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Aims: Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 40% is a well‐established risk factor for mortality after acute coronary syndromes (ACS). However, the long‐term prognostic impact of mildly reduced ejection fraction (EF) (LVEF 41–49%) after ACS remains less clear. Methods and results: This was a retrospective study enrolling patients admitted with ACS included in a single‐centre databank. LVEF was assessed by echocardiography during index hospitalization. Patients were divided in the following categories according to LVEF: normal (LVEF ≥ 50%), mildly reduced (LVEF 41–49%), and reduced (LVEF ≤ 40%). The endpoint of interest was all‐cause death after hospital discharge. A multivariable Cox model was used to adjust for confounders. A total of 3200 patients were included (1952 with normal EF, 375 with mildly reduced EF, and 873 with reduced EF). The estimated cumulative incidence rates of mortality at 10 years for patients with normal, mildly reduced, and reduced EF were 24.8%, 33.5%, and 41.3%, respectively. After adjustments, the presence of reduced EF was associated with higher mortality compared with normal EF [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.64; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.36–1.96; P < 0.001], as was mildly reduced EF compared with normal EF (adjusted HR 1.33; 95% CI 1.05–1.68; P = 0.019). The presence of reduced EF was not associated with a statistically significantly higher mortality compared with mildly reduced EF (adjusted HR 1.23; 95% CI 0.96–1.57; P = 0.095). Conclusions: In patients with ACS, mildly reduced EF measured in the acute phase was associated with higher long‐term mortality compared with patients with normal EF. These data emphasize the importance of anti‐remodelling therapies for ACS patients who have LVEF in the mildly reduced range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The studies included in the analysis, which were conducted over the past two decades, differed in the management of patients with suspected pulmonary embolism, and not all patients underwent imaging. Graph: Graphical Abstract A novel clinical prediction model estimating the absolute probability of acute pulmonary embolism. An observed frequency of pulmonary embolism below 2% among patients in whom pulmonary embolism was considered excluded by the algorithm was used to indicate that pulmonary embolism can be considered safely excluded by an algorithm without imaging. [Extracted from the article]

Objective: In patients with moderate to severe albuminuric kidney disease, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors reduce the risk of kidney disease progression. These post hoc analyses assess the effects of dapagliflozin on kidney function decline in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), focusing on populations with low kidney risk.Research Design and Methods: In the Dapagliflozin Effect on Cardiovascular Events-Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction 58 (DECLARE-TIMI 58) trial, patients with T2D at high cardiovascular risk were randomly assigned to dapagliflozin versus placebo. Outcomes were analyzed by treatment arms, overall, and by Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) risk categories. The prespecified kidney-specific composite outcome was a sustained decline ≥40% in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) to <60 mL/min/1.73 m2, end-stage kidney disease, and kidney-related death. Other outcomes included incidence of categorical eGFR decline of different thresholds and chronic (6 month to 4 year) or total (baseline to 4 year) eGFR slopes.Results: Most participants were in the low-moderate KDIGO risk categories (n = 15,201 [90.3%]). The hazard for the kidney-specific composite outcome was lower with dapagliflozin across all KDIGO risk categories (P-interaction = 0.97), including those at low risk (hazard ratio [HR] 0.54, 95% CI 0.38-0.77). Risks for categorical eGFR reductions (≥57% [in those with baseline eGFR ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2], ≥50%, ≥40%, and ≥30%) were lower with dapagliflozin (HRs 0.52, 0.57, 0.55, and 0.70, respectively; P < 0.05). Slopes of eGFR decline favored dapagliflozin across KDIGO risk categories, including the low KDIGO risk (between-arm differences of 0.87 [chronic] and 0.55 [total] mL/min/1.73 m2/year; P < 0.0001).Conclusions: Dapagliflozin mitigated kidney function decline in patients with T2D at high cardiovascular risk, including those with low KDIGO risk, suggesting a role of dapagliflozin in the early prevention of diabetic kidney disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Aims: We aim to explore the relationship of heart failure (HF) and diabetes with cardiovascular (CV) death or hospitalization for HF (HHF) and to study the clinical utility of N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) in an unselected patient population with atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods and results: Patients with AF admitted to a tertiary academic center between January 2005 and July 2019 were identified through a search of electronic health records. We used Cox regression models adjusted for age, sex, estimated glomerular filtration rate, diabetes, HF, body mass index, prior myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, hypertension, smoking, C‐reactive protein, and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol. To select the most