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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: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the adherence to the ESC 2020 guideline for the management of NSTE-ACS patients admitted to Shahid Chamran Cardiology Hospital affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2021. Methods: In this retrospective study which was done during April 2021 to September 2021 we reviewed the hospital documents of 239 NSTE-ACS patients, in regard to prescribed medication during the admission period in Shahid Chamran Heart Center. Guideline-adherence was evaluated according to ESC2020 guideline. Totally 18 items were evaluated including Antiplatelet (Clopidogrel, Ticagrelor, and Prasugrel) Anticoagulant (Heparin or Enoxaparin), PPI, Statin, Beta blocker, and RAAS blockers (including ACEI/ARB or MRA). In each section the selected drug and the administered dose were compared with the guideline and the guideline adherence for each part was expressed as percent. Results: Almost complete guideline adherence was described for 12 out of 18 reviewed items (77%). However, guideline adherence in relation to the type of medicine chosen as an antiplatelet was reported to be very low, and only 1.2% of the cases received ticagrelor or prasugrel which are the guideline recommended antiplatelet agent. Additionally, most of the administered GP2b3a antagonist agents such as eptifibatide were not in accordance with the guideline (Guideline adherence 39.74%). Also, the choice of the anticoagulant agent was among the items with low guideline adherence (29.76%) and the cross-over between anticoagulants (changing heparin to enoxaparin or vice versa) which has been inhibited by the guideline was seen with high incidence in this center (78 cases). Conclusion: The present study showed relatively high guideline adherence in the most aspects of medical management. However, compliance was reported to be low in relation to the antiplatelet selection, the choice of the anticoagulant agent, and the indication for GP2b3a antagonist use, which maybe due to the higher cost of recommended agents, and shortage of some medications and dosage forms in Iran.

Background: This article introduces the first national guidelines for the management including diagnosis, treatment, and secondary prevention of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in Iran. Materials and Methods: The members of the guideline development group (GDG) were specialists and experts in fields related to ACS and were affiliated with universities of medical sciences or scientific associations in the country. They carefully examined the evidence and clinical concerns related to ACS management and formulated 13 clinical questions that were sent to systematic review group who developed related evidence using Grade method. Finally the GDG developed the recommendations and suggestions of the guideline. Results: The first three questions in the guideline focus on providing recommendations for handling a patient who experience chest pain at home, in a health house or center, during ambulance transportation, and upon arrival at the emergency department (ED) as well as the initial diagnostic measures in the ED. Subsequently, the recommendations related to the criteria for categorizing patients into low, intermediate and high-risk groups are presented. The guideline addressed primary treatment measures for ACS patients in hospitals with and without code 247 or having primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) facilities, and the appropriate timing for PCI based on the risk assessment. In addition, the most efficacious antiplatelet medications for ACS patients in the ED as well as its optimal duration of treatment are presented. The guideline details the recommendations for therapeutic interventions in patients with ACS and acute heart failure, cardiogenic shock, myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA), multivessel occlusion, as well as the indication for prescribing a combined use of anticoagulants and antiplatelet during hospitalization and upon discharge. Regarding secondary prevention, while emphasizing the referral of these patients to rehabilitation centers, other interventions that include pharmaceutical and nonpharmacological ones are addressed, In addition, necessary recommendations for enhancing lifestyle and posthospital discharge pharmaceutical treatments, including their duration, are provided. There are specific recommendations and suggestions for subgroups, such as patients aged over 75 years and individuals with heart failure, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. Conclusion: Developing guidelines for ACS diagnosis, treatment and secondary prevention according to the local context in Iran can improve the adherence of our health care providers, patients health, and policy makers plans.

Objective: Contrast-associated nephropathy (CAN) is a sudden decrease in kidney function following contrast media administration. Considering the importance of CAN in the patient's outcome and the high prevalence of this complication in cardiac catheterizing centers, this study was designed to investigate the prevalence and the related risk factors of CAN in patients undergoing angioplasty in Chamran Heart Hospital, Isfahan, Iran, from January 2022 to June 2022. Methods: The inclusion criteria were adult patients above 18 admitted for elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Patient demographic information, underlying diseases and medications, dehydration state, type and amount of contrast media, and serum levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (SrCr) at 24 and 72 h after contrast injection were all recorded. Findings: Out of 340, 128 patients developed CAN after PCI, giving an incidence of 37.64%. Adjusted analysis showed a significant relation between age over 65, the amount of contrast media administered, and the use of furosemide with the incidence of CAN. However, adjusted logistic regression analysis failed to show any significant relationship between the risk of CAN and the hydration status of the patients at 24 and 48 h after receiving contrast media as diagnosed by BUN/SrCr >20. Conclusion: The prevalence of CAN in this study was higher than in other studies since this high-risk population was under risk factors such as arterial injection of contrast material and a higher amount of contrast material administration. In addition, advanced age, volume of contrast material, and previous or concurrent furosemide administration were associated with an increased risk of CAN.

Background: Plaque instability is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. Numerous efforts have been made to figure out and manage unstable plaques prior to major cardiovascular events incidence. The current study aims to assess the values of the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) to detect unstable plaques. Materials and Methods: The current case-control study was conducted on 435 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention due to chronic stable angina (stable plaques, n = 145) or acute coronary syndrome (unstable plaques, n = 290). The demographic, comorbidities, chronic medications, biochemical and hematological characteristics of the patients were entered into the study checklist. The baseline AIP was measured according to the formula of triglycerides/high-density lipoprotein logarithm. Binary logistic regression was applied to investigate the standalone association of AIP with plaque instability. Receiver operating curve (ROC) was depicted to determine a cut-off, specificity, and sensitivity of AIP in unstable plaques diagnosis. Results: AIP was an independent predictor for atherogenic plaque unstability in both crude (odds ratio [OR]: 3.677, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.521–8.890; P = 0.004) and full-adjusted models (OR: 15, 95% CI: 2.77–81.157; P = 0.002). According to ROC curve, at cut-point level of 0.62, AIP had sensitivity and specificity of 89.70% and 34% to detect unstable plaques, respectively (area under the curve: 0.648, 95% CI: 0.601–0.692, P < 0.001). Conclusion: According to this study, at the threshold of 0.62, AIP as an independent biomarker associated with plaque instability can be considered a screening tool for patients at increased risk for adverse events due to unstable atherosclerotic plaques.

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.