Optimal uric acid reduction to improve vascular endothelial function in patients with chronic heart failure complicated by hyperuricemia.

Although an association of serum uric acid levels with endothelial function has been shown in various clinical settings, the optimal treatment target that would benefit vascular endothelial function has not been established. We, therefore, conducted a post hoc analysis of the Excited-UA study to identify an optimal target. Patients (N = 133) with chronic heart failure and comorbid hyperuricemia who enrolled in the Excited-UA study were divided into three tertiles based on their serum uric acid level 24 weeks after initiating xanthine oxidase inhibitor treatment with topiroxostat or allopurinol (i.e., groups with low, moderate, and high uric acid levels). Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and reactive hyperemia index (RHI) values measured by reactive hyperemia peripheral arterial tonometry (RH-PAT) were compared among groups. The change from baseline in the FMD value 24 weeks after treatment was comparable among the three groups. In contrast, the change from baseline in the RHI was significantly different among the three groups (-0.153 ± 0.073, 0.141 ± 0.081 and -0.103 ± 0.104 in the low, moderate, and high uric acid level groups, respectively, P = 0.032). After adjustment for age, body mass index, and concomitant use of diuretics, which differed among the three groups, the change in the RHI in the moderate uric acid level group tended to be higher than that in the high uric acid level group (P = 0.057) and was significantly higher than that in the low uric acid level group (P = 0.020). These results indicate that targeting excessively low uric acid levels by treatment with xanthine oxidase inhibitors might be less beneficial for improving microvascular endothelial function in patients with chronic heart failure. Comparisons of the changes from baseline in vascular endothelial function parameters at 24 weeks among the 3 groups of low, moderae and high uric acid levels achieved with xanthine oxidase inhibitors. After adjustment for confounding factors, such as age, body mass index and concomitant diuretic use, which showed differences among the 3 groups, the change in RHI in the moderate uric acid level group tended to be higher than that in the high uric acid level group and was significantly higher than that in the low uric acid level group.

Relationship between the serum GDF-15 concentration and muscle function in female patients receiving aortic valve replacement (TAVR, SAVR): Comparison with healthy elderly female subjects.

Purpose: Sarcopenia is closely associated with postoperative prognosis in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery. Growth differentiation factor (GDF)-15 is involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. We examined the relationship between the serum GDF-15 concentration and muscle function in patients receiving aortic valve replacement and healthy elderly subjects. Methods: Forty-three female patients undergoing aortic valve surgery (79.9 ± 6.4 years; transcatheter aortic valve replacement [TAVR] n = 19, conventional surgical aortic valve replacement [SAVR] n = 24) and 64 healthy elderly female subjects (75.9 ± 6.1 years) were included. Walking speed, grip strength, and skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) by a multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analyzer were measured to determine the presence of sarcopenia. Preoperative serum GDF-15 concentration was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The GDF-15 level was higher in patients receiving aortic valve replacement than in healthy elderly subjects (aortic valve replacement: 1624 ± 1186 pg/mL vs. healthy: 955 ± 368 pg/mL, p < 0.001). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that the serum GDF-15 level determined grip strength independently of the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level and eGFR, even after adjusting for age (ß = -0.318, p = 0.025). Sarcopenia was found in 12.5% of healthy elderly subjects, 83.3% of patients with TAVR, and 64.3% of patients with SAVR. The GDF-15 concentration that defined sarcopenia was 1109 pg/mL in subjects including patients receiving aortic valve replacement. Conclusions: The preoperative serum GDF-15 concentration, which was higher in female patients receiving aortic valve replacement than in healthy elderly subjects, may be a serum marker of sarcopenia.

Benefit of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation combined with Impella (ECpella) therapy in acute coronary syndrome with cardiogenic shock.

BACKGROUND: Patients with acute coronary syndrome complicated with cardiogenic shock (ACS-CS) frequently require mechanical circulatory support. In addition to veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO), use of the Impella® (ECpella) (Abiomed Inc., Danvers, MA, USA) heart pump may improve the prognosis of such patients. In this study, we compared the efficacy of VA-ECMO plus intra-aortic balloon pumping (ECMO-IABP) with that of the ECpella for add-on circulatory support of VA-ECMO. METHODS: Clinical outcomes of 64 patients with ACS-CS treated with ECMO-IABP (n = 41) or ECpella (n = 23) between January 2013 and April 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The primary outcomes were 30-day and 365-day mortality. In addition, patients resuscitated after cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) were evaluated separately. RESULTS: The ECpella group showed significantly lower mid-term mortality than the ECMO-IABP group [30-day mortality (39.1% vs 56.1%, respectively; p = 0.193) and 365-day mortality (43.5% vs 75.6%, respectively; p = 0.010)], with significantly higher rates of new hemodialysis and bleeding at the vascular access site. Also, among the limited number of patients resuscitated from CPA, mortality was significantly lower in the ECpella group than the ECMO-IABP group [30-day mortality (28.6% vs 65.4%, respectively; p = 0.026) and 365-day mortality (28.6% vs 84.6%, respectively; p < 0.001)]. Among the resuscitated patients, ECMO weaning period and the incidence of neurological complications were related to 30-day mortality; The incidence of neurological complications was related to 365-day mortality. The use of ECpella was strongly associated with both 30-day and 365-day survival. CONCLUSIONS: The ECpella heart pump may provide a survival advantage over ECMO-IABP in patients with ACS-CS.