informative variables, we performed a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator Cox regression with 10‐fold cross‐validation. In total, 7412 patients (median age 70 years, 39.7% female) were included in this analysis and followed over a median of 4.5 years. Both diabetes [adjusted (Adj.) HR 1.87, 95% CI 1.55–2.25] and HF (Adj. HR 2.57, 95% CI 2.22–2.98) were significantly associated with CV death/HHF after multivariable adjustment. Compared with patients with diabetes, HF patients had a higher risk of HHF but a similar risk of CV and all‐cause death. NT‐proBNP showed good discriminatory performance (area under the curve 0.78, 95% CI 0.77–0.80) and the addition of NT‐proBNP to the covariates used for adjustment resulted in a significant area under the curve improvement (Δ = 0.04, P < 0.001). With least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, the strongest associations for CV death/HHF were obtained for NT‐proBNP [HR 1.91 per 1‐SD in log‐transformed biomarker], HF (HR 1.72), and diabetes (HR 1.56). Conclusions: Diabetes and HF were independently associated with an increased risk of CV death/HHF in an unselected AF patient population, and NT‐proBNP improved risk assessment. These findings suggest that AF patients with diabetes and/or HF should be managed not only for their risk of stroke and systemic embolic events but also for CV death/HHF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on previous literature, 14 of the 32 proteins (44%) are known to have effects in the heart, with an over-representation for proteins involved in the promotion of autophagic flux, i.e. autophagic degradation activity (five proteins). Among the few differentially regulated proteins, proteins related to autophagy appeared over-represented, in line with previous experimental studies implicating autophagy in the cardioprotective effects of SGLT2 inhibitors. Graph: Graphical Abstract class="chapter-para">SGLT2 inhibitor treatment increased plasma proteins involved in the promotion of autophagic flux. Most of the 32 differentially regulated plasma proteins after SGLT2 inhibitor treatment exert their function intracellularly. [Extracted from the article]

Objective: Heart failure (HF) is an impactful complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We aimed to develop and validate a risk score for hospitalization for HF (HHF) incorporating biomarkers and clinical factor(s) in patients with T2DM.Research Design and Methods: We derived a risk score for HHF using clinical data, high-sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT), and N-terminal prohormone of B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) from 6,106 placebo-treated patients with T2DM in SAVOR-TIMI 53 (Saxagliptin Assessment of Vascular Outcomes Recorded in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus-Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction 53). Candidate variables were assessed using Cox regression. The strongest indicators of HHF risk were included in the score using integer weights. The score was externally validated in 7,251 placebo-treated patients in DECLARE-TIMI 58 (Dapagliflozin Effect on CardiovascuLAR Events-Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction 58). The effect of dapagliflozin on HHF was assessed by risk category in DECLARE-TIMI 58.Results: The strongest indicators of HHF risk were NT-proBNP, prior HF, and hsTnT (each P < 0.001). A risk score using these three variables identified a gradient of HHF risk (P-trend <0.001) in the derivation and validation cohorts, with C-indices of 0.87 (95% CI, 0.84-0.89) and 0.84 (0.81-0.86), respectively. Whereas there was no significant effect of dapagliflozin versus placebo on HHF in the low-risk group (hazard ratio [HR] 0.98 [95% CI 0.50-1.92]), dapagliflozin significantly reduced HHF in the intermediate-, high-, and very-high-risk groups (HR 0.64 [0.43-0.95], 0.63 [0.43-0.94], and 0.72 [0.54-0.96], respectively). Correspondingly, absolute risk reductions (95% CI) increased across these latter 3 groups: 1.0% (0.0-1.9), 3.0% (0.7-5.3), and 4.4% (-0.2 to 8.9) (P-trend <0.001).Conclusions: We developed and validated a risk score for HHF in T2DM that incorporated NT-proBNP, prior HF, and hsTnT. The risk score identifies patients at higher risk of HHF who derive greater absolute benefit from dapagliflozin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early aspirin (ASA) use after orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) has been associated with lower rates of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV). We hypothesized that the inverse association between ASA use and CAV incidence may be most pronounced in patients with allograft rejection. Methods: Patients receiving OHT at a single center 2004–2010 (n = 120) were categorized by early ASA use post‐transplant (ASA use for > 6 months in the first year) and the presence of biopsy‐defined acute cellular rejection (ACR) and/or antibody‐mediated rejection (AMR) during 5‐year follow‐up. Propensity scores for ASA treatment were estimated using boosting models and applied by inverse probability of treatment weighting. The association between ASA use and time to moderate/severe CAV (ISHLT ≥ 2) was investigated. Results: Among patients with ACR or AMR, ASA therapy was associated with significantly lower rates of CAV≥ 2 (3.3 vs. 30.1%; P =.001; HRadj.07; 95% CI.01–.52), whereas ASA therapy was not associated with lower rates of CAV in patients with no rejection (5.6 vs. 5.3%; P =.90; HRadj 1.26; 95% CI.08–20.30; pinteraction =.09). Conclusions: Early ASA use after OHT was associated with lower rates of moderate to severe CAV only in those patients with episodes of allograft rejection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) improve albuminuria in patients with high cardiorenal risk. We report albuminuria change in the Dapagliflozin Effect on Cardiovascular Events (DECLARE-TIMI 58) cardiovascular outcome trial, which included populations with lower cardiorenal risk.Research Design and Methods: DECLARE-TIMI 58 randomized 17,160 patients with type 2 diabetes, creatinine clearance >60 mL/min, and either atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD; 40.6%) or risk-factors for CVD (59.4%) to dapagliflozin or placebo. Urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) was tested at baseline, 6 months, 12 months, and yearly thereafter. The change in UACR over time was measured as a continuous and categorical variable (≤15, >15 to <30, ≥30 to ≤300, and >300 mg/g) by treatment arm. The composite cardiorenal outcome was a ≥40% sustained decline in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) to <60 mL/min/1.73 m2, end-stage kidney disease, and cardiovascular or renal death; specific renal outcome included all except cardiovascular death.Results: Baseline UACR was available for 16,843 (98.15%) participants: 9,067 (53.83%) with ≤15 mg/g, 2,577 (15.30%) with >15 to <30 mg/g, 4,030 (23.93%) with 30-300 mg/g, and 1,169 (6.94%) with >300 mg/g. Measured as a continuous variable, UACR improved from baseline to 4.0 years with dapagliflozin, compared with placebo, across all UACR and eGFR categories (all P < 0.0001). Sustained confirmed ≥1 category improvement in UACR was more common in dapagliflozin versus placebo (hazard ratio 1.45 [95% CI 1.35-1.56], P < 0.0001). Cardiorenal outcome was reduced with dapagliflozin for subgroups of UACR ≥30 mg/g (P < 0.0125, Pinteraction = 0.033), and the renal-specific outcome was reduced for all UACR subgroups (P < 0.05, Pinteraction = 0.480).Conclusions: In DECLARE-TIMI 58, dapagliflozin demonstrated a favorable effect on UACR and renal-specific outcome across baseline UACR categories, including patients with normal albumin excretion. The results suggest a role for SGLT2i also in the primary prevention of diabetic kidney disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Dapagliflozin reduced the risk of the composite of cardiovascular (CV) death or hospitalization for heart failure (HHF) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in DECLARE‐TIMI 58. We hypothesized that baseline N‐terminal pro B‐type natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) and high‐sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT) levels would help identify patients who are at higher baseline risk and we describe the treatment effects of dapagliflozin in patients according to their baseline NT‐proBNP and hsTnT levels. Methods and results: This was a pre‐specified biomarker study from DECLARE‐TIMI 58, a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled CV outcomes trial of dapagliflozin. Baseline NT‐proBNP and hsTnT levels were measured in the TIMI Clinical Trials Laboratory in 14 565 patients. Among the included patients, 9143 patients (62.8%) were male, 1464 (10.1%) had a history of heart failure and the mean age was 63.9 years. The median baseline NT‐proBNP and hsTnT levels were 75 pg/mL [interquartile range (IQR) 35–165] and 10.2 pg/mL (IQR 6.9–15.5), respectively. Patients with higher NT‐proBNP and hsTnT quartiles had higher rates of CV death/HHF (Q4 vs. Q1: NT‐proBNP: 4‐year Kaplan–Meier event rates 13.7% vs. 1.0%; hsTnT: 11.8% vs. 1.4%; P‐trend <0.001). Dapagliflozin consistently reduced the relative risk of CV death/HHF regardless of baseline NT‐proBNP (P‐interaction 0.72) or hsTnT quartiles (P‐interaction 0.93). Given their higher baseline risk, patients with NT‐proBNP and/or hsTnT levels above the median derived larger absolute risk reductions with dapagliflozin (NT‐proBNP 1.9% vs. 0%, P‐interaction 0.010; hsTnT 1.8% vs. 0.1%, P‐interaction 0.026). Conclusion: Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and higher NT‐proBNP or hsTnT levels are at increased risk of CV death and HHF. Dapagliflozin reduced the relative risk of CV death/HHF irrespective of NT‐proBNP and hsTnT levels, with greater absolute risk reductions seen in patients with higher baseline biomarker levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomarkers that reflect hemodynamic stress, inflammation, extracellular matrix remodeling, angiogenesis, and endothelial dysfunction may improve risk stratification and add valuable pathobiological insight in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). In total, 120 patients with OHCA who survived at least 48 h after return of spontaneous circulation were consecutively included in the present analysis. Concentrations of 30 biomarkers were measured simultaneously using a multi-panel biomarker assay. Cox regression models were adjusted for age, sex, estimated glomerular filtration rate, lactate concentration, bystander resuscitation, initial cardiac rhythm, and type of targeted temperature management. Overall, 57 patients (47.5%) had a favorable neurological outcome (Cerebral Performance Category ≤ 2) at 30 days, while palliative care was initiated in 49 patients (40.8%), and 52 patients (43.3%) died. After correction for multiple testing with Bonferroni-Holm, 8 biomarkers (including Angiopoietin-2, Procalcitonin, Resistin, IL-4Rα, MMP-8, TNFα, Renin, and IL-1α) were significantly associated with all-cause death. After multivariable adjustment, only angiopoietin-2 (Adjusted (Adj) hazard ratio (HR) per 1-unit increase in standardized biomarker concentrations 1.52 (95% CI 1.16–1.99)) and renin (Adj HR 1.32 (95% CI 1.06–1.65) remained independently associated with an increased risk of death. The discriminatory performance indicated good performance for angiopoietin-2 (area under the curve (AUC): 0.75 (95% CI 0.66–0.75) and was significantly higher (P = 0.011) as compared with renin (AUC: 0.60, 95% CI 0.50–0.60). In conclusion, angiopoietin-2 was significantly associated with all-cause mortality in patients with OHCA who survived the first 48 h and may prove to be useful for risk stratification of these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Growth differentiation factor (GDF)-15 has been shown to predict cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) using non-commercial assays. We evaluated the prognostic performance of GDF-15 measured with the first clinically available assay. Furthermore, we evaluated whether GDF-15 was associated with CV death or heart failure (HF) across the spectrum of risk in non-ST-segment elevation (NSTE)-ACS. Methods: We measured baseline GDF-15 (Roche, Elecsys) in 4330 patients with NSTE-ACS enrolled in MERLIN-TIMI 36. Patients were categorized using a priori thresholds of GDF-15 levels (<1200, 1200–1800, ≥1800 ng/L) and stratified according to estimated clinical risk per TIMI risk score (0–2, 3–4, and ≥5). Cox modeling included age, sex, BMI, smoking, HF, diabetes, renal function, NT-proBNP, hsTnT, and hsCRP. Results: There were 2286 (53%), 1104 (25%), and 940 (22%) pts with GDF-15 <1200, 1200–1800, and ≥1800 respectively. GDF-15 was significantly associated after multivariable adjustment with CV death/HF modeled either as a categorical (1200–1800 ng/L: Adj hazard ratios [HR] 1.55 [1.09–2.19]; ≥1800 ng/L: Adj HR 1.94 [1.34–2.79]) or continuous variable (Adj HR 1.36 [1.16–1.60] per 1-unit increase in log2-transformed GDF-15). Notably, there was an interaction (Pinteraction=0.003) between TIMI risk score and GDF-15, with GDF-15 identifying the greatest incremental relative risk in those at lowest risk based on the TIMI risk score alone. Conclusions: Using a clinically available assay, GDF-15 can be applied using established cut-off points to independently predict risk of CV death/HF in patients with NSTE-ACS. This incremental risk appears to be particularly robust among individuals traditionally identified as low risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) is recommended for risk stratification and follow-up by all guidelines. However, the prognostic value of the 6MWT has been discussed controversially. We sought to compare and validate all published 6MWT cut-off points.Methods: From the Comparative, Prospective Registry of Newly Initiated Therapies for Pulmonary Hypertension (COMPERA)—registry we identified 2391 patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension who had at least one documented 6MWT measurement. A Medline search identified a total of 21 different threshold values for either single-point or change of 6MWT. All values were tested individually for prognostication of 1-year, 2-year and 3-year all-cause mortality.Results: The highest positive likelihood ratio was a cut-off value < 165 ms, whereas the best negative likelihood ratio was found to be a threshold of 440 ms. Furthermore, improvement in 6MWT had considerably less predictive value on mortality and survival than deterioration. Moreover, absolute single-point values outperformed change values for both improvement and worsening.Conclusion: Our data confirmed the prognostic relevance of the 6MWT and support the cut-off values stated in most recent guidelines. Furthermore, these results explain why changes in 6MWT did not correlate consistently with prognosis in previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the association of right ventricular long axis strain (RV-LAS), a parameter of longitudinal function, with outcome in patients with non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDCM).Methods: In 441 patients with NIDCM, RV-LAS was analysed retrospectively by measuring the length between the epicardial border of the left ventricular apex and the middle of a line connecting the origins of the tricuspidal valve leaflets in end-diastole and end-systole on non-contrast standard cine sequences.Results: The primary endpoint (cardiac death or heart transplantation) occurred in 41 patients, whereas 95 reached the combined endpoint (including cardiac decompensation and sustained ventricular arrhythmias) during a median follow-up of 4.2 years. Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed a poor outcome in patients with RV-LAS values below -10% (log-rank, p < 0.0001). In a risk stratification model RV-LAS improved prediction of outcome in addition to RV ejection fraction (RVEF) and presence of late gadolinium enhancement. Assessment of RV-LAS offered incremental information compared to clinical symptoms, biomarkers and RVEF. Even in the subgroup with normal RVEF (>45%, n = 213) reduced RV-LAS was still associated with poor outcome.Conclusion: Assessment of RV-LAS is an independent indicator of outcome in patients with NIDCM and offers incremental information beyond clinical and cardiac MR parameters.Key Points: • Impaired right ventricular longitudinal function (RV-LAS) is associated with poorer cardiac outcomes. • Poor outcome is associated with decreased RV-LAS even in patients with RVEF >45%. • Addition of RV-LAS to known risk factors enhances the power prognostic information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Delivery of crushed ticagrelor via a nasogastric tube is a widely spread off-label use in unconscious patients following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Notwithstanding the importance of a potent dual antiplatelet therapy in these patients, the efficacy of crushed ticagrelor after OHCA has not been established yet. Methods: In a prospective, single-center, observational trial, 38 consecutive MI patients after OHCA were included. 27 patients (71.1 %) underwent mild induced hypothermia. The primary outcome was platelet inhibition at 24h measured by impedance aggregometry. Results: There was sufficient platelet inhibition in most patients after OHCA. In all hypothermic patients, there was an adequate platelet inhibition by ticagrelor at 24 h ( p < 0.001). 15 patients (39.5 %) had significant gastroesophageal reflux and one patient with significant reflux had inadequate platelet inhibition at 24 h. There were no stent thrombosis or recurrent atherothrombotic events in these patients. Conclusion: Administration of crushed ticagrelor via a nasogastric tube reliably inhibited platelet function in vitro and in vivo regardless of the presence of hypothermia in MI patients. Thus, platelet inhibition can be reliably achieved in MI patients during neuroprotective hypothermia following OHCA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a common finding in patients with chronic fibrosing idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIP). Little is known about the response to pulmonary vasodilator therapy in this patient population. COMPERA is an international registry that prospectively captures data from patients with various forms of PH receiving pulmonary vasodilator therapies. Methods: We retrieved data from COMPERA to compare patient characteristics, treatment patterns, response to therapy and survival in newly diagnosed patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) and PH associated with IIP (PH-IIP). Results: Compared to patients with IPAH (n = 798), patients with PH-IIP (n = 151) were older and predominantly males. Patients with PH-IIP were treated predominantly with phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (88% at entry, 87% after 1 year). From baseline to the first follow-up visit, the median improvement in 6MWD was 30 m in patients with IPAH and 24.5 m in patients with PH-IIP (p = 0.457 for the difference between both groups). Improvements in NYHA functional class were observed in 22.4% and 29.5% of these patients, respectively (p = 0.179 for the difference between both groups). Survival rates were significantly worse in PH-IIP than in IPAH (3-year survival 34.0 versus 68.6%; p<0.001). Total lung capacity, NYHA class IV, and mixed-venous oxygen saturation were independent predictors of survival in patients with PH-IIP. Conclusions: Patients with PH-IIP have a dismal prognosis. Our results suggest that pulmonary vasodilator therapy may be associated with short-term functional improvement in some of these patients but it is unclear whether this treatment affects survival. Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The current study aimed to investigate the release of myocardial high-sensitive Troponin T (hsTnT) in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in response to maximal physical exercise. Methods: In 24 patients with PAH, symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise testing was performed. hsTnT was measured by the novel hsTnT assay with a lower limit of detection of 2 ng/L and a total imprecision of less than 10% at the 99th percentile value. hsTnT was related to NT-proBNP, WHO functional class and right ventricular (RV) function. Serial measurement was performed before and 30 min, 180 min, and 300 min after exercise. Healthy volunteers served as a control group. Results: In 21 PAH patients, hsTnT levels were detectable before exercise with a close correlation between hsTnT and NT-proBNP. hsTnT was detectable in all PAH patients after exercise and significantly increased from 7.5 ng/L at baseline to 14.62 ng/L after 300 min, whereas levels of NT-proBNP remained constant with time. Conclusions: Using the novel hsTnT assay, the current study provides first evidence that hsTnT levels increase in PAH patients after maximal physical exercise, while levels of other biomarkers remain constant after exercise testing. This might provide new insights into pathophysiology and individual risk assessment in patients with PAH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soluble TWEAK is a member of the TNF-alpha family of cytokines that has been shown to predict mortality in patients with heart failure. Pulmonary artery hypertension is a devastating disease, in which right ventricular function has been shown to be the major determinant of prognosis. In this hypothesis-generating study, we sought to evaluate the potential usefulness of sTWEAK in the prediction of disease severity in patients with pulmonary artery hypertension. We therefore conducted a retrospective analysis of sTWEAK serum levels in 95 stable patients with PAH. For all patients data on hemodynamic parameters, biomarkers and functional exercise