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Background: Eptifibatide, a small-molecule glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor, is conventionally administered as a bolus plus infusion. A growing number of clinicians are using a strategy of catheterization laboratory-only eptifibatide (an off-label use) as procedural pharmacotherapy for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention although the comparative effectiveness of this approach is unknown., Methods and Results: We compared the in-hospital outcome of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention across 47 hospitals and treated with eptifibatide bolus plus infusion with those treated with a catheterization laboratory-only regimen. We used optimal matching to link the use of catheterization laboratory-only eptifibatide with clinical outcomes, including mortality, myocardial infarction, bleeding, and need for transfusion. Of the 84 678 percutaneous coronary interventions performed during 2010 to 2011, and meeting our inclusion criteria, eptifibatide was administered to 21 296 patients. Of these, a catheterization laboratory-only regimen was used in 4511 patients, whereas 16 785 patients were treated with bolus plus infusion. In the optimally matched analysis, compared with bolus plus infusion, a catheterization laboratory-only regimen was associated with a reduction in bleeding (optimally matched adjusted odds ratio, 0.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.58-0.93; P=0.014) and need for transfusion (optimally matched adjusted odds ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval, 0.52-0.92; P=0.012), with no difference in mortality or myocardial infarction., Conclusions: A catheterization laboratory-only eptifibatide regimen is commonly used in clinical practice and is associated with a significant reduction in bleeding complications in patients undergoing contemporary percutaneous coronary intervention., (© 2015 American Heart Association, Inc.)

Background: Revascularization decisions can profoundly impact patient survival, quality of life, and procedural risk. Although use of Heart Teams to make revascularization decisions is growing, data on their implementation in the real-world are limited. Our objective was to assess the prevalence of Heart Teams and their association with collaboration in routine practice., Methods: A survey of cardiologists and cardiac surgeons at 31 hospitals in Michigan was performed in May, 2011--prior to the recommendation for using Heart Teams in national guidelines. This survey included all percutaneous coronary intervention-performing hospitals in Michigan participating in the Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan Cardiovascular Consortium and Michigan Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons Quality Collaborative. It targeted both the use of Heart Teams and multidisciplinary Case Conferences., Results: There were 53 physician survey respondents from 27 hospitals with 4 hospitals not responding. Among respondents, 11 (40.7%) hospitals reported no Heart Teams or Case Conferences while 7 (25.9%) hospitals reported either a Heart Team or Case Conference. However, there was disagreement about the presence of a Heart Team at seven hospitals, and about Case Conferences at nine hospitals. Hospitals with definite Heart Teams reported significantly greater levels of collaboration between cardiologists and cardiac surgeons., Conclusion: The overall presence of Heart Teams prior to their recommendation in national guidelines was limited. Even among hospitals with a potential Heart Team, there was substantial disagreement between respondents about their presence. Further refinement of the definition of a Heart Team and measures of successful implementation are needed.

Objectives: This study sought to examine the prevalence and clinical implications of morbid obesity among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)., Background: The prevalence of obesity, and morbid obesity in particular, continues to rise rapidly in the United States. Obese patients are at increased risk for cardiac disease and are more likely to need invasive cardiac procedures. There is a paucity of contemporary data on the prevalence and clinical implications of morbid obesity among patients undergoing PCI., Methods: We examined the prevalence of morbid obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 40 kg/m²) among 227,044 patients undergoing PCI and enrolled in the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Cardiovascular Consortium registry from 1998 to 2009., Results: The proportion of morbidly obese patients undergoing PCI increased from 4.38% in 1998 to 8.36% in 2009. Compared with overweight patients (BMI 25 to 30 kg/m²), these patients had significantly increased vascular complications (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.17 to 1.47; p < 0.0001), contrast-induced nephropathy (adjusted OR: 1.89; 95% CI: 1.70 to 2.11; p < 0.0001), nephropathy requiring dialysis (adjusted OR: 4.08; 95% CI: 2.98 to 5.59; p < 0.0001), and mortality (adjusted OR: 1.63; 95% CI: 1.33 to 2.00; p < 0.0001)., Conclusions: Morbid obesity is increasing in prevalence among patients undergoing PCI and is associated with a higher risk of mortality and morbidity. These epidemiological changes have important implications for technical considerations of cardiac catheterization, design of the catheterization lab to accommodate these patients, and most importantly, for societal effort toward prevention of obesity., (Copyright © 2013 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Drug-eluting stents have emerged as the favored device for percutaneous coronary intervention. It is not clear if there are differences in the currently available drug-eluting stents. We performed a meta-analysis to systematically evaluate currently available data comparing sirolimus-eluting stents (SESs) with paclitaxel-eluting stents (PESs) in patients with coronary artery disease., Methods: We searched the MEDLINE, Embase, ISI Web of Knowledge, Current Contents, and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts databases, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, as well as scientific meeting abstracts up to November 30, 2006. All randomized controlled trials comparing SES with PES and providing follow-up data of > or = 6 months were eligible for inclusion in our analysis., Results: Data from 12 trials (number of patients 7455) were pooled. There was no difference in death (summary odds ratio [OR] 0.88, 95% CI 0.61-1.25, P = .46), myocardial infarction (summary OR 0.92, 95% CI, 0.71-1.19, P = .51), or stent thrombosis (summary OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.40-1.40, P = .37) between SES and PES. The use of SES was associated with a significant reduction in angiographic restenosis (summary OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.52-0.78, P < .001), target vessel revascularization (5.66% vs 7.70%, summary OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.59-0.88, P = .002), or target lesion revascularization (summary OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.53-0.84, P = .001)., Conclusions: Patients treated with SES appear to have a significantly lower risk of restenosis and need for target vessel revascularization compared with those treated with PES. There is no significant difference between the 2 stents with respect to mortality, myocardial infarction, or early stent thrombosis.

Background: Recent clinical trials found that high-dose statin therapy, compared with conventional-dose statin therapy, reduces the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and stable coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the actual benefit and cost-effectiveness of high-dose statin therapy are unknown., Methods and Results: We designed a Markov model to compare daily high-dose with conventional-dose statin therapy for hypothetical 60-year-old cohorts with ACS and stable CAD over patient lifetime. Pooled estimates for major clinical end points (all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke, rehospitalization, and revascularization) from relevant clinical trials were incorporated. Incremental benefit was quantified as quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs). Threshold analyses determined at what price difference high-dose statins would yield incremental cost-effective ratios below $50,000, $100,000, and $150,000 per QALY gained. In ACS patients, a high-dose versus conventional-dose statin strategy resulted in a gain of 0.35 QALYs. In threshold analyses, a high-dose statin strategy consistently yielded incremental cost-effective ratios below $30,000 per QALY even under conservative model assumptions. In stable CAD patients, a high-dose statin strategy yielded a gain of only 0.10 QALYs and was sensitive to model assumptions about statin efficacy. The daily cost difference between a high- and conventional-dose statin would need to be <$1.70, $2.65, and $3.55 to yield incremental cost-effective ratios below $50,000, $100,000, and $150,000 per QALY., Conclusions: High-dose statin therapy is potentially highly effective and cost-effective in patients with ACS. In patients with stable CAD, however, the cost-effectiveness of high-dose statin therapy is highly sensitive to model assumptions about statin efficacy and cost. Use of high-dose statins can be supported on health economic grounds in patients with ACS, but the case is less clear for patients with stable CAD.

Despite many recent advancements in the treatment of coronary heart disease, it continues to be an important source of patient morbidity and mortality as well as a significant source of healthcare-related expenditures. Clopidogrel has become an integral part of the management of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and, consequently, has become one of the world's best selling drugs. Numerous trials have demonstrated the clinical efficacy of clopidogrel in revascularized and nonrevascularized ACS including unstable angina as well as non-ST elevation and ST-elevation myocardial infarction. As a result of these trials, the use of clopidogrel has been incorporated into the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines. Additionally, numerous analyses have proven clopidogrel to be highly cost effective. However, clopidogrel remains underutilized and guideline adherence remains inadequate despite the robust clinical data and guidelines. Institution of disease-management programs and quality-improvement initiatives appear to be an excellent strategy to promote guideline adherence and appropriate use of clopidogrel.

Incidence of myonecrosis in patients undergoing rotational atherectomy was evaluated by preprocedural statin use. The incidence of any myonecrosis (24.1% vs 52.3%, P < .001) or significant myonecrosis (7.5% vs 21.8%, P < .001) was significantly lower among patients pretreated with statins. This difference remained significant after multivariable and propensity adjustment.

The neutrophil to lymphocyte (N/L) ratio is a recently described independent predictor of death/myocardial infarction in patients who have undergone coronary angiography. We hypothesized that an elevated N/L ratio would be a predictor of long-term mortality in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). A total of 1,046 patients who underwent PCI were divided into tertiles based on their preprocedural N/L ratio (mean N/L ratio, tertile 1, 1.7 +/- 0.5; tertile 2: 3.2 +/- 0.6; tertile 3, 11.2 +/- 12.9). Vital status was assessed using the Social Security Death Index. There were a total of 144 deaths over a mean follow-up of 32 months. The best survival was seen in tertile 1, with an increase in long-term mortality seen in tertiles 2 and 3 (p <0.0001). In multivariable modeling, after adjusting for age, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, left ventricular ejection fraction, serum hemoglobin, serum creatinine, and lesion severity, the log N/L, but not the white blood cell count, was an independent significant predictor of long-term mortality (hazard ratio 1.85, 95% confidence interval 1.3, to 3.04, p = 0.01). The risk persisted when patients with an acute myocardial infarction were excluded from the analysis (hazard ratio 2.46, 95% confidence interval 1.4 to 4.4, p = 0.002). In conclusion, an elevated preprocedural N/L ratio in patients undergoing PCI is associated with an increased risk of long-term mortality.

Background: Patients with chronic kidney disease frequently have worse outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) compared to patients with normal renal function. Furthermore, they more commonly have elevated serum markers of inflammation, which may be either directly or indirectly associated with a state of accelerated atherosclerosis. We sought to assess the relationship among glomerular filtration rate (GFR), systemic inflammation, and long-term death after PCI., Methods: In patients undergoing PCI, the intensity of vascular inflammation was measured using baseline ultrasensitive C-reactive protein (us-CRP), and GFR was calculated using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula. Their association with long-term death was compared using multivariate Cox regression analysis including an interaction element for us-CRP and GFR, baseline clinical, biochemical, and angiographic variables., Results: In 4522 patients (mean age 65 +/- 11 years) having undergone PCI, 332 (7.3%) deaths occurred over the median duration of follow-up of 20.1 months (interquartile range 8.5-31.3 months). The mean GFR was 77 +/- 33 mL/min per 1.73 m2 with a median us-CRP of 3.75 mg/L (interquartile range 1.5-10.1 mg/L). Both increasing levels of CRP (log rank P < .001) and decreasing levels of GFR were univariate predictors of long-term death (P < .001). In a multivariate model, both GFR and us-CRP retained independent predictive value for long-term death., Conclusion: Although baseline us-CRP and GFR are both independent predictors of long-term death after PCI, in concert, they impart a markedly exaggerated hazard of mortality.

Renal failure is a marker of poor outcome in the general population. Renal failure after percutaneous coronary artery intervention (PCI) is associated with an increased hazard of in-hospital mortality. We hypothesized that post-PCI renal insufficiency would be a predictor of long-term mortality in patients undergoing PCI who survive for over 30 days after the procedure. A retrospective analysis was conducted from a registry of 9,067 patients undergoing PCI at our center from 1997 to 2001. A rise in creatinine by 1 mg/dl from baseline was defined as post-PCI renal insufficiency. Vital status was assessed using Social Security Death Index. There were a total of 996 deaths over a mean follow-up period of 3.2 years. In a multivariate analysis, history of recent acute myocardial infarction, older age, insulin-dependent diabetes, baseline creatinine greater than 1.5 mg/dl, and presence of mitral regurgitation were associated with post-PCI renal insufficiency. Developing post-PCI renal insufficiency was associated with a 4.31-fold hazard of mortality in univariate analysis and a 1.77-fold hazard after adjustment for known predictors of mortality after PCI. The 1-year survival in patients with renal failure was 70.3% +/- 3.91%, compared to a survival of 93.6% +/- 0.27% in those without any post-PCI renal insufficiency (P < 0.0001). Acute renal insufficiency after PCI is a strong and independent predictor of long-term mortality in patients who survived for 30 days after the procedure., (Copyright 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Background: Although practice guidelines do not recommend routine exercise testing of patients after coronary stenting, several small studies have suggested that stress myocardial perfusion imaging can provide prognostic information about future adverse cardiac events. We sought to determine if exercise nuclear testing provides independent prognostic information in patients after coronary stenting., Methods: We analyzed the outcomes of 370 patients who underwent dual isotope exercise nuclear scintigraphy at least 1 month after coronary stenting and had testing between April 1996 and May 2002. Patients were classified according to presence or absence of any ischemia. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality or myocardial infarction (MI) during a median of 30 months (range 6-59) of follow-up., Results: There were 86 patients (23%) who had ischemia. Major events--death or MI--occurred in 62 patients including 22 deaths. Among patients with no ischemia, the 30-month event rate was 9.1%, whereas among patients with ischemia, the event rate was 17.0% (P = .001). After adjusting for age, sex, standard cardiac risk factors, cardiac history, left ventricular ejection fraction, angiographic findings, procedural variables, exercise capacity, and heart-rate dynamics, the presence of scintigraphic evidence of ischemia predicted death or MI (adjusted hazard ratio 2.08, 95% CI 1.21-3.56, P = .008). The presence of ischemia similarly predicted events in asymptomatic patients (adjusted hazard ratio 2.19, 95% CI 1.17-4.11, P = .015)., Conclusions: In patients with recent coronary stent placement, reversible nuclear perfusion defects independently predicted risk of death or MI.

Increased inflammatory markers are associated with a poor prognosis after percutaneous coronary intervention. Leukocytes play a key role in inflammation, and an increase in white blood cell (WBC) counts is a nonspecific marker of inflammation. In patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, baseline WBC counts independently predict long-term mortality. In a pooled cohort of patients from the Evaluation of c7E3 for the Prevention of Ischemic Complications (EPIC), the Evaluation in PTCA to Improve Long-term Outcome with abciximab Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa blockade (EPILOG), and Evaluation of Platelet IIb/IIIa inhibitor for STENTing (EPISTENT) trials, postprocedural WBC counts were also found to be an independent predictor of long-term mortality.

The landmark Heart Protection Study (Lancet 2002; 360:7-22) found benefit in treating subjects at high risk of a coronary event with simvastatin 40 mg daily, regardless of baseline low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level and in all subgroups, including women and the elderly. The study found no benefit of simvastatin therapy in preventing noncardiac events (eg, dementia, osteoporotic fractures), and no negative effects, such as an increase in cancer, respiratory disease, or suicide.

The article examines the cause and circumstance of death among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods employed are described with patients at the University of Michigan from 2001 and 2009 using a standardized data collection form with three cardiologist grading the preventability of death. Results are discussed indicating procedural complications are responsible for the deaths with no meaningful reduction in mortality even with enhanced procedural safety.

Background: Saphenous vein grafts develop an aggressive atherosclerotic process and the efficacy of drug eluting stents (DES) in treating saphenous vein graft (SVG) lesions has not been convincingly demonstrated. The aim of this study was to review and analyze the current literature for controlled studies comparing DES versus bare metal stents (BMS) for treatment of SVG stenoses. Methodology/Principal Findings: We searched several scientific databases and conference proceedings up to March 15, 2010 for controlled studies comparing target vessel revascularization (TVR) between DES and BMS. Summary odds ratios (OR) for the primary endpoint TVR and secondary endpoints infarction, stent thrombosis and death were calculated using random-effect models. A total of 29 studies (3 randomized controlled trials RCT) involving 7549 (202 in RCT) patients were included. The need for target vessel revascularization in the DES group tended to be lower compared to BMS for the 3 RCT (OR 0.50 [0.24-1.00]; p = 0.051) and for observational studies (0.62 [0.49-0.79]; p,0.001). There was no significant difference in the risk for myocardial infarction in the RCT (OR 1.25 [0.22-6.99]; p = 0.250) but a lower risk for DES based on the observational studies 0.68 [0.49-0.95]; p = 0.023. The risk for stent thrombosis was found to be non-different in the RCT (OR 0.78 [0.03-21.73], p = 0.885) while it was in favor of DES in the observational studies (0.58 [0.38 - 0.84]; p,0.001). The mortality was not significantly different between DES and BMS in the RCT's (OR 2.22 [0.17 - 29.50]; p = 0.546) while the observation studies showed a decreased mortality in the DES group (0.69 [0.55-0.85]; p,0.001). Conclusion: DES may decrease TVR rate in treatment of SVG stenoses. No differences in reinfarction rate, stent thrombosis or mortality was found between the DES and BMS groups in the RCT's while the observational data showed lower risk for myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis and death in the DES group. This may be a result of patient selection bias in the observational studies or represent a true finding that was not the detected in the RCT analysis due to limited statistical power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clinical trials comparing thrombectomy devices with conventional percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) in patients with acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) have produced conflicting results. The objective of our study was to systematically evaluate currently available data comparing thrombectomy followed by PCI with conventional PCI alone in patients with acute STEMI. Methods: Seventeen randomized trials (n = 3,909 patients) of thrombectomy versus PCI were included in this meta-analysis. We calculated the summary odds ratios for mortality, stroke, post procedural myocardial blush grade (MBG), thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) grade flow, and post procedural ST segment resolution (STR) using random-effects and fixed-effects models. Results: There was no difference in risk of 30-day mortality (44/1914 vs. 50/1907, OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.54-1.29, P = 0.42) among patients randomized to thrombectomy, compared with conventional PCI. Thrombectomy was associated with a significantly greater likelihood of TIMI 3 flow (1616/1826 vs. 1533/1806, OR 1.41, P = 0.007), MBG 3 (730/1526 vs. 486/1513, OR 2.42, P < 0.001), STR (923/1500 vs. 715/1494, OR 2.30, P < 0.001), and with a higher risk of stroke (14/1403 vs. 3/1413, OR 2.88, 95% CI 1.06-7.85, P = 0.04). Outcomes differed significantly between different device classes with a trend towards lower mortality with manual aspiration thrombectomy (MAT) (21/949 vs.36/953, OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.35-1.01, P = 0.05), whereas mechanical devices showed a trend towards higher mortality (20/416 vs.10/418, OR 2.07, 95% CI 0.95-4.48, P = 0.07). Conclusions: Thrombectomy devices appear to improve markers of myocardial perfusion in patients undergoing primary PCI, with no difference in overall 30-day mortality but an increased likelihood of stroke. The clinical benefits of thrombectomy appear to be influenced by the device type with a trend towards survival benefit with MAT and worsening outcome with mechanical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal models of myocardial ischemia have demonstrated reduction in arrhythmias using statins. It was hypothesized that previous statin therapy before hospitalization might be associated with reductions of in-hospital arrhythmic events in patients with acute coronary syndromes. In this multinational, prospective, observational study (the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events [GRACE]), data from 64,679 patients hospitalized for suspected acute coronary syndromes (from 1999 to 2007) were analyzed. The primary outcome of interest was in-hospital arrhythmic events in previous statin users compared with nonusers. The 2 primary end points were atrial fibrillation and the composite end point of ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, and/or cardiac arrest. In-hospital death was also examined. Of the 64,679 patients, 17,636 (27%) had received previous statin therapy. Those taking statins had higher crude rates of histories of angina (69% vs 46%), diabetes (34% vs 22%), heart failure (15% vs 8.4%), hypertension (74% vs 58%), atrial fibrillation (9.3% vs 7.0%), and dyslipidemia (85% vs 35%). Patients previously taking statins were less likely to have in-hospital arrhythmias. In propensity-adjusted multivariable models, previous statin use was associated with a lower risk for ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, or cardiac arrest (odds ratio 0.81, 95% confidence interval 0.72 to 0.96, p = 0.002); atrial fibrillation (odds ratio 0.81, 95% confidence interval 0.73 to 0.89, p <0.0001); and death (odds ratio 0.82, 95% confidence interval 0.70 to 0.95, p = 0.010). In conclusion, patients previously taking statins had a lower incidence of in-hospital arrhythmic events after acute coronary syndrome than those not previously taking statins. Our study suggests another possible benefit from appropriate primary and secondary prevention therapy with statins. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: Q-waves in ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes carry adverse implications. We sought to determine the frequency, predictors, and implications of Q-waves in the current era that includes primary percutaneous coronary interventions. Methods: There were 14,916 patients evaluated in a multicenter observational study. They presented with ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes between 1999 and 2006. Clinical variables were compared between patients with versus without presenting Q-waves, with an additional comparison in the latter group between those with versus without subsequent development of Q-waves. Results: ST-elevation myocardial infarction occurred in 88.6% of patients. Q-waves were present on the initial electrocardiogram in 3929 patients and developed later in an additional 3085 patients. The incidence of Q-waves at presentation or during hospitalization decreased from 61% to 39% between 1999 and 2006 (linear trend P <.001). Both presenting and subsequent Q-waves were associated with greater likelihood of coronary occlusions and higher cardiac marker elevations (P <.001). Multivariate analysis showed that presenting Q-waves were associated with male sex (odds ratio [OR] 1.28), increased age (OR 1.06 per 5 years), diabetes (OR 1.26), smoking (OR 1.11), chronic aspirin (OR 0.79), acute aspirin (OR 0.87), other chronic cardiac medications (OR 0.80), prior heart failure (OR 0.67), and prior coronary artery disease (OR 0.61). Presenting Q-waves were independently associated with increased in-hospital mortality (OR 1.46), but Q-waves at presentation or during hospitalization did not impact 6-month mortality. Conclusions: Q-waves in ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes are decreasing in incidence. Q-waves are a major determinant of in-hospital mortality, and targeted interventions should be directed to these high-risk patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: This study sought to assess whether the use of eptifibatide instead of abciximab is associated with a difference in outcomes of patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Background: Pooled data from randomized controlled trials suggest that the use of abciximab may be associated with a survival advantage in patients undergoing primary PCI for acute STEMI. However, a large proportion of patients in the community are treated with eptifibatide, an agent that shares some but not all pharmacological properties with abciximab. Methods: We evaluated the outcomes of 3,541 patients who underwent primary PCI for STEMI from October 2002 to July 2006 in a large regional consortium and who were treated with abciximab (n = 729) or with eptifibatide (n = 2,812). Results: There was no difference in the incidence of in-hospital death (4.1% with abciximab vs. 3.5% with eptifibatide, p = 0.39), recurrent myocardial infarction (0.8% vs. 1.2%, p = 0.42), or stroke/transient ischemic attack (0.7% vs. 0.6%, p = 0.80). There was no difference in the need for blood transfusion (12.4% vs. 11.7%, p = 0.61), whereas there was a greater incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding with abciximab (4.8% vs. 2.8%, p = 0.01). In parsimonious risk-adjusted models, no significant difference between abciximab and eptifibatide was observed with respect to any of the outcomes measures. Conclusions: Currently, eptifibatide is used as the adjunct antiplatelet agent in the majority of patients undergoing primary PCI. There is no apparent difference in early outcomes of patients treated with eptifibatide compared with patients treated with abciximab. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Aspirin resistance is a well-documented laboratory finding, but the effects of clinical aspirin (ASA) failure on patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have been debated. Likewise, there is recognition of clopidogrel resistance, but the clinical effects of clopidogrel failure are not well understood. We sought to determine the 6-month outcomes of patients who developed an ACS while on ASA or dual antiplatelet agents. Methods: Of all patients admitted to the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, between 1999 and 2005 with a diagnosis of ACS, 6-month follow-up data were available for 3126. The cohort was divided into 3 groups based on medication history: no prior antiplatelet agent, ASA only, and ASA with clopidogrel (or ticlopidine). Primary end point was the rate of death, myocardial infarction, and stroke, or composite major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) at 6 months. Results: Aside from a lower rate of myocardial infarction in patients without any prior antiplatelet agent use, there were no significant differences in 6-month stroke, death, or MACE between the 3 medication cohorts. In the propensity-adjusted model, whereas dual antiplatelet status was not an independent predictor of 6-month mortality or MACE, there was a trend toward lower 6-month death rates for patients with prior ASA use (odds ratio 0.72, 95% CI 0.51-1.04, P = .08). Conclusions: Patients who “fail” antiplatelet therapy do not have overall worse prognosis. Our data do not support ASA or dual antiplatelet agent failure as a distinct clinical entity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa inhibitors are widely used in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Previous studies have suggested that they do not offer benefit in saphenous vein graft PCI. Nonetheless, their use remains widespread during vein graft angioplasty. We retrospectively analyzed 1,537 patients who underwent saphenous vein graft PCI. Patients who received a GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor (n = 941) were compared with those who did not receive any GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor (n = 596). The primary end point was myonecrosis after PCI (creatine kinase-MB level >3 times the upper reference limit). The incidence of myonecrosis after PCI was similar between the group that received GP IIb/IIIa and the group that did not (odds ratio for GP IIb/IIIa use 1.39, 95% confidence interval 0.97 to 2.00, p = 0.07). Propensity-adjusted analysis demonstrated no significant difference in myonecrosis after PCI, in-hospital mortality, Q-wave myocardial infarction, or bleeding (blood transfusion, retroperitoneal bleed, or hematoma) between the 2 groups. In an analysis restricted to patients who were treated with an emboli protection device, GP IIb/IIIa use was not associated with decreased myonecrosis after PCI (this was also the case for patients who were not treated with an emboli protection device). Unadjusted survival (mean follow-up 5.5 ± 0.1 years) was similar between the group that received GP IIb/IIIa and the group that did not (log-rank test, p = 0.89). There was no difference in survival after adjusting for the propensity to receive a GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor (adjusted odds ratio for GP IIb/IIIa use 0.92, 95% confidence interval 0.69 to 1.23, p = 0.59). In conclusion, adjunctive use of platelet GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors in saphenous vein graft PCI does not appear to be associated with less myonecrosis or improved survival. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Anemia and renal insufficiency impart an increased risk of mortality in patients with congestive heart failure. There is a paucity of data on the mortality hazard associated with anemia and renal insufficiency in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention in the setting of contemporary practice. We analyzed the short- and long-term outcomes among patients enrolled in EPIC, EPILOG and EPISTENT trials according to degree of kidney dysfunction (glomerular filtration rate [GFR] <60, 60 to 75, and >75 ml/min/1.73 m2) and by hematocrit (<35, 35 to 39 and 40). GFR was calculated as GFR = 186 × (serum creatinine-1.154) × (age-0.203) × 1.212 (if black) or ×0.742 (if female) . There were 20 deaths (3.2%) among 638 patients with a hematocrit of <35, 41 deaths among 2,066 patients (2.0%) with a hematocrit of 35 to 39, and 43 deaths in 3,618 patients (1.2%) with a hematocrit >40 at 6 months (p <0.001). Similarly, a significant increase in mortality was seen with lower GFR [33 of 1,168 (2.9%) at GFR <60, 33 of 1,766 (1.9%) at GFR 60 to 75 and 37 of 3,317 (1.1%) at GFR >75, p <0.001)]. Further, GFR and anemia independently and in combination predicted mortality at 3 years. Thus, renal insufficiency and anemia are significant independent and additive predictors of short- and long-term complications in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

: ObjectivesWe studied the outcome of diabetics enrolled in the Global Use of Strategies to Open Occluded Coronary Arteries (GUSTO) V trial to assess whether the combination of half-dose reteplase and abciximab provides any propitious benefits over standard fibrinolytic therapy in diabetic patients.: BackgroundDiabetics with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (MI) have a worse outcome compared with nondiabetics. Higher-risk patients are usually more likely to benefit from advances in medical therapy.: MethodsWe analyzed diabetic patients enrolled in the GUSTO V trial to assess the outcome of those randomized to the combination of half-dose reteplase and abciximab versus those randomized to reteplase. We also evaluated whether any differences existed in presentation and outcome of MI among the diabetics versus the nondiabetics enrolled in the study.: ResultsThe trial enrolled 13,782 nondiabetics and 2,633 diabetics. Compared to nondiabetics, diabetics had a significantly higher mortality at 30 days (8.5% vs. 5.1%, p < 0.001) and at 1 year (12.7% vs. 7.5%, p < 0.001). Among the diabetic subset, no significant difference existed in the incidence of 30-day (8.8% vs. 8.2%, p = 0.52) or 1-year mortality (13.0% vs. 12.4%, p = 0.62) among patients randomized to reteplase compared to those receiving combination of abciximab and reteplase. The incidence of reinfarction (2.5% vs. 4.3%, p = 0.013), recurrent ischemia (11.8% vs. 14.9%, p = 0.017), and urgent revascularization (10.9% vs. 13.3%, p = 0.055) at seven days was lower in diabetics treated with the combination therapy.: ConclusionsCompared to nondiabetics, diabetics continue to have a worse outcome with MI. Although combination therapy did not provide a survival benefit, nonfatal ischemic outcomes, including reinfarction, recurrent ischemia, and urgent revascularization, were substantially reduced. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses research on the use of rivaroxaban as a secondary prophylaxis for patients with acute coronary syndrome. It references the study "Rivaroxaban versus placebo in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ATLAS ACS-TIMI46): a randomised, double-blind, phase II trial," by Jessica Mega and colleagues, published within the issue. The study randomly assigned patients to either receive rivaroxaban or placebo for six months following an acute coronary syndrome. The authors argued that although the findings of the study is still premature, rivaroxaban can be considered as an alternative to parenteral anticoagulants for the early management of acute coronary syndrome.

Medical advances may be shifting patients with coronary artery disease away from the hospital setting despite an aging United States population. We explored this possibility using national inpatient data to estimate the number and population-based rates of hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and coronary revascularization from 2002 to 2005. Our primary data source was the Acute Care Tracker database, a proprietary administrative database that contains data on approximately 6 million discharges per year from 458 hospitals across the United States. Using the Acute Care Tracker database, we estimated the annual number and population-based rates of hospitalization for AMI (transmural, subendocardial) and coronary revascularization (percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI] and coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG]). Hospitalizations for AMI steadily decreased from 661,000 to 591,000 per year between 2002 and 2005, primarily due to decreases in transmural AMI. Hospitalizations for coronary revascularizations during this period varied between 794,000 and 815,000 per year, with the number of PCIs increasing and the number of CABGs decreasing. In addition, rates of hospitalization for AMI decreased from 309 to 266 per 100,000 persons between 2002 and 2005, with rates of transmural AMI decreasing substantially from 118 to 87 per 100,000 persons. Rates of hospitalization for coronary revascularization also decreased from 382 to 358 per 100,000 during this period, primarily due to decreases in CABG. In conclusion, the number and rates of hospitalization for AMI and coronary revascularization in the United States are decreasing. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background Multiple equations exist to estimate glomerular filtration rate (GFR); however, there is no consensus on which is superior for risk classification in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Objectives The goals of this study were to identify which equation to estimate GFR is superior for predicting adverse outcomes after PCI and to examine how equation selection would impact drug-dosing recommendations. Methods Estimated GFR (eGFR) was calculated with the Cockcroft-Gault, Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study (MDRD), and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equations for 128,805 patients undergoing PCI in the state of Michigan. Agreement between patient pre-PCI eGFR estimates and resultant CKD stage classifications, their ability to discriminate post-procedural in-hospital clinical outcomes, and the impact of equation choice on dosing recommendations for commonly used antiplatelet and antithrombotic medications were investigated. Results CKD-EPI best discriminated post-PCI mortality by receiver operator characteristic analysis. There was wide variability in eGFR, which persisted after grouping by CKD stages. Reclassification by CKD-EPI resulted in net reclassification index improvement for acute kidney injury and new requirement for dialysis. Equation choice affected drug-dosing recommendations, with the formulas agreeing for only 50.3%, 40.0%, and 34.3% of potentially impacted patients for eGFR cutoffs of <60, <50, and <30 ml/min/1.73 m 2 , respectively. Conclusions Different eGFR equations result in CKD stage reclassification that has major clinical implications for predicting adverse outcomes after PCI and drug-dosing recommendations. Our results support the use of CKD-EPI for risk stratification among patients undergoing PCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study sought to examine whether rates of inappropriate percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) differ by demographic characteristics and insurance status. Background: Prior studies have found that blacks, women, and those who have public or no health insurance are less likely to undergo PCI. Whether this reflects potential overuse in whites, men, and privately insured patients, in addition to underuse in disadvantaged populations, is unknown. Methods: Within the National Cardiovascular Data Registry CathPCI Registry, we identified 221,254 nonacute PCIs performed between July 2009 and March 2011. The appropriateness of PCI was determined using the Appropriate Use Criteria for coronary revascularization. Multivariable hierarchical regression was used to evaluate the association between patient demographics and insurance status and inappropriate PCI, as defined by the Appropriate Use Criteria. Results: Of 211,254 nonacute PCIs, 25,749 (12.2%) were classified as inappropriate. After multivariable adjustment, men (adjusted odd ratio [OR]: 1.08 [95% CI: 1.05 to 1.11]; p < 0.001) and whites (adjusted OR: 1.09 [95% CI: 1.05 to 1.14]; p < 0.001) were more likely to undergo an inappropriate PCI in comparison with women and nonwhites. Compared with privately insured patients, those who had Medicare (adjusted OR: 0.85 [95% CI: 0.83 to 0.88]), other public insurance (adjusted OR: 0.78 [95% CI: 0.73 to 0.83]), and no insurance (adjusted OR: 0.56 [95% CI: 0.50 to 0.61]) were less likely to undergo an inappropriate PCI (p < 0.001). In addition, compared with urban hospitals, those admitted at rural hospitals were less likely to undergo inappropriate PCI, whereas those at suburban hospitals were more likely. Conclusions: For nonacute indications, PCIs categorized as inappropriate were more commonly performed in men, whites, and those who had private insurance. Higher rates of PCI in these patient populations may, in part, be due to procedural overuse. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Antithrombotic and antiplatelet agents are essential for the management of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACSs). These pharmacologic agents have the potential for increased risk of bleeding. It is not clear if the increased uptake of these therapies has resulted in a clinically evident increase in bleeding complications over time. In this study, we included 3,193 consecutive patients who were admitted to the University of Michigan with an ACS (unstable angina or myocardial infarction) between January 1999 and December 2004. These patients were analyzed for temporal trends in antithrombotic and antiplatelet agent use, thrombolytic therapy, cardiac catheterizations, percutaneous coronary interventions, and major bleeding complications (including gastrointestinal, vascular access, and intracranial hemorrhage). We found a decreasing temporal trend in the incidence of major in-hospital bleeding complications (p <0.001) despite an increasing use of ticlopidine/clopidogrel (p <0.0001), unfractionated heparin (p <0.01), glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (p <0.0001), and percutaneous coronary intervention (p <0.0001) in the management of patients with ACSs. In conclusion, major bleeding remains a significant complication of ACS management but has decreased significantly over time. We believe that this decreasing bleeding trend may be because of better identification of higher risk patients, attention to correct dosing, appropriate monitoring, and incorporation of various periprocedural strategies in routine clinical practice. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]