Strategy In Acute Coronary Syndrome Research Articles

Association Between Blood Transfusion Treatment Strategy for Acute Coronary Syndromes and Clinical Outcomes: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.

Savani, Maisha BA1; Bikdeli, Behnood MD, MS2; Kalra, Ankur MD3; Aggarwal, Vikas MD, MPH4; Mukherjee, Debabrata MD, MS5; Chatterjee, Saurav MD6 Author Information

The clinical implementation of a de-escalation strategy using CYP2C19 genotyping in patients with an acute coronary syndrome: insights from the FORCE-ACS registry

Abstract Background Current guidelines recommend prasugrel and ticagrelor in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), however these potent P2Y12-inhibitors are associated with a higher bleeding risk when compared to clopidogrel. The CYP2C19 gene influences the efficacy of clopidogrel, with carriers of loss-of-function alleles having a higher risk for major adverse cardiovascular events. A genotype-guided strategy whereby noncarriers are treated with clopidogrel has been shown to reduce bleeding without increasing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events and to be cost-effective. Currently, there are no practical guidelines for implementing a genotype-guided strategy and there are still operational issues regarding the usage of buccal swabs or venous blood samples. Purpose The study aimed to assess the feasibility of a CYP2C19 genotype-guided de-escalation strategy in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients treated with dual antiplatelet therapy and to evaluate the de-escalation rate. Methods ACS patients receiving genotype-guided antiplatelet therapy from August 2021 onwards were eligible. Genotyping was done using buccal swabs in a point-of-care (POC) device or by venous blood samples in the lab. Genotyping results were entered into the EHR. Attending physicians received automatic notifications to change antiplatelet therapy based on genotyping results, but subsequent management was at their discretion. The primary endpoint is maintenance therapy with P2Y12 inhibitors, with secondary endpoints being therapy changes, and time until genotype results. Therapy changes based on genotyping method were assessed using the Chi-square and Mann-Witney U test. Results In total, 1,530 patients with suspected ACS were included in the FORCE-ACS registry from June 2021 to January 2023. A CYP2C19 genotype test was performed in 738 ticagrelor treated patients and 260 (35%) patients carried a CYP2C19 LoF-allele. The median time to genetic test result was 6.2 hours, with 84.6% of results known within 24 hours for POCT and 15.4% for blood analysis. Of all 478 CYP2C19 LoF-allele noncarriers eligible for de-escalation, 433 (90.4%) patients were successfully de-escalated from ticagrelor to clopidogrel. De-escalation to clopidogrel occurred within 24 hours in 70.9% of patients and within 48 hours in 93.1%. The time to de-escalation was significantly lower in patients analyzed using POCT (25.4 hours) compared to blood analysis (58.9 hours). Conclusion The implementation of routine genotyping is feasible and de-escalation rates to clopidogrel in non-carriers are acceptable. The quicker time-to-results and de-escalation highlights the potential benefits of using POC testing.Overview of genotype-guided strategy

Prevalence and outcomes of acute coronary syndrome patients with and without standard modifiable risk factors undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

Abstract Background Prevention strategies in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have focused on patients with standard modifiable risk factors (SMuRFs; diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia, hypertension, and current smoking). There is increasing awareness that SMuRF-less patients may represent a unique subset of patients experiencing ACS. Purpose To investigate the prevalence, characteristics, and outcomes of SMuRF-less ACS patients compared to those with SMuRFs undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in a major city in Australia. Methods We analysed data from adult (≥18 years) ACS patients receiving PCI between 2005 and 2020 using a PCI Registry which contains data for all patients undergoing coronary intervention at one of six major hospitals. Patients with a known history of coronary artery disease were excluded. Overall clinical characteristics and outcomes for those with and without SMuRFs were examined. The primary outcome was 30-day all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes included in-hospital outcomes, myocardial infarction (MI), revascularisation, and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular (MACCE) events at 30 days. Long-term mortality was investigated using Cox-proportional hazards regression. Results From 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2020, 2,727 (14.4%) of 18,988 patients were SMuRF-less. Mean (± standard deviation [SD]) age was similar between patients with and without SMuRFs (63±13 vs 63±12 years) and there were more females with SMuRFs (25% vs 20%, p<0.001). SMuRF-less patients were less likely to have a history of cerebrovascular disease (1.2% vs 4.2%, p<0.001), peripheral vascular disease (0.6% vs 3.0%, p<0.001), and chronic lung disease (8.6% vs 10.1%, p=0.014). They were more likely to present with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (6.6% vs 3.9%, p<0.001) and ST-elevation MI (59% vs 51%, p<0.001). The left anterior descending artery was the target lesion in 46% of SMuRF-less patients compared to 39% of those with SMuRFs. During hospital stay, SMuRF-less patients were more likely to experience post-procedural cardiogenic shock (4.5% vs 3.6%, p=0.019) and arrhythmia (11.2% vs 9.9%, p=0.029). At 30 days, all-cause mortality did not differ between those with and without SMuRFs (3.2% vs 3.6%, p=0.290). Similarly, there were no differences in 30-day MI, revascularisation, and MACCE. During mean follow-up of approximately 7 years, being SMuRF-less was associated with a 12% decreased rate of mortality (adjusted Hazard Ratio 0.88 [95% confidence interval 0.78, 0.99], p=0.035). Conclusions Despite differences in characteristics (rates of cardiac arrest and ST-elevation MI), no difference in 30-day outcomes was observed among those with and without SMuRFs. However, SMuRF-less patients had lower hazard for long-term mortality. These findings suggest SMuRF-less patients may have novel risk factors and improved long-term outcome warranting further research.

Comparison between Deflated Balloon-Facilitated Direct Stenting and Balloon Pre-Dilatation in ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Abstract Background PPCI is considered to be the preferred reperfusion strategy for acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The goal of reperfusion is to resume normal blood flow to the cardiac tissues, and not just to achieve an open epicardial artery. Although no-reflow may occur regardless of the method of revascularization, it is easily diagnosed with certainty during acute percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in STEMI. Objective To evaluate the efficacy of Deflated Balloon-Facilitated Direct Stenting in comparison with routine Balloon Pre-dilatation in STEMI Patients undergoing PPCI. Patients and Methods It included 160 patients who were presented with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and underwent primary PCI at Ain Shams University Hospitals and Misr University for Science and Technology (MUST) university hospital in the period of March 2021 to december 2021. Results In our study group 2 showed the best results as regards No-reflow (23.33% vs 6.67% vs 27.5% in group 1, 2 and 3 respectively) with p-value (0.011), final MBG (II-III) (76.67% vs 93.33% vs 72.5% in group 1, 2 and 3 respectively) with p-value (0.011) and final TIMI III (91.67% vs 95% vs 90% in group 1, 2 and 3 respectively) with p-value (0.838). It was found that group 1 showed the shortest procedure time (measured in minutes) (46.83±15.43 vs 52±13.54 vs 59.75±14.59, in group 1, 2 and 3 respectively) with p-value (0.054) and smallest contrast volume (measured in milliliters) (101±19.09 vs 120.67±28.99 vs 136.25±24.67, in group 1, 2 and 3 respectively) with p-value (<0.001). While group 3 had the worst outcomes among all groups. Conclusion Routine predilatation technique is associated with better results when compared with deflated balloon-facilitated direct stenting technique. One of the major disadvantages of deflated balloon-facilitated direct stenting is not being able to restore the flow distal to the lesion, which necessitate using balloon dilatation, leading to more incidence of no-reflow (we aquire the disadvantages of both techniques combined) Abbreviations ACS: Acute coronary syndrome; CAD: Coronary artery disease; CBC: Complete blood picture; CKD: Chronic kidney disease; CVS: cerebrovascular disease; DBDS: Deflated balloon facilitated direct stenting; DM: Diabetes Mellitus; DS: Direct stenting; ECG: Electrocardiogram; EF: Ejection fraction; FH: Family history; GP: Glycoprotein; HTN: Hypertension; IRA: Infarct related artery; LAD: Left anterior descending artery; LCX: Left circumflex artery; MACE: Major adverse cardiac events; MBG: Myocardial blush grade; MI: Myocardial infarction; NR: No reflow phenomenon; PAD: Peripheral arterial disease; PCI: Percutaneous coronary intervention; PD: Predilatation; PPCI: Primary percutaneous coronary intervention; RCA: Right coronary artery; STEMI: ST-segment elevation myocardial; SWMA: Segmental wall motion abnormalities; TIMI: Thrombolysis in myocardial infarction risk score

A Retrospective Study on the Adoption of Lipid Management Guidelines in Post-Myocardial Infarction Patients in a Tertiary Care Centre.

Lipid management after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is one of the important aspects of secondary prevention in the high cardiovascular (CV) risk group, and targeted reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) remains the primary target for lipid therapy after myocardial infarction (MI). To conduct a retrospective study of the adequacy of lipid management in post-MI patients admitted to a tertiary care centre as compared to the 2019 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines for the management of dyslipidaemia. The study was a retrospective review of medical records of patients admitted with MI under the Ubora Heart Service, Nairobi Hospital, from January 2020 to June 2022. The study population included 79 patients, with a mean age of 59.3 (SD ±12), predominantly male (61 patients, 77.2%), and of African descent (60 patients, 75.9%). The majority of the study population presented with an ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) (62%), and the six most prevalent cardiovascular risk factors recorded amongst the patients were: systemic arterial hypertension in 50 (63.3%) patients; dyslipidaemia in 34 (43.0%); type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in 25 (31.6); history of smoking in 12 (15.2%); obesity or being overweight in 12 (15.1%); and family history of premature coronary artery disease or sudden cardiac death in four (5.1%) patients. Moreover, 88.6% of the patients had their lipid profile assessment done within 48 hours of admission, with a mean LDL-C level of 3.18 mmol/L (SD ±.18). All the patients recruited in the study were started on high-intensity statins with either 40 mg or 80 mg of atorvastatin or 20 mg or 40 mg of rosuvastatin. Thirty-nine (44%) patients recruited had repeat lipid profiles on follow-up, with a median lipid analysis time of five months (interquartile range (IQR): 2.0-10.0). Of those, only six (17.1%) achieved the LDL-C goal of <1.4 mmo/L while only 16 (45.7%) achieved a greater than 50% reduction from their baseline LDL-C level, with three (8.6%) patients having an increased LDL-C level from baseline. Overall, 14.7% of the patients studied achieved the guideline-recommended LDL-C goal of an LDL-C target of <1.4 mmo/L and a ≥ 50% reduction from baseline LDL-C. After five months of follow-up, 75 (94.9%) patients were on statin monotherapy, with 4 (5.1%) on high-intensity statin and ezetimibe combination therapy. This retrospective study highlights the need for early sensitisation and the adoption of secondary prevention strategies in acute coronary syndrome (ACS), as recommended by the 2019 ESC guidelines.