tests were available. Compared to controls, patients with PAH showed significantly decreased levels of sTWEAK [median 314 pg/ml (interquartile range 217-473 pg/ml) vs. 405 (321-496 pg/ml); PAH vs. controls; P < 0.0001]. Soluble TWEAK levels were inversely correlated with NYHA class, pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance, NT-proBNP, and troponin T levels and directly correlated with cardiac index, reduced 6-min walk test distances, and peak oxygen consumption. ROC curve analysis of sTWEAK levels in PAH patients revealed a cutoff value of 306 pg/ml for sTWEAK to be predictive of a reduced exercise capacity (6-min walk test <300 m) in patients with PAH with a similar predictive value compared to NT-proBNP. Intraindividual serial evaluation of sTWEAK revealed the potential of sTWEAK as follow-up marker in patients with PAH. In our hypothesis-generating study, sTWEAK was closely correlated to hemodynamic, functional, and serological indices of outcome in patients with PAH. Further prospective studies are needed to determine the role of sTWEAK as potential biomarker in patients with PAH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a severe and progressive disease characterized by a pulmonary vascular remodeling process with expansion of collateral endothelial cells and total vessel occlusion. Endothelial cells are believed to be at the forefront of the disease process. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its tyrosine kinase receptor, VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2), play a central role in angiogenesis, endothelial cell protection, but also in the destabilization of endothelial barrier function. Therefore, we investigated the consequences of altered VEGF signaling in an experimental model, and looked for translational correlates of this observation in patients. We performed an endothelial cell-specific conditional deletion of the kinase insert domain protein receptor (kdr) gene, coding for VEGFR-2, in C57/BL6 mice (Kdr∆end) and held them in an environmental chamber with 10% FiO2 or under normoxia for 6 weeks. Kdr knockout led to a mild PH phenotype under normoxia that worsened under hypoxia. Kdr∆end mice exhibited a significant increase in pulmonary arterial wall thickness, muscularization, and VEGFR-3+ endothelial cells obliterating the pulmonary artery vessel lumen. We observed the same proliferative vasculopathy in our rodent model as seen in patients receiving anti-angiogenic therapy. Serum VEGF-a levels were elevated both in the experimental model and in humans receiving bevacizumab. Interrupted VEGF signaling leads to a pulmonary proliferative arteriopathy in rodents after direct ablative gene manipulation of Kdr. Histologically, similar vascular lesions can be observed in patients receiving anti-VEGF treatment. Our findings illustrate the importance of VEGF signaling for maintenance of pulmonary vascular patency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors were previously shown to improve renal parameters. In this predefined analysis of DECLARE-TIMI 58, we report the effects of dapagliflozin (dapa) on albuminuria in a broad population of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and either multiple risk factors (MRF) for or atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), according to patients' baseline albuminuria status. Methods: We randomized 17,160 patients with T2DM and either MRF 10,186 (59%) or ASCVD 6974 (41%) to dapa 10 mg or placebo in addition to standard of care, including 13,950 (81%) patients on ACEI/ARB. We report urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) change over the median follow-up of 4 years for dapa vs. placebo, according to albuminuria at baseline. Results: At baseline there were 11,644 (69%) patients w/normo-albuminuria (UACR <30 mg/g), 4,030 (24%) w/microalbuminuria (UACR ≥30 to ≤300 mg/g); and 1,169 (7%) w/macroalbuminuria (UACR >300 mg/g). Dapa blunted the increase in UACR over time by -29.0 mg/g (95% CI -44.0, -14.0; P=0.0002). This benefit was observed in patients with normo-, micro-, and macro-albuminuria: 3.2 mg/g (95% CI -6.4 to 0.03; P=0.052), -51.3 mg/g (95% CI -67.6 to -35.1; P<0.0001) and 262.3 mg/g (95% CI -480.7 to -43.9; P=0.019), respectively. Dapa also significantly increased the likelihood that patients improved from micro to normo-albuminuria (hazard ratio [HR] 1.35, 95% CI [1.24, 1.47]; p<.0001) and from macro to micro or normo-albuminuria (HR 1.55, 95% CI [1.34, 1.8]; p<.0001). Dapa decreased the likelihood that patients deteriorated from normo to micro or macroalbuminuria (HR 0.84, 95% CI [0.79, 0.89]; p<.0001). Conclusion: In a broad population of patients with T2DM, long-term treatment with dapagliflozin blunts the rise in urinary albumin excretion, in all stratum of baseline albuminuria. Disclosure: I. Raz: Advisory Panel; Self; AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly and Company, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Novo Nordisk Inc., Sanofi. Consultant; Self; AstraZeneca, BOL, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, CameraEyes Ltd, DarioHealth, Diabot, Exscopia, GlucoMe Ltd., Insuline Medical, Medial EarlySign, Orgenesis Ltd. Speaker's Bureau; Self; AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Eli Lilly and Company, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Novo Nordisk Inc., Sanofi. Stock/Shareholder; Self; BOL, CameraEyes Ltd, DarioHealth, Diabot, GlucoMe Ltd., Orgenesis Ltd. S.D. Wiviott: Consultant; Self; Aegerion Pharmaceuticals, Allergan, Angel Medical Systems, Inc., Arena Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Boston Clinical Research Institute, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited, Eisai Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Icon Clinical, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Servier, St. Jude Medical, XOMA Corporation. Employee; Spouse/Partner; Merck & Co., Inc. Research Support; Self; Amgen Inc., Arena Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited, Eisai Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Sanofi-Aventis. I. Yanuv: Research Support; Self; AstraZeneca. A. Rozenberg: Research Support; Self; AstraZeneca. T.A. Zelniker: None. A. Cahn: Advisory Panel; Self; AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly and Company, GlucoMe Ltd., Novo Nordisk A/S, Sanofi. Speaker's Bureau; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Novo Nordisk A/S. Stock/Shareholder; Self; GlucoMe Ltd. H.L. Heerspink: Consultant; Self; AbbVie Inc., Astellas Pharma Inc., AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Fresenius Medical Care, Gilead Sciences, Inc., Janssen Research & Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation. J.P. Dwyer: Consultant; Self; Akcea Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bird Rock Bio, Eisai Inc., Goldfinch Bio, Sanofi-Aventis. E. Goodrich: None. D.L. Bhatt: Research Support; Self; Abbott, Amarin Corporation, Amgen Inc., AstraZeneca, Bayer Vital GmbH, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Chiesi USA, Inc., Eisai Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Ethicon, Inc., FlowCo, Forest Laboratories, Inc., Idorsia, Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ischemix, Medicines Company, Medtronic, Merck & Co., Inc., Novo Nordisk Inc., Pfizer Inc., PhaseBio Pharmaceuticals, Inc., PLx Pharma, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Roche Pharma, Sanofi, Synaptic, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. L.A. Leiter: Advisory Panel; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Novo Nordisk Inc., Sanofi, Servier. Research Support; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, GlaxoSmithKline plc., Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Novo Nordisk Inc., Sanofi. Speaker's Bureau; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Novo Nordisk Inc., Sanofi. D.K. McGuire: Consultant; Self; Eisai Co., Ltd., Eli Lilly and Company, Pfizer Inc. Research Support; Self; Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Other Relationship; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Novo Nordisk A/S, Sanofi-Aventis. J.P. Wilding: Consultant; Self; Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd., AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, NAPP Pharmaceuticals Limited, Novo Nordisk A/S, Sanofi. Research Support; Self; AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk A/S. Speaker's Bureau; Self; Eli Lilly and Company, WebMD. I.A. Gause-Nilsson: Employee; Self; AstraZeneca. M. Fredriksson: Employee; Self; AstraZeneca. P.A. Johansson: None. A. Langkilde: Employee; Self; AstraZeneca. Stock/Shareholder; Self; AstraZeneca. M.S. Sabatine: Consultant; Self; Amgen Inc., AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, CVS/Caremark, Dyrnamix, Esperion, Intarcia Therapeutics, Inc., Janssen Research and Development, Medicines Company, MedImmune, Merck & Co., Inc., Novartis. Research Support; Self; Amgen Inc., AstraZeneca, Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited, Eisai Co., Ltd., GlaxoSmithKline plc., Intarcia Therapeutics, Inc., Janssen Research and Development, Medicines Company, MedImmune, Merck & Co., Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Pfizer Inc., Takeda. O. Mosenzon: Advisory Panel; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Eli Lilly and Company, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Novo Nordisk Inc., Sanofi. Research Support; Self; AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk Inc. Speaker's Bureau; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Eli Lilly and Company, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Novo Nordisk Inc., Sanofi-Aventis. Funding: AstraZeneca [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: DECLARE-TIMI 58 showed that dapagliflozin (dapa) a sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i), reduced the rate of cardiovascular death or hospitalization for heart failure in patients with T2DM with or at high risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. SGLT2is have been shown to have a beneficial effect on renal outcomes. Methods: DECLARE-TIMI 58 pre-specified primary composite renal outcome (PCRO) included sustained 40% eGFR decline to < 60 ml/min/1.73m2, end-stage renal disease (defined as dialysis ≥90 days or kidney transplantation, confirmed sustained eGFR <15ml/min/1.73 m2), or death from renal or cardiovascular causes; the same outcome without cardiovascular death was the secondary composite renal outcome (SCRO). Eligible patients had a creatinine clearance of 60 ml/min or more and were randomized to treatment with dapa 10 mg/day vs. placebo. Results: A total of 17,160 subjects were enrolled, including 8,162 (47.6%) with eGFR ≥90, 7,732 (45.1%) with eGFR 60-<90 and 1,265 (7.4%) with eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73m2. The PCRO occurred in 370 (4.3%) vs. 480 (5.6%) in the dapa and placebo arms, corresponding to event rates per 1,000 patient-years (ER) of 10.8 and 14.1 [HR 0.76 (0.67, 0.87) p<0.001]. The ER of the SCRO was 3.7 vs. 7.0 in the dapa and placebo arms [HR 0.53 (0.43 to 0.66)]. These differences were driven mainly by a reduction in the sustained 40% eGFR decline to < 60 ml/min/1.73m2: 120 (1.4%) vs. 221 (2.6%) in the dapa and placebo arms [HR 0.54 (0.43, 0.67) p<0.001]. Although rare, there was also directional consistency for a lower rate of ESRD: 6 (<0.1%) vs. 19 (0.2%) in the dapa and placebo arms [HR 0.31 (0.13, 0.79) p=0.013]. Acute kidney injury was less common in the dapa arm (1.5%) than in the placebo arm (2.0%) (p=0.002). Conclusion: In a large and broad population of patients with T2DM and mostly preserved renal function, dapa was associated with reduced progression of kidney disease and lower rates of clinically relevant renal events than was placebo. Disclosure: O. Mosenzon: Advisory Panel; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Eli Lilly and Company, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Novo Nordisk Inc., Sanofi. Research Support; Self; AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk Inc. Speaker's Bureau; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Eli Lilly and Company, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Novo Nordisk Inc., Sanofi-Aventis. S.D. Wiviott: Consultant; Self; Aegerion Pharmaceuticals, Allergan, Angel Medical Systems, Inc., Arena Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Boston Clinical Research Institute, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited, Eisai Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Icon Clinical, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Servier, St. Jude Medical, XOMA Corporation. Employee; Spouse/Partner; Merck & Co., Inc. Research Support; Self; Amgen Inc., Arena Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited, Eisai Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Sanofi-Aventis. T.A. Zelniker: None. H.L. Heerspink: Consultant; Self; AbbVie Inc., Astellas Pharma Inc., AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Fresenius Medical Care, Gilead Sciences, Inc., Janssen Research & Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation. J.P. Dwyer: Consultant; Self; Akcea Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bird Rock Bio, Eisai Inc., Goldfinch Bio, Sanofi-Aventis. A. Cahn: Advisory Panel; Self; AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly and Company, GlucoMe Ltd., Novo Nordisk A/S, Sanofi. Speaker's Bureau; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Novo Nordisk A/S. Stock/Shareholder; Self; GlucoMe Ltd. I.A. Gause-Nilsson: Employee; Self; AstraZeneca. A. Langkilde: Employee; Self; AstraZeneca. Stock/Shareholder; Self; AstraZeneca. M.S. Sabatine: Consultant; Self; Amgen Inc., AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, CVS/Caremark, Dyrnamix, Esperion, Intarcia Therapeutics, Inc., Janssen Research and Development, Medicines Company, MedImmune, Merck & Co., Inc., Novartis. Research Support; Self; Amgen Inc., AstraZeneca, Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited, Eisai Co., Ltd., GlaxoSmithKline plc., Intarcia Therapeutics, Inc., Janssen Research and Development, Medicines Company, MedImmune, Merck & Co., Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Pfizer Inc., Takeda. I. Raz: Advisory Panel; Self; AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly and Company, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Novo Nordisk Inc., Sanofi. Consultant; Self; AstraZeneca, BOL, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, CameraEyes Ltd, DarioHealth, Diabot, Exscopia, GlucoMe Ltd., Insuline Medical, Medial EarlySign, Orgenesis Ltd. Speaker's Bureau; Self; AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Eli Lilly and Company, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Novo Nordisk Inc., Sanofi. Stock/Shareholder; Self; BOL, CameraEyes Ltd, DarioHealth, Diabot, GlucoMe Ltd., Orgenesis Ltd. Funding: AstraZeneca [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The current study aimed to investigate the release of myocardial high-sensitive Troponin T (hsTnT) in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in response to maximal physical exercise.Methods: In 24 patients with PAH, symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise testing was performed. hsTnT was measured by the novel hsTnT assay with a lower limit of detection of 2 ng/L and a total imprecision of less than 10% at the 99th percentile value. hsTnT was related to NT-proBNP, WHO functional class and right ventricular (RV) function. Serial measurement was performed before and 30 min, 180 min, and 300 min after exercise. Healthy volunteers served as a control group.Results: In 21 PAH patients, hsTnT levels were detectable before exercise with a close correlation between hsTnT and NT-proBNP. hsTnT was detectable in all PAH patients after exercise and significantly increased from 7.5 ng/L at baseline to 14.62 ng/L after 300 min, whereas levels of NT-proBNP remained constant with time.Conclusions: Using the novel hsTnT assay, the current study provides first evidence that hsTnT levels increase in PAH patients after maximal physical exercise, while levels of other biomarkers remain constant after exercise testing. This might provide new insights into pathophysiology and individual risk assessment in patients with PAH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]