Pathological Evaluation of Predictors for Delayed Endothelial Coverage After Currently Available Drug-eluting Stent Implantation in Coronary Arteries: Impact of Lesions With Acute and Chronic Coronary Syndromes.

BACKGROUND: The optimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy after currently available drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation to prevent stent thrombosis (ST) remains controversial. Delayed healing is frequently identified as a leading cause of ST in the early phase. However, a thorough pathological investigation into strut coverage after currently available DES implantation is lacking-a gap addressed in the current study. METHODS: From our autopsy registry of 199 stented lesions, 4,713 struts from 66 currently available DES-stented lesions with an implant duration ≤370 days were histologically evaluated. Endothelial coverage was defined as the presence of luminal endothelial cells overlying struts and an underlying smooth muscle cell layer. The stented lesions were classified into acute coronary syndrome (ACS) (n = 40) and chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) (n = 26) groups and were compared. Endothelial coverage predictors were identified through logistic analysis. RESULTS: Although ACS and CCS lesions presented comparable clinical characteristics, including age, sex, and cause of death, the latter exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of chronic kidney disease and hemodialysis than the former (33.3% vs. 65.2%; p = 0.02, 7.7% vs. 30.4%; p = 0.02). The poststent implant median duration was significantly shorter in ACS lesions than in CCS lesions (13 [IQR 5-26 days] vs. 40 [IQR 16-233 days]; p < 0.01). The endothelial coverage percentage was 3.5% at 30 days and 27.7% at 90 days after currently available DES implantation. Multivariable logistic regression analysis implicated implant duration of ≤90 days [odds ratio (OR), 0.009; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.006-0.012; p < 0.01], superficial calcification (OR, 0.11; 95% CI, 0.07-0.17; p < 0.01), ACS culprit site (OR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.09-0.94; p = 0.039), and circumferentially durable polymer-coated DES (OR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.24-0.41; p < 0.01) as delayed endothelial coverage predictors. CONCLUSIONS: Endothelial coverage was limited at 90 days after currently available DES implantation, and the ACS culprit site and circumferentially durable polymer-coated DES were identified as independent predictors of delayed endothelial coverage. Our findings suggest the importance of underlying plaque morphology and stent technology for vessel healing after such implantation.

Diagnostic value of heart-to-mediastinum ratio in 99mTc-pyrophospate SPECT/CT for transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis.

BACKGROUND: In transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA), 99mTc-pyrophosphate myocardial scintigraphy (99mTc-PYP) is a diagnostic tool that utilizes visual and quantitative evaluation. However, false positive cases can occur because of tracer accumulation in the blood. We investigated the effectiveness of the heart-to-mediastinum (H/M) ratio of 99mTc-PYP in ATTR-CA diagnosis. METHODS: We retrospectively included 164 patients who underwent 99mTc-PYP single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography between March 2019 and January 2022. The diagnostic accuracy of ATTR-CA was examined by the heart-to-contralateral lung (H/CL) and H/M ratio calculated at 3 hours post-tracer administration. RESULTS: After the exclusion of patients who did not undergo endomyocardial biopsy, 30 patients (15 each with ATTR-CA and without ATTR-CA) were included. The receiver operating characteristic curve used to distinguish ATTR-CA from non-ATTR-CA patients revealed an area under the curve of 0.986 and 0.943, respectively. A H/M ratio of > 1.41 identified ATTR-CA patients with a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of 100, 93.3, 93.3, and 100%, respectively. Conversely, an H/CL ratio of > 1.3 identified ATTR-CA patients with 100% sensitivity, 40.0% specificity, 62.5% PPV, and 100% NPV. CONCLUSION: The H/M ratio obtained at 3 hours post-injection has the potential to be a novel indicator for ATTR-CA.

Safety of a Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Device Implantation in a Patient with Unstable Heart Failure Who Require Impella-Device Assistance.

