One-vessel Coronary Artery Disease Research Articles

Current spectrum and outcomes of infarct-related cardiogenic shock: insights from the CULPRIT-SHOCK registry and randomized controlled trial.

We analysed consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS) who were enrolled into the CULPRIT-SHOCK randomized controlled trial (RCT) and those with exclusion criteria who were included into the accompanying registry. In total, 1075 patients with infarct-related CS were screened for CULPRIT-SHOCK in 83 specialized centres in Europe; 369 of them had exclusion criteria for the RCT and were enrolled into the registry. Patients were followed over 1 year. The mean age was 68 years and 260 (25%) were women. 13.5%, 30.9%, and 55.6% had one-vessel, two-vessel, and three-vessel coronary artery disease (CAD), respectively. Significant left main (LM) coronary artery stenosis was present in 8.0%. 54.2% of the patients had cardiac arrest before admission. Thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) 3 patency of the infarct vessel after percutaneous coronary intervention was achieved in 83.6% of all patients. Mechanical circulatory support was applied in one-third of patients. Total mortality after 30 days and 1 year was 47.6% and 52.9%. Mortality after 1 year was highest in patients with LM coronary artery stenosis (63.5%), followed by three-vessel (56.6%), two-vessel (49.8%), and one-vessel CAD (38.6%), respectively. Mechanical complications were rare (21/1008; 2.1%) but associated with a high mortality of 66.7% after 1 year. In specialized centres in Europe, short- and long-term mortality of patients with infarct-related CS treated with an invasive strategy is still high and mainly depends on the extent of CAD. Therefore, there is still a need for improvement of care to improve the prognosis of infarct-related CS.

Clinical utility of polygenic scores for cardiometabolic disease in Arabs

Arabs account for 5% of the world population and have a high burden of cardiometabolic disease, yet clinical utility of polygenic risk prediction in Arabs remains understudied. Among 5399 Arab patients, we optimize polygenic scores for 10 cardiometabolic traits, achieving a performance that is better than published scores and on par with performance in European-ancestry individuals. Odds ratio per standard deviation (OR per SD) for a type 2 diabetes score was 1.83 (95% CI 1.74–1.92), and each SD of body mass index (BMI) score was associated with 1.18 kg/m2 difference in BMI. Polygenic scores associated with disease independent of conventional risk factors, and also associated with disease severity—OR per SD for coronary artery disease (CAD) was 1.78 (95% CI 1.66–1.90) for three-vessel CAD and 1.41 (95% CI 1.29–1.53) for one-vessel CAD. We propose a pragmatic framework leveraging public data as one way to advance equitable clinical implementation of polygenic scores in non-European populations.

Economic evaluation and analysis of the budget effect of the measuring of fractional flow reserve in Bulgaria

Introduction: Fractional fl ow reserve (FFR) implies the ratio of the maximal hyperemic myocardial blood fl ow in the case of a pathologically changed coronary artery to the maximal hyperemic myocardial blood fl ow in the case of a healthy coronary artery. Aims: The aim of the current study is to perform an economic evaluation and budget impact analysis of measuring FFR as a medical activity in Bulgaria. Material and Methods: For the purpose of the current analysis, two models using Microsoft Excel and TreeAge Pro were developed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the FFR-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) compared to the classic angiography-guided PCI in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) with one-vessel coronary artery disease (CAD) or multivessel CAD. The analysis will focus on the health perspective and the payer perspective - National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF). Results: The medico-diagnostic activity related to measuring FFR in patients with multi-vessel coronary artery disease is shown to be a cost-effective therapeutic approach in Bulgaria compared to the angiography-guided PCI (ICER = 50 456 BGN/QALY) with a cost-effectiveness threshold of 51 510 BGN/QALY. FFR- guided PCI strategy in one-vessel coronary artery disease patients is a cost-saving approach (-853 BGN) when compared to the angiography-guided PCI (4 150 BGN). Conclusion: Budget impact analysis revealed that the FFR-guided PCI strategy is a cost-saving alternative approach to the angiographyguided PCI. The savings of the NHIF during the fi rst year of reimbursement of FFR would be -1,1 million BGN and could reach -1,6 million BGN in the third year.

The prediction role of TIMI score in correlation with coronary angiogram to determine the coronary artery disease severity and extent in patients presenting with Non-ST Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome

Background: Accurate risk stratification in patient clinically presented as a case of Non-ST Elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) is important to assess the prognosis as well as to estimate the possible adverse event especially in those patient who are at high risk. Of these scoring risk; Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) risk score have been well corroborated to predict the possible prognosis for patients with NSTE-ACS. However, their value in estimation the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) has been less studied. Objective: To determine the role of TIMI score in prediction the severity of CAD and its extent by correlate the TIMI score with coronary angiography in patients have NSTE-ACS. Patients and Methods: A cross section study, conducted on 264 successive patients admitted with Non-ST Elevation acute coronary syndrome at Ibn-Albitar cardiac center, Baghdad, Iraq, from the 1st of October 2017 to the 1st of October 2018. Patients were rearranging into three groups according to the seven standard variables of TIMI score. The extent of CAD was examined on coronary angiography; a lesion defined significant if stenosis ≥70% in any artery of three major coronary arteries or ≥50% of left main coronary artery. Results: The total number of was 246 patients, mean age was 62.5±2.3 years. There were 67 (27.2%) of them belong to group 1 (low risk group), 142 (57.7%) of them belong to group 2 (intermediate risk group), and 37 (15.1%) of them belong to group 3 (high risk group). 54.1% of patients in group 3 had significant three-vessels coronary artery disease on comparing with 17.6% of group 2 patients and only 7.5% of group 1 patients had these lesions on coronary angiography (P-value <0.01). On the other hand, one-vessel coronary artery disease occurs more commonly and significant statistically (P-value <0.01) in group 2 (31.7%) than in patients in group 1 (26.9%) and group 3 (10.8%). Conclusion: High TIMI risk score patients were more probably to have significant multi-vessels coronary lesions in comparison with those with TIMI risk score in intermediate or low range which lead to help in stratify the risk and possibility of early intervention. Keywords: Coronary Angiography, Non-ST Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome, Acute Coronary Syndrome risk stratification, TIMI score.

704 Stress echocardiography: myocardial work ‘works’

Abstract Stress echocardiography is a widely employed diagnostic technique relying on subjective assessment of left ventricular wall motion and particular expertise. We report a case of a male patient with chronic coronary syndrome, who underwent dipyridamole echocardiography before planned non cardiac surgery. Despite the absence of symptoms and relevant electrocardiographic and wall motion changes, only 2D strain and, especially, Myocardial Work analysis was able to detect abnormalities suggestive of myocardial ischaemia. Thus, coronary angiography was performed, showing critical stenosis of the proximal Circumflex artery, that was treated with angioplasty and drug-eluting stent implantation. Interestingly, the location of strain and myocardial work abnormalities was consistent with the culprit vessel territory. This case highlights the particular usefulness of advanced echocardiographic techniques, especially for the detection of one-vessel coronary artery disease, during stress echocardiography.

Can Tei Index Predict High Syntax Score in Patients with Chronic Coronary Syndrome and Normal Left Ventricular Systolic Function?

