bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Plaque and remodeling markers in coronary thrombi
Authors: Nordeng J , Helseth R , Aakra S , Hoffmann P , Schandiz H , Roald B , Bendz B , Arnesen H , Solheim S , Seljeflot I
Published: October 2021

Background

Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors are considered to be of importance in development of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. MMP-9 has been associated with unstable atherosclerotic plaques and rupture, as well as left ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI), whereas MMP-2 seems to be more related to progression of stable plaques. MMP activity is modulated by Tissue Inhibitors of Metalloproteinases (TIMPs). TIMP-1 has been associated with cardiac remodeling post MI, and TIMP-2 has been discussed to inhibit plaque development and destabilization. The extracellular MMP Inducer, EMMPRIN, stimulates both MMPs and TIMPs, and has been found upregulated on the surface of monocytes in patients with acute MI, and associated with MMP-9 activity.

Purpose

To study whether genes encoding MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, TIMP-2 and EMMPRIN are expressed in coronary thrombi and in circulating leukocytes from STEMI patients, and whether these are related to the degree of myocardial injury measured by troponin T, and time from symptoms to PCI.

Methods

Intracoronary thrombi were aspirated from 33 patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary PCI. The thrombi were snap-frozen in RNA-later solution for gene expression analyses. Peripheral blood samples with Pax-gene tubes were drawn at end of the PCI procedure. RNA was isolated from the thrombi and leukocytes, and the actual genes relatively quantified by RT PCR. Peak troponin T was collected from clinical records.

Results

Genes coding for the five different markers were present in 84–100% of the thrombi. Median peak troponin T was 3434 m/L. The expression of TIMP-1 in the thrombi correlated significantly to peak troponin T (r=0.393, p=0.026), and dividing peak troponin T values into quartiles, the median value of TIMP-1 mRNA in Q4 was 2.5-fold higher compared to Q1–3 (p=0.107). Peak troponin T also correlated to the expression of TIMP-1 in circulating leukocytes (r=0.469, p=0.006), and in Q4 of troponin T, the median value was 1.6-fold higher compared to Q1–3 (p=0.056). There were no significant correlations between the other measured genes and troponin T, and also no associations of any genes expressed in the thrombi or in circulating leukocytes to time from symptom to PCI (median 152 min).

Conclusion

Genes coding for MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, TIMP-2 and EMMPRIN were highly expressed in human coronary thrombi. The positive correlation between peak troponin T and the expression of TIMP-1 both in thrombi and in circulating leukocytes at time of PCI in patients with STEMI, may indicate that the role of TIMP-1 is important in cardiac remodeling immediately post-MI.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Private grant(s) and/or Sponsorship. Main funding source(s): Stein Erik Hagens Foundation for Clinical Heart Research
The prognostic value of the basal SYNTAX score I after early percutaneous coronary intervention using second generation drug eluting stents in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction
Authors: Haq A , Tecson K , Aldujeli A , Hamadeh A , Simaityte P , Stalmokaite A , Navickaite I , Rekus A , Briedis K , Jarusevicius G , Unikas R , Zaliaduonyte D , Schussler J
Published: October 2021

Introduction

The SYNTAX score is an angiographic tool used to grade coronary artery disease (CAD) burden and complexity. SYNTAX score predicts 1-year adverse outcomes for patients with multivessel and/or left main CAD who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, the relationship of the pre-PCI (basal) SYNTAX score to long-term outcomes of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary PCI is unknown.

Purpose

To evaluate the short-term (in-hospital) and long-term (5-year) prognostic value of basal SYNTAX score in patients with STEMI who were treated with primary PCI.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed records of consecutive patients presenting with STEMI, admitted from January 2014 to December 2016, who underwent primary PCI. We categorized patients into two groups according to SYNTAX scores: low/intermediate (≤22, 23–32) and high (>33). We utilized the Cochran-Armitage test for trend, Chi-square test, Fisher's Exact test, and Kruskal-Wallis tests to assess differences in baseline characteristics and outcomes as appropriate. We used logistic regression and calculated the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve to determine the prognostic ability of SYNTAX score groups on 5-year outcomes for stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), cardiovascular death, target vessel revascularization (TVR), all-cause mortality, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).

Results

There were 768 patients who met inclusion criteria for this study. 559 (72.8%) patients were in the low/intermediate SYNTAX score group and 209 (27.2%) patients were in the high SYNTAX score group. Baseline characteristics did not differ significantly between the two groups. In-hospital pacemaker implantation, in-hospital stent thrombosis, and in-hospital cardiac arrest and in-hospital death were rare and did not differ according to SYNTAX group (Table 1). However, the odds of experiencing stroke, MI, cardiovascular death, TVR, all-cause mortality, and MACE at 5 years were significantly higher in the high SYNTAX score group, even when adjusted for heart failure, total cholesterol, and age. The associated areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve indicated moderate-to-strong prognostic ability of the basal SYNTAX score (Table 2).

