at the time of presentation. Besides periprocedural or early-after-procedure stroke, which remains the true Achilles' heel of CAS, other dramatic complications might compromise the clinical outcomes of this procedure. METHODS: Five infrequent complications, out of more than 1000 CAS performed in the years 2016-2021, have been described. RESULTS: Among CAS complications, acute carotid stent thrombosis, rescue retrieval of a disconnected distal cerebral embolic protection device, plaque prolapse after carotid stenting, cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome (CHS), and radial artery long sheath entrapment requiring surgical intervention were found to account for 0.3% of the total number of procedures performed by operators with high CAS volume. CONCLUSIONS: Unusual CAS complications may infrequently occur, even in hands of expert operators. To know how to deal with such complications might help interventionalists to improve CAS performance.

The added value of the HFA/ICOS score in the prediction of chemotherapy-related cardiac dysfunction in breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The 2022 ESC Guidelines on Cardio-Oncology recommend baseline cardiovascular risk stratification before starting anticancer drugs, using the new risk assessment tools proposed by the Heart Failure Association (HFA) and the International Cardio-Oncology Society (ICOS).Our study aimed to assess the clinical application of HFA/ICOS risk score in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and its usefulness in predicting the development of chemotherapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD). METHODS: A prospective multicentric study enrolled 109 breast cancer patients treated with anthracyclines with or without trastuzumab. A cardiological evaluation, including ECG and echocardiogram at baseline (T0), 3 (T1), 6 (T2), and 12 months (T3) after starting treatment was performed. HFA/ICOS score was assessed in all patients. The population was divided into low, medium, high, and very-high risk.During follow-up, CTRCD and other cardiovascular events have been evaluated. RESULTS: 61 patients were low risk, 37 medium, 9 high, 2 very-high risk criteria. We found a significantly higher incidence of overall cardiotoxicity (CTRCD and other cardiovascular events) in the very-high risk group (100%) compared with the medium (29%) and low risk groups (13%). CTRCD incidence was also significantly higher in the high risk group (55%). CTRCD resulted as being associated with baseline arterial hypertension and baseline HFA/ICOS risk score of high ( p  = 0.006) or very-high ( p  < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Our study confirms the HFA/ICOS score's ability to predict cardiovascular toxicity in breast cancer women and the need for close monitoring especially in high and very-high risk patients.

Screening and Management of Coronary Artery Disease in Kidney Transplant Candidates.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), especially in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients and during the first year after transplantation. For these reasons, and due to the shortage of organs available for transplant, it is of utmost importance to identify patients with a good life expectancy after transplant and minimize the transplant peri-operative risk. Various conditions, such as severe pulmonary diseases, recent myocardial infarction or stroke, and severe aorto-iliac atherosclerosis, need to be ruled out before adding a patient to the transplant waiting list. The effectiveness of systematic coronary artery disease (CAD) treatment before kidney transplant is still debated, and there is no universal screening protocol, not to mention that a nontailored screening could lead to unnecessary invasive procedures and delay or exclude some patients from transplantation. Despite the different clinical guidelines on CAD screening in kidney transplant candidates that exist, up to today, there is no worldwide universal protocol. This review summarizes the key points of cardiovascular risk assessment in renal transplant candidates and faces the role of noninvasive cardiovascular imaging tools and the impact of coronary revascularization versus best medical therapy before kidney transplant on a patient's cardiovascular outcome.

Subclinical Atrial Fibrillation on Prolonged ECG Holter Monitoring: Results from the Multicenter Real-World SAFARI (Silent Atrial Fibrillation ANCE-Sicily Research Initiative) Study.

BACKGROUND: The detection of subclinical/silent atrial fibrillation (SAF) in the general population is of the utmost importance, given its potential adverse consequences. Incident AF has been observed in 30% to 70% of patients with implanted devices, but its prevalence may indeed be lower in the general population. The prospective, multicentric, observational Silent Atrial Fibrillation ANCE Research Initiative (SAFARI) study aimed at assessing the SAF prevalence in a real-world outpatient setting by the means of a small, wearable, prolonged ECG Holter monitoring (>5 days) device (CGM HI 3-Lead ECG; CGM TELEMEDICINE, Piacenza, Italy). METHODS: Patients ≥ 55 years of age at risk for AF were screened according to the inclusion criteria to undergo prolonged 3-lead ECG Holter monitoring. SAF episodes were classified as follows: Class A, <30 s; Class B, 30 to 299 s; and Class C, ≥300 s. RESULTS: In total, 119 patients were enrolled (64 men; median age 71 (IQR 55-85) years). At a median of 13.5 (IQR 5-21) days of monitoring, SAF episodes were found in 19 patients (16%). A total of 10,552 arrhythmic episodes were registered, 6901 in Class A (n = 7 patients), 2927 in Class B (n = 3), and 724 in Class C (n = 9), (Class A vs. B and C, p < 0.001). This latter group had multiple (all-class) episodes, and two patients had >1000 episodes. There were no clinical, echocardiographic, or laboratory findings able to discriminate patients with SAF from those in sinus rhythm in univariate and multivariable analyses; of note is that the Class C patients showed a higher diastolic blood pressure, resting heart rate, and indexed LA volume. CONCLUSIONS: Over a median of 13 days of Holter monitoring, the SAFARI study confirmed the usefulness of small wearable devices in detecting SAF episodes in real-world outpatients at risk for, but with no prior history of, AF.

Chemotherapy-related cardiac dysfunction: the usefulness of myocardial work indices.

AIMS: The role of left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS) in the diagnosis of subclinical cardiac damage induced by anticancer drugs is now consolidated. Considering some strain disadvantages such as the dependence on the haemodynamic loading conditions, the aim of our study was to investigate the usefulness of non-invasive myocardial work indices (MWI) derived from pressure-strain analysis, in the early diagnosis of cardiotoxicity. METHODS AND RESULTS: We enrolled 61 consecutive patients with breast cancer undergoing adjuvant treatment with anthracycline-containing chemotherapy followed by taxane + trastuzumab. Patients underwent a cardiological evaluation with 2D echocardiography including measurement of the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and other conventional parameters of systolic and diastolic function, GLS and MWI at baseline (T0), 3 months (T1) and 6 months (T2) after starting chemotherapy. At T1 and T2, we did not find a significant reduction in LVEF but we found a significant reduction in GLS and MWI (p value < 0.05). In addition, at T2, 31% of patients developed subclinical cardiac dysfunction defined as a relative decrease ≥ 12% of GLS from baseline. Global work index (GWI), global constructive work (GCW) and global work efficiency (GWE) decreased significantly in both patients with subclinical dysfunction and in those without subclinical dysfunction (p value < 0.05). Patients with subclinical dysfunction at T2 showed lower values of GCW at T0. CONCLUSION: MWI changed significantly during chemotherapy and appeared to alter precociously compared to GLS. Therefore, a multiparametric approach including left ventricular GLS and MWI measurements should be used in the evaluation of patients undergoing cardiotoxic antineoplastic treatment.

Three-year outcomes of A Randomized Multicentre Trial Comparing Revascularization and Optimal Medical Therapy for Chronic Total Coronary Occlusions (EuroCTO).

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total coronary occlusions (CTO) improves clinical symptoms and quality of life. The longer-term safety of PCI compared to optimal medical therapy (OMT) remains uncertain. AIMS: We sought to evaluate the long-term safety of PCI for CTO in a randomised trial as compared to OMT. METHODS: A total of 396 patients with a symptomatic CTO were enrolled into a randomised, multicentre clinical trial comparing PCI and OMT. Half of the patients had a single CTO; the others had multivessel disease. Non-CTO lesions were treated prior to randomisation (2:1 ratio). During follow-up, crossover from OMT to PCI occurred in 7.3% (1 year) and 17.5% (3 years) of patients. RESULTS: At 3 years, the incidence of cardiovascular death or nonfatal myocardial infarction was not significantly different between the groups (OMT 3.7% vs PCI 6.2%; p=0.29). By per-protocol analysis, the difference remained non-significant (OMT 5.7% vs PCI 4.7%; p=0.67). Overall, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were more frequent with OMT (OMT 21.2% vs PCI 11.2%), largely because of ischaemia-driven revascularisation. The rates of stroke or hospitalisation for bleeding were not different between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: At 3 years there was no difference in the rate of cardiovascular death or myocardial infarction between PCI or OMT among patients with a remaining single coronary CTO. The MACE rate was higher in the OMT group due largely to ischaemia-driven revascularisation. CTO PCI appears to be a safe option for patients with a single remaining significant coronary CTO. CinicalTrials.gov: NCT01760083.

Longitudinal Strain Analysis and Correlation with TIMI Frame Count in Patients with Ischemia with No Obstructive Coronary Artery (INOCA) and Microvascular Angina (MVA).

Background: The aim of the study is to evaluate the subclinical alterations of cardiac mechanics detected using speckle-tracking echocardiography and compare these data with the coronary angiography indices used during coronary angiography in a population of patients diagnosed with ischemia with no obstructive coronary artery (INOCA) and microvascular angina (MVA). Methods: The study included 85 patients admitted to our center between November 2019 and January 2022 who were diagnosed with INOCA compared with a control group of 70 healthy patients. A collection of anamnestic data and a complete cardiovascular physical examination, and echocardiogram at rest with longitudinal strain were performed for all patients. Furthermore, the TIMI frame count (TFC) for the three coronary vessels was calculated according to Gibson's indications. All parameters were compared with a control population with similar characteristics. Results: Patients with INOCA compared to the control population showed statistically significant changes in the parameters assessed on the longitudinal strain analysis. In particular, patients with INOCA showed statistically significant changes in GLS (-16.71) compared to the control population (-19.64) (p = 0.003). In patients with INOCA, the total TIMI frame count (tTFC) correlated with the GLS value with a correlation coefficient of 0.418 (p = 0.021). Conclusions: In patients with angina, documented myocardial ischemia, the absence of angiographically significant stenosis (INOCA) and LVEF > 50%, the prevalence of microvascular dysfunction documented by TFC was extremely represented. A statistically significant reduction in GLS was observed in these patients. TFC and longitudinal strain, therefore, appear to be two reliable, sensitive and easily accessible methods for the study of alterations in coronary microcirculation and the characterization of patients with INOCA and microvascular angina.

Higher Incidence of Cancer Therapy-Related Cardiac Dysfunction in the COVID-19 Era: A Single Cardio-Oncology Center Experience.

AIM: COVID-19 pandemic had a big impact on our life, it has revolutionized the practice of cardiology and the organization of hospital and outpatient activities. Thus the aim of our study was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the development of cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD). METHODS AND RESULTS: A single center retrospective study was carried out evaluating 96 cancer patients treated with anthracyclines and admitted to our Cardio-Oncology unit from June to August 2019 and 60 patients from June to August 2021. The incidence of CTRCD was assessed performing an echocardiogram at the time of the enrollment. We found a significantly higher incidence of CTRCD in the second period compared to first period (13% vs. 2%, p value 0.0058). In addition we found that fewer yearly visits were performed in our Cardio-oncology unit in 2021 compared to 2019 (300 patients/year in 2019 vs. 144 patients/year in the COVID era). CONCLUSION: COVID-19 pandemic seems to influence the onset of CTRCD in cancer patients by indirectly reducing hospital access of cancer patients and cardiological checks. In addition our data reflect the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the late diagnosis of cancer, in the reduction of hospital admissions and regular medical checks, in the increase of comorbidities and cardiovascular complications.

Therapy of ATTR Cardiac Amyloidosis: Current Indications.

Transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis is a restrictive cardiomyopathy caused by extracellular deposition in the heart of amyloid fibrils derived from plasma transthyretin (ATTR), either in its hereditary (ATTRh) or acquired (ATTRwt) forms. Cardiac amyloidosis has a very poor prognosis if therapy is not started promptly. Therefore, it is very important to recognize cardiac amyloidosis early in order to immediately start a treatment capable of modifying the prognosis. Treatment of cardiac amyloidosis is not easy, often requiring a multidisciplinary team. New RNA-interfering drugs (such as patisiran) have been devised and are effective in the treatment of ATTRh amyloidosis. Tafamidis (a stabilizer of the native tetramer structure of TTR) is recommended to treat patients with genetic testing-proven hereditary hTTR-cardiomyopathy or wild-type TTR cardiomyopathy and NYHA Class I or II to reduce symptoms, CV hospitalization and mortality (Class I, level of evidence B). Patisiran should be considered in ATTRh cardiomyopathy with polyneuropathy. Thus, this review is intended to be a simple practical guide for the treatment of ATTR cardiac amyloidosis.

