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INTRODUCTION: In recent years, transradial cardiac catheterization has become the preferred method. However, it can result in a significant complication known as radial artery occlusion (RAO). The medical management of RAO remains controversial, especially with the emergence of novel oral anticoagulants. Nevertheless, there is limited data on the use of these agents for treating RAO, which is the focus of this study using apixaban.METHOD: This pilot double-blinded randomized clinical trial involved 30 patients who developed RAO following transradial coronary angiography. The patients were randomly assigned to receive either apixaban (2.5 mg twice daily) or a conservative approach for 30 days. Doppler ultrasonography was performed at baseline and at the end of the intervention to assess radial artery diameter and the resolution of arterial patency. Demographic, medical, medication, and clinical characteristics were collected.RESULTS: The mean age of the studied population was 59.43±12.14 years, and the majority were males (60%). Radial artery resolution was observed in 21 (70%) patients, independent of medication use. There was no significant association between resolution and age (P-value=0.62), gender (P-value=0.74), body mass index (P-value=0.23), smoking (P-value=0.64), diabetes (P-value=0.999), hypertension (P-value=0.74), statins (P-value=0.999), antiplatelet therapy (P-value=0.999), length of angiography (P-value=0.216), or follow-up arterial diameter (P-value=0.304). Recanalization occurred in 13 (86.7%) cases in the apixaban treatment group, compared to 8 (53.3%) individuals in the control group, indicating a significant difference (P-value=0.046).CONCLUSION: The study findings suggest no demographic, medical, medication, or clinical factors were associated with arterial recanalization. However, a one-month treatment with apixaban at a dose of 2.5 mg twice daily appeared to be effective.

INTRODUCTION: Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) is the gold standard approach to restore blood flow in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI); however, the no-reflow phenomenon as a potential complication of PPCI can worsen the outcomes. It has been hypothesized that adjunctive prophylactic intracoronary infusion of low-dose fibrinolytic might improve the PPCI outcomes; however, this theory is a matter of debate. The current study aims to investigate the value of adjunctive prophylactic intracoronary low-dose alteplase to prevent the no-reflow phenomenon in patients with STEMI.METHOD: This case-control study was conducted on 80 STEMI patients who underwent PPCI. The patients were assigned into the case group who were intervened by 10 mg adjunctive intracoronary alteplase immediately at the end of the balloon angioplasty (n=40) and controls (n=40) who underwent conventional PPCI only. The angioplasty-associated outcomes including final TIMI score, need for no-reflow treatment, ST-segment resolution, post-PPCI complications, and death were compared between the groups.RESULTS: Alteplase use was accompanied by significantly improved final TIMI flow scores (P-value0.05).CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of this study, adjunctive infusion of low-dose intracoronary alteplase during PPCI could not efficiently prevent the no-reflow phenomenon. Although the final TIMI flow and need for post-stenting no-reflow treatment improved, ST-segment resolution did not occur dramatically. Given that, this approach requires further investigations and should be considered cautiously.

BACKGROUND: With the onset of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, hospitalization and treatment of non-covid patients decreased worldwide. The aim of this study is to evaluate the admission and treatment of patients with coronary artery diseases (CADs) by examining coronary Cath labs activities in some centers of Iran during the COVID-19 period.METHODS: A retrospective, multi-center survey was conducted in four cites in Iran which participated in National Persian Registry Of CardioVascular diseasE (N-PROVE). Two periods of COVID-19 occurrence peak in Iran were compared with the same date in 2019. Information was collected on the number of diagnostic and therapeutic coronary catheterizations in both stable ischemic heart diseases (SIHDs) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) settings.RESULTS: In the first peak of COVID-19 pandemic, coronary angiographies and angioplasties decreased by 37 and 38% compared to the same period in 2019, respectively. The most common indication for coronary angiography during this period was ACS [especially ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI)]; however, at the time of peak decrease, the SIHDs were the most. In the second peak of COVID-19 pandemic in Iran, 34% and 27% decrease in diagnostic and therapeutic coronary procedures were seen, respectively. During this period, the number of elective admissions increased, although it was still lower than that in 2019. The tendency to rescue percutaneous coronary intervention increased in most centers during the COVID-19 era, especially in the second peak.CONCLUSION: A significant reduction in the coronary Cath lab activity has been observed during the COVID-19 pandemic that can indicate an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity.