Long-term clinical outcomes according to first responsive dose of acetylcholine in patients with coronary artery spasm.

The impact of myocardial bridge on coronary artery spasm and long-term clinical outcomes in patients without significant atherosclerotic stenosis

Impact of the statin escape phenomenon on long-term clinical outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction: Subgroup analysis of the Nagoya Acute Myocardial Infarction Study (NAMIS).

Background: The number of coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) patients with renal insufficiency is huge, and limited data are available on the impact of renal insufficiency on long-term clinical outcomes in CTO patients. We aimed to investigate clinical outcomes of CTO percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) vs. medical therapy (MT) in CTO patients according to baseline renal function.Methods: In the study population of 2,497, 1,220 patients underwent CTO PCI and 1,277 patients received MT. Patients were divided into four groups based on renal function: group 1 [estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥ 90 ml/min/1.73 m2], group 2 (60 ≤ eGFR <90 ml/min/1.73 m2), group 3 (30 ≤ eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m2), and group 4 (eGFR <30 ml/min/1.73 m2). Major adverse cardiac event (MACE) was the primary end point.Results: Median follow-up was 2.6 years. With the decline in renal function, MACE (p < 0.001) and cardiac death (p < 0.001) were increased. In group 1 and group 2, MACE occurred less frequently in patients with CTO PCI, as compared to patients in the MT group (15.6% vs. 22.8%, p < 0.001; 15.6% vs. 26.5%, p < 0.001; respectively). However, there was no significant difference in terms of MACE between CTO PCI and MT in group 3 (21.1% vs. 28.7%, p = 0.211) and group 4 (28.6% vs. 50.0%, p = 0.289). MACE was significantly reduced for patients who received successful CTO PCI compared to patients with MT (16.7% vs. 22.8%, p = 0.006; 16.3% vs. 26.5%, p = 0.003, respectively) in group 1 and group 2. eGFR < 30 ml/min/1.73 m2, age, male gender, diabetes mellitus, heart failure, multivessel disease, and MT were identified as independent predictors for MACE in patients with CTOs.Conclusions: Renal impairment is associated with MACE in patients with CTOs. For treatment of CTO, compared with MT alone, CTO PCI may reduce the risk of MACE in patients without chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, reduced MACE from CTO PCI among patients with CKD was not observed. Similar beneficial effects were observed in patients without CKD who underwent successful CTO procedures.

Objectives Intracoronary injection of acetylcholine (Ach) has been shown to induce significant coronary artery spasm (CAS) in patients with vasospastic angina. Clinical significance and angiographic characteristics of patients with ischemic electrocardiogram (ECG) changes during the Ach provocation test are not clarified yet. Methods A total 4,418 consecutive patients underwent coronary angiography with Ach provocation tests from 2004 to 2012 were enrolled. Ischemic ECG changes were defined as transient ST-segment depression or elevation ( &amp;gt; 1 mm) and T inversion with/without chest pain. Finally, a total 2,293 patients (28.5% of total subjects) proven CAS were enrolled for this study. Results A total 119 patients (5.2%) showed ECG changes during Ach provocation tests. The baseline clinical and procedural characteristics are well balanced between the two groups. Ischemic ECG change group showed more frequent chest pain, higher incidence of baseline spasm, severe vasospasm, multi-vessel involvement, and more diffuse spasm ( &amp;gt; 30 mm) than those without ischemic ECG changes. At 5 years, the incidences of death, major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and major adverse cardiac and cerebral events (MACCE) were higher in the ischemic ECG change group despite of optimal medical therapy. Conclusions The patients with ischemic ECG changes during Ach provocation tests were associated with more frequent chest pain, baseline spasm, diffuse, severe and multi-vessel spasm than patients without ischemic ECG changes. At 5-years, the incidences of death, MACE and MACCE were higher in the ischemic ECG change group, suggesting more intensive medical therapy with close clinical follow up will be required.

Coronary calcification detected by coronary angiography is a simple risk marker for long-term clinical outcomes in stable coronary artery disease. However, the significance of angiographic coronary calcification in the culprit lesion of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has not been fully discussed. The purpose of this retrospective study was to assess the usefulness of angiographic coronary calcification as a risk marker for long-term clinical outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention to the culprit lesions of AMI. We included 1209 patients with AMI and divided them into the none-mild calcification group (n=923) and the moderate-severe calcification group (n=286) according to angiographic coronary calcification in the culprit lesion of AMI. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), which was defined as a composite of all-cause death, nonfatal MI, readmission for heart failure, and ischemia-driven target vessel revascularization. The median follow-up duration was 542 (Q1: 182, Q3: 990) days. A total of 345 MACE were observed during the study period. The occurrence of MACE was significantly greater in the moderate-severe calcification group than in the none-mild calcification group (43.4% vs. 23.9%, p＜0.001). In the multivariate Cox hazard model, moderate-severe calcification was significantly associated with MACE (hazard ratio 1.302, 95% confidence interval 1.011-1.677, p=0.041) after controlling multiple confounding factors. Angiographically moderate to severe calcification in AMI culprit lesion was associated with long-term worse clinical outcomes. Angiographic coronary calcification can be a simple risk marker in patients after AMI.

