Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and risk of lung cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: We performed a meta-analysis to determine whether a consistent relationship exists between the use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and the risk of lung cancer. Accordingly, we summarized and reviewed previously published quantitative studies. METHODS: Eligible studies with reference lists published before June 1st, 2019 were obtained from searching several databases. Random effects' models were used to summarize the overall estimate of the multivariate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Thirteen observational studies involving 458,686 ACEI users were included in the analysis, Overall, pooled risk ratios indicate that ACEIs use was not a risk factor for lung cancer (RR 0.982, 95% C.I. 0.873 - 1.104; P = .76). There was significant heterogeneity between the studies (Q = 52.54; P < .001; I2 = 86.07). There was no significant association between ACEIs use and lung cancer in studies with over five years of ACEIs exposure (RR 0.95, 95% C.I. 0.75 - 1.20; P = .70); and ≤ 5years of exposure to ACEIs (RR 0.98, 95% C.I. 0.83 - 1.15; P = .77). There were no statistically significant differences in the pooled risk ratio obtained according to the study design (Q = 0.65; P = .723) and the comparator regimen (Q = 3.37; P = .19). CONCLUSIONS: The use of ACEIs was not associated with an increased risk of lung cancer. Nevertheless, well-designed observational studies with different ethnic populations are still needed to evaluate the long-term (over 10 years) association between ACEIs use and lung cancer.

Residual versus recurrent mitral regurgitation after transcatheter mitral valve edge-to-edge repair.

BACKGROUND: The number of MtraClip procedures is increasing, and consequently, the number of patients with residual or recurrent mitral regurgitation (MR). We aimed to characterize patients who had residual versus recurrent MR after MitraClip and report the outcomes of different treatment strategies. METHODS: From 2012 to 2020, 167 patients had MitraClip. Out of them, 16 patients (9.5%) had residual mitral regurgitation (MR), and 27 patients (16.2%) had recurrent MR. RESULTS: The median age in patients with residual MR was 67.5 (59-73) years versus 69 (61-78) years in patients with recurrent MR (p = .87). The etiology of mitral valve disease was functional in 13 patients (81.3%) and 22 patients (84.6%) in residual versus recurrent MR patients (p > .99). Cardiac resynchronization therapy-defibrillator implantation was higher in patients with residual MR (p = .02). Survival was 93.7% at 1 year, 76.4% at 3 years versus 92.5% at 1 year, and 84.5% at 3 years in residual versus recurrent MR (p = .69). Two patients in the residual MR group had re-clip, and three had surgery, and in the recurrent MR group, one patient had re-clip, and two patients had surgery (p = .23). Patients who had re-clip were older (p = .09). Surgery was associated with 100% survival at 5 years, 63% after medical therapy and the worst survival was reported in re-clip patients (p = .007). CONCLUSION: The outcomes of patients with residual versus recurrent mitral regurgitation after MitraClip were comparable. Survival could be improved with surgery compared with medical therapy and re-clip.

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection in Relation to Physical and Emotional Stress: A Retrospective Study in 4 Arab Gulf Countries.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) has emerged as an important cause of acute coronary syndrome and sudden cardiac death. The triggers for SCAD often do not include traditional atherosclerotic risk factors. The most commonly reported triggers are extreme physical or emotional stress. The current study compared in-hospital and follow-up events in patients with SCAD with and without reported stress. Data from 83 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of SCAD were collected retrospectively from 30 centers in 4 Arab Gulf countries (KSA, UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain) from January 2011 to December 2017. In-hospital myocardial infarction (MI), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation, cardiogenic shock, death, ICD placement, dissection extension) and follow-up (MI, de novo SCAD, death, spontaneous superior mesenteric artery dissection) events were compared between those with and without reported stress. Emotional and physical stress was defined as new or unusually intense stress, within 1 week of their initial hospitalization. The median age of patients in the study was 44 (37-55) years. Foty-two (51%) were women. Stress (emotional, physical, and combined) was reported in 49 (59%) of all patients. Sixty-two percent of women with SCAD reported stress, and 51 % of men with SCAD reported stress. Men more commonly reported physical and combined stress. Women more commonly reported emotional stress (P < 0.001). The presence or absence of reported stress did not impact on overall adverse cardiovascular events (P = 0.8). In-hospital and follow-up events were comparable in patients with SCAD in the presence or absence of reported stress as a trigger.

Clinical Presentation and Outcome of Patients With Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection Versus Atherosclerotic Coronary Plaque Dissection.

