Impact of multiple ballooning on coronary lesions as assessed by optical coherence tomography and intravascular ultrasound.

BACKGROUND: Optimal lesion preparation for coronary lesions has been reappraised in the interventional community, given the increasing use of drug-coated balloons for de novo lesions; however, whether multiple ballooning could achieve more favorable angiographic results compared with single ballooning remains unknown. We aimed to investigate the incremental effect of multiple ballooning on de novo coronary lesions over single ballooning as assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: Patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) undergoing PCI were enrolled. Ballooning before stent implantation was repeatedly performed for three times using the same semi-compliant balloon. OCT and IVUS were performed after each balloon dilatation. Primary outcome measure was the difference in the mean lumen area between post-1st ballooning (1B) and post-3rd ballooning (3B) as assessed by OCT. RESULTS: A total of 32 lesions in 30 patients undergoing PCI between May 2021 and August 2022 were analyzed. Major plaque types of the lesions were fibrous (68.8%) and lipid (28.1%). Mean lumen area by OCT was significantly increased from 1B to 3B (5.9 ± 2.9 mm2 vs. 6.0 ± 2.9 mm2, difference: 0.2 ± 0.4 mm2, p = 0.040). There were significant increases from 1B to 3B in minimum lumen area by OCT (3.1 ± 1.5 mm2 vs. 3.6 ± 1.7 mm2, difference: 0.5 ± 0.6 mm2, p < 0.001) and mean dissection angle by OCT (65.6 ± 24.9° vs. 95.2 ± 34.0°, difference: 29.6 ± 25.5°, p < 0.001). Additionally, mean plaque area by IVUS was significantly decreased (8.0 ± 4.2 mm2 vs. 7.8 ± 4.1 mm2, difference: -0.2 ± 0.2 mm2, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Among CCS patients with mainly non-calcified lesions, multiple ballooning significantly increased the lumen area and dissection angle compared with single ballooning.

Prognostic usefulness of residual SYNTAX score combined with clinical factors for patients with acute coronary syndrome who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention from the SHINANO Registry.

The optimal strategy for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) with multi-vessel disease (MVD) is still controversial. Residual anatomical features alone are not sufficient to appropriately stratify patient risk. Our aim was to assess the effectiveness of the residual Synergy between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) score (rSS) combined with clinical factors to predict long-term clinical outcomes in ACS patients. A total of 120 patients with ACS and MVD undergoing PCI were recruited from the SHINANO 5-year registry: a prospective, multi-center, cohort study. The rSS combined with clinical factors (Combined Score) were calculated based on the residual coronary angiogram and each clinical feature after primary PCI. The Combined Score was calculated by replacing SS with rSS using the SYNTAX score II (SSII) calculator. We grouped the Combined Score in two groups according to the cut-off value calculated by the ROC curve (the C-statistic was 0.82 [95% CI 0.74-0.91]) for all-cause mortality. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality during the 5-year follow-up. The Combined Score was associated with long-term mortality in Cox-regression analysis (HR 1.08, 95% CI 1.05-1.11, P < 0.001). The mortality rate was significantly higher in the high-score group compared with the low-score group (5.7% vs 38.0%; P < 0.001). In ACS with MVD, the Combined Score might be considered an important tool to predict long-term mortality following PCI.

Impact of nutritional index on long-term outcomes of elderly patients with coronary artery disease: sub-analysis of the SHINANO 5 year registry.

Nutritional status is a novel approach to prognostic assessment in patients with cardiovascular disease. However, assessment of nutritional status in elderly patients is challenging due to the significant differences between young patients. The TCBI (Triglycerides × Total cholesterol × Body Weight Index) is a novel and simple nutritional index for predicting long-term outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease. This retrospective study evaluated the efficacy of TCBI in 597 elderly (≥ 75 years) patients enrolled in the SHINANO 5 year registry. The SHINANO 5 year registry, a prospective observational multicenter cohort study, had enrolled 1501 consecutive patients who underwent elective/urgent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In this study, patients were categorized into TCBI quartile groups. The primary endpoints were the occurrence of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), including all-cause death, stroke, and myocardial infarction at 5 year. The mean duration of follow up was 4.3 ± 1.7 years. The average patient age was 80.9 ± 4.3 years. MACCE was observed in 61 (40.9%) patients in the lowest TCBI quartile group. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated an inverse relationship between MACCE and TCBI (log-lank P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that low TCBI significantly predicted the incidence of MACCE (hazard ratio: 1.44, 95% confidence interval: 1.03-2.00; P = 0.031). The TCBI is useful in predicting long-term outcomes in elderly patients undergoing PCI.

Prognostic ability of mid-term worsening renal function after percutaneous coronary intervention: findings from the SHINANO registry.

Chronic kidney disease is a prognostic factor for cardiovascular disease. Worsening renal function (WRF), specifically, is an important predictor of mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We evaluate the prognostic impact of mid-term WRF after PCI on future cardiovascular events. We examined the renal function data of 1086 patients in the first year after PCI using the SHINANO 5-year registry. Patients were divided into two groups, mid-term WRF and non-mid-term WRF, and primary outcomes were major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and death. Mid-term WRF was defined as an increase in creatinine (≥ 0.3 mg/dL) in the first year after PCI. Mid-term WRF was found in 101 patients (9.3%), and compared to non-mid-term WRF, it significantly increased the incidence of MACE (p < 0.001), and all-cause death (p < 0.001), myocardial infarction (p = 0.001). Furthermore, mid-term WRF patients had higher incidence of future heart failure (p < 0.001) and new-onset atrial fibrillation (p = 0.01). Patients with both mid-term WRF and chronic kidney disease had increased MACE compared to patients with either condition alone (p < 0.001). Similarly, patients with mid-term WRF and acute kidney injury had increased MACE compared to patients with either condition alone (p < 0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed mid-term WRF as a strong predictor of MACE (hazard ratio: 2.50, 95% confidence interval 1.57-3.98, p < 0.001). Mid-term WRF after PCI negatively affects MACE, as well as future admission due to heart failure and new-onset atrial fibrillation, chronic kidney disease, and acute kidney injury.

Impact of changes in body mass index after percutaneous coronary intervention on long-term outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease.

Little is known about the impact of changes in body mass index (BMI) after the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on long-term outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Therefore, this study aimed to clarify this issue. We investigated data on CAD obtained from the SHINANO Registry, a prospective, observational, multicenter cohort study, from 2012 to 2013 in Nagano, Japan. One year after PCI, the enrolled patients were divided into the following three groups based on changes in BMI by tertiles: reduced, maintained, and elevated BMI. The associations among the groups and the 4-year outcomes [major adverse cardiac events (MACEs), all-cause death, Q-wave myocardial infarction, and stroke] were examined. Five hundred seventy-two patients were divided into the reduced, maintained, and elevated BMI groups. Over the 4-year follow-up period, the cumulative incidence of MACEs was 10.5% (60 cases). In the Kaplan-Meier analysis, the incidence rates of MACE were significantly higher in the reduced BMI group than in the maintained and elevated BMI groups [17.7% versus (vs.) 7.3% vs. 9.0%, p = 0.004]. Multivariable cox regression analysis showed that the reduced group showed increased risks of MACEs (hazard ratio 2.15; 95% confidence interval 1.29-3.57; p = 0.003). The long-term clinical outcomes of patients with CAD who underwent PCI were affected by the reduction in BMI after PCI. Furthermore, the elevation of BMI after PCI was not a poor prognostic factor.

Impact of hyper-polypharmacy due to non-cardiovascular medications on long-term clinical outcomes following endovascular treatment for lower limb artery disease: A sub-analysis of the I-PAD Nagano registry.

BACKGROUND: Lower limb artery disease (LEAD) is accompanied by multiple comorbidities; however, the effect of hyperpolypharmacy on patients with LEAD has not been established. This study investigated the associations between hyperpolypharmacy, medication class, and adverse clinical outcomes in patients with LEAD. METHODS: This study used data from a prospective multicenter observational Japanese registry. A total of 366 patients who underwent endovascular treatment (EVT) for LEAD were enrolled in this study. The primary endpoints were major adverse cardiac events (MACE), including myocardial infarction, stroke, and all-cause death. RESULTS: Of 366 patients with LEAD, 12 with missing medication information were excluded. Of the 354 remaining patients, 166 had hyperpolypharmacy (≥10 medications, 46.9 %), 162 had polypharmacy (5-9 medications, 45.8 %), and 26 had nonpolypharmacy (<5 medications, 7.3 %). Over a 4.7-year median follow-up period, patients in the hyperpolypharmacy group showed worse outcomes than those in the other two groups (log-rank test, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that the total number of medications was significantly associated with an increased risk of MACE (hazard ratio per medication increase 1.07, 95 % confidence interval 1.02-1.13 p = 0.012). Although an increased number of non-cardiovascular medications was associated with an elevated risk of MACE, the increase in cardiovascular medications was not statistically significant (log-rank test, p = 0.002 and 0.35, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Hyperpolypharmacy due to non-cardiovascular medications was significantly associated with adverse outcomes in patients with LEAD who underwent EVT, suggesting the importance of medication reviews, including non-cardiovascular medications.

The Impact of Hyperuricemia on Patients With Low Body Mass Index After Endovascular Treatments: Data From the I-PAD Registry.

We investigated the prognostic effects of hyperuricemia and high or low body mass index (BMI) in peripheral artery disease (PAD) after endovascular therapy (EVT). Between July 2015-2016, 357 consecutive patients with PAD who underwent EVT were enrolled. Patients were divided into 2 groups: BMI < 25 kg/m2 (low BMI) and ≥ 25 kg/m2 (high BMI); they were also divided into 2 more groups based on the presence/absence of hyperuricemia. The primary and secondary endpoints were major adverse cardiovascular and limb events (MACLE), and all-cause death at 3 years post-EVT. Patients with hyperuricemia had significantly lower freedom from MACLE than patients without hyperuricemia at 3 years (57.0 vs 71.9%, p = .0068). The overall survival of patients with hyperuricemia was significantly lower than that of patients without hyperuricemia (63.9 vs 81.7%, p = .0012). Patients with hyperuricemia who had low BMI experienced significantly lower freedom from MACLE than those without hyperuricemia who had low BMI (48.2 vs 69.9%, p = .002). The overall survival of patients with hyperuricemia who had low BMI was significantly lower than that of patients without hyperuricemia who had low BMI (55.2 vs 77.1%, p = .003). Patients with hyperuricemia had significantly more MACLE and a lower survival at 3 years than patients without hyperuricemia, even if they had a low BMI.

Diagnostic advantage of stress computed tomography myocardial perfusion over single-photon emission computed tomography for the assessment of myocardial ischemia.

BACKGROUND: This study compared adenosine stress computed tomography myocardial perfusion (CTP) with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in the diagnosis of functionally significant coronary artery stenosis using fractional flow reserve (FFR) as reference standard. METHODS: We included a total of 93 coronary arteries from 31 patients in whom at least one vessel with ≥50% stenosis was detected with computed tomography coronary angiography. All patients underwent both SPECT and adenosine stress CTP, followed by invasive coronary angiography (ICA) and FFR. Diagnostic accuracy between CTP and SPECT was compared according to positive findings of either ≥99% stenosis on ICA or FFR ≤0.8. RESULTS: Among 78 vessels eligible for the quantitative analyses, significant coronary artery disease (CAD) was diagnosed in 22 vessels of 19 patients. Comparison of CTP vs. SPECT for sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value, and accuracy in detecting significant CAD were 59% vs. 18%, 96% vs. 93%, 87% vs. 50%, 86% vs. 74%, and 86% vs. 72%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: CTP demonstrated a significant diagnostic advantage over SPECT in the identification of significant CAD, especially in terms of sensitivity and PPV. Adenosine stress CTP is useful for the noninvasive diagnosis of functionally significant CAD.

A young patient with atypical type-B Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome accompanied by left ventricular dysfunction.

A 15-year-old asymptomatic male patient presented with an electrocardiographic abnormality and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction (left ventricle ejection fraction of 40%) in a physical examination performed 2 years previously. LV dysfunction did not improve despite optimal medical therapy for dilated cardiomyopathy. Twelve-lead electrocardiography revealed a normal PR interval (138 ms) with a small delta-like wave in V2, but not a typical diagnostic wave that could be diagnosed as Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome by an electrocardiogram auto-analysis. Transthoracic echocardiography showed a remarkable asynchronous septal motion. An electrophysiological study was performed to exclude WPW syndrome. An accessory pathway (AP) was revealed on the lateral wall of the right ventricle, and radiofrequency catheter ablation was successfully performed to disconnect the AP. Thereafter, the dyssynchrony disappeared, and LV function improved. The intrinsic atrioventricular nodal conduction was very slow (A-H, 237 ms). The results of electrocardiogram auto-analysis could not be used to confirm the diagnosis of WPW syndrome because of the atypical delta wave. Conduction via the right lateral AP caused electrical dyssynchrony in the LV. This case suggests that atypical delta waves should be evaluated without depending on electrocardiographic auto-analyses in patients with LV dysfunction accompanied by dyssynchrony.