The impact of large thrombus burden (LTB) on very long-term clinical outcomes in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is unknown. We compared very long-term clinical outcomes in STEMI patients with either LTB or small thrombus burden (STB). Between 2002 and 2004, thrombus burden (TB) was evaluated in consecutive patients with STEMI undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In occluded infarct-related arteries, TB was reclassified after flow restoration. LTB was defined as thrombus ≥2 vessel diameters. Major adverse cardiac event (MACE) rate was evaluated at 10-year follow-up and survival data were collected up to 15 years post PCI. A total of 812 patients were enrolled, and TB assessment was available for 806 patients (99.3%); 580 patients (72.0%) had STB and 226 patients (28.0%) had LTB. Patients with LTB experienced more no reflow (4.0% vs 0.5%; P<.01) and distal embolization (17.3% vs 3.4%; P<.001) than STB patients. Ten-year MACE rate (42.5% vs 42.4%; P=.59), 10-year mortality rate (27.0% vs 26.4%; P=.75), and 15-year mortality rate (31.9% vs 35.9%; P=.29) were similar between STB and LTB groups, respectively. By landmark analysis, MACE rate was higher in the LTB group (15.9% vs 8.8%; P<.01) at 30 days, but not beyond (31.6% vs 36.9%; P=.28). There was no difference in mortality at any time point (at 30 days, 9.7% vs 6.2%; P=.08; beyond 30 days, 17.3% vs 20.5%; P=.48). LTB was an independent predictor of MACE at 30 days post PCI (hazard ratio, 1.60; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-2.51; P=.04). In STEMI patients, LTB might identify a subpopulation at high risk of no-reflow, distal embolization, and early ischemic events, but is not associated with worse clinical outcomes at long-term follow-up.

Introduction: We have recently reported the cause of microcirculatory damage after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients can be evaluated by analyzing the thermodilution-derived coronary blood flow pattern (CBFP), and only the capillary destruction pattern was associated with poor mid-term clinical outcomes. In this study, we extend our research on the contribution of acute hyperglycemia on microcirculatory damage and long-term clinical outcomes in STEMI patient. Methods: Ninety-seven consecutive STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI were prospectively enrolled. Using a pressure sensor/thermistor-tipped guidewire, CBFP was assessed from the thermodilution-curves immediately after successful PCI. All patients were classified into 3 groups according to the shape of thermodilution curve: no microvascular damaged group (n=47), arteriole microemboli group (n=33), or capillary destruction group (n=17). Blood glucose levels were measured on admission. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were defined as a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and heart failure rehospitalization within 3 years. Results: Mean admission glucose level was significantly higher in the capillary destruction group than in the microemboli and no microvascular damaged groups (259±134, 162±66, and 153±60 mg/dL, respectively, p&lt;0.0001). These findings were similar when the analysis was limited to non-diabetic patients. The incidence of MACE was also higher in the capillary destruction group compared with the microemboli and no microvascular damaged groups (71, 19, and 16%, respectively, p&lt;0.0001). On multivariate Cox regression analysis, the capillary destruction pattern was the independent predictor of MACE (hazard ratio, 9.41; 95%CI 2.28-38.8; p=0.001). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, higher glucose level on admission remained as an independent risk factor of the capillary destruction pattern (per 10mg/dL increase, odds ratio, 1.10; 95%CI 1.10-1.22; p=0.002). Conclusions: Hyperglycemia on admission increases the risk of microvascular damage secondary to the capillary destruction and subsequent poor long-term clinical outcomes in STEMI patients.

