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Few data are available on the prevalence of right ventricle (RV) systolic dysfunction, assessed including RV strain, and RV to pulmonary artery (PA) coupling in patients with aortic stenosis (AS) submitted to TAVI and the early effect of the procedure. We performed standard and speckle tracking echocardiography in 80 patients with severe AS the day before TAVI and within 48 h after TAVI. In all patients we measured TAPSE/PASP (cut-off for RV-PA uncoupling 0.31) and in 60/80 we were able to analyze RV global longitudinal strain (RV-GLS) and RV free wall strain (RV-FWS). RVFAC and TAPSE were impaired in 8.3% while RV-GLS and RV-FWS in 45% and 33.3% respectively before TAVI. TAPSE/PASP < 0.31 was documented in 7/80 patients (8.7%) before TAVI. These subjects differed from patients with TAPSE/PASP ≥ 0.31 for: enlarged left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes (p < 0.001), worst LV ejection fraction (p < 0.001) and RVFAC (p < 0.001), worst RV-GLS and RV-FWS (p = 0.01 and p = 0.03) and bigger right atrium (RA) area (p < 0.001). After TAVI, RV systolic function did not improve while PASP significantly decreased (p = 0.005) driving the improvement of TAPSE/PASP (p = 0.01). Patients with TAPSE/PASP improvement (51%) differed from the others for worst pre-TAVI diastolic function (E/eʹ p = 0.045), RVFAC (p = 0.042), RV-GLS (p = 0.049) and RA area (p = 0.02). RV-GLS unveils RV systolic dysfunction in as much as 45% of patients with AS vs only 8.3% revealed by conventional echocardiography. RV systolic function does not significantly improve early after TAVI while RV-PA coupling does. Patients with lower TAPSE/PASP at baseline have worst LV and RV systolic function as well as larger RA. Patients who improve TAPSE/PASP after TAVI are those with worst diastolic function, RV systolic function and larger RA at baseline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Coronary vasomotor dysfunction represents an important mechanism responsible for myocardial ischaemia in patients with non-obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). The use of invasive provocative tests allows identifying patients with epicardial or microvascular spasm. Of note, clinical characteristics associated with the occurrence of epicardial or microvascular spasm have still not completely clarified. Methods and results: We prospectively enrolled consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography for suspected myocardial ischaemia/necrosis with evidence of non-obstructive CAD and undergoing intracoronary provocative test for suspected vasomotor dysfunction. Patients with a positive provocative test were enrolled. Clinical, echocardiographic and angiographic characteristics of patients were evaluated according to the pattern of vasomotor dysfunction (epicardial vs. microvascular spasm). We included 120 patients [68 patients with stable angina and 52 patients with myocardial infarction and non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA)]. In particular, 77 (64.2%) patients had a provocative test positive for epicardial spasm and 43 (35.8%) patients for microvascular spasm. Patients with epicardial spasm were more frequently males, smokers, had higher rates of diffuse coronary atherosclerosis at angiography and more frequently presented with MINOCA. On the other hand, patients with microvascular spasm presented more frequently diastolic dysfunction. At multivariate logistic regression analysis male sex, smoking, and diffuse coronary atherosclerosis were independent predictors for the occurrence of epicardial spasm. Conclusions: Our study showed that specific clinical features are associated with different responses to intracoronary provocative test. Epicardial spasm is more frequent in males and in MINOCA patients, whereas microvascular spasm is more frequent in patients with stable angina and is associated with diastolic dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reliability of fractional flow reserve (FFR) in aortic stenosis (AS) has been questioned because of the uncertain response to vasodilators. A retrospective multicenter cohort of 114 AS patients who underwent coronary physiology assessment was compared with 154 controls before and after propensity matching adjustment. The difference between resting distal coronary vs aortic pressure ratio (Pd/Pa) and FFR (ΔPd/Pa-FFR) was tested against the severity of AS. ΔPd/Pa-FFR was not influenced by the severity of AS in terms of aortic valve area (r = − 0.02, p = 0.83) and gradient (r = − 0.05, p = 0.64) or by the left ventricle hypertrophy (r = − 0.03, p = 0.88). Conversely, ΔPd/Pa-FFR was influenced by the presence of diabetes (r = − 0.24, p = 0.005), peripheral vascular disease (r = − 0.16, p = 0.047), and chronic kidney disease (r = − 0.19, p = 0.03). No significant difference was observed in the ΔPd/Pa-FFR between patients with AS and matched controls. Further studies are warranted to validate the FFR-guided revascularization in patients with AS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficacy of DEB in modifying the high restenosis risk associated with BMS implantation is doubtful. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) may allow precise assessment of neointimal formation after stent implantation. We performed a single-center, prospective, 1:2 randomized trial comparing BMS implantation alone (BMS group) vs. additional DEB (DEB group). DEB patients were further randomized 1:1 to DEB before stenting (pre-DEB group), or after stenting (post-DEB group). Primary endpoint was OCT-assessed neointimal hyperplasia (expressed both as mean in-stent neointimal area and as percentage obstruction of the mean stent area) at 6 months. Secondary endpoints were the percentage of uncovered and malapposed stent struts. Thirty patients were enrolled and randomized to BMS ( n = 10), pre-DEB ( n = 10), post-DEB ( n = 10). At 6-month OCT follow-up, DEB significantly reduced neointimal area compared with BMS: mean neointimal area 2.01 ± 0.89 vs. 3.03 ± 1.07 mm ( p = 0.02), percentage area obstruction 24.56 ± 12.50 vs. 37.51 ± 12.26 % ( p = 0.02). The percentage of uncovered and malapposed stent struts did not differ significantly between BMS and DEB. In the comparison between pre-DEB and post-DEB, no significant difference was observed for both primary and secondary endpoints. In de novo coronary lesions treated with BMS, DEB use could be associated with a mild reduction in neointimal hyperplasia at 6 months; this effect could be unrelated to the timing of DEB dilation (pre- or post-stenting). Clinical Trial Registration Information: . Identifier: NCT01057563. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To compare the CACS and CAD severity assessed by MDCT in neuropathic type-2 diabetic patients with and without Charcot-neuroarthropathy (CN).Methods: Thirty-four CN asymptomatic-patients and 36 asymptomatic-patients with diabetic-neuropathy (DN) without CN underwent MDCT to assess CACS and severity of CAD. Patients were classified as positive for significant CAD in presence of at least one stenosis >50 % on MDCT-coronary-angiography (MDCT-CA). Groups were matched for age, sex and traditional CAD risk-factors. The coronary-angiography (CA) was performed in all patients with at least a significant stenosis detected by MDCT-CA, both as reference and eventually as treatment.Results: CN patients showed higher rates of significant CAD in comparison with DN subjects [p < 0.001], while non-significant differences were observed in CACS (p = 0.980). No significant differences were also observed in CACS distribution in all subjects for stenosis ≥/<50 % (p = 0.814), as well as in both groups (p = 0.661 and 0.559, respectively). The MDCT-CA showed an overall diagnostic-accuracy for significant CAD of 87%.Conclusions: These preliminary data suggest that CN-patients have a higher prevalence of severe CAD in comparison with DN-patients, while coronary plaques do not exhibit an increased amount of calcium. MDCT may be helpful to assess the CV risk in such asymptomatic type-2-diabetic patients with autonomic-neuropathy.Key Points: Type 2-diabetic-patients with CN result having more severe coronary artery plaque-burden. MDCT-CA may stratify the CV risk in type 2-diabetic-patients with CN. Adequate diagnostic is mandatory for optimal management of type 2-diabetic-patients with CN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of scientific evidence supports the concept that provisional side-branch stenting should be the preferred strategy for percutaneous coronary intervention of bifurcation coronary lesions. However, to date, many interventional cardiologists still consider this technique unsuitable for complex bifurcation lesions. This is mainly due to the fact that provisional stenting may be performed in different ways and several technical refinements may influence the procedural outcome. We here systematically overviewed the arguments which should be considered during the following steps of the provisional strategy: branch wiring, side-branch predilation, 'crossover' stenting, proximal optimization, kissing balloon and the side-branch rescue techniques. We suggest that provisional stenting should be regarded as a highly flexible technique which, with specific technical tricks, may allow us to safely treat patients with wide spectrum of bifurcated lesion complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plaque rupture (PR) and superimposed thrombosis have been shown as the most frequent underlying substrate in acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Coronary angiography is a luminogram not able to define in vivo features of the culprit plaques. The aim of the study was to use optical coherence tomography (OCT) to investigate the pathology underlying complex (CL) and non-complex angiographic lesions (NCL). We retrospectively enrolled 107 ACS patients admitted to our institution; 83 with non-ST elevation ACS (NSTE-ACS) and 24 with ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Coronary angiography was performed and culprit lesions were classified according to Ambrose criteria into NCL (n = 47) and CL (n = 60). OCT imaging was then performed to better identify plaque morphology; either PR or intact fibrous cap, the presence of superimposed thrombosis, lipid rich plaque, and thin cap fibroatheroma (TCFA). OCT analysis showed that 58 lesions (54.2 %) were classified as PR and 48 lesions (44.9 %) were associated with thrombi. Lipid rich plaques were identified in 62 lesions (57.9 %). PR, intracoronary thrombi, lipid rich plaques and TCFA were more frequent in CL compared with NCL (71.7 vs 31.9 %, 63.3 vs 21.3 %, 71.7 vs 40.4 % and 46.7 vs 21.3 % respectively), but PR with superimposed thrombus may be also detected in NCL. OCT demonstrates PR and thrombosis in the majority of ACS patients presenting with CL. However, one-third of NCL show PR by OCT, suggesting that additional intracoronary imaging by OCT may better identify the underlying mechanism of coronary instability than coronary angiography alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was performed to analyze the impact of transradial intervention (TRI), performed by long (25-cm) hydrophilic-coated radial introducer sheath (HRS), on radial artery (RA). Both acute damages and chronic intimal modifications, occurring in RA, were assessed using frequency domain-optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT). FD-OCT evaluation of RA was performed in 51 consecutive patients, undergoing TRI by long (25-cm) HRS. FD-OCT was performed from RA ostium to the puncture site. Acute damages such as intimal tears and medial dissections together with chronic intimal modifications, assessed as intimal hyperplasia indexes, were observed and compared between proximal and distal RA segments. Intimal tears were detected in 37 % of patients, especially located in proximal RA segment ( p = 0.09). Medial dissections were imaged in 9.8 % of patients with no significant difference between proximal and distal RA segments. Intimal hyperplasia indexes were higher in distal RA segment, with no significant association with a previous history of TRI. In the setting of TRI, performed by long HRS, intimal tears represented the main RA injury occurring in about one-third of patients, while medial dissections only occurred in a small proportion of patients. Distal RA segment was more prone to intimal thickening, although this phenomenon was not associated with repeated transradial procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No-reflow after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) may be reversible. 40 patients undergoing pPCI were evaluated by assessing either improvement or lack of changes regarding angiographic and electrocardiographic indexes of no-reflow between admission and pre-discharge. Myeloperoxidase (MPO; in nanograms per milliliter), C-reactive protein (CRP; in milligrams per liter), endothelin-1 (ET-1; in nanograms per milliliter), angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2, in picograms per milliliter), and their pre-discharge/basal values variations (Δ) were related to no-reflow evolution. ΔMPO and ΔCRP were greater in patients with sustained no-reflow or lack of ST-segment resolution (STR) as compared with those with reversible no-reflow or lack of STR ( p = 0.033, p = 0.04, p < 0.001, and p = 0.001, respectively), whereas ΔET-1 was similar in the two groups. ΔAng-2 was greater in patients with sustained no-reflow or lack of STR as compared with those with reversible no-reflow or lack of STR ( p = 0.01 and 0.044, respectively). Bigger ΔMPO, ΔCRP (increasing levels), and ΔAng-2 (decreasing levels) are associated with sustained no-reflow, thus they might have a role in no-reflow evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present review aims to describe the pharmacological aspects as well as the available clinical data supporting the choice of intracoronary route of administration for abciximab, an antiplatelet drug used in patients with acute coronary syndromes undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). Abciximab is a glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptor antagonist which determines a potent inhibition of platelet aggregation and thrombus formation. These properties seem to prevent not only thrombus formation but also to promote (at higher drug concentration) lysis of fresh thrombus. Moreover, differently from the other GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors, abciximab also binds to the vitronectin receptor on endothelial, smooth muscle, and inflammatory cells and to an activated conformation of the aMb2 receptor on leukocytes. Such cross-reactivity raises the possibility that clinical benefits derived from its use may not be exclusively due to its anti-thrombotic effect, but may also be related to the suppression of inflammatory pathways involving platelets, white blood cells, and the vascular endothelium. On such basis, the local administration of abciximab at the site of coronary thrombosis may enhance, by increasing its local concentration, the binding to both platelet and endothelium receptors. The results of several angiographic studies assessing the effect of intracoronary abciximab administration support on clinical grounds its adoption in patients with fresh coronary thrombosis. Indeed, better post-angioplasty coronary flow, greater degree of myocardial salvage and a better left ventricular function recovery have been achieved as compared to the intravenous, systemic, administration of drug’s bolus. Condensed Abstract Several studies have highlighted the benefits of abciximab, a potent antiplatelet agent, in patients with acute coronary syndromes undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions. Moreover, differently from the other glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor antagonists, abciximab also has non-IIb/IIIa-related properties raising the possibility that clinical benefits derived from its use may not be exclusively due to its anti-thrombotic effect, but may also be related to the suppression of inflammatory pathways. Several angiographic studies in patients with fresh coronary thrombosis and recent clinical studies in patients with acute coronary syndromes undergoing mechanical revascularization support the hypothesis that local administration of abciximab at the site of the culprit coronary artery may facilitate both the de-thrombotic and the non-GP IIb/IIIa-dependent properties of the drug. On such basis, the present review aims to describe the pharmacological aspects as well as the available clinical data supporting the choice of intracoronary route of administration for abciximab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The main limitation of myocardial single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in detecting hibernating myocardium is the poor delivery of radiotracers in hypoperfused areas supplied by severely stenotic coronary arteries. Increasing local availability of radiotracers by intracoronary injection might represent an attractive solution. The hypothesis that the intracoronary administration of sestamibi could improve myocardial SPECT accuracy in detecting hibernating myocardium was addressed in this pilot study.Methods and Results: Seven patients with prior myocardial infarction and severe stenosis of the infarct-related artery underwent myocardial SPECT after intracoronary injection of technetium 99m sestamibi immediately before percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Wall motion and perfusion were evaluated, before and 1 month after PTCA, by 2-dimensional echocardiography and rest-redistribution thallium 201 SPECT. A "low-flow area" was identified on the pre-PTCA Tl-201 SPECT image as the area with less than 50% of maximum radiotracer uptake. Changes in wall motion and perfusion in the low-flow area were compared with results of intracoronary sestamibi imaging. On a pixel-by-pixel analysis, intracoronary sestamibi predicted perfusion recovery within the low-flow area with a 91% sensitivity, a 78% specificity, and an 82% overall accuracy. Only in the 5 patients with an extent of sestamibi uptake greater than one third of the low-flow area was an improved regional and global left ventricular wall motion observed after PTCA (wall motion score index decreased from 1.95 +/- 0.28 to 1.60 +/- 0.34, P =.007; left ventricular ejection fraction increased from 42% +/- 7% to 49% +/- 7%, P =.001; asynergic segments in the low-flow area decreased from 3.6 +/- 0.9 to 1.8 +/- 1.5, P =.021).Conclusions: In patients with prior myocardial infarction and severe stenosis of the infarct-related artery, sestamibi uptake after intracoronary administration identified viable myocardium that was undetected after rest-redistribution thallium SPECT but capable of clinically significant contractile improvement after revascularization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study was conceived to explore the correspondence between scintigraphic imaging of the sympathetic innervation of human postischemic left ventricular aneurysms and direct immunohistochemical localization of the nerve fibers in the same area.Materials and Methods: In 7 patients undergoing left ventricular aneurysmectomy for postischemic ventricular aneurysm, the findings of thallium 201 and metaiodobenzylguanidine myocardial scintigraphy were compared with direct immunohistochemical localization of the nerve fibers in the same area. This comparison showed good correspondence between scintigraphic and immunohistochemical data, although scintigraphy failed to detect areas of minimal sympathetic innervation. Moreover, microscopic analysis showed sympathetic nerve fibers with peculiar morphology and distribution in the aneurysmal zone.Conclusion: There is a good correspondence between immunohistochemical and scintigraphic imaging in the detection of sympathetic cardiac nerves in human left ventricular aneurysms; a morphologically abnormal sympathetic reinnervation can be found in the aneurysmal area (although denervation can persist in some zones). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies indicate that percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is associated with platelet activation. It is not well-established whether enhanced platelet aggregability after PTCA is prevented by the association of ticlopidine with aspirin. The aim of this study was to evaluate whole blood platelet aggregability before and after elective PTCA in patients with chronic stable angina receiving ticlopidine and aspirin. We studied 16 patients referred for elective PTCA, treated for≥72 hours with oral aspirin and ticlopidine (group 1), and 10 patients referred for diagnostic coronary angiography, treated with oral aspirin alone (group 2). An intravenous bolus of heparin was administered at the start of PTCA. In both groups, platelet aggregability was assessed at baseline and 24 hours after the procedure, using the PFA 100® system. This method measures the time required for flowing whole blood to occlude a collagen and adenosine diphosphate (ADP)–coated ring, shorter times indicating greater aggregability. In both groups, platelet aggregability after the procedure was significantly increased compared with baseline: 104±30 seconds before versus 88±24 seconds at 24 hours in group 1 ( p=0.03) and 84±16 seconds before versus 69±14 seconds at 24 hours in group 2 ( p=0.004). Group 1 patients, compared with group 2, showed a trend toward reduced aggregability at baseline ( p=0.06) and significantly lower aggregability 24 hours after the procedure ( p=0.03). Ticlopidine and aspirin reduce whole-blood platelet aggregability compared with aspirin alone but fail to suppress the increased aggregability that occurs 24 hours after PTCA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for aortic stenosis is becoming an appealing alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement in high-risk patients and to medical therapy for inoperable ones. Several new-generation TAVI devices have been recently introduced, but comparative analyses are lacking. We aimed to compare 1-month outcomes associated with such five leading new-generation TAVI devices exploiting data collected in the prospective observational RISPEVA (Registro Italiano GISE sull'impianto di Valvola Aortica Percutanea) Study. We queried the dataset of the ongoing RISPEVA study to retrieve baseline, procedural and 1-month outcome details of patients undergoing TAVI with Acurate, Evolut, Portico, Lotus, and Sapien3. Analysis was based on unadjusted and propensity score-adjusted methods. We included 1976 patients, 234 (11.8%) treated with Acurate, 703 (35.6%) with Evolut, 151 (7.6%) with Lotus, 347 (17.6%) with Portico, and 541 (27.4%) with Sapien3. Unadjusted analysis for baseline features highlighted several significant differences, and other discrepancies were found for procedural features. Despite these differences, device and procedural success were similarly high (ranging from 98.0% to 99.4%, p > 0.05). However, procedural valve migration appeared more common with Acurate (p = 0.007), and major bleeding with Sapien3 (p = 0.002). Unadjusted analysis for 1-month outcomes also highlighted significant differences in the composite of death, stroke, myocardial infarction, major vascular complication, major bleeding, or renal failure (favoring Portico, p < 0.001), major vascular complications (favoring Lotus, p < 0.001), renal failure (favoring Portico, p = 0.035), and permanent pacemaker implantation (favoring Acurate, p < 0.001). Propensity score-adjusted analyses showed lower rates of major adverse events with Evolut and Portico (p < 0.05), major vascular complications with Lotus and Portico (p < 0.05), renal failure with Sapien3 (p < 0.05) and permanent pacemaker implantation with Acurate (p < 0.05). In conclusion, new-generation TAVI devices have different profiles of early comparative safety and efficacy. These findings should be taken into account for individualized decision making and patient management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]