Periprocedural antithrombotic strategies in acute coronary syndromes undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: Have we discarded bivalirudin too soon?

BackgroundPublication of the BRIGHT-4 trial results has restimulated discussion about the optimal periprocedural antithrombotic strategy for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). It is possible that variation in the infusion duration, may contribute to observed differences in safety-efficacy profiles of bivalirudin in this clinical setting. MethodsUp to December 2022, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing bivalirudin (either administered peri-procedurally or accompanied by postprocedural infusion) and heparin, both with or without GPI, were searched and entered in a frequentist network meta-analysis. Co-primary endpoints were trial-defined major adverse composite events (MACE) and major bleeding. Incident rate ratios (IRR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) were estimated. Results10 RCTs (N = 57,137 patients/month) were included. As compared to heparin, prolonged bivalirudin infusion resulted in lower rates of major bleeding (IRR 0.58, 95 % CI 0.36–0.91), but there was no differences in MACE rates between these strategies. With regard to NACE, prolonged bivalirudin infusion yielded lower risk (IRR 0.86, 95 % CI 0.77–0.96), whereas both bivalirudin and heparin increased risk when coupled with GPI (IRR 1.24, 95 % CI 1.01–1.51 and IRR 1.24, 95 % CI 1.06–1.44, respectively). Both these combination strategies also increased minor bleeding rates (IRR 1.49, 95 % CI 1.16–1.93 and IRR 1.58, 95 % CI 1.29–1.95, respectively, for bivalirudin and heparin). Results were consistent across several sensitivity analyses. ConclusionIn patients with ACS undergoing PCI, procedural bivalirudin administration followed by prolonged infusion results in lower major bleeding rates, but there does not appear to be a difference in observed MACE.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on emergency medical system and management strategies in patients with acute coronary syndrome

The global coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is associated with reduced rate of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, there were a few data showing how emergency medical system (EMS) and management strategies for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) changed during the pandemic. We sought to clarify changes on characteristics, treatments, and in-hospital mortality of patients with ACS transported via EMS between pre- and post-pandemic. We examined consecutive 656 patients with ACS admitted to Sapporo City ACS Network Hospitals between June 2018 and November 2021. The patients were divided into pre- and post-pandemic groups. The number of ACS hospitalizations declined significantly during the pandemic (proportional reduction 66%, coefficient −0.34, 95% CI −0.50 to −0.18, p < 0.001). The median time from an EMS call to hospital was significantly longer in post-pandemic group than in pre-pandemic group (32 [26–39] vs. 29 [25–36] min, p = 0.008). There were no significant differences in the proportion of patients with ACS receiving PCI, and in-hospital mortality between the groups. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on EMS and management in patients with ACS. Although a significant decline was observed in ACS hospitalizations, the proportion of patients with ACS receiving emergency PCI remained during the pandemic.