Background: We reported that coronary blood flow (CBF) can be evaluated by analyzing thermodilution curve that is measured with a single pressure sensor/thermistor-tipped guidewire in the cardiac catheterization laboratory during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Bimodal shape of thermodilution curve was associated with microvascular damage and predictors of left ventricular functional recovery after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However it is unknown whether the bimodal shape of thermodilution curve predicts mortality and re-hospitalization for heart failure in long term period for patients experiencing STEMI. Methods: Between September 2009 and August 2012, 97 consecutive patients with a first STEMI were prospectively enrolled in this study. Using a pressure sensor/thermistor-tipped guidewire, CBF pattern was assessed from the thermodilution-curves after successful PCI at maximum hyperemia. CBF pattern was classified into 3 groups according to the shape of thermodilution curve: a narrow unimodal (a rapid fall and rise of temperature-time curves) (n=47), a wide unimodal (a gradual fall and rise of temperature-time curves) (n=33), or bimodal (two populations with valley deeper than 20% of peak temperature drop) (n=17). Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were defined as cardiac death and/or heart failure re-hospitalization within this study period. Results: Median follow-up period was 2.4 years. Although patients in the narrow-unimodal group and the wide unimodal group had a significantly lower incidence of MACE, patients in bimodal group had a higher risk of MACE during this study period (71, 15, 21%, p&lt;0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that bimodal shape of the thermodilution-curve was the only independent predictor of MACE after STEMI (hazard ratio, 8.38; 95% confidence interval, 2.13-33.00; P=0.0023). Conclusions: A bimodal shape of the thermodilution curve is associated with the poor long-term clinical outcomes. This easily assessable coronary flow pattern is useful in clinical risk stratification for STEMI patients in the cardiac catheterization laboratory immediately after PCI.

Single center studies have shown that plaque rupture and positive remodeling are prognostic predictors of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). A total of 119 patients with first ACS events were enrolled in a multicenter, prospective, 3-vessel intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) registry. Pre-intervention IVUS imaging was performed in 98 patients. Remodeling index was defined as lesion site external elastic membrane cross sectional area (EEM CSA) divided by the proximal reference. Arterial remodeling was defined as either positive (PR; remodeling index &gt;1.05) or intermediate/negative (IR/NR; remodeling index &lt;1.05). Plaque rupture was a cavity that communicated with the lumen with an overlying residual fibrous cap fragment. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were death, myocardial infarction (MI), and target lesion revascularization (TLR). During follow-up (mean 3 years), 20 TLR events and 5 deaths were documented; but recurrent MI was not observed. Patients with PR had significantly lower MACE-free survival than patients with IR/NR (Log rank, p=0.03). Similarly, patients with plaque rupture showed a non-significant trend toward lower MACE-free survival (Log rank, p=0.13). By multivariate logistic regression analysis, culprit lesion PR was the only independent predictor of follow-up MACE. Culprit lesion remodeling is a strong predictor of long-term clinical outcome in patients with ACS.

Association of Increased Pulse Wave Velocity With Long-Term Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Preserved Ankle-Brachial Index After Acute Myocardial Infarction

Aims: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is the well-known risk factor for cardiovascular events. Although low ankle–brachial index (ABI) is recognized as a risk factor in general population, low ABI without any symptoms of PAD has not been established as a prognostic marker in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) yet. The purpose of this retrospective study was to examine whether asymptomatic low ABI was associated with long-term clinical outcomes in AMI patients without treatment history of PAD. Methods: We included 850 AMI patients without a history of PAD and divided them into the preserved ABI (ABI ≥ 0.9) group (n=760) and the reduced ABI (ABI ＜0.9) group (n=90) on the basis of the ABI measurement during the hospitalization. The primary endpoint was the major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) defined as the composite of all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and hospitalization for heart failure. Results: During the median follow-up duration of 497 days (Q1: 219 days to Q3: 929 days), a total of 152 MACE were observed. The Kaplan–Meier curves showed that MACE were more frequently observed in the reduced ABI group than in the preserved ABI group (p＜0.001). The multivariate COX hazard analysis revealed that reduced ABI was significantly associated with MACE (hazard ratio 2.046, 95% confidence interval 1.344–3.144,p=0.001) after controlling confounding factors. Conclusions: Reduced ABI was significantly associated with long-term adverse events in AMI patients without a history of PAD. Our results suggest the usefulness of ABI as a prognostic marker in AMI patients irrespective of symptomatic PAD.