Conclusion

A high SYNTAX score in patients with STEMI who undergo primary PCI is associated poorer long-term outcomes, compared to patients with an intermediate/low score. This work confirms that a high burden of CAD in patients with STEMI portends a poorer long-term prognosis.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.
Predictive value of GRACE score combined with BNP and glycosylated hemoglobin for in-hospital cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndrome after percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: Guo J D , Zhao Y Y , Wang X P , Liu D , Du Z , Zhang Y , Gao L J , Yuan J Q , Zhao X Y
Published: October 2021

Purpose

To investigate the value of Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) score combined with B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in predicting in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods

A total of consecutive 675 patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) admitted to our hospital from June 2019 to June 2020, and finally, 319 patients treated with the percutaneous coronary intervenion (PCI) were enrolled. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) during hospitalization included cardiac death, cardiogenic shock, congestive heart failure, recurrent ischemic chest pain and malignant arrhythmia. The area under the curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the predictive value of MACE during hospitalization.

Results

Among 319 patients, during hospitalization, 26 patients (8.15%) experienced the MACE. Compared to that of non-MACE group, there were more patients with previous history of heart failure (P<0.001), lower in-admission systolic and diastolic blood pressure (P all<0.05), and higher heart rate, GRACE score, BNP, and HbA1c levels in the MACE group (P all<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that history of heart failure (OR: 1.498, 95% CI: 1.144–2.249), GRACE score (OR: 1.040, 95% CI: 1.017–1.063), BNP (OR: 1.019, 95% CI: 1.012–1.026) and HbA1C (OR: 1.199, 95% CI: 1.043–1.378) were independent risk factors for MACE in patients with ACS after PCI (P all<0.05). The AUC of GRACE score for predicting MACE in ACS patients after PCI was 0.758, while the AUC of BNP and HbA1C was 0.838 and 0.788, respectively. When GRACE score combined with BNP and HbA1c, the AUC was increased to 0.876, which was significantly higher than the GRACE score alone (Z=4.142, P<0.001).

Conclusion

In this study, we reported for the first time, GRACE score combined with BNP and HbA1c significantly improved the predictive value of in-hospital MACE in ACS patients after PCI compared with traditional GRACE score, which can help clinicians identify high risk patients to improve their prognosis in the clinical practice.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): Young and middle-aged talents in the XPCC Science and Technology Project (2020CB012); Key Science and Technology Project of Shihezi (2019ZH09) ROC Curve
Trends in major bleeding events in patients with acute coronary syndrome
Authors: Cordero A , Escribano D , Bertomeu-Gonzalez V , Moreno-Arribas J , Monteagudo M , Lopez Ayala J M , Perez-Berbell P , Quintanilla M A , Zuazola P
Published: October 2021

Background

Bleeding events incidence has gained a crucial role in acute coronary patients (ACS) due to its independent effect prognostic value.

Methods

We assessed the trend of in-hospital and first-year-after-discharge major bleeding events (MB) in all ACS admitted in a single center between January 2009 and Agoust 2019. MB was defined as those fitting definitions 3 or 5 of the BARC consortium. Patients were categorized as high-bleeding risk (HBR) if according to the 2019 Academic Research Consortium HBR consensus if they met at least one major or two minor criteria. Inclusion period was divided in 3 groups: 2009–2012 (n=884; 27.4%), 2013–2015 (n=1,047; 32.5%); 2016–2019 (n=1,294; 40.1%). Post-discharge MB was assessed by competing events regression models, taking all-cause mortality as a competing event, and results are presented as sub-hazard ratio (sHR).

Results

We included 3225 patients, mean age was 68.4 (29.7), 25.7% females, 1,108 32.1% had diabetes and 44.0% STEMI. Radial access was perfume in 92% of the angiographies in the 3 time-periods. A significant decrease in dual antiplatelet treatment (DAPT) before angiography was noted (69.0%; 56.3%; 53.6%; p=0.001) with a decreasing pattern in clopidogrel and increase in ticagrelor and prasugrel. A total of 1,591 (46.2%) were categorized as HBR patients. A non-significant trend to higher incidence of in-hospital MB was noted through the 3 time periods: 1.39%; 1.43%; 2.55% (p=0.056) and it was mainly driven by the significant increase only in HBR patients: 2.21%; 3.55%; 6.26% (p=0.003). Multivariate analysis identified age (OR: 1.06 95% CI 1.03–1.08, p<0.001) and the time period 2016–2019 (OR: 1.96 95% CI 1.01–3.84; p=0.031) as main variables associated to higher in-hospital MB.

In contrast, postdischarge MB did not change overtime (p=0.155) and trends were the same in HBR and non-HBR patients (figure). The competing risk regression analysis, adjusted by age, gender, previous cardiovascular disease, revascularization and medical treatments, identified that the leading factors for postdischarge MB were diabetes (sHR: 1.37; 95% CI 1.01–2.92), time-period 2016–2019 (sHR: 1.52; 95% CI 1.01–2.30), HBR patient (sHR: 1.91; 95% CI 1.28- 2.87) and and previous heart failure (sHR: 2.26; 95% CI 1.264.40)

Conclusions

This continuous 10-year registry highlights the increasing trend of in-hospital mainly driven by the incidence in HBR patients. In contrast, postdischarge MB increased in all patients.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None. Post-discharge MB incidence
J-shaped relationship between admission diastolic blood pressure and 2-year cardiovascular mortality in elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome
Authors: Jiang C , Wu S , Wang M , Li H , Zhao X
Published: October 2021

Objective

To investigate the relationship between admission diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and subsequent cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods

This is a retrospective observational study. Consecutive patients ≥65 years of age admitted for ACS at a 2,300-bed tertiary hospital from December 2012 to July 2019 were included. The association between admission DBP and cardiovascular and all-cause mortality during hospitalization and over the follow-up period among this population were analyzed using multivariate COX regression model. Results were presented according to DBP quartiles: Q1, less than 67 mm Hg; Q2, from 67 to 72 mm Hg; Q3, from 73 to 80 mm Hg; and Q4, above 80 mm Hg.

