Search

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) are common and commonly coexisting cardiovascular diseases in hospitalized patients. We report the absolute number and interrelation between AF and HF, assess the daily burden of both diseases on the healthcare system, and describe the medical treatment in a real-world, nationwide conducted snapshot survey.

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2005.02.021 Byline: George Hahalis (a), Dimitrios Alexopoulos (a), Dimitrios T. Kremastinos (b), Nicholas C. Zoumbos (c) Keywords: Thalassemia; Heart failure; Cardiomyopathy; Iron overload; Chelation therapy Abstract: The thalassemias are common monogenic disorders of hemoglobin synthesis. [beta]-thalassemias are the most important among the thalassemia syndromes and have become a worldwide clinical problem due to an increasing immigrant population. In [beta]-thalassemia major, regular blood transfusions are necessary early in life. Beta-thalassemia intermedia refers to a less severe phenotype, whereas [beta]-thalassemia/hemoglobin E disease encompasses a broad phenotypic spectrum. Blood transfusions and increased gastrointestinal iron absorption result in iron overload and tissue damage. Among patients with [beta]-thalassemia major, biventricular, dilated cardiomyopathy remains the leading cause of mortality. In some patients, a restrictive type of left ventricular cardiomyopathy or pulmonary hypertension is noted. The clinical course, although variable and occasionally fulminant, is more benign in recent than in older series. Myocarditis has been described as a cause of left-sided heart failure in younger patients. Pulmonary arterial hypertension is the principal cause of heart failure in [beta]-thalassemia intermedia. Chelation therapy has improved prognosis in [beta]-thalassemia major both by reducing the incidence of heart failure and by reversing cardiomyopathy. Estimation of the patient's cardiac risk is mainly based on clinical criteria and serial echocardiography. A new cardiovascular magnetic resonance technique will probably fulfill the need for more precise risk stratification in [beta]-thalassemia syndromes. By increasing the proportion of patients on optimal chelation, survival in [beta]-thalassemia major may further improve. Recent advances in gene therapy are expected to result in the long-awaited cure of this disease. Author Affiliation: (a) Department of Cardiology, Patras University Medical School, Rio Patras, Greece (b) Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Athens, Greece (c) Department of Hematology, Patras University Medical School, Rio Patras, Greece

Despite the increasing worldwide adoption of the transradial access site, the ulnar artery (UA) only very infrequently serves as a primary option for coronary procedures. In contrast to the uncertainty surrounding previous reports regarding the feasibility and safety, recent data from larger registries and randomized trials provide more conclusive evidence that the transulnar route may be safely selected as an alternative arterial access approach. However, a default transulnar strategy appears time-consuming and is associated with higher crossover rates compared with the radial artery (RA). Once arterial access is obtained, the likelihood of a successful coronary procedure is high and similar between the two forearm arteries. The UA has similar flow-mediating vasodilating properties with and seems at least as vulnerable as the RA with regard to incident occlusion, with UA occlusion (UAO) rates being probably higher than previously anticipated. A learning curve effect may not be apparent for crossover rates among experienced radialists, but increasing experience is associated with reduction in the fluoroscopy time, contrast volume and frequency of large hematoma formation. The UA may represents an important alternative access site for coronary procedures, and experienced radial operators should obtain additional skills to perform the transulnar approach. Nevertheless, in view of this method's lower feasibility compared to the RA, an initial ulnar access strategy should be reserved for carefully selected patients to ensure satisfactory cannulation rates.

Colchicine has been utilized safely in a variety of cardiovascular clinical conditions. Among its potential mechanisms of action is the non-selective inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome which is thought to be a major pathophysiologic component in the clinical course of patients with COVID-19. GRECCO-19 will be a prospective, randomized, open-labeled, controlled study to assess the effects of colchicine in COVID-19 complications prevention.

Patients with diabetes mellitus are at increased risk of developing coronary artery disease (CAD) and have an increased incidence of recurrent events following revascularization. Choosing the most appropriate strategy to revascularize these high-risk patients is crucial for improving the clinical outcomes. Several studies, randomized trials and meta-analyses have compared short- and long-term outcomes following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in diabetic patients suffering from CAD. The aim of this article is to review the currently available evidence on the role of PCI and CABG in the management of diabetic patients with CAD.

Troponin I and T as cardiac-specific biomarkers are highly useful tools not only in the diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes but also as independent predictors of several other clinical conditions. High-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) assays allow the detection of considerably low concentrations of cardiac troponin in apparently healthy and asymptomatic individuals, being a candidate tool for cardiovascular risk stratification in the general population. A group of Greek experts summarized the bulk of evidence regarding the use of hs-cTnI as a predictor of cardiovascular events and mortality in apparently healthy individuals and its additive value on top of existing risk stratification methods. This document could serve as a guide for the incorporation of hs-cTnI as an additional risk stratification tool in cardiovascular prevention strategies in apparently healthy individuals.

Background: Ticagrelor may exert pleiotropic actions, beyond platelet inhibition, which are possibly adenosine-mediated. It has been suggested that in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) ticagrelor may influence endothelial function. Objective: We aimed to assess the possibility of endothelial function deterioration following ticagrelor treatment cessation. Methods: This was a prospective, observational study, in stable CAD patients with prior percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute coronary syndrome manifested 1 year earlier, under ticagrelor maintenance dose (90 mg bid) and due to discontinue ticagrelor. Endothelial function was assessed by Peripheral Arterial Tonometry (EndoPat 2000 system, Itamar Medical, Caesarea, Israel) immediately after receiving the last tablet of ticagrelor (Day 0) and at Day 2 and Day 5 post-ticagrelor cessation. Reactive hyperaemia index (RHI) was calculated by automated software and endothelial dysfunction (ED) was defined as a RHI <1.67. Results: We identified 30 eligible patients with endothelial function assessment pre- and post-ticagrelor cessation (86.7% men, 13.3% with diabetes and 33.3% current smokers; mean age: 63.6±11.5 years). The study’s primary endpoint of RHI at Day 5 did not differ significantly compared with RHI at Day 0, 1.69 (1.45-2.23) vs 1.81 (1.59-2.13). ED rate did not differ significantly between Day 5 and Day 0, 40 vs 33.3%, p=0.8, respectively. No differences in RHI or ED rate were observed between Day 2 and Day 0, 1.64 (1.54-2.04) vs 1.8 1(1.59-2.13), p=0.3 and 53.3 vs 33.3%, p=0.2, respectively. In stable CAD patients there is no evidence of deterioration in endothelial function after discontinuing ticagrelor.

We aimed to examine the diagnostic value of ST-segment depression in patients with rapid atrial fibrillation (AF) for the prediction of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Cardiac events occur in to of patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. Myocardial ischemia and nonfatal myocardial infarction constitute the most significant risk factors for mortality and cardiovascular morbidity, in patients with coronary artery disease. Perioperative b- blockade has been reported to reduce the risk of perioperative cardiac complications. Seven multicentre randomized trials have evaluated the impact of perioperative b-blocker administration on incidence of cardiovascular events.The Study of Perioperative Ischemia Research Group, the DECREASE and the BBSA trials focused on high risk patients for perioperative complications. The POBBLE, MaVS, and DIPOM trials did not target at patients with specific clinical risk factors, except DIPOM that included patients with diabetes. Finally, the POISE trial randomized patients with a wide variety of risk factors for perioperative cardiac complications. Interestingly, five meta-analyses reported a significant reduction in patients receiving b-blockers, with respect to perioperative myocardial ischemia and myocardial infarction. In conclusion, consistent evidence demonstrated a reduction in cardiac mortality and myocardial infarction by perioperative b-blockade in patients with clinical risk factors, undergoing high-risk non-cardiac surgery. However, patients with extensive preoperative ischemia were at high risk of perioperative cardiac complications, despite b-blocker therapy. Conversely, perioperative b-blocker therapy did not reduce the incidence of cardiac complications in patients without clinical risk factors. While, the safety and effectiveness of perioperative b-blockers in intermediate-risk patients, still remain a debatable issue.

Prasugrel and ticagrelor provide a superior anti-ischemic action than clopidogrel, with some of ticagrelor’s benefits possibly attributed to adenosine-mediated mechanisms. We aimed to compare the effect of maintenance dose of ticagrelor versus prasugrel on coronary blood flow velocity (CBFV) during increasing doses of intravenously administered adenosine.

The ulnar artery is rarely selected for coronary angiography or percutaneous coronary intervention despite the expanding use of the transradial approach. We aimed to establish noninferiority of a default transulnar relative to transradial approach in terms of feasibility and safety.

Identification of factors affecting platelet reactivity (PR) and high PR (HPR) or high platelet inhibition (HPI) rates while on prasugrel maintenance dose (MD) might be helpful in avoiding ischemic or bleeding complications. We retrospectively analyzed all patients (n=233) treated in our institution between April 2010 and November 2012 who had platelet function assessment pre-prasugrel and following prasugrel 10 mg MD for at least 5 days, using the Verify Now P2Y12 platelet function assay. Multiple linear regression and logistic regression models were applied to identify independent factors affecting post-prasugrel PR level, HPR and HPI status. The amount of variance in PR under prasugrel MD that could be explained by the model was 25.9 (adjusted R2), p<0.001. Pre-prasugrel treatment PR, acute coronary syndrome (ACS), prasugrel loading and smoking uniquely accounted for 10.8, 1.3, 3.5 and 1.2 of the observed variance, respectively. HPR and HPI were observed in 7.7 and 13.7 of the cases, respectively. On multivariate analysis, pre-prasugrel PR in the upper quartile (>313 PRU) was the only independent factor associated with HPR under prasugrel MD. In contrast, pre-prasugrel PR in the lower quartile (<242 PRU) and prasugrel loading emerged as the only independent predictors of HPI. In patients under different clinical settings receiving prasugrel 10 mg MD a significant amount of the PR variability in response to prasugrel may be explained by pre- treatment PR level, ACS, prasugrel loading and smoking status. A high pre- treatment PR is associated with HPR, while a low pre-treatment PR and prasugrel loading predict HPI.

Ticagrelor and prasugrel provide stronger platelet inhibition compared with clopidogrel. Direct pharmacodynamic comparison between them has not yet been reported in ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction patients.

Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2(Lp-PLA2) is an independent cardiovascular risk factor. We investigated the plasma levels of Lp-PLA2activity and mass as a function of plasma lipid levels, LDL subclass profile, and oxidative stress in patients with β-thalassemia. Thirty-five patients with β-thalassemia major (β-TM) and 25 patients with β-thalassemia intermedia (β-TI) participated in the study. Lp-PLA2activity and mass were measured in total plasma, in apolipoprotein (apo)B-depleted plasma (HDL-Lp-PLA2), and in LDL subclasses. Lp-PLA2activity produced and secreted from peripheral blood monocytes in culture was also determined. Patients with β-thalassemia are characterized by a predominance of small-dense LDL particles, increased oxidative stress, and very high plasma levels of Lp-PLA2mass and activity, despite low LDL-cholesterol levels. A significant positive correlation between plasma Lp-PLA2activity or mass and 8-isoprostane (8-epiPGF2a) and ferritin levels as well as intima-media thickness (IMT) values was observed. An increase in secreted and cell-associated Lp-PLA2activity from monocytes in culture was observed in both patient groups. The HDL-Lp-PLA2activity and mass as well as the ratio of HDL-Lp-PLA2/plasma Lp-PLA2were significantly higher in both patient groups compared with the control group. In conclusion, patients with β-thalassemia exhibit high plasma Lp-PLA2levels, attributed to increased enzyme secretion from monocytes/macrophages and to the predominance of sdLDL particles in plasma. Plasma Lp-PLA2is correlated with carotid IMT, suggesting that this enzyme may be implicated in premature carotid atherosclerosis observed in β-thalassemia.

-Thalassemia is an inherited hemoglobin disorder resulting in chronic hemolytic anemia that typically requires life-long transfusion therapy. Although traditionally prevalent in the Mediterranean basin, Middle East, North India, and Southeast Asia, immigration of those populations to North America and Western Europe has rendered -thalassemia a global health problem. Cardiac complications represent the primary cause of mortality and one of the major causes of morbidity in those patients. Heart disease is mainly expressed by a particular cardiomyopathy that progressively leads to heart failure and death. The -thalassemia cardiomyopathy is mainly characterized by 2 distinct phenotypes, a dilated phenotype, with left ventricular dilatation and impaired contractility and a restrictive phenotype, with restrictive left ventricular filling, pulmonary hypertension, and right heart failure. The pathophysiology of the disorder is multifactorial, with a central role of myocardial iron overload and the significant contribution of immunoinflammatory mechanisms. Patients' management is demanding and requires a multidisciplinary approach, preferably in specialized centers.

Purpose: To compare the efficacy of full-dose local intrapulmonary thrombolysis (LIT) versus AngioJet rheolytic thrombectomy (ART) in the treatment of massive pulmonary embolism.Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of 8 consecutive patients (5 women; mean age 66.0±5.9 years, range 56–74) who underwent LIT with high-dose intrapulmonary urokinase (4400 IU/kg over 10 minutes followed by a 2000-IU/kg/h infusion) and a subsequent 6 consecutive patients (4 men; mean age of 59.2±17.0 years, range 26–69) who underwent ART plus adjunctive low-dose urokinase infusions (100,000 IU) until hemodynamic recovery was achieved. Pre and postprocedural Miller scores were calculated, and relative Miller score improvement, total urokinase doses, and duration of therapy were compared.Results: Hemodynamic stability was restored in all 8 LIT patients and in 5 (83%) of the 6 ART patients; 1 (16.7%) patient died during the ART procedure due to recurrent MPE. In the LIT group, the mean Miller score prior to intervention was 17.38±2.67, which was reduced to 6.13±1.46 after the intervention (p < 0.0001) compared to scores of 18.83±2.86 and 6.83±2.79, respectively, in the ART group (p < 0.0001). The mean urokinase dose was 2.07±0.44 million IU in the LIT group versus 0.70±0.36 million IU in the ART group (p < 0.0001). The mean duration of therapy was 11.45±2.94 hours in the LIT group versus 3.37±1.41 hours in the ART group (p < 0.0001). No significant difference in relative Miller score improvement was observed.Conclusion: By accelerating the fragmentation of thrombus, ART plus adjunctive low-dose urokinase seems to be more rapidly effective compared to LIT. ART achieves both rapid cardiovascular relief and reduces the dose of thrombolytic agent necessary in patients with massive pulmonary embolism.

Metallic devices are increasingly used in contemporary cardiological practice. They include coronary stents, artificial cardiac valves, bioprostheses for transcatheter aortic valve replacement, closure devices for patent foramen ovale and atrial septal defects, pacemakers, defibrillators, and left ventricular assist devices. Metals constitute the main components of these devices. Metal anions eluted from the components attached to circulating proteins can act as sensitizers able to induce hypersensitivity inflammation and thrombosis. Allergy to nickel occurs in up to one fourth of the population in several areas of the world and is the most frequent cause of allergic contact dermatitis. The HeartMate II device is made from titanium with ruby bearing. Titanium metal ions from HeartMate II are eluted through the action of blood, saline, proteins, and mechanical stress that can induce hypersensitivity and immune dysfunctions rendering titanium no longer biologically inert. An unexpected high rate of thrombosis with substantial morbidity and mortality has been observed with the use of this device, making the search of causality of thrombosis mandatory to predict and prevent this daunting complication. Although the cause of thrombosis seems to be multifactorial, careful history-taking regarding hypersensitivities, monitoring of inflammatory mediators, and lymphocyte transformation studies should be always performed in sensitive patients.

Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and coronary artery disease (CAD) represent a high-risk population, where comorbidities are common and the progression of coronary heart disease is relatively rapid and extensive. The present survey, conducted nationwide in a Eurozone country, Greece, with a properly organized national health system, aimed to record specific data from a significant number of patients with diabetes and documented stable CAD (SCAD).

No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Monoclonal antibodies are currently used in the treatment of neoplastic, hematological, or inflammatory diseases, a practice that is occasionally associated with a variety of systemic and cutaneous adverse events. Cardiac adverse events include cardiomyopathy, ventricular dysfunction, arrhythmias, arrests, and acute coronary syndromes, such as acute myocardial infarction and vasospastic angina pectoris. These events generally follow hypersensitivity reactions including cutaneous erythema, pruritus chills, and precordial pain. Recently, IgE specific for therapeutic monoclonal antibodies have been detected, pointing to the existence of hypersensitivity and Kounis hypersensitivity-associated syndrome. Therefore, the careful monitoring of cardiovascular events is of paramount importance in the course of monoclonal antibody-based therapies. Moreover, further studies are needed to elucidate the pathophysiology of cardiovascular adverse events elicited by monoclonal antibodies and to identify preventive, protective, and therapeutic measures.

Persistent mucosal inflammation, granulation tissue formation, hypersensitivity, and multifactorial infection are newly described complications of retained drug-eluting stents from endoscopic sinus surgery for refractory rhinosinusitis. In an important report published in Allergy and Rhinology, a 45-year-old male patient suffering from recalcitrant chronic rhinosinusitis underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery and was found, for the first time, to have steroid-eluting catheters that were inadvertently left in the ethmoid and frontal sinuses. The retained catheters had caused persistent mucosal inflammation and formation of granulation tissue denoting hypersensitivity reaction. These consequences had induced perpetuation of symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis. Meticulous removal of the retained stents with the nitinol wings from inflamed tissues of the frontal, ethmoidal, and sphenoethmoidal recesses in which they were completely imbedded was successfully performed without polypoid regrowth. Cultures of specimens taken from both left and right stents showed heavy growth of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and moderate growth of Klebsiella oxytoca, coagulase negative Staphylococcus, and beta-hemolytic Streptococcus anginosus. Fungal infection was not detected. The current knowledge and experience regarding stent hypersensitivity and infection in relation with the use of stents in sinus cavities is reviewed.