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerotic coronary plaque dissection (ACPD) is one cause of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) caused by underlying atherosclerosis. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) occurs outside the setting of atherosclerosis among young women and individuals with few or no conventional atherosclerotic risk factors, and has emerged as an important cause of ACS, and sudden death. A comparison between ACPD and SCAD has not been previously addressed in the literature. Our study will compare ACPD and SCAD. METHODS: Patients with confirmed diagnosis of SCAD and ACPD were retrospectively identified from 30 centers in 4 Arab Gulf countries between January 2011 and December 2017. In-hospital (ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation, myocardial infarction (MI), percutaneous coronary intervention, dissection extension, cardiogenic shock, death, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator placement) and follow-up (MI, de novo SCAD, spontaneous superior mesenteric artery dissection, death) events were compared between them. RESULTS: Eighty-three cases of SCAD and 48 ACPD were compared. ACPD patients were more frequently male (91.67% vs. 49.40%, P < 0.001) and older (58.5 vs. 44, P < 0.001). Cardiovascular risk factors were more prevalent in patients with ACPD, including diabetes mellitus (60.4% vs. 25.3%), dyslipidemia (62.5% vs. 38.5%), and hypertension (62.5% vs. 31.3%), P < 0.001. Hospital presentation of ST-elevation MI was diagnosed in 48% of SCAD versus 27% of ACPD patients (P = 0.012). SCAD patients received medical-only treatment in 40% of cases and ACPD in 21% (P = 0.042). In-hospital and follow-up events were comparable in both groups (P = 0.25). CONCLUSIONS: Despite a completely different pathophysiology of ACS between SCAD and ACPD, in-hospital and follow-up events were comparable.

The trans-septal approach in transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve implantation for degenerative bioprosthesis.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter Mitral Valve-in-Valve Implantation (TMViVI) has recently emerged as a novel therapy for degenerated mitral valve bioprosthesis. Re-operative mitral valve surgery is associated with a substantial risk of mortality and morbidity. The objective of this study was to describe the outcomes of transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve implantations in our cardiac center. METHODS: Twenty-two patients underwent the valve-in-valve procedure because of bioprosthesis degeneration from March 2017 to October 2018. Clinical, echocardiographic, procedural details and survival at follow up were assessed. RESULTS: Eight patients refused re-operative cardiac surgery while others were deemed a high risk for conventional re-operative sternotomy. All patients had TMViVI performed via a trans-septal approach, and the prosthesis was implanted successfully with immediate hemodynamic improvement in 20 patients. One patient had tamponade (4.55%), two had permanent pacemaker insertion (9.09%), two patients had a renal impairment (9.09%), and three patients had vascular complications (13.64%). There was one aborted procedure for the failure to cross the tissue valve with a transcatheter valve, and one patient was converted to an emergency mitral valve surgery. All patients were discharged in NYHA class I/II and NYHA class was markedly improved at one-year follow-up (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Trans-septal mitral valve-in-valve implantation can be performed safely for degenerative mitral valve bioprosthesis and with favorable early clinical and hemodynamic outcomes.

Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis as an initial presentation of advanced cholangiocarcinoma in a young patient: A case report.

Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis, a form of noninfectious thrombotic endocarditis, is mainly characterized by deposition of sterile platelet thrombi on heart valves. Usually, it is observed in advanced malignancy. Herein, we report a case of a previously healthy male with recent unprovoked deep vein thrombosis presented with acute ischemic stroke. The echocardiogram revealed aortic and mitral valve masses. Eventually, he was discovered to have advanced cholangiocarcinoma. The present case, apart from being the youngest reported case, is among the few reported cases which manifest the association between cholangiocarcinoma and nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis.

Transfer of Patients with ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction for Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention During Ordinary & Pandemic Times Position statement of the Saudi Arabian Cardiac Intervention Society.

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention is the most effective therapy in the management of acute ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction. Evidence recommends keeping the period from symptom onset to reperfusion to a minimum in order to preserve left ventricular function, improve outcome and reduce mortality. This position statement describes the recommendations of the Saudi Arabian Cardiac Intervention Society for optimal conditions and timing for the acute management of patients presenting with ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction during ordinary and pandemic times.

Efficacy of treatment methods for uncontrolled hypertension and its effects on atrial fibrillation: A systematic narrative review.

OBJECTIVES: Uncontrolled hypertension is a main predisposing risk factor leading to chronic atrial fibrillation (AF). Although several treatment methods for patients with HTN and AF were developed in past decades, further investigations of their efficacies are needed. This systematic narrative review presents an overview of studies reporting treatment efficacies in patients with HTN and/or AF. METHODS: A narrative-based systematic review was performed using EMBASE, Medline, PubMed, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Library searching for relevant papers published between October 2008 and October 2018. Out of 4481 studies, only 15 studies could be included following the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: Included studies reported treatment measures, measured outcomes, and efficacies in adult patients with HTN and AF with defined interventions and methodologies. Treatment methods with effective outcomes were administration of hydrochlorothiazide, losartan or atenolol, telmisartan or amlodipine, or general anti-hypertensive drugs. Treatment methods that showed the most effective outcomes (lowering AF recurrence and improving BP control) were those containing pulmonary vein (or antrum) isolation (PVI/PVAI) (6 studies) and/or in conjunction with renal denervation (RDN)(6 studies). Treatment methods showing the most effective outcomes were PVI/PVAI in conjunction with RDN. CONCLUSION: The latest evidence shows that PVI (in conjunction with RDN in some instances) was more efficacious among patients suffering from HTN and/or AF.

Effect of donor hypertension on renal transplant recipients' blood pressure, allograft outcomes and survival: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The effect of donor hypertension on the blood pressure of renal transplant recipients and the allograft outcomes are unclear. The aim of this study was to summarize the evidence about the effects of donor hypertension on renal transplant recipients' blood pressure, renal allograft outcomes and mortality. METHODS: Studies published from January 1960 to 31 January 2019 in English were identified through a systematic search of six databases; PubMed, Embase, SCOPUS, Web of Science, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and CINAHL. Eligible observational studies with at least 1 year of follow-up were selected. Pooled estimates were obtained using random effects model. RESULTS: We identified 15 papers from eight countries containing data on donor hypertension and renal transplantation carried out between 1963 and 2014. The median (range) follow-up period of the studies was 3.8 (1-11.9) years. The prevalence of post-transplant hypertension among recipients of a renal allograft from a normotensive donor range from 8 to 17.6%, while the prevalence of post-transplant hypertension among recipients of a renal allograft from a hypertensive donor range from 2.9 to 25%. Overall, pooled risk ratios (RR) indicated that donor hypertension was a risk factor for allograft failure or loss among renal transplant recipients (RR 1.31; 95% CI 1.06-1.63: P = 0.014). However, donor hypertension was not a risk factor for mortality among renal transplant recipients (RR 0.996; 95% CI 0.652-1.519: P = 0.984). CONCLUSIONS: Donor hypertension increases the risk of post-transplant hypertension among renal transplant recipients and increases the risk of allograft failure, However, donor hypertension was not a risk factor for mortality among renal transplant recipients, Closer monitoring should be given to renal allograft recipients from hypertensive donors, and further well-designed studies are needed to expand our knowledge of the impact of donor hypertension on the survival of renal allograft recipients.

Prognosis of primary percutaneous coronary intervention in elderly patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prognosis of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) and medical therapy (MT) in elderly patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS: A total of 238 STEMI patients aged above 80 and treated with PPCI (n = 186) and MT (n = 52) at Harefield Hospital, London were included in this study. Patients who did not have true STEMI based on non-diagnostic electrocardiogram (ECG) for STEMI and negative troponin, who presented with left bundle branch block (LBBB) and had normal coronaries were excluded from this study. Primary PCI was defined as any use of a guidewire for more than diagnostic purposes in patients with STEMI, whereas conventional MT was defined as treatment of patients with anti-platelets and anti-thrombotic medications without thrombolysis. RESULTS: The survival rate of PPCI patients was 86% (n = 160) at month 1 followed by 83.9% (n = 156) at month 6, and 81.2% (n = 151) at month 12. The survival rate of MT patients was 44.2% (n = 23) at month 1 followed by 36.5% (n = 19) at month 6, and 34.6% (n = 18) at month 12. Compared to MT, significantly fewer comorbidities were found in the PPCI group. Ventricular fibrillation (VF) (4.8%) and consequent admission to intensive care unit (7%) were the major complications of the PPCI group. CONCLUSION: PPCI has a higher survival rate and, compared to MT, fewer comorbidities were observed in the PPCI group of elderly patients presenting with STEMI.

Takayasu's arteritis associated with Crohn's disease: a case report and literature review.

Takayasu's arteritis and inflammatory bowel disease are rarely found together, although the number of cases reported in the literature is increasing. Takayasu's arteritis has been studied in 31 patients from the Arab world but in none of them was it associated with Crohn's disease. We report the case of a Saudi woman previously diagnosed with Crohn's disease who subsequently developed Takayasu's arteritis, which may represent one of many extra-intestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease. The possible aetiological factors, diagnostic methods, differential diagnoses and common pathophysiological mechanisms of the two diseases are discussed. This is the first case report of these two diseases in an Arab patient.