Results

A total of 6 785 patients were included in this cohort study. Mean (SD) patient age was 74.0 (6.5) years, and 47.6% were women. Mean (SD) follow-up time was 2.54 (1.82) years. A non-linear relation was observed between DBP at admission and cardiovascular and all-cause mortality during hospitalization and over the follow-up period using restricted cubic splines. After adjustment for potential confounders, patients in Q3 or Q2 had lower risk for 2-year cardiovascular death by Cox proportional hazard model compared with patients in Q4 (hazard ratio [HR] 0.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.48–0.90, P=0.010, for Q3 vs Q4; and HR 0.72; 95% CI, 0.53–0.99, P=0.041, for Q2vs Q4), while patients in Q1 had similar risk for cardiovascular death with that of patients in Q4. Meanwhile, when compared with patients in Q1, patients in Q3 had lower risk for 2-year cardiovascular death (HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.53–0.97, P=0.033). However, lower or higher admission DBP was not an independent predictor of 2-year all-cause mortality in this population.

Conclusion

Among patients aged ≥65 years admitted for ACS, there is a J-curve relationship between supine admission DBP and risk for 2-year cardiovascular death, with a nadir at 73–80 mm Hg.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Other. Main funding source(s): the Beijing Municipal Administration of Hospitals Clinical Medicine Development of Special Funding Support Study population and selectionAdjusted multivariate COX regression
5-hydroxymethylcytosine profiles in circulating cell-free DNA as candidate diagnostic and predictive biomarkers for coronary artery disease
Authors: Xu J , Yang Y J , Chen H Y , Dong C R , Lin J , Zhu H B , Yang J G , Wu Y , Yang Y M , Zhang J , Li J , Liang Y , Wang M , Zhao D Y , Zhao R
Published: October 2021

Background

DNA 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) modification is an epigenetic marker involved in a range of biological processes. However, little information is available about its role in coronary artery disease (CAD), particularly in the acute phase of acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Aims

To investigate whether 5hmC modification correlates with the pathogenesis and progression of CAD and whether 5hmC in cfDNA can be used as biomarkers.

Methods

We utilized 5hmC-Seal to generate genome-wide 5hmC profiles in plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) of normal coronary artery (NCA, n=200) controls and CAD patients, including stable coronary artery disease (sCAD, n=200) patients and ACS patients (n=371). To investigate the correlation between 5hmC modifications and CAD subtypes, we separated samples into training and validation cohorts and developed a 5hmC-based logistic regression model from the training cohort to predict the progression of CAD in the validation cohort.

Results

We detected a significant difference of 5hmC enrichment in gene bodies from CAD patients compared with NCA individuals. Particularly, our results showed that patients of CAD subgroups can be well separated from NCA individuals by 5hmC markers. The prediction performance of the model established by differentially regulated 5hmC modified genes achieved an AUC of 0.81 (sCAD vs. NCA) and 0.74 (ACS vs. NCA) in validation cohorts.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrated that patients of CAD subtypes and NCA individuals had distinct differences in 5hmC enrichment. 5hmC markers derived from plasma cfDNA may potentially serve as a clinical-applicable, minimally invasive, and liquid biopsy-based approach to diagnose CAD, particularly used to predict the occurrence of fetal ACS.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): Chinese Academy of Medical Science (CAMS) Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences Figure 1Figure 2
Association between plasma big endothelin-1 level and the severity of coronary artery disease in patients with non-ST segment-elevated myocardial infarction
Authors: Lyu S , Zhu J , Yu L , Yang Y
Published: October 2021

Background

This study aimed to evaluate the association between plasma big endothelin-1 (ET-1) level and the severity of coronary artery disease assessed by the SYNTAX score (SS) in patient with non-ST segment-elevated myocardial infarction (NSTEMI).

Methods

A total of 766 patients with NSTEMI undergoing coronary angiography were recruited. Patients were divided into divided into three groups: low SS (SS ≤22), intermediate SS (23–32) and high SS group (SS >32). Spearman correlation, smooth curve fitting, logistic regression and Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were performed to evaluated the association between plasma big ET-1 level and the SS.

Results

There was a significant correlation between the big ET-1 and the SS (r=0.378, p<0.001). Smoothing curve indicated a positive correlation between plasma big ET-1 level and the SS, after adjustment for potential confounders. The ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve was 0.695 (0.661–0.727) and the optimal cutoff of plasma big ET-1 level were 0.35pmol/l, with a sensitivity of 68.9% and a specificity of 62.9%. Logistic regression showed that elevated big ET-1 was an independent predictor of intermediate-high SS in patients with NSTEMI, no matter entered as a continuous variable [OR (95% CI): 1.110 (1.053–1.170), p<0.001] or as a categorical variable [OR (95% CI): 2.873 (2.016–4.094), p<0.001]. The association between big ET-1 and intermediate-high SS was consistent across subgroups without significant interactions.