Management of a patient with multiple device replacements and extractions: When the leadless pacemaker is a viable solution.

Leadless pacemaker (LPs) is a safe device and the implantation rates of this device is increasing. The device extraction and replacement are today a challenging procedures especially in case of infections, fragile and older patients or in unfavorable venous anatomy; LPs can be a valid alternative strategy in these cases. We report a case of management of a patient with multiple previous device replacements and extractions, with malfunction of transvenous pacemaker and with a fibrous membrane between the walls of the ventricular lead and the superior vena cava (SVC), who underwent a successful LP implantation.

Effectiveness and Safety of Oral Anticoagulants in Cardiac Amyloidosis: Lights and Shadows.

Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is an infiltrative cardiomyopathy characterized by extracellular deposition of mis-folded proteins called amyloid. Cardiac complications of CA are several: heart failure, aortic valve stenosis, thromboembolism, conduction disorders, atrial fibrillation, and ventricular arrhythmias. Atrial dysfunction is common in CA patients. Several evidences suggest to anticoagulated patients with CA in atrial fibrillation independently from CHA2DS2VaSC score. Considering the high thromboembolic risk in CA patients, anticoagulant therapy should be considered also in CA patients in sinus rhythm, when the atria are enlarged and dysfunctional, and the bleeding risk is low. Unfortunately indication to anticoagulation in patients with CA in sinus rhythm still remains a gray zone. Also drug-drug interactions should be considered in patients with CA. In this review, we will evaluate the effectiveness and safety of oral anticoagulants in CA patients, and we will propose a practical guide for management of anticoagulant therapy in CA patients.

Coronary Artery Disease in South Asian Patients: Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Pathogenesis and Treatments.

In the last decades a significant increase of the migratory phenomenon from South Asian countries to the Western World has occurred for social, economic and geopolitical reasons. The aim of this review is to describe cardiovascular risk factors, pathogenesis and treatments of coronary artery disease in South Asian patients. It is well established that South Asian populations have a higher prevalence of coronary artery disease and premature onset of myocardial infarction episodes than other populations. This higher predisposition might be caused by genetic factors, common in both South Asian patients residing in their birth country and in those residing abroad, but it may also be due to the new spatial environment in which they live. It will be important to examine the leading cardiovascular risk factors determining increasing incidence of coronary artery disease in the South Asian population. These include: insulin resistance, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and abdominal obesity caused by a diet rich in refined carbohydrates and saturated fats. Furthermore, it is important to examine emerging cardiovascular risk factors strictly related to this particular ethnic group. The evidence of higher levels of prothrombotic and proinflammatory factors, for example lipoprotein(a) and proinflammatory adipokines, as well as the influence of air pollution and psychosocial stress, may have consequences on the risk, treatment and outcomes of the coronary artery disease in this population. Migrants from South Asia deserve to be addressed and framed with particular care in terms of cardiovascular risk and especially in the management of acute coronary events.

Coronary Arteries Aneurysms: A Case-Based Literature Review.

Coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) is an abnormal dilatation of a coronary artery segment; those coronary artery aneurysms that are very large in size are defined as giant. However, a standardized dimension cut-off to define giant CAAs is still missing. The reported prevalence of coronary aneurysms in the population who underwent coronary angiography ranges from 0.3% to 5%, and often CAAs are found in patient with aneurysms in other sites, such as the ascending or abdominal aorta. In half of the cases an atherosclerotic etiology could be recognized; often, CAA is found in the context of acute coronary syndrome. Seldomly, CAA is found at the autopsy of patients who died due to sudden cardiac death. Currently, very few data exist about CAA management and their prognostic relevance; moreover, CAA treatment is still not clearly codified, but rather case-based. Indeed, currently there are no published dedicated studies exploring the best medical therapy, i.e., with antiplatelets or anticoagulant agents rather than an interventional approach such as an endovascular or surgical technique. In this review, through two clinical cases, the current evidence regarding diagnostic tools and treatment options of CAAs will be described.