Implantation of a cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device is usually scheduled in the compensated phase of heart failure; however, procedural safety may be sometimes disturbed in the decompensated phase. We report a case of a successful semi-urgent implantation of a CRT device temporary assisted with Impella in a patient with the decompensated phase of severe heart failure dependent on inotropic agents and who cannot maintain the supine position. Impella assistance with left ventricular (LV) unloading and maintenance of end-organ perfusion contributed to early recovery from acute heart failure. Furthermore, an acute effect of mechanical resynchronization by biventricular pacing plays an important role in weaning from the mechanical support or inotropic dependence. These mutual effects of mechanical support and CRT might contribute to a decrease in LV end-diastolic pressure and to a remarkable early recovery from a severely decompensated condition.

Questionnaire in patients with aborted sudden cardiac death due to coronary spasm in Japan.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the medical or mechanical therapy, and the present knowledge of Japanese cardiologists about aborted sudden cardiac death (ASCD) due to coronary spasm. METHODS: A questionnaire was developed regarding the number of cases of ASCD, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), and medical therapy in ASCD patients due to coronary spasm. The questionnaire was sent to the Japanese general institutions at random in 204 cardiology hospitals. RESULTS: The completed surveys were returned from 34 hospitals, giving a response rate of 16.7%. All SCD during the 5 years was observed in 5726 patients. SCD possibly due to coronary spasm was found in 808 patients (14.0%) and ASCD due to coronary spasm was observed in 169 patients (20.9%). In 169 patients with ASCD due to coronary spasm, one or two coronary vasodilators was administered in two-thirds of patients [113 patients (66.9%)], while more than 3 coronary vasodilators were found in 56 patients (33.1%). ICD was implanted in 117 patients with ASCD due to coronary spasm among these periods including 35 cases with subcutaneous ICD. Majority of cause of ASCD was ventricular fibrillation, whereas pulseless electrical activity was observed in 18 patients and complete atrioventricular block was recognized in 7 patients. Mean coronary vasodilator number in ASCD patients with ICD was significantly lower than that in those without ICD (2.1 ± 0.9 vs. 2.6 ± 1.0, p < 0.001). Although 16 institutions thought that the spasm provocation tests under the medications had some clinical usefulness of suppressing the next fatal arrhythmias, spasm provocation tests under the medication were performed in just 4 institutions. CONCLUSIONS: In the real world, there was no fundamental strategy for patients with ASCD due to coronary spasm. Each institution has each strategy for these patients. Cardiologists should have the same strategy and the same knowledge about ASCD patients due to coronary spasm in the future.

Clinical feasibility of pulmonary vein orifice pacing for the prediction of phrenic nerve injury during cryoballoon ablation of atrial fibrillation.

INTRODUCTION: Phrenic nerve (PN) injury is a well-known complication of cryoballoon ablation (CBA) for pulmonary vein (PV) isolation in patients with atrial fibrillation. However, it is still insufficient to practically predict phrenic nerve injury (PNI) before freezing. We hypothesized that phrenic nerve capture (PNC) with phrenic nerve orifice pacing (PVOP) might be a surrogate sign of the close proximity of the PN, and that might predict PNI and changes in the compound motor action potential (CMAP) amplitude. METHODS: Seventy patients (60 ± 12 years, male 80%, paroxysmal 56%) underwent PVOP with a 20-electrode ring catheter before the CBA. The clinical outcome was the occurrence of transient and persistent PNI. In addition, the PV position and pacing threshold during PNC with PVOP, and changes in the CMAP amplitude were recorded. We compared these measurements between patients with and without PNC (PNC/non-PNC group) with PVOP. RESULTS: PNC with PVOP occurred in 39 (56%) patients and was localized only to the right superior PV. Transient PNI occurred in seven (10%) patients and permanent in none. The CMAP amplitude decreased significantly more in the PNC group (PNC 33% vs non-PNC 16%, P = .027). PNC group had a higher risk of the composite outcome of transient PNI or ≥30% decrease in the CMAP amplitude (PNC 54% vs non-PNC 13%; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: This PVOP technique could be feasible and contribute to predicting transient PNI and CMAP amplitude reductions before cryoapplications. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the additional efficacy of PVOP over CMAP monitoring alone.

Plasma Globotriaosylsphingosine Level as a Primary Screening Target for Fabry Disease in Patients With Left Ventricular Hypertrophy.

BACKGROUND: Although previous studies have suggested a certain prevalence of Fabry disease (FD) in left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) patients, the screening of FD is difficult because of its wide-ranging clinical phenotypes. We aimed to clarify the utility of combined measurement of plasma globotriaosylsphingosine (lyso-Gb3) concentration and α-galactosidase A activity (α-GAL) as a primary screening of FD in unexplained LVH patients.Methods and Results:Between 2014 and 2016, both lyso-Gb3 and α-GAL were measured in 277 consecutive patients (male 215, female 62, age 25-79 years) with left ventricular wall thickness >12 mm on echocardiogram: 5 patients (1.8%) screened positive (2 (0.7%) showed high lyso-Gb3 and 4 (1.4%) had low α-GAL levels). Finally, 2 patients (0.7%) were diagnosed with clinically significant FD. In 1 case, a female heterozygote with normal α-GAL levels had genetic variants of unknown significance and was diagnosed as FD by endomyocardial biopsy. The other case was a male chronic renal failure patient requiring hemodialysis, and he had a p.R112H mutation. In both cases there were high lyso-Gb3 levels. CONCLUSIONS: The serum lyso-Gb3 level can be relevant for clinically significant FD, and combined measurement of lyso-Gb3 and α-GAL can provide better screening of FD in unexplained LVH patients.

Eicosapentaenoic acid ameliorates palmitate-induced lipotoxicity via the AMP kinase/dynamin-related protein-1 signaling pathway in differentiated H9c2 myocytes.

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence suggested the preferable effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid) against cardiac lipotoxicity, which worsens cardiac function by means of excessive serum free fatty acids due to chronic adrenergic stimulation under heart failure. Nonetheless, the precise molecular mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, we focused on dynamin-related protein-1 (Drp1) as a possible modulator of the EPA-mediated cardiac protection against cardiac lipotoxicity, and investigated the causal relation between AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and Drp1. METHODS AND RESULTS: When differentiated H9c2 myocytes were exposed to palmitate (PAL; saturated fatty acid, 400µM) for 24h, these myocytes showed activation of caspases 3 and 7, enhanced caspase 3 cleavage, depolarized mitochondrial membrane potential, depleted intracellular ATP, and enhanced production of intracellular reactive oxygen species. These changes suggested lipotoxicity due to excessive PAL. PAL enhanced mitochondrial fragmentation with increased Drp1 expression, as well. EPA (50µM) restored the PAL-induced apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, and mitochondrial fragmentation with increased Drp1 expression by PAL. EPA activated phosphorylation of AMPK, and pharmacological activation of AMPK by 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide ameliorated the PAL-induced apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, and downregulated Drp1. An AMPK knockdown via RNA interference enhanced Drp1 expression and attenuated the protective effects of EPA against the PAL-induced lipotoxicity. CONCLUSION: EPA ameliorates the PAL-induced lipotoxicity via AMPK activation, which subsequently suppresses mitochondrial fragmentation and Drp1 expression. Our findings may provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of EPA-mediated myocardial protection in heart failure.

Electrocardiogram Electrode Positioning on the Back During Echocardiography: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: ECG interpretation is sometimes difficult due to baseline fluctuations and electrode detachments when placed on the subjects' front side, leading to misinterpretation of the rhythms and phases of the cardiac cycle. We aimed to compare the differences in the wave amplitudes and respiratory variations between conventional ECG electrode positioning on the front side of patients and an alternative position on the backs of patients. METHODS: Echocardiography was performed in 85 patients lying in the left lateral position. We attached the red electrode to the right clavicle, the yellow to the left clavicle, and the green to the left lateral abdomen on the front side of the patients; on the back, we attached the electrode to the right clavicle, the right upper posterior iliac spine, and the left upper posterior iliac spine. RESULTS: The ECG monitor amplitudes were greater on the front side compared to the back side, but the BF-breath values were smaller on the back side (6.0 pixels) compared to the front side (10.5 pixels, p<0.05). The P wave amplitude divided by the BF-breath on the back side was greater than that seen on the front side (2.8 vs. 1.8, p<0.05), whereas the QRS amplitude divided by the BF-breath was 15.0 and 16.3, respectively (p=ns). CONCLUSION: As an alternative to front-side ECG monitoring, electrodes placed on the back can help avoid misinterpretation of the ECG rhythms and the phases of the cardiac cycle due to respiration during echocardiography.

Safety and feasibility of a novel total percutaneous post-closure technique after bedside Impella decannulation in patients with cardiogenic shock.

OBJECTIVES: The Impella (Abiomed) is a widely used percutaneous mechanical circulatory support device for high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with cardiogenic shock. This study aimed to determine the safety and feasibility of a non-angio-guided post-closure approach using the Perclose ProGlide (Abbott) to decannulate the Impella in the intensive care unit. METHODS: This retrospective study included consecutive patients who were successfully weaned from mechanical circulatory support using the Impella device between April 2019 and April 2022 at Hamamatsu University School of Medicine. Fifteen patients underwent complete post-closure of the femoral artery access sites at the bedside. Technical success of the post-closure hemostasis technique was defined as no evidence of bleeding or additional medical procedures after manual compression. The safety endpoints comprised the Valve Academic Research Consortium-3 and Bleeding Academic Research Consortium criteria. RESULTS: All patients achieved successful hemostasis with this novel technique without surgical conversion. There was no significant bleeding; however, procedure-related vessel occlusion was observed in 1 patient who was recanalized with balloon angioplasty. CONCLUSIONS: Bedside post-closure using the Perclose ProGlide device is a safe and feasible alternative to manual compression and surgical removal of the Impella device with low bleeding or vascular complications rates.

Risk of supranormal left ventricular ejection fraction in patients with aortic stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular events are increasing in patients with supranormal left ventricular ejection fraction (snLVEF). However, the effect of snLVEF in patients with aortic stenosis (AS) remains unclear, especially in patients with moderate AS. HYPOTHESIS: This study aimed to evaluate the prognosis of mortality and heart failure (HF) in patients with LVEF ≥ 50% and moderate or severe AS. METHODS: This retrospective study targeted patients with moderate or severe AS and LVEF > 50%. LVEF of 50%-65% was classified as normal LVEF (nLVEF, nEF group) and >65% as snLVEF (snEF group). AS severity was stratified based on the aortic valve area into moderate (1.0-1.5 cm²) and severe (<1.0 cm²). Primary outcomes included all-cause mortality and HF hospitalization. RESULTS: A total of 226 participants were included in this study. There were 67 and 65 participants with moderate AS in snEF (m-snEF) and nEF groups (m-nEF), respectively, and 41 and 53 participants with severe AS in the snEF (s-snEF) and nEF groups (s-nEF), respectively. During the observation period (median: 554 days), the primary composite outcome occurred in 108 individuals. Cox hazard analysis revealed no significant differences among the four groups in primary composite outcomes. With respect to HF hospitalization, the adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) with m-snEF as the reference were as follows: m-nEF, 0.41 (0.19-0.89); s-nEF, 1.43 (0.76-2.67); and s-snEF, 1.83 (1.00-3.35). CONCLUSIONS: The risk of HF hospitalization for m-snLVEF was higher than m-nLVEF and not significantly different from s-nLVEF.

Nonbacterial Thrombotic Endocarditis Caused by Early-stage Lung Cancer: An Autopsy Case Report.

Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE) is a manifestation of prothrombotic status observed in patients with malignancy. Most cases are discovered only in the advanced stages. However, cancer in early stages may also induce NBTE development. We herein report an 87-year-old man with NBTE with multiple thromboembolization coexisting with lung cancer in early clinical stage. Autopsy findings revealed platelet- and fibrin-rich vegetations in both the tricuspid and mitral valves without evidence of bacterial infection. NBTE should be considered in cases with occult thromboembolization. Not only the presence of typical vegetation but irregular leaflet thickening should be monitored with careful echocardiographic examinations.

Ventricular Thrombus Formation Caused by Subendomyocardial Inflammation in Eosinophilic Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis.

Cardiac involvement of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis is a rare but life-threatening complication. We present a case of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis with moderately impaired ventricular function forming a ventricular thrombus. Pathological assessment of endomyocardial biopsy specimen revealed aggregated eosinophils in the subendocardium, suggesting ventricular endothelial damage leading to thrombus formation.