Conclusion

In patients presenting with NSTEMI, plasma big ET-1 level was significantly correlated with the SS. Elevated plasma big ET-1 level was an independent predictor for intermediate-high SS.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None. ROC of big ET-1 for high SYNTAX score
The state of the left ventricular-arterial coupling depending on the left ventricular ejection fraction in patients with acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Salyamova L , Khromova A , Kvasova O , Burko N , Makarova K
Published: October 2021

Objective

To conduct a comparative analysis of the indicators of left ventricular-arterial coupling (LVAC) in patients with primary acute myocardial infarction with ST segment elevation (STEMI), depending on the initial level of the left ventricular ejection fraction (EF).

Methods

The study included 148 patients with STEMI (mean age 51.5 [CI% 50.1; 52.9] years) in the first 24–96 hours from the disease onset. An inclusion criterion was the presence of hemodynamically significant stenosis of only one coronary artery according to the coronary angiography results. On days 7–9th from the disease onset, the patients underwent standard echocardiography on the MyLab device (Esaote, Italy) with the determination of the end diastolic volume (EDV), end systolic volume (ESV), EF and the subsequent calculation of LVAC: arterial elastance (Ea), left ventricular elastance (Ees), including those reduced to body surface area (Ea/BSA and Ees/BSA), LVAC index (Ea/ Ees). In accordance with the LVEF values, the patients were divided into 3 groups. The 1st group included 79 people with preserved EF (≥50%), the 2nd group – 53 patients with mid-range EF (40–49%); Group 3 consisted of 16 patients with reduced EF (<40%). The compared groups were matched by age, sex, anthropometric data, and treatment.

Results

In the 1st group, the Ea indicator was 1.8 [CI% 1.7; 1.9], in group 2 – 2.0 [CI% 1.8; 2.1], in the third group – 2.2 [CI% 1.9; 2.5] mm Hg/ml (p1-3 = 0.01). The Ees indicator in the comparison groups was 2.2 [CI% 2.1; 2.4], 1.7 [CI% 1.5; 1.9] and 1.2 [CI% 0.9; 1.5] mm Hg/ml, respectively (p1-2-3 <0.01). The Ea/BSA index in the 1st group was 0.92 [CI% 0.85; 1.0], in the 2nd group – 1.0 [CI% 0.94; 1.13], in the third group – 1.16 [CI% 0.99; 1.33] mm Hg/ml/m2 (p1–3 = 0.01). The Ees/BSA indicator in the comparison groups was 1.16 [CI% 1.08; 1.24], 0.88 [CI% 0.79; 0.98] and 0.64 [CI% 0.46; 0.82] mm Hg/ml/m2, respectively (p1-2-3 <0.01). The Ea/Ees index was the smallest in the 1st group – 0.8 [CI% 0.8; 0.9]; higher in the 2nd group – 1.2 [CI% 1.1; 1.3]; the maximum values were registered in the 3rd group – 1.9 [CI% 1.7; 2.0] (p1-2-3 <0.0001).

Conclusions

In STEMI patients with mid-range and reduced EF, high values of the LVAC index were revealed, which is due to a decrease in left ventricular elastance due to impaired LV contractility.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the management and outcomes of STEMI patients in Switzerland
Authors: Fournier S , Mahendiran T , Radovanovic D , Pedrazzini G , Eberli F , Roffi M , Kobza R , Rickli H ,   AMIS Plus Investigators
Published: October 2021

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed unprecedented strain on healthcare systems around the world, with potential repercussions on the quality of care of patients with other diseases. From a cardiological perspective, there have been concerns that the pandemic may have impacted the management of the most acute cardiovascular conditions.

Purpose

We evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the management of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in Switzerland by assessing a range of quality-of-care metrics during the first year of the pandemic, as compared with the preceding year.

Methods

Data on STEMI patients hospitalised in Switzerland from 1st January 2019 to 31st December 2020 were obtained from the Acute Myocardial Infarction in Switzerland (AMIS) registry. Symptom-to-first-medical-contact (symptom-to-FMC) time, symptom-to-door time, and door-to-balloon (DTB) time were compared between 2020 and 2019 in an analysis by year and by month. Additionally, rates of in-hospital all-cause mortality and in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE: all-cause mortality, MI, stroke) were compared.

Results

Data on 2192 STEMI patients were available. Compared with the preceding 12 months, the first year of the pandemic was not associated with a significant change in median symptom-to-FMC time (2020: 90 minutes vs 2019: 95 minutes, p=0.32) or median symptom-to-door time (2020: 145 min vs 2019: 157 min, p=0.51). In 2020, February (start of the pandemic) and March (start of national lockdown) were associated with increased DTB times as compared with the same months of 2019 (+7 minutes, +10 minutes, respectively). However, overall median door-to-balloon times remained stable (2020: 40 min vs 2019: 39 min, p=0.06). Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the proportion of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (2020: 95.6% vs 2019: 95.1%, p=0.54). Finally, there were no significant differences in median length of stay (2020: 4 days vs 2019: 157 min, p=0.51), in-hospital all-cause mortality (2020: 4.9% vs. 2019: 4.2%, p=0.41) or MACE (2020: 6.2% vs. 2019: 5.6%, p=0.52).

Conclusions

Although there are some limitations associated with the present study inherent to its retrospective observational design (for instance, a potentially important number of late comers may not have been included in the registry), the data suggest that despite the impact of COVID-19 on the healthcare system in Switzerland in 2020, STEMI management as defined by a range of quality-of-care metrics remained effective and efficient.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.
Efficacy and safety of colchicine after myocardial infarction: a systematic review and meta- analysis
Authors: Diaz-Arocutipa C , Benites-Meza J , Chambergo-Michilot D , Barboza J , Pasupuleti V , Bueno H , Sambola A , Hernandez A V
Published: October 2021

Background

Inflammation plays a key role in atherosclerotic plaque destabilization and adverse cardiac remodeling. Recent evidence has shown a promising role of colchicine in patients with coronary artery disease.

Purpose

We evaluated the efficacy and safety of colchicine in post-acute myocardial infarction (MI) patients.

Methods

We searched five electronic databases from inception to January 18, 2021, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating colchicine in post-acute MI patients. Primary outcomes were cardiovascular mortality and recurrent MI. Secondary outcomes were all-cause mortality, stroke, urgent coronary revascularization, levels of follow-up high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and drug-related adverse events. All meta-analyses used inverse-variance random-effects models.

Results

Six RCTs (n=6005) patients were included. Colchicine did not significantly reduce cardiovascular mortality (risk ratio [RR], 0.91; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.52–1.61; p=0.64), recurrent MI (RR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.62–1.22; p=0.28), all-cause mortality (RR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.61–1.85; p=0.78), stroke (RR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.07–1.09; p=0.05), urgent coronary revascularization (RR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.02–8.89; p=0.19), or decreased levels of follow-up hs-CRP (MD, −1.95 mg/L; 95% CI, −12.88 to 8.98; p=0.61) compared to the control group. There was no increase of any adverse event (RR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.89–1.07; p=0.34) or gastrointestinal adverse events (RR, 2.49; 95% CI, 0.48–12.99; p=0.20). Subgroup analyses by colchicine dose (0.5 versus 1 mg/day), time of follow-up (<1 versus ≥1 year), and treatment duration (≤30 versus >30 days) showed no changes in the overall findings.

Conclusion

In post-acute MI patients, colchicine does not reduce cardiovascular or all-cause mortality, recurrent MI, or other cardiovascular outcomes. Also, colchicine did not increase drug-related adverse events.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.
Left ventricular mass index unveils differences in sympathetic nervous system activity between patients with MINOCA and Takotsubo syndrome
Authors: Mantzouranis M , Leontsinis I , Sakalidis A , Klettas D , Dimitriadis K , Thomopoulos C , Dri E , Ntalianis A , Avramidis D , Stougiannos P , Patsourakos N , Tousoulis D , Tsioufis K
Published: October 2021

Background/Introduction

Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) has been long established as an index of target organ damage. It has demonstrated a prognostic role in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality assessed using either echocardiography or cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) under the prism of coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease. On the other hand, it has shown a strong association with indices of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity.

Purpose

The aim of our study is to investigate for potential associations between LVMI and indices of SNS among patients with a working diagnosis of MINOCA.

Methods

Our study population consists of 50 patients [32% male; mean age: 61±12 years old; 50% hypertensives (HTN), 16% with history of diabetes mellitus (DM), 22% smokers] admitted with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) fulfilling the diagnostic criteria of MINOCA. A subsequent CMR demonstrated an ischemic pattern of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in 15 cases (27.8%), findings indicative of Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) in 19 patients (35.2%), whereas failed to reveal any abnormalities in 16 cases (29.8%). LVMI was estimated using left ventricular mass per body surface area (LV mass/BSA) as derived from CMR. SNS activity was assessed using muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) during the first 30 days of patient discharge.

Results

Univariate analysis failed to demonstrate an association between LVMI and indices of SNS in the total population. This was found to be driven by the TTS group. However, for all other MINOCA cases (n=31; including both LGE CMR and clear CMR cases) LVMI demonstrated a significant positive association with MSNA measured as bursts/min (OR, 0.558; CI 95%, 0.200–0.915; p=0.004). A multivariate analysis was conducted in the same group in which LVMI retained its statistical significance independently of age, gender, ejection fraction derived from CMR, history of HTN and DM (OR, 0.518; CI 95%, 0.030 - 0.952; p=0.038). TTS group did not show any association between LVMI and MSNA.

Conclusions

These preliminary results may imply an underlying mechanism of reverse negative feedback on systematic SNS activity after the acute phase of sympathetic overdrive during a TTS event. Further investigation is warranted to confirm our research findings.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.
Mean serum D-dimer level to predict in-hospital mortality in Covid-19 patients
Authors: Hayiroglu M I , Cicek V , Kilic S , Cinar T
Published: October 2021

Background

The prognostic effect of the mean serum D-dimer levels, which was calculated from the first five hospitalization days of the patients, have not been elucidated. We aim to evaluate the effect of mean D-dimer level in regard to in-hospital mortality in patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 infection.

Material and methods

In this observational retrospective study, we examined the in-hospital prognostic value of mean D-dimer (D-dimer first day + D-dimer third day + D-dimer fifth day) / 3 on 240 consecutive adult patients with COVID-19. Patients were stratified into tertiles according to their mean D-dimer starting from the lowest one. In-hospital mortality rates were compared between tertiles and the power of the mean D-dimer level was also presented by a receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis.

Results

After adjustment for confounding baseline variables, mean D-dimer in tertile 3 was associated with an 4.2-fold hazard ratio of in-hospital mortality (OR: 4.2, 95% CI 1.8–20.1, p<0.001). A ROC analysis revealed that the optimal cut-off value of the mean D-dimer to predict in-hospital mortality was 779 μg/L with 77% sensitivity and 83% specificity (AUC: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.81–0.94; p<0.001).

Conclusion

Patients with a higher mean D-dimer level should be followed-up more closely since they may be a candidate for a more aggressive treatment modality, such as biologic agents or convalescent plasma.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None. Figure 1
Ischemic signs on the post-resuscitation ECG in absence of STEMI is associated with lower survival. A COACT trial's sub-study
Authors: Spoormans E , Lemkes J S , Janssens G N , Van Der Hoeven N W , Soultana O , Jewbali L S D , Dubois E A , Meuwissen M , Bosker H A , Bleeker G B , Vlachojannis G J , Van Der Harst P , Voskuil M , Van De Ven P , Van Royen N ,   COACT
Published: October 2021

Background

The recently published Coronary Angiography after Cardiac arrest (COACT) trial found that urgent coronary angiography did not improve 90-day survival in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients without STEMI. The prognostic value of signs of ischemia on the ECG in absence of STEMI, is yet to be determined.

Purpose

To assess whether ischemic ECG patterns such as ST-depression and T-wave inversion are predictors for survival after OHCA in patients without STEMI.

Methods

In the COACT trial, patients with return of spontaneous circulation after OHCA with initial shockable rhythm and absence of ST-segment elevation were included. In this sub-study, the first post-resuscitation ECG recorded at the hospital was analysed for signs of ischemia. Ischemia was defined as ST-depression or T-wave inversion >1mm in ≥2 contiguous leads, or both. Primary endpoint was 90-day survival. Secondary endpoints included angiographic outcomes and left ventricular function assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging or echocardiography.

Results

In total, 552 patients were included in the COACT trial. For this sub-study, 510 OHCA-patients had an ECG available for assessment of whom 340 patients (66.7%) had signs of ischemia on the ECG and 170 patients (33.3%) were without signs of ischemia. Patients with signs of ischemia were significantly older (p=0.003) and more frequently had a history of CAD (p=0.009). Left ventricular ejection fraction was lower in those with signs of ischemia (p=0.007). The number of acute thrombotic occlusions did not differ between groups (p=0.34). Patients with signs of ischemia had a significantly worse 90-day survival compared to patients that showed no signs of ischemia (HR 1.51 (95% CI 1.08–2.12); log-rank p=0.02). Furthermore, larger ST-depression was found to be associated with worse survival (log-rank p=0.01). Neurologic injury was the most common cause of death and its incidence did not differ between the groups (p=0.77).

Conclusion

Signs of ischemia in absence of STEMI on the post-resuscitation ECG is a predictor for worse survival. Furthermore, a correlation was found between the sum of ST-depression and lower survival rate.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): Research grants of Netherlands Heart institue, Biotronic, AstraZeneca Survival plot signs of ischemia on ECGSurvival plot sum of ST-depression
The impact of intraoperative pericardial three-dimensional echocardiography for the atrioventricular valve repair in the patient with congenital heart disease
Authors: Numata R , Takigiku K , Takei K , Akazawa Y , Yonehara K , Obinata H , Konuma T , Kojima A
Published: October 2021

Background

Atrioventricular valve (AVV) regurgitation enormously affected the survival outcome of the patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). However, the image quality by use of transthoracic echocardiography has not reached a level that is sufficient, and also, three-dimensional echocardiography, which is useful to clarify complex AVV anatomy, cannot be applied for the patients less than 15kg, to guide for the AVV repair in pediatric patients. We try to show surgeons more precise three-dimensional images about an AVV by using intraoperative pericardial three-dimensional echocardiography (IP3DE) and improve the surgical outcome.

Purpose

To determine the efficacy of IP3DE by assessing the surgical outcome of an AVV repair and re-intervention rate.

Method

Eighty-five patient with CHD who underwent atrioventricular repair with significant regurgitation (Grade 2–4+) before operation were divided into two groups imaged IP3DE or not, in our hospital from 1993 to 2020. We assessed the surgical outcome and re-intervention rate between two arms and re-evaluate AVV images before surgery compared to the IP3DE.

Result

IP3DE was performed in forty-six patients (IP3DE group) and thirty-nine patients were not (control group). Median age at AVV repair was 3.0/2.8 years, respectively. The AVV was tricuspid (n=25), mitral (n=41), or common (n=19). The IP3DE group had a significantly higher improvement in regurgitation of AVV (IP3DE: Grade 3.2±0.3 → 1.7±0.3 vs Control: Grade 2.8±0.3 → 1.8±0.3, p<0.05). Fifty-nine percent of the IP3DE group was successful outcome (Grade<1+ after repair). There was no significant difference in the rate of re-intervention after surgery between two groups. In multivariate analysis, using IP3DE contributed to successful outcome for AVV repair (OR: 4.66, 95% CI: 1.46–14.8, p<0.01). The different and/or additional anatomical AVV findings were obtained in sixty-one percent of patients by the IP3DE.

Conclusion

IP3DE contributes to successful outcome for AVV repair by obtaining further information on complicated AVV anatomy in congenital heart disease. IP3DE also enables both cardiovascular surgeons and cardiologists to share the accurate and detail “surgeon's view” in the operating room for planning of AVV repair.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.
Long term outcomes of patients with aortic structural valve deterioration treated with transcatheter valve in valve implantation
Authors: Schamroth Pravda N , Codner P , Vaknin Assa H , Vitberg G , Perl L , Shapira Y , Levi A , Mishaev R , Talmor Barkan Y , Sharoni R , Hamdan A , Landes U , Kornowski R
Published: October 2021

Introduction

The Valve-in-Valve (ViV) technique is an established alternative for the treatment of structural bioprosthetic valve deterioration (SVD). Data describing the long term follow up of patients treated with this approach is scarce. We report on our long-term follow up outcomes of patients with SVD in the Aortic position treated with ViV.

Methods

Included were patients with symptomatic SVD in the aortic position valve who were treated by Valve in valve transcatheter aortic valve implantation (ViV-TAVI) during the years 20102019 in our center. Three main outcomes were examined during follow up: NYHA functional class, hemodynamic of the VIV-TAVI per echocardiography, and overall mortality.

Results

Our cohort consisted of 84 patients (mean age 78.8±8.9 years). The indications for aortic ViV were: SVD isolated aortic stenosis in 37.6%, SVD isolated aortic regurgitation in 42.2% and combined valve pathology in 20.0%. Self-expandable and balloon-expandable devices were used in 73 (85.9%) and 12 (14.1%), respectively. Average time of follow up was 3.74±2.4 years. 95% and 91% of patients were in NYHA functional class I/II at 1 and 5 year follow up respectively. At one year the mean trans-aortic valve pressure was 15.3±9.3 and rates of ≥ moderate aortic regurgitation were 3.7%. Survival was 91.4% (95% CI 85.6–97.7) at one year and 79.5% (95% CI 70.2–90.0) at 3 years.

Conclusion

ViV in the aortic position offers an effective and durable treatment option for patient with SVD, with low rates of all-cause mortality, excellent hemodynamic and improved functional capacity at 3 years follow up.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None. NYHA functional class over follow up
Mid-term follow up of transcatheter echo guided mitral valve repair with neochordae implantation
Authors: Mahia P , Cobiella J , Carnero M , Enriquez D , De Agustin J A , Macaya C , Maroto L
Published: October 2021

Background

Transapical off-pump mitral valve repair with neochordae implantation has become as a promising alternative to conventional surgery for patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) due to posterior leaflet prolapse or flail (PML). We present our single center mid-term results about safety and efficacy of this innovative, minimally invasive mitral valve repair approach.

Methods

Symptomatic patients with severe MR secondary to PML flail/prolapse (March 2017-Jan 2021) that underwent the NeoChord procedure were included. Patients were stratified according of the preoperative 3D-TEE assessment of MV morphology: Type A, isolated central PML prolapse/flail; Type B, posterior multisegment prolapse/flail; Type C and D, anterior or bileaflet prolapse/flail or paracommissural prolapse/flail or any type of disease with the presence of significant leaflet/annular calcification. Type A was considered the more favorable morphology. Clinical and echocardiographic follow-up at one, three, six, twelve months and yearly were performed.

Results

43 patients were included; median follow-up was 19 (IQR 13–23) months. Median age was 67.7±13.4 y. Median EuroSCOREII 2.7%±1.91. There were 35 Type A patients (81.4%), 4 Type B (9.3%), 1 Type C (2.3%), and 3 Type D (7%). Procedural success was achieved in 38 patients (88,4%). 5 patients, 2 type A and 3 type D, underwent conversion to open surgery for immediate failure. One high-risk patient considered inoperable died before discharge. Postoperative length of stay was 4.25±1 days. At 19 (IQR 13–23) months median followup, MR≤ II was present in 29 (76.3%). Overall 2 year survival was 100%. Freedom from reintervention was 89% for overall population. 86.84% were in New York Heart Association class I.

Conclusions

NeoChord procedure is a feasible, low risk technique that allows safely repair degenerative MR and demonstrated good clinical outcomes and echocardiographic results at mid-term follow-up.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.
Clinical and echocardiographic characteristics associated with the development of infective endocarditis in patients with significant mitral stenosis
Authors: Ngiam N , Chew N W S , Li T Y W , Leow R , Sia C H , Poh K K , Kong W K F
Published: October 2021

Background

Infective endocarditis (IE) confers significant mortality and morbidity in patients with underlying mitral stenosis (MS), with both diseased native valves and after valvular procedures.

Purpose

We examined the clinical and echocardiographic parameters in association with the development of IE on patients with significant MS.

Methods

A total of 478 consecutive patients with index echocardiographic diagnosis of significant mitral stenosis (mitral valve area<1.5cm2) were included. Patients were divided into those with or without IE on at least 3 years of follow-up. Baseline clinical, echocardiographic profile and clinical outcomes were compared.

Results

IE was observed in 4.4% (n=21) of the cohort. These patients were younger (45.3±14.6 vs 53.2±15.5 years, p=0.022) at time of MS. NT-proBNP was higher in patients who developed IE (13529±12230 vs 4381±5875 pg/ml, p<0.001), with larger left atrial diameter (54.4±10.1 vs 49.9±9.5 mm, p=0.040) and elevated pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP, 62.3±17.2 vs 47.2±16.5 mmHg, p=0.026). There was no significant difference in terms of mitral stenosis severity, other concomitant valvulopathies, or aetiology (rheumatic or degenerative) of MS. Patients who smoked had higher incidence of IE (33.3% vs 14.2%, log-rank 7.27, p=0.007). After adjusting for age, valve procedure and PASP, patients who smoked remained at elevated risk of IE (adjusted hazards ratio 2.99, 95% confidence interval 1.18 – 7.56, p=0.021).

Conclusion

IE occurs in a proportion of patients with MS. Smoking, younger age of diagnosis of MS as well as dilated left atria with elevated PASP may be associated with an elevated risk of this complication.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None. Kaplan-Meier CurveMultivariable Cox Regression
Left ventricular noncompaction and EcoScore: prognostic value of a new echographic risk score
Authors: Correia J , Neto V , Ferreira G , Pires I , Santos J , Goncalves L , Cabral J , Costa A
Published: October 2021

Introduction

Left Ventricular Non-Compaction (LVNC) is a rare and underdiagnosed cardiomyopathy, characterized by hypertrabeculation of the left ventricle. This disease is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality; however, its main adverse prognostic factors are not well established.

Aim

To create a risk score for LVNC based on echocardiographic criteria (EcoScore) to predict the occurrence of adverse events.

Methods

The authors included patients with the diagnosis of LVNC, according to the Jenni Criteria. Clinical and echocardiographic data were evaluated and the occurrence of the following adverse events was reported: hospitalizations due to supraventricular or ventricular tachyarrythmias and heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, stroke, heart transplant and death. The follow-up time was 24 months. ROC curves to predict the occurrence of at least one adverse event were constructed for each echocardiographic parameter. The optimal cut-off obtained from each ROC curve was then used to attribute points (1 point per parameter). The EcoScore resulted from the sum of the obtained points. The authors finally created a ROC curve to predict the occurrence of any adverse event for the EcoScore. The statistical analysis was performed in SPSS. p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

33 patients (48.5% male, age at diagnosis 45.9±21 years) were included in this study. The optimal cut-offs for each parameter obtained from the ROC curves were the following: left ventricle dyastolic diameter >55mm, left atrial diameter >40mm, pulmonary artery systolic pressure >22mmHg and left ventricle ejection fraction <40%. The area under the curve for the EcoScore to predict any adverse event was 0.850 (p=0.017) and an EcoScore >1 had a sensibility of 85.7% and a specificity of 70%.

Conclusion

The EcoScore accurately predicted the occurrence of at least one adverse event in this population. Thus, it could be a good tool in the daily practice to select patients who may benefit from a more aggressive surveillance and treatment.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.
Clinical features and natural history of RASopathy-associated hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in children
Authors: Boleti O , Field E , Norrish G , Dady K , Summers K , Lord E , Smyth S , Thompson E , Cervi E , Kaski J P
Published: October 2021

Background

The RASopathies are a group of genetic disorders caused by germline mutations in genes encoding components of the RAS/MAPK signalling pathway and frequently associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The clinical features and outcomes of RASopathy-related HCM are incompletely understood and most published studies are limited by relatively small numbers and incomplete clinical characterisation.

Purpose

To describe the clinical features outcomes in a large, single-centre cohort of patients with RASopathy-associated HCM diagnosed <18 years.

Methods

Data from 105 patients [68 (64.8%) males] diagnosed in childhood with RASopathy-associated HCM at a single specialist centre between 1985 and 2020 were retrospectively analysed.

Results

The RASopathy diagnosis was Noonan syndrome in 69 patients (65.7%); NSML in 10 (9.5%); CFC in 6 (5.7%); Costello in 5 (4.8%) and 15 patients (14.2%) had another Noonan-like variant. 72 patients (68.6%) had a pathogenic/likely pathogenic variant in a RAS-MAPK gene, most commonly PTPN11 [n=25 (34.7%)], followed by RAF 1 [n=13 (18.1%)]. 100 patients (95.2%) were probands, 9 (8.6%) had family history of cardiomyopathy and 2 (1.9%) family history of sudden cardiac death (SCD). 52 (49.5%) had concomitant congenital heart defects (CHD) [ASD 13 (25%), VSD 6 (11.5%), PDA 1 (1.9%), >1 CHD 32 (61.5%)]. 29 (27.6%) had symptoms at baseline assessment and 56 (53.3%) were on cardiac medication. The distribution of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) was concentric in 47 (44.7%); 32 (30.5%) had asymmetric septal hypertrophy (ASH), and undocumented in 25 patients (23.8%). 45 patients (42.9%) had biventricular hypertrophy (BVH). Resting left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) was present in 39 (37.1%) with haemodynamically significant LVOTO (≥50mmHg) in 23 (21.9%). Resting right ventricular outflow tract obstruction (RVOTO) was present in 21 (20%). Over a median follow up time of 6 years, 19 patients (18.1%) died [1 (5.3%) SCD; 2 (10.5%) due to Heart Failure-related death; 1 (5.3%) due to another CVS cause; 5 (26.3%) due to a non-CVS cause and for 10 (52.6%) cause of death was unknown]. Incidence rate of death was calculated at 2.7 deaths per 100 person-years. Surgical septal myectomy was performed in 9 patients (8.6%) and 3 (2.9%) underwent cardiac transplantation. 14 patients (13.3%) suffered arrhythmic events [atrial tachycardia 6 (42.9%), Non-Sustained Ventricular Tachycardia 4 (3.8%), and Ventricular Tachycardia/Ventricular Fibrillation 4 (3.8%)].

Conclusion

To our knowledge, this is the largest cohort of RASopathy-associated HCM. The findings show a heterogeneous clinical presentation with a high prevalence of morbidity and mortality. Further work is needed to determine predictors of outcome in this population.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Onassis Foundation