Search

• The prognostic impact of different degree of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) reduction in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) is poorly studied. • We studied 4,130 patients with stable CAD recruited in a prospective, observational, nationwide study in Italy. • Baseline management and all-cause 1-year mortality were evaluated according to groups of eGFR (<30; 30-59; 60-89; ≥90 ml/min/1.73 m2). • Progressively lower eGFR significantly correlated with all-cause 1-year mortality Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of mortality and is often complicated by chronic kidney disease. We sought to investigate the prevalence of different degree of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) reduction, the clinical and bio-humoral correlates, its relationship with therapeutic management, and its predictive role on 1-year all-cause mortality, in patients with stable CAD. We studied 4,130 patients with stable CAD recruited in a prospective, observational, nationwide study (START, STable coronary Artery diseases RegisTry) in Italy. Baseline clinical characteristics, pharmacological treatment, and all-cause 1-year mortality were evaluated according to groups of eGFR (<30; 30-59; 60-89; ≥90 ml/min/1.73 m2) at baseline. The presence and the degree of chronic kidney disease entailed an unfavorable risk profile, since it was gradually associated with more comorbidities. Furthermore, progressively lower eGFR values were associated to lower diastolic blood pressure and hemoglobin values. As eGFR lowers, optimal medical treatment and its persistence overtime is reduced. Multivariate analysis showed that progressively lower eGFR significantly correlated with all-cause 1-year mortality [hazard ratio (HR): 1.02; 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.01-1-03; p = 0.0001]. Low eGFR is associated with an increasing risk of all-cause mortality in patients with stable CAD. Chronic kidney disease may hamper the optimization of treatment limiting the use of drugs which may favorably impact cardiovascular and renal outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) is increasing worldwide. Follow-up strategies after PCI are extremely heterogeneous and can greatly affect the cost of medical care. Of note, clinical evaluations and non-invasive exams are often performed to low risk patients. In the present consensus document, practical advises are provided with respect to a tailored follow-up strategy on the basis of patients' risk profile. Three strategies follow-up have been defined and types and timing of clinical and instrumental evaluations are reported. Clinical and interventional cardiologists, cardiac rehabilitators, and general practitioners, who are in charge to manage post-PCI patients, equally contributed to the creation of the present document., (© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate whether remote ischemic post-conditioning (RIPC) could reduce enzymatic infarct size in patients with anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI)., Background: Myocardial reperfusion injury may attenuate the benefit of pPCI. In animal models, RIPC mitigates myocardial reperfusion injury., Methods: One hundred patients with anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and occluded left anterior descending artery were randomized to pPCI + RIPC (n = 50) or conventional pPCI (n = 50). RIPC consisted of 3 cycles of 5 min/5 min ischemia/reperfusion by cuff inflation/deflation of the lower limb. The primary endpoint was infarct size assessed by the area under the curve of creatinine kinase-myocardial band release (CK-MB). Secondary endpoints included the following: infarct size assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance delayed enhancement volume; T2-weighted edema volume; ST-segment resolution >50%; TIMI (Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction) frame count; and myocardial blush grading., Results: Four patients (2 RIPC, 2 controls) were excluded due to missing samples of CK-MB. A total of 96 patients were analyzed; median area under the curve CK-MB was 8,814 (interquartile range [IQR]: 5,567 to 11,325) arbitrary units in the RIPC group and 10,065 (IQR: 7,465 to 14,004) arbitrary units in control subjects (relative reduction: 20%, 95% confidence interval: 0.2% to 28.7%; p = 0.043). Seventy-seven patients underwent a cardiac magnetic resonance scan 3 to 5 days after randomization, and 66 patients repeated a second scan after 4 months. T2-weighted edema volume was 37 ± 16 cc in RIPC patients and 47 ± 22 cc in control subjects (p = 0.049). ST-segment resolution >50% was 66% in RIPC and 37% in control subjects (p = 0.015). We observed no significant differences in TIMI frame count, myocardial blush grading, and delayed enhancement volume., Conclusions: In patients with anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, RIPC at the time of pPCI reduced enzymatic infarct size and was also associated with an improvement of T2-weighted edema volume and ST-segment resolution >50%. (Remote Postconditioning in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction Treated by Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention [PCI] [RemPostCon]; NCT00865722)., (Copyright © 2013 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)