Effect of Culprit-Lesion Remodeling Versus Plaque Rupture on Three-Year Outcome in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome

BackgroundWhether diabetes mellitus (DM) is a predictor of long-term adverse clinical outcomes after repeat drug eluting stent (DES) implantation for DES in-stent restenosis (ISR) remains controversial. We sought to evaluate the effect of DM on the long-term clinical outcomes in patients undergoing repeat DES implantation for DES-ISR lesions.MethodsIn the present study, 254 patients with DES-ISR were divided into DM or non-DM groups according to the presence or absence of DM. All patients received repeat 2nd generation DES implantation for DES-ISR. The occurrences of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) over a 2-year follow-up period were compared between the two groups. MACEs were defined as cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI), and target lesion revascularization (TLR). MACE free survival was investigated with Kaplan-Meier curve analysis. Cox regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with MACEs.ResultsBaseline clinical characteristics were similar between groups, except for the prevalence of early restenosis (lower) in the DM group. Differences in angiographic and procedural characteristics were not significant between groups. The rates of 2-year MACE (30.9 vs. 26.0%; P = 0.453) and TLR (24.7 vs. 19.7%; P = 0.411) were similar between groups. MACE-free survival and TLR-free survival were also similar between groups (P = 0.441 and P = 0.807). Subgroup analysis suggested a significant difference in the MACE (39.0 vs.15.3%, P < 0.001) and TLR occurrence (30.5 vs.8.2%, P < 0.001) and TLR-free survival (lower in early subgroup, P < 0.001) between early and late occurrence of ISR in the non-DM group of patients but not in the DM group. After adjustment for all significant clinical variables, Cox regression analysis indicated that DM was not associated with MACEs (hazard ratio [HR] 1.531, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.882-2.658, P =0.130). Non-focal type ISR and early ISR were predictors of MACEs (HR 2.671, 95% CI 1.468-4.858,P = 0.001; HR 4.703, 95% CI 2.725-8.117, P < 0.001, respectively).ConclusionsPatients with DM have similar 2-year clinical outcomes to patients without DM when repeat 2nd generation DES was used for treatment of DES-ISR. DM is not the predictor of long-term prognosis in patients undergoing repeat 2nd generation DES for DES-ISR.

Mounting evidence suggests an associated between myocardial bridging (MB) and coronary vasospasm (CVS); however, no consensus has been established on whether CVS worsens clinical outcomes in patients with MB. Therefore, this retrospective study aimed to compare the long-term clinical outcomes in patients with MB based on CVS presence. This retrospective study enrolled 254 consecutive patients with MB undergoing provocative testing for coronary reactivity between January 1, 2009 and December 30, 2015, and stratified them into 2 groups: (a) group A (with CVS, n = 168); and (b) group B (without CVS, n = 86). The primary endpoints were major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), a composite of cardiac death, cardiac arrest, non-fatal myocardial infarction, ischemia-driven revascularization, ischemia-driven coronary angiography, and ischemia-related hospitalization. Diverse Cox models were used to determine whether CVS independently influenced MACE. The mean age of study participants was 50.8 years, and 60.2% of them were male. The median follow-up period was 8.15 years. The rate of MACE was 35.1% and 26.7% in groups A and B, respectively. Group A had a significantly higher risk of MACE than group B (the reference group) in model 3 (hazard ratio [HR]:1.92; 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.12-3.29) and model 4 (adjusted HR: 1.94; 95% CI: 1.04-3.59). The presence of CVS adversely affects clinical outcomes in patients with MB. Further prospective clinical studies are required to confirm this association.

BackgroundData regarding the long-term clinical outcomes in patients with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes mellitus (ITDM) revascularized by either coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are still controversial. We sought to compare the long-term (≥1 year) adverse clinical outcomes in patients with ITDM who underwent revascularization by either CABG or PCI.MethodsRandomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) comparing the long-term clinical outcomes in patients with ITDM and non-ITDM revascularized by either CABG or PCI were searched from electronic databases. Data for patients with ITDM were carefully retrieved. Odd Ratio (OR) with 95 % confidence interval (CI) was used to express the pooled effect on discontinuous variables and the pooled analyses were performed with RevMan 5.3.ResultsSix RCTs involving 10 studies, with a total of 1297 patients with ITDM were analyzed (639 patients from the CABG group and 658 patients from the PCI group). CABG was associated with a significantly lower mortality rate compared to PCI with OR: 0.59, 95 % CI 0.42–0.85; P = 0.004. Major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events as well as repeated revascularization were also significantly lower in the CABG group with OR: 0.51, 95 % CI 0.27–0.99; P = 0.03 and OR 0.34, 95 % CI 0.24–0.49; P < 0.00001 respectively. However, compared to PCI, the rate of stroke was higher in the CABG group with OR: 1.41, 95 % CI 0.64–3.09; P = 0.40, but this result was not statistically significant.ConclusionCABG was associated with significantly lower long-term adverse clinical outcomes compared to PCI in patients with ITDM. However, due to an insignificantly higher rate of stroke in the CABG group, further researches with a larger number of randomized patients are required to completely solve this issue.