Machine learning-based detection of sleep-disordered breathing in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is often concomitant with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), which can cause adverse cardiovascular events. Although an appropriate approach to SDB prevents cardiac remodelling, detection of concomitant SDB in patients with HCM remains suboptimal. Thus, we aimed to develop a machine learning-based discriminant model for SDB in HCM. METHODS: In the present multicentre study, we consecutively registered patients with HCM and performed nocturnal oximetry. The outcome was a high Oxygen Desaturation Index (ODI), defined as 3% ODI >10, which significantly correlated with the presence of moderate or severe SDB. We randomly divided the whole participants into a training set (80%) and a test set (20%). With data from the training set, we developed a random forest discriminant model for high ODI based on clinical parameters. We tested the ability of the discriminant model on the test set and compared it with a previous logistic regression model for distinguishing SDB in patients with HCM. RESULTS: Among 369 patients with HCM, 228 (61.8%) had high ODI. In the test set, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the discriminant model was 0.86 (95% CI 0.77 to 0.94). The sensitivity was 0.91 (95% CI 0.79 to 0.98) and specificity was 0.68 (95% CI 0.48 to 0.84). When the test set was divided into low-probability and high-probability groups, the high-probability group had a higher prevalence of high ODI than the low-probability group (82.4% vs 17.4%, OR 20.9 (95% CI 5.3 to 105.8), Fisher's exact test p<0.001). The discriminant model significantly outperformed the previous logistic regression model (DeLong test p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Our study serves as the first to develop a machine learning-based discriminant model for the concomitance of SDB in patients with HCM. The discriminant model may facilitate cost-effective screening tests and treatments for SDB in the population with HCM.

Drug-refractory Heart Failure in Female Carrier of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A Case of X-linked Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

A 56-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for the further evaluation of drug-refractory heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction. A family history interview revealed that men in her family had died of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), whereas she had no skeletal muscle disorder. Myocardial histopathology revealed a reduced dystrophin expression in the cardiomyocyte membrane, and a dystrophin (DMD) gene analysis identified a duplication in exon 8-9 on Xp21, suggesting that she had a cardiac-specific phenotype of dystrophinopathy, i.e. X-linked dilated cardiomyopathy (XLDCM). In conclusion, careful family history interviews and an investigation of dystrophinopathy are required to detect XLDCM in women.

Mechanism of Drug-Eluting Stent Thrombosis Diagnosed by Histopathological Evaluation of Directional Coronary Atherectomy Specimen.

An 89-year-old man with a history of percutaneous coronary intervention using a sirolimus-eluting stent presented with recurrent in-stent occlusion. Pathological assessment of the neointima resected via directional coronary atherectomy revealed a double-layered thrombus. Clopidogrel resistance and limited antithrombotic regimen owing to high bleeding risk likely resulted in the in-stent thrombotic occlusion.

A Case of Coronary Arteritis and Myocardial Involvement With Associated IgG4-Related Disease.

A 56-year-old male subject with bilateral eyelid swelling was diagnosed with an immunoglobulin G4-related disease. After whole-body surveillance, concomitant coronary arteritis with a mural thrombus and myocardial involvement were observed. In this case, multimodal diagnostic imaging assessment led to the diagnosis of both coronary arteritis and myocardial fibrosis associated with immunoglobulin G4-related disease. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.).

Prevalence and Characteristics of Inspiration-Induced Negative Left Atrial Pressure during Pulmonary Vein Isolation.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation is performed under deep sedation, which may cause inspiration-induced negative left atrial pressure (INLAP) associated with deep inspiration. INLAP could be the cause of periprocedural complications. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 381 patients with AF (mean age, 63.9 ± 10.8 years; 76 women; 216 cases of paroxysmal AF) who underwent CA under deep sedation using an adaptive servo ventilator (ASV). Patients whose LAP was not obtained were excluded. INLAP was defined as <0 mmHg of mean LAP during inspiration immediately after the transseptal puncture. The primary and secondary endpoints were the presence of INLAP and the incidence of periprocedural complications. RESULTS: Among 381 patients, INLAP was observed in 133 (34.9%). Patients with INLAP had higher CHA2DS2-Vasc scores (2.3 ± 1.5 vs. 2.1 ± 1.6) and 3% oxygen desaturation indexes (median 18.6 (interquartile range 11.2-31.1) vs. 15.7 (8.1-25.3)), and higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus (23.3 vs. 13.3%) than patients without INLAP. Air embolism occurred in four patients with INLAP (3.0 vs. 0.0%). CONCLUSION: INLAP is not rare in patients undergoing CA for AF under deep sedation with ASV. Much attention should be paid to the possibility of air embolism in patients with INLAP.

