The Relationship of Coronary Thrombus Burden and Anticoagulation and Risk Factors in Atrial Fibrillation (ATRIA) Score in Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: The anticoagulation and risk factors in atrial fibrillation (ATRIA) score is associated with adverse cardiovascular events. However, its relationship with coronary thrombus burden is unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the ATRIA score and thrombus burden in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was designed as a prospective cross-sectional observational study. Our study included 319 patients who were prospectively admitted with STEMI between January 2021 and April 2022. Patients were divided into 2 groups with low thrombus burden (LTB) (grade <3) and high thrombus burden (HTB) (grade ≥3). ATRIA score was calculated and recorded for all patients. ATRIA scores of both groups were compared. RESULTS: In our study, 58.9% (n = 188) of patients in the LTB group and 41% (n = 131) of patients in the HTB group. The ATRIA risk score (p < .001) was significantly higher in the HTB group. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, ATRIA score, glomerular filtration rate, hypertension, abciximab usage, and no-reflow were found to be independent predictors of HTB in STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI. In receiver operating characteristic analysis, ATRIA score >4 had a sensitivity of 66.2% and specificity of 95.2%, and ATRIA score >8 sensitivity of 98% and specificity of 100% predicted HTB. CONCLUSION: In this study, we found that thrombus burden may be associated with ATRIA risk score in patients presenting with STEMI.

Pathological Characteristics and Classification of Unstable Coronary Atherosclerotic Plaques.

Important forensic diagnostic indicators of sudden death in coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, such as acute or chronic myocardial ischemic changes, sometimes make it difficult to locate the ischemic site due to the short death process, the lack of tissue reaction time. In some cases, the deceased died of sudden death on the first-episode, resulting in difficulty for medical examiners to make an accurate diagnosis. However, clinical studies on coronary instability plaque revealed the key role of coronary spasm and thrombosis caused by their lesions in sudden coronary death process. This paper mainly summarizes the pathological characteristics of unstable coronary plaque based on clinical medical research, including plaque rupture, plaque erosion and calcified nodules, as well as the influencing factors leading to plaque instability, and briefly describes the research progress and technique of the atherosclerotic plaques, in order to improve the study on the mechanism of sudden coronary death and improve the accuracy of the forensic diagnosis of sudden coronary death by diagnosing different pathologic states of coronary atherosclerotic plaques.

Acute and subacute effects of strenuous exercise on platelet aggregation, coagulation and fibrinolysis in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

INTRODUCTION: Strenuous exercise may occasionally cause coronary thrombosis with myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) (n = 164) and healthy individuals (n = 25) performed strenuous exercise on a bicycle ergometer. Blood was drawn at baseline, immediately after exercise and 2 h later. Platelet aggregation was measured with Multiplate® Analyzer. Thrombin generation was determined using a thrombogram and by measuring prothrombin fragment 1 + 2 (F1 + 2). A clot lysis assay was used to investigate fibrinolysis. RESULTS: From baseline to immediately after exercise, thrombin receptor activating peptide (TRAP)-induced platelet aggregation increased in CAD patients (Δ77 AU × min, 95 % confidence interval (CI): 46;107) and in healthy individuals (Δ153 AU × min, 95%CI: 75;232). Endogenous thrombin potential (ETP) was unaffected by exercise, whilst F1 + 2 increased (Δ17%, 95%CI: 11;24) in CAD patients. Fibrin clot lysis time increased by 9 % (95%CI: 1-17) in CAD patients and by 26 % (95%CI: 8;45) in healthy individuals. When comparing baseline to 2 h post-exercise, TRAP-induced platelet aggregation remained slightly elevated in both CAD patients (Δ53 AU × min, 95%CI: 22;84) and healthy individuals (Δ140 AU × min, 95%CI: 62;219). In contrast, ETP and F1 + 2 decreased in CAD patients (Δ-6 %, 95%CI: -10;-1 and Δ-8 %, 95%CI: -14;-2). Moreover, clot lysis time decreased (Δ-19 %, 95%CI: -27;-11) in patients with CAD and returned to baseline in healthy individuals. All p-values were <0.05. CONCLUSIONS: Platelet aggregation and F1 + 2 were substantially elevated immediately after exercise in CAD patients, indicating a pro-thrombotic state. After 2 h of recovery, they exhibited a markedly increase in fibrinolysis. Similar results were observed in healthy individuals.

[Characteristics of Inferior Myocardial Infarction With a Special Electrocardiographic Pattern (Aslanger) in Metabolic Syndrome].

AIM: To evaluate the features of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction with the Aslanger pattern in comparison with traditional forms of inferior myocardial infarction in metabolic syndrome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study included 30 patients with inferior myocardial infarction in the presence of metabolic syndrome: 9 patients with the Aslanger electrocardiographic pattern (group 1, age 59.7 [58.4; 63.1] years) and the rest with one of the traditional forms (control group, 59.9 [57.2; 63.8] years, matched by all criteria of metabolic syndrome). All patients underwent primary percutaneous intervention with assessment of the angiographic picture. The magnitude of ST-segment elevation was measured in lead III at the J point and following 0.06 seconds, and the optimal threshold value of this indicator was determined for a new picture of myocardial infarction. RESULTS: The infarct-related artery in the Aslanger pattern was more often the circumflex artery (p=0.0099), and coronary thrombosis was characterized by a lower TIMI thrombus grade (p=0.014). SYNTAX values for the Aslanger pattern and for the traditional picture of inferior infarction with ST elevation in lead II≥III were higher than for a similar picture with ST elevation in lead III>II. The level of cTnI at admission (p=0.013) and after 24 hours (p=0.0017), the platelet count (p=0.0011) and mean volume (p=0.0047) in group 1 had smaller values than with traditional inferior infarction. The ST elevation at J point and at J+0.06 s point for lead III with the Aslanger pattern was significantly lower than values of such shift in lead III>II and lead II≥III with traditional inferior infarction (p<0.001). An elevation value ≤1.5 mm at J point +0.06 s was a predictor of infarction with the Aslanger pattern. Constructing the ROC curve made it possible to determine that with the Aslanger pattern, the best cutoff value for this index is 2 mm. CONCLUSION: Myocardial infarction with the Aslanger pattern as compared with traditional lower infarction in metabolic syndrome is characterized by specific individual angiographic signs, lower ST segment elevation, cTnI level, and thrombotic disorders.

Use of the Indigo CAT RX aspiration system during percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: The use of the Indigo CAT RX Aspiration System (Penumbra Inc.) during percutaneous coronary intervention has received limited study. METHODS: We retrospectively examined the clinical, angiographic, and procedural characteristics, outcomes, and follow-up of patients who underwent mechanical aspiration thrombectomy with the Indigo CAT RX system (Penumbra Inc.) at a large tertiary care hospital between January 2019 and April 2023. RESULTS: During the study period, 83 patients (85 lesions) underwent thrombectomy with the Indigo CAT RX. Mean patient age was 64.9 ± 14.48 years and 31.2% were women. The most common presentations were ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (MI) (66.2%) and non-ST-segment elevation MI (26.5%). A final thrombolysis in MI flow grade of 3 and final myocardial blush grade of 3 were achieved in 76% and 46% of the cases, respectively. Technical success was achieved in 88.9% of the cases that included Indigo CAT RX treatment only, compared with 57.1% of the cases that also included manual aspiration. There were no device-related serious adverse events. At 30-day postprocedure, the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (composite of cardiovascular death, recurrent MI, cardiogenic shock, new or worsening New York Heart Association Class IV heart failure, stroke) was 8.5%: 1.3% stroke (postprocedure, in-hospital), 1.3% MI, 6.1% cardiac death, and 7.5% developed cardiogenic shock. CONCLUSIONS: Use of the Indigo CAT RX system is associated with high technical success and acceptable risk of complications, including stroke.

Angiographic characteristics of patients with STEMI and COVID-19: Insights from NACMI registry.

BACKGROUND: To date, there has been no independent core lab angiographic analysis of patients with COVID-19 and STEMI. The study characterized the angiographic parameters of patients with COVID-19 and STEMI. METHODS: Angiograms of patients with COVID-19 and STEMI from the North American COVID-19 Myocardial Infarction (NACMI) Registry were sent to a Core Laboratory in Vancouver, Canada. Culprit lesion(s), Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow, Thrombus Grade Burden (TGB), and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) outcome were assessed. RESULTS: From 234 patients, 74% had one culprit lesion, 14% had multiple culprits and 12% had no culprit identified. Multivessel thrombotic disease and multivessel CAD were found in 27% and 53% of patients, respectively. Stent thrombosis accounted for 12% of the presentations and occurred in 55% of patients with previous coronary stents. Of the 182 who underwent PCI, 60 (33%) had unsuccessful PCI due to post-PCI TIMI flow <3 (43/60), residual high thrombus burden (41/60) and/or thrombus related complications (27/60). In-hospital mortality for successful, partially successful, and unsuccessful PCI was 14%, 13%, and 27%, respectively. Unsuccessful PCI was associated with increased risk of in-hospital mortality (risk ratio [RR] 1.96; 95% CI: 1.05-3.66, P = .03); in the adjusted model this estimate was attenuated (RR: 1.24; 95% CI: 0.65-2.34, P = .51). CONCLUSION: In patients with COVID-19 and STEMI, thrombus burden was pervasive with notable rates of multivessel thrombotic disease and stent thrombosis. Post-PCI, persistent thrombus and sub-optimal TIMI 3 flow rates led to one-third of the PCI's being unsuccessful, which decreased over time but remained an important predictor of in-hospital mortality.

Association of Periprocedural Inflammatory Activation With Increased Risk for Early Coronary Stent Thrombosis.

BACKGROUND: Stent thrombosis is a rare but deleterious event. Routine coronary angiography with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is often deferred in the presence of laboratory markers of acute inflammation to prevent complications. The aim of this study was to investigate whether an acute inflammatory state is associated with an increased risk of early stent thrombosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Within a prospective single-center registry, the association between preprocedural acute inflammatory activation, defined as C-reactive protein plasma levels >50 mg/L or a leukocyte count >12 g/L, and occurrence of early (≤30 days) stent thrombosis was evaluated. In total, 11 327 patients underwent PCI and of those, 6880 patients had laboratory results available. 49.6% of the study population received PCI for an acute coronary syndrome and 50.4% for stable ischemic heart disease. In patients with signs of acute inflammatory activation (24.9%), PCI was associated with a significantly increased risk for stent thrombosis (hazard ratio, 2.89; P<0.00001), independent of age, sex, kidney function, number and type of stents, presence of multivessel disease, choice of P2Y12 inhibitor, and clinical presentation. Elevated laboratory markers of acute inflammation were associated with the occurrence of stent thrombosis in both patients with acute coronary syndrome (hazard ratio, 2.63; P<0.001) and in patients with stable ischemic heart disease (hazard ratio, 3.57; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: An acute inflammatory state at the time of PCI was associated with a significantly increased risk of early stent thrombosis. Evidence of acute inflammation should result in deferred PCI in elective patients, while future studies are needed for patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Long-term outcomes after coronary intervention with biodegradable polymer stents in patients with acute coronary syndromes.

BACKGROUND: Patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) may have worse outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention compared to patients without ACS. AIMS: To compare 5-year efficacy and safety outcomes in patients with and without ACS treated with biodegradable polymers, the ultrathin strut sirolimus-eluting Orsiro stent (O-SES) or the biolimus-eluting Nobori stent (N-BES). METHODS: The Scandinavian Organisation for Randomized Trials with Clinical Outcome VII is a randomized trial comparing O-SES and N-BES in an all-comer setting. Of 2525 patients, 1329 (53%) patients had ACS and 1196 (47%) patients were without ACS. Endpoints were target lesion failure (TLF) (a composite of cardiac death, target lesion myocardial infarction, or target lesion revascularization) and definite stent thrombosis within 5 years. RESULTS: At 5-year follow-up, TLF did not differ significantly between patients with and without ACS (12.3% vs. 13.2%; rate ratio (RR) 1.00; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.70-1.44), whereas the risk of definite stent thrombosis was increased in patients with ACS (2.3% vs. 1.3; RR: 2.01 [95% CI: 1.01-3.98]). In patients with ACS, the rate of TLF was similar between O-SES and N-BES (12.4% vs. 12.3%; RR: 1.02; 95% CI: 0.74-1.40). The reduced risk of definite stent thrombosis in O-SES treated ACS patients within the first year (0.2% vs. 1.6%; RR: 0.12; 95% CI: 0.02-0.93) was not maintained after 5 years (1.8% vs. 2.7%; RR: 0.77; 95% CI: 0.37-1.63). CONCLUSION: Patients with ACS had an increased risk of stent thrombosis regardless of the stent type used. Long-term outcomes were similar for ACS patients treated with O-SES or N-BES at 5 years.

Subclinical Atherosclerosis: Part 1: What Is it? Can it Be Defined at the Histological Level?

While coronary artery disease remains a major cause of death, it is preventable. Therefore, the focus needs to shift to the early detection and prevention of atherosclerosis. Asymptomatic atherosclerosis is widely termed subclinical atherosclerosis, which is an early indicator of atherosclerotic burden, and understanding this disease is important because timely intervention could prevent future cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. We histologically recognize the earliest lesion of atherosclerosis as pathological intimal thickening, which is characterized by the presence of lipid pools. The difference between clinical atherosclerosis and subclinical atherosclerosis is whether the presence of atherosclerosis results in the clinical symptoms of ischemia, such as stroke, myocardial infarction, or chronic limb-threatening ischemia. In the absence of thrombosis, there are various types of histological plaque that encompass subclinical atherosclerosis: pathological intimal thickening, fibroatheroma, thin-cap fibroatheroma, plaque rupture, healed plaque ruptures, and fibrocalcific plaque. Plaque morphology that is most frequently responsible for acute coronary thrombosis is plaque rupture. Calcification of coronary arteries is the hallmark of atherosclerosis and is a predictor of future coronary events. Atherosclerosis occurs in other vascular beds and is most frequent in arteries of the lower extremity, followed by carotid, aorta, and coronary arteries, and the mechanisms leading to clinical symptoms are unique for each location.