American Journal of Cardiology最新文献

Although the adverse effects of long-term use of vitamin K oral anticoagulant (OAC), warfarin, on the coronary vasculature are well-established, it remains unknown whether nonvitamin K oral anticoagulants play a role in the attenuation of plaque progression and coronary calcification. This study aimed to compare the changes in atherosclerotic plaques and calcification of the coronary arteries in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) treated with edoxaban and warfarin. A total of 150 OAC-naïve patients with AF and atherosclerotic lesions on coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) were enrolled and randomly assigned to the edoxaban or warfarin treatment groups. All enrolled patients received rosuvastatin 10 mg and 119 patients completed the entire study protocol. A total of 12 months after the assigned OAC treatment, follow-up CCTA was performed and changes in plaque and calcium volumes of the coronary arteries were analyzed. The baseline characteristics of the 2 groups were well-balanced. The percentage of time in therapeutic range in the warfarin group was 61.1%. Compared with the baseline CCTA, there was a significant reduction in plaque volume after 12 months of OAC and rosuvastatin administration in both groups, and the extent of regression did not differ significantly between the groups. The increase in calcium volume was greater in the warfarin group than in the edoxaban group; however, the difference was not significant. In OAC-naïve patients with AF and atherosclerotic coronary lesions who were treated with moderate-intensity statin, edoxaban use did not have a positive effect on atherosclerotic plaques and coronary calcification compared with warfarin use over a 12-month follow-up period.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-Is) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are not recommended during the second and third trimester because of the significant risk of congenital anomalies associated with their use. However, data are scarce, especially regarding their use in the first trimester and about the impact of stopping just before pregnancy. Our study illustrates the profile of the women who used ACE-Is or ARBs during pregnancy and evaluates the impact on perinatal outcomes. The Registry of Pregnancy and Cardiac Disease is a prospective, global registry of pregnancies in women with structural heart disease. Outcomes were compared between women who used ACE-Is or ARBs and those who did not. Multivariable regression analysis was performed to assess the effect of ACE-I or ARB use on the occurrence of congenital anomalies. ACE-Is (n = 35) and/or ARBs (n = 8) were used in 42 (0.7%) of the 5,739 Registry of Pregnancy and Cardiac Disease pregnancies. Women who used ACE-Is or ARBs more often came from a low-or-middle-income country (57% vs 40%, p = 0.021), had chronic hypertension (31% vs 6%, p <0.001), or a left ventricular ejection fraction <40% (33% vs 4%, p <0.001). In the multivariable analysis, ACE-I use during the first trimester was associated with an increased risk of congenital anomaly (odds ratio 3.2, 95% confidence interval 1.0 to 9.6). Therefore, ACE-Is should be avoided during pregnancy, also in the first trimester, because of a higher risk of congenital anomalies. However, there is no need to stop long before pregnancy. Preconception counseling is crucial to discuss the potential risks of these medications, to evaluate the clinical condition and, if possible, to change or stop the medication.

Valve-in-valve (ViV) transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has been associated with favorable outcomes in patients with degenerated stentless bioprosthesis. However, whether the outcomes after ViV TAVR for failed stentless bioprosthesis differ between balloon-expandable valves (BEVs) and self-expanding valves (SEVs) remains unknown. Therefore, we retrospectively analyzed 59 consecutive patients who underwent ViV TAVR for failed stentless bioprsothesis with BEVs (n = 42) versus SEVs (n = 17) in a single–health care system between 2013 and 2022. Overall, the mean age was 70.8 years and 74.6% were men. The mean transcatheter valve size was 26.3 ± 2.2 mm for BEVs and 26.4 ± 4 mm for SEVs (p = 0.93). The mean Society of Thoracic Surgeons score was 6.0 ± 3.6 for BEVs and 7.5 ± 5.5 for SEVs (p = 0.22). Compared with patients who received BEVs, those who received SEVs had higher rates of device malposition (2.4% vs 23.5%, p <0.01), postdeployment balloon dilation (11.9% vs 35.5%, p = 0.04) and need for a second transcatheter device (2.4% vs 35.5%, p <0.01). However, both groups showed similar improvement in aortic valve function at 30-day and 1-year follow-up (incidence of 1-year severe patient-prosthesis mismatch in BEVs: 17.6% vs 14.3% in SEVs, p = 0.78). The 1- and 3-year mortality did not differ between BEVs and SEVs (11.9% vs 11.8% and 25% vs 30%, respectively, Log rank p = 0.9). In conclusion, performing ViV TAVR for failed stentless bioprsothesis is technically challenging, especially when using SEVs; however, satisfactory positioning is possible in most cases, with excellent hemodynamic and clinical outcomes with BEVs and SEVs.

Transcatheter mitral edge-to-edge repair (TEER) with transcatheter devices has become a mainstay in the minimally invasive treatment of patients with severe mitral regurgitation at increased surgical risk. Despite its apparently favorable risk profile, there is uncertainty on the risk and features of cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs) early and long after transcatheter mitral valve repair. We aimed to appraise the incidence and predictors of CVA in patients who underwent TEER. We explicitly queried the data set of an ongoing multicenter prospective observational study dedicated to TEER with MitraClip (Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, California). The incidence of CVAs after TEER was formally appraised, and we explored potential predictors of such events. Descriptive, bivariate, and diagnostic accuracy analyses were performed. Of 2,238 patients who underwent TEER, CVAs occurred in 33 patients (1.47% [95% confidence interval 1.02% to 2.06%]), including 6 (0.27% [0.10% to 0.58%]) in-hospital strokes and 27 events after discharge (0.99% [0.66% to 1.44%]), over a median follow-up of 14 months. Most CVAs were major ischemic strokes during and after the in-hospital phase. Overall, CVAs were more common in patients with atrial fibrillation (p = 0.018), renal dysfunction (p = 0.032), higher EuroSCORE II (p = 0.033), and, as expected, higher CHA2DS2-VASc score (p = 0.033), despite the limited prognostic accuracy of the score. Notably, the occurrence of CVA did not confer a significantly increased risk of long-term (p = 0.136) or cardiac death (p = 0.397). The incidence of CVA in patients who underwent TEER is low, with most events occurring after discharge and being associated with preexisting risk features. These findings, although reassuring on the safety of TEER, call for proactive antithrombotic therapy whenever CVA risk is increased before and after TEER.

For endovascular treatment of below-the-knee (BTK) peripheral artery disease (PAD), independently adjudicated real-world outcomes comparing non–stent-based balloon angioplasty (percutaneous transluminal angioplasty) and adjunctive treatments with or without a concomitant ipsilateral femoropopliteal (FP) artery intervention are scarce. A total of 1,060 patients from the multicenter XLPAD registry who underwent non–stent-based BTK PAD intervention between 2006 and 2021 were included. The primary outcome was the 1-year incidence of major adverse limb events (MALEs), a composite of all-cause death, any amputation, or clinically driven repeat revascularization. A total of 566 patients underwent BTK and 494 BTK + FP interventions; 72% were men, with a mean age of 68.4 ± 10.9 years. Diabetes mellitus was more prevalent in the BTK-only group (76.5% vs 69%, p = 0.006). Mean Rutherford class was 4.2 ± 1.18; chronic limb-threatening ischemia was more frequent in the BTK group (55.3% vs 49%, p = 0.040). Moderate to severe calcification was more frequent in the BTK + FP group (21.2% vs 27.1%, p = 0.024), as was lesion length (110.6 ± 77.3 vs 135.4 ± 86.3 mm, p <0.001). Nearly 81% of lesions were treated with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. Drug-coated balloon (1.6% vs 14%, p <0.001) and atherectomy (38% vs 58.5%, p <0.001) use was more frequent in the BTK + FP group. The rate of procedural success was higher in the BTK + FP group (86% vs 91%, p = 0.009), with amputation being the most common complication at 3.3% within 30 days after the procedure. The rates of 1-year MALE (21.2% vs 22.3%, p = 0.675) and mortality (4.6% vs 3.4%, p = 0.3) were similar between the BTK and BTK + FP groups. Nonstent treatment for BTK PAD with concomitant FP intervention leads to high procedural success and similar rates of 1-year MALE compared with isolated BTK intervention.

Condensed Abstract: The vast majority of below-the-knee (BTK) peripheral artery disease (PAD) interventions are performed with balloon angioplasty. Presence of inflow femoropopliteal PAD in patients who undergo BTK interventions can affect the outcome of the procedure. This report explores immediate procedural success and major adverse limb events at 1 year after balloon angioplasty treatment for isolated BTK PAD and in patients who underwent an additional femoropopliteal PAD intervention.

Mechanical prosthetic heart valves (MPHVs) are commonly used for valvular heart disease in patients with a long life expectancy. Few longitudinal data on the specific causes of hospitalization in patients with MPHV are available. We investigated the risk of all-cause hospitalization and mortality in patients with MPHV. We performed a prospective, observational, ongoing study including consecutive patients with MPHVs who were referred to the atherothrombosis outpatient clinic of the Policlinico Umberto I of Rome for the vitamin K antagonist management. Study end points were all-cause, cardiovascular hospitalization, and overall mortality. We included 305 patients with MPHV (38.4% women, median age 60.2 years). The site of MPHV was aortic in 53.5%, mitral in 29.5%, and mitroaortic in 17%. During a median follow-up of 57.3 months, 142 hospitalizations occurred (8.16 per 100 person-years). The most common causes of hospitalization were cardiovascular disease (3.62 per 100 person-years), infections, surgery, and bleeding. The predictors of cardiovascular hospitalization were atrial fibrillation (hazard ratio [HR] 1.75, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04 to 2.95, p = 0.035), previous stroke/transient ischemic attack (HR 2.96, 95% CI 1.59 to 5.48, p = 0.001), and peripheral artery disease (HR 2.42, 95% CI 1.09 to 5.36, p = 0.030). During a median follow-up of 97.2 months, 61 deaths occurred (2.43 per 100 person-years). Age was directly associated with the risk of death (HR 1.088, 95% CI 1.054 to 1.122, p <0.001), whereas the time in therapeutic range higher than the median was inversely associated (HR 0.436, 95% CI 0.242 to 0.786, p = 0.006). In conclusion, patients with MPHV had a high incidence of hospitalizations, especially cardiovascular-related. The incidence of death is high; however, it may be decreased by maintaining a good quality of anticoagulation.

We aimed to investigate sex-related glycemic and cardiovascular responses after intensity- (moderate) and duration- (30 minutes) matched interval aerobic exercise (IAE) and continuous (CAE) aerobic exercise sessions in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). A total of 19 volunteers (10 women) participated in 2 randomized and crossover sessions (1:1). Heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, double product, and blood glucose (BG) levels were measured before (PRE), immediately after (POST-0), and 20 minutes after (POST-20) each session. The rates of perceived exertion (RPE) and enjoyment levels (ELs) were assessed after each session. Generalized estimating equations were used to analyze the data (condition × time × sex). Regarding sex-related changes, men showed BG reductions at POST-0 and POST-20 after CAE (∆: −3.7 and −3.7 mmol/L, respectively) and only at POST-0 after IAE (∆: −1.6 mmol/L), with 1 episode of hypoglycemia occurring in the latter group. In contrast, women showed reduced BG values only after CAE at both time points (∆: −1.4 and −1.7 mmol/L) compared with PRE values. The decrease in BG levels at both time points was higher for men after CAE than IAE. Cardiovascular responses, RPEs, and ELs were similar between exercise sessions, except for blood pressure, which showed higher values in men. In conclusion, lower BG levels were observed after CAE, with greater reductions in men. Similar cardiovascular, RPE, and EL responses were found across sexes and sessions. Consideration of sex-specific recommendations may be warranted when prescribing aerobic exercise, particularly, for men with irregular physical activity levels.