Objective:Some patients who had chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) and were recognized as low risk, however, developed cardiovascular events, whereas others who were categorized as high risk did not develop any cardiovascular events. Invasive coronary angiography is the gold standard tool for the assessment of coronary artery disease (CAD) severity. The SYNTAX score (SS) was recently recognized as an invasive angiographic-guided scoring system used in risk stratification of patients who have more than one-vessel CAD and undergoing revascularization with percutaneous cardiovascular intervention. It has a good predictive value of adverse cardiovascular events. Exploration for unique noninvasive modalities that may help in a better way for risk stratification of CCS patients by predicting the severity of CAD (as reflected by SS) would be of a paramount value. Tei index is a promising modality for that objective, which is a Doppler-derived time interval index that combines both systolic and diastolic cardiac performance.Methods:We examined the relationship between the severity of CAD as assessed by the SS and Tei index in 100 patients with CCS and normal left ventricular systolic function.Results:All the studied 100 patients had a normal ejection fraction with mean = 58.92 ± 7.88; the mean value of Tei index was 0.84 ± 0.26. There was a statistically significant positive association between Tei index and SS (P = 0.0001); moreover, there was a correlation between left anterior descending (LAD) affection and Tei index (P = 0.0001).The cutoff point of Tei index to detect SS above 22 was >0.93 (with specificity of 86.5% and sensitivity of 42.4%).Conclusion:Tei index significantly correlates with SS and LAD affection. Moreover, it is a cheap, radiation-free, noninvasive technique and may be used as a further risk stratification modality beyond others.

P4581Outcome of surgical revascularization for coronary artery disease after 30 years

Abstract Objective We report the long-term outcome of surgical revascularization in patients with coronary artery disease. Methods The institutional trial on Coronary Artery Disease and Surgical Therapy: Long-term Follow-up, is a 30-year follow-up study of 2728 patients with coronary artery disease who underwent surgical revascularization from April 1986 to December 1988. One-vessel coronary artery disease was found in 234 patients while 2 and 3-vessel diseases were found in 1021 and 1463 patients, respectively. Survival was analyzed according to age, gender, ejection fraction, and number of arterial and vein grafts (2165 males, mean age at coronary revascularization 59.4±8.8 years). Results Mean duration of follow-up was 30.6±1.2 years. Overall survival at this time point was 24.1%. Age–stratified survival was observed higher (40%) in those patients <50 years of age at that time of surgery compared to the other age groups, i.e. 50–59: 20%, 60–69: 10% and >70: 5% (p<0.001). Women had increased early mortality, hence have poorer survival (12%) than men (18%). However, when age (women=median 64.7, men=58.4, years) was considered between gender, no significant difference (p=0.13) in survival was observed. Interestingly, survival rate of patients with ejection fraction of <30% (n=826) was 6% which obviously fared well compared with 18% of those with ejection fraction of >30% (n=1902) at the time of coronary surgery. There was no significant difference between the use of a single internal mammary artery (IMA) [left or right] graft and use of 2 arterial grafts (combined left and right IMA or IMA and radial artery) on long-term survival (p=0.014). However, the use of an arterial graft combined with vein grafts are favorable (p<0.001). Conclusion The findings in this study showed that after a relatively long-term follow-up, age-based survival was similar compared to the general population. Female gender demonstrated poorer survival than men. However, when this is adjusted for age, no significant difference was shown. Interestingly, several patients with severely reduced ejection fraction, considered inoperable by many cardiac surgeons and cardiologists at the time of revascularization have survived for >30 years. Use of one internal mammary artery graft demonstrated better survival than use of only vein grafts. Noteworthy is that the sole use of vein grafts may also lead to an acceptable long-term survival.

Coronary Artery Disease as a Relevant Risk Factor in Screening of Abdominal Aortic Ectasia and Aneurysm.

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and abdominal aortic ectasia (AAE) in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients in a multicenter setting to obtain significant data to establish an AAA screening program in our departments. Between January and September 2016, 500 patients with suspected or diagnosed CAD planned for coronary angiography or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) underwent a sonographic examination of the infrarenal abdominal aorta to diagnose AAA or AAE. We calculated the prevalence of AAA and AAE in patients diagnosed of CAD and investigated factors potentially associated with the occurrence of AAA. The overall prevalence in all grades of CAD for AAE was 35.1% and for AAA 5.4%. In patients with three-vessel CAD, the prevalence of AAE was 34% and of AAA 6.8%. Significant correlation was found between the three-vessel CAD and AAA (p = 0.039). The logistic regression analysis showed significant correlation between AAA and age > 65 years (p = 0.05). The multivariate analysis of risk factors and CAD revealed significant correlations between one-vessel CAD and arterial hypertension (AH) (p = 0.004) and age > 65 years (p = 0.001) as well as between three-vessel CAD and AH (p = 0.01), peripheral artery disease (p = 0.01), and age > 65 years (p = 0.03). Our results confirm, that in comparison to other data, the prevalence of AAA in patients with CAD is high. Thus, it is recommended to include patients with CAD, especially elderly patients with three-vessel CAD, in future AAA screening programs.

Management and Invasive Cardiological Review by Comparison of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Left Anterior Descending Artery with Drug Eluting and Bare Metal Stents.

Introduction:The dominant global public health challenge are non-communicable diseases. According to World Health Organization (WHO) data. The fifth leading causes of death in FB&H are diseases of the heart and coronary arteries: stroke, acute myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, cardiomyopathy and essential hypertension. The prevention of these diseases has great importance in improving health in B&H.Objective:The aim of this study is in estimation of one-year survival and left heart systolic function after the treatment. After the data collection and evidence of their statistical value, the results of the research point to the profile of patients with a LAD disease in one-vessel coronary artery disease that should be subjected to PCI DES LAD and PCI BMS LAD, respectively, or creating guidelines for a better and more effective LAD treatment.Material and methods:The study was performed as retrospective/ prospective, clinically controlled for a period of three years. In this study was included 60 patients, which was followed in 12 months period. With the PCI BMS method was treated 63.3% and 36.7% of subjects were treated with the PCI DES in LAD.Conclusion:The number of complications in patients with one-vessel LAD coronary heart disease, treated with PCI DES and PCI BMS was statistically significant. One possible complication (4 patients) is due to the spread of the disease to other blood vessels. Due to possible complications in the treated or LAD with repeated stenosis, the complication in terms of restenosis of the previously placed stent in 75% are with BM stents justifying the use of drug eluting stent, while the progression of disease in patients (2 patients) indicates the need for detection and prevention of risk factors.

Prognostic assessment of stable coronary artery disease as determined by coronary computed tomography angiography: a Danish multicentre cohort study.

To examine the 3.5 year prognosis of stable coronary artery disease (CAD) as assessed by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in real-world clinical practice, overall and within subgroups of patients according to age, sex, and comorbidity. This cohort study included 16,949 patients (median age 57 years; 57% women) with new-onset symptoms suggestive of CAD, who underwent CCTA between January 2008 and December 2012. The endpoint was a composite of late coronary revascularization procedure >90 days after CCTA, myocardial infarction, and all-cause death. The Kaplan-Meier estimator was used to compute 91 day to 3.5 year risk according to the CAD severity. Comparisons between patients with and without CAD were based on Cox-regression adjusted for age, sex, comorbidity, cardiovascular risk factors, concomitant cardiac medications, and post-CCTA treatment within 90 days. The composite endpoint occurred in 486 patients. Risk of the composite endpoint was 1.5% for patients without CAD, 6.8% for obstructive CAD, and 15% for three-vessel/left main disease. Compared with patients without CAD, higher relative risk of the composite endpoint was observed for non-obstructive CAD [hazard ratio (HR): 1.28; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01-1.63], obstructive one-vessel CAD (HR: 1.83; 95% CI: 1.37-2.44), two-vessel CAD (HR: 2.97; 95% CI: 2.09-4.22), and three-vessel/left main CAD (HR: 4.41; 95% CI :2.90-6.69). The results were consistent in strata of age, sex, and comorbidity. Coronary artery disease determined by CCTA in real-world practice predicts the 3.5 year composite risk of late revascularization, myocardial infarction, and all-cause death across different groups of age, sex, or comorbidity burden.

The possibility of reducing the Lp-PLA2 mass level using simvastatin monotherapy and combination therapy with ezetimibe

AimTo assess the impact of combined treatment with simvastatin and ezetimibe or treatment with simvastatin only on lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 mass level in patients with coronary heart disease. MethodsOne hundred patients with angiographically documented coronary atherosclerosis took part in the investigation. Lp-PLA2 mass level and cholesterol fractions were determined at baseline and after 6 months of treatment. Lp-PLA2 mass was determined by PLAC Test; DiaDexus, Inc. ResultsCombined treatment with ezetimibe and simvastatin led to significantly greater declines in Lp-PLA2 and lipid profile compared with treatment only with simvastatin (P<0.05). Combination therapy with ezetimibe and simvastatin 20mg/day proved to be as effective as monotherapy with simvastatin 80mg/day on the effect on Lp-PLA2 mass level and lipids (P<0.05). Lp-PLA2 mass level was initially higher in patients with three-vessel coronary artery disease, compared with patients with one-vessel coronary artery disease while baseline levels of lipids and hs-CRP did not differ significantly. ConclusionsCombined treatment, using half the dose of simvastatin, led to greater reduction of Lp-PLA2 mass level total cholesterol and LDL-C, compared to monotherapy with simvastatin. Due to the steady decline of target levels of LDL-C, which leads to prescribing high doses of statins (and it is not always possible because of the presence of co-morbidities), combination therapy with statin and ezetimibe is a reliable alternative, which allows not only to largely reduce LDL-C but also to significantly reduce such important participants of atherosclerosis process and markers of inflammation, as Lp-PLA2 and CRP.

ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Preventive Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in the Non-Culprit Vessel

Patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and multi-vessel disease (MVD) have poorer outcomes after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) compared to those with one-vessel coronary artery disease. Current STEMI guidelines recommend revascularization of the infarct related artery (IRA) only during primary PCI, while PCI for non-IRA lesions should be performed after objective evidence of residual ischemia. Evidence regarding the optimal management strategy for non-IRA lesions in STEMI patients with MVD has been limited and mainly based on retrospective, contradictory and probably biased data. A recently published randomized study, PRAMI, challenges the guidelines since preventive acute multi-vessel PCI for significant stenoses in non-IRAs has been associated with a reduction of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) compared to PCI limited to the IRA. A review of the literature and a discussion about the implications of the PRAMI study regarding the optimal revascularization strategy for STEMI with MVD are presented herein.

Age-related risk of major adverse cardiac event risk and coronary artery disease extent and severity by coronary CT angiography: results from 15 187 patients from the International Multisite CONFIRM Study

Prior studies evaluating the prognostic utility of cardiac CT angiography (CCTA) have been largely constrained to an all-cause mortality endpoint, with other cardiac endpoints generally not reported. To this end, we sought to determine the relationship of extent and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) by CCTA to risk of incident major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) (defined as death, myocardial infarction, and late revascularization). We identified subjects without prior known CAD who underwent CCTA and were followed for MACE. CAD by CCTA was defined as none (0% luminal stenosis), mild (1-49% luminal stenosis), moderate (50-69% luminal stenosis), or severe (≥70% luminal stenosis), and ≥50% luminal stenosis was considered as obstructive. CAD severity was judged on per-patient, per-vessel, and per-segment basis. Time to MACE was estimated using univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. Among 15 187 patients (57 ± 12 years, 55% male), 595 MACE events (3.9%) occurred at a 2.4 ± 1.2 year follow-up. In multivariable analyses, an increased risk of MACE was observed for both non-obstructive [hazard ratio (HR) 2.43, P < 0.001] and obstructive CAD (HR: 11.21, P < 0.001) when compared with patients with normal CCTA. Risk-adjusted MACE increased in a dose-response relationship based on the number of vessels with obstructive CAD ≥50%, with increasing hazards observed for non-obstructive (HR: 2.54, P < 0.001), obstructive one-vessel (HR: 9.15, P < 0.001), two-vessel (HR: 15.00, P < 0.001), or three-vessel or left main (HR: 24.53, P < 0.001) CAD. Among patients stratified by age <65 vs. ≥65 years, older individuals experienced higher risk-adjusted hazards for MACE for non-obstructive, one-, and two-vessel, with similar event rates for three-vessel or left main (P < 0.001 for all) compared with normal individuals age <65. Finally, there was a dose relationship of CAD findings by CCTA and MACE event rates with each advancing decade of life. Among individuals without known CAD, non-obstructive, and obstructive CAD are associated with higher MACE rates, with different risk profiles based on age.

Proximal coronary artery intervention: Stent thrombosis, restenosis and death

BackgroundPercutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of lesions in the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) may confer a worse prognosis compared with the proximal right coronary artery (RCA) and left circumflex coronary artery (LCX). MethodsFrom May 2005, to May 2011 we identified all PCIs for proximal, one-vessel coronary artery disease in the Swedish Coronary Angiography and Angioplasty Registry (SCAAR). We evaluated restenosis, stent thrombosis (ST) and mortality in the LAD as compared to the RCA and LCX according to stent type, bare metal (BMS) or drug-eluting stents (DES). Results7840 single vessel proximal PCI procedures were identified. Mean follow-up time was 792days. No differences in restenosis or ST were seen between the LAD and the RCA. The frequency of restenosis and ST was higher in the proximal LAD compared to the proximal LCX (restenosis: hazard ratio (HR) 2.28, confidence interval (CI) 1.56–3.34 p<0.001; ST: HR 2.32, CI 1.11–4.85 p=0.024). We found no difference in mortality related to coronary artery. In the proximal LAD, DES implantation was associated with a lower restenosis rate (HR 0.39, CI 0.27–0.55 p<0.001) and mortality (HR 0.58, CI 0.41–0.82 p=0.002) compared with BMS. In the proximal RCA and LCX, DES use was not associated with lower frequency of clinical restenosis or mortality. ConclusionsFollowing proximal coronary artery intervention restenosis was more frequent in the LAD than in the LCX. Solely in the proximal LAD we found DES use to be associated with a lower risk of restenosis and death weighted against BMS.

Cardiovascular Risk among Stable Individuals Suspected of Having Coronary Artery Disease with No Modifiable Risk Factors: Results from an International Multicenter Study of 5262 Patients

To assess the prevalence, extent, severity, and risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients suspected of having CAD but with no medically modifiable risk factors. Institutional review board approval or waiver of consent was obtained at each center. This study was HIPAA compliant. From an international multicenter cohort study of 27 125 subjects undergoing coronary computed tomographic (CT) angiography from 12 centers, 5262 patients without known CAD and without modifiable risk factors were identified. CAD severity was defined as none (0%), mild (1%-49%), or obstructive (≥ 50%) on a per-patient, per-vessel, and per-segment basis. CAD presence, extent, and severity were related to incidence of major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) by using Cox proportional hazards models. At a mean follow-up of 2.3 years ± 1.2 (standard deviation), MACE occurred in 106 patients. CAD was common for nonobstructive (n = 1452, 27%) and obstructive (n = 629, 12%) CAD. In risk-adjusted analysis, per-patient obstructive CAD (hazard ratio [HR], 6.64; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.68, 12.00; P ≤ .001) was related to MACE. MACE was associated with a dose-response relationship to the number of vessels exhibiting obstructive CAD, increasing risk for obstructive one-vessel (HR, 6.11; 95% CI: 3.22, 11.6; P ≤ .001), two-vessel (HR, 5.86; 95% CI: 2.75, 12.5; P ≤ .0001), or three-vessel or left main (HR, 11.69; 95% CI: 5.38, 25.4; P ≤ .001) CAD. The increased hazard for MACE of obstructive disease holds true for symptomatic (HR, 11.9; 95% CI: 4.81, 29.6; P ≤ .001) and asymptomatic (HR, 6.3; 95% CI: 2.4, 16.7; P ≤ .001) patients. No CAD at coronary CT angiography was associated with a low annualized MACE rate: 0.31% versus 2.06% with obstructive disease. Among individuals suspected of having CAD but without modifiable risk factors, CAD is common, with significantly increased hazards for MACE and mortality.

Neurostimulation bei einer Patientin mit implantiertem Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD)

A 76-year old woman presented with a medically refractory chronic pain syndrome of her feet. The patient had a known stable peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD, stage II according to Fontaine Classification). Walk and vessel training according to guidelines did not significantly improve her symptoms. The patient had a one-vessel coronary artery disease with previous myocardial infarction and intervention in the LAD in 2004. Due to the progression of the disease subsequent operative myocardial revascularization in a minimal-invasive LIMA-to-LAD followed 6 years earlier. Since that time, the patient reported an increasingly decrease in exercise capacity and dyspnea at low level of physical stress. The patient was in a good general condition. The status after the operative myocardial revascularization showed no evidence for the progression of coronary heart disease. However, the electrocardiographic findings were currently impaired compared to preoperative findings. The left ventricular ejection function was severly restricted with diffuse hypokinesia of all segements of the left ventricle and enlargement of all cardiac chambers. A paradoxical septal motion emerged after surgery. Doppler and color Doppler examinations showed a mitral valve insufficiency I and tricuspid valve insufficiency I. The medical treatment was intensified by additional treatment with torsemide 10 mg 2 × 1. The given diagnostic findings indicate the implantation of a defibrillator for primary prevention of sudden and arrhytmogenic cardiac death. Furthermore, a spinal cord stimulation (SCS) had a positive influence. Subsequently, a neurostimulator was successfully placed. No interaction could be detected after implantation or follow-up examinations after month 1 and 4. A therapeutic combination of an ICD and a neurostimulator to reduce pain is possible. Interferences may arise during the later follow-up.

Patent coronary artery and myocardial infarction in the era of primary angioplasty: assessment of an old problem in a new setting with data from the Swedish Coronary Angiography and Angioplasty Registry (SCAAR)

The purpose of this study was to evaluate factors that contribute to a patent IRA (infarct - related artery) and the prognostic impact of a patent IRA in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Using the Swedish angiography and angioplasty registry (SCAAR) we included all patients with STEMI and one-vessel coronary artery disease who underwent primary PCI of the culprit lesion only from May 2005 to December 2007. A patent IRA was found in 1,104 of 3,284 patients. Patients with an occluded IRA had significantly increased 7-day mortality (HR, 3.03, 95% CI 1.68-5.46, P<0.001). The incidence of an occluded IRA increased with higher age, in patients over 80 years of age (OR, 1.23, 95% CI; 0.92-1.64), lower in patients on lipid-lowering drugs (OR, 0.68, 95% CI; 0.54-0.86) and lower in patients pre-treated with heparin (OR 0.71, 95% CI; 0.60-0.83) or GPIIb/IIIa receptor blockade (OR 0.77, 95% CI; 0.61-0.97). Treatment with acetylsalicylic acid or clopidogrel had no effect on IRA patency. IRA patency was associated with a lower 7-day mortality. Older STEMI patients and patients not taking lipid-lowering drugs or pre-treated with heparin or GPIIb/IIIa receptor blockers seem to constitute risk groups for having an occluded IRA.

Changes in blood dendritic cell counts in relation to type of coronary artery disease and brachial endothelial cell function

Recently we reported a decline of circulating myeloid (m) and plasmacytoid (p) dendritic cells (DCs) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). This study also determined the total blood DC numbers and focused on effects of extent (one vs. three-vessel disease) and type (stable vs. unstable) of CAD, and on endothelial cell function. Patients undergoing diagnostic coronarography were enrolled in four groups: control patients (atypical chest pain, <50% narrowing, n=15), stable one-vessel (n=15), stable three-vessel (n=15), and unstable one-vessel CAD (n=16). Total blood DCs were identified as lineage (lin) and HLADR, and DC subtypes with blood DC antigen (BDCA)-1 for mDCs and BDCA-2 for pDCs. Flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) was measured in the brachial artery. Numbers of total blood DCs, mDCs and pDCs declined in CAD patients compared with control patients, but without differences between the CAD groups. Interleukin-6 and high sensitivity C-reactive protein displayed inverse associations with mDCs. A FMD below the median of the study population, use of beta-blockers or of lipid-lowering drugs was associated with increased mDCs, whereas pDCs were similar. Interestingly, the effects of drugs and FMD were additive with that of CAD. This study indicates that lower blood DCs do not result from medication intake or endothelial dysfunction, and are an overall systemic effect of atherosclerosis rather than CAD type (stable or unstable) or number of stenotic coronary arteries. In view of discrete associations with cytokines, FMD, beta-blockers and statins, mDCs and pDCs seem to behave differently and may influence inflammation during atherosclerosis in different ways.

Coincidence of Moderately Elevated N-Terminal Pro–B-Type Natriuretic Peptide, Endothelial Progenitor Cells Deficiency and Propensity to Exercise-Induced Myocardial Ischemia in Stable Angina

Aim:To assess endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) counts, a novel prognostic marker, in relation to classical adverse outcome predictors–N-terminal pro–B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), impaired left ventricular (LV) relaxation and exercise-induced ischemia–in stable coronary artery disease (CAD) with preserved LV systolic function.Methods:We studied 30 non-diabetic men with one-vessel CAD, LV ejection fraction ≥ 60% and normal LV diastolic function (n= 16) or impaired LV relaxation (by ultrasound including tissue Doppler) (n= 14), and 14 non-CAD controls matched for risk profile and medication. CD34+/kinase-insert domain receptor (KDR)+ cells (CD34+/KDR+ cells), a leukocytes subpopulation enriched for EPC, were enumerated by flow cytometry.Results:CAD patients with abnormal LV relaxation exhibited significantly elevated NT-proBNP and decreased CD34+/KDR+ cells vs. CAD with regular diastolic function and non-CAD controls. An inverse NT-proBNP–CD34+/KDR+ cells relationship was precipitated by the clustering of high resting NT-proBNP and low CD34+/KDR+ cells in the subjects with a lower Duke treadmill score.Conclusions:Propensity to symptomatic exertional ischemia may underlie the coincidence of moderately elevated NT-proBNP and EPC deficiency in stable angina. Additionally, chronic subclinical ischemia can also be involved in these associations. These might result from BNP overexpression in the ischemic myocardium and a hypothetical exhaustion of the bone marrow capacity to mobilize EPC at multiple ischemic episodes, thus contributing to NT-proBNP prognostic effect irrespective of hemodynamic factors.

Coincidence of moderately elevated N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, endothelial progenitor cells deficiency and propensity to exercise-induced myocardial ischemia in stable angina.

Aim: To assess endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) counts, a novel prognostic marker, in relation to classical adverse outcome predictors–N-terminal pro–B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), impaired left ventricular (LV) relaxation and exercise-induced ischemia–in stable coronary artery disease (CAD) with preserved LV systolic function. Methods: We studied 30 non-diabetic men with one-vessel CAD, LV ejection fraction ≥ 60% and normal LV diastolic function (n = 16) or impaired LV relaxation (by ultrasound including tissue Doppler) (n = 14), and 14 non-CAD controls matched for risk profile and medication. CD34+/kinase-insert domain receptor (KDR)+ cells (CD34+/KDR+ cells), a leukocytes subpopulation enriched for EPC, were enumerated by flow cytometry. Results: CAD patients with abnormal LV relaxation exhibited significantly elevated NT-proBNP and decreased CD34+/KDR+ cells vs. CAD with regular diastolic function and non-CAD controls. An inverse NT-proBNP–CD34+/KDR+ cells relationship was precipitated by the clustering of high resting NT-proBNP and low CD34+/KDR+ cells in the subjects with a lower Duke treadmill score. Conclusions: Propensity to symptomatic exertional ischemia may underlie the coincidence of moderately elevated NT-proBNP and EPC deficiency in stable angina. Additionally, chronic subclinical ischemia can also be involved in these associations. These might result from BNP overexpression in the ischemic myocardium and a hypothetical exhaustion of the bone marrow capacity to mobilize EPC at multiple ischemic episodes, thus contributing to NT-proBNP prognostic effect irrespective of hemodynamic factors.