Pulmonary Tumor Thrombotic Microangiopathy Caused by Metastatic Ovarian Cancer: An Antemortem Diagnosis with Pulmonary Aspiration Cytopathology.

A 48-year-old woman with advanced ovarian cancer was diagnosed with pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy (PTTM) by antemortem pulmonary wedge aspiration cytopathology. Despite the initiation of anti-cancer treatment, she unfortunately died due to progressive respiratory failure. Histopathology of the autopsied lung revealed multiple tumor embolization with fibrin-rich clot and fibro-cellular intimal proliferation at the pulmonary arteriole. The embolized tumor showed strong immune-positivity for pro-thrombotic and fibrotic factors (tissue factor and vascular endothelial growth factor), suggesting the underlying mechanisms of PTTM development. This case suggests that a quick antemortem diagnosis and the early induction of specific treatments might ensure a better prognosis of PTTM.

Association of an Increased Abnormal Mitochondria Ratio in Cardiomyocytes with a Prolonged Oxygen Uptake Time Constant during Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing of Patients with Non-ischemic Cardiomyopathy.

Objective The cardiac function, blood distribution, and oxygen extraction in the muscles as well as the pulmonary function determine the oxygen uptake (VO2) kinetics at the onset of exercise. This factor is called the VO2 time constant, and its prolongation is associated with an unfavorable prognosis for heart failure (HF). The mitochondrial function of skeletal muscle is known to reflect exercise tolerance. Morphological changes and dysfunction in cardiac mitochondria are closely related to HF severity and its prognosis. Although mitochondria play an important role in generating energy in cardiomyocytes, the relationship between cardiac mitochondria and the VO2 time constant has not been elucidated. Methods We calculated the ratio of abnormal cardiac mitochondria in human myocardial biopsy samples using an electron microscope and measured the VO2 time constant during cardiopulmonary exercise testing. The VO2 time constant was normalized by the fat-free mass index (FFMI). Patients Fifteen patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) were included. Patients were divided into two groups according to their median VO2 time constant/FFMI value. Results Patients with a low VO2 time constant/FFMI value had a lower abnormal mitochondria ratio than those with a high VO2 time constant/FFMI value. A multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the ratio of abnormal cardiac mitochondria was independently associated with a high VO2 time constant/FFMI. Conclusion An increased abnormal cardiac mitochondria ratio might be associated with a high VO2 time constant/FFMI value in patients with NICM.

Association of Malnutrition and High Bleeding Risk with Long-Term Prognosis in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition in cardiovascular disease is associated with poor prognosis, especially in patients with heart failure and acute coronary syndrome (ACS). High bleeding risk is also linked to coronary artery disease prognosis, including ACS. However, whether the extent of malnutrition and high bleeding risk have a cumulative impact on the long-term prognosis of patients with ACS who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention remains unclear. METHODS: We analyzed 275 patients with ACS treated with percutaneous coronary intervention. The Controlling Nutritional Status score and Japanese version of the Academic Research Consortium for High Bleeding Risk criteria (J-HBR) were retrospectively evaluated. The primary and secondary outcomes were adjusted using the inverse probability treatment weighting method. RESULTS: The prevalence of moderate or severe malnutrition in this cohort was 16%. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a significantly higher incidence of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in patients who were moderately or severely malnourished than in those who were not. Notably, the incidence of these major events was similar between severely malnourished patients with J-HBR and those without. CONCLUSION: Moderate or severe malnutrition has a significant impact on the long-term prognosis of patients with ACS who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention.