[Infero-postero-lateral acute myocardial infarction caused by left ventricular myxoma embolism]. / Infarto miocardico infero-postero-laterale secondario ad embolizzazione di mixoma ventricolare sinistro.

The majority of myxomas are located in the left atrium (75%) followed by the right atrium (20%). In rare cases, myxomas can be found in the ventricles, with 2.5% reported for myxomas in the left ventricle. Systemic emboli, mostly cerebral, occur in two thirds of such patients, while coronary emboli are rare. Here we report a case of left ventricular myxoma causing infero-postero-lateral myocardial infarction, successfully treated by intracoronary thromboaspiration of myxoma embolus.

Efficacy and safety of colchicine for treatment of multiple recurrences of pericarditis (CORP-2): a multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised trial.

BACKGROUND: Colchicine is effective for the treatment of acute pericarditis and first recurrences. However, conclusive data are lacking for the efficacy and safety of colchicine for treatment of multiple recurrences of pericarditis. METHODS: We did this multicentre, double-blind trial at four general hospitals in northern Italy. Adult patients with multiple recurrences of pericarditis (≥two) were randomly assigned (1:1) to placebo or colchicine (0·5 mg twice daily for 6 months for patients weighing more than 70 kg or 0·5 mg once daily for patients weighing 70 kg or less) in addition to conventional anti-inflammatory treatment with aspirin, ibuprofen, or indometacin. Permuted block randomisation (size four) was done with a central computer-based automated sequence. Patients and all investigators were masked to treatment allocation. The primary outcome was recurrent pericarditis in the intention-to-treat population. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00235079. FINDINGS: 240 patients were enrolled and 120 were assigned to each group. The proportion of patients who had recurrent pericarditis was 26 (21·6%) of 120 in the colchicine group and 51 (42·5%) of 120 in the placebo group (relative risk 0·49; 95% CI 0·24-0·65; p=0·0009; number needed to treat 5). Adverse effects and discontinuation of study drug occurred in much the same proportions in each group. The most common adverse events were gastrointestinal intolerance (nine patients in the colchicine group vs nine in the placebo group) and hepatotoxicity (three vs one). No serious adverse events were reported. INTERPRETATION: Colchicine added to conventional anti-inflammatory treatment significantly reduced the rate of subsequent recurrences of pericarditis in patients with multiple recurrences. Taken together with results from other randomised controlled trials, these findings suggest that colchicine should be probably regarded as a first-line treatment for either acute or recurrent pericarditis in the absence of contraindications or specific indications. FUNDING: Azienda Sanitaria 3 of Torino (now ASLTO2).

DRainage Or Pericardiocentesis alone for recurrent nonmalignant, nonbacterial pericardial effusions requiring intervention: rationale and design of the DROP trial, a randomized, open-label, multicenter study.

OBJECTIVES: Evidence to support the use of pericardial drainage instead of simple pericardiocentesis for nonmalignant pericardial effusions refractory to medical therapy is based on observational studies and experts' opinions, rather than randomized trials. The aim of the present trial is to fill this knowledge gap and to provide a stronger base of evidence to support a specific interventional treatment in this setting. METHODS: DRainage Or Pericardiocentesis (DROP) alone for recurrent nonmalignant, nonbacterial pericardial effusions requiring intervention is a randomized, open-label and multicenter study. The primary efficacy endpoints are the incidence of recurrent pericardial effusion, and the need for additional pericardiocentesis or cardiac surgery at 12 months. Secondary endpoints are hospital length stay, disease-related admission and overall mortality. Safety and complications rates of each intervention will be also assessed. IMPLICATIONS AND CONCLUSION: The DROP trial will be the first multicenter randomized trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pericardiocentesis versus pericardiocentesis and extended pericardial drainage for recurrent nonmalignant, nonbacterial pericardial effusions refractory to medical therapy and requiring interventional treatments (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01665495).

A randomized trial of colchicine for acute pericarditis.

BACKGROUND: Colchicine is effective for the treatment of recurrent pericarditis. However, conclusive data are lacking regarding the use of colchicine during a first attack of acute pericarditis and in the prevention of recurrent symptoms. METHODS: In a multicenter, double-blind trial, eligible adults with acute pericarditis were randomly assigned to receive either colchicine (at a dose of 0.5 mg twice daily for 3 months for patients weighing >70 kg or 0.5 mg once daily for patients weighing ≤70 kg) or placebo in addition to conventional antiinflammatory therapy with aspirin or ibuprofen. The primary study outcome was incessant or recurrent pericarditis. RESULTS: A total of 240 patients were enrolled, and 120 were randomly assigned to each of the two study groups. The primary outcome occurred in 20 patients (16.7%) in the colchicine group and 45 patients (37.5%) in the placebo group (relative risk reduction in the colchicine group, 0.56; 95% confidence interval, 0.30 to 0.72; number needed to treat, 4; P<0.001). Colchicine reduced the rate of symptom persistence at 72 hours (19.2% vs. 40.0%, P=0.001), the number of recurrences per patient (0.21 vs. 0.52, P=0.001), and the hospitalization rate (5.0% vs. 14.2%, P=0.02). Colchicine also improved the remission rate at 1 week (85.0% vs. 58.3%, P<0.001). Overall adverse effects and rates of study-drug discontinuation were similar in the two study groups. No serious adverse events were observed. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with acute pericarditis, colchicine, when added to conventional antiinflammatory therapy, significantly reduced the rate of incessant or recurrent pericarditis. (Funded by former Azienda Sanitaria Locale 3 of Turin [now Azienda Sanitaria Locale 2] and Acarpia; ICAP ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00128453.).

A clinical and angiographic study of the XIENCE V everolimus-eluting coronary stent system in the treatment of patients with multivessel coronary artery disease: the EXECUTIVE trial (EXecutive RCT: evaluating XIENCE V in a multi vessel disease).

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to investigate the efficacy and performance of the XIENCE V everolimus-eluting stent (EES) (Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, California) in the treatment of de novo coronary lesions in patients with 2- to 3-vessel multivessel coronary artery disease (MV-CAD). BACKGROUND: Drug-eluting stents (DES) have emerged as an alternative to conventional coronary artery bypass surgery in patients with MV-CAD although first-generation DES yielded inferior efficacy and safety compared with surgery. METHODS: Prospective, randomized (1:1), multicenter feasibility trial was designed to assess angiographic efficacy of EES compared with the TAXUS paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES) in 200 patients, and a prospective, open-label, single-arm, controlled registry was designed to analyze the clinical outcome of EES at 1-year follow-up in 400 MV-CAD patients. For the randomized trial, the primary endpoint was in-stent late loss at 9 months. For the registry, the primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, and ischemia-driven target vessel revascularization at 12 months. RESULTS: The primary endpoint per single lesion was significantly lower in the EES group compared with the PES group (-0.03 ± 0.49 mm vs. 0.23 ± 0.51 mm, p = 0.001). Similar results were observed when analyzing all lesions (0.05 ± 0.51 mm vs. 0.24 ± 0.50 mm, p < 0.001). Clinical outcome at 1 year yielded a composite of major adverse cardiac events of 9.2% in the single-arm registry, and 11.1% and 16.5% in the EES and PES randomized groups, respectively (p = 0.30). CONCLUSIONS: The EXECUTIVE trial was a randomized pilot trial dedicated to the comparison of the efficacy of 2 different DES among patients with 2- to 3-vessel MV-CAD. The study shows lower in-stent late loss at 9 months with the EES XIENCE V compared with the PES TAXUS Libertè, and a low major adverse cardiac event rate at 1 year in patients with 2-to 3-vessel MV-CAD. (EXECUTIVE [EXecutive RCT: Evaluating XIENCE V in a Multi Vessel Disease]; NCT00531011).

Migration of an AMPLATZER atrial septal occluder to the abdominal aorta.

Percutaneous closure of an atrial septal defect has been increasingly used, and complications have been rare. We report the case of a 63-year-old man who had undergone endovascular closure of a secundum atrial septal defect months earlier. The occluder was later found in the abdominal aorta.

A clinical and angiographic study of the XIENCE V everolimus-eluting coronary stent system in the treatment of patients with multivessel coronary artery disease. Study design and rationale of the EXECUTIVE trial.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial revascularization with drug-eluting stents (DESs) is emerging as an alternative to conventional coronary artery bypass surgery in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (MV-CAD). First-generation DESs have yielded equivalent safety results at mid-term compared with surgery, but inferior efficacy in preventing the recurrence of ischemic symptoms. The outcome of percutaneous coronary intervention with a second-generation everolimus DES as compared with a paclitaxel DES in patients with MV-CAD has not been established. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study is the assessment of the efficacy and performance of the XIENCE V everolimus-eluting stent in the treatment of de-novo coronary artery lesions in patients with MV-CAD. STUDY DESIGN: The study is composed of two parts: a prospective, double arm, randomized multicenter trial to assess the angiographic efficacy of the XIENCE V everolimus-eluting coronary stent system (EECSS) compared with the Taxus Liberté Paclitaxel Eluting Coronary Stent System (Taxus Liberté Stent) and a prospective, open-label, single arm, controlled registry to analyze the clinical efficacy and safety of XIENCE V EECSS at mid-term and long-term follow-up in patients treated for MV-CAD. ENDPOINTS: For the EXECUTIVE randomized trial, the primary endpoint is in-stent late lumen loss at 9 months. For the EXECUTIVE registry, the primary endpoint is a composite of all death, myocardial infarction (Q-wave and non-Q-wave), and ischemia-driven target vessel revascularization at 12 months. The study will be conducted at 30 study centers in Italy and 600 patients will be enrolled in total: 200 patients will be enrolled (1: 1) in the randomized trial and 400 patients will enter the registry. SAMPLE SIZE: It was calculated that, assuming a mean in-stent late lumen loss of 0.20 +/- 0.41 mm in the XIENCE V EECSS arm and 0.30 +/- 0.53 mm in the Taxus Liberté stent arm, and a noninferiority margin delta of 0.12 (according to the SPIRIT III results), the analysis of 81 lesions per arm would provide over 90% power. Therefore, 200 patients will be enrolled to account for dropouts. CONCLUSION: The present study is expected to provide as yet unavailable information about the performance of second-generation stents in the specific setting of patients with MV-CAD.

Frequency and prognostic significance of pericarditis following acute myocardial infarction treated by primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Prospective data were collected from 743 consecutive patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarctions (AMIs) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (mean age 65.3 +/- 11.6 years, 36.7% women). Early post-AMI pericarditis was diagnosed in 31 patients (4.2%; mean age 62.1 +/- 13.4 years, 41.9% women), with an increasing prevalence according to presentation delay (p <0.001): 1.7% for <3 hours, 5.4% for 3 to 6 hours, and 13.6% for >6 hours. Late post-AMI pericarditis (Dressler syndrome) was recorded in only 1 patient (0.1%). On multivariate analysis, patients with presentation times >6 hours (odds ratio 4.4, 95% confidence interval 2.0 to 9.8, p <0.001) and primary percutaneous coronary intervention failure (odds ratio 2.8, 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 7.4, p = 0.032) were at increased risk for developing early post-AMI pericarditis. Although pericarditis is associated with a larger infarct size, in-hospital and 1-year mortality and major adverse cardiac events were similar in patients with and without pericarditis. In conclusion, early primary percutaneous coronary intervention may reduce the occurrence of early post-AMI pericarditis within the first 3 hours of symptom onset. Early post-AMI pericarditis remains a marker of larger infarct size but without independent prognostic significance.

Successful angioplasty and stenting of bilateral internal mammary artery grafts from the left radial approach. Case report and review of the literature.

We describe a case of successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and stenting from the left radial approach in a patient with effort angina due to two tight stenoses at the distal anastomosis site of the internal mammary artery grafts. The left radial approach has several advantages compared with the conventional femoral approach: a lower rate of vascular complications and an easier vascular access to the left internal mammary artery graft. The distance from the access site to the origin of the artery is shorter and involves less angulation than the femoral approach. The radial approach is not only safe but it enables faster patient mobilisation and seems also useful in reducing management costs with a hospital stay that can be reduced to 6 h in low-risk cases.

Relation of acute pericardial disease to malignancy.

Neoplastic etiology was found in 33 of 450 patients with acute pericardial disease (7.3%). Acute pericardial disease was the first manifestation of previously unknown malignancies in 18 of 450 patients (4.0%), and lung cancer was the most common malignancy (72.2%, p = 0.02). The following clinical characteristics were associated with a greater probability of a neoplastic etiology: a history of malignancy (odds ratio [OR] 19.8), cardiac tamponade at presentation (OR 7.0), a lack of response to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and recurrent or incessant pericarditis (OR 10.0). A similar prognosis was found in patients with or without a history of known cancer.

Main pulmonary artery aneurysm: a case report and review of the literature.

Main pulmonary artery aneurysms are a rare entity with few available published data. As reported in the literature, operative treatment is commonly recommended but the relation between the size of the aneurysm, its localization, and the risk of rupture is not as well defined as for aortic aneurysms. Proximal lesions that involve the main branches of the pulmonary artery are usually apparent on chest radiographs and must be taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis of mediastinal masses. An early diagnosis allows timely surgical treatment. We report an unusual case of a main pulmonary artery aneurysm presenting with persistent non-productive cough and provide a review of the pertinent published data.

[Initial experience in the management of myocardial infarction with primary angioplasty: results of the activity in two hospitals of the Turin area without on-site cardiac surgery]. / Iniziale esperienza organizzativa nel trattamento con angioplastica primaria dell'infarto miocardico acuto in due ospedali torinesi territoriali non dotati di cardiochirurgia: primi tre anni di attività.

BACKGROUND: Reperfusion therapy of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with primary coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is becoming an accepted therapeutical strategy because of a lower incidence of reinfarction, of hemorrhagic stroke and for a greater reduction of the infarct size in comparison to thrombolytic therapy. In this study we evaluated the feasibility and the effectiveness of such a strategy in two hospitals without on-site heart surgery but with a high volume of admission for acute coronary syndrome and a high caseload of elective interventional procedures. METHODS: Since January 2001 we started a program of primary PTCA for all STEMI patients presenting within 12 hours of symptom onset. An interventional team (physician, nurse and technician) were on call in a 24/7/365 fashion. Aspirin, heparin and abciximab were administered in the emergency room to all patients. Immediately after the procedure patients were given clopidogrel. RESULTS: Up to December 2003, 464 patients (mean age 63 +/- 12 years, 19.8% female) underwent primary PTCA. The symptom-emergency room interval was 3 +/- 3.9 hours, while the door-to-balloon time was 52.5 +/- 39.4 min. A TIMI 0-1 flow in the infarct-related artery was present in 55.8% of patients. Seventy patients (15.1%) presented with shock. In 430 patients (92.7%) a TIMI 3 flow was restored followed by a reduction in ST-segment elevation > 50% in 356 patients (76.7%). Total in-hospital mortality was 4.9% (23 out of 464 patients). The mortality of patients with shock was 31.4% (22 out of 70 patients). Two patients (0.4%) underwent emergency bypass. Four patients (0.8%) were electively referred to surgery prior to discharge in order to complete revascularization, which could not be obtained with further PTCA. The rate of major hemorrhagic complications was 0.8%. CONCLUSIONS: Primary PTCA for STEMI is a reperfusion strategy feasible and effective even in hospitals without on-site heart surgery, provided that a high volume of routine and emergency interventional procedures is maintained and when such a strategy is timely performed according to international guidelines.