Once in a Blue Moon: Iatrogenic Coronary Dissection in Anomalous Coronary Artery

Coronary anomalies present as a rare phenomenon. One of the most observed coronary anomalies is the single coronary artery (SCA) originating from one coronary ostium and dividing into the coronary arteries in various configurations1Angelini P. Coronary artery anomalies: an entity in search of an identity.Circulation. 2007; 115: 1296-1305Crossref PubMed Scopus (532) Google Scholar, classified by Lipton’s Classification.2Lipton M.J. Barry W.H. Obrez I. Silverman J.F. Wexler L. Isolated single coronary artery: diagnosis, angiographic classification, and clinical significance.Radiology. 1979; 130: 39-47Crossref PubMed Scopus (414) Google Scholar A 38-year-old male patient was admitted to a community hospital with typical signs of non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) but without any known comorbidities. Urgent coronary angiography revealed a rare anomaly (incidence of 0.008%3Yamanaka O. Hobbs R.E. Coronary artery anomalies in 126,595 patients undergoing coronary arteriography.Cathet Cardiovasc Diagn. 1990; 21: 28-40Crossref PubMed Google Scholar,4Mohanty A. Chandra S. A rare case of 'superdominant' single coronary artery.Indian Heart J. 2015; 67: 389-391Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF Google Scholar) of an SCA with the left coronary system originating from the right coronary periphery, posterior to the great vessels (Lipton’s Classification R-IP, table 1) and occlusion of the circumflex artery (CX) (figure 1a-b, video 1). A culprit-lesion percutaneous coronary intervention was attempted. However, despite the use of various flexible guidewires and angled microcatheters (90°) CX passage through the left main artery equivalent (LMA) was not achieved (video 2) and resulted in ST elevation. A prompt control demonstrated a dissection of the LMA (figure 1c, video 3). Further interventional approaches were waived and the patient was transferred for surgical revascularization.Table 1Lipton’s Single Coronary Artery Classification2Lipton M.J. Barry W.H. Obrez I. Silverman J.F. Wexler L. Isolated single coronary artery: diagnosis, angiographic classification, and clinical significance.Radiology. 1979; 130: 39-47Crossref PubMed Scopus (414) Google ScholarCodeDescriptionOstial LocationRRight Sinus of ValsalvaLLeft Sinus of ValsalvaAnatomical DistributionIThe solitary domain vessel follows the course of either a normal right or left coronary arteryIIOne coronary artery arises from the proximal part of the normally located other coronary arteryIIILAD and CX arise separately from a common trunk originating from the right sinus of ValsalvaCourse of the Transverse TrunkAAnterior to the great vesselsBBetween the aorta and the pulmonary arteriesPPosterior to the great vesselsSSeptal Type: A part of the route passes through the interventricular septumCCombined Type: Combination of diverse routes Open table in a new tab Intraoperatively, coronary dissection could be confirmed, whereas the left anterior descending artery (LAD) and CX were identified in the typical locations. Coronary revascularization was performed by anastomosis of the left internal mammary artery to the LAD, and a saphenous vein graft to the CX in perfusion-assisted beating heart technique. The postoperative course remained uneventful and the patient was discharged on the 10th postoperative day. The main issue in SCA persists in the dependency on one system with fatal results in proximal occlusion. Since the overall incidence of coronary anomalies is very low3Yamanaka O. Hobbs R.E. Coronary artery anomalies in 126,595 patients undergoing coronary arteriography.Cathet Cardiovasc Diagn. 1990; 21: 28-40Crossref PubMed Google Scholar, the treatment strategy for acute coronary syndromes in patients with anomalous coronary anatomy remains questionable. In particular, an interventional approach in complex coronary anatomy can result in coronary injury. Since in cases of myocardial infarction time matters most, a deep – even inter-hospital – heart team approach is crucial to maintain in-time life-saving treatments. •Lipton’s Classification R-IP is the rarest form of single coronary artery configuration with the left coronary system originating from the right coronary periphery.•Percutaneous coronary intervention of the left coronary system may be very challenging in Lipton’s Classification R-IP•Surgical revascularization is a reasonable strategy in particular when the coronary periphery location is in typical location.•A deep heart team approach is crucial to maintain in-time life-saving treatments in such critical and complex cases. eyJraWQiOiI4ZjUxYWNhY2IzYjhiNjNlNzFlYmIzYWFmYTU5NmZmYyIsImFsZyI6IlJTMjU2In0.eyJzdWIiOiI1ZWIwZTk5NTRiZWEzMDA2MGVlNzI5MmM4OTZjNDlmYyIsImtpZCI6IjhmNTFhY2FjYjNiOGI2M2U3MWViYjNhYWZhNTk2ZmZjIiwiZXhwIjoxNjc2MjA3NTg4fQ.My1bJvayG27S7R8PKVtQsWVd9XLKhwldpsEWqzuMHIzYxOz_VIFRiJulyjzbngC4CyNUqZMU_qmU-_r_3QPgVbNU2xkwNmcDVsxgXDGD3oSMx3rmyXQK-bNXjlY-qh_YzCrTQ4UEB8jH1qiVcNVpHyrGc-MtRjc7v89p3xEBD1aa_Ns-xk1OOfXUrdGlF9O7EQX7iWrHtaVkLbdCUhgxc55eQP4YI97gKqxSTzFKe4nOdxPc5K41oBsMkajdNYt83O5oDph59QzDCmbWJJDlinjzvGQqRFcavZjX7emVYeuqr5DOGxgmXTA36j331owW-wzHpdKn7wy_SAu2l1u30g Download .mp4 (3.49 MB) Help with .mp4 files eyJraWQiOiI4ZjUxYWNhY2IzYjhiNjNlNzFlYmIzYWFmYTU5NmZmYyIsImFsZyI6IlJTMjU2In0.eyJzdWIiOiIzYjhkMDgxYzg2OTRiYTM0MDZmYTgyZDcyYzcxMmI1NyIsImtpZCI6IjhmNTFhY2FjYjNiOGI2M2U3MWViYjNhYWZhNTk2ZmZjIiwiZXhwIjoxNjc2MjA3NTg4fQ.gH37xsv4GXLcsKMdb-SAuac7Xh_CpCm5C0UOpTzC6x5WB68zYxcjtSgpUhdMHve6TUbPHbeu4gyaKxxZOZFAyXhaMk3R4CzuIFQGSdNyQ3UbqN2MXekQOyGM0i6FNEiLMnWIlxCoQlwOvXWyQ1sI5cKCz5qIkr0f6r_5o2C3gv15nrn3mBIX3vPynprGA_1gHGfLtCQXAvMvVUwYfg-Ba-GOjt1NTSJ0ccCjlQefWR_6jSDTk7NX3BfZ5jU-ybtSzeAxEfALNpfSP2YHm960AaPVaXDNtI0CYb5bkGWLepuD3vzkGAahQrf2K23VUEfho5FELp_CpUVjx4EUMLZ3gA Download .mp4 (1.48 MB) Help with .mp4 files eyJraWQiOiI4ZjUxYWNhY2IzYjhiNjNlNzFlYmIzYWFmYTU5NmZmYyIsImFsZyI6IlJTMjU2In0.eyJzdWIiOiI2MTc2OTE5MTY2ZDM1OTQ1NTUzYTQ3MzcwOTc1OWJlNiIsImtpZCI6IjhmNTFhY2FjYjNiOGI2M2U3MWViYjNhYWZhNTk2ZmZjIiwiZXhwIjoxNjc2MjA3NTg4fQ.G5pvhhPUt-Kl_kxjdKfL-lOu-rH4hRhKzFlVwwANSrmNUjBoRc_thtwNvFupLmPpm1meakrWBTvBZ-JrBLOAlq6fW3AXl46Qy5drW5RxsehHs52zYd8GMPUQ9Trimxz6LG5NH50cVzlCWKi_iaZKUGpRueErVe1WFrp0YqXxkauvv-qmuoIW2pTQS1IpP-6E3u_z8OpKdj53TlaNfpGQJq3z28Uqw5FsY44sS9OP0k_A6uhflBqSRFLKU22pDTS3TPOUSqoxJAATd7yxU-H9QckIiu6lEHsAS2AKowXlAZiXHJnAcRaOBWAFkXx7eJ-MkLy7Eqms1glQNP6hxmoK4Q Download .mp4 (0.95 MB) Help with .mp4 files

Current and Future Insights for Optimizing Antithrombotic Therapy to Reduce the Burden of Cardiovascular Ischemic Events in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome.

The pharmacological treatment strategies for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in recent years are constantly evolving to develop more potent antithrombotic agents, as reflected by the introduction of more novel P2Y12 receptor inhibitors and anticoagulants to reduce the ischemic risk among ACS patients. Despite the substantial improvements in the current antithrombotic regimen, a noticeable number of ACS patients continue to experience ischemic events. Providing effective ischemic risk reduction while balancing bleeding risk remains a clinical challenge. This updated review discusses the currently approved and widely used antithrombotic agents and explores newer antithrombotic treatment strategies under development for the initial phase of ACS.

Safety and Efficacy of Selective, Clopidogrel-Based Strategies in Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Study-Level Meta-analysis.

To investigate outcomes with selective, clopidogrel-based therapies versus conventional treatment in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), especially for acute coronary syndrome. Safety and efficacy of alternative, selective, clopidogrel-based therapies after PCI are not robustly established. We performed a study-level meta-analysis on six randomized trials investigating selective clopidogrel-based therapies (three on unguided de-escalation, N = 3,473; three on guided clopidogrel therapy, N = 7,533). Control groups received ticagrelor or prasugrel treatment. Main endpoints were major bleeding, any bleeding, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), and net clinical endpoint. The incidence of major bleeding and MACE was similar in the selective, clopidogrel-based therapy versus the conventional treatment arm (odds ratio [OR]: 0.72, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.51-1.01, p = 0.06; OR: 0.93, 0.72-1.20, p = 0.58; respectively). The rates of any bleeding were lower in the selective, clopidogrel-based therapy versus conventional treatment group (OR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.40-0.80, p = 0.001); this greater safety was significant for unguided de-escalation (OR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.32-0.58, p = 0.00001) and nonsignificant for guided clopidogrel therapy (OR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.51-1.02, p = 0.07; p for interaction: 0.03). The incidence of the net clinical endpoint was fewer in the selective, clopidogrel-based therapy versus the conventional treatment arm (OR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.41-0.85, p = 0.004); this benefit was significant for unguided de-escalation (OR: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.39-0.64, p < 0.00001) and nonsignificant for guided clopidogrel therapy (OR 0.85, 95% CI: 0.62-1.16, p = 0.30; p for interaction: 0.01). As compared with prasugrel/ticagrelor treatment, alternative, selective, clopidogrel-based approaches provide a similar protection from cardiovascular events, reduce the risk of any bleeding, and are associated with a greater net benefit. These beneficial effects were prevalent with unguided de-escalation to clopidogrel.

Advantages and prospects of optical coherence tomography in interventional therapy of coronary heart disease (Review).

Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of mortality among all diseases globally. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a key method for the treatment of coronary heart disease. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an optical diagnostic technology with a resolution of up to 10 µm, which is able to accurately assess the composition of the coronary arterial wall and determine the characteristics of atherosclerotic lesions. It is also highly consistent with pathological examinations, optimizing the effect of stent implantation and evaluation of the long-term effectiveness and safety of the stent, which has irreplaceable value in the field of precision and optimization of coronary intervention. The innovative OCT technology may help provide more comprehensive clinical research evidence. The application of OCT in clinical and basic research of coronary atherosclerosis, selection of treatment strategies for acute coronary syndromes, optimization of interventional treatment efficacy, evaluation of novel stents, intimal stent coverage and selection of dual antiplatelet drugs has become more widely used, affecting the current coronary interventional treatment strategies to a certain extent. The aim of the present review was to discuss the role of OCT in evaluating preoperative plaque characteristics, guiding PCI and evaluating the effects of postoperative stents or drug treatments.

Additive value of bioclinical risk scores to high sensitivity troponins-only strategy in acute coronary syndrome

BackgroundDischarging patients home as quickly as possible, or gaining the ability to eliminate a serious event is a goal requested by clinicians in the emergency department (ED). For this, risk scores, taking into account co-morbidities, have been established. The aim of our study consists to evaluate in patients with chest pain admitted in ED the risk stratification obtained with clinico-biological risk scores (CCS, GRACE score, TIMI score and HEART score) using Ortho hs-cTnI assay (Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, Illkirch, France) on the Vitros 3600® instrument or Roche hs-cTnT assay on the Cobas8000/e801® module (Roche diagnostics, Meylan, France), with comparison to hs-cTn-only strategy. Prognostic performances were evaluated according to AMI with or without STEMI, and deaths during hospitalization. MethodsPatients admitted to the ED presenting chest pain or symptoms suggesting of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) were included. Hs-cTnT was performed on a Roche hs-cTnT assay on the Cobas8000/e801® module using a fifth-generation assay and was used for the clinical diagnosis. In addition, hs-cTnI was tested using Ortho hs-cTnI assay on the Vitros 3600® analyzer. Retrospectively, we collected the variables needed for each score in clinical records. Our endpoint were occurrence of AMI in patients with chest pain after presentation to the ED and all cause death during the hospitalization. ResultsWe enrolled 160 patients with suspected ACS. The adjudicated diagnosis was AMI in 37 patients (with 9 STEMI and 28 NSTEMI), cardiac pathologies in 57 patients and other causes in 66 patients. The majority of patients were classified at high risk for each risk scores (from 42% to 68%) whatever the considered hs-cTn assay, except for TIMI score. Cohen’s kappa agreements with GRACE, TIMI and HEART scores were excellent between Roche hs-cTnT vs Ortho hs-cTnI. The AUC of the HEART score was highest for both hs-cTn to predict AMI, NSTEMI or death, with no statistical difference according to the hs-cTn (p = NS) assay used. NRI analysis confirmed the interest of HEART score which improved individual risk prediction for AMI (or NSTEMI) and death. ConclusionIn view of our results, the decision aids using only biological variables (hs-cTn-only strategy and CCS) would seem more effective for rule-out AMI whereas bioclinical risk scores could better identify patients at low and high risk for mortality. In consequence, risk scores taking in account comorbidities, appear necessary to determine the outcome and thus to adapt the therapeutic options. It is interesting to note that the HEART score could be useful for the rule out AMI but also for the risk prediction as confirmed by the NRI.

Impact of COVID-19 on reperfusion strategies for acute coronary syndromes.

Reperfusion therapy is a measure of care in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), which should be performed once we have the diagnosis. Percutaneous coronary intervention is considered the gold standard, however in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, the reperfusion strategy is more focused on fibrinolytic therapy due to the shorter time required to perform and less exposure. This pandemic represents a contact problem in health personnel, since cases are increasing worldwide, so it is important to know the measures that must be followed to avoid coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Antiplatelet strategies in acute coronary syndromes: design and methodology of an international collaborative network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

The optimal choice of oral P2Y<inf>12</inf> receptor inhibitors has the potential to significantly influence outcomes. We seek to compare the safety and efficacy of the three most commonly used oral P2Y<inf>12</inf> receptor inhibitors (clopidogrel, prasugrel, and ticagrelor) in acute coronary syndromes (ACS) via a comprehensive systematic review and network meta-analysis. In line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) guidelines, we performed a comprehensive search for RCTs which compared cardiovascular and hemorrhagic outcomes after use of at least two of the distinct oral P2Y<inf>12</inf> receptor inhibitors (i.e. clopidogrel, prasugrel, and ticagrelor). A search strategy has been designed to systematically search multiple databases, including MEDLINE with PubMed interface, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Embase. In addition, key inclusion criteria will be trial size of at least 100 patients and at least 1 month of follow-up time. Several prespecified subgroups will be explored, including Asian patients, patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction, patients of advanced age, and others. Exploratory frequentist pairwise meta-analyses will be based primarily on a random-effects method, relying on relative risks (RR) for short-term outcomes and incidence rate ratios (IRR) for long-term outcomes. Inferential frequentist network meta-analysis will be based primarily on a random-effects method, relying on RR and IRR as specified above. Results will be reported as point summary of effect, 95% CI, and P values for effect, and graphically represented using forest plots. An international collaborative network meta-analysis has begun to comprehensively analyze the safety and efficacy of prasugrel, ticagrelor and clopidogrel, each on a background of aspirin, for management of patients with ACS. It is our hope that the rigor and breadth of the undertaking described herein will provide novel insights that will inform optimal patient care for patients with ACS treated conservatively, or undergoing revascularization.

Predictors of non-stenting strategy for acute coronary syndrome caused by plaque erosion: four-year outcomes of the EROSION study.

The EROSION study demonstrated that patients with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) caused by plaque erosion could be treated with antithrombotic therapy without stenting. However, the long-term prognosis of this strategy is still unclear. The aim of this study was to test whether a non-stenting antithrombotic strategy was still effective at four-year follow-up and to explore potential predictors of long-term prognosis. This study was a long-term follow-up of the EROSION study. Follow-up was conducted by phone call or clinical visit. Patients were divided into two groups - those with target lesion revascularisation (the TLR group), and the non-TLR group. Out of 55 patients who completed one-month follow-up, 52 patients finished four-year follow-up. The median duration was 4.8 years (range, 4.2-5.8 years). The majority of patients remained free from events, and all patients were free from hard endpoints (death, myocardial infarction, stroke, bypass surgery, or heart failure). Only one patient had gastrointestinal bleeding, and 11 patients underwent TLR. Patients in the non-TLR group had more optical coherence tomography (OCT) thrombus reduction from baseline to one month; 95% of patients in the non-TLR group versus 45% in the TLR group (p=0.001) met the primary endpoint (thrombus volume reduction >50%). Angiographic results showed that the TLR group had less improvement in diameter stenosis (p=0.014) at one month compared with the non-TLR group. Four-year follow-up findings reconfirmed the safety of an antithrombotic therapy without stenting for ACS caused by erosion. Patients with better response to antithrombotic therapy in the first month were less likely to require stent implantation during the next four years.

A new approach to ticagrelor-based de-escalation of antiplatelet therapy after acute coronary syndrome. A rationale for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, investigator-initiated, multicenter clinical study.

The risk of ischemic events gradually decreases after acute coronary syndrome (ACS), reaching a stable level after 1 month, while the risk of bleeding remains steady during the whole period of dual antiplatelet treatment (DAPT). Several de-escalation strategies of antiplatelet treatment aiming to enhance safety of DAPT without depriving it of its efficacy have been evaluated so far. We hypothesized that reduction of the ticagrelor maintenance dose 1 month after ACS and its continuation until 12 months after ACS may improve adherence to antiplatelet treatment due to better tolerability compared with the standard dose of ticagrelor. Moreover, improved safety of treatment and preserved anti-ischemic benefit may also be expected with additional acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) withdrawal. To evaluate these hypotheses, we designed the Evaluating Safety and Efficacy of Two Ticagrelor-based De-escalation Antiplatelet Strategies in Acute Coronary Syndrome - a randomized clinical trial (ELECTRA-SIRIO 2), to assess the influence of ticagrelor dose reduction with or without continuation of ASA versus DAPT with standard dose ticagrelor in reducing clinically relevant bleeding and maintaining anti-ischemic efficacy in ACS patients. The study was designed as a phase III, randomized, multicenter, double-blind, investigator-initiated clinical study with a 12-month follow-up (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04718025; EudraCT number: 2020-005130-15).

Admissions and management strategies for acute coronary syndromes during COVID-19

Background and Objectives: Severe respiratory syndrome caused by coronavirus 2 (SARS COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 12, 2020. In India, the central government declared lockdown on March 25, 2020. We report the trends in admissions for acute coronary syndromes (ACS) at cardiac care units (CCUs) during lockdown and impact on reperfusion strategies adopted during this time period in comparison with the previous year. Materials and Methods: We conducted a multicenter retrospective observational survey on admissions for ACS at CCUs of Ernakulam district in Kerala from January to May 15, 2020. Records were analyzed for admissions during equivalent period of 2019. Trends in admissions during lockdown phases were analyzed separately. Results: We observed an 18.2% reduction in admissions for ACS during lockdown. A significant reduction in number of patients presenting with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) (186 vs. 169 and 130 vs. 82) was observed when compared to 2019 (P = 0.0047). Decrease in number of primary angioplasties was noted during lockdown phase (302 vs. 244. P = 0.049). There was an increase in adoption of thrombolysis as reperfusion modality at tertiary care centers during lockdown period (27.1% vs. 40.8%). We did not observe an increase in number of patients who presented late during this phase and there was no heterogenicity in admission pattern according to hospital location. Conclusion: Study confirms a significant reduction in admissions for ACS during lockdown period and change in reperfusion strategies adopted during lockdown.

The rationale for Multilevel Educational and Motivational Intervention in Patients after Myocardial Infarction (MEDMOTION) project is to support multicentre randomized clinical trial Evaluating Safety and Efficacy of Two Ticagrelor-based De-escalation Antiplatelet Strategies in Acute Coronary Syndrome (ELECTRA – SIRIO 2)

The Multilevel Educational and Motivational Intervention in Patients after Myocardial Infarction (MEDMOTION) project will be adopted to support adherence to the study treatment in the Evaluation Safety and Efficacy of Two Ticagrelor-based De-escalation Antiplatelet Strategies in Acute Coronary Syndrome (ELECTRA-SIRIO 2) a randomized clinical trial. A prespecified sub-analysis of the ELECTRA-SIRIO 2 trial will be performed to evaluate the impact of the results of MEDMOTION diagnostic questionnaires on the clinical outcomes. The study population will comprise of 4,500 patients consecutively admitted to the study centres due to acute coronary syndrome. The MEDMOTION project involves the following interventions: patients’ education, motivation, reminding to take medications and to attend consecutive medical appointments. Dedicated questionnaires will be applied to diagnose study participants with regard to their readiness for discharge from the hospital at the end of initial hospitalization, the risk of non-adherence to the medication at the end of 3rd and 12th month of follow up, and the functioning in disease at the end of 3rd and 12th month of follow up. The primary safety composite endpoint of this study is type 2, 3 or 5 bleeding according to the BARC criteria, occurring during the first 12 months after ACS. The primary efficacy endpoint is the composite of death from any cause, the first nonfatal MI, or the first nonfatal stroke. The key secondary endpoint, net clinical effect, was defined as the composite of death from any cause, a nonfatal MI or a nonfatal stroke, and the first occurrence of BARC type 2, 3, or 5 bleeding. Concluding, it is expected that the comprehensive approach designed in the MEDMOTION project, including use of diagnostic questionnaires, will significantly contribute to obtaining a high level of adherence to medication and improving clinical outcomes in the ELECTRA-SIRIO 2 trial.

Antiplatelet strategies in acute coronary syndromes: design and methodology of an international collaborative network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

INTRODUCTION The optimal choice of oral P2Y 12 receptor inhibitors has the potential to significantly influence outcomes. We seek to compare the safety and efficacy of the three most commonly used oral P2Y 12 receptor inhibitors (clopidogrel, prasugrel, and ticagrelor) in acute coronary syndromes (ACS) via a comprehensive systematic review and network meta-analysis. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION In line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) guidelines, we performed a comprehensive search for RCTs which compared cardiovascular and hemorrhagic outcomes after use of at least two of the distinct oral P2Y 12 receptor inhibitors (i.e. clopidogrel, prasugrel, and ticagrelor). A search strategy has been designed to systematically search multiple databases, including MEDLINE with PubMed interface, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Embase. In addition, key inclusion criteria will be trial size of at least 100 patients and at least 1 month of follow-up time. Several prespecified subgroups will be explored, including Asian patients, patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction, patients of advanced age, and others. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS Exploratory frequentist pairwise meta-analyses will be based primarily on a random-effects method, relying on relative risks (RR) for short-term outcomes and incidence rate ratios (IRR) for long-term outcomes. Inferential frequentist network meta-analysis will be based primarily on a random-effects method, relying on RR and IRR as specified above. Results will be reported as point summary of effect, 95% CI, and P values for effect, and graphically represented using forest plots. CONCLUSIONS An international collaborative network meta-analysis has begun to comprehensively analyze the safety and efficacy of prasugrel, ticagrelor and clopidogrel, each on a background of aspirin, for management of patients with ACS. It is our hope that the rigor and breadth of the undertaking described herein will provide novel insights that will inform optimal patient care for patients with ACS treated conservatively, or undergoing revascularization.

Machine Learning Improves the Identification of Individuals With Higher Morbidity and Avoidable Health Costs After Acute Coronary Syndromes.

Traditional risk scores improved the definition of the initial therapeutic strategy in acute coronary syndrome (ACS), but they were not designed for predicting long-term individual risks and costs. In parallel, attempts to directly predict costs from clinical variables in ACS had limited success. Thus, novel approaches to predict cardiovascular risk and health expenditure are urgently needed. Our objectives were to predict the risk of major/minor adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and estimate assistance-related costs. We used a 2-step approach that: (1) predicted outcomes with a common pathophysiological substrate (MACE) by using machine learning (ML) or logistic regression (LR) and compared with existing risk scores; (2) derived costs associated with noncardiovascular deaths, dialysis, ambulatory-care-sensitive-hospitalizations (ACSH), strokes, and MACE. With consecutive ACS individuals (n= 1089) from 2 cohorts, we trained in 80% of the population and tested in 20% using a 4-fold cross-validation framework. The 29-variable model included socioeconomic, clinical/lab, and coronarography variables. Individual costs were estimated based on cause-specific hospitalization from the Brazilian Health Ministry perspective. After up to 12 years follow-up (mean= 3.3 ± 3.1; MACE= 169), the gradient-boosting machine model was superior to LR and reached an area under the curve (AUROC) of 0.891 [95% CI 0.846-0.921] (test set), outperforming the Syntax Score II (AUROC= 0.635 [95% CI 0.569-0.699]). Individuals classified as high risk (>90th percentile) presented increased HbA1c and LDL-C both at <24 hours post-ACS and 1-year follow-up. High-risk individuals required 33.5% of total costs and showed 4.96-fold (95% CI 3.71-5.48, P < .00001) greater per capita costs compared with low-risk individuals, mostly owing to avoidable costs (ACSH). This 2-step approach was more successful for finding individuals incurring high costs than predicting costs directly from clinical variables. ML methods predicted long-term risks and